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Categories: Latin American, Vegetarian
Neighborhood: BucktownOn your next visit or delivery of $25 or more, mention you are a Yelper and receive one complimentary world famous Oatmeal Shake!
Announced 6 days agoWestern (Blue O'Hare)
Mon-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
"I had heard that the word on the street at Humboldt Park is that Borinquen had the best jibarito ever. I agree. For those who don't know,…" read more »
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This afternoon, a wormhole opened up at Irazu Restaurant and delivered this unsuspecting diner straight to Buca Di Beppo. Now it is unusual indeed for a wormhole to masquerade as a bowl of chicken soup but evidently, adding enough garlic to a bowl of liquid can create strange phenomena. And this wasn't all. It would appear that the soup pot doubles as the restaurant's grease trap since there was more of it floating on top than actual ingredients. I guess during these economic times, anything to save a penny is worthwhile.
However, it would be unfair to withhold the positives of which there are many. Not even at Subway can one still get a giant sandwich for $4.95, on great bread and bursting with beef. The burritos are bizarrely good and the empanadas the greatest deal on the menu.
This place has been around for years and you owe it yourself to go the next time a burrito craving strikes you. Just hold the soup and save everyone around you from holding their noses.
Love,
http://Mealschpeal.com
My husband and I decided to try this place out after all of our friends raved about it. It was pretty delicious! The plaintains were my favorite part. I got the steak tico. I really enjoyed the rice and beans as well as the plantains and roasted veggies, but the meat didn't really do it for me. My husband got some sort of deep friend pork and yuca. That was delicious!! The people who work there are also extremely nice. My husband accidentally ate a jalapeno and was dying and they brought him out some plaintains with sour cream to neutralize the burning.
We got take out from them one time too on a friday night. The burritos were delicious, although it did take awhile to get them. Nonetheless, very tasty and we will be back!
The national, possibly unofficial, slogan of Costa Rica is Pura Vida or enjoy life. Well that's what this installment of Veggie Supper Club did.
To start, we noshed on chips and salsas and complimentary black beans with pico de gallo. I also had some empanadas - black bean, plantain, and spinach and cheese; the spinach was by far the best of the three, but they were all tasty.
I had planned to order Tuna Mixed with Rice, reminiscent of a dish I got in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, per Omar, our fabulous server, it wasn't made with seared, fresh tuna as I had hoped, but canned tuna so I passed and got the veggie burrito instead. When three veggie burritos, three different ways came to the table confusedly Omar was quick to take them back to the kitchen and sort out which one was which. My burrito was good, but not exceptional or award winning as the menu states. I wouldn't come back for that specifically, but I would come back to try some other menu items. My pre-dinner snacking only allowed me to finish half of the huge burrito, but the rest made a nice lunch the next day.
This place is BYOB and cash only, but they have an ATM in front. There are also a few liquor stores close by on Milwaukee in case you need to get something on the fly. The place is small, it will be hit or miss if you're dining in parties of more than 4.
Bottom line: I'd give the food 3.5 stars, but the enthusiastic, attentive and friendly service from Omar kicks it up to 4.
TIP: They can make their oatmeal shake with soy milk if you're on the outs with cows.
TIP: If you've been to Costa Rica bring a photo, they have a board where you can post it.
Damn, that was one fine veggie burrito. Who would have thought that a burrito without meat could taste so good. And who would have thought that I, a devout carnivore, would be gushing about a vegetarian meal!
In all honesty, had I not been out with the veggie supper club, I would probably have ordered a pepito (steak sandwich) or the rib eye steak casado. But in the spirit of the occasion I decided to go vegetarian. Omar, the very personable waiter/host/manager, suggested the burrito with sauteed mushrooms. Thanks for the tip, Omar. Your kitchen did wonders with the mix of black beans, rice, avocado, cheese, mushrooms & hot peppers.
I only managed to make it through half my burrito. Perhaps it was the abundance of chips and salsa on the table, or the bean dip that Omar had us sample. Or more likely, it was the large creamy oatmeal shake that I greedily downed with my meal. Whatever the reason, I had enough burrito left over for lunch.
Oh no, that's two vegetarian meals in a row! I need to go get myself some meat stat before this veggie thing becomes a habit.
I'm ready to move to Costa Rica! The cheese empanada was great. But what I really loved was the Casado. A wonderful mix of textures and flavors. Comfort food for the stomach and soul.
