Great outdoor patio for summer dining! Love this little BYOB gem!
(4)
Joseph N.
This was a great find. The food is good and fresh.
(5)
Shayna Y.
I went there on a Saturday night with two friends. It is somewhat of a hole in the wall - very casual, in a low key neighborhood. We started with guacamole, which was relatively bland. Likely because my friend ordered mild. The chips were relatively thick and didn't taste all the fresh. The green salsa in the bottle did not appear all that fresh. Ask for pico de gallo. I ordered the shrimp and veggie platter. The shrimp was just okay. The veggies and sauce we're pretty good. The plantains were delicious. The wait staff was incredibly nice. This place is great for a casual night out; but manage your expectations because the food won't knock your socks off.
(3)
Jacquie T.
I have been three times, the first two times I actually ate! The last time we waited 30 minutes and never got our food, we walked out. the server came out looking but looked right past us. We won't be back sad! the first two times the food was good, service is obnoxious.
(2)
Drew S.
Awesome. My wife is from Costa Rica, and whenever we're in town, this is the first place we go. Full disclosure, being a veteran Tico food eater, I must say it's definitely fine-tuned for American peoples' tastes (you would NEVER be given chips and salsa at a restaurant in Costa Rica, not that that's a bad thing, just not authentic), but just because it's tweaked doesn't mean it's not awesome! Try the steak sandwich, arroz con atún, gallo pinto (duh!), patacones con frijoles molidos, and first and foremost; chifrijo! Wash it all down with some (byob) Imperiales! Pretty much the only Tico joint in the US, other than maybe some unknown hole in the wall in one of the Costa Rica enclaves in New Jersey. Definitely worth checking out, there's a lot to love, and something for everyone.
(4)
Damian O.
Saw this place on triple D. The peptio steak sandwich was great and so was the pork bean and rice dip appetizer.
(4)
Ryan P.
Loved the atmosphere here. Great service and outstanding food. One complaint would be the chicken that felt like it was heavily salted... like enough that my fiance and I couldn't finish the plate. Maybe it was because we were the last table seated - I'm going to give them another chance. The oatmeal shake is TOO GOOD
(4)
Erica T.
This place was really good!! Vegan/veggie friendly. I tried the rib eye which was delicious. This place is cash only and not the best place to dine in at.. The train runs over it so every few minutes it gets ridiculously loud.. Gave me a headache I couldn't wait to get out of there.. If the location didn't suck I would give 5 stars!!!!
(4)
Julie T.
I used to work near here, so every time I would walk to work, I would pass by this place and it would smell so delicious. I had also seen Irazu on the infamous "Diners Drive In's and Dives, which fueled my desire to check this place out! It can get quite crowded here, so I was happy to pick up the phone and hear they didn't have a wait. I sat in the patio section, and it was so awesome in there. It feels like you are in Costa Rica. The food is aboulutely delicious, and even moreso, the people that work here are so incredibly nice. The moment I had picked up the phone to check wait time, the man who answered said "There is no wait, and we would LOVE to have you, so come and stop by!" It is the little things like that that make it really big to me at restaraunts. Our server was great, and even the cooks (when I got lost on my way to the bathroom) were super friendly. Keep up the great work. I will definitely be back. Wait or no wait! It is well worth it.
(5)
Tanya R.
Love me some Irazu!!!! It's been 4 years strong and I've had a long lasting affair with Irazu's Grilled Steak and Pepito sandwich (steak or chicken). The Chifrijo, as an app, is THE BOMB!! I sometimes go in just for that and wash it down with some Costa Rican beer- Imperial.... And did I mention the oatmeal shake??? Mother of gawd is it good!!!! Just make sure u decide between the beer OR the shake as I have often made this mistake by letting my taste buds get the better of me!
(5)
Shayna R.
This place delivered easily the best meal I've had in a long time. It's friendly, loud and warm--just like PR. I had the guacamole and the pepito sandwich with marinated grilled-chicken. The guacamole was to die for. I'd take a bath in it if I could. And the sandwich came with fried plantains which are a new favorite. I forgot I liked them. The spinach banana smoothie wasn't overly sweet, which was awesome and refreshing. Felt energizing not heavy. Overall this place rocks and you'd be a fool not to be there nightly.
(5)
Lynn T.
I have been going to Irazu for years, and I can't believe I haven't written a review for it yet. After having been an Irazu fan for years, I decided to check out their catering options for our wedding back in August 2012. Henry was so helpful and it was a no-brainer when it was time to make our decision for which restaurant to choose. Since then, I have brought many friends and family members to enjoy the amazing food at the restaurant. Great for groups or a romantic evening. Great ambience and the staff is always a delight. Highly recommend this place! Get there early, especially on the weekends!
(5)
Hannah S.
This is a review for all my gluten intolerant friends out there. Food: Costa Rican food at reasonable prices. BYOB - can't beat that. Our waiter informed my friend and I (also gluten intolerant) of the THREE items on the vast menu that we couldn't eat...only three items besides the sandwiches folks - not so bad. There were so many options, I wouldn't get a sandwich even if I wanted one. Even the tortilla chips were gluten free because they had a dedicated deep fryer. I had ceviche and the palmito salad-both incredibly fresh and satisfying. They had many more savory dishes on the menu including some standard dishes you can get at many Latin American Restaurants and others that were more Costa Rican specific. There's something there for everyone. Atmosphere: Great rap-around outdoor patio. If you closed your eyes you could easily pretend you were on a beach on vacation somewhere beautiful. The Latin music is upbeat and makes you want to shake what your mama gave you. Service: Upon arrival the owner took our name down, poured us a glass of wine to enjoy while we waited, and stored the rest of it for us in the fridge. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about food allergies and even double-checked about the tortilla chips. I give it five bright and shiny stars.
(5)
Karlos J.
Just wanted to write an update and let everyone know that the owner, Henry, did reach out to me and offer a free meal to compensate for our poor dining experience. This was definitely a first and much appreciated. While I haven't been back yet, he definitely deserves some credit for showing great character and business management skills.
(3)
Stephanie L.
This place needs another review like I need a hole in my head...but here it goes anyway. 1. ladies-there is a lot, A LOT of hot guys that work here...plus 2 stars! 2. food is fantastic and authentic...not like I would know, but I liked the flavors 3. cheap as hell...a chicago place that you can go to eat under $15??? 4. BYOB...?!?!?! YAY 5. Outdoor all the time...heat lamps make it great in the winter. SUMMER all the time! Tips-go early to avoid the super long wait. We went at like 630 for the early bird special and by 730 the place was PACKED
(5)
Dylan R.
Yes! Irazu, you are doing everything right. If you are smart enough to visit this fine establishment be sure to bring a bottle of wine (there is a liquor store down the street at milwaukee and western), someone fun to talk to, sit out on the patio, and order the shrimp and avocado appetizer. That's the recipe to happiness. Do it, now.
(5)
Dominique M.
Mind blown again! Tried the black bean soup for the first time tonight... as PERFECT as the Gallo Pinto and Veg Burrito. A tri-fecta for sure. Thank you guys n gals for your kind gestures and words. To always feel appreciated by a super duper busy restaurant is an amazing occurrence. It is no wonder why you are among the top restaurants of Chicago. Con mucho amor, Dominique and Paul
(5)
Kyle W.
Fun outdoor dining area, large portions and affordable prices. Menu includes plenty of latin American staples and some more unique choices. Lots of vegetarian options. Service can be slow during peak times in the warmer months. When you're craving tacos, burritos, etc. but want something a little different, it's definitely worth the visit. Note it's closed all day Sunday and BYOB.
(3)
Anne W.
I've only gotten food here twice - once for carry out and once for delivery. Both times it was delicious. I love their oatmeal shakes just like every other sane person does. They make me happy. Their pepito sandwich is divine - get it with avocado, it makes it even better if you ever thought that was possible. But the biggest plus in my book? Their food tastes delicious even the next day reheated in the microwave. This is huge for me because I never manage to finish my food. And to have your food taste just as wonderful as it did when it was fresh? Well, that's truly magical and earns 5 stars in my book. Irazu, I love you.
(5)
Maureen C.
Was excited to come here because we went to Costa Rica a couple of months ago, and we wanted to relive our Pura Vida experience. Came here on a Saturday afternoon, probably around 2pm. No wait for a table, thank God. We were seated right away in the patio outside. It was great weather for al fresco lunch! We waited for a bit for our waiter, but I soon noticed that he was taking care of most of the tables on this side of the patio. So I mentally pardoned him for taking so darn long. Anyway we got our orders in, and the waiter mentioned that they forgot to bring us chips when they gave us water + plates + utensils. I didn't even know they were supposed to bring us chips, and the waiter said he'd bring them. I ended up ordering the casado (tilapia), and my boo ordered some empanadas (beef, chicken, and zucchini) and a little taquito-like taco. Maybe 15 minutes passed since ordering and we still don't have the promised chips. He was busy. We had to flag him to ask for the chips. Thank God for BYOB policy, we just kept drinking to pass the time. Haha! Our orders came at an acceptable time. Food looked good. I felt my tilapia was a bit overcooked (it was a little tough to cut) but it still had good flavors. Loved the over medium egg over the rice. Liked the cabbage salad but it didn't need that Thousand Island dressing, which, thankfully, was on the side. Also came w/ black beans -- can't go wrong w/ black beans and rice! The boyfriend thought his empanadas were okay but he's a bit picky. I liked the zucchini empanada -- maybe it could have used more seasoning for the filling but i liked it. He didn't care too much about the taquito-taco thing, but I did like the sauce that came w/ it. In the end I made sure I had room for the oatmeal shake. It was reminiscent of the Mexican drink, Horchata, but you could def taste the oatmeal flavor. Service, this whole time was pretty slow. I had to flag the waiter for the bill. I understand he was taking care of all the tables on our side and we had some bigger parties on this side of the patio too, but still. Maybe someone called in sick. I would return to try more of the stuff on the menu. 4 stars for food, but had to knock it down 1 star for the slow service.
(3)
H B.
Amazing. One of the only restaurants that I have gone to multiple times in Chicago - definite must try! Chicharon is amazing, ceviche, the horchata shake! Oh my - too many amazing dishes on the menu!
(5)
Jenn K.
Disappointed. Couldn't even be seated to enjoy the food. My friends and I have a Friday night supper club and we frequent places in the Bucktown/Wicker Park area. Usually we're a group of 4-8. Decided to try Irazu on the recommendation of one in the group, as they were known for good food and a casual atmosphere. I'm a very reasonable person. And a lot of the negativity directed in the review that follows is because the restaurant doesn't live up to a "reasonable person" standard. The story: I arrived very early, 30 min prior to the rest of my party, and was advised by a female hostess that when more than 50% of our party arrived we could be seated. OK, absolutely understood. So I bided my time. Eventually, all of our party except one person arrived. There was turnover at the host stand and a male host now advised us he would not seat us until our entire party was present. Mind you, it was a Friday night and there were open tables. In my opinion, being one person short on a large party when there is no wait is not an unreasonable request to be seated. But the male host refused to budge. Given the inability to accommodate us while we waited for one more person, our group decided to go elsewhere. Upon telling this to the host, he dismissed us and clearly was not bothered that we took out business elsewhere. Bottom line: inflexible seating policy and not good for groups unless the entire party is present. I can't comment on the food because I didn't eat. However, given our poor experience with something as simple as the host stand, I assure you I won't be going back or recommending this establishment to others.
(1)
Jessica M.
This place has the killer effects! Small bites, big bites. Irazu. Meat-lovers. Vegetarians. Irazu. Specialty drinks and desserts. Irazu. All of the above with speedy service! Here's what we had on a bustling Friday evening: pepito sandwich, beef and potato empanada, and taco tico. We had our pepito sandwich with steak. I'm usually not a fan for onions and beans but these worked very well with the steak and Lizano sauce. The empanadas were flaky-crispy-licious! The taco tico were very petite but the mayo, ketchup, and Lizano sauce mix was refreshingly excellent. Yes, these are very simple dishes yet oh-so-fulfilling! All for just $21! What can I say?! I'm a simple girl easy to please! Note: The Yelp community has it that the Chifrijo and oatmeal shakes are to die for. I will have to make more trips to Irazu.
(4)
Francisco H.
Once again I experienced one of the most amazing Coast Rican food flavors at Irazu. Coming here I had very high expectations with my last visit being GREAT, I wonder if I'll be the same? And yes it was AMAZING again. I like getting most of my plate choices from employee recommendations and I did once again. "Smoothie Girl" is who she called herself was more than helpful especially with her smoothie/shake recommendations, we tried her favorite of the Green Smoothie which was DELICIOUS! We also had the no sugar Strawberry Banana Smoothie and Soy Oatmeal Banana Shake and those were just as GREAT! Drinks were exactly on point, entrees were just as GREAT having the Casado w/ Chicken and some Vegetarian Tacos. Ending the entire dining experience with a very AUTHENTIC tasting Flan. Irazu has had nothing but gave us the most AMAZING Coasta Rican culinary flavors that I've ever had!.
(5)
Justino S.
First time here and it was delicious!! Definitely recommend!! Empanadas were phenomenal!! Service was perfect and genuine!
I visited with some friends after work on a Friday night recently, and everything was delish. I was happy to see and try so many vegetarian options. And they were actually good (and didn't all have mushrooms, yay!). The wait staff was more than accommodating and offered to slice some oranges we brought in to juice for cocktails we made with our BYOB rum.
(4)
Jenny H.
The best, authentic Costa Rican food I've had outside of Costa Rica. The oatmeal shake wasn't as thick as I would like, but good nevertheless. The casado though was AWESOME, a platter of rice and beans, plantains (yummy), mixed veggies (more yummy), and a fried egg (the delicious kicker) made for a delicious, delectable, scrumptious, hearty meal. Thank you for existing and bringing Costa Rica to Chicago!!!!
(5)
Hossam E.
This place is alright. The menu looks very "Mexican" to me. Delicious but could be a little more sophisticated. Ambiance is good, specially in the summer. Great place for a fast bite!
(3)
John I.
Perhaps they are on Latin time. The wait on Saturday night at 8 was quoted as a half hour, and they were kind enough to give us a slip of paper that on on side directed us to a couple bars, and on the other, couple package stores to get BYOB. They took down our numero de telefono to call us when our table came up--I like that style. It was a little more than an hour later when we got the call, but we were happily settled-in at Green Eye Lounge; so the wait wasn't a big deal. But that story is cross-referenced elsewhere. We sat on the covered sidewalk (perhaps an updated, Latin "Little House on the Prairie") which, even with the big heater was a bit chilly in the 40 degree, end of April never-ending Chicago winter. I don't know if chips and salsa are Costa Rican (I don't remember having them there, but it was a while ago), but the green salsa was delicious, as were the fresh chips. We had some tasty guacamole and patacones (smashed, fried green plantains) with pungent smoked garlic sauce--a feast for all senses involved. Highly recommended. I had the "onioned steak dinner" which was tasty, though a bit too well-done for my liking, though I asked for a side of Costa Rica's famous Linzano sauce (a bit similar to Worcestershire sauce), which helped it out. Also, I should have noticed that it would come with patacones when we ordered the appetizer, but you can't have too many of them, and I'm counting them as a fruit even though their being fried must turn that positive into a negative. Make sure you spend the extra cents on the gallo pinto ("spotted rooster"), which contains no rooster (though I have to believe that the rooster means it helps wake you up when eaten at breakfast), but is a Costa Rican spotted delight of black beans, rice, some onion, garlic, herbs & spices, and a little of Linzano. Others have remarked on the oatmeal shake taste sensation, and I concur. Nothing oatmealy about it, though it makes a great thickener, and I'm a huge fan of horchata; the two have similar flavors. Of course, we filled-up too much on appetizers, but that gave us an extra meal to take home. Outside of the underestimated wait time, the service was excellent. I won't ding a star on the wait because of my weakness for Green Eye(s)..
(4)
M P.
Have been coming here for years and it never disappoints. The staff is outstanding; very professional, knowledgable and friendly. The food is always top notch, both takeout/delivery and when dining on site. The sandwiches tend to travel a bit better and as a result are better for delivery/takeout whereas the dinners are better had at the restaurant. Make sure to get a chocolate oatmeal milkshake, trust me!
(5)
Tara F.
Service was friendly, quick and food was good, especially the fried plantanes. Will be back.
(4)
Jillian W.
I don't have any previous experience with Costa Rican food, but I have wanted to try this place for awhile and will definitely be back. We were told the wait was 25-30 minutes, but ended up seated in about 15, so we were off to a good start. I had the cosado with tilapia even though I sometimes find tilapia too tough or strongly flavored and I'm glad I did. It was well seasoned and balanced in the dish. I was especially impressed with the server and staff. I thought they might have been a little understaffed tonight, but even though he seemed to be the only server for the patio section he was quick and attentive. One of our party had a problem with her dish (she had misread the menu, so was expecting something slightly different) and it was fixed within minutes. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Christopher S.
Me and my wife were looking for some authentic Costa Rican food. The grilled steak was awesome, every time me and wife come here. We're never disappointed, I would def recommend this place.
(5)
Keyla D.
This place is ridiculously good. Their oatmeal shake is perfectly sweet and creamy. Their banana empanadas are also a favorite of mine. The staff is always so friendly and accommodating. Great to see a place like this thrive!
(5)
Jim K.
Had my birthday dinner with 25 friends here this weekend, and Irazu took care of each of us. We rented their party room which was a perfect birthday setting. It is always a delight to eat at Irazu, but when you get to introduce 20+ people to the Costa Rican food, Irazu is the perfect spot. Loved it, cant wait to come back.
(5)
Jack P.
Things have changed here at Irazu since my last visit. They've created a much larger and covered kind of wrap-around outdoor dining space which meets the sidewalk and creates a lot more room. We sat here for lunch and experienced a fun and interactive time with the delightful staff, and were very pleased with the "servicio rapido' we received. It's always fun to introduce a newcomer to the oatmeal shake and the steak sandwiches. You cannot beat the price, and they are still nice and big and moist. Joined with a platter of Yuca frita with that phenomenal garlic sauce, it was lunch for two around $20.00. The ambiance is very much like stopping in at little street cafe in San Jose. They've even managed to create all the street noise with the truck traffic, the hipsters on their noisy scooters, and the Blue Line el across the street where the trains seem to pass every two minutes. So don't hang outside here if you are looking for quiet. It's not. But you can always dine inside if it's too much of a distraction. The point is it's authentic.
(4)
Nikki W.
I order from Irazu very often. Their delivery is early every time and the food is always hot! Best empanadas in Chicago, and the pico de gallo is always spot on. I recommend this place to friends all the time! Don't miss the shakes
(5)
Mindy Y.
Here are some tips and opinions... (1) We got seated right away.. for in door seating.. however, out door had to wait for a while (2) Bring your own alcohol ... i love this place even more! 5 stars! (3) A must, must ... repeat.. MUST get.. OATMEAL SHAKE... taste like horchata! Delish! (4) Empandas - was a little too dry..2 stars. (5) Casado - steak a little too dry... 4 stars (6) Cash only! (7) Shrimp salad appetizer - 5 stars .. another must get... so good! Very interesting flavors! 5 stars and beyond! (8) food comes out too slow... like super slow... waited for like 20 mins .. they were probably out there hunting or fishing for shrimp. (9) Tables are small! **OVERALL: great places to dine and hang with friends. 4 stars!
(4)
Kimberly F.
Our office has lunch catered by Irazu quite often. Justin, the catering manager, is extremely accommodating and personable. On our last order we were pleased to find that they will deliver a pitcher of the fantastic oatmeal shakes with our order. The Casada meal is definitely our fan favorite!
(5)
Betsey M.
Second time at Irazu and I still stand by my original review. The food is so crazy good here! We love that it is BOB and the owner is very nice. Top it all off with the great prices! Excellent!
(5)
John S.
I love this place! It's right across the street from my work and I can't walk by without the smell of delicious food steering me in. They have a good variety of entree's and the price is right. BYOB and Cash ONLY!
(5)
Lissette H.
THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! After another BYOB restaurant down the street screwed up my reservation I immediately called IRAZU and they accommodated my group of 15 for a reservation the next day. The staff was amazing from the servers to Mark to Henry Cerdas the owner who contacted me the day after our dinner to follow up about our experience. The food is amazing, authentic and very affordable. I will definitely be back, it was a wonderful culinary experience!
(5)
Melissah L.
Damn. Irazu is AWESOME. We were seated on the patio and started with fresh chips and some tangy green salsa. Our waiter was super friendly and helped us order a pepito sandwich, the Costa Rican sandwich, plantains and an oatmeal shake. The sandwiches were both made with slices of steak and cheese and served on a delicious, crusty french bread. The pepito also had sauteed onions, lizano sauce and avocado, and the Costa Rican had tomato, lettuce and mayo. I liked the pepito best! The plantains were hearty, delicious and filling, and the oatmeal shake lives up to the hype too! I believe it is made with oatmeal, horchata, ice, water, cinnamon and vanilla. I added pineapple to mine-- nom. The horchata adds a great, creamy touch that isn't too thick. Also perfect for my lactose-intolerant self. With a great, relaxed patio atmosphere, BYOB and cheap prices, I think I may have to stop myself from coming back every single day! Recommend x 1 million!
(5)
Walter H.
I was a little apprehensive for the oatmeal shake, but it's a perfect treat to throw you into a holiday spirit
(4)
Lauren D.
Holy guacamole. I'm so glad I've bought into the whole "healthy fats" thing because I can't stop eating this stuff. The crowds here can be daunting in the evening. My husband and I have found luck hitting it at lunch, both on the weekend and during the week. I've gone with the chicken burrito twice, which they lightly press to give it a crispy exterior. Perfection. My husband is in love with the Lizano sauce that comes on the Pepito sandwich, and this is coming from a man who despises most condiments to the point that it's laughable. Come hungry and prepare to leave feeling the opposite. Times two.
(4)
Candice G.
After several more visits, a few dozen soy-chocolate-oatmeal-shakes, a couple orders of that amazing salad with beets and hearts of palm with a vinegar base, and taking a long, hard look at my initial 4 star rating of the veggie burrito I'd heard so much about and analyzing the under $5 price tag of said burrito, I decided it was about damn time I throw up that 5th star. Again, I stand by my initial sentiment that the veggie burrito isn't 'all that' (or at least no all that it was hyped to be), but I will admit that it's exponentially tastier if you do what I've down on my last few visits with friends and splurge the extra few quarters to add an extra ingredient. Irazu recommends adding plantains (which I generally am not a fan of) and I have to agree. The sweet plantains mixed with the savory everything else... they're really on to something. Other things you need to make sure you get down on at Irazu: - Famous oatmeal shake, choose chocolate and splurge on the soy, it honestly tastes better than the regular milk. - BYOB... so cost effective when dining, make sure you take advantage. - That freakin' delicious salad with beets and hearts of palm. Best are the best, hearts of palm already have my heart, and being the vinegar freak I am, the dressing is what my dreams are made of. - Veggie taco... so good with LOTS of the hot sauce. Git yer nose runnin! Pura Vida, Baby!
(5)
Thomas A.
Affordable (especially with the BYOB) Costa Rican food. It is good for groups in the summer or a date. You can go big with appetizers, meal and dessert or go cheap with a burrito or sandwich. Really for around 6 bucks for a steak burrito you can't go wrong. The plates are authentic and delicous too! I have never been disappointed from Irazu.
(5)
B C.
This is an excellent byob dinner option, especially when it's warm and the patio is open. I had some out-of-town visitors stopping by for dinner and we were in the mood for something other than traditional American fare, casual but not divey, and regionally authentic. Irazu fit all those criteria. The menu has a wide range of vegetarian options and meat-loaded options, which should satisfy everyone at the table. I'm new to Costa Rican cuisine, but I liked everything I had here. More specifically, I got the steak casado and we shared an order of plantains and chips with pico de gallo. The casado, allegedly a very traditional dish, was a full flavored and hearty meal that was big enough for leftovers to-go. They cover a lot of food groups on that one plate: fruits, veggies, meat, grains... it all combined to taste like what I imagine Costa Rica would ideally taste like. The restaurant carries itself at a manageable volume so that you can still hold a conversation and the waitstaff was patient with our questions. Overall a great option for a laid back dinner with friends.
(4)
Kateryna G.
Food: 1/5. We had empanadas, ceviche and veggie casado. Everything was very underwhelming. The only thing I liked was the cheese empanada. Ceviche was very watery and bland. Our vegetarian option was completely tasteless. Complementary salsas are bad too. Service: 4/5. We were seated right away and our waitress was attentive. Overall: 2/5. Underwhelming food, won't go back.
(2)
Molly H.
From starters to entree and the oatmeal shake-loved it all. Shrimp and veggie platter was great and healthy. Plantains were out of this world. Chicken Empanadas were some of the best I've had. Vibe and music are great--excited to see what it is like in the summer months and warm weather!
(5)
Carmen C.
Visited here in September 2014. Bf and I were visiting Chicago and staying at an apartment less than 50m away from Irazu. The owner of the apartment had raved about the restaurant, but I filed it in the "if we get around to it" part of the Chicago food list. We ended up there on our last night in town. And I'm so glad that we ate there! The food was cheap, fresh, and delicious! Bf ordered the Guy Fieri combo (oatmeal shake, chifrijo, and sandwich) and I ordered one of the Costa Rican dinners. We had so much food leftover... And we were so sad to leave it behind since we had an early flight the next day. It's BYOB with no corkage fee. We saw a table announcing they had leftover wine and seeing if anyone else would enjoy it. Just a really great casual, friendly atmosphere. If I'm ever in Chicago again, I'll be back!
(5)
Javier C.
If you want to know what authentic central american cooking tastes like, this is THE place to go! Where to start? Mmm, well when you walk in it seems almost like you left Chicago and went directly to Costa Rica for an hour trip or so. The decor of the restaurant is unbelievable, the feel is relaxing, and environment is very chill. The drinks came in glass jars, the music selection was great, and the food was even better! Best plates at a restaurant that ive ever had (& for the price too). I ordered el hombre casado plate, and was a perfect example of what costa rican food is about. Also ordered chifrijo, empanadas, and yuca. Would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking to satisfy their taste buds :]
(5)
Mitir P.
the food at the restaurant is decent the manager is awful delivery is the worst 3 times we ordered delivery or should say attempted to order 3 times they failed us we ordered at 720 and and they called us at 930 or should i say we called and they had nothing to say would not even refund the money had to go to credit card update now the manager is lying and saying its a new delivery guy but the person i talked to before said they lost our order 3 times you are out
Came here with some friends to check the place out. I thought for the longest time it was Japanese because of the name, I was very wrong. The appetizers were probably the best part. The chifrijo and ceviche were amazing and I could not get enough of them. I also ordered the chorizo burrito (with guacamole for only an extra fifty cents) and it was delicious except it was incredibly greasy and oily as they used mexican chorizo instead of spanish chorizo.
(4)
Annie B.
Great BYOB spot. Cash only. Really good prices and in a fun neighborhood that I personally don't get to too often. Everyone's favorite pepito sandwich is tasty but so is the casado platter (I get it with tilapia). Share empanadas with the table. Stop by the wine store across the street.. They have some good beers that go well with the food and the people who work there are always helpful.
(4)
Caryn M.
I hosted my best friend's 40th birthday party in the private room at Irazu for 15 people back in September. The entire process from planning to executing the dinner was seamless. The food was amazing and we had our own private host, Josh, who kept the flow of the night perfectly. He was knowledgeable about the food, funny, and checked in with me about our needs on a regular basis. Also, Henry at Irazu helped with all of the initial planning and was prompt in returning my phone calls and e-mails. It was really a perfect night at a great price!
(5)
Michelle L.
Amazing! You MUST try this place!! Everything that I've had has been incredibly tasty! I've tried the chicken Casado, the vegetarian burrito, the sandwiches, empanadas, everything and I mean everything was delicious. The prices for the empanadas are a little high, they are quite smaller than normal.. But I can't say enough good things about this place. I've read a lot of reviews about the shakes, specifically the oatmeal ones, and its on my checklist to try next.
(5)
Andy V.
I'll keep it short and simple. The hype around this place does not do it justice! Both the food and the service were on point. Visiting Chicago for a week and this was on our 'must visit' list and it did not disappoint. Portions were very generous for the price and all 6 items we had were outstanding.
(5)
Lara T.
This place is oh-so-good. No corkage fee for wine, it's cash only, and it has a lovely nice outdoor spot. If you can get in on the prix fixe, do it. Let the staff recommend their favorites and then have a good time.
(5)
Kevin Q.
Its few and far between when you find a costa rican restaurant and this one is ethnically legit.
(4)
Danie G.
Loved this place. Have not had Costa Rican food since I was in Costa Rica a few years back, but definitely felt it represented the simple but lovely dishes we enjoyed in Costa Rica (just lacking the amazing fish and fruit Costa Rica has to offer!) We ate way too much, but that's because we wanted to try a little or everything. Service was prompt and helpful and we sat on the porch, which was a really nice way to spend an afternoon, they didn't rush us and let us enjoy our meal.
(5)
Pete M.
This place is one of my favorites as such deserves my first Yelp review. For years my girl friend and I stop in every time we are in the area. We are always greeted like family and have never been disappointed by our food choices. Our favorites among the many good options on the menu are: Empanadas- (black bean,beef & potato, spinach & cheese) Plantains - always soft & sweet Pepito sandwich - (steak but chicken is also good) I would definitely recommend this and often do. This is a great date spot & remember it's BYOB. Hope this helps enjoy!!
(5)
Robert S.
finally went here for our second time for dinner and this time we actually planned to go here and try it again so glad we did this place is BYOB and friends we went with draught beer and wine and there is no cork fee here last time we went here it was just a fluke we were out walking around the area and were getting hungry so we stopped and got a sandwich it was good and filling full of flavor now this time around I wanted to sit back have a beer bullshit with my friend and eat a meal yes, yes, yes I know a sandwich can be a meal maybe if it's lunch but not for my dinner anyways you get what I mean one again the service was great, no sooner did we have the wine out and the waiter was there opening it up for us, and when we asked for time to look over the menu he wasn't right back in 45 seconds asking again Ordered up the Casado with steak rice and black beans it also comes with a coleslaw salad that was refreshing and tasty the steak was nice and tender and the onions were perfectly cooked I could go for another plate of Casado right now my mouth is watering just thinking of last nights dinner we also got a few empanadas to take with up home the didn't make it though had to eat them on the L on the way home, dang I could go for 5 or 7 empanadas also right now ok time to go find some lunch
(4)
Beatriz T.
Finally popped in here to eat after getting out of work early on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon! Service was kind of slow, but it was lunch time and I wasn't in a hurry so I don't know if it's always like this. Only thing I didn't like that I ordered was the empanadas. They tasted kinda like ones you buy in the frozen food section. The Chifrijo (an authentic starter of black beans mixed with fried pork and diced veggies), served with chips was very delicious. We ordered the small and it was huge. I definitely had more than enough to take home with me. I went with the Pepito sandwich which is one of their specialties. It's a steak or chicken (your choice) sandwich with sauteed onions, cheese and this delicious spicy Lozano sauce. Food is good, prices are reasonable, it's BYOB and has a nice vibe. CASH ONLY! I'm a fan and look forward to coming back to try some more of the food on their menu.
(4)
Tony R.
I've eaten at Irazu from the beginning - when it was just a hole in the wall where the artsy crowd use to congregate, to it's now somewhat devolved atmosphere of a party time restaurant that is overly lively. I usually enjoy the meals I've had there, it's pretty good comfort food. Nothing amazing, just hearty and satisfying. Usually they get it mostly right, but I have to say that my newest experience here was a little different. I asked the inexperienced waiter what the sauce was on my plate, and he said he didn't know... Ok, maybe do some research and find that out when a customer asks? It seems like much of the waitstaff here is now young and inexperienced, which is slightly different than how things were when it was more of a mom and pop operation. Secondly, it was very loud in the restaurant. There was a table full of tecate-drinking young ladies that was extra loud, plus, everyone was speaking loudly to be able to hear themselves over them as a result. Compounding this were crashing noises from the back kitchen that were very loud, and the fact that the restaurant has nothing but flat reflective surfaces means that sometimes you just wish things were a little quieter so you could actually have an intimate conversation there. It's not much better outside either - what can you expect when the crowd is so animated... I will still come here for the food but the atmosphere sometimes leaves a bit to be desired.
(4)
Lily Z.
The food was tasty. A little bit salty and oily, but still good. The service was alright but the wait was super long. We easily waited about 30 minutes. There were only 2 tables and we were the second one. The casado was good. I didn't like the amount of oil I found at the bottom of my plate. The grilled steak was a little too salty. The plantains were good! Plus the egg was good as well. Egg yolk over anything is good. My friend got the vegetarian paella, which was disappointing. It wasn't a real paella. I've had real paella in Spain and this was like a spiced jambalaya. He didn't seem to like it either, but he didn't want to waste food. His was overly oily as well. However, I did like their lime tea. It was perfectly refreshing on a warm summer day. Also, we ordered a small horchata. I thought they would put cinnamon at the bottom of the horchata cup but I guess that's not standard at all places? Don't forget, CASH ONLY. The other table had to walk out and get money to pay their bill.
(2)
James C.
I have never had Costa Rican cuisine before coming to Irazu but given the fact that I have a personal goal to try as many different types of cuisine as possible in 2014, it was an easy choice. I was not surprised that this turned out to be a positive life decision. Our server was attentive and courteous, the food came out hot and fresh (and quickly to boot), and the Pepito is definitely one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Next time, I will have to work up a bigger appetite to try one of the dinners. Despite getting sat down at the table nearest the restroom and listening to drunk hipsters' disbelieving bitching about how could there possibly be a line to a one-seater bathroom, which is a perfect way to ruin your vibes, I withhold no stars for our placement. As it was once said on The Wire: "Life just be that way I guess." In any case, I can't wait to come back because I'm already craving some gallo pinto.
(5)
Matt K.
BYOB. Inexpensive. Unassuming. Get a Steak sandwich, Plantains, and an Oatmeal Shake.
(4)
Patrick D.
Beautiful presentation Great welcoming host willing to split up or party to help us eat quicker. Now the food : my party of nine ate a good chunk of the menu and enjoyed every bite The Costa Rican iced coffee was massive don't day I didn't warn you. The special sauce is sublime. The yucca was smaller sliced than I had hoped and was disappointing. The pepito was on point Casado was tasty amazing The Tico was huge and filling
(5)
Jeffrey M.
Loved the Costa Rican Dinners, Great BYO. We didn't realize this was a byo, but it worked great because the host not only told us where to go, but recommended we get rum to mix with the fresh juices they have for mixing. We started with the Chifrijo, the mixture of pork and veggies with the chips was fantastic. I took the recommendation from the server to order the grilled steak and my wife got the El Tico. The meat was seasoned perfectly and I loved the sweet plantains. I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Benny D.
Just went to this place last night with some friends and the food was great! Had the Pepito Sandwich and some tacos. The best part is you can bring your own beer and there's no corkage fee. The waitress was friendly and fun and helped open our bottle and brought us a ice bucket for the rest of the beers. I'll definitely be back soon especially in the spring for the open patio.
(4)
Aimee L.
3.5 stars overall. Ate here with a couple of friends, one of whom is from Costa Rica. She said the simple seasonings and offerings here are pretty similar to what can be found in Costa Rica. FOOD/DRINK: * Chifrijo: highly recommended; similar to chips and salsa and with meat and beans * Casado: pretty good, but I would try something else next time; rib eye, onions, rice, beans, plantains, egg, cabbage salad; large portion, but the overload of onions and cabbage salad seemed like filler and not well proportioned * Shake (with some kind of fruit from Costa Rica): highly recommended; delicious; pretty sure they also added oatmeal, which made it extra filling and good SERVICE: good; no complaints AMBIANCE: At first we thought the seating area when walking in was the only option, which were iron tables and chairs, a covered area heated with large heaters, but a little unfriendly... especially in the cold Chicago winter. We were happy to see the area of indoor seating towards the back. Cozy, but colorful and warm. PARKING: I think it's just metered street parking, which we found easily on a weekday late afternoon. Overall, I would eat here again.
(3)
A C.
I love this little place! Best Costa Rican food anywhere! Their plantains reminds me of whenever I travel and theyre to die for! You'll appreciate how tasty is the food. Its truly a gem.
(5)
Beth R.
Recently I found myself in Irazu for lunch on a chilly February Saturday. When I say "in" I mean inside the outside seating area. It's not cozy, but I guess if it means seating double the people and eliminating waits, I guess it's okay. Most people kept their coats on and tried not to think about how the average high in February in Costa Rica is 76 degrees. But I digress. We started with the chips, which were good but not great. Unfortunately, I ate many, many of them anyway. We also ordered the chifrigo, vegetarian style, and it was good. I appreciate any time beans are whole and not refried, and the avocado and pico tasted fresh. I also appreciate any time my husband will acquiesce and order something without pork just for little ol' me. Since I'd had a dream the night before about a fish taco truck, I had those on the brain. I ordered the tilapia taco platter, which was great, except it arrived with a mountain of onion on top. It was easy to remove, (I am an anti-onionite) and then what was left was simple and great: tortilla and a decent amount of fish. The sides were plantains, rice and beans (again, not refried - yay!) and cabbage slaw. It was a happy plate. Then, in spite of the chilly weather, my hearty companion ordered an oatmeal shake. He offered me a little and man, was it good. Really sweet - possibly too sweet - and cinnamony and addictive. Worth getting cold belly for. I was surprised to see that some people drink them along with their meal instead of after, but to each his or her own. The other thing to note is that they are cash only. This is inconvenient for me, as I am from the future and already live in a cashless society, but luckily my husband had some cash. I believe there is an ATM in the inside-inside if you are in need. Overall, a solid 3.5.
(4)
Isis S.
I had been wanting to try this place for what seems like forever and finally my wish came true when my friends decided to have this be the venue for their baby shower. OMG the food was unbelievably delicious! I got to sample a little bit of everything. ..from the platano maduros, to a chicken and veggie mixture, steak and onions and a delicious white rice with black beans, pieces of what looked like lechon (pork), tomatoes, and yummy goodness. I was very satisfied with the food options. The food was full of flavors! I loved that this place is BYOB , so I will def be coming back to have that experience. The only downfall was that this place, which is pretty small, only has ONE bathroom. Mind you this baby shower consisted of about 60 people and I just can't imagine how crazy it would be if this place was open during regular business hours (they're closed on Sundays- but are allowed to rent it out for private parties, as we did) and have it be busy and only have ONE bathroom on site :/
(4)
Alex M.
I'm not really gonna provide any new insight that the last 1000 people neglected to point out. I'm just gonna say that the food is so good that you only stop eating when you realize that another bite will literally, and I do mean literally, cause you to throw up. And that would be a monumental waste, right? Also, everyone is right about the oatmeal shakes. So bomb. Bring some whiskey for a reeeeeal party. BYOB and CASH ONLY.
(5)
Nekia N.
My friend brought me to this place today and I'm thoroughly impressed. The food was HOT just like I like it and very flavorful. I had the Shrimp & Vegetables. Everything on the menu looked delicious I can't wait until he takes me back again.
(4)
Tony P.
I must commend this place on the 'ambiance' - very upbeat, inviting, party-ish. Great place to enjoy a few drinks and eat some food with friends. The 3 stars are for poor service. We arrived at the restaurant at 7:15pm, and were not seated until 9ish. Granted, we had a party of 7, but instead of placing 2 tables together, they waited for 2 consecutive tables to become open. The waiter was rude, and unaccommodating. Despite the reviews on Yelp, I found the food to be so-so. Not deserving of any hype.
(3)
Jake B.
As you walk by this restaurant, the festive music plays and entices you into an culinary escape. With copious amount of outdoor seating, a warm summer night is the ideal time to go. I found the food to be adequately seasoned and the portions satisfying. The yucca was not the best but the shakes are worth making the trip to Irazu by themselves. I got the guanabana shake and it was surprisingly bland. However, my friend got the house specialty "oatmeal" shake (I know, sounds a little strange but texturally is a treat) with banana. The shakes are an amazing dinner drink or great for dessert. Vegetarians can eat here but is a carnivorous happy-place. BYO is o.k. and parking is hit or miss. The only thing missing from this establishment is sand for you to plant your feet while you eat.
(4)
Taylor S.
Very good with a nice outdoor patio and BYOB, but not ideal when a BYOB runs out of ice for your water and to chill your beer during the summer - they said this happens a lot at the end of the summer, so I highly suggest investing in a new ice maker. Fried plantains with garlic were good, but the garlic sauce was a little intense (mostly just strait minced garlic and oil). Great empanadas - especially beef and potatoes
(3)
Sean B.
This is one of those joints that you might walk by a hundred times and never notice, but it is worth a visit or two. Serving up Costa Rican and Caribbean specialties, Irazu is probably best known for their stellar shakes. Every flavor is excellent and especially refreshing after a trip to the gym or working in the yard. Everytime I've eaten here, I feel like I empty a bottle of hot sauce to contrast the bland, but hearty servings. The service is extremely friendly which more than offsets the average food. NOTE: They only take cash, so make sure you hit an ATM beforehand.
(3)
Jean C.
Double fried plantains with garlic oil dip. If that was the last thing I ate on earth, I would die happy. They were decadent and garlicky. Two things that are fantastic by me. We also got the Costa Rican beef sandwich and that was delicious. I could taste a hint of curry but I don't know if there truly is any. We have eaten here before and was pleased with the food but this second time was so much more. And it was delivered! The food was still hot and the delivery guy was pleasant. It was only the coldest day so far of the year! I highly recommend Irazu for any meal of the day. Or a snack. Whichever you chose, you will love it!
(5)
Lucy M.
I highly recommend the Patacones for an appetizer. They're fried green plantains covered with roasted garlic oil. You can get them with pureed black beans which I also recommend. Servers/staff are all great and seem happy to make recommendations.
(4)
Ricky B.
Id give 3 1/2 stars if I could. The food has always been just ok, its a really great place to sit outside though when the weather is nice. The oatmeal banana shakes are really good, but sometimes it seems like they miss and add to much ice or something.
(3)
Happy Mama M.
Highly recommend it! Great food- not like standard fair that you can get anywhere. Good service. Very fun place for casual dinner.
(5)
Timothy M.
I'm still full, three days later. I'm really surprised that this place totally lived up to all the good things that everyone said about it. What a gem. The staff is friendly, it's BYOB, and the food is absolutely incredible! The Taco Ticos are so good, I've never had anything like them. I got the Milanesa dinner for $12.50, which the menu describes as "thinly breaded steak topped with white cheese & tomato sauce served with yellow rice, pinto beans, plantains & salad". Damn straight! Tons and tons of food, the plantains dipped in beans were out of this world. As everyone commented, the Oatmeal Shake is a must. I wonder if these count towards a nutritious breakfast. Having places like Irazu is what I like most about living in the city. The true uniqueness of the cuisine goes well the great execution. The restaurant runs smoothly, despite being ridiculously sought after and busy. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Coco C.
i tried this place for the first time, getting a few pepito sandwiches and an oatmeal soy shake. killer food. highly recommend.
(5)
Steph P.
Whoa, there are 280 reviews?! Maybe because this is the epitome of the family-owned neighborhood gem. Last January, I went to Costa Rica, and being the food enthusiast that I am, was a bit disappointed that CR is not exactly a culinary mecca. Everywhere we went, we ate the traditional Costa Rican meal: casado (some meat, beans, rice, egg, plantains, and a wimpy salad). So naturally, when my friend found out about the sole Costa Rican restaurant, we HAD to eat there during my visit, and I HAD to have the casado. My friend had the tilapia casado, which was perfect - light, lemony, and fresh tasting. I opted for the beef asado - AWESOME. You could tell the beef had been marinated in citrus and spice for a long time because the flavor was in your face and the meat super tender. Not to mention this was a HUGE portion, easily feeding two with everything on the plate. Our plantains were perfectly crisped, the traditional rice fluffy and well-seasoned. Another friend had the potato tacos, which came out totally unlike what we expected - more like rolled up taquitos than what tacos bring to mind. But she thought they were also good and very filling. For old times' sake, my fellow travel companion and I got the guanabana shake with mango and papaya (respectively)...refreshing with plenty to share (or not!). On the whole, the meal was much better than some of the casados we had in CR! My friend has been there several times and says that there is some inconsistency (like the tilapia was not so fresh, the plantains more soggy the last time she went), but on the whole that Irazu is pretty darn good. A great casual spot for two or a very small group...Bring a big appetite (or a friend to share with to save even more on the moderate prices)!
(5)
Natalie J.
after eating here several more times and after they catered my friend's wedding (best wedding food ever), i am now in love with irazu. one of my favorite restaurants in chicago actually. i bike by it every day and it smells so so so good. and it's real tasty and reasonably priced. perfect guacamole. delicious sandwiches and burritos. go here!
(5)
Theresa C.
The vegetarian burrito here is amazing. I've had trouble moving past it to try all of the other delicious items on the menu. I was so jazzed when they started delivering. I also really like dining in. It's BYOB, during the summer they have a nice little outside seating area and the service is always really good. They are friendly and just as excited about the food as I am, which I love. They have this salsa verde that's out of this world. It's so spicy, but for some reason I can't make myself stop eating it. It's usually pretty packed, and sometimes if you come in too late they will be out of certain items, but it's just because it's so great.
(4)
Desiree K.
Once upon a time, the stretch of Milwaukee between Armitage and Willow was lonely, its only companions were tenements where buzzers didn't work. There were no Chuck Taylor-wearing people with plastic glasses, and Lincoln Park was the coolest place on earth. A little green shack stood at the corner of Moffat and Milwaukee, a long grill sizzling with casado, bistec teco, milanesa and tacos of all shapes and sizes. Nobody knew it was the only place in Chicago that served genuine Costa Rican food! But then "Check, Please" came a-calling and the Food Hound Steve Dolinsky knocked a knick-knack-paddy-wack on the doors and soon, everyone knew that milkshakes with flavours like oatmeal, guanabana, mamey and cornmeal existed, that yuca with mojo (aromatic fried garlic) was a blessing from heaven, that grilled onions gracing a fried steak was the freshest breath of air anyone could inhale. The lines grew, as did the waiting time for a Formica-topped table, on weekends, giving new meaning to Latin time. But as you stand the enveloped in the aroma of grilling meats of various cuts and sizes, and freshly fried tortilla chips bop by under your nose, it's like your appetite is on steroids and goes from Barry Bonds circa 1997 to 2007 in two minutes. And it's OK, you don't mind, because you like to see the moms and pops do well. Everyone lives happily ever after, and the moral of the story is to save room for all the sides that arrive on your platter -- the cabbage slaw in tangy vinegar and black beans rice is as happy of a fairy tale ending as the main entree.
(5)
Alyssa V.
I love their yucu topped with mojo-- you can get it boiled for fried (I like boiled) and huge chunks of garlic everywhere! Can't beat that! They are very veggie friendly, too.
(4)
jennifer b.
Recommendations: oatmeal chocolate shake. I've had the burrito and vegetarian special here before, both were excellent and *inexpensive*. Friends have had the potato tacos and report that they are good as well. Also, if your dish doesn't come with them, be sure to get a side of the fried plantains! Yum!
(4)
L L.
I am so in love with everything Irazu, I think about it and it makes me happy. There's so much good but what drives me absolutely crazy are their Patacones, specifically the mojo that comes on top. I don't know what the hell they do to that garlic but no other place comes close. The green plantains are fried perfectly, the garlic is delicious and I ask for extra so I can put some in my Pepito...mmm Pepito. Beans, lizano, steak, cheese. grilled onions, hot peppers, avocado...its so good. I am addicted and love it and want to eat it every day. love irazu love love love.
(5)
Yogi B.
WOW! I was just here the other day and I was IMPRESSED! They could use about 5 times the space, but the food was wonderful and well priced. I went there on a Monday night with a party of 4 total. Don't plan to be seated quickly as this place ROCKS any day of the week (if our Monday outing was any indication). They have VERY few tables. We ended up at one of the high "bar tables" near the windows. They really aren't for more than 3 people, but we squeezed in. It was worth the wait! We had a GREAT time! The food was WONDERFUL. The service was prompt (with a minor glitch--they forgot to take a drink order with the meal order and as busy as it was, it took us a few minutes to point this out to them). I had the chile relleno dinner which was very nice. Milder than I'd like, but I'm a SPICE FANATIC! One of our group had Yuca con ajo (I think--Yuca roasted with garlic)--it was YUMMY! I also had a side of a couple of their Costa Rican Tacos. They were interesting. I'd never have expected them to be basically like Mexican taquitos (rolled & deep fried) with meat inside & lettuce & ketchup & mayo on top--YES, YOU READ RIGHT, Ketchup & Mayo)! They were actually quite tasty. One of our group had the steak with grilled onions--WOW, what a PILE of onions! The plantains were scrumptious also. I'll definitely return. It was a VERY pleasant evening! Our two out of town friends were very impressed.
(5)
Benjamin H.
I guess with the utter lack of time and patience spent in the general Wicker Park and Ukranian Village neighborhoods, it's no wonder I never had the luxury of having a meal at Irazu. There was so much talk of this place over the years, I finally found out what it was all about. My girlfriend and myself stopped by after she raved about the delicious Costa Rican food. Upon entering, I immediately felt at ease with the smell of fried plantains and tortillas. Our server sat us and I spent the next ten minutes pouring over the menu. So many exotic and delicious options not seen at your neighborhood taqueria. I chose the Gallo Pinto breakfast special with eggs overeasy and plantains. My girlfriend had the notorious veggie burrito. The Gallo Pinto was pretty much no frills, but exactly what I wanted for breakfast on a cold winters day. The amalgumation of eggs, beans, rice and plantains are something truly special that I feel I could eat every day. I can see why so many Latin American cultures have subsided on such dishes for the last thousands of years; it just tastes so good and fills you up. I wasn't blown away, but really loved it nonethless. The veggie burrito I tried was also excellent and a really nice balance of flavors. I finished it off with a dark and strong cup of Costa Rican coffee...black. It was divine. Overall, a great spot, with homely service, excellent prices and very solid food. I'd definitiely check it out the next time i'm in the neighborhood.
(4)
Edward K.
this place is "kinda" a hidden gem. although its located on Milwaukee ave its not near the hub of Bucktown/Wickerpark, so many people never know! Food is great! simple and authentic. They are pretty good about delivery times and service is A-OK as well. For the $ this is defiantly a bang for your buck! I would highly recommend for a quick bite!
(4)
Anjee J.
Howwww have I not reviewed this place yet?!? I'll get to the point, since I'm sure others have said it all: - GREAT veggie burritos and tacos. Half a burrito or two tacos are more than enough food for one person. I always ask for my hot peppers on the side, though, as they can overpower the taste of the whole thing. I'm usually a huge fan of hot peppers, but theirs are different than what I'm used to. They're kinda growing on me, though. - The oatmeal shakes are a must in the summer. A must. I like mine just plain, but the oatmeal-banana one is also great. My boyfriend had a non-oatmeal mango smoothie once that was also really good. They are HUGE (if you get them in the take out container) and very filling (duh, it's oatmeal) so I would reccomend splitting one with another person. - I was kinda drunk when I had my first actual dinner here (love that no corking fee), but I do remember being astounded by how much colorful, flavorful food was piled onto my plate. I loved the cabbage salad that the tilapia tacos came with. It was a little tart and super refreshing. I'd always get it as a side if I could! *hint hint, guys?* - Very attentive, hospitable and unpretentious wait staff that makes you feel like your business is truly appreciated. I come here alot. I always leave happy. Also, despite the fact that the wait can be long, they have a HUGE bench out front that you can hang out and pregame on while waiting to be seated. This only applies to the warmer months, though, so go on weekdays when you can.
(5)
Matt L.
Delicious! Went to Irazu a few weeks ago before a concert down the street. BYOB, can't beat that without any corkage fee. The servings are the best part of this joint....absolutely huge!! Went on a Friday night around 6 - 7 and the place was packed...pretty small dining room, I believe we waited around 20 - 25 min to get our table, not too bad and totally worth the wait. Staff was very friendly and attentive for the most part...Cash only however, but nonetheless had a great dinner and a great time. Highly suggest to anyone looking to try something new.
(5)
Bridget S.
I've never dined inside, but carry-out is quick and the counter guys are awesome. I could eat a steak sandwich from here every damn day of the week. EDIT: I've dined-in a few times now and it's just as lovely (albeit crowded). A recent remodel of the place makes it all a bit more polished but still the good ol' Irazu we know and heart.
(5)
Tom B.
Stopped by for a quick sandwich and plantains to go. I think this might become my favorite sandwich restaurant. Very nice people, good comfort food, and extremely reasonable prices. Some have reported the food can be bland so I suggest the hot peppers. The peppers and avocado made my sandwich tasty. This is not a fine dining establishment, but it is the kind of restaurant where I can see myself being a regular. The parking is a bit of a drag, and the place is a bit small, but I think the food is worth it.
(4)
Jillian S.
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!!
(5)
Kimberly E.
Living at Milwaukee & Western, Irazu is one of our go-to take out spots for lazy nights, and it's always reliably delicious. Unfortunately, we still haven't tried any of the real entrees, because the sandwiches, burritos, tacos, sides (anything related to a plantain = delicious), and shakes are all so awesome and so affordable. The steak sandwich and steak burrito are particularly good, especially with the "add-ons" of avocado and those great spicy peppers. Service is also always great and friendly, despite the fact that they're constantly slammed. Expect a wait for a table though -- last night (a Tuesday around 8pm) I could barely get in the door to get my take-out! If you live close enough for delivery/pick-up it's a good idea until the patio opens when it's warm out.
(4)
Nicholas C.
What a tasty place. Like another one of my favorite restaurants in not too distant area, our meals arrived heaping with vegetables. Now I like fruit veggies just fine, never have avoided them, but I tend to prefer, you know, the stuff thats really good (meat) or the by-product of vegetables and fruit (beer, wine.) What can I say? I'm a dude. In this case I found myself gobbling up most of the veggies and leaving most of the meat to be boxed up when we left. They were just too good to leave for later. Don't be fooled though these probably aren't the most healthy things you'll eat, they came prepared in a fair amount of oil and seasoning, but they sure where tasty. The one complaint I had was the service. Once we got a waitress everything moved along quickly. But we were sitting for 10 or 15 minutes before anyone brought us any water, which was a little disappointing since we'd been waiting 20 minutes for a table in the heat. After we got our water it was another 10 minutes or so before anyone came to take our order. On the plus side our appetizer (ceviche) came really quick. I'll concede they were probably about as busy as they could be but on a hot day I'd have preferred someone dropped two glasses at the table without so much as acknowledging us than waiting for someone to get water and appetizers for us
(4)
Christine U.
Delicious food. Kind of a "hole-in-the-wall" place, but not really. Keep in mind that Costa Rican food is not as spiced-up as Mexican food, especially noticeable in their guacamole, which was a bit too bland for me. Other than that, though, the food is terrific! I had the Casado (steak and onions), my hubby had the Milenesa. Both portions were HUGE, we had tons of leftovers. The Gallo Pinto (a unique blend of white rice, black beans, and spices) is really good, went perfectly with the steak and onions. The cabbage salad (cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, beets, cucumbers) that comes with the entree is surprisingly good, and the fried sweet plantains are cooked perfectly. Oh, and try the Oatmeal shake, you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Ang R.
Three and a half. Good: The chips. The sweet plantains--and I don't even like plantains. The yellow rice--and the potatoes in the yellow rice. The guacamole--it wasn't necessarily the best in the world, but it had great flavor. The beans--refried? I don't know, but they were goooood. The shake--my boyfriend had a strawberry-banana shake, and I don't like banana and I thought this was good. The bad: The salsas are really, really spicy. I mean, on-fire spicy. The empanada--it was okay. Just not great. Sam's tacos--very, very chunky chicken. Not to his liking. Cash only--sucks. My potato tacos--they just didn't have quite enough flavor. The cabbage salad--this could have been so good had it not been so heavily cilantro'd. We will probably go back every once in a while, and esp. if we're near, because it's very different from what you're normally eating. But I don't know if we'll ever make a special trip out again.
(3)
rachel p.
best. chille. rellenos. evar. i also have to respect a place that has chicharron on the menu as an entree. its a ballsy move. they also have a pretty decent selection of vegetarian options. so yeah, fried pork chunks AND veggie choices. food fun for everyone. prices are SUPER reasonable too. around $12 for the average entrees, which are enormous, and under $5 for a sandwich. plus, its byob and there's a liquor store right across the street!
(5)
Shannon F.
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.
(5)
M V.
This place is great! We love the sandwiches, tilapia, shrimp and most of all the shakes. Try a shake made with lemon and water. Great place
(5)
vivian h.
Tasty, tasty. wow, never had Costa Rican food and I'm glad that my friend Silvia introduced me to this place! Try the Casado which is a traditional dish in Costa Rica. Choose the rib eye steak (it's seasoned to perfection) which is caramelized with onions, served with white rice, black beans, sweet plantains, an over easy egg & cabbage salad. And don't forget to add the Gallo Pinto (the white rice and black beans are cooked together with vegetable and spices). Could there be any more food? I had enough left over for lunch the next day. The place feels like a small road side cafe. Totally low key and no frills. The food is the star here. It's also BYOB which is an extra bonus.
(5)
Alex K.
Irazu makes me glad I live in the area. The place is small, but the food is great and very fairly priced, especially the sandwiches. BYOB is great. The staff is super friendly and cool every time I call or go in. I've probably eaten their food upwards of 10 times and can't recommend this place enough. This place is what central american food should be. If you're getting tired of the tacos and burritos at western/armitage, take a short stroll east for this treat. I also noticed that their delivery range is extremely huge when I was there last night. They apparently deliver all the way from Irving park to Roosevelt, and from the lake to Pulaski. WOW. You have no excuse not to eat this food! Call them! edit: the owner sent me a message to point out that their delivery range extends all the way up to Montrose now. Luckily I live close enough to get carry-out, but that's impressive!
(5)
Jeanelle S.
I'd been meaning to give this place a go for years, so when my gal pals decided to try it for our most recent Girls' Night Out, I was definitely down. A couple of our girls had public transportation woes, so while we awaited their arrival, we snacked on tasty tortilla chips and salsa and the bottle of Sauvignon Blanc I brought. The rest of the crew arrived and we pondered the menu. Two of my friends did their study abroad in Costa Rica so they were loving the experience and couldn't wait to have a culinary trip down memory lane. I just wanted to make sure I ordered something that would be tasty. After asking our server for suggestions, since two of my friends ordered the Casado, I opted for the grilled steak and a side of the gallo pinto. Boy was it good. The steak was *slightly* oversalted, but overall magically delicious and perfectly cooked. It was served with two stalks of chargrilled green onions, and the side of what seemed to be a mixture of black beans and white rice, sweet fried plantains and a cabbage salad. The whole plate reminded me of other caribbean food (like Jamaican and Trini) but with a decidedly latin slant. With generous portions, BYOB and tasty food, I'll definitely be back. I wanna try the sandwiches and empanadas I keep reading about!
(4)
Meredith H.
My friends and I love it here! There is not one person I have taken here who has not been back again! The food is delicious and affordable and the people are always friendly! Plus, you can't beat the byob policy. I have never been disapointed when I have eaten here (or gotten delivery) and even first came here because, after studying abroad in Costa Rica, I was in search of some delicious Costa Rican food. It was spot on (no surprise since the owners are from there). I LOVE the Casada and recommend it to anyone as well as the oatmeal shake!!
(5)
natalie b.
Awesome! Good food and great service.
(5)
Michelle R.
AMAZING shakes try the Oatmeal it's like a spice cookie! All the flavors are great! The ceviche is great, the quac is yummy and the veggie burrito is my favorite! well priced! You will wait for a table... get it to go and walk to the nearby park just to the NE.
(5)
Emily S.
Worth the wait. I went on a Saturday night. I was with three other people. We had to wait about an hour and a half to two hours, but it was totally worth it. Plus we had our wine and chips and salsa to keep us occupied. I split the grilled steak and chicken burrito with a friend. The grilled steak was delish. I wasn't as impressed with the chicken burrito, but will try it again with steak.
(5)
Ade Z.
Yummy! Great food. Small place so dont expect anything that you wouldn't get at a diner. THE SALSA that comes with the EMPANADAS is the best ( per the bf). and the entrees are a good size and the drinks are yummy. over all i would def go back when im in the mood for Cuban sandwhich and some spanish talking waitress :)
(3)
Jessica J.
The food was yummy and so inexpensive! We sat outside on a warmer November night which was really nice and plenty warm with the space heaters. It's a nice stop before heading to Map Room, Danny's or any other nearby bars.
(4)
Jarod P.
When I'm not eating a Costa Rican sandwich from Irazu, I'm thinking about eating one. Part of me wants to get a bottle of this "lizano" sauce that makes it so awesome, so I can put it on everything and make everything awesome, but then it wouldn't be special.
(5)
Crystal M.
I like Irazu, but I think people are a tad over-zealous about it. I will say that I don't eat chicken or beef, so maybe I am missing out on some exciting dish that makes it make sense. The veggie burrito is nothing special. It's just a tortilla with rice, beans, avocado, and lettuce basically. I could just assume go to picante and not have to wait for 30 minutes first. I do really enjoy that breakfast dish they have with an egg and some rice/bean mix w/ plantains. Everything else, including the chips and "salsa" (in a squirt bottle) are whatever. I go there, but it certainly doesn't excite me. There's a long wait; the ambiance is, well there isn't one, and the service is indifferent.
(3)
Matt R.
This place was good. Tried some empanadas and garlic tostones/plantains. The empanadas were decent, but my tostones were way, WAY too garlicky (and by the way, I love my garlic!). Otherwise, the menu seemed to have a very good selection and the outdoor patio seating was a plus. Also, make sure you bring cash, this place does not except credit/debit.
(3)
R J.
Stopped in this place for carry out and was very impressed. I had the steak sandwich with onions and hot peppers and it was absolutely delectable. Also the guy taking my order was super helpful and friendly. The place has a great atmosphere as well. I will be going back for sure.
(4)
Libby T.
the bomb.com
(5)
Ali A.
I only give this place three stars because I am not a fan of salsa in bottles. I do however love their guacamole. I also had an oatmeal and banana shake.. It was really good but it is a lot of dairy. I suggest getting it with soy milk. They have a large menu and from what I could tell they are always pretty busy. Another downfall is that they are cash only.
(3)
Jon L.
Delcious. BYO. Great Staff.
(5)
Grace L.
I have a new favorite condiment to add to my list of favorite condiments. Get a sandwich doused in Lizano sauce. Yum.
(4)
Lisa A.
Oatmeal Milkshake! I've tried remaking the experience at home but nothing beats an Irazu oatmeal milkshake.
(4)
Jaclyn G.
If you haven't been to Irazu, what are you waiting for? Irazu is a unique, wonderful place. While it is rather small inside, they have great outdoor seating during the warmer months and their food is sure not to disappoint. I would highly recommend the Chicken & Rice. Order it extra spicy (if you like spicy things). It is beyond fantastic and not only will leave you full, but ensure that you have extra to take home. And while their portions are more than enough, don't overlook the oatmeal shake. Oatmeal Shake?? Yes, it may sound a bit strange, but try it!! It is unlike any drink I've ever had before and beyond memorable. Yum!
(5)
c g.
An area staple, been eating here for over 10 years. Some of my friends think they are greasy. I like it.
(4)
Nicholas K.
I may just be a silly Southern boy, but I still can't stop thinking about the mango shakes they serve here. And the hot perfect green salsa they serve from a ketchup bottle. Enormous sandwiches dripping with avocados and other Guatemalan goodies. Plantains. And all the cool Wicker Park folk that eat there, hipster musicians and such (maybe too turn of the century knowledge?)... Just a great place for lunch or dinner or for sitting outside after another Cubs day game victory!
(5)
Gia T.
Would like to say that it is more than amazing food that makes this restaurant one of my favorites in the city, it's their appreciation to their customers. After learning about a mistake with an order that my coworkers and I put in, the owner and staff went above and beyond to make it right and make us happy, even personally delivering yummy shakes to work as an apology. Irazu, you definitely have proven why you are a successful restaurant and one of Chicago's staples, and I will be a lifetime customer!
(5)
Marc S.
This is a terrific place for party food. Irazu just helped me to host 16 people. People unanimously loved the food. My company loved the price. I was thrilled with the people and quality of service. Irazu is as good as it gets for quality, price, service and ease to work with. (And yes, the empanadas and veggie offerings are excellent!)
(5)
Katie H.
Annoyed would be too light a word. I'm pee-ist! I'm peeist OFF! Uuughhhhh. Irazu simply took over my entire night. Look I know Thursdays are typically busy restaurant nights and even the most experienced of servers can get swamped...but get this...for the first time in my life I left less than a 10% tip and even then I felt like I was being generous. Wow, Irazu. Just...wow. They had one server working a completely full dining room. Which included a party of twelve and a fair amount of 4 and 2-tops. I was willing to forgive the fact that it took us about 20 minutes to get our order in because the server was dealing with the large party. But then he proceeds to take the orders of tables who had been seated long after us. He finally saunters over to our table (my great-aunt after a hip replacement moves at more of a clip than this guy). No explanation nothing - I'm not saying that he needs to lick our asses but at least have the courtesy to acknowledge that you're horrendously short staffed. His attitude was like, "Yeah, I work here. Feel lucky that I eventually decided to approach you." Food took about 40 minutes to come out. To their credit I managed to get my milkshake early since I was able to put the order in with a busser. That, and the overly greasy tortilla chips, held me over until my food appeared at about 8:30pm. When the food finally gets to you, there will be a lot of it. It's filling and pretty good but it's NOTHING to wait ages over as we did. This isn't the Bongo Room. But if you don't mind wiling away the hours here - at least you'll go home with a second meal. But first it'll take you another 10 minutes to track down a to-go box. I thought I was being smart when I flagged down our server (stopping by the table?! Pah!) and said "Could we please have two to-go boxes and the check?" The check arrives with one to-go box. I asked for another. Nothing came and I watched him bring boxes to another table. I had to get up and walk over to the bus station and get it myself. They should just make this place counter service for fuck's sake. I wasn't surprised when the cashier didn't ask how everything was. So our plans to take an evening bike ride were killed by Irazu's total inefficiency. We were left crabby and overly full on fried food.
(2)
Cristina S.
Phenomenal food for a phenomenally low price and BYOB! I highly recommend the ceviche. Cash only.
(5)
Amy J.
So good. Go hungry you will leave stuffed. I've never been to Costa Rica but am a lover of all Latin food and was very satisfied. We ordered tostones, which were good, but I like my mojo to be olive oil with garlic in it, this was more of a chunky garlic mixture on top, but it was still really good. We also tried the Aveno milk shake- SO delicious, I had it with soy milk and it tasted like drinking an oatmeal cookie...YUM! Next was the Casado dish with chicken, wow, huge plate of rice and beans with the most tender, yummy chicken with carmelized onions and roasted tomatoes. We left stuffed and happy, and the best part is it's cheap!
(5)
Rachel H.
I love Irazu so freaking much. Seriously. The fresh banana milkshake reminds me of the ones my best friend and I used to make when her mom would leave us home alone. The prices are good and the skirt steak entrees are awesome. Good guac. The only complaints: crowded and cash only. Still gets 5 stars from me though!
(5)
molly c.
i have two words for you people. OATMEAL SHAKE!!! i know, it sounds like something your grandma would feed you when you were sick...that you would pretend to like, but you really only finished it to make her feel good. but it's the best thing ever. their veggie burrito is the BOMB too, it has mushrooms in it. YUM-tastic. minus one star because their hours are totally random.
(4)
Magglio M.
We've been here a few times. It's okay. I guess we should have tried the oatmeal shakes because the rest of the food was average. In our opinion, there are many better BYOBs.
(2)
Jim C.
I like the Pepito sandwich
(4)
Kate S.
Delicious veggie (and other) options like everyone else mentioned. But: be prepared to wait. And good luck coming with a bigger group over 6+... my table of 6 had to wait quite a while (on a Monday night!), not the best for a big gathering. Definitely go though! Also, lovely staff.
(4)
blake d.
The goods: Food is cheap and generous. I've had the pepito ribeye sandwich multiple times (you find a winner and you stick with it). It's $4.50 and huge at that price. Tastes great with it's grilled onions, bean spread, muenster cheese and lizano sauce. Try the oatmeal shake (with milk if you're up to it), it's like a thick horchata. The chips they serve are salty and sometimes stale...but the salsa verde is mighty nice. also, the atmosphere is lacking...mostly just posters from the costa rican board of tourism.
(4)
Zachary S.
amazing. order anything. but order an oatmeal milkshake with it. it will change your life. love it.
(5)
emily b.
outdoor seating! yay! just discovered this extra perk over the weekend. another awesome meal had here.... our server, omar gave awesome reccomendations too! and those plantains remind me of a trip to puerto rico... yummmm.....what's not to love?
(5)
Kitty L.
Do I have a really hard to please palate? After all the hype I've heard about this place (it was on the Food Network for its ice cream-less milkshakes for goodness sakes!), I was thoroughly disappointed. First, the free chips were way over salted and STALE (I'm guess chips aren't served stale in Costa Rico are they?) Second, I had a tamarind milkshake, which I barely took a few sips. It tasted wrong (and trust me, I know what tamarind tastes like having worked in Guadalajara Mexico for several months). Third, I had the chicken and rice dish and found it really bland. Plus, the whole meal left me thirsty for the rest of the day (which is usually a sign that there is MSG in the dishes...or maybe due to the oversalted stale chips). To me, it was spanish rice stir fried with some messily cut chicken breast and some frozen peas and carrots! The big annoyance for me as well is that this place only accepts cash, although the meal can easily run up to $15/person. Despite what other yelpers say, I actually found the service average to good - he was friendly and prompt, nothing to complain about. The atmosphere was simple and kind of reminded me of the Rainforest Cafe without all the darkness and the crazy animal background noises. Having said all this, I could give this place another try if someone was dying to go (what the hell, who can ever turn down milkshakes?)
(2)
Janene M.
I enjoyed it. We went during an off-peak hour so did not have to wait for a place to sit. I had ceviche and empanadas. They were very tasty. I had a free coupon for the oatmeal shake, so I tried it. I was NOT a fan. EWWW. You really need to be a fan of oatmeal in order to enjoy it. You need to bring cash, there is an ATM inside but you'll have to pay the fee. We did not know that before we went there. I told them that's something they should put on their website, since a lot of people don't really carry cash.
(4)
Jason D.
This place is massive! They have something for everyone. Two thumbs up on the vegetarian friendly steez. The only subpar item I've had there is the guacamole. It could use a little more seasoning. All in all this place is completely worthy of the 4 stars up above. Definitely leave room for a shake when you go!
(4)
K W.
Let me just start by saying that I cant wait for summer so I can go back and sit on the patio! On my first visit last fall, I didn't know it was BYO so I came unprepared (luckily was saved by Red & White Wines). We took a seat at the outside bar after deciding not to wait for an inside table and were immediately brought chips and a great salsa. I ordered the Pepito w/ Avocado and the wife ordered a Costa Rican. The food only took about 10 minutes even though they were busy on a Wednesday night. It was amazing. It was my first encounter with Lizano sauce and oh yes, I will be back! Large portions at great prices. Gotta love this little family run restaurant!
(5)
Emily S.
I love Irazu. Who doesn't love Irazu? Sweet plantain, spicy peppers and avocado are a few key players in their meals and I couldn't be happier to see them on my plate. There are tons of vegetarian options. Try them all before choosing your favorite. Irazu is going to be on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives next week. I'm happy for them but I sure hope this publicity won't change the awesome food and service that i have been enjoying for the last 3 years. LONG LIVE IRAZU!
(5)
Daniel N.
Steak Pepito, Oatmeal Shake, and pick any random app/side... that's all you have to worry about here. One of my favorites in Chicago! The wait on a weekend can get long (avg 1hr) but it's worth it. BYOB and cash only. The other awesome thing is they deliver super far... I live in the South Loop and it takes about an hour to get delivered to my place, pretty fast considering traffic, distance, etc., Tip: watch the Diners Drive In & Dives segment on this place before eating here, it will taste better!
(5)
Christine D.
Great BYOB. I typically go with the Casado which is THE Costa Rican dish to get. Love the flavors even down to the little side of cabbage salad. On a recent visit I defected and tried out the Palmito Salad and was not disappointed. Chifrijo starter is good but the pork can be hit or miss and I'm a big fan of all of the empanadas. Service is always fast and friendly. Wish they were open on Sundays!
(4)
Jeffrey C.
Irazu became known to me through its gradually increasing recognition as makers of one of the best burritos in America, but I daresay that's the least worthy of the list of things they could be so awarded. First off, Irazu started as a no-reservations joint in a small space, making it ill-conducive for planning ahead parties. They moved locations and started taking reservations, and that's when I visited. Good choices, both. The BYOB policy makes the end of night bill mind-bogglingly wallet-friendly, even if you (as you should) order a fruit shake pitcher to go along with your spirit of choice (generally tequila or rum, if you're still confused). On the shakes, the oatmeal shake is also something that rightfully gets lots of love as well. On the menu, Irazu's chifrijo is tasty and delicious, and can somehow be made vegetarian and still taste pretty good. Of course, yucca chips should be mandatory, and Irazu's delicious mojo (roasted garlic) sauce should be outlawed for being so good. Irazu's burrito includes half of the "rice + beans" equation prevalent in Latin American cuisine, and it is good. I liked it better than other Chicago area luminaries like La Pasadita or L'Patron, but they're still not as good as the San Francisco counterparts. In retrospect, I wish I had ordered the signature casado platter instead. A simple dinner, with sweet plantains. Alas.
(4)
John W.
1 extra star for BYOB Had the Cevichi, fried Plantans with Garlic, and some other rice/beans/meat as apps then the skirt steak entre Was pretty underwhelmed by the taste. It appeared more taco standish than Costa Rica food. Maybe I'm actually comparing it to the food I tasted when I was in Costa Rica for 10 days which was very flavorful this was salty and bland. Not sure what all the hype is about with this place
(3)
Kristian D.
I had a great dinner at Irazu after a long train journey to Chicago. This restaurant is a perfect fit for the neighborhood serving Latin American food including their famous oatmeal shake. The layout is mainly a large open patio with the kitchen inside the building. This is probably wonderful on a nice evening, but may be a bit intense when the weather is less than perfect. Irazu is BYOB and cash only, so hit the ATM and wine cellar before heading over. We started with chips and a side of pico. The house sauce was very nice, but having the pico de gallo was a great alternative. I ordered the Steak El Tico which was a large platter of grilled steak with rice, beans, and plantains. The flavors were very wonderful and explosive which was refreshing after eating boring food for several days. Dessert was forsaken due to my nearly falling asleep into the plate. I would absolutely come back here, even with some of the challenges. My friend knew the staff, but they seemed good and helpful. Personally, I do not like waiting long for food, so my experience might be different on a more busy night. However, the popularity of the place tells me that enough customers are willing to sacrifice for that oatmeal shake!
(4)
Bart S.
Went last night- can't say enough good things about Irazu- place was crowded, service was fast and friendly- food is always A+...lost of choices for my wife, who does not eat meat. I had the steak sandwich, added cheese- perfection. Oatmeal Shake of course- this time it came in a Mason Jar- I guess that was as much as you would get in a Milk Shake glass...
(5)
Yvonne B.
Atmosphere at Irazu: ebullient. It was definitely relaxed, casual, and chill. Oh - and NOISY! It was a Monday evening and it was hoppin'! They don't seat people until everyone is there so many folks were lingering outside on the sidewalk. The actual restaurant is teeny tiny so sitting outside was a beautiful relief. The outdoor portion is fully covered, well-lit, and even has some sort of temperature control mechanism. Service: cheerful! The servers were kind of stretched thin; however, they were made recommendations, brought food in a timely manner, were accurate, and were incredibly good-natured! They were also good about bringing us wine glasses, foil for wrapping up my leftovers, and a box and bag for our friend. Food: many of our dishes were excellent. For appetizers we got chifrijo and ceviche. They were both wonderful in different ways. The ceviche was simple, cool and refreshing. The chifrijo was savory, complicated, and had great contrasting textures. I got the Costa Rican sandwich. I liked it, but I was so full from the appetizers that I only took two bites before wrapping it up for later. The other entrees were equally eaten. M didn't like hers and chose not to bring it home. I also got the famous oatmeal shake. It tasted like horchata, only blended. I really enjoyed it. Our meal for three people came to just under $60.
We've been ordering for delivery rather than going to Irazu. Their delivery area is one of the largest in the city. For that I am grateful! Delivery arrives as scheduled, and is always complete. The ceviche is delicious. Gallo Pinto spicy and the vegetarian cabbage and beet salad are fantastic sides. I like to eat an order of spicy ceviche on a bed of spicy Gallo Pinto. The husband enjoys his chicken sandwich, with a smattering of my Gallo Pinto. Sometimes you must share with loved ones, you know? I highly recommend Irazu.
(4)
Jake C.
The server made an excellent recommendation. I wish they used more plantains. Overall it was filling and would like to check it out again!
(4)
Nada B.
4 stars over 3 for the atmosphere. the food was solid and definitely tasty but nothing overwhelmingly amazing. Definitely a good meal for a good price. I got the steak burrito and the portion was perfect, leaving me satisfied and not overly full. The outdoor seating area was great. its byob and there was a mix of large and small groups as well as family's, tables of friends, and couples.
(4)
Kat L.
4 stars for food. But there's so many other things that bring this place down! You HAVE to scroll to the end if you wanna skip the rest. I made a reservation through Open Table (Yelp says they don't do reservations.) It's the kind of spot that will make you wait until the whole party is there before seating you... And the staff really isn't very friendly. Because we had a questionable number of people for our table (3 with a potential 4th) we slow-rolled our order. The chifrijo was really good! Beautiful presentation, but very skimpy on the amount of meat/chicharron and avocado that's in it. A great started to share. 30 minutes after our appetizer, we order our entree. After 45 minutes, we still didn't get our order! the waiter was not apologetic, and seemed angry when we inquired. We got a, "Duh! I'm already working on it!" We ordered a ceviche (You don't even cook that! it's marinated!), a shrimp and avocado salad (6 shrimps, which was 10% of the entire plate. cheap and deceiving! $12 plate over red onions and cabbage.. pff.), and the Pepito Sandwich. We expressed our concern over a 45 minute wait on 2 appetizers and a sandwich. The waiter said, "I'm sorry, there's 4 tickets ahead of you." Which felt sooo shady because tables seated an hour after us were fed, boxed, and out before we even got our entree. No apologies from the server. We did try the epic oatmeal shake. Just think horchata with a thicker consistency. Anyhow. The ambience was great, but the service was horrible. The waiter was nonexistent. We arrived at 7 and didn't leave until 9:30. The food was seasoned and flavored well, but don't expect much protein. They'll nickel and dime you over a pretty presentation. For a spot that's featured on Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives, i expected more. At least better hospitality. I'll never come back with how rudely we were treated. OH!!! and to top it all off, there was a --**!!PUBE!!**-- on the styrofoam to-go container.
(2)
Stefany V.
Straightforward service with home style flavors! I had limited time in Chicago but knew Irazu had to be one of my stops- so I grabbed a steak Pepito sandwich to go en route to the airport and ate it during my flight! The staff were friendly about packing my order carefully and giving me an ample portion of the lizando sauce. High in the sky, my sandwich was tasty and packed with meat and grilled onions. The lizando was similar to a salsa verde, and added just the right bit of spice to the flavors. Minimal cheese and beans (didn't even notice any, really) kept the focus on the meat. At under $8, this packs a large portion for the price. The cash-only policy is not one I like, but several signs indicate that they are also BYOB with no corkage- which is pretty damn snazzy. I also like how they had signs posted discouraging people from laying around and hogging tables for extended periods of time. Hopefully I'll make it back in for the chifrijo and an oatmeal shake.
(3)
Mickey H.
Came in for a party, rented out a space about half a block down the street. I was caught off guard when we realized we weren't actually in the restaurant but what looked like an old storefront. Definitely didn't deter from the food experience. The service was great, food was awesome. Everything was served buffet style, options that were picked were great. I'll definitely be back to try the restaurant itself. Overall, awesome large group space. The price and food you get for it was worth it.
(4)
Mei K.
Do yourself a favor and order the Chifrijo...and make that a large while you're at it! Delicious, crispy fried pork belly topped with a mountain of pico de gallo, ripe avocados and tangy lizano sauce. I couldn't get enough of this dish. Unfortunately, this really set the bar for the rest of the dinner and everything fell kind of short. I thought the pepito sandwich was pretty dry and plain. There's definitely other places in Chicago that makes the pepito better. The casado wasn't doing it for us either. The rib-eye was tough and didn't have much flavor to it. Found something questionable in the bottle of green salsa so I didn't have anything to save that dish. If I were to come back, I'd order the Chifrijo as an entree since it was pretty filling too! This place offers indoor patio seating but be prepared to scream across the table when the Blue line train approaches. It's also a cash only establishment.
(3)
Natalie M.
Well... Went here again with a friend. The oatmeal shake was as expected--delicious! I loved it and it was so refreshing. As you probably can guess from oats, after a while they start expanding in your stomach so there's that full feeling you get lol. Be careful :P and don't drink too much! If you get a pitcher, it's $10 as opposed to $4 a cup. I got the chifrijo and I really enjoyed this dish! I particularly liked it. The rice/beans were really moist. My friend had gotten the Casado with gallo pinto and tilapia. $1 for gallo pinto is a little steep, especially since it's essentially the same thing. I tried some of her dish and I was again, disappointed by the gallo pinto. She had noted it was very dry. It was. It shouldn't be that dry...hmm. The tilapia (which I also tried) was okay but not amazing. :/ They had forgotten to include the sweet plantains to her dish but the waiter promptly brought some. I got to taste these tasty maduros and they were yummy. The service was alright that day. It took a long long time for us to get our order in even though it was just us and one other person there (a bit ridiculous waiting 10+ minutes for service). I would be curious to try their sandwiches sometimes. I think the concept is really nice and refreshing to have a different type of cuisine in this neighborhood...I love Central American food! It was tasty but not very memorable.
(3)
Ashley C.
Irazu was a bit underwhelming. It is BYOB which is great. We got there shortly before 7 on a Friday night. We put our name down on the list picking first available. We were seated inside roughly 15 minutes later. (Note: It is cash only and your whole party must be there to get seated). We started with some empanadas: steak, chicken, chorizo and mushroom. My favorites were the mushroom and chorizo. A good ratio of filings that were tasty and seasoned well. This and the BYOB gets Irazu the three stars in my book. For the entrees, we both got the popular and recommended Casado with ribeye steak upgraded with the pinto gallo. It was okay. My biggest issue was that the meat was chewy and not seasoned enough. (I also wouldn't have marketed it as a rib eye steak.) My husband ordered it spicy but found that it was not spicy at all. The plantains were tasty and were my favorite part of the dish. The gallo pinto (rice and beans) were good but I'm not exactly sure how this was a $1 upgrade. Service was average. Our waiter was friendly but inattentive. We had to ask someone else for the check. I wanted to love it, but didn't. With so many other options in the area, I'm not itching to go back.
(3)
Evan F.
Costa Rican food with a cute little outdoor dining area. Last stop of the college tour week...Chicago! Daughter and I met up with a family-freind and we gout our grub on Caribbean style! We chose the outdoor seating area, and even with some sketchy weather in the area we were plenty warm and rain / drip free. We shared a few dishes around the table. Started off with the Chifrijo which was chewy and flavorful. The girls decided to order a bunch of Empanadas and I chose the Casado. I think the girls had 6-7 different flavors...all fried perfectly with a myriad of different fillings: chorizo, chicken, beef, cheese, etc. They said the flavors were delicious. My Casado dish was actually way too big for one person, but had a multitude of different and exciting things to sample. Rice and beans were a great base, and adding a bit of chicken to it was spot on. Other vegetable were good, and the plantains were a perfect accompaniment. Fun spot, would be a great place to dine with a larger group. Oh, BTW...they are currently BYOB.
(4)
Mel C.
I have passed this place up a billion of times, but it always seem to be packed every time I wanted to eat there! Finally today was the day my taste buds had their own fiesta I asked our waiter first offered us some watermelon juice (although it is not on the menu) then I asked what was a recommended plate the plate he recommended had chicken white rice black beans plantains and cabbage everything was amazing
(5)
Jullie C.
Wrote an incorrect review here last week so here is the correct one. The food here was surprisingly delicious! I never had Costa Rican food before so I didn't know what to expect. My BF lived in CR for a bit so he wanted to show me their cuisine. The stars are really for the amazing food and our server Maria- because she was awesome. However, one thing is, if you're a cash only restaurant you should always make sure your ATM is working. I had to walk several blocks (a good 20 there and back) to find an ATM... Which is why I took off the star. But other than that everything else was really cool. The decor was also interesting. We had the ceviche which is always good! Lots of protein and flavor! Fresh and zesty~ Also had their Casado which is a traditional meal and it was amazing! We got it with steak and asked for yellow rice instead and it was really good. Would definitely recommend this place and hopefully they will work on having a working ATM next time I come. :)
(4)
David B.
