I've been to Garuda twice now, and after my most recent visit, I had to leave a review. The food here is SO good and genuinely feels homey. The service is also incredibly kind. I actually really like the shared-table setup (it reminds me of dining in Southeast Asia and gives the place a communal feel, although I understand it may not be for everyone). My first visit was solo, and I got the build-your-own plate with the rendang and bebek madura. The rendang was sooo tender and rich, while the bebek madura was incredibly flavorful and savory. Even the rice didn't feel like an afterthought - it had plenty of flavor on its own. I also loved the sambal ijo along with my duck. My duck initially came out a little cold, but the staff immediately took care of it and brought me a completely new plate, which I really appreciated. The food came out quickly, and the service was great. This plate lasted me two meals. I came back a second time with friends, and I was honestly so impressed by how much they had already improved with their pace and overall flow. The staff recommended the Indonesian-style chicken satay, and it was PERFECTLY cooked. Honestly one of the best chicken dishes I've had in a while. It was tender and nicely charred, and the peanut sauce had this subtle nuttiness without being overly heavy or sweet. I ended up mixing my rice into the leftover sauce because I didn't want to waste any of it. But the biggest surprise was the soto betawi. It looks so simple, but the flavor is insane. The broth was comforting, savory, aromatic, and surprisingly light, with incredibly tender beef. There was so much depth and flavor without it feeling too rich. It might genuinely be one of my favorite soups I've had recently. I ate WAY too much rice with that broth because it was just that good. We also got the nasi goreng with shrimp, which was delicious. I do wish there were a few more shrimp, but I'd still order it again. We were hoping to try the rendang fried rice, but it was sold out, so obviously now we have an excuse to come back. At this point, we're determined to try everything on the menu. And the value is kind of crazy. Three of us shared everything, left completely full, and our total was around $40. I usually eat a lot, so I was genuinely surprised by how filling the portions were. I'm definitely not an expert on Indonesian food, so I can't speak to how everything compares traditionally, but this place has made me really excited to explore more of it. I already want to come back and bring more people with me so they can try it too. Garuda has gotten noticeably better even just between my first and second visits, and I'm excited to see them continue to grow. Great food, genuinely kind service, affordable prices, and so many things on the menu I still want to try. Highly recommend! read more

This was honestly one of the best dining experiences. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Garuda. The establishment is small and incredibly homey. My friend and I dined in early on a Saturday morning. We ordered the chicken satay, pecel Sayur, fried banana, and the Bebek Madura with rice and salted duck egg. Thankfully we shared because it was way too much food. My favorite dish is the fried duck and salted duck egg. I could eat this daily. The red spice that is added is delectable. My favorite thing about Garuda is their focus on the food. So much so you receive paper plates and cup ware. It so they can spend more time the quality of the food and really ensuring their customers partake in Indonesian cuisine. read more

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Serendipitously passed by and decided to eat here one night. Tl;dr flavorful Indonesian food and friendly service. Extremely popular so you may need to wait or share a table. Try not to sit near the bathroom. ===== Popped by one day for dinner and we were very lucky and got seated immediately. We ordered a variety of dishes and they were all interesting and pretty good. Highlights were the stir fried noodle with shrimp (forgot what the actual name was) and the rendang fried rice. The rendang pieces were especially well-seasoned and tender. I have pretty limited experience with Indonesian food so this was new to me. Seemed to have some shared flavor profiles and ingredients with Malaysian and Singaporean food. Most things were good and I appreciated the fresh flavors and different spices and aromatics used, but not sure if I would crave any of them. Our server was friendly and clearly this place is super popular since it filled up quickly with some folks sharing tables. My nitpicks are that we were at the table in the back nearest the bathroom and sometimes there was a pretty terrible smell. Not really the restaurants fault, but maybe a fan or something would help. The shrimp in the noodle dish has a huge variety of sizes. And the cold vegetable dish was flavorful but the veggies seemed over-boiled. Also would've been nice if there was real tableware vs only plastic and paper stuff, but I guess that does make things more efficient for them, if not more eco-friendly. My bits aside, I will probably come back to try more items on the menu! I think they're still relatively new and some items were unavailable when we visited. I'm excited to see how things progress for them! read more

