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Irazu Costa Rican Restaurant & Catering
Categories: Restaurants Latin American Restaurants Vegetarian Event Planning & Services Caterers Latin American, Vegetarian, Caterers [Edit]
1865 N Milwaukee Ave(between Moffat St & Oakley Ave)
Chicago, IL 60647
Neighborhood: Bucktown
(773) 252-5687
- Nearest Transit:
-
Western-O'Hare (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
843 reviews for Irazu Costa Rican Restaurant & Catering
Review Highlights
"LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS OATMEAL SHAKE."
(in 223 reviews)
"i love love loved the spicy gallo pinto."
(in 55 reviews)
"It is just steak and lizano sauce."
(in 30 reviews)
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843 reviews in English
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Review from Pascal M.
Naperville, IL
2/1/2012
I'd cross the Sahara, handstand on hot coals, and let a go 1 round with a thai kick boxer just to smell the Pepito Sandwich. Arite, Arite, maybe not to that extreme.
Irazu is located perfectly on the corner of N Milwaukee annnnd some other street. I love their building, it has a nice bamboo fence that secludes diners during a hot summer day while they munch down on some Costa Rican cuisine.
We started with their Spinach and Cheese Empenadas, which are DA BOMB! I'm willing to put my integrity on the line by saying any of their empenadas are good. Their Pepito sandwich is yumazing and its less than $5. WHAAAAAAHHHHH?!?! That's right. The ribeye is juicy and tender, the Lizano sauce is perfect, and the cheese gives it that gooey interior most of us love on a sandwich. The bread is of good quality too boot.
The menu is littered with other good stuff like smoothies, tacos, and an arsenal of Costa Rican dinners. I remember them even having a good amount of vegetarian options.
Irazu is a perfect place to grab lunch or dinner in the late spring, summer, or early fall. It's a blast to sit outside, drink a smoothie, and enjoy their great food. GO GIT YOU DAT PEPITO! -
Review from Chris L.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 2/5/2012
They are still consistent with the quality of their food. I think the portion might have gotten a little bit smaller because I used to have a hard time finishing their El Tico with ribeye... or maybe I've become more of a glutton.
still BYOB, still good food, still a bit of a wait, still only 1 co-ed bathroom... but I like consistency.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/25/2011
Irazu is always a good choice... unless you are starving. Usually they have a long waitlist. But… Read more »
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Review from Basil D.
Chicago, IL
1/27/2012
My closest encounter to Costa Rica was the South Park episode with Jennifer Aniston, so I can't claim to know if it tastes like authentic Costa Rican food or not. However I've been there twice now, and the food is incredibly tasty! It's different from Cuban and other cuisines.
The Empanadas were good, a little heavy on the crust but they were good and I'd order them again. I had their Milanese Sandwich which was a fantastic combination of flavors in a unique sandwich you can't get anywhere else! Flank Steak breaded and fried with their mustard and mayo, lettuce and tomato! Yum. The Yuca fries are AWESOME and I highly recommend them! Popular in Cuban restaurants too, I thought these were every bit as good as Habana Libre! In the past I've had their pork-chop which really had some unique flavors that made the pork taste really come out and altogether tender...and I devoured every bit of it.
The atmosphere is really comfortable. The lamp warmers make it cozy in the winter and the bachelorette party, particular the bride, was helpful in helping me throw up my dinner so I could eat another entree....well....almost.....God bless the man that marries her. They say marry for the cooking, and not looks. The looks go down, but the cooking can only improve with age. And if not, there's always Irazu!!! -
Review from Grace L.
Palatine, IL
2/8/2012
We went there for dinner. We waited about 30 minutes. Hip atmosphere but the food was bland. Nothing special, but that may just be the nature of Costa Rican food. Nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe we will try for breakfast. Reviews on oatmeal smoothie seem hard to resist.
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Review from Angie M.
1/13/2012
Believe the hype.
