Carnivale

★★★★☆ 3.9 (2616) • $$$

"What an experience we've had at Carnivale! I haven't been back for years and never had dinner just drinks but let me tell you this place is such a vibe! A live show about every 20 minutes which makes the experience even better. The ambience is colorful and very inviting. To start order yourself a mojito, made with perfection that's sweet but not overpowering.Now let me get to the best part,the food ! For appetizers we had, ropa vieja which was like a braised beef that had pickled onions and this queso fresco with some aioli but let me tell you that was 10/10. Don't hesitate and order it. You will thank me later . We also had chicken empanadas and mushroom croquettes , the chicken empanadas weren't like the regular empanadas you get but overall I probably wouldn't order it again not saying they were bad just didn't wow me like the other two appetizers.However the mushroom croquettes I was loving it up! It does come with black truffle so to each its own taste buds but this was right up my alley . Dinner we had the Brazilian Churasco that comes with yuca fritas that's fries. The Oxtail Paella omg was so delish !!! I almost wanted to change my plates. Braised Oxtail had mushrooms carrots rice forgot what else but all the best combos . I wish I knew what my friends steak name was but it's the video where the waiters putting on my friends plate . She said she loved every single bite. After dinner we obviously had to order some desserts, we did the carnival cotton candy that comes with popcorn, the ice cream with 3 flavors, pistachio, passion fruit, and raspberry and the 19 layer cake. The cake was the winner . Great experience and would dine again when I'm in Chicago ."

Amaru

★★★★★ 4.7 (431) • $$$

"Cute place to grab dinner. Came on a Saturday evening with some girlfriends. Reservation was made in advance for our party of three. Paid parking located on North. Started out with a shot of Mamajuana which is a spiced alcoholic beverage made by infusing a mixture of rum, red wine, and honey with tree bark and herbs. Thanks for the birthday shot!!! Remind me of my trip to Punta Cana. For drinks we ordered three very different cocktails. I had the passion fruit caprihina which was good. The best cocktail was the Pina Colada. It was a very refreshing take on a drink I usually associate with the pool. The good here is served family style tapas and available in small, medium or large. I enjoyed the jerk chicken and the oxtail special. All in all a cute spot. Left slightly hungry which always happens with tapas."

Bar Sol

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (43) • $$$

"Located on the Navy Pier, Bar Sol is a vibrant Latin-inspired cuisine with amazing views of Lake Michigan. During my brief visit to Chicago, I seized the opportunity to grab a snack at this newest addition to the pier's culinary scene, and I was not disappointed.The spot had great beats of lively music and indoors or outdoors seating. I sat at the bar. Service was fast and friendly. The tuna tostadas caught my eye so that's what I chose. The tostadas had very generous portions of fresh tuna, crunch of the tostadas, a great blend of sauces and a kick of spice which I needed. So glad I stumbled upon this new spot!"

La Parrilla Latin Food

★★★★☆ 4.4 (22)

"We stopped for dinner after a baseball game near by. We checked to see what was around and we saw it had jibaritos here. We drove four minutes to get here. There's no parking on the street Monday thru Saturday certain hours but there is a huge shopping mall across with tons of parking. We got lucky it was Sunday and we can park outside the business. We went inside and super nice service from everyone that works here. They got a table for six ready and greeted us. We put in our drink order and appetizer we got five empanadas four steak and one chicken. The service was on point and they were very busy. The restaurant was super clean and very trendy. We got two different hot sauces for our empanadas. The empanadas were very good it was like a potato base mixed with spices and steak. I loved the steak one over the chicken but still was good. Then we got the carne asada tostones and they were amazing and loaded with chopped up steak and salsa and aguacate chunks. The presentation looked very delicious and the taste was perfect. Between the family we ordered a steak jibarito, entraña la parrilla, carne asada plate and bandeja paisa. The steak jibarito was a bit different from Puerto Rican spots. This jibarito had mozzarella cheese instead of yellow American cheese and it didn't have mayo ketchup. Overall it was still very delicious with a nice cut of steak with the perfect seasoning. The entraña la parrilla was very delicious it a very nice huge piece of skirt steak cooked to your like. It comes with white rice and plantains. Very juicy and seasoned very nice would recommend to everyone. The bandeja paisa just wow so much on a cutting board. It had a link of Colombian chorizo, chicharrón, over easy eggs on top of white rice with a side of black beans and maduros. Then you choose the cut of meat you have three choices. We went with the owner recommendation of meat and it was so tender with a seasoning that was amazing. The carne asada plate was very good as well it comes with a sirloin cut and a side salad white rice and beans. The owner was very nice to substitute the rice and beans for French fries. The fries were really good here. Overall I will be coming here it was very delicious they do charge a gratitude of 18% for a party of five and up. Also recommend to pay with cash so you're not hit with a 4% charge from the bank. The prices are a bit expensive for a thinner cut of meat but the food was delicious."

