My aunt and I were so disappointed in the food. We ordered La bandeja and the food had no flavor, no taste. My aunt only enjoyed the fries and the chifles. She said the best thing was the soda. We ordered un jugo de mora y jugo de maracuyá and that too was not good. It was watered down and we sent it back and ordered soda. I also ordered un caldo I can't remember the name but had onions and fish and the broth tasted like a watered can of tomato sauce. Extremely disappointed! My aunt ordered una humita to take home and said it was so small and had no taste. I don't recommend eating anything there. The windows look dirty inside. It just doesn't look at all clean. For an Ecuadorian restaurant it was a huge disappointment! read more

The PL Lounge's kitchen was closed and I needed food asap. This was super close by, so I got the steak to go. The steak was very flavorfull, the rice was yummy and the fries were good. They were so friendly!!! They have an upstairs where they have karaoke they said. The decor and the tables were made of piping, I loved that too much!!! Highly recommend. Everything looked delicious. read more

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Wanted stew and remembered Humita offered food specials (express meals) on them. Glad I called in an order rather than using the web. Learned that the stew express meals mentioned on their website are no longer available. Update the website then? The stews with two sides are still available but their pricing has more than doubled and portions are small like lunch specials. I wonder if dining in is why most reviews are five starred. Need to try that way sometime. Ordered two stew meals. Lamb (awesome that they offer this protein) & chicken. Lamb was properly stewed and easy to eat. The chicken was boring in flavor and hardly any gravy was included. Smh. The carryout container has three sections. One for the "main" and two sides. Alas, they fill the main section with a big ass amount of rice. Then fill the side areas with stew and your second option. Stews are in the $22-26 range. They have to reconsider how they're serving. I mean, stew needs its gravy to go with all that rice and the portion should be significantly larger. Due to the niceties of their staff and the flavors, I'd check them out again. Dine-in. read more

This place is awesome. The humitas are fresh and moist with the fresh black coffee. We went in for a snack and ordered extra because they were fluffy and extra tasty. The aji de tomate de arbol here is very good, I highly recommend ordering a bunch to drench your food because they use the good stuff here. Ceviche de Camaron ( shrimp ceviche) was refreshing and hit the spot without the weird ketchup taste that Peruvians like to make fun of Ecuadorian food for. The shrimp were plump and decently sized. Everything was fresh to order and authentic; of course the service was warm and cordial. I highly recommend this spot and will go back for a full meal because this place absolutely hit all the marks I look for an authentic Ecuadorian meal. Bring your mom and give her a break, this place is legit. read more

Great Ecuadorian food in small restaurant. Friendly owner. Traditional dishes. 8 people ordered 8 things all great.

Went to this new rebranded Ecuadorian restaurant called La Humita Express. Reminded me of home cooked meals made by my late grandma. The food was quick and fast. I gobbled up the whole plate. read more

La Humita Express - a plate of rice, beans, and meat - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing authentic food! Lots of different options, good portions and prices. The staff is the friendliest ever, they'll tell you what's good. read more

Had lovely dinner with great cocktails here . Owner came out, explained everything, told us stories about the desserts being his moms recipes and was generally interested in our feedback on the food. The location was quiet and charming. I would die fierce come back and try more things on the menu read more

Really good Ecuadorian food. The lentil beans spoke to my palate. Just the way mom used to cook it. I was just visiting, if I had more time I would defiantly try everything on the menu. Corn Humitas had a fabulous flavor. The owner was cordial and friendly. Thank you Humitas express for making our dinning experience wonderful. read more

La comida es deliciosa, a mi no me gustan los mariscos pero probé el ceviche de mi esposo (porque me lo pidió el) y en realidad sabía demasiado rico me quede gratamente sorprendida, los quimbolitos son receta familiar, según nos contó el dueño, lo cual los hace aún más especiales y son DELICIOSOS! El señor Néstor(dueño del local) es totalmente amable y súper cálido. El servicio fue 10/10, el ambiente es informal pero se siente una buena vibra y es limpio. Volveremos! :) read more