The taste of Irazu's food is hard to forget. Flavorful, interesting and crave-worthy. The oatmeal shake...oh my! But the savory stuff is just as excellent. They catered lunch at my old job a bunch of times, and I always loved it but was ready to see their restaurant and choose the menu items that I wanted. For this visit, I went with the shrimp and veggie platter, and was not disappointed at all. A great helping of food - including their always awesome fried plantains (maduros) and the cabbage slaw. I was with seven or eight other people and everyone loved what they got. Fun place, great food, awesome atmosphere.
(4)
Darren F.
wanted to try something new and since i was around the area and this place seems to have a lot of reviews.. i decided to come here.. first of all.. this place be popping! very busy and waiting for a table can be a while.. the service was great.. everyone seems friendly and nice.. i tried the... steak pepito sandwich which is rib eye steak with sauteed onions, cheese, beans, lizano sauce and added avocado and hot pepper.. it was a great sandwich.. steak was seasoned well and cooked right.. all the ingredients mixed well with each other.. chifrijo is fried pork layered with whole black beans white rice pico de gallo and top with avocado and lizano sauce.. this looked really good on picture so i ordered it.. i am a big pork fan especially if it is deep fried! not sure if they messed it up or it suppose to be that salty.. but this dish was overly salty!! other then that it was a ok dish to me.. felt like too much was going on... empanadas...i picked beef n potato and chicken... it was also just ok.. definitely had better.. the chicken was a little dry.. the beef and potato was very mushy and seemed over cooked inside? eh this place is alright.. i give it 2.5 stars... i would come back for the steak pepito sandwich tho..
(2)
Ellen S.
Let's start with the service. THEY ARE AMAZING. Our server was quick, listened, made an effort to get to know us. Everyone smiled and was so kind. The food was DIVINE. We ordered a lot and are thankful to have leftovers. BYOB is great. Our server swore by the watermelon mixer with tequila and he was correct! Amazing.
(5)
David C.
Absolutely no complaints about Irazu (except maybe that it's cash only, but they're very upfront about that on the menu, so I can deal). Irazu has a fantastic menu of options that kept me very happy the one time I came here. I can't wait to try a lot of the other great options. I ordered a chicken sandwich (I don't remember what the name was in Spanish). It was great, but my absolute favorite would probably be the empanadas and the oatmeal shake (with no extra ingredients). The best empanada, in my opinion, was the plantains. I officially love sweet empanadas. The crust was perfectly flaky with a bit of a crunch to it without being burnt at all. Definitely don't miss out on the empanadas if you come here! They're also a very affordable $3 a pop. I recommend ordering a few of these to share as an appetizer like we did. Now, let's talk the oatmeal shake. It reminds me a lot of a frozen slushie version of horchata, except with a smoother consistency than a slushie; it wasn't really icy at all except for toward the end where we actually had to add a little bit of water so we could enjoy the rest of it. There's not way in heck I'm going to share the next time I come here because I want to savor one of these babies all on my own! Even though it tasted so good, I am still a little curious if the taste could be improved by additional fruit (like mango). Perhaps I'll find out next time! This will for sure be a regular place to drop by (when I happen to have cash on me) in the future as the weather warms up.
(5)
Krysia Z.
I was born and raised in Costa Rica. I live in Texas but came to visit family in Chicago and I had to stop by and try them out after discovering them on "Diners drive in and dives" and boy I was happy I did! In case anyone is doubtful, YES it is true Costarican food. Overall the food was great and fresh. Glad to see lizano(costarican condiment sauce) and glad the food was not spicy, they gave you the option if you wanted it hot nor not. CHIFRIJO was great, rice, beans and pork Cooked to perfection. I am used to the chifrijo be a lil bit more soupy and with red beans, but everyone has a different version and this was a good one. CEVICHE was good, the fish was very well marinated, not sure about the tomatoes on top, but the fish it self was good. PEPITO SANDWICH my favorite by far. Beans on a sandwich might sound weird, but it is true to Costa Rica. My family took picnic to the beach and one of the items was bean sandwiches. This one was definetally elevated to a new level with the steak and saluted onions. CASADO I didn't personally tried it, but 2 people in my table did, and they enjoyed it. TIPS 1. Cash only (they have an atm) 2. BYOB (there is a store right across the street, we got wine and beer) 3. They take reservations!!!!! I wish I knew before we showed up to a super crowded restaurant. They take reservations thru open table. On yelp it says they don't but the host told me they did. We had a large party. He was very accommodating after I told him we had a party of 13 people. We only visit family and friends every so often in Chicago so the large group was necessary. After we sat down the servers were very nice and patient. 4. LOUD, My reason for a 4 star. It was extremely loud, yes we were a large party, but the music made it very hard to hear the person sitting right across from me. Don't get me wrong, it was good music but hard to have a conversation with out raising your voice. Thanks again for being so accommodating, can't wait to comeback to Chicago to eat food from home. And maybe then get a shirt :) size medium please. Pura vida La Tica de Texas :)
(4)
Sebastian N.
I took part in a large group dinner hosted at Irazu. There were 18 of us in total, and Irazu allowed us to use a private dining room a few doors down from their actual restaurant. The food and the service were fantastic. Food wise, our setup was a buffet in which we enjoyed slaw, rice and beans, chicken, beef, pork, broccoli, and plantains. I love plantains prepared in the way that they had done, so I went back for a second helping. We were also served their Oatmeal Shake, which tasted very similar to the Mexican drink I enjoy, Horchata. Both are milk based and have a strong cinnamon taste. Everything tasted very "home cooked", which is a great thing. It reminded me of the local "Tico Plates" that my wife and I enjoyed when visiting Costa Rica a few years ago. Real good stuff. I have to give a shout-out to our server, Ivan. His service was excellent, and he really took care of our large group, which may have been intimidating to some. Thank you!
(5)
Jess D.
Food: Delicious, anything doused in their lizano sauce is fantastic. Drinks: BYOB, and if you bring hard liquor they'll mix it into some tasty frozen concoctions. I recommend the margarita, it's super fruity but not too sweet. Service: Speedy, but be prepared for a wait most weekend nights.
(4)
Monica H.
- cash-only - byob including liquor! this city loves drinking, but now i know it loves DRUNK! - entrees are big enough to share between 2 people! - casado - a giant plate of food piled high of meat, plantains, salad, rice (costa rican rice ftw!!) - empana
(4)
Jason W.
Ordered delivery, which took about an hour. Food was OK, but I feel it was way too expensive for what was received. $10 for a regular run of the mill burrito (not much meat or very large), and they charge you .50 for hot sauce. Cmon, really? Who charges extra for hot sauce with a burrito? They also charged .50 for sour cream which they forgot to give. Guac was obviously made in bulk at least the day before. It had that brown color that happens when you let avocados oxidize for a while. $7 for a small amount, I'd prefer it to be made at least same day or fresh. The food itself was OK, but not good enough in my opinion for what we paid or to go back.
(3)
Meris H.
Had lunch with my work crew couple weeks ago here. First of all we got seated by the waiter and waited about 20 minutes until he took the order. That's all fine we got our food and ate there, the food was very good and fresh. How ever, a week ago we decided to visit again for lunch. After we ate, we were all sick and slow afterwards. Not one, but all of us. Maybe the food wasn't that fresh that day. Last time were visiting.
(2)
Elizabeth F.
I heard great things about this restaurant and finally decided to try it out. I was impressed with the great food and atmosphere. This was my first time eating Costa Rican food and I enjoyed everything from the appetizer (ceviche) to desert (flan). The main dish was a steak plater with rice, beans, and plantains perfectly cooked the way I like! The food was also reasonably priced and good portion sizes (enough to to take a little leftovers home). *It is a BYOB and cash only restaurant. The owner Henry is so friendly and helpful. He even gave us information about traveling to Costa Rica since we are considering going there one day. I will definitely go back soon especially before the end of summer to enjoy the outdoor patio.
(5)
Andrea J.
PHENOMENAL customer service!!! Henry Cerdas the owner---AMAZING! So welcoming and accommodating!!! My friend and are teachers so this spot was in our vicinity! Henry greeted my friend and I upon entering and asked if we needed any suggestions or had questions and/or comments/concerns!!! And to top it off the food is DELICIOUS!!! We will definitely be back! Such a warm and friendly environment!!! I love great people and this restaurant is filled with them!!! ESPECIALLY Henry!!! I will definitely be recommending my friends to this spot!!! Keep up the good work!!!! I would give 10 stars if I could!!!
(5)
Rachael J.
I love Irazu! I've been to Costa Rica a few times, and was craving casados. I've gotten the chicken casado a few times, and it's delicious. The restaurant is great - the service met all expectations and the host is very friendly. It's also awesome that this restaurant is BYOB, which is a huge money saver. We came in on a Friday and there was a line, and the host put our beer in the refrigerator and we walked to a nearby bar to wait it out, which was perfect. This is the only Costa Rican restaurant that I know of in the city, so I go there often. They also do take out through grub hub which is convenient if you don't have cash on hand since the restaurant is cash only.
(5)
Kathy M.
Cash only!!! BYOB!! We started with the chifrijo which was wonderful!! So flavorful and fresh tasting. I had the el tico with chicken and upgraded with gallo pinto and a jalapeño to make it spicy. It was excellent. Hubby had the Casado and thought it was very good - loved the plantains, the flavors and the freshness. We could have easily split either of our dishes. Ashley had the pepito sandwich and David had the burrito and both dishes were wonderful. I wouldn't hesitate to order either one of those for myself. We brought some vodka and ordered a pitcher of passion fruit as a mixer for $10. It was delicious!! Ashley and David each had an oatmeal shake and as odd as it sounds, it tastes amazing! Definitely worth trying.
(5)
Dan S.
Amazing!! I asked Henry and Mark for a special request and even though it was a busy Friday night, these guys went above and beyond to make sure that my friends and I had a great experience. Thank you guys! I would highly recommend Irazu. Great food, great employees! Thank you again!!!
(5)
Nicole L.
Friday night with my Husband turned out better than expected when we checked out Irazu! We brought a few beers to drink while we waited for our table on the heated outdoor patio. It was a bit chilly so even with the heaters I kept my jacket on. We split a bottle of wine that complimented our food. We started with 3 empanadas which were all delicious. Make sure to ask for some mojo sauce on the side...such an amazing garlicky addition. I got the grilled steak which was delicious. Even though I requested my steak medium rare, I received it almost well done. LUCKILY the flavor of the meat was so good, I didn't even mind. Husband got the Casado with chicken and loved it. Only big con is that I wish it was accessible by train!
(4)
Sarah P.
Lovely little place that does remind me of being in Costa Rica! I came here on a chilly summer night and it was still pretty crowded. It's BYOB but they have other fruity sorts of drinks you can mix liquor in with. Servers were attentive and even though we hadn't finished our wine by the time we were done eating, they let us sit and hang out for a while. The food was great. I was tempted to try the casado since you can find that on every corner in Costa Rica, but I went with el tico. It was a huge portion of delicious steak, rice, beans and plantains. I'll fully admit, it's not as good as you can get in Costa Rica, but it's pretty damn close. Next time I'll have to come back for the famous oatmeal shake and casado. I'll definitely be back as long as summer sticks around and I can sit on their awesome patio! Pura Vida!
(4)
Steven G.
Really wonderful ambiance (outdoor patio) and incredible food! Definitely make a reservation if you can, as there isn't a ton of seating. Remember: BYOB & cash-only.
(5)
Halisa V.
I had a taste for some Costa Rican cuisine. After researching a bit I came across Irazu and noticed it was featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Mind you I grew up watching Food Network all the time with my dad so once I saw Food Network featured this place I was 100% down to go and visit. My brother and I went and really loved it! It's a superrr casual place. They gave us chips & salsa (which was really good). We ordered guacamole, a couple of empanadas and of course: the Pepito sandwich with ribeye steak!! Everything was delicious (especially the sandwich)! Plan to come back again. Highly recommend!
(5)
Kyle S.
I didn't think my best meal in Chicago was going to be Costa Rican food... I was wrong. We had to wait a little bit and they skipped us so my outlook for this place started out poor. We got some ceviche to start. GET THE CEVICHE. Just a small filled up four of us just fine. For the entrees we ordered a pork chop plate, tilapia plate, and the ribeye sandwich. Then we topped it off with an oatmeal shake. GET AN OATMEAL SHAKE. This was really, really good. Extremely affordable too. BYOB.
Wicked good Costa Rican place. Try pork the chifrijo bowl. Super good crunchy pork with pico de gallo, avocado, and rice and beans. The have any of the empanadas with guac. Esp like the pineapple empanadas. To drink, have their shakes like their oatmeal shake or lime-aid. BYOB by the way. Great savings. Go on a nice summer night to sit on their patio with a craft beer of your choice.
(5)
Carolyn T.
Irazu has been on my list for a whole because of the vegetarian-friendly food. We had been putting off coming here for many months because we never seemed to have sufficient amount of cash to cover it. We realized we both had cash on a weekday evening after my boyfriend picked me up from the airport, so we decided to drop by for dinner. We started with the spinach and cheese empanada and the plantain empanada. Both were good. The spinach filed up half the empanada whole the cheese filled up the other half. This made it difficult for sharing, as we cut them in half. I had never had a sweet empanada and the plantain was a great option. It was $2.95 for each one. We also ordered the oatmeal shake made with milk based on Yelp reviews and other advice. We were definitely not led astray! I will dream about this shake. It basically tastes like an Horchata milkshake, complete with a sprinkling of cinnamon on too. Just get it, no questions asked. For the cheap price, there's really no excuse. If was mostly oatmeal at the end, so we added a little water so it was possible to sip with the straw. I got the veggie sandwich on french bread, which had eggplant, avocado, black bean paste, lettuce, and another vegetable. It was only $6 and was pretty filling, which is saying something considering I was hungry from traveling all day. The only thing keeping this from a five star review is that 1) it's cash only, which is fine if you're prepared (they list that in huge lettering on the menu so you know before you order anything). Also, 2) the ends of my lettuce leaves were seriously wilted/slightly browned. After such an awesome experience otherwise, this was a bit of a damper to see hey hadn't used fresh ingredients. I tried to ignore this because I loved Irazu otherwise. I will DEFINITELY be back. The oatmeal shake is perfection and I can see myself especially craving it during the hotter months.
(4)
Shane E.
There are some places I don't want to review. I've created the ridiculous notion in my mind that once I review a place I love, the whole world will know. Then, they'll want to expand. Then, they'll become a chain restaurant. Then, it'll never be the same and I'll never have a good oatmeal shake again in my life. Delusional ideas aside, I love Irazu. I discovered them via Yelp, but my south-suburban basic taste buds kept this place on the back burner of my queue for a while. That was until I noticed Irazu's name on a "Best Burrito" project by 538. 538 is a website specializing in advance statistical analysis in areas such as Economics, Politics, Sports, Science, and a broader "Life" Category. Although Irazu's burrito didn't quite make the cut as the best burrito, the mere consideration in the best burrito bracket caught my attention. Thank God. The burritos are great, sure, and the sweet plantains are excellent, too. That said, the oatmeal shake is "bae" (as my generation likes to put it - look it up, old folks). It's that good. Sweet, cinnamon-y, but light in its own way. Go here, try it. I'd also recommend delivery, as they are always prompt and the food is always quality.
(5)
Allie H.
Heard great things about Irazu, and it definitely did not disappoint! we started out with shakes, my friend got the infamous oatmeal shake and I got the banana flavor and they were probably the best shakes I've ever had! The oatmeal one tasted a little like horchata and the banana was refreshingly sweet. We got the Nachiritos (a new item on the menu) and just about finished them between the two of us. We were too full to try anything else! The prices are a little higher than expected but the great service made it worth it!
(5)
Sara T.
Chifrijo - bomb Ceviche - fresh but the fish is kinda tough. Pretty sure it was cooked. Would not order again. Cascado - good but mind was not blown. Empanadas - so money Not my first time here and it certainly won't be my last. Byob with no corkage fee!
(4)
Alex H.
I had the Guy Fieri Special. It was fantastic! There was too much food for one person but I gladly took my leftovers. Oatmeal Milkshake: I didn't expect to like it but it was delightful. Chifrijo: Are you supposed to eat it with a fork or with chips? Because I did both. Pepito: I got the chicken because my server suggested it and I think that it was the right choice! I can't remember the name of the sauce that is on the Chifrijo and Pepito but I'd like to have that on everything now please.
(5)
Kelsey R.
This review is for Irazu's private party space just down the block from the main restaurant. We recently had our rehearsal dinner here. The owner Henry and all of the staff were easy to work with from the beginning. They allowed us to bring in our own drinks earlier in the day and they set them all up in coolers on ice so the drinks were cold when all of our guests arrived. They have a pre-fixe menu fully of very tasty food that all of our family liked, especially the oatmeal shakes for dessert. The space is very colorful and was perfect for the atmosphere we wanted for our rehearsal dinner. The service was also great all evening. I would definitely recommend Irazu for anyone seeking a private dinner event.
(5)
Katie B.
Fun outdoor patio in the summer. BYOB is definitely a plus! There's a small wine store across the street, or they provide awesome mixers for liquor (fresh watermelon juice is THE BEST!). Food is pretty good, but service was a little slow. Also, expect to wait if you're coming on a weekend evening during the warmer months!
(4)
Osiris V.
BYOB, again, it's a great concept and people usually end up having more fun with BYOB places! We had a group of 10 and we were very well taken care of. These people understood that service means a lot. We ordered some empanadas for the table. I ordered El Tico (chicken sauteed with onion, bell peppers and tomato with rice, beans, plantains and a cabbage salad which I passed on). The chicken was nicely cooked, not too dry. I am a rice and beans type of girl so the sides were perfect! After taking a sip of Aimee M's oatmeal shake I decided it wasn't my cup of tea. Like Aimee said, it had a dry flavor. Kind of like whey. So yea...alright. FYI, Cash is king at this joint.
I had the pleasure of working with Justin, the GM for a recent catering event I did. I don't live in Chicago but saw the amazing reviews and popularity and knew it would be a hit for my event. Not only did the crowd love the food, but they ate every last bite. I have never seen people more excited for food I have ordered. On top of it, Justin was great to work with all the way through the process. He was helpful in giving me tips on what to order, and didn't push the most expensive option on me, and recommended quantities and meal options. He was prompt with all of his follow ups and always friendly and helpful. If I am ever in the Chicago area again, I most definitely will be hitting up Irazu for my catering needs!
(5)
Dani W.
Love, love, love this place!!! This is my husband and I's go to for delicious food and often a place we choose to entertain guest when they are in town. The food is so yummy, fresh and amazing every time! We always leave there satisfied and full. BYOB too so it makes for an affordable date night. The space is unique and casual and have never had a problem parking. A total must try if you have never been!
(5)
Rahul G.
This is one of our go tos in Chicago. Went last night and forgot that I haven't written a review for this place! We love it and everyone we take here loves it too. Great prices and BYOB and awesome service. We love the Chifrijo and guac as appetizers. Also, can't go wrong with the Empanadas. The black bean and potato/beef ones are really yummy. The hot sauce they have on the table is so flavorful, pretty spicy, but perfect for me! The burritos here are delicious. I love the hot peppers they put in them; I don't see that often, if at all. The steak dinners are great too, big portions. A friend got the shrimp dinner and that was super good and super huge; I took the leftovers home. Tacos are great call, along with the sandwiches; the pepito is an easy go to, get the rib eye steak instead of the chicken. The oatmeal shake is really different and really good. I don't normally get desserts but this is a must get. All in all, a hard place to beat. Great for groups too. We tried going to Wasabi last night and it was packed. Coming here instead is not a bad option and it reminded me I need to keep coming back.
(5)
Daniella B.
We had a veggie burrito & an oatmeal shake. The oatmeal shake was absolutely delicious! but a little icy in my opinion. The burritos are huge! Definitely enough for two. They are byob but they dont take cards so bring cash! Also, the service is a bit slow. So not the place to get something quick. Also, I'm no expert on Costa Rican cuisine but the menu items didn't really read "Costa Rican" to me. Some of the items, like burritos are most certainly Mexican so, I'm not sure how authentic this place is.
(4)
Tiffany L.
I have been to Irazu exactly thrice and it was thrice too much. The 1000+ average 4 star reviews baffle me. The chifrijo is mentioned in many reviews and even on the menu as a popular appetizer. However, the deep fried pork is sooo dry and difficult to chew. The empanadas are also just ok, nothing compared to those at 5411. The oatmeal shake is neither very oatmeal-y nor shake-y. While the Steak Casado was pretty good (actually better the day after), the size of the plate was just too small. Trying to cut the steak was challenging without getting rice all over the table, but since the table was an outdoor patio table, the rice would fall off the plate, through the table holes, and onto my shoes. Mad face. Those fried plantains though.
(2)
Angie K.
Flawless. Irazu is so flawless, even Beyonce would give her stamp of approval. The things you (should) know: - BYOB - Lines on weekends but moves quick - Everything is awesome (like the Leggo movie) - Staff won't judge you, even if you have 3 wine bottles for party of 3, trust me - Chips are served fo free - Put salsa verde on everything - Get the casado (steak, tilapia or veg) - Repeat If you don't know, now you know. You're welcome.
(5)
Lupe L.
This place is amazing!! Cash only so come prepared. They take big groups but be sure you come early on weekends. Great empanadas!!
(5)
Mackayla G.
So far, my FAVORITE place in the city to go eat! Not only is the food amazing (try the veggie burrito with plantains), the service is incredible. We did not realize it was cash only and apologized and left for several minutes to find an ATM. When we came back, there was a table with waters and chips waiting on us! Our waiter was very attentive and helped us pick out a great shake for our bottle of rum. The prices are so reasonable that I'm sure I'll be back frequently!
(5)
Carol K.
I have been trying to get into this place for years but never had the patience to wait as they don't take reservations and the lines can be long. But everything I had heard about Irazu came true the other night when we found ourselves in the neighborhood for a show at the nearby Gorilla Tango theater. Armed with a couple of bottle of our favorite wine (Its BYOB) we stepped up to the hostess stand and put our name on the list. Here's a hint, we had stopped in before the show to put our name on the list as the waiting time can be up to 1.5 hours and this really worked to our advantage as we only needed to wait for about 30 minutes for a large table that would fit our party of 8. I suspect if we had been less people, it would have been a shorter wait. If you order nothing else, order the ceviche. Delicious, fresh and just the perfect thing to go with the crunchy chips. We tried a wide range of items from the pork bowl to the empanadas to the burritos. Our server was excellent and even though it was the end of the night, was pleasant and personable to those at our table. Bring a coat if it is cooler out as the dining room is really more of a patio and the breeze blows through the place. I also know they do delivery so this may be the best option to enjoy the great food without the wait. The prices are cheap and the BYOB policy make it even cheaper! It's almost a steal. Great food, good prices and service that rocks? Yep. You can bet I'll be back standing in that line to get in. It's just that kind of place!
(4)
Chris C.
The hype is right! The food was fresh, unique, and delicious, one of the best deals in Chicago for food! In this circumstance, I say join the hype - go! They are also super accommodating with the BYOB, and ALL the staff was super attentive and helpful! I got tacos - 5 stars all the way!
(5)
Robyn F.
My friends and I had a blast at Irazu last weekend while visiting Chicago from NYC. The atmosphere is warm and positive, the service is friendly and efficient, and the food is delicious and incredibly affordable. Would definitely return!
(5)
James H.
Just had the Pepito sand witch and its amazing. This is pure great food. Staff is awesome and had a great nigh with a few friends that came from out of town. He were able to take our own beer so made it so affordable
(5)
T M.
It was tasty! Everything was good. Nothing I had blew my mind- but it was all very good!
(4)
Sand V.
So it's been a while since I've found a place that would make all 4 of my little "foodies" happy. Well ll thanks to Irazu "Mission accomplished " I'm not sure if the place is normally packed but we happened to be in the neighborhood on a very rainy Monday late afternoon and found the place completely empty. We were the only table in the house for a good 20 min. Just mentioning that for those who might be hesitant to visit based on a restaurants yelp popularity. Ok now on to the fun stuff. Every item we ordered was basically a hit...other than the mushroom empanada which was really nothing more than mushrooms in a pastry shell. Then again as my husband put it "what did you expect when you ordered a mushroom empanada? " :( We started with the chofrijo- not sure if I spelled it correctly. It was awesome, even if I only got to have one bite of it because it went so damn fast (savages I tell you) The pork was so crispy and the Pico de Gallo went perfectly with the rice and beans adding just the right amount of flavor to every bite! Note to self next time order 2 of these badboys. For entrees we agreed on every one getting a different meal so we could all try each others dish. Well this place made a liar out of them all. Once the meals arrived , no one was sharing! The entrees which included the Casado, the El Tico, Carne asada(grilled steak), El pepito sandwich, a chicken burrito, and a steak taco (which by the way they were kind enough to tone down for the sake of 4 year olds sensitive tummy) were a major hit. My son's chicken burrito was so big he was not able to finish it, despite all his " don't touch it, I'm just taking a break". The steak in dinner dishes was juicy, tasty and cooked medium well as ordered. The pepito sandwich was "awesome ". The sauce on the sandwich was as she put it "perfect". Not bland, not too spicy. All in all wonderful meal for all for a little bit over 100 bucks! Almost forgot to mention the Avena shake...everyone had a taste. And we unanimously agreed it tasted like rice pudding liquid form...with extra cinnamon. My kids were not fans, but my hubby enjoyed it. I was able to enjoy 1 glass or 2 :) of my favorite wine. Gotta love BYOB
(5)
Ryan P.
Food was great here! Had the guac which was very tasty and definitely recommend it. The salsa is a little spicy but extremely flavorful. The sandwiches is what we had and overall they were very good. Very similar to what you would get get at some of the cuban places, but the sauce they put on the sandwiches was amazing. Overall great place and will be back. Cant beat the fact its BYOB as well!
(5)
Mallory Z.
I loved this place and can't wait to go back. It's sit down, which for whatever reason I wasn't expecting. The pepito sandwich was delicious. As was the spinach and cheese empanadas. Wasn't as big of a fan of the steak or chorizo empanadas nor the fried plantains. Just my preference though. Can't wait to come back and try some of the plates. Bill for 2 people was around $20. BYOB, including hard liquor. I'll be back soon and can't believe I waited so long to come here.
(5)
Anthony M.
Did Guy F move to Chicago? I really feel like I am food stalking him...everywhere I go...he has been there! Does he have a condo on the lake? Can anyone confirm that info? The only reason I bring this up is because, when we walked in here they asked us, "Are you here because you saw us on Drive-in's, Diners and Dives?" Now I am starting to understand Johnny T's dislike of Guy!!! I proudly told them that I had bookmarked them on YELP and today was the day we were cashing in on that note. First thing..bring cash...no credit here...in fact, next time I am going to bring Costa Rican Colon's here to pay...I wonder if they will take it? If I was paying in Colon's our bill would have been $6,665.09 Colon's...wow that seems expensive and I am going to need a bigger pocket to carry all of that!!! Maybe I will stick to US dollars...our lunch cost us only 13 bucks and we were stuffed...this place is a great value for the money you pay. Okay on to the food. I made a huge mistake. I let the waitress and my wife talk me out of getting a steak burrito. The waitress said, "You should get the papito because that is the one that Guy liked!" And my wife said, "We can split it and you can have my half of my burrito!" This all seemed logical until my wife offered me a taste of her burrito and I realized I had made a huge mistake and not ordering the burrito. Maybe Guy doesn't know what he is talking about. Also, I never did receive the other half of my wives burrito and I do not blame her for that...I would not share it either. She did let me take a knife and cut off a sliver. Now do not get me wrong the papito was good but I was expecting a little more. I also added avocado and hot peppers on there. I did not feel any burn from my sandwich and noticed there was not a lot of hot peppers on there. I pointed it out to the waitress and she brought me over a little dish of more. I dropped those on the sandwich and it definitely fixed what was lacking in my opinion. My wife also started sneaking a fork into my hot peppers. Next time we are going to need separate tables. And if I ever do get this sandwich again I might ask them to cook it medium rare next time. The waitress never asked how I wanted it cooked and I never thought about telling her until it was too late. My wife got the veggie burrito and are you ready for this...added steak to it. Is it still considered veggie at that point? I am not sure but it really tasted good. One bite and I was hooked and sad at the same time. I had to go back to my papito...the sandwich not my Dad! I wish I never had a bite of her burrito. When I do come back I am getting a whole one all to myself. I am also going to bring alcohol too. Yes this place is BYOB with no corkage fee. Thank you for not ripping off your customers with the stupid corkage fee. Our waitress was also really good too. Once she had learned that Guy F had not sent us and she had taken our order...I talked about how many reviews on Yelp talked about the Oatmeal Shake...she said that it was crazy because it seems like that is what they are known for. Minutes later she brought us over a sample of the Oatmeal Shake and said, "You can not come in here and not try the shake!" How sweet was that? I love good service and I also love a business that knows how to make a customer happy. That type of service and dedication to a customer is what will keep me coming back here again and again!!! Also the oatmeal shake was really good. I am not a desert kind of guy but I will order this thing. You can even get a pitcher of it too. I wonder what liquor would taste good in here...maybe some rum! This is where the BYOB comes in handy! I almost forgot about the free chips and tomatillo salsa verde at the start of the meal. The tomatillo was so yummy and spicy...I started sweating but a good kind of burn. I also poured this on my papito too. It was really tasty and one of the better salsas you will find in Chicago!!! I am going to need a jar of this to take home!!! I really liked the vibe at this place. The menu was great. I loved the chalkboard in back with the staffs favorite app and the top ten places to visit in Costa Rica. I had not idea that there was a little Trip Advisor going on back here. I also must comment on there delivery area. I think the delivery area here is larger then Costa Rica...no I am not exaggerating this! They go from Lake Michigan to Pulaski and then from Belmont to 16th Street. I have not used it but I am crossing my fingers for a huge snowstorm tonight to try it out. Who am I kidding? 2012 was the warmest winter ever...thanks farmers almanac for getting it wrong!!! I can hardly wait to come back here and enjoy my own burrito and a spiked pitcher of oatmeal shake. This place was so worth it and I am glad to be removing the bookmark for Irazu from my Yelp. You are now on my list of restaurants I will be coming back to in the future!
(5)
Rebecca R.
Came back here on a Thursday afternoon for a meal on their patio on a warm summer day. We were greeted right away and taken to an outside table. It was near the kitchen so we got a little bit of heat out the window, but it was nice enough outside that it wasn't a problem. Our server came over and gave us a tun of suggestions while still leaving the decision up to us. (Sometimes I almost feel guilty if I don't pick the suggestion if they have given me the hard sell.) When we ordered, he helped us customize everything to fit our taste. We ordered three different types of empanadas and they were fresh and delicious. (The best one had a different kind of shell. You will have to ask when you get there.) I settled on a veggie burrito with some hot giardiniera. I was sweating profusely, but it was really good. I was stuffed and still had half to take home. Good food and good service. I promised myself I would eat a little less and also get an oatmeal shake next time!
(4)
Sarah J.
First off, I need to note that I have only ordered take-out from Irazu. I've never dined-in. Hopefully dining-in offers a better food experience. I first ordered take-out from here about 8 months ago. I don't even remember what everyone had but I do remember everything being good. I'm writing this review today because of the terrible food I had last night. I don't remember the name of the dish. It was a very flat piece of skirt steak, breaded and fried, covered in two slices of half melted cheese. Rice and beans on the side. The steak was so tough, I literally couldn't get my teeth through most of it. I needed a saw, not a knife to get through that sucker. This is the kind of meat people end up choking on because they can't chew it properly. Beef jerky, anyone? And I really think the presentation of a meal is better with a nice layer of shredded cheese and not two squares lopped off the block and awkwardly arranged on top and half melted. Just my opinion though. The beans were bland but the rice was good. I'm giving two stars and not one because, as I said, I do remember my first experience being much better.
(2)
Suzi H.
I LOVE IRAZU!! The TERRIFIC TILAPIA titillates the tastebuds!! MANGO-OATMEAL SHAKE -ES MUCHO DELICIOSO! STAFF IS SPECTACULAR!! (ESPECIALLY JUSTIN!!)
(5)
Paul M.
My first taste of Costa Rican food and I liked it :-) I thought it would taste more Mexicany buy it was milder than what I expected. I had a steak burrito, 2 chicken tacos, and an Orchata. The seating was a little tight but I really wanted the outdoor cafe but the wait was 45 minutes, no thanks. Overall it was a good experience and I would go there again. Paul
(4)
Nate B.
Irazu is unreal good. It's extremely cheap and delicious. Great vegetarian options as well.
(5)
Aaron S.
Not the spot to go if you want to grab something quick (maybe if you call ahead for takeout), but otherwise a wonderful experience. The side dishes were all very flavorful even the ones with little eye appeal (I'm looking at you, refried beans), and of course the grilled steak... Can't say enough about it. We waited for outside cause, not having been here in ages, I thought the inside would be hot and cramped since it was close to the kitchen, but as I saw on my way to wash my hands, it's actually quite pleasant inside--next time I'll certainly pick "first available". The only minor complaint is service, while very friendly, was a bit slow, but that's because all of the food is made with care. There's a good reason this place packs 'em in on the weekends.
(4)
Roxy R.
Great food, delicious vegan burrito and other vegan options, great outdoor seating, friendly staff, perfect place for a large birthday dinner, free chips and salsa, and best of all BYOB and they bring out buckets to chill your PBR for you! also brought out complimentary birthday flan with candles!
(5)
Richard M.
My wife and I come back to Irazu as often as we can. We really enjoy the Casado (beef) and the fried plantains. Lately I like the Tilapia Casado. The food is authentic Costa Rican, and there is none better in Chicago.
(4)
Jeff M.
One of the first places my future wife took me to in Chicago for dinner was Irazu. What a treasure! I love all of their vegetarian dishes and their milkshakes are divine. This is a great family-owned, authentic Chicago dining institution. Definitely recommended!
(5)
Karilyn K.
Great spot for lunch or dinner. The burritos are fantastic and the sides are all great comfort food. It's been said again and again, but the oatmeal milkshake is a must-try.
(4)
Nick S.
I'm sure you've heard this from many, but OATMEAL SHAKE! Seriously the miracle elixir after a long, rough night of red wine! haha That aside, the food is outstanding considering the fact that Costa Rican cuisine is new to me. I would definitely recommend the Casado plate (grilled choice of meat accompanied with various sides) It's a huge portion and a real steal for under $13. It seriously lasted me two meals. I also would definitely recommend the Chicharron plate. It's very comparable to fried lechon. But unlike many variations I had, the meat actually remained moist and succulent and still had a very nice crunch! Gallo Pinto (their rice and beans) are on point. And who doesn't love fried plantains? I've also had the ceviche here, and it's among the better ceviches I've had in the city. Good citrus, but sometimes an additional dash of salt really wakes up the dish. Dining is enjoyable, they have a lot of outdoor seating and indoor. The waitstaff is very friendly. My only problem would be the cash only policy. But that's minor.
(4)
Doug W.
Somebody help me up cause I'm too chubby to jump on the bad wagon! The Oatmeal Milkshakes rule!! The plantains are great, Red Beans and rice...yum. What a great place to try something different!
(4)
Natalie P.
So good. Nice patio outside. The empanadas were the best thing we had. Would go back and try more from the menu.
(3)
Alex T.
This place is oh so good. I had the potato tacos; my palate hadn't been that satisfied in months. The guacamole and beans complimented the crispy tacos, that were more like tacitos. Fried plantain is the best treat to end the meal on. My partner had the tilapia, which was delicious as well. We washed everything down with an oatmeal shake (soy), and it was one of the best dinners I've had in the neighborhood. Very affordable too!
(5)
mary g.
Pura vida!!! I've gone through serious withdrawal moving to the other side of town but on my frequent perusal of grubhub, i discovered you deliver all the way to Wrigley. Booyah! Cerviche, plantains and an oatmeal soy shake por favor.
(4)
Christina L.
This place rocks. I have only been there in the summer to sit outside because there does seem to be a lack of outdoor, inexpensive byob options. I always get one of the steak dishes - which are to die for. My favorite is the bistec tico. It is skirt steak, not filet mignon or anything, but it is unbelievably flavorful, the portion is huge and the price can't be beat. The oatmeal shake is an absolute must. I have been known to stop there on my way home from work just to have one. It tastes like oatmeal cookie ice cream! I brought an out of town friend here whose family is Costa Rican and she thought that it was very authentic. The only thing I haven't liked is the ceviche. Totally bland. I was shocked given how flavorful everything else is. Oh, and there isn't much ambiance. Nice to sit outside but it isn't like the view of Milwaukee Ave. is all that appealing.
(4)
Erin J.
I have been eating at Irazu for years. It was my post-work dinner spot when I was a bike messenger for a reason, and that was that they give you a lot of yummy food, for not so much money. I still appreciate that. I seldom ventured away from the veggie burrito (it has mushrooms in it!) until recently when I decided to try the yucca(root veggie) with garlic and I have not been able to walk down Milwaukee Ave with out drooling since. Other Costa Rican treats are just as satisfying. I'm partial to the veggie sandwich these days as the bread is a meal in itself. They have a huge menu that omnivores and veggies can both enjoy. It's a great place to try if you are seriously bored of trying new things.
(5)
Jules H.
BIG YES I've been to Irazu 4 times, and it's a great down to earth joint. The casual, lively atmosphere (especially when the outdoor patio seatings are out) goes hand in hand with their dishes. They do have yummy vegetarian burritos, but it's really the dinner plates that have me coming back. Ah, love it. I also have cravings of the oatmeal shake sometimes, but I have only had it once :P The last time I dined there was a busy night and our server was taking a long while, but we put on a straight face and tried to play it cool. Knowing he was late, he broke the ice first and went out of his way to apologize and gave us an extra free order of Lava juice (lime & watermelon). Good service for catching on, despite the fact that we didn't complain. TIP: we mixed the lava juice & horchata 1:1 - REALLY GOOD.
(4)
Becca M.
Byob. Great atmosphere and outdoor seating. Does not take any credit cards. Best smoothies and oatmeal shakes in town! You can order most entrees for under $5, what a deal!
(4)
Christian H.
This restaurant was great. The quality of the food was superb. I had the Casado with chicken breast served with white rice, black beans, sweet plantains, an over easy egg & cabbage salad. It was wonderful. The rice water was very good. Wish I would have gotten it. (I tasted my boyfriends). I had the mango milk shake. It was okay. The service was great. They speak beautiful English so doesn't worry about that. The restaurant was clean and the bathroom was in good condition. I would highly recommend eating there and I would eat there again.
(5)
Carlos Z.
I'll start with the good: best guacamole I've had outside of Texas. As a matter of fact, all of the food was great, filling, (this is important for those of us who "ain't ballin'") and it won't kill your wallet/purse/what-have-you. The not-so-great: the service could have been better. I've eaten here a few times and while the servers have always been nice to me they should probably roll their eyes a little less at some of the older, more pain-in-the-ass customers. Also, I've always eaten here at seemingly slow lulls in business and the service can be a tad on the slow side even when things are pretty dead. Overall, not so bad.
(3)
Ted P.
This place was great. the food was incredible and cheap. The ambience was cool and the service was aight. the vegan taco is a really good deal--it was the size of my burrito but $4 less.
(5)
Filly G.
I live less than a block from Irazu, so I've been there aplenty. Irazu inspires mixed emotions within me. On the one hand, the food is relatively inexpensive and tasty. On the other hand, the service leaves much to be desired. I really wanted to give this restaurant four stars, but the simple truth is that the service could easily be remedied, yet it hasn't. The good: All of the sandwiches I've had are fresh, delicious, and cheap. I'm talking $4.50, and while they aren't monstrous, nor are they dinky. The shakes are awesome, the burritos are huge and yummy (the veggie is especially good), and the freshly fried tortilla chips are just that--freshly fried. And, of course, the plantains. Mmm...plantains. The bad: Ugh! I can't recall a time when I've been in and out of this place in under an hour. First of all, it's not terribly spacious, which isn't necessarily a big deal, until you realize they aren't using all available space. Yo, dig this mutha fuggin example: I just ate at Irazu this past Friday. It was very pleasant outside, and as usual, many people were waiting for tables. The patio was locked with a sign that read, "We hope to have the patio opened by Memorial Day." Huh? The tables and chairs are already out. Why not open the patio now? Serve more people. Make more money. Easy. The other issue with the service is that once you're seated, your server probably won't take your order for at least 15 minutes. After you've ordered your food, it'll likely be at least 30 minutes before it arrives. After you've eaten your food, it will likely be another 15 minutes before your server brings your check. The servers at Irazu certainly aren't unfriendly, but the problem is that I've only ever seen one server working at any given time, even when the lines are well out the door. This seems a bit ridiculous to me. Business is clearly doing well. Add a server to the Friday and Saturday night shifts. The sum total: If you don't mind the wait, go to Irazu. If you're not fond of long waits, but still want some good food, just phone your order about a half an hour to 45 minutes before you'd like to pick it up. Be in the know: Irazu does not deliver and they are cash only. Also, if they run out of potatoes or plantains, don't go all native and try the yuca. Just eat your sock, it would taste about the same. (This is due to the flavorless nastiness of yuca, not the way it is prepared by Irazu.)
(3)
Thamara D.
This tiny little place took me back to all the good things about my trip to Costa Rica two years ago. First, the food is amazing. Everything tasted fresh and home made. The vegetarian selection is so impressive. I even took food to take with for my dinner that day. I recommend the Potato Tacos, Vegetarian Salad, Casado( An Authentic Favorite) and Tostones con Mojo( Double fried green plantains). As for the service everything runs on Costa Rican time, so leave your American anxiety behind, relax, and immerse your self in a an authentic Costa Rican experience. Owned and operated by the Cerdas family that takes much pride in their culture took such great care of me I would highly recommend this place. For the menu and other info please visit irazuchicago.com/menu.ht…
(5)
Alex M.
This place is the best! Food, servers, atmosphere and outdoor seating. Go there!
(5)
Andrea W.
No matter what you get it's going to fill you, the portions here are ridonkulous. I highly recommend the steak casado with the special Costa Rican rice. Insanely good and enough for food for 2!
(5)
Erin M.
For those yelpers that like to skim like me, I'll take out the reading part and just give you the highlights upfront: decent priced food, great patio seating, ceviche made without shellfish, BYOB with a super cute wine/beer store across the street, easy street parking. Only downfall is that I never have enough room for their infamous oatmeal shakes. For the real review.... Somehow this place gets better every time. Only draw back is that too many people know about it and there is usually a wait. But, there is a lot more extra seating in the warm months when they can open their patio. My mom somehow read about this place and told me to try it a couple years ago. Went with a couple of friends year or so back and liked the food. We were all too full to try the oatmeal shake, so I kept Irazu on the radar to go back. Time passes, and I actually tried to go twice this winter but the wait was an hour and I was starving, so we had to venture elsewhere. Went last week , and this last experience was pure joy. Maybe it was the nice weather. Maybe it was the tasty Costa Rican beer I was drinking. Or maybe it felt like the perfect way to start a four day weekend. Regardless, it was great, and I feel like I've told every single person I talked to since last week that they should go there. Walk up and there was a wait, but it was a gorgeous spring evening so it wasn't that bad. It was sorta a last minute decision for our dinner spot, so we had no liquor, and were directed across the street to Red and White Wines (awesome place, check it out!). Picked up a six pack of Costa Rican beer and we were able to open them up while we waited. We were seated and had a bit of a hard time reading the menu, as it was pretty dimly lit on the patio. But I immediately noticed ceviche made with white fish and knew we had to order it (BF is allergic to shellfish so ceviche is usually out for us). Bus boy came and brought us water and took our appetizer order (yay for quick service!). Out comes DELICIOUS ceviche with some chopped tomatoes and minced jalapenos on top with saltines. I'm not a ceviche connoisseur, but this stuff was great. Service was perfectly timed - the app was removed, we were able to enjoy the rest of our beers, and the entrees came out. I ordered a vegetarian burrito with grilled zucchini - I can never turn down zucchini and the BF ordered some roasted chicken platter that is new to the menu. Both were sooo good and we overstuffed ourselves. I almost wished we hadn't been drinking our tasty beer so my stomach had more room in it. Sadly, I had to leave another time without trying the oatmeal shake. But I will definitely be back. Probably with one of the many friends that I've been convincing have to give this place a try. Lastly, street parking is plentiful so even if you don't live close, you can easily get here. Also right off the blue line western stop for those of you like me who are car-less.
(5)
Jeff S.
Love this place. I only give it 4 stars because although I've been there close to 10 times, I can't bring myself to order anything besides the Pepito. Great steak sandwich wtih beans, cheese, Lizano sauce and I like to throw an avocado in there. All this for $5 and the place is BYOB as well. Highly recommend this spot for a casual dinner.
(4)
Lauren R.
A friend recommended this place to me. They don't take reservations so the wait can be definitely long. Luckily, there are a few local bars that they suggest hanging out at until your table is ready. They called us after about an hour wait. We loved that it was BYOB. The food was superb! We've ordered take out a few times since our dining experience.
(4)
Andrea H.
Fabulous, perfect, wonderful restaurant. I don't mind the lengthy wait time for a table, the time it takes to have one's order taken, none of it. The food is that good. The Food Is THAT Good. The last thing I ate here was the skirt steak, which is topped with grilled green onions, and includes sides of black beans, rice, plantains, and cabbage salad. Everything about this meal was perfection. Amazing steak, cooked a perfect medium, with massive flavor. The cabbage salad (I am both salad and steak obsessed) was fantastic. The plantains were genius. The friends I ate with and I ordered the fried yucca topped with sauteed garlic as an appetizer; it was amazing. Indeed, a strong garlic flavor, but alas, what can one expect from something explicitly topped with garlic? Twas fantastic. My friends both ordered the potato tacos. They both had enough left over to take home. Later that night, a housemate offered me half a cold leftover potato taco. It was fabulous. Cold and fabulous. I am guessing they are just as good, or even perhaps better, when warm. I shall eat here again, and again, and again. And again.
(5)
Joe C.
The place is super dirty. I don't even want to venture to guess what the kitchen looks like. And you might be thinking this is one of those places that looks like a hole but puts together great food, but no. The meat was pretty dry and the veggies were not fresh at all. Better bring lots of booze so you can make sure you can get the food down. Or better yet, just don't bother going there.
(1)
Johnny B.
The sauteed plantains and gallo pinto (rice and bean mixture) that came with the entree were fan-freakin-tastic. The entree itself, was kind of bland, chicken with tomatoes and carmelized onions. Not much other flavor. The fried plaintain appetizer, was good, not great. That being said, we both had enough leftovers for a large lunch the next day. So the price is right, and it's BYOB. Next time I want to try a shake and the Pepito sandwich (which Time Out has raved about on several occasions).
(3)
Paul K.
As a long time traveler to Costa Rica, Irazu serves up authentic, tasty dishes that won't disappoint. It's a busy, comfortable little place that really just focuses on true and tried Costa Rican favorites. Of course, don't forget the national staple of Salsa Lizano--it's a sauce used on everything from eggs to beans to steaks--delicious! They use it like we use ketchup, but on many more foods. With all the pretentious and fancy places out there, it's refreshing to find local, small, comfortable, restaurants that feel authentic and offer great food at a great price. Irazu is all that and more. Like the volcano this place is named after, this place is hot stuff!
(4)
Carrie L.
Things that are GREAT: 1. prices 2. fun/relaxed atmosphere 3. BYOB 4. service Things that are VERY GOOD: 1. food Things that need work: 1. fried plantains...they were quite crisp and rather flavorless in my opinion
(4)
Kristin M.
There is something magical about this tiny little place located just off busy Milwaukee with the blue line roaring by in the background. I'm pretty sure the magic springs forth from either the oatmeal shake, which sounds strange but is scrumptious, or possibly the plantains, but either way this place is really stellar. I was so excited to go here after all the good reviews here on Yelp that I did my research and decided days in advance what I was going to get (yes, I know, I'm a dork). The Costa Rican sandwich, side of plantains and an oatmeal shake. The sandwich was pretty good, but reminded me a little bit of an Italian Beef sandwich, which I'm normally not a huge fan of. My friend, however got the steak sandwich, which was awesome! The oatmeal shake, unusual, but if you like cinnamon, which I love, you've got to try this. It reminded me a little of a less sweet Thai ice tea. And the plantains were great, there was something special about them, just can't put my finger on it... The outside of the restaurant is very unassuming, the outdoor seating area (I'm thinking that's what it was) was really weird, an open concrete patio surrounded by a metal fence facing Milwaukee, but the interior was cute and simple, and very small. Service was prompt and polite, and as always extra plus, its a BYOB.
(5)
Cory A.
I would have to say that this place serves the best casual Latin food in Chicago...hands down! I had the pepino sandwhich this afternoon and it was awesome. The guac wasn't as flavorful as I thought it would be, given the amazing fried yucca and garlic oil, but it was still worthy of dipping. Also, I had a passion fruit smoothy that made me want to scream, it was so good. It sounds like a pretty simple thing to make, but you'd be surprised to find that so many Latin restaurants in Chicago don't serve anything like that. Our server, Chris, and the cashier guy were pretty cool too. It would be nice if they accepted credit cards, but it would seriously take a lot to make me not return...soon!
(4)
Todd R.
Irazu is possibly my favorite restaurant in Chicago. My wife and I tend to suggest this restaurant towards the top of the list whenever anyone asks for recommendations, or whenever we have friends coming through town. The people that run the place are extremely warm and friendly and the food is delicious. In fact I've gone here so many times that the guy who seems to run the place always takes a moment to thank me for my business. I'm a huge fan of the Pepito sandwich and the Oatmeal shakes--if I ever were to move away from Chicago, I'd miss these things right up there with going to Cubs games and that one week in September when the weather doesn't suck in Chicago. In summation, if you don't like Irazu you are probably a jerk.
(5)
Ellie L.
More like a 3.5 stars. Our friend introduced us to this place on Saturday night. There was a wait, but well worth it. We shared the fried yuca (nobody ever orders the boiled), plantains, and guacamole=all tasty. Especially the yuca and garlic aioli--no complaints whatsoever. My husband had the special, boasting of all 4 tastes of Costa Rica, and how tasty all 4 were. My veggie burrito, split with Justin, was great. So my experience, although meat free, was recommendable. Best of all Irazu is family owned and run, which translates to: from the heart. You won't be disappointed. BYOB
(3)
Jami K.
Mmmm! This place is delicious! It's especially good for someone who is a vegetarian like me who has friends who aren't vegetarians. Everyone gets to be happy! I've eaten here twice and I was happy both times. Their vegetarian food is tasty and wholesome without being spicy. I love their plantains. The portions are huge and the prices reasonable. They are a little slow. I knew that from Yelp before I went, and ordered take out and it still wasn't ready when I arrived. Actually, they just started making it when I arrived...almost gave me the wrong food and then had to go back to the kitchen. But they did make sure that they got it right, so that was good. This place has delicious food and I will definitely be going back here in the near future.
(4)
Christina C.
I've eaten at Irazu twice now, once outside on the patio and once for take out. My man took me on a date to Irazu at the end of the summer when we could still sit outside. The patio was packed and we waited for a table for about 15 minutes and then once we were seated, waited another 15 for a server to speak to us. Normally I would have had a hissy fit and demanded free food but the atmosphere at this place was chill and instead I enjoyed the weather and our bottle of BYOB two buck chuck. Also, when the server finally greeted us, I could tell he felt really bad and actually really cared about our service so I let it slide. We ordered a bean/pork dip (or something like that) with chips for an appetizer. I usually don't like pork but let me tell you, this was phenomenal. I had to stop myself from ruining my appetite for my main meal. Next I ordered the garlic shrimp with vegetables. The shrimp, although small, were very tasty, the veggies were great, and the beans, rice and plantain sides were a perfect combination to complete the dish. Lots of food for not a lot of money. So other than the really slow service, this place was great and a must-visit if you are in Chicago and want some authentic Costa Rican food and flare. My second visit was for take out. I ordered a salad with cabbage, beets, avocado, some other veggies, and chicken and my bf ordered a steak burrito. Again, the wait was ridiculous and we waited in the tiny waiting space for almost a half hour. I left the restaurant really annoyed with the place but once I ate my salad, I forgave Irazu. The salad was HUGE and was plenty for dinner and lunch the next day. It was really really tasty too, the beets were a must. I also tried the steak burrito and although it was also really good, it didn't beat the steak burrito at La Pasadita down the street. So all in all, I give this place 3 1/2 stars but rounded up because of the great atmosphere, nice people, low prices, BYOB option, and really tasty food. I took away a star for the long wait, period. Best bet is to order ahead for pick up and if you eat in, bring lots of wine to get you through the wait.
(4)
Wren B.
I ate here once about four years ago and remembered being very full and happy, so my fiance and I ate here again last weekend. They must have been terribly understaffed, because waiting was pretty much how we spent most of our time. Good thing we're in love. We were quoted a 30-minute wait time, which we were OK with; we went for a walk and got a bottle of wine. When we got back we were told another 20 minutes, and by the time we actually sat down it had been a total of 60 minutes. First rule of hostessing - overquote your wait time, never underquote. People get impatient. I've worked in restaurants, so I hate to be one of those people that tries to do the hostesses job, but it's frustrating to wait an hour when there are four empty tables in plain sight. The server was friendly but the kitchen was very slow, and while the food came out tasty, in the end it just wasn't worth all the hype. We left there saying "that was pretty good, but let's never come here again."
(2)
Sean D.
Excellent! Great guacamole, steak tacos, the chicken soup is amazing. It's basically great authentic Mexican style food. I never had anything nearly as good the several times I went to Costa Rica. The only thing I would ask is for their tacos to be more consistently made. One day their were large chopped chunks of carne asada steak, another day it was almost shredded style beef (which we were told depended on the chef working on the particular day). The place is def a comeback though. 4+ stars for a simple no thrills byob joint.
(4)
Slu S.
Very solid Costa Rican food (who are we kidding, it is the only Costa Rican joint in town, but it is good). We have mainly stuck with the burritos which are great. My favorite however is the Pepito sandwich. The pepito is basically a gooey steak sandwich with onions, pintos, and their great Lizano sauce. It is so tasty and simple. If I am famished, I will grab a taco tico as well which is an interesting combo of cabbage, ketchup, and taco. If you have a sweet tooth, the oatmeal shake is beyond compare and goes just fine by itself. FYI, this is a cash only operation.
(4)
Mary F.
Irazu is simply the best. Affordable, BYOB, and the best waitstaff ever! I would eat here everyday if I could.
(5)
Liliana C.
5 awesome stars for the following dishes: Tilapia Tacos & Sandwich de Milanesa (breaded thin steak). Both of these smothered in salsa verde and I am in heaaaven. Yes.
(5)
Kathleen M.
My husband and I came here after a magnificent gallery visit. What gets you hungrier than seeing creativity on display? Well, it being after two in the afternoon. I was so darn hungry and when I looked on Yelp for a restaurant nearby, this popped up. My daughter has raved about it so it was an easy decision. Once we get there, we realized it was cash only so we pooled our cash. We had 47.00 between us which had to cover food, drinks, tax and tip. It was an easy enough challenge and very different for us, we normally just order like hungry truck drivers and throw the meal on a card. I figured food and drinks couldn't be more than 38.00 or 19.00 apiece. I'm not very good at math but I realized I couldn't get the ceviche, a dinner plate and a shake. What was my trump card? The shake. What else looked fabulous and was cheap? An empanada and a taco. Done. My hubz got a sandwich and some rice and he let me try them. Fabulous! My shake was my splurge and worth every penny. I had oatmeal and blackberry and it was practically a meal unto itself. My beef taco plus cheese, avocado and sour cream was the best taco I have ever eaten anywhere and this chica has eaten a huge pile o tacos in her life. The mushroom empanada was perfection but I was glad I was married as when I bit into it, the hot delicious inside juice squirted across the table. Wouldn't that be a hoot on a first date? (I mention this because I think the table next to us was on a first date and I felt a little awkward just watching them. But I digress.) As we were on a self imposed cash restriction we didn't order apps or dessert but I have to admit, we ate every single chip in that basket. And loved them! My husband paid the bill and left the tip while I was in the washroom. Upon my return I asked him if we had any money left. And we did, 15.00. Darn it, I could have had the ceviche! Next time, and there will be a next time!
(5)
Julia K.
My first time here several days ago for a late lunch. Not busy since we came at an odd time. Service was on the slower side even though we were the only ones there for a while. Their casado was okay. The tilapia was delicious - moist, flavorful and soft. Their gallo pinto could have been more moist and flavorful. Cabbage salad was decent. Their vegetables were really flavorful. Plantains were good too. The best part of this meal was the avena (oatmeal) shake. Yum!!! We got a pitcher and shared it. It's worth gettig the pitcher since you can take the rest home. Cost of the meal was $20 ($15 for casado with Gallo pinto and $5 for avena shake) which I think was overpriced for the quality.
(3)
Cristina P.
Oatmeal shake was great but that's about it. Steak sandwich was ok and the typical plate was alright. The food isn't that flavorful, but not terrible. I was really let down because people hyped this place up to much.
(3)
Bethany M.
Food was good, but terrible service. Not sure why it took the waiter about 20 minutes to take our order, it was around 3:30 on Saturday and the place wasn't very busy. My water was never refilled and it took about another 20 minutes for the waiter to notice we were done and bring the check. It's unfortunate that I won't be returning especially since I was excited to try this place out.
(2)
Brandon J.
The empanadas are so freaaaaking delish here. Better than my Venezuelan aunt makes them (shes not a very good cook). The vegetarian ones are super flavorful and the garlic sauce that they give you, which is basically just minced garlic in olive oil, is quite strong but is a great pairing. When I went with my roommate last they had fresh squeezed watermelon juice on special. If you take a picture in front of their goofy face in the whole sign and upload it to social media and show them you get a $2 discount. Worth it! Definitely gonna have to make this my new go to latin american local spot. Only thing that sucks is when you enter through the front of the restaurant you have to squeeze by this big ass counter that is right across from the wall to get into the main seating area. Even as a skinny dude this was somewhat difficult
(4)
Sangeetha R.
I'm so upset to change my review because I have always loved irazu food. However last night we ordered delivery for 2 of us, I got the veg burrito(my usual fav) and my friend Steak Casada. But both of us were sick after eating it and had a mad case of food poisoning. I'm so sad that I'll be scared to eat there again. *sniff*
(2)
Anna P.
I love Irazu for their cozy patio, fresh ceviche, and oatmeal milkshakes. Also, they are BYOB with no corkage fee! Be prepared to wait on the weekends, but trust me when I say it is worth it. Their patio is open year round, and it's piping hot in the winter even by the front door. No bad seats in the house!
(5)
Christina S.
Food is delicious had the steak burrito with a side of black beans and yellow rice it's to die for its so good. The portions are good and filling definitely worth checking out. Love the outside patio and the ambiance was great. Nice music
(5)
Sarah V.
I borderline love Irazu! The staff is really friendly, the food is fresh and atmosphere is relaxing. I haven't been there all winter cause I didn't want the snow to ruin the warm, cozy, Caribbean feeling the patio seating gives me. Now that Spring is finally here I'm excited to go back. Everything I've had there was delicious. I of course had to try the DDD special and the Pepito lived up to its reputation. Sandwiches are great for lunch but they also have nicer entrees for dinner. I haven't gone at peak timing but from the other reviews I recommend calling ahead. Definitely will be going back soon!
(4)
Chirag P.
What a wonderful and delicious experience at this restaurant. This is a Costa Rican inspired restaurant that serves wonderful and tasty food, which really gives you the experience of eating Costa Rican food. My friends and I had the casado dinner with chicken breast as well as guacamole as appetizer which was very authentic in flavor. A friend of mine had the Costa Rican sandwich which was very tasty. The service was great and the waitress really kept us as her priority. The best part is BYOB option. The line may become busier towards the evening but I can understand why since its great food. Will always come here for Costa Rican food.
(5)
Olivia M.
I've been here a handful of times recently after having lived down the street for about a year and it's one of my new go to restaurants. The restaurant itself kind of looks like a shack which initially deterred me, but the place actually has a quite a bit of charm. Turns out Costa Rican food is damn good too. Just a few things to note/reiterate: it's cash only, it's small and not the best for groups unless you're willing to wait, BYOB, is generally pretty crowded, and it's loud - so loud that I feel like I can't hear myself think whenever I'm there and literally had to shout at my friend who was sitting less than a foot away from me to have a conversation during dinner. One thing to know is that they're awesome at takeout, and what I mean by that is they've yet to mess up an order I've placed. 10/10.
(5)
Natalia K.
I would give 5 stars just based on our server, who was quite possibly the most delightful waiter I've ever had. He was waiting on 6 girls who had no idea what any of the food was like and were asking him about 20 questions about each dish. Not only was he patient, and he didn't even have that "I'm just being patient right now" attitude, he was so pleasant and happy to help and provide his recommendations. The food, however, was just a 3 star situation for me. I had a spinach and cheese empanada, which was great but not awesome, and the El Tico. My ribeye was definitely overdone and lost its flavor and the rest of the meal was just a bit on the dry side. The chips in the beginning also needed more dip than a bottled sauce, but the guacamole we ordered later to help them out was delicious. I tried my friend's oatmeal shake and it was just alright.
(4)
Erik C.
The food is a bit on the bland side for me, but fresh. Definitely recommend doing one of their fresh squeezed juice mixers
(4)
J. G.
we found this place because of that one show on tv...."dives diners and drive-ins" we are very very pleased with the food here. the sandwich called "Pepito" was so freakin good. also the empanadas were very tasty too. we r going again this week n taking some friends. i'd highly reccommend this restaurant. :) enjoy.
(5)
Noah U.
Irazu has helped me fall in love with cabbage salad and plantains. I definitely look forward to going back next time I am in Chicago.
(5)
Steven D.
Why the 5 stars? well there was one other costa rican restaurant I heard about in Chicago, but I'm not sure if it's still around. As far as I know this is the only one and it is the best. Outdoor seating makes it even better. BYOB to top it all off. As if there aren't enough yelp reviews of Irazu already, here's my take. Awesome everything. I've had almost everything on the menu and have never been dissappointed. I have even tried some of their weekend specials that they have from time to time. Their shakes are the best, especially on a hot day. I recommend a 2 flavor of either oatmeal mango or oatmeal banana or even just simply oatmeal. Now for food, For starters, I recommend their guac with freshly minced jalepenos on the side; Simple, fresh, and always delicious. Now on to the main deal, Everyone says they have some of the best vegetarian selections around and I completely agree. I'm not a vegetarian, but I am a foodie. And when I'm in the mood, i will go meatless. Veggie Burrito with mushrooms and avocado or the veggie sandwich are my picks.They are jam packed with fresh veggies and are very well balanced and satisfying. As far as the meat selections, everything is good and I would base it on how hungry you happen to be when you visit. The Steak sandwich is by far my favorite and it was recommended to me by "Mom" who is one of the owners. Now if you are really hungry, I would order the Bistec Tico or the Casado dinner. Both come with a delicious portion of thin rib eye steak cooked in the very famous Lizano sauce (they're available by the bottle there if you want to take some home) The sauce is boss and has a tangyness with a little bit of a kick. You also get a fresh array of sauteed veggies and of course some rice and beans and a side of fried plantains with the dinners. I only get the Casado if I feel like having a fried egg with my meal....mmhmmmmm. The servers are friendly and courteous and they make you feel right at home. Its family run, but still professional, and you can experience that through their awesome staff. I've been going there for years and I'm probably there at least once a week. I can never get enough of those steak sandwiches or their oatmeal banana shakes. So try it at your own risk, you may become as addicted to it as I have.
(5)
Stephanie C.
Awesome. Affordable, albeit cash-only, but there's an ATM. BYOB. I highly recommend the Steak Casado...yummy. Just arrive early for dinner and plan on a 15 minute wait at the very least. The aroma itself is reason enough to walk/ride by and check it out!
(5)
Anita M.
After visiting Costa Rica a couple summers ago, I've been longing for Costa Rican food ever since. Finding Irazu was an answer to my prayers. I can get authentic Costa Rican food without having to make the trip back to the country (not that I would complain about that!) you can't find Costa Rican food anywhere else in Chicago. The Casado was my immediate choice from the menu as it is one of the traditional dishes offered in Costa Rica. AMAZING!You get a plethora of meat, rice an bean mixture, plaintains, and i cant remember if it was a salad or something else but you definitely get more than your moneys worth. The steak is out of this world.
(5)
vitas z.
best chicken noodle soup in the city. with a twist of lime, you can't go wrong. i get every single time i'm feeling a cold coming on.
(4)
Neal G.
Irazu is great, which you totally wouldn't know from the outside. It looks like a dump, it's about the size of a postage stamp, and inside is an awesome Costa Rican restaurant. :) If you go here, consider trying the potato tacos; they're excellent. For the meat-eaters, the bistec tico is well worth trying as well. Despite the crowded environment, the service when I've been here has always been good, and I've never had to wait /too/ long for a table.
(4)
Abbey H.
Multiple yummy vegan and vegetarian options and everyone working there is always ridiculously friendly. Also, I know its been said here before, but get the oatmeal shake. Don't question, just get it.
(5)
B S.
oatmeal shakes will have you in tears of joy
(5)
Mark S.
Alright, I like Irazu OK, but the reviews here are from folks who love it, and I don't... First, if you don't eat meat, you'll probably give this place more stars than me. See, they've got the best rice and beans ever! Super tasty, yummy, etc. And as far as fried plantain goes- their's is fried perfectly, not overdone and dry, not underdone, perfect and light as far as fried food goes. When I find the discipline to order a sandwich or something, with a side of the authentic rice and beans, I'm pretty happy. But every time I go here, I drink beer during the forever wait, then read the menu and decide that one of the tradition/authentic dishes that involves grilled ribeye, rice and beans, and plantain is what I need to have to satisfy all of my cravings. When the food arrives, I take a whiff and am taken back to my childhood by the smell of a steak fried in a frying pan- like my Mom would make in the winter. I hated those things- that's no way to prepare meat, unless it's breaded... So I'm not a big fan of the ribeye- thin and kinda tough, and you can smell it was fried in a pan. And knowing that, the menu keeps making me think I'll like it anyway! But I don't. So Irazu gets 3 stars from me, for great rice and beans, perfect fried plantain, but ribeye fried in a pan that I order after a pretty long-ass wait. I just don't like beans and rice enough to make this place worth the crowd as a meat eater. When I finally break this cycle and try the chicken, I'll have to update my review...
(3)
Audrey J.
I'm not a fan of Mexican food, so, not being sure how similar the style was to Costa Rican, I wasn't sure how I'd like Irazu going into the experience. I would give this place 3.5 stars. The atmosphere is non-existent and the staff (entirely family-run, so that was pretty cute) was a little slow. The food was really good and not as greasy or heavy as I find Mexican to be. It was also very reasonably priced (sandwiches and burritos were ~$5.) As I was STAAAAARVING when I went there, I sprung for the Casado dinner ($9.95 -- thinly sliced rib-eye steak, rice, beans, cabbage concoction, and sweet plantains), so it wasn't super cheap cheap like my friends' meals (but still pretty cheap). Even so, for the amount of food I got, I was really happy to notice I wouldn't have to cook dinner tonight. The food was so flavorful, and, after having heard SO much about the guanabana fruit from my aunt and a friend (who are both obsessed with it), I was really happy finally to try a guanabana shake (it was deeelicious). Although this place isn't frou-frou or fancy shmancy, it's got solid and very flavorful food for a super reasonable price. In terms of setting, Irazu would be much better to go to as a take-out or super casual meal than a date place. If you call ahead, they can have your take-out ready for when you get there. Also, for you credit card mavens, leave the plastic at home b/c it's cash only (as the two signs out front will tell you).
(4)
Heidi M.
Chorizo burrito is the best burrito I have ever had. The steak casado is awesome and of course the oatmeal shake. I love their guac and the guys here are SO nice. You always feel right at home rather if you are coming in to eat for a BYO dinner with friends, or if you are just stopping in to pick up a carry out order. It is one of our favorites in the neighborhood and has been for some time now!
(5)
Ariel S.
This restaurant came highly recommended to me and it did not disappoint at all. I had never tried Costa Rican food before but after my meal here I became a quick fan. We started with the guacamole appetizer which was a huge portion and very good with tomatos and crushed jalapeno salsa on the side. For my entree I ordered the steak tica, which came with steak, onions, peppers, tomatos, plantains, rice and beans and cabbage salad. The steak and rice were incredibly flavorful, and the combination of different textures and salty and sweet on the plate made it hard to stop eating. The portions are huge and I took half of it home. For dessert I ordered the oatmeal shake based on the rave reviews it got...it was delicious. Overall a wonderful inexpensive meal.
(5)
C S.
Good food, usually ok staff/service, owner is really nice and personable - talks to customers about food and family - cozy! Go a little earlier than normal eating time if you want to avoid big crowds.
(4)
Kim W.
best pico de gallo, ever.
(3)
Nicole C.
Not much I can add to all of the glowing reviews. I love the veggie plate, especially with spinach or broccoli. The veggies change often. The oatmeal shake is where it's at - tastes like chilled rice pudding. My husband loves the chicken casado. The tacos are very good, the veggie ones are ENORMOUS. If my opinion means anything to you, or even if you could careless what I think, you should for sure visit Irazu.
(5)
Nathan J.
It was perfect. It's a small place and super busy but still was able to seat a table of 11 on a saturday night (after a small wait). As the other reviews will tell you the food is great and it's the perfect place for carnivores and vegans to coexist and share a bottle of wine from home with no corking fee.
(5)
Laurel W.
I admit to being skeptical about the oatmeal shake--but I decided to be adventurous and try it. It was amazing! On a second visit, I was equally amazed by the oatmeal shake. Next time, though, I think I'll skip eating and go right for the shake. The tico taco was forgettable. I've never been so disappointed by plantains as when I had their Tostones con Mojo...I love plantains but couldn't love these no matter how hard I tried. The Gallo Pinto are pretty good, though, and the Vegetarian Burrito is yummy, but not rave-worthy.
(4)
Wesley T.
irazu has really great food and really great coffee - the service is pretty good too - I have been here a bunch of times for brunch and once or twice for dinner - I've never had anything that wasn't good there - try the hell out of the oatmeal smoothie and thank me later - the outdoor seating is pretty great in the summer
(5)
Nico M.
So I read about Irazu months ago but never got over to the restaurant. About two months ago my friend and I went on a saturday night to grab dinner but they were super crowded and there were 3 groups of people waiting to be seated so we decided against it that night. So today after getting rid of some recycling on the way back I thought of Irazu! So stopped in with my friend and we both got the Vegetarian Burrito, I got mine with Spinach instead of lettuce also with sauteed Mushrooms. She got the same but without sourcream. We shared the chips brought to the table as well as one Empanada. All of the food was great. We both only ate half of our burritos because they were so filling. Great service great meal..I will definately go back;)
(5)
Mel F.
I miss you Irazu. Your food made me so happy and made up for the deficiencies in my failed relationship. You're that good. If my ex did not frequent you so, I might dare to step back in your welcoming arms and slowly eat away all my worries.
(4)
box c.
One of my favorite city haunts for a reliably tasty bite to eat. Without exception, the staff is always sincerely pleasant and friendly. As previously mentioned, their oatmeal shake is phenomenal and I'm saying that as a total shake/smoothie snob. The only downside is that they aren't located closer to my apartment.
(5)
Mary C.
The oatmeal shake is pretty much the best thing ever. The food is really tasty and affordable. The staff is friendly. Did I mention the oatmeal shake?
(5)
Jonathan C.
Irazu's get 5 stars for its milkless oatmeal milkshake alone. Don't let anybody talk you into the milk. The milk version is not bad, but its not as unique tasting as the non-milk. Surpiringly the other food is very good here as well. I haven't ever been to any other Costa Rican places, so I can't compare it, but the service and food have always been good and prices reasonable to boot. There is a nice but small sit down area with wait service behind the walk up counter, and a small outdoor seating area as well.
(4)
Kate B.
Great food with vegetarian options. Wonderful service. and a BYOB! I have plans to return again and again. Highly recommend the specials, spicey guacomole and the stuff pepper. yum!
(5)
Rachel I.
Very, very good food and friendly service.
(5)
Megan W.
Really fuckin good.
(5)
Matt L.
3.4 stars. The place looks like a fast food joint if you're coming down Milwaukee. The neon ATM sign is more prominent at night than the sign that says Irazu. The food though is quite good. Get one of the big plates with a bunch of chicken or other meat and you'll be happy. The sandwiches were good, but not great, and my mango shake wasn't nearly as good as I expected after reading the reviews on here. For the prices and interesting food I would definitely go back, but I wouldn't bring my parents or anyone that's put off by the grimy exterior.
(3)
Katherine R.
Fan f-ing tastic. We made an order for carry-out and when we got back, they had given me a steak sandwich instead of a veggie. Since I live right by, they delivered my new veggie sandwich super quick and put in an order of free plantains with a little note that said, sorry for our error, enjoy! I seriously almost cried! That is the nicest thing ANY delivery/carry out place in Chicago has ever done. Normally it takes forever, and you question whether or not they spit in it. They even let my meat-lovin boyfriend keep the other mistake sandwich. Besides that, like I said, this place is fan-f-ing tastic! My veggie sandwich was loaded with veggies and delicious. We also got the spicy guacamole which was fabulous and I got a side of yellow rice, which was also scrumcious. My meal was completely satisfying and I don't think any place could have been nicer about the mixed up order. They have seating both inside and out and they only except cash- FYI. They do have an ATM inside though. I will definitely be going back- thanks IRAZU for redeeming yourself from the sandwich mix up :)
(5)
eve l.
dear cornmeal shake, i thought you were delicious. and super rad. dear oatmeal shake, you paled in comparison to your cousin the cornmeal shake, but i could've still drank you all up.
(5)
Joe H.
I heard the Hype and had to check this place out. The food was pretty good. I have eaten there a couple times because I believe every place deserves a second chance (the first time the service wasn't too great, in their defense they were really busy). There patio is great outdoor Chicago eating, and there shakes are crazy good!
(4)
Ryan C.
The food is very good. Everyone in our party loved what they got. Their outdoor seating area is nice. Also nice is the BYOB policy with no corkage fee. Our waiter was a fun guy and our food came pretty quickly given how crowded the place was.
(5)
sandra h.
You have to be either very hungry or prepared to eat leftovers for a week if you visit this restaurant. I know an oatmeal shake sounds a bit odd but give it a try . . . I was surprised to find out that it was actually delicious. Who knew? Be prepared to wait 15-20 minutes for a table or if you don't feel like waiting there is always carry out.
(4)
steve h.
yelp fanatic review #32402935: i will try to keep this review in check, but simply writing about this place makes me a little bit sideways.... i pretty much love everything here. from the breakfasts: arroz con huevo (rice, eggs, black pepper, avocado) , gallo pinto (rice mixed with beans and served with eggs/plaintains..GET BOTH) to the stuff with meat: pepito sandwich (ribeye, onions, beans, and lizano sauce)/ the fat juicy pork chops (with all the accompaniments) onward to the stuff without meat: the veggie 'i don't need to explain these' burritos/the amazing potato tacos (can't find these things anywhere else!) and finally finishing it all off with the shakes: oatmeal with or without milk, strawberry, whatever! JUST GIVE IT TO ME! I DON'T CARE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE KITCHEN, JUST PUT IT ON A SHOVEL AND DUMP IT DIRECTLY INTO MY BIG FAT MAW! EXTRA LIZANO SAUCE TOO!! ps-ahem, sorry for losing my cool. those of you who have eaten here understand my craziness.
(4)
Basal G.
The food at Irazu is superb and the staff is very friendly. It is relative inexpensive, especially considering the plates are piled high with food. One of the things that impressed me the most was their "milkshake," which in Costa Rica is basically a blend of milk, ice, and a fruit of your choice. Having been to Costa Rica and having had multiple milkshakes their everyday, I've tried to make my favorite type - pineapple - here in Chicago and have always failed. It always has tasted quite strange when I've made it. When I ordered it at Irazu, the waitress suggested that she make the pineapple milkshake with Soy make rather than regular milk, since the regular milk would apparently curdle... The result was pure deliciousness and I now know how to successfully make one of these myself! Finally, be sure to get their fried plantains! Now for the reason I did not give this place 5 stars - Authenticity. A few things struck me as odd. Although costa rican food varies widely, it is usually considered to be "bland" compared to the food of neighboring countries. Irazu definitely spices up their food and makes the dishes much more elaborate than you would find in the country. In Costa Rica, in order to make their food tastier people usually put Lizano Salsa on their meals. I was quite surprised when I tasted their rather spicy "Lizano salsa." In Costa Rica, this salsa is not spicy at all and is actually usually compared to a Worcester sauce! When I got home from Irazu I actually cracked open a bottle of my own Lizano Salsa just to confirm that it was completely different from what they were marketing! Finally, the last non-traditional Costa Rican item were the tortilla chips on the table. All in all, the food is great and you get a lot for the price, but its authenticity is a bit in question. Addition - I went back and specifically asked for Lizano Salsa - they gave me a little plastic cup with ~1 tablespoon of the salsa and charged me $1 ;(
(4)
Martha P.
When u are away from home.... you really appreaciate everything that reminds you of "casita." I went to this place and i loved it.. I have this delicious steak with rice, beans and salad.. and of course PLANATITOS with a MORA drink.. Go and enjoy the delicious Costa Rican food.
(5)
Kel W.
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.
(3)
Kara C.
This place is worth the wait. Where else would you want to be on a warm summer night than the patio of Irazu, sampling delicious Costa Rican food and drinking your BYOB wine!? We had 7 in our group, so the wait was just under an hour because the patio is so popular. But once we got seated, the service was excellent (Thank you, Chris!) and we never felt rushed. The entrees are generous, so our group shared several dishes. I'd recommend the steak Casada and the vegetarian burrito. The vegetables are grilled to perfection. And don't pass up the Costa Rican-style rice. It's to die for.... Irazu is a great environment for just about any occasion - catching up with friends, celebrating a birthday (we saw an adorable group of friends with birthday hats), or even a date. The prices are VERY reasonable...just don't forget your cash!
(4)
Peter R.
I miss the days when Irazu was just 4 blocks away. I get the Bistec with the black beans and rice, and the sweet plantains almost every time. I order a large horchata to wash it down with. The sweet plantains makes you want to do cart wheels and profess your love for them. Its the simple things in life that make me happy. And Irazu is simple and delicious. No need to write anything else.
(4)
Phil P.
If your looking for a good Costa Rican Restaurant, then this is a great option. Before we went, I called to see if they were BYOB and they are. I was surprised that it was not mentioned in other reviews. At least the ones I looked through. Reasonably priced. Indoor or outdoor seating is available. Their dishes are full of flavor. Service is good. Oatmeal shake is awesome. I always get on to go as I am leaving. You have to try it.
(4)
Matt W.
The place is delish! They give you way too much food so be prepared to unbuckle your belt. I would come back here again just for the legendary oatmeal shake with milk. No additional flavors needed. It tastes like an icy horchata... much better than horchata though. Wasn't too big of a fan of their salsas, as i like mine a little bit chunkier but still delilsh. Good intro to costa rican food, as i've never had it b4!
(4)
Meghan B.
I've eaten at Irazu three times and each time has been fabulous. The outdoor patio area is lovely, the service has also been friendly and attentive, and the food never disappoints me. It's also conveniently a short walk from my house. HIGHLY RECOMMEND: The Vegetarian Burrito. It's around $5 and it's huge (and tasty). Potato Tacos. It also comes with rice, beans, and plantains. You will not leave hungry. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND: The Oatmeal Shake. You will not regret it. Sometimes the servers try to get to you to try a flavored version, but I personally think the original Oatmeal Shake is the way to go. BONUS POINTS: The prices are very reasonable The place is BYOB
(5)
Krystyna B.
Hi, my name is Krystyna and I am a casado freak. I admit it. It's an addiction. After coming back from Costa Rica in January, I make sure to stop by Irazu at few times a month so that I don't completely miss the flavors of Costa Rica. Plus, it reminds me that I only have to wait T-29 days before I head back. If only my favorite soda hadn't burned down in the interim. I'm on a search now for a new favorite to replace my Costa Rican soda obsession! Irazu, though, is the perfect thing to tide me over. This is a neighborhood joint and it is almost always packed in the evenings. A mom-and-pop-owned BYO with a homey feel. You might be seated at bar-height tables or a picnic bench. The decor is slightly cluttered but spotlessly clean and reminiscent of Costa Rican sodas. Make sure to arrive with you entire party, otherwise you won't be seated... You might as well make friends with other Irazu lovers while you wait. Often, you're holding a conversation with a person pressed up against you while waiting for an empty table. It's almost....it's almost... like that slightly-creepy dude who presses up against you on the bus during your daily morning commute. You just have to learn to embrace it because the reward is so great. The shakes, sandwiches, and casados are yummy; so, too, are its sides. The pepito sandwich with avocado is delicious and big enough that you can eat half and save the rest for later. Plus, at $4.95 a pop, it's too good a deal to pass up. Order a side of platanos. Depending on their ripeness, you might end up with firm, french-fry textured pieces of sweet banana or something smoother, more caramelly and infinitely sweeter. Like Dan D. said in his review, the must-try dish is the "Casado." It is the staple of true Costa Rican cuisine. Prepare yourself for a feast for your taste buds, your eyes, and a sigh of relief from your wallet. When you order casado, you get the smorgasboard: rice and beans, an over-easy egg, some sort of cabbage salad, platanos (a slightly denser, more sweet variety of banana) and a choice of meat or fish. I usually get the fish and I couldn't be happier with my selection. The fish is flaky, tender, and never over-cooked. No matter which dinner place you get, make sure to try the Lizano salsa from the sides menu. This is a condiment that is served with almost every meal and it truly complements most flavors in the Costa Rican kitchen. If you stop by on the weekend, be sure to try the red snapper special. To quote Rachel Zoe (not that I often do, but....) "I DIE" it's so delicious. If you want to miss the crowd and feel up to a heavier, savory breakfast or brunch, stop by and try the Gallo Pinto. For $5.50, it's a brunch steal!
(4)
Leah P.
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).
(5)
Jacqueline M.
WOW!!! I was looking for some empanadas, and I found GREAT ones! I ordered delivery, so I wasn't able to get a feel for the environment that many reviews talk about, but I definitely will be paying a visit. Cheese empanada, black bean puree, sweet plantains, and the infamous OATMEAL SHAKE. I am stuffed! Every single bite was delicious. (All for $16, including $3 delivery) Delivery itself was quick, took about 40 minutes on a Friday night. Nom nom nommmmm!
(5)
Jessica M.
My husband, 2.5 year old daughter and I visited Irazu again recently after a long hiatus. Everything was as delicious as I remembered. The vegetarian salad was fresh and the perfect combo of crunch/smooth/acid. The Pepito sandwich was perfection. I finished my daughter's left-over chicken taco at the hotel later that night and it was incredibly flavorful. My husband got one of the breakfast dishes and was pleased as well. Oatmeal shakes are a must! The service at Irazu is always top notch. The owner, Henry, truly cares about the customers and makes you feel incredibly welcome. I honestly would eat here everyday if I could (and I did 5 years ago when we lived down the street from this wonderful place!) Definitely check out Irazu. I promise you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Kwoky L.
With the prevalence of Mexican cuisine in the Chicago area, it is natural, for an outsider like me, who has very little experience with Costa Rican food, to come to Irazu with the notion that they are somehow similar to one another. Yes, I know they are different but the question is, how are they different? That, in fact, was my mission for the day. Their tortilla chips were served with a warm black bean dip and the fried yuca was perfectly cooked and fluffy on the inside. In fact, I would prefer that over potatoes anytime. The beef casado with grilled onions was surprisingly huge; tons of meat to satisfy a true carnivore. It tasted like homemade with just salt and pepper, nothing fancy, just pure goodness. If that doesn't fill you up, check out their flan. It's was super creamy and rich but it might be slightly on the sweet side. The downside was the plain rice, which was pretty good except that it was slightly undercooked. Nothing ruins the meal like crunchy rice. So I have nothing to complement the meat other than the salad and egg. I should have asked for the gallo pinto, which was amazing. Another dish that was disappointing was their ceviche. I was looking for fresh ingredients that bring out the flavor and freshness of the fish but all I have was tomatoes and probably some peppers. It was quite bland to say the least. Nevertheless, Irazu is worth checking out. After all, it's the only Costa Rican restaurant in Chicago. Just make sure you have ample cash because it is CASH ONLY =(. I would love to try other things that sets them apart in my next visit.
(3)
Dallas F.
I LOVE this place. No seriously, if we could get married we would. I'm not sure if it was the potato tacos that sold me or the the casada (chicken for me please). Either way, I have enjoyed just about everything I've ordered from the menu. Oh! How could I forget about the veggie burrito ? Vegetarian or not, its definitely worth trying.
(5)
Brian G.
Stopped by with Anders B. to buoy my blood sugar before getting inadvertently tanked at the Map Room. The purported prophylaxis: Pepito with peppers.* Described by some as God's gift to Chicago, the best way I can describe the pepito is as a Costa Rican version of an Italian beef, and if you throw on the peppers I dare you to tell me it doesn't taste exactly like an Italian beef with giardiniera. You won't do it. You CAN'T do it. The sandwich is top tier with warm French break and juicy steak. The fish taco that Anders had was hot stuff as well. Irazu was packed like...umm...Janice Dickinson at Plato's Retreat. My advice to you: If you don't mind staying mobile, get your food to go. Anders and I took this tack and we had our food within five to ten minutes. Otherwise you would be wise to get to Irazu early. The place isn't huge and I can't imagine it takes long for it to fill up. *Forgive the alliteration. I know it's dumb. Also, the pepito did nothing to stymie my inebriation, but the thing was tasty.
