Taylor's Tacos Is Proudly Flying the Flag for LGBTQ+ Representation on Taylor Street — and the Neighborhood Is Here for It
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/University Village Little Italy ·
University Village Little Italy has always been a corridor where community identity runs deep — and in the summer of 2026, Taylor's Tacos at 1512 W. Taylor St. is adding a bold, joyful new chapter to that story. Block Club Chicago spotlighted the beloved taqueria this week, highlighting how owner Taylor Mason — a West Side native who launched the Black-queer, woman-owned shop with wife Maya Mason in 2023 — sees this summer as a defining moment for LGBTQ+ visibility and celebration on the Near West Side.
Mason, who drew inspiration from the Los Angeles street taco scene during her time at Pepperdine University, has built Taylor's Tacos into far more than a lunch spot. The restaurant has become a genuine gathering place — one where the signature chicken tacos, "really sexy" shrimp, and famous secret salsa come paired with a welcoming ethos that reflects the neighborhood's evolving, inclusive identity. As Mason told Block Club, the spirit of 2026 feels different: "everything is so out and proud, and it feels like it's really celebrated to be who you are."
For neighbors who haven't yet made the trip down to Taylor Street's lower-level corner gem — with its beloved beanie-wearing cactus mascot Tacobae greeting you at the door — this summer is the perfect time. Have you visited Taylor's Tacos lately? Share your go-to order and tag @SocialhoodChicago with #LittleItalyChicago — let's celebrate every flavor that makes this corridor home!
Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/27/taylors-tacos-is-offering-tacos-and-lgbtq-representation-on-the-west-side/