Leña Brava

I went to Leña Brava for dinner and it was fantastic! Everything is cooked over fire and you can see them cooking everything. We tried just about everything and everything was amazing.For starters we had the guacamole, roasted oysters, and the valcanes. The guacamole tasted very fresh and was topped with a chili oil crush which really stepped up the flavor.I had the Grilled Octopus and the Belgium Endive Salad as my entree and the octopus was grilled to perfection and tender. Other people at the table had the Lamb Neck Birria, Stripped Bass, Scallops, and Bone in Ribeye. Everyone loved everything. If you are looking for fresh and flavorful food be sure to check out Leña Brava. I can't wait to go back.

Why 4 stars? Because everything here was enjoyable. --- --- ---I say this a lot in 4-star reviews, but everything I tried was the definition of 4-stars: nothing completely blew me away, but it was pretty much all above average. This was a large work dinner with 30+ people and everything was served family style. I regret not taking a picture of the menu, but here's what I can remember:Chips and Guacamole: One of the better things we had.Ceviche: This was my least favorite. It was just okay. Short ribs: Melt in your mouth tender, but given the choice, I am not really big on roast-style meat. With that being said, it was not bad!Fire roasted plantains: Not bad, not amazing, 4-stars!Chocolate Cookie Mousse: Maybe my 2nd favorite thing. It actually had a very subtle kick to it... maybe this was the cocoa nibs? I wanted to keep eating this but I was stuffed.I also had a couple of Rey Del Mar cocktails, but I then felt like I was hungover until dinner time the next day. I don't recommend it for people like me who have almost no tolerance, despite how delicious it is. There was definitely something else served, but I cannot remember for the life of me what it was. Whatever it was, it was pretty decent! That's a helpful contribution, right?

Had a great time here! Came in for dinner (probably helpful to make reservations as I can see this place is quite popular). As soon as we stepped in, there was a great ambiance/energy!Drinks were so good! Refreshing and not too sweet or tartAppetizer: wood oven empanadas - it seemed like the meat inside was birria-type and so packed with flavor and juice! The wood oven enhanced the crisp on the outside but didn't dry out the inside. It paired well with the yogurt like dip.Entrees: braised short rib & lamb neck birria - I never heard of lamb neck birria and didn't know how much I needed it in my life until this meal! Absolutely delicious and flavorful - if you get a chance to get this, do it! Short ribs were also delicious, very tender, and rich - came with a sauce that elevated it further.

Came on a Friday night with a reservation for 6 and was sat an hour late. They comp'd our first round and a couple apps which we really appreciated. All of the small plates we shared were delicious, our faves included the guac, queso, and volcanes. We got the turf wood fired platter and it was honestly a lot smaller than expected and hard to split between 6, since each of us basically only got one bite of each thing. For a big group I think getting a couple big plates to share instead would be more worth it.

We were just a few minutes late for our reservation, but we were still seated right away. We had Ryan as our server and he was helpful with the recommendations. We started out with the seabass ceviche, which was excellent. We split the scallops and the short ribs which were also very flavorful and fantastic. We were too stuffed for dessert. I would come back and highly recommend.

I did not expect Lena Brava to blow me away like it did. It was absolutely outstanding, in terms of food, vibes, service, and everything else in between. My friend was in town and wanted to check out this place in west loop so the 4 of us went on a Wednesday evening and were seated outside, which is by the way, absolutely beautiful seating. It's super chic vibes both inside and outside so you can't go wrong in terms of where you sit. We started off with some happy hour drinks and I got the mojito, which was a beautiful ombré color and so refreshing and yummy! We ordered chips and guacamole to share for the table. The size of the guacamole was smaller than I would've liked, but you guys it was probably the best chips and guac I've ever had. The chips were warm and salty and crispy. And went absolutely perfectly with the INCREDIBLE guacamole, which was flavored perfectly. The guac was light, refreshing, salty, with just the right amount of lime and seasoning. For my entree, I got the Al pastor taco and the chicken tinga taco with a side of the rice and beans. The sides were very flavorful and came in a hefty quantity, which was perfect for my 2 tacos. The chicken tinga taco was delicious with juicy chicken, topped with picked onions, cheese, and cilantro. But the star of the night was the Al pastor taco. I can't even begin to explain the outstanding seasoning of the pork paired with grilled pineapples, salsa, and queso. It was the perfect culmination of flavors. And I still think about that taco every day. I even ordered the Al pastor tacos to go bc I loved it so much!! Hands down, the BEST Al pastor tacos I've EVER had! The menu is small but whatever they have available, it will be the best you will have. I LOVED my experience at Lena Brava and cannot wait to return! If you guys are reading this, please go!! Your taste buds will thank you!

It's okay. The seafood is cooked perfectly here, but it's small-ish portions for high-ish prices, and most of the Mexican flavors aren't as good as you get further out in the neighborhoods.

The oysters Where good and music was good Fries were so good and the fish I would recommend this place

Great food and service. You definitely need a reservation as wait time is usually pretty long. Higher end mexican restaurant - expensive. Pitcher of skinny marg was really good too!

Ambiance is nice but it's a little crammed in there. The steak was amazing! Empanadas were a little bland. Our server Sarah was a amazing and very accommodating :)