(4)
David S.
The burritos at this place are pretty dull and bland, but the Ceviche is *incredible*, as is the Costa Rican sandwich. I also tried the "lava juice", which is watermelon juice. It might have been the most refreshing beverage I've ever had.
(5)
Laurie S.
FREAKING GOOD. The bad news: super long wait. My group of eight arrived at about 8:15 and were seated around 9:00. The food also took a long time to come out, which is to be expected, but by the time we were halfway through our entrees we were being asked to pay our check so the restaurant could close up. Ehh...... Besides that though, everything was great. The empanadas were really tasty (my table got 7 for $13 as an appetizer). The dinner plates were also pleasing. Our server was very candid in informing us that we should probably skip the pineapple empanada. Dinner success!! BYOB BTW.
(4)
Grace R.
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.
(3)
Kim B.
We loved this casual place and there were so many great things about it. First, the price is extremely reasonable for high-quality food. We shared a few appetizers and each had a meal and it was still only $22 apiece including gratuity! The fact it is BYOB with no corking fee is a huge savings. The white fish ceviche had to be my favorite dish, spinach empanadas were great, and tilapia tacos were wonderful. We finished it off with an oatmeal shake - way more delicious than I expected. Overall great experience, great food and hope to be back soon.
(5)
Matt D.
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.
(4)
Rachel E.
I've been eating here for years and take almost all out of towners here for a reliably great meal. Just wanted to zero in on the Oatmeal Shake. I don't even like oatmeal and the first time someone described this to me i thought, I will never even try that, but alas . . . it is indeed the best thing ever and everyone I take here agrees with me. Coupled with the milanesa sandwich, I'm in heaven.
(5)
Brandon N.
Tortillas have MEGA amounts of Trans Fat. I do appreciate the fact that they sent me the wrapper of their tortillas after a request. They do care about their customers, and provide full disclosure. That is HARD to find. Maybe bring your own tortillas from Costco or Whole Foods?
(4)
Ali M.
Love this place and it is the only Costa Rican food place that there is. Love the gallo pinto..I like the casado and the Costa Rican sandwich....I personally love the Lizano sauce that is a staple there. The shakes are amazing...oatmeal is my fav and a must try!
(4)
Ashley V.
What can I say that the hundreds other haven't. I loved my experience at Irazu. We got there early after work and the crowd was small. Brought a bottle of wine and Omar brought us out some chips and salsa and took our order for guacamole immediately. After guac we decided to go for the new empanada sampler appetizer. Super crispy and extra doughy. While I would pass on the chicken in the future, the sweet plantain and spinach and cheese empanadas were excellent. I have to point out that the Pico De Gallo served with the empanadas was AMAZING. It had a ton of cilantro and fresh cut tomatoes. I will definitely ask for this in the future for chip dipping. Our excellent server, Omar was working the whole room and as he took our order made it a point to let us know, customers preference rules at Irazu. I felt no guilt as I constructed THE WORLD'S MOST PERFECT BURRITO EVER! It was a large warm tortilla overfilled with Black beans, YELLOW rice, Cheese, Avocados, Sour Cream, CHORIZO, Spinach and Mushrooms. And yes the rumors are true, I could barely finish half it was soo huge. My friend loved her veggie burrito but my other friend did not like her fried pork dish. It was completely over-fried (Is this possible? Apparently so.). We all loved the side of sweet plantains. At the end I was disappointed that I was too full for a "famous" oatmeal shake but Omar told me I could pop in anytime to grab one on the go. A few minutes later, a bread pudding was magically ordered and it was a block of thick rich cinnamon deliciousness. Done and done. The damage for 3 girls and a ridiculous amount of food was minimal and Irazu has a new cheerleader in me. *Can't wait to come back in the summer to booze up the shakes on the patio. **I would like to point out although we got there nice and early, Irazu was nice enough to let us sit there for about 2 hours and truly enjoy our meal and conversation even though the line was out the door.
(5)
Jessica R.
simply wonderful. great vegetarian selection, inexpensive, BYOB, generally a short wait if any (even when there are people outside). We always hope to get Omar as our server since he's always and consistently been nice and has a very positive attitude. A+
(5)
Zoran O.
Oatmeal shake and Vegi burrito with mushroom and hot peppers - this is what this place has been for me for years. The shakes must be laced with some addicting additive - you know like coca or something ;)
(5)
Natasha P.
Irazu hits the spot. Every damn time. I've dined in and had food delivered and the service remains impeccable, friendly and efficient. The steak casado is a must - be sure to combine your rice and beans when ordering. Seriously though, add a fried egg to any entree and you've got me coming back for more. The steak fries are amazing, crispy but soft and just the perfect amount of flavor, a wonderful companion to any of their dinner options as well as their sandwiches...oohhh the sandwiches! I ordered the pepito sandwich with avocado: ribeye steak, carmelized onions, peppers, beans on white bread -- it was so tasty I didn't even mind it being served on white bread. I also tasted the milanesa, and though it was good, I much prefer the pepito. Everything you order here, even the guacamole with chips -- can be made spicy upon request. Lastly, the restaurant is small, but it's intimate and epitomizes just what a family joint should be. There's nothing really more to say here that hasn't already been mentioned below so if you haven't popped into this Costa Rican eatery, I suggest you get a'movin!
(5)
KChicagoan S.
So as you can tell from other reviews, the wait here is long...always. Whatever the host/hostess tells you, be sure to add another 20-30 minutes because this place is popular. I had the vegetarian burrito and was underwhelmed. It was kind of soupy and soggy and didn't hold together well. The service was slow and they ran out of clean silverware so as food arrived, we had no way to eat it (for like 15 minutes). I would maybe go again and give it another try, but upon fist visit, things fell short.
(3)
eric m.
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.
(5)
Jaclyn D.
They've got a vegetarian burrito that will ruin all other burritos for you forever. If you are not a fan of mushrooms, zucchini, and plantains in your burrito (I know a lot of you freaks are out there) then you will still be satisfied. Their menu has something for everyone. This place has one chill atmosphere, too. It is great coming here in the summer time. My only VERY REAL complaint is that every single time I've come here, they either forget to put Jalepenos in my burrito (which is the case 90% of the time) or so many jalepenos that you can't taste anything else. I would recommend asking for jalepenos on the side, though, you might have to ask more than once. But definitely go, it is BYOB, and there is an excellent liquor store conveniently located across the street. It is also cash only, but (also conveniently) there is an ATM inside.
(4)
Frank F.
This is tough since this place used to be top notch and a "go to" for me for years. I used to go back when the seating area was a joke and the chairs were all wobbly and mismatched and it was a balancing act trying not to knock over a three and a third legged table. They've since gone through a number of changes and have made that seating area nicer and even added an outside patio with seating. Maybe I've been unlucky, but the last 5 or so times I've been there, the service and quality have suffered. I don't know if the original family still owns it, but I haven't seen any of them in years. Maybe it's just been bad timing. When the owner was present, it was as good a meal as I've had anywhere. When he isn't, it suffers a little. That said, it is still one of the best veggie burritos in town and has many other veggie items as well as many meat dishes. They are all pretty tasty. I suppose one of the things about turning into an old man in Chicago is that you see some of your favorite places change. This place is still pretty decent but has changed. I would complain about the service, but it's never been good unless the owners were there. Still a great veg option. Would still recommend it and will prob visit again sometime.
(3)
Deanna G.
Went for supper club with the girls (4) of us. We were warned that the portions are large and we could probably share dishes. We were also warned to get there before 7. We arrived at 6:45 to get a nice table outside without a wait. About 15 minutes later, people were lined up the street sitting on nice little benches just outside the fenced off area drinking the night away as they were waiting for tables. DEFINITELY arrive before 7pm if you plan on doing anything else that night. We ordered the guac (yummy, but not the typical mexican guac that i LOVE) and then an empanada appetizer platter. I would recommend picking which ones you think you'd love vs. a sample platter. Some were definitely better than others. We also ended up sharing 3 meals instead of 4. But probably would have been fine with 2. We got the Bistec Tico which was delicious. Highly recommended so much that my friend who recommended this restaurant is having her wedding catered with it. Second entree was the Chicken Casado. I really liked the flavoring of the veggies and the mixed rice was delicious. However, the chicken was REALLY dry. I would try that with steak next time. Third we got the Milanesa. I thought that was just ok. For dessert we got the homemade bread pudding (i don't love baked goods but the girls liked) and an oatmeal chocolate shake which was, DELICIOUS. tasted like a potbelly cookie. Overall, I would definitely go back.
(4)
Christina M.
I thought the employees, particularly the owner, were exceptionaly nice. The vegan burrito was average, but I may just have to try it again. Also, make sure you bring cash since they're cash only (they have an ATM too).
(3)
James G.
this place is great for so many reasons. awesome but cheap food. great patio (even in the winter, its heated and very comfortable). unique menu. BYOB! the only thing to be aware of, is that it can take a very long time to be served and pay. its very small with a tiny kitchen, so when its crowded it takes a while. it only accepts cash, and the register is busy when its time to pay. you can also wait a while for the restroom. as long as you go into your experience aware of these things, you'll have an amazing time for cheap.
(4)
Jeanus T.
This place is OK but I didn't think it was spectacular like lots of the reviews on here. Probably built my expectation up too much before I went. It's kind of annoying that they don't take reservation and it's cash only. And the place is loud!! It's so hard to talk. I think this place is better for lunch than dinner.
(3)
B S.
The veggie burrito is very good, esp with plantains. The oatmeal milkshake did not blow me away quite as much as it did others, but it is very tasty. Service was a little spotty one of the times I ate in. Must pay in cash. Hours could be later. No Sundays?
(4)
Jessica M.
Irazu recently remodeled their outdoor seating area. It's bigger and better in every way! The tables are new, there are nice plants and warm, latin beats. I was just there this past week with a group of friends and we had a totally wonderful evening at Irazu! I recommend the casado. Delicious! I also had a papaya lemonade shake (made with water) and it was totally refreshing. Yay! Nice work Irazu!
(4)
Jeanie P.
Wow! Irazu packs the punch with flavor in every part of the entree! And all the savory flavors meld into perfect deliciousness. I came here last night to celebrate, and even though the place was small.. we were seated right away, although it was rather crowded for a weeknight when we left. Anyway, back to the food. I've never had Costa Rican food before but to me it seemed like somewhere a mix of mexican, carribean, and peruvian. In other words, aMAzING! I was really going back and forth b/t the award winning veggie burrito and the casado. And yes I went with the meat.. I can't help myself. The steak casado came with sweet plaintains (ah delicious), flavorful thin rib eye steak pieces topped with grilled onions, and a side chopped cabbage salad with beets, radishes, cucumber etc. We upgraded to the Costa Rican rice (TOTALLY WORTH IT! only a dollar or so) as opposed to plain white rice. The rice was kinda like a flavored "dirty rice" with spices, black beans, and loads of savory zing. And we got free oatmeal shakes (with soy~) for the table (apparently its like 1 free oatmeal shake per 25 dollar purchase if you are a yelper). So we just shared 2 among the group. And I was so curious when I read about this famous oatmeal shake on yelp. It has a slightly sweet cinnamon flavor, and basically tasted like a horchata smoothie/milkshake! It was around 12-15 dollars for an entree, and around like 5 bucks for a burrito. All the entrees are huge portions, so definitely will have leftovers for the next day :) Will have to go back to try the empanadas and veggie burrito! This is why I love yelp!
(4)
Diana F.
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.
(3)
Kylie V.
I've always loved Irazu but was inspired to write my first Yelp review after their service this Friday night. I went with a group of 10 people and we choose to participate in the family style group option. With a salad, appetizer, steak, tilapia, rice, beans, grilled plantains, and an oatmeal shake for everyone we all left very full and happy! Our server was especially friendly and offered suggestions of places to go out in the area afterwards. Irazu is a great option for a low key group celebration!
(5)
Emma S.
I've hear from several friends that this place is not very authentic. I can honestly say I have no idea. I CAN say that it's delicious. There's something about their beans that just satisfies me. I'm also a huge fan of their smoothies. If it's nice out, sit on the patio. It's pretty likable.
(3)
Tiff H.
It's no secret that I love this place. I have brought various friends and ladies here in the last 2 years after I discovered this place. Last time I went, a couple of lady friends dined with our bottles of wine. Kudos to deliciousness. I had my normal Casado. Love it. Though it's nothing elegant, it's a hearty meal that really has the home cooked feel--perfect thinly sliced steak with caramelized onions, an egg, Costa Rican rice, veggie salads (yummy beets...!), and delectable plantains. In fact, everything has the home cooked feeling. We had the pork and bean dip as well as the guacamole. Wow, the guac here is delicious. My friends ordered the same as me as well as the veggie sandwich, which I am hoping to stray away from my stable and try. As my companion put it, "It's got all the ingredients that you can make it at home, but, each time you try, you'll just fail miserably. It's so delicious." Even though they were packed....not pointing fingers...there was a table of 15 that seemed a bit high maintenance. Kudos to the staff there. Omar, as always, made sure we were taken care of, and we didn't wait too long for our food. However, we were happily occupied with our bottles of wine in the mean time. I always bank on spending around $15-20 here including tip. It's worth it. That usually includes enough leftovers for lunch the next day. Cash only, so make sure you sure walk up to Walgreen's to buy something in order to get cash back. So...when do you want to get Irazu with me? And, yes, I pronounce the name like an American who's never taken Spanish before.
(5)
Jessica D.
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.
(5)
kevin c.
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!
(4)
Ria C.
How one could drive by this place hungry, with the windows down, and not stop, is proof of the willpower of every human being but the bubs and I. After condo searching through Bucktown, we zipped past and the meaty wafty goodness drew us in. The ease of purchasing wine across the street was also a major plus. The place is quite gritty inside with seating for somewhere around 30. The ambiance is perfect though, for the menu offerings, and the service is hard and fast. To start we shared the empanadas: spinach and cheese, zucchini, and chicken. Spinach and cheese was by far the best-not too doughy and lightly fried. I would have liked to see a creamy sauce accompany the empanadas versus the pico de gallo dip they provide. Pepito Sandwich, a little greasy which is perfect, with sauteed onions and sauce. Milanese Sandwich good, but nothing in comparison to the flavorful rib-eye in the Pepito. Will be back in the summer to sit on the patio. Only con is that they only have plastic cups. For a place that is BYOB, they should invest in glassware.
(4)
Nicole L.
Can't believe that it's been a whole year after my trip to Costa Rica, and I'm only now discovering Irazu! A small space in Bucktown, this restaurant has a very authentic vibe. The food was great and was exactly how I remembered it on my trip (got the tico chicken - rice/beans and plantains - my fav). It's BYOB - so great with a group as well. They have a fabulous patio that I can't wait to revisit when it warms up. We didn't wait long and the service was pretty good (although, because it's small, you can kind of hear everything everyone else is saying, especially... the loud table of 10 girls next to us..yeah.. you know who you are)! I found out they deliver to my hood so I can get my fill of Costa Rican cuisine anytime I need my fill or simply want to pretend I'm still on vacation (sans beach and hammock)! As the locals would say, Pura Vida!
(5)
Jenny T.
I'm moving to Costa Rica, f'real! Tried Irazu this past week & cannot believe how much I've been missing out on these past few years in Chicago. We went a little after lunch time & it was still PACKED. I mean so packed I had to crawl over and almost fall mind you!) a bench to get to the little table available. We were immediately served their delicious homemade chips & super spicy salsa. Not a fan of the two salsas being served in plastic ketchup & mustard-like bottles, but I got over that real quick. After eating some cheese empanadas (in my opinion, pass on these & focus on the meal ahead of you), I decided on the steak burrito with added sour cream & avocado. I got the hot peppers on the side & am so glad I did. The burrito was so tasty that I think the hot peppers would have taken away from the complete & utter euphoria I was in. I mean seriously on the cold, windy day I felt as if I was sitting on a beach in Costa Rica enjoying a delicious, mom & pop made burrito. Yowzers! I didn't try my dining mates dish, but he finished it all & was totally sweating-shhh, don't tell him I told you. It was spicy, but the addicting kind of spicy. The food is inexpensive, but there is so much flavor. I can't wait until it gets warm again & will frequent Irazu just to try all the dishes on the menu. Word to the wise: Don't go in big groups. It was just the two of us & we were able to skip ahead of all the families & groups of friends (sorry, sorry!) since there was a table for two in back open.
(5)
Melly C.
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!
(4)
Deek J.
Great food! Great service, great prices, fun atmosphere!
(5)
Jerry M.
Ooo de lalala - what's not to love about this place? And what can I say that makes you want to read MY review, when there are 273 of them before me proclaiming the glory that is Irazu? You know about the oatmeal shake. In it's cinnamony goodness. You know that it's BYOB. You know it's very vegetarian friendly - they even have a whole section of the menu dedicated to veggie dishes. And there are even veggie options hiding among the other sections. You know that they've got meat options as well. Although I can't vouch for them since I'm on a meat sabbatical and I couldn't understand what my friends were saying when I asked if their dishes were good. Because they were groaning in ecstasy. Really, who understands that? You know about the cheap sandwiches and tacos - You could fill your tummy for under 5 bucks if you so desire. And, finally, you know about that oatmeal shake. Nom, nom, nom... So good I had to mention it twice. I do want to go back for the yucca - it came highly recommended. By the owner of the other-oatmeal-shake-place-that-I-shall-not-name (yes, I admitted to them I cheated on them with Irazu). Wait, maybe I did tell you something new. Did you know about the yucca?
(5)
J Paul H.
Something is new about the food! It has improved immensely. There is way more love in it nowadays. And I believe there is a new ingredient in the salsa verde...I know what it is, as well, But I wont say...nope. My grandma grew it in her back yard, and I would eat it all the time, but never the leaves. Wink wink chef. Kudos to you guys. You have grown into one of the tastiest places around. Much Love
(5)
Julia H.
There isn't much not to like about this place. Be prepared to pay in cash and leave feeling stuffed. The ceviche (made with white fish and lime juice and traditionally served with saltines) is fresh and delicious. The oatmeal shakes made with soymilk are thick, creamy and nutty. Today I decided to try the vegetarian plate with fresh broccoli, tomatoes, and hot peppers with the costa rican gallo pinto rice, cabbage salad and sweet fried plantains. And of course, I love when a meal starts with homemade tortilla chips and hot salsas. Prices are ridiculously decent. YUM
(5)
Alexis M.
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.
(5)
Phil F.
The clock just recently struck 11:30pm. It's officially been two hours since I left Irazu. Yet my stomach is still just as painfully full and bloated as when I initially walked out the door...and I couldn't be happier. I've spent months scouring yelp reviews in search of the city's best burrito. Mexican restaurant after Mexican restaurant left me disappointed. The only thing I have to show for those failed trips is a little more lovin to these love handles and a few extra hours in the bathroom. Little did I know that I wasn't even looking at the right part of the globe. Forget Mexico -- Costa Rica is the place for burritos. Without question, the Irazu Vegetarian Burrito is a 5-star burrito. Wrapped in a lightly grilled, thick tortilla, the standard vegetarian burrito comes packed with delicious yellow rice (not found in the regular burritos), black beans (clearly the bomb-diggity of all burrito beans), and veggies galore (I recommend throwing in some zucchini for $1 extra). Finally, I topped off this bowling ball-sized monsterrito with a little chicken. After all, who wouldn't want a Vegetarian Burrito w/ Chicken (oxymorons be damned)? I'd love to give Irazu itself a 5-star review, but the apps and overly-hyped shake weren't quite as perfect as the almighty burrito. Nonetheless, thank you, Irazu. My burrito journey is finally over. I can die happy. Which just might happen tonight if my stomach doesn't eventually decompress.
(4)
Kelsey K.
Let me prime you with the fact that we were REALLY excited to eat here. We're getting married in CR next year and we really wanted to love this local spot. Okay, so maybe it's our fault for going on a Friday, but I've never been told that it would be a 35 minute wait and then not getting a table for over and hour and a half. Granted we were already hungry when we got there, but not getting to eat for over 2 hours will make anyone grumpy. The staff was very nice and they felt bad for our situation, but offered to comp $0. The food WAS good once we finally got it, but maybe it just tasted extra good once the starvation kicked in. Dine in? Never again. Take out? I'd give it another shot (even though it's really expensive for a take out place).
(2)
Phillip S.
Just left an amazing experience. Justin our waiter was helpful and. prompt. Ordered the casado, and its the best meal to fill you up and still have leftovers for lunch/dinner the next day. Also had the banana milk shake, it was delicious. Thats actually putting it mildly. So good i ordered two more to go. One was with oatmeal. I highly recommend eating here. If you happen to get justin as your server, ask him for his suggestions he will help you enjoy your experience Prices : Very good in comparison to the portions Service : A+
(5)
Francesca R.
After seeing this place on tv I have been waiting,waiting and waiting to try this place. Being at home, pregnant I just had a craving I couldn't resist. Placed an order online. got the infamous pepito sandwich and some empanadas. I probably would've enjoyed it better if it wasn't kind of cold. I had high hopes for this sandwich after reading the reviews and watching them on tv. The empanadas were petty good though. Overall it was just ok, did it hit the spot?no, but it was descent. not sure if I will give them another chance yet.
(3)
Eman S.
I would actually give this place 4.5 stars and I will most likely come back and edit this to 5 stars next time I go in because everything was great, except my sandwich. We got there at about 7pm on a Friday and asked for a table for 2. We had to about 5 minutes and then were seated at one for their high boys in the back. The place is really small on the inside and probably has 4 high boys and maybe 6 tables. There were surprisingly two big groups in there of 8 people in each and they seemed to be seated pretty comfortably. This place is BYOB so we brought wine with us (there is a corkage fee), but next time we go it will definitely be some kind of Mexican beer. Our waitress was great! She is the daughter of the owner and has been working there since the place opened 20 years ago. Since we had never had Costa Rican cuisine, she gave us ideas of what to get. We started off with the guacamole (asked for it spicy) to go along with our chips and salsa. The chips are different than you eat at other restaurants, but they were really good. They give you two types of salsas at the table a red and a verde (very spicy). The guac was great, but it was not chunky like fresh guac. For dinner, I had the Pepeto sandwich, which is steak with peppers, onions, muenster cheese and their terizo sauce. I also asked for avocados on top. The sandwich was really good, but would have been much better if they served it as opened-face with the cheese being the top layer because the bread was too much. My wife got their special that night of spinach and peppers. I have no idea how they cooked it or what else was in it, but I can best describe it to you as cooked, spinach, peppers and tomatoes cooked together in a tasy sauce and served with rice, beans and fried plantains. It was so delicious! We were pretty stuffed by the end, but we knew we had to try the oatmeal shake. We got it with the soy milk and it tasted exactly like rice pudding to me. It was good, but I think it would have been a lot better with milk. All in all, this place is great. If you are a vegetarian, there are several options for you and the rest of us meat-eaters should have no complaints. For the two of us, with what was ordered, it came out to $32 before tip. Not too bad!
(4)
Shiraz G.
I love this place. I ordered in because I was sick, and it was probably one of the best decisions I've made in a while. I'm vegetarian so I was immediately impressed by the number of options I had. After reading other reviews, I decided on the potato tacos, black bean soup, and oatmeal shake. I also got a side of plantains. They delivered the food in about 30 minutes and even gave me larger portions that I expected (never a bad thing). Everything went very well together. I loved the soup and oatmeal shake the most. They were both fresh and comforting at the same time. Not too heavy but still very satisfying. I wasn't that impressed with the guacamole that came with my potato tacos, but it was still tasty. I'm eager to try their sandwiches and desserts next time!!
(4)
Vanessa P.
I came here about 3 times and it was always a failure. One time I came here on a Saturday night with a couple of my girl friends. In total we were three people who waited 3 effin hours to get a table! The host let 5 other couples in front of us and then ended up sitting us at a table meant for 2 people and put an extra chair there. I mean he should have done that in the first place. I do not understand what the fuss is all about the only good thing here is the horchata. If you want real central american/Caribbean food I suggest you go somewhere else.
(1)
Kunal K.
I write this review as I devour the leftovers from my Huevoz con Chorizo and I am trying to figure out what is there to add about this place that hasn't already been said in the 273 million reviews that it currently has. But I will try anyway. I walked in nursing a killer hangover from the night before and just wanted to eat and read the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy for the quarter millionth time. It was 4:30 pm (don't judge, it was a rough night) and I finally got out of bed and wanted breakfast. And since it was half way decent outside, I finally decided to venture out to Irazu after having read the yelp reviews on multiple occasions but never managing to make it there. The chips came with 2 kinds of salsa and both were pretty spicy. I loved it. Most places I go, I have had to learn to accept that the salsa is not going to be spicy enough to my liking. No such issues at Irazu. The huevos con chorizo and the oatmeal shake kicked the crap out of the hangover I was nursing. I also came to the realization that eggs scrambled with spicy sausage is the greatest idea ever and wondered why was I not doing this every day of my life? I'll be back. And often. A good place to go grab some breakfast as a really late lunch/early dinner.
(4)
Shayna N.
Loved it! I've been biking past Iruza for a year now drooling at the outdoor patio and wishing i was there. Tonight we finally had a chance to appreciate the warm summer night and indulge in the Costa Rican offerings. Service was on top of it. We were promptly seated and served chips, salsa and water. My glass never sat for a minute less than half full. I ordered a breakfast dish with Costa Rican Rice, eggs and fried plantains ($6.50 - for a heaping mound of food) My boyfriend had the Bistec Tico ($13.50) We also ordered a mongo-lime smoothie special. (yum!) Everything was very good, although a little on the salty-greasy side. It's BYOB so come prepared to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. yay summer!
(4)
dan l.
Everyone loves this place. Only been once and can't even remember what I had! But I remember it was great and our waiter was super friendly and attentive.. oh and everybody loves this place and I'm sure you will too.
(4)
Lori L.
So, I'm sure I will be tarred and feathered for my forthcoming review. With that said, I wasn't extremely impressed with this place. My tilapia was just OK. Just so OK that I don't have anything remarkable to say about it. Of course, the number one reason I've heard to patronize Irazu is for their oatmeal shakes. My date and I were a tad confused when the waitress asked if we wanted it made with milk or water. Um, huh, yeah. Anyway, I wasn't blown away by their famous oatmeal shake. It wasn't thick and lacked that knock out punch I was waiting for. Perhaps my expectations were to high. I will say, my date's dinner was very tasty. He let me have a few nibbles of his steak.
(3)
Virginia T.
I've been wanting to try Irazu for a long time. Maybe I went in with my expectations a bit too high because I left thinking it was pretty good, but not great. We decided to put our name in for first available, but I wished I'd chosen indoors because the outdoor "heated" patio was COLD. We started with the chifrito because fried pork always wins in my book, but it was disappointing. It was just rice, beans, and sparse pork- not the "dip" I was expecting. I was kicking myself for not ordering the empanadas, and I'll be back just to try those. The milensa was good, the steak burrito was ok, and potato tacos good. I think the "tacos" were more like taquitos or flautas than tacos though, personally. The plantains were amazing, but I'm kind of a whore for plantains. I liked the cabbage salad, radish and beets that came with my tacos a lot though. We mentioned Yelp to get our free oatmeal shake, but again I think the word shake is misleading it was pretty watery...more like horchata made with oatmeal than a shake. Overall, I will go back and I especially love that it is BYOB. Next time I'll just leave my preconceived notions at the door!
(4)
Richie D.
The first and only Costa Rican restaurants. I lived in Costa Rica for 2 years and this place has the closest thing to what a casado should be. Definitely recommended, along with a batido de mora (blackberry milkshake).
(4)
Kyle A.
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!
(4)
mildred v.
We asked the waiter what was good for dinner (steak options) and he recommended the first three dishes Casado, Bistec tico (what I had), and the Onioned steak which all range from $11-$13. I would also add the fourth item - the grilled steak. All of the seven or eight girls I was with had one of those four dishes and once the food came - we were all silent (mouths were nice-n-full of steak)!! Everything was delicious and the portions were huge!! Me and one of the girls I came here with tried to come here on a Sunday night to satisfy our craving for a steak with a latin flare BUT IT WAS C-L-O-S-E-D. We ended up at Cafe 28 which was okay, but you get waaaay more bang for your buck at Irazu!!! :) The place is small and cozy, but as a party of eight we had a picnic style table with long benches - so we had to squish in and keep our posture (no back support), but it worked out. The other tables are smaller and have normal chairs. The waiter was attentive and patient especially considering our large party. Made lots of reccomendations for us. Warning - they claim to have the best rice pudding but I would disagree (Standard Indian Restaurant does - hands down!). The rice was hard and hard to chew. Oh and they are BYOB! I will be returning VERY soon to make up for the Sunday they were closed.
(4)
Selina K.
I love this place, I have been going here since I was nine (possibly younger). This place use to be just a tiny shack. The family that owns it is very friendly. There are a few things that set this place part from other places. 1. They have to most amazing shakes, I have tried almost all the flavors and like everyone else says the oatmeal shake is to die for. 2. If you have never had yucca this is the place to get it. It is similar to a potato, here they either fry it in garlic or boil it and either way I can never get enough of it. 3. If your a fan of plantains you should definitely order some here, I don't usually like plantains but I will occasionally get them here. My mom loves them. This place had a good vibe, but sometimes parking can be a little difficult to get.
(5)
Brooke J.
This place was rife with hipsters, and true to its neighborhood. The guacamole was excellent, and my costa rican sandwich was well-flavored. It's cash only, though, so come prepared.
(3)
Neal K.
I don't claim to be particularly versed in the cuisine of Costa Rica, but eating at Irazu can definitely make one feel as if they are soaking up a genuine experience. The place itself is nothing special (it's probably an old filling station), but they have made the most of the outdoor patio space, adding at least one new built in table, or stool, or umbrella concept nearly ever summer the last few years. This food has soul. You can feel the love cooked into this food just as it probably has been for many, many years by someone's grandma from back home. The beans and rice are probably the tastiest I've ever had. The portions are huge, and they know how to get the foodies happy with a fried egg on top. Shakes are great too. Go here on a weeknight in the summer for best results.
(4)
Iris M.
It was the first time I would take my husband to Irazu to eat Costa Rican Food. Per my husband, the waitress was great, but it took 45 minutes to get a "shrimp" meal prepared and delivered to us. We had ordered Yuca (boiled) for appetizer and that was under cook. When the Shrimp dinner came to the table, the rice was under cook also. We did not eat and left our food there. My husband asked for the owner but a manager listen to his complaint. How would you try to keep your customers coming back? Sorry sometimes just doesn't cut it. You would think they would want to make it up in some way. Each time I have been there, it was always busy. People get tired of "The kitchen is backed up" (remember that quote when you go there..I've heard it each time I've been there.). Will my husband go back, I doubt it. Will I? Probably to talk to the owner and let him know face to face of my experience.
(1)
Lexi F.
I absolutely love Irazu, and don't go there enough (especially for living 2 blocks away.) I've had the Costa Rican Sandwich, the Plaintains, the Civeche (yeah, I totally butchered that spelling...sorry), and the Oatmeal Shake. Since there is usually a 20-25 minute wait, especially when it is nice out, it's not a bad idea to put your name in, walk to the liquor store at Milwaukee and Western and buy a six pack to take back with you. By the time you get back your table is almost ready!
(5)
Christian P.
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.
(4)
Melissa H.
Wanting to visit Costa Rica but never got around to it? This place is probably the closest you'll get in Chicago. We finally made it to Irazu and I'm so glad we did! We got there early on a week night around 6:30 or so.....it got really crowded shortly after. The weather was great, and our seat in the outdoor patio made it even better....very relaxing. Its nice to be away from all the noise on Milwaukee/Damn/North sometimes. I had the Shrimp dinner with the Gallo Pinto rice and sweet Plantains....delish! The hubster had the Fish (Tilapia) tacos which he also thought was tasty. We both thought that the plantains were the best we've had! Its definitely a treat to have Irazu in our neighborhood and I know we will be frequent diners. **BYOB** **Cash Only** ATM inside
(4)
Jennifer L.
-------------COOK COUNTY CORONER'S REPORT------------- SUBJECT: Female, early 30s, caucasian SCENE OF DEATH: Subject was found on the floor with one hand on belly, one hand gripping an empty cup. Large smile was noted on the subject's face. Cup had residu
(5)
LIDA A.
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.
(2)
Jeff H.
Their plantains drives me insanes! The small dining space, the owner guy that always calls you buddy or pal or chief, and the fact that they don't take reservations and only put your name put on a list drives me insanes, too. However, he and the rest of the staff are friendly and the food is superb. I've been there three times and I've just been blown away with everything I've tried. Good date place. Won't break the bank (except the guac, wtf?!). They really do need to expand, though. Small might equal quaint, but it's also really annoying if you can't make a reservation and it's winter and there's no room to stand and wait inside the very small entryway. Summer isn't so bad, as you can BYO and sit in the small parking lot till they call your name. Over-all, the food is worth the wait and you'll be full and satisfied when you leave! Next time I have to try this Oatmeal Shake that everyone keeps raving about.
(4)
Jef B.
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.
(5)
Diana L.
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!
(4)
Raquel L.
My new favorite restaurant! Best plantains ever! The food is great and the atmosphere is nice and up-beat. The waitstaff is as upbeat as the music and although you can have a wait on weekends, it's worth it for the tilipa! Oh - and it's bring-your-own beer/wine.
(5)
Carolynne M.
I was extremely pleased with my dinner at Irazu. Walking in at 6:30 on a Friday night I was a little worried at the size of the place and how busy it was. But we were seated in less than 10 minutes! It is definitely one of those places that needs to expand though. Very, very small. I decided to order just a bunch of appetizers, and got a cheese empanada, an order of Patacones (which is fried green plantains covered with roasted garlic oil) and a vegetarian taco. The patacones are REALLY garlicky! Beware! But everything was great overall - no complaints! Andy M got the Casado entree, which is thin rib eye steak caramelized with onions, served with white rice, black beans, sweet plantains, an over easy egg & cabbage salad. The meat was simply mouthwatering - whatever spices they use to marinate the meat made it simply delicious! Our service was pleasant, easy going and prompt. But not so much that you felt rushed. I really liked it there, we will be back for sure!
(4)
Dariya T.
Excellent Service. I was overcharged on a delivery order due to the driver not having change with him. Not feeling great about paying a $15.00 tip on two burritos I called the manager and explained the situation. I was very surprised with how well the situation was handled. He was very understanding and accommodating without an ounce of irritation. I had a check in my mailbox within days with a pleasant hand written note as well as some coupons.
(4)
Mal D.
I. LOVE. OATMEAL. SHAKES. And I never would have known it if it weren't for this place.
(4)
darcy h.
We order from Irazu weekly, never had a bad meal from empanadas to tacos to sandwhiches, I could literally drink their pico de gallo. Have to leave a review because our order was messed up, and I thought it was quite respectable that the owner called us to personally apologize. So along with having great food, I will keep going back to know that I'm giving my business to people who deserve it and truly care about quality customer service!
(4)
Christine K.
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.
(3)
Jessica C.
Just don't eat outside! Whatever you do, don't eat outside; unless of course, your idea of a good dinner conversation is one that is being interupted by the El every five minutes. I don't care how nice the weather is. So, not only is Irazu good for people watching, but the food is outta sight. While you munch on fresh and chunky guacamole with tomatoes and pureed jalepeno for kick, you can have your own personal contest of finding the tightest pants in the place. Ya know, try to find out who won't be breathing after they are done with thier fried yucca. You can guestimate how long some of the patron have gone without showering as you shovel in the rice and beans that are so soft and full of flavor. Perfect consistency with green and red peppers(the rice and beans, not the patron's hair) and just the right amount of garlic. Ah yes, the garlic...the pureed garlic and oil sauce that I slathered all over each and every bite of the fried yucca. I can barely contain myself over here. And while we are on the topic of fried, you absolutely must try the chiccarones. Deep fried and crisp, these pork chunks are simply evil...wrong ...should be out-lawed. So come on and give it a whirl. Make sure to stop at the liquor store for some drinks before hand and bring your empty tummies and open eyes. This place is definately stimulation for the eyes, ears and mouth! I repeat, just don't eat outside and you'll have far less stimulation on the ears.
(4)
Irena A.
I have been to this place twice already. The first time I had a salad that was pretty yummy. The second time I had the vegetarian burrito which was delicious. I only ate half of it because it was huge. My boyfriend loved the leftovers too! The only thing that is annoying about this place is that I had to pay cash. I had the oatmeal shake which was much smaller than the strawberry one that my friend had. I will definetly go back here and have the casados meal! a friend said it's delicious.
(4)
Benny T.
Since my array of food consists of pizza, tacos, burgers, pizza, and um pizza this was a step outside and oh hell to the yes this place was real good. Costa Rica what what!?! Me and my friends were the smart ones to go on a Saturday night so we had to wait inside the door while people maneuvered around us as this place has big time carry-out thing going on. They have a small dinning room with capacity of 30 but it was jammed to about 65 which probably wasn't up to fire codes, but who's gonna snitch? Once we got to sit I got real hungry as hot plates of chicken and steak kept whizzing past my nose. Went with the Steak Sandwich with grilled onions and Lizano sauce which was is slightly sweet and spicy at the same aka yumtown. The sandwich was pretty large and served on a ciabatta type bread so was quite satisfied with that. The one drawback was after hearing everyone on here jazzing about the shakes I decided to get a Passion Fruit one and well it just kinda tasted like a lukewarm vitamin water with a piece of fruit in it. I tried the famous oatmeal shake too and that didn't exactly wow me either. Maybe I'm a shake snob, who knows but I'll remember to skip the shake next time. Overall Irazu is a nice place to go if you're looking for something different eat than the usual staples of Chicago. Would like to go back, no doubt.
(4)
Jessie B.
This place is super yummy. This place really gets 4.5 stars... I don't even remember what I put in my mouth--but it sure was delicious. That made me sound like a prostitute that hustles around my street corner. Oh well. Either way, I'll be back here.
(4)
Hatidza Z.
Irazu is without a doubt my favorite restaurant in Chicago! The food is great, service is great, plenty of vegetarian options which make me happy, and quite possibly the best drink ever, the oatmeal shake! I hate hyping the place up so much, but really just go in without expectations and enjoy some good food and a great atmosphere. Don't forget to bring your cash (cash only) and some Costa Rican beer
(5)
Erica B.
A true hidden gem! I've been coming here for about 10 years now - at first, just for the shakes....but then food is super delicious too. I love this place b/c its somewhere vegetarians, meat eaters and vegans can all get something equally delicious and 100% authentic. the service is outstanding and the price can not be beat. its also BYOB. Its a great date spot! Its not too big inside, so it gets crowded, especailly on the weekends. who would have thought a shake would taste delicious with a burrito? i recommend the oatmeal banana water shake. so good.
Always great service and great food. Love the Costa Rican sandwiches. Prices are always right too!
(5)
Oscar C.
I just thoroughly enjoyed my Grilled Steak from Irazu. I work in the area and usually get my food delivered from them (we've been ordering from them about twice per month for the past year). I've yet to experience a mix-up with my orders. Their sandwiches are awesome and SUPER affordable. Actually, the entire menu is affordable. Being from Central America myself, I can't say that the food is as good as Abuelita's. But it's pretty darn good. 5 stars for you, Irazu... Keep up the great work!!!!
(5)
Karen B.
one of my favorite place in chicago! mybe the world. the oatmeal shake rocks, and i love the burrito. its byob which is a plus and cheap. a perfect summer date night place
(5)
Katja L.
How have I lived at North and Western for seven months, being a vegetarian the whole time, and not known about this place? It was amazing! I got the veggie sandwich and my bf got the apparently well-known veggie burrito. We also ordered a side of chips and salsa to share. Everything was perfect, to the potent heat of the salsa to to the fresh-cooked-ness of the chips to the perfect balance of ingredients on the sandwich. Since it was -2 degrees out, we chose delivery rather than going to the place. The delivery guy was friendly, courteous, and most importantly fast. The guy on the phone said "see you within the hour," and they ended up taking a little less than a half hour.
(4)
John H.
Irazu is one of my local Logan Square/Bucktown favorite, cheap places to get Latin American fare. My wife and I go there frequently, and I've tried many of their sandwiches and entrees. Their steak sandwiches are excellent, and are made even better with a side of sweet plantains. If you like liver, definitely try their liver and onions. Not to miss: Oatmeal shake, chicken soup (I had this when I was sick and it made me feel much better), Pepito sandwich I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Janet E.
I made a second visit hoping the second was just as good as the first. We ordered empanadas. They were the special on the menu. Sadly, there was nothing special or delicious about them. We ordered a veggie burrito and it tasted good but bland The black bean soup was ok and the order of plantains was ok too. I dont think I will be back here for a while. How disappointing!
(3)
Ken S.
Oatmeal shakes are great! (I had no idea.) Unlike a lot of eateries in the Bucktown/Wicker Park area Irazu knows itself (and knows what NOT to do). It's completely unpretentious and honest. Good food, family atmosphere, friendly sevice. There's nothing lacking. Great prices, too. I'd rather eat at Irazu than anywhere else in the area. I've been there about 5 times and each visit is just as good as the last. I haven't yet met a menu item that wasn't great. For what it is - it's as good as it gets.
(5)
Brice F.
We went on a Wednesday night around 6:30 and by the time we left at just after 8 the place was packed. We were greeted by a very friendly staff and the service was great. The food was fabulous and the portion sizes were great, especially for the price (mine was about 12 bucks). My first foray into real Costa Rican cuisine and I'll definitely be back for more. BYOB, inexpensive, great food, friendly staff and atmosphere.
(5)
Izabella d.
had dinner here last night, and was not as wowed as I had been the first time around. A few major letdowns: the salsa that comes with the chips. Its served out of squeeze bottles and was definitely lacking in amazingness. we ordered the rolled potato tacos (which were tasty) but the side of refried beans were pretty bland, and had a few dry powdery chunks (leading me to believe they had been made from powder). It would have been waay tastier if they had given us the same black beans that were in the burrito. obviously byob, the beer cooler, outdoor seating all pluses. the menu has a lot of variety, the portions are huge. we'll be back,, but its not one of our go to places.
(3)
Mary S.
Loved this place. Very reasonable prices and tasty! I got a steak sandwich for just under five bucks. The tostones were delicious, but beware of the garlic. Not a good option if you're trying to get your mack on. Also, it's a BYOB and they didn't charge us a corking fee. Our wine was screw top (because we roll classy like that). Some places will charge either way. It's very small inside and cozy. The only downside is the bathroom. There's only one and it's right in the dining area. Not exactly optimum placement. You'd best take some immodium before you go or run the risk of any indigestion becoming public knowledge. I'll be back very soon.
(5)
Laura E.
This place is absolutely excellent. The food is fantastic and reasonably priced. Plus, it's BYOB!
(5)
Johanna C.
I really loved this place! It was reasonably priced, the service was friendly, and BYOB is a bonus. The flavor on all dishes I tried was full and balanced even for simple tastes such as rice and beans. I would definitely recommend it for a low key, delicious meal.
(5)
Izzy N.
Oh yes... They have really good tortas here. The onioned steak entree is pretty dream worthy too. SWOON. I've yet to try their burritos or tacos but I can eat their tortas while laying in bed. Effin GOOD damnit. Oh yeah and it's cheap and BYOB.. I want to come back and try this oatmeal shake everyone's talking about.
(5)
Rahul I.
Went there for lunch. It was okay. It is casual. Can get a bit crowded.
(3)
Julia H.
Well, with all the previous reviews, mine might be slightly redundent. But, overall I enjoyed this restaurant. Living just down the road from it, I was happy with its convenience and the food was absolutely delicious. However, this place may have actually received a higher rating from me, but I was not very pleased with the waitress who took our order. It wasn't necessarily her personality that was bad, but instead the lack of clearity on what we ordered. When someone says, "I've never been here before, what would you recommend?". That is usually an EXCELLENT clue that someone has never been to the restaurant before. Having said that, when she took our orders she asked if we wanted the rice and benas mixture, and my father and I never thought to ask if it was at an additional price. Furthermore, we were asked if we wanted it spicy, again no mention of an additional cost. Needless to say, yes it does state those two things on the menu, hower, it is a very small mention somewhere in the middle of a lot of great food! Next time, don't be shady about it, and I'm sure we would have still ordered the same thing. At any rate, Irazu is a very good place to go, and I definitely will be going back. Give it a try, but remember to check if the price will be more because of what you ordered!
(4)
Joe H.
I brought a friend here visiting Chicago from out of the country. We were sat at a table where there was spilled water and we asked 3 times to have it cleaned up but they never did. The chips with the green sauce were good. The chifrijo was ok. Certainly not how it looked on DDD but acceptable anyway considering our hunger at dinnertime. Now we ordered the Pepito where the steak was kinda of dehydrated and chewy. Also, the Costa Rican sandwich which was the same thing except slathered in too much mayo and mustard and the lettuce and tomato were wilting. I can honestly say I've had better sandwiches at Arby's for half the price. But the worst thing about our experience was the swinging door on the covered porch kept banging shut every time someone came in or out. We were unfortunate to sit right next to the entrance. Gotta get some bumpers or springs for that door. I had high hopes for this place but left a little bummed.
(1)
Jas D.
The chile rellano and the rice are delicious! The seasoning is just right, and everything is prepared properly. This is the best place to get a soy oatmeal shake.This is how good homemade costa rican food should taste like! This place is always packed, and the line is long on the weekends if you want to get a table. Everyone there is super friendly, and even with the commotion and packed room, they still managed to be polite and smile. I only wish this place were just a little bigger so I could get a table once in a while!
(5)
Tu'ens N.
Best flan ever
(5)
Y V.
You have to try their double-fried green plaintains with roasted garlic! They are savory, crispy, salty bites of garlicky-goodness...mmmm. I usually order the Gallo Pinto, which is white rice mixed with whole black beans, served with eggs or sweet fried plantains. I ask for BOTH eggs and sweet plaintains (trust me, it's really good). I've had their Oatmeal shake with milk. It's tastes like a sweet oatmeal horchata; loved the cinnamon mixed in. The Pepito sandwich was yummy, as well. It consists of rib eye steak, sauteed onions, cheese, pinto beans & Lizano sauce. You can't go wrong with that combination. My only complaint is that the guacamole is bland, lacking salt and acidity. If you're going to order it, try it with their green salsa :)
(4)
Nic K.
i don't think i ever stopped sipping the oatmeal shake. and being vegan it's a bit more difficult to find something so good that you miss. i consider myself lucky to jump off the el stop that i get off at and make the five minute walk there and sip the oatmeal shake (nonstop) on my 20 minute walk home. so good.
(4)
Jon E.
I wish I knew were all the raves come from for this place, maybe i've just been unlucky. Last time I was there my sister and I ordered the ceviche, on her past experience. Man that was awful. It was like limey shoe leather in a sunday cup. Yea, that got sent back. The other items we ordered (heart of palm salad, yuca, some shakes) for the meal were all equally meh. The garlic on the yuca tasted like the pre-minced stuff from a jar. Seriously? Isnt it cheaper to just buy garlic bulbs? I dunno, I really want to like it here... But I can't They get that third star because they are really friendly, and accomodating. I'll give them a chance again once its nice out, so I can enjoy the patio.
(3)
Viper B.
Excellent, authentic, convenient Costa Rican food. I was in CR two years ago and they may do the food even better here - not in the Amercanized-add-some-fried-and-fatty-stuff sense, but in the authentic-flavorful-filling sense. Dining area is wooden tables and quite casual, but if that's cool for your plans it's a great environment with friendly staff and great energy.
(4)
Sylvia T.
$6 for a veggie burrito - the price isn't bad for a HUGE burrito filled with rice, beans, roasted veggies, but it was just so plain. Flavorless and blah. Even the hot chili sauce couldn't give it a kick. The place is wildly popular, so I'm tempted to come in for dinner and actually sit down. Review to be updated... BTW, do you notice a theme in my Chicago reviews? The portions really are bigger than CA's!
(3)
Ashley C.
So I have been here twice now and first off I have to say the oatmeal shake is AMAZING! I would have it every day if I could. The food, however, is just meh. Not bad, but nothing fantastic. The first time I had some sort of sandwhich, and just recently I had the potato tacos and my friends had the shrimp pallela and empanadas. My tacos were super dry and the waiter brought out the wrong sides. The refried beans were pretty delicious. My friends said their food was good, but I didn't taste it. Overall, good if you want a low key place to grab dinner, but nothing fantastic....well, except for those amazing oatmeal shakes.
(3)
Ruben C.
The Pepito and Chifrijo are great!!! Definitely worth the trip!
(4)
Star C.
we went here STRICTLY on Yelp! reviews and have no regrets and plan to go back. Let's just get this out of the way, who ever said the servers can be hit or miss was dead on! And I hope they are reading these reviews to give EVERYONE on staff a pep talk. It's getting HOT outside and they want the place to stay packed. Now, the prices were reasonable for the amount of food you get. Let them know if you want your meat medium. They didn't ask and my meat was over cooked for me. Everything was good, fresh and tasty! The music was excellent, which made the atmosphere bearable (traffic, sirens and train) - which I'm sure is fine for city-folk.
(3)
Eric M.
No need to go to Costa Rica now that I've been to Irazu. The lively atmosphere feels like you're eating on a street in Central America, the great music keeps you energized, and then there's the food. Make sure you upgrade to the Costa Rican rice as the flavor is outstanding. The beef here is causing me to salivate right now. And then the oatmeal cookie shake is probably illegal. Go here!
(4)
Ali J.
Finally, the patio is open! There's a cooler where diners can store their BYOs, pretty flower boxes and a very substantial line of hipsters waiting to be sat. My threesome had to wait about 15 minutes, which really wasn't that bad. Once we were seated, it took about the same amount of time for a server to stop by. We didn't really care, we were in no hurry. It was the first real day of summer anyhow. The service just needs some time to catch up, right? I eventually gave up asking for a glass and drank my beer from the bottle. The chips were stale. Bummer. We doused them in salsa and ate them anyway. Some advice: Whatever you do, don't expect much from the Vegetarian Salad. When it came out, I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Shredded lettuce and some slivered beets. One slice of avocado. A cucumber. Irazu, why, why did you disappoint? Your savory plantains with black bean puree are out of this world. Your burritos overflowing and your guacamole is delectable. Put some life into that salad, Ok? And make sure to fry up some fresh chips. I will be back to check on you.
(3)
seth e.
Oatmeal shakes never lose their charm, ever. Sandwiches are fairly cheap and incredibly tasty. Awesome service and BYOB as well? A+ in my book.
(5)
James G.
Delicious! Great BYOB spot in Bucktown. This spot is great for both carrying out and dining in. I just enjoyed the Onioned Steak which was a thin ribeye covered in sauteed onions and topped with a roasted jalapeno. Definitely go for the Costa Rican rice and beans (take the spicy option). The fried plantains come topped with minced garlic which was a big plus.
(4)
Atticus B.
cash only caught me off guard, but the oatmeal shake brought me back around. food-wise, i was pretty happy overall. next time, i'm ordering two shakes and as many taco ticos as i can afford.
(4)
Justine K.
My first time here made me want to book a trip to Costa Rica! GO to Irazu for: - Incredible, extremely flavorful and very authentic Costa Rican food for very affordable prices! - A chance to bring your own alcohol! (no corkage fee) DON'T go to Irazu for: - A fancy, quiet and romantic time There is just no other way to put it. The food is downright mouth-watering but the atmosphere is extremely small and loud. And, if you go during prime-time - you will wait F-O-R-E-V-E-R. When my boyfriend and I want to go on a Friday or Saturday, we wait till about 8-8:15 p.m. to arrive and we are usually seated immediately. This is a place you MUST try and I can almost GUARANTEE you'll be back!
(4)
Meg O.
Regrettably, I have only been to this little gem perched on the edge of Bucktown and Logan Square twice, but both times have been delicious. The first time I went all out with my friend Janna, ordering appetizers, smoothies, and a full platter of mouth-watering carne asada and plantains. Last night was a completely different affair of guacamole and quick sandwiches/burritos. I'll let my dinner mate rave about her veggie burrito, but I will sing the praises of my egg and bean sandwich. Scrambled egg, pinto beans, Lizano sauce, and spicy peppers layered onto chewy french bread--heavenly! I imagine this sandwich as the ideal street food, satisfying cravings for protein and carbs as one wanders a marketplace in Costa Rica. We sat out on the patio, and enjoyed friendly, timely service. The place only accepts cash (with an ATM inside) and is BYOB, so be prepared...prepared to have a fresh, familiar yet different, delicious meal at one of Chicago's only (possibly only) Costa Rican restaurants.
(5)
linni k.
On an unfrequented and bleak strip of Milwaukee Avenue, you might not give a passing glance to the tiny green hut on the corner. Look again, my friend, for there resides Irazu, one of Chicago's only Costa Rican restaurants that boasts fare so exotic that the first half of the menu is definitions. Now, don't let the language intimidate you--Avena is just a fancy name for the eatery's signature drink, an oatmeal milkshake. Yes, you read that correctly--an oatmeal shake strongly reminiscent of the Mexican rice drink, Horchata, but delicious nonetheless. And that cinnamon-topped specialty isn't all--other shake flavors include corn meal, blackberry, and exotic Central American fruits such as the tamarindo and mamey, a mild apricot-raspberry flavor that will give you cavities on the spot. Yuca is another menu favorite, a potato-like root vegetable that can be served boiled or fried. We chose the fried option, which was topped with garlic oil and deep-brown bits of roasted garlic. It tasted amazing at first, but proved a little too greasy for my taste. Just make sure you don't fill up on this or the salty-greasy tortilla chips--both are out of this world, but a little heavy. I was looking forward to the gallo pinto, a Costa Rican breakfast of white rice and black beans served with fried plantains or eggs. This was served every morning when I visited Costa Rica, and it was hard to overcome that craving when I returned to the regular American pancake breakfast. Irazu's take on this authentic dish featured the rice and beans molded into a delectable dome and served with steaming aromatic corn tortillas. I chose the fried plantains, which were another oily-yet-extraordinary menu item--they could create a new genre of food with their collection of fried, heavy treats! A dining accomplice of mine chose the gallo pinto with scrambled eggs, which featured diced onions for a surprise twist of flavor. We were served promptly by an adorably authentic old man who spoke minimal english and seemed a little aloof. You won't have to wait long for any menu item--the vegetarian burrito, steak tostada, two gallo pintos, and order of fried yuca took under 15 minutes. There is ample outdoor and indoor seating, although the food must speak for itself in this minimalistic environment. The slightly drab interior might be more seductive if you visit at night, but I would eat Irazu's unique and consistent cuisine from a street vendor if that was what it took. Very affordable, most entrees under $8.
(5)
Adlyyn Z.
Love this place! It's byob and food is great! For the price u get quality food.
(5)
Angela M.
This place is amazing! We went for an early dinner, which made it easy to get seated at the tiny place. It is very cozy and the staff was very friendly. We tried the Chifrijo appetizer which is soooo delicious - like guacamole, salsa and fried pork all together - yum! I had the steak milanesa with gallo pinto, which was also great, but I also hear the sandwiches are really good. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Dan P.
Incredibly friendly service surpassed only by the food. They really do make the best of a very small, casual space. I'd go back any time I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)
Tray I.
3.5 stars. yum! will definitely be back. After missing our stop to wicker park, we ended up walking the extra stop back to damen and found Irazu. After a quick check on yelp, we were happy to stop in and have a quick lunch. I wanted the empanadas, michael wanted the oatmeal shake and we ordered the chicken rice as well. we were slightly worried that it wasn't enough food but the waiter said if we weren't that hungry it would be a good amount of food. I was doubtful. an app, a shake and an entree was enough? we started with the empanadas. so tasty. we got the spinach, beef and chicken. the beef and spinach was excellent, tasty and flavorful. the chicken was fine but not memorable. after splitting the three empanadas, we were still munching on the chips and was a little worried about the amount of food. so i ordered the guacamole side to snack on. that was a mistake. the guac was delicious, but HUGE. this is beyond a party size guacamole dip. I would say this is fit for 6+ people. delicious but I felt i was wasting food when we didn't finish even half of it. Then the chicken and rice came. HUGE. not only do you get a good amount of both chicken and rice, but a large salad and side of plantains. Very good but we were at the point of full that no matter how tasty we couldn't finish even a quarter of this meal. Good but just fine. my main complaint is that I ordered it spicy and it wasn't. at all. Most likely they just didn't hear me when i ordered it spicy. over the top good is that oatmeal shake. I took a sip of the shake and it was so good. i stopped after one sip because i was sure this was pure ice cream, sugar and badness. At the end of the meal, we were paying at the cashier and I asked them how much ice cream was in the shake and the chef said, none. it's just oatmeal, milk and bananas (i'm sure more things that i can't remember at this time but nothing bad). Food is good and consistent with huge stand out stars if you know what to order. service was pleasant and attentive. only complaint was that the food did take a noticeable amount of time to come. probably why we ate so many chips and salsa.
(4)
Rachelle B.
My friend suggested the avena shake (oatmeal shake) so we all got it. It was delicious. Light. I thought it was going to be some thick oatmeal sludge, but it wasn't at all. I ordered the pepito sandwich again. This time with avocado on it too. Delicious. Loved it as much as the first time. AND the sandwich is only $4.95.
(4)
W L.
So good! Great service, cute establishment, definitely try the oatmeal milkshake.
(5)
Lauren C.
Yum. The veggie burrito is the best in town. Got the shrimp/veggie platter last time and it was amazing. The empanadas are so good. Pepito sandwich is killer. Guac/Salsa not that awesome. Service is great - friendly!
(4)
Katie C.
SOO overrated. I think the guac here is hands down, the worst I have ever had. I can positively say that Jewel makes a better guac than this mashed up, green, bland, garbage they put on a plate and served to me and called guacamole.
(1)
andrew c.
Solid! I have been coming here for years and it never disappoints. Recommendations: -Chips and Guac appetizer (Spicy) -Casado - Pollo (house special - Chicken) w/ Gallo Pinto -Veggie Burrito + Mushrooms + Hot Peppers -Steak Sandwich + Hot peppers -Oatmeal Shake Cash only, ATM inside. And they deliver now.
(5)
Nathan B.
We stopped in at about 2 pm on a Saturday, and the comfortable but somewhat cozy dining area was pretty full. This was my 2nd visit, so I had a bit of an idea of what to expect. I would give the food 3 1/2 stars, but a few other aspects of our visit bring down my rating. The oatmeal-banana shake I had was outstanding. My fiancee had the mango-banana which was tasty, but the texture was a bit grainy. Hers was soy-based, which I noticed cost more. When we ordered it, we were informed that the soy shake was also smaller. Wouldn't you think that the price increase would compensate enough? Pick one or the other, but don't charge me more AND reduce the size. I had the Arroz con Huevos, a mix of rice and scrambled eggs, served with avocado and plaintains. Excellent dish. She had the potato stuffed tacos, which came out much more similar to chimichangas. They were good but not great. In the middle of our meal, it also got very drafty in there. Seems like there might be ventilation issues or something, perhaps someone was opening a door to let fresh air in. Overall, it was a good experience, and the staff were nice enough, but it turned out to be a little pricey for everything we got, imo. I'll go back, and would recommend it for the oatmeal shake, plantains and Arroz con Huevos.
(3)
Princila M.
This place is disgusting and I do NOT understand the high reviews. My husband got a combination plate of rice, steak, etc. The rice was undercooked, the steak was tough, chewy, and rubbery. I got the pepito chicken sandwich. The chicken, again tough rubbery. The bread was not even toasted, it was stale. The sandwich said it came with sauteed onions, it did not. I asked for Avacado on it, it did not come with it despite me asking waitress for it several times. I am not a picky eater, I was starving but so disgusted by the food I left almost my entire sandwich. We had 5 different empanadas. Not only did these taste like they were fried in OLD oil, the dough was not fresh, its typical commercial dough. I could have made better at home.
(1)
Jason m.
We live directly behind Irazu and wish that we could go back.. but we will never go back. The manager is rude to customers every time we've been there. Yes you are busy some nights, this does not give you the right to yell at your paying customers. The food is slightly better than your average taco joint, including the atmosphere of the restaurant. Cafe Lagaurdia (cuban) on Armitage is much better in every way.
(1)
Ryan P.
OMG! So delicious. This unassuming (kinda shack-like) restaurant is amazing. Bring some booze to drink while you are sitting outside on the curb, because it will be a wait. But it's well worth it. *I do wish they would rebuild that space or move, the actual space is caca - but good food is good food.
(5)
Alisha J.
Thanks Irazu, you are one of the few restuarants where I can take my vegan celiac boyfriend and he won't get all cranky. Give him a plate of tacos and a soy shake and he's fine. He doesn't even complain about greasy meat smells or the lack of actual vegetables in his food (you have plantains! And stuff we've never heard of!). You've added years to our relationship, as I become intolerable if not given a steady diet of tacos. Love, Alisha
(4)
Tiffany K.
appetizer: fried yucca with mojo (garlic oil) it was so much better than 90 miles' fried yucca with mojo! lunch: rib eye steak casado & costa rican sandwich both were very good. steak was perfectly cooked, super juicy and super tasty! cabbage salad was awesome. i hate eating with my hands because oil and messy food makes me want to wash my hands a billion times throughout meals BUT this sandwich was well worth it. :) drink: OATMEAL SHAKE! LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS OATMEAL SHAKE! although i have to say, i can't compare to any other oatmeal shake since this is the first time i've ever had it. it is sooo good. soooo addicting. i want it right now. i would give irazu 10 stars if i could! i just wish they had one closer to downtown. boooo. :(
(5)
ben c.
My food was good and my wife's food was pretty good, but I need to say that I think it's ridiculous that they charge $.75 to make something "spicy." It's not about the price, because clearly, if I'm going out to eat, I can afford 75 cents. However, has anyone EVER heard of a restaurant charging for something to be "spicy?" I put that word in quotations because it was not even remotely spicy!
(3)
Pete D.
Hey it's nothing fancy, so if you're a yuppie/lincoln park trixie whiner stay the f!ck away, and go eat at some trendy hellhole. The black bean burrito rocks the planet, the fried plantains are fabulous, and the oatmeal shakes are dee-lish. Again, not fancy, but just good food. Not open on Sundays.
(4)
David W.
New menus and pricing! Turns out I haven't been to Irazu in almost 6 months. The front counter even got a face lift! I couldn't believe that I had gone almost 6 months without eating at one of my all time favorite places for cheap eats and BYOB. As usual we started off with the Palmito Salad. I found it to be a bit smaller than usual and the hearts of palm were now sliced. Delicious nonetheless. Audrey went with the always yummy Veggie Sandwich. It was yummy! Completely outside of my normal ordering patterns I ordered the Chicken Burrito. Now I have been to Irazu probably 25 times and have only ordered the Milanesa, the Milanesa Sandwich, or the Chicken Casado. The burrito was good, but I will probably get back to the usual suspects on my next visit. We washed it all down with a large Horchata. Yum! The interior is a bit fancier than before, but I'd still file Irazu in my whole in the wall folder. Please keep in mind I use "whole in the wall" as a compliment in the case of Irazu. The service can be hit or miss, but was solid on this visit. I am a big fan of Irazu and hope to make It back more frequently. I don't know what I was thinking! 1 Palmito Salad 1 Veggie Sandwich 1 Chicken Burrito 1 Horchata --------------------- $21
(3)
Claudia L.
The food was okay,seemed more like a Mexican restaurant with a few Costa Rican dishes. The workers dont have any uniforms or at least a shirt that says the name of the place, you can easily mistake the worker for a customer.
(3)
Phil F.
I don't know what authentic Costa Rican food is but this seems like it might be... I love their potato tacos, which are more like flautas. They are delish but nothing too special, really like mashed potatoes in a corn tortilla then fried to a delish crispiness. I likey. The mole sauce is good stuff. And they serve things with a little cabbage salad and a slice or two of beets. I am so glad you don't see the ubiquitous iceberg nightmare as your side salad. And their shakes are yum city. I had one that our waitress recommended, it was chocolate with strawberry and soy. We loved it. The staff and the food are both so special at this place.
(4)
Matt U.
Drove by this restaurant numerous times without stopping in, and I was definitely missing out. The atmosphere is very relaxed inside. The servers were all very friendly and professional. We were told there was a 25 minute wait, so we walked down the block to get some beer, came back and they had already called us, but when we talked to the host he was very helpful and got us seated right away. The food was delicious, and came out fairly quickly. All in all it was a pleasant experience dining there. I will be back and a recommend others to try it out.
(5)
leslie p.
Sometimes it's nice to not have to do all the work. To come into a restaurant and have it say right on the menu next to the vegetarian taco, "A vegan's choice." that works just fine for me. And the taco was impressive, massive and deliciously tasty. I didn't catch too much hotness from the hot peppers but that's okay. I went a little wild and topped the taco off with some plantains--brilliant move. I also got an oatmeal shake with soy milk and the waiter dude informed me a "users tip" to stir in the cinnamon...really not too sure what else I would have done with it, but it was delicious. As hyped up as this place was to me, it still lived up to it's expectations. Yah! Irazu!!
(5)
Tabitha G.
Most often eaten at restaurant in Chicago the last 6 years. Delicious steak in all kinds of ways from burritos to sandwiches. Also you have to get an oatmeal shake and some fried plantains smothered in oil and garlic. What more can anyone ask for? Oh maybe the redone outside seating area in the summer for soaking up the day....
(5)
Brett K.
Some reviews are so hard to write without just seeming redundant but I still feel compelled to share my love of Irazu. I can't say I know my authentic Costa Rican but if this isn't it, then that country needs to take a lesson from these guys. Warning it's definitely no longer a "hidden gem" as you may have noticed from the reviews but they will get you in if you want the full experience otherwise there is always delivery.
(4)
Megan G.
Apparently this place is pretty popular. There are already a shit ton of reviews, and I have to agree. The food here is freakin outstanding. The red beans and rice, YUM! Salsa, check. Cheese empanadas, delightful. But my review is going to focus mostly on the oatmeal milkshake. You can mix it with fruit, or chocolate (my recommendation). As one of the people at my table put it, "If I could get naked and spread this shake across my body, I would." Everyone at the table agreed. That is all.
(5)
Brian P.
This is a 4.5 star place for me. Food is unique and delicious, also cheap. Meats, fish (tilapia), rice & beans, plantains, oatmeal shakes...all worth going back for. Service is direct and friendly. BYOB is nice b/c saves $ as long as you plan ahead. Plus the cool wine store across the street (Red & White) sells Costa Rican beer (Imperial) which is a good fit for all of the food I've tried there. Their mark-up on Imperial is pretty ridiculous, but that's not Irazu's fault. Some call this a 'burrito' joint but to me it's not - it's different and better.
(4)
Danielle F.
I went here since a friend was visiting who is vegetarian. I thought this place would give her some variety. YUMMY!!! Even I went with a veggie item. Everything was delicious and I will definitely be going back. It's cash only.
(4)
Noah B.
Great chicken burritos and plantains. Amazing oatmeal milkshakes (ask for it with soy instead of milk). Don't expect speedy service or the servers to pretend like they give a shit about you being there. The dining room is kind of small, so expect a wait in the evenings. Carry-out service is available.
(3)
Jaymeson A.
This place is fantastic...I live in the Gold Coast and the delivery is timely and the food is fresh...fish ceviche, black beans, and tilapia are fantastic and if you order in the summer, the mango shrimp ceviche is great too. couldn't be happier with this place, will be ordering for time to come.
(5)
Lori K.
pretty good. i had the steak burrito. it was tasty, though it lacked meat on one half of the burrito for some reason. it was a good size burrito, which they cut in half for u. one side was really meaty and the other side contained almost no meat, which was kind of weird. my hubby got the porch chops which were DELICIOUS!! i would definitely recommend. really good service, loud atmosphere. make reservations if u come during the weekend or if its a really nice day out. i cannot forget to mention their honesty either. i left my wallet there and the staff found it and Henry the owner called me to say they had it. i picked it up and every thing in it was still there im happy to say!! its nice to see that there are still honest people in the world. oh, CASH only, they dont take credit cards.
(4)
Tiffany S.
Just tried this place out today! Service was good. The casado plate is good. The milanesa sandwich was a little bland. The oatmeal/banana milkshake was delicious. Overall, food was good, but nothing I would write home about. Will def be back to try other dishes noted by Yelpers! Warning: the milkshakes are big (and thick) so ask for it in a to-go cup and take it with you if you don't finish it.
(3)
S G.
Tried this place for the first time and really enjoyed everything we ate. The green salsa in a bottle is awesome and has a bit of a kick. The spinach and cheese empanadas are great. We had talapia tacos, veggie tostadas and tacos that were great as well. Guacamole was mild but very tasty. They have a large delivery area as well and the prices are very reasonable. Service was friendly and fast. It is BYOB and cash only.
(3)
Ben E.
It's ridiculous that I haven't reviewed this place yet, as Irazu is one of my favorite places in Chicago. I've been here dozens of times and have never been disappointed. The complimentary chips and salsa are fantastic, and I firmly believe that the vegetarian burrito here is the best you will get in all of Chicago. That, along with an oatmeal milkshake, may well be the perfect meal, especially if you add hot peppers to the burrito (after a couple of times, I decided that the addition of mushrooms wasn't really necessary or desirable). If you're looking for something less enormously filling, you can get an order of black beans and rice, which actually makes an excellent light dinner, especially with a side of plantains. Great restaurant, great food, great prices.
(5)
Charles W.
Flippin' delicious/affordable sandwiches. The main courses are overpriced but did I mention how delicious and affordable the sandwiches are? Plus they have a crew of sexy latin men working there. That doesn't do anything for me but it's good to know if you're a lady, a lady who likes sexy latin men.
(4)
andy b.
Plus: food is tasty and all dishes are amazing. And the milk shakes are great, and the price is reasonable negative: fist time i went there i saw one rat in the back. Then i was going to deal with that and still eat , but then i saw another and i had to leave. No..joke..i wonder if that is why they name it IRAZU...similar to " A RAT ZOO"!!
(4)
Lauren G.
I must have gone past Irazu a million times before going in for a bite. I'm SO glad I did. The small dining room in back surprised me when I arrived on a week night to meet a new girlfriend. We ordered the fried yuca in garlic for our appetizer. It was good - especially the garlic part. I don't think yuca has much flavor! Next time I'm going to try the plantains instead. I ordered a veggie burrito with hot peppers and have been dreaming about it ever since. The price is nice too. I like the oatmeal shake, but don't know if I agree with the super-rave reviews from some other Yelpers. Someone want to go on a veggie burrito run to Irazu? Any time, any day friends. Just do it!!
(4)
Eliot J.
never had the shakes but apparently they're rock n roll. i have been to irazu twice and enjoyed the food both times i went. can't say i've had costa rican before, so i can't really compare it to anything but i will def keep going back. entrees are priced at about $12 each, but the tacos and burritos are about $4 each, or less. i ordered 2 tacos the first time i went there because i didn't want to overeat, but they were huge. second time i went, i had the empanadas special (go for spinach and cheese), which came with three, and i could've had a bit more to eat. but plenty of chips and sauce prior to your meal. also, the yellow rice was super tasty. two words of note: keep the water coming because the sauce is hot. also, if you get tacos or tostadas or anything that has "hot peppers" on it, BEWARE - they are delicious but extremely, extremely hot. cash only. small dining room = long waits for tables. but if they have the patio open, the wait is less and great location for people watching.
(4)
hanna y.
YUMM!! Irazu's is delicious! Everything I've had from there is so delicious I crap in my pants! I would highly recommend anything with the steak with a oatmeal shake. I also like Irazu because it's BYOB and there's a wine shop right across the street who are more than happy to help you pick out a wine. The only downfall is the long wait.
(5)
Kara Z.
Gave Irazu another try. Pulled menu up online and ordered takeout. Prices we were charged different from what was listed on menu. Asked for steak tacos with lettuce and cheese only. Seems simple to me, but nooo, got tomatoes, jalapenos, and avocado. Probably why we were charged extra, but I didn't want any of it anyway. Other big problem, our food was ice cold. We live a block away and were still waiting on food when we picked up - so really don't understand. Some of our friends swear by this place, but we are officially done trying here. Too many other options with consistency.
(1)
Kelly Y.
AMAZING!! We went here today for a Friday afternoon lunch. It is very accessable by the Blue Line (Western stop). Our server, Amanda, helped us pick out just the right items. I highly recommend the veggie burrito. They will make it vegan with no problem. There are actually several vegan options which was amazing. We had a pitcher of the Lava Juice. My advice it to just go ahead and order the pitcher. You will thank me. It's highly addictive. It would have been very good with some vodka or tequilla but since we had to go back to the office we opted for no alcohol. Your choice but it is BYOB.
(5)
Chris M.
[updates below] Congratulations, Irazu! You [were] my first bad review! Look, we got delivery, and not from right nearby. Take this with a grain of salt. Still: I am currently eating cold food that I waited an hour and a half for, using a crude spoon that I constructed from tin foil, in lieu of getting any utensils with the damn meal. That, and, one of the large chunks of steak in my taco was sitting on the top, raw side up. It's still sitting off to the side, deep red and urging me on to review. Anyway, I got a steak taco and two Taco Ticos; the steak taco would have been mediocre when warm, the Taco Ticos were still good enough that I ate them out of more than spite. I expect they are legitimately quite tasty in person. I'm getting the impression that this place may be more of an "eat in" restaurant. If you're curious about the size of the $6.50 guacamole, though, it really is $6.50 worth of guacamole, and pretty tasty. [Edit: Quick reply by the proprietor. I'm guessing that this was an unusual experience, given the enormous number of positive reviews, and he has offered to refund the cost of our group's meal. I am, uniformly, a sucker for free food.]
(3)
Rebekka T.
This place is great for a cheap, delicious meal. The vegetarian burrito, and chile relleno are favorites. The steak sandwiches are also quite good. I don't get the entrees too often because they are so huge, but they are very good too. The service is ok, usually friendly, but it's fast paced, and they encourage a quick turnover. Last time I was there, it was super busy, and I noticed that the hostess and the cashier guy were texting the whole time. It made me feel bad for all the people working their asses off while those guys just sat on their phones. Bummer.
(4)
K. H.
I was travelling through Chicago and passed Irazu a few times. Since I'd lived in Costa Rica and have never seen a Costa Rican restaurant in the U.S., I was intent on trying it. Irazu came through - delicious gallo pinto; plantains, and iced coffee mixed with horchata. Not too sweet. My friend had the avocado with scrambled eggs (also great), and we sampled the oatmeal shake. If you like sweet, you'll love the shake. Tasty. And prices were very reasonable. Great meal. I hope to be back soon!
(5)
Philippe F.
Steak Burro, add pico de gallo and avocado showed up a ground beef burro sans the avocado :( There is only one thing in the world that would turn my frown upside down.....and that my friends is the Oatmeal Shake. Damn you for being so effffffin tasty!
(4)
Jason S.
I enjoyed Irazu for the most part. I don't think it's great, but considering the rib eye sandwich (Pepito) which was featured on Triple D is only priced at $5.95 ($6.45 w/avocado) it's hard to complain. However, I did find the food to be very salty. The empanadas were ok, nothing to write home about. It's hard to truly critique the Chifrijo, which was their signature appetizer also on Triple D, because we didn't get it with the pork. We got it vegetarian style and it was refreshing, but nothing special. I'm assuming it's better with the pork. My buddies got horchata and I got the oatmeal shake. They said they've had better, but I thought the oatmeal shake was delicious. That alone would make me go back. But be careful, the food is deceptively filling. Between the beans in the chifrijo, the empanadas, the complimentary chips and salsa, and the oatmeal shake I was pretty full before I got my sandwich. After all that I was feeling pretty uncomfortable, and the salt in the food did not help. Almost forgot to mention that it's BYOB and outdoor dining which is a major plus. I'd give it 3.5 if possible, but don't feel bad for giving it 3.
(3)
Mr B.
Before dining here, particularly on weekends, you must accept that the odds are in favor of a wait for a table. It's a tiny little space, and they don't take reservations, so that's to be expected. I assure you, it is worth the wait. The food is great, they make kick ass shakes, and you will leave disgustingly stuffed. I usually get the Casado, which can be steak, chicken, fish or veggie. It comes with plantains, black beans, rice, cabbage salad, and an over-easy egg. So good. The vegetarian menu is great too- potato tacos and heart of palm salad in particular.
(4)
Martha Z.
I love Irazu so much that sometimes I can't find the right words to give it the perfect review. Although I don't go here as often as I would like, this is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The casado, my entree of choice brings together rib eye, brown rice stuff, fried egg, and plantains together on one plate. It is simply amazing. The shakes they make are delicious but I usually go with a large horchata. It is the best I've ever had. Other things to sample are their sandwiches and burritos. Oh and do try the guac, especially the spicy. Most importantly don't forgot the cash, cos this place doesn't take plastic!
(5)
Lou W.
Everything you read here is true... except for like the four crazy people who didn't like this place. We went here on Saturday night before a show at Gorilla Tango Theater. At about 6:30, we were quickly seated, but had we showed up 10 minutes later we would have been waiting in line. This is a teeny tiny restaurant -- really just 10 or so tables tossed in to a back room. I heart places like that, so I immediately felt comfortable at Irazu. Loved the atmosphere. My bf and I ordered the guacamole -- good, especially if you're a purist, I'm talking straight up smashed avocados. I had the vegetarian burrito, which is amazing. Just to be safe, I had them put the hot peppers on the side, but next time I will have them put on the burrito. Boyfriend got some meat dish -- he loved it and I ate his plantains, which were sweet and lovely. We ate every last bit of food they gave us it was so damn good. Unfortunately, I was totally looking forward to trying the oatmeal shake but we were way too full. Next time -- and oh yes, there will be a next time. Hopefully it will be like... tomorrow. Also worth mentioning, this place has a good amount of vegetarian, and dare I say, vegan options. And just for the record, my rating is really like 4.75. The only reason I left off one star is that the service is a bit spotty. We had some angst-ridden teenage bus boy who did not want to bring us our drinks. What was his prob?
(4)
Robin W.
I agree that Irazu is way over rated! Sure, the food was dease, but not anywhere near a fine dining experience...and I'd be happy to take my $35 bucks elsewhere. Speaking of bucks, the place is CASH ONLY but there is an ATM inside. It seemed more fast food take-out than sit down restaurant. Maybe people are billing it wrong? The tortilla chips were sopping in grease, the "chef's favorite" Chicken Tiko was good, but nothing more than chicken and pepper shish kabob sans kabob. I loved the fried plantains but that's hard to mess up...and those oatmeal shakes you hear so much about...more like Horchata blended with ice and nutmeg...tasty, but not what I expected. Overall, the place is a Costa Rican version of La Pasadita...good for greasy burritos and tacos. And since they are NOW delivering, I might use this to sop up the next booze infused night.
(3)
River J.
The place is great. We were fortunate to get a table for 7 outside on a beautiful night. It's BYO, and having planned accordingly, we had a great dinner, lots of very good food, and still didn't spend too much since we supplied our own wine. Definitely check this place out, and ask the wait staff for recommendations. Our waiter suggested a few items that were all great choices.
(4)
Rochelle G.
Ohmmmmm! The carne asada Gods smiled down on my burrito because my mouth tastes like heaven. Get the steak burrito fully loaded. Beware the peppers can be really hot. Finish it of with a (soy) Oatmeal shake. Always delicious and consistent.
(4)
Anton F.
So they used to have a REALLY awesome waitress, named Abby, who moved to California, and after that, the service there really started to suck. I haven't been back in probably a year, and I really do miss the Cuban veggie sandwich and the plantains. I may have to make a trek back. The couple who owns this place enlists the aid of their daughter, who I always thought was rather attractive. The wife is surly and takes no guff. The husband is a CTA employee. I'm not sure what any of that has to do with anything, except perhaps if you like surly, or attractive Costa Rican women, or want to shoot the shit about the CTA and it's mismanagement. The water based shakes are pretty good, a bit pricey for what you get, but doable. Would smash again.
(4)
Janna V.
I frequent Irazu with the Jason E. below and am one of the people who love the potato tacos (or are the taquitos?) Anyways-- I'm all about the shakes-- I like them with water instead of milk, especially the fruit ones. The service is extremely friendly and speedy-- but the place is definately a tight squeeze when full-- But its part of the charm i guess. Two things that take away a star tho-- (1) no dogs on the patio-- I understand why they dont do this, but in the spring/summer my dining decisions are based almost solely on being able to bring my pooch with me (2) cash only-- for gods sake people- i realize it is a pain in the ass for retailers to use credit cards (fees and the like) but in the end-- if i dont have cash on me i'll opt for someplace else (who carries cash nowdays?)
(4)
Sarah H.
Oh man was this place good. And we definitely left in a serious food coma. I can't remember a time that I have been that full! I had an amazing vegetarian burrito.. chip and some delicious guac.. and topped it all off with an oatmeal shake. I have to say I was a little weary about the oatmeal shake.. but I had heard so many good things I had to try it... I am so glad I did! I can't wait to go back and have it again. But maybe this time I will limit my intake and try an prevent another food coma episode!
(4)
Jessica H.
SO SUPER GOOD. Oatmeal shake: amazing. Try the fried yucca appetizer, it's super garlicky and delicious. I always eat myself sick at this place. Also, it's cheap--can't beat that in our tough economy.
(5)
Cathy K.
Great food and low costs! Veggie burrito... yum-o! Oatmeal shake sounded weird but was delicious! Service was friendly.... I will definitely be back!
(5)
Jourdan S.
Weak. This place is just okay. Don't believe the hype. This is some of the worst Costa Rican food I've ever had.
(2)
Lauren C.
Irazu is definitely where it's at. They offer a really great variety of vegetarian options and their food is consistently top notch (and certainly on par with anything I've eaten in Costa Rica, if not better). If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend you do!
(4)
annoushka l.
I got 2 veggie tacos and a side of patacones - it was amazing and fed me for three meals, which is always a plus. I think everyone I ate with was more than satisfied with their food - next time I'm getting the chile relleno and horchata - wow yum. The waitstaff was friendly and accommodating and despite the wait, the overall experience was excellent. There is no corkage fee and the atmosphere was pleasant. Minus one star for Styrofoam to-go containers - next time (and there will be many next times) I'll bring my own.
(4)
Evann G.
Irazu has been bookmarked on my Yelp page for a very long time, and I FINALLY had dinner there (take-out) the other night. I was surprised by how small it was, and the waiting area was very crowded, but the staff was friendly and helpful and we didn't have to wait long for our food to be ready to go. I had been fantasizing about their oatmeal shakes after reading all the Yelp reviews, but I decided we also had to try a cornmeal shake. The very helpful person who took our order recommended we add chocolate to the oatmeal shake and banana to the cornmeal one. When all was said and done, I liked the cornmeal one better. They were both really good, but I think my expectations for the oatmeal shake were just too high. I enjoyed the "gritty" texture of both of them, but the oatmeal one was too... icy, or something. Hard to put a finger on exactly what it was. I'd give the oatmeal shake 4 stars and the cornmeal shake 5. I had the potato tacos, and they were also really good. They weren't quite as "involved" as I thought they'd be -- literally just mashed potatoes in a taquito-like setting -- but simplicity is the way to go when it comes to these things, as far as I'm concerned. All in all? I'd definitely go back again. A bunch of us ate there that night and all the food looked (and SMELLED) really good, and everyone gave it a thumbs up.
(4)
Matt C.
I've been here a few times now, and I see no reason why I won't be back for more. Their menu is pretty extensive, though I have never strayed from the sandwich menu. The place seems to always be busy, so I've always taken it to go. Its a pretty interesting spot at night, those that can't get a table seem to simply order it to go then sit outside in the small parking lot eating and drinking their beers. Is this authentic Costa Rican? I have no idea, but its delicious, so I don't care.
(4)
Tracy P.
Had a really great late lunch at Iraza yesterday with my sis and a friend. A great place for vegetarian dishes and the like. The chili rellenos was fabulous! The best I've had since the grandma retired from my favorite spot in Pilsen. The Costa Rican black beans and rice was delicious. The host was great. Show them some love this summer! BYOB to boot!
(4)
Patricia K.
Let's start with the service - The server had a very interesting attitude and approach. The manner in which he spoke to us was as if he was another patron who just happened to love the place. Not in that fake salesman-like way but in the genuine way that makes you forget for a moment that he is your server, not your fellow diner. And his service level was certainly acceptable. There wasn't entirely much for him to do as we were not refilling drinks or needing extra items but the minimal work required was completed as it should be. As for the rest of the staff, I certainly have no complaints. In fact, it was obvious that everyone got along well and actually enjoyed working there. When I originally walked in, I was carrying a present for my friend. The host and one of the servers quickly joked "Awee, for me?" which was cute and fun and overall made me feel like a regular. The food was pretty good. This was my first Costa Rican experience and I'd say that I will be trying more in the future. I ordered the Casado. Upon the suggestion from the server, I upgraded my rice to the Costa Rican rice and I'm glad I did. It was very tasty and probably my favorite part of the dish. I must admit, however, that I had a few too many chips before my meal and found it hard to eat much of my entree. The chicken was very moist. My only complaint was that the seasoning wasn't consistent and some parts of the chicken had significantly less flavor. Our appetizer was the Chifrijo.... it was delicious and hard to stop eating. The venue itself is a bit of a dive... but in that "good" dive way. It added to the character of the place.