Tried Irazu after seeing them featured as restaurant of the month for the Veggie Super Club. Even though I couldn't make the event, I thought I should definitely give the place a try. I can't speak to the restaurant itself, as I have ordered in both times, but boy is the food here great.
Both times I've ordered the empanadas, and I have learned that my favorites are the zucchini, spinach and cheese, and plantain. All of the veggie options are tasty, though. I've also tried the delicious potato tacos and the incredible yuca with mojo (garlic oil). Yum. My girlfriend has ordered the veggie burrito with mushrooms both times and loved them and my roommate has enjoyed steak burritos and meat-filled empanadas.
The only thing we haven't loved was a blackberry shake, but I think that's a personal thing. My only other complaint is that pricing is a little strange. Some things are super inexpensive (7 empanadas for $12? That's 2 meals! Burritos as big a house for $5? Sweet!) while others are above average for the city ($10 for 3 potato tacos).
Really, you should pretty much try this place. It can be very cheap if done right and amazingly good. I mean, I've ordered from them twice in a week. They're doing something right.
Not an expert on Costa Rican food, but this place was great. BYOB with no corkage fee adds even more spice to the flavor. Having some vegetarians in the group, ultimately had us decide on Irazu. There menu has plenty of veggie options and even a veggie section. I have to tell you, they sounded quite appetizing, and the couple I tried, tasted even better. The Chile Relleno, Poblano pepper stuffed with cheese, topped w/ tomato sauce, was excellent. Perfectly balanced and melts in your mouth, packed with flavor.
I had the tilapia tacos, which although a little on the dry side, were tasty none the less. Don't miss the Gallo Pinto either. Authentic rice that left me wanting more. Plantains were OK, but again, a little on the dry side.
Overall, had an excellent time. Staff is friendly, funny, and BYOB is just a wonderful touch.
Tip: They ONLY ACCEPT CASH. There is an ATM inside.
I went to Costa Rica few years back and I was really excited to hear about this place.
My first impression of the dishes was just okay... I had the Cheviche which i didn't really like and the fresh guacamole that i thought was complimentary with the chips but it's not (beware of the waiter asking you if you want guacamole with your chips, it's actually an appetizer).
But then the real deal came, I had the Casado Tilapia dish which tasted just like a dish I had in Costa Rica and i had few bites of the Milanesa which I thought was really good as well.
I'm also happy to know that I can find some Lizano Salsa in Chicago (I can now finish the bottle I bought 2 years ago).
I had their Oatmeal shake for dessert and now I can easily pass out after posting this review.
A veritable feast of deliciousness!
My lady friend and I decided to go all out with a meal fit for Costa Rican royalty. After a round of guacamole, we split three empanadas: spinach/cheese, plantain and zucchini. The empanada was perfectly flaky and they were all great, but I was most partial to the plantain.
Despite the fact that I was probably full enough at that point, I still had a veggie burrito on the way. Stuffed with extra mushrooms and zucchini, it was one of the best burritos I've ever tasted. Generally, I'm a carnivore, and I have to have chicken or another dead animal in my tortilla to make a burrito worthwhile... but not so here. Delicious, gigantic and cheap.
Is it wrong that I want to go back and have a meal of just oatmeal shakes and plantains?? Mmm...
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Irazu...and it is BYOB!! Seriously, why did I just go there for the first time this summer...I've known about this place for so long.
I had the veggie burrito; i completely understand why it is award winning. It was so flavorful, delicious, and HUGE! The side plantains were perfect and the rice was light and fluffy; just how it tasted in Costa Rica. I can't wait to go back for more entree sampling. If you like Costa Rican food...go now.
The ONLY thing that I would change is for them to find a substitute for the paper liner in the burrito basket. The juices from the burrito make the paper wet and my attempts at lady-like behavior (cutting it with a knife), ripped the paper and I'm pretty sure small pieces got mixed into the burrito.
Oh..remember...CASH ONLY!
