Tender and well balanced 10/10! Very nostalgic plate even if it's your first time having this meal! This Will make you wanna eat with your hands to enjoy full experience! read more

Rendang Republic - Beef Plate - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here w my bookie and he ate all my food if that is any indication Order your food cafeteria style and choose a table to dine in the space. Everything is mostly self serve from there but the servers are helpful and attentive with any questions about the menu and where all the cutlery is I was most curious to try their plates and went with the chicken. The meat was falling off the bone, accompanying veggies offered a fresh texture and crunch to the meal, and the hot sauces offered some nice heat to each bite The soup was a rotating special I think, but it didn't stand out compared to the plate. Coffee candy is a nice touch. Looking forward to trying their hotdog, fries, and beef sandwich next read more

Rendang Republic - Chicken Plate - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Don't normally eat Indonesian food - let's try it. For fast casual they have silver and cloth napkins, that's really nice. You can tell the 2 guys behind the counter are dedicated to this establishment. We got the duck inndo hot dog, strong in flavor and loaded with toppings but nothing distinctive. The dinner plate came with rendang that taste better with the red chili sauce. The star of the show however is the chicken satay. Both my son and my wife said it's perfect - you can't improve on it. The marinade is soaked in the chicken and they baste before serving. Highly recommend. read more

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As an Indonesian, I was really looking forward to this spot. I have heard many good things about it online, and wanted to give it a shot. Upon coming into the restaurant, there were only 2 workers there, and it seemed like the person who was taking our order did not seem to know the menu very well (perhaps they were new). I ordered "Daging Sapi," but it seemed like the person was confused, so I had to tell them the English name, despite the Indonesian words being put in big text on the menu. Food was OK. Honestly, nothing crazy. $18 (each plate) for mid food felt like a scam. I was beyond surprised that the Mie (noodles) were straight up IndoMie from the ramen packet! That by itself is just less than $1 at the grocery store, and for that price hike of $18 felt like we were being scammed. The restaurant is pretty small, but it was not too crowded when we went. It is similar to how fast food restaurants would assemble your food in front of you as you order. I was really looking forward to this place, but it felt like I was not getting what I came there for (a taste of home). I might come back to try their specialty drinks though, but definitely not the food. read more

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02/19/26 - Rendang Republic is an Indonesian restaurant located @ 3355 N Clark Street just south of the elevated train track crossing Clark Street. I saw this on Yelp & decided to go check it out w/my lunch buddy. The sandwiches looked incredible. My Freon ordered the chicken plate that came w/a seasoned chicken thigh & drumstick a ball of rice, spinach, some mixed veges & shrimp chips. I tried a piece of the chicken it was delicious. I ordered the Indonesian coconut buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, w/pickles, green papaya slaw & sambal aioli on a brioche bun. Very good sandwich. I also order of fries which was huge & more than enough to share w/my buddy. I enjoyed my meal & will be backs at sometime to try some of the other options read more

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Highly recommend this newer place in Lakeview for a quick bite! The chicken sandwich was really good, but all kinda just a normal chicken sandwich. It's sizable, but could probably use a side dish if it's your whole meal. The rendang plate was awesome. The meat was super tender and flavorful. We got fried rice, but it honestly would've been just as good with regular rice! It definitely had a little kick, as did the curried veggies, but it was worth it! I did stay away from the sambals though since those were pretty spicy. read more

Rendang Republic - IFC (Chicken) Sandwich - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Chicago doesn't have much going on in terms of Indonesian food so I love that this place is now here. It's fast casual Indonesian fusion and it's really accessible. We got both the rendang and the chicken plates as well as the sandwich. The sandwich had a little too much mayo. The plates on the hand were really good. My favorite was the chicken; the rendang could be a bit more tender but it was good. Will be back to try some more off the menu. read more

Rendang Republic - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Can't say I've ever had Indonesian food before. Therefore, didn't really know what to expect. I placed an order for takeout. We ordered two IFC sandwiches and one Rendang sandwich. Both sandwiches were tasty. The chicken sandwich was perfectly fried and served with green papaya slaw, aioli, fried shallot all in a brioche bun. You get some freshness out of the slaw and goes perfectly with the coconut battered fried chicken. The Rendang sandwich came with beef, served with aioli, fried shallot, giardiniera, cilantro & green onion. So basically an elevated Indonesian version of a classic Chicago Italian beef sandwich. It was really good. The beef was very flavorful, all the ingredients working perfectly together. Overall we were really satisfied with our meal and can definitely see myself returning in the near future. read more