Veggie burrito? On freaking point. A flour tortilla gloriously stuffed with yellow rice, black beans, avocado, sour cream, cheese and lettuce. Simple, yes, but delightfully so. I'm a whore for avocado and I loved the automatic inclusion of this sweet, creamy goodness in the Irazu burrito.
The biggest surprise, though, was the steak tostado. It's no joke. Irazu piles on heapings of tender beef, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado and I included some shredded cheese for good measure. Man, oh, man. It was some good eats. And for a pittance, really. Order two and you'll be full for sure.
One VERY slight disappointment was the famed oatmeal shake. I couldn't help but wonder why most Yelpers seem to lose their shit over what, to me, was a pretty icy blend of oats and cinnamon. I had my shake made with milk and it didn't taste very creamy. Don't get me wrong; it was good and all. Just not the magical elixir I was expecting.
So go to Irazu. It's yummer-ific!Listed in: South of the Border
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Review from Kerri M.
Chicago, IL
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not a review, just a suggestion for vegans:
Vegatarian burrito sans cheese and sour cream, tomato, yellow rice.
Add spinach and plantains.
Clean flavor and soooo delicious! -
Review from Tim H.
1/15/2012
Ordered delivery from here and sandwiches were ok. Nice and cheap at under $5.
The oatmeal milkshake was real good...creamy, thick, and with a good amount of spicing. -
Review from Claudia V.
Villa Park, IL
2/4/2012
The food was delicious! My boyfriend and I had:
their "Chicago fave" Pepito sandwich
Patacones
Oatmeal shake with milk
The food was exceptional. Everything was made to order and came out pretty fast. When we fiirst got there, we were served water and tortilla chips; our waiter was very friendly and quite attentive. My only regret about this place was that the plate the patacones came on had grease/oil from the fryer... But they were still edible!:)
Basically, this place is very authentic! The prices, quality and quantity of food, ambiance and service were ALL great! We will definitely be going back to this awesome spot!
Words of advice: ONLY cash is accepted at the place and the sitting area up front is less crowded/more ample. -
Review from Danielle F.
Oak Park, IL
1/21/2012
totally AUTHENTIC!! I had the huevos racheros which came swimming in sauce and appropriately with a serving of black refried beans. The salsa verde is pretty hot which i really dig. Plantains come many styles.
Excellent service. Got all the orders right and allowed a party of 12 to split the bill up so each of us paid individually. They have a heated outdoor patio which is warm even in january. -
Review from Jennifer R.
Chicago, IL
1/18/2012
I can't tell you how many times I have driven past Irazu or how many times I've said "I've been meaning to check out Irazu." Well, I finally went last night with my boyfriend. It does not disappoint.
We sat in the surprisingly warm and cozy front patio. Don't let the weather deter you. It was really comfortable. Warm chips and salsa verde were brought out quickly to our table. I love their chips. They have the right thickness. It is hard to find a place that doesn't serve those super thin wimpy chips. These were great. The squeeze bottle of salsa verde made them even better. In fact, several times I considered just doing salsa shots straight from the bottle. It was that good. They give you little flat plates with the chips. Pouring the salsa onto the plates and attempting to dip in the chips proved difficult. Just pour the salsa right on top of the chip. Much less messy that way.
We ordered the Patacones (Double fried green plantains) to start. We opted for the additional black bean puree (an extra $2) and it was totally worth it. It also comes with some garlic oil but it was so overpowering that we didn't use it. The black bean puree is absolutely delicious on top of the patacones. You know, in addition to the salsa verde that I completely doused them with as well.
For the entree I ordered the vegetarian burrito. My boyfriend ordered the chicken burrito. The veggie burrito is delicious though next time I'll ask for extra hot peppers. I had a bite of the chicken from my bf's burrito. For white meat it was really flavorful and sliced thin enough that it wasn't dry at all.
I will definitely be back to eat my way through the rest of their menu and try that oatmeal milkshake that I've heard so much about. -
Review from Gina F.
12/29/2011
The food is always so delicious, with tons of options for meat-eaters & vegetarians alike. The Tostones are amazing, the empanadas are to to die for (every flavor), the burritos are exactly what you never knew you always wanted, and the oatmeal shakes--dear God, the oatmeal shakes--are like heaven.
