Lokal

Went to Amaru last night and the food and service were incredible. Sabrina - our waitress - was extremely attentive and super friendly with excellent recommendations. We had the branzino with mussels - delicious! The goat cheese and beet salad was refreshing and one of the best beet salads I have ver had. Drinks were also great - especially "Holywater"'- a rum drink that comes with a flaming orange. Highly recommend.

A cozy, intimate space with a very strong cocktail program. I was very impressed by Amaru as even though it is on the busy thoroughfare of North Ave, seems to be tucked away from the hustle and bustle. The ceviche and stuffed plantains were absolutely lovely as well as all of the drinks recommended by our fantastic server Jeffrey. He was an integral part of making this meal wonderful and his expertise and care was apparent from being seated to the check being dropped. If he's not a lead server, he should be. He really showcased his skills and passion for the menu throughout the entire meal.

Came here for dinner with my sister on a Sunday and had a pleasant experience! We made reservations in advance which wasn't necessary because it wasn't too busy. Service was super friendly and the ambiance was casual yet intimate. We ordered a few things from the botanas and medianos categories: - yuca frita - Guatemalan ribs - jerk pollo - mole y leon - pulpo a la plancha Everything was delicious and the portions were perfect for the two of us. The mushroom dish was a standout because it was so creative and flavorful. I also could not stop snacking on the yuca frita - I love them more than regular French fries!

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.

Definitely enjoyed my time here. Amaru has a beautiful ambiance and open kitchen. The seating is lovely and great space between other tables. My girls and I chose this place as our monthly meet up. We chose three dishes and some drinks. For food we ordered the mole y Leon, Cuban oxtail special and jerk pollo. I can't say I had a favorite dish but there were pieces from each dish that I appreciated. From the jerk chicken I appreciated the grilled chard dark thigh meat. Nice pieces and flavorable. The oxtail meat was tender and so amazing. The ravioli dumplings were alright but clearly used as fillers. The mushroom dish I felt had more potential that wasn't reached. The mole was alright. Our beverages were delicious but I think they put mezcal in my drink rather than the brugal. I should've spoken up but didn't. I would return to try other meals

Honestly, I loved everything that I got from here. The pan latin flavors and quaint eating space make this a unique and must-try restaurant in Chicago. The stand-out dish we got was definitely the pulpo a la plancha (octopus). Now I'm not one that typically enjoys octopus, as it can easily be overcooked and become rubbery. But this octopus was cooked perfectly. It melted in your mouth. The other dishes we got were also very good and extremely flavorful. We got the empanadas and plantains, which are both great vegetarian options. We also tried the jerk pollo which was cooked perfectly. The chicken was not dry at all, though I wouldn't say it tasted like jerk seasoning (maybe more bbq?). To end the night, we tried the espresso tres leches at our waiters recommendation. The cake itself was not as soft as I would have expected. But the flavor combination was exquisite with the abuelita chocolate on the bottom. Pro tip: take home the espresso tres leches and heat it up! It gets nice and soft and soaks up all the chocolate at the bottom... so good!

Busy place, even for a Monday night. Wife and I opted for the bar seating and were greeted warmly by the bartender. Opted for: Piononos - savory bacon wrapped around plantains, can't go wrong Guatemalan ribs - the green sauce coating the ribs was phenomenal Pulpo (charred octopus) - was average; the octopus was very thick and not as tender as I've experienced in some other places Coconut Fried rice - amazing coconut flavor, couldn't get enough of it Matambre (short rib) - probably one of the best short ribs I've had, very soft with great flavor, the plate was gone within 5 minutes of hitting the table Chocolate tres leches for dessert - great end to the night. We also ordered the Spicy Girl cocktail - I pretty much enjoy anything with mezcal these days. Would definitely be back, ambience is great as well

Good food and good service overall but the overall flavors left a tad bit more to be desired to give it 5 stars. We got their mojito, the ceviche, the octopus, the branzino and tres leche for dessert. I certainly recommend it for a low key weekday night out or dinner before a weekend of staying out.

