El Fogón de Elena Restaurante

It’s an authentic Colombian restaurant. It offers a good menu and a friendly service. We had Arroz mixto and Bagre encocado both very tasteful. Las empanadas are really authentic. The prices are affordable.

An at home feel restaurant. The young lady server was upbeat and very knowledgeable in helping us with the selections. We ordered variety of dishes. They were all delicious, each offered different takes in preparation. Do observe actual dishes on the tables. You may just want everything. Soda and beer, try it.

The restaurant was filled with people and the energy in the room was good. Sat, reviewed the menu, ordered. I ordered shrimp in a spicy sauce. OMG, that was delicious. The waitress was also very attentive. I believe they won't disappoint you with your order.

Sunday my family had the pleasure of walking in to El Fogón and how full the restaurant was definitely a sign of how great the food is. 1st. Of all the waiting to be attended was over 45 min and let me tell you worth it all. They might have to utilize the pill that is distributed in many American restaurants that lights up when your table is ready to be seated. 2nd the food for all of us was stunningly worth the wait. I had Arroz Con Pollo my son had the top of the line steak and my wife had the Sancocho all food was pipping hot not to say the least. Finally food was so freaking amazing had to take food home carryout after our dinner. Kudos to Ms. Elena and her staff in kitchen also the waiter just amazing to see them juggling with so many people considering the place is smaller then many Restaurants .

Excellent food and wonderful service. Small place with delicious authentic Columbian cuisine. Gets very busy, call ahead for reservations if possible! Definitely will go back again. Every one of my friends were happy about their experience! Best Regards! Thank you.

Feels like I am in Columbia can’t get enough of the food the rice and chicken con maduro slaps so hard I had to save it for the next day and it still good as when I got it I gotta try out the other dishes. Thank you for the food. The lady was so nice to me when I walked in and during and when I was heading out. Again amazing food.

We lately found out this amazing place and have already been there three times. Every dish was fresh made, delicious and nice plating. I love the atmosphere there, it’s cozy and full of love and joy. If you love meat, seafood, tropical drinks and exotic food, this is the place.

We went to the city from the Suburbs to try this Colombian restaurant. The food was beyond our expectations. I ordered cazuela de mariscos which is a seafood stew and was amazing same flavor like if you were in Colombia. My daughter try the patacones (tostones) and we’re also delicious and my mom the bagre encocado which is fish with a coconut sauce. I highly recommend this restaurant if you want to have a Colombian food experience. Steven The server also was excellent, he gave us recommendations and always was checking on us.

Wow! BUENO! This is a quaint, delicious BYOB place! Atmosphere, nice people, personas con sonrisas y comida buena! We will be back- omg the cornmeal arepa con queso- fantastico!

This place deserves more than 5 stars. I'd give it 10 stars if they let me. I've never had Colombian food before and am THRILLED I found this place. This is a beautiful family-owned restaurant. As soon as you walk in the door, you are greeted and immediately feel at home. The ambiance, the service, and the food are AMAZING! I had the Encocao de Bagre, and my mom had the Sandwich de Pollo Desmechada (I forgot to take a picture of this plate), and both of them were just way too good. I loved the Agua de Panela con Limon and Maduro con Queso y Dulce de Guayaba. I cannot say enough about this restaurant. I love it so much and look forward to my next visit. Thank you for the great conservation and amazing food!

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.

Went here with family. The food was delicious , cozy spot. Everyone enjoyed their meal.

I have very mixed feelings about this place. My friends and I were craving Colombian food, and as a Colombian myself, I do not want to disappoint others when it comes to the cuisine. My typical Colombian space had already closed earlier so I saw this place pop up on Yelp and figured I could give it a try. With it being a BYOB establishment and having decent reviews, I figured it would be a good choice. First off, our server the entire experience was not friendly AT all. Whenever I go to Colombian businesses, I'm always yearning for the classic Colombian hospitality that we all know so well, but this lady was on one. She showed NO expressions the entire time she served us, she had that "rolling eyes type of energy", and moved very slow. One of my friends at the table is Brazilian and did not speak Spanish, and when he ordered in English, she had the nerve to say "so does no one in this table of 4 speak Spanish?", which is already not a good judgement question, and also a slap in the face because 2 of us had already all spoken to her in Spanish. Her energy was very off-putting and because of it, her tip at the end of the night was much lower than she was probably anticipating. Onto the food - the empanadas to me were just ok. What I really didn't like is that they don't serve traditional Ají to accompany the empanadas. It was like this green almost avocado-type salsa as well as this white crème. It almost reminded me of the salsas/sauces you would see on Baja fish tacos from Baja California, MX. Overall - strange. Even my friend said her bandeja paisa was small for the price (over $25) and the chicarrón was very dry. I don't think I'd really return here other than knowing that it is BYOB and the space inside is nice with the consistent Colombian music.

