Pilsen is the heart of Mexican Chicago, a working-class neighbourhood on the Lower West Side where 18th Street is lined with taquerias, bakeries, and restaurants that have served the community for generations. The neighbourhood takes its name from the Bohemian city -- Czech and Slovak immigrants settled here in the late 19th century before Mexican families arrived in the 1950s and transformed its character.
What makes Pilsen distinctive beyond the food is the street art. Murals cover entire building facades, documenting community history and celebrating Mexican culture in vivid colour. The National Museum of Mexican Art on 19th Street anchors the cultural life. The neighbourhood has seen some gentrification but retains its essential character. Come for lunch and walk the streets before or after.