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We came in on a busy Labor Day weekend on Sunday evening around 7pm but got seated in about 20 mins! The wait wasn't long and worth it. We ordered immediately and the food came out within 7 mins! We got the nasi rames and kwie tiau. We got the nasi rames with rendang and cassava leaves and sambal ijo and this combo was so yummy! Everything paired so well together. The rendang was savory and spicy with a slight sweetness from the coconut milk. The green sambal was slightly spicy but so refreshing. The Kwie tiau noodles were great! Similar to a Thai padsee ew but more savory. It had small bits of cucumber garnished on top which was such a nice contrast with the noodles. My one qualm is that the nasi rames portion was small and definitely for one person. There were also only two pieces of beef that came in the rendang which was disappointing. Adding more meat and making the quantity a little bit bigger to match the price would be great! I'm a little forgiving for their small portion since they're a new restaurant just starting out. Next time we'll try the jackfruit curry on the nasi rames and the ayam bowl! Overall, we'll definitely be back! The flavors were incredible! Tastes like I flew to Indonesia! read more

Garuda - Nasi Base (Steamed Rice, Sambal, Cracker ) - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It was fairly busy on a Friday evening, but we were seated quickly since my boyfriend and I shared a table with another couple. We ordered the Nasi Rames, Soto Betawi, and Kwe Tiau. My favorite was definitely the Soto Betawi. The beef was slow cooked and super tender. It did get a little too salty towards the end though. For the Nasi Rames, you get to build your platter. Everything was so flavorful, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the choices. This is my first time eating at an Indonesian restaurant and I would highly recommend! read more

Garuda - Indonesian Style Kwe Tiau - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Garuda deserves all the love and crowds they get. The wait was about 25 min for lunch and it was well worth it. Don't fret if there's a wait, put your name and cell phone # down and go do something else, like get a delicious drink at First Sip Cafe across the street. We ordered a great variety of dishes at Garuda and everything we had was a flavor bomb. Our absolute favorites were the chicken satay ayam and the salted squid... we loved it so much that we ordered it twice in the same meal. Service is warm and patient. The tables and chairs were cramped in the small space and the team there is doing their best to service everyone. Our iced waters were often re-filled without us even asking. The A/C was not strong enough to keep the entire place cool so it felt like were Indonesia, especially with the crazy rainstorms outside this summer. Going forward, I'm going to order massive carry out to avoid the long wait. This food goes so well with the wine and beer I have at home too. read more

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The restaurant instantly reminded me of what a true Southeast Asian restaurant should feel like - simple, affordable, homey, friendly, casual, with communal tables. I grew up in a city near Hong Kong and have traveled to most Southeast Asian countries, so I've had my fair share of Southeast Asian food. The Indonesian dishes here genuinely amazed me. It's the kind of authentic flavor I haven't had since leaving my hometown. We ordered: * Rendang Fried Rice - Loved the choice of beef. It was high quality, beautifully marbled, incredibly tender, and rich without feeling greasy. * Soto Betawi - A total flavor explosion and an absolute must if you enjoy coconut milk. I finished every last drop by mixing rice into the soup, and even my picky toddler couldn't stop eating the beef. * Chicken Satay (Indonesian Style) - Another must-order. The flavors were so bold that they made me wonder what I've been eating all these years whenever I ordered chicken satay elsewhere. * Bakwan Sayur - Crispy vegetable fritters that are perfect for sharing since they're quite large. Pro tip: dip them into the Soto Betawi broth. It was one of my favorite bites of the meal. * Sambal - We tried the ginger and green chili versions. If you grew up eating Cantonese food, the flavors will feel wonderfully familiar. Overall, this was one of the best Southeast Asian meals I've had in years. Authentic, comforting, and packed with flavor. We'll absolutely be back. read more

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Little (seats maybe 24 and if there are fewer than 6 of you, you'll end up sharing a table) hole in the wall with big big flavors. Not just salty and spicy but also coco-nutty and if you get a certain condiment, fishy in a good way. Go with a big appetite and open mind. Build your own entrée or order a soup, rice or noodle dish. Don't skip the chicken satay skewers. For veg, the sponge-bread-like stuffed tofu is a good starter and unlike tofu you've had before. The beef rendang is flavorful but both tender and tough and a bit dry. The cassava green side is fantastic and I would love bigger size of its spicy and coconut goodness. BYO plus soft drinks and Indonesian specials. The menu is helpful in its descriptions of the dishes. Staff is very cheerful. Can do carry out and I'm hoping to try delivery. Looking forward to trying the whole menu! read more