I have walked past the street where Amaru is located multiple times in the past but never really noticed this cute Latin eatery. We were on a food and bar crawl experience and my friend selected Amaru for main courses and drinks. We all absolutely loved our drinks! Their key highlight is surely Holy water, it is also quite dramatic with all fire and ice! My friend and I tried the After me drink which had banana liqueur and expresso infused vermouth. It was just perfect! For apps we tried Yucca fritters, sweet plantains and coconut fried rice (it contains egg, but you can choose to remove the egg) For vegetarian main course we tried Mole Y Leon which was a mushroom based dish and it was VERY flavorful. My personal favorite! I wish they had more vegetarian/ vegan options. I will go back for the mushroom dish and try out more cocktails! It is a must visit if you like pan latin cuisine!

I've been wanting to try Amaru for a while and so stopped by around their happy hour to try some food. The happy hour prices are such a good deal - if you want to get some of their food and drinks, I absolutely recommend it because the prices are like half off. The service was also very friendly and lovely when we were there. It's also cute inside so solid place for a date or cute friend hang. Onto the food - we ordered the piononos, requeson, lion's mane mushroom mole, and the Cuban frita burger. I would say we both liked the apps (the piononos and requeson) the best and in that order. Plantains and bread are delicious and they do a fun job with it. The lion's mane mushroom mole was interesting and fun to try as well. The cuban frita burger was the least exciting to us because we have both had much better versions of this burger (for cheaper, in Miami lol where they are delicious) but still solid. Generally, I would say it was fun trying their food but nothing was Amazingly delicious to me in a way that stood out or would make me want to order the same items. They changed their menu recently and took off stuff I had been wanting to try, so it might be a while until I come back. But a fun meal experience, even if not outstanding.

We came here for our YES Girls ladies night! We were actually celebrating our trio's respective birthdays - we're all within a month of each other :) Service and ambiance were on point. The service was attentive, friendly, and shared some info about the restaurant (he also gave us a special birthday shot to kick off the evening). The ambiance was carefully curated, quirky, and inviting. We ordered 3 items, though we could've/should've ordered more. Definitely recommend the oxtail raviolis- delicious! I liked the Lions mane mushroom mole. We also had the chicken skewers. Portions are on the smaller side, so make sure to order more than 1 per person. As for cocktails- order the pina colada, it's not what you're expecting! I'll let you be surprised! But it was a favorite.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Amaru. From the moment we walked in, we were met with warm hospitality. Because we were seated at the kitchen bar, we had the privilege of watching all the food being prepared. Every dish looked tantalizing but alas we were only two people with limited stomach space... I especially enjoyed the yucca fries, heirloom beet salad, and lion's mane mole. I didn't like the fish empanadas but that might be personal preference. With bright flavors and fresh ingredients, the dishes were right up my alley. Would recommend this restaurant if you're in the area!

Overall Thoughts: I went to Amaru for 2024 Restaurant Week, and it had lovely vibes, solid food, and friendly service all around. My friends and I got the cheaper $42 dinner option and felt the value was good-- we were stuffed and satisfied afterwards. Out of all 3 courses, the dessert was definitely the weakest, but I really enjoyed the other two courses! - Course 1: Requeson (4.6/5): The soft cheese was delicious; it was creamy and slightly sweet, pairing nicely with the slightly spiced salsa. - Course 2: Mole Y Leon (4.5/5): This was my first time having lion's mane mushroom, and it was great! The texture was stringy and chewy, and the seared flavors were strong. The yuca was crispy and tasty, and the mole was rich and earthy. - Course 3- Espresso Tres Leches (4/5): Definitely lacking relative to the other two dishes; the cake wasn't moist enough in my opinion, and the flavor was kind of monotonous. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.2/5 Food: 4.4/5 Ambience: 4.9/5 Service: 5/5 Overall Value: 4.5/5