La Humita Express - Ceviche - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a hidden gem. A small family owned bistro style setting. We arrived at 10 p.m. and the owner greeted us like family. Everything that we ate was delicious. My compliments to the owner and his staff. We ordered the cheese and beef empanadas to start the evening, followed by a light pea soup. The main entrees were the Seco de Chivo and the Limoto Saltado. Wonderfully prepared and not heavy on the Latin spices. Delicious! read more

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We were on our way home to Indy from the Oshkosh Airshow and decided to eat at an Ecuadorian Restaurant. So I searched Yelp on my iPhone and this place showed up with mostly decent reviews so we made a stop in Chicago. Parking is a pain. 'nuf said on that. The place is nicely decorated and the greeting was warm and friendly. Our waitress was great, very friendly and explained anything we didn't understand. For an appetizer we had Maduros fritos con queso fresco which looks beautiful in the photos. The plantains were great, however, we expected the cheese to be melted on the plantains and not cubed sitting next to them. The cheese was a disappointment. We also had Ceviche de camaron that was very good. I enjoyed it a lot but I kept the nuts on the side. I'm not a nut person. For an entree I had the Churrasco and I really liked it a lot. They use a "flat iron steak (who renamed a steak cut with this silly name)" so it's not the most tender cut of beef, but wow, does it have flavor. My wife makes this at home and it's my favorite. I could eat it everyday. I really liked this place, it had a lot of character and the food was good. I'll go back anytime I'm in Chicago, 'cause I don't like pan pizza :-P read more

La Humita Express - Ceviche - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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La Humita has awesome Ecuadorian food! My friend who is from Ecuador recommended this place so that right off the bat meant this place had to be good! Its a small cozy restaurant where the waiter makes you feel at home. They have awesome lunch specials and the portions are very generous. I also just noticed they make smoothies there which were great for a warm afternoon (had the Guanabana smoothie and tried the tree tomato fruit juice). Great local restaurant in the area that I will definitely visit again in the future! read more

La Humita Express - Naranjilla cheeseake and a canelazo!! - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

-I was welcomed graciously upon arrival. -Water and bread was on my table within seconds. -The food was always hot, seasoned well, and fresh. -The owner and staff were kind, humorous, and you could tell they had no issues treating you as a person than just a customer. -The kitchen was closed, but they opened it back up for me just so I could order two more things. Amazing. Now that is what I call customer service. If you ever have a bad experience here, I can promise you it was a mistake. They are the kind of restaurant that will go out of their way to make a customer happy. I definitely recommend La Humita to anyone looking for a lively night out for some classic Ecuadorian dishes, or just straight up delicious food. read more

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We eat and displays one time we go back now it is close they say it's coming soon and still not open they going to do now food to go I don't know how they got to play with but definitely I'll give it a try later read more

Awesome service, Ecuadorean food, drinks and atmosphere! I literally just ate here and I couldn't wait to come here and say how wonderful they are! As we entered the restaurant we were immediately greeted by the owner. He himself took care of us and offered us a variety of drinks. We started with the cheese and ground beef empanadas and then we were surprised by the owner with a warm and flavorful soup after he heard we were hung over. We also ate the ceviche and carne asada, and flan, lots of flavor! Overall, this place is a wonderful find... Amazing service!!! Amazing prices!! And most of all well hidden. One of the best restaurants in Chicago and yes it is not downtown and pretentious and it doesn't have to be in order to be one of the best restaurants in Chicago! read more

La Humita Express - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a find! If you're willing to travel west of I-94, often overlooked by the unadventurous, La Humita is well worth the journey. This cozy and quaint Ecuadorian restaurant reflects the love and pride of it's owner, Nestor Correa. The food is fresh, tastey and consistently well prepared. The restaurant's, La Humita, name comes from a traditional Ecuadorian dish of cheese-filled corn masa wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. don't miss it! Also well worth the drive is the $ 5.95 lunch special available 11am - 3pm, Tuesday through Friday. read more