(3)
Mots M.
AMAZINGGGGGGGGG. This is easily my favorite place in Bucktown. Awesome prices, great food, BYOB, and an awesome wait staff. It gets packed in the summer to sit outside but the wait is worth it. Love, love, love. The burritos are baller, tilapia too and steak. The shakes are delish too.
(5)
Cassie B.
Irazu has become a favorite of mine among Chicago restaurants. There are decent vegetarian options among the meat dishes which makes it great for a party of mixed diets. It's also incredibly affordable. I typically order the vegetarian burrito and an oatmeal milkshake (you have to at least try it once!). The sweet plantains and yucca topped with mojo are delicious additional veg options. I can't wait to give the potato tacos and the empanadas a try! It's a small establishment, but it expands in the summer with outdoor seating. BYOB!
(5)
jason e.
Vegetarian haven. Having only had veggie stuff here, I can say that my personal experiences with the eating there have been fantastic, but I have to slight the place a star because a date once had some fish rice combination that looked like someone had poured a can of tuna into some mexican (or rather, costa rican) rice. Fried yuca with garlic oil is not quite health food but wow is it good. Mamey/oatmeal shake, now available with soy milk, is worth the price of admission alone. The palmito salad is something special. Potato tacos seem to be everyone's favorite. Except mine. Yummy with hot sauce. Fantastic place all in all, and one I visit often.
(4)
Anonymous N.
I don't know what all the hype is. I ordered and 2 others in our group ordered El Tico. Thin rib eye steak which is suppose to be soft and tender meat was hard to chew and coming from a Latin family I know my meats and the sazón (flavor) of how dishes are suppose to taste. I ordered half steak and half chicken on El Tico. The chicken was diced like that out of a Progresso soup can. The chicken was overcooked and the tomato sauce was sweet. Tomato sauce in a latin dish that is sweet is unacceptable, tomato sauce in Italian cusine is. The beans came out of a can. Disgraceful. The plantains- not ripe..... not sweet, hard to chew. I was there with a group of 4. we anxiously waited 45 minutes to get seated and were looking forward to our dinner. we were hungry but not in a bad mood, at least not yet. The line to the bathroom (one toilet-unisex) definitely added to our bad experience. The other dish that our group tried was the tilapia dish, the fish was swimming in oil.....same comments for the beans and plantains. The only food we liked was the grilled veggies. . If you haven't had good Latin food then this place will hit the spot. The ambience is nice but honestly the food here is terrible. We had a terrible experience.
(1)
Ed A.
Whenever the office discovers a new delivery restaurant that is willing to deliver to our zone on Fulton Street we are on it like fly on yah...you know. shhh*t. Taco Tico and that lizano sauce...yum..think this is unique to Irazu...correct me if I am wrong...they are tasty and love the crunch of the tortilla and crunch from the cabbage. Patacones are a meal unto themselves...roasted garlic...damn good. Beef, plaintain, chicken empanadas...good, not too greasy...hits the spot when consumed with hot salsa. All their shakes and the many varieties in which you can satisfy your cravings...don't you dare order soda...order the shakes. Last but not least...drum roll....oatmeal/banana milk shake...sex in a cup. Little extreme but really its so good and unique. PS: Foodler! Again...any restaurant using foodler or any other online ordering system just GETS IT.
(4)
lauren r.
Costa Rican food at it's finest! It's just like being there.... I usually dine in, but most recently I opted for take out. I ended up choosing the Palmito Salad with chicken. The beets add beautiful color and flavor with the cabbage, hearts of palm, tomatoes, avocado and tomato. The 'dressing' is basic: oil, lime and a bit a vinegar. It's simple, yet delicious. Again, portion was large, but I feel like I'm getting my money's worth and enjoy having lunch for work for the following day. Forgetting that they only accept cash, I went in to pay with my credit card. The owner was so nice he told me to take my food home and stop by and pay whenever I had a chance. (They do have an ATM, but I didn't have my debit card.) I returned to pay later that night and he offered me a free batido de avena (oatmeal shake)! I know, you may be thinking, 'an oatmeal shake? eck!' It's actually amazing! It's has the creamy, cinnamon taste, but is so smooth! If no one told you, you wouldn't even know there was oatmeal in it! In the past I've had the Chicken Casado, the Chicken Tico and the Tilapia Tacos; all have been delicious and well prepared. I have yet to venture to any beef items, but plan to do so eventually. This restaurant can be busy on the weekends, especially since it's BYO, so expect a wait. Waiting room is limited, but if you go when it's nice out, they let you hang out outside.
(5)
Sean H.
Great food. Fresh tasting and well prepared!
(4)
Theresa F.
You know what I hate? Fake Latin food. You know what I love? Irazu Restaurant. After living in the midwest for over three years, I have finally found a Latin American restaurant that comes close to the authentic food I grew up eating. A friend of mine and I asked someone we met at the Bucktown Art Festival where we should eat our next meal in Chicago, and she suggested Irazu. "Really good, quick, and authentic" is what she said. And boy was she right. We walked into the incredibly busy restaurant on a Saturday night, starved and ready for some deliciousness. I ordered the special of tilapia tacos, which came loaded with rice, beans and plantains. We also ordered chips and salsa, and chicken ticos. The beans were just like my mother makes them -- cooked down for hours, and flavored with plenty of onions and salt. My tilapia tacos were messy and simply flavored with grilled onions and cilantro. The tilapia was fresh and cooked to perfection. I have to say I was surprised, too, since they were so jammed with to-go orders and in-house diners. Service was funny and friendly despite the craziness inside. The guys behind the counter let us try their special drinks on the house, which were sweet and surprisingly tasty (I'm not a sweet drink fan traditionally). Next time, I will definitely order one. If I lived in Chicago, Irazu would be a staple. As it is, I will be convincing my Chicago friends that we'll need to visit this hole-in-the-wall next time we're visiting. Everytime "Chicago" is mentioned in our house, "Irazu" shortly follows, and my husband is on the verge of making a special trip out to Chicago just to try this place. Really, he doesn't know what he's missin' yet!
(5)
Dominique B.
My boyfriend and I live for Irazu. The traditional dish, the casado, is unbelievable in its blend of flavors. Not only that but its the best bang for your dollar as you have left overs for at least two days! We go there just for their shakes, Oatmeal only! It sounds weird but it will be the best thing you've ever tried. Highly recommend it for guests, but get there early. Always a wait but worth it!
(5)
Ali C.
I give it five stars simply for their vegetarian salad. It's a simple, yet delicious mix of cabbage slaw, beets, avocado, cilantro, tomato, radishes and topped with lime juice, vinegar and olive oil. It is SOOOOO good! Also, they have great shakes. My favorite is their oatmeal shake, which is earthy and filling. A final compliment goes out to their stock of Lizano sauce. Lizano is a great sauce that is kind of like a Costa Rican A1. I've had a hard time finding it in the states and they are very generous with their Lizano at Irazu. The place itself isn't much, it's actually kind of dumpy. A great place, however, for a casual BYOB meal or take out.
(5)
Joe W.
We love the food here, my family comes here all the time. The restaurant is very child friendly, and you cant beat BYOB and the outdoor patio. We did have a problem with delivery one time but the owner and manager contacted us immediately to resolve the situation, which we really appreciated. Overall we have had nothing but an extremely positive experience here, and appreciate the awesome food and great service.
(5)
Kori M.
Very good food here. I had the milanesa dinner. Yum! It had a bunch of cheese melted right over the top. I do wish the milanesa would have been bigger. It's a bit on the small side especially compared to the other steaks. I loved the oatmeal shake too. I did feel the service was poor. I don't know if I caught them on an off night but seriously the place is as big as my closet. It shouldn't be that hard to give good service. If it was an off night I'll update this review because I'm definitely returning here.
(4)
Kim B.
Irazu gets 3.5 stars overall. Service... meh, could have been better, could have been worse. Salsa... yuck. Just tasted "spicy" and serving presentation was ick. Potato tacos - yummy! Oatmeal/Mamey milkshake - worth returning for If you can just stop and get your food to go, I think that is the best bet. Just make sure you get a milkshake!
(3)
Elizabeth N.
The oatmeal shake lives up to all the hype! You need to come here just for that. So our night started off weird - an inattentive server - who brought us 24 oz mason jars to drink our wine (they were out of other glasses). In general the service was slow and odd. But the food was good and cheap! Total bill was $45 for 3 people and we left stuffed. Loved the casual vibe. Will definitely be back. Let's just hope for a better server next time.
(4)
Katy K.
We ordered an oatmeal + blackberry shake, a mamey shake, empanadas, chicharrón, and casada with tilapia. Our server seemed a bit stretched thin, he had a lot of tables that sat down at the same time, but he was professional and courteous so it did not affect our visit. The shakes and empanadas stood out from the rest. When it's warmer I will definitely return for some hot empanadas paired with light beer. The chicharrón was good, but a little dry and the casada was pretty tasty although there were bones in the fish.
(4)
Claire S.
Love this place. I hosted a baby shower for my sister-in-law in the Irazu party room which is just down the street from the main restaurant on Milwaukee. It was the perfect size for our group of about 25, decorated with art, candles, and brightly colored tableware. Our server Jonathan went above and beyond by helping us put up decorations before guests arrived---- he brought a full sized ladder from another building and hung our paper flowers from the ceiling. The food was spectacular and got lots of compliments from guests. There is a pre fixe menu that includes the most popular items from Irazu's menu, and the owner Henry Cerdas was flexible in adjusting the menu to add more vegetarian options. It's BYOB, and we brought champagne and Corona--- 2 coolers stocked with ice were waiting for us when we got there, and they set up a mimosa station with carafes of orange and mango juice and fresh fruit. I highly recommend Irazu and their party room for events. I saved myself a lot of time and stress by working with them. I saved money too--- I did a lot of price comparisons when looking for a location, and this was definitely the best price, best menu, and best space I found!
(5)
Jason A.
I don't get the hype of this place, its so mediocre. The plantains are great but the rest of the items have always disappointed me.
(2)
Matt H.
Let's dispatch with the obvious: (1) yes, it's awesome that it's BYOB; (2) it is redonkulously cheap for how good it is; and (3) the porch is the perfect place to spend a summer night. The ceviche was especially tasty and I always seem to end up with a happy mountain of empanadas. The servers are like what you would expect from a really well-sorted beach-side place in San Diego: cool, no pressure, and will dive across the patio to open your beer. Sometimes the table-sharing is a little hit or miss. Last time we sat next to three guys who were having possibly the most intelligent conversation in Chicago, moving from critical theory and alienation, to the historical significance of the new pope, to the nature of time, etc. all with striking fluency. The sudden realization of my own idiocy was distracting. But that wasn't anyone's fault. Will be back.
(4)
Areli R.
Went for the first time and tried the Pepito sandwich, it was perfectly warm and toasted. The steak wasn't as tender as I hoped it to be, the flavors blended in well. Everything was nice and fresh. I also tried a beef and potato empanada, I've had better. Will definitely return to try the rice and shrimp platter. I like the cozy atmosphere, music is great, a bit too loud, I felt like I was at a club.
(3)
Barbara B.
Had a really great meal here. First timer for Costa Rican food. Decided to try a bunch of things: Apps: Ceviche- solid. Good mix of flavors. Yuca fries with garlic oil- amazing! Piping hot, paired perfectly with the garlic oil. Chifrijo- my favorite thing of the night. The fried pork was so tasty, just the right amount of spice, delicious. Next time I come I would get this as my main dish. For my entree I had the Casado with rib eye steak. The steak was really tasty. I paid the extra $1 for the gallo pinto (rice w/ beans mixed in) . Overall I'm glad I tried this dish but I would try something else next time.
(4)
Jen D.
Cmon Irazu you're better than this!! First time in 10yrs I've ever thought boring and bland at Irazu:( Breakfast burrito is solid offering and hearty enough for a linebacker before the big game. Unfortunately it is all mush in your mouth of beans and egg. No heat. Not even a stinkin jalapeno to pretend you care. Why o why! Very disappointed but 4 stars from my historical experience ... I usually only order lunch or dinner. Best breakfast burrito still lives at Flo's ...
(4)
Anuj S.
Overall, I like Irazu. It had some unique food and the service was fine. For some reason I forgot to review this place after we went, so I'm forgetting exactly what all we ate. I know we ordered a TON of food, because it was our first time and we wanted to try things. They didn't have enchiladas, but I do remember the empanadas were excellent. Really excellent spinach and cheese empanadas. I think we also asked for mushroom ones, but ended up getting all spinach ones. They were excellent, so I'm not complaining. I believe we also had tacos or something else like that. Overall, I think the food was OK and the empanadas were excellent. The shakes were good. We had a mango and a strawberry shake and those were nice. They tasted pretty fresh, although the waiter told us they were made from frozen fruits. I do remember that this place doesn't accept credit cards, which is somewhat inconvenient.
(3)
Bradley B.
Solid food, but stay for the shakes.
(4)
Amy D.
Irazu is so yummy! I stopped by with some friends, and ordered a sandwich, the oatmeal smoothy, and a chirjo. The sandwich was fine but the smoothing and chirjo were definitely the highlights of the meal. The chirjo was so fresh tasting, a great savory, yet not too heavy, choice. The smoothie was delicious, and thick enough to almost be a light meal. Definitely try them out!
(4)
Liz U.
The first two times I went there it was a great experience. Food was good, service was good, also the place wasn't busy. I went here tonight with a party of 8. Patiently waited while they continued to push our party back 20 minutes, then another 20 minutes and another 20 minutes. We get sat, wine is opened, apps ordered, all is great. Until one in our party orders a quesadilla with extra cheese. Regular quesadilla comes out, wait 15 minutes and the waiter never comes over. We eventually flag the owner down and say we would like the meal fixed. Instead of saying sorry and of course we'll add more cheese he says "looks good to me, I think you've been drinking too much." We've had 3 beers in two hours. Long story short don't DARE complain about anything because instead of getting it fixed you'll be told it's fine and accused of drinking too much.
(1)
Crystal Z.
The best burrito I have ever had in my entire life came from this place. I had the steak burrito with avocado, and it was so juicy and delicious. The avocado really probably isn't necessary because the meat in the burrito is so good on its own. The chifrijo appetizer here is also out of this world. It is really unique, and so incredibly delicious. The sauce really pulls all the ingredients together in a really cohesive, amazing dish. I also tried out the famous oatmeal shake, which was really good, but honestly tasted very similar to the horchata for me, so I'd rather just get the delicious horchata for a dollar or two less next time. My husband got the pepito sandwich, which was just okay - it was really hard to compete after tasting how amazing the burrito was.. I really love the outdoor seating too. A perfect way to spend a weekend afternoon.
(5)
Katie K.
I really loved this place!! Wow. This place has a super fun vibe to it. My party and I walked in and we were seated immediately on a Monday night around 6:30pm. We ordered an appetizer to share and some shakes to share. The shakes were so delicious. One got a chocolate banana and the other got a fruity shake. Both were delectable. I highly recommend trying a shake. It's also BYOB so you could bring alcohol and add to shake, or they have pitchers of juice available too. Talk about stellar food! I ordered the guacamole as an appetizer and the veggie burrito and taco tico for my dinner. Everything was delicious. And the portions were big, I had a half a burrito to take home with me. The tico taco was interesting and unique. I liked it. I can't wait to try more items from their menu. The only reason for the 4 star instead of 5 star is due to slow service. Maybe just an off day.
(4)
Christy L.
I'm a bit torn between giving Irazu 3 or 4 stars. Last week, I ordered delivery from Irazu. Note that they have a very wide delivery area so if you don't live close, don't assume you can't get Irazu delivered. I ordered El Tico with rib eye steak, and it was delicious. The meal has a little of everything: beef, rice, beans, onions, peppers, and plantains. The beef was a little chewy but I expected that given the price ($13.50) for the entree. All mixed together, it was a tasty and filling meal and enough for two meals. My friends and I headed to Irazu again last night. Arriving at 7pm on a Saturday night, we waited about a half an hour for a table for three as they don't take reservations. We sat in the back room which didn't have quite as nice an atmosphere as the heated front porch. I again ordered El Tico, but this time it was a bit too greasy for me. I was almost grossed out. However, when I re-heated the leftovers today, it wasn't as oily and actually tasted better and was delicious. We also shared the Chifrijo appetizer, and the pork flavor could have been a bit stronger, though I liked the crunchy texture and it was still plenty tasty and different than any dish I've ever had. We split an oatmeal shake which was delicious - tasted like oatmeal cookies and milk. It's BYOB which makes it super affordable. We each paid $20 for plenty of food. Metered street parking is pretty easy.
(4)
Jackie M.
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.
(4)
Maggie W.
Delicious food and friendly service. I had the El Tico, with chicken at the recommendation of the server, and my husband had the Vegetarian Paella, which surprised me because he's normally quite a carnivore, but he loved it. The service was friendly and helpful. The restaurant is BYOB, and there is a liquor store a couple blocks north on Milwaukee. Also, it is cash-only, but there is an ATM either inside or very close (we brought cash but our dining companion didn't). It was a chilly November evening, and we sat on the enclosed patio - it was warm enough but I was glad to have a sweater on, so definitely something to keep in mind. They have indoor seating, but it's smaller than the patio. We definitely plan to go back!
(4)
Bill J.
Pepito, chifrijo, empanadas, entrees, oh my. Oatmeal shake - you have got to be bleepin' me it is good!
(5)
Leslie G.
If I had written this review a year ago, I would have given Irazu a much higher rating, but my recent experiences there have been subpar, hence the low rating. When I first started coming here, I usually ordered the veggie burrito, which was/is a great value--a huge burrito for under 5 bucks. However, I feel like something has changed in the taste department. I used to think this was one of the better burritos I've had, but on my most recent visit it was simultaneously way too spicy and incredibly bland somehow. Also, parts of it were hot and parts of it were cold, which was annoying. On another visit some months ago, I had a shrimp and rice dish that was also disappointing. The shrimp were not cooked well and the dish overall was pretty bland. I will say that the shakes here are pretty good. My boyfriend had a vanilla shake recently that was quite delicious. All in all, however, I feel like Irazu has gone downhill. At this point, I probably will not be returning.
(2)
Jessica T.
Fantastic food for great prices. Loved the grilled steak and patacones. The oatmeal shake was a nice dessert item.
(5)
Jessica B.
Just go. It's delicious, reasonably priced, and BYOB. Only downside is cash only, but they do have an ATM. I always leave completely stuffed and happy.
(5)
Val P.
Absolutely love this place!! The food is always delicious and prepared correctly and fast! Just this morning I placed an order for myself and fifteen coworkers. When I called to place the order the man who answered the phone, Omar, was amazing! Some of the best customer service I have encountered in a while. I even called back with questions on two separate occasions and I still was greeted with a polite person on the other end. After receiving the enormous order, I noted two things. One, every order was correct (this is a big deal to me, as I always substitute ingredients) and two, the delivery was very fast! Every single person that ordered was impressed with the food and all said their order was "delicious or yummy". This place has definitely become one of my favorite restaurants since recently discovering. I can say this for myself and my coworkers, we will be ordering from Irazu again, very soon!!
(5)
Bret C.
We took out from her last week and it was amazing!!! I would recommend the Chifrijo (appetizer) and the Pepito (Steak Sandwich). I have been dreaming about the Chiftijo since we ate it.
(5)
Vishal S.
Bean and rice appetizer was pretty good. The Costa Rican sandwich was delicious. Definitely recommend this place, especially for summer time byob place.
(5)
E K.
Great experience tonight at Iraziu. Omar was fantastic- attentive, knowledgable, and just fun. The food was very good, must notably the pepito steak sandwich and the chifrijo. Everything was good and you can't beat a no corkage fee BYOB!
(4)
Dan S.
Arrived with a group of 7 out-of-towners at 7:30pm and were told one hour wait. They called us (we were at a local pub two blocks North) in 45 minutes and seated us promptly. The BYOB is a great option and we purchased wine and beer at a local store just across the street with a good selection. The food, we all agreed, was excellent. We began with appetizers, including guacamole and chifrijo with chips. The green sauce in the bottles was killer (watch out if you don't like heat) as was the lizano sauce (mild, almost sweet), which we ordered ala carte. Our menu choices varied from vegetarian to chicken and beef dishes. Most of us chose the Casado and El Tico dinners, which were ample, tasty and very affordable. We coupled these with malbec (French Cahors) and rioja wines and weren't disappointed. This is a popular spot on Summer evenings - and with good reason. We will return whenever we're back in Chicago looking for good food on a Summer night. Upside: Great food, affordable, BYOB (store across the street) Downside: No reservations, closing time is 9:30pm (why so early?), Cash Only!
(4)
Jen D.
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.
(4)
Cynthia E.
This place breathes a Costa Rican vibe. All staff was friendly and chill. They really lived up to "Pura Vida, Cada Dia.", complete with "Pura Vida" staff shirts. The price also reminded me of Costa Rica's affordable food. I met here with classmates I studied abroad in Costa Rica with 7 years ago. We brought laptops, picture cds from our trip, Costa Rican beer and tons of photo albums. Irazu was a perfect reunion spot for us. Overall my group of 5 got meals, sides, appetizers and lemonade and the bill came to around $82. Not bad for 5 people! I ordered the Costa Rican sandwich with a side of gallo pinto. Combined, the total was under $10! And everything was DELICIOUS and fresh. I'm still thinking of that gallo pinto. Words of the wise: -They only take CASH. There's an on-site ATM but make sure you bring your own if you want to avoid any fees. A $20 should surely do it. -They have one baño. From the outside it doesn't look great but inside it's clean and well-kept. -Outside seating can get loud since it's close to the El. But the overall environment of the restaurant makes up for the passing train rumble. Arrive early since outside seating space is limited. -Driving west down Milwaukee it's easy to miss this place since a giant tree blocks the sign. I missed it and had to turn around. -Street parking is easy (Pay to Park Boxes) or you can take the Blue Line -BYOB. Do it! I will be back!
(4)
Lucia Z.
Great little place. First of all, I love Costa Rica. The culture and food are so laid back and simple. I love it. And I really like Irazu. They did a really nice job of sort of mimicing the Costa Rican style. The patio is nice. The service is friendly. The food is to the point. And dirt cheap. Can't really ask for much more.
(4)
Grant L.
I would give it more but the Milanesa sandwich I ordered was way too thin of meat and over fried to where I had to PULL it apart to eat it. My wife had a burrito and she loved it! I had a bite of hers and I agree, it was great! But, don't waste your money on the milanesa. Very disappointing.
(2)
Johnny G.
I had 5 different empanadas- pineapple, mushroom, spinach and cheese, beef and potato, and chicken, and an oatmeal milkshake. Everything was great. The empanada I liked least was the mushroom, bbut it was still good. The one I liked most was the spinach and cheese. The pineapple one was simple but tasty- pineapple chunks in an empanada shell. The oatmeal shake was outstanding; i almost ordered another. My wife had a steak burrito, cuz that's all she ever gets, and i tried it and it was surprisingly good. I wish we had brought some rum so they could make us a drink, but we did bring some wine. The bill was surprisingly small for how full we were and how good the food tasted. Small and intimate atmosphere. 30 min wait but that was to be expected on a Friday night. We got fried plantains with garlicx oil for an appetizer, and that was the only aspect that we didn't care for- the oil is too strong and the fried plantains were too heavy. All together, I was very pleased and will recommend this place to others.
(4)
C D.
the burrito is the bomb! we made an online order and they ended up giving us the wrong order.
(4)
Ramya P.
The highlight - Chifrijo!! I could literally eat the whole thing by myself. Me, the hubs and a couple of friends went here on a gorgeous Friday evening for dinner. This place is a trending spot and is crowded in the evenings. We had to wait for about 30-40 mins and when we were finally seated we started munching on the chips and tomatillo salsa. The chifrijo reminded all of us of Indian street food that we absolutely love and dove right into it. I got the veggie paella which was good but really enjoyed the casado, the potato taco and tostada. Too bad that we were too full to try the legendary oatmeal shake, but we'll be back for that!! PS - Note that this place is BYOB and CASH only.
(4)
AnnaMaria V.
I have known about Irazu for years. Driven by it plenty of times. This was the first time I stopped to pick up carryout. I really liked everything I ordered. I got the steak sandwich, empanadas & fried plantain. Tasty and yummy. I will return and try more items on the menu. It is definitely worth a try!
(4)
David M.
They are back on their game. Food is good and the expanded menu allows me to get more plantains, which I love. Onion steak for me and the Casado for the mrs.
(4)
Candyce P.
Outdoor patio is ok, but street traffic was very, very noisy. The food is good. I had the Pepito sandwich and patacones. No complaints on the sandwich, it was tasty and I always order it when I go there. The patacones, which were ordered as an appetizer, came after the sandwiches, and they were still raw in the center. I informed the waiter and he took it off my bill, and also made me a fresh order of patacones to take home with me, which was very nice. The oatmeal shake is delicious, reminded me of horchata but tastier. The green juice they make onsite is ok, but served without ice and was pretty much warm juice-not so pleasant. This would be a great place for a friend's birthday lunch or group get-together because you can be as loud as the traffic! I also loved the latin music they play on the patio. One drawback is that it is CASH ONLY, but there is an ATM onsite. It is also BYOB for those that enjoy that. I would return again and recommend this place to others.
(4)
Kathleen C.
I recently visited Irazu a few times (both for dinner and for lunch) and have to update my review a bit. I still love Irazu's food - and now that I've tried more items, I can say that everything is pretty tasty. However, the service can be hit or miss. At lunch, we had a great server - really energetic and friendly. We were able to eat quickly (which is good when you don't have a lot of time during the work week) and the price is very reasonable. However, the last two times, we've had the same server, and have been with big groups. He seemed a bit out of it both times, and the most recent time, there was a group of 6 of us and we were seated at a table against a wall (all of us basically had to sit on one side). We tried to move the table around and we were not able to as they said we had to leave an aisle. This would be fine - EXCEPT - we had the exact same table last time with a group of 9 and we were able to sit around it like a normal dining table. This doesn't make any sense - you either need to leave space of not, but don't change this based upon a whim of the day. Back to service...service was slow and our server seemed really confused or tired or something (same as last time). This is such a difference from my previous visits and the lunch visit when service was efficient, but not rushed and really friendly. While I love Irazu for it's food and reasonable prices (and BYO!), I think I need a break since I was a bit disappointed recently.
(4)
Adam K.
Friendly Staff, affordable and wonderful food. Try the tortas or any of the traditional items on the menu. The oatmeal shake is outstanding.
(5)
Baky S.
I always drove by Irazu because it's a few blocks away from my place but I never bothered going in. Yesterday, on my way home I decided to pick up lunch from there. I got a steak sandwich and some fried plantains, it was absolutely delicious!!!!! Will definitely be a regular there from now on!!!
(5)
Craig G.
Just go, it's that good. Get a Pepito sandwich with peppers, and yuca frita. You won't regret it.
(5)
Kyle P.
Love the pepito and oatmeal shake. Start with taco tito...
(5)
Stella A.
Irazu is a great spot for a casual lunch/dinner/date. Highlights (not in any particular order): 1. Parking: There was ample street parking in that area (at least the day that I was there- 7ish on a Thursday evening). 2. The host: Upon arriving, I gave the host my name to secure a table. He then proceeded to semi-scream it out (STELLAAAAAAAA). Not the first time this happened but still cracked me up. 3. The service: The waiter knew his stuff. Was attentive and knowledgeable. 4. THE FOOD: Appy: The ceviche was awesome. It's served with crackers but tasted better with the complementary tortilla chips they give you when you first sit down. Dinner: I had the El Tico. Rib eye steak with red peppers and onions. The steak was a little on the chewy side but the flavor more than made up for that. Whatever the heck they cooked the steak and peppers in, I want it in everything. I believe the Costa RIcan take on rice and beans may be my favorite. It was light and fluffy and GOOD. Dessert: The flan. I love flan. I love Irazu's flan. Will definitely be back to try everything else on the menu.
(4)
Kate L.
This place is great. Great food, good service, cute little outdoor seating that's covered with heat lamps during the winter. I love that's it's BYOB and Costa Rican, you can't find that anywhere else in the city (that I'm aware of). The food is extremely affordable and delicious.
(5)
Diana T.
Awesome place, The food is absolutely delicious! It was my first time having Costa Rican food, so I cannot speak to the authenticity. I went here for a birthday dinner with about 15 other people. The bday girl had some sort of family style dinner set up, which was awesome and came out to only $20 per person! Yes it is BYOB!! And yes the service was great!! THE OATMEAL SHAKE: TO DIE FOR!!
(5)
Adam B.
In between a 2 star and 3 star rating, decided on a 2 star. Yelp come on man, we need the half star rating. The guacamole was good, BYOB always a plus. I ordered the El Tico and got it spicy. The food was just okay at best. It lacked flavor, even with making it spicy. Not sure how it can be a chef's favorite. The meal wasn't bad but it was nowhere from being good.
(2)
Jennifer Y.
Better than the food I had in Costa Rica. Seriously. I came here with a big group of 15+. Food was done family style and amazing. The onioned steak entree was the best thing on the menu, sooo good. Yuca topped with Mojo very good, empanadas were delicious. Didn't have sandwiches but they looked really interesting and I want to try them next time. Chicken mixed with rice dinner and veggie side was okay but not amazing. Oatmeal milk shake done with milk (they have a soy option) is to die for. Cash only but BYOB saves you some extra cash. Not fancy but lively with great customer service. I will def be back.
(4)
Miguelina E.
Over-rated. Under cooked and greasy food. Shakes are the better thing there. I've given it three tries and done with it for good.
(2)
Chris M.
Reasonably priced and a BYOB! The food is great and I've enjoyed bringing and meeting up with friends here. Casual atmosphere. They don't take reservations so it's good to keep that in mind when you come here, especially on the weekends. Enjoy!
(4)
Kathryn F.
My pre-marathon meal consisted of this: Tostones with pureed black beans & mojo de ago Vegetarian plate (spinach) with gallo pinto and maduros 1 avena shake.... ....the 1 avena y chocolate shake to go. Service was wonderful. I had no wait on a Friday night at 7 pm; then again, it was just me. All the food was delicious, the tostones were crisp and hot, the veggie plate had perfectly cooked peppers and the gallo pinto was great. As for the shake(s), I think that ordering one to go speaks for itself. It was just so tasty and made me wish that I could recreate that flavor at home. Ps. This gave me the energy to finish the marathon. Talk about carbo loading! I probably ate 3 whole plantains that night.
(5)
Ron T.
Final Update! Almost 4 months later I finally had the opportunity to order a new meal from Irazu. I was hopeful and optimistic and they really surpassed my expectations. Today's order was extremely well handled by Justin, on the phone. He was professional and very detail oriented. I cannot say enough good things about how AWESOME management (Henry,and Omar) were through this process. They were truly and genuinely willing to listen and to help. I call back this long after my original conversation and they still remember me. I gave them so much credit, just for that. Then for them to remain cordial and courteous throughout this process is something I value and appreciate. Now to the food. We tried a variety of items including the Taco Tico's, Casado with Tilapia, Pepito sandwich and Chifrijo. Every single thing was awesome. Even the tortilla chips that came with the Chifrijo were great. I am really happy that we had the chance to try their food again and definitely will go back in the future. The taco tico's were actually our favorite and now we can't get enough of the, Next time we need to order a couple extra for leftovers. I now see that my original bad experience was truly just a bad day/moment and not indicative of the typical Irazu experience. I really have never experienced such great resolution to an issue before and I think the Irazu team should be commended. I now see why the reviews for this place are so good. It really is good stuff. Now I just need to get over to the restaurant to get a fresh shake, cause I still really do want to try one. Thanks Henry, Justin and Omar!!!
(5)
Ehow C.
I came here for dinner with friends before a comedy sketch show. Chips and salsa were pretty average, but the Jamaican lime-tea and oatmeal milkshake were pretty superb. I ordered a burrito with chorizo and avocado, and I'm saddened to report the chorizo was a bit too salty for my taste. The spices from the chorizo and peppers were delicious, however, so it wasn't a complete loss. I'd be willing to come here again for the lime tea, and maybe trying something else. The menu is pretty affordable with many vegetarian options, but keep in mind it's cash only!
(3)
Michelle W.
PHENOMENAL! I've been to Costa Rica and the food here was exactly as how I remember it! So DELICIOUS! And HUGE portions! Definitely can take another meal home. Also, went with a group of friends for a dual-birthday celebration and Greg and David STARTED OUR NIGHT OFF PERFECTLY! Thanks, guys! :) Muy tuanis! PURA VIDA!
(5)
Ashley K.
Hmm. Well I wanted to like this place a lot more than I did. I've driven by it numerous times and when I saw it on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, it was the push I needed to stop in and check it out. As always, I did my yelp homework before I went in and scoped out some of the most recommended things on the menu. I went with the soy oatmeal shake, which was, hands down, my favorite thing that we ordered. My friend had the mango shake, and she liked it a lot. We shared the chifrijo for an app - also pretty tasty. The pork was fried crispy and the pico complimented the richness of the pork and the buttery avocado well. Then things went a bit downhill. I opted for the potato tacos upon the recommendation of our server. In full disclosure, I don't like mashed potatoes, but I still thought they sounded good, so I went with them. I don't even think that the mashed potato was the part about the taco I didn't like. And it's not that I didn't like them. They were just a little on the bland side (and also pretty heavy). I went with both the mole and the guac as my sauce. The mole was decent, if not a little...I don't really know what...I just didn't feel like the spices melded as well as they should in a mole. The guac was okay though it seemed like my particular portion suffered from a few bad avocados. My friend's steak (the el tico) was a little on the dry/chewy side. The flavor was decent but I prefer my steak much more medium rare, so I was glad I didn't get a beef dish. For $25, our food was fine and I'm glad I tried this place out. I wouldn't object to returning but I have a lot more eating to do before I'll go out of my way to come back...though I might have to consider it for the oatmeal shake.
(3)
Monica W.
I know everyone says this, but there is a reason why...........OH MY GOD, that oatmeal shake. It is amazing! I had driven by once and thought Irazu looked interesting and had never had Costa Rican food before, so naturally it went onto the "places I am going to try one day" list. My friend wanted to go to lunch and I gave him 6 options. This is the place he picked (thank you, Brandall). We sat in the area that is semi porch-like, not quite indoors or outdoors, but screened in. I have to say that I felt like I was on vacation the entire time I was sitting there. I did not want to leave and had to practically be pulled off of that chair. We split the Costa Rican sandwich and steak burrito and they both had a special sauce (I am not sure if it was unique to Irazu or Costa Rican cuisine in general), but it was delicious. Just like Jenny T., we ordered the hot peppers on the side and did not end up even touching them. The service was great. Our waiter was very friendly and we were able to sit for as long as we wanted. I am convinced this is the cure for anyone with seasonal affective disorder. Cheap vacation. I cannot say enough good things about this place. **BYOB
(5)
Vaidehi T.
Love irazu. Went here for lunch on a sat'day. Its a casual place with some seriously good food. We tried the vegetarian chifrijo - wow. It was a flavor explosion. Absolutely loved it. Then hubby and I shared the veggie burrito, which was also very good. Food is pretty inexpensive and super delicious.
(5)
John L.
Phenomenal. Food was great and I would absolutely go here again. Price- appetizers are about $7-$10. The yuca fries with garlic was worth it. Quality- empanadas, ceviche, yuca fries and oatmeal shake were superb. Lots of flavor and great texture. Quantity- good amouy of food. You definitely get your money's worth. Staff- only reason why I'm not giving 5 stars. Seemed a bit unattentive. We had to do more flagging down of the staff to get served. Atmosphere- Very quaint and somewhat rustic. Great place. I'd definitely go again after collecting cash from my dance moves at the Admiral Theater.
(4)
Linda H.
Far too often, I enjoy toddling on over to Irazu to enjoy some delicious Costa Rican delicacies. Must Haves: Casado (I got chicken) Oatmeal shake (sounds yucky, but trust me, this is not Quaker's instant) Additionally, its BYOB and has a lovely little covered patio. Heads up - its cash only! Go here, you won't regret it!
(5)
Harlow-Merissa K.
Food: 4-stars, service: 1.5 (based upon 2 visits) BYOB that is cash-only. The Good: Delicious oatmeal shakes that can be made with soy (love!) The busboy was nice, and gave us a bucket full of ice for our Tecate, and also gave us chips and salsa. Yummy fried plantains & sandwiches. The Bad: The waiter was SLOWWWW, (it was not busy on the patio) forgot several items, and our food was lukewarm to cold. Not to mention that people who were seated well after we were, had gotten their food & paid before we even received our meals. He never checked to see how everything was, didn't clear any of our dirty plates, didn't refill our water and pretty much ignored us. UGH! Not good if you are hungover on a Sunday & wanting a burrito or sandwich to help recover. The Ugly: Thinking the bad service was a fluke, we gave this place another try, this time with out of town friends. WRONG! Bad service, forgotten items, and very slow the second time around. If you want to order from this place, I would suggest carry out.
(2)
Annette J.
Oatmeal shake? YES PLEASE. I could drink one every day and twice on Sunday. You simply can't go to Irazu without ordering one. It's like, a law, or something. So this past Saturday I did my civic duty by splitting one with my friend and even though I had had oatmeal for breakfast just that very day it still really hit the spot. The cinnamon is so fresh! Seriously, you can really taste the difference between good, fresh cinnamon and the regular stuff. Irazu opts for the former, God blessem. Dinner? Awesome. Got the Pepito sandwich--steak with some melty cheese, sauteed onions and beans. Split some excellent guac and chips with my buddy and had a perfect and so very filling meal. Even though they implement liberal use of chopped cilantro on top of their guacamole and cilantro is my mortal enemy I still love it. Good on you, Irazu. My friend got the potato tacos and the plate was huge! Lots of toppings and sides. Perfect for veggie eating friends out there. The inside space is pretty small which means there can be a wait for a table when it's cold and rainy and the patio isn't open. It's cool, though, because the food is so good you'll be happy to hang tight. I saw a lady next to us get an oatmeal shake to go while she waited for her table. That is SUCH a good call if you're starving or just can't wait for to mainline some oats. She is smart. I just sat, stomach grumbling, and watched the mouthwatering food go by as they took it from the open air kitchen. But once I sat down and ate some warm chips and spicy salsa I knew it was oh so very worth it.
(5)
Adam S.
I've been to this place before, in 2010, which is good for them because otherwise this would be a one-star review. The food is ok. Nothing truly mind-blowing, but it's good. The service on the other hand is terrible. There was 4 of us sitting together this past Saturday. We were one of the first people in the place, and given the choice we decided to sit out on the patio. We placed our orders and were the only table out on the patio. Soon the patio filled and we noticed that everyone on the full patio was getting their food and we had nothing, the waiter hadn't come over to let us know what was going on for a long time. After about 45 minutes people that were seated after us were done eating and paying their bill, getting up and leaving. Yet, we waited. When the waiter finally did talk to us he assured us "only another minute on your food, guys". About twenty more minutes went by and by this time people that were seated after those that had already paid and left were being fed. The hostess came over and assured us that our food was "on its way out". About 10 minutes later our food came and despite not being exactly what we ordered were were nice and too hungry to complain so we just ate what we got. Our waiter pretty much ignored us as we sat and waited and avoided coming to our table and when our food came he didn't even ask to see how things were until we were nearly done. The hostess then came by and gave us all complimentary half-glasses of lemonade. Too little too late. "Sorry that your orders took a little bit to come out". Her understatement and insincere sentiment did not help us. We arrived at 12:10 pm and left after quickly eating and paying at 1:45. Food was ok. Not worth that wait. I've never experienced service so poor.
(2)
Thomas L.
Tried Irazu for the first time--certainly won't be the last! In a world that forces you to chose between Americaned Mexican food or high end Modern Latin, Irazu offers something different. It's down home Costa Rican food in a fun atmosphere for very reasonable prices. As others have said, the Oatmeal shake is delicious. The flavor profile is similar to horchata, so if you like that you'll love the shake. The empanadas are great, doughy, fried triangles of deliciousness. They're small and cheap, so try a few as appetizers if you're with a group. We tried the veggie burrito with chorizo (for some reason the staff recommended adding meat to the veggie rather than ordering the meat) and it was great. The portions are huge, so bring your appetite or a to-go box. We also tried the Pepito Sandwich, as featured on Diners Drive-ins & Dives. The flavors infused into the pork were unique and delicious, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great sandwich that's a bit out of the ordinary. My only star deduction was for the fact that the service was a bit slow and distracted. They were friendly when they came to the table, just kept us waiting a bit too long between trips. Also, the salsa verde they bring with the chips at the beginning is long on heat and short on savory. It would be great to add to a sandwich or burrito, but didn't quite fit the bill for chip dipping. Oh--and bring cash and your own beer. If you're in the mood for a fun, casual meal with some unique flavors, Irazu is a great choice.
(4)
Elizabeth L.
OK. About 15 minutes ago, I was all sorts of ready to write a 2-star review for Irazu. Yes, fans...you heard that right. 2 stars. And here's why... A dozen of us were looking to check in on the hype surrounding this place, and decided to head on down to Bucktown for Saturday dinner. Because we're courteous diners, we made a reservation for 7pm. We were sternly warned; were we to be late or not have our entire party present at 7pm on the dot, we would lose our table. Rules is rules, so we gathered the troops and were there at quarter to 7. Since we were early, we expected a little bit of a wait. So we waited....and waited...and waited...and waited... And waited. We waited for nearly an hour. The hostess told us, oh, about every 20 minutes that our table would be ready soon...she was just waiting for the people there to finish up. That they had been there for two hours and she expected them to leave any minute. That she had taken away their plates and water and she expected them to leave any minute...but that, under no circumstances, could she tell them that there was another party that had reserved the table (Heavens! Imagine turning a table on a busy Saturday night!). Finally...finally...the table cleared. At this point, totally ravenous with hunger, we sat down. With the exception of having to ask 3 times for wine glasses (they had run out, apparently) we were served quickly. The food was delicious! I had the chicken mixed with rice (spicy) and everything was moist and flavorful. When the bill arrived, we were slightly surprised that none of the appetizers had be comped as a gesture of goodwill. It's not the biggest deal, but getting a free guacamole would have cost them nothing and gone a long way towards any one of us wanting to visit Irazu on a weekend again. We all left shaking our heads..."never again" we vowed. And I, personally, was composing my Yelp review. Then, just 15 minutes ago, the friend who made the reservation sent me a message. The manager of Irazu called her personally and apologized for our experience. He gave her his personal phone number and asked that she call him directly ahead of her next visit. And that's all it took to turn this from a 2 star into a 3 star review. That's what being in the restaurant business is about. Restaurant patrons understand that things can get busy and people can get overwhelmed - but when minor inconveniences turn into less minor inconveniences, small courtesies can make all the difference.
(3)
Natalie N.
Can I say OMG!! Guy Fieri can do no wrong! This place is DELICIOUS! We ordered the Chofrijo (check spelling) and I could have just had 2 or 3 plates of that for dinner. I ordered the grilled steak for dinner, let me tell you, I am 100% Puerto Rican and I KNOW you can mess up rice and beans, this plate was top notch, from the cabbage salad to the tender and flavorful steak, and of course, the rice and beans. Best of all, it's BYOB! Our waiter was very friendly and helpful and had great customer service. I want to go back NOW! YUMMY....
(4)
Carrie B.
Ahhh Irazu....Irazu...Irazu. Everyone keeps telling me to come and check you out and I see how busy you are every time I go by and I keep putting you on my list of places to go. Finally I went. I went EARLY on Friday around 5PM. We got seated right away. It's a BYOB so we brought a six pack of beer with us. Thankfully we brought our own bottle opener otherwise we'd be screwed since our waiter only came to take our order and we didn't see him for the rest of the night until it was check time which I'll get back to because this is why I'm giving this place 3 stars. I enjoyed the food a lot. I ordered the Milanese and it was so good! The steak was cooked to perfection. The rice and beans were amazing. The portions are huge! My mom ordered the Casado and I had a couple of bites as well. It was delicious! Everything is better with an egg. We even said that we will definitely have to come back here again because the food was good. Our waiter never came to check on us and didn't even deliver our food. We had to flag him down to get our check. Since Irazu is cash only we wanted change back, but I don't think he understood that. I had to tell two people that we were still waiting for our change. We waited for our change for 15 minutes until someone who wasn't our waiter finally gave it back to us. If you were so sure you were getting a $10 tip maybe you should have come and asked us how we were doing. The food is good, but that waiter really irked me. Maybe I'll have to get it to go because I'll get better service at my own apartment.
(3)
Brian Q.
Rich and flavorful, the pepino sandwich melted in my mouth. Unfortunately, the thick hair I had to pull from my throat did not melt like butter. Next time, I'll take my sandwich without hair embedded in it, and I'll procure that sandwich from someone else...as it's going to be some time before I'll be able to bring myself to order fom Irazu again.
(1)
jenny m.
I'm leaving Chicago and this is the place that I picked to have my going away party at. Not only because my first experience here was so stellar (and it's BYOB), but because Costa Rica, oddly enough, holds a special place in my decision to move out of Chicago so it seemed appropriate to have my goodbye dinner here. I called a couple of weeks in advance to see if they would take a reservation for a large party and thankfully they did. So when we arrived on Saturday night at prime dinner time - there was no wait, yay!! Because we had a party of 11 people, they suggested we go with the prix fixe menu. It wasn't mandatory although they did request either the whole table do it or none of us. We decided to go for it and it was totally worth it. It can be a headache to order when there is a large group and doing a prix fixe made it so easy, so we could get on to the important stuff...talking & drinking!! For the prix fixe, you start out with a horchata drink. It was good, but most of us didn't really drink much of it because we had wine & rum drinks. The next course is chifrio, which is black beans mixed with pork & veggies. Thankfully they can also make it vegetarian (I don't eat pork). For this black bean lover, it was the perfect appetizer. They also brought out a cabbage salad with beets & cucumber and a really delicious house dressing. Between the salad & the chifrio, it was just enough to wet the appetite while we waited for the main course. The main course is the casado which is a traditional costa rican family style platter consisting of a protein, veggies, gallo pinto (my all time favorite rice & bean dish EVER) and plantains. We went with the chicken, beef, and vegetarian platters and this is where you get your money's worth - it was so much food! Everything was really good though and we stuffed our faces until our bellies begged us to stop. Finally for desert you can get their famous oatmeal shake or flan. I tried both and had no complaints on either. (Honestly at that point I was stuffed silly and pretty buzzed so I wasn't paying to much attention to desert.) All through dinner, of which I think lasted about 2 hours, our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. And when the bill came, it was like $25ish with tax & tip. I am sad to be leaving Chicago because I will miss restaurants like this. But, it just gives incentive to visit Chicago often!
(5)
Pete V.
Irazu is #3 on my list of favorite outdoor patio dinner spots in Bucktown (Duchamp is tops closely followed by Big Star). We stopped in for dinner on a Monday night around 8 pm and the place was packed! We were offered a table inside right away, or a 30 min wait for the patio. No worries however, as the host took down our phone number and we strolled over to the Green Eye at Western and Armitage (hiding just below the Armintage blue line station) for a beer on their tiny outdoor patio while we waited. We got our call in less than 20 min and hurried back to grab our table, making sure to stop by Red & White on the way to grab a chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, since of course Irazu is BYO. I was in the mood for the chicken burrito, which was delish and you must, must get avocado added to it. I liked how they grilled the burrito after it was rolled making the tortilla toasty! My wife got the tacos, which you must order at least two since they are a bit smaller and served on standard corn tortilla rolls, but at $2 a pop, they might not be as tasty as Big Star, but a great, great value. Irazu is just a fabulous place to have a great, inexpensive meal in Bucktown. Outside patio + BYO + great food. Does it get any better?
(5)
Y.D. K.
I've ordered food from Irazu either from the on-site guys, SeamlessWeb, or direct from Irazu for delivery. Not a fan of their burritos or sandwiches, but their tacos are fairly good - complete with the meat, lettuce and tomatoes - oh yeah, their salsa is also very good (IMNSHO), almost comparable to El Faro. I've consistently order nothing but tacos from this place, and its been consistent, quality-wise. My verdict is pending other items I need to try, but at least for delivery, they are very good - SeamlessWeb does well, albeit expensive ($-ouch), and direct delivery is greeted by a pleasant lady who took my order, and delivery regardless of ordering method was good too. If their other items are as consistent as their tacos, I may upgrade to 4/5. Plus, I actually have to go to this place and dine-in too. Pending further review and food items...
(3)
Terri F.
Great reviews made hour wait tolerable but meal was a major disappointment. The chifrijo was tasty but entrees from the pepito sand which, heart of palm salad and chicarons left us with little desire to go back sadly
(2)
Delightful D.
Just ok not all that. The appetizer chifrijo was tasty but the steak entree was just ok was missing gravy or sauce. The entree was dry. I would try again to try another entree but honestly other places are a lot better tasting such as 90 miles cuban cafe or cafe laguardia which have similar entrees n ingredients.
(3)
Jessica D.
Delicious tropical food. Just the maduros and boiled yuca with mojo are enough reason to keep coming back. The tinted squid with rice and the iced coffee with horchata were amazing. Got an oatmeal shake to go, and it was the pefect dessert. Portions are plenty and the food is spectacular. Casual atmosphere and lovely tiled restroom facilities. Clean, and the staff are great and fast! Love it. There was plenty of seating when we dropped by for a very late lunch, but I hear it can get incredibly busy sometimes. Will be back often!
(4)
Swati B.
WOW. So rumors are true...the Oatmeal Shake is AMAZING. it is quite filling and you can get it mixed with something else ie strawberry or banana etc, but even the plain oatmeal shake is outstanding. PLENTY of vegetarian options here! Had the 'award winning' burrito, definitely delicious, very fresh tasting The empanadas we had as an app and it was actually quite delicious My sister had the potato tacos and raved about them as well this is definitely a BYOB place...pretty packed for a Tuesday night street parking on milwaukee for us was no problem. ps CASH ONLY
(5)
Lola V.
OMG I loved this place. As stated in many other reviews before mine that oatmeal shake is a must do,it was the bomb! Also I asked for the traditional Costa Rican dish and it was the BEST!!! everything was so good and now that I'm back in California I'm totally craving IRAZU!
(5)
Rebecca Y.
Oatmeal shake was DELICIOUS: basically a liquid oatmeal cookie. Service was super friendly and all of the food was homemade and delicious. The chips are made in-house and were thick and crunchy with a hint of lime. This was my first trip to a Costa Rican restaurant and I thoroughly enjoyed it, I'll definitely be back again to sample their other dishes.
(4)
Rebecca P.
When my friend Kat recommends something, you listen. So when she told me the Irazu oatmeal shake is "legendary," I knew this had to be my first meal stop in Chicago. Lo and behold, Kat was right (as usual). She was so right about it that I feel compelled to publish her rightness in a review, even though this thing is so highly regarded that it will be in the review highlights for all eternity and certainly does not need my help in promoting it. We also ordered a pitcher of guava juice, in which we dumped our BYO Bacardi from the liquor store down the street. This was a tip from our waitress, and she was right: it really is the only way to drink the guava juice. Everything about this place is just right.
(5)
Angela C.
I used to LOVE this place. Unfortunately this evening I had a bad experience. I get the Pepito sandwich which used to be $5. Now it is $6 and is literally HALF the size. They are using skinnier bread so the portion is way smaller. This is lame and truly disappointing. Also, the last time I ordered the Steak Tico the portion was smaller and didn't taste as good. I won't be back :(
(2)
Neha N.
Am I ashamed to admit I've been here two times and I've lived in this area for less than a week? Kind of, but it's so yummy! I got the veggie burrito with plantains. Heavenly. The bf got the veggie burrito with chorizo added and loved it. Seriously packed with flavor. Please do yourself a favor and get the oatmeal shake with soy. Too good...you haven't seen the last of me Irazu.
(4)
Mary Kate D.
Everything we had here was great. Came here for dinner last Wednesday. Wait wasn't that long for an outside table. BYOB so that was a plus. We had the ceviche, guacamole and oat meal shake. I had the chefs special with rice, beans, peppers, plantains, and steak. Exceptional food and service. Looking forward to my next visit here. Quality food/service and not that expensive. Total bill was around $45 for two appetizers, two entrees and the oatmeal shake. I don't think I have ever had that small of a bill at a restaurant in Chicago for dinner.
(5)
Polly S.
Negatives: 1. Cash only. 2. The wait for a table can be long and cramped. 3. Closed on Sunday. Positives: 1. BYOB 2. Food is top notch. I always get the vegetarian plate. 3. Good hearty portions. You will leave full or with leftovers. 4. Staff is personable and makes an effort. 5. Affordable. 6. Diverse crowd. 7. The oatmeal shake. Get it. Located on Milwaukee Avenue and walking distance from the Western Blue line stop, Irazu is worth taking a train for. I've had friends from out of town demand I take them there when they visit Chicago. The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed - the food is reliably good.
(4)
Elvis T.
Got a chicken burrito, that was ok but the horchata coffee was great!
(4)
Tom D.
Wow, I tried the milk chocolate shake, it was pretty bad. I tried a steak burrito, it was also pretty bad. I did like the cuban sandwich, once I wiped off half of the mayo. There was so much on there, when picking up the sandwich, mayo was flopping off the edges. The entire meal felt like airport food, definitely not fresh. I can't even begin to describe how unsatisfactory the steak in the burrito was. It was mushy. Like, shredded and not fully cooked.
(1)
Tera D.
Yum! I am moving to this hood next month, so in my excitement I started checking out the local restaurants. Score! This place is cheap, delicious, BYOB, and has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating! Menu items range from $2 al a carte tacos and $4 sandwiches, to larger platters and dinners in the teens. So there's definitely something for everyone. We had the empanadas and fried plantains with garlic sauce for apps. The plantains were good, I would have liked them a little thinner and crispier, though. The empanadas were delicious. We ordered 3 and our fave was the spinach and cheese. For entrees I had the veggie burrito ($4.95!?!, so reasonable!) and my bf had a mix of al a carte items - a taco, a tostada, and a toquito. His favorite preparation was the taco, and his favorite meat was the chicken. We will definitely be back here many times once we move, and I will definitely be enjoying the other half of my burrito for lunch today!
(4)
Regina C.
Oatmeal shake, get it, you will not be sad. Vegans - order it with water! Vegan options are few, but they are good. Service is always great. Friendly people, great food.
(4)
Mara M.
I've been to Irazu many times, and last night was the last straw. It always sounds like a good idea: sit out on the patio, drink some beers and eat some cheap tasty food. Unfortunately, that's not what happened. It was a Saturday afternoon and the weather was perfect. Arriving at Irazu, we noticed that the patio was still boarded up for winter time. It's almost June. I almost convinced my date not to go in. I wanted to sit outside! I wanted to be able to see the sky. But, we were hungry and thought the food would save us. We sat on the 'patio'. Our waiter was a disaster. It took over 30 minutes to finally get our order in with him. We ordered the ceviche as an appetizer, I got 1 taco tico and 1 steak taco and my date got the shrimp burrito. Seems pretty simple. I'm not sure what was going on with the kitchen, but we waited...and waited...and waited. I think it took 30 more minutes to finally get our ceviche out. Tables that had been seated after we ordered were getting their food, and we were still waiting. The ceviche was probably the highlight of the meal. For $8 bucks, the shrimp burrito was just bad. My 2 tacos were bland as well. We sat down around 5 and didn't leave until after 7 because of the slow service. Skip this place. Hopefully I can find a new patio hang for the summer -- Irazu just isn't worth it.
(1)
Julia M.
I simply love this place. The food is fresh, fantastic, and you can always be adventurous and try something new without disappointment. The servers are friendly and helpful, full of recommendations. The Pepito and Chifrijo are amazing and definitely worth trying if you've never been. I'm glad that this place gained popularity from DDD because, man, it's worth it and deserves it!
(5)
Kayu T.
So I just recently visited Costa Rica and craved a taste of memory and tried this place out. I went to their 20th Anniversary Block Party and loved the vibe! The music was spot on, the crowd was good, the neighborhood was perfect. We ordered the following: "Casado Bowl" Black beans and Rice - Good Fried Plantines - Completely uncooked properly. Besides the fried batter on the outside, the plantines itself was raw and hard. I couldn't even bite it. Chicken - Barely any chicken, but it was decent Beef - Very tender, good. Strawberry Milkshake - Very close to what I've had in Costa Rica, Good Oatmeal Milkshake - My bf said he loved it since he finished the whole thing. Costa Rican Sandwich - Good, but a lil messy So you asked, "WHY THE LOW SCORE??" - Although I've enjoyed the taste of the food for the most part, I GOT SICK FROM IT!!!!! (A lil background on myself... I am not allergic to anything nor have I ever gotten sick from eating in my life. I am positive it was something from here because that was my first meal of the day.) About an hour we finished eating and walking around, I literally PROJECTILE VOMITED off of my freaken bike. It was horrific! My BF was fine, so I am going to guess it was either the bad Plantines or the Strawberry shake (since I had those and he didn't). Although I love Costa Rician food, I regret trying this place and I will not return.
(1)
Colleen C.
It is now time for my 5-star, 2010 review of Irazu. Still 5 stars. YES! And this time, for the delivery! And, let me tell you...the food (and famous oatmeal shakes!) taste just as good after traveling a few miles. The delivery was super quick, the phone answerer was very efficient and clear, and my food arrived with a friendly smile in about 20 minutes. 1 veggie burrito 1 steak burrito 1 oatmeal shake with milk DELIVERED ----------------------------------- $17 + tip Hooray for Irazu they still rock my oatmeal-lovin' socks off, and I will continue to write them a 5-star review each year that they continue to serve up some of the best (ONLY!) authentic Costa Rican food in Chicago. Get your oat on, they travel. No excuses now.
(5)
Sherie P.
I'm broken... Well, my foot that is. It sucks not being able to walk around and not being able to stand in the kitchen and cook a decent meal! That's where Irazu comes in. They deliver!! The other night I ordered a wonderful meal from Irazu. I ordered the fried yuca and the empanadas to start. I was not impressed with the chicken or the plantain empanada, but the beef and potato? YUM! All three were perfectly crispy when they were delivered and had a nice filling to crust ratio but the beef and potatoes had a wonderful flavor to them that the other two lacked. They were ok, but not up to par for a Miami transplant. The yuca was crispy as well and came with a great garlicky mojo. It's not a myth! Delivered food can remain crispy! For dinner I had the pork chops. They were moist and tender with perfectly grilled onions on top. It's nice that they include a salad which I didn't eat of course. I filled up on the yummy sweet plantains, rice and beans. I was expecting beans but it was more of a been puree. At first I was a bit disappointed but after I tried them, I forgot all that. They were so good! Next time I want take out and don't want the standard pizza or Chinese, Irazu will be my go to place. I can't wait to try even more things on the menu!
(4)
Laura K.
I feel bad giving this place a 3 because I would definitely want to go back again to try some of the other items on the menu. We went here on a Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) with a group of 11 and I was shocked that they had a table ready for us so we didn't have to wait. The place was pretty much dead which was shocking after reading the reviews about the long wait. So we definitely lucked out with that. We ordered some of the appetizers (guac, fried plantains) and I got the tilapia tacos. I don't think I would get them again, but they were good. Their menu has some really good options, and their sandwiches are REALLY cheap (I'm talking $5ish cheap). My tilapia platter was more expensive (still cheap though), but I think I would go with the $5ish meals since they looked yummy and were so inexpensive. I definitely would be back to enjoy the more from their menu and enjoy the fact that it is BYOB.
(3)
Mari Y.
If you like to shout over dinner, this is the place for you! Since it's BYOB the shouting comes naturally after your first sip, so don't forget the alcohol. My friends and I started with a few apps, guacamole and empanadas. I think guacamole can be a generic Latin appetizer so I wasn't impressed. This was the first time I've had fried empanadas which felt really greasy going down but they were indeed tasty. I'm not a fan of unsweetened plantains - I wouldn't order that as an app again based on personal taste. I ordered the chicken and rice dish non-spicy but it came out spicy. My friend ordered her dish spicy and hers came out regular. One mistake there. I've actually been to Costa Rica and I will say that the flavors and preparation are pretty darn authentic. That was impressive to me. Since there are no reservations and a long line out the door, this isn't the type of place where you can casually eat your meal and laugh and drink with your friends after you're done. Irazu relies on fast eating and quick turnarounds so slam that beer, get out of there and continue your shouting elsewhere.
(3)
constance k.
Hands Down The Best Place For A Taste Of The America's! Irazu has the perfect ambience inside as well as outside....I should know I just had my birthday party there with 18 people and let me tell you if was WONDERFUL. I love their veggie burrito with Plantains...I love their veggie sandwich...I love their empanadas and when I was a carnivore I loved their pepito sandwich. Even though the salsa is too spicy for me I can't stop eating it. Everything on the menu is always fresh and delicious. Horchata and B.Y.O.B.!!!!! I have been coming here for years now and will continue to do so. Thank you for your exceptional food and service! Muchas Gracias! Love, CK
(5)
tages t.
Amazing burritos for cheap! I know it sounds weird to eat with a burrito but the oatmeal shakes are a delicious treat! Also this place is BYOB!
(4)
Joseph H.
Went back again with a small group this time. The wait wasn't as long and the server we had was very attentive, friendly, and knowledgable about the food and drinks. We all ordered Pepito sandwiches only. The sandwiches alone are a meal and they are reasonably priced. The sandwich was delicious and far exceeds what someone would expect for the price that is charged. The only tiny negative is the cash only policy. I am someone who carries little to no cash and having to either go to a bank first or pay to use their ATM is not cool.
(5)
Sharon K.
Went there today for lunch with 15 members of our monthly ethnic dining club none of whom had ever been there before. Food was wonderful and servings plentiful. Although oatmeal shake didn't sound that good I figured I would try it since it was one of their specialties. And...special it was! Very very yummy. All of this could stand on its own but the service was the best of all. Omar managed to keep all of our individual orders(did not opt for the family prix-fix offered-this time) and checks straight. He did it with a smile and an extremely engaging personality. The food was great but Omar is a true asset to the business - give him a raise!!! Sure we will all be back!
(5)
Lauren K.
I am so obsessed with this restaurant. Staff is amazing. I just moved down the street, so you will be seeing me on a weekly basis :) If I could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life, this would be it. That pepito sandwich is to die for. Your burritos are to die for. Your empanadas are to die for. I LOVE your food. See you tonight!
(5)
Katina E.
I love this place. We ordered chicken tacos, chicken empanadas, spinach and cheese empanadas, guacamole n chips, and the patacones. Everything was really good. I only wish there was dipping sauce for the empanadas. But that won't stop me from coming back with my girls. Oh! did i mention its byob? I know it just keeps getting better. Our server, Linda was a true gem. Love her. Bye for now.Gotta finish my wine.
(4)
Katy H.
I visited with a friend on a Friday night a few weeks ago. I'd never had Costa Rican food and boy was I blown away! They have a very extensive menu and I had a hard time deciding on what I wanted. My friend was a pro, having visited dozens of times before, and ordered spinach and cheese empanadas, chicken tacos and horchata (all of which she graciously shared!). For myself, I ordered the casado with steak. The empanadas were gooey and delicious! The tacos were also quite tasty! As was the salsa they brought to the table while we waited- and a bit spicy! The horchata (rice water) was way too sweet for my taste. The casado was huge and very filling. Everything on the plate was done well! Irazu has a huge delivery area and very friendly staff, I will definitely be back!
(4)
Kim S.
O. M. G. I have never had such a satisfying veggie burrito. Usually it's all rice and filler, but not at Irazu's! There was so much crap in that burrito, I couldn't even tell you what I ate. I think there was some zucchini, spinach.... etc? Def not typical burrito stuffins'. I've only ever gotten delivery, which did take the full hour they said it would, but it's still worth it. Also - guac is to die for.
(4)
Evelyn R.
All I can say is... Meh. Not at all worth writing home about. Sevice was very friendly. Food was pretty bland. Byob no cork fee but CASH only ugh
(2)
Tiffany P.
Only ordered take out so far, but delicious EVERY SINGLE TIME! I get the Steak Milanesa and Bread Pudding, I try something new every once in a while---never disliked anything that I've ordered.
(4)
Francesca B.
They never fail me: food and customer service is great!!! I always get takeout but the place is really cool as well. Costa Rican food, one of my favs in Latin cuisine!! Remember to bring cash for that ass mannnnnnn.
(5)
Michael S.
Food is really excellent here. It's BYOB but there's a great liquour store on the adjacent corner with great selection. I cannot remember what I had; not because the food isn't memorable, but because I can't remember the name of it. Whatever it was that each of us ordered, it was all good. The only thing keeping this from 5 stars is the service. The service was extremely poor. Server forgot to make a change to our appetizer order, we had to get his attention to refill our water and he never came and checked on us during our meal. We will give this place another shot, as it was really good!
(4)
Doris F.
Ok, may be I am a little biased because I never had Costa Rican food before this place but Yes, yes and YES!!! Orgasmic food. . . you can smell the place from blocks away. I learned of this place from my now husband as he is familiar with the owners and the owners know him which is great because it takes the confusion away from ordering for him. Being as I am a vegetarian and my husband is a beloved meat eater this place is sure to please us both in food, price and all. I love their fries, empanadas and their claim to fame. . . OATMEAL SHAKE! They let me try one for free and I was in heaven after that. It is one of my many comfort drinks. I have taken my mother here and she loves the place. (note- my mother lives in Arizona) So, no complaints here except they take cash only so you better have a debit card handy because they have an ATM in the facilities. The food, the atmosphere, the friendly staff, the only thing I am missing is that cute shirt. Irazu is definitely a place worth trying out!
(5)
Emily A.
We came here late one Friday night, so obviously there was a wait. Having been a hostess myself for a long time, I took their host's estimate of a 30 minute wait with a grain of salt. To my terrific surprise, we were seated in about 30 minutes! We were even seated outside! Our server was fast and friendly. The food was fresh and simple, the fried plantains are a must. I had the Vegetarian salad which is splashed with olive oil, vinegar and lime juice. I feared it would be bland but it was actually delicious. I loved their prices, they fit right into my measly budget. They had great music and lots of Latino fabulousity. The only thing was they are cash only, but they have an ATM right inside to the rescue!!!
(4)
Jess D.
Two words: Tilapia Casado. Oh, with Cuban rice! Soooo gooood. We also shared the "Award-Winning Vegetarian Burrito," and although I'd deem "Award-Winning" to be a bit of a stretch, it was still "Mighty Tasty." With a bottle of white wine from Red & White across the street our evening proved to be an authentically delightful experience.
(4)
Art V. B.
The food was tasty and the service very friendly. PROS: Vegetarian options, empanadas were the best, they don't sell alcohol but they allow you to bring your own. The salsa was tasty and the food ingredients tasted fresh. CONS: The bathroom had some kind of leak, they don't accept credit cards and the vegan taco lacked some imagination.
(3)
Erin V.
Yummy! I second, third, and fourth the comments about there being a way long wait, though. The good news? The food was well worth the wait! The bad news? I had almost filled up on chips and was half in the bag from finishing half a bottle of wine (YAY, BYOB!!) before my food ever got there... This place is always packed, so you know it's good when you roll up on a Tuesday night and can't get a seat for 30 minutes! Chorizo burrito - delicious. (Ok, who am I kidding, chorizo with anything is delicious.) The absolute best thing about eating here? Lizano sauce!! I fell in love with this in Costa Rica, and was able to get a bottle of it home, but haven't seen it anywhere again until here. PUT IT ON EVERYTHING! :)
(4)
liz d.
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.
(4)
Foram B.
I've known of Irazu for a while now but never made it over there. I finally did this past Tues (it was fairly busy), and I'm glad I did! The restaurant isn't very large so seating was limited, but it's worth the wait. During warmer months it looks like they can seat more with their outdoor patio. I had the Grilled Steak Dinner and it was awesome! Steak was cooked just right and tasty, you get a small cabbage salad, rice, and sweet fried plantains (my favorite!). They'll ask if you want the yellow rice or one mixed with black beans (forgot the name)...I highly recommend the black bean one, it was full of flavor. Only downside to my dish was that the sauteed scallions were hard to cut further away from the root. Friend had the Veggie Burrito and loved it! It sounds like it is busy there often, so if you're not willing to wait, get take out (saw many people go that route)...but definitely worth trying and going back to!
(4)
Kammie G.
Today was my first time actually eating at Irazu. The friend I came with is pretty much obsessed with that place so I wanted to finally go in and check out their food. I ordered Casado with tilapia. It was really good, although I think the Gallo Pinto rice was a little bit too dry and did not have that much flavor. The tilapia was done perfectly, it was delicious. The cabbage salad was also amazing, I pretty much devoured it. The platanes are interesting, have never tried them before, and they were okay, although the fact how different they are made me want to eat them more & more. The Oatmeal Shakes are THE BOMB. First time I went I had a Mango one - delicious! This time I had a pineapple one - ALSO delicious. I take mine with soy milk. Overall, it's a great restaurant, definately would recommend everybody to go check it out. The staff is very friendly and has a family atmosphere. It also has an outdoor section so when it's nice out you can sit outside although I did hear the lines can be quite long. But still. I will definatey visit again soon!
(4)
Rayid G.
Maybe my expectations were too high after seeing a 4 star yelp average or maybe they were just having a bad night, but Irazu just didn't do it for me. We tried a lot of different things just to make sure but the result was just the same - meh. There was the tico taco, there was the potato taco, there was vegetarian taco, the vegetarian burrito and even the gallo pinto (extremely dry and bland)...all failed to impress.
(2)
Yanyao N.
I am severely depressed right now. Why? Because I'm back home in Evanston after having a late lunch at Irazu today and want to go back NOW for a late night meal. There are so many other things on the menu that I want to eat. Irazu, why are you so far away from me?! :( Here's what we had: - Chips (free!) to start with squirts of green sauce in a bottle. My mouth was on fire. I loved it. - 3 empanadas: beef and potato (YUM!), spinach cheese, zucchini. - Patacones: double fried green plantains with roasted garlic oil. But they lie to you. The roasted garlic oil is more like a chunky garlic oil paste that I wish they sold in jars because I would eat that stuff on everything and breathe ferocious garlic dragon breath to keep annoying people away. - Pepito sandwich: Hubby got this and loved it. I had one bite and loved it, though rice dishes always trump sandwiches in my eye (what? I'm Chinese). - Tinted squid mixed with rice: I got it spicy. It was so beautiful. A mound of rice mixed with squid pieces. Yes, it was a strange gray color, but it is tinted squid rice...what do you expect? Squid ink pasta looks weird but is delicious. I will dream of this rice all month. The dish comes with fried plantains and a cabbage salad. Complete comfort on a plate and I'm not even close to being Costa Rican. - And of course, the oatmeal shake. I got mine plain with soy. Nom nom nom. It tastes like a thick chunky horchata almost. Oatmeal banana is an excellent combo too. I have no clue how many trips I'll be making to try everything on the menu... chifrijo?! chicharron?! ceviche?! liver?! and the veggie stuff even sounds good! The places was completely empty when we arrived (on a cold rainy Friday at around 3pm) and we parked right in from of the restaurant (metered). Another table came in while we were eating and did the unforgivable deed of not ordering an oatmeal shake (and they didn't know what empanadas were....really?) but I've erased them from my memory (get the shake!) It is also cash only but if you forget, there's in ATM inside. Nice helpful servers, terrific food, outdoor patio space. I can see this place getting insanely busy on sunny weekends, so go early and do yourself a favor and order take-out food after your meal. I am kicking myself in the face for not doing that right now. I should be eating deep fried pork chunks but am going to munch on a stuffed pizza pretzel instead. Sadface! I miss you already Irazu.
(5)
Sasha B.
I drove by Irazu frequently and so my friend and I finally decided to try it because they had great vegetarian options on the menu (shes the vegetarian). Once both of us stepped in, I had a good feeling about this place. The ambiance is very laid back, and the only thing missing were some palm trees and a beach in the background. My friend ordered the veggie burrito and I got the shrimp plate. For what we paid, the amount of food we got was great. She enjoyed her burrito (it came with many veggies she showed me and was so happy she could fully enjoy so much flavor). I loved the shrimp and was happy to have some plantains on the side (although my only wish is that there were more!). I had heard about the oatmeal shake and the waiter asked if we wanted to split one to try. I love trying new things, so why not....it was incredible! Honestly such a cool twist on the cinnamon milky drink. And after being so full, it was nice that I could take it to go.
(4)
Jackie P.
Their delivery area is huge: Montrose/16th/Lakeshore/Palaski. Went here with a group of 14 in the back room. We went on a Thursday at 6pm and a line started forming shortly after we arrived. Definitely count on a wait for any normal dining time. Tight squeeze for a group. They created a prix fixe menu and we had about seven different dishes/apps and every one of them was delicious. It was only $20/pp and we were STUFFED. It's BYOB and there is a very cool wine/liquor store across the street. 90% wine, very small beer/liquor section. Our server was Costa Rican and told stories about the food, how it's prepared/served, and was an overall delight. Despite the crowded restaurant and size of our group, we were out in 1.25 hours. I can't have milk and wanted to peel my eyeballs out because I couldn't have the oatmeal shake. That thing is DELICIOUS.
(4)
C S.
I haven't written a review in awhile so I figured I was due. I love diners drive-ins and dives. I try to go to all the places in Chicago if I can. I saw this place on there and I have never had Coasta Rican food so I really wanted to try it. Wow I was really impressed. First we got the Chifrijo. This appetizer was amazing. I couldn't stop eating until the last bite. I got it mild but it was delicious. Next I got the Pepito sandwich withe ribeye. It was delicious. The cheese, onion, and the bean paste just blended so well together. Last but not least we got the empanadas. You get 3 for $8. We got the spinach and cheese, beef and potato, and chicken. Wow these we're fantastic. They were flaky and crisp. The filling was great and the pico de gallo served with it complimented the empanadas perfectly. Overall this restaurant was awesome and I will be back here in the near future even though I don't venture often in the city. Also the outdoor seating is great to sit in with this awesome weather we are having. I wish I would've gotten an oatmeal shake. I will next time.
(5)
Leticia L.
My son and I were stolling through the neighborhood doing a power walk and it was sweltering outside. We were both getting a little hungry so we stopped in and ordered some food. My son is almost 2 so I thought we might try the empanadas. I ordered 3 empanadas, rice and plantains. I thought their empanadas were excellent and so did my son. I liked the fact that you could get different fillings for each empananda. I ordered a spinach and cheese, beef and potato, and a chicken. My son loved the beef and potato. I was surprised, their chicken ones were not dry. The salsa they give you was very spicy. I passed by a few days later and ordered a Costa Rica Coffee. It is a blend of two of my favorite drinks, horchata and coffee. Yummy!
(4)
Jacob a.
This place has good food and good portions with a good price! Great vegetarian options! The Costa Rican rice is highly recommended! In the summer there is great outdoor seating. The place is small though which some people like but also can be tough to get a good seat on certain times of the day. I will also mention that it is a cash only place! Two thumbs up for this place!
(4)
Danielle T.
Flavor-full food, BYOB, and Costa Rican vibe - what else can you ask for out of a place! Love the location, not in the midst of all the action on Milwaukee - but definitely an easy-to-get-to place. There is a phenomenal corner store with an extensive wine selection and a small assortment of beer (they do have Costa Rican beer though - Imperial). Food was delicious - the real plantains that aren't sweet and made from the green plantains - which are DELICIOUS and how they serve them in the Dominican too. The grilled steak with the black beans/rice combo was delicious - along with the empanadas. In all honesty though, I wasn't UBER impressed with the empanadas, but that would NOT stop me from visiting again and just trying another flavor. Definitely must go at least once to experience the great vibe and if its a nice night, patio preferred.
(4)
Laura Y.
Was in Chicago about 2 weeks ago visiting my boyfriend, and on my first night in town, we decided to stop by Irazu for some shakes (some friends insisted we had to try them). I got the avena (oatmeal) chocolate and my bf got the avena banana. Believe the hype - both of our shakes were unbelievably delicious, so much that we stopped by again the next day, and again the day after that. We would have gone the next day too, but they were closed! If this rating were based only on the avena shake, it would deserve a 5 hands down; i'd give it a 10 if I could. The customer service is also excellent; the people who work there are so friendly and even recognized us when we stopped by several days in a row. Since the shakes were so great, we also had dinner here on one of the nights I was in town... the food was good but I'm not dreaming about it or craving it the same way I am with the avena shake :).. I wasn't too impressed with their guacamole, and my burrito was good but not over-the-top good. Boyfriend got the pepino sandwich, which he loved and I would recommend over the burrito (i had a bite). Now that I'm back in Ohio, I need to find a way to replicate that avena shake... now that I know such a delicious concoction exists I can't live without it!
(4)
Zoya D.
LOVED IT. This place is off the chain. It makes me want to live off plantains and move to a tropical island. The burrito is delish, massive, and $5. $5??!! Awesome. Small quaint joint-- hot. Good music. Friendly staff makes me want to be a regular....and I will. Go here in the midst of winter to lift your spirits and warm your soul. Excellence!
(4)
Donielle A.
Soooo, I saw this place from Milwaukee and almost thought that it was just a "take it to go" type place (the seating area is not visible from Milwaukee). But I walked in and was promptly attended to and taken to the seat where one of my best friends was waiting for me! I ordered the Costa Rican sandwich and she had the potato tacos. Both were delicious...and I recommend getting the Lizardo sauce on the sandwich if you are an A1 (steak sauce) fan. If not, ask for it on the side! The prices were decent and the service was excellent. Will be back for the shakes!
(4)
Rachelle D.
***Updated 3-11-10*** I received a very nice message from the owner of Irazu after posting my initial review below. In this message he apologized and told me that he would send me a gift certificate. I initially did not do anything or reply to his message because I wondered how he would send me a gift certificate w/o my information. I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my mail this afternoon and found a gift certificate from Irazu. For having such great customer service, I decided to update my review and give them 2 stars (I originally gave them one). One thing that I think is very important for any business is to have an excellent relationship with your consumer and to listen to them. I think I will try Irazu again.....maybe they were just having an off night. After all, most of their reviews on here are great! Thank you, Irazu! ________________________________________________ We ordered Irazu through Grubhub a couple nights ago and I was very disappointed. I'd have to say the best thing about my meal was the plantains that came with the dinner. I've been thinking about giving up red meat for weeks now and after having the Bistec Tico, my decision was so much easier. The beef was very chewy and bland. I feel like the meat was probably sitting in their freezer for weeks...was not fresh at all! It made me feel nauseas after eating it. My boyfriend ordered a sandwich and they didn't get that right either! He did like the Chifrijo, it really wasn't my thing. I don't think I'd ever order from here again. But maybe it's different dining in.
(2)
Kristine G.
Irazu is by far one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago. I actually visited Costa Rica for the first time after patronizing Irazu and found that, hey, Costa Rican food DOES taste like Irazu! It's authentic, delicious, and BYOB. What more can you ask for?
(5)
Leo H.
Yes, this place rocks...simply fantastic....I've lived in the neighborhood for six years and just made it to Irazu about 6 months ago...yes, I am a little ashamed. However, I've been at least 15 times since then...it's all good...The service is caring and genuine, the food is rockin' and not expensive. Get the ceviche, spinach and cheese emapanadas...I also love the palmito salad and the oatmeal shake rocks my world...I will try more things once I stop craving the items above...oh, and Lizano sauce is crazy good, like everything that A1 wishes it could be and I think it might be infused with crack
(5)
Brad C.
Can't wait to go back again. I've gone here a couple times recently and have enjoyed both visits a lot. Everything I ended up ordering rocks but the veggie burrito is hands down my favorite thing I've had from them. I've had the shakes a number of times and of course the famous oatmeal shake. Now don't get me wrong the oatmeal shake was good but it wasn't as blissfully wonderful as I thought it was going to be. Good friendly services with great prices and amazing food what more could you want. Watch out because Irazu isn't open on Sunday and that is always the day I end up think about going. Be ready to deal with a crowd and bring something to drink because they are BYOB.
(4)
Steve S.
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.
(1)
Sean G.
I'm not writing this update because I visited Irazu again recently or because my opinion has changed. I am writing this review because shortly after posting my original review the owner emailed me to let me know he appreciated my review and that he couldn't wait for us to visit Chicago because he is excited to meet our new baby. Support this local business any time you can. Business owners like this are a dying breed.
(5)
Eleanor B.
My husband and I have never had Costa Rican food, but if this was it we are soooo in!!! Oatmeal and Guatabana shakes, plantains, their sandwiches, taco tico, Costa Rican rice, Casado dinner with the steak option and the Guy Fieri special came with a Costa Rican sandwich, small chifrijo (which OMG was so delicious, I almost took my husband's plate) and oatmeal shake...I honestly can't begin to tell you how much I loved this place! Also if you're a Vegan or just want healthy, they have such different options that you can satisfy anyone with their menu! You will leave full and happy! The wait staff and (I believe the owner was there) and they were SUPER friendly! For my husband's and my first time in Chicago, we were extremely happy to have found this place our last day in town and sad that we don't have anything like it in OH. If you are in Chicago...GO HERE! It's a must and you won't be sorry! Again, "Chifrijo and Oatmeal Shake" are a MUST for side options and you won't go wrong with anything else you get!
(5)
Kerri C.
After visiting Costa Rica in February, my friends and I wanted to relive our experience by having some of our favorite dishes like gallo pinto, sweet plantains, Imperial (which we provided byob) and Lizano sauce. Irazu has great outdoor seating and excellent vegetarian selections. Parking is easy and there is a wine store across the street. I haven't had the oatmeal shake yet, but it sounds delicious. So far, I've tried the vegetarian burrito, taco, veggie sandwich and chile relleno. It will definitely be a monthly outing for the excellent food, service, and price. Definitely authentic costa rican.
(4)
Sean L.
I'm vegan, so I love their veggie tacos and killer guacamole here. The oatmeal shakes are also very good. This place is great, you can eat like a king for very little money. As busy as they always are, it's amazing that the owner always remembers my name. Its just a great find in the bucktown neighborhood. I've lived here for over 17 years and unfortunately only discovered this place about 5 years ago. It's so good I've heard people want to keep it a secret. Also, if you come definitely get the mashed potato tacos...awesome.
(5)
Andy C.
Great experience! Great Service! Great Food! This is definitely a place you want to dine in at. If the food is not warm, it does no justice to how awesome it really is. I got the Steak El Tico, and I would definitely recommend it. It comes with tons of rice, black beans, and peppers. The spice on the steak was perfect. I dined with four others and the consensus around the table was that the food was delicious. I had previously got delivery and it was nothing close to the dining experience in the restaurant. Irazu has great customer service, so go in and enjoy the experience.
(4)
Cylene P.
I was in Costa Rica for a few weeks a couple years ago and have been craving the food for awhile now. Naturally I dragged my boyfriend out to Irazu for dinner. I like the feel of the restaurant. To me it felt like a really high-end soda (which is basically a small Costa Rican diner). You can see into the kitchen and sort of walk through it to get to the dining area. The dining area is very small with tables pretty close together. There is a large outdoor patio area and tented area in addition to the indoor dining area. The biggest test for me was the gallo pinto and plantains - which I ate at least once a day in Costa Rica. Irazu's were awesome. Though honestly, if a restaurant couldn't do gallo pinto and plantains it wouldn't deserve to call itself Costa Rican. The guanabana and oatmeal shakes were both delicious, as were the potato tacos and the beef and potato empanada. The fried yucca and the ceviche were good, but not amazing. I left Irazu full and happy, I will definitely be back.
(5)
Beebe G.
the staff in irazu are extremely nice and helpful. i ordered their casado dinner, two taco ticos and their steak sandwich to go. the waiter helped me choose all these entrees and he was right on. i look forward to coming back and dine inside next time.
(4)
Jen N.
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.
(5)
Heather D.
We were looking for a place that delivered and wanted to try something different, so we discovered Irazu through a random search. We got the ceviche, empanadas, tilapia tacos, chorizo burrito, and the taco ticos. The ceviche was a small portion, but was tasty. The empanadas are super crispy and deep fried, but again tasty. The tilapia tacos were very delicious with the beans and rice. The chorizo burrito was super spicy with the hot peppers. And the taco ticos were delicious and they were basically like taquitos- like an eggroll but a taco shell rolled up with meat inside and associated veggie toppings. We would definitely order from Irazu again.
(4)
Amy F.
If I had to list my top 10 favorite foods anywhere, Irazu has to be at the top of this list. Their food is delicious and their Oatmeal Shakes are TO DIE FOR. I have seriously thought about intentionally missing my connecting flight when I have layovers in Chicago now for the opportunity to hop on the train and grab a shake. Seriously... its an addiction.
(5)
Amanda Z.
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)!!
(5)
Joanna P.
Decided to try this place out to cater for my wedding and I canceled my other catering options because this place was so amazing! The customer service is outstanding and the food is delicious. I highly recommend this place for brides who want something unique instead of the usual wedding food. I plan on making this one of my staple Chicago restaurants.
(5)
Sonja B.
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.
(4)
Jocelyn P.
