La Josie has been open in the West Loop since May 2017, run by chef/owner Pepe Barajas. The menu draws on recipes and influences from across Mexico, with particular ties to Jalisco, his family's home state and the birthplace of tequila. The restaurant is named for his late aunt, Josefina Villegas, a restaurateur who raised him and who was known for bringing people together over food.
Drinks are as central here as the cooking. La Josie runs three agave bars, including one on the rooftop, built around what it calls its "Agave Bible" — a list of more than 100 expressions spanning mezcal, tequila, raicilla, bacanora, and sotol from different regions of Mexico. Regulars point to the depth of mezcal knowledge and the staff's ability to walk guests through it as a defining part of the experience.
The food leans bold and modern while staying rooted in traditional flavors, served in a room built for both a quick after-work drink and a longer, more celebratory night out.
Drinks are as central here as the cooking. La Josie runs three agave bars, including one on the rooftop, built around what it calls its "Agave Bible" — a list of more than 100 expressions spanning mezcal, tequila, raicilla, bacanora, and sotol from different regions of Mexico. Regulars point to the depth of mezcal knowledge and the staff's ability to walk guests through it as a defining part of the experience.
The food leans bold and modern while staying rooted in traditional flavors, served in a room built for both a quick after-work drink and a longer, more celebratory night out.