I've been meaning to write this review but wanted to take some time with it. Amaru is another great Chicago dining experience. We elected to sit at the bar for dinner upon our first visit and we have been back twice since. Amaru atmosphere is bright and cheerful with a friendly and conscious staff. We go out often... three or four times a week because we love all the wonderful food choices Chicago has to offer. The menu here is an adventure. As a pescatarian, I was pleased to see the choices available, and our food appeared to be carefully prepared under discerning eyes with both attention to presentation as well as flavor. In a few words... Amaru is "delicious, authentic Latin American food and warm hospitality." Starters - a bottle of the Malbec red wine. "Vista Flores" - Mendoza, Argentina which was a somewhat complex red with a nice finish. Medianos we chose the the Humitas... an absolutely delicious combination of Fennel seed tamal, jackfruit barbacoa, white bean sofrito, arugula... it's outstanding. Entrées included Japanese black sea bass, w/ chupe, criollo rice, herbs - amazing! and Frita Cubana which is a Cuban burger, seasoned grass-fed beef, queso Oaxaca, burnt garlic aioli, shoe string potatoes. We split the Roasted Beet Salad (Roasted local beets, Jamaica vinaigrette, sugar snap peas, requeson de cabra, pumpkin seed praline) which was both fresh and mysteriously flavorful. POSTRES (dessert) we had the Chocolate Flan. An impressive presentation of what appeared to be homemade Ecuadorian cacao flan in a bed of mango cardamom sauce topped with delectable and crunchy burnt cinnamon cracker(s) just as described. Tip: If you're a coffee lover, order the the plain espresso to accompany any of their dessert options... the equipment is super clean insuring you're getting all the flavor the bean has to offer. Amaru is now on our A list for Latin American food adventure!

Great spot to stop in for dinner and drinks with friends! Keep in mind that pretty much everything is made to share, so order up! Cocktails were pretty solid and service was always quick to come around. Food came out at a reasonable pace, just had to do a little shuffling with a small table. One fault was that a few of our items were a bit under seasoned, leaving something more to be desired. We will definitely give this place a shot again soon, hopefully it's better next time!

I would probably go 3.5 but I'll round up for service. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. We snuck into an 815 reservation Saturday night for dinner. We got the octopus and some drinks to start. Limited wine choice, def more of a cocktail bar. My husband loved his drink. For dinner we split the cod on special and the tenderloin. The cod was underwhelming but the squid ink pasta on the side was delicious. The tenderloin was really over cooked, so the flavor was alright but wasn't very enjoyable. Because of that our server comped the guava cheesecake which was much appreciated. It was delicious! My husband added the tres leches which he enjoyed. Overall, the cheesecake and octopus were the highlights, everything else was just ok.

Came here for restaurant week a few months ago (whoops, I am behind on my Yelp reviews). Was really excited to try the octopus and it did not disappoint! (Would recommend ordering 2). Tapas were perf for 3-4 people to order a bunch and share. The interior and table settings are really cute, I'll be back again.

I was shocked $40 per person , follow @biteswithbessy for more! better food, 10/10 would recommend @amarurestaurant in Wicker Park Growing up in Asia, my family and I always valued eating great food without paying too much. Because in Hong Kong, you can get the best food, the best noodles, the best sushi even just for $20 So we wanted to try a few new restaurants while exploring different neighborhoods of Chicago Because my brother & sister in law haven't really seen Wicker Park they live in NY This was perfect! Low key , super underrated, and hidden and my brother + sister in law haven't really tried Latin American food so this was perfect! If you like seafood & grilled meats, good vibes, without the price tag.. then this is for you Got the: - Charred octopus $16 on potatoes bravas - Bacon wrapped dates $13 - - Coconut Fried Rice $8 - cheese, chili honey on sourdough $13 - Ceviche $13 - Cuban burger $13 burnt garlic aioli - tender loin $34, + corn chimichurri & mole - Key Lime $12 - Espresso Tres Leches $12 Share this with someone who's visiting! @amarurestaurant 1904 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 Book on @opentable

Amaru offers a diverse selection of Pan-Latin bites and well-crafted cocktails. The dishes are flavorful and the cocktails are expertly mixed. The service was pleasant and attentive. It's a solid choice for those looking to explore Latin American cuisine in a relaxed setting.

had the best meal at Amaru! one of my favorite spots i've been to in chicago ! the service was great the ambiance was incredible. Definitely a smaller place. The food was insane and will definitely be back. It was fun to come in a bigger group and be able to try a bunch of different dishes! The kitchen did close a little early, but the staff was able to let us know well before so we could order what we wanted.