Yes! This place is the best! Low price, byob, delicious, cool music, great vegetarian options, and yummy yummy shakes/smoothies! It is cash only- that with the byob gives it a bit of an underground feel. Everytime I go there are stylish people around, which enhances the fun effect. I LOVE their plantains and I LOVE the oatmeal-banana shake with soy. (Reminds me of Mexico a bit.) I feel like this is just... the greatest restaurant ever. Staff & diners alike are cool, very cool. Laid back. Great outdoor patio. Take out, delivery. Plus a tall table for single diners to eat. It's all good!!!!! :D :D :D! Great selection and tasty. And very low bill! If you haven't gone here yet, go go go!
(5)
mariah c.
I'm pretty sure I am *still* full from waaaay overeating at Irazu yesterday. My friend and I decided we'd be smart by sharing several things -- a banana oatmeal shake (which I figured I'd like due to my experience at Tiztal), 3 empanadas, chips with guac, and a tilapia fish taco special that came with loads of rice and beans and plantains. Good lord! We should have had that amount of food for at least 3 people, 'cause we spent the next 4 hours or so walking around, trying to get over feeling so dang full! It was worth it, though, and I'm glad she suggested this place. Sure, as some people have mentioned, it's small. However, even when they got busier (mostly outside 'cause of the nice weather), we had great service -- plenty of water and a server who was super attentive despite admitting he had Zyrtec/allergy head. I'd love to go back and would do so for the empanadas alone -- the exterior is the perfect crispy/flaky texture hiding the flavor inside... I'd recommend the spinach w/cheese, plantain, and even (yes) the zuchinni). Next time my empanada-loving fella is in town, we'll make a beeline here, and I'll be more careful to eat slooowly and savor a bit more rather than stuffing my face!
(4)
Charlene A.
We have been wanting to try this place for a while now. We had the table chips & salsa YUM! & the 5 piece empanadas, our favorite was the spinach & cheese the rest were ok. My husband had the dinner w/ steak, onions & a refreshing cabbage salad, upgraded to the rice & beans w/ a fried egg on top & sweet platanos. I had something similar but w/out the egg. My meat tasted old but my husbands was very good. I was disappointed. The paid upgrade of the rice & beans was not worth it, it was bland. 3 stars for the service, chips & empanadas & I'd go back just for those as appetizers & to try their oatmeal milkshake.
(2)
Josue P.
Great service ...will consider coming back..BYOB
(3)
beth w.
Came here with my buds because its BYOB. Yay! I was really impressed with the food. Guacamole was absolutely delicious and fresh. I *had* to try the oatmeal milkshake- it was pretty good, not earthshaking. The food however, was absolutely delicious. My friend and I both got the casada, my boyfriend got something else equally tasty. My boyfriend and I proceeded to eat there 2 more times within the following week and a half. Im currently trying to space it out a bit, especially since the portions are so large.... but can't wait to go back. Downside-- cash only
(5)
Dan R.
I've been meaning to come here for awhile. Everyone keeps raving about the oatmeal shakes. Well, I didn't have the oatmeal shake. I did have something called "Lava Juice" which was a watermellon/lime juice concoction. It was a really hot day and I could've had a whole pitcher of that. So refreshing and wonderful. I was a little disappointed with my meal. It was just "eh" (shrug shoulders). My friend (who is costa rican) got something delicious though... it was some sort of dish with green plantains, fried and served with dipping sauces (one was some kind of garlic spread). Those were delish. My advice: pick a sunny day, grab some sunglasses, sit on the patio, get some lava juice and some of their appetizers and enjoy. The meals are unremarkable. Sorry Irazu.. .I want to love you. Maybe I'll get a milkshake next time and you'll change my mind.
(3)
Hen H.
My boyfriend and I go to different restaurants around Chicago to taste new things out. We had heard great things about this place, so on a warm summer day we made our way to Irazu. We sat ourselves on the patio and waited to be waited on, and we waited. After of what seemed like forever, but was only about 15 mins, our order was taken. We waited for our food in the sizzling sun for way longer than expect 25 mins later the food finally came. While eating I went to pick at my boyfriends food, which he had barely touched, and spotted a disgusting hair in it. I was both disgusted and furious. I completely lost my hunger. We again waited for a waiter to make them aware of my dissatisfaction. The waiter noticed me looking around and came over and asked if all was well. I explained to him the situation and took the plate and said he would bring another one. I was so angry and disgusted that after that I wanted nothing but to leave. After the plate was taken and taken off our bill we had 3 different waiters how we liked the food. What was there to like? What did they mean how do we like our food? We barely got to taste it! Quick question shouldn't the chef be wearing hair nets? Overall the service was awful. The food was, well let's say a hairy topic. And the parking was impossible.
(1)
Stefanie P.
I've been to Irazu countless times, so I guess I started to take it for granted. I went last week for the first time in awhile and was reminded of how great it is. Seems as though they've added some new items to the menu, one of which was a garlic shrimp and veggie plate. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and they included all the best vegetables (including their fabulous plantains, which I never miss). I've never been disappointed at Irazu. The customer service was incredible as always, and they have both vegetarian and carnivore options. Now I just need to find them a location in Andersonville so they can open up a second spot. Tee hee.
(5)
Edwin Q.
As a Costarican I don't want people to think that I am biased when I review this place. On the contrary, it gives me better ground to rate it since I know the food from my country very well. First thing you have to know about Irazu is that the food here taste like homemade. It doesn't taste like restaurant food. I can't tell the difference between their dishes and those that my mom and my sisters prepare back home. And I think that's enough to say about Irazu. The smell of their pudding bread transported me back to the times when I was a child and my mom backed pudding for us at home. The smell of the house when you come in after your school day... mmmm!!!!! Sabroso! The service is excellent and the place is neat and clean. Five stars and Pura vida to Irazu!
(5)
Summer P.
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!
(5)
Love S.
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!!!!
(5)
Marshall G.
There are so many great things about this place and every thing I have ordered so far has been very good. High quality ingredients, great selection, good tortilla chips and low prices. I admire the no corkage fee too. There are quite a few Mexican/Latin American places in the area but this is one of my favorites.
(5)
Annie W.
Yes, their oatmeal shakes ARE really that yummy. We got it soy style as the waitress suggested and it was the bomb. I've always been an oatmeal fan but now even more so. I drink like a whale so that was finished in no time. The guacamole appetizer is HUGE and plentiful. We just said "sure" when they brought over the chips and asked us if we wanted any, and didn't think it would be such a big plate. There had to be at least 2-3 avocados in it. The award winning veggie burrito is really good! Esp with sauteed mushrooms. The wrap was thinner than most I've had and unlike many other burritos where I feel like I'm just downing a ton of carbs due to hormonized wraps and rice, there was plenty of veggies in it, including carrots! I wasn't impressed by the Costa Rica sandwich, though. The beef was tough and they doused it in mustard. Besides perhaps the beef and hot peppers, it was nothing more than a regular ol' sandwich.
(4)
Jonathan A.
Pretty good food for good prices. I ride my bike by here on the way home, and the smell coming from this place is like a tractor beam pulling me in. We ate here a while back before they put in the outdoor patio. We thought it was ok, and hadn't been back in a long time. Since then it was on Check Please and they built out the outdoor seating, and now business is booming. We stopped to pick up a carryout order the other night. The food is really good, but the wait times are kinda long. I had the Chicken Casada. Very tasty, and a great deal. I also had the oatmeal shake, which I wasn't too impressed by. It wasn't blended very well. Very runny and then just a bunch of ice at the bottom. If it looks like there isn't a long wait for the patio, I'll probably try it again soon. But the way it's been lately, I may have to add this on my list of places ruined by success.
(4)
Stephanie C.
Is it possible to give a place 6 stars? This used to be a hidden gem, but the world found out how awesome it is. Sometimes there can be a bit of wait. They are BYOB and have outdoor tent seating. Awesome food with great flavor.
(5)
Ali C.
Their oatmeal milk shakes, patacones, guacamole and vegetarian sandwiches are the best there is. One of my favorite vegetarian restaurants. Try it!
(4)
Jacob S.
We have been in the process of moving to Chicago, and on a visit to find an apartment, we had a terrible experience with delivery where it took about 2 hours longer than it should have even when busy. It seems there was a miss communication between the delivery guy and the restaurant about our address and they lost our phone number. I discussed with the manager over text that we were eating cold food and were very frustrated. He said to talk to him next time and he would make it right. We have moved permanently now, and called back, and the manager did make things right. I am now a huge fan of Irazu. The food is so fantastic when it is hot... and I really appreciate the effort to make up for the terrible first experience. I look forward to a long relationship with Irazu. I love the food and I appreciate an establishment that cares enough about customers to fix problems the way they did.
(5)
Helena B.
OATMEAL SHAKE! [Yelp won't let me draw those cutesy little hearts out of a "less than" sign and a 3, so you just have to imagine them here. A lot of them.] Hooray for outdoor seating as the weather starts to warm up. Yesterday was muggy as all get-out, in true Costa Rican Rainforest style, making the experience all the more authentic. I was famished by the time we got here, so I was excited to have chips and salsa placed on the table shortly after our arrival. I snarfed them all down, record-speed, and *poof!* there was another basket of chips before we even had to ask. For my main course I went with the potato tacos (out of homage to their sheer odd-ness). They were decent (not sure what I was expecting... they are potato tacos. Tacos full of potatoes. Yeah, you can probably pretty well imagine them without buying the entree. Ah well.) The mole sauce did kick things up a bit and the fried plantains were delish. An ideal return trip for me would be a plate of fried plantains and an oatmeal shake. I wonder what kind of toppings you could put on plantains: cinnamon? chocolate? Mmmmm.... Irazu is BYOB (and conveniently close to Red and White Wines) but less wine = more room for oatmeal shakes. Priorities, people.
(3)
Diana B.
DELICIOUS. I recommend this place to everyone I know whenever they head toward Logan Square
(5)
jen m.
I can't get enough of this place!! We ordered the bistec casado and the tinted squid mixed with rice. It couldn't be anymore tasty. When we ordered the tinted squid, the waiter asked if we liked the taste of ocean. HUH?!! We reluctantly said yes, but we now understand what the taste of the ocean is. You must be a true seafood lover to eat this and very used to eating cooked squid. So good! I recommend getting your rice cooked with the beans, such a different take. Your meal is not complete without ordering an oatmeal shake! Try it mixed with banana, my fav combo.
(5)
LaShelle N.
We first visited Irazu last year based on a recommendation, so my husband and I went. I ordered the Veggie Burrito with mushrooms,spinach and SHRIMP. (The waiter Justin called it the Lagrange Park specia) .He gets the meat burritio add mushrooms, spinach, and avacado. After the first visit we were hooked, we started going a few times a week. The OATMEAL SHAKE with MILK is awesome! Then winter hit and we stop going. Today my husband and I eagerly returned and was thoroughly disappointed. Their customer service has suffered. My husband and I watched as guests who arrived after us got served first, we watched one of the waitstaff take our appetizer to the wrong table, the waitress then brings it back out to us and questioned why we sent the appetizer away..(.I politely told her that it was not brought to our table to begin with.. really you question me? Really? We ordered the usuals...When our food finally arrived i did not see any shrimp and the burrito was cold. I stated that i did not want to wait for another one and asked the waitress to take it off my bill. As i went inside to take money out of the ATM, I listened as one of the managers berated the customer who just returned the burrito (which happened to be me). I turned around and asked if those comments were directed towards me? To bad today was a bust and I had to rate it this low because last year, it was soo wonderful but Oh well guess this is what happens after places become popular.. maybe I will try again next year....
(3)
Mandi G.
This stuff is fire. Late to jump on the wagon... Making up for it.
(4)
Claudia G.
First, this place serves delish food! Second, it is cash only so make sure your friend has cash and you have only credit cards to get a free din like I did. (smile) This is a great place for vegetarians and vegans. Tons o' options! My friend and I split a cheese empanada to start. Yum. I can't remember what my friend had (and enjoyed) because I was way too absorbed in my chile relleno. We both "upgraded" to the costa rican rice. It is like a dollar more so go for it. The garnish-y food is all good as well: fried plantains, cucumber, beets, radishes. Oh, for the chips and salsa free starter, the salsa is super spicy! I love the spice and caution those who don't take spicy food too well or too often. It is really spicy. I know for next time that this place is BYOB with no corkage fee. (Most excellent.)
(4)
George A.
Aveeno shakes, Pepito sandwiches!!! Everything is great!
(4)
Jeff S.
This place is yummers and I'm thankful it's so close by. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner which are all delicious. Make sure to try and oatmeal shake. They're fantastic. I recommend combining oatmeal and chocolate flavors.
(4)
Jo P.
My friend and I came here for the empanadas, but I will be coming back for the sandwiches. While the spinach and cheese, beef and potato, and zucchini empanadas were perfectly done, nice and crispy on the outside, the black bean fell kind of flat, with a pasty texture. But the sandwiches that we ordered as an afterthought made both of us pause after the first bite and look at each other in awe. Definitely worth the trip if only for the steak sandwiches. I will have to return to try the oatmeal shake I just couldn't fit in..
(4)
Amy X.
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.
(5)
John P.
The best Costa Rican restaurants in the city.I have been going here for the past 15 years.It's a BOB with outdoor seating and some great fresh made juices.I love the garlic plantains are to die for the sandwich's are killer but my fave is the Vegi Burrito with marinated mushrooms and hot peppers.Now I'm making myself hungry...
(5)
Jillian P.
Our regular taco delivery joint has service a little later in the night so I searched Grub Hub for other joints that were closer. I quickly decided to give this a shot after reading all of the 5 star reviews. Unfortunately, We were pretty disappointed. The steak tacos were waaaaaay too salty for our liking. Yes, I know it is Costa Rican, but i wasn't expecting to taste the ocean. I had avocados, sour cream and cheese added in case it was bad at least those 50cent a piece, additions (per taco) would save them. They didn't. Their steak fries were my filler in case it was all a failed feat. With that being said, they're huge, crispy and delicious. If I wasn't so hungry, they would have been perfect for poutine. That saving grace and the 20 minute early delivery were the only reasons I gave the restaurant two stars. The look on my boyfriend's face, when he bit into his steak torta, didn't even make me want to try it. Needless to say, he didn't even eat 1/3rd of it! Oh, and props to the delivery boy who had no clue it was a cash order who almost gave me my food for free, he was all confused when I gave him the money. I sure could use that money right now! Really...
(2)
Lauren H.
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.
(4)
Victoria C.
My most favorite. Delicious, fresh, economical, fun, great atmosphere, unique flavor and spot. Love it!
(5)
Jennifer S.
Favorite new spot for dinner!! A+
(5)
Ericka C.
I never been here before and the El Tica dinner I ate was good and I don't eat Plantains but these were really good, I would do it again yum.
(4)
Lora S.
YOU MUST TRY THIS RESTAURANT! I've only been to this restaurant once, but I've ordered delivery at least a handful of times now, and I plan to continue eating their food. Atmosphere: Not a very big restaurant but very nice people, and it's worth the wait. It's BYOB, and there is a wine place conveniently located across the street. FOOD: I definitely recommend the CASADO (steak and chicken are both delicious) and the OATMEAL SHAKE. The casado meal is big enough for two people to share. The meat is grilled with onions and served over amazing rice with a fresh vegetable slaw-type thing on the side and a side of sweet plantains. The oatmeal shake may sound a little weird, but it is sssooo good. My roommate enjoyed the VEGGIE BURRITO. The GUACAMOLE is fresh and tasty. The small is a pretty big-serving (which makes up for it costing $6.50) and you can get it spicy or not spicy. Price: I wouldn't say cheap, but it's definitely a value. Even with tip, you could probably get very full for under $20. [The actual restaurant isn't very big, but here's a helpful tip: If you order delivery off grubhub.com , not only is the food just as delicious but you can use a credit card.]
(5)
Steve L.
It was March 31 and we were sitting outside eating Irazu for dinner. What more could you ask for? We started out with guacamole. The guac is good...somewhat overpriced though. Guac is, at more than $6, more expensive than the burritos and sandwiches? Seems kind of strange. For dinner I had the Pepito sandwich...it was superb. My wife had the vegetarian burrito...she said it's the best she's had in the city (and as a vegetarian, she's had many). Another person in our group had three different empanadas...they were supposedly amazing as well. We walked away a very satisfied group of people. The only downside to going to this place is the hipsters...but I'll save that rant for another time and another place.
(5)
Caitlin G.
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...
(5)
Jessica K.
This damn flu makes me yearn for odd foods. Like that g*ddamn oatmeal shake that everybody talks about. If you get it in house, it comes all thick and sludgy in an unappetizing manner, but there are different flavors! The service is top notch and our servers are always so patient and helpful. I always end up with paperwork and my phone constantly interrupting us during dinner but they accommodate with a larger and quiet corner. Bless you guys! I'm going to hang my epicurian head in shame and will relenquish my Michelin review guide when you come to understand why it only gets 4 stars in my book. I can't distinguish this from Mexican food....alright, let the mud slinging begin. The steak tico just reminds me of an open faced taco, minus the actual taco. My friend insists it's a requirement that everybody that lives in Chicago has to try this place and while the gas station corner location does have it's charm (It did take over an old gas station by the way) I can't bring myself to tell him it tastes like dressed up Mexican food. He'd tell me to get out of Bucktown 'cause I don't deserve it... I'll be awaiting those nasty PMs now.Don't hate.
(4)
Raquel D.
This place is the BOMB! And the consistent wait on any given night proves that. I actually grew up with the family who opened this establishment...so I have been eating with them for a very loooong time. I was fortunate to grow up on Miriam's food BEFORE Irazu was born and I must say, they sure know what they are doing. Delicious. And oh those oatmeal shakes are to die for. I always crave them. Always. Since moving out of the neighborhood, I try to eat there as much as I can and was over the moon when they started delivering to the University Village area. But sooo much better to eat there when it's fresh, BYOB and with the friendliest owners and servers around. Ok, now I want a milkshake.
(5)
shirley m.
from all the reviews i expected this place to be stellar unfortunately this is where it missed some stars- my bf ordered the steak...i expected a nice piece of ribeye grilled and nicely marbled, what arrived was a flat piece of meat (similar to steak taco meat) that really didn't have much seasoning and a bit dry. I ordered the shrimp and vegetables which is pretty much what it sounds like with adobo seaoning sprinkled on top. Empanadas were pretty dry, the highlight of the evening was the shrimp and mango ceviche which was outstanding. Service is very attentive, yea for BYOB as after a few drinks we stopped noticing that we were being rained on even though we were sitting in the covered patio. Prob be back in the summer for appetizers, pass on the entrees.
(3)
Mike K.
Delicious food. Seating outside. Also, I am impressed with the speed of their service. It's fast and reliable. I have ordered delivery from the place like 10 times and every time it was perfect. It is also good foe vegetarians. Not 5 stars because the wait is long.
(4)
Megan B.
My first experience with Irazu matched the hype. Service seems great. I ordered from them and my food arrived 40 minutes before it was supposed to. I will certainly be returning to eat in house, and can only imagine the Pepito sandwich tasting even better "fresh." It was one of the best sandwiches I have had in a while - sweet with a hint of spiciness. The meet was tender and well seasoned. As most reviewers have said, the oatmeal shake is really tasty. For those who enjoy horchata and/or oatmeal cookies, I would highly recommend it. The chips were standard, but I'm sure they come free if you dine in. I am very pleased with my meal, and look forward to returning with friends for the supposedly great vibe. The food will be worth the wait.
(4)
Darren O.
Very, very overrated. The food is OK, but it's just not worth the wait. We waited more than two hours on Friday night for two. Everyone loves BYOB, but not when your beer is warm from a two hour wait.
(1)
Darren O.
We were heading over to the Congress Theater to see the Pogues, so we figure we're going to see an Irish punk band, what better food to have then some Costa Rican fare! I hadn't heard of Irazu until we were heading to the show and typed in the address of the Theater and asked to see what was in the area via Yelp! All I can say is Yelp! to the rescue again. We had an excellent meal, starting with some chips and hot sauce. We ordered up some guacamole and chips and it was some of the best I have ever had. I had the Casado with the rib eye steak and it was amazing. The steak was seasoned perfectly, the seasoned rice was out of this world, the plantains brought a nice bit of sweetness to accentuate the spiciness of the food. The over easy egg over the rice was a nice choice, as I agree with Anthony Bourdain that a runny egg makes just about everything better. I had the oatmeal shake, which was also very good. It really is like a shake version of horchata. Before the days of Yelp! I'm sure we'd have wound up someplace else for dinner and that would have been a shame. Irazu was a real treat with some great food, great service and great prices. Living an hour or so away from Irazu is unfortunate for us as I'd eat there weekly if I was closer. As it is, I'm sure we'll make the trip back just for the food.
(5)
Kate S.
I like Irazu a lot. Their breakfasts and sandwiches are super cheap, and I love their beans and rice. I just don't think they're great. I've been there a few times, and each time I thought, "this just needs a little more pop." For example, the fish tacos are tasty, but even with the lime and cabbage, they're not flavorful enough. Maybe some pickled onions, or a bit more seasoning on the fish? The chili relleno was similar. I thought it was very tasty, but the sauce was a bit dull. I also don't especially like the lizano sauce on the sandwiches, but other people I've been there with do. One other negative is that while most of the empanadas are good, there's something off about the cheese only empanada. The spinach and cheese, though, is to die for. Definitely my favorite thing on the menu. The spinach is fresh and flavorful, and makes you feel a little less guilty about eating an ounce of fried cheese.
(4)
Candice R.
Finally, I discovered the key to Irazu: the pepito with black beans and avocado, and their empanadas. Tasty! It really is all about the sandwiches.
(4)
Mark E.
I visited this place to try Costa Rican food. I was met y Mad I, who seated me and Sonny, the wait staff. He recommended the Chifrijo, which is an amalgam of every food I like and was textured and layered perfectly. Since I wanted traditional. Sonny sugestedt the El Tico, steak. Onions. Fresh salad, delicious. One of the owners, Gerardo Cerdas came to the tables greeting everyone and spoke about his country and the cuisine...just a wonderful dining experience...recommend to all for food and circuses. Irazu in Chicago is a wonderful volcano to drop in to.
(4)
Benjamin D.
The food is pretty good, but not game changing. Yes its "Costa Rican" so to speak but much of the menu its really just Mexican (i.e. burritos, chips and guac etc). I've now been three times and can safely say that if you want a casual meal that will not cost you very much money, this may be the spot for you. The servers are very nice and the place has a decent patio as well. On top of this, it is also BYOB.
(3)
David H.
Love (most of) the food and especially the oatmeal milkshake, but delivery orders are wrong all the time. Seriously, they've at least two things wrong in our last four orders in a row. We keep ordering, though, because it is still delicious. Except the empanadas - those are awful.
(3)
Nate V.
Excellent cuisine for vegheads and omnivores alike. It was delicious and the prices were great! My girl nearly split her little black dress. Waiter was great, with suggestions for our rum accompaniment. Excellent spot.
(4)
Shruta S.
Best Costa Rican food ever. Must try the oatmeal shake. Actually, must try everything, thats how good they are! Love them!
After being a yelp lurker for years, I had to make an account just to review my experience at Irazu yesterday. Henry and the staff are amazing! Being a regular consumer of the oatmeal shake, I had to share my love for the food at Irazu with my friends. Henry was able to accommodate 20 of us at short notice- and on a busy night too! Our server was incredible, and always seemed to show up right when we needed her. Everyone had a great time and I'm sure we'll be returning soon (in smaller groups of course). Thanks Irazu!
(5)
Joanne D.
Oatmeal SHAKE! Chifrijo! BYOB! One of my favorite meals in the city!
(5)
Lynn L.
I was seeking a place to celebrate my birthday with a large group for a low cost and delicious food. Irazu is literally the place to be! Although they have a separate dining room which comes with a fee, Henry was able to accommodate my party of 19 in the restaurant on a Monday evening. He was great with last minute changes as well. We had pretty much a split of vegetarians and carnivores. The food was delicious. We went with a Prix Fixe menu which was basically Family style was our option for such a large party and we had more than enough food. What's better is that it is totally BYOB! They even have a fridge to help chill any cold beverages for you. The server we had was incredibly friendly and accommodating of our needs. They were great with acknowledging allergies at the table as well. Mmm I just want some plantains just thinking about how great it was! Thank you for making my Birthday a special night! For basically like 22 bucks a person, for such a large party and the amount of food, i'd recommend this place for an small event.
(4)
Esther L.
I came here with three other friends for dinner around 6:30pm. We were seated outside. Though it may not look like it, there is also indoor seating. We were seated right away. The table we were seated at was kind of small because we ordered so much food. The waiter kept asking if he could take our food away, to which I vehemently said no because we were still working on it. We ordered the chifrijo, chile relleno, pepito sandwich, casado, horchata, oatmeal shake, and I believe paella. Overall, the food, especially the vegetables were pretty bland. My favorite part of the meals were the plantains because they were crisp and sweet. I also liked the avocado on the chifrijo mostly because it was seasoned well. The drinks were just run of the mill, a little lacking in flavor, but I thought the oatmeal shake was creative. I was happy to see that they had an extensive list of vegetarian options. There is free street parking around the neighborhood about a block or two away. The parking directly in front of the restaurant is pay for parking.
(2)
Luis P.
I've been back since. Had tacos. I think it's super average. I don't get why it's so highly regarded. Oatmeal shake was good.
(2)
Joni L.
Love this place more and more each time I go. No wait at all for dining room at all. Started with a big bowl of guacamole and chips. I dug right in. Side of pureed black beans and lizano salsa completed everything. For dinner I had the shrimp/vegetable platter. The plaintains are to die for. Shrimp was cooked and the sauce was tasty. Veggies were really fresh too. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It's BYOB and there is a wine store across the street.
(4)
Rachel V.
I came here with some friends based on the recommendation of a friend who visits Cost Rica often. So, I'll take her word for it that the food is authentic, but I can only comment on how it tasted...delicious! I highly recommend the Chifrijo appetizer - it's a perfect starter with chips. We ordered a few plates to share, but I think my favorite was the shrimp/veggie platter, because it was topped with a really different, tasty sauce. Plus, it's BYOB with no corkage fee...we definitely took advantage!
(4)
Stephanie H.
I debated giving Irazu 3 stars but the reality is I probably wouldn't go back. This was just 'meh' for me. I went 2.5 weeks ago with 2 friends on a Saturday night. We figured there would be a wait, so we weren't surprised that we were huddled inside the covered patio. But it was a bit annoying there there were a few empty tables on the patio yet they were not seating anyone there. We waited at least 30 minutes and then were seated inside the restaurant. I couldn't wait to sit down because I was starving, and when I saw the basket of tortilla chips I was psyched. Unfortunately the chips were terrible. They were hard (overcooked I think, not stale) and had no flavor. Because they were in front of me I ate them anyway, but they were not good. Supposedly the chifrijo is their big appetizer so we ordered the large for the 3 of us to split. This was never finished. As a proud member of the clean plate club, it pained me to see unfinished food but it wasn't that great. It's basically a rice salsa with fried pieces of pork. The pork was lost on me because all I tasted was chewy batter and it got stuck in my teeth. For my main I had the steak el tico. It was fine, nothing great. They upsell you on the gallo pinto which was fine but bland. My friend shared her oatmeal shake with the table and it was very tasty and surprisingly sweet, which is not how I would ever describe oatmeal. I wouldn't suggest going out of your way to come here, perhaps delivery is the best way to go?
(2)
Dustin A.
Delicious Costa Rican. Do yourself a favor and order an oatmeal smoothie for dessert.
(4)
Monik S.
im costarican food dont have taste of my country ceviche is not with tomatoes chifrijol so salty all food taste lizano sauce and for worst no credit card only cash never go again
(1)
Courtney C.
I had SUCH high hopes for Irazu. I traveled to Costa Rica over the summer and figured I wouldn't taste Costa Rican food for a while. When I found out about Irazu, I was pumped! To me, their gallo pinto tasted NOTHING like I had in Costa Rica; it was bland. I know my gallo pinto-I had it just about every day I was in Costa Rica, and I was there for a month. Maybe I caught them on a bad night. The rice in my vegetarian taco was VERY salty. I ordered two tacos and took one home for leftovers but I highly doubt I'll eat it, and I hate wasting food. =/ I had high hopes of tasting guanabana again, but I found out that you can only have it in the form of a smoothie. If you've ever tasted fresh guanabana, a smoothie is not the best way to experience this amazing fruit. I would love to give them another chance but considering what a drive this is for me and the fact that I hate wasting money (and I feel like I wasted money), I more than likely won't be back.
(3)
Mike M.
35 min wait at 9pm. Wait was worth it. They corked our BYOB wine bottle for free while we waited. Food was good. Hot sauce really good. Nice big patio.
(4)
Pat M.
3 of us went out here Saturday and we loved it! Bring a laid back attitude when entering the building. There may be a wait and there isn't a lot of room, but everyone understands this, is friendly and works with the space given. It is a HUGE bonus that you don't have to worry about finding the cocktail waitress! It's BYOB. Just find some space, enjoy your drink and look over the great plates walking by to make your decision. We started with the Chifrijo....order it, it is as good as they say it is! It even is more of an experience, because it has more ways to eat it than nachos. We all shared the shrimp and guacamole salad and I think it was the favorite of all 3 of ours. Next course we shared with empanadas, the steak Casado and the steak pepito. The empanadas and steak casado rocked! The pepito was properly suggested to us as perhaps best served for a luncheon sandwich. Recommendation was spot on, we probably wouldn't order again for dinner, but it was good. We enjoyed our beer and wine, they set us great opening our wine and servicing us with glasses. Henry, the owner, introduced himself and spoke with us periodically throughout the night, often sharing advise for our experience, advise we were asking for and in need of. All of it was spots on! We finished the evening sharing the bread pudding, that was terrific! We all said good bye to Henry, who was the owner when walked in and seemed to be our new friend when we left! A great experience!
(5)
Stef C.
This place gets super crowded. So I recommend going with enough time.Oh and make sure to bring cash because they don't except debt cards. Their salsa is pretty good. I loved that! I got the Pepito sandwich. It was good but didn't love the seasoning.It might be because I've never had Costa Rican food. I will definitely come back and try something different.
(3)
Matt M.
The friendliest staff, great food and it's BYOB. There's literally no complaints to be had. I recommend the Chifrijo as it's their specialty; it does not disappoint!
(4)
Steven M.
I've only tried one thing at this place ever and I keep coming back. My first time there the waiter told me to get the veggie burrito with chorizo. Sooo good. The hot peppers are nutzo hot though, so I'd strongly advise not doing that unless you're eating with someone who doesn't think you're manly enough. And then..you know..the only way to prove something like that is by eating fire. The veggie burrito comes with extra stuff the regular burritos don't, in case you were wondering. And it's one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest altogether) large plates you can get there. The oatmeal shake with soy is the gf's favorite. It's kinda like an oatey horchata. That sounded less strange in my head. Trust me, it shows up in a lot of reviews bc it's good. If you come for dinner on the weekend, be prepared to wait...like an hour That is unless it's raining. Their waiting area is all outside and most people don't like to wait in rain, so the line basically goes away completely.
(5)
Xiaoyua W.
I don't understand why ppl ate so crazy about this place. Their steak is not even chewable, like rubber. I had their delivery three times, every time was the same. Why????
(1)
Veronica L.
I'm having a hard time believing that I actually went to the same place as all these other people with great reviews...the food just sucked. We didn't finish a single thing on the table. My chicken burrito was probably the worst though. The chicken wasn't even seasoned...It was just chicken that had been grilled all the way to one side with ten pounds of shredded lettuce all the way on the other side, a tiny amount of cheese in one place, and a slice of tomato. No sauce, no seasoning... I don't even think they put salt or pepper on it. Someone who had never cooked before could have made a better one. I ended up opening it and eating the chicken because I couldn't get all the ingredients in one bite. Also had one bite of an empanada that was so oil soaked I didn't want to eat anymore. And what is with charging for every little thing? Fifty cents for sour cream? I had really high hopes for this place and have been talking about it for months- really disappointed and definitely won't be back.
(1)
Mary F.
I recently had Irazu cater a party on our rooftop deck. Leading up to the event, Justin was very helpful in assisting us with our menu planning. He was very prompt with our quote, and always answered our calls immediately. He worked to put the perfect package together. The day of the event was fantastic. The gentleman who delivered our food was on time and very speedy and professional. We had the Gallo package for 35 people. We chose from a variety of steak, chicken and veggie tacos. These were served with the Gallo Pinto, and mixed salad and sweet plantains. Irazu provide all utensils, serving dishes and serving utensils. They also provided the salsa's, cheeses etc. The meal was finished off with a perfectly cooked bread pudding. All of our guests raved about the food. I was thrilled with the service. We live locally and bring our little kids to Irazu often for weekend lunches. I will continue to frequent this place and support this business. When I host future parties, I will continue to call on Irazu!
(5)
Jenna C.
This place is a little gem. My wife and I were on our way to a restaurant just down the street when we sported Irazu and decided to try it. Our server (Sonny) really knew his stuff. It was our first time trying Costa Rican food and he was able to walk us through everything on the menu. We ordered some of the dishes he recommended and the food is definitely worth coming back for.
(5)
Patty T.
Irazu handled the mishap VERY well. After calling management twice to "complain", they profusely apologized, and refunded my money. They even called and texted to keep me posted on my refund. In addition to my refund, they also sent me a $15 gift certificate in the mail. At the end of the day, their food is awesome, value is unbeatable, and service is awesome. Everyone messes up from time to time (especially on a busy night) - and it's all about the way you handle the mistake. In their case, they handled it VERY well.
(5)
Emy F.
We ordered take out from Irazu and I was really impressed by the service. The individual who answered the phone was really nice and actually charming and not just trying to get my order through and off the phone. The delivery guy was very nice too so I appreciate that. With that being said, I agree with others when they said "what's the hype" or "it's not game changing". I get that maybe it isn't meant to be "Game changing", but I will say that it wasn't something that I was like "this is the best food I've ever had". I'm from South Florida, I've been to many Costa Rican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Haitian restaurants, get togethers, parties, and weddings so I like to think I have a good understanding of that type of food. My fiance is also half Puerto Rican/Cuban so again, it's not like I've only eaten Mexican or have little experience with this type of cuisine. We ordered two of their "Pepito sandwiches" and again I just felt like it was just a sandwich that I could get from any place in Bucktown or Logan Square. Nothing about it felt special. I know that it was recently on DDD and this isn't the first time a place on DDD has fallen short. I would reconsider trying it again and trying more menu items that are more diverse.
(3)
Max S.
Great food
(4)
David B.
Been going here for let's just say - over 15 years. Always been great. Has only gotten better over the years. The Veggie Burrito with mushrooms - still one of my favorite burritos of all time. Like some pork too? The Chifrijo is also a must. And the shakes? Please.
(5)
Riko P.
Absolutely lived up to the hype. The salsa, the chips, the sandwiches, and the milkshakes. Will be going back.
(5)
Shumaila D.
I really like their bean burrito and the oat meal shake it's just awesome. I never had that kind of shake before. Place are quite small but you can wait for their yummy food.
(5)
Penelope S.
This place is tiny but mighty. The best shakes, best empanadas, best steak. One of my favs...got to try it!!!!!
(4)
Alexandra C.
Just one word : WOAH. I ordered irazu via grubhub twice this week it was that good. The first time I ordered the chorizo burrito (I gravitate towards anything with chorizo) and also got the rice and flan. The burrito was pretty good - the chorizo was fantastic but it was a little greasy? Guess that's what happens when you stuff that much chorizo in a tortilla. the second time, I did it right. I got the pepito sandwich and it blew my mind. The meat was perfection and the sauces were incredible. Add the avocado you won't regret it. I also got the fried sweet plantains which were amaze. Simply amaze. Kinda can't wait to order again.
(5)
Brett M.
Amazing lunch choice. So glad that I chose Irazu over all of those other chain options. Hot, healthier and way fresher with such better service (pooled tips). I believe 4 people all greeted me upon arrival with warm smiles and hello's. Food was really fast. Vegan black bean soup was awesome; I dipped the tortilla chips in it which I highly recommend! Vegetarian taco and paella were fantastic too. This was my second visit to Irazu and i was yet again pleased... Check this place out!
Take out, delivery, and dining in alike I've never been disappointed with Irazu. Meat and Vegetarian friendly, the food is always delicious and unique. First time in?: ask your server for recommendations, the staff here is awesome. If only they were open on Sundays!
(5)
Natalie I.
I wanted to follow-up on my previous review of Irazu. After I posted a not so great review from my last visit, the owner of Irazu contacted me and apologized. He wanted to know all details about my last visit. I was so surprised to receive any feedback especially from the owner. WOW!! He let me know heaters were now installed in the front part of the restaurant for the winter, so guests will now be warm and cozy while eating their tasty meals. He invited me and my boyfriend back for a second visit, so that we can enjoy the meal and have a positive experience. Boy am I glad I took him up on his offer. This was a completely different experience. We went again on a colder rainy day and it was so comfortable inside. We we're seated right away and had excellent service. The owner came to meet me and apologize again in person. I was again very surprised and happy I got to meet him. He takes pride in his restaurant, service and food and wants every customer to leave happy and full. The food was never an issue. Everything we had was incredible, but I couldn't enjoy it because of the experiences that led up to it. We ordered pretty much the same meals as we had the last time and they were outstanding. Steak was cooked to perfectly and the sauce that comes out with the chips is soooo good. I actually asked if I can purchase some to take home with me. I would definitely recommend Irazu to everyone that I know and actually have to a few co-workers already. The food is incredible and has so much flavor, plus its BYOB so you can enjoy your meal with your favorite beverage. I couldn't thank Henry enough for inviting us back and letting us experience Irazu again. We had a great time.
(5)
Melissa K.
Went to Irazú last night for the first time! BF and I ordered a ton since so much sounded good - nothing disappointed and there's enough leftover for lunch today - great! We ordered a small chifrijo, the pepito sandwich, the el tico dinner plate with chicken (upgraded to the gallo pinto on the side - yum), 2 empanadas (one spinach, one plantain) and finally an oatmeal shake (to go, because at that point we were so stuff, but we HAD to try it). Everything was delicious, and all of it was just $41. Love that it's BYOB. Two minor complaints that keep this from being a 5 star review. First, when our empanadas came out, both were just plain cheese. They were delicious, so we just kept them - plus the place was slammed at that time, and we figured it would be more trouble to ask for new ones than it was worth. I guess we'll have to go back and try the ones we actually ordered! Second is that as we were leaving, we noticed they have a "Guy Fieri special," which includes a small chifrijo, a pepito, and an oatmeal shake for $15. This special is not listed in the menu, and our server did not tell us about it. Ultimately, we ordered all three of these things, but we didn't get the special price - each item was charged individually. It was only $2.95 more total without the special, but it still would have been nice if we had been told or if, upon seeing that we ordered the items that make up the special, our waiter gave us the deal anyway. Not going to stop me from going back, I'll just be sure to remember this for the future!
(4)
Elissa M.
My favorite thing about Irazu has got to be their oatmeal shakes. It's like horchata in shake form. Cannot be beat. I'm also a huge fan of the liver and onions, which is really well done, reasonably priced, and also comes with a bunch of sides (salad, plantains, beans, rice) which leave you wanting for nothing. The atmosphere is neither here nor there, the wait can be long on weekend nights. In winter, a seat by the door can be harrowing. But other than that, the oatmeal shake and liver and onions are one of my favorite meals in Chicago.
(4)
Lee B.
I don't really remember the disappointing burrito I had at Irazu because all I ever get anymore is the empanadas. Someday when I do not live in Chicago anymore I will have dreams about those empanadas and be inexplicably cranky for the next few meals. The one time I got the sweet plantains they were pretty dry and mealy, but that might have been an off day, I don't know. I love those empanadas enough that I will forgo plantains to eat them, which says a lot, at least in my book.
(5)
Lois A.
This place is amazing but it sends me into a food coma. You get so much food and it all tastes fantastic that it's hard to stop eating. The steak casado is excellent. I can't remember ever raving about cabbage so much but god, it's like heaven and when mixed with the mountain of fried onions and egg on my plate it's even better. There is so much steak it seems insane to try and finish it all and it goes so well with the fried plantains. After eating here I can't even think about food for about 24 hours. I love that this place is BYOB and the service is very laid back and friendly. I am dying to try the shakes but really, there is just no way I can eat a meal here and also have a shake. That is crazy talk.
(4)
El B.
I had been driving by Irazu for the past year and a half and finally, after seeing people enjoying themselves on the patio on a beautiful summer day for the hundredth time, decided to try it out. We bought wine from Red & White Wines and sat outside on a nice weekend evening. The place was packed as usual, but we were seated quickly. The food was....outstanding. We ordered the ceviche to start. I am a ceviche addict and found their version to be outstanding (the waiter said that the cooks put ginger ale in it...who knew?). I ordered the Casado which could have easily served two people. Everything was excellent, the service was very good (Chris was our server), the pricing is just right, and I can't WAIT to go back for my birthday this month. I'm still drooling about it. Definitely check it out.
(5)
Emily K.
I really love this place and try to bring out of towners here as well. The first time we were here I reluctantly ordered the oatmeal shake (with water, not milk) on the recommendation of a friend and expected to be grossed out- it's THE. SHIZ. I either get the steak sandwich or the costa rican sandwich, which are pretty much the same thing but not- the descriptions are on the menu, figure it out. I love the costa rican sauce as well, the next time I'm there I'm going to buy a bottle. My vegan girlfriend swears by the vegetarian burrito, which she can only eat half of at a time so she has dinner for the next day. Very inexpensive for the portions. Cash only still, I believe.
(4)
Edward H.
After a long workout, I came out of the gym so ravenous that I was ready to eat the leather off my shoes. I tossed aside all plans to eat healthy by cooking at home and made a bee line to Irazu. This place reminds me of hole in the wall places like Paco's Tacos - inadequate lighting, approximately 6 sets of lawn furniture for their outdoor dining area, a couple of stools near the entrance so you can let the smells permeate every fiber of your being... and your shirt, and a small dining area. I ended up getting a veggie burrito with mushrooms, the casado w/ pinto gallo, and an oatmeal shake to wash it all down. The large girth of the burrito made it an exceptional value. I wasn't too keen on the casado (chicken a tad dry) but I absolutely loved loved loved LOVED (does that tell you how I feel?) the pinto gallo. I think next time I'll get 2 orders of this stuff by itself. The portions were more than enough to split between my gf and I. We were both satisfied with the food although neither of us were big fans of the chicken casado. Maybe we should've gotten beef? The shake was pretty darn good though - just like a dirty horchata. I'm an horchata h00r so it didn't take me too far outside of my comfort zone. I think I'll try the pepito sammich next time.
(3)
Colleen J.
I could ALMOST give this place four stars. First things first, the bf and I went here about a week ago. We walk inside and are greeted by a frantic pigeon flying around and the workers attempting to shoo it outside. I was so nervous it was going to fly right into my face. I got out before this could happen, and shortly after they succeeded in coercing said pigeon out the door. We decided to sit outside because it was a warm sunny day. The staff here seemed friendly enough. When our server approached the table with waters and menus, he fumbled a bit and ended up splashing an entire glass of water into his crotch. I told him that he had some good karma on the way regarding all the bad stuff that was happening for him. I ordered the potato tacos with guacamole and black beans. I was disappointed with the guac. as it was very bland; I think it was just mashed avocados. I did enjoy the cabbage and cilantro salad, but my body later didn't appreciate it; i ended up with some hefty heartburn--it hurt a lot! Overall, it was pretty good, but very simple. I wish they could offer just the main part of the entrees without all the extras. I would have been happy with some soup and just the potato tacos themselves. I also had a pineapple shake with water (you could choose between milk, soy, or water). It was tasty. Maybe if I ate meat I would like this place more.
(3)
Sarah M.
I love cheap food. I love burritos and platanos. I love soy shakes. I love Irazu more than my boyfriend (and vice versa). I live for their mango oatmeal soy shakes so much so that my boyfriend and I have to order two because I refuse to share even a sip of my delicious nectar from heaven. While I love the food, I hate the crowds. I wouldn't have such an issue with it if I could leave the restaurant without having to wade through 20 people in the front. Honestly, I think the owners should really discourage their patrons from drinking Rolling Rock beers while standing directly in front of the door. Try the casado. It's a little more than a burrito (about nine bucks), but you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Ji K.
The ceviche? Very limey-- but if you like it that way, it's delicious. The skirt steak? Quite delicious. The spicy squid with dirty rice? Sounds gross, but is also delicious. The oatmeal milk shake? Oh. my. gosh. Freakin' delicious (and it comes in a soy variety!). So yeah. I think you get my drift. Yes, this place definitely sounds overrated, but I've been here twice now and both times have been pretty darn good. It's a small place and it may involve a considerable wait, but I think it's worth it. Oh yeah-- it's also BYOB, which is great for a cold Chicago night when you need to warm up right away. And it's family-owned which I always consider a plus. Note: The one annoying thing is that they only take cash-- which I fail to remember until I'm already on my way-- so I've had to stop by a bank that charges a $2.50 ATM fee (or use the in-house ATM). Argh.
(4)
Paul H.
I'm a huge fan of Irazu, huge. I've been going pretty regularly since 1995, when it was a tiny place with 2 cramped tables. As the place has grown the quality of the food and service has stayed at the same high level. I enjoy it so much that I bring all of my out of town friends to Irazu for dinner. None of us has ever left disappointed, just full. I love the Costan Rican sandwich, it's a simple sliced beef sandwich served with lettuce, tomatoe and completed with yummy Lizano sauce. I always pair it with the fried yucca and garlic. So good! The chorizo and eggs with rice and beans and fried plantains makes a wonderful meal. I always finish off my meals with a shake, they have a number of fruits to try and you can have them made with either milk or water. I suggest the guanabana with milk. Again, so good. Another thing that I love about Irazu is the BYOB policy. In the summer it's great to grab an outdoor table, enjoy a burrito (or anything off their menu) and crack open one of your favorite beers or wines. Plus, no corkage fee. The prices are really reasonable too, so Irazu is great for cheap eats. I think that the Check Please effect is still in effect, meaning that sometimes there is a wait. Also, parking can be tough. But it's always worth the trip.
(5)
Lala S.
Irazu was my first exposure to Costa Rican cuisine 7 years ago and I swear by this place. The quality of food there is amazing for the price! They have the best Ceviche that I've had in Chicago and when I dine out and Ceviche is on the menu, I'm ordering it. Needless to say, I've eaten a lot of Ceviche. I highly recommend the Casado, which can easily feed two and you'll still be bringing food home. You can choose between the steak or chicken (both are great). The dish is also accompanied by platanos maduros, rice, and salad. If you're by yourself go for the steak sandwich, Lazano sauce has forever changed my life. The cabage salad, although very simple is very good. The tacos are tasty. Everything on the menu is amazing. The Oatmeal shake is great for hangovers and should be patented, trademarked or whatever it is you have to do to make sure no one steals the idea! Otherwise I like the Mamey shake...I wonder what the fruit looks like, but who cares I heart it!
(5)
jay w.
I first ate at Irazu about 10 years ago while gearing up to spend a month at a Costa Rican high school. I remember thinking the neighborhood was really divey and gritty at the time--but things change. Luckily the tamarindo shake/refresco hasn't changed. Costa Rican food isn't as spicy as other cuisines of central America--and I like it that way. I usually get an order of casado and have enough to take some home. I have tried to make my own gallo pinto at home, but it's never quite as good as theirs. And really, why shouldn't cabbage salad be served at every meal?
(4)
Bo L.
Absolutely some of the best food in the entire city, I love it. I highly recommend the steak sandwich, sweet fried plantains, and an oatmeal shake. Perfect
(5)
Jenny z.
Unlike other reviews of mine where I start out saying "I've been coming here since the day it opened," and I go off on some ridiculous rant about d-bags and such, I'm not going to bag on Irazu - it has remained a great, friendly, inexpensive place to eat. Back in the day, this place was only the front room, they didn't have the back dining room, so you could eat at the counter or outside at the picnic tables. We'd run in here and grab shakes and the gallo pinto or burritos and head out. I'm glad they've expanded and added the dining room as it makes it easier to grab my takeout and go - the lines in here used to be hellish. Everyone is helpful, food is pretty good across the board (the gallo pinto remains my favorite), relatively inexpensive and family owned. Although I prefer their other shakes, the oatmeal shakes have a cult following - I have several friends who have moved from Chicago that want to go directly to Irazu when they get off the plane to indulge their shake fix. One friend has even tried (repeatedly and unsuccessfully) buying the recipe off the owners as she can't find anything like it in Austin. Heartbreaking, really.
(4)
M N.
This place is small, sketchy and not good. But it is conveniently located. My guilty friends go there. EDIT: I feel bad taking shots without elaborating. This is Costa Rican food with a few reasonable vegan options... think Mexican, but seasoned differently. I didn't find the place to be worth the price, and it is very small and definitely not suitable for spending any more time in than is necessary to eat your food. I think you can do better.
I was glad I tried the oatmeal shake. It was very good and much, much better than it sounded.
(4)
Amy C.
This is another place where I think my fiance will kill me over. Week after week, I keep wanting to go back and I suggest it everytime I am asked for an idea for food. He likes to try new things but I like to have my rice and beans and mango oatmeal shake! I have to keep pushing for this.... Also, try the fried yucca. Me like garlic lots! I ordered the steak sandwich...not the spicy one and the steak was bad...sad about that but since they are like 6 stars...they are stil 5 stars...I am sticking with chicken.
(5)
Steven N.
Updating a previous review (and I don't do this often). Gotta say, second time back to this joint now and it's still wonderful! Our server Amanda was a pleasure, and the food is always good. Got the oatmeal & banana milk shake and the shrimp & veggies this time around, and boy, it was a tasty meal with a wonderful outdoor atmosphere. Definitely will be back again!
(5)
Marina M.
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.
(4)
Kara M.
after searching on yelp for a good byob place for dinner, we finally decided on irazu. i had passed by it a number of times and even bookmarked it a while ago but didn't get excited enough to go. what the hell was wrong with me? we went on sat night and of course there were tons of people waiting outside and drinking. we were told 30 min so we took the chance to go to a liquor store and grab something to drink with dinner. as it was the weekend of the PR festivities there were tons of people out and we managed to almost get caught between two groups fighting but hey, i like an event filled night from time to time. we went back to the restaurant, libations in hand where we waited an additional 15 minutes before being seated inside. part of me thinks that we were seated inside because it was close to closing time and they were just trying to get everyone off the list quickly..and this is why a half star was lost. it took a while for the one waiter to come get our orders but once he did we promptly were brought water, chips and salsa. i have to say that the salsa had a nice kick to it as i'm always looking for something hot that threatens to put a hole through my tongue. i had the beef with gallo pinto made spicy as did one of my friends. my other friend who is vegetarian was much impressed with the veggie options and especially that she could actually order the pinto beans since most of the time restaurants use lard or some sort of meat products. i love love loved the spicy gallo pinto. i've had rice and beans that turn out too saucy but these were cooked just right with the extra spice being a compliment and not an overpowering force. the beef was well cooked and the plantains were sweet and fried just right. everything could not have been better done. my friend is from trinidad and rarely finds food that she feels takes her back home and she loved irazu. we didn't get to try any of the shakes but you can believe that this place is still on my list especially since they deliver now. i look forward to running though the menu!
(4)
Shirese L.
I thought I had upgraded this a while ago. I have been back to Irazu's numerous times and have not had a bad experience yet. The empanadas and veggie burrito are in a class of it's own. This could be my favorite restaurant in the city.
(5)
danielle f.
8 hours later I am still full and happy. Great vegetarian selection, tasty empandas. The potato taco looks like flautas and are delicious. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. Highly recommend!!!!
(4)
Brooke M.
Irazu is THE BEST little restaurant you can only find in a big city 'hood. The steak w/ Costa Rican rice, cabbage salad and plantains is absolutely amazing and something I DREAM about. Order it spicy for a grilled jalapeno on the side. The service is lovely and the atmosphere is amazing - especially in the summer w/ the expansive porch open. It's BYOB so head to Red & White for a gorgeous bottle of wine or a couple of single beers.
(5)
Kelly S.
Damn delicious! I have been going here for years. There's nothing for me to say that hasn't already been said. I wish they were open Sundays!
(4)
Jeffrey B.
I had the breaded steak sandwich and it was amazing. Flavors galor. Didn't get to finish because the portions were nicely sized. I also had a taste of their veggie burrito an it tasted good as well. Great seasonings.
(4)
Brynna P.
This place is a treasure. 1. BYOB. Woo hoo! 2. So ridiculously affordable, literally every time I've eaten here, I've been shocked, SHOCKED, at how small the bill was. 3. You will not find a nicer, more attentive wait staff in the city (without paying considerably more). These guys are funny, accommodating and attentive. You kind of want to hang out with them later. 4. Delicious. Palmito salad is a revelation (and enormous). Fish tacos never disappoint, Chicken tico, a delight. Chifrijo, amazing. Oatmeal shake, oh my god. 5. Patio area, a fine perk. 6. Delivery! Seriously, to like the entire city of chicago. Check it out. Don't miss out on the fun, a great place for a small group and a six pack (or two) on a summer evening (or whenever). Be prepared to wait a little on the weekends, but tables turn fast.
(5)
vivian c.
5 stars for the oatmeal chocolate shake, pork dip (Chifrijo) to start - i still dream about this, garlic yuca, and pork sandwiches (Pepito is the best). delicious, delicious, extremely filling and very reasonable to boot. if i lived nearby i would go every day. looks very unassuming on the outside. during peak hours expect a wait. but it's well worth it!
(5)
Abbey J.
This place has the best vegetarian burritos with the freshest ingredients and the best price. We go here for large group dinners all the time and the BYOB makes up for it being cash only.
(5)
Dawn L.
Irazu is overrated. My last roommate ate here on a nearly daily basis for a while, and I still don't understand the appeal--except for the milkshakes, the food here is nothing special. It's not bad, it's not good, it just is. (One particularly uninspiring item is the salsa, which comes in ketchup containers on each table.) Believe me, I've tried to like this place--I've eaten at Irazu probably four times thanks to friends who loved it. The restaurant is tiny and popular, so expect a wait. In short: order yourself a milkshake here, but don't expect much from majority of the menu.
(3)
Jason Z.
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!
(5)
Sooyon H.
Even though my friends and I waited for about an hour and a half, I thought it was worth the wait! Please note that this restaurant is cash-only and has cramped seating. I absolutely love eating Latino food. . . I ordered the casado with rib eye steak and a mamey shake (mixed berries). Definitely order the oatmeal shake. . . it is a lot more flavorful than you think. I'll have to come back during their off-time!
(4)
Amanda F.
Great, chill, fun BYOB. No reservations however, they give you wine glasses to drink your wine while you wait. I ordered the chicken tico and it was plain and simple but tasted yummy!
(4)
Gigi L.
Love it, love it, love it -- never had a bad meal here. It looks like a dump from the outside, but is only semi-dumpy inside. Ok, it's really not that bad inside. I'm sure the methodone clinic across the street is worse. Just kidding. I think that has been torn down to make way for $800K condos. I used to live right over there and had a tin can telephone hooked up to the el platform so I could converse with the gen pop on my Evita-style condo balcony. I enjoyed viewing the scissor fights in the alley from up there as well. Ah, youth. Good times. Anyway, since the place is so small, you might end up smelling like one of their delicious sandwedges. Only because of that do I recommend taking it out. Place your order with the people at the counter. They are friendly. Get the guac, spicy, and be delighted that they leave the pit in the dish with it. How marvelously rustic! Order the pepito sammidge, and a mango shake with water. So fruity! If you like rice pudding, get the oatmeal shake with milk. Sublime. I want to take a bath in that stuff. Take it home, eat it and then take a nap. In that order.
(5)
Marcus Z.
Oatmeal Banana Soy shake!!! I go out of my way to make sure I make it to Irazu at least once a week...even for just that! The food and service are always great--never a let down. I don't think I've ever seen this place not busy. Easily one of my favorite restaurants in the city.
(5)
Laura C.
I saw Irazu on Check Please and decided to try it out for myself. It is a great, off the beaten path, BYOB choice. I had never had Costa Rican food before, but man was I glad that I gave it a try after the meal. The dining area is nothing to talk about, but the food for sure makes up for it, along with their prices. I think you can order to go too!
(4)
Patrick H.
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.
(5)
Leah J.
Came here a while ago, but can't forget it. Just thinking about it makes me drool..(uggh *homer moan*). The place is tiny, but it suprisingly carried a relaxed, warm vibe inside. Must be the candles. Inexpensive, huge burritos that DO NOT dissapoint. I split a veggie and steak burrito. The portions are so big, I had to doggy bag the other half. And don't forget the chips and guac! I'd eat from here again, but probably just convenietly order my food to go up in front so I can chow down like a pig at home!
(4)
Tyler W.
I honestly don't understand how this restaurant has all these good reviews. I expected the best tasting Costa Rican food when I came here. I waited for almost an hour to be seated while my mouth watered. Haha. We ordered empanadas --Beef and chicken. I wasn't a fan of the beef but the chicken was tasty. Now.. dinner time. Dinner plate: Steak, black beans, yellow rice and cabbage salad. Honestly the only thing I enjoyed was the sweet plantains. Everything else was kinda bland, too many onions and the rice was over cooked. The beans were... alright. I seriously didn't enjoy this place and was mostly upset that it cost $50 bucks. I won't be back here. I also wish that "yelpers" had better TASTE in restaurants bc I believed that this place would be awesome. :( And also this place was filled with a bunch of wealthy snobby yuppies or shall I say "Old Hipsters".
(2)
Phil M.
Saw this place on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives and HAD to try it! Guy Fieri was so right about this place- it's delicious! I stopped in after a round of golf and ordered the "Pepito" sandwich. Oh my, the Pepito is right on time! The steak meat was succulent and the Lizano sauce is so good. Also, the sandwich was huge! I sat outside on the patio because it was a nice day and it was perfect. The house speakers played really cool music and everybody was super friendly. The prices are on point here too! Great place for authentic Costa Rican grub!
(5)
Jodey W.
I had a steak burrito and showed up almost ice cold. The pico was old and inedible. I didn't bother to call and explain that to the restaurant because I felt sick after eating and thought it was in my best interest to post a review instead. If your food is cold I strongly suggest you heating it up in a microwave because their steak did me very badly. I won't ever eat here again because of the way they run their business. Plenty of other options on grubhub and seamless then this.
(1)
Kathy S.
The casado dinner is to die for!! And the mamey shake is the best! The owner is almost always there making sure things are running smoothly. One time, we ordered food ahead of time and they had both the food and a table waiting for us! Wow! I will give it five stars when they accept credit cards and when they build a lot. Parking in Bucktown is a total nightmare. I would even give them six stars if they built another location further north so I don't have to drive an hour to eat there!
(4)
Anne M.
I concur with the masses: the oatmeal shake is the shit. Combine that phenomenal, creamy shake with some sweet, crispy plantains; something ooey-gooey-cheesy; perhaps some piping hot empanadas; rich black beans and rice; one of the many other awesome things on the menu, and you've got yourself a combo of perfection. Yay Irazu!
(5)
Enrique M.
After a less than satisfactory experience on my last visit, the owner went above and beyond to rectify the situation. This place really does care about their customers, and has great food to boot. Thank you for the excellent dinner. We will most definitely be back in the future!
(5)
Charley B.
All I had was a burrito delivered to me while I was in town visiting and now I consider myself a changed man. My food arrived rather quickly, probably around 20 minutes and didn't skimp on anything. My burrito was almost overflowing with ingredients which tasted new and fresh, not microwaved. My taste buds and stomach were happy as I sent myself into a food coma. If you're in the area, I recommend this restaurant. I can't wait to come back and visit.
(4)
Steph U.
My friend wanted to come here because he saw it on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and I was already hesitant, because I can't stand Guy Fierri (he's such a tool), but I decided to give it a try. The food was horrible! Is this a joke? I asked the waiter what he suggested and he said the chicken casada, so that's what I ordered. He asked if I wanted it "spicy", and I love spicy food, so of course I said yes. He also asked if I wanted to upgrade my rice to the beans and rice and I was feeling adventurous, so I said yes. The chicken was dry and bland. They forgot the egg that goes on top of my dinner. Also, the "spicy" thing?? IT WAS ONE FREAKING STUFFED PEPPER ON THE PLATE. Seriously?! That's it. I paid extra money for a tiny stuffed pepper that I didn't even eat. What. The. Hell. The rice and beans were also dry and lacked any kind of taste. The only good thing about this meal was the fact that it was BYOB. I definitely won't be going back and I really don't understand why this place has such a good rating.
(1)
Nelly H.
Time and time again Irazu's gives me a pleasant experience. I am a loyal customer and I always bring a new one in. I'm happy to say that once again the food was on point. Thank you Irazu's for providing amazing food!! I will be back!
(5)
Rachel G.
Irazu just catered an 80th birthday party for my father and it was FANTASTIC!! We had a mix of vegetarians and carnivores and Catering manager Justin was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about what to order (our guests were a mixture of vegetarian and carnivores), the amount, set-up, etc. He was very patient when I made changes and communicated throughout the process. Food was delivered on time and set-up expertly. We ordered casados (a traditional Costan Rican meal of salad plantains, rice and beans) with choice of steak, chicken or vegetables. Everything was absolutely delicious, serving sizes were generous and the price was very reasonable. I highly recommend using Irazu catering service for your next event!!
(5)
Mary H.
Holy. Shiitake. Mushroom. Came here last week with a group of 5, after several rounds of empanadas, sandwiches and other tasty treats our bill came out to $55 with tip. That's $11 a person people. I don't remember the last time I paid this little to eat this well. Definitely give it a shot! As other reviewers have mentioned BYOB. They have a great patio too!
(5)
Edwin Giovanni C.
The first time I tried this place was for carry-out and the food was average. I decided to give the place a second chance and dine in. I went with a group of 12 people and made reservations at 7pm. We all got their around 6:30pm and expected we would have to wait a while to be seated since the place is always full. I was not ready for what would follow. Around 8pm after waiting patiently we asked how much longer until we were seated. We were told it should be soon. Another hour passed. Around 9pm we asked once again and were told a table was leaving and we would be seated. 7pm reservation 2 hour wait, I was thinking to myself this food better worth it. Around 9pm another group of 10 women came in and within 10 minutes they were seat. At this point we complained to the manager and we were told that they had reservations at 9pm. We reminded them that we had reservation for 7pm to which the manager seems indifferent and walked away. We were finally seated around 10pm. I thought to myself a 3 hour wait this better be the best food I have ever eaten. Unfortunately it was not. The food was very bland. I am puzzled why everyone talks so highly of this place. The food was below average, customer service was non existent and after waiting for 3 plus hours for our food we were being rushed out as the place was closing. Needless to say I will never be coming back to this restaurant and I have talk tons of friends from ever going back as well. For the below average food and lack of customer service this place is over rated. There are plenty of other great places around the neighborhood that are better. Even if it was the last restaurant open I would still not go back to it. I would give this restaurant zero stars but yelp forced me to give it at least 1
(1)
Mark M.
My partner & I went to Irazu this past Friday for the first time. We loved it so much that we took friends and went back again on Saturday! Our friends loved it as much as we did. Both nights we were told there would be about a 40-minute wait but we were seated before that. The waitstaff is very friendly and helpful. No attitude whatsoever. Complimentary chips & salsa are provided while you look over the menu. I highly recommend the Chifrito (an appetizer of pork belly served over beans & rice and topped with pico di gallo & avocado), the Pepito sandwich (with steak) is extremely flavorful & large, the empanadas (I really liked the spinach & cheese) and the yucca fries with mojo (garlic oil). Our entire bill...for 4 people...was around $64 and we definitely didn't walk away hungry! Can't wait to go back. One of my new favorite restaurants!
(4)
Carmen C.
Ordered today some lunch and had it delivered by Eat24. Ordered a steak burrito, Empanadas, large chifrijo, steak Casado, chicken mixed with rice, steak sandwich, and large maduros. Not only did it hit the spot, but we got it super fast! Thank you Henry and your crazy brother Gerardo for the wonderful food and super fast delivery service. We will definitely be ordering again soon!
(5)
S.E. A.
Tasty and fresh. We loved the cabbage salad that came with everything -- perfect compliment to the richer, spicier meats and black beans. Definitely order the special house salsa, too. The dark, hard chips suggest it's time to change the oil in the deep fryer.
(4)
Iman W.
One word: patacones. Our group tried a lot of stuff. I had the chicken sandwich with avocado. Yum. The green sauce that came with their complimentary chips was a bit much for someone with extremely low tolerance for spiciness, and yet I kept eating it. The beef and potato empanadas could have used a little bit more flavor, but are still worth trying. And the chifrijo is interesting...in a good way. It has a lot of layers to it. But in the end, it all comes back to the patacones. Sooooo good. The roasted garlic oil is potent but you won't care, I promise you. Your taste buds will be in their happy place. Despite all we got, the bill was reasonable. BYOB. Cash only. Gets really busy on weekends, so let that be your warning, you may have to wait a bit if you're with a bigger group. And they deliver, so there is no reason to not try this place out as soon as possible. Go. Do it. Peer pressure. All the cool kids are doing it!
(5)
Kelleen L.
I am a fan. A big fan. I should probably share what I have had and LOVED.... Skirt steak. Amazing. Oatmeal shake.... i get it with soy, so good. Casado, one of my favorites, i get it with Chicken. Their steak sandwich is amazing, too. I love cheese empanadas.. theirs are pretty good. Sometimes it is a hit or miss with these. i have had their beef and potato and it was pretty dry. I usually get one cheese, and sometimes it is a little soggy. Other times it is perfect. The Restaurant itself it cute. I like the vibe you get when you sit outside.
(4)
Jennifer P.
Really enjoy going to Irazu. They have the best veggie burrito in town (says someone who usually won't get anything but steak), and it's BYOB. The only disappointment I've had with Irazu was getting delivery through Grub Hub, in which we waited 3 hours for a couple burritos. That was rough and will never be repeated.
(4)
Tim S.
CASH ONLY We arrived for lunch and were seated right away by an incredibly cheery server who was pretty on point as the lunch crowd was filing in fairly quick. We received our water and he took a drink order arriving back with chips and salsa to take our meal order. Nice spicy salsa that had the right amount of kick without being to overpowering. I went with the Pepito sandwich. Great blend of steak (or chicken) thick sauteed onions, cheese, beans, and Lizano sauce. What is the Lozano Sauce you ask... sweet and spicy deliciousness. My buddy had the Casado which looked fantastic too. Food was great, service was on point, and the prices were more than fair for the amount of food served... nice overall experience. CASH ONLY
(4)
Michelle K.
This place rocks socks! I really had no idea what to expect when it came to Costa Rican food but was pleasantly surprised and happy with the service. We were in town for a good friend's wedding and wanted to take advantage of the local Scoutmob deal. The oatmeal shake tasted like a liquid oatmeal cookie! YUM! I had the raspberry smoothie and it was perfect! My steak burrito with guacamole and sour cream was non-greasy and super filling. The boyfriend had the chicken casado. I had a taste and enjoyed the sauteed onions with the pan seared chicken. Overall, the chicken casado tasted a tad bland but they do serve large portions so be prepared to be stuffed/ fully satisfied. :)
(4)
Jessica M.
I have been here twice. Both times were excellent, but the second time I was really able to enjoy it because I got more adventurous with the menu since I knew everything that was served would be delicious!! Most important thing: OATMEAL SHAKE!! YES! YES! YES!!! It is a must get! I got it with soy and it was amazing!! Other suggestions would be the guac, the patacones (the garlic on the side is key!!), and vegetable paella (all vegetarian). Hope this place continues to do well and is around for many years to come!!
(5)
Alana T.
The cosmos were working against me. My momma always said, good things come in threes, well, nah, she didn't, but I'm telling you, how I ended up eating here today was a straight up SET UP! 1) I had already bookmarked this spot to try after reading soooo many expressive reviews. 2) I went to do laundry 4 days ago, and passed this place on my way to the laundromat. I was like, "there it goes"! 3) I was volunteering with the red cross and they ordered this for lunch...YESTERDAY! 4) My friend and I needed lunch today, and this popped in my head! If these are not good indications that I needed to try this place ASAPTUALLY, then I don't know when I should take a hint! I really enjoyed this place. I ordered the Chiles Rellenos. YUMMMMMMM! It came with rice, AMAZINGLY perfected fried gooey, crunchy plantains. Refried beans, and yellow rice. I was STUFFED!!!! My friend had the the vegetarian burrito. She said it was okay. We also ordered 2 of the raved about empanadas. The beef and rice, and the spinach and cheese. Here's where I'm not happy. The stuffing wasn't AMAZING. It was just okay. They were pretty small, for 3.00. However, what is WONDERFUL about those empanadas was the CRUST, the dough, the covering, the protection of the filling. OH MY! There's crack cocaine in that crust! Our waitress asked us how the empanadas were. I said, they were okay. Pretty unenthusiastically. She said, that doesn't sound convincing. She pushed me, so I was honest. I said, there was something AWESOME about it, and something mediocre about it. She asked, what was mediocre? I said, the filling. When she brought our bill, she brought me a coupon for 2 free empanadas. I WAS BLOWN! The food was GREAT The service was GREAT Will I be back? HELLLLLLLS JYEAH!
(4)
Emily B.
We rolled in around 8:30 starving and pretty tired. There was a wait for a table and as much as I wanted to stick around, we opted to order our food to go. I got the steak sandwich and an oatmeal shake and my husband ordered the steak and onions with Costa Rican rice. We paid the nice man and then went out to the sidewalk to wait for our food. A few minutes later my shake was ready and they tracked me down. I could not have been happier. I took a few slurps of that heavenly concoction and was instantly addicted. I want an oatmeal shake every day for the rest of my life. I am convinced that the steak sandwich is also created by the gods. I added the avocado and cheese and it was amazing! I was pretty mad that I could only eat half of it. However, I got over that when I realized I would have leftovers. Hooray! Irazu was a pretty chill spot. The hostess and every worker there were extremely friendly and appeared happy to be there. We will be going back to enjoy the patio seating, BYOB, and other menu items.
(5)
Adam K.
This place is totally what Guy Fieri hyped it up to be. The Empanadas are delish, as is the grilled steak, but get it with sweet plantains on the side. Wash it down with a soy oatmeal shake and you're in Costa Rican heaven. Can't wait to go back! Also, this place gets packed around dinner. In the summer it gets packed and everyone wants a seat outside, if you don't want to wait then opt for a seat inside.
(4)
Christina M.
I really like Irazu. The prices are good. I'm a fan of the steak sandwich. I'm not a fan of their yuca...it lacks flavor. The waiter....((can't remember his name)) The big guy. He's always awesome and has an amazing memory... the cashier which i think is the owner....can be a bit warmer...he's always a little cold...snatches the money and kinda tosses it back... Hey I know your busy but GEEZ!
(4)
Lauren F.
Oh Irazu, to say you were quite a disappointment is an understatement. We came in with a group of 4 on a Friday night around 7:30. They told us the wait would be about 40-45 minutes, no big deal-we cracked open our beers while waiting on the sidewalk out front. Over an hour later, we were seated. The service was painfully slow. We had to drink our wine out of giant plastic water glasses. These giant glasses plus our regular water glasses left no room on our tiny, crowded table. The spinach and cheese empanadas were mainly just over-fried dough with little filling. And to re-emphasize....service was slow to non-existent. The saving grace was my vegetarian burrito which was very, very good, but doesn't quite make up for all the other shortcomings. We knew it was getting close to closing time, and since getting the attention of any staff there was nearly impossible, we grabbed our waiter midway through our meal to put in an order for the oatmeal shake. He then informs us that the kitchen is closing and they can't make it. Seriously?? Is this standard restaurant procedure, because it would have really been nice if our waiter had come by and maybe mentioned the kitchen was closing soon in case we needed anything else-just a thought. Service really ruined it for me and I can assure you I will not be back.
(2)
Tita A.
First timer and the reviews are accurate! Authentic, fresh and tasty food. I will be a regular here!
(5)
Jason C.
Big portions, yummy food, get an oatmeal shake. All you need to know.
(4)
Bob F.
AMAZING FOOD, horrible dining experience. It was so damn cold on the patio that it made it impossible to enjoy the dinner. There is a heater hanging that wasn't on. Everyone was freezing. Killed all the enjoyment I would have gotten from the delicious food. Oh you love the oatmeal milkshakes? Good luck trying to drink one while you cant feel anything. Please turn on your heat and pretend you care about your customers.
(2)
Susu A.
This place has amazing food but I couldn't enjoy my lunch with the super loud heavy metal music they were playing it just didn't go right with theme!!! We didn't want to complain because it was our first time I didn't know if it was the usual music they play but we did at the end to the cook he was very understanding and nice he apologized and changed the music but we were done by that time maybe some costa rican music or some type of Latin American music to get that full experience would be better so you don't scare off the newbies
(3)
Ida G.
Our visit to Irazu could have been a total flop, as three colleagues and myself were visiting Chicago in relation to a project we're working on, and due to someone's scheduling flub we ended up having lunch meetings with two different groups just an hour apart. Unfortunately the second group didn't know this until we were already seated (we thought we were just going for coffee), and we were uniformly bummed out because the menu here was so much more interesting than at the place we had just come from. Had we know we were coming to Irazu, we would have had a much lighter first lunch. Luckily, it all worked out, as most of us ordered one of their (apparently) famous shakes and those who had already eaten shared a variety of tantalizing appetizers such as yucca chips, fried plantains, bread pudding, and of course chips and salsa. This was my first time having Costa Rican food, and I loved how flavorful it was without being too spicy. I do love the hot stuff, but it's great when foods can stand on their own without a ton of chili pepper. Upon our very friendly server's recommendation, I ordered an oatmeal shake made with soy milk, which turned out to be a great choice. Pretty much everyone at the table ordered something similar, some mixing it up with combinations like oatmeal and chocolate, and everyone was pleased in the end. The only thing I didn't like was that the inside was full up (they accidentally gave our reserved table away to another group who arrived just before us, thinking they were us), so we ended up sitting outside. The 'L' kept roaring by every few minutes, making it difficult to hear one another as we were in a large group. Also, they only take cash. Apart from that, we had an excellent experience and I would be more than happy to come back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Kevin Y.
This is an updated review of Irazu. I've upgraded it one star for the following reason: I was blown away at how quickly the owner of Irazu (Henry) contacted me after my uneventful experience with my casada dish. He personally contacted me and refunded my meal. This goes to show how much the owners actually care about the feedback from the diners, and always want to make a lasting impression. What blew me away was he even personally mailed me a small gift certificate to Irazu. He took the time out of his day to make sure that all his patrons have a good experience, or at the very least, give it a shot. Job well done to Henry for being an awesome owner.
(3)
Kate C.
I've never been to Irazu but I get dinner through Grubhub often, including last night. It is good food and particularly good considering the price. I usually have enough for a filling dinner and little extra rice and beans or plantains for breakfast or lunch the next day. I will continue to order from this restaurant and hope to visit it in person sometime soon!
(5)
Steve R.
A group of us recently went to Irazu for dinner and sat on the patio. Since there were 15 of us, we went with prix fixte option ( irazuchicago.com/pre-fix… ) Everything was delicious and food was plentiful. Our favorites were the plantains and the chicken breast casado. Note: if you plan to bring a group, be sure to call well in advance.
(4)
Ana A.
Yes, yes, we know. Unique food, fun patio, tasty empanadas, reasonable prices, byob, oatmeal shakes... But why has no one mentioned Irazu's REAL draw: a seriously hot server. The one with the tattoos. You know who you are. Call me.
(4)
Oscar S.
Found out about Irazu a while back doing my " research" on Yelp.Went online to learn everything I could about their menu before coming in the first time.Even saw the Diners,Drive In's and Dive's episode on Youtube countless times.Now I come in every so often to get my fix of chicharron and whatever milkshake Im in the mood for.Never disappoints me!!! NEVER!!!! I've recommended them countless times to my customers(Im a cabdriver.).I've even put the DDD episode on my iPhone for them to watch while we're on our way to their destination.I've done that quite a few times.If you've never been there,I 100% recommend you do.It feels like Im not even in Chicago sometimes.Feels like Im on vacation in some far away tropical place!!!!
(5)
K L.
Irazu has some great food and I love that they are BYOB. It is often difficult to get in here without a wait (particularly on weekend nights), but it's still a cool place. The first time that I had Irazu, my husband and I just ordered delivery and weren't that impressed (lukewarm food, not very flavorful, etc.). We decided to actually go there and try it again, and things were much better. I love the Pepito sandwich (chicken for me, steak for my husband) and I just tried their ceviche today, which was tasty and seemed pretty fresh. My husband likes the empanadas (beef) and the shakes are great too. We now live only a few blocks away from Irazu, so we usually just get takeout. They always seem really busy and sometimes the wait for picking up our food is longer than what we were told, but the food is consistently tasty. Irazu isn't necessarily a go-to place for us - mostly because of the wait - but it is definitely a good option.
(4)
Olive H.
I have been going to this restaurant for several years, and have never been disappointed! I am an ovo/lacto vegetarian and love the veggie burrito, potato tacos, and pretty much all of their veggie choices. My meat eating friends always find a delicious offering. The staff is gracious, friendly and attentive. It is a fun and relaxed atmosphere and I highly recommend Irazu to anyone looking for a friendly and yummy Costa Rican meal!
(5)
Janine D.
A longtime favorite among my friends, especially in the summer, when we bring in our own rum or vodka and order mixers from the staff: They have these amazing sweet, fluffy syrupy drinks that are perfect for a hot summer night. Even aside from those mixers, the shakes -- especially the oatmeal, surprisingly -- are refreshing and delicious, like a thicker version of horchata. The empanadas are delicious but I've always thought they're a little overpriced for what you get; my favorites are the pepito or Costa Rican sandwich, or the chifrijo "appetizer," which for one person is a big meal: crispy pork, avocado, fresh tomatoes and onions, black beans and rice, all with chips. All these options are cheap, hearty, and juicy. This is a popular place, so expect a wait, especially on weekends, but it's worth it, especially for a group wanting to sit in the open air and enjoy a party atmosphere.
(4)
Katie L.
This place is the best!! The owner/management are the nicest, most accommodating people in the world. They now have a private room across the street for private parties and it's perfect for birthdays & bachelor(ette) parties. We had my sisters bachelorette party in there in May...it was everything we could have asked for and more. We had our own room with private service, our own bathroom (key for 30 girls), delicious food, and even pitchers of margaritas (if you bring tequila)! It's BYOB, which is always great. They gave us as much chips & salsa as we could handle, let us decorate the room, bring coolers of beer, and blast our own music! We had so much fun there that it was hard to leave! The people serving us & arranging our evening were so unbelievable! I cannot say enough nice things about it ...every person we were with could not stop complimenting it too! Smiles, good food, & great times all around! Thank you, Irazu!!
(5)
Bun B.
Take cash or use an atm there.
(4)
Kels E.
Irazu is so good. Delivery is always very quick, nothing is ever forgotten and every thing on their menu is fantastic! Their prices are very reasonable, too, Definitely one of my favorite restaurants.
(5)
Cristina A.
We've been going here since it was a lil shack, and pretty much pick up only, love to see how much it's grown! Always the milanesa sandwich, chifrijo y patacones. We venture out, but this is our most frequent picks here and they are always consistent ;). The servers are verrrry friendly, one guy has been there for years that we see, forgot his name, but he's awesome! ;). The tamarindo drinks are good here, not too watery or sugary, perfect! Please get a liquor license soon! ;)
(5)
Juliana R.
I came here yesterday and it was amazing! I had the pepito sandwich and a milkshake. The bread was nice and crispy,the lizano sauce was delicious. My milkshake was kind of watered down but still good. The service was great and our server was very friendly! The only thing was our table was wobbly because the napkins under it were holding it steady and were slipping out, I looked around and there was another table with napkins under it to also keep it balanced. They should probably fix their table problem but other than that I will definately be back!
(4)
Sandra A.
This place didn't wow me. I wanted it to, but it didn't. My mamey milkshake was absolutely delicious but that was the meal highlight for me. The ceviche was fresh and a good portion but neither it nor the potato tacos were destination worthy. Service was attentive and friendly. Cash only.
So good, so good, I want to go to Irazu now! Costa Rican food is known to be flavorful and Irazu does not fall short. The food is very tasty though not very spicy, so you wont have to worry about crying unless you are into that sorta thing. Everything I have tried is amazing and just thinking about the food makes me hungry. The milkshakes in summer are a must, with my favorite being the Chocolate Oatmeal Milkshake, though I dont think there is a bad milkshake choice other then no milkshake at all. If it is too cold for a milkshake just have hot chocolate and be warm and happy. They have tons of veggie options including their veggie burrito, veggie tacos, and beet salad. Dont forget to throw in some fried plantains to seal the deal and you will leave a happy camper. The food is all decently priced so dont worry about adding those extras. Irazu is in a good location that is both easy to get to and has relatively easy to snag street parking. The patio is great and everything makes you feel like having a worry free pura vida dinner. The only thing that can get in the way are the lines of people and how packed it gets inside. However, if you are in a rush just order carry out and enjoy Irazu on the street or in your home if you can make it that far with the amazing food.
(5)
Reenu J.
Cash only..don't forget..if you do there is an ATM machine...great food..great people..try it..
(5)
Kelly M.
Last summer I stumbled up on this place completely famished and frustrated. Our first dining option didn't work out, and this was our "plan B"......What an amazing surprise this was!!! I literally can't WAIT for my next visit!! Things I love: it's in a convenient area, but not "in the belly of the whale" in terms of chaos the service the food the server educating me on the menu items (I'd never been to Costa Rica) the liquor store literally across the street to make the byob SUPER easy lazing on summer evenings on their patio their "no fuss" approach to really good food it's literally STEPS off the blue line Things I don't love: Ummmm..... Ummmmmmm...... I got nothin'
(5)
Ronak S.
I've been a non-contributing Yelper since 2007 and my dining experience makes me want to write a review. I came to Irazu after many recommendations and a few catering run-ins. There was a 30 minute wait. The host Henry was very helpful in guiding me to a liquor store to pick up my BYOB selection. He even offered to make me watermelon based drinks at no charge which were amazingly refreshing even with the cheapest small bottle of rum we picked up. Then he earmarked us an outdoor seat. Our server was amazing. Very passionate. Great recommendation on the shrimp with vegetables. The sauce was so good that in every bite I was trying really hard to taste more of the sauce than the shrimp. That's the point when I realized the flavor was more appealing to me regardless of meat selection. That's called good cookin. When we started checking out the cashier was very friendly and very interested in our experience. Every one that works here is passionate and happy about their work. We ended up talking to the host Henry again about the food and our experience and he was very happy to have us dine there. He gave me a business card and asked me to text him next time I come and to see him. That's when we discovered that Henry was the owner. That explained a lot about our successful experience. When the owner takes an active, and passionate role in a restaurant, and it's customers it is bound to be a hit.
(5)
Pam D.
Glad that I noticed other reviewers saying that the oatmeal shake is awesome. I got one, and it is awesome! I had it with soymilk. Looking forward to when they have other milks... The thing that sucks about this place is the wait to get in. Its a popular neighborhood spot and I don't think they take reservations. We had a 30 minute wait for any table for two. Not sure how long we waited, but it was awhile. The food was amazing and fresh which made up for the wait. My boyfriend like to order seafood where ever we go and complain how it's either not fresh or over cooked. He liked the shrimp here. They have several vegetarian options. I had two empandas, one mushroom and one spinach and cheese. Both very good and fresh! I was saving room for flan which was a disappointment too. We'll definitely go back when we're in the neighborhood!
(4)
Heather J.
All I have to say is: Milanesa Sandwich (the sauce is so amazing and what definitely differentiates the sandwich from a typical torta), Chips & Guacamole (both fresh!), and Oatmeal Shake (need I say more?). The only three things you need to be happy in life! Their Horchatas are really good, too. This place is super casual and very, very inexpensive - two people can eat for under $25, for sure. It's basically a fast food restaurant, except with a waiter. Their entire seating area is technically outdoors, too. It's one of those things you'd have to see yourself to figure it out... I'm really not sure how it works in the winter..... Overall, I really love the food, the atmosphere is pretty weird, and I'm not at all a fan of their "Cash Only" policy, even if they have an ATM on hand.
(3)
Jitka R.
Extremely loud music, overly spicy and salty taste to cover not so fresh food, in my opinion. Had fish tacos and the fish tasted more as a paper cartoon box. Beans were the best and most edible part from all. Ceviche were also OK. The most pleasant from the whole dining experience was very nice service. But otherwise so so food to come back. No thanks.
(3)
Angie M.
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!
(4)
Adam J.
Very good, very traditional Costa Rican. Often tough to get a seat. BYOB is nice. The food is a little under seasoned, but that's standard for a lot of CR fare. Seating is right to the point of being uncomfortable. Like it a lot, don't love it.
(4)
Caitlin G.
I've eaten in here and had delivery. Their service was great in both cases. I love that they have lots of vegetarian options and everything I've ordered has been tasty and fresh. I only wish they accepted credit cards in the restaurant. We were able to pay with a card for delivery.
(4)
Arthur M.
Irazu used to be my go to spot when I was vegan. I would get the veg plate and loved it. Now I'm not vegan I get it with melted cheese.
(5)
Terrance H.
