El Llano Restaurant

I work across the street and stopped in for lunch today, got the Pollo, rice & beans lunch special. 11/10, absolutely fantastic food at a great price. Going back for the carne asada soon!

I brought my car to a nearby place and I stopped by this restaurant not far from it. It had good reviews and now I understand as to why it does. The food is good and done fast, they have specials to consider too. The server did not tell me her name but she was efficient and came around to ask if everything was ok. The food came out fast and it was good, the sauce was spicy but not too much. The restaurant was playing Colombian salsa music and there are plenty of tables to seat. They have the bathrooms in the back. They do have a sign for BYOB, not sure what the fee is to do so but it's there. The restaurant has nice colorful decor. Feel free to order ahead and pickup. Paid parking in front and a few steps from a bus stop. I'll come again to try other dishes, the chicken was good

One of my favorite places to eat Colombian cuisine 🧆 tostones and fried yuca! I love the beef empanadas ❤️ staff is super lovely 🤗😊

The food was SOOO GOOD! I'd definitely recommend any of the meals. The meats and rice are all so flavorfully. The mango juice is also amazing, freshly juices.

Best Colombian food I have had around here. I recommend to have two people per plate since the serving size is huge! Very flavorful food and the service is amazing.

Wow. Wonderful place for a meal. True to its culture and down-home cooking. Serving size vs. price was excellent. Bring your family to this place, leave full and happy. The real juice drinks extremely good. Once you go, you'll return. Sorry, l forgot to take food pictures, but the food was eaten so fast, l forgot.

Food was great. The lady that served us was very attentive and helpful. Try the lulo juice. So good!

Try Colombian food for the first time! Empanadas are decent, not that great. But the carne asada and bandeja Paisa are delicious. Free parking in lot next to the restaurant.

This Columbian restaurant was highly recommended to me. I was in the neighborhood on an errand and stopped in. Their Ribeye Steak Special for $9.95 is a great value. The thinly sliced ribeye is accompanied by rice, beans, and salad. Their complimentary salsa verde (green salsa) is excellent and I poured it over my rice and beans as well. The arepas with cheese are fantastic!! I ordered three arepas to take home. I also enjoyed their Columbian coffee. Service is friendly and welcoming. It is BYOB. I will be back soon!

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!

Im blown away .. the place is so cute I loved the decoration.. the painted doors on the wall I ordered empanadas both were good. Beef and. Chicken they are mixed with potato .. I got the bistec my plate was super generous I'm usually one to finish my food I have food for later .. my boyfriend got chicken and steak on a little sizzling plate with chimichurri.. an arepa and he ate it all !! So good first time for me and I'll def take the ride to get it again Gracias

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!

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!

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.

Love this place and their Columbian food and superb taste Every time I come here and order empanadas with salsa My 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 menu And Yes they are BYOB

Take out review I 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!

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!

I got lunch here With my friend We order empanadas and the special steak Salad Rice & beans 5.99 Really good See you next time

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!!

My fiancé and I love to eat dinner here. The dishes are huge and an excellent choice when you want a meal high in protein. I usually get the garlic chicken breast, which comes with rice, fried yuca, mashed green plantains, and one small boiled potato. But last time I got the chicken breast in Creole sauce (tomatoes and onions) and it was killer. The dishes always taste nourishing and made with love. Plus, I like that they cut the chicken very thin. My fiancé usually orders steak, and that comes with fried plantains (maduros), potatoes, and yuca. I'm assuming there's no dairy or gluten in most of these dishes but ask the staff to be sure (they're very nice).

