The first time Nick Kindelsperger chatted with Khaled Simon, his food truck, Taco Sublime (@tacosublimechi,) had recently caught on fire. This was in December 2021, and while it looked like his business was in serious trouble, he oddly didn’t sound defeated. “I feel like this sparked so much fire in me,” he said. “We are going to make it happen.” A year later, Simon and his partner, Haley Pham, had pivoted to cooking at pop-ups around town, including a semi-regular stint at Royal Palms, the gargantuan shuffleboard club in Wicker Park. That’s where Kindelsperger finally tried one of his signature cheese-crusted tacos. Instead of simply sprinkling cheese on at the end, he caramelizes a handful of Chihuahua cheese on a griddle until it transforms into a salty, crackly sheet. This is placed on a tortilla and then topped with thick-cut steak or chicken. After a few bites, Kindelsperger knew it’d make his list of the best tacos in Chicago. Fast-forward to 2023, and it’s easier than ever to try Taco Sublime. Simon and Pham now have permanent residencies in two bars, Marz Community Brewing Co. in McKinley Park and Desert Hawk in Ukrainian Village. And there’s also a restaurant on the way. But another item on the menu has started to attract attention of its own. Taco Sublime’s smash burger is one of the most exciting burgers Kindelsperger has tried in 2023. Tap on our bio link to read more. ----- Photo 1: The smash burger from Taco Sublime at Marz Brewing Co. in McKinley Park on Oct. 2, 2023. Photo 2: Taco Sublime owner Khaled Simon holds a steak taco at Marz Brewing in McKinley Park. Photo 3: Taco Sublime owner Khaled Simon. ? Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune / @nkindelsperger ? Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago Tribune

The first time Nick Kindelsperger chatted with Khaled Simon, his food truck, Taco Sublime (@tacosublimechi,) had recently caught on fire. This was in December 2021, and while it looked like his business was in serious trouble, he oddly didn’t sound defeated. “I feel like this sparked so much fire in me,” he said. “We are going to make it happen.”

A year later, Simon and his partner, Haley Pham, had pivoted to cooking at pop-ups around town, including a semi-regular stint at Royal Palms, the gargantuan shuffleboard club in Wicker Park. That’s where Kindelsperger finally tried one of his signature cheese-crusted tacos. Instead of simply sprinkling cheese on at the end, he caramelizes a handful of Chihuahua cheese on a griddle until it transforms into a salty, crackly sheet. This is placed on a tortilla and then topped with thick-cut steak or chicken. After a few bites, Kindelsperger knew it’d make his list of the best tacos in Chicago.

Fast-forward to 2023, and it’s easier than ever to try Taco Sublime. Simon and Pham now have permanent residencies in two bars, Marz Community Brewing Co. in McKinley Park and Desert Hawk in Ukrainian Village. And there’s also a restaurant on the way.

But another item on the menu has started to attract attention of its own. Taco Sublime’s smash burger is one of the most exciting burgers Kindelsperger has tried in 2023.

Tap on our bio link to read more.

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Photo 1: The smash burger from Taco Sublime at Marz Brewing Co. in McKinley Park on Oct. 2, 2023.

Photo 2: Taco Sublime owner Khaled Simon holds a steak taco at Marz Brewing in McKinley Park.

Photo 3: Taco Sublime owner Khaled Simon.

? Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune / @nkindelsperger
? Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago Tribune