I was so excited to go here as I have heard nothing but good things about this place and been given recommendation after recommendation for it. With that said my expectations were very high. This place isn't awful, but I certainly did not feel that I would recommend this place. The food was fair (we all ordered something different so I had a variety of things) and none of it blew me away. I was disappointed by the plantains and the shakes everyone raves about is not that great. I think what we have here is another hip place to be for Wicker Park. Oh yes, the guy with the beard and the weird creeper eyes wearing a flannel button up shirt from some thrift store, dirty jeans, a filthy looking beard and looked as if he needed a serious bath was there along with his hipster girlfriend wearing her over sized pink framed glasses, a retro t-shirt and a collection of other pieces from Buffalo exchange throw on...you know exactly the couple/kind of people I'm talking about. If this is you..then go ahead and go, I'm sure you'll totally dig it man. But if you want some actual good food that is above standard and not just hipster approved I don't recommend it. The service is very nice though.
I also was surprised to see that they didn't offer any kind of drinks...it's BYOB which I'm not a fan of and think this kind of place should offer something, but that's my fault for not knowing.
Can i please have more stars to award to Irazu?!?!? The owner, Henry, sent me a nice email after my initial review which drew me in, yet again, this weekend. Even though Irazu is a good 15 min drive from my place downtown, i eagerly anticipated the taste of the oatmeal shake on my lips every minute i got closer to Irazu, and i was very excited to introduce this mecca of yumminess to my bf. We had the nicest waiter probably i've ever encountered, and Henry came out to say hello to me, which was so nice. They do read and appreciate these Yelp reviews, people, so make sure to give them good feedback. I love the family-owned and operated aspect of Irazu, it feels like you're walking into a restaurant in a small town where everyone knows your name and order (being from small-town Texas, i appreciate that!).
I had to order the same veggie burrito (which we split because this baby is MASSIVE) and oatmeal shakes so that my bf could know the wonderment that i had been telling him about all week. He was in heaven...i knew he would be! We also ordered a trio of empanadas - spinach and cheese (yums), chicken (super yums, my fave) and plaintain (sweet like a dessert = yums) - as well as a side of plaintains which were prepared in the traditional style. The whole meal was yet again about $22. We are making Irazu a regular stop on our eating out tour...I wish I lived closer so we could go at least once a week. At these prices, you can't afford NOT to try it!
Thanks Henry and team for a wonderful meal (again)!!
MUCHAS GRACIAS YELPERS!!! I LOVED IRAZU and i would never have ever found it or gone there w/o… Read more »
The perfect winter/fall weekend meal:
Irazu chicken sandwich (w/hot peppers) w/ a side of their chicken noodle soup. Lots o' food, but you have to have them both. It's the best. Really, it is. And, if you want to be the best person in the world to a sick friend-- bring them a big cup of Irazu chicken noodle soup.
This place is also great in the summer to sit in their big porch area.
I loved this place and will definitely be back for more! I had the casado....juicy, rib-eye steak with rice mixed with black beans and sweet, fried plantains on the side. Delicious and huge! I'm glad that I have leftovers that will last me the next couple of days. I also had the oatmeal shake, which had a good taste, but it was a bit watery (I like how Tiztal Cafe makes theirs). I loved, loved, loved the ceviche....soury fish goodness!
The restaurant was too full to accommodate our group of 7, so we sat out on the patio instead. Yes, the weather was in the 40s, but it actually wasn't that bad in there. The patio was enclosed with tarp and there was a large heating device in the middle, so that helped a lot. Service was also great!
Don't get me wrong, Irazu is a wonderful restaurant that serves delicious goodness, but you won't find more than a few of their menu items in Costa Rica :O
A typical Costa Rican menu will have gallo pinto with eggs and plantains for breakfast (AND not OR as they do in Irazu), gallo pinto or rice&beans with skirt stake, fish, pork chops, chicken, or even canned tuna for lunch and dinner. You won't find spicy stuff like salsa or hot sauce unless you find the only Mexican restaurant in San José, which, by the way, is a Tex-Mex restaurant started by someone who moved there from the States. I wish their chefs would educate Ticos on the Irazu style of Pura Vida ;)
Irazu is best in the Summer because: BYOB and great outdoor seating.
I've ordered delivery from Irazu a couple times in the past week - yeah, I know, my delivery habits are questionable - and both times have been generally thumbs-up experiences. The first order I got had a steak burrito and a cheese empanada; the empanada was delicious, but I could only eat half as I was feeling a little sick. The other half reheated surprisingly well two days later - always iffy with crunchy, cheese-filled things. I grabbed a chicken and a beef and potato in my second order, and those were equally tasty.
