Trendy Chicago Taco Bell to Serve Alcoholic Drinks

Would you like a cerveza with that? A hip neighborhood in Chicago will play host to the first alcohol-serving Taco Bell. Isolated incident, or the future of fast food?

1 minute read

May 29, 2015, 12:00 PM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Tacos and Beer

Edward O'Connor / Flickr

Soon to serve one of Chicago's triumphantly (or notoriously) hipster neighborhoods, a Taco Bell in Wicker Park will sell alcohol alongside its usual fare. 

A Chicago Tribune piece reports: "Hipsters who decide they can't afford Xoco – or don't want to wait in line – might be able to meander a block over to grab a Tecate with their cheesy gordita crunch. A booze-offering Taco Bell would join the ranks of other chain restaurants like Chipotle, which offers margaritas and beers along with its burritos and bowls."

Chipotle has enjoyed success providing "upscale" fast food palatable to the white-collar urban demographic. As far as hipster neighborhoods can be called barometers for the future, Taco Bell's changing policy may signal a shift in how we consume fast food.

Thursday, May 14, 2015 in Chicago Tribune

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

People vote in Chicago behind blue privacy screens

Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners

Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents

November 5 - Block Club Chicago

Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks into a microphone. He wears a gray suit.

NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting

New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.

November 5 - The City Reporter

People in Los Angeles going to the polls, following a sign with an "I Voted" design

California appears to reject Prop. 45

The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.

November 5 - Cal Matters