Services is decent, but if they are busy you better not pass up the chance to order or it may take a while to present itself again.
TIP: The shakes can be made with soy milk so lactards like my husband can also enjoy them. There is no reason not to have one! -
Review from Samantha L.
Chicago, IL
1/12/2012
Put a fork in this place, it's done. Irazu was good - like 6 or more years ago. Now it's just like every other place that gets popular, the food is made in advance and nuked to cater to the larger crowds, and it sucks.
I usually ordered the Costa Rican Sandwich or the Costa Rican chicken. The last time I went there was officially the last time. My food tasted a day old and was way too salty.
Sorry Irazu, we had a good run. -
Review from Alexis M.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2012
Things I love about Irazu:
1. Palmito salad. SO good. The lime dressing is fantastic.
2. Oatmeal shake. It's like a liquid cookie. It's unique and wonderful.
3. Great chips for the table.
4. Really nice atmosphere with the outdoor flame heaters and casual feel.
While it's not the cheapest place around, I find it really high quality and delicious. -
Review from Candice G.
Naperville, IL
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oatmeal and Chocolate Shake? Everything you've heard is true. The 5 stars are undeniable there- Best thing you'll ever eat and drink at the same time, IMO.
The Veggie Taco, Veggie Plate, and Veggie Burrito on the other hand? Well, they were good- but I have to lump them in my "The Hype Man Cometh" category. It just wasn't the level of fantastic I was expecting... but in Irazu's defense, I'd heard A LOT about that veg burrito so it had some mighty high expectations to live up to.
I kind of want to go along with everyone else on the 5 stars but truthfully, I think the burrito I got was kinda dry and seemed like it was made with generic stuff I could have bought in a few easy steps at the grocery store... like maybe a can of black beans, shredded cheese in a bag, shredded lettuce in a bag, etc. The unique flavors I was expecting just weren't there for me as far as 5 stars are concerned but I will say that the size vs price vs quality in freshness ratio still makes this place quite the deal, so I can sweep the not-so-flavorfulness of my food items under the rug a bit. I do promise to come back and give it another shot. I mean, I'm probably gonna need something to wash my 3 oatmeal shakes down with.
And why can't I stop thinking about that damned oatmeal and chocolate shake? Surely, this is what dreams are made of. -
Review from Jackie M.
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Outdoor turns into indoor with portable fireplaces under a lighted glowing tent. Despite the yelp page here, they actually take reservations and mentioned a meal option for such a large group.
Apparently, they are trying out this new family style option where you can get horchata, chifrijo (appetizer), salad, plantains, chicken, onion beef, rice and beans and a option for either bread pudding or flan all for the mere price of $18.50 - assuming everyone in your party agrees to it too.
The server who took our order didn't know about it had to go back to the kitchen and returned with an astonished look on his face and limited english spoke excitedly, oh it is very, very good!!
So yes, we did get family style and asked if we can substitute the as advertised and ever so popular avena, aka oatmeal shake. It has the consistency of a finely blended oatmeal, but taste of a malty horchata. Either way, it lives up to it's name!!
Food comes out whatever large bowls they can find and assortment of pyrex, just like how mom would do. It's rustic, it's charming, food is great, with a fun laid back atmosphere, it felt like a mini getaway. If only for just one night.
I don't know what they do to the rice and beans dish, or even the chicken casado, but it's flavorful and juicy. No one leaves hungry! We had so much food left we ended up getting boxes for it. After getting stuffed, the bread pudding is way too heavy and eggy, plus it felt weird with golden raisins. The flan is way better.
It can get a little loud because of the el, but otherwise if you couldn't figure it out, a fun place to bring friends. -
Review from Caroline A.
Chicago, IL
12/1/2011
I had their vegetarian burrito TWICE in one week. #comfortfood.
Whatever that green spicy stuff is, it is sure to clear your sinuses right away.