Got to say, it's been a while since I've been here but I was reminded of the place recently and after thinking bout it while browsing yelp I wanted to leave a positive review. I original went here on a date for the first time based on a recommendation from my dates friend. Great choice by the way. No longer dating that young lady :( (my fault so don't feel too bad for me) but grateful to be introduced to this place. N a nutshell, I'm not Costa Rican so I don't know how authentic they are but the food is damn good. I've had several things since I've been back, but the pepito sandwich stands out to me the most. Excellent sandwich, I had it with black beans instead of the standard pinto beans (substitutions are in problem). sandwich melted in my mouth, just enough juicy on the steak to make it flavorful without being greasy. The wait is never to long while, and you have the choice of sitting in or outside. Outside area is great even on chilly nights cause they have heat lamps out there. great touch. Place is BYOB, which is always a good thing and I even got recommendations on what beers pair well with different dishes for future visits. Can't remember what the are our I would have listed them. lol Finally, I tried an oatmeal shake, smoothie or something. it was odd but good. Oscar recommended it, brought me a big cup and said if I didn't like it it was on the house. I enjoyed it, wasn't the greatest thing in the world but I'm always open to new things, yet it didn't appear on my bill. thanks Oscar. Damn, I gotta go. I'm thinking about the chick I was dating at the time and now I may go find her number and stalk her a bit.... not really, well maybe just a little good eating...
(4)
Ron S.
Pre-order Pizza for dine in? Sure. But, pre-order Irzau for dine in? Making our way back to the burbs from the museum campus with an overtired 2 year old, my wife and I had a craving for Irazu. On a whim and 10 minutes away, we called to see if we can pre-order our food. Our order was taken. When we arrived, we were treated like rock stars! We were instantly identified on the way in and led to a reserved table with high chair. As we were taking off our jackets, our two casado dinners was served immediately! Unbelievable! Haha! Someone from another table glanced over and was like, what did you order?? Can't say enough about the accommodating, down-to-earth, good customer service. GO HERE.
(5)
Gina F.
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!
(5)
Natasha C.
LOVE THIS PLACE. The food is immaculate (I reserve that word for very few eateries). With that said, I have to admit 2 things. 1.) I work fairly close to this place. 2.) I live fairly far from this place. I order for lunch (amazing). I order to take home for dinner for myself and the husband (still amazing). I am writing this review mostly to brag about the fish and platains. The tilapia is some of the BEST flavoring of that particular fish I've ever had. the vegetables are always well seasoned and it's simply a wonderfully light combination. I also love their fried platain. Believe it or not, some places can mess this up. But their plantains always take me back to "the country" in Jamaica (Jamaican know what I'm taking about with that reference). Try the shakes. I LOVE them because they can be made with soy (I'm NOT a milk drinker). So, you can't beat that. I've never been disappointed by them and once, the delivery guy called me just to tell me that he was on his way ( I thought that was sweet). In short, EXCELLENT food, excellent delivery service, and all for a great price. Now, if they only made t-shirts.....hmmmm.
(5)
Hillary V.
We waited in line for about 2 hours which was mostly due to a bachelor party taking place in the back room. However, we were nicely taken care of while waiting outside with chips and guac. When we finally were seated, everything else moved along smoothly. Our waiter was really great. The food was amazing. Our group had the the chicken mixed with rice, the chile relleno, chifrijo, empanadas, the veggie burrito, patacones, and the oatmeal shake. All the food was amazing. However, the patacones was strange. Stick with the sweet plantains. The oatmeal shake was phenomenal. To top it all off, it was byob. We were incredibly satisfied with our experience. The food was just as we remembered on our Costa Rican vacation many years ago, minus the amazing Costa Rican ketchup.
(5)
Melanie V.
I'm here to sing Irazu's praises. Each and every one of them. Let's begin..... +Amazing, amazing service. Any waiter that references 'Filipino empanadas' is a winner in my book. Adoration at its finest. +BYOB - 2 bottles of wine, a case of Blue Moon, a bottle Jack - perfection. +Empanadas galore! Our fun waiter suggested we get one of each kind of the table. Good idea! My favs were the beef and potato and spinach and cheese. Yummy crust! +Steak casado - steak, onions, costa rican rice, plantains and an egg on top. Delicious! The portion size was super huge and enough for my friend and I to split. +They're SO DOWN with you bringing in your own bday cake. AND they sing! So cute, so cute. +LOVE the atmosphere. It's just fun and happy and lovely. +They serve breakfast at all hours of the day. Chorizo and eggs, anyone? +Cash only, but their prices are so effin' cheap that you will be thankful that it's still cash only. I mean, $5 for the sandwiches?? Yes, please. Ay. Love this place. So good, so good.
(5)
Char Y.
really packed place on a weekend night! we waited 1 hour for the food but the main complaint i have is about the service chifrijo casado el tico pepito sandwich empanada oat meal shake we were seated right next to the station where they dumped the dirty dishes and glasses. the servers were just throwing everything in there loudly and ruthlessly. of course one of the server spilled lots of wine on my brother's jacket, and all of our shoes. really? never go back!!
(1)
James H.
Irazu is a great place to eat ! I think i have been there at least a dozen times and always had a great meal and a great experience / and i can speak for others i took there too / never heard a complaint / only praise : )
(5)
Jeff P.
My fiance and I had never tasted Costa Rican food and really enjoyed this. The menu reminded me a lot of mexican food, though it did point out the authentic Costa Rican items that were very delicious. The patio was nice, the service and food were good and it's BYOB...we will be back.
(4)
Caroline A.
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!
(5)
Derek H.
Picked the perfect friday evening to eat outside. Started with guac, and patacones with black beans. Those two are a feast in itself. Once the first basket of chips was gone, none were ever offered again. There was still guac to be consumed! I had the pepito sandwich, she had Steak and yucca mojo instead of plantains. Someone on Yelp had suggested the Oatmeal milkshake. It's good, but don't go out of your way to have it- BYOB instead.
(4)
Mark B.
Very good food and the milkshakes alone are worth driving over there. When we went, the patio was very busy so just sat inside. The staff is fun and the noise level is tolerable so not missing anything by skipping the patio. Sandwiches are excellent. Great value. Hi Henry, I had the Chifrijo to start (incredible) followed by the Pepito Sandwich. For the shake, I think it was the strawberry oatmeal. All of it was over the top good and recommended by our waiter. Will be back soon.
(4)
Laura R.
Cash only so keep that in mind. Love the pepito sandwich, the Oatmeal Shake, and the broiled yuca with garlic mojo. And BYOB! I take all of my guests here.
(5)
Kit G.
A gem of a BYOB with satisfying inexpensive food. I met a friend here for dinner and loved it. We were shocked when our bill for an appetizer and 2 entrees only came to $28. This might become my go to BYOB. We arrived at 6:30 on a gorgeous Tuesday and got a table outside no problem. We got started with an order of fried plantains which were so crisp and served with garlic. What a perfect flavor combination. I had the veggie burrito which somehow costs less than $10 even though it is a substantial amount of food, and I had spinach and mushrooms added. It was a great burrito. My friend ordered the Shimp Platter which was a lot of food. I will probably get a platter next time since I was a little jealous. Irazu is a fun dining experience and a great place to grab a bite with friends. It is very casual. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. Great service.
(4)
Laura L.
Best vegetarian burrito anywhere. And it's $5! I've lived in Wicker Park for 12 years, and I have unending affection for this quaint, bustling restaurant.
(5)
Genefe D.
So all I've ever had here are the burritos because I can't help! It's so good. Especially when you add plantains. It adds a little sweetness to it. I've had this once grub hub and then once in the restaurant. Oh and don't forget the oatmeal shake! It's out of this world. It reminds me of horchata. Love this place! It's definitely on my place to hit up when I go back to Chicago.
(4)
Natalija S.
Came by here with a friend after hearing all the good reviews, I must say I am pleased with my experience here. I had the vegetarian sandwich, which was the tastiest veggie sandwich I ever had, and their bread was toasted to perfection. The yucca fries were alright, they weren't as good as I thought they would be. The oatmeal shake was delicious, I was debating on whether I should get a second one, but unfortunately I didn't. I'm definitely coming back here next time with my half Costa Rican friend to try some more yummy food.
(4)
Rose M.
Loved this place! I ordered the pepito sandwich with plantains- delicious! My friend and I also shared some cheese & spinach empanadas which were fantastic. The black bean soup was amazing - we dipped the empanadas in it! I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Bre P.
I love the Shrimp and Rice dish! We asked our server which items to get and he didn't steer us wrong with any of his suggestions. There were a few of us so we ordered different items and passed them around buffet style. Its BYOB and you can rent the whole patio. Its a great place with inexpensive prices.
(5)
Sabrina C.
This restaurant deserves 5 stars just because the owner takes pride in his business and takes care of his customer's needs. I really appreciate how they addressed my concerns from my last review. I will be back in the near future to dine in and try other menu items.
(5)
Michelle M.
I love going to Irazu. I don't get to come out here often but when I do I indulge. I always order the oatmeal shake is to die for! The last time I went I ordered the vegetarian sandwich and it was so good. I've also ordered the pepito sandwich. This is a must go to if in the area or heck if you want a good sandwich. Its worth the drive.
(4)
Sarah S.
I got the Onioned Steak (thin rib eye sauteed with onions, served with yellow rice, beans, patacones & cabbage salad). It was soo tasty. It could have used a higher patacones to everything else ratio, and the cabbage seemed kind of like an afterthought, but it was really good. I have eaten there before, and will definitely eat there again!
(4)
Nicholas G.
Excellent! Though I've never eaten inside, every take out order I've made has been delicious! My Wife introduced me to this place and even though we've moved out of state, we still try to make it a point to stop in whenever we are in Chicago. From the steak and chicken Burritos to the Pepito (my personal favorite), Irazu is has great food for the price. The people have always been friendly and our orders have always been accurate. Thanks!
(5)
Shara M.
I always order the veggie burritos with the vegan option. (Seriously, I'm addicted.) Was very happy today when I placed an order on GrubHub and a nice woman employee called to see if I wanted my cafe con leche with soy milk since she noticed I ordered the burritos vegan. Was super impressed with her notice to my order. Nothing but great food and fast deliveries. Obviously, I will keep ordering from them.
(5)
Tennele B.
Omg!!! Ive been dreaming about the strawberry oatmeal milkshake that I had last week. My bestie and I went for dinner, and I can't wait to go back. We had empanadas (delicious), oatmeal shakes (again delicious), she ordered the tico (she loved it) and I had the chicken mixed with rice (I think somebody's grandma works in that kitchen because, I'll say it again delicious). The food was inexpensive and the service was great.
(5)
Karen S.
Super cheap, byo, big portions of delicious food (fyi - I am a costa rican newbie... but I loved the shrimp with veggies and plantains) and good service...what more could you ask for?
(5)
Sitka C.
This is a two star, from early this very afternoon, and I feel this one is earned. . And should any questions need to be asked I would not hesitate to answer. Let me get down to it: both my wife and I are feeling a bit ill, she with a queasy feeling and me with heartburn, most probably from the Costa Rican Sandwich. Just upon a bit of light reading on past yelps there had indeed been several recent mentions of people feeling ill and unsatisfied with the sandwich. Irazu, read your yelps and please look into this. Additionally, the sandwich was almost drinkable it was so soaked in mayo. As you are a Costa Rican Restaurant, I would not choose THAT sandwich to represent my country. (snarky fun ending)
(2)
Dan C.
I absolutely love this place - for me, it's one of my top 5 restaurants in the city as far as value for what you get. I love every meal I have had here, but this particular review is for the meal I had on Saturday night, which was their family-style prix fixe menu. I had no idea they even offered this, but for large groups, it is mandatory, and it's terrific. For $18.50 per person, you get a Chifrijo appetizer (basically pico de gallo with black beans, fried pork and rice) and a salad to start. The main course is giant bowls of chicken, steak, plantains, gallo pinto and grilled vegetables, which was more than enough for our party of 12. As if that wasn't enough, dessert is an oatmeal shake for everyone, which tastes an awful lot like horchata and when rum is added, tastes phenomenal. It's hard to ask for much more from the only Costa Rican restaurant in the city. Authentic food, BYOB, and reasonable prices. I'll always make a point to return here.
(5)
Helena G.
This place doesn't accept cards which is annoying. The food is good but simple, it's comfort food from Costa Rica. We had a large plate of ceviche with patacons as appetizer. It was good, the issue is that it only has a type of fish. For main dish we had pork chops and el Tico. The plates are large and they have lots of different things (rice, beans, salad, plantains...).
(3)
Luis C.
I've been to Costa Rica! The food here is far superior to anything that I had in Costa Rica. So I would call this a Costa Rican inspired restaurant. Good environment if you are with friends, not so much if you're looking to have a quiet dinner for two. The staff is great, everybody is usually very personable and work with a sense of urgency. They really seem to want to provide good service. I like the dish named El Tico and I've enjoyed it on several occasions. I also enjoy their bistec encebollado (steak & onions). The portions are big and prices reasonable especially for the amount of food you get. So... If you have room for dessert then PLEASE have their bread pudding. If you don't have room order it anyway and take it home so when you do have room, it's that good! You won't be disappointed, in fact you'll thank me later. FIN
(4)
Rhonda G.
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!
(5)
Mental Jewelry ..
Pros: - Close to the blue line L- station - The veggie burrito (minus cheese & sour cream, add zucchini) made my taste buds happy (too spicy with jalapeños and too big for one person), so good to share (thanks to follow Yelpers for the praise so I knew what to order) - friendly service - reasonably priced Cons: - the loud, annoying laugh by some guy at a near by table - server did not write down everything and forgot a drink order until he was reminded when he brought our food I will have to go back another time to try the oatmeal shake. Recommended. You should try this place.
(4)
Carolina E.
Love this place!! My favorite is the oatmeal shake OMG! The staff are very attentive and nice. I've been here many times bringing new friends! Keep doing what you do :)
(5)
Dana A.
I have been wanting to try this place for awhile!! I got the Chile Relleno! It was delicious!! They have great vegetarian options! The service here was great and everyone was very friendly/helpful. The plantains were so good too! I will for sure be back here! Can't wait to get it delivered too sometime!! CASH ONLY and the best part of all BYOB!
(5)
Jeka M.
Ooo, oatmeal/chocolate shake recs were accurate. Yum! Also, BYOB. However, the tico tacos were dry and the sauce was nothing special... they were pretty much flautas. :/ The torta was similar to a philly cheese steak and nothing to yelp over. Service was good, it's a cute atmosphere, but the waiting is awkward because you are in the middle of the room and right on top of people. Prices weren't bad, either.
(3)
Clazier D.
I love this place! Delicious food, GREAT service and BYOB... I'M IN HEAVEN! Everyone working here was very nice as well, how refreshing. I can't wait to come back.
(5)
Don B.
I was recently in Costa Rica and wanted a taste of the excellent food. Rather than make it myself, I decided to test out Irazu. First off, the food does not taste as good as the food in Costa Rica. That said, it's still good. I ordered Chicken Casado...comes with blackbeans, plantains and salad. I also got a Guanabana with milk drink (just about as good as in CR). I wanted to try the oatmeal one, but didn't have any room left inside of me. Blackbeans=good Chicken=ok...had some spongy texture...not sure why salad=it was a salad (I liked that it had radishes included) plantains=ok...some were not fried enough +1 star for having Lizano Sauce (if you haven't tried it, find it and try it on rice, chicken, beef etc.) Service=Excellent Bathrooms=1 single bathroom that was clean and pleasant Price=moderate. Much more expensive than CR, but that's expected in Chicago The restaurant is a good size. Parking is decent, but you'll have to search around for a spot...no big deal. I would probably eat here again.
(4)
Claudia S.
It took me a long time to finally try Irazu considering several of my friends would rave about it. I finally went there one day after work to meet a friend and loved it. A few months ago my mother wanted food and we were driving by when she said "how about there?" and I immediately pulled over. Don't have to ask me twice! I don't even remember everything I've tried from there, but oh man, the food is so good. The last time I went I asked one of the guys behind the counter what dishes he might recommend, but more importantly, which empandas he thought were the best. There are quite a few, and I probably should have written this review a lot sooner than I am, but oh man, those empanadas were delicious. I believe one of them was spinach and something. All I can say it, that guy didn't lie! I believe one of the things he recommended was the veggie burrito, but the best part was "I'm not gonna lie, the veggie (insert actual food item here) is delicious. Seriously, for veggies....yeah." I really like the sandwiches from here, but the best thing is definitely the Oatmeal shake! Everyone I know that's been here doesn't have a bad thing to say. The food is flavorful, quick and attentive service and the patio is perfect for those really nice days.
(5)
Lauren R.
I will definitely be coming back! This place has something for everyone! Tons of vegetarian options and some of the best flan! Another great aspect about this place is that it is BYOB with no cork fee. They will even provide mixers for hard alcohol, big plus. The food is very reasonably priced and the menu is huge! The large patio provides a ton of seating and the service was fast. It was featured on Diners, Drive ins, and Dives for good reasons!
(5)
Caity F.
My first few visits here were in the summer, and I didn't stray from the veggie burrito and oatmeal shake. The oatmeal milk shake is amazing - absolute perfection. I wonder how the other shakes tastes, but can't pass up the oatmeal. I've seen it very busy on the weekend, but almost totally empty on a chilly winter weeknight. The spicy dishes with beans, rice, and plantains warmed me from the inside out. A really delicious, affordable meal. Plus it's BYO
(4)
James T.
One of the restaurants in Chicago that I always want to bring people to. The service is great. Always friendly, and the food comes quick. BYOB is free and they will open your beers and bring you an Ice bucket for wine. The food is awesome. If you want something small, their sandwiches are filling and delicious. The pepito and Costa Rican sandwich are amazing. If you want a plate, I love the liver and onions, and their pork chops. They give you really good portions. The food is defiantly worth the price. For the winter, they have heaters and a screen so you don't get too cold, but the summer is the best time to go and eat outside. I can't begin to list all of the food I had here. Definitely try this place out!!!
(5)
Lauren P.
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.
(4)
Tim H.
UPDATE: Almost immediately after writing my review, the owner contacted me to apologize for the service and told me to email him next time I plan on going and he'll make sure my experience is better. A+ customer service here. I was already planning on going back because the food is great. The fact that he took a few minutes to send me a note, that's the type of thing that goes a long way.
(4)
Nilda L.
Never disappointed when I come here. I always order the Palmitos salad with chicken. It's so good. Hearts of palm, beets, avocado on a slaw with vinaigrette. Also good the steak sandwich, and favorite drink is agua de jaimaica with lime. .And my little guy approves. He loves their "giant"fries. Perfect for a warm day. Great prices, byob, cash only.
(4)
J M.
Always happy on my trips to Irazu. Service is a bit low-key/no-frills, but the food is always enjoyable. I stick to the El Tico and the oatmeal shake, which are excellent, but the empanadas are also top notch too. I need to explore the other menu options. One thing I did notice on my last visit: when I took my El Tico leftovers home, I found the steak and onions to be extremely oily. Not sure if they are always like that and I never noticed because of the dim lighting in the restaurant.
(4)
Valissa W.
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.
(4)
Brigit T.
My mom was in town for the weekend and we were looking to try something we hadn't dabbled in before. A few friends recommended Irazu, and I'm so glad they did! We had to wait about 30-40 minutes which was expected on a Friday night. We had great seats on the patio and our server even uncorked our wine without a charge! He made some great menu suggestions and we ended up ordering all the items he loves. Our meal was fantastic - delicious, fresh, and the price was right too. My only complaint was that our server was extremely busy and seemed a little flustered, though he kept a smile on his face. We had to wait for our bill a little longer than I would have liked, but overall our server made some great suggestions and made our experience enjoyable. I'll definitely go back with friends sometime soon!
(4)
Sarah M.
Solid service, casual and affordable dining, and delicious food has made Irazu one of my top spots for over a decade. I LOVE the Casado and Pepito sandwich (both house specialties) and their wide variety of delicious shakes.
(5)
dan g.
Irazu has a great green salsa and for some reason I love their basic salad and hearts of palm salad. Beets, Raddishes, shredded cabbage and a really nice citrus vinaigrette dressing. Everything here is really good.
(5)
Kat F.
Justin, eyeing my oatmeal shake: "Is that a safe amount of oatmeal for one human to consume?" Probably not, but if you profess to know anything about me you know I inhaled the whole thing. This oatmeal shake is legendary - before visiting Irazu I didn't even know oatmeal shakes were "a thing" but now I can't imagine not ordering one. Portions are plentiful and the veggie burrito is a steal at $4.95 for two fistfuls of food: enough black beans, yellow rice, cheese, tomato, avocado, sour cream and hot peppers to satisfy you for 2-3 meals. You'll leave stuffed to the brim and with nary a dent in your wallet. Three of us feasted like royalty and when a $25 bill came our way, my jaw remained gaping for a good ten minutes ( yelp.com/biz_photos/F7IQ… ).
(5)
Kendal K.
If I could eat here every day, I probably would. Love this place so much. There is a huge vegetarian menu, but I almost always get the vegetarian tacos. They are huge, so I only get two. The only real bummer about this place is the wait. At the end of the week and on weekends, it takes about 30 mins to an hour for a table, and you have to wait outside... Which is very cold in the winter!! But honestly, the wait has always been worth it for me. Yum!
(5)
Ruiz Garage Door I.
just got back with the wife and kids from Irazu. service was awsome we showed up were told a hour wait. so we walked over to the nearest store byob we brought a bottle of wine then they had our seats ready when we got back 20min later. food was awsome chifrijo is a most great, wife had the grilled steak delious, El Tico was good, oatmeal shake for desert!!!!***** highly recommend.
(5)
Dave H.
I want to like Irazu, the server was incredible, the atmosphere fun and the milkshake was solid...I just did not care for the food at all. I will try it again come springtime but I found the food bland and just meh.
(3)
Adrienne G.
I love that Irazu's delivery zone covers most of where I go in the city. Theoretically, I can have t brought to me in 4 different neighborhoods (ranging from the West Loop to the Loop to Lakeview and if I were over by Skylark, I could get them to bring me a torta and a salad. Actually, I just realized that I can have them bring me food to Gold Star, cause they allow outside food. Aw. some. Yes, I've ordered delivery from here on Grub Hub. It always takes about an hour if you order when you are on the far north side (read: Lakeview) but it is SO. WORTH IT. I mean, really. If I want a delicious salad with beets in it, and an oatmeal shake and some tacos or a torta or all of those, I am going to order this and have it brought to me if I don't feel like putting on shoes. And I don't mind waiting because the food is always ready to be eaten! Really, can you name another Latin restaurant that offers a plethora of options that will also deliver in such a large expanse of the city? If so, I shall add that to my list. Last time I got delivery, I had an oatmeal-soursop shake (I wanted tamarind and oatmeal but tamarind is not yet an option on GrubHub), the shrimp salad and a taco tico. The taco tico probably is better ordered in the restaurant since it's a taquito with salsa on it which was pretty messy, but everything was super tasty! The salad was good and had plenty of shrimp and the right mix of dressing to go with everything. Seriously though, I think that I will order delivery from Irazu to Gold Star next time I'm there. Class that place up.
(5)
Jack F.
Fantastic food, good prices, and nice atmosphere. For some reason, I like comparing this place to 90 Miles. Similar food selections, and they are on par in terms of quality. Cash only, but that shouldn't be an issue with the ATM located inside the restaurant.
(5)
Kim M.
After wanting to get back here for a while, I finally made it back in. I have to say, this visit was much more impressive than my first. In all fairness, it was FAR less crowded than our inaugural experience, allowing both the kitchen and the servers to do their thing in a less frenzied manner. My first review might have come off a little harsh, and I was contacted by the owner via Yelp right away. Impressive. He was apologetic, but also willing to address the issues I had brought up, and was genuinely interested in providing me a stellar experience if I gave them another chance. I am so glad I did. Everything we had this time was completely "on point", from the sandwiches, to empanadas and the amazingly craveable oatmeal shake. The Chifrijo is in a class of its own. It makes me swoon with delight. If you are not anti-pork, this is definitely THE appetizer to try here. Everyone was super friendly, despite the fact that I was not a regular, and I never did reveal that this was my follow up visit, like the owner had encouraged me to do. They did a perfect job without knowing. And that my friends, is a true success story in my eyes. Still a cash only establishment, so come prepared or use the handy dandy ATM in the restaurant.
(5)
Kelly S.
Irazu saved me from myself. After two days of pitchfork and three nights of past 3 am, my body was moments away from just calling it quits. I was so nauseated I didn't know that I could force something into my body. So naturally I did just that. This place... adorable, Costa Rican, small, cute patio, gets rave reviews, has veggie options and the friendliest staff in Chicago. So we sit down and this tall dude wearing a Pura Vida shirt gives us the run down. His name is Omar btw and he's hands down the friendliest mofo on the planet. He gave me a bunch of suggestions which I promptly rejected in favor of the Gallo Pinto. Then he brought us some of that recommended stuff anyway because he could tell that it was about three minutes past where I should have shuffled off this mortal coil. Justin, our gorgeous server, was super fast, nice, chatty, friendly, happy and I think I mentioned more than mildly attractive about five adjectives ago. Those guys are both dynamite and the food lived up to its rep. The hot crispy chips with green salsa to start, then an oatmeal shake. Not my thing because I'd prefer to avoid those calories in favor of something savory but it's as you would imagine: cold, creamy, cinammon-y and definitely shareable. The star of the show was the Chifrijto. We didnt even order it -- Omar brought us a bit so that I would know what I was missing. It might have been a subtle "I told you so" but I prefer to think it was his way of providing me with enough protein to knock out the hangover. Rich, spicy, chewy, beans, pork-y and in a molcajete. Absolutely get this. We got the bill. 9 drinks, 2 veggie burritos, 1 oatmeal shake, 1 diet coke = $25. Rachel Ray would be proud. Cheap eats and awesome service. THIS is why I love Yelp.
(5)
Vernadine K.
I believe I am Costan Rican!! I simply love the Oatmeal Shake!! I will roll over for their Vegetable Burrito. I have been going to Irazu when there was NO outdoor Patio, You Hear me!! The food is soooo delicious and my entire family love the food. Me and my daughter got into a huge argument when I saw her sitting in her bedroom with Irazu Burrito: Honey I know the smell. I was like, 'when did you go to Irazu's?' She replied, "They Deliver!" WHATTTT!!!!! OMG!! I am going to have an IRAZU COSTA RICAN HEART ATTACK!!" Now I am truly a Costan Rican!!
(5)
Kate O.
Delicious food and great atmosphere. Sat outside on one of the hottest days of the year so far and the staff could have whined about serving in the heat, but instead were pleasant and fun. Our waiter Omar was especially fabulous, making spectacular menu recommendations, cracking jokes and helping us stay hydrated in the heat with constant refills on our water, showing fabulous attentiveness. Let's not forget the food which was delicious too! Recommend: Empanadas - off menu corn empanada with cheese, spinach and cheese and definitely the sweet plantain Potato tacos - sound heavy, but the mole made it Can't wait to try so many other yummy items on the menu!!
(4)
Christopher B.
Is it possible to get a legal patent on food? If so, Irazu Cafe could easily lock down and license it's Oatmeal Shake recipe! It is like drinking heaven...with just a pinch of cinnamon on top. So, so good! And I haven't even gotten to the food yet! Their menu has a pretty wide range....and most importantly, they consistently deliver well prepared meals that are extremely tasty. I've never had a bad meal there! The staff is super friendly (cozy even) and treat you like family! No question...Irazu, at a minimum, is a monthly stop for me. Here are a couple of my favorites: Gallo Pinto (with both plantains and eggs), Steak tacos, chorizo burrito, plantains, horchata (second ONLY to the oatmeal shake), arroz con huevos, vegetarian burrito (and yeah, I love meat...so this surprised me), and casado! Enjoy.....and pura vida!
(5)
Dana K.
I'm updating my review from yesterday to 3 stars for two reasons: First, the food is always delicious. And second, the quick and genuine response from owner Henry was very nice. I do not enjoy giving 1-star reviews, but the events of my delivery were too serious to ignore. Thanks, Henry. We look forward to our next order being just as delicious and otherwise uneventful. A lesson to all business owners reading this, whether you use Yelp or social media or whatever: Listen to your customers. You have nothing without them.
(3)
Kristin W.
Love this place both to dine in or have delivered. Stumbled across Irazu after a week of living in Chicago, so knew very little about it. What a unique, delicious place! I love love love their sweet plantain, steak sandwich, and stuffed poblano pepper. Their delivery service is fast and pleasant, so that's a positive feature as well. In the summer months, they have a large patio, only downside is that it's across the street from the blue line, so a little noisy, but still enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Joshua M.
[12:00PM] (Boss) Hey, I'm ordering Irazu. Would you like something? [12:00PM] (Me) I don't know. Let me look at their menu. [12:05PM] (Me) I guess I'll just have a steak burrito. Thanks for lunch! 1:30PM - Food arrives (1.5 hours later?) 1:45PM - I finish my burrito (Tasted okay. Nothing to write home about) 2:00PM - Profusely vomiting 2:15PM - Yelp review Pass. EDIT -- I'm bumping this review up to three stars because the business owner contacted me to express his sincere apologies for the problem with my food (and was able to do so politely and without violating Yelp's rules about that sort of thing... Something few people are able to do.). I don't feel that my particular experience was completely the restaurant's fault, as it's probably pretty tough to keep food-borne illness away from food when you're delivering in 100 degree temperatures. 3 stars for now. I'll give them another shot in the near future and re-evaluate the review at that point.
(3)
Tim H.
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.
(4)
Timtim H.
I went for brunch, sat In the patio. The iced coffee is soo good! Empanadas are very delicious! You can order different flavor in one order, even the veggie option is very delicious...( I'm a meat person), the sauces are yum! Big portion too! Good price!
(4)
Diana S.
The food is on point, steak tacos make you want to cry and the ceviche ayyyy que rico.... so good!
(4)
Laura M.
Henry reached out to me after seeing my review and apologized for the lackluster service, which I really appreciated. Hopefully I'll be able to make it back over for a better time there soon!
(4)
Allison W.
I can't say enough great things about Irazu! I've been there 4 times now, each time very different- quiet lunch eating $4 delish cuban sandwiches, dinner getting individual entrees, big party family style, etc. Each time the service has been great, the ambience fun and casual, and the food outstanding. Last Saturday I celebrated my birthday with 15 people at Irazu- I made a reservation for us to do the prix fixe menu. The waiter was SO nice and the owner/manager came over to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. The food was awesome and PLENTY for 15 people (and only $18.50/person!), including veggies, meat, plantains, salad, and oatmeal shakes. They even made a gigantic separate plate for my friend with a severe gluten allergy. Thanks Irazu for providing us such a welcoming, easy-going, and DELICIOUS place to celebrate!
(5)
Judie S.
YES! YES! YES! Vegetarian section of the menu, some really authentic dishes also. The best burrito I have ever eaten. In fact, one of the best things I've eaten EVER. I will be back, often :) Cheers also to the super chill atmosphere, BYOB and awesome staff!
(5)
Alex C.
I was a Costa Rican virgin prior to my visit, and let me say, my world was expanded after eating here. I ordered empanadas and the vegetable platter of the day. All this followed by a tasty oatmeal smoothie to finish me off. I will definitely come again!
(5)
Keith A.
scrolling through grubhub at my friend's place I came across irazu and in need of food I put a call in. I ordered up some chicken tacos and a costa rican sandwich. the delivery got to us pretty fast. They quoted us an hour, but really it was more like 35-40 minutes to where we were in avondale. I asked for peppers on the tacos, and they put in a serious kick. It caught me off guard, but I'm happy when I get caught off guard like that. The tacos were also very good as they just had a different spice to them that was different from what I'm used to. The sandwich was pretty good, but it just wasn't on the same level as the taco. I'm going to have to visit here and try more stuff. The sandwich was solid and the tacos were good which was perfectly fine by me.
(3)
Becky P.
Potato tacos all the way! I loved the atmosphere here and that it was byob. They made accommodations for our group to be sat immediately since we had a baby with us, which was super sweet of them. Definitely coming back for some more platanos....yum!!
(5)
John S.
Absolutely delicious, but be forewarned that you're going home with a to-go box... super-huge portions.
(4)
Jonathan C.
So I while back I wrote a review on the Oatmeal shake. It was not what I expected at all...... It was chunky and full of ice. I wrote a non-stellar review of it. The owner than asked me to come back and try one for free, just bring in the email and he'll make it. I really don't want to get free things from hard working small shops unless I'm a regular. I also didn't want to have him know that by making it extra smooth he'll get a great review. So I chose not to use that email for a free shake. I went back and ordered a shake (with my own money), and it was great. I really enjoyed it. My guess was last time they were just busy and didn't have as much time to put into making such a tastey treat.
(4)
Kat L.
Holy hell, I love this place. As a vegetarian, I can only speak to those options on the menu but the potato tacos are fanfreakingtastic. They also serve them with a shredded salad with some sort of real strong white wine vingear on top (and beets -- I looove beets). The salad is about my second favorite part of the meal. The rice is good, the beans are good... it's more comfort foody than mexican food. Not sure how else to explain it. It's different in a comfortable way? I skipped the oatmeal shake once and it was a big mistake. I ordered delivery once when I was sick. I called to order and the guy that took my order said, "Oh, you sound terrible." I said that I had a cold and, when my food came, someone had written "Feel better soon, honey!" on my take out box. How cute is that. I'll forever be a fan of this place.
(5)
Tom K.
Went down to buy a gift certificate for a friend's birthday and grabbed some takeout. Even with it being very far from our house, we will definitely go back. We got a couple of empanadas (beef/potato and spinach) that were very tasty, and a couple of tico tacos (little taquitos with skirt steak inside, cheese and crisp shredded cabbage on top, and a weird but good mayo/ketchupish sauce). Everything was great, but the knockout was the oatmeal shake. Kind of like drinkable horchata-flavored oatmeal. Sounds strange, but it was very good (and I could see that being a very good stick-to-your-ribs, on-the-go breakfast). Nice guy at the counter, too -- clearly a guy who enjoys doing what he does. One word of warning -- they don't take credit cards, and the little ATM they have seems to have problems with Chase debit cards' magnetic stripes. The counter guy explained all of this, apologized profusely, and told us where we could go grab some cash quickly (the McDonald's up the block). Check it out -- it's very similar to Mexican food, but different enough to be really interesting. And you can either do the big entrees for $6-$12 or order a la carte -- the gift certificate aside, two of us ate pretty well for $15.
(5)
Kristen H.
Loved Irazu! After hearing it would be a 40 minute wait, we walked to a liquor store nearby and grabbed a 6 pack which was nice- BYOB. Our waiter was super friendly. Ordered the smaller portion of guacamole and chips and it was plenty for two people. Tasty too! It actually was starting to turn brown by the end of the meal so you know it was freshly prepared! It was nice how the waiter suggested that my boyfriend get a veggie burrito and add steak in order to get more bang for his buck. Overall the food was great. I had chicken tacos. I only wish they had red salsa as well as the green kind to put on my tacos. Service was excellent and the food was yummy. Great outdoor atmosphere and worth the wait! Also, it's CHEAP!
(4)
Jeff D.
Great portions, fantastic recipes (casado, tilapia tacos, ceviche, and onioned steak), are incredible!
(4)
Phoebe W.
Okay Irazu, there's so many things that I liked about you... the oatmeal shake, the fried plantains, the rice.. sigh. Unfortunately, there were a couple of things I wasn't a fan of either such as the flavorless guacamole, slow service (only ONE server in the dining room? what is that??) and the sad skirt steak milanesa. I had high hopes of milanesas thanks to Cemitas Puebla, but Irazu's was like a squishy steak parmesan (its topped with tomato sauce and Chihuahua cheese, MEH) Irazu, I'm willing to give you another chance. Maybe I just ordered a weird dish on a not so good night. I'll come back for those plantains, another milkshake, and maybe an empanada or three.
(3)
Dixie D.
Great food, great service.
(5)
Jessica S.
food was really good. I got the burrito. yucca was a bit too garlicky. loud inside. would go back and try some other things
(4)
Jennie T.
Still in love with Irazu. I can see why Tiff H. love Omar so much. He's a great server and has given me great recommendations. I've been here on more than one occasion, usually with Tiff H., but this review is for their delivery service. The food taste just as great after traveling to their northeastern border of their delivery route. The delivery was speedy! I ordered online and I was happy to find out that they'll accept credit cards online (they're a cash-only establishment). Yay for speedy Costa Rican deliciousness!!
(5)
Tran T.
Never had Costa Rican food before so I'm not sure what was authentic or what was a trend. Is real Costa Rican food vegetarian friendly? Whether or not it is, I'm glad Irazu served vegetarian food. I got their "award winning" veggie burrito. Even as a vegetarian, I've never heard of an award-winning burrito. How can that be? Well, Irazu certainly impressed my taste buds with their veggie burrito. I don't know about award winning, but it was definitely winning over my hungry stomach. First of all, their veggie burrito is monstrous! My hand only wraps around half of the girth of this burrito! Their veggie burrito's tortilla has been grilled on the outside. Reminds me of Taco Bell when they tried to grill their burritos shut. It was good stuff! Thank you Irazu for grilling the exterior of your burritos. As for the stuffing, it was actually a lot of rice and not so much black beans (but this is a great thing for me as i'm not a big fan of black beans). The first half of my burrito that I ate tasted awesome because I think I got the bulk of the creamy avocado slices and not too many peppers. But my second half was mostly peppers and my mouth wanted to die!!! My bf got their steak casado. It looked good on the plate, but the bf did say that the meat ended up being too dry and he wasn't too thrilled with his dish. Based on everyone's reviews, we knew we had to try their oatmeal shake. The waiter recommended us doing an oatmeal banana shake and it was woooonderful! Who knew an oatmeal shake could be so good?! My bf and I went on a Monday night and it was pretty packed for dinner time. We got seated quickly and the service was great.
(4)
Jacob G.
The food at Irazu is really good. Their oatmeal shake is something that you have to try at least once. It's amazing.
(4)
Anastacia B.
I'm in a quandary... Today started off normal as usual. Then lunch time came around and the whole earth shifted off it's axis the moment I scarfed down a giant spoonful of Irazu's CHICKEN SOUP. I sort of wish I never had it because I can't stop thinking about the next time I'll get to have it. I also worry if I squeezed enough lime juice into the most perfect chicken broth ever to grace my palate. Did I mention the chunks/shreds of chicken? The rice and carrots? Let me just state- chicken soup does NOT get me excited. Ever. Oh yeah I also sampled the potato taco's with the mole, the chile relleno, tostones- we got carry out for work so things we're not as fresh or crisp because of packaging but yet still had amazing flavors. I also have to say the coleslaw that came with the potato taco's is some of the BEST coleslaw I've ever experienced. What is going on?!?! I think Mercury is in retro grade because today I found the perfect two completely random, often over looked, never eaten together- food items ever. Amen!
(5)
Kerri S.
This really is more of a 3.75. I really, really, do want to give Irazu a 4 star review, because I do love their food, and do recommend it, but can't for one reason- they have never gotten my order right. I'm a vegetarian, so I always go with the veggie burrito, and customize it. But they never get it right. I'll ask for mushrooms, but no lettuce or avocados, and wind up instead with lettuce and avocados, but no mushrooms. I'll ask for no peppers, cheese, or sour cream, and wind up with all three. I spend more time picking things out of the burrito than eating it (and it's huge, so that shows how much work I have to do to eat it). Once I remake it, it's great. I love the yellow rice too. I would say definitely do delivery or takeout. It's a very small restaurant, so getting a table takes forever. And bring cash- no credit cards. I really do recommend Irazu- the food is great, I just really wish they would make it the way I order it. I would go there much more often if they did.
(3)
Ben H.
My wife and I honeymooned in Costa Rica. 2 out of 3 years, near our Anniversary, we have gone to eat at Irazu in commemoration of the great time (and great food) we had in CR. Additionally, we have eaten there on at least one other occasion, and gotten take out at least once. I would say that based on my first visit I would have given this place 4 stars based on the food alone. As far as the service/decor/cost/etc, nothing special, no complaints, no real praises. However, I feel that each time we go back, I don't like it quite as much. It is still tasty, and reasonably priced - but nothing special and I will unlikely continue to return unless my wife requests it. I would probably give it a strong 3/3.5 star on food. The reason I am giving just 3 stars overall (and I thought about giving less) is to reflect their "no credit card" policy. Firstly - while this is a small(ish) restaurant - it has been around a while. It isn't a hole in the wall in some backwoods part of IL, it is on a major thoroughfare in the city of Chicago. To not accept credit cards in this day and age is really just totally ridiculous. No one is going to stop eating at your establishment if you raise your prices a few cents to cover the 2-3% credit card transaction fees that you might get charged by your merchant provider! (Oh...the drink is 1.85 instead of 1.75? I'm leaving!). Secondly - OK, suppose you convince me of some legitimate reason why you shouldn't accept credit cards (good luck). Well, don't you think it would be a good idea that you advertised this situation fully? (Partly shame on me here - because I had eaten here at least 2-3 times in the past but did not remember that they were cash-only. I think I can be forgiven since it is less than once a year). When we were close to being done my wife noticed a very small placard tucked away in the corner of the dining room that said something like "cash only" or "no credit cards" (can't remember which). I mean, this sign was small - maybe the size of a large postcard, and tucked into the corner near the dish rack. I realized I didn't have the cash on me and verified with the waiter that they only take cash (not even debit!). So - now there are two reasons that I am upset at how they handle their (ridiculous) cash-only policy. 1) I checked all over the restaurant. Besides the little sign I mentioned above, there is a small sticker on the cash register that says "Cash-only". Neither of these things were really visible when entering the restaurant and being seated and their policy was not listed on the menus or called out by the wait staff. And yet, as I surveyed the rest of the signage at the restaurant I was bombarded with info about their BYOB policies. Don't you think advertising your methods of payment should be as important as your BYOB signage? 2) When I asked the waiter if there was an ATM around, I was pointed to one at the front of the restaurant that wanted to charge me a few dollars fee. So - not only don't they take your credit cards, but they encourage you to use their ATM, which they certainly get a cut of. No wonder they don't advertise their cash-only policy! I walked 1/4 mile to the Walgreens at Western and used the ATM there instead. I'll probably forget if we every go back that it is cash-only...it would just be nice if they tell you that before they seat you, so I can go and get cash before my meal instead of running out and ruining my dining experience. EDIT: To respond to the restaurant's comments below (aside: why does Yelp allow businesses to comment, but then not allow a response?). Perhaps your menus on the site say "Cash Only", but the menus that were in the restaurant that day did not. Neither my wife nor I could find anything on them, when specifically looking. Just wanted to add that I checked the historical internet archive for you posted menus. And it looks like even as recently as June 5th, you had a version of the menu without the front-side "CASH ONLY" piece as is displayed on your menu now ( bit.ly/19JuQPd ). My guess is you still have old menus laying around that don't say this. I appreciate that you are making an effort to state it on the menus now - but your servers should also be pointing this out.
(3)
Mike H.
What a great dining experience. We went around 7:30pm on a Saturday. There were many people waiting but the wait went fast. Very friendly service. Server helped explain dishes to us. The oatmeal shake (with banana) was tasty. The steak Pepito sandwich had great flavor and was LARGE! My favorite was the Chifrijo! It had amazing flavor and was a great starter. My next visit I'll be sure to have it again!
(4)
Brooke B.
Good place!! I had the chile relleno and the oatmeal shake. Very reasonably priced!
(4)
Justin K.
Love this place! I'm definitely a regular. Atmosphere: Great, love the outdoor patio. Makes you feel like you're in Costa Rica :) .. Even in the summer you are sitting in an outdoor patio (but is heated) so it feels like it's warm outside! Patio chairs fit the theme. Food: Love the food. Everything tastes to fresh. Definitely try the Pepito sandwich with avocado, it's my regular order. If you are there to treat yourself, get the oatmeal shake. For an appetizer try the chifrijo. The chifrijo has a very fresh taste to it, and you can really enjoy a ton of natural flavors together. It isn't one of those "blow you away" dishes but is really just a nice relaxing, fresh tasting, refreshing appetizer. Service: The whole staff take full ownership of your experience. There is a definite sense of pride among the staff. I will admit that the service takes a bit long, but they give you some really good chips while you wait. I would not go to this place with the expectation of a quick meal though. The BYOB policy also helps the time go by :) I think it's an excellent place to take visitors for an inexpensive, yet tasty lunch. You can entertain them with chips and cheap BYOB beer, and then get a really good, unique meal while you are at it.
(5)
Pete S.
Reading some of these reviews makes me feel like I need to share something....Costa Rican food is bland. They eat bland meals...2-3 times a day. Irazu does a fantastic job of making traditional CR food...better! They add some spice, they add some love, and it really is great food. Today I placed a to-go order for empanadas and the Pepito. My order arrived at my house in 10min. I can't even drive to Irazu in 10min. Maybe they cook it on the car's radiator...who cares!? This place is awesome! Great job guys!
(5)
Andrea R.
Twas the Monday night before Thanksgiving and my girlfriends and I were in the mood for something fun, yummy and ethnic! And while Irazu is typically slammed at all times I figured it couldn't be too busy on a Monday night. Right? Um, wrong! Apparently people are always in the mood for those delicious oatmeal shakes no matter what day of the week! After a 20-30 minute well worthwhile wait we were seated and greeted by the fabulous Omar. And based Omar's suggestions we filled our tummies with the following: Chlfrijo- I wasn't sure if i was going to like this one cause of the fried pork topping, but I pretty much licked the bowl. Uhmazing Veggie tacos- we split 3 among the 4 of us, but I decided mine was too good to share. Sorry friends Shrimp, rice and veggie dish from the "special menu"- there's a reason they call it special...it was darn good Chicken Tico- eh. The only thing I didn't like. It took 5 billion years to come and I think the reason may be that they ran out real fast to buy a chicken. My friends commented that they've loved this in the past, but were not fans this time. Fortunately, we were pretty full from the rest of the meal and didn't need the chicken Lucky yelpers these days can score a free oatmeal shake for the table by just mentioning Yelp. Yay! My friends and I split the best shake EVER (seriously) and I found myself wanting a big one for myself even though I was full enough to feel like I had just devoured Thanksgiving dinner. It had been a few years since my last visit to Irazu, but I'm going to be knocking on their door daily for one of those oatmeal shakes. Oh wait- I don't even need to knock because they'll deliver that oatmeal shake (and the rest of the menu if I'm lucky) right to my door!
(5)
Christine L.
I don't know if it is just my bad timing, but the past two years when I wanted to try Irazu, it was always closed for the holidays (Dec 23 - Jan 2). That is why, when Jan 3 approached, I was determined to brave the weather and go eat at Irazu. Unfortunately, that was a poor decision. Basically, when we arrived we were seated on the outside patio area. I am surprised that people were still being seated outside, especially since everyone was eating with their winter coats on. The sources of heat for the night included two heating lamps and my black bean soup I quickly ordered. Other items that were ordered throughout the night included the Chifrijo (the small appetizer is more than sufficient for two people), Pepito sandwich (I chose steak and to add avocado for 50cents extra, very tasty and a big fan of their Lizano sauce), and the El Tico (chose steak as well, with similar contents to the Pepito, but the plantains and cabbage salad make the price well worth it). I hope to come back sometime in the summer, because I see potential for this place to be great. Then, hopefully I can try their famous shakes everyone talks about!
(3)
Michael G.
Scientists recently uncovered a find for the ages. The First Mate's log of the final voyage of the S.S. Veggie Supper Club from October 14 (or 20, who's counting) 09. Here are some of the excerpts that would be interesting to modern audiences: --- DAY ONE: Travelling deep into the heart of "Costa Rica" we have come to the village of Irazu. It might seem close to home to many of the crew, just off the Western Blue Line port on Milwaukee Avenue, but it is a different world. The natives are friendly, accommodating our motley, rain drenched, crew of about a dozen at a table near the back of the village for their traditional meal - I believe it is called "dinner." DAY TWO: There are so many interesting variations of other Panamerican cuisine here in this village, I have had a tough time deciding what to eat. The menu contains such familiar things as tacos and burritos, but all with a Central American twist. Thankfully we have a local guide, Omar, who is genial (also somewhat funny and very informative) and willing to explain to us the complex local flavors. We have decided to sample the "empanadas" (of which they will serve in increment's of three, five, or seven - the last one perfect for sharing, though expensive at $12) to begin with and I have found them a range from delightful (cheese) to "interesting" (plantain - could have been sweeter). There are many varieties of these local treasures ranging from sweets to meats. DAY THREE: If I didn't know better, I would swear that the natives are in cahoots with Omar to fatten us up and put us on the menu (maybe that's just the b.y.o.b. talking). They are shoveling complementary chips and local salsa and pico de gallo like substances at us. There is nothing especially spicy but they will make these as mild or hot as you want. DAY FOUR: I feel like I've been hit with a tranquilizer dart after trying to eat the main course. The potato taco is a herbivore's delight (flavorful and filling - which by this point is a given) - though they also specialize in many fish dishes and sandwiches. It comes with huge sides of rice, beans, and a cabbage salad. Some of the natives have "messed up" some of our orders but Omar has corrected these mistakes quickly and perfectly (and with minimal whipping of his villagemates). DAY FIVE: We have begged our leave of Omar. He offers us another full sized meal called "desert" but I feel as though I may not be able to leave the village if I consume this. Perhaps I will come back again or have them deliver. They will send a food-bearing vessel to pretty much anywhere on the north side of Chicago - including downtown. --- Legend has it that on that final rain soaked night, the crew of the S.S. Veggie Supper Club left the port of Irazu and was never seen again due to being "drunk" on happiness, food, and conversation. Or there may have been a mutiny (though after Irazu it definitely wasn't due to cannibalism, that's for sure). This final fate, unfortunately or not, was lost to time.
(4)
Shradha A.
I've had this place bookmarked to try ever since the Yelp Veggie Club hosted one of their dinners here! Finally made it out there tonight! Loved loved loved how warm and friendly this place was! And loved how vegetarian-friendly this place was! I'm not sure how Costa Rican food is much different from Mexican, but two noticeable differences: one good - the food was wayyyy less cheesy - and the other not so good - food was not spicy at all. The cheese empanada was the only thing we didn't like, otherwise the guac, tostada and burrito were pretty good. And of course, how can I forget mentioning the oatmeal chocolate shake - totally unique and exquisite!
(4)
Charlene S.
I wanted to try the avena shake, which I've heard raves about. I loved it. Sweet and cold and refreshing. I enjoyed it and so did the hubs. But he soon got sick of it. As he kept drinking it he thought it got too "fragrant". Too much cinnamon. I thought it tasted like horchata. We ordered dinner to go. I ordered the pepito sandwich. A ribeye sandwich with cheese, beans, grilled onions and avocado (extra). It was very good. He bread was chewy. They steak was tender. The hubs ordered the casado with rib eye. It was a stew like dish with carmelized onions. It was very tender. Served over rice with an over easy egg. Ahhhh. That's the way to my husband's heart. Especially with a take out order to have an egg that had its yolk still runny was a winner. You had him at hello. He broke it over his rice and it complemented his rich casado well. The cabbage slaw was nice and refreshing I break up all the richness. The Lizano sauce is their green spicy salsa verde. Nice and cool and a bite of spiciness. Delicious with the sandwich. I'd go back and try some other costa rican dishes. And other combinations of shakes they have. My only criticism? Cash only. Come on. Are you paying your staff under the table?
(4)
Grace Y.
Hi my name's Grace and I'm a spice-a-holic. I fell in love with Irazu as soon as they brought out the fresh home-made tortilla chips with the salsa verde. The chips were crispy and salty and super fresh tasting. The salsa verde was spicy and flavorful. The salsa could pretty much complement any of the dishes from Irazu, although not necessary. My boo and I also split a spinach cheese empanada which was a-mazing! The last time I had a empanada was at Tango Sur, where I was highly disappointed. This empanada was 10 x better than Tango Sur. The outside dough was crispy and thin and the spinach and cheese was perfectly melted and oozed out into my mouth with every bite. We also had the chicken sandwich and a breaded steak sandwich, we added hot peppers to both. The bread they used was a hearty french bread (I think). We also added avocado to the steak sando which made it super creamy. I'm sad that we didn't try out there oatmeal shake :( but will get it next time. The empanadas and hot sauce -- are enough to keep me coming back to this place!
(4)
Samantha L.
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.
(2)
Josh V.
Irazu! First of all, I've never been to this restaurant. I've only ordered delivery so that is all I'll be reviewing. Got it? Good. OK, unless this is the first review of Irazu you're reading (in which case, I'm flattered! Thanks!) you've probably heard about the oatmeal shake. And yes, it's as good as people are saying! If you like oatmeal. Which I do. I order it every time! So yeah, just get it, OK? There are other shakes, but I've only tried a sip of the chocolate and the oatmeal is better. Things that I like about Irazu: = Cheese empanadas. They're sort of like Hot Pockets, but with just cheese. And better. = Sandwiches. I've tried a couple different chicken sandwiches. They are yummy and a generous size. = Sweet plantains. = Oatmeal motherfreakin' shakes! = Generous portions. I always end up ordering more than I need, and the shakes themselves are pretty filling. = Black beans. = Ability to order online using GrubHub. (I hate ordering things over the phone!) = All of my orders have been correct. There's nothing worse than not getting what you ordered! Things that I don't necessarily love: = Delivery time is usually around an hour or a bit more for me, though it was maybe 35-40 minutes last time. = Chicken burrito. It was big, but pretty meh. You're better off getting a burrito from a Mexican restaurant. The good definitely outweighs the bad. So yeah, I think it's safe to say I'm a fan. Yay!
(4)
Carla H.
Delicious!! Almost as good as my 89yr old grandma (Costa Rican) makes it!!! A steak casado, yuca frita y jugo de maracuya!!! Next time I will ask for some natilla or salsa rosada to go with the yuca frita!!!
(4)
Lauren W.
I rarely eat in the restaurant, but when I do go it's in the summer on the patio. Their delivery has yet to let me down. It's always packaged securely and neatly :) As a creature of habit I always order the potato tacos and a hibiscus tea. From time to time the empanadas and they're gooooooooooooooood.
(4)
Sunshine H.
First off, the food was amazing and exceeded my expectations. If you have the option, pay the extra $1 and get the Costa Rican combo rice as your side. I ordered the first entree on the list, and the entire plate was delicious. The food was seasoned well. Also, it's byob and the ambience is fun. I am docking it for two reasons. First, the service was bad. Our waiter forgot to bring the ice bucket for our wine. He also was in a hurry and spilled salsa on my friend's coat. He then almost dropped the side of black beans all over our table. The other problem is this place has ONE bathroom (one toilet) for the entire restaurant. How is that even legal? Be sure to stop at the bathroom before leaving your house. AND THIS PLACE ONLY TAKES CASH.
(4)
Paul T.
Love the food. Have never eaten in, only had GrubHub deliver and it's piping hot and delicious when it gets there. The oatmeal shake is unbelievably good. No, really, you'll look at it and say "I cannot believe I like this." But you will. -- After initially posting this review, and getting a response from Henry the owner, I did venture into the restaurant last night. Again, Irazu lived up to my expectations. Service was extra-friendly from the moment we walked in the door. Food came out very quickly and was well seasoned. I had steak tacos, and asked the kitchen for an extra serving of Lizano - I can't get enough of that stuff! The side of black beans were tender and juicy and very well prepared. We were in a hurry, so no BYO or dessert, just a great, quick dinner and out. Will definitely be back once the heat clears to luxuriate with some adult beverages on the patio.
(5)
Nishan P.
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.
(4)
Mary T.
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.
(4)
MARIA O.
I know, I know, it makes no sense. How could've I possibly waited this long before trying Irazu??? I don't get it either. I've driven by, thought of driving by and planned on driving by multiple times, but never went to this area with the sole purpose of stopping at Irazu. Well, I got my priorities in order and scheduled a date. With my mommy. I had recently moved out and we hadn't spent much time together since, so I took her to Irazu for lunch. Both she and I really enjoyed it. I have to admit that I'm really picky when it comes to meat, I get grossed out with anything chewy or tough but I did not have that problem with their Pepito sandwich. The steak was perfect. We also tried some empanadas, a Palmito salad, mom had the Casado, and of course, we tried the Oatmeal shake. I LOVE the sweet plaintains!! I'm craving some now, actually. The service was wonderful. We were lucky enough to stop in at a time when the place was practically empty, so, no wait time. Couldn't have had a better experience. Irazu, I luv U!
(5)
Marty W.
We were told the restaurant does not take reservations even though the table next to us had one... The service started out horrible and only declined from there. We waited 30 minutes in the supposedly heated patio which was freezing to order and another 45 before we decided it was a lost cause. Instead of apologizing or offering any explanation out waiter, the hostess, and the supposed manager told us to have a great night. There's no chance I would attempt a second time at Iarzu.
(1)
Jim M.
Nice niche place the sandwiches and shakes are real good, and they deliver too. I had to edit my review from three to four stars though because on a recent order that I had placed for delivery, about a half hour after I had placed the order they called me back and told me they had run out of bread so my sandwich would be a tortilla wrap, but "don't worry" he told me, it was just as good - it wasn't. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't what I had ordered and I felt like I paid for something and didn't get it. I get it stuff happens but c'mon who runs out of bread? But I felt at the least they should have offered to give me a discount or something extra, which they did not.
(3)
Jessica V.
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! =)
(4)
Ashley W.
Delicious food. The aroma is killer. Friendly staff and great owner. Even better when they open the patio area.
(4)
Angela S.
Had a giant crowd of 20+ for my birthday dinner and they really took care of us. The BYOB makes the price of dinner and drinks perfect.
(4)
Simma Down Na H.
I was expecting to be blown away but was not. Okay, the oatmeal was really awesome. Being filipino (and fan of eating Mexican and Puerto Rican), parts of the dish and those I saw amongst my friends were familiar to me and therefore was not that exciting. I'M NOT SAYING that Mexican food is the same as Costa Rican. But if Costa Rican is exotic to you then you'll have a great food experience. Definitely, the food feels homemade and true to being a Costan Rican dish.
(3)
Mark H.
There's more to Hispanic cuisine than Mexican food. Irazu's an oldie and goodie joint. The decor is down and dirty. The location is sketchy-chic. Parking is okay. The food does bring it. COSTA RICA! Must love bananas. The attitude is take it or leave it. Great place to bring a foodie but not a first date.
(4)
April P.
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.
(5)
Jeremy C.
The Vegetarian Burrito is not only AMAZING but extremely filling.. and it's so cheap! The guacamole and chips are definitely the best I have had in a while. Great place!
(5)
Basil D.
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!!!
(4)
Annie L.
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.
(2)
Claudia V.
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.
(5)
Alex R.
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 :)
(4)
Rachel W.
I work as producer, and in this bizarre and crazy world we get food all day long. Including catered lunch. I took over ordering lunches because for starters I love food, trying new food, and supporting my favorite restaurants, and also because generic catered food starts to taste exactly the same each time. I have now gotten Irazu for the crew 3 times, and each time we are blown away. I order the Casado in steak, chicken, & veggie. The chicken is pull apart, tender, flavorful and yummy, as is the meat. It comes w/rice & beans, sweet plantains, and cabbage salad. I can't vouch for the salad because cilantro is #1 on my most hated things, but people give it 2 thumbs up. Also, their guac is beyond. Super salty chips. Heaven. These wonderful people also take care of me...last time they brought me their famous oatmeal shake which lives up to its name, and this past time a mango shake. Woah. I had to share w/my coworkers as it tasted like the sweetest mangos in the world. Haven't dined in the restaurant, but the most important part is the food...and it's fab.
(5)
Kerri M.
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!
(4)
iddells E.
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!
(5)
Rob G.
The Oatmeal shakes were awesome.
(4)
Felicia H.
BYOB, which is wonderful! We brought a bottle of vodka to drink with their watermelon lime juice and it was perhaps the best drink I've ever had! The sandwhich I had was delicious, and they give you complimentary chips and green salsa (very spicy). I didn't even realize they had indoor seating until I went looking for the wash room!
(4)
Justin T.
Here are a couple things I experienced during my first visit at IRAZU...... 1. The waiter, which seemed bored and uninspired, took about 30 minutes to ask us about drinks and appetizers. 2. Food took over an hour and a half to get to our table. We finished an entire bottle of wine. I had to run over to the wine shop across the street for another bottle. 3. While waiting forever for our food, I glanced into the kitchen and saw the wait staff eating dessert and cracking jokes..........in my head im like WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE? 4. Food was cold and mediocre. My fucking Siamese cat can cook up better steak and veggies. 5. Towards the end of our meal one of the food runners was screaming that the shake machine was about to get shut down for the night. He obnoxiously approached every table accosting people into buying a shake. I dont know what scam their trying to pull here. Why the fuck would you turn off your shake machine at a certain time? Overall, IRAZU is just a shitty low quality low service joint that every byob turd runs to because they dont know better costa rican food. Dont settle for the minimum people.
(2)
aisha p.
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!)
(3)
Pascal M.
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!
(5)
Jennifer O.
Amazing food, lively, fun atmosphere and great staff very friendly but let me say one more time amazing food and did I mention amazing food!" I had the Palmito salad simple and delicious also had the Costa Rican sandwich and I loved it!!! I can't wait to go back and try other things. I highly recommend this place and with the weather getting better they have an amazing patio!
(5)
Maria D.
I love this place. I have driven from Rolling Meadows to Chicago just for a mango drink. I bring out of towners here and they love it. The only thing is, its small inside. Which is fine, but the bathroom is like IN THE RESTAURANT, next to tables. Which kind seemed weird to me at first, but hey, its a old building and Americans are a bit spoiled LOL Sit on the patio if you can, its awesome to sit in the sun and have empanadas. *SInce Zaggat made them famous, sometimes they get busy. Dont think its lost its awesomeness by being bombarded by zagget-ers. Its still incredible food!
(5)
Aldi J.
Came here on a cold night.. was hoping to sit by the burners but it was too packed inside! We sat in the back area. They give you a large bowl of chips and green salsa to munch on while you are waiting to order. Our server forgot about us, but when he came back he apologized and offered a free appetizer or dessert. That was a nice gesture. We had the Casado and El Tico in spicy (it's not really that spicy though). Perfect combo of meat, white rice w/ beans, and plaintains yum! Good portion sizes too. We had the bread pudding for dessert, but it was forgetful. Everyone keeps talking about the Oatmeal milkshake... I'll have to try that next time.
(4)
sue f.
Awesome food and awesome service!! Snowy day in Chicago came into the city to visit son who says this is one of his fav's. As his parents we weren't sure. But he was right on the money. From the burrito's to the empanada's the food was great. They grill the burrito after its been made to crisp up the dough and they cut it so you can eat it like a sandwich. My husband said it was the best burrito he's ever had. The empanada's were good. Had the beef and potato and definately more beef than potato. I told the waiter I had made chicken empanada's a couple of weeks earlier and much to my surprise he brought one out and it was definately good. Must try the oatmeal milkshake. Sounds terrible but very very good. Overall can't wait for spring/summer to come so we can go again and this time sit outside and enjoy the views.
(5)
Cassie S.
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!!
(3)
Mandy A.
Another hit for the Supper Club Monday crew. Since I can't think of that many synonyms for "amazing" I'll just tell you about what I can remember... - Pitcher of Java Juice or Lava Juice... watermelon and lime slushie that we mixed with tequila... delicious and refreshing. - Casado and Tico platter... both looked like shit tons of good food. Get it with spicy gallo pinto (black beans with white rice and spices and jalapenos). - Veggie Burrito with plantain... as good as what everyone else says. i might skip the plantain, t'was literally a huge plantain running down the middle of the burrito. Made for easy cooling bites after bites of jalapeno, otherwise slightly overwhelming but still tasty. - Spinach and Cheese Empanada... it is crispy. It's kind of like a rangoon... small pocket with delicious filling and large flat non-filling edge to grasp and then dip in pico. I don't know why everyone be hatin'... Delicious. - Oatmeal shake with milk... yes please. Like an oatmeal cookie in shake form. Sit outside when it's nice out and enjoy the fun servers, ours were super.
(5)
Fred E.
We stopped in 2pm last Saturday for lunch. The sandwiches were very good, but the waiter a little inattentive. Took a long time to get a second glass of water. We sat outside which is a really nice dining area. The music was a little too loud for conversation, tho. But I'll try it again.
(3)
Peter H.
dined in the other nite with some friends and their baby, previously had gotten takeout. this experience was very nice, pretty white lights on their little covered outdoor patio seating area was nice. BYOB always a plus, not crazy about drinking vino out of a plastic cup, but whatev, i understand the situation i guess. and don't get me started on henry, OH HENRY, what service you provided. need more chips? need recommendations? we asked for guac, he asked mild, hot? we waffled, he said, don't worry, i'll make it happen. i was goin back n forth between steak and tilapia, told him to make my decision for me. he gauged the temperature to be a bit on the more humid side, so he felt the tilapia was the better route to go. tilapia was great, girlfriend's ceviche was average. this watermelon shake concoction was really delicious. my buddy ordered one and let us all have a taste, and my gf got one to go. henry (of course) packed up her ceviche leftovers and threw in some extra chips to go, henry's tip fell somewhere between 25 and 30%, he was that good. overall a very nice experience, they run a pretty good operation over there with carryout and delivery too. think i saw three or four delivery people workin on friday nite. reasonable prices, good food, friendly staff. i'll be back.
(4)
Edward W.
I had the Onion Steak. Good but kinda tough. Prices good. Service very slow. We were seated inside. Not much atmosphere. The outside area with the fire heaters looked nicer.
(3)
Elise S.
Amazing food, good taste, portions and price. The waitstaff were friendly and funny. This place is BYOB and does not charge a corking fee which is great! Nice patio area too. I plan on going back to Irazu next week. It was really good.
(4)
Amanda Z.
This is how i figured out who would cater my wedding. Step one: What kind of food do me and my hubby-to-be want to eat? (ANSWER: Something ethnic, something fun. Most definitely NOT dried out chicken.) Step two: What would be a FUN food to have at our wedding? (Again, dried-out chicken didn't get penned onto my list.) Step three: What can we actually afford? A quick email inquiry to Irazu resulted in the most fabulous wedding meal for which we could have hoped. Henry was responsive to all of my email inquiries, forwarding a price list immediately and setting up a tasting quickly. He was very responsive to my needs for the wedding (which consisted of: Feed us all happy, bright and delicious foods) and was an absolute pleasure to deal with throughout the planning process. Fast forward to our wedding day. They arrived on time. Servers were SO pleasant and sweet. And the food? Bright, colorful, flavorful (he got the memo on the "no dried out")...everyone was full and happy. We enjoyed beef, chicken and veggie entrees, served with a FABULOUS cabbage salad, black beans, yellow rice and sweet plantains. It was wonderful. Thanks to Irazu and your fantastic staff for making our wedding day so unique and special. I highly recommend them for your catering needs!
(5)
Andrew S.
Let me say first that i eat alone. I go to restaurants with my kindle and eat. I enjoy it. It's my life. So, this review isn't for groups or parties because that isn't my experience. I am judging the taste, and ambiance of the place. So obviously, the restaurant gets busy and a crowd was pressuring me to get and leave. There was a line of about 12 people before the waitstaff made me put down my kindle and ask me to leave. Look, the food was fine, and I liked the experience. However, the low rating is due to the unpleasant nature of the employees who pressured me into leaving. thanks, Andrew Saucer "I feel like I live in the present when I eat at this place. When I go out to eat I want to feel like a futuristic spaceman tasting the delicacies of some far off planet. The food here is quite good, in that boring "normal" sort of way." - Carl Sagan
(2)
Riley S.
I lived in Costa Rica for a year, so I was really excited to try Irazu! Everything we had was fresh, delicious, and authentic. I especially recommend the chifrijo appetizer. Their empanadas and casado were quite tasty as well. Warm, friendly atmosphere with quick service and a good amount of food for the price. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jennifer R.
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.
(4)
Gamaliel E.
I came here with a group of friends on a warm summer night after hearing some mixed reviews of the place. There was a very long wait due to the great weather we were having.....so after a about a 45 min wait...we decided to jump at the fist table that popped up inside. We were given chips and there was two kinds of salsa in squeeze bottles at our table. I'm not a big fan of salsa in squeeze bottles, due to the fact that half of it ends up on the table. I wasn't impressed by either salsa, but found that both were decent. We ordered a number of empanadas and I found the chicken empanadas to be awesome. It went really well with the red salsa. My vegetarian friends ordered a plantain empanadas which i found too sweet for my liking. We also ordered guacamole, tostones, and a black bean dip for the table. We were all getting full from gorging on the spread. Everyone really loved the black bean dip. I could fill a bath tub up with the stuff and eat my way out of it. The tostones also were really good when eaten with the black bean dip. I found the guacamole to be a okay. I've had better at Mexican restaurants. I ordered the steak which was served with rice and a cabbage salad. I found the steak to be super salty. Almost to the point of being inedible. The cabbage salad was also a bit bland. Others at the table really enjoyed their food. One raved about her chile relleno, and another loved her grilled vegetable platter. The bill came back to be about $20 a head after eating like pigs......so its a great option for a group of friends...however just realize you might have to wait in a long time for a table.
(4)
Nicole E.
I am a frequent diner at Irazu as well as ordering delivery from them often. I felt it was necessary to write this review after my last couple of experiences. I find the front of house staff to be very rude each and every time that I dine there. They are rude on the phone too. A few weeks ago I had a reservation through open table and I needed to adjust it. I called them because the open table app couldn't make the adjustment that I was needing. I thought the restaurant may be able to help and that it was at least worth asking. If they said they couldn't help I would have just canceled (no big deal). I called and one of the rudest men answered and immediately told me that they can't help me since I booked through open table and that I needed to call open table. I have never had that happen. It was a simple question. Not to mention one that I tried to work out with open table first. The restaurant knows If they have the space to add a person. I called open table and explained and even they were confused as to why I was told to call them. I called Irazu back and they still wouldn't help me so I canceled. This last time the man working as the host (pretty sure it was the same guy) was very unpleasant. I asked about sitting outside and he told me that "just because you have a reservation doesn't mean you can sit outside". I was just asking if it was possible. A simple, "I'm sorry we don't have the space" would have been fine. He then sat us and just pointed at a section of the restaurant. I asked "which one?". He replied "the one with the water". Very short and rude. I understand that it's busy but a smile goes a long way. And to top it off. I received an email from open table a couple of days later asking why I hadn't gone to Irazu for my reservation. The restaurant marked us as no shows. I definitely do not no show on reservations. I was there. Open table solved that problem with the restaurant but it still bothered me after my experience. That's the last straw for me I think. Delivery only from now on. What used to be a favorite BYOB, fun and delicious spot has now become pretty unpleasant. The service was fine (no frills but ok) once we sat down and the food was delicious as always. The servers are generally helpful and great about BYOB things. The atmosphere and food are consistent as well. I will have to enjoy it delivery only now :-(
(3)
Megan T.
Yelp, you did not lead me astray because Irazu 100% lives up to the hype. The hubs and I finally made it over last weekend after talking about going for at least a year. W e started by sharing an order of the vegetarian Chifrijo, which subs fried plantain pieces for the pork, and were immediately hooked. He got the pepito sandwich, I opted for the milanesa sandwich and we both impressed that despite the toppings that neither felt greasy. We finished our meal by splitting a raspberry shake, which did not disappoint (I couldn't convince him to try the oatmeal). All and all our bill came to $27. As many other posters have warned - Irazu is cash only, but if you forget they did have an ATM on site. I'm already looking forward to coming again this summer for empanadas when the porch is open.
(4)
Sarah C.
I have ordered irazu to-go now maybe four or five times.. haven't even been to the restaurant to sit and enjoy bc I've been so busy.. but I wanted to take the time to express just how good it is even as delivery food! what I love: pepito sandwich. seriously so simple and yet so good. the beans spread made with garlic adds just the right amt of flavor to what would be a plain steak and cheese sandwich. Munster was the right choice for cheese imo. chifrijo. I would imagine this is just ridiculous in person when it's fresh.. but I love it even from home. I am a big fan of Latin beans and rice combos.. and this just takes it to another level with the pico de gallo and avocado. let's not forget the lizano sauce.. it's a just a nice bowl of texture and flavor exploding in your mouth with a nice crisp from their fresh chips. oatmeal shake. what in the world. didn't know this existed till a few months ago when I discovered irazu.. didn't really know what to expect. so. good. not too thick. not too sweet. I usu get the regular avena shake.. tried it with strawberry once and I felt like it took away from the original flavor of the avena shake. and I always add plantains on the side. I have also had the casado with steak.. again, really flavorful. pretty standard Costa Rican dish and did not disappoint. can't wait to get my life back to eat all of this goodness in person. (medical student)
(5)
Jeana C.
LOVE all things plantains!! One of my favorite Costa Rican restaurants in the city. Hole-in-the-wall, cash only, limited seating, BYOB type of restaurant. Every time I visit this place I always order either the El Tico with steak, Grillled Steak or Casado with steak. Love it, love it! The reasons I haven't gone here in a while: 1. They close early. I think around 9 or 9:30, even on weekends! 2. They don't take reservations so if you have a large party, make sure you bring a few extra bottles of wine because unless you are lucky, you'll be waiting for a while.
(4)
Leila V.
The food here was delicious. Seriously. Go for the Yuca fries with pickled ginger dip. The vegetarian burrito is massive and delicious. It also has plaintains, so you can't go wrong there! Prepare for a major food coma after eating here. I would've given five stars, but the service could have been better.
(4)
Emily S.
Any excuse I get to go to Irazu, I take. But I think many people feel this sentiment (just look at all the reviews!), so I'm going to leave my first tip early: I came by with a friend last Saturday night for dinner around 9. We were able to be seated within 60 seconds, maybe less, but the host told us the last group had been waiting for an hour--so timing is key, and I'd recommend just before or just after peak hours to avoid the wait. The alternative to that is order delivery--you'll definitely have a bit of a wait, but nothing too unreasonable. I was in the neighborhood and the food was delivered to my friend's within 45 minutes of placing the order--I just ordered it about an hour before we were planning to eat, so it worked out perfectly. Take heed to this advice and do the same if you're looking for delivery. There is a $15 delivery order minimum, though, so just make sure you're cognizant of that as you're picking and choosing from all the delicious sandwiches, burritos, sides, and such. Next tip? If you're dining in you should know that this place is BYO! If you didn't come prepared, though, no worries. The shakes they've got here really will bring all the boys to the yard. Most flavors are fruity, but they've got a traditional chocolate and vanilla, too. You can order shakes with one flavor or, for a couple bucks more, spice it up and mix two. As for food, its hard to know where to start, because its really all so delicious. Definitely don't fill up on the free chips and salsa before you get your meal--you're going to need plenty of room for all of the delicious menu items. I've split the Chifrijo with friends on a couple occasions and it's delish. The empanadas are also amazing. My favorites are the plantains and beef & potatoes. For the main dish, my go-to is the Vegetarian Burrito with sweet plantains thrown in. I usually can't finish it in one sitting since it's packed with so many good veggies, beans, rice, etc. In summary: Go. Go eat here now. You can thank me later.
(5)
Amy S.
This place is off the charts!!! I went Friday night with a few girlfriends and arrived early. They let me sit down, I brought drinks since it is BYOB, and have some of their chips and salsa verde. The chips are perfectly crispy and salted to perfection. The salsa verde is HOT, but I like hot, so this was fabulous! I ordered the spinach and cheese empanada and the rib eye pepito (thanks to Guy Fieri's recommendation). The empanada was average - not as crispy and fluffy like Xoco, and the filling was okay spinach but the cheese was like mozzarella cheese. So I felt like I was eating a mozzarella stick instead of a real empanada. However, the Rib Eye Pepito was beyond delicious and I would eat one every single day if I could. I will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Meghan N.
The Chicken Empanadas and Chorizo & Potato Empanadas and the Guacamole are the things that I am very glad that I tried and wouldn't recommend missing.
(5)
Mr. T.
I regret to say that my experience at Irazu wasn't all that great. Don't get me wrong -- nothing was bad about the food. It was quite good. My problem was with the poor service and many missed opportunities this place had to really shine, but didn't manifest. First, while I always try to support waitstaff, there comes a point where you just have to wonder sometimes HOW and WHY certain people are hired. While our server was friendly, that just isn't enough. IMO, a server does well by making suggestions, being informative, and most definitely, displaying enthusiasm about the food and specialties that make the establishment unique. Our server, while friendly, didn't offer much to us in terms of suggestions or assistance with navigating the menu. It was a bit sad, because it felt on par with a late night taco spot -- not a place that has garnered considerable media attention. When I asked what the vegetable of the day was, I was told one thing, but received something completely different. And while it was very good, that's just a bit weird and sad (that no one caught it). And what is with an up-charge of $.75 to make entrees "Spicy" -- ?!?!? Like adding some heat in a Costa Rican restaurant should cost extra?! And for that matter, the dish I got, which was $11, really shouldn't have been more than $8 or $9 (max). I get the sense that Irazu is milking the area and media notoriety more than just a bit. But I will give them props for keeping some less expensive items on the menu (like a $5 quesadilla). Another thing that confused me about Irazu was the lack of tasty, zippy or otherwise remarkable sauces, etc. When we asked if there was anything interesting in the way of dipping sauce we might have with one of our appetizers, we were told that the salsa they served with the chips on the table was basically it. They had some optional garlic oil (mojo), but that wasn't particularly flavorful as it's just garlic and oil for the most part. IMO, making a few interesting sauces and condiments available would go a long way. At the end of the day, things were generally tasty and there was no issue with quality. Sitting in what amounts to a big enclosed patio and paying relatively premium prices ($15 per person for lunch not including beverages and tip) for lackluster service and missed opportunities for engagement and rapport are another matter. At the very least, I hope the owners read this and realize that people who are not eating their meat specialties might enjoy some extra pops of flavor -- and paying any up-charge for a "spicy" option on dishes over $10 doesn't reflect an appreciation for Irazu's customers. Charge me a dollar or two for a pair or trio of flavorful specialty sauces on the side, and I'm cool. Charge me a few quarters to sprinkle some hot pepper in my food and you've kinda lost my respect for your priorities. I miss the "old" feel of Irazu -- before the hype, and when it felt like they were anxious to please customers by trying to meet their needs. But as it stands right now, I'm afraid the vibe I got this go-around was that it was less about me and more about them. This extends from the "Cash Only" decree from our server after putting down a credit card (which I still fail to understand the rationale for other than profit margins), to the lack of any interest in getting the least bit creative about trying to meet a simple request for something other than the salsa on the table (which we already had with chips) to dip unseasoned yucca in. Bottom line: I don't think you'll get a bad meal here, but you there may be some bumps in the road along the way.
(2)
Liz S.
I've been a loyal Irazu customer for the last 4 years and figured it was time to give them the review they deserve! Not only do we frequent the patio at Irazu for a great dinner here and there, but I have done my birthday there the last three years. They have a private party room that is perfect for any celebration - you can plug in your own music, bring your own booze and they set up a delicious array of their best menu items for everyone to eat family style. The chifrijo is definitely my favorite and you can't skip the casado with chicken. Add in the oatmeal shake for dessert and you will always leave satisfied! Henry (the owner) is the best and I can always count on a stellar experience because of him! One of my friends who went to Costa Rica this year was so thrilled with the food, she said she felt like she was back there! Would recommend this restaurant time and time again, just make sure you bring cash!
(5)
Maritza C.
Soooooo delicious!!! Chifrijo appetizer was perfect combination of fried pork, rice and beans. Favorite empanada was the spinach and cheese. Casado entree of ribeye steak, plantains, rice, beans and beet/cabbage salad was so well balanced. Will definitely be back!!!
(4)
Pari P.
Irazu sounds Japanese and the appearance looks just like 99 Miles but don't be fooled - it's actually Costa Rican cuisine. Prior to Irazu, I had no clue to what Costa Rican cuisine was but after looking over the menu, it seemed like a blend of Latin flavors. It seemed like a combination of Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican cuisines. We ordered the oatmeal shakes, yuca and mojo, and chifrijo. If you love Mexican horchata, then you must get the oatmeal shake. It's a dense milkshake form of horchata and it's awesome. Beware for those who are lactose intolerant because you'll need a lactaid. The chifrijo is chicharron and frijoles combined. If you aren't familiar with those words, imagine a burrito bowl from Chipotle with fried pork fat. It's delicious and made me want to write Chipotle to add chicharron to their menu. The place is loud and gets crowded fast. With most items averaging $10 and BYOB with no cork fee, it's no wonder that Irazu does well.
(4)
Andrew D.
It's entirely possible that had the weather been 70 degrees and my party would have been able to sit outside, 5 stars would have happened. The food here is incredible, and to best of my knowledge, they are the city's only purveyors of Costa Rican food. At least the only one's worth knowing... I had the Guy Fieri special, which included chifrijo appetizer, skirt steak pepito sandwich, and a famous oatmeal shake for dessert. All of the above items absolutely nailed it. I couldn't even finish my meal and look forward to finishing the sandwich at lunch today. The Lizano sauce that I have never seen or had anywhere else is one of my favorites. Ever. It's that good. I wish I could find somewhere to buy it! Their green salsa also has a great spicy kick and is excellent on their fresh tortilla chips. Only slight downsides are the cramped dining room (we were seated by children... who cried...). I am all for children not being allowed into restaurants. What a novel idea and I hope more restaurants adopt that policy. The shake also should not have taken 15 minutes as we were starting to get antsy at the end of the meal. Still, amazing food, kind service, and a unique dining experience. Will definitely return.
(4)
Consumer N.
It's alright. Not great, not bad. The food isn't much different from my own cultures cuisine. I expected more but I wasn't unsatisfied.
(3)
Peter D.
Awesome spot in Bucktown featuring Costa Rican food (a rarity in most cities). The Pepito sandwich is basically the Central American/Caribbean version of a cheesesteak and I would argue it's much more flavorful given the fact you can add hot peppers and an avocado on it. Also of note is the chifrijo, which is (and I am paraphrasing) rice and beans, pico de gallo, and chicharron (fried pork). Awesome. If you want Caribbean meets Central American, come to Irazu. Oh and the oatmeal shake is AMAZING. I wanted to find something like this after moving from Brooklyn and missing the plantain porridge found in a vegan rasta spot in Prospect Heights. So basically: Get the chifrijo, the rib-eye steak pepito, and an oatmeal shake for dessert. The wait was not bad at all and I would most certainly come back again! One bad: Very loud in here if you choose to sit inside. The speakers blare music so keep that in mind!
(5)
Abby A.
Great food,Geat customer service, Great atmosphere and the owner Henry was so pleasant!
(5)
Erin K.
Yes. Yes. Yes. I'm actually really sad that I just found this place on a visit back to Chicago - not when I lived in the neighborhood 5 years ago. We ordered delivery last night. The burritos are fantastic - good quality food, great mix of spices, etc. We also split the guac and ceviche...while we ordered empanadas too, I didn't get to mine on account of everything else we got but my friend said they were amazing too. Love it. Really love it.
(5)
Aimee M.
We had a wonderful time at Irazu. Sometimes service suffers with big groups, but they treated our group of 10 wonderfully. Reservations for groups are a must as there's not much room to wait around inside and you're going to get hungry waiting around with all the delicious aromas of Costa Rican cuisine cooking in their kitchen. There was a slight hiccup with our reservation--this is why I like to arrive early--it's a habit really. But the hostess quickly realized it was their error and we were seated pretty promptly. It's BYOB so plan accordingly. We brought wine and beer and ice buckets were brought out to keep it all chill. My Tip: Revolution Brewing's Rosa Hibiscus Ale or 5 Rabbit's 5 Lizard pairs great with Irazu's cuisine! Our group ordered some things to share and single meals. Everything I tried was wonderful and I can't wait to go back. The Chifrito--fried pork (friiiiiiied pork!) black beans, rice, pico de gallo and avocado. So good and flavorful. The Pepito--Steak for me, sauteed onions, cheese and Lizano sauce. I added avocado like many Yelp friends had suggested and it was spot on. This sandwich was flavorful in every bite. I also tasted a few empanadas and my favorite was definitely the cheese. I felt the beef and potato and chicken a little on the dry side. I purchased a raspberry soy oatmeal shake to go and although these oatmeal shakes seem to have a loyal following, I really didn't enjoy mine. I know, I know, what do I know...I found it a little bland and "dry" if that makes any sense. But with such a loyal fan base and seeing as how people talk about these shakes with such devotion, I'm game to try them again. Anyone want to go with me?
(4)
Rebecca N.
This place is lovely! Fun, laid back atmosphere on the patio and they serve huge potions. The milkshake is delicious! It's a must get-- big enough to share.
(4)
Nicole S.
My husband ordered the Pepito sandwich, I ordered the Costa Rican sandwich. Both were absolutely amazing. I also tried the cheese, beef and potatoe empanadas. So good! To round out or meal we had the bread pudding, literally one of the best I've ever had. I'll be thinking about this food all week which means I'll probably be a frequent flyer here. I initially gave the restaurant 4 stars but I'm gonna go ahead and give it 5 because of the wonderful staff. The staff was extremely nice, welcoming and approachable. After my first review I received a nice message from the owner and that's what made me change my mind. Great service is hard to come by sometimes and this place is definitely not lacking in that department. They've earned themselves a customer for life!!!
(5)
Meghan D.
Tried to go to Irazu yesterday since I finally had some extra time to drive down there. I was extremely bummed to see they were closed!! I completely understand everyone deserves a break & some time off but the biggest bummer was I had actually checked their website to see if they were open & they put nothing about closings! The only notification was a small sign on the door. Love the place & LOVE the food but it would definitely be helpful in the future to put postings on your site for the people not in the immediate area. I will try again soon!