I absolutely LOVE this restaurant! The food is absolutely AMAZING! As an appetizers we had the platanos with a very delicious sauce (I can't remember the name of it). Then for the main dish I had the Encocao de Bagre. I can't stress enough how good, service an ambience of this restaurant. I highly recommend it!

The food at El Fogón was DELICIOUS! I had the cheese and shrimp empanadas which were great appetizers. The bandeja was also incredible. The agua de maracuya and limonada were so yummy & refreshing. Lastly the servers were amazing, attentive and kind. The space was also super cute & I really loved the music playing! Would definitely go back!

You have not lived until you eat Bandeja Paisa from this restaurant. It easily became my favorite food after having it. You get a spread of many different flavors- sweetness from the plantain, several types of meats, avocado, buttery rice, and arepa. It is BYOB. The waiter was a delight, and whole restaurant had an upbeat atmosphere. It can be a little loud, so it might be worth checking for ongoing events if that is a concern.

Wow. It's hard to express in words how food so straightforward in some ways is so delicious and satisfying. It's in the details of the preparation and the quality of the ingredients. Imported Columbian style chorizo perfectly seasoned with delicate garlic and a hint of cumin and other spices, let the flavor of the pork come through. Perfectly cooked eggs, cheese stuffed Columbian arepas made from coarsely ground corn meal, crispy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. Empanadas were made cornmeal and crispy crunchy with a tender filing of shredded seasoned beef to die for. Can't wait to introduce many friends to this place! It's around the corner from my house but I would drive across town to eat here. I recommend you do too! Oh, and our server was warm friendly and provided excellent service!

Such an amazing little treasure of a spot! The service makes you feel like you're being welcomed into someone's home for a meal and the food is spectacular. We've had the plancha chicken and the churrasco steak for dinner, arepas and empanadas as starters and every bite was delicious. We love it the most for breakfast because el desayuno trancao with its perfect eggs over grilled sirloin is the best way to start any day. It's fun to spot what other people around you have ordered and think about trying it next time. Elena herself is lovely and welcoming and charming and it's a great place--if they were open every day of the week, it would be hard to say no to!

This Colombian gem has the best breakfast in the city. Dinner is outstanding, too, but the Desayuno Trancao was mind-blowing: not just the best, most flavorful and tender steak, but easily the best egg preparation i've ever encountered. The owner and staff and friendly and lively. Our only wish is that they were open more often.

We ordered Uber eats. The food arrived warm, delicious and very large portion. I was visiting in the city and was surprised they delivered to logan square. Hope to go to the restaurant soon. We had the Picada which us a fried combination of pork, cassava, sausage and other items. Quality cuts of pork. Very pleasant surprise.

This place is amazing. The service was great. The food was amazing and I would highly recommend if you're looking for a hole in the wall that is one of the best hidden gems around. Stephen helped us with everything and was one of the best waiters I've ever seen. Amazing for anytime of the day and especially at night. The Arepas are definitely one of the best things here as well a definite must have. 10/10

I came here to specifically try the changua, a dish I had read about and discussed with my Colombian friend but is not often found in the states. This is the only place I could find in Chicago with it on the menu but no one had posted a pic! I am aware this was maybe not quite how Colombians usually prepare it (it had potatoes) but it was still delicious and surprisingly filling. I also got a great empanada that had the perfect shell and flavorful filling. Also got tostones which are a usual favorite of mine. The waitress, Sandy, was very attentive and it was a very cozy setting. I wil definitely come back with friends!

La comida estuvo muy buena. Las empanadas fue lo que más me gustó. Tengo que volver ir para probar más de su menú

Omg this place is freakin amazing authentic Colombian food for sure! I think I already wrote a review lol but just in case I didn't here is another one! The food has an amazing taste or how we call it "Sazon!"

My Colombian wife & I have been searching for a good Colombian restaurant since moving from Florida and have tried several in Chicago but none compare to El Fogón! Authentic Colombian flavors, el sancocho y bandeja paisa are both delicious + the empanadas! 100% recommend!