Bonus points for fast delivery... even to Printer's Row. And everyone loves bonus points! -
Review from LIDA A.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2012
The service is as slow as molasses, even when they are 1/2 empty. The food is OK but overpriced for what it is. We ordered Fried Yuca, and it was cold, greasy and dry as a bone.
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Review from Amy X.
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
palmito salad. rice and beans. green sauce. one of the best delivery dinners, ever! the palmito salad has beets, hearts of palm, cabbage salad that's dripping with vinegary, sweet sauce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocados. so good!
delivered to the loop in under an hour. consider irazu your mecca of vegetarian food when you are surrounded by more fast food restaurants than you know what to do with. -
Review from Brenda G.
Chicago, IL
12/30/2011
I've heard great things about Irazu, so I was excited to try it out myself! My group and I started out with the guacamole and vegetarian chiifrijo. The chifrijo was delicious! It was great on its own, but even better with a bit of the spicy salsa, yum! The apps were so filling that my girlfriends and I got a couple of entrées to share. My favorite was the steak El Tico. It was different and delicious. The gallo pinto was much better and fun than traditional rice. The entrées came with a variety of side dishes, and we had tons of leftovers.
Don't forget to bring cash (cash only), and some delicious beverages.
Shout out to Justin! -
Review from Diana L.
Chicago, IL
1/23/2012
Definitely my go to place in the neighborhood. The gallo pinto is so good! I usually order the gallo pinto breakfast which is the perfect meal size with eggs, gallo pinto, and plantains. The oatmeal shake is a must have. The veggie burrito is also one of my favs - make it even better by adding plantains. Love this place!
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Review from Kel W.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/15/2012
Due to a great experience with the owner here on Yelp, I am updating my 2 star review to a 3 star...great management can really make or break a place. I hope to return soon, try different things on the menu and hopefully upgrade my stars more.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/27/2011
I have been to Irazu a few times and have also ordered take-out. The meat is quite sub-par. I… Read more »
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Review from Rhonda G.
11/5/2011
I had been wanting to try this place for a while but the odds were definitely against me on the day we finally decided to go. It was cold and rainy, traffic was horrible,my bus was in an accident and the el was delayed. Any normal person might have just thrown in the towel but me and my bottle of red were on a mission! Finally we (the wine and and I) arrived and all I could think was "get this bottle open STAT"! We were given a corkscrew and an odd plastic tumbler. I was too flustered to pass judgment so I drank my red wine from a plastic (excuse me, acrylic) cup.
I was starving and everything on the menu looked amazing or I was starving SO everything on the menu looked amazing. Whatever the case, I was staring at a pretty amazing menu. I wanted to try something truly Costa Rican so I went with the Tilapia Casado, which is a generous piece of tilapia with caramelized onions served with white rice, black beans, cabbage salad, an over easy egg, plantains and an added roasted jalapeno for some spice. Everything was flavorful and the egg worked well although I thought it seemed odd at first. I was quite impressed with my dish, so impressed that I ordered a steak version of my meal to go for the old ball and chain back home.
In addition to the food, I thought the guitar player was a nice little touch. Great background music that fit well without being too intrusive. A little loud depending on where you're seated but not too bad. A return visit is inevitable and your first visit is encouraged. Go! -
Review from Diana F.
Chicago, IL
1/14/2012
For my first time here I thought it was pretty good. However, my sweet platains were a little old. I would give this place another try, because at least the steak sandwhich was darn good.
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Review from eric m.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2012
The oatmeal shake is DERICIOUS!!! the carne asada burrito is too. the wait staff is attentive and they got enough heat lamps for you to not notice youre eating outside in 20F weather.
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Review from Misha S.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2012
The food is great and reasonably priced.
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Review from Jessica V.
Des Plaines, IL
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
If I could make this notorious oatmeal shake then I would never leave the house...