We loved Amaru! The flavors are absolutely amazing! Everything we tried was so flavorful and tasty! Our waiter suggested we try a couple of shared plates (tapas) that way we can try different dishes. My fav by far was the sweet plantains with the green sauce... the sweet/savory combo works amazing! The pulpo (charred octopus) so soft, so tender! We all were pleasantly surprise by the sweet potato pie! So yummy! The cocktails were on point too! And strong too (yasss!). Definitely try the spicy girl and the holy water (they lit the drink). We loved the ambiance of the restuarant, very lively and music was good as well as the service! Highly recommend Amaru! We had a great time! *reservations recommended (not sure if they take walkins). Parking might be hard to get, esp on a Saturday night in wicker park.

Came here after lunch for Happy Hour only wanting drinks, but was drawn in by the delicious food options and ended up ordering a few dishes. Happy Hour special pricing was amazingly affordable! There aren't a whole lot of tables, so try to come early to get yourself a spot. The interior is a bit dark and intimate. What we ordered: - Mojito (x3 ahahah) - Caipirinha - Guatemalan Ribs - Yuca Frita - Requesón Drinks were tasty and you can definitely tell there was alcohol. The mojito was so good we ended up ordering a second round of them haha! The Yuca Frita was perfectly crispy and didn't have an overwhelming amount of starchy-ness to it as it tended to be with other spots I've ordered from. The sauce that accompanied the fries added a nice spicy kick. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender. Seasoned with an array of spices and dipped in what I believe is the same sauce as the fries, it packed a powerful punch of flavor! The Requesón is a bread and cheese dish. The sourdough bread warm, soft, and buttery. The soft cheese sat on top of what I can only describe as a cold, flavorful chili. The difference in temperature between the hot bread/cheese and the cold chili(?) created a wonderful mouthfeel that kept me coming back for more. Overall great experience at Amaru. The service was quick and staff were friendly. If we weren't already filled from our previous meal, we may have ended up staying for dinner service too!

Amaru was a delight. I have always passed by this place but never really noticed it. The place is small with tropical South American decor. The menu was a bit limited in my opinion and not very vegetarian friendly, but the food was still great. We tried the yucca fries, the coconut fried rice, the sweet plantains and the chicken. All the dishes were really great. Our server also suggested a mushroom dish with lions mane mushroom, which was really interesting. The service was fast, although the server ignored us a bit as we were nearing the closing time. We tried the holy water cocktail, and it was the main highlight! No wonder that's their main selling point. A must visit if you are in wicker park/bucktown.

came for restaurant week! my friend and i got tried the $42 and $59 dinner menu and split everything! we got to try 8 items!! the dishes were all the same nicely portioned sizes as if you ordered normally so a win and we left super satisfied! our absolute faves were the ceviche del dia and pulpo a la plancha (charred octopus with potatoes) and would def recommend to anyone. the ceviche was well flavored with citrus and dill. it had lots of sauce and we loved the apples in them! the octopus had a smoky flavor and was super tender. we liked the broccolini and the papas bravas with the sauce. the tresh leches was a big portion and the better of the dessert compared to the other two which were really sweet in the dessert duo. it is small so it may feel cramped, but didn't bother us and staff was nice! overall some dishes we did find a little on the salty side, but definitely worth checking out and was a great deal during restaurant week!