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Visited on a Saturday night at 6 p.m. (free meters off Argyle) and was able to get seated at a half/shared table (was just 3 of us) - this after being turned away the previous Saturday when we arrived later. We got the Sate Betutu (fish skewers) to try something different - maybe not our thing and yet we ate it up. Will try next time a different app of whatever isn't sold out. Got the Mie Ayam (chicken noodles with meatball side) and the Soto Betawi (creamy tender beef soup). Need to remember to try one of the desserts next time. Service is team based and attentive. Food came out quickly when we got in when most of the tables were full but no line waiting yet. Smooth operation after having been open 3 weeks. read more

Garuda - Soto betawi (left) with meatballs from our Mie Ayam. - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We got the chicken satay, rendang fried rice, soto ayam, and Indonesia style kwe tiaw, as well as the Indonesia shaved ice for dessert. Overall a delicious experience. I especially liked the chicken satay, rendang fried rice, and the kwe tiaw - very well seasoned. The soto ayam was more mild in flavor which balanced out the rest of the dishes well. I personally wasn't a big fan of the shaves ice and thought the syrup tasted too sweet and artificial. However the toppings underneath the shaved ice were good - the avocado worked surprisingly well because it canceled out the sweetness of the pink syrup. I also liked the mung beans and jelly toppings. This spot opened at the start of June. It's a welcoming family business, very warm. They have a young daughter who helped give us the menu and was just very endearing! I recommend stopping by! read more

Garuda - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I tried Garuda Indonesian Restaurant for the first time, and it didn't disappoint. I started out with the Chicken Satay (4 pcs). The sauce is under the satay, not in a separate container with minced vegetables. I would give it an acceptable rating, nothing special. For my main course, I decided on Soto Tangka Beef soup in coconut milk, with tomato, scallions, turmeric, chili, and Indonesian spices, served with a good-sized side of rice. The beef was a bit too fatty for me. This is 4 Alarm spicy hot! The portion is large enough to take home and fit in a small take-out container. What struck me as odd there are only tables that seat six people. If you're placing an order to take out, be prepared to wait by the front door; there's nowhere to sit down while waiting for your order. The waitresses are very nice and attentive, but there could be a bit of a wait for your order. They gave me the appetizer and main course all at once. You might want to ask them for your starter first. The walls have posters of Indonesia, etc. The music is ethnic Indonesian. read more

Garuda - Soto Tangka Beef Soup - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here twice in one week, and that should tell you how much we enjoyed it! Our first visit was for takeout because we wanted to stock up on Indonesian food so I wouldn't have to cook for a few days. I walked in and ordered 12 items from the menu, so the 30 minute wait was totally reasonable. We came back a few days later to dine in. We arrived right at 3:00 PM on a Wednesday and were the first customers there. The service was friendly, pleasant, and quick. The food was delicious. I really appreciate that they keep the flavors authentic. You can taste the herbs and spices in every dish. We ordered a bunch of different items, and everything was gone within minutes. As for the pricing, I think it's fair for the quality and taste. I'm happy to pay for good food, and this place definitely delivers. We'll definitely be back again. Highly recommend if you're looking for authentic Indonesian food! read more