La Humita Express - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Absolutely the best humitas in Chicago! I have tried so many, and these are hands down the best ones. Not to mention that the food there is so delicious. The customer service is amazing. Such kind people!!! Definitely will come back! read more

This place has been around for a while but recently rebranded and revamped. And I've got nothing but good things to say now. It used to be a lil too pricy for me but now it's one of the best deals in the area. Huge portions and amazing flavor, brings me back to my time in South America. Super friendly service and solid imports. Gotta come here more often. read more

We just went here for date night after spotting this little treasure because we love Ecuadorian cuisine. Wow. They were exceptionally welcoming and treated our senses with some of the best ceviche, humitas, tómate de árbol batido, pork, sea bass... everything was served in generous amounts and cooked to perfection!! Really couldn't recommend this place more, especially for value for what you pay! Can't wait to try their lunch specials too, so will definitely be back soon. Five stars are just not enough. ¡Gracias! read more

This is definitely my favorite Ecuadorian restaurant in Chicago, it's as traditional as it gets, food is great and service is out of this world. Definitely a must in the Windy City read more

delicious!! well priced. quiet. our server was attentive and kind yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy

Hey, guess what. My name is Ivan Pavlov. Seriously. Ready for the experiment? OK. (DING) "La humita" - ground corn mixed with cheese, cooked in the husk? (DING) Maduros fritos con queso fresco - sweet plantains with fried cheese?? (DINGDING) Tortillas de papa - potato pancakes with cheese??? OK, we're done, you can wipe your keyboard of dribble now. Honestly, who comes up with this stuff? As if those appetizers weren't reason enough to go in, the entrees are extra good as well, like the arroz con menestra (grilled steak served with rice lentils, sweet plantains, topped with sauteed mushrooms) or how about Tallarin con pollo (grilled chicken breast, diced onions, peppers and tomatoes in a naranjilla butter sauce tossed with fettuccini pasta)? For the record, the mention of this place in my presence is enough to spark one of those rare moments where I say, "Damn, I sure wish I lived close to Pulaski again!" Then I regain my senses. This place is just a tad too pricey to justify a regular visit (no BYOB) and the location isn't a rose garden picnic either. But seriously, if you want to check out some great food, I recommend. read more

I recently went on vacation to Ecuador, so to get psyched up I had dinner at La Humita before my trip. My buddy and I came here on a crisp Saturday evening, and we must have been early diners because it seemed dead in there. Eventually business picked up a bit, and I suppose the lure is the live music on Friday and Saturday evenings (we did not stick around that late). We started off with a complimentary bowl of lentil soup (good) and a bread roll (edible). We split an order of the delicious appetizer combination, which consists of an empanada, a humita (sort of like a tamale) and a potato patty. We ordered the arroz con menestra for dinner, consisting of strip steak, lentils, rice, plantains, and mushrooms. It is a solid and filling dish, but did not quite outshine the appetizers. Although I had no room for dessert, I did have a fruity lulo shake on the recommendation of our friendly waitress, and the drink was quite tasty. If you want a nice and easy introduction to Ecuadorian food, La Humita is a fine place to dine. read more

La Humita Express - Delicious appetizer combo - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Quite a unique place. Not so much for the food, which is about half traditional Ecuadorian dishes (Guatita, anyone?) and half more general South American-inflected dishes. No, it's different because the owner is the naranjillo kingpin of the USA, importing the fruit and using it in cocktails, desserts, wine (!) and sauces. In fact until he came to our table at the end of our meal and chatted with us, I had no idea that the fruit was so uncommon. He's got big plans for it--watch out! We started with some fresh-tasting naranjillo margaritas, and the appetizer combination, containing among other things, the signature Humita, which, being made with American corn, was sweeter than I expected. My steak was quite tasty, though not quite up to the level of a place like El Nandu, and served with some flavorful lentils and lightly seasoned al-dente rice. My wife had the tilapia, with a mild naranjillo (see?) cream sauce, and she spoke highly of it. For dessert I was able to steer my wife and our friend away from the standard flan to a steamed corn-flour cake (agh I can't remember the name!) made with a little cognac in the middle which was subtle and light. Also unique to the restaurant according to the owner. I accompanied it with a warm shot of naranjillo mixed with sugar-cane liquor. I'm quite excited to come back and try the llapingacho and, if I'm feeling bold, the guatita (google it). read more