The burrito, on the other hand, was lacking. It was almost literally half lettuce, which is never good; I was really uncertain if they included any cheese at all, and while the meat itself was tender and flavorful, the rest of the burrito just didn't carry its weight.
Still, those empanadas are DAMN good, and fairly cheap - $8 for 3 of any variety - which means the Irazu delivery drivers will probably come to know my apartment well. I am okay with this.
EDIT: While I'm not going to add a star, as that would probably be considered accepting bribery, I will add that the owner sent me a message within a couple hours of this review, apologized for the overly belettuced burrito, and offered me a free one personally made by him. Score! Irazu gets multiple points in my book, and have bumped themselves a bit higher on my go-to delivery list.
7 out of 7 enjoyed our meals at Irazu!
Their guacamole and salsas were nice, but where they really shine is their dinner plates. I wound up getting the Steak and Onions which came with fried plaintains with a spoonful of minced, sauteed garlic, a little mixed salad and costa rican rice (white rice, spices, black beans). It was soooooo delicious and flavorful. A little too much oil and a little too much salt is what holds back Irazu from a 5-star review.
I'm for sure coming here again, though!
Food is overpriced and not good. Anytime, I have to spend $30 for rice and beans and vegetables, there is a problem. The food was just not good. The portions are nice sized. The batidos were good. Especially the mora y guanabana.
**UPDATE**
I am big on customer service...after all that is what I am paying for in addition to the food. Irazu gets an A++ for customer service. I appreciate it when management reaches out to its patrons and appreciates their business. After reading my review, the owner Henry, sent me a message apologizing for my experience and offered me a complimentary plate in exchange for trying Irazu again. I will definitely give them another try solely based on his response. I am a small business owner, and really appreciate other small businesses that go out of their way to make the customer happy!! Thank you Henry!
Came here on a Tuesday night with the Veggie Supper Club. We started with chips and black bean sauce and pico de gallo, both good. Then I shared some empanadas: black bean; plantain; and spinach and cheese. The latter was delicious and I could have eaten a whole plate of them. Then I had the casado with tilapia (again) and it was good too, even cold the next day. Service by Omar was friendly and efficient. Plenty of vegetarian and pescetarian options.
I just finished eating my to-go order a short while ago, and if it was that good at home, I am… Read more »
Recipe for a "proper" Costa Rican meal:
1) Food should include some combination of the following:
- Pineapple
- Beef (or other protein if beef's really not your thing)
- Beans
- Lizano sauce
2) Bring friends. Bring wine.
3) Eat. Be merry. Enjoy. Eat more.
¡Pura Vida!
P.S. Make sure to add a side of gallo pinto to your order. Trust me.
Love this place. Omar is the shit, and I love the fact I come in and they know what I like right away. Red and White right next door? What else could you ask for?
Casado with steak, Costa Rican rice not spicy.
The chicken noodle soup is ah-mazing for those who are sick; make sure you ask for some homemade hot sauce on the side.
Plaintains.........omg...don't get me started. :)
They deliver now!
Only downside...cash only and the only ATM I can withdraw from without a fee...is so far away.
Love Irazu...the food is so delicious, huge, reasonably priced...the atmosphere is casual and fun and the service is perfect. The oatmeal shakes are to die for...also, try a chocolate corn meal shake if you are in the mood for chocolate. The Chifrijo (Black bean dip mixed with fried pork and sauteed veggies served with chips) is amazing! For an entree I have had both the veggie burrito and a garlic shrimp/veggie plate (on the specials at the time)...both were really tasty!
I suppose I should preface this by telling you that I have zero clue what Costa Rican food is supposed to taste like. Also that Irazu gets extra points for being BYOB. Especially with no corkage!
I ate Casado with chicken, which I was told was one of the more authentic things on the menu (assuming you get it regular and not spicy where they add jalapenos which is decidedly un-authentic). The chicken itself was good. A little dry but very well flavored.
I got it with the gallo pinto (which I guess is traditionally served for breakfast but came with dinner). Anyway - rice + beans + fried egg. Would have been MUCH better if the egg hadn't been fried but rather over easy. Still tasty though. I look forward to eating my leftovers with an over easy egg.
Not a fan of the cabbage salad but I don't love cabbage and I hate beets. No fault of Irazu if that's authentic!
Plantains were hit or miss by person. Some were good some were really dry.
Overall it was a good experience but I won't be rushing back anytime soon. And if I do come back, it will for sure be in the summer when the patio is open!!