First off I have been here twice to dine in and I have ordered delivery from here as well. All three times we a success. We got two cheese and spinach empanadas, but this was a BIG mistake, because we should have order about 10 (you know some to take home possibly?) Next we got two steak pepito sandwhiches with cheese and peppers. However, the waitor thought we only ordered one pepito sandwhich for me and my friend to share, and while I do appreciate him trying to help me watch my 5'3 figure... but I came here for a cheat day. But all went well when booboo (our waitor) brought me this magical drink called an oatmeal shake. He told us how he tried to reinvent this drink at home and failed miserably. wahh!? I can see why because that thing was amazing and coming from a lacto&tolerant individual this is a HUGE compliment!
Meow, I will be back for my kitty oatmeal shake! =) -
Review from Jelena Z.
Can't believe I ever gave 'em 4 stars in the first place.
So you've heard the legends, made out of veggie burritos and oatmeal shakes... believe the lore, this isn't hype! Everything on the menu is super fresh, inexpensive and quite colorful. Exactly the way food should be.
And they deliver! But I try not to order delivery too often, because I have a crush on every single guy that works here. They're teddy bears.
I hate tomatoes but at Irazu I would eat them. If that's not a testament, I don't know what is - they make EVERYTHING taste better.
Word.Listed in: The Sandwich Club., YelpCurious., Bring It: BYOBs, Cold, hard CASH., Lean + Mean Greens
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/5/2010
I just ate at Irazu for the first time today. Outrageous, isn't it?
We started with a legendary… Read more »
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Review from Pat G.
Chicago, IL
12/6/2011
The potato tacos are amazing...and 99% of the time when I eat, I eat something with meat in it but time and time again I get those damn potato tacos from Irazu. Delicious. and the oatmeal milkshake is crazy good too.
the only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because it's closed Sundays. that's when I'm at my laziest and need some bomb-a$$ food! But I still love you Irazu. -
Review from Jen D.
Chicago, IL
11/19/2011
I went here with some out of town friends bcs one of them saw it on Diners, Drive-ins and dives. I was skeptical, but went along for the ride and am sooo glad I did!
We waited for our table at the green eye (great beer list) - our group of 7 was seated in about 45 mins. This is definitely not a place to visit if you are short on patience... once you're seated there is a lot of waiting on a busy sat night for your entree - but we happily drank our BYOB adult beverages and munched on starters to pass the time :)
Here's the rundown-
- Keep your meat order in perspective... we had a lengthy conversation with our server who talked us through the good and the bad. remember, this isn't gibsons, so you're going to be disappointed if you order a steak. chicken is a good option - it's high volume and fresher (and you won't be disappointed with the cut!)
- guacamole - very good, but not amazing.
- chifrijo - heavenly. mix it up into a mess and you will love it.
- casado with chicken... super yummy
Meal was crazy cheap since it is BYO. Our server was awesome. Definitely a great spot, I feel like a tool for not learning about it sooner. -
Review from Annie L.
Chicago, IL
10/12/2011
I've been wanting to eat there for a while, then I saw them on drive-ins, diners, and dives and went the next day. I guess my expectations were high because of all the great reviews. Sadly, I was disappointed.
In a nutshell, it's latin food you can get almost anywhere. The steak sandwich Guy Fieri had on TV is just that - a steak sandwich, nothing out of the ordinary. The food was okay, kinda pricey for the kind of food they serve. There's a much better steak sandwich down the street (Marianao Cafe) and they are way cheaper.
It's a bit confusing because it's supposed to be a Costa Rican restaurant and they serve Mexican tacos, tortas, and bring you mexican chips and salsa when you are seated.
Maybe I just didn't think it was great because I am latin and I am accustomed to this food and theirs is nothing great. The food was definitely edible, but I wouldn't go back again. -
Review from Lauren K.
Chicago, IL
11/5/2011
Irazu has been my favorite Chicago restaurant since I first moved here nearly 2 and a half years ago. Delish! I have done take-out, delivery and eaten in more times than I can count. So now that I am in my last 30 days living in Chicago countdown heading to Irazu was a must!
My favorite is by far the Onion Steak. The skirt steak is perfectly cooked and served with lots of grilled onions. Perfect! To make it even better be sure to get a side of Mojo sauce which is basically roasted garlic in oil.
The sandwiches are all delicious as is the El Tico. I always order my food with the Gallo Pinto and a side of sweet plantains.
Keep in mind the portions are huge but my friends and I are always pleased with the leftovers.
But I have to say I love the staff! They remember us almost every time we trek down there and make sure they take the best possible care of everyone.
Keep in mind that it is BYOB and while you are waiting you can have them open your wine. Be prepared to wait for a while but trust me it is worth it.
I really think Irazu is one of the things I will miss most about Chicago. I am now kicking myself because out of all those countless visits last night was the first time I bothered to try their famous oatmeal shake. It changed my life! -
Review from Amanda S.
Lansing, MI
12/1/2011
Came here as out-of-towers an on the recommendation of a friend. We asked her for: simple, unique, cheap and not full of drunk college kids. She and Irazu both delivered.
We were initially hesitant to ride back up from an earlier trip starting the in Loop, but in hindsight it was the best move we made all week.
Irazu is a tiny place. It looks like it could have been a coffee stand at one point except someone figured out they could cover and heat a giant patio out front. It works perfectly but be warned there was a 45 min. wait when we went and, as I'm told, there often is.
Once we got there, Irazu's uber-sweet hostess (wanted to be her BFF she was so nice) sent us down a block to the Green Eye, a good little bar. We left our name, traveled down there, noshed some chips and had a brew, then headed back.
We were seated quickly and, despite it being cold and windy, their flame heaters did a fine job of making the enclosed "patio" warm. It took us a bit to decide on food, though I knew there was an oatmeal shake in our future no matter what. Honestly, I doubt you could go wrong with anything on the menu. Hell, I'd come back just to try everything on the list.
The night we went, my husband opted for a $15 combo that included a sandwich, appetizer and the infamous oatmeal shake. I ordered two tacos. Chips came gratis and we over-indulged in a basket and a half.
Our appetizer, Chifrijo, came out first. It was a nice-sized, sharable bowl of hot rice with black beans, diced veggies (think salsa w/o the sauce base), fresh avocado and fried pork pieces layered on top. It also had what I take to be Irazu's special sauce swirled on top. Let it be known I could have eaten JUST this with the chips. God, it was good. Fresh and delicious.
The oatmeal shake came out next. This was the only "wahh?" part of the meal. The shake rocked but next time I'd ask for it to come last. We wanted to savor it more as a dessert than a drink. It was fantastic though and much like a giant blended rice pudding. No lumps, no whipped cream...nothing weird. Just a bit of allspice and cinnamon swirled in.
Entrees: The hubs said a steak sandwich, per his meal deal, was great. I had a bite and while it was a little "safe" for me, it was indeed good. I opted for two chicken Taco Ticos. They came rolled (not folded), fried and topped with fresh, shredded cabbage, mayo, a little ketchup and that awesome sauce. Again, maybe it was because we were on vacation, but I've never actually had good cabbage nor have I ever enjoyed mayo-until now. The toppings were a great salty-sweet addition to the tacos though. It worked.
Like many here have said, we had leftovers. Lots of leftovers. So, not only is Irazu a place to get fresh food on the cheap, but if you nab an appetizer, chances are you can make a second meal out of it. Sadly, we didn't have a fridge in our hotel room.
Since we've gotten back, I've asked to make a four-hour drive to Chicago twice (jokingly, obviously) just to have lunch at Irazu. If it was two hours, we probably would have actually done it, that's how much we liked this place. I've also sent recommendations to two other people in the past month.
Give it a shot. Wait the wait (at the bar down the street). Try the food. -
Review from Lauren P.
10/6/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Dear Yelp,
Irazus has Great outdoor seating! They have these awesome flame-like warmers that make it look sort of romantic!
Skip the salsa because it's super spicy, just order the guac because it's very fresh.Although the steak is very tender it's not much out of the ordinary, but their yuca and mojo is pretty good!
But the w i n n e r of it all is the OATMEAL SHAKE!
Oatmeal shake = horchata plus milk plus oatmeal plus ice plus cinnamon plus a whole shake of goooooodness!
Im so glad they're not far from 94! I live approximately 17 min away so it's not too far of a drive via the highway!
Love always,
Lauren P. -
Review from Melly C.
Algonquin, IL
1/6/2012
The food here is phenomenal! I ordered empanadas and their gallo pinto rice. Everything was packed with flavor and cooked so well. The service was great too. My friend had a masquerade themed dinner here and we were allowed to decorate, the waiter took very good care of us. Someone was able to drop off a cake and everything before the event. Our waiter even gave us to go cups for our leftover alcohol, haha. I love that is BYOB. It's tough that it's cash-only, but so worth it. I can't wait to come here in the summer. Definitely coming back to this place, so glad I live nearby!
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Review from April P.
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
In the summers, I tend to drink Starbucks iced coffee at work because of the good balance of potency, sweetness and ability to keep me AWAKE. I love it so much that I sip at it till its all gone, the sound of its last drops thru the straw heard by my cube neighbor alerting me via Instant Message "THERE'S NO MORE IN THERE!" to get me to stop.
Well, *she* wasn't with me when I went to Irazu's. And thank goodness because my cousin and I tore up that oatmeal shake. Yes, pitiful we shared ONE. But hey, I'm a nice cousin, and she had chosen the iced horchata coffee, but to my disadvantage, preferred my drink. Can ya blame her?! "Can I have another sip, I just wanna make sure I'm not allergic to oatmeal" ummm, suuuuureeeeee knock yourself out....
The food here is legit, reasonably priced and well seasoned. They have a variety of empanadas, but unfortunately, I wasn't impressed with the beef empanada we had. Their skirt steak with tender, flavorful and a large serving. Rice and beans weren't my favorite, a tad on the mushy side. No problem, they also have white rice as an alternative, and ya can't mess up white rice right? The coleslaw was a nice side of a vinegar goodness, the plantains carmelized to its upmost potential. Lauren P. absolutely loved the fried yucca, which can be served fried or boiled, both options with mojo, the garlicky goodness that accompanies it.
On this brisk night, we didn't get to sit out in the patio area, with the heated lamps in place. Instead we were inside the very Costa Rican themed restaurant, which being on the smallish side, I imagine to be packed in the winters. Only one bathroom, unisex available.
Omar and his staff served us fast and efficient, making sure to check up on us often. Omar is such a personal guy and will sit and talk shop about his favorite places within Chicagoland to eat. Ahhh, a way to my heart is thru my Yelp stomach. -
Review from Hayley S.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2012
Please get the oatmeal shake. AND get the mamey shake--an unlikely but fabulous choice!
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Review from aisha p.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/12/2011
The three stars only refers to the GUACAMOLE. I've never ordered it before because it's 6.50 for a small, which was always kinda pricey for me. I decided to splurge on my vacation, and seriously, this is the blandest guac I've ever had.
If you want delicious guac, stick to Tony's. It's delicious and probably a few cents cheaper.
(The rest of the food is great, though. I love all the veges and the variety that comes with the Shrimp and Vege dinner. Still pricey though!)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/12/2010
I just stopped in for a bite to eat in between appointments just before dinnertime. I'd been wanting… Read more »
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Review from Kyle A.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wouldn't say it is strictly Costa Rican food, but it is pretty damn good. I wish I would have read the Yelp reviews before stopping by, I would have tried this oatmeal shake!
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Review from Alex R.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2011
I've been here twice - sat outside once in the summer and last week in the now enclosed heated patio. Both experiences were great!
Food was delicious - I loved the vegetarian burrito!
The fact that is BYOB works out perfectly with the Red and White Wine Shop right across the street! We ran out of wine during our meal and were able to run back across for one more bottle. The super friendly staff was ok with us lingering over our last bottle of wine long after we finished our meal.
I will be back :) -
Review from Steve S.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2011
I'd give them a better review if they were ever open. The last three, count 'em three, times I tried to order (online) I got a message saying they were no longer taking orders -- even though they were all during business hours. I give up and will never try again.