Wow, what a hidden gem! Recently dined in for lunch and it was a super cozy place. The decor had a lot of nice personal touches, and it was very clean as well. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and took the time to chat with us. The food was excellent! We had the chicharrón, a veggie empanada (fresh and hot), veggie arepa, and a steak plantain sandwich. These were piled with toppings and so delicious. The plantain had a nice crunch and held together well. Fries on the side were battered and tasted good too. Loved the sauces as well. Overall we will be back for dinner soon, I really want to try the banda paisa dish after drooling over the pictures. Highly recommended hidden gem in Albany Park for authentic Colombian food!

Great Empanadas, plates of big steak, jalapeño and garlic dipping sauce, tasty beef soup, byob (yes!), Colombian food which heretofore, had not tasted!! What more can one ask for - Como Si dice!! Generous servings, cute restaurant, friendly and attentive and engaged staff, street parking, crunchy chicharon, social distancing (sorta). Come early for lunch, like at 11:00 am - they're a breakfast joint too so they're already poised to make your meal. Two words sum up my review - Muy Bueno!!

The food was amazing, authentic cazuela de mariscos from Colombia. Steven the server was excellent he gave us a few recommendations, and all of them were fantastic. We try the bagre encocado, super delicious, the Cazuela de Mariscos beyond my expectations, soup of the day delicious too, the empanadas, the patacones also very delicious.

Second time here and will definitely return. Pechuga Carbon was delicious!!! Empanadas so tasty!

Wooo la comida y el ambiente es algo fuera de lo normal en Chicago. Muy amable, buen servicio, atento al cliente, super clean, buena música y la comida fue increíble. Ordene la bandeja paisa, empanadas, y una sopa. 10/10 a must try, gracias!

I ordered the empanadas with my family and they were hard with the inside stuffing being really mushy. They were not flavorful. The meat was dry and really chewy majority of the meat served was tendon. The toston sandwiches were not good at all they were hard and not tasty. The place is not worth it. I must say the Mara cuya smoothies were good

El mejor restaurante de Colombia en Chicago. La arepa de chocolo es deliciosa y hecha a mano! Una de las mejores arepas de chocolo que me he comido en la vida.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at El Fogon de Elena. The food was delicious, the portions generous and the price very reasonable. We will definitely be coming back.

Smashed this for dinner tonight. Wife and I wanted to celebrate a little and picked up dinner from this neighborhood joint. (We'll be back to dine in as the pandemic subsides.) Chicharron: melts in the mouth providing a pork-deprived body with much needed pig meat. Arepas: generously stuffed with the goods. We tried the vegetariana (potato and corn patty fried up how you like it and jammed between maize pillows with cheese and avocado) and the asada (tender, shredded beef meat with the cheese and the beans). Platano con pollo: sauce, chicken, onions, and cheese slapped between two plantain slices--why don't we eat like this every day? (Mind you, we were not so heroic as to come close to finishing all this food.) You should eat here.

Walked in for breakfast on a Wednesday morning. This place is a hidden gem. Gorgeous and cozy inside with cool artwork on the walls and a killer blues playlist going. The food was wonderful-- South American comfort food at its finest. I had the empañadas-- pollo, carne y queso to start. Crispy, flavorful and good with a spicy green sauce. Then had the Bolon de carne with huevos-- excellent! And the potatoes on the side were a bit different from the usual over salted crap you get elsewhere-- these had sliced peppers and red onion in them and were seasoned well. Will definitely be returning to try dinner!

The arepas are a great deal. My partner and I had the arepas con todo. Came with cheese, Chicharron, chicken, and beef. Delicious! Came with crispy fries too. It was so so good! I just wish they had someone to help! The only waitress was serving about 6-7 tables by herself. She was a rockstar!

A lot to like about this place. The decor inside is great it's got a great vibe. The food is delicious and I'm not even a big fan of Colombian food but everything we had we had in a big group was delicious. The chef is really nice really warm and friendly great service and the prices are really affordable it's really really nice food for a great price. I really liked the arepa plantains and beans

Place was clean, comfortable and the food was great. Also, Elena is a sweet heart and really deserves your business.

Love this little spot. My fiancée and I really enjoyed our meal here. Our credentials are that she is Colombian. Short but sweet review: new favorite Colombian joint in the area. Fair prices for delicious food. If you don't know what to get, can't go wrong with the bandeja paisa.