Looking to try out a new restaurant I went to Yelp to see what was new and exciting. The week prior I had seen an awesome picture of a "Bandeja Paisa", so I figured it only made sense to look for Colombian food! A quick scan brought me to El Llano, and the 5 star reviews left me pretty curious! As we neared the restaurant I noticed a sign in the window saying that they had a 5.95 special including steak or chicken, rice, beans, and salad! A typical meal in most Latin American countries. Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted almost immediately and told we could sit wherever we'd like. The interior is bright and colorful, and the salsa playing in the background added to the overall vibe. There was a kind of weird smell throughout the restaurant, but nothing too pungent. A quick scan of the menu led me to what I had come to try! The Bandeja Paisa. Having not eaten for most of the day I decided it'd be a good idea to order a few side dishes to eat in the mean time so I wouldnt inhale my food. I ended up ordering and arepa con queso, and my mom ordered the special with steak! Within about 15-20 minutes the food was ready and it looked delicious! The chicharron looked cooked perfectly, as well as the fried egg, chorizo and steak! I had no idea what to taste first so I essentially just dug in and ate a little of everything. My favorite item on the plate by far was the chicharron haha. Crispy exterior and nice flavorful interior. My mom kept making mention of how tender the steak was, and how it seemed to disappear as she began to chew. I did agree that the steak was cooked well, and was extremely tender. Being obsessed with the chicharron I ordered a side order of chicharron and arepa and literally almost inhaled all of it haha. The waitress was attentive and consistently checked the table to see how we were enjoying everything and whether we needed anything. There was only one other group in the restaurant at the time, and they also seemed to be satisfied with their experience. The prices are reasonable, and the portion sizes are good! Overall it was a positive experience, and if I'm in the area again I'd definitely stop by to try out more menu items

Very happy that this place has come to the neighborhood! My girlfriend and I came in with a good bottle of red wine in hand and had an outstanding meal. You get your money's worth and don't have to empty your bank account to do it. We had leftovers for days. Felt like Escobar

I've been to a lot of Colombian restaurants so I was excited when I saw 5 stars on this one. I don't think this establishment should have 5 stars. The chorizo was not great. The white rice was okay. The menu was short and dose not have what you would expect. Like some sobre barriga or lengua en salsa. The soup of the day was not available at 3pm. I would not come into this place expecting 5 stars. I'm sure there are better ones around here.

I love this place! The service is fantastic, and the food is delicious. I would always come back

Amazing beef short rib soup today! It's my new Wednesday favorite! I take out for lunch and it's a kind of 'make it' when you get back to work and it's just AMAZING! The Friday pork soup is just as amazing! RUN to El Llano! Don't walk! Amazing food! I am no longer working is the El Llano neighborhood, it was temporary, so now I need to go back for the soup, I am missing it!!!

Very delicious and great customer service! I recommend the Matrimonió with an arepa on the side. Best arepa I've ever had.

This place is awesome we stopped in for a quick bite. The service was phenomenal and we felt instantly like we were at home. The food was very authentic and delicious and if we could put six stars we would.

Great place for streak with Latino flavor. There have many different cuts of streak and also a lot of other choices. Everything is very delicious

THE LUNCH SPECIAL!!! Incredible, friendly service and VERY delicious food. Came back two days in a row so I could try the chicken and the steak!

loud loud music i order the bandeja paisa i tell the server no egg she forget tell the cook all was good but the chorizo has funky taste

Delicious Colombian food + BYOB = a great place to be. Very happy this place has come to the North Center / Lincoln Square area. - Service was very friendly. - Great daily special where you get steak or chicken + rice + beans + lettuce + tomato for $5.95 - The empanadas are tremendous, and in the league of Mekato's-level quality. - The arepas are like tastier versions of pancakes. - They have the Colombian sodas (Colombiana, Manzana, etc) - We will definitely be back for more.

So glad we tried the new location of El Llano ! VERY casual environment , but outstanding friendly service - food was amazing - and of course plentiful! Welcome to the neighborhood El Llano !

Good food, Nice people. The steak and chicken are great.

We visited the restaurant on a weekday and there was only one other customer eating. We had the empanadas for appetizer but we've had better. I had the rib rib eye steak dinner. It was a lot of meat for a reasonable price and very tasty. Also enjoyed the hot pork rinds yummy. Hubby had the dish with a variety of meat and said it was good. You definitely get a bang for your buck! The reason I didn't give it 5 star was because there was a weird smell in the restaurant almost like a moldy smell. Overall good tasting food.

Chicken breast in garlic. That's what to get. I'm vegan 9 days out of 10 but when I'm in the mood for meat, that dish at this place is high on my list. Friendly and cute too.

As a previous review said, this place is a good place for a high-protein meal. I almost always get the New York strip steak, which is made even better with the sauce that accompanies it. The mango juice with milk is also good--I try to order it whenever I stop in. The staff here are also very nice. Highly recommended hidden gem here in North Center!

This place is amazing! Happened in on a rainy Friday night and the food transported us somewhere much warmer and more delicious. Go for the fruit drinks with water---so good and so delicious. Also, the empanadas are great and the piles and piles of grilled meat are amazing. Highly recommend sharing or planning for at least one day of leftovers. It's kind of crazy how affordable this place is. We will definitely go back.