(4)
Gerrell W.
This place is as good as it gets. Affordable prices, good service, excellent spicy food, and it's BYOB! I typically come here once a month and it never disappoints. Their steak selections are cooked perfectly every time and their salsa is muy picante. The empanada selection is diverse and delicious. The guacamole is some of the best that I have had anywhere (it's a must order item). To top it off, they have a variety of milkshakes that you can order for dessert, or you can just order the Horchata (sweet rice milk drink) and pour your favorite rum in the drink. Did you forget this place is BYOB? No sweat--just walk one block down the street and grab liquor or cold beer from the Walgreens at the nearby corner. Irazu is one of my favorite places in all of Chicago. Distinct and delicious!
(5)
Carolina N.
I love this place! Definitely go when the patio is open! Plus it's BYOB! Note: it's CASH ONLY. I always forget! It's rare to find a Costa Rican restaurant in Chicago so this place is a gem! I've actually visited the Irazu volcano in Costa Rica so now I love going here even more. The empanadas are amazing, especially the chicken, and spinach/cheese. The guacamole appetizer is always a safe bet. My favorite thing to order is their burritos. Gotta love that black bean and rice combo in the burritos!
(5)
Angela P.
Everything I had at Irazu was delicious. Wherever there are plantains on the menu, I want to be there! So I've heard that Irazu was featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," and even though Guy Fieri is dumber than a box of rocks, my Pepito sandwich (with steak, avocado, spicy Lizano sauce, cheese, all on a crusty French bread) was a hell of a trip to "flavor town." For $6, I got a good portion and added a side of plantains for $2. The plantains are caramelized, and were just as good as a side as they would be for dessert. I also had one of their much talked about Oatmeal Shakes. I had the oatmeal with chocolate and soy. The consistency was more like chocolate milk than a traditional milkshake, but it was very good. Since I expected something thicker and more dessert-like, I probably wouldn't get one of these again. It's worth trying once though, because if you go to Irazu and don't try a shake, it's like going to Disney and not shaking hands with Mickey Mouse. Also, it's BYOB with no corkage fee, so take advantage of it! They were definitely busy on a Thursday night, and if you want to sit on the patio definitely make a reservation. My friend made a reservation here for 11 people at 8:00 p.m. They have a basic reservation system (names and times written on an order pad) and happened to lose ours. We were seated pretty quickly though, and management was kind enough to give my friend a gift certificate for her next visit as an apology.
(4)
Michelle S.
Yum! We opted for delivery tonight and I'm so glad my friends suggested this delicious delicious restaurant. We ordered so much food that I'm ready to fall asleep, happy and content with a belly full of great food. The pineapple empanada was outstanding. I don't know why it's so good but the chicken burrito was perfection. Seriously. We had an oatmeal strawberry shake with water and it was great. The casado plate was yummy! I loved the egg with the beans and rice. We tried various other empanadas and something else that I've already forgotten but only because there was so much food, not because it wasn't good. This is going on my list of remember to order from here restaurants! A real winner.
(4)
Kristine N.
BYOB is always an amazing touch. Their chips and salsa were good but the chips weren't hot and fresh. We just wanted to try their infamous chifrijo so we ordered a large portion to share. It is indeed large. The pork was delicious with the rice, beans, and salsa but I wouldn't say it was amazing. I'd like to go back and try their sandwiches and oatmeal shakes.
(3)
Clifford S.
My wife and I recently visited here for the first time. Our daughter had raved about it and in fact was jealous we were here. Our visit had several ripple effects. #1 Our daughter was so jealous she came the next week and introduced her own 17 month old to the food here. A new fan as well. #2 My wife liked it so well that she wants her family birthday party to be here. # 3 We had a great meal. For the next visit, I am bringing a bag of cash so we can try all the things on the menu we didn't get to sample last time. I had the beef sandwich and rice last time. Next time, the sky's the limit. After all it will be my wife's birthday, I need to show my respect.
(5)
Jennifer C.
I am shocked that this place has so many good reviews. For me, this was some of the worst food I've had in awhile. The only really highlight of the meal was the strawberry oatmeal shake. Even though my husband didn't think it should be called a shake since it was really more of a smoothie, it was quite tasty. Now onto the rest, we got the tico taco, chicken burrito, steak sandwich, and sweet plantains and rice. The worst items were the tico Taco and the mojo. The Tico taco does not have a good flavor at all and the mojo was not well-balanced and was overpowering. Also, if you ask for mojo be warned that they charge 50 cents a pop. The chicken burrito, steak sandwich, and rice were mediocre at best and the sweet plantains weren't bad. Overall, the food is poor and the service isn't great. It took FOREVER for someone to bring our check. The restaurant only takes cash which I don't care for. A lot of other people seemed to think this place is cheap, but we paid $27.14 for the items listed above. Considering the taste and quality of the food it most certainly was not worth it. Lastly, the free chips and salsa which a lot of people seemed to like, we didn't care for because the salsa was inedibly hot. I will not be back!
(2)
Josh R.
So many great things to try here. The taters are great, but the real star is the Pepito sandwich! Pair that up with an oatmeal shake and you have quite the meal. Also, for the price you cannot beat this place. Not my first time here and definitely not my last!
(5)
Julia D.
First time trying Costa Rican food, and far from the last! This place is aaaaamazing! Ceviche -- After a mile walk on a hot Chicago day this was the most refreshing appetizer Ive ever had. Perfect consistancy with tons of fresh tilapia bits topped with sliced avocado. Pepito Chicken Sandwich (or any pepito) -- i was told they are known for the Pepito sandwich, and now I know why. A blend of Chicken, cheese, sauteed onions, beans, and fresh avocado for an extra .50 cents on french bread. The whole sandwich is $6 and probably the best sandwich Ive ever had.. I never, ever take home left overs but as a small eater I could only finish half, took the rest home and relived the mouth orgasm for dinner. Flan -- I basically inhaled it. Sharable portion of absolute amazingness. My boyfriend and I had ceviche, two pepitos and the flan, our bill came out to $27. BYOB and no corking fee. Fast and great service. I wish i could give this place 6 stars. Cant wait to go back!
(5)
Dan N.
This place is the tits. I ordered delivery from here last night and even though it took an hour, it was worth it. I had the porkchops with carmelized onions, rice, and plantains. All were very tasty. I also had some ceviche, which was great. It's tough to find ceviche around Wicker, so this was a nice treat. Since I live around Wicker Park I'll definitely order from this place again!
(5)
Eileen Z.
Let me bathe in that Casado Dinner puh-leeeeeeaze. Preferably with the wincing spice of all them jalapenos and that lovely tender ribeye I'll drench in broken egg yolk. Yeah, that sounds like a good day. It takes a muscle to fall in love and the abdominal muscle group will be hard at work. #willworkoutforfood Note: CASH ONLY but there's an ATM on premise.
(5)
Brittany S.
That ALWAYS forget to put Lizano sauce on my sandwiches!!! That's the best part! We get delivery there often, and I've got the milanesa every time and it only has Lizano less than half the time:( even when I order extra and pay for it, it's never included.
(3)
Joe C.
Short and sweet, ordered the Pepito sandwich it was delicious. A real work of art. The service was really good too. This would have been 4 stars but I got a parking ticket while I was eating which soured my lunch a bit. The neighborhood is a little sketchy but don't let it stop you. Pepito!!!! Thanks
(3)
Michelle R.
Well, after all the good reviews I have read about this place I decided to order dinner the other night. I order 3 tacos, and one of the popular appetizer plates that were suggested. I placed the order for delivery online at about 6:45 p.m. I got my confirmation that the restaurant had received my order by 7:00 p.m. The estimated delivery time that I was given was 45-60 minutes. (Great, that sounds reasonable for a week night during dinner time, right? I'm okay waiting a bit, I just want to be lazy and eat in.) After 60 minutes pass, I begin to try and contact the restaurant just to check on the status of the order. No answer. Finally at 9:15 p.m I get a call that they have arrived. Mind you, I live about 1.5 miles from the restaurant (A whole 8 minutes). The whole thing took just under 2.5 hours...2.5 hours for 3 chicken tacos and an appetizer. Okay, fine, they were probably busy, I can even look past that long wait. I'm not even mad yet, because I'm extra excited for this highly rated food. Also at this point i'm starving. I start eating and everything was ICE cold. My chicken was dried out and freezing. I ate half a taco and a spoonful of the appetizer and thats all I could manage. I'm so disappointed because I know that their food is probably amazing but that service really turned me off. I mean if you can't successfully deliver hot food in a timely manner, YOU SHOULD NOT OFFER DELIVERY, plain and simple. I WASTED 34 DOLLARS ON 3 COLD TACOS AND A COLD APPETIZER. You would think that they would have apologized when the food came and offered coupons or something of the sort but nope, he didn't even acknowledge how late it was.
(1)
Lucy W.
This place is so good for vegetarians!!! The veggie plate is great- with the main part of the dish changing every day based on seasonal produce.
(4)
Marie G.
Avena shake is a must! Sweet treat with no guilt trip. Service was ok. Chill and have a conversation. Food was good as usual. Empanadas were just ok.
(4)
Jessica V.
I went there the other day with my cousin, the food is delicious. Please try the oatmeal shake
(5)
Mona S.
really good food ! if you like spicy then this is the place for you !!! had their chicken burito ! it's spicy without making your eyes water .
(5)
Tiffany P.
Iced coffee with horchata...bomb! Smoothie...bomb! Empanadas...bomb! I haven't had anything off the menu I didn't like. The plantains are always sweet. I've had breakfast and dinner and enjoyed it all. The fried potato tacos are way better than what I expected. You must visit the place. Just remember its BYOB and cash only.
(5)
Samantha G.
Can finally write a review after coming out of a food coma from last nite! I had never tried Costa Rican food prior to Irazu, but I am definitely impressed! Their empanadas were insanely awesome, especially the cheese one. The ceviche was surprisingly very filling, as most are not, and had the perfect amount of citrus. I was, however, not impressed by their yuca frita. I think we got the leftover yuca from the bottom of the deep fryer ;( The bf n I decided to split the pepito sandwich, since we had appetizers galore. It was tasty, and reminded me of an Italian beef sandwich. The highlite of the place? DEFINITELY the oatmeal shake! It was like a mixture of rice, vanilla, cinnamon, oats, and milk. It was soooo delish and addictive, it's like crack in a cup! The service was great, and the waiters were not bad looking at all ;) And best of all, there's delivery!
(4)
Ami S.
Great food at reasonable prices. The plantain appetizer with the garlic sauce was really good and their empanadas are to die for!!! I love that they have a nice selection of vegetarian dishes! The only thing that sucks is the small dining area...can't fit More than 20-25 people.
(4)
Emily S.
I have been wanting to come here for months since I saw it on the food network channel (Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives). I am very stubborn when it comes to trying new food and getting out if my comfort zone, but all of the food I saw on the show looked like a must try! My two friends and I arrived at about 7:45 on Thursday night, and there was a few other people waiting to be sat, but we were seated within about 10 minutes. We started off with chips and guacamole, and ordered some cheese empanadas and our entrees as well. I got the Pepito sandwich with steak, and I can't remember what my friends ordered, but all I know my sandwich was DELICIOUS!! It was so flavorful and the steak was juicy and not fatty at all! The cheese empanadas were delicious as well! I was a bit nervous of trying some new flavors and food, but I am glad I did. Last but not least we all ordered dessert; my friend had the bread pudding, my other friend had a chocolate shake with soy milk, and I had the famous oatmeal shake I had read and heard so much about and it lives up to the hype! Just the thing to end a lovely meal :) Overall this place is awesome; the service, food, prices, and atmosphere were all very good. Love that they are BYOB too! The only downfall I saw was that it was a bit chilly where we were sitting, but it was a pretty gross day out so can't really complain about that haha. I am happy to have finally experienced Irazu, and I will definitely be returning soon when the weather is nicer! Last tip, be prepared to fall into a FOOD COMA!!!! :D
(5)
Jamsaheb ..
Being vegan - felt like just another place.. Not bad.. But def not something to brag about.. Having said that would probably walk in again someday, not anytime soon thou... Had veggie sandwich - was decent, oatmeal shake - read a whole lot of wonderful things about it and it was good just nothing exceptional, passion fruit shake - okish, vegg tacos - okish... So all in all just good.. Sorry am kinda stingy giving away 4 stars to any restaurants.. Have to really like it for me to give away 4/5..
(3)
Abby H.
I went here with some friends to enjoy a meal and catch up. The empanadas were great and tasty! The chips were crisp and delicious. However, I ordered El Tico, which is labeled as the chef's specialty and wasn't as impressed. You get a choice of chicken or rib eye and I requested rib eye. I was only provided a small amount of meat in comparison to my friend who ordered the grilled steak. His was a thin slice of steak about this size of a hand and I had a few pieces of meat hidden under a bed of onions. I was disappointed but all other aspects of the meal were great.
(3)
Irene H.
I recommend ordering the Guy Fieri special for $15 (not on the menu, but you can ask for it) which includes the Chifrijo appetizer, the Pepito sandwich, and an oatmeal shake. I ordered the Pepito sandwich with steak, added avocado and asked for extra Lizano sauce on the side - absolutely delicious. I love the outdoor patio and that its BYO
(4)
Jessica P.
I came here on a Thursday evening for dinner with friends...it was busy, but no wait to get seated so that was great... FYI.. seating is outdoors so if it's chilly out.. make sure you bring a light sweater...or make order food to go?....if you don't like bugs/insects/outdoors (not that there were many bugs out when I went).. then maybe this is not the place for you? ooo and it's BYOB... Food: Appetizer -Chifrijo ($8.50 sm/ $10.50 lg): a delicious dip for your chips (free chips upon seating)..I really enjoyed this appetizer Costa Rican Dinner/Entree -Casado ($12.95) the entree contains your choice of meat with rice, black beans, sweet plaintains, an over easy egg & cabbage salad..definitely very filling--great for sharing.. my friends enjoyed the plaintains the most from this entree..overall, the entree was ok... -Pepito Sandwich ($5.95): choice of rib eye steak or chicken with sauteed onions, cheese, beans, and lizano sauce.. I really did enjoy this sandwich and the portion was decent.. I would be full after eating one sandwich.. Customer Service: our waiter was soo helpful, attentive and friendly!! I would say great service!!! Wait time: no wait for seating..wait time for food isn't too long.. Atmosphere: it's like an outdoor patio.. wouldn't say it's the most comfortable seating, but it's decent...the tables are sort of small if you order a lot of food..you might run out of room to place your plates.. but the waiter is good about clearing the finished plates quickly so you can place your other plates... Parking: plenty of street parking around the neighborhood.. and i believe it's free!...or if you take the CTA.. the blue line is really close walking distance (just around the corner). I would come here again to try some other items on their menu...
(4)
Olivia U.
My first time at this establishment was a pick up order. I walked in and spoke with Henry, who told me, "You'll get your food when I get it." He was EXTREMELY rude, to the point where I asked for my money back and he handed it back without an apology. Piece of advice- You're in the hospitality industry. Be nice to people and you will have returning business. I don't care what show your food was on, I refuse to be disrespected in my own neighborhood. Good Luck, Henry.
(1)
Christopher M.
Awesome BYOB. I knocked off one star becasue our meat was a bit dry, but everything else was fantastic, in particular the Oatmeal Shake. You wouldn't expect an oatmeal shake to be anything special (I thought I wouldn't like it because it would be 'too healthy') but it's really fantastic. A perfect dessert to the end of a very good meal. 104/365
(4)
Amanda P.
This place is just the best. Delivery quick and food hot and SO SO GOOD. Makes my life better every time.
(5)
Kimberly K.
What's the point when everyone loves this place. But, I love it too! It's the best in the summer. Sit outside and soak in the warm night air while sipping a shake. Love their empanadas, love their soups, love their gallo pinto, love that they are BYOB. There is not much I don't love about Irazu. Go there. :-)
(4)
Haydee S.
Now....I get spoiled cause my office orders from this place from time to time (how is a real good question cause they are a CASH ONLY spot). Delivery, while slow sometimes and a touch messy, still delivers good food. Dine in:...is the WAY TO GO! Here's why: 1) No corkage fee- when I went I was with five other people who can easily go through at least three bottle of wine. We were even given an ice bucket to keep our additional bottles chilled which was delightful 2) The menu- for someone who's gluten free, and loves Latin foods, this is a must. The Cascado? Is everything. I somehow failed to mention that I don't really do over easy eggs and someone in the kitchen must have been psychic cause it was just the way I like it...still done with light yolk. 3) The quantity of food given is worth the price. The order I got came on a plate twice the size of my face with generous helpings. The fact that I almost (ALMOST) couldn't eat everything speaks for itself. It's great for friends and groups, wouldn't want to try this place for late dinner since it does get loud and family filled, but it's just wonderful. So worth the commute from Edgewater.
(5)
Jennifer E.
So after writing this 1 star review (see below) a couple of hours ago, Justin - manager at Irazu's contacted me on my work phone. Granted my cell phone was the one on file on my order but I don't answer phone numbers I don't recognize. It just shows your the length that Justin and Irazu will fix a customer service issue. I have been a loyal customer of Irazu for years and have ordered delivery at least 25 times and I never had an issue til yesterday. I want to thank Justin and Irazu for making things right :) **************************************************Â************** This review is for their delivery service via Seamless. I have been here and it is a great restaurant. Great food at great prices. However, I placed an order at 9:30 am yesterday and did not get my food til 11:30am. I called at 10:45am and they said they were swamped with orders but it will get to me in 20 mins. That was a lie. I understand running a little late, but by the time I got my food it was cold - the rice was hard as rock. To top it off, I did not even get an apology. Food at great prices is great but the service I received yesterday left a bad taste in my mouth.
(5)
Alex S.
Great prices and amazing food. I always get the Chifrijo (which is technically an appetizer) but is awesome enough as a meal on its own. Great for friends and company parties. Don't forget to order the Lizano sauce!
(5)
Sarah P.
Try the empanadas. Aaaallll the empanadas.
(4)
John R.
There is nothing I didn't enjoy. I had the highly recommended oatmeal shake w\ banana and the milanesa sandwich. They were both great. I couldn't expect anything more. The price point was also exactly what I expected to spend. Coming back for more soon!
(5)
Heather P.
I've heard so much about Irau, I guess I expected it to be different somehow. It is very discreet. We sat outside and i never ventured in so perhaps it was different inside. I take it from my experience, you don't go for the atmosphere, you go for the food and lots and lots of people do. We got there at 6pm with a party of six adults and two kids. We were seated right away; which was awesome considering they don't take reservations. BYOB, and we did. Please and thank you. Our server was outstanding, making recommendations, being patient, and taking our food allergies into consideration. I had the oatmeal shake everyone raves about and I am hooked. It's been a week and I've tried replicating it at home four times. I'm close, but not quite there so I guess I'll have to go back to Irazu to make sure I'm not missing something. We had a shared appetizer the chifrijo. It was alright. I wasn't blown away. My entree was the pepito sandwich with hot peppers and it was excellent. The meat was seasoned perfectly, great amount of heat and the bread it was on was the best part for me! Cash only, yikes...good to know ahead of time. I'd go back for sure, cash and wine bottle in hand!
(4)
Naomi Q.
The food was delicious! It's a casual place and good for group gatherings. The portions are extremely generous so I would recommend ordering an appetizer then splitting a meal between two or at least that's what I should have done. We didn't have enough room to try the shakes this time around so we'll definitely have to try them the next visit. We were seated right away and received very good service. Definitely worth checking out if you love Latin food.
(4)
Erin B.
Love Irazu! Love the plantain dish with the beans and garlic sauce (appetizer) and love the empanadas (chicken are the best!) and alsooo love the veggie burrito!! Those above are the only things Ive tried, but they are so good, that I get the same thing every time (sorry not sorry). Ive eaten there a few times, lively fun vibe if you bring a group of people and its BYOB so go wild. I do notice on a saturday night when its packed that the service can be SUPER slow, but, still gets 5 stars from me for the overall atmosphere and food. Don't come here on a weekend night when its busy and expect to be out in less than an hour. It's not fast. Also have had it delivered via the Eat24 iphone app, and its always delivered within an hour and delivery men are nice, and food is delicious. Irazu is my go-to for delivery. 5 stars!
(5)
Matt S.
I almost don't want to write a review, because I don't want more people there. But this place is the best in the city. Make sure you try the chifrijo and yucca. The only potential issue is that there can be some water coming into the patio area when it rains. But hey, it's worth getting a little damp for the food you get at this place.
(5)
John M.
Nearby eatery, decent food, ordered takeout on several occasions, mainly empanadas, they got it wrong every time. I don't set out to be critical but how hard is it to get an empanada order right, I know this place is busy but the takeout service is below par, please get your people more focussed when it comes to takeout/delivery food!
(3)
Ritika K.
Irazu is a costa rican restaurant on Damen Avenue. They accept cash only. Our group of 9 went there on a Saturday night without making a reservation. The wait as expected was about an hour. We were seated inside. Outdoor seating looked very nice so try to get a table there. Chips were complementary so we ordered a large bowl of guacamole. I ordered grilled chicken casado. The food in general was okay. We also ordered bread pudding and flan for dessert. Bread pudding was not that great but the flan was delicious. I like that Irazu is a BYOB restaurant. I don't think I will be going back considering that there are so many good restaurants in and around Irazu that I wanna go to.
(3)
Steve Z.
Love it! They got it. whatever it is they have got it. The sandwiches are all great. The burritos are all made with top grade meat. The Chifrijo is unique and wonderful. Fast delivery too.
(4)
Anna G.
I live right by Irazu and am a frequent customer, so I can't believe this is my first time reviewing. Everything about it (except for the long evening waits) is great. Most of the time we call our order in for pick up and the wait for that has never been longer than 30 minutes. There hasn't been anything on the menu we haven't loved. Personal favorites include the casado, pepito sandwich, milanesa sandwich, and chicken burrito (which you should ask for the spicy version). The shakes are really good, especially the mango mixed with BYOB tequila....or do what we do and order 2 shakes that you mix with tequila at home! Service is always friendly and remember that it is cash only! I would also like to review their private party space and services as earlier this year, we were lucky enough to host our rehearsal dinner with Irazu. About half a block away from the restaurant, they have a private party room that fits around 35 people. This is also BYOB, which was fantastic. I believe we had the space for either 2 or 3 hours, but were able to drop off alcohol earlier to put on ice as well as bring in decorations. We were able to plug in an iphone into their speakers, they can set up a coat check area, and have a little bar. There is a single unisex bathroom as well. The service was, again, incredibly friendly--from the initial phone call to inquire about the space until we left that evening, everyone was so accommodating. The price per person was very affordable and they offer a set menu that you can customize. At this point I can't quite remember all of the food we had, but the chifrijo and flan were soooo good. Any leftovers that our relatives didn't want to take home, they donated to a food shelter. I wish we had another party coming up so we could rent the space again!
(5)
Marcy B.
Oatmeal shake, all day long. Great Costa Rican food. Bummer it's cash only, and the ATM has a hefty fee, but well worth it!
(5)
Brittany A.
Ok, so I wanted to like this place. Really...but so much about it was just so-so. Upon entering I was intrigued thinking it was like a little hole in the wall, hidden gem...love those kinds of places...especially for a Friday afternoon lunch. Most of the string lights on the patio were out, things like this always make me wonder how little attention to detail overall a place is paying. Right inside the door they have a folding table set up where is like there silverware wrapping station. Is there not a better place to do this? Come on. Now onto the important stuff...I ordered an iced tea (the place is BYOB but I still had several hours to work after lunch so refrained from this option)...I had to ask for sweetener twice. The waitress didn't come around to refill water etc and had to be flagged down. Mind you, it wasn't busy. We ordered the shrimp and avocado cocktail...this was actually worth 4 stars. Super good and I would highly recommend. I am going to give Irazu another chance, no time soon, but I am sure I will find my way back.
(3)
Cassie C.
CASH ONLY and BYOB-- the 2 most important things to know. Went on Thursday and seating was not a problem. The host and waiter were very friendly. The food was good and the Chifrijo is a MUST get. We probably should have tried the dinners but we ended up trying the sandwich's which were good but not amazing. ** There Lizano Salsa has a very strong flavor. Street parking was easy to find but I would assume that it would be a lot harder on the weekend.
(4)
Christine L.
Food: Hit or miss. Outdoor Seating: Lots of it, if that's your thing. Seating was very quick, and they started us off with some chips & salsa. We ordered a small Chifrijo (but we asked for it vegetarian) to start. Our main dishes consisted of the Chile Relleno, Casado (steak), Vegetarian Paella, and the Pepito Sandwich. My favorite was definitely the Pepito, it had the most flavor out of all the dishes. There was a bug that landed in our food, but I guess those are the risks you run with outdoor dining. The rest of the food tasted really fresh, but in all honesty wasn't as memorable as the sandwich. The table was a little cramped with all the food we ordered, we tried to eat family style but it was a little difficult. I didn't order any of the drinks for myself but I did get to try my friends' horchata and oatmeal shake. They were both really good. The horchata was served in a really cute and tall mason jar mug.
(3)
Elaine W.
My favorite dish at Irazú is their chicken soup! Big chunks of chicken, delicious broth and cilantro. Followed by some empanadas and I'm happy. The empanadas are crisp on the outside with yummy fillings...meat, chicken, or spinach. I always order an assortment. The batidos can't be beat. Additionally the service is always friendly and attentive. Love this place!
(5)
Jeff J.
Two things that keep me going back for more, their pepito sandwich and banana oatmeal shake. I'm not a big fan of their plantains. But their pepito, everyday baby. Their oatmeal shakes are very unique, kinda remind me of a horchata milkshake. I've seen this place grow from being a simple corner restaurant to being a neighbor hot spot. Fantastic outdoor patio. Family owned and very nice. You earned my respect.
(5)
Brett F.
It's no secret that Irazu is great. If it does happen to be a secret to you, you've apparently been living under a rock. And that sounds uncomfortable. Their patio is positively divine during the Summer, but feel free to pass on eating indoors here during the colder months as the dining room is tiny a bit of an afterthought. Don't let inclement weather keep you from your patacones and plantains though! Irazu has what must be the largest delivery area in all of Chicago. From Montrose, to 16th, to Pulaski, to Lake Shore Drive, they hit it all. If you don't live in that zone, well, then you're just shit out of luck. So there's that. Irazu is amazing for their killer burritos, Costa Rican plate dinners (the El Tico with chicken is my fav) and, of course, the muy famoso oatmeal shake. Order all of the above, all at once, and you have a real tasty feast. Don't forget to ask for a side of their yummy, extra garlicky mojo, too. No, not that kind of mojo. Not like "I think I've lost my mojo." Pronounced mo-ho, it's an amazing chunky-garlic-oil mixture that tastes like pure heaven on chicken, rice, burritos, EVERYTHING. Just don't plan any makeout sessions post-mojo consumption. F'real. So good. So affordable. And the guys here are super friendly. Support local!
(5)
Stephanie H.
I went here last Tuesday night with a girlfriend. She got there before me and put in her name, and we waited about 15 minutes for a table. I ordered the steak sandwich and steak fries. The sandwich was delicious and only $5.95, but the steak fries were nothing special. I tried my friend's oatmeal shake with milk (you can if you want it made with water, milk, or soy milk), and it was delicious. The server was nice, but didn't check up on us until we were pretty much done with our meal. I'd definitely come back to try other things off the menu!
(4)
Karl S.
I'm not from Chicago, but just happened to stumble upon this place on Eat24 and decided to give it a try for delivery. The delivery arrived before the scheduled time, which is a rarity (for places that offer delivery) and the food was hot! The empanadas were absolutely delicious and the pepito sandwich (steak) was tender and bursting with flavor!!! I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
(5)
S C.
This is a great lunch spot. The food is delicious and so cheap. You must try the Chifrito! Crunchy pork over black beans, rice and pico de gallo. The plantains were outstanding, and the Empanadas as well. The service was pretty bad, so be patient.
(3)
Diva G.
I've been to Irazu several times, but this is my 1st review. The food is ALWAYS excellent- fresh and flavorful. The servers are helpful when ordering and attentive during your dining experience. Started with Taco Tica and Empanadas- chicken, plantain and bean- everything was sooooo good! Ordered the Onioned Steak for my entree and as always, it was absolutely delicious! Definitely substitute gallo pinto for white rice and beans. The steak was seasoned perfectly and the sides really complimented the dish. I always have to order a side of steak fries, because they are so good and always served hot. Irazu is casual dining with no frills and no fancy fixtures. In the summer they do have outdoor seating. With consistently good food, good service AND BYOB, you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Stacy S.
I'm a little surprised I haven't already reviewed Irazu. I've been here several times and will keep coming back! My cousin studied abroad in Costa Rica a few years ago. When she found out about Irazu, right here in Chicago, she decided to invite me to try Costa Rican cuisine, and I was not disappointed. The restaurant is located off Milwaukee in Bucktown. Keep in mind this place is CASH ONLY. The place itself is a little on the small side, so it would be good for smaller groups. They have a nice patio area that is heated during the wintertime. So what to order? - CHIFRIJO. They have a small and a large portion. The small is actually enough to share among 2-3 people or can be satisfying as an entree for one. Chifrijo is basically rice, beans, lizano sauce, with pork bits and avocado. This dish is THE reason I keep coming back. - Ceviche. I'm a fan. It's pretty consistent here. I don't always order ceviche, since I have chifrijo mostly, but would definitely recommend as an appetizer. - The Dinners here are pretty good. i've had the Casado before, which is full-out complete Costa Rican meal. Standard rice, beans, plantains, meat. Good value for the portion size. - Actually, I prefer ordering the empanadas over the dinners. They come in 3, 5, 7, or 9, so they are good to share. The empanadas are crispy with a delicious center and come in a variety of flavors. My go-to empanadas are spinach and cheese or sweet plantain. - Last but not least, the Oatmeal shake is HIGHLY recommended. You can either make it with milk, water, or soy. I typically go with milk. I'd say the Oatmeal shake is similar in taste to Horchata, but something about the texture that adds to it. Love Love Love the Oatmeal Shake. Irazu is also BYOB, so what more can you ask for.
(5)
Andrea R.
BYOB, cheap, delicious Costa Rican food, big patio, casual & laid back, great service, around the corner from our new condo...5 stars!! Have been here twice already since we started house hunting in the area, and have tried the steak pepito sandwich, ceviche, empanadas & the chicken el tico dish, which was recommended by our waiter. Pepito sandwich and the el tico are both amazing, and we also loved the empanadas. Meat is tender, juicy & flavorful...and if you love spicy food, you can add jalapeño to pretty much everything. Apparently this was on Diners & Dives, and is a popular joint, so I have noticed it gets very busy and can get lines on the weekends. For any Los Angelenos, Irazu reminds me a TON of Cha Cha Chicken in Santa Monica, though it is a different type of food & definitely not right off the beach....but the BYOB, cheap & amazing ethnic food, beach hut feel are a throwback to my days living in SoCal!! Couple tips: Cash only-- but if you forget, they do have an ATM inside. BYOB and liquor store is just a couple blocks away. Will continue to go back here & I worry about my waistline. Update in January 2015: Have been back a number of times and Irazu is consistently good. The reason for updating my review is that I finally tried the Oatmeal Shake for the first time and it was AMAZING!! It was every bit as good as everyone says it is. The only other thing I'll add is that we used their catering delivery back in the fall and I definitely recommend it. We got couple meat and veggie trays, picked up some tortillas and used them to make tacos. They were on time, the food arrived hot, the portions they recommend for different group sizes are accurate and we got lots of compliments on the food.
(5)
Bryan C.
It took me a while to find out about Irazu since I normally don't walk up Milwaukee past Damen but one fateful trip to a KFC changed my life. While on the 56 bus heading North, I glanced out the window and "Irazu Costa Rican Dining" caught my eye. I immediately got off the bus at Western and walked back toward this new found restaurant and just had to give it a try. 9 visits and about 5 pounds of Chifrijo later it is now one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Needless to say i didn't make it to KFC that night. My first visit I ordered the Chifrijo and the Pepito Steak Sandwich with avocado. First the portions size can't be beaten for the price. Second, the Lizano sauce is magical, the kinds of stuff dreams are made of; And third, I enjoy the BYOB aspect but it also has its downside which I will explain later. Since my first visit; however, I have had a range of different menu items and I am never disappointed by the level of quality, speed, and staff service. The owner and all the staff in general are just outstanding. The atmosphere is pretty loud and might at first discourage some older patrons but it's a more casual dining experience. If you want to go on a Friday or Saturday make sure you arrive early as lines can sometimes get out of control. It's optimal to come with a party of about 2 to avoid overly bearing wait times. I think the reason for this is far too many people camp out and feel the need to sit there for hours after the meal drinking multiple bottles of wine/beer. This is the reason for the long wait times because there are a limited number of tables which is disappointing because the food service is fantastic and wait times for food once you actually get a table are quite fast. So I guess the take-away here is if you go to Irazu please don't linger at the table and give others the opportunity to experience this great restaurant. If you go to Irazu expect amazing food at a very reasonable price, great service from all the staff, and don't forget to bring your booze. You'll definitely leave completely stuffed and satisfied. Also they are closed on Sunday's.
(5)
Jenna S.
So, I definitely understand the appeal of this place. However, let me explain something: the only reason I'm giving Irazu a 4-star rating is because of their prices and vast vegetarian menu. The food here is typical and tastes like stuff you can get at other restaurants. However, the food is tasty for some average fare and the prices are so low that you HAVE to eat here. I couldn't believe the entire bill for two people was less than $20 for an appetizer and two entrees. Since it's BYOB, you don't have to waste your money on booze - stop across the street, get a six pack or a bottle of wine and enjoy yourself. In the summer and on weekends, be prepared to wait. There's always a ton of people waiting to sit outside on the patio and this place is always bustling and crammed full of people. There's also a steady stream of people coming in and out for take-out orders, so prepare to squeeze past them going to your table or the bathroom. I've heard the delivery is awesome, they don't charge a fee and they deliver almost anywhere. Maybe I'll try that sometime and see if I'm more inclined to enjoy the food.
(4)
Faye B.
I really wanted to like this place because I have only ever had Costa Rican food on a quick business trip to Costa Rica. I came with an open mind to a dinner with a bunch of friends. Overall I think I left underwhelmed. I love empanadas, but the 3 different ones I tried were kinda bland. I had the casado and my husband had the tilapia taco platter. His dish was also a little tasteless, but at least the meat in the casado had a little flavor. It didn't come close to the one I had in Costa Rica, but at least there was a little more flavor than in the empanadas. Their winter setup is also very interesting. An extension of their indoor restaurant which is small, the 'patio section is covered up and has heaters. However, depending on where you sit, your backside may still feel the winter chill.
(2)
Callie S.
This place is amazing. I get the steak deliciousness with onions and an egg all over it, and I want to make steak/onion/egg babies with it all day long. Shakes are outstanding as well.
(5)
Liz K.
Their drinks are SO good and the food is pretty good too, though I've only eaten there once.
(4)
rebecca s.
my boyfriend took me here recently because it is one of his favorite places. staff was very friendly. ordered some guac and chips. asked for it with no cilantro...which wasnt a problem. nice. for my entree i ordered the potato tacos. the potato could have used a little flavor but besides that they were good. the boy ate the costa rican sandwich. it was sliced beef with basics. pretty tasty. also had an horchata. yum. i liked it. had left overs. would go back.
(4)
Dino s.
Incredible food, amazing milkshakes (try the soy- much more rich), very home-y atmosphere overall. I've had the chicken tacos, chicken sandwiches, vegetarian selections, plantains (so fresh), and the guacamole is amazing. The staff is quick, very friendly, and helpful. Affordable dining experience at a longstanding Bucktown staple. Get take out if you'd like- it's quick, but make sure to remember that they don't take credit. They do have an ATM in the restaurant though.
(5)
Matthew S.
Wow this is a good restaurant! On the recommendation of a friend and having passed this place many time the wife and I mosied on to here. I started with the oatmeal shake w/ soy milk and this was awesome!! Very tasty as I shared with the wife. She got Ice tea and I normally don't like ti but thought it was good actually. I got the vegetarian sandwich which was full of flavor and portioned well for a meal, not to much but just enough. The wife got a steak that was real thin and she said it was great. We both got the rice and beans which were really good. Flavored with a little bit of lime. Yum! Outdoor seating was a plus but it was a little crowded. Not really a big deal seeing as how everywhere here is like that. Service was friendly and good, they take cash only but have a ATM inside which helps. Would definitely go back...
(4)
Jesse L.
I used to live in the area and definitely did not go to Irazu as often as I should have. I took a date here last Friday and had a great time. I had the steak and onions, which was very good. The chips and gauc were also very good, but not the best I've had. Service was friendly, but a little pushy, and seemed to be rushing us through the ordering process. I understand given the long wait to be seated. My only real complaint was that it took forever to be seated on a Friday and they do not take reservations. I definitely plan to go back.
(4)
Haley M.
I've ridden past this Milwaukee Ave restaurant a plethora of times on my bike but hadn't eaten there until yesterday. I ordered the veggie burrito which was fantastic...simple...but delicious. The only complaint I have is that the salsa is in squirt bottles instead of bowls so it can get a little messy if you're a clumsy eater like myself. We ate outside, so I'm not sure what the inner restaurant is like but the outdoor seating area is great...in an ideal location for people watching. Good service as well. I would definitely go back.
(4)
amy c.
Love the dishes at Irazu and the chocolate cornmeal shake us absolutely delicious!!!
(4)
Nancy H.
My bf loves the Pepito sandwich, the steak sandwich is more my style, and I think the burritos are just ok. The sandwiches come on thin French bread and a combination of Lizano sauce, sauteed onions, tomatoes, lettuce, mayo, and mustard. The steak fries are hefty and salted just enough, and the cheese empanada was heavenly. I didn't know cheese could taste like that! I could only take a few nibbles of it, though, for fear of having a heart attack right there. Most everything we ordered was greasy, surprisingly except for the sandwiches. It is a great alternative to fast food without making you feel like you drank a pint of grease--maybe just a spoonful. The restaurant itself is pretty dumpy, if you don't mind that sort of thing. It's definitely a place you'd go to to grab a quick lunch or carry-out. There are enough tables in the back to seat maybe 25. And there is a very small parking lot in front (fits maybe 4 cars). I'm definitely interested in trying the Casado dinner next time which supposedly serves two for $12. Strong recommendation: finish your meal off (or pair it ) with an oatmeal shake! For $3, you can get a huge oatmeal/tapioca pudding tasting milk with cinnamon on top! For the prices, I'd come back again. Lastly, Irazu now delivers!
(4)
Dieter B.
This place is nondescript from the outside and tiny on the inside! Only about 30 people fit, although they have carry out. We went for a late lunch and were seated by the back door, where there was a very cold wintry draft slipping under the seals. The food wasn't bad--Jen ordered chicken and rice, and I had a Tico Costa Rican taco, steak tostda and horchata (rice water). The meal took a while to serve, which was good as it was piping hot and tasted fresh. The differences between this Costa Rican meal and other Latin-American fare is very subtle. But to this gringo the minor differences don't justify the greater cost. Typical meals here range from $11-13 per person. I can go to Pilsen for less, and get more food. However Jen kept reminding me it wasn't Mexican. Anyway, it was good, but I doubt I'd go back unless I lived in the neighborhood. I would instead choose a much different and tasty Cuban meal, or fast food Mexican, which is everywhere and tastes similar, expect for the sauces. If you decide to go bring cash as they don't accept plastic.
(3)
Robert S.
This place isn't much to look at, but WOW is the food amazing!! I had the most delicious casadas, which was a huge portion of wonderfully flavored steak with Costa Rican rice and thick, chewy plantains. The oatmeal shake made this a perfect meal. I can't wait to back and try some other dishes.
(5)
Brenton J.
Pretty darn good! Gallo pinto with plantains for $5.50, and some empanadas at $2 each? Can't beat it! I wish I had gotten more gallo pinto, however - it was just a little scoop. I mean, beans and rice are not exactly pricey, I feel like they could have been a little more generous. My friend had chicken and rice, which seemed really expensive at $11 for what it was (just chicken and rice - nothing fancy). Will probably order again, even if just for the empanadas - they were delish!
(4)
Kevin J.
This was the first restaurant I went to when I moved to the neighborhood. It can be pretty crowded with a long wait during peak times so I (unfortunately) take out more often. Definitely get a shake with whatever entree you choose. I'd love to recommend just one but I can't. Try everything.
(5)
Swapna P.
The service here was truly excellent. There aren't really many Costa Rican restaurants in Chicagoland and this one definitely was worth trying. I went with a friend and we shared the Patacones appetizer which were really yummy and not as garlicky as you would think they would be. They came out piping hot and just the right amount of crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. My friend, who's a vegetarian, got the vegetarian taco which was extremely filling for only $4. I got the Casado and my only complaint was that my steak was a little greasy, but still tasted great. That and the really small seating area merited Irazu four stars. Although I went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and had no problem getting a small table for two. The portions here are huge (my leftovers will easily be another meal and a half) and they have a decent number of options for vegetarians.
(4)
L Z.
Irazu is a rare example of a restaurant that gets everything right: ambiance, service, portion sizes, temperature, quality of food, seasoning. Flawless! Went to dinner last night (a Wednesday) with my husband and a college friend who is a military man with a strong appetite. We arrived at a quarter to 8 and were seated almost immediately, despite the crowd outside. Our server, JUSTIN, was so great. Our friend asked if the portion sizes would be enough for him (he seriously eats a lot). With a big smile, Justin replied something like "If you aren't satisfied, I'll get you anything you want." Whatever that means, his sense of humor and awesome attitude made us feel really well taken care of. Literally 2 or 3 times, we felt like staff was reading our minds. As our friend said, "we're gonna need more chips" someone plopped some on the table, saying "Here are some more chips for you!" It was great. I am so grateful to Irazu, because we only see our friend once or twice a year, and he LOVED it. We had such a great time, with no exception. I have worked in food & beverage, so usually I experience something - lip stick mark on a glass, cold food, underseasoning, portion sizes - I guess I have bad luck. No such occurrence at Irazu. Even the 1 bathroom shared by women/men in the back of the restaurant was not bad. Everything was wonderful.
(5)
Stephanie H.
Great. Food, Price. I have dined on the patio once, and have gotten takeout quite a few times. I usually stick with the Chicken Burrito and Guacamole and Chips. Very casual...Love the food, but the decor, not so much. If you haven't tried it...what are you waiting for??
(4)
Rob L.
Where did you have a dinner tonight? Irazu. So how was it? Oh just another food orgasm. In fact I was thinking about having a cigarette and no, I don't smoke. This four and a half star, laid back, super casual BYOB put me on my back with an outstanding pressed steak sandwich, some succulent fried plantains and some amazing rice and beans. The guacamole was good, the empanada was a little greasy and the service was a little slow, (but considering there was one girl working ALL of the tables inside and outside, I was more impressed), I still want to come back over and over again, if you do come early if its nice out, limited out door seating. Though you have to excuse me, I just think I need a moment to savor this flavor moment and cuddle with my leftovers.
(4)
starli h.
i love irazu. i have only ordered the vegetarian plate because i love it so much, but it is always good no matter what the vegetables are. my boyfriend loves the oatmeal milkshakes, eh i think they are OK. but i am not really a milkshake or oatmeal lover. He always loves his food (usually the sandwiches) and introduced me to the place. I am assuming that i am not incorrect in my love for the veggie options because his discrimating puerto rican vegetarian mother loves it all as well. you should probably go for that reason alone! the major con is that it is small which is great when not busy, but better left avoided on busy nights and weekends.
(4)
Alec B.
The outside, is terrible. The door, is immovable. The food, is amazing. And plentiful. And unique. A good time was had by all.
(4)
H N.
Friend and I had dinner tonight; food was good. Service was attentive. However, they overcharged me by 25% or $6. It's my fault for not paying attention to the receipt b/c I was engaged in a conversation with my friend. So, before you pay, CHECK THE RECEIPT and MAKE SURE THEY AREN'T OVERCHARGING YOU.
(3)
Colleen B.
This place is very very very tasty. I went there with 8 people at 7:30 on a Saturday (very bad idea). It took 1.5 hours to get a table, which is easily the longest I've ever waited for a table. The staff was really friendly, though, and I'm not going to blame them for my friends' stupidity in planning to take a large group to a no-reservations restaurant during prime going-out time. I got the casado, and it was AMAZING. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of plantains, but I never thought I'd like cabbage salad, and it was fabulous. The meat, the beans and rice, the chips and salsa... good good good. Despite the wait, I will definitely be going back.
(4)
Mimi G.
I got the veggie burrito, and it was alright. It was huge so I had to use a knife and fork to cut it up. Either way, i ended up just digging everything out and eating with the fork. Needless to say, it was a mess. The hot peppers tasted like cleaning solution.....it was weird. and my friend ordered the pepito sandwich which came without the sauce it said it comes with on the menu. She wouldn't ask the waiter for the sauce but ate it anyways. She thought it was a bit dry and didnt like it too much - even though she was the one who was dying to try this restaurant. The oatmeal shake was interestingly good though.
(2)
Cristina G.
We've only eaten at the restaurant a few times. My first time there I wasn't impressed but I did enjoy their gallo pinto the next time. Their shakes are to die for, if you know what to order. My favorite dishes there are the gallo pinto for breakfast or brunch and I get a spicy shrimp and rice dish for dinner. We usually order delivery, and that's my favorite thing. Get it if you like spicy food. My husband thinks that their veggie burritos are the best!
(3)
Emily P.
contrary to the survey answers, i would say this place is $$ instead of the $ it is given. that said: their plates are generous and i left full. of course, i probably shouldn't have stuffed myself with their greasy chips and amazing salsas. i had the potato tacos that, while yummy, seemed rather uninspired. the mister had chile rellano, which once again--though it hit the spot--seemed to be lacking in something. irazu still gets four stars bc the food, whether inspired or not, is authentic, fresh, flavorful and filling. there are lots of fresh veggies on the plates as well. i love how crowded and cozy the restaurant is and it's hard to beat BYOB. this is not a place for groups or for intimate dining.
(4)
Emily C.
Been meaning to come to this neighborhood place for awhile and glad we finally did! Both ceviche and guac were great starters and big portions. I tried Casado which was HUGE. Plantains, chicken, rice, beans, salad. Everything was great. Chicken was a tiny bit dry, but I drenched it in guac and beans. The oatmeal shake is as great as everyone says. I was expecting more of an oatmeal, thicker consistency. It was way smoother and icy - I finished it in approximately 90 seconds it was so good. Will definitely be back! 324/365
(4)
Annabelle H.
Ceviche Shrimp and Avocado cocktail Steak Burrito Pork Chops Banana Oatmeal Shake with soy milk The food was fresh, plentiful, and tasty. We ate this for dinner the day we flew into Chicago. I didn't like ceviche, but this place changed it. It was addicting. The shrimp and avocado cocktail was soooooo good. I thought i wouldn't like it because of the shrimp, but I was wrong. The burrito was good too, but the only dish I didn't really like was the pork chops. It wasn't that it was bland nor under cooked, I just didn't like it. The rice and beans were good though. Would I come back? Yes. Even just for the oatmeal shake! My goodness it was yummay!
(4)
Yvette C.
If you're looking for a taste of Costa Rica, this is the place! I haven't personally been, but the food smelled so good I had to stop in after my yoga class. Try the skirt steak it was delish. Dinner plates come in large enough portions and you get free chips so if you aren't starving you can have a light app before your meal. Food is cooked fresh and it was all delivered to my table in a tiny manner. Cash only but there is an ATM up front. Also, the front space is for large parties but there actually dining rm is in the back. I thought it was closed at 1p on a Thurs, but you can smell that it isn't. A definite Bucktown gem.
(4)
Vivian A.
THE FRIED YUCA IS TO DIE FOR! I don't remember what i got, but it was delicious! byob, with no corkage fee, always a plus. plus, service is wonderful and super friendly. came with a pretty large group (7 people) and we didn't wait that long for our orders to come out. highly recommended for both the expert Costa Rican food connoisseur and the newbies alike.
(5)
Elibe E.
Irazu is located on a stretch of N. Milwaukee JUST NW of where most of my days/nights in Bucktown/WP have been spent. My first dinner here was also my first experience with Costa Rican food - very cool. What's even cooler is that Irazu is a BYOB restaurant. I'm guessing that the BYOB coupled with the very cool modular patio space makes for chill dinner spot in the summer. We cracked open the premium beverages that we brought from the grocer and ordered some pico to start our night. For entrees, I had the chicken mixed with rice - she had the empenadas and a veg taco. The portions are massive and the service is attentive. My rice entree was a bit lacking in the flavor department. I understand the this type of cuisine is meant to be simple and casual, but I would rather enjoy half of the portion size (which would still be enough food for a grown man) with more inspired flavors.
(2)
Ashley M.
A rat scuttled right under our table. I know you're thinking, "But you were sitting outside on the porch". Sorry, not an excuse. There is a border that runs under the fence, they should close it up. The rat came from outside, I should note. Gross. The food, pre-rat, was ok. Nothing to return for even without the rat.
(2)
Justin B.
I'll have to go back to Irazu, because I'm missing what the big deal is with the food. Big ups to cheap prices, cash only and BYO, so there are always going to be things to love about this place. But the empanadas I had--while tasty--would be crushed by 5411 Empanadas in a straight-up taste test. Irazu's spinach & cheese was a highlight but I don't know if I would take it over anything at 5411. But the big surprise was my letdown with the milkshake. It was basically a glass of chocolate milk (and that might be on me for not getting oatmeal...but then again, I generally don't like oatmeal), and as a fan of milkshakes at so many other places in Chicago, I had very high hopes for this milkshake since I live so close to this restaurant. Uhh...no.
(3)
Nathaniel C.
Very good, delivery was quoted 1 hour, (grubHub) arrived in about 40 mins. The food def. hit the spot and was fresh and delicious! Kind staff over the phone too. Will order again soon. -over and out
(4)
Mike P.
I don't understand the hype with the food at Irazu. The good: Prompt, friendly service. Inexpensive. BYOB. Comfortable setting. The meh: If only the food could match the rest of Irazu's great attributes. Maybe Costa Rican food is just very simple and rather boring or maybe Irazu just serves their food this way. The food wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't yummy or memorable. The quality of the meat is very average and the flavors in the sauces and vegetables are quite boring. Even the horchata was average at best. As for the oatmeal shake? I'm glad I tried it, but I can't imagine I'll ever have a craving for one in the future. I wouldn't object to going back if a bunch of my friends wanted to eat there, but I would never choose to go back for a date and I would never recommend it. It was among the most simple and bland Latin meals I've ever eaten. I have no idea why it would be included on the Eater 38. Still scratching my head about that one.
(2)
Monty W.
this place gets busy on the weekend for early dinner. gotta get here early. food was good. service was slow as a result of the packed house. if I'm in the area I would return
(4)
Leslie B.
Just delicious. And I didn't even have the oatmeal shake! This is only because the kitchen closed in the middle of our meal...I suppose it WAS 10:45. We were quoted 45 minutes for a table for 6 on a Friday night and it was ready in 30. There isn't really room to wait at the front of Irazu so we went down the street to grab a beer and then were chugging/paying our bill to get back as quick as possible for our table. We started with the guacamole and the chifrijo which were both delicious. We also ordered several empanadas and each couple had one. We ended up with the steak and potato and loved it, everyone else enjoyed theirs as well. For dinner, I had the Pepito Sandwich with hot peppers. NOM. I'm casually obsessed with sandwiches and this one was a dream. How can you go wrong with steak, onions, cheese, that tasty Lizano sauce, and hot peppers?! You can't. You just can't. I can't wait to go back and have this sandwich again. Other members of our party had burritos, the Casado, and other plates of veggies and meat. We all left happy and full. The BYOB component made it a lot of fun, we basically closed down the place (sorry to the waitstaff, thank you for your patience!). Additionally, you can't beat the price point ($20 a person with tip) and no corkage fee. Can't wait to return!
(5)
Rich M.
Great fresh food, great relaxed service, great outdoor area, great BYOB, great... well you get the idea!
We waited over 30 minutes to be seated. The wroth iron lawn furniture is very uncomfortable . Although they try to create a tropical ambiance the noise from the L kills it. The waiter was nice but only checked on my table once & wasn't around when I needed something. The food is mediocre , not very authentic. The rice was lukewarm , the black beans were el dente & could have used more seasoning and more cooking. The meat was tasty but warm. I like my food hot and freshly made as well as a good presentation. I feel all this was lacking. The plantains were burnt on the outside and raw & gushy on the inside. I won't eat here again. There are better choices for the money.
(2)
Briana M.
Great empanadas. Super nice, helpful, and professional owner. I ordered some gallo pinto and empanadas for my baby's birthday party. When my husband arrived to pick up the food he said there was a line out the door. That has to be a good sign. Everyone raved about how delicious the food was. Overall great experience highly recommend. We will be back to try more menu items.
(5)
Patrick S.
If you don't like this place, punch yourself in the face, bomb steak, bomb empanadas.
(5)
Kate B.
I recently organized a bachelorette party for 17 ladies and wanted to go somewhere I already loved. This was the place. Not only was Henry (the owner) extremely communicative and helpful while figuring out my options for this party, but he was incredibly kind. I ended up renting out the private party space and it was absolutely perfect. Josh was our private server and he was also amazingly kind and helpful too. So long story short, the food is divine, the service is amazing, and the pricing was fantastic for how much food we all got to stuff ourselves with. Henry and Josh definitely made this a really special and easy weekend and made some converts out of my guests.
(5)
Ken V.
I've been following Guy's DDD and sadly I was disappointed. Pepito sandwich needs more seasoning. Fish taco needs more seasoning and a little fishy. Ceviche had too much acid. Chorizo was ok. My friends and I loved the oatmeal shake, power green smoothie, the outdoor space, and staff.
(2)
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.
(5)
Monica D.
Read about this place somewhere online so we thought we would head in. It took them about ten minutes to seat us which was ridiculous because there was four empty tables. When we did get seated it was in a cramp corner and neither of us could move our legs...then it took them about twenty minutes to take our order. We had the pepito sandwich, a taco tico, an empanada, and a pitcher of the oatmeal shake. Over an hour later we had not received our food. The waiter came by exactly two times, to take our order and bring our food. There was one guy there that was really nice but unfortunately I did not get his name. When finally did get the food, it was okay. They were all really small portions but I guess they were somewhat cheap so I guess they've got that going for them. The taco was literally drowned in cabbage, but I will say I liked the mushroom empanada. I was really disappointed because there were several people who came in and ordered after us and they got their food way before us. It was just an upsetting experience overall. The food was okay but it's definitely not worth the way we were treated. Shout out to that one nice guy though. I joined Yelp literally just to write this review.
(2)
Rachel L.
This place is delicious, authentic, and the staff could not be more wonderful. BYOB too! I'll be back soon.
(5)
KJ K.
Straightforward and delicious Costa Rican cuisine. byo and super lively any night if you're dining in. They also deliver!
(4)
Sharon V.
I don't get it. What's all the hype about?? After many hopeless attempts, I was finally able to try this place out. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to all the hype and 4+ star reviews I've read on Yelp. We ordered the ceviche, huevos con chorizo, spinach and cheese empanada, and oatmeal shake. The ceviche was good but nothing special. The huevos con chorizo was extremely bland and I didn't like the texture of the eggs mixed with the chorizo. In fact, the description said it would have eggs scrambled with "spicy" sausage. There were no sausages in the dish! It just looked like ground beef mixed with scrambled eggs that had absolutely no taste. Considering how much of a weak sauce I am when it comes to spicy food, me calling this dish mild might be the understatement of the year. Highlights of the meal were the empanada and the oatmeal shake. The oatmeal shake just tasted like a thicker version of an horchata. I happen to love horchatas, so this was a good thing. This place is only worth it if you're vegetarian and like a lot of options to choose from. Carnivores - not worth the trip.
(2)
Tyler B.
I love Irazu. Saw it on TV and had to give it a try. We take most of our out of town guests to Chicago for a stop as it always is an enjoyable experience. BYOB is nice. We love some Rum with the punch options they have on the menu. Also, the food is fantastic. The layout is a bit crowded, but gives a very homey feel. Can't say enough good things about this place and it should be a must try if you haven't experienced Irazu. Since they are so good and well known you may have to wait. We typically put in our name and go grab a drink down the street. If you don't like waiting this will not be your place.
(5)
Liz K.
I have tried quite a few things on the menu and they are all delicious. Try the chifrijo and oatmeal shakes, they are both quite unique. The service was a little slow (which is the only time this has happened). They might have been understaffed and it was quite busy. But they gave us some free oatmeal shakes to make up for it. Great local restaurant, definitely give this one a try.
(4)
Kathy L.
I hope I don't get sick! Everything was either super mediocre, just edible or awful. In the "awful" category: the 2 pork chops meal. The pork chops were old - (they actually had an odor!) & tasted like they were going bad. Their specialty rice (which you have to pay more for) is just white rice (full of cumin) & beans. My bf had the fish tacos & he said it was super bland. We also had the mushroom (canned) & beef/potato empinadas which were so tasteless. Throw in the super greasy salsa chips and you have a disastrous dinner. All this for $50....and it's cash only. Don't waste your time, $ or risk your health.
(1)
Gregg J.
Irazu is Ir-awesome (word play). We ate lunch there, the second time we've been to the restaurant. I'll start with its one negative - its small and there's little room to wait, which we didn't encounter but could imagine on a busy winter night wouldn't be fun.... that's where the unpleasantness ends. The decor, atmosphere, and food are all a nice slice of Costa Rica - which lives by the code "Pura Vida" or pure life. Irazu gets that right by having a fun atmosphere and attentive staff who you can tell like working there and interacting with customers. FOOD: I had the chicken casado. The casado is the typical meal of Costa Rica - marinated meat and veggies, gallo pinto (rice and beans) an egg on top of the rice and gooey fried plaintains. So good all around. I've visited Costa Rica and I loved the American quality of the meat here with the authentic tastes of CR. Top all that off with the famous Oatmeal milkshake. Its as good as advertised - get one yourself and you'll know what I'm talking about. It was several months between my two visits to Irazu - I'm pretty sure it won't be that long before my next visit.
(5)
Fresca T.
Jennie T introduced this place to me and I LOVE IT! I kinda embarrassed her by not having enough cash since I didn't realize that they don't take cards. Bring cash! I'm going back for the second night in a row to sample more. I had the skirt steak, oatmeal shake and a chifrijo appetizer. The skirt steak was well seasoned and cooked to a medium rare perfection. It came with a really flavorful yellow rice, a pickled cabbage thing and yummy fried plantains. The oatmeal shake was incredible. It's very filling so I may share with somebody next time. Being lactose intolerant doesn't help much either. You need those healthy oats to soak up the triglycerides from the food. The chifrijo had deep fried pork belly. Freaking deep fried PORK BELLlllyyy! I warmed it up the next day for lunch and it was still good.
(5)
Joe M.
Love Irazu! The food is amazing. Sometimes I wonder what distinguishes a $200 meal from a $20 meal. Is it the atmosphere or the food? Maybe it is both or maybe niether... Back to Irazu. The resturant is old and a bit ugly but not without its charm. It looks like it was once a Taco Bell, possibly built in the late 70's. If it wasn't for the lines of people waiting to get seated you would never know they were even open. They have a large outdoor patio positioned neatly near the Milwaukee Ave. The menu is outstanding, Costa Rican food is outstanding. The service is outstanding. Our waiter was truly helpful and informative. It is BYOB and the liquor store across the street sells Costa Rican beers. The Costa Rican Black Bean Rice is amazing. I really like this resturant. It's simple. I'm simple
(5)
Danielle K.
As a visitor to chicago I am amazed at how many reviews this place has, but you have to love a restaurant that posts a yelp review by the door. We waited a while for a table Sat night, but it was well worth it. Like mentioned before they are BYOB (which my Washington DC is SEVERELY lacking), and while we were waiting the guy behind the counter suggested we run across the street to a conveniently located liquor store! We asked for our servers favorite two shakes and he brought out Oatmeal and Oatmeal-Banana. I am a huge fan of both! They were refreshing and helped cool my mouth from all the yummy hot food. For starters we had the fried yuka. Warning to daters: it is covered in tons and tons of yummy garlic. Not just garlic oil, lots of chunks of garlic. I thought it was amazing, but I was burping garlic the rest of the night. : P I had the veggie burrito with mushrooms and it was HUGE and delicious. I couldn't come close to finishing it, but man did i try. The green sauce on the table is amazing. I want to put it on everything I eat. I guess this place is pretty hyped up, but i say its worth it. it would be dangerous if i lived in the delivery zone.... luckily i'm a few hundred of miles outside of it.
(5)
Martha M.
Hip hip hooray! 3 cheers for Irazu! A friend of mine recently moved around the corner from this fabulous Costa Rican joint and we happened upon it while on a Saturday afternoon stroll. I had no idea that I was setting myself up for a new Chicago obsession. The service was quick and super friendly and the staff was so nice and attentive. And the food. Oh, the food. The yucca was divine with a delicious garlic oil spread (Warning! Not good date food! I can still smell garlic on my breath four hours later...so worth it though...) I had the fish taco special which was amazing. Not as light as your normal fish taco but equally if not more so delicious. And the plantains on the side, well, had I thought it through I would have gotten some to go. Their smoothies are on spot as well. I had blackberry with soy milk and was in heaven. Another plus, this joint is freakin' adorable. Tons of outside seating, some in the shade some in the sun. Great music was playing and the decor felt very authentic and islandy. Price was definitely a plus as well. Thirty dollars for two of us, appetizers and all. I cannot wait to go back...
(4)
Sophie M.
I seriously recommend this place to everyone. And I've taken several first-timers there. For some reason people don't just happen upon it and decide to go in. Anyway, their oatmeal shakes really do knock my socks off. I've had several of their dishes (burrito, vegetarian sandwich, and some other things), but I almost always get the potato tacos with guacamole; they're just so damn tasty. I usually can't finish it all, so I'll have my leftovers for breakfast the next day. The servers are always friendly. It gets really busy during the summers, so there's sometimes a wait, but it's usually not longer than 15 minutes. Irazu is BYOB, so don't forget your beer/wine/whatever. A word of warning though: You won't get no fancy glasses to drink your beer or wine out of--it's all plastic tumblers. I'm cool with that, but I'm sure it could be a turnoff to some.
(5)
Annie S.
This was my first time at Irazu and I was not disappointed. Our waiter had suggested the Casado and I was totally blown away. It was full of flavor and spice that was out of this world. I am moving to the area in month and I can already sense I will becoming a regular in no time.
(5)
Ellen M.
I finally made it to Irazu - looking forward to making regular stops in the future. Thanks, Kathleen O., for suggesting this great little place. We started with the tostones as an appetizer - fried green plantains with a side of black beans. WOW! I ordered the chicken and rice for lunch. It was fantastic - fresh, tender chicken, rice with carrots and tomato, a cabbage salad and ripe plantains - great blend of sweet and spicy. Kathleen got the casado, another rice and beans dish with a fried egg on top. The shakes are where it's really at. No ice cream (are you kidding?). Choose your flavor, ask to have it made with milk or water. Kathleen got the oatmeal (milk is default) and I got the mango with water. It went great with the food, sort of a mango slushie. I might try it with milk sometime, but it's a terrific summertime drink. Not heavy on atmosphere. A counter when you walk in, a small dining room in back. Clean bathroom. Tiny parking lot. Cash only. Come for the only Costa Rican food in the city and enjoy.
(4)
Jesse A.
Cheap, delicious tacos. Honestly, I probably only needed one -- these things are FULL of yummy ingredients.... but I didn't realize a $1.95 taco would be so filling, so I ordered two. One was the special 'Rican taco, which comes buried under a pile of cabbage and sauce.... it reminded me (and those picking at my dinner) how much I like cabbage. The meat was tasty too, and it too had a reminder message: remember? You've been a pescetarian for a while now, but here's some evidence to remind you why you like beef and chicken. Oh yeah. Flavorsome goodness. My friend had the oatmeal shake, wow - what a shake! That shake inspired me to want to buy a blender, so I can go home and make something like it, every day, for breakfast. We had a very funny waiter too. Now... BYOB, and tacos under $2 ... that makes for a cheap, satisfying meal. They have vegan tacos too, we didn't have them, but I think they're only about $2.50 or so. PS - I actually never bought a blender. My housemate has a food processor in the trunk of her car, so I'm still kind of waiting for her to bring it in. In the meantime, I might go back to Irazu instead. Oooo yeah.
(4)
J M.
They brought bread pudding for dessert when I was there for my birthday. With a candle in it. When I asked for extra cilantro on my rice, they put a quarter cup of chopped cilantro on it. It's got a beer cooler. The servers talk to you. Really, does it get better than this? I think not. Irazu has an outdoor area that's about twice as large as the inside, complete with patio heaters, which the host/hostess cheerfully rearranged for my rather large party, in case we got cold (it was one of those fun 60 degree June days). I think I'm going to propose to this restaurant simply for that. The menu is simple, the ingredients ordinary, the flavors mindblowing. Irazu has quite possibly the best ceviche I've tasted in Chicago, full of lime-y goodness and seafood. And avocado. That was a nice touch. Both times I've been there, the entrees were fantastic. It's BYOB, which makes it that much cooler in my book. I'm not all about paying $9 for a glass of pruno, or whatever the house wine is. There's a liquor store up on Western and Milwaukee for those who want beer, and a wine store right across the street from Irazu for those with sophisticated palates. Just don't expect a fancy glass with a "stem" and made of....well...."glass". Long story short, Irazu, I'll marry you any day of the week. You cook, I clean. Deal?
(4)
Keki L.
Irazu is great. I have been wanting to try it for a while and was finally able to a few weeks ago. The delivery was fast. I love the casado, it tasted great, was a large portion (it was 2 meals for me), and was reminiscent of the casado I had in Costa Rica. I would definitely order from here again.
(5)
Holly R.
Every time I go here, I end up with a huge belly ache, which is completely my own fault - I order too much 'cause everything's so good. The menu's great for vegetarians, and, actually, it's great for meat-eaters too. If you have out-of-town guests who fall into one of those groups, bring them here, and they will be totally impressed with Chicago. My favorites: the palmito salad, the ceviche, the plantains (even better if you get them double-fried in garlic oil, obviously) and basically all the sandwiches. Actually, just order whatever you want - it's probably really good.
(5)
Crystal P.
Always good for a quick delish lunch! the potato tacos (actally like flautas) are awesome the vegie burrito is supper goood... yum! and the Mango or oatmeal shake is perfect to put out the sting of the super spicy hot sauce!! Don't even get me started on the chips!
(4)
Paul F.
Lets start with the black bean dip which is smoky, a lil spicy and something to write home about. Yes, the oatmeal shake is what dreams are made of. We needn't spend anymore time on that. The Chicharron! The Chicharron! When I ate this it honestly changed the way I live my life. The fat and skin peel away from each other and melt in your mouth. I apologize if that sounds gross to some, but I'm not sorry for my description. I'm sorry that you will never know what true love is.
(5)
Christine D.
The one thing I always forget about this place is that it is cash only. I think I forget because I am just so excited to get some deliscious patacones or a refreshing palmito salad with hearts of palm and radishes.. I also enjoy the costa rican sandwich. Take out, dine in or delivery to most of the city. There is no where else that delivers both to my home and work.
(5)
t.n. t.
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!
(3)
Yumm y.
Incredibly vegetarian friendly and equally incredible prices. I got the vegetarian burrito and threw down a mere 4.95. I checked with the owner and the beans, rice, chips and tortillas are all vegetarian friendly. You know how sometimes you believe that and others seem less sincere...? I feel confident about this place-- he took a lot of pride in his ability to assure me of the lardlessness of the goods and the lack of chicken broth in the rice--even w/out prompting for specifics. They even have a vegan friendly item on the menu--labeled as such. My carnivorous party enjoyed their huge meals that could easily be shared by two and the guacamole was yummy. Plus, I was ear hustling at the table next to us and heard that they deliver... so if you're feeling lazy, don't let that stop you from trying the deliciousness that is Irazu Costa Rican Restaurant.
(4)
Terrance D.
Wife and I wanted to patronize Irazu this past sunday BUUT(closed sundays!)..ahem.. hint hint:) Soo we had to wait it out but boy was it worth the wait in gold!! I mean the steak was tender and seasoned to perfection, the Costa Rican rice was savory and the green sauce added just the right amount of kick to my taste buds- WHOA! The guacamole and chips were on point, the chicken was flavorful(a tad dry), Omar the waiter was cool biz, atmosphere was fun and diverse and the prices were MORE than reasonable considering the portion sizes. We'll def be back very soon... what are YOU waiting for?? P.S.- word on the street is Irazu will be open for biz on SUNDAYS this summer...now that's what's up!
(5)
Dan D.
I went here for the first time tonight and I was totally blown away. Having spent many months in Costa Rica, I knew authentic food - and this place hit it on the nail... AND it tasted even better than Costa Rica! :-) The must-try dish is the "Casado" - this is the true Costa Rican cuisine. Basiically it is a dish with rice, beans, egg, salad, platanos (sweet bananas), and your choice of meat. I had the chicken breast which was SO tender and juicy that it literally comes apart with just a fork! Plus the sauce is quite great too! And for the icing on the cake.... the "Casado" entre ONLY costs $11ish dollars! This is prolly one of the best deals unknown in the area. I will be coming back here for the great food, super friendly service, and keep a few bucks in my pocket.
(4)
Don H.
If you're looking for a pretty low-key date night this is the place. It's charming with plastic stemware and plates. But don't let that dissuade you. I haven't been here in forever and really don't have an excuse, though we tried before on a Saturday night at 7p and it was jam packed. This time we went on a Friday when it opened. As always, the service and food were exceptional. Because of our out-of-town guests, our server gifted a round of complimentary oatmeal smoothies. Remember they don't take cards, but there's an ATM at the front. Parking is limited in their lot but there's plenty on the meters on Milwaukee. If you forgot the wine, check out Red & White Wines across the street.
(4)
Car M.
I've lived in the neighborhood for 5 years and have driven or walked past this restaurant and always said, "hmmm, I want to try it" and finally I went. We had a table of 5 on the covered patio on a June night. Service was bad. I don't know if our guy had an off night, or what but he was a total space cadet. We'd ask for a plate and an extra set of silverware and he'd bring just the silverware. He didn't check in on us and our waters were never refilled. Finally management must have noticed because they switched servers on us. The food was good, but it didn't blow my mind. I got the spicy fish tacos that our server RAVED about and when it came to the table, I thought it and the cuban rice was pretty bland... not spicy at all. The salsa was great but it was a little weird to have to squeeze it onto every chip from a bottle, rather than having a bowl. The empanadas were delish! Two things to note:BYOB and they only accept cash and there's not an atm very nearby (big negative in my book). I might go back here to give it another chance, but it really didn't live up to my hopes.
(3)
Jillian D.
i have been to irazu twice. once this summer when there was a party atmosphere on the patio. the dj made my whole table want to dance! and a second time about a month ago when the patio was hopping, but the music was MIA. and i must admit, i missed it! it really helped set the scene and made you feel like you were on an island somewhere (mmmm costa rica?) instead of a stretch of milwaukee avenue. the food is plentiful and fabulous. each time i have set out with the goal of saving enough room for an oatmeal shake. and each time i have failed failed failed!!! bountiful portions and every bite gets more and more delicious so how can i stop?? :) get thee to irazu, tout de suite!!
(5)
El gee O.
Great Coasta rican cuisine. But, it's cash only!!!...come on, this is America. Grow. Up. Please.
(4)
Adisak P.
Great Costa Rican food at a decent price. They have wonderful fruit and/or oatmeal shakes and the various meat plates can easily feed two people. Everything on the menu here is delicious. For an interesting treat, try the potato tacos. They're deep fried like flautas and served with a generous portion of guacamole. They're great if you bring a vegetarian friend (and so are their veggie empanadas). For garlic lovers, I also high recommend the tostones con mojo (deep fried plaintains with a pile of garlic on them). I did go once when the tinted squid was more than a bit off, but I'm forgiving them for that because everything else is so tasty. It's cash only and BYOB and gets quite crowded some nights but it's usually quite easy to get into for lunch.
(5)
gypsy b.
I've been coming here for a while now and my last visit just reminded me that i was on yelp and should write a review! the place is really small and always crowded, so if its nice out i suggest sitting outside. I've tried a handful of dishes all very tasty! if you can't have sodium in your diet then i can't recommend much on this menu as they love to use salt on everything! its BYOB and if you forget there is a wine shop across the street!
(4)
Sarah P.
Great veggie burrito, guac! Food is better eaten there than delivered.
(4)
Jacqueline W.
So I've been here for lunch, dinner and drinks after work (BYO!- one time we ordered the shakes, with water, and added a little extra good stuff). The staff +food +vibe = perfect. If you're coming in a group -it's great for groups outside- you don't have to call ahead but you can. They bring out a big bucket of ice for your drinks to chill if you need it. The food is great and affordable.. there are a good amount of veggie options and the sandwiches are yum! The staff is also as equally attentive as they are laid back.. Kudos to whoever is hiring these people. Omar is the best- he takes really good care of us every time. Last time I was there with my little family of friends from high school and we didn't want to leave. We stayed until closing and he schooled us about house music and djs. Chicago's northside can be a small world, but it's better with IRAZU in it!!
(5)
Kim Y.
I am currently eating empanadas that I got last night. I asked the waiter if reheated well and he was right. So yummy, it is a continuation of the fantastic meal I had last night!
(5)
Jia T.
I love the food here! The portions are huge! I would recommend the Stake Burrito. It's only $5.95!
(5)
Rico T.
I enjoyed my oatmeal shake alot, but the steak burrito was just OK. The outside patio is a nice place to hang out, but the seating is uncomfortable. The chairs and tables are mismatched and too oversized for the space. Maybe I was just crabby today. I'll give it another try next week.
(3)
Stacy C.
Wow, what a find! We drove by this restaurant a few times and it looked fun. A quick check on Yelp to see what the reviewers thought of it and we were sold. The food is delicious! It tastes like home cooked comfort goodness. Like going to your Costa Rican grandmother's house for dinner (if you actually had one...). The Casado with Gallo Pinto is the best way to experience all the yummy flavors. And if you're a garlic lover, you MUST try the yucca. I have no idea what they do to the garlic to make it taste so much better than when I cook with garlic, but mmmmm, I could eat that all day. They deliver downtown which is a huge plus. Takeout tastes 95% as good. But if you're in the neighborhood, they have a great outdoor patio in a quiet area and are BYOB. Definitely a fun place to go on a foodie adventure. Just remember, they are cash only!
(5)
Joshua G.
It was my first time eating Costa Rican food and it was pretty interesting. I order grilled steak which came with salad, Sweet plantains, and rice. Second, I order their Flan which was heavenly! Probably one of the best Flan I ever tasted. Overall, the food is delicious. I will recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Albert T.
I had the Costa Rican Sandwich and I highly recommend it. I also got a bite of my buddy's steak sandwich that was cooked to perfection. Simple but delicious food for a low dollar amount, great atmosphere, and it's BYOB! Going back later to try their oatmeal shake....
(5)
David N.
Tasty, cheap if you know what to order. Cons: Super greasy.
(4)
D'arcy N.
Looove Irazu. Get the Milanese (?) or the Pepito sandwich and the oatmeal shake, you'll walk out happy. Go into it knowing that it's a no-frills place and that the service can be spotty, but that you're there to enjoy good and affordable food with good friends. Plus it seems like a nice family-owned place that you just want to support.
(4)
Irina I.
I love this place! I always get the Biztec Tico and it is always wonderful. The place is cheap and good. Be warned it is always crowded and cold. For some reason they can't get their heat to work. The last time I went we were all sitting eating dinner in our jackets!
(4)
Leigh K.
I still find it funny finding places on Yelp that I thought I wrote a review of and didn't. Irazu, what else is there to say? I went here on my first trip to Chicago in August of 2001 before I had moved here in October of 2003. The avocado burrito is gigantic, one of the best burritos in the city, and affordable. The waitstaff is sweet. The plaintains are great. This place rules. I should go here way more often.
(5)
Jasmine D.
Fresh, tasty, and affordable. The milkshakes are amazing, my personal favorite being the oatmeal-banana.
(5)
John K.
Tasty food. Nice staff. If you like Latino food and want something a little different, I recommend it. Get the costa rican rice kind of like a "dirty rice" variety. I enjoyed it alot.
(4)
lisa r.
When I first moved to Chicago in '98, I lived conveniently 2 buildings up from my favorite restaurant, Irazu. One veggie burrito, one shake, and one order of tostonas were a shared meal for two. I've had numerous BYOB celebrations inside and out on the patio. In yet another review I can't really provide much info on the non-vegetarian options. I've tried the steak and chicken tacos and I wasn't wowed, but the chicken soup will cure what ails you. It never fails I want a burrito on the one day they are closed - Sundays!
(5)
lisa m.
I don't even like burritos, but I will go to Irazu solely to purchase one. They offer a good selection of other veggie options, but I feel as if I have already attained perfection in the form of vegetables and some other crap wrapped in a tortilla. Highly recommended. Be warned, though, that they tend to get very busy. Expect a wait if you want to eat in at peak dining hours.
(5)
Ab A.
hey, do you like underwhelming tasting meat served by incompetent morons? me too! cool, meet you at Irazu.
(2)
Lauren W.
Two words, OATMEAL MILKSHAKES! When anyone comes to visit Chicago and stays with me I send them down the street for an Oatmeal milkshake and they usually go back a couple times before leaving town. They also have great vegetarian options and everything is delish.
(4)
Jaclyn C.
Since I have already reviewed how amazing the food is here, this review is on the restaurant's catering. We wanted something different to serve at our anniversary party and I quickly thought of Irazu. I'd been telling my friends about it so I figured it be a great idea to serve it for dinner. I requested a quote through the website and Henry quickly called me. Our party was on a Sunday and I didn't even realize they are closed Sundays. But Henry said he would promise to make it happen, they never turn down opportunities to please their customers. The food arrived on time, setup was great and there was plenty of food and food for 3 days after too. My guests were very impressed and were already making plans to visit the restaurant. Overall, I was very impressed with not only the food, but Henry was especially professional and extremely accommodating. Thank you Irazu for making our special day a great success.
(5)
Andy R.
exotic cheap date charm and new flavors don't forget the shake
(3)
Jake B.
Oatmeal milkshake = tasty time!!
(4)
Manhoso C.
Been going to Irazu for 6 years now and its consistantly good. The shakes are great, and the steak sandwich is one of the better ones in the city. The downside is the small dining area fills up quick.. especially during the weekend.
(4)
Mark T.
Two words: Oatmeal Shake. I'd come here just for that item alone. After visiting this place for the third time today, I've finally come around to writing up a little review. Granted, you don't come here for the ambience (although the various pictures and stuff along the walls look cool; kind of reminds you about the country in itself), you come here just for the food. The first time I came here was almost eight months ago; it was a dinner with five other people. We ended up getting a gigantic family style meal: Chifirjo (black beans w/pork and veggies), Chicken cascado, steak cascado, veggie platters, rice & beans, plantains, guacamole w/chips and cabbage salad. YUM! Every single dish was delicious. For dessert, we had the almighty oatmeal shake; first time I tried it it was totally not what I expected it to taste like. To me, it was like a large oatmeal cookie--in liquid form. Be sure to order the large size shake; you'll be glad you did. On subsequent visits, I've pretty much ordered single dishes of food that I had at the earlier meal: a plate of chicken cascado; an side of plantains, etc. The empanadas weren't bad either. The service here is excellent as well. Staff here is pretty friendly, also the food here comes fast and cheap. Be sure to bring cash though; the place doesn't take credit cards. All in all, an excellent place to come back again.
(5)
Andy M.
In these trying times it is refreshing to find a place that gives you great value for your hard earned dollar. Irazu is a wonderful Costa Rican Restaurant in Bucktown. The interior is small but well decorated. The staff could not be nicer and the service was wonderful. I ordered the Costa Rican steak which was mouth watering. The portions were huge and even though I had no idea what half the food on my plate was called, I enjoyed every bite. One of the things I love about Spanish food are the sauces and spices. Every morsel of food on my plate was spiced to the hilt with wonderful Costa Rican flavors. If you have never tried Costa Rican food, I highly suggest that you give Irazu a try. I can just about Guarantee that you will enjoy the experience.
(5)
Chandani J.
I went here with my fiance and mom for her birthday. She is very very picky and we needed a veggie friendly place near work. Everyone is so incredibly friendly and accommodating here. We did have a to wait a bit for a table in the restaurant instead of the outdoor seating area. We ended up ordering a empanadas (all the veggie ones), veggie taco, the famous burrito, and potato tacos. I was slightly disappointed that they forgot the hot peppers in my burrito, and it didn't taste the same having them on the side. The two highlights were definitely their house salsa (which is fiery and delicious) and the oatmeal shake. I would go back again and again for their shakes alone.
(4)
Amanda G.
I love IRAZU! It was my first time here a couple weeks ago. I would have to say my favorites at this Costa Rican eatery were the fried plaintains with lots of garlic.. not good for you and give you bad breath but man they are so tasty! I also had the ceviche which was also fresh and I love their rice! Its the best combination of spices and beans! Awesomeness! I also like that this place is BYOB. We brought a bottle of wine from the winestore thats a stones throw away. We ate inside but they have a nice patio that I'm anxious to get back to. Will definitely be back here. The staff is also super friendly!
(5)
Karla N.
So we came here after dining in Chinatown (which I will also write a review of) so sadly, we didn't each much, hence why I didn't give full review....but what we had, was amazing, and the service was great, so I'm giving it the next best review. My mother is Costa Rican, and so I've spent years traveling to Costa Rica and eating authentic food....so going with two women from the country and myself, this place had a lot to prove. But we were all very pleased with what we had! I had cafe con leche, which was good...our friend had Tamarindo (which was great and she loved), and my mom had the Avena (oatmeal) shake. I've seen the Avena shake before, but it never looked appetizing so I never tried it....but I decided why not? And took a sip, and boy did I wish I ordered that instead of my coffee! It was SO GOOD. We also had the Chifrijo appetizer...black beans mixed with fried pork, as well as diced veggies served with chips....really good as well. We were joined by our friend later who had empanadas....what can I say? Good, good, good. Sadly, that was all we ate. But it was really busy for a Wednesday night...and what was great is that it was BYOB (I've never seen that in LA) and so all the guests brought their six pack or bottles of wine....which is a huge save since alcoholic drinks can get really pricey at restaurants. Our waiters and hostess were all really nice as well. Next time, I'll order patacones and the classic gallo pinto....and I will DEFINITELY be ordering the Avena shake. Yum!
(4)
James M.
Irazu is so awesome! The guys who work there are super nice. The shakes are great. The burritos are awesome. Bring your own booze. Great date place!
(5)
Chris M.
Hooooooooooooooray for Irazu!!! This place is awesome, from the many different flavored shakes to the veggie burrito. For the non vegetarians, go with the steak sandwhich. Absolutely terrfic to the point that I want to steal whatever the secret sauce is they use for that puppy!!! Kind of in a shady neighborhood or something cause they have bars on some of the windows, but don't let this deter you. Irazu is a great place and I will keep coming back :)
(5)
Rich K.
First time at this restaurant. I am very familiar with Costa Rican cuisine so I was excited about eating here. The fish ceviche was perfectly refreshing. The Pepito Beef Sandwich was also excellent, meat was very tender. The chips brought to the table were a little overcooked or the oil needs to be changed. The Chicken Pepito Sandwich was just okay, nothing special. The hot sauce on the table was super hot, so first timers are warned.
(4)
Tommy D.
Cheap, well-made food and BYOB! Makes for a cheap getaway as eating outside makes you feel like you're not in Chicago. (but in a good way). Check it out!
(5)
ann s.
I still haven't been back since my last burrito, which wasn't like all the good ones I've had before, and I have traditionally been a fan of Irazu, so I'd be remiss if I didn't note that after my last review, one of the owners wrote me a nice, warm, funny note. And because of that, I will definitely give it another try next time I'm hungry and in that neighborhood.
(4)
Claudia T.
Worst place I've been to with horrible customer service! I was with a group of 12 people total (we're between the ages of 25-35) and we made reservations for 7 pm at Irazu. We were all there by 6:30 pm and we were told to wait a few until they got us our table. We were ok waiting and we knew we would have to wait since this place is always full. Around 8 pm we started growing impatient and we talked to the manager. We were told we would soon be given a table and not to worry. At 9 pm a group of 12 women arrived to the restaurant and were seated within 10 minutes or arriving. They were given the table we were promised. We spoke to the manager once again and told us the group of women had made reservations for 9 pm and we reminded him we had reservations for 7 pm and were still not seated. He promised us free appetizers for the inconvenience. After being seated around 10 pm half our group had left already and the promised appetizers were chips and bean dip. To make matters worse, they were rushing us because it was getting close to closing time. Worst customer service, average food, high prices for the quality. I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS PLACE EVER AGAIN!!! Not to mention one of the staff members just emailed us a very rude email!
(1)
Marissa G.
Just went last Friday, expecting the Irazu I loved so much two years ago -- it was not there! Chips were oily. Guac had no spice. Milanesa was dry and greasy. Waited for too long to even get water from the server. Sigh, too bad!