I really like this place, I've been here at least 5 times because it's close to my mom's house and she loves it too. It's been a 'hidden gem' for quite some time (read: never crowded), especially due to it's location, but I guess the restaurant was recently featured on The Hungry Hound and so it is gaining popularity. I love the Arroz con Menestra (grilled steak) and the Pescado Frito (grilled tilapia). The steak is tender and juicy and served with yummy sweet plantains. The tilapia is cooked just right and served with their version of pico de gallo. I love any version of pico de gallo so this place makes me happy. Service is great, we are usually served by the owner himself. He is very friendly and attentive. Definitely give this place a try! read more

I myself am 100% Ecuadorian. I travel back home as often as I can and It has been a nightmare finding a restaurant that came close to the authentic food I am accustom to. That was until I pop into this little piece of heaven located at Pulaski and Newport. I am a big fan of a dish called "Sico de Chivo" which in basically a plate that consist of rice, fried plantains, salad and goat. Yes that is right, I said goat. It is not on the menu but from time to time they have it available. Not one thing on the menu is worth passing up so I STRONGELY recommend you stop in and take a bit of a little piece of heaven. Enjoy read more

Their grilled lamb dish is to die for....the last time I tasted lamb this good was back in the 90s at mom's house. This place is truly a slice of Ecuador and reflects an accurate cuisine and level of service. One of my favorite dining spots in the Chicago area. Recommend trying their natural juices...I usually order two. read more

This was my first experience with Ecuadorian food. My girlfriend studied abroad in Quito and was ecstatic to find this place. I had heard from her about the cuisine and wanted to get a chance to try it. It was as good as she claimed, and apparently just​ like the food she had while abroad. We had the humita appetizer​ (yum!), encebollado​, and trucha, along with a variety of juices and other beverages. It was delicious. All cooked well and incredibly tasty. The art of this cuisine is the simplicity of it. Nothing flashy by any means, but just executed incredibly well. The staff was super friendly, and we ate pretty much immediately​ after ordering. read more

My boyfriend and I thought this place was pretty mediocre. There's nothing special about the decor...so that gets 3 stars. The waiter was a sweetheart, so he helped the place but after the lunch hour rush, he answered his cell phone and it was a loooong time before we ended up with our check because he was on the phone! We got the lunch special (tilapia, rice, beans, and plantains, with a small side salad and a soup). It was a good deal for $7 but the soup was simply cream of mushroom (nothing special), and the rice, fish, and beans were VERY bland. I wish I would've known the dish came with plantains too because then I wouldn't have wasted money on the appetizer (which was also bland and dry). Overall, things were just OK and I wouldn't pay regular price for any of it. It's just not that great. I could DEFINITELY make better food at home. They need to spice things up!! read more

I have eaten here four times, and trying a new dish every time. Never been disappointed. The meats are cooked just right. The vegetables are cooked in peanut oil, so it gives them a great flavor. The only thing I would not recommend is hominy ( a side dish to one the entree), but you can substitute it. The service is prompt and friendly. They play live music after 10 pm from Friday to Sunday. Since the place is small, it can get very loud. read more

Had an amazing dinner here, we came following Chef Javier Perez. Had amazing starters like the la humita which was to die for, we also had a crab cake with meyoco sauce, for entree we had the apanada de res a ny strip so tender it cut through like butter, a whole tilapia with fried tostones and the llapingachos with ecuatorian sausage and fried eggs. The drinks were amazing, made with zuhmir an ecuatorian sugar cane liquor and naranjilla!! Chef Javier is a genious! Would come back just for yhe food but love the live music spot on the second floor as well perfect for a nice weekend out read more