Janik's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (633) • $$

"03/19/24 - My buddy brought me here for breakfast this morning. Nice restaurant directly across the street from Cafe Istanbul on Division. When we went in we were greeted & seated. The server/owner suggested the chilaquiles which were very good. I wouldn't mind going back and tryi some of the other items on their menu"

CocoBar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (11)

"Yummy elote but pricey. They were nice and understanding that we were in a hurry trying to catch a sight seeing river cruise."

Tango Sur

★★★★☆ 4 (2700) • $$$

"Tango Sue ranks high even though we rarely visit. It was a nice summer night, we sat outside and were seated very quickly.Made the mistake of forgetting they don't provide alcohol so my husband made a quick trip to a store around the corner to pick up a bottle of wine.Skirt steak with potatoes was perfectly cooked, flavorful and juicy and the chimichurri always hits the spot!"

El Quetzal

★★★★☆ 4.3 (21)

"my friend invite me to this place antojitos from GuatemalaReally goodI try the garnachaspupusa whit curtido , corn tamales and coffee really goodthey also have mexican dishes on the menuI be back soon again"

Tasa Coffee Roasters

★★★★★ 4.9 (40)

"This is an awesome cafe. The vibe is awesome, the staff are friendly, and it's always busy with customers because it's so good. I went on a saturday morning with my sister for some coffee and brunch. They happened to be doing a "pictures with santa" event when we got there which was a funny surprise. We ordered the chorizo avocado toast with egg, which was delicious. They didn't hold back on anything, and there was plenty of chorizo and avocado. We also split the beignets, which came with twelve delicious bite size beignets, enough to take some home. I also tried the lavender coconut latte, which was super delicious with a very natural flavor. Clearly, this place puts a lot of effort into making top quality food and drinks. They are passionate about giving the customers a great culinary experience, in a very chill setting for excellent prices. I would totally come back!"

Pilsen Yards

★★★★☆ 4.1 (271) • $$

"A gem in Pilsen with hip decor and a great patio. I visited this place some time ago and the food was absolutely amazing, especially the grilled shrimp. Cocktails are absolutely amazing!"

La Peña Restaurante

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (115) • $$

"La Pena was a slam dunk- Or a GOOOOOOLLLL since futbol was on.The chicken and rice reminded me of paella. The Milanesa was tender and full of flavor. Their staff was short staffed, but able to get thru a pretty busy shift for 2 people. They have a selection of ecuatoriano beer which I had never tried. They have live music and karaoke on certain nights a week. Today they had La Liga matches on the television, and I'm sure they have most futbol matches on for any major one being played. I'll have to go back and cheer on as I eat again soon."

Mayfair Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (99) • $

"Solid little neighborhood diner! I have been here 2 times for breakfast in the morning. The breakfast and service were good! I was satisfied. Definitely will be coming back!"

Minna's Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (53) • $$

"The best! Juices are amazing; cecina taco on handmade tortilla! Get it! Soups are great too."

Boem

★★★★★ 4.6 (21) • $$

Azul 18

★★★★☆ 4.1 (417) • $$

"How have I been slacking on so many places? We actually just ate here recently as we were in the neighborhood. This is a really great place and one of our favorites along that whole street. Food quality is excellent. We usually sit outside and we recently had some flavored Micheladas and they were delicious."

El Burrito Bronco

★★★★☆ 4.2 (51)

"Massive burritos that rival El Famous'. I ordered the chicken burrito and it was the size of a mini football. The beast is hungry, and it fully made its way into my belly. Service was good, and the lunch time experience was good as well. The dining area is somewhat small, but when we went there, there were plenty of seats before the lunch rush"

El Fogón de Elena Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.7 (50)

"I feel very lucky to have a good Colombian spot in my neighborhood. The empanadas are delicious - I've had the carne and camaron and loved both. The spot is cute inside too. Their jugo de mango is also perfect.I've tried their arepas too - the others are more standout to me, but definitely a yummy place I've been to a few times and will go back to again."