Garuda - Left - Vegetables fritters Middle - Fried tofu and vegetable fritter Right - Chicken satay - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is SO GOOD!! It reminds me a taste of home, so when this restaurant opened up, I was so excited to try it and am glad to make the drive to Uptown and try it out. We came in with some pescatarian friends, and there was a good variety of dishes that everyone could try. We came in on Thursday at 7PM and were on a waitlist for ~40mins, which was expected due to how full the restaurant was. For a restaurant that has been open for less than 2 weeks, the wait wasn't too bad and the food was well worth the wait and drive. The restaurant is quite small, so expect to wait regardless. They don't take reservations, and it's a first come first serve. They will give a call once you put in your name and your table is ready. But oh wow the FOOD. By far, probably the BEST Indonesian food in Chicago. The sambal selection was incredible, and that is how you could tell how authentic the food is. We chose to put the Sambal Terasi (Indo classic) for our Nasi Rames, and all of the flavors were aromatic, spicy, and all around delicious. The Soto Betawi was also tasty, especially when adding Kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce) to it. Our table really enjoyed the Nasi Goreng and Indonesian Style Kwe Tiau (Savory Gravy). But honestly we loved everything. All of it was a taste of home, and the staff were incredibly graceful despite how crowded it was. Food came by quickly too, which we again were impressed with! Karen was amazing, and I'm hoping to get to know her and the restaurant even more in the future. I am going to come back and try to Es Campur Looking forward to see how far this restaurant will go!! Tl;dr it is worth the trip. Authentic Indonesian food. Just deliciousness read more

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I love this place so much. This street food restaurant has easily become one of my frequent go to places for delicious food! I've tried almost everything on the menu and they did not disappoint at all. The Indonesian fried rice, peanut chicken skewers, noodles to the soda; just delicious and great service! I love how they serve it with a banana leaf underneath. It really sets the mood. read more

Amazing spot for Indonesian food! Came with here with a friend who's from Indonesia and she said this is the best place in Chicago. Ordered the platter with the duck and cassava and the duck was so tender and flavorful and not dry at all! They also had a refreshing passionfruit juice. I would recommend coming no later than 6:30pm to make sure they don't run out of food. read more

Great experience and food. Every food we've ordered is tasty, but not a fan of their bebek goreng. Must try it yourself! read more

Garuda - Bebek goreng, satay ayam, tahu isi, soto tangkar - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing food, amazing smells, and amazing people! My only experience with Indonesian food is my girlfriend's cooking, so coming here together was a great adventure. She said it was a good taste of home! You can tell that everything is made with great intentions and love. The portions are not overwhelming large or too small. The prices are very reasonable. The interior is on the smaller side and it does get very busy, so if you want to give it a try (which I recommend you do), you should arrive at least 30 minutes before you want to eat to secure a spot! Note: since they're currently new and very busy, they tend to run out of food later in the day, so come early! read more

Garuda - Bakso, Bakwan Goreng, Nasi Rames with Rendang, cassava, and egg balado, and Sate betutu - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ok this was a home run in Argyle. Small but fantastic. 5 tables of 4-5 only but we sat with two people visiting from KC. The chicken skewers have so much flavor and is a must to try. Ordered the Rendang Frodd rice with a spicy red sauce on the side. Huge order and filled me up with perfect flavor. We ordered the chicken and rice dish and was so tender. To top it off we ordered the shaved ice with condensed milk poured over the top along with shavings of mango avocado and coconut meat. It was the biggest dish of dessert I've had in many many years delicious. To top it off the 5 year old girl cleaning the tables was so cute and was able to make friends with another 5 year old girl that came into eat. They were discussing purses like girls do! Lol read more

Garuda - Shaved ice with condensed milk, mango, coconut and Avocado !!! Delicious and enough to share with the table. - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent food nice staff. Reasonable pricing I love it and will definitely go back with my family read more

I grabbed a carry out dinner from here and it was lovely. The food is delicious, the proprietors are super friendly and helpful, and the dining area is very nice. It seems very popular as every table was filled with happy people. read more

The food was ok at best. The balado eggs didn't have any sauce and the rice was very hard. read more

Garuda - Food is ok at best. The balado eggs did not have any balado and the rice was very hard. - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

such a good restaurant!! I've been missing home and this is such a great reminder of Indonesian food. give it a shot!! it's authentic and the workers are lovely. I would advise to come during lunch or an early dinner as they run out of the best selling options sometimes! read more

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Food was flavorful with large portions. The service was great and knowledgable with explain dishes. It was packed with people. The restaurant was small and humble but made you feel at home and the prices were great. read more

We ordered food to go. We had the Indonesian kwe tiao, Bebek Madura (our favorite dish), bakwan sayur, nasi rames with rendang, green beans and spicy peanut anchovy. The food overall was good, but the duck was amazing. I would try other items on the menu. read more