Mmmmm.... Big portions and small prices. Was walking by and decided to try it. Very good.

This place is a hidden gem. The food is delicious and the serving is huge. If you wanna experience an authentic Columbian food and culture come to the Resto. The place is clean and has a cool rustic ambience. We received prompt service from the staff. Definitely will come back with other friend here.

The restaurant is very clean and great taste in decor. The service is great. Its BYOB. The food is fresh, delicious and tastes home made. The owners are super nice and friendly and asked for our opinion on the food and if there is anything that we think needs improvement. Everything we had was great. The flan dessert is creamy and smooth and delicious. They have guanabana milkshake that was awesome. Definitely will be back.

This is one of the best meals I've ever had!! The carne plantaine sandwich is so delicious and flavorful. And the empanadas with the dipping sauce is to die for! I can't recommend this restaurant more! Such an amazing find

Ordered with a friend from Colombia who had been missing food from home. He was talking about it for days after. Clearly the kitchen cares We ordered: ceviche which was generous, fresh and delicious Salad which was fine; didn't survive delivery super well Coconut shrimp which was also amazing The shrimp and the sauces showed extremely strong sauce work - very balanced and flavorful. Maybe my favorite avocado salsa I've ever had We will be back for arepas (which I hear they make their own masa) and dinner!

Got take out tonight and everything was DELICIOUS. We had the carne asada, the pechuga al carbón, and the carne sándwich de plátano (jibarito). We will definitely order from them again and hope to be able to stop by in person some day soon!

Very very bad service , the server has to be trained , no manners and no English . This place was highly recommend , and it's not easy to eat at a dirty place , this are the reasons I won't recommend this place or go ever go back !

The place is delicious, the empanadas de queso are a hit, the owner is super friendly, the service was great our waiter was Alex and he was great. The ceviche was fresh and super flavorful.

Randomly found this restaurant on yelp and so glad we decided to dine here. Everything on my plate was filled with flavor. Absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this restaurant to everyone who is looking for a home-style cuisine. Looking forward to going back to try their seafood soup

Loved it. Had the carne sandwich and it was beyond my expectations. BYOB, enough said. Will most definitely be back again (probably this week)!

We walked into El Fogón de Elena after noticing it had just opened in the area. The interior is well decorated and very welcoming. Everything tasted very fresh and home made. I ended up getting two empanadas to start which were the best I've had in the city. Then we got an assorted plate of chicharrones, arepas and tostones which were delicious and very authentically Colombian. By the time I got to the main course--bandeja paisa--I was stuffed but that didn't stop me from enjoying every bit of the well portioned rice and bean platter that had an assortment of meats and plantains typical in Colombian food. I was too full for desert but I'll be coming back to try other things on the menu, especially because it's BYOB.

Delicious arepas and fast service. The arepas are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and loaded with delicious fillings. The chicken was juicy & well seasoned, and the vegetarian was so good. Nice beer-battered fries & good guasacaca sauce too.

First time having a plantain sandwich and it was superb. Go with the steak! Tired the chicken one as well. It was good but the steak was better. We tried most of the empanadas and they were all delicious.

I found this restaurant out of luck and let me tell you, what an amazing luck that was. We all asked for a Bandera Paisa and ate the whole thing. The crispy pork, amazing steak, perfectly cooked egg, home made sausage were to die for. I live in Wisconsin and, until I convince Elena, the owner, to move to Madison this will be the only place I eat in Chicago. Yes, it IS that good!

I don't normally post reviews if I've only been to a place once, but I decided to since this new place doesn't have any yet. I went for lunch and got a carne sandwich de platano. As far as I can tell a "sandwich de platano" is the same thing as a jibarito. So I'm glad this is here since El Picosito Jibaro closed. The sandwich was very good. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the meat was not real tender. The service was great. I can't wait to go back to try brunch and dinner.

Delivery arrived impressively fast (we do live super close, but still!) and everything was perfect. We were able to dine in once before shelter-in-place and really liked the spot.

My partner and I live around the corner and so stopped in for lunch midday -- he had the shrimp and I had the breakfast tostada and both were fantastic. my cappuccino was very good too. the decor is quaint and considered. I will definitely go back, and soon --it's a welcome addition to the neighborhood!

The place was amazing food and awesome service. I haven't enjoy a outstanding home cooked meal. In so long and we need more places like this one truly one of a kind place and need more of them ASAP. I can't stress enough the food beyond expectations and service as well.