Grabbed a quick lunch here. They have some good lunch specials. Juice was fresh made to order. I love their salsa! Low frills but spacious. Service is friendly and it's family owned so they take alot of pride in making sure you're taken care of. read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Lunch special - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Waiter was awesome. She was prompt, concise Nd attentive to our table. She made certain accommodations for my small children. The arepas were delicious and my 7 year old and 19 month old loved them. The main course however was not my cup of tea. The bandeja paisa was not the usual hanger steak that comes with a dish like this, it was a piece of bistec which is significantly thin and it was also tough to bite into. The chicken from the pollo al ajillo had a strange taste to it as well that I couldn't pin point what it was. Everything else was good except the pieces of proteins in our dishes. For the price of over $80 for two main dishes a side of rice and beans, two arepas and two shakes I'm not sure it was worth it. The ambience was ok, no loud music or anything and pretty family friendly environment. read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Bandeja paisa with chicharrón. No real churrasco it is basically a thin bistec. - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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! read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Arepa and 2 empanadas (chicken & beef) - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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! read more

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Quick service, decent quality steak, prepared as asked, very good side dishes and green salsa sauce. And it is BYOB. It has simple decor and is only open till 6 pm read more

Large portions, byob and good food and good service. Was here on a Monday and got all the attention. Will return read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Staff here is amazing and food is so good! :) Really big emphasis on how nice the staff is, I'm always greeted with a smile.

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. read more

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Best churrasco in town... not pricy at all and it's BYOB.... everything is very good..

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! read more

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 read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Bistec encebollado - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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. read more

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! read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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 read more

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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! read more

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! read more

Excellent food and service ,Love the people there,never have I had a bad meal or experience here

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 read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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. read more

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!! read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Seating area - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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). read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Pollo criolla and carne asada - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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 read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Bandeja Paisa - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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 read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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!!! read more

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. read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Bandeja Paisa - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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 read more

El Llano Restaurant - Northcenter - Carne asada - Colombian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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. read more

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

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

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! read more

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 read more

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. read 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 ! read more

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

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. read more

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! read more

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. read more

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! read more

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

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. read more