Holy amazing! Secret place on Lincoln. The garlic chicken is to die for. Get the chimichurri with it. The shrimp cocktail is over 100 fresh little shrimp with fresh tomato, cilantro, onion and lime. No lettuce to fill the bowl at the bottom. No skimping here. Please support this little small family business. We need more places like this in Chicago!

Excellent food, excellent service. So good. Better than I expected. This is my new go to for Empanadas

This restaurant is one of my favorites! The food is so authentic and their empanadas are sooo delicious! Their fruit juices are so natural and delicious! Try them and you'll find out for yourself. You're welcome I'm advanced!

I really enjoyed this place! The food was good! I've never had Colombian food so i wasn't sure what to expect. I had the bistec en salsa. It was delicious! It kinda reminded me of Filipino Kaldereta. My friend and I brought some bubbly and a growler to enjoy during dinner. The staff was attentive without being over bearing. Always appreciative of people with this skill.

This place is great. Great empanadas, arepas, and an amazing meal deal that gets you grilled steak, awesome beans and rice and a salad for $5.95. The rice has an addictive quality to it. Delicious fruit juice smoothies/batidos too (passion fruit was incredible).

Great spot! Food was delicious and service was perfect. Missing moms cooking, and this truly hit the spot!

Amazing food at really reasonable prices. Super friendly staff, and BYOB! We loved it.

Good to see this restaurant back in the neighborhood. Super tasty food for a reasonable price. Menu is very meat oriented, but there are some fish and vegetarian options. I usually go for the grilled chicken breast special (chicken+beans+rice+salad) which isn't listed in the menu but is posted in the window. One of the best food deals in town.

Amazing Colombian food for a great price. I had the chicken plate with a mango juice and it was cooked perfectly. They are very friendly and the service was fast

The steak was so good everything we got was so delicious I think this might be 1 of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood here I now love Columbian food. Marcella took care of us well and made sure my kids had a great experience.

OMG, LITTLE place is great, authentic and reasonable priced....Does not get any better

This is a hidden gem. Everything is prompt and amazing. The steak is reasonably priced and flash cooked. I loved the sides. The plantain and cassava had me rethinking my own cooking. Otherwise the place is humble and could easily be missed, but that would be a big mistake.

Best place ever!!! The food is fabulous! Food and staff is great!! I loved the chicken empanadas and the authentic Churasco. They also have the same sodas that are sold in Colombia. I am definitely coming back to this place soon and am telling all of my friends.

Stopped in for empanadas and received nothing but deep fried dough... no meat in sight. There's no wonder the place was empty if this is the quality of foods being served. Headed back to Irving park near Sacramento where they know what a empanada is.

El Llano is GREAT! You get a lot of really flavorful food for the price. We tried the empanadas, Churrasco, and Carne Asada. The atmosphere inside is super casual and friendly. Will definitely be back!

These guys are amazing. The steak and chicken specials are perfect, great amount of food and cooked to perfection. It's light on the wallet too, so this is a great place to come get some lunch or have dinner on a budget. I'm so glad they opened a location here in North Center, I'm gonna get so fat eating here all the time but it's so good! Come here, you won't regret it!!

I usually don't post reviews but I couldn't pass up this opportunity. This is now one of my favorite restaurants! Great Colombian food, excellent service and very reasonable prices. Our waitress Marcella made us feel right at home. Don't forget to order the flan for dessert (not pictured) delicious! I would definitely recommend this place to family and friends.

I have been to several Colombian restaurants, but I can honestly say, this one tops my list. This family owned business has mastered flavors. Before even walking in the door, you can smell the amazing aromas. Upon walking in the door you are greeted with a warm family smile. You can feel the love. Looking for an affordable meal, they have a $5.95 special your choice of steak or chicken with rice, beans and salad. If looking for a steak full of flavor, order the Churrasco, a beautiful cut rib eye steak with exquisite flavors. If you ever want to try a typical Colombian dish, try the Bandeja Paisa. Oh and the empanadas are my son's favorite you have your choice of 3 flavors, beef, chicken and veggie, and they are all amazing. Oh and to top it off... Its BYOB. Bring your favorite wine or six pack of beer and enjoy. So happy this is now back in the neighborhood.