Its very chic inside but its pretty dark. Upon walking in my friend & I were reminded of the 1.5hr time limit. It wasn't busy at all. I'm totally fine with policy but this policy wasn't mentioned to the patrons ,sitting next to us, as they walked in or sat down. We were there around 5pm on a Saturday. The makeup were the drinks & our server. The food I give a 7 out of 10 Our server was speedy & the bartender was giving . I'd come again for a pre-game before dinner or an event. My friend and I chose to try this place before an event and it was the perfect place to do it! Piononos: Most of my favors in one dish. Chorizo , bacon, & plantains. Ravioli: The oxtail was tender & flavorful! The kale was amazing i wish there was more, it helped cut the texture of the ravioli inside. Im still not sure what the filling is. I was looking for the pasta to be stuffed with the oxtail vs outside the dish. The inside is filled with maybe ricotta cheese? ‍ The burger was ok. I'd give a 6.5 because I felt the bread was overwhelming. It was more bread than ingredients but it wasn't dry it was flavorful & tender. My friend ordered the burger in medium well. We also had the Yuca fries (the burger doesn't come with) & I'm giving 7 because its too hardy in texture but it was cooked well. Overall, the initial encounter blew me but I enjoyed myself . We spent $152 roughly for 4 drinks , 4 shots , 1 app, and 2 plates. The price wasn't bad at all.

Fantastic place for happy hour! We ordered almost everything off the happy hour menu but my favorites were the plantains, ribs and yuca frita. The mojo verde sauce was so creamy with a bit of spice. The coconut fried rice was also delightful, and drinks were great. It was quite busy during happy hour, and the staff was so quick to bring out our foods and drinks. The inside wasn't loud either which made it a great spot to catch up with friends. I'd love to come back and try their dinner menu, after happy hour ofc :)

I absolutely loved everything I tried, the food, the drinks. Delicious! I will definitely be back, soon!

Tried their stand in Time Out Market. I only got their Jackfruit Barbacoa and I honestly didn't like it at all. Normally I love all things jackfruit and barbacoa, but this was a huge miss for me. The texture was weird and there was no flavor outside of the spiciness provided by the smoked chili. I was disappointed especially since it's an expensive taco. There's a lot better taco places I've been to that aren't as pricey as here. Not worth it in my opinion.

Stopped in on a Saturday around 530pm before a 715 show at the den theater. They only had bar seats available so we grabbed those. The drinks were very creative and delicious. The service for the drinks was a little slow as only one of the bartenders seemed to be doing much. She was very pleasant and helpful with the menu while her partner was mostly standing around. We both got the burger, which was exquisite! The party was perfectly cooked and the flavors were delicious. We did both thing the shoestring fries would be on the side instead of a couple inside the burger, but overall we really enjoyed the meal and were out in time to make it to the show on time.

Honest review incoming!! Spent our Friday this weekend in Wicker Park and hit Amaru since it's been on our list. The drinks were definitely awesome, recommend the espresso martini! The food was tasty and came out fast but I wouldn't come running back for some things. Plantains were a highlight and so was the jerk chicken (not pictured, phone didn't eat first on this one!!) Ceviche was fresh as well. However, portions were definitely small BUT! everything is very fairly priced and we were pleasantly surprised when the bill came. Overall would come back for appetizers and drinks! Will likely try some other hot Wicker spots first, though.

Super cute vibe! Friendliest staff, fun drinks (if you like rum or tequila) I got the sweet plantains and they were PERFECT. So so yummy. I went by myself and sat at the bar and felt so comfortable and welcome.

