Central Illinois has long been praised as a haven for chili. And here’s more proof with Taylor’s Mexican Chili Parlor, 0n the old Illinois 4 alignment of Route 66 in Carlinville, Ill.
Here’s a fan of Taylor’s:
A little Internet surfing revealed that Taylor’s Mexican Chili was established in 1904 in Carlinville. That’s more than 20 years before Route 66 existed, and even predates the famous Ike’s Chili in Tulsa.
According to its history, company founder C.O. Taylor developed his product while cooking Mexican dishes during the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. The first Taylor’s restaurant in Carlinville that year boasted six stools and one table.
Taylor’s chili has been served next to the Anchor Inn tavern off Illinois 4 since 1998.
If you can’t get to Carlinville, you can have a case of Taylor’s chili shipped to you.