Flo

★★★★☆ 4.1 (1060) • $$

"My love and I dined at Flo yesterday. Although Flo seems to be known as more of a brunch place, we experienced a wonderful dinner. We were seated immediately when we entered early on a Saturday evening, and the restaurant was chill and not too crowded until near the conclusion of our meal when a party of 16 adults and young kids wandered in. Service was pleasant and unobtrusive. There was minimal waiting for anything at all.Flo touts its traditional southwestern / New Mexico cuisine. Having never been to New Mexico, I was excited to try the carne adovada. It's called a New Mexico specialty, and after savoring the whole dish I can tell you it's a deserved title. The tender little chunks of braised pork loin are bathed in a deep red chile sauce that is flavorful and zingy without being overly spicy. The crispy little hemispheres of red potatoes, thin wedges of avocado and tortillas were perfect accompaniments to the saucy pork. My love enjoyed her grilled salmon, with heirloom potatoes, shiitake mushrooms, and crispy brussels sprouts, as well as her hibiscus margarita. The portion sizes were also right on the money. After enjoying the delicious and reasonably priced food at Flo, we vowed to come again when in the area."

Vermilion

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (783) • $$$

"The food was really great (I'd been craving indochinese food and this hit the spot!) I loved that they offered complimentary masala fries in the beginning--they were the highlight! The place had a fancy ambiance with quick service and great food, however, it's definitely on the pricier end. While the food is good, it doesn't necessarily feel worth it for the price thought it could be a fun experience!"

Peru Criollo

★★★★★ 4.6 (84)

"Our dinner at Peru Criollo was a lovely Valentine's Day treat! The dining area is spacious with bright gorgeous murals contrasting the moody black walls & ceiling. There's an elevated feel with faux candles and black table clothes (played down with a paper cover). There's also bar seating near the back; it's a great mix of elevated and casual. Their menu is easy to navigate and we quickly knew what we wanted for our main entrees: charrasco steak (special) and a classic lomo saltado with steak. For apps, we ordered chilled cooked mussels on the 1/2 shell and Peruvian Street Corn. It was fun to try something new for apps, but it was really our mains that wow'ed us. My husband loved his steak and I was delighted by the flavors of my lomo saltado (a brilliant Asian and Peruvian fused dish that always satisfies). Although this spot is a bit of a trek for us, we'd love to come back with friends to try more dishes. The service was personal and warm -- thank you Alejandra. We felt right at home!"

Casa Latina Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 4.1 (9)

"We had a great time at Casa Latina Steakhouse, which is a great new addition to the Albany Park neighborhood. Our party was seated right away. Kris, the bartender, doubled as our server and was absolutely fantastic the entire night. Our group of four enjoyed multiple rounds of margaritas, and I have to say, the wild berry margarita is among the best margaritas I have ever had in my entire life (and I've had MANY - thanks, Kris!). The menu is small but everything we had was fantastic, ranging from the chips and guacamole to the wings to our entrees (I had the steak frites: highly recommend). Ambiance is extremely casual and comfortable. Pricing is very reasonable considering the quality and quantity of the food. Finally, I have to give a shout-out to whomever put on the epic 80's remix later in the evening, as we had an absolute blast listening to it (and singing along, rather loudly I'm afraid...sorry about that). Thanks for a great night, Casa Latina! I look forward to a return visit very soon."

D' Nuez

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (158) • $$

"The café de olla here is my favorite. Today however I got the classic cheeseburger. I loved the fries. The service was fast. We arrived around 2 pm and got seated promptly. The music they were playing made the ambiance feel authentic."

Libertad

★★★★☆ 4.4 (844) • $$

"Libertad surprised me in the best way!Service was super sweet. I really liked the head of house a lot. She was so personable and gave her opinion on dishes, which I always appreciate. The space is simple and that perfect blend of lightness/airiness while still being intimate. They suggest 3-4 plates between two people, and we went with 3 and had plenty of leftovers. Queso de cabra was fantastic. Flautas were AMAZING. Chuleta, and actually especially the sweet potato purée, was cooked to perfection. All dishes were well balanced. Drinks were STRONG. I got the fresas one and my husband got the G&T, and both were the perfect summer drinks. I'm just so happy with our experience there! It was so perfect. We would return."

La Humita Express

★★★★☆ 4.3 (93) • $$

"Wanted stew and remembered Humita offered food specials (express meals) on them. Glad I called in an order rather than using the web. Learned that the stew express meals mentioned on their website are no longer available. Update the website then? The stews with two sides are still available but their pricing has more than doubled and portions are small like lunch specials. I wonder if dining in is why most reviews are five starred. Need to try that way sometime. Ordered two stew meals. Lamb (awesome that they offer this protein) & chicken. Lamb was properly stewed and easy to eat. The chicken was boring in flavor and hardly any gravy was included. Smh. The carryout container has three sections. One for the "main" and two sides. Alas, they fill the main section with a big ass amount of rice. Then fill the side areas with stew and your second option. Stews are in the $22-26 range. They have to reconsider how they're serving. I mean, stew needs its gravy to go with all that rice and the portion should be significantly larger.Due to the niceties of their staff and the flavors, I'd check them out again. Dine-in."

