El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter

I was in the neighborhood and feeling a little hangry on a gloomy afternoon and saw that I had bookmarked El Llano nearby. Colombian empanadas are one of my favorite food / comfort food, so I passed by and got 2 empanadas (one chicken and one beef) and the arepa with cheese. Everything was good and so filling and the perfect treats to lift my spirits. I would definitely go back for their empanadas and probably want to try a jugo de mango, yuca frita, and maybe some of their bigger dishes.The service was great and it was really cozy in there. Definitely recommend this spot especially their empanadas!

Great deals & delicious homemade food. Been coming here for years. They never fail! Phenomenal service, attentive & fast. Love the chicken soup! & my boyfriend and I always get the chicken & steak special that comes with a small side salad, rice & beans. Don't forget to get their delicious green salsa! it's not always spicy but it always has tons of flavor. It really adds that extra hint of deliciousness to their food.

When I lived in Chicago many moons ago EL LLANO was my go to spot for reasonably priced totally satisfying and delicious Columbian food. If you are looking for a 5 star culinary dining experience, this is not the place. If you are looking for great food at great prices, I would highly recommend El Llano.El Llano is small with about 11 or so tables and booths inside. There is no outside seating, but they do takeout and it must be pretty popular because there was a steady stream of takeout customers throughout my visit.The food is authentic and the steaks have a marinate that I haven't tasted anything similar in my culinary travels. All I know is I love the food here.The highlight of my visit was the steak which I mentioned earlier. I had a sampler platter with steak, rice with an egg on top, Chicharrones, sausage, avocado and an arepa. It came with fresh lime and a green salsa that was great for dipping the meat in. For dessert I had figs stuffed with caramel. Everything was both delicious, filling and totally satisfying. This is one of my favorite restaurants to visit in Chicago and I am happy to say the food has stayed consistently great.

Friendly Colombian service! Great Bandeja Paisa, empanadas, and typical South American fruit drinks! You can never go wrong with Maracuya or Lulo, etc. I really wish this place was closer to me, because I'd frequent it often. I hope y'all are doing ok during this pandemic. Support local businesses y'all!

This place has been closed for (awhile !) not sure what's going on every time we go it's closed no sign up saying anything. This place a freaking good.

Really good authentic Colombian food! You seat yourself and the menu is pretty straightforward with limited choices which makes it easier. I ordered the steak special and my fiancé ordered ribeye steak entree. All of the entrees came out very quickly! The food was delicious and the steak was tender and cooked perfectly. It was reasonably priced and definitely recommend checking it out!

Take out reviewI believe the hours are shorter due to COVID-19: 9 am - 6pm.We ordered to go by calling ahead of time 30 minutes before closing (we are those people! But they close early due to COVID-19!). They were very speedy and took about 15 minutes to prepare our order for pick-up. When we walked in to pick it up, the phones were ringing off the hook and now we know why after tasting the food! We ordered the carne asada (Char-Broiled Rib Eye steak served with potato, cassava, sweet plantain and salad) and the Pechuga de Pollo al Ajillo (chicken breast with garlic served with potato, cassava and fried and breaded plantain). Both entrees were ~ $14, which is higher than what was listed on their website. The entrees were huge and we had enough for another meal each! The food is absolutely delicious! Everything was marinated just right and tasted fresh off the grill! The plantains were cooked different depending on the entree you order, but they were both really good! The cassava was delicious and a good pairing to the meat. I didn't get to try the potato since I was already stuffed halfway through the meal! It'll be a nice treat tomorrow with the other leftover steak and chicken!

Love this place and their Columbian food and superb tasteEvery time I come here and order empanadas with salsaMy all time favourite here is Carneasada Excellent great grilled meat ( like thin steak) with beans ,rice and salad The service is really great too Love their menuAnd Yes they are BYOB

I really wanted to wait until I've tried the dinner service here before writing a review, but it feels like a crime to hide the details of this amazing lunch gem any longer. I come here often for lunch because of the $5.95 lunch special, which includes grilled chicken or steak served with rice, beans, and salad. The portion is huge and super filling, and everything is served with a spicy green salsa that perfectly amps up the flavor of the already well-seasoned meal. Weirdly, my favorite part of the dish is the rice. I don't know what they put in that rice cooker but holy moly is it good. This is definitely a cheap lunch that will keep you full until dinner. The servers are so sweet and seem to really care about the restaurant, and they're always interacting with the regulars. The only little downside here is that after they bring the food, they kind of disappear - great for a private meal and to not feel rushed, but can be a challenge for a short lunch break. I WILL come for dinner soon and update on more than just the lunch special!

This place hits the spot every time! I am particular to the carne asada lunch special which is the perfect amount of food to fill you up without being way too much at a ridiculously reasonable price. The staff is friendly and service is fast. The mango juice in milk is a super tasty smoothie and the empanadas are to die for. My Colombian friends insist this place is authentic and keep me coming back. If you love meat, check it out!!