Although I have been to Chicago for quite a few times, I always look for trying some new restaurants. Amaru is among the very few ones that I have been to for more than once. The food there always had high quality, the service was quick and stuff was polite, and the vibe was perfect--in short, they were doing the job in creating some satisfactory dining experience. Food was delicious, creative and had good platting. For starters do not miss the pork ribs and piononos, the latter being bacon wrapped plantain and meat mix (a South American version of bacon wrapped dates). If you want to have some larger appetizers, try the Mole Y Leon or chicken kebab or cod empanadas. Mole Y Leon was a vegan dish consisting of ~5 pieces of lion mane mushrooms, some broccolini, corn salad, yuca fries, and their dense, rich, nutty and fruitty mole negro sauce. For entrée I recommend the oxtail ravioli. At only $26 you get lots of juicy pulled oxtail meat, several large pieces of ravioli filled with cheese and perhaps some mashed potato, and kale, green beans and other veggie. Tasted divine and was healthy as well. The coconut rice side was not bad either--remember also it was served with a lovely egg. The service was pretty quick. Each time I got the first dish shortly after ordering it. As the restaurant was small the stuff often responded quickly. They were also nice enough to help me (and my friends) decide what to order (suggestions about dish sizes, flavor, how to pair the app & main, etc.). Besides, the restaurant had a good vibe. From the reasonable price of dishes to the dim lighting to relaxing music, it was easy to feel calmed and focus on the food throughout a meal. Overall it was a perfect restaurant for having South American food. Will come here again next time I go to Chicago--possibly with my friends. Hopefully they can add some patio!

Came here on a Monday for happy hour. The service was attentive and paid attention to how our food was coursed out. It is a pretty restaurant inside and is a great place to meet friends for drinks and food. These plates are all shareable. We had the sweet plantains, pernil, yuca frita, and requeson. The sweet plantains were good, but nothing mind-blowing. The yuca frita were great and a sizable portion. The standouts, to me, were the requeson and pernil. The meat was so tender in the pernil, and the requeson's bread and dip are so flavorful and texturally satisfying. I would definitely recommend coming here for a happy hour since it is a great deal!

I visited Amaru a couple of weeks ago for their happy hour (M-TH 5-6pm, Sunday 4pm-5pm). Amaru's happy hour deals are TO DIE for as you can enjoy select cocktails for $6! and half off on some of their appetizers! For apps, I tried the yuca frita, piononos, and the Guatemalan ribs. Personally, I thought there wasn't anything special about the yuca frita. I also felt the texture of the piononos was not to my liking. The Guatemalan ribs were really delicious! I would say the Pulpo a la plancha was definitely the show stopper and what is carrying this review! It was well-cooked, well flavored, and the presentation was so beautiful! I loved the fermented sriracha sauce (not too spicy, but a slight kick). I appreciated how quickly the food came out but; the service was a bit slow and I felt like the server was too loud despite the restaurant being relatively empty and I was able to hear them just fine.. haha The portions aren't large, since all the things I ordered were tapas. This was definitely a good opportunity for me to try Latin American flavors tho!

Service was very good. Drinks were good. Food was meh, nothing special. Ambiance was like they are trying to be cool, but cheap. Blasting music at dinner. Couldn't hear my partner across the table, or the server. They seemed very aware of how no one could hear them. Everyone shouting over the music at tables around us. I saw a couple across the room struggling to hear each other so they turned their two top sideways so they could sit on the bench next to each other and actually talk. We were only there for half an hour because dinner is fast when you can't actually have any form of conversation. I would never go there again for dinner.

Service is fantastic! Ambiance is a bit loud and hip for my taste but I can't throw shade. The food was competent but not fantastic. A lot of the dishes felt like interpretations of the authentic version. They were good but all missed the mark a bit. Anyway, it's solid. I'd go back but am certainly in no hurry to.

Once again, Amaru knocks it out of the park. I finally got to stop by during happy hour- to my delight, it was the same delicious food & portion sizes at an incredible price (half off most apps and cocktails). I got to try three appetizers: Sweet Plantains - I order this dish every single time I visit Amaru or Lil Amaru at Time Out Market and it has never disappointed me. Piononos - This was my first time trying the Piononos. I always hesitated because I love the sweet plantains so much (why take a chance when you already have something so good??) and was wary of the slightly higher price, but I wish I had taken a chance on them sooner. The savory meats and sauce cut through the sweetness of the plantains, making it a really well balanced dish. Requeson- Another first time order. Again, I wish I had discovered this sooner. The cheese is spreadable and very mild + pleasant in taste. The combination of honey and chili oil (which almost reminds me of Asian black bean chili oil sauces) gives the spread complexity- the flavor combo works well together, and I can honestly say I have never tasted anything like this dish!