Mr Pollo

★★★★☆ 3.6 (24)

"wellchicken is very goodsidesflavour salsasgood porcions tostonesyucasaladbeansricemaduroscornfriesvegiesreal good chickenthe only thing is the staffslooow service is just one girl servingcome on ppl owners don't abuse have at lease 2 waitressand the batroom stink is like the sewer problems or somethingi like the locacion on belmont is better........"

La Lagartija Taqueria

★★★★☆ 3.8 (281) • $$

"I tried coming here a few years back. But they had closed the store early, way before advertised business hours. Slow light would be my guess. So after a few years, I finally decided to stop in and give them a try. There's not really much taquerias in this area, so because of the lack of competition, a restaurant can choose to lower their standards or make sure they excel at what they do. La Largatija didn't disappoint. I ordered their carne Asada taco, al pastor and Volcan tostada. The Volcan tostada was definitely something different that I've never tried before. They serve it on a homemade tostada and top it off with melted cheese. Never thought I'd tried that combo before but it was sure delicious. Both the carne Asada and al pastor taco were also tasty. The al pastor was cooked perfectly and the marinade was very flavorful. It was al served with a slice of pineapple. The carne Asada was seasoned perfectly and the meat was very tender. I'll keep this on my list for sure."

Takito Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (745) • $$

"Been here several times. On this occasion came for Taco Tuesday specials. On Tuesdays they have $3 tacos (for the most part). Between us girls we ate about 4 tacos each. Unanimously agreed that Shrimp Taco with Strawberry Pico was thee favorite. We also enjoyed the Skirt Steak and the Fish Taco. Our night was very pleasant with Juan guiding us through the menu. Juan also was very good about telling us his favorite entrees. Three Yelp Elite ladies left very happy on Taco Tuesday. So nice to bond over food and hang with these girlfriends. Drinks: Passion Fruit Margarita with sugar room was my favorite. Gabby loved Lychee Margarita."

Don Pedro Carnitas

★★★★☆ 4.4 (206) • $$

"From outside Don Pedros looks like any number of 18th Street Mexican restaurants. Most of which offer a variety of delicious Mexican dishes. Most of which are really good.But it's when you step through the doorway of Don Pedros that the real magic begins. First off let me say that they have off street parking on the side of the building which is almost unheard of in the densely packed Pilsen neighborhood. Get it while you can.Now on to the magic. When you enter it's "Hola's" all around from the staff. A small group of folks behind plexiglass windows where the magic is working as the meats are slow cooked. The aroma's filling the room are reminiscent of a Mexican home kitchen. The dining area is a decent sized space where the tables are spaced apart well enough to feel comfortable. The tables are basic and not cluttered with unnecessary items. After all it's all about the meats here.Our server, who was excellent at what she does, came over no menu in hand as my buddy inquired about the offerings. She said she would explain the menu and let us know what was available for the day. That's when we knew the tacos would be off the hook. Today, Thursday, the offered boiled seasoned beef and their signature carnitas. We opted to take some of the skin with the carnitas. All meats are offered by the weight usually by the pound. We ordered a pound of each and a couple Mexican cokes. The real kind of coke.Upon returning our server dropped off a small bowl of fresh cut limes, a small bowl of chopped fresh white onion and cilantro mix and two kind of homemade salsas, one verde and one rojo. All you need for real deal tacos.Next she dropped off our carnitas and boiled seasoned beef and some fresh corn tortillas. We dug in hard! Their seasoned beef is tender and perfectly seasoned. You can actually taste the beef with very little lard behind it which is the way it should be. Their signature carnitas if absolutely off the hook! Tender, moist and juicy, and perfectly cook with the skins which offer so much favor. Making our own tacos table side, the 18th Street way is as real as it gets and honestly all you need it this case. Every bite was better than the last. We had to pace ourselves and force ourselves not to order another pound. They have various offerings on different days and i will be back to try more out.So many great places out there but Don Pedros Carnitas authentic, simple and to the point. The Don knows what it does and it does it the very best."