I had a nice dinner here the other night with Anne S. and Cassie D. I am no expert on Costa Rican food, but I ordered the Casado with chicken. It was really delicious. The chicken was a tad dry, but tasty. I would have preferred if my egg were more runny, but now I know to request that for next time. I loved the plantains.
The place itself was super cute. They had a great patio which looked lovely. Our waitress was fantastic and she really knew her menu. Overall, it was a nice evening and although I won't be going out of my way to get here, I will probably be back at some point.
P.S. BYOB, no corkage fee!
This place isn't really a hidden gem since everyone I know loves it and comes as often as they can. Judging by the high number of yelp reviews it is safe to assume the secret is out. Still, I love this place and think it offers some of the best ethnic food in Chicago. Amazing service, unique menu offerings and low prices make it a definite must. The casados are really great and of course the shakes are ridiculous (particularly the avena or guanabana flavors). It is cash only and can get a bit crowded on the weekends so beware. Perfect for large groups though since it is BYOB and highly condusive to sharing / eating family style.
Eating here reminded me of being on study abroad in Costa Rica. Let me start by saying that I really like Costa Rican food, and could eat rice and beans every day. If you do not like rice and beans, Costa Rican food may not be for you.
I had the arroz con pollo (chicken with rice) and I thought it was great, just like it was in Costa Rica. There is a spicy version with jalapenos which I did not get because Costa Rican food is not spicy and they do not use jalapenos, so this is just wrong to me. But I understand that Irazu is just trying to keep customers happy.
My plantains were dry and hard, but some on the table looked perfect. I wish mine had been the perfect ones, but I still ate them and enjoyed them.
I got to try the gallo pinto and it was great. I have to come back for breakfast so I can have it properly. I will definitely ask for my egg runny though! The rice mixture soaks up the yolk of the egg and makes a delicious combination. I know rice and beans doesn't sound like a normal breakfast dish, but trust me, it's delicious!
Irazu is BYOB with no corkage fee, and someone immediately brought us a bucket of us to put our bottle in! This is a great perk!
I hope to return before the weather gets too cold, because I want to sit outside in the cute patio area!
Irazu is amazing and represents what a great Chicago neighborhood restaurant ought to be. I took my mom here when she was visiting, and it was a wonderful experience. My mom ordered the veggie burrito with all the fixings and I got a steak sandwich with a side of plantains. I was also able to convince my mom to try the oatmeal shake, which I had wanted to sample for a while now. Talk about a simple but decadent dessert! Next time I will try mixing the oatmeal with one of their other flavors, because I will be back as soon as I get the chance!!
Because of the proximity to Twisted Scissors, this is a great place for lunch/dinner after a cut. I had the avena (oatmeal) shake, and Bistec Tico. She had the Milanesa, and a side of the deep fried yucca with garlic. Everything was superb and was really too much to eat, we had many left overs. We wanted to try the empanadas but that will have to wait until next time. What a beautiful day to sit outdoors and eat!
The only downside is their cash-only policy; we have gotten out of the habit of carrying around much cash, but we lucked out today.
Not quite sure what the hype is all about. I've been to this place twice for food - once for carry out and once for sit down. Both times the food has just been ok. Not bad, just not spectacular.
The oatmeal shake is the standout at this place so I'll still stop by for them, but the food? just eh.
I hadn't been to Irazu in forever so I decided to place an order for delivery tonight.
Speaking to the man on the phone was a pleasant experience. He was really efficient and friendly, and hilariously, when I asked if I could pay with my card, he informed me they were cash only but OFFERED to take a PERSONAL check when the food arrived. HA HA! Hilariously good customer service. I felt weird so i went to the ATM :)
The rice, beans, plantains, and salad were really wonderful. I ordered the potato tacos, which (in case you expect an open face taco) are just a fried tortilla with potato. Tasted great for a plain dish.
I ordered an oatmeal shake, which tasted wonderful but was not as thick as anticipated. I think it melted during delivery. Had I known I could drink it like milk, I would have had it with my meal instead of waiting for desert.
The next day, leftovers are just as good.
One of the best places out there. Try a shake when you order. I put together a chocolate&banana shake with soy, and it was wonderful. Also, try the sandwiches. I had never had a central american sandwich before, and they are great. Good prices too. It will really fill you up for only a couple bucks. Delivery is fast, and they do not rely on a delivery service. Please remember to compensate the driver fairly if the weather is poor.