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I hear this is the only Indonesian restaurant in Chicago. I was in the neighborhood and had to stop in. I ordered a Rendang beef plate with white rice. The flavor was unique. Although I wasn't expecting a specific flavor, I thought the beef was going to be on the slightly sweet side. Definitely savory. The side picked veggies brought more flavor to the overall experience. The meal was presented in a metal tray with a banana leave which brought a visual taste of authenticity. Interestingly enough, the side order of fries was pretty large. And boy it was delicious! Staff are nice and friendly. Interior casual contemporary and clean. The art on the walls brings a hip vibe to the place. read more

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Very flavorful food and specially coffee, good portions. Casual self- service, just a handful of tables

My mom and I came here looking only for a snack, so this review will be for random items on their menu (aka not the entrees lol). We got the mie goreng fries and tried their kropek/krupuk. The mie goreng fries were mid - I don't recommend, they were whatever fries and the seasoning did not jump out unfortunately. We did love the kropek though - there are two kinds and I'm forgetting which one we liked better (I think the small white ones in my photo, which is maybe shrimp). I definitely want to come back to try their rendang and entrees. It's cute inside. read more

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We got to try Rendang Republic on a recent trip to Chicago. I'm a big fan of Indonesian food but can't get it often so was glad to find this spot. We got the Duck Inn Do Dog and the Beef Plate. The duck in do dog was tasty with a good snap on the hotdog and lots of interesting toppings. As for the beef plate, everything was so flavorful and I loved all the veggies and sides that came along with it. However the beef was more on the room temperature side, I would've loved for it to be a bit hotter. Overall, this is a chill fast casual spot with some unique food offerings! read more

Rendang Republic - Beef Plate - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We got the chicken sandwich and the beef rendang plate. The chicken sandwich was really good, but the beef was a let down. The beef was not tender enough and didn't have enough flavor. I've had this beef dish at other places and the beef normally is the star of the show. I enjoyed the rendang latte for my drink. It was a bit pricey..a sandwich and coffee with tax and tip was $27. I give this place 3.5 stars. read more

Rendang Republic - Beef Plate - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Who knew you could find authentic Indonesian food right here in Chicago? I absolutely loved this place. I've always been a fan of Beef Rendang after dining with Indonesian friends, and it's nearly impossible to find at restaurants in the U.S.--so I was thrilled not only to see it on the menu, but to be able to customize my order in a few different ways! The food was genuinely authentic. The nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice) was incredible, and they offer a variety of protein options like beef, chicken, and jackfruit. I also really enjoyed the House Sumatran Coffee--it was just as bold and rich as the coffee I had during my trip to Jakarta last year. If I find myself in Chicago again, I'm definitely coming back to try their IFC (Indonesian Fried Chicken) sandwich and the Duck Inn-Do hotdog! read more

Rendang Republic - Exterior - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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AMAZING new Indonesian food joint in Chicago Wriggleyville! Absolutely recommend the Rendang Plate. You get your choice of base (rice, noodles, salad), protein (loved the beef, chicken & jackfruit also options), and chips (shrimp or garlic). Plenty for 1 person! The lumpia was more like a big eggroll vs what I'm used to with slimmer lumpia. The fries were a huge portion for $5 with good flavor. Save room for one of the croissants for dessert. Great recos from the servers if it's your first time. Ample seating for a fast casual place. read more

Rendang Republic - Rendang Mama Betty's Lumpia - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Indonesian cuisine by Wrigley Field What a fun find. A quick walk from the crowds along Clark, this intimate restaurant serves flavorful and spicy SE Asian cuisine. I ordered the traditional plate with the fried rice and beef and along with comes the spicy sambal and other accoutrements. A unique mixture of curry with fresh pickles to bite through the heaviness. The beef was tender, the fried rice wasn't what you would expect from a Chinese restaurant: more a pilaf in my opinion. Everything was delicious and trying different combos of bits of that and this made an absolutely delicious experience. Water was self service filled with ice, but I additionally went for the Matcha Pandan latte. The grassiness of the flavors made a very light drink that cuts through the heaviness of the beef. Would love to try the sandwiches and hotdogs next time! The staff were fun and hip and the art work on the walls was modern with an Indonesian flair. read more