Came back to Amaru for happy hour with some girlfriends and I love how consistently good the happy hour here is. We pretty much ordered everything off the menu and everything was delicious. I tried a new cocktail off the happy hour menu - the caipirinha - and loved the tartness/sweetness of the cocktail. It was super refreshing and easy to drink. As always, service is on point. This place is my go to for happy hour here in the city!

This was an anticipated restaurant that I have always wanted to try since I've heard so many good things about Amaru. It did not disappoint! Every single dish was so fresh and delicious! Each plate is small and tapa-like so best when shared. The price is fair and affordable as well. Would definitely come again

I saw Amaru on a tv segment today so I decided to order food from here. I ordered the sweet plantains, pulpo and tres leches chocolate cake. Everything was DELICIOUS!!!! The portions were small but full of flavor.

Pros: Street parking - If you drive you have the option to park on the meter, and your car will be safe. The neighborhood looks a bit sketchy because it's so dark at night but it's fairly safe and not full of crime. It could be a bit cleaner but you are eating inside of the restaurant, not outside so you are good to go. Diverse menu - There's something for everyone. Comfortable seating for such a small restaurant. It was packed.... Very good sign that turned out to be true. The food was delicious! The customer service was top notch. Cons - If you don't make a reservation, you may not be able to eat here. There are only a few tables and they don't turn over fast. It's just a great place for talking, and people don't eat and leave. Maybe it's the decor, service, or the time it took to get the food. Either way, don't go in and try to wait on a table because people have reservations and for the handful of tables available most are occupied with reservations. We circled the block before finding parking and walked several blocks back to the restaurant. If you make a reservation show up early to look for parking because it's hit or miss, and if you miss you'd miss your reservation. The drinks are good, but the Pina Colada - ha no way! It tasted like a soda and it was actually a mixed drink. It was the color of ginger ale and wasn't suppose to be soda. It had alcohol but wasn't very good. Hard pass, I wouldn't order that one again. Note: They have an app that you can signup on and get a 20% discount off your next bill. Go ahead and sign up for it and pay your bill on the app you will get 20% off your first bill. Lol :)

Amaru's excellence as a restaurant is well-documented here on Yelp!, but I wanted to give them a special shoutout for their excellent catering. Yes, catering! We were having a special anniversary party with too many people to cook for ourselves, and we were looking for a restaurant to cater. Amaru knocked it out of the park. We did a test run by getting a reservation at the restaurant and trying three of the dishes from their online catering menu: the sweet plantains starter, jerk pollo (chicken skewers with roasted potatoes and huancaina sauce), and the oxtail (braised, with cheese ravioli and sautéed vegetables). Everything was absolutely delicious, especially the oxtail, so we talked to the manager working that evening to get everything set. I had submitted an online request before visiting, but something went wrong with the website, so I'd recommend calling the restaurant or visiting in person. We got their Package 3, plus a couple vegetarian packages. Package 3 had Inca salad, the sweet plantains, jerk pollo, oxtail, and espresso tres leches cake. The vegetarian package substituted the chicken and oxtail with a vegetarian mole. I picked up the food mid-afternoon on the day of the party, from a very helpful pair of staff who loaded my car with the crates of food, each dish packaged in a takeout container. (Note: you'll need to get some trays for serving if you have a large party, but you can find trays, frames, and sternos for a reasonable price online.) Everything was a huge hit with our guests and, besides being delicious, the portions were very generous. It was such a treat to have truly restaurant-quality catering for our special occasion. I don't know how much catering business they do, but they are now my #1 recommendation for anyone looking for phenomenal food for their dinner party.