Tough calamari, sweet beyond necessity ceviche , overcooked pork, impossibly hard empanadas. If any of this sounds appealing to you then this is your restaurant! My partners Ecuadorian and was so excited to eat here. NeedlessTo say we left very disappointed. The only saving grace where the two namesake tamale like dishes that we ordered as appetizers. read more

This a little family place tucked onto a corner of Pulaski that manages to operate as a professional-quality bistro. The food is beautifully arranged and tastes delicious. The service is excellent, and very attentive. The wine list is impressive, and the mojitos are perfectly mulled and mixed. When we went the owner himself waited on us. It's as if we were honored guests and he was anticipating our every desire. I had the potato pancake plate with fried eggs, chorizo sausages, beets, carrots and avocado. The chilled and lightly seasoned beets and carrots were a good contrast to the spicy chorizo. My boyfriend had the mushroom steak and fried plantain. He said it was a tender steak and the best plantain he'd had in a while. We're definitely planning to go back. read more

Stopped in for lunch last week. Wasn't terribly hungry, but this place had been on my list for a while and I had about half an hour to kill, so I got the Combinación de Aperitivos: Combination of Empanada Chilena, Humita & Potato Pattie ($8.00). The Empanada Chilena ($3.75) is fried turnover stuffed with beef, onions, eggs, olives and raisins. La Humita (Especialidad de la Casa $2.50) is the Ecuadorian house special made with fresh corn and cheese steamed on the corn husk. (Since it came "on" versus "in" the corn husk, I presume that's not a typo.) The Tortilla de Papa ($3.25) is a potato patty stuffed with cheese and topped with home made peanut sauce. If you add those three items up a la carte, they come to $9.50, so the combination is a steal at $8.00...however, what wasn't obvious is that the Tortilla de Papa that comes with the combination does NOT include the home made peanut sauce. When I asked the owner what it would cost to add it, he told me $2.00. Huh?!? All three items were good comfort food; no complaints. Will definitely try this place a few more times. read more

Only a few blocks off of the Addison exit of I-90... Small cozy storefront with alot more warmth factor than some of the other Latin American places. Go when you want a nice vibe in addition to the great food with pretty presentation and attentive service! People order the Arroz Menestra, the grilled steak with rice, lentils and plantains. Another favorite is the potato pancakes with beets, fried egg, rice and 2 chorizo links. Yum! Beets are crisp and citrusy. Ample, non-metered street parking. Dining area downstairs closes at 9pm until late night on Fridays and upstairs opens at 8pm for drinks, music, etc. read more

Fish from ecuador is the bomb. Candelazo is delicious! Great restaurant all around. Kinda small. read more

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I had to come back and right another review because recently I tried some of the new drinks they have. I had a Candelada, I think I spelled that wrong, it's a warm cane sugar drink with some liquor in it. It was very very yummy! I also tried the Chicken Stew which was very tender and once again the service good. Service is fast and I have gone all times of the day and parking is not one bit difficult. Unless you want to park right in front, then yes, but parking is always available across the street. Visit soon! read more

For around $2000.00, you can have an amazing trip to Quito, Ecuador, meet amazing people, try awesome food and dance the night away at one of their lovely verandas drinking Sangria you can never buy here in the US. Or, for about $40.00, you can have an amazing trip to La Humita, meet amazing Ecuadorian people, including its chef and owner, try their awesome food (Jappingachos being my favorite) and dance the night away on their lovely La Balcona drinking Sangria you can never buy here in the US. Your choice! read more

Nice owner! Great service! Great food! My fiancé is Ecuadorean and her grandma makes Ecuadorean food for us at family gatherings; and this reminded the two of us of that good home cooking. Definitely will come back again for the food. They also have karaoke Thursdays which I may have to try. read more