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Pretty sure this is the only Indonesian restaurant in Illinois, definitely the only one in Chicago. The food was great and the owner was very friendly. We ordered: - Rendang Plate w/beef - IFC Sandwich - Mie Goreng Fries - Rendang Iced Latte - Vanilla Pandan Latte The sandwich was crispy and juicy chicken with a flavorful sauce. The Rendang plate was spicy, sour, and very flavorful. If you're new to Indonesian food, the food is very reasonably priced so you should definitely give it a try. They also have some great bakery items from Umaga Bakehouse. read more

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I saw so much hype around this place on Instagram so I decided to stop by for lunch. The lady working recommend the remdang plate with beef since it was one of their more popular dishes. The beef was tender and I loved the collard greens, which is something I thought I'd never say. As someone who loves textures, I liked the multiple components on the plate but I felt like the pickled vegetables fell flat and the sambal wasn't spicy. I was expecting all the flavors to be a bit stronger too. The biggest disappointment was the matcha though, I couldn't even taste any matcha flavor. Overall the food was pretty affordable, there's plenty of seats and there's free wifi. I don't know if I see the hype but it was a filling meal and service was amazing. read more

Rendang Republic - Rendang plate with beef, matcha latte - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great Indonesian food at very reasonable prices! My wife and I stopped by here for dinner and had a great time. The set up is fast casual with their biggest item, their rendang plates, with all the main components already prepared, warm, and ready to plate at their front counter. The protein options are beef, chicken, and jackfruit, and you can customize with your choice of a carb (white rice, plain noodles, fried rice for a small up charge, or salad), and your choice of things like which type of sambal (chili sauce) to add, what type of crispy chip garnish, etc. They also have indo-American fusion items like a duck inn collaboration Indonesian hot dog, and a Indo fried chicken sandwich. We got a chicken rendang platter with red sambal, and at the recommendation of the staff, the fried chicken sandwich. The rendang was phenomenal- savory, creamy, spicy, with a really rich flavor from the mix of spices they use. The chicken was fall off the bone tender, while it was a fast casual set up, you can tell the meat was made with time and care. The curried collared greens that came with the plate were also fantastic, creamy savory and a tiny bit bitter to help balance out the flavors from the plate, and the red sambal was a bit vinegary garlicky and definitely spicy enough for me. The fried chicken portion for the sandwich was a huge full chicken thigh, juicy inside, served with a refreshing slaw that still had a nice crisp to it, all brought together by a creamy sambal aioli. The mie goring fries I added in were a huge portion of thin, crispy fries with a seasoning inspired by the delicious mie goring instant noodle packets that most of us Asians are familiar with. To top it all off, the owner (I forgot to get his name) was seated and working just two tables next to us, and took the time to ask how the food was. While there are a bunch of reasons to visit Rendang Republic including the reasonable prices, nice service, and lack of other Indonesian places around Chicago, the tasty food should be enough to convince you! read more

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So glad to see an Indonesian place in the area! Slightly expensive for a fast casual concept but the food is authentic and super flavorful - the portion is generous as well. Enjoyed the seasoned veggies that come with the rice plate. Would definitely come back to try other dishes and the coffee! read more

Rendang Republic - Beef Plate - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chicken sandwich was mid & to boot it had the consistency of cartilage on some parts of the chicken. Definitely wasn't fried hard as us Chicagoan's prefer. Albeit me going in the middle of the day they were out of most of the items I wanted to indulge in read more

Rendang Republic - Chicken Sandwich - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Just off the Belmont stop, this cozy Indonesian spot has a nice size menu to get you engulfed in Indonesian cuisine. You order at the counter and your food comes out fast and fresh. I got the Ayam Rendang Plate loaded with collard greens, white rice and garlic chips, pickled veggies, jalapeños, and red sambal. This place is definitely a great introduction into Indonesian food. read more

Rendang Republic - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Well it's not traditional Indonesian cuisine since it has Western fare food was okay I'll probably try to beef version of nasi goreng. I ordered the chicken version of it was like I said okay unlike other Indonesian restaurants that came and went in Chicago. They are more fast food than traditional service was quick though ambience was much more of a modern feel other than that it's worth trying since there's not too many Indonesian Malaysian foods in the city the last was rickshaw Republic and there were a few I know that came out in the 2009 but they were not as good the best one that I remember in the 1990s was August Moon other than that there's Penang but not sure if you want to drive all the way to rolling Meadows Illinois read more

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OOFDA this piece of fried chicken was HUGE and humongously delicious as well!! Thank you Indonesia my mouth has a great time! You need to open your mouth really wide for this one but it was so worth it for that juicy chicken. Rice platter was great too but I am not too much of a rice person compared to chicken so I do not remember much! read more

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Rendang Republic was and is straight fire. Chef John hooked it up with the Beef Rendang Plate, Satay Chicken Skewers, and an incredible Durian Crème Brûlée. The drinks were also incredible and I had the Matcha Pandan Latte which had just the right amount of sweetness! The Bourbon Barrel Black Tea was also a major treat. The atmosphere was chill and the playlist was relaxing while we dug into our food. The service style was relaxed and attentive! 10/10 would recommend and it felt incredible to support a small POC owned business. Rendang Republic isn't one to miss! read more

Rendang Republic - Chef John - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Rendang has landed in Wriglleyville and it's a gem! If you're looking for a hearty plate rich in flavor and a dog to take for the walk to the game this is your spot. Their beef plate is beyond rich in flavor, you'll find yourself scrapping the plate I promise. Now the Duck Inn-Do Dog is crazy, no summer should be complete without one of these before a game. When you see how juicy the dog is you'll be surprised to realize it's not pork but rather chicken! The toppings are fresh and def give any dog that's dragged through the garden a run for its money. Do yourself a favor and start your mornings with their coffee. They really thought out each part of their menu and their coffee and tea selections are impressive. This vanilla pandan is unlike anything else I've had in the city. read more

Rendang Republic - Duck Inn-Do Dog and vanilla pandan. Both amazing - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I gotta go back by myself . No offense to my wife but currently they have one vegetarian:pescatarian option. But I honestly love Indonesian food. Looking at the menu and aroma of the kitchen were intoxicating. The decor. I think the place looks great. They need to put a just shrimp option or plain fried rice. But overall informative staff. Def bookmarked to return read more

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The first time I came was their opening week and I got there too late because they sold out. I asked for the staff to recommend something and they recommended this beef plate with rice. The rice was a good call because it soaked up the sauce for the beef. Everything was pretty flavorful and the portion size is pretty good. There is a bit of limited seating so it might be hard if you are trying to sit with a group of more than 4. I will come back again! read more

Rendang Republic - beef plate with rice - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends and I are always looking for a spot on Friday to try out. There aren't a lot of Indonesian places in Chicago and the different flavors in the rendang plate makes it unique and tasty. As many mentioned in their reviews, the food was already prepped and kept warm for quick service. Make sure you can handle spice in here. It felt very close to comfort food. The ambiance was chill! The owner was also there checking in on how the food was. I do want to come back and try the other items on the menu! read more

Rendang Republic - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It hurts my heart to post this. I really wanted to like this place, and gave it a few tries. I lived in Indonesia for awhile and miss its flavors, but the closest I can get (without a $1k day-long plane trip, two weeks off work, etc) has been occasional trips to Los Angeles where a few of their Indonesian restaurants come close. So I was very motivated to love Rendang Republic, and I don't want to see any Indonesian place here close, because we need more Indonesian food. But - the spices and herbs that really make an Indonesian meal are conspicuously absent. With the exception of the rendang protein itself - in this case I'm talking about the chicken, which is tender and tasty - the rest of the meal are oddly bereft. The green chili is neutered of all heat, the pickled vegetables are vaguely vinegary, and the noodles taste like they've just been washed in plain, kind of slimy water. I've never seen 'mie' on a menu and had them have NO flavoring, even though I know the word just means noodles. I went back to try the Duck Inn-do hot dog, which I thought was so clever wordplay-wise and also looked like it would be super flavorful, but the reigning impression was mayo and tomato, with some crunchiness from the fried onion. read more

Had a great meal at Rendang. Staff was super friendly and efficient. Food was very flavorful, we enjoyed everything, but the chicken sandwich was definitely the standout for us. Dark meat, super moist, paired with a great slaw and aioli! Super quick service, and don't miss the desserts to go! read more

