When you walk into Blue Corn, you’ll immediately think it’s a major holiday that you somehow forgot. There’s shiny red garland with pink hearts hanging over the bar, cardboard spiders dangling from the ceiling, and everyone’s already on their second margarita. Then you remember that it’s just a random Tuesday night and the next major holiday isn’t for three months. That’s what’s so great about Blue Corn though. No matter when you come here, it feels like you’re celebrating a holiday—one centered around really great tacos. Blue Corn is a tight 10-table Mexican restaurant in the Italian market and it’s one of the best places to go when you want a fun night out that starts with great margaritas. Everything here, from the two semi-spicy salsas that appear on every table to their blue corn tortillas that form the base of most of their tacos, quesadillas, and huaraches, is made in the small, open kitchen. And while most of the food here is fairly familiar, you’ll also see ingredients like nopales and beef cheeks that you won’t find at many other taco spots in the city. Besides tacos, the menu includes everything from soups and tortas to filet mignon, but the blue tacos al pastor are sweet, rich, and hands down the best thing here. The ceviches are equally impressive, especially the one with octopus, avocado, and pico de gallo that’s topped with homemade vinegar. Whether you get that one or the daily special ceviche, it’ll come with plantain chips and a honey-lime salsa that is just a bit spicy, mostly sweet, and unlike any salsa we’ve ever had. You’ll want to confiscate all of it and bring it home to pour on anything and everything you own—edible or not. While the appetizers and tortilla-focused dishes are all nearly perfect, the entrees aren’t quite as exciting. Some things are a little bland, like the chicken mole, and the pork chops are flavorful, but a bit tough. If you come with a group, the camarones al ajillo and the filet mignon covered in beans and melted manchego are both worth ordering, especially if the idea of delicious meat and cheese snugly sleeping inside blue tortilla blankets isn’t cutting it for some reason. As long as you know what you’re getting yourself into—namely more than a few drinks and sitting by at least one table of people talking over each other about something from college that no one 100% remembers—you’ll have a good time at Blue Corn. Even if you had to create a fake holiday like Vice Presidents Day or the anniversary of your Bat Mitzvah to convince your friends to celebrate with you.