Another good review! 8:45 on a weekday, outside was full, but no wait for the tables inside. I really am not sure why this place is as popular as it is, it is very busy. The food is good of course, but there must be something else to it. The service was average, I almost did not recognize the server due to overly-casual attire, no apron or anything, just a guy in jeans walking around. The chili renellos was good, there was one hard piece in it, but other than that it was great. I appreciate the veg-friendly options on the menu. I had a black bean empinada, also excellent. The fried plantains are awesome! It is BYOB and cash only, the prices are moderate for what it is, with good portions.
One suggestion to the restaurant owners: It is unappealing that you serve salsa out of a greasy plastic bottle.
The menu says they are the only authentic Costa Rican restaurant in the city. Since I have no Costa Rican friends I can't dispute the claim, however if I find another Costa Rican place in Chicago you best believe my team of lawyers will be wiping that claim from the pages of Irazu's menu.
The outdoor seating was what my ladyfriend and I were after, so we put our name in and geared up for a 20-30 minute wait. There were a pretty impressive number of folks there for a Monday night, but the weather was pretty badass so it made more sense. Oh yeah, the food was also badass so that may be a more viable reason for the crowd.
We sat by the sidewalk and watched the friendly server open our bottle of two buck chuck and pour it into a pair of plastic cups. I admired this safety precaution considering my flip flops and slippery fingers. Server man mentioned that waters, chips and salsa would be coming up right behind him. Unfortunately, that ended up being a lie. I had to ask the host to hook us up with the goods.
Our Costa Rican looking server made up for the misstep with a profuse and heartfelt apology. We ordered a black bean, fried pork bit and avocado dip called "chifrijo" to accompany our chips. Both of us loved it and especially liked that it was an unknown flavor to us. We ate too much of it, but still managed to maintain enough appetite for an entree apiece. I ordered the onioned steak and she went with the garlic shrimp special.
My plate consisted of fried green plaintains, cabbage, radish, yellow rice, thin cheap steak and onions. They made that cheap, stringy, shitty cut of meat into a masterpiece. I loved the flavor and felt like it had been pummeled for a while that day to increase tenderness. The fried green plaintains were too raw, I'd go with the sweet version if I were you. I like to arrange the perfect bite on every forkful and the variety on the plate allowed some extra experimentation.
On the downside, our quadruple eyed, portly, affable, Costa Rican server said there would be 7 Texas sized shrimp on ladyfriend's plate. The plate only had 5 and they looked like they were from Rhode Island. Wait, that's not accurate, they were more South Carolina sized. The taste made up for it along with a couple trips from her fork over to my plate.
Overall, it was a great experience. The semi-slow service didn't bother us and shouldn't bother you; providing you bring enough wine. Definitely will be back to try the oatmeal shake. Peace out.
She took me here when it first began. i ordered some sort of steak with an egg, sunnyside up. rice and some other stuff. i remember the guac was really really tasty. she ordered some sort of steak as well. we had dinner then went dancing. we had a great time while it lasted. these are the only memories i really have of this place. yeah, just wanted to get this place off my bookmarks already. def check it out. good food. oh, yeah we waited like 10 minutes for a table. whatevs.
A friend kept raving about Irazu so I gave in and decided to try it. It's BYOB and conveniently located right next to a wine shop. I can't vouch for all of the food but I can provide my testament regarding the potato tacos.
Here it is: If I had to choose a last meal on earth, those tacos would be in the running.
Those sweet sweet potato tacos with the crunchy fried outside and light and fluffy inside. They also came with a cabbage salad that had a delicious, tangy vinegar dressing.
I seriously considered bringing my plate into the bathroom so I could lick it clean without anyone seeing me. (That could have been the wine thinking for me though...)
P.S. No corking fee and my whole meal was just $10 (plus tip).
I've loved Irazu since I started going in the late 90's. Hard to believe they've been around for as long as they have. So glad they're doing very well and since their son took over the business, the restaurant has some great added features - expansion of the outdoor patio, more items on the menu.
Over the years, I've stuck to a few of my favorites. The vegetarian plate is one of them, (loads of food), consisting of rice, beans, sweet plantains, cabbage salad and the veggie of the day. The highlight for me on this plate is the frijoles negros (black beans) and the amazing cabbage salad!! The salad is citrusy and refreshing with some great flavors.