(1)
Kathy S.
Finally got to try this place and I'm so glad I did. We decided to take it to go so we could eat while watching the nba finals (don't you just love the combo of good sports and good food?). The wait wasn't too bad, especially since we got the soy oatmeal shake while waiting so I was content sipping on that. Now I know why everyone loves it...it is so delicious! One funny thing that happened while I was waiting was that a customer while leaving, looked me straight in the eye and said "ni hao!" which is hello in Chinese but as I am not Chinese, I thought "wtf??" Very very weird. So anyways, we got back home and started munching away. The tico was pretty yummy. The rib eye was a tad bit overcooked but still good, especially when I made sure to dip it in the sauce that it came in. Loved the sauted veggies, especially the spicy peppers...I love food with a kick! And I finished my meal off with the sweet plantains. Yum! Keep in mind that the portions are huge! I don't always trust when people say "definitely enough for two meals!" because there have been times when I've been able to polish off whatever they were talking about in one sitting. However, yeah...no way I could finish off the tico with the four pieces of rib eye that they give. Btw, the person at the register also sincerely said "Thank you for your business!" when he gave us our food. Such a small thing but little gestures like that go a long way for me. :D
(4)
YANETTE M.
Came here for my birthday on a gorgeous Chicago day. The patio is great, tables,chairs,and a Dj, thats all I need I thought I was at a backyard house party :) I should of went authentic but I didn't,so I played it safe don't know why. So my lovely dinner started out with of course chips and salsa,guacamole and some weird rice beans and chopped up pork stuff. So sorry for not knowing the names of what I was eatting, Ha !Ha! I order the empanada's, one spinach and cheese,the other zucchini, last but not least cheese and a side order of there black beans and rice. The empanada's were good, the zucchini and spinach were great, cheese a bit bland. Rice and beans off the Hezzzzy ! Last but not least a lovely cool glass of white wine.Oh yah and the gorgeous company I was eatting with.What more could I have ask for that day.Thank you Irazu for making my b-day awesome and thank you company for being awesome.Sorry for making it a b-day review :(
(4)
Nick C.
I've been here twice now and am very impressed. The patio atmosphere is great! The perfect place to go hang out with friends, bring your own booze and munch on very affordable food. Food that, oh yea, happens to be delicious! What really does it for me was the customer service. On my last visit the server misunderstood my order and only brought one dish when we ordered two. He immediately apologized and had the kitchen made up another dish quickly and brought it out all free of charge! He really didn't need to do that as I thought it was only a small communication error (probably on my behalf), but the gesture was great and will keep us coming back often!
(5)
Paul S.
I have gone here everyday of the week, and once three times in one day. The first time I was taken here on a date when I first moved to Chicago a decade a go. I forgot where it was, and it took me 2 years later for someone to re-enlighten me of this awesomeness. Great staff! The owners are so nice. I can't say anything new about the food that hasn't already been praised here. Now I just need to go to Costa Rica. Oatmeal shakes kids!
definitely one of my favorite BYOs in the city. EVERYTHING is delicious. can be warm, loud and crowded, at times. but that's just because the food is so good.
(4)
Michael H.
The value has gone done (prices up) and the crowd is often overwhelming. Food is still great, but the value isn't as strong. Still a trusty go-to place in the area.
(3)
C H.
1. They deliver breakfast 2. They have the best Costa Rica cuisine ever. 3. BYOB I love Irazu with all my heart. It is one of my favorite restaurants in the city.
(5)
Kristin S.
Amazing food! I've never had anything quite like this, but I can't believe I haven't been back since the time I went months ago after with with some friends. The oatmeal shake was so good. Even if it sounds strange to you, get it. You will love it. The rice, beans and plantains that come with multiple dishes were absolutely fantastic. The portions are huge, too, so four of us shared two entrees and an extra side. The seating area is tiny, so I can imagine it gets packed on the weekends during normal hours. We went during the week for an early dinner and had no problems at all though. I can't wait to bring my boyfriend here so we can order one shake, two straws and so much delicious Costa Rican food.
(5)
Hayley S.
Please get the oatmeal shake. AND get the mamey shake--an unlikely but fabulous choice!
(4)
Vickie L.
Yum yum yum. This place is great (service not so much...). When you dine in you get free chips & salsa. Love that they expanded their outdoor seating, because inside gets a little cramped. I wonder if their service outside is a little better now... Shakes - Definitely get a shake. My bf always get the chocolate shake, I usually mix it up and get a choc/strawberry shake. The oatmeal is awesome. Definitely get it with milk and not water. Food - Chicken and rice - so good, very filling. You will have leftovers. Because the dinners are so big, lately I've been getting sandwiches. The breaded milanese (sp?) sandwich is great, they press them I think. They put their Lizano sauce on all the sandwiches, it's like this tangy tomato sauce, it's SO good. Burritos are also very good - they are huge! The only bad meal I have had here was when I ordered the potato tacos (after reading many good reviews on them). I was disappointed though, I didn't expect them to be fried and rolled up like those taquitos at 7-11. It was too much tortilla, too oily, and it was bland! I had to salt the hell out of it, and I never have to salt my food. That was a big disappointment. Service - It's family owned, so you see the same people guy and girl there all the time. The last time I went there was a blonde caucasian male there who looked new.... Service is not the best. They are pretty slow, but when you see the size of the kitchen, it's a little understandable. The wait staff does a decent job, but they could be a little friendlier, they just seem a little cold. One of the reasons we get take out is because we don't like the wait staff that much... They have delivery now, woohoo! Remember, it's cash only! But they have an ATM on site.
(4)
Steven D.
I am now a great big fan of Irazu. Intimate dining room makes it feel that much more inviting. Food was phenomenal. Wait wasn't long either.
(5)
Claire A.
don't get me wrong, i love irazu. especially as a summertime spot. but i want to point out: if you order a shake with soy rather than milk, they not only charge you more (fine, this is typical) but they also give you a smaller portion. an oatmeal soy shake costs more and comes in a smaller glass than an oatmeal milk shake. when i asked the (very nice) server about this discrepancy, he told me it was because i'd get sick if i drank that much soy. actually, sir, i personally would get sick if i drank that much milk. let me be the judge of such things. that said, i could kill some of their patacones right about now....
(4)
Richard K.
Let's see, food attractively served and its tasty. I had an "authentic Costa Rican breakfast" named Gallo Pinto. I figure that I'll probably not see Costa Rica in the near future, so Costa Rican breakfast sounded good. It was attractive, well priced, and tasty. Come to have some fun and tasty food. Bring your kids, bring your spouse, bring a friend. You'll enjoy it. And its affordable and parking seemed available on a Saturday at noon.
(4)
Peter G.
I've lived around the corner from Irazu for a few years and never knew that it existed. After a tip, I tried it out and can't believe what I have been missing out on! Highly recommend.
(5)
igor I.
Affordable, unpretentious, laid-back, yummy. Why would you not want to eat here?
(5)
Jacqueline G.
Absolutely flawless - I could eat here every day ;)
(5)
James D.
Went here for a quick lunch and the food was great. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Monica W.
Good lunch date place, great food, filling , always bring a TO GO box home, beans and rice, excellent fried plantains, service is great, interesting fruit shakes (did not like the tamarind - mango is good though). Wish they took debit cards but have an ATM machine on site.
(4)
Roll T.
Great Costa Rican food; my wait for a table, however, was RIDICULOUS (over an hour). All the same, I'd go back if I was in Chicago...
(4)
melissa a.
those milkshakes, that oatmeal milkshake is amazing and addictive. the service is always timley. the steak sandwich with avocado was ok, a little sot and greasy. its a great place to stop in if your in the neighborhood..not a destination spot
(3)
Osh J.
My buddy moved out of state and told me that before I moved to the bay, I HAVE to get a steak sandwich from Irazu. I did get one...and then I got another the next day. The steak is lean and there are no gristle-y pieces. The bread is phenomenal as well. Yesterday I ordered a chicken burrito and the chips and guac. Wow. Pretty sure everything is good here. I get a side of yellow rice and sour cream every time, too. Huge fan...kinda pissed I didn't try this place sooner.
(5)
Carolina P.
I love the food here. The cuban sandwich is fantastic, especially when you compliment it with a mango shake. The price is very inexpensive. I've only had bad service here once. Don't ask how they make their oatmeal shake or they'll think your trying to start your own restaurant.
(4)
Tiff B.
I'd never had Costa Rican food until I went to Irazu and now I love it! Those oatmeal shakes are to die for and I love the rice and beans and the chicken with onions dish they make. Very friendly service too. The family that ownes this place is so welcoming and customer service oriented. Which seems to be a lost art in a lot of other restaurants out there so I appreciate it when I see it. The only reason I didn't give Irazu 5 stars is because I feel that the portions could be a bit larger for the price. I've only ordered takeout so I'm not sure if the dine in portion sizes are larger.
(4)
s y.
My only complaint about this place is waiting outside in the freezing cold because its always busy. Also I'm not sure how really Costa Rican the food is, but its delicious and their waiters always help me decide on the perfect amount of food.
(4)
Anne A.
oatmeal shakes and veggie tacos ease the pain of spending my hard-earned cash at chicago teacher across the street. irazu is a place i recommend to everyone who is looking for a new place. i love the outdoor seating, which i think just expanded recently. i usually get food to go, but outside is where it's at if you're dining in. the food is fresh and i like the mild flavors in the dishes i order. as someone who likes rice, beans, veggies, but not super spicy, irazu hits the spot.
(5)
Dave S.
One word YUM! I was surprised at how small this place was. I think that the sign out front was bigger than the place itself. I figured since it was a Wednesday it would be rather slow NOT. The place was rather cramped but they were able to accommodate our party of seven Yelpers very quickly. It was either the owner or manager that greeted us and he was very welcoming. Our waiter was somewhat of a smart ass but it was meant more in fun and not in rudeness. I ordered the Milanesa. It was excellent! I was concerned that it may be overcooked. When you order such a thin steak it has to be cooked just right or it will be overcooked. They fixed it perfectly for me! It came with beans, rice, cabbage salad and plantains. Everything was very good. The prices were very reasonable. I did not break down and order an oatmeal shake but I did get a Pina Pineapple which very good.
(4)
Tracy K.
Just went to a catered event and found out Irazu was the behind the scenes caterer. Amazing! All foods that were supposed to be crunchy were crunchy, meat was tender not tough. The flavors were just like I remembered from my Costa Rican get-away last Spring. If you're looking for a somewhat healthy & unique option to the pasta / American type cuisine for your holiday bash, I would highly recommend Irazu!
(5)
Michelle C.
Amazing veggie burrito! This tiny little gem is super afordable and friendly. It's BYOB, which makes it even more affordable. Also,it's right off the blue line and close to the Congress Theater if you want to grab a bite before a show.
(4)
Nikki L.
This is not "mindblasting" as most of my friends would say, but it's pretty damn good! As my first time eating Costa Rican food, I didn't really know what to expect. One of my good friends is Costa Rican and always talks about Gallo Pino which is rice with black beans served with an egg. I did not personally order this, but a friend of mine did and I was able to try it, not bad! I ordered the steak and onion with yellow rice and tostones. This is a huge portion and should be shared with another person unless you are a big eater. The steak was flavorful and rice was amazing. Since we came on a nice warm night, wait to sit outside was 30-40 minutes! No thanks, we enjoyed a nice table inside and had a hilarious server. Unlike your conventional style of service with a proper well mannered non potty mouth server, ours was the complete opposite, yet I didn't leave feeling offended. He was fun, loud and BIG! Literally. We ordered everything he suggested, even the bread pudding for dessert, Ugh can we say 2000 calories per bite? Well worth it. I will be back and next time with my Costa Rican friend!
(4)
K M.
Does a restaurant really need 355 reviews? Probably not. Can I help myself from reviewing such places anyway? Um. No. I'm not terribly familiar with this neighborhood. And by "not terribly familiar" I mean I have no friggin clue where I am going. So the streets getting here drove me nuts (Aside from traffic really being sucky). However, once there, I was able to easily find parking on a side street so that was a bonus- I really had no idea if parking was going to be a hassle. I am thankful, because I took someone here who whined about everything, and if I gave said person another thing to whine about, I would have gone ape-shit. :) I will add my endorsement to the oatmeal shake. I don't know if I'd ever find myself craving it, but it was definitely different, and I find it harder and harder to give that label to anything. I liked it for sure. I also really liked their chips and salsa. Honestly, I have surprisingly not found too many places where that is true! And the potato tacos were really good- I thought it was a bizarre thing to see and had to try them. I know others have commented that they are a bit boring, and perhaps that's true, but I look at is as "potatos- good. taco shell- good guacomole- good. rice- good" it was all just plain good, even if not a terribly exciting dish (and it was plenty of food for the price too). Based on this one attempt, I would love to have a reason to come back and try more of the menu. I have no idea what my lunch partner ordered as all I remember is being irritated with him for being so ridiculously unimpressed (but that is a whole different story) The outdoor seating area was nothing all that exciting- but I went in April on one of the very early nice days of the year, so I am guessing it gets spruced up a bit as the summer approaches. Maybe my limited experience with this place is screwing with me- is there more seating somewhere else? This was a little patio with about 10 smallish tables right? I think I'd like to try it at night some time, as I was there on a Saturday afternoon and there wasn't much atmosphere to speak of. But I also appreciate outdoor seating in any form so I wouldn't hold it against them if I returned and had the same experience. I would direct people here without hesitation, particularly if they were looking for something in that neighborhood.
(4)
Karen L.
Irazu is one of those "gems" in the Bucktown area. It is Costa Rican food, which I find very flavorful yet lighter than Mexican or Cuban food. I have been there a few times, and have never been disappointed. There are only about 15 tables or so, so be prepared to wait for a table if you are dining-in during the late dinner rush. You have to walk in knowing what to expect. It is just a little bit above the typical "hole in the wall" feeling. However, the atmosphere is comforting and warm, being a very family-friendly place. Many of my friends who enjoy Irazu love their fruit shakes. Since I am not a shake fan, I have never tried them. But they seem to be pretty popular, with many different flavors including some exotic fruits--and they can be made with either water or milk.
(5)
Leon L.
We lived near the restaurant for eight years until 2006. Everytime we come back to Bucktown, we have to stop by for a mango shake and the costa rican sandwich. If you ever make it to Costa Rica, it is the same food at Irazu. Unfortunately for Costa Rica, it is the same food/menu across the country until you get to the Caribbean coast where Jamaican influence the food with more spice.
(4)
Rebecca H.
I haven't lived in Chi-town for five years, but on occasion, I wake up in the middle of the night, think about the Irazu Oatmeal shake, and weep softly to myself. I shudder to think what will happen to me if I ever become pregnant.
(5)
Patrick W.
Don't blink as you drive up Milwaukee or you might miss this place, and trust me, it would be to your detriment. This is a small, family owned establishment that does everything well. The menu is full of surprises, lots of things you've never tried before or wouldn't expect to have at a place like this- for instance, the milkshakes. The entrees are great, but my favorites here are the sandwiches, especially the pepito- steak, cheese, and special sauce on fresh, crusty Gonnella bread. The palmito salad is a winner too- simple but a great flavor combination. I never really liked guacamole, but after trying it here, I suddenly started to like it a lot more. I can't explain it either, but take it to mean they do it right! Remember, it's CASH ONLY and they close pretty early. If you can't get there early on a weekend night, consider calling ahead for carry out. The place is pretty small so wait times can soar.
(5)
Mia F.
I am a big fan of their empanadas and blck bean soup!
(4)
Kate F.
This is one of the best places for a unique breakfast in Chicago. The Gallo Pinto, a traditional Costa Rican breakfast is the best! Tortillas, black beans, rice - get it with both plantains and eggs. It's so delicious. Add to that an avena (oatmeal) banana shake (just try it!) - Heaven! My only warning, wait a half an hour after the posted opening time to show up. They're on their own schedule and are never ready on time.
(5)
John B.
Thank goodness there's a big sign outside this place, or I would have walked right past it. Even with the sign, I wasn't sure I was in the right place. It's a tiny building, and when you walk in, you are in a small take out area. Don't worry, this is the place. The dining area is "cozy." Which is to say, it's about the size of my living room (okay, maybe living room and dining room), with seating for maybe 30 people. Tops. It's nothing special, but you don't come here for the atmosphere, you come for the food. Which is delicious. At the urging of everyone on Yelp -- and the invisible hand of Molly McButter - I had the oatmeal shake. It is exactly what it sounds like, yet somehow more. Very tasty, with a touch of cinnamon and sugar but not too much. The menu offers a range of choices, from sandwiches for less than 5 bucks to full dinners in the $10-12 range. Very affordable, and worth every penny. I had the Onioned Steak, which is thin slices of rib eye (think "minute steak") smothered in onions and served with a side of rice and beans, tostones (fried plantains), and cabbage salad, which is similar to a vinegar-based cole slaw. Our server was pushing the Gallo Pinto, which is a Costa Rican version of black beans and rice, and it was great. Definitely order it in place of the standard yellow rice and pinto beans. My meal was delicious and very filling, and a bargain at $12.50. And it was one of the most expensive things on the menu. If this is your first visit, I'd suggest the Casado dinner: it's a little bit of everything. But everything I saw come out of the kitchen looked great. When we went, the service was a little indifferent. Not enough to put me off to the place, but a bit questionable. If you're going out for dinner, get there early, 'cause they close at 9pm. Shocking!
(4)
JaNille P.
I absolutely love this place! Best smoothies EVER!!! The signature Costa Rican oatmeal shake(with soy) is a must. However, the mango smoothie(with water) is an everyday favorite of mine. Their gallo pinto(rice dish) is amazing as well. Great sandwiches and great steak tacos! Give Irazu a try. You will not be disappointed. Great food, great service, great people, and a great atmosphere all in the heart of bucktown!
(5)
Terrence K.
Authentic Costa Rican food. Lots of long reviews but do yourself a favor and try the Aveno shake or any of the other drinks to go along with your delicious meal. You won't be disappointed....
(5)
Corie Z.
DISAPPOINTING! I had been wanting to try this restaurant for months when I finally got the chance to head out that way. The reviews were plentiful and positive, the photos were deliciously tempting, and the menu looked great. However, I was seriously disappointed in the food and service we received. The guacamole was fresh but tasteless. It needed some lime or lemon, salt, and cilantro. The oatmeal shake that everyone raves about tasted like plain oatmeal in a cup with a straw. Nothing spectacular whatsoever. My food was not prepared the way I asked for...how hard is it to make French fries extra crispy? To top it off, my bf and I waited one hour....yes an HOUR for our food! He ordered one of the steak dinners and I got a simple sandwich. They obviously forgot about us in the kitchen. There was no apology or adjustment to our bill for our bad experience. Oh and btw....they only accept cash. Come on! This is supposed to be a decently nice restaurant. How CHEAP can u be to not accept credit cards? We will definitely not be back. It's unfortunate because I really wanted to like this place.
(2)
Maria A.
I like this place. The food is good, you can sit outside, it's byob...it's the kind of restaurant you can picture coming to multiple nights a week. During the colder part of Chicago spring, they even had heat lamps, so you could pretend it was spring-y enough to sit outside...which was much appreciated. Last time, I had some tilapia with yuca and fried plantains and a cabbage etc. salad...all of which was delicious (and fed me the next day, since the plate was mildly overwhelming). Be hungry when you go!
(5)
A K.
The oatmeal shake? To.die.for. Really, as other reviewers have said, the outside is nothing too special. But the chips, the guac, the burritos, and the shakes keep me coming back. And a recent trip to Costa Rica confirms that this is pretty dang close to the real thing.
(5)
Joanna L.
When I agreed to go to Irazu, I had no idea what to expect. I had no idea what Costa Rican food consisted of and had no ideas on what to order. Frankly, I probably just ordered the wrong thing (some sandwich), but the fried plantains saved the day. Although they were a little strange for my taste, they were still quite tasty. The sandwich was very bland, and it was cramped and quite expensive for a place that seemed very "hole in the wall."
(3)
Leang E.
This place was not how I imagined it would be, especially since I saw it as one of the places on Check Please. It's pretty small and looks like a fast food Mexican spot. You don't even notice that there's a seating area until you walk around the building. We had to wait for seating for about 15-20 minutes. The place is cold, but the waitress was super nice and friendly. They start you off with chips and you have the option of 2 hot sauces that are bottled. I was making a mess eating them dripping sauce all over the table. They are pretty spicy and not something that I would consider being a salsa. We ordered the ceviche, which is very good. I'm a huge fan of the portions of food that you get here, well worth the money. I tried one of their shakes, which they give you the option of having it in water, milk , or soy. They are pretty yummy, but too cold for me to order one for just myself. I ordered the Casado dish that has the option of steak or chicken - um which you can assume that I ordered the steak. It comes with this carmelized onions that melt in your mouth, rice, beans, cabbage salad, and plantains. I believe dishes there are pretty inexpensive. You can order other Latin dishes aside from the Costa Rican ones that they specialize in. It's one of the few if not only Costa Rican restaurant in Chicago. I was too full to finish my food or order dessert, but I'll definitely be back. My friend ordered a burrito to go here, and it was huge! It's sad that they are only open until 9pm.
(4)
Corey B.
I could have reviewed Irazu after any of the many many times I have dined in or ordered out, and I would tell you to get the oatmeal shake and vegetarian burrito (loaded!). I'm sticking by that choice, but I want to review because of the customer service. I ordered on a busy Friday night and there was a snag in the ordering process. When I called to straighten out the issue, the man on the phone immediately reacted defensively to the situation although I had never placed blame on anyone. Usually, this is where it all goes wrong--I tell the person I am speaking with that I am not blaming anyone and I don't think the tone is necessary, etc. and then I am unhappy the rest of the night. But as soon as I started to argue back, the other guy relaxed and said he was sorry, it was just really busy and he didn't want my order to be cold. Now THAT'S what makes me come back (as long as the food is good, too)!
(4)
todd s.
Great food and affordable. Very Unique. Must try an oatmeal shake. Simple atmosphere and nice people. Give it a try.
(4)
Elizabeth T.
love this place. it's BYOB so the meal is never very expensive. i love the vegetarian burrito which is $5. $5?? i am pretty sure a chipotle burrito is more than $5. we spent some time in costa rica and it always takes me back. in central and south america i basically lived on mango smoothies and i love that i can get one (even in december) here. i'm probably just sentimental, but irazu, i dig you.
(5)
Alexis S.
I thought the service was poor, the seating area was tiny and the food wasn't particularly good. Maybe if I sat outside and came on a different day I would have had a different experience.
(2)
Suj S.
Irazu - everything was great until the food arrived. The oatmeal shake was delicious. The mango shake was good. The service was fast and friendly. But the food .... very disappointing. We went with our server's recommendations. Very mediocre food that seemed overpriced. We'll be back for the shakes just not for the food.
(3)
Pickle P.
I LOVE this place!!!! Delicious veggie burrito and soy oatmeal shakes. Great service, fast, Costa Rican decor makes it fun and authentic, cool patio area. Note that this is CASH only and not a lot of ample parking surrounding, but totalllllly a place you need to go to at some point. This is one of my staples for taking friends. Love love love.
(5)
Marie K.
you know how you find a dish on a menu and every time you go back to that place you end up ordering that one dish every time because you don't want to take a chance and be disappointed? you will not be disappointed at irazu. not only are the owners and waitstaff genuinely nice, but the food is amazing. no matter what you order. seriously. i'm not kidding. take a chance. chances are, the only thing you'll be sorry about is reading this cheesy review.
(5)
Deacon M.
if you haven't been, go. they have something for everyone. good vegan. love the tostones with black beans.
(5)
Gil N.
I had totally forgotten about this place until I saw it on the ROTD. This place is excellent. Clean, good service, great food. Really good food. I had never had Costa Rican food and I was pleasantly surprised. It can be difficult to find a spot at times which is why I hesitate to give Irazu five stars. A bigger location would be nice but all in all I can see myself going back real soon. Hell maybe this afternoon.
(4)
Nana H.
I really like irazu in the summer. I love going there and getting a oatmeal shake after swimming. And i love their weekend special chicken, it is the best thing on the whole menu and there are plenty of other good things, such as their plantains. My god, their plantains are good. When they open at 11am, theres oftern ALREADY a line of people! It is completely normal to wait, but it will be worth it!! BYOB baby!
(4)
Lauren S.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Everything I've tried has been amazing. The vegetarian burrito is the best I've ever had, the chile rellenos is amazing, and I love the oatmeal shakes! The servers and hosts are also super nice. There is nothing that I don't like about this place.
(5)
Hayden J.
While I have never dined in here, I have grabbed take out on a few occasions. I always get the Casado dish, which has been great on some nights and decent on others. The chips and salsa (which is offered as an appetizer for $2.50) is far too spicy. I enjoy spicy foods, but I couldn't take the spice level on this salsa, and thus wasted my money. Never had lunch here, but I look forward to trying out the Costa Rican Sandwich. Many of the comments mention the Oatmeal Shake, which really is as good as the hype. Well, at least to me. My wife didn't seem to care for it that much, so perhaps it is a required taste. Still, I urge you to give it a try. You just might crave it as much as me or any of a number of other reviewers on here. In fact, the Oatmeal Shake is worth the four stars alone!
(4)
Christopher M.
I love this place. They have very exotic food at lost cost. Its a very small place, only problem is finding parking sometimes. Well worth it though :-). Great authentic CR food!.
(5)
Alice S.
i lived in costa rica for a bit and having a costa rican restaurant in chicago definitely gives me a taste of being back in san carlos. i would say that the food is not as good as it was when it was being made back in CR, but it does the job. Plus, its great to know there is a place in chicago that I can purchase costa rica's famous sauce... Lizano salsa. YUM! give it a try just to have a taste of something new.
(4)
S T.
Pretty good food. I like the food here, i'm just not as taken by it as others seem to be. I love seeing a vegetarian section on any menu. The vegetarian burrito is pretty good, but i can't stand the mushrooms they put on it (by request only). I don't know if it's the way they are prepared or if they are canned or what but they are not good. The vegetarian salad is very small. The green salsa is super hot n good. The chile relleno is pretty good and stuffed with tons of cheese. The sides are good but nothing special. The best thing about this place is the shakes. Got to try a shake and get one you can't pronounce. Call ahead for take out cause if you have to wait inside there isn't much room.
(3)
rachel a.
I love this place. only eaten here once, which will soon be remedied. its so good, cheap, and just awesome. i will probably write more when i eat there again, but i highly highly suggest it.
(4)
Sarah S.
Irazu didn't change my life or anything, but it was some great chicken! I wish they delivered though.
(3)
Kami T.
This is definitely a hole in the wall, but I love the food and the family-run atmosphere. I just ordered a vegetarian burrito, but it was very tasty. the prices are reasonable. I will definitely try something more authentic next time.
(4)
Clare K.
i totally wimped out and got a burrito when i came here. mistake. my friend got something totally tradition and SO MUCH better. the oatmeal shake was life changing, however. actually-i am being a little dramatic. it tastes a lot like horchata, so if you like that, you will love this. this is much thicker and cinnamony. the fried plantains were disappointing, though. the oil that they were fried in tasted really old. blegh! the entire dinner lasted a reallllly long time because no one would bring us the bill. i find that to be really annoying and worthy of a star deduction. the food gets a 4 star review, the experience gets a 3.
(3)
Alex X.
I tried to eat here on January 3. There were boards on the window and the sign was dark. I thought it had closed! Perhaps it was being renovated? Anyway, I was disappointed because I really wanted to try the oatmeal milkshakes everyone has been raving about... (I gave it a 3 star, so as not to affect the overall rating that much...)
(3)
Zach H.
A friend from Florida brought me here. The stamp of approval from the Floridian (well acquainted with good Costa Rican food, of course) got my hopes up, and I was not at all let down with the results. Upon recommendations from some 'other' restaurant review site, I tried the casado with chicken, and it was filling and deeelicious. My friend's veggie burrito was pretty good too. I would like to come back here soon.
(4)
mary b.
This is the only restaurant that I would wait an hour and 1/2 to be seated. I arrived around 8 to meet some friends who had put out name in about 10 minutes before I arrived. we sat outside at a metal picnic type table and plastic chairs. It is BYOB so we sat around and drank some white wine while we waited for our name to be called. I stepped inside to check it out and saw about four or five groups ahead of use sitting inside on a bench. I glanced intot he dining room which was super small and could not wait to be seated to eat. Went back outside and before you know it was after 9 and we still had not been called! I went inside to check and the guy at the counter said we were the next party. thank god. we were starving at this point! Ordered the guac and cheese empanadas to start off with. *sigh* The guac was delivcous and generously sized so there was plenty for the group of four of us!! I splashed some of the red hot sauce onto the chip with the guac and the combo of the sauce and the avocado was superb! mmmmmmm. the cheese empanadas were so light and crispy on the outside and after adding more of the red sauce onto the empanada it simply was one of the most delicious pastries!!! Mexican food will never be the same after trying these costa rican delicacies! I had the chile rellenos for a main course and they were quite frankly, the BEST chile rellenos I have ever had. Pure heaven. With a huge side of delicious yellow rice, beans and a perfectly dressed cabbage salad, this may have been one of my best latin american meals ever. I will definitely be back even if I have to wait for an hour and half to be seated. It was worth it, YUM!!!!! Thanks Irazu!! You should open another location really. I plan to be back alot,.
(5)
YerMah L.
Cheap, Loud,and BYOB... much like my last relationship, I return for more.
(4)
Sunny W.
Yes, its not fancy looking at all. It looks like a shack. I've always found it to be very clean though. I think that people like it because the food is very, very fresh and not -processed tasting plus its delicious. To me it tastes very flavorful and you get a lot for your money. If you eat meat I think its got plenty for you but if (like me) you don't eat meat you are not shortchanged at all. There is lots for vegetarians. Plantains are yummy and I absolutley LOVE their cabbage coleslaw. The papaya shake with water is so refreshing and good for you as well. I stand by this place having some charm! Only wish it were open later.
(5)
Jane M.
This joint is always hoppin', especially in warmer weather when the patio is open. The food is good - fair variety, too. Excellent shakes. Even my 6 year old loves it.
(3)
Natalie C.
Saw it on Check Please so thought I would check it out. Wasn't impressed with the food but I frequently make trips back for the oatmeal shakes. If you're in the area, stop in....but not worth the drive, IMO.
(2)
Amanda B.
I LOVE IRAZU. Great prices. I go here a lot, and never am disapointed. Besides the food, they also have great drinks. Best fresh squeezed lemonade EVER...It's a good choice for summer, otherwise I go with the banana shake, they now have soy as an option along with milk or water.
(5)
Cristina A.
This is the first time I try Costa Rican food, and I am grateful to the guy that chose this place!! A group of friends and I went here for dinner on Saturday night. And it was an excellent choice. The staff is great and the outdoor seating is so comfortable. Perfect summer night dinner.. It was a little chilly for the girls, so they even brought out a heater to keep the table warm. Ha! Their food tastes homemade. So good. Their Ceviche was amazing. I had the Casado, the rib eye steak. So juicy. Everyone else loved their food. With, like, one exception. The chicharron wasnt too good, not for my taste anyway. But everything else, Delicious! Its BYOB.. Which I actually think is so much more convenient. More booze, for less cash.... And last but not least, the pricing is extremely moderate! Cheap, amazing food. What more can I ask for? I will definitely be here this summer... No questions asked.
(5)
Tony G.
Excellent place for great Costa Rican food. I wasn't sure if I'd like this type of food because I wasn't exactly sure what it was. The dishes seemed to be 'plantain-heavy', and the portions were pretty big. This is BYOB, which helps with the bill - though the food's not that expensive to begin with. The 'shakes' are pretty good, and there are many many different fruit (and other) flavors to choose from. One think I didn't really like, they were hesitant to seat us until our entire party wa there. I understand that table space is at a premium sometimes, but there's really nowhere to wait! Overall, I'd definitely go back!
(4)
joanne y.
it was the first time i've had costa rican food. many of the food items on the menu were very similar to mexican food. i ordered the milanesa dinner plate. it was pretty good but i think they put too much cheese on my milanesa. the rice, the cabbage coleslaw and my friend's dish were amazing!! she ordered the casado? i know i will be back there and i think i'm going to try the taco tico. yummy!!! oh, and they close for the winter so we were very shocked that they were opened. i guess they will be closing for only a couple of weeks this time.
(4)
B. L.
Amazing!!!! Everything I sampled was absolutely delicious. They simply know exactly how to season every little thing to perfection. And the ambiance is excellent! Delicious, fun, inexpensive & BYOB! What more do you want? I will definitely be back.
(5)
Nellie T.
I LOVE this place! I would say this is a definite local's favorite. Cash Only, but well worth it. They have the best plantans. Having sauces on the table the way they do is what I love. The chips are always warm and delicious. BYOB cannot be beat. It's a small place, so there might be a wait. I say it's well worth it. They also have a couple parking spaces out front. My boyfriend and I have always been able to grab a spot when we've driven there. Their smoothies are also a must if you didn't bring your own booze. I had the tamarind one. YUMMY! Very well priced as well.
(4)
Jenny P.
Delicious food, hearty servings, low prices, friendly staff. I little cramped and crowded but that's part of the charm and par for the course for such a great little restaurant.
(5)
Always Right C.
The Oatmeal Shake is an absolute MUST HAVE.
(5)
Allison N.
My boyfriend and I practically ran to Irazu after seeing it on Check, Please! (oh come on, you know you love it), but it didn't completely live up to my expectations. He had the veggie sandwich, and I had the veggie burrito. The burrito was very bland, and not unlike something I could make at home. We had a side order of the sweet plantains, which were delicious at first, but after a couple of bites just tasted strange. I will brag about the oatmeal shake though, which I LOVED (and immediately ran home and experimented making my own until I cracked the recipe). The service was very slow, but we had an outside seat and that made it fun to people watch. Nonetheless, it could be a great restaurant but an off night for us. I would possibly try again, but with the experience I had I wouldn't whole-heartedly recommend it.
(3)
noel c.
the oatmeal shake really will change your life. i am now obsessed with mastering this recipe so that i can drink one every day. a friend passed along rave reviews about the vegetarian burrito and i couldn't imagine what would be so special about a simple burrito... now i know. it was damn delicious and only 5 bucks. you have the option of adding other vegetables and i added zucchini. overall, the burrito was amazing and delicious but i don't think it needs any additions. keep it as cheap and simple as possible for maximum happiness.
(4)
Purnima M.
Wow. That pretty much sums it up for me. This was such an unexpected place for us to begin our Saturday evening, but turned out to be a great choice. The byob made it even cheaper than it already was, and the portions are huge! We lugged in a few six-packs, and were delighted when they put down our names on the list, and then switched the store sign to 'Closed'. Last ones in! (and eventually out, as it turns out). The vibe is relaxed and the music festive. We started with some guac and ceviche, and once the entrees arrived, wondered if we should have. The flavors combinations are fantastic, and everyone was too busy chomping to speak for the next few minutes. I got the veggie burrito, with both mushrooms and spinach, and it was outrageously good. Didn't come close to finishing it, but whatever. My friends settled for various other winners on the menu. Service was friendly, and we left happy and full. Yummy!
(5)
Grace G.
Now here's a taste of a Chicago hole-in-the-wall that can't be beat simply because there's only one of it's kind. Irazu (accent on the zu) should not be mistaken for a Mexican restaurant. As mentioned in prior reviews, it does have a hispanic background, but it is NOT Mexican...it is Costa Rican, and thus the foods of Costa Rica are very different from that of Mexico. Hence, the lack of spice. Costa Rican food is not about spice, it is about basic, simple good food. It's the kind of food that mothers make for their families, relatives and friends. Irazu is owned and run by Miriam and Gerardo Cerdas with the assistance of their children, Henry and Donna. While most of the staff is family, the others may just as well be family because of the length of time they've been with the Cerdas family. Gerardo shops, Miriam cooks and supervises in the kitchen, and Henry and Donna do everything they can to help make things run smooth. Upon entering the restaurant, it would be easy to mistake this awesome restaurant for another burrito joint, and while they have it on their menu, a burrito joint it is not. In the back is the actual sitting area and it is very small, but it is clean, quaint and simple. The sitting area can accommodate at most approximately 30 people. And since they don't take reservations, waiting is almost a sure thing, even up until 15 minutes to closing time. But don't let that discourage you or you will miss out on some of the best ethnic food in Chicago. Enough about the restaurant, let's talk about the food. As I mentioned before, Miriam is the cook and she cooks like there's no tomorrow. It's home cooking like you've never had. The Hub and I ordered the ceviche, and while we ordered it spicy, it wasn't, but that did not deter from the flavorful goodness of this ceviche. It was light, it was fresh, it was delish!! Both of us ordered the signature meal, the Casado, a traditional Costa Rican dish. The meal comes with either thin rib eye steak or chicken breast and caramelized with onions. It can be served with white rice, black beans or the gallo pinto ( a staple of Costa Rican food which is a mixture of beans and rice and is truly tasty) with an over easy egg, sweet plantains and a salad. Both were fantastic. The steak was so tender and flavorful, and the chicken was juicy and just as tasty. The plantains are sweet, but not over-sweet. A must try is the oatmeal shake. There is nothing like it. It is really delicious. I know, oatmeal isn't really a fundamental for shakes, but they've managed to create a really original flavor that works. They have other unique flavors, some of which are not native to the US (guanabana, mamey and pinolillo) and I can't wait to try them. For the cost of the meal, there was so much food. I wanted to finish my plate, but I just couldn't find the room. I was excited, though, at the thought of having it again the next day. I would just fry another egg and add it to my leftovers!! We were full, but we had to order the flan. And what can I say...it was superb. Just the right texture and flavor of custard to caramel. All in all, really a great meal. Now, I have to tell you, we got to the restaurant at 8:45 p.m. and they close at 9 p.m. We didn't get seated until a little after 9 p.m. because there were 3 couples before us. We didn't have an issue with the timing of the food. It came at the right time, but then again, we ordered while we were waiting. Our appetizer arrived as we were seated, and our food came shortly after we completed our appetizer, piping hot. While we had no issues with our meal or the service, we were told by Henry that he and Donna were the only waitstaff, and they were assisted by a busperson, thus the service may be a little slow. The kitchen is small and all the cooking is made to order, so the food comes out slow when it is really busy. While there are no immediate plans to expand, they do plan to work on their kitchen efficiency, but they ask that everyone try to be patient and understand that everything is cooked with the love and attention as every other meal that is served out of their kitchen. They only have one mom, and for her, everything has to be perfect before it's served to the customer. It's the quality of the food that counts at this place. The hours are limited (M-Sat, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., closed Sundays), the wait may be long, and they only take cash. But believe me when I say the food is definitely worth it. I would say an average meal is about $15/person. Oh, and there is no alcohol, but it is BYOB. I would suggest a bold red for the wine drinkers. And I wouldn't recommend a big group for this restaurant, especially since they don't take reservations. They're also open for lunch, and if you are in a hurry, they recommend you call ahead. As Miriam says, her food isn't fast food, so give the kitchen a break. Kick back and relax...the wait will be worth it.
(5)
Bob D.
This place is the best. It is not fine dining nor is it priced that way. It is a great cafe that has unbelievable food and is byob. Their chicken sandwich and burrito are my favorites along with the ceviche
(5)
johnny b.
wasn't that impressed. mediocre at best.
(2)
ame c.
More love for Irazu. I always go for the plates or the steak sandwich with the yummy costa rican sauce and a shake. Bummer they close at 9pm though...
(5)
jason t.
onioned steaks & oatmeal shakes! so damn good it should be illegal. but remember...CASH ONLY! BYOB! CLOSED ON MONDAYS!
(5)
Jacob F.
Irazu totally and completely deserves the praise it's gotten from other reviewers. Since I'd been spending the week at my cousin Melissa F's house (which is why all of my recent reviews mention the common foodie experiences), we were doing a culinary world tour and Irazu was a place we knew we'd want to stop from the beginning. She'd spent part of last summer in Panama, and since there's seemingly no Panamanian restaurant in the city, this was the closest we could get. We approached the restaurant at 8:30 on a Tuesday and were dismayed to see patrons waiting all over the place in front of the restaurant. Fearing a ridiculous wait, we went to put our names into the line as soon as possible and found that it was just the line for patio tables. Seeing as it was still 90 degrees and humid, we selected an inside table and were seated immediately. Our waitress came promptly and quickly took our drink orders and got us the guacamole (again with the guac, I know...it's not costa rican but it was good) we asked for in a minute or two. We decided on getting some empanadas and then we both settled on some steaks (she got cubed tri-tip and I got a skirt steak. The empanadas arrived hot and fresh and although I was not a huge fan of the plantain one (just don't like plantains I guess), the chicken and beef and potato ones were delicious. The steaks came soon after we finished the empanadas and they were great. I ordered mine with the special Costa Rican rice and I was not disappointed. The steak was brilliantly seasoned, the rice and beans (and whatever else was in there) were really nice and zesty and i gave my cousin my plantains, which she said were really good as fried plantains go. I highly recommend this place and I'm going to come back soon.
(5)
Rathi J.
Incredible food for the price. Little crowded inside, but we totally understood why. Oatmeal shake really is good as was everything we ate. Will definitely go back for more
(5)
Allison B.
I don't have a lot to say that hasn't already been said. We started out with the guacamole... I'm glad we got it "spicy," which meant there was a pile of seeded, minced jalapenos on the side. Without the jalapenos, the guac may have been a little on the bland side (although very fresh), but with the jalapenos, it was pretty good. Even my husband, who can't handle much spice, was adding the jalapenos. I had an oatmeal shake, and hubby had an oatmeal-banana. I was very uncertain about getting an oatmeal shake, but I'm really glad that I listened to everyone's advice and tried it.... it was PHENOMENAL! I enjoyed it so much and can't wait to have another! The oatmeal-banana was excellent as well. For dinner, I had the veggie burrito (w/ sauteed mushrooms) and my husband had the chicken burrito. We were both very pleased with our meals and left w/ half our food as leftovers. Menu prices are SO reasonable... you get such a bang for your buck at Irazu! We also each had a side order of sweet plaintains-- yum. I love me some plaintains! Our server was excellent-- the best service I've had lately, for sure. No complaints, and we'll absolutely be back!
(4)
Luther Z.
Chicken burrito, passion fruit shake with water. Oh, th sandwiches are fantastic too. Only problem with the place is the wait you'll have to encounter at times. I'd rather get my food to go anyway. Best burrito in the city... this place was my standby when I used to live in Bucktown and didn't feel like cooking. Nothing compares to it. When my stepbrother came in from the UK, this was the first place I took him.
(5)
Tanya Z.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. From the cabbage salad with avacado & hearts of palm to the casado or tika- it's all excellent! The food is filling but not heavy or greasy and if you're health conscious this is your place! The shakes are also outstanding!
(5)
Brian L.
Really tasty food. I've only been twice but each time I was more than satisfied w/ my food. The second time I had eaten just before so I couldn't get through my food but I still wanted to gorge myself on it. The first time I was there was on a weekend night and was able to get a seat fairly quickly to my surprise with a large group despite the relatively small seating area. I definitely need to try out more of their menu but their sandwiches and burritos were really tasty. My brother enjoyed their skirt steak as well. Shakes were interesting and delicious too. A highly recommended change from all those wonderful taquerias you probably often eat at.
(4)
Tobia C.
This place is great. I always get the food carry-out becuase of the tiny seating area on the interior. They do have a very small patio in the front of the restaurant...but there isn't much scenery on that portion of Milwaukee. Much of the food is deep fried...so keep that in mind. For some reason, I always have the need to take a nap after I eat this food...yet, I keep coming back!
(3)
Susan A.
When you look at this place, all you see is a dive. I was not at all impressed when I walked inside and had to walk through part of the kitchen to get to a tiny sitting area. However......the food makes up for all the atmosphere lacks! It is so yummy and plentiful! I highly suggest getting the vegetarian special (no matter what it is that particular day).
(5)
D S.
This is a bucktown gem. Food is very good and fresh. The vegie burrito is fantastic. Oatmeal shake is interesting but I prefer the lemonade.
(4)
Lynn C.
The Pepito sandwich makes me happy. So good!
(4)
Glynnis S.
I come here for 3 things: (1) Oatmeal / Avena shakes....get it with milk (2) The Pepito sandwich and (3) Their labor-inducing salsa. No seriously, it is hot, delicious and labor-inducing. 9 months pregnant and craving Irazu, I went thru buckets of their salsa...only to find myself giving birth the next day. Oh and be sure you call ahead for take-out...it will take awhile for them to get your order ready.
(4)
Dee W.
The food here makes up for the lack of atmosphere. Try the the plantains and the empanadas. They've got some great vegetarian options but for meatlovers like me, they also have the Costa Rican steak dinner. Try one of their shakes - they've got some funky flavors but keep in mind that they run on the sweet side (I request mine minus sugar) but the more interesting ones include guanabana, papaya, passion fruit, and tamarind
(4)
Mo L.
Irazu redefines what you should come to expect from a hole-in-the-wall dining establishment, and I mean that in the most endearing sense. On the unseasonably cool summer night when I ate there, I felt like I was eating in Old Town San Diego. But not to confuse Costa Rican food with Mexican food...the family-style food has a charm and flavor profile all its own. I felt like I was eating authentic home cooking. The cheese empanadas weren't great but they're certainly better than Hot Pockets or mozzarella sticks. I know...not a ringing endorsement. However, the oatmeal shakes were surprisingly good; I can't believe such a shake works, but it does. The Bistec Tico was slightly overcooked in parts, but the fatty, properly cooked morsels were absolutely delicious with the side of beans and rice, plantains, fresh cabbage, tomatoes, and peppers. The portions are gargantuan so come hungry!
(4)
Liliana S.
Great Costa Rican food in the neighborhood. The restaurant doesn't look too appealing from the outside but the food definitely makes up for it. What I love most about Irazu is there milkshakes. Try the mamey one! Its fantastic! The salsa isnt great, lacks flavor..and the plantains are too greasy and thick..but other than that, everything else makes up for it.
(4)
yamani h.
hands down one of my all time favorite places to eat. its been consistent since i first discovered their "vegetarian sandwich" (black beans, muenster, lizano sauce, lettuce, tomato + avocado on french bread...YUM) 10 years ago. in recent years it has become even more reliable hours-wise/random vacation wise etc. its small but cute. the food is delicious, served in healthy portions, tons of vegetarian options and its affordable. go get some =)
(5)
ABC D.
It's unbelievable how well you can eat here for such little money.
(4)
Mariella C.
nice place for lunch, i thought the food was kind of bland, their speciality rice from costa rica was just so so. i like spice and didn't get any, but the service and staff were very agreeable. would return for lunch, not really a nice spot for dinner but i wouldn't be that opposed.
(3)
michelle c.
Oatmeal shakes, patacones, guacamole. It all rocks! Get yourself some. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
(5)
Mike H.
I love this place too. But the food is super good and way less greasy than Mexican food. But be forewarned: the inside is super small and they keep really weird hours. This ain't no place to grab a taco at 4AM.
(4)
Chris C.
Ate here today for lunch with the kids and it was great. Everything was fresh and very tasty. The idea of "have you ever eaten in a closet" is a bit of an exaggeration, in my opinion. The Palmito salad was great, oatmeal shake was super good and the rice and chicken entree was really good. It was a bit overpriced.
(4)
k s.
Great place to go on a nice afternoon. There's a little, fenced-in outdoor patio. Food's good, Costa Rican take-out, come on. The shakes are a lot of fun. Mmmm.
(4)
jen b.
costa rican food is pretty much just fresh food prepared well. not alot of seasoning since you want to let the food speak for itself. irazu does just that. good food, cheap prices, and no pretention. the restaurant space is not very big, so it can get crowded. there is a patio that is nice to take advantage of in the summer. oh and they only accept cash. there is an atm if you don't come prepared though.
(4)
Jenny I.
This place is a total dive, but it's exquisite. Great shakes (with milk or water) - many of which I cannot even comprehend. (Mamey pulp?) Always good vegetarian options (usually Spinach Plate or Potato Tacos...go with the tacos). The salsa is disappointing, but nothing else is.
(5)
Rosie p.
very delicious food. it is slightly pricey but very worth it!
(5)
Bianca W.
As the only Costa Rican restaurant in the city limits, I had to try it at least once. I must say the sweet plantains were better than what I had when I was in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The avocado, onion, and cilantro salsa is not spicy. If you want spicy, go to any Mexican restaurant. I like the friendly casual atmosphere and how the servers and owners address you by your first name.
(3)
K J.
The best guacamole I've ever had! The lizano sauce on their sandwiches is delicious also. Only downside- they are closed on Mondays.
(5)
Ed M.
THIS PLACE IS ALWAYS FUCKING CLOSED WHEN I WANT TO EAT HERE. Oh ye, one of these days i will feast here. I saw this place on Food Network. Try the shakes they say.
(1)
toqi c.
all i remember was the oatmeal shake which my boyfriend ordered and i secretly coveted. Why didn't I order the oatmeal shake?! since i'm no longer in Chicago, you order the oatmeal shake. everything else is yummy.
(4)
A S.
this place rocks. i got the stake sandwhich which was unreal. looking forward to many more dining experiences there. friendly waitstaff and great place overall. glad i was driving aimlessly last night in search for a new restaurant.
(5)
W. E.
Having never eaten costa riccan food before I had very little expectations for my first experience at Irazu and fortunately the food and service far surpassed my expectations. We started with the patacones - double fried green plantains slathered in garlic sauce. The plantains were a bit on the bland side - wished there was more of a kick, but I was still hopeful that my main dish would make up for the slow beginning. I went with the vegetarian burrito with sauteed zucchinis - so flavorful, avovado was fresh, the beans and yellow rice added so much to what appeared to be a very simple burrito. My friend had the pepito sandwich which was filled with a rich, tender, and flavorable beef. We ended the meal with the highly reccommended oatmeal shake. It tasted like a snickerdoodle in a cup...very delicious. The place is great for a large group or an intimate date and you get great food for wonderful prices. Not to be missed.
(4)
Blah B.
MMmmmmm....yummy steak sandwiches, but the wait is to LOOOOONNGG!!!
(3)
bumpers k.
after a four year hiatus for unknown reasons, i am back to eating here a lot. the food is high quality, the vegan friendly options let me invite my hard to please friends, the service is good, and the space is nice (inside and out). byob rocks too. thanks for waiting for me irazu.
(4)
Amy L.
Irazu is one my most favorite places in Chicago. It's so good that I could probably eat there every day. It's priced well and the food is amazing, especially the potato tacos and sweet plantains. You'll never leave Irazu hungry 'cause the portions are huge. Try the oatmeal shake!
(5)
Mork M.
OVER RATED. Skip it, unless you have no taste buds. What's the point in eating food if you can't taste it? Bland salads, mediocre tacos, and those oatmeal shakes? Great, I'd love a mouthful of grainy coarse tasteless cum. Long waits and boring food.
(2)
Abby T.
I only order the grilled steak now. PERFECTLY seasoned and regardless of the thickness/thinness of the steak, the cooks WILL cook it to your desired temperature. In my opinion, it's one of the best menu options.
(5)
Fried L.
Even though it's crowded on the weekends, you can still go on a weekday and get in pretty quickly. The food differs enough from typical Mexican fare that you can get a little excited about it. There's plenty of veggie dishes and the shakes are so amazing, my friend and I had one at dinner and ordered one to go!
(5)
Daniel E.
Chicken tico=delicious. informal byob cute patio always crowded long lines on F/S nights fun food great with friends foodie friendly & accessible for normal people i think its my fiance's favorite restaurant...so i love it. :)
(4)
Christina H.
Delicious food every time and great service. Sucks to wait during the weekends, but for the price and taste it's fine. They were very nice and accommodating when I had a large party (10) and made reservations. I also love that they are BYOB! Even better knowing that they now deliver. This place is very different from when we started coming here 8 years ago.
(4)
Constance H.
What a great experience. Fun atmosphere, great food, wonderful service and attention from the staff. We started with the Chifrijo an authentic starter of black beans mixed with fried pork and diced veggies, served with chips. So VERY Good. Will come back often.
(4)
Frank M.
Close your eyes and imagine this: take a forkful of the wonderful cuisine of Costa Rica and put it in your mouth. Now open your eyes and realize you've just ingested the most flavorless morsel that no amount of salt will save. You've just ate at Irazu. For the people who recommended the oatmeal shake, you owe me a few bucks. The service was prompt and hospitable. They were always there to refill my water, which was the only potable item there.
(1)
Pattie P.
I go for the empanadas and always try something new. Never disappointed.
(5)
Lauren K.
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!
(5)
Ebs B.
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to Irazu so it can be put into its Casado de Pollo (enter laughter here)... I actually really enjoyed this place for its homemade taste. Even though I'm not part Costa Rican by any means (though sometimes when I'm in a bar I pretend to be at times), the food reminded me of a homecooked meal. The restaurant was small so you're sitting very close to other tables, but isn't family about touching those around you and listening in to their conversations...hmmm... I did try their oatmeal shake, but with soy...darn it, what was wrong with me?? It completely changed the taste. Next time, it's original milk for me baby! The flan was not the best flan I've had and neither was the bread pudding, but they were good enough...good enough that I forced my stomach to keep accepting each new bite. Oh, oh, and the prices were very decent (no indecency allowed)... If I were a dog, my tail would be wagging for the home cooked taste of Irazu!!!! I'll be panting on my way there again very soon...
(4)
D. O.
Irazu's food in wonderful; but it is the staff and atmosphere that really put it over the top. I've been in multiple times during "rush hour" and am always just so impressed with the courteous and cheerful staff! BYOB's are priceless and it is just a 10 minute walk to the center of Wicker Park nightlife. Cannot say enough about the decor and music in the place and besides 90 Miles Cuban Cafe down the street and Piccolo Sogno on Milwaukee, might be one of the best place for open-air dining. Order the sandwiches/burritos for lunch and the tilapia for dinner- also, do not be scared off by a long wait. Put your name down on the wait list, walk over to Bucktown Liquors 2 blocks North (not the wine sommerlier next door- unless you want to pay a minimum of $40 a bottle) to pick out some BYOB action, order some empanadas to munch on outside while you wait, and chilllll!!! Also, don't sleep on their shakes... solid.
(5)
Jo W.
Psst. Look up at this restaurant's title. See that last part? "& Catering"? I'm here to tell you that their catering is DA BOMB and will make you popular around the office pretty quick. This time of year we have events a couple times a week, and I am so freaking sick of every single chain caterer we were ordering from. I whined to the person in charge of catering, "can we PLEASE try something new?" Her response was: "Restaurant X has the cheapest catering around. If you find something better and cheaper, then yes." In the words of the great Barney Stinson... CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Enter Irazu. I showed her the menu. Showed her the prices. Somehow, I convinced her to try them out for a smaller event. And Irazu passed with flying colors. Everyone loved it. The food was delicious and we had plenty to go around. My boss loved the prices. They delivered on time. Set up was easy. They gave us actual silverware to use for serving (that I am determined to return to them, because, really?). And I think everyone agreed that we love supporting a local business over Corporate Caterers R Us. My coworker told me that the man at Irazu she's been working with has been a dream. After we used them a second time, I happened to be standing at her desk when he called to make sure everything went smoothly for us. Gotta love the follow up. So kids, if you want to have delicious, local food at a fair price at your next event, give Irazu a call. You will not be disappointed, and you will earn at least 15 popularity points around the office. Trust.
(5)
Anne S.
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!
(4)
Adam K.
Everyone loves this place like they are partial owners. It's pretty good, not anything that special. As mentioned in almost every review the oatmeal milkshakes are killer, but pretty much everything else is jst about average. Cuban sand. is good, but nothing to write home about. Fish tacos are aight, kinda bland actually. Steak is fair, but the real gem? Listening to white kids from the burbs try to pronounce patacones.
(2)
Shana M.
I finally went back to Irazu last weekend, after being struck by plantain-cupid's arrows almost two years ago. MAN! I want Anthony Bourdain to come back to Chicago just to get him to eat here and then validate my love with his supreme wisdom and snark, because I'm sure he'd give this place the 4 star, solid thumbs up review. The plantains are indescribably perfect. The beans and rice heavenly. The oatmeal "shake" was much more like a horchata slushie and much less like a milk shake than I expected, but was still great. I don't recall what I ordered the first time I visited Irazu, but I do recall thinking there wasn't a dining room. Can you imagine my delight when told that there actually Is a dining room when I called Saturday? You can't? Jump up and down more. They don't take cards so make sure you have at least $25 if you're paying for two. My lady and I paid around $22 for a shake, the incredible Potato Taco dish with both Mole and Guacamole and the refreshing and wonderful Palmito Salad. We also carried in a six-pack and paid a $0 corking/bottle fee. I even liked their menu with it's stories and glossary and their website, which is one of the more useful and tasteful online restaurant menus I've seen. Re-commence the jumping up and down. I can't wait to go back (sooner than two years from now).
(4)
Tanya N.
Yes yes yes yes! I took all of my ordering tips off yelp and they were spot on. Potato tacos with this great slaw side? Check. Empanadas of all sorts? Crispy, yummy check. Oatmeal shake? ohhhhhh yeeeaaaah. Check. Good value? CHEEEECK. AND they're on grub hub, so I've had it delivered too. My one qualm... during the winter, the door to the patio SLAMS anytime anyone walks into or out of the restaurant. Sit far as far from that patio door as possible!!!
(4)
Ann C.
Great food! BYOB. Cheap, but cash only. Started with guacamole. Fresh, good texture, with chips refilled regularly. Ordered El Tico with chicken and Costa Rican style rice. Finished with the oatmeal smoothie - think oatmeal cookie shake. YUM! Fantastic staff. Extremely tasty, fresh, quality meats and vegetables. Shared appetizer, full dinner, shared dessert, $23 including tip! What a deal! Highly recommend!
(5)
Anna S.
bumping up my stars from my last post, though i have not visited again. i just needed to say that the owner went above and beyond to reach out to me after our one unspectacular food experience there. Irazu's customer service does seem extremely considerate and i would give it another try because well i like the people I've encountered there. i really hope i enjoy the food next time because I'm rooting for you Irazu! :). i will write another update when i eat here.
(3)
Dan S.
I have been going to Irazu for at least 4 years and it has never failed to satisfy the craving it has created in me. Despite the growth that they have experienced since I started going, they have been able to put out the same amazing meals time and time again. I just wish I could get myself to branch out a little on their menu but I am always so content with my Pepito sandwich if I am there for lunch or the Casado if it's dinner.
(5)
Anne Marie J.
"i've never been to a restaurant that has asked me to leave bc i've been here for a while. wtf!!!! i want my tip money back!!!! wtf!!!!!!!!" 2 weeks later, I've finally calmed down enough to be my normal, reasonable self. It's unfortunate that a restaurant I had high hopes for was so disrespectful that I had to come out of my non-yelping state to write a bad review. Sad. It was 9 PM Wednesday and we were there for 2 hours, about to finish our last bottle of wine after bagging the remaining food. That's when Jose, the host, told us "you've been here for 3 hours and other customers are waiting. If you were waiting that long, you'd want people to leave, too." We were so shocked by his rude and audacious approach that we didn't know how to respond, except utter out "we've only been here for 2 hours at the most and we're almost done" The restaurant closes soon, why are we the only ones being asked to leave? And WHO ASKS CUSTOMERS TO LEAVE???????? IS THERE A SIGN UP THAT STATES YOU HAVE A TIME LIMIT? It's amazing how poor customer service can really kill your taste for a restaurant. The owner found us outside and apologized, saying that Jose will be reprimanded. I highly doubt that. Food: The grilled steak was good quality, as expected at such an establishment but it's nothing to go out of your way for. If you have a good taqueria near you, stick with them. Oatmeal shake - surprisingly smooth and creamy, not lumpy with ice chunks at The Brown Sack. I would definitely recommend The Pepito sandwich - um, Chicago's favorite? I don't think so, not when the bread is chewy and the sandwich doesn't wow 3 people who ordered it. Emapandas - bland bland bland. The "best" one was the cheese and spinach, and that's bc the cheese had to support the empanada in flavor, since it had nothing else to offer.
(1)
Alex G.
Everything you've heard about the oatmeal shake is true. Who would have thought adding cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to a shake would taste this good?! Brilliant. We sat inside although the heated patio seemed plenty warm. Plenty of tables available at 5 on a Saturday. By the time we left every table was taken. The green salsa served with the chips was very good. Not too spicy but enough to give the chips a needed kick. We had the chifrijo appetizer and thought it was pretty good. When my gf mentioned that she doesn't like really spicy food, our waiter said he'd put the spicy salsa on the side. I loved it. The pork was a little dry making it hard to keep in the chip but we managed to finish the bowl so I'm guessing we can't complain too much. I had the empanadas and ordered one cheese, one chicken, and one beef and potato. I liked the cheese empanada best if I had to choose. My gf went with the Costa Rican sandwich and said it was great. Our waiter was great and answered all of our many first-timer questions. No complaints about the food or service. I wish I had a restaurant like this in my neighborhood but we'll add it to our list of reasons to get into the city. Almost forgot to mention they are BYOB.
(4)
Zo O.
3.5 :) Their oatmeal shakes are a MUST. So good. But my friend told me it just tasted like rice water? Huh? Anyway, I got mine made w/soy milk :) mMm. Btw, I got it for free by mentioning yelp ;) I got the tilapia. It was O-K. Love their condiments/sauces though. My friends got the pepito sammich and the milanesa. Both thought it was O-K. I'm def going to come back to try the potato tacos.. sounds interesting/I never had mole! I want to come back when they have dining alfresco!
(3)
Beth M.
Irazu is especially great during the summer when you can sit in the open-air patio. They don't have a ton of inside seating, so it can get crowded quickly! I used to get the veggie burrito (without cheese or sour cream to make it vegan, plus the optional mushrooms and spinach) cuz I just like it so much. They note on their menu that the veggie taco is great for vegans as well. Lately though, I've been ordering the potato tacos for delivery and in the restaurant. It comes with enough food for a couple meals: three mashed-potato-stuffed crispy tacos, vinegary cabbage salad with beets, radishes and cucumber, yellow rice, refried beans, maduros (ripe plantains) and your choice of guacamole or mole. The mole isn't vegetarian though, so get the guac! I have yet to try the Vegetarian Plate, though it would be another vegan option. FYI, the empanadas on the menu aren't vegan either; they have some egg in the dough. This last time in the restaurant the patacones (tostones, or fried green plantains) were a bit overdone, so they weren't as tasty as usual. But I must say, the garlic and oil "mojo" is so addicting and makes everything taste good. I shamefully admit I haven't ordered a shake in a while, but they are delicious and they do have soy milk as an option. Mango was my preferred flavour. I had one bad experience with a delivery over a year ago - the delivery person said they didn't have change for my $20 so I had to give him a $10 tip! But I haven't had any problems with recent orders through GrubHub. Service was a little unusual at this recent visit. The server would ask us if we needed anything, but then he'd turn around and walk away before we could say anything. In the end, we got everything we needed though! Irazu will continue to be one of my main restaurants in the area.
(4)
C C.
I love this place. The food is great and definitely try their famous oatmeal shake. I'm not a big fan of shakes, but this one is good. What I like about Irazu is that the menu can accommodate meat eaters, vegans, and vegetarians. Gluten free too. So, I can usually take all kinds of people here without having to worry about the quality of taste and food --since it's all yummy regardless of what you eat. Service is good and people are friendly. Once a friend of mine even got a mug, simply because the owner heard it was her birthday.
I think I have been a victim of great expectations as a result of high yelp approval. I was hoping to experience the best cheap eats in Chicago. I tried the steak dinner and it was way too salty and way too sour. The oatmeal shake did not make my head spin right round either. I actually preferred Pepito sandwich over the dinner plate. Oh, you should check out the pics I posted.
(3)
Suzy D.
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!
(4)
Andrea H.
I love the fact that Chicago has a Costa Rican restaurant! I have spent a lot of time in Costa Rica and I am in love with the food. I was really excited that they had some of my favorite dishes on the menu. We had the taco Tico, gallo pinto and arroz con camarones (rice with shrimp). The taco Tico tasted just like my friend's mom's and the gallo pinto was all kinds of delicious. Just what I was missing. The arroz con camarones was good, not quite the same as I was used to, but hey, glad to have a place where I can get my fix. The oatmeal shake was really good too. To top it all off, the place is family owned and every employee we encountered was friendly and happy to indulge my trip down memory lane. Gotta start planning my next visit.
(4)
Juliet H.
I love Irazu. It is a family joint and they are good to their loyal customers. So much delicious food. The guacamole is superb, as is the yucca con mojo. All of the drinks are excellent!! I like the shrimp and rice. The chile rellenos are excellent. The servers are the best!!
(5)
Tracey M.
A few opening goodies about this place: it's BYOB and has oatmeal milkshakes. The first is awesome no matter what. The second sounds odd but is delicious. Now for other things. I went here as part of a Grubwithus, so I'm not sure if what we had is typically on the menu. I just remember the veggie paella above all else. Very peppery, which I loved, and outstanding. Everything about my experience there was great, from the presentation to the food to the great looking waiter who served us. Hey, I believe in the all-encompassing review :)
(5)
Daniel S.
Is the net 4 star based on BYOB and cheap prices because the food is slightly worse than average? not awful, but not any good... anyhow, don't run here unless you want a cheap burrito and BYOB.
(2)
Cyn F.
I enjoy the shakes and the platanos maduros very much. It recently expanded and I'm looking forward to another stop. Cash only used to keep me away.
(4)
Allen F.
Horchata milkshake, I don't know why I never thought of it before. I also have no idea why Irazu calls it an Oatmeal shake. But hey, they can call horchata, milk, cinnamon, and ice cream whatever they want as long as they keep making it. The other item I tried was the sweet plantain empanada. Though the shell was expertly cooked, a riper plantain selection would have made a world of difference. This would have allowed for a softer, sweeter center filling. Irazu has potential for 5 star greatness. I have a feeling that if I came back and tried more items, the variety, quality, and lack of corkage fee would win me over for the fifth star.
(4)
Oscar I.
I live right around the corner from Irazu and I have to say this is one of my favorite places to bring friends too. The service is great and the food is amazing! Do yourself a favor and get the Oatmeal shake and the steak pepito you will not be disappointed. Henry is an awesome host and I truly feel like family everytime that I visit. This is a must if you are in Chicago!
(5)
Kris R.
meh. i was disappointed after ordering take out twice in one week. 4 stars and 900 reviews? i just dont think so, bro. my first time i ordered a load of food with a friend at my hizzy. we had a seamless.com discount so we kinda went nuts. guac and chips 2 empanadas (one chick, one cow) 4 steak tacos 1 steak tostada horchata the only thing i really liked was the beef emp. everything else was bland and i was definitely unimpressed. the horchata was okay, but watery, which i hate. my friend said the tostada was good, but nuttin' spesh. the green salsa is effing hot as hell. good, but insanely hot. there's not much you can do with that. i dont want to pour fire down my throat. 2nd time, i ordered with coworkers for our free, once-a-mo lunch spectacular. not my choice to order from here. i got another empanada, but this time, and i swear i'm not a lunatic, it had cilantro in it. 4 days before, no cilantro. i can't stand that stuff. so, insert sadface here. i also ordered the pepito (chick) sammy, which was bland and underwhelming. it's coined "Chicago's favorite!" on the menu. favorite what? Chicago's Favorite Mediocre Sandwich in Bucktown? so, dont waste your time here. maybe head over to 90miles instead.
(2)
Heather R.
Irazu's is not effing around when it comes to delicious Costa Rican cuisine! I was highly impressed with everything I've ever ordered. The empanada's, the guac, and the horchata were all muy delicioso! Every time, I go I stop at Red+White Wine store (right across the street)and pick up a bottle of Spanish red to enjoy with my meal. It's BYOB and the perfect place to sit out on the patio and enjoy a wonderful, affordable, filling meal. My only complaint is that it's small and it's cash only, so don't forget to stop at the ATM beforehand. You will not won't be disappointed.
(4)
Amanda S.
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.
(5)
Lauren M.
The food was so fresh! I enjoyed the empanadas, the guacamole, and the amazing plantains.
(4)
Erin C.
Oatmeal shake is rather delicious. Really low key vibe, festive and chill, BYOB so lots of happy loud crowds. Food is delicious as well, the veggie platter was good, as was the steak. Can be a bit salty, but what restaurant isn't. At it's price point and atmosphere, it's all I can ask for.
(4)
Khadijah L.
One year later.... I am compelled to write another review for this place. I've been back a few times since I last reviewed Irazu, obviously I like the food a lot, and the milkshake yada yada, same thing as everybody here loves. My experience last Saturday 8/13 was a little different though. There was a block party going on, and the place was packed, I mean slamming! The street was already crowded with youngsters, hipsters, weirdsters, some plastered on the curbside. Irazu was the closest establishment, coupled with the fact that it was BYOB, some people thought it was ok just to park their derrier with a few bottles of wine and drink there all throughout the duration of the party. My friends and I waited for 2 hours, (we were told about an hour) but we soon realized that the large party tables were not leaving, in fact more of their friends came over, as some left, and they kept on drinking. At that point we decided to split our party to sit at the smaller tables. Which worked out fine. The food was good, and we were glad they were accommodating. I wish we had more time to enjoy our food but they were closing up, and the large obnoxious tables/parties that were there 2 hours before us, were still there drunk and yapping loudly... Even after the staff turned off a couple of the lights. We got the hint and asked for boxes, proceeded to pay at the front, where we saw the entire staff just waiting right there. I felt bad because I've been in their shoes before, waiting for diners to leave. We thanked them as we paid and left. Did I mention that the loud obnoxious drunks were still in the dining room? Can u knock off stars for service that is too nice?
(4)
Jeremy S.
Great place for fun with a group! Irazu rocks for the following reasons -Food tastes great! -Atmosphere is lively -Staff is really friendly -Prices are very reasonable Warning, do not come here if you are very health conscious. This is where you go to be happy and stuffed. Make sure to try the Pepito Sandwich... $4.95 and you get Rib eye steak, sauteed onions, cheese, pinto beans & Lizano sauce. Go give it a try!
(4)
Candace C.
Whenever I go to Irazu I can count on tasty food, fast and friendly service and low-key atmosphere. And, a very tasty oatmeal shake. (I honestly don't think I've ever NOT gotten their famed oatmeal shake). Anyways, we stopped by here after picking up some movies at Odd Obsession and decided to take our night out, in, with a to go order. The place was packed (not unusual for Irazu) but especially busy since the recent renovation with their outdoor patio. We ordered a veggie burrito with a side of gallo pinto, chips and salsa, empanadas and an oatmeal shake to split. Truthfully, the empanadas and the oatmeal shake were the whole reason for coming, we figured we should probably order a real dinner, hence the other stuff, so when we got home and realized our order came sans empanadas, we were a little bummed out. We made a call to explain our empanada-less situation, and the manager let us know that although his delivery drivers had just been sent home from their evening shift, he would see what he could do about sending someone over. A very short time later, the delivery man arrived with our beloved empanadas, AND a bonus order of chips and guac just because. We also received a follow up phone call from the owner/manager checking back to make sure things were right. We were honestly taken aback by how awesome their customer service is and it's another great reason to keep coming back. Big thank you to the awesome staff at Irazu.
(5)
Nate S.
LOVE this place!! I've been a regular here for years. Fantastic place for people on a budget or for lunch (great sandwiches for like $5-$6), literally the biggest delivery area I have EVER seen in Chicago and the food is always consistent and delicious. The staff has always been friendly and punctual and the manager, Omar, is one of the nicest guys. (He's also a total house head, which is a big plus in my book, so it's not uncommon to hear an old Mark Farina or DJ Sneak mix playing on the system at times.) :) It's BYO but there's a wine store right across the street. I will certainly be going here again very soon.
(5)
Dee Y.
I would come back just for the Chifrijos alone. I'd suggest getting a sandwich or smaller entree if you are thinking of getting an appetizer. I barely made a dent in my tinted squid w/ rice entree.
(4)
B L.
I wouldn't go here again! Problems I have with this place: 1. No booze! What the hell, there's liquor in Costa Rica, get liquor in your restaurant. BYOB? STFU! 2. Disgusting food! Every time I've gone here I've thrown up afterwards. Oatmeal shake? Barf! Veggie burrito? Vomit! Steak pepito? Puke! It doesn't matter, name an item on this list and I will tell you it made me throw up! Maybe it's the way it's cooked? I don't know, but I'm not going to dance with the devil again to find out!
I went to Irazu with friends to celebrate a birthday. The food was terrific, service was good. The only reason I didn't rate higher was because our party was seated in the covered patio and half of the seats were FREEZING! There was an actual breeze at knee level. We notified the server on multiple occasions, but no heat was provided. The patio is covered by cloth and plastic with no insulation. This is obviously a known issue. How can you operate a patio in a Chicago winter w/o insulation? If they every spend the money to fix this known issue the place would be an Awesome year-round restaurant.
(3)
Isla E.
I like this place because it feels like a vacation. It's cool how you walk into the kitchen and the seating is in the back (or outside). It's not the typical layout of an American restaurant. The flavors aren't groundbreaking, but they have wholesome, fresh food of good quality, and the price is right. The hearts of palm salad isn't over-dressed, and the cabbage is shredded finer than angel hair. I had a few bites of chicken soup that brought me back to childhood, and my companion's steak was satisfactory. The oatmeal shake is not a big deal. It's pretty much exactly what one would expect. Kind of rice-pudding flavor, but oatmeal. Maybe suitable for breakfast, but as a dessert too....oatmealish...and along with a meal, again, too oatmealish. I wouldn't waste the stomach space again.
(4)
Vanessa P.
Irazu delivers. Everywhere. Well, almost everywhere. Their boundaries are the biggest in the city: North to W Montrose Ave, South to Roosevelt, West to Pulaski, East to Lake Shore Drive. And it's fast (about an hour at most). So. Damn. Worth. It. They're like Santa. But deliver deliciousness.
(5)
Eliana L.
This place is a hidden gem, Tried their chicken sandwich, chips and guacamole. good food and nice atmosphere, reasonable price and service is great.
(4)
Danielle F.
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.
(5)
Kensey W.
yum! lot of good stuff here. i had the veggie burrito the steak pepito, spinach and cheese empanada, beef and potato empanada, and plantain empanada. the veggie burrito was great and grilled with a perfect layer of crisp on the outside. pay the extra dollar and add spinach! you won't regret it. just a great mishmash of ingredients. the only complaint would be that it was a little too heavy on the rice. the steak pepito was godo too. a little too salty, but the cheesiness and the soft chewy bread were fantastic. each empanada was fried to perfection and the filling hot, delicious and satisfying. the best was the spinach and cheese, though the other two were fantastic too. the guacamole was simple and not terribly flavorful, but i know some people like when guac retains its mainly avocado flavor, so that might be good anyway. the salsa verde was also great. so spicy and went well with everything. service was good and sitting outside to eat was fun. the prices were so great that we all ate too much and didn't have room for an oatmeal shake! but i will be back to try it!
(4)
Brian F.
The oatmeal shake is really quite good. I also realy enjoy the Taco Tico. It's a costa rican taquito topped with a spicy cole slaw. Yum! I really can't recommend the empenadas though. Way too much dough for the amount of filling. Cool place.
(4)
Yvonne Y.
Came here around 7:30pm on a warm Sat night. Tons of people waiting for outdoor seating but no wait for indoor. Portions are HUGE! Two of us shared a ceviche and a bistec tico. Husband wasn't crazy about the horcafe. Ceviche did seem like a never-ending bowl topped with tomatoes and avocado. Bistec with bell peppers, tomatoes and onions were so tasty but a bit too salty. Friendly service and we'd definitely go back. byob, gotta love that.
(4)
Boon K.
I love their empanada selection, they have so many different favors from pineapple, traditional, to black bean. You cannot go wrong with the Casado but everything is i great too. They have a great selection for veggie too. I usually get the potatoes tacos. I also really like the oatmeal milkshake too. I just wish the wait was shorter but it is worth it, plus it is so cheap for such a great meal.
(5)
Emily M.
oh my gooooooodness. Incredible. I was here with a large group and my cousin had pre-ordered everything so I'm not quite sure exactly what I ate. The salsa was delicious. The chicken was delicious. The rice was incredible! I could eat that forever. And the important stuff: like the other 900 something Yelp reviews this place has, the oatmeal milkshake is insanely good. There are no words. It's like nothing I've ever tasted before. You must order it. And for what it's worth, it's not as heavy as your typical milkshake, which I liked. Only con: this place has one bathroom. Oh well. The food is incredible and affordable. Go. Eat. Enjoy.
(5)
Fallon D.
I moved away from Chicago, and this is one place I still crave fiercely! Veg options, the best plantains ever, and cute little space. The only problem I can recall is how busy it got and having to wait. But hey, I'll wait for a little taste of heaven!
(4)
Jamie G.
Amazing, mouth-watering food and friendly, attentive service. Had "El Tico" with chicken. Comes with peppers and sweet plantains. So savory. It may seem pricey, but the portions are big! I had enough for two meals!
(5)
Angela T.
The oatmeal shake alone is worth the visit. It's just that tasty. And that you can swap the dairy for soy is appreciated by this lactose-intolerant patron. Went here for an early dinner with my folks. I saw early dinner, I am talking barely 5p. They are seniors. There was no wait, the service was swift and the food came out quickly. Perhaps as there were only a small handful of us in the restaurant that early. My father, being a fan of Puerto Rican food, kept pointing out the very stark similarity of this menu to his favourite haunts. I couldn't tell you what makes a place distinctly Puerto Rican or Cost Rican, having such little exposure to the latter, but I must admit I had a difficult time differentiating. Whether that makes this place any less distinct or authentic is no matter, the food is delicious either way. The meat is perfectly marinated and grilled, the plaintains fried to perfection, the beans and rice as tasty. The meal for three, including dessert, came in under $60. Total bargain! Will definitely be dining with them again, especially as I learned they offer takeaway. Perfect in the winter months, when you cannot appreciate their outdoor dining.
(4)
Kimberly S.
When ordering delivery last night I decided to mix up my regulars and try something new... kudos to google for leading me to Irazu.... Not only were they right on time and affordable, but the food was delicious! I move in the next week and am extremely disappointed I didn't discover them sooner...
(5)
Trevor G.
I expected the food to be a bit more spicy-- but once I got past that, I found the food to be good. I had the casado, and a pineapple empanada-- both of which were good choices and flavorful (but, not spicy).
(3)
Katie V.
Talk about amazing, I couldn't believe my taste buds the first time I went here. Highly authentic cuisine. Absolutely delicious food, friendly service, does take out, and it's cheap (and BYOB!). I've never had dish I didn't like-- however, our big favorites are the Tico Tacos and the Potato Tacos. And the Oatmeal Shake. And the black bean soup (vegan and warms you up from the inside in the winter!) Oh and don't forget the plantains! Muy Rico! The restaurant building itself is tiny, but the patio is really nice, great atmosphere for small tables or moderately sized groups. The owners are almost always there and remember repeat customers. Wait can be long in the late evening/on weekends, but I never have trouble around 6-630 getting a table, even on a Friday. I will definitely keep going back to Irazu as often as I can for as long as I'm in Chicago.
(5)
Kevin A.
REVIEWING OLD FAVORITES #2: BEEF + GRILLED ONIONS = HAPPINESS If there's one combination of flavors on this planet that never fails to make me happy, it's the simple yet magical pairing of beef and grilled onions. Add avocado to this pairing and it's almost sexual. Hence the pleasure that is induced by Irazu's pepito sandwich. Think juicy rib eye steak, buttery caramelized onions, and cool creamy avocado (request this as an add-on), all intertwining on hot, crusty bread. All for around $6! It's crazy to think that only a block away people are paying the same thing for crappy fast food at McDonalds.
(4)
Lisa E.
My friends and I went to 4 restaurants featured on Diners, Drive ins and Dives on one day, this being one of them. Irazu was our hands down favorite. From the amazing service to the menu full of tasty options. Loved anything that had fried pork in it. Delicious!
(5)
Angelica E.
I gave it another shot and it was great! I brought my mom here for lunch (she came to visit me from florida) and our server was nothing less than a sweetheart. The Pepito sandwich was on point, the horchata was yummy, and my mom enjoyed the chicken and rice with the plantains. Thanks yall!
(5)
Min C.
I've been a here a few times, and after the last trip, I have no intentions of ever returning. A few things to know: Cash only. Service will always be slow, though the servers are usually fun. No reservations in advance. Seating: When we arrived, we had a friend that gets cold easily, so we asked to be seated indoors. When they called us after an hour of waiting, we were being led to an outdoor table, anyway. Thanks? We took our losses & sat down... only to see a large table inside (well, in the tented, heated area anyway) that was empty and was being reserved for a group..despite the "no reservations" policy. Awesome. Service: The service was slow, as usual, but usually the waitstaff is pretty cool. The waitress we had was a complete mess and rude. I understand, it's busy and can be hectic for you, but there's no excuse to be rude to a table that doesn't give you attitude. We got chips, but no salsa. We got the Chijifrito (amazingly delicious, btw) but no individual plates to start eating. We got our main course, but no utensils to eat. And when we requested carryout boxes, the waitress came back, scowled, then smacked my friend with the box to get her attention. Food: A friend of mine disliked the burrito, the Chicharron tastes amazing but is heavy and can probably give you a heart attack on the spot, and the Pepito was said to be pretty good. Cost: Our bill showed we were overcharged on items where we did not order extras. We were tired of sitting in the cold, so we tossed our cash on the table and booked it out of there. TL;DR (Too long, didn't read) : If I want deep fried heart attack on a plate, I'd rather go somewhere where they don't smack us with boxes, accept credit, and don't overcharge us. The food is great, but get carryout or something.
(1)
h h.
The Chicken soup is honestly some of the best chicken soup I have ever tried. A large chicken soup and a big container of rice will run you about 9 dollars. The chicken soup had these massive chunks of chicken in it. It was wonderful! The people who work here are great and really nice to me. They rock. I guarantee this- You will love the chicken soup!!!! (steak fries are good too.)
(5)
Melmoth K.
I started eating here about 15 years ago and over the years it has only gone from greatest to greatest-er. The people are super nice, the food is awesome, and the price is low. I just love stopping here when I'm in town. The oatmeal shakes and the guanabana shakes are awesome. Traveler's tip: if you're taking the el to O'Hare for your flight home, leave an hour to get off at the Western stop on the Blue Line and walk south on Milwakuee a couple blocks to pick up a shake and a couple of sandwiches for the road. It is such a great capstone to a Chicago trip that I now try to book flights that will allow me to do this (if you have time, eat in the restaurant AND take sandwiches to go).
(5)
tracy f.
I want to start by saying that the Oatmeal Shake made with soymilk was one of the most delicious things I can think of. So, so good. I've been waiting a long time to eat here. We're on the faaaaar north side, so whenever I make it to the Wicker Park area, I always end up eating at Sultans, Handlebar or even Ear Wax with meat eating friends. Irazu is a great addition to the plethora of great vegan options in the area. The outdoor eating area is great. I saw kids and dogs and dates and it was a great atmosphere. The service was strange. Super friendly, but very slow, forgetful and maybe a little overwhelmed. Forgot our appetizer, brought spinach and cheese empanadas out to my brother who is terrified of all green things. It turned out, though, that according to my bf those were the most delicious things at the table. My brother killed his replacement empanadas, my bf liked his tacos. I was disappointed with the vegan burrito I got - I love hot stuff, but the hot peppers didn't really mix well with the mushrooms and spinach I ordered with my burrito. The tostones with garlic olive oil were great.
(4)
David R.
This place rules. My friend from St Louis brought it to my attention, which should never happen (I'm so ashamed), but apparently he had seen it on some TV show. He was visiting last month and, as we were driving up Milwaukee, said "Hey, there's that Costa Rican place that I saw on TV. You should check it out." I said, "Huh? Never heard of it. Costa Rican? Hmm...sounds interesting." So it's been on my list for several weeks, and when it came time to pick a birthday spot, this came first to mind. I just wanted a fun little place with good food and no pretension, and that's exactly what we got. And holy shit, is the food ever good. Chifrijo appetizer--A; chicken casado--A; chicken tico--B+. I went home with a bunch of leftovers thanks to the enormous portions. My friends all liked their dishes. The chips are not that good, so don't show up hungry and not be able to control yourself. Save your stomach space for the deliciousness which lies ahead. It's like when Mom always said, "Don't fill up on bread." We got there at 6:30 and were seated but when we left close to 8, there were people waiting. On a Tuesday! Popular place, I guess, and for good reason. I want to return ASAP.
(4)
Marilyn C.
So first off - this food is AH-MAHZ-ING! So good, so affordable, ambiance nice, people friendly - it's like wow, I almost forget this was possible! Now onto my unique abridged experience: waiter asked if we needed a few more minutes, we did...after several mins. waiter is not coming back...boyfriend gets upset, speaks to some one...we get three apologies, from different staff members along with a comp app...(spoiler alert here is the missing star) I ordered a pepito add avacado, sandwich comes, no avacado...it's like damn - superior attempt at customer service, only to miss the mark by a nose...and yes I was charged for the avacado - a whoping 50 cents. Now here is my thing, it's not about the 50 cents, or the missing avacado, it's like just work on getting it right the first time. The appetizer they comped us was undoubtedly worth more than my missing avacado...and it was delicious but in my book, I go by the phrase, "keep it simple, stupid" translation? Wait tables promptly, get the order right. