La Victoria Review

La Victoria Barra + Cocina Mexicana is a new Mexican restaurant located in the restaurant-heavy Logan Square. The restaurant is fairly new, as it opened in June 2023, but has a lot of buzz surrounding it because of Chicago Restaurant Week. We took Restaurant Week as a great opportunity to check out this new spot!

The charming and welcoming interior of the restaurant

If you’re somehow unfamiliar with Chicago Restaurant Week, it’s a 17-day event where over 400 restaurants across the city offer prix fixe menus for brunch, lunch, or dinner. This tradition is the perfect reason to brave the cold and this year is happening from January 19th to February 4th, 2024. We were excited to try La Victoria’s special brunch menu.

At first glance, the restaurant is quite large, with high top seating located in the front of the restaurant, with an additional area for booths and lower tables towards the back, as well as a patio which looks like it would be a great space in the warmer months. La Victoria creates a fun atmosphere with large wooden trees reaching from floor to ceiling, vibrant plant decor, and a beautiful mural that serves as a nod to its surrounding location. Bright flowers and neon signs complement the earthier elements of the restaurant’s interior.

Karina, one of Bite’s photographers, and I decided to sit at the bar for optimal lighting. Our server was very attentive and helpful, quickly starting us with our brunch courses. We began with an appetizer, either Guacamole or Queso Fundido. We chose the Guacamole, which arrived with a lovely presentation that added to our dining experience. The smashed avocados topped with a salsa made of juicy tomatoes, onions and lime was accompanied by a modest number of house-made chips. The guacamole was an enjoyable start to our brunch at La Victoria.

For my main, I selected the Chilaquiles from the three options (the Steak & Eggs, Chilaquiles, and Pancakes). This turned out to be a fantastic choice, as the Chilaquiles were definitely the highlight of my brunch at La Victoria. The hand-made tortilla chips were piled high with a cheese blend, salsa roja, pickled red onion, guacamole, and scrambled eggs. This dish offered a good level of heat – a bit of a kick without being dominated by spice. As a fan of anything pickled, I found the pickled onions to add a nice crunch and hint of sweetness. As expected, the chips on the edges were much crispier while the ones beneath the pile of toppings had a softer texture. Both the presentation and taste of this dish were great and something I would love to come back for.

Karina went with the Steak & Eggs for her main. The steak, accompanied by beans, eggs, and potatoes, was the highlight of this dish. The tender texture of the steak itself was pleasant, and the side of refried beans had a good flavor. The eggs were not our favorite, as they were on the oily side, while the breakfast potatoes were a little dry.

For dessert, only one of the three options listed on the menu was available, so we both had the Tres Leches cake. The cake was beautifully arranged with a side of whipped cream topped with coconut flakes and berries to add a perfect amount of tartness. The cake itself had a soft and moist texture, and the coconut added a nice depth of flavor.

I really enjoyed my visit to La Victoria for Chicago Restaurant Week. Their Chicago Restaurant Week brunch was a great deal, with a good selection to the menu including vegetarian options. I would definitely return for the Chilaquiles and fun, laid-back atmosphere.