The veggie tacos are also very good and filling, with black beans, yellow rice, tomato, lettuce, avocado and if you want, hot peppers. Perfect for an inexpensive, quick meal.
Stopped in the other day and wanted something refreshing for the hot day. I ordered the ceviche which is raw fish marinated in lime juice, with avocado and some chopped tomatoes on top. The bowl that it comes in is deceiving. It appears to be small, but as I ate, it began to seem like the never ending bowl of ceviche. I hate wasting food, so I ate as much as I could stuff into my belly!! It was delicioso!!
Empanada's are a semi-new edition to the growing menu. And since I'm a lover of empanada's, I had to try them out. Hand made fresh in the back kitchen by Mama Irazu herself, her empanada's are made with a corn dough. I love corn and these were very good. Can't wait to try the other veg flavors!
A newer item on the menu is the hor-cafe. 1/2 horchata and 1/2 coffee. An interesting combination and it was very pleasing. You can't go to Irazu without trying one of their shakes. My favorite is the avena (oatmeal), which has a great flavor and grainy texture. Exceptionally tasty!! I didn't know it but you can combine 2 different shake flavors, so next time it's avena y chocolate!! Can't get enough of Irazu's!!!!
Irazu makes delicious food! I love the empanadas, gallo pinto, and shakes.
But like most delicious "ethinic" restaurants, Irazu has been damaged by the parades of yuppy scum invading at all hours of the day. I know yuppies are good for business, but bad for the rest of us non-yuppy scum. Oh and I can't forget about the hipster scum (sons and daughters of older generations of yuppy scum.) They suck, too.
I guess if you can deal with the yuppy/hipster scum, then you'll love Irazu. Otherwise, take-out is the best option.
Here's what I imagine my stomach to look like after eating at Irazu:
First layer: crispy, crunchy, hot baked chips.
Fill in the cracks with: guacamole (holy hell, good) + salsa.
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Second layer: Pork appetizer with black beans/rice/chips.
Fill in the cracks with: WATER (hot!) & Diet Coke (of course).
-------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
Third layer: Pepito Sandwich: steak, LT + mustard on crusty bread.
Fill in the cracks with: An Oatmeal Shake. (blimp warning).
Oh wait, people don't eat this much all the time!? Crap. Yeah. Irazu can turn anyone into a total fatty, layer by layer, mmmmmmk?
That Oatmeal shake? Serious bizness. Made with milk and guaranteed to bloat your gut out like a McD's. But, it goes down after awhile. Promise. It's worth it. It's a meal on its own, but I use it more as a drink...which makes me: ridiculous.
So there. I win!
Notes:
-Service can be a bit slow at dinner, as they are usually jammed.
-Outdoor patio is pretty swell, though a parking lot.
-Street parking easy.
-Cash only, pay at the counter.
-BYOB (if you have any "cracks" in the layers left to be filled, booze is good)
Oatmeal as a shake...
Who knew?
What used to be breakfast sludge,
Is a rockstar at Irazu.
I mean,…
Read more »
What do two gals, hungry and in their Sundays finest (which for me means old shorts and a t-shirt) do when they find themselves on an endless evening of errands near Bucktown?
They stop and dine al fresco at Irazu, that's what they do.
Chips were fresh and delicious, add some chifrijo (a beans, tomatoes, rice, fried pork and avocado) and you've got yourself a filling app.
One chifrijo, two oatmeals shakes, two sammies and a Diet Coke later, we were full, happy, and ready to move on to the next errand.
I recommend the chifrijo and the Costa Rican sandwich, hot peppers on the side (how can you go wrong with steak and avocado on a crusty roll? Answer: You can't!)
Cheap, BYOB, great spot for a date or for feeding yourself when you just want some really tasty food.
I have two experiences. One is that every time I drive by that I am really hungry they are closed.
So one time they weren't closed and I wasn't hungry. But damnit I was gonna get something from here. So I got the oatmeal milkshake since I heard it was damn good. It had great flavor.... but there were chunks of shaved ice in there. Thats not a milkshake. It had a Horchata like flavor but with some oatmeal after taste.
I am more than willing to try this place again since it seems awesome, but the Oatmeal milkshake is not all its cracked up to be IMO.
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Cuban
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Mexican
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