We went to Amaru in March for our anniversary and have been recommending it to EVERYONE since then. Honestly just high quality food, excellent drinks, and not break-your-budget expensive. I believe our 4 drinks, coconut fried rice, yuca fries, octopus, and jerk chicken was under $100 before taxes/tip. Felt like such a steal for the quality of food. The octopus was INCREDIBLE. Some of the best I've had. It sparked a conversation about how I'll never watch that octopus documentary because I can't give up eating them, lol. The coconut fried rice was a sneaky winner too. Tons of fresh tropical flavors. I will definitely be back and will keep telling everyone I know to stop by.

We really liked this restaurant. They had several gluten-free options. Everybody liked what they got. It turns out everyone got the pork shoulder but everyone did like it. Ha. The drinks were pretty good too They had good music going, and it had a good vibe. Lots of people were there on dates if that helps you understand the scene.

Can you say "Sunday Happy Hour" ? This place is a low key gem! Me & my girl came here one Sunday afternoon because we were booking for a happy hour spot and saw them on google. It was some good reviews so we had to stop in! The vibe, and the food available was great. If your considering coming here i recommend it!

Ridiculous. So damn good . You must come here for happy hour . It' has the best deals in Chicago . I ordered hybrid mojito and bacon wrapped pockets , chick pea salad, wings, ceviche, ravioli, coconut rice. Everything was sooo good . Biggest regret was that I didn't order more. Must get : ceviche and coconut rice . Possible psss ; wings

My all time favorite spot for happy hour food and drinks!!! It is SUCH a great deal with delicious pan-latin food ranging from $4-$9ish, tapas style. Cocktails are only $6 and they're not small either! They're a decent size and very refreshing, and they are strong yet well balanced! I really like the caipirinha, especially because I don't encounter it often. Really the BEST happy hour in Wicker Park, if not in the city! (Yes, it's high praise) I've tried everything on the happy hour menu and I will say that everything is SO GOOD. You can't go wrong with anything you order. I will say that the Guatemalan ribs are my favorite! It literally falls off the bone. And definitely don't miss out on the Requeson and Piononos. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Most of the happy hour food comes out in threes (3 ribs for example), so keep that in mind if you have a larger group that wants to try everything. Staff are always so friendly here! And the ambience is wonderful. It's a tad moody and has nice decor but it doesn't feel stuffy or too casual. The ambience really hits a sweet spot, where you feel like it's a nice vibe and somewhere you can just hop over to after work or for a night out with friends. I will be back over and over!

Everything about our experience at Amaru deserves 5+ stars!! We had a 6:30pm reservation on Thursday, 9/28. We arrived quite a bit early (5:40ish). Thankfully, the host was able to accommodate us with an immediate table. To our delight, we arrived before happy hour was over! Our waitress, Brianna, had fantastic drink and food recommendations! Next time we visit, we will definitely be asking for her! Drinks: we ordered drinks from the happy hour menu - Mojito (two for me) and Caipirinha (two for my husband). The drinks were strong pours (not your typical HH items that taste watered down). Both were very good! Food we had: - Requeson (best described as a flavor explosion of salsa and soft cheese to spread on delicious sourdough bread) - on HH menu - Guatemalan Ribs (the meat was cooked perfectly and full of flavor and topped with the most amazing tomatillo bbq) - on HH menu - Piononos (sweet plantains, chorizo, wrapped bacon - this was my favorite item - full of flavor and the perfect combination of meat and sweetness) - on HH menu - Pernil (Puerto Rican slow roasted pork shoulder - yet another dish that was cooked perfectly, a good portion size and full of flavor) - on regular menu The restaurant is small, but perfectly decorated and not too loud. Great ambiance - perfect for a date night, happy hour or just a quick outing with friends. We ended with Espresso Tres Leches - a complementary dessert provided from our waitress when she heard us discussing celebrating our anniversary. I am not a tres leches fan, but this converted me! I would come here just for this dessert!

I have been here many times and the service and food is amazing each time. I would recommend going for the happy hour and just getting everything. I'm hoping they bring back the oxtail ravioli at some point because it is amazing.