Rendang Republic - Chicken and beef plate - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My daughter and I had heard amazing things about Rendang Republic, and oh man, it really delivered! I got the beef rendang platter with a fried rice base. It came with pickled veggies, curried collard greens, and green sambal. This combination was amazing. The beef was addictively tender and flavorful - coconutty in the best possible way. My daughter got the coconut buttermilk battered fried chicken sandwich (with green papaya slaw) and the pandan latte, and these were both wonderful too. The people next to us got the durian crème brûlée, which looked gorgeous, and now I'm regretting not ordering that too. It is obvious that a lot of love, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail goes into the cooking. The service is also very friendly and considerate - we chatted a little with the owner, John. Do not waste any more time - go there right away. read more

The food will punch you in the face with flavor! That description felt more aggressive than I thought it would, but definitely check out Rendang Republic. Each staff member was friendly and patient as we decided on which menu items to order. I also recommend ordering a pandan latte at the end of your meal to round out your experience. Happy eating! read more

Rendang Republic - Rendang Sandwich with nangka and collard greens - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cute space with friendly staff! Got some beef rendang on rice and a pandan vanilla latte, all flavorful. The coffee was also served in a mug, which I appreciate (I don't enjoy coffees served in disposable cups). My only critique would be the rice, which was a little dry and lacking in flavor. I'm looking forward to trying more of the menu next time. It's great to have more Indonesian in the city, definitely check them out! read more

Rendang Republic - Pandan vanilla latte - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing Indonesian cuisine in Wrigleville! Having been to Indonesia, these dishes brought me back to the islands I visited years ago. They serve traditional beef, as well as chicken, and jackfruit (which was appreciated during Lent). The Duck Inn-do dog was amazing! Indonesian flavors with an homage to the city. It's also chicken btw. Worth mentioning is all the food has allergen warnings, so gluten-free, dairy-free, shrimp-free, etc. diets are accommodated. Bonus for Muslims: all the food is zabiha halal (except the hotdog, but it's prepared halal). The owners (one is the chef) and all of the staff are super friendly! The vibe is very chill with great music playing and a mural painted by an artist from Bali. Great place to try something different whether you're watching the Cubbies or not! read more

Why a lovely place! The food really delicious and they have real silverware, napkins and glasses. Just don't forget to clean after yourselves. The vibes are friendly and casual. Really nice. read more

Rendang Republic - Inside - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm Indonesian and live in LA, and this spot easily serves one of the best rendangs I've had, on par with Pagi Sore and Sederhana back in Indonesia. The rendang platter was incredibly authentic, and I was pleasantly surprised by how manageable the spice level was. The duck hot dog was also delicious, super juicy. read more

Rendang Republic - Top: Rendang plate Bottom: Duck Inn-Do Dog - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely incredible - highly recommend. I typically only ever review places that go way beyond any expectations, and this place definitely did that. Speaking of expectations, don't come here thinking that you're going to get a fully expansive menu full of a ton of authentic Indonesian dishes. That's not what they're going for, and even if there were another Indonesian place in the city, it's the fact that they're a Chicago-Indonesian fusion that makes them unique! So, enjoy it for what it is! We really liked the chicken sandwich & beef sandwich - and the crème brûlée was super unique/delicious :) Hopefully will upload photos sometime soon read more

Food is delicious, unique, beautiful. Really tasty gem and worth getting again in the future read more

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I met chef/owner John Avila at his restaurant Rendang Republic, an all-day counter service restaurant at 3355 N. Clark St in Wrigleyville. I read that Rendang Republic is Chicago's Only Indonesian Restaurant. Could that be true? I loved chatting with Chef John and thanked him for sharing his cultural heritage. He's a northwest side native, and the restaurant impresses with both its authentic Indonesian dishes, like the chicken sate, and also by taking fresh authentic Indonesian ingredients and techniques and reimagining them as Chicago classics, like their "Beef Rendang Sandwich," a cross between an Italian-Chicago beef, and Indonesian beef rendang incorporating a bouquet of chillies, shallots, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, and kefir lime leaves. You also won't want to miss the "Duck Inndo Dog," which features a delicious Duck Inn Dog made by Bridgeport superstar Chef Kevin Hickey, and serves it up with uniquely Indonesian trimmings, including pickled vegetables, a drizzle of hoisin sauce, crunchy fried shallots, and more. They were out of lumpia during my visit, but I'll be back soon to try them, because if the lumpia are as great as everything else on the menu, they will undoubtedly be a new favorite. Conveniently individually packaged Umaga Bakehouse pastries are available for dessert. I took one of each home to enjoy later. The woman staffing the register also provided great service and I regret not catching her name to give her a shoutout too, because she was welcoming and informative and added to our terrific experience. read more

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