Brasero

★★★★★ 4.6 (50)

"We came here for a date night happy hour and sat at the bar to take advantage of the great deals. Service at the bar was great, and the restaurant is beautiful and not too loud either so the ambiance was really nice. We ordered:-the upright pineapple cocktail: super refreshing with a nice Smokey kick-grilled oysters, grilled prawns: both very flavorful and great apps to start with-petite endive salad: actually not that petite which was amazing for the hh deal! A lot of dressing though so next time I'd ask for it lighter or on the side -ribs: so flavorful and tender -steak and yuca fries: so deliciously tender and good quality meat, yuca fries loaded were scrumptious and tasty"

Pixca

★★★★☆ 4.4 (134)

"This is a seasonal, farm-to-table restaurant in Highland Park. "Pixca" means harvest in the Maya language and they work with local farmers to bring fresh foods to the plate.We stopped in, day after Xmas, the small, cozy restaurant was fairly empty. We made a reservation but it turns out we did not need one. The ambience was warm and festive with candles in the table and lights above the bar/kitchen area. Disclaimer: we had drinks and snacks at a friend's house prior to this.We started with cornbread and butter, which came in a skillet and was warm, toasty golden.I ordered the vegetarian cassoulet which was a very flavorful and savory rich stew with roasted seasonal vegetables and halloumi. The broth was very rich and well seasoned and reminded me of the scene from the animated little chef movie when the exacting French food critic tastes the simple rustic dish and is transported to memories of his childhood. Now I'm not French and I didn't grow up eating this dish but the very name Pixca means harvest and that's exactly what this dish was. A bounty of the best harvest at its peak.My companion enjoyed their salad as well.Several dishes caught my eye for a return visit. Hope to come back to enjoy the best of the harvest soon."

Bar Takito

★★★★☆ 3.8 (878) • $$

"Lissen this happy hour spot is LEGIT. The margaritas were divine and were well priced at $9 I believe. They have good offerings on the happy hour menu. The server was very attentive and kind. The salsa was very unique tasting and had an orange hue - I wonder how they make it. Overall great experience. I would return for happy hour again."

Papa's Cache Sabroso

★★★★☆ 4.2 (627) • $$

"Overall Thoughts: Delicious, garlicky jibaritos; exceptional service and inviting staff (Papa himself gave us a warm welcome too)! Indoor seating is limited, but they have a toasty, heated outdoor space for cold winter days. Prices are reasonable too.Food I tried:- Ribeye Steak Jibarito: The steak was super juicy and flavorful, and the plantain was quite densely flattened. Adding their garlic sauce on top added a nice kick. The arroz con gandules on the side was also extremely good-- a little crispy, very flavorful and aromatic. - Shredded Chicken Jibarito: The shredded chicken was also tender and juicy with great flavor, but I think the flavor of the steak was more robust, which I preferred.-- Price (relative to peers): 4.4/5Food: 4.7/5Ambience: 4.8/5Service: 5/5Overall Value: 4.7/5"

Irazú Costa Rican Restaurant & Catering

★★★★☆ 4.3 (2439) • $$

"One of our favorite spots in Chicago! The food is always delicious, service is great, and the atmosphere is laid back and fun! We always start with a variety of empanadas. My favorite is the jalapeño and cheese and the plantain and cheese. The surf and turf burrito is amazing! There is so much steak and shrimp inside and it is always perfectly cooked and incredibly flavorful. The portion is also very large and makes for great leftovers! The Casado is also a great dish with a variety of flavors and textures. Don't forget to end with an oatmeal shake! They also do great catering! Love this place and will continue to return!"

DeBorincuba

★★★★★ 5 (24)

"Nice business... Affordable, delicious food!Husband got the steak sandwich... Really good! I got a half pound of the pork that was tasty... Some pieces a bit dry but overall a steal! We also got casava... I could have ate those all night .We will be back for sure!"

Tropicuba Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (38)

"My fiancé and I decided to ring out the new year by trying the locally acclaimed Cuban restaurant. I had low expectations because I've always despised this parking lot (growing up in Portage Park) and have always tried to avoid it at all costs. Still, I had to see what it was all about!Parking lot is cramped. The location is small and right in between little cesar's and 711. Service was friendly. Since they just recently opened, they don't have "to-go" paper menus just yet. There was one menu at the cashier. We decided to get all the fried shit that was left out for the night. (It was close to 7pm and they close at 8pm). Everything cost just under 40.00 and we ordered quite a bit of food.Two jibaritos to go. We live in the area and by the time we brought it home, the "tostone" for the sandwich was soggy. Always best when crunchy. We waited a good 30-40 min for the food. Overall, everything was good but it did lack a little kick. Food tasted great with some hot sauce but you know it's really really good when you don't need any sauce. My expectations were exceeded but still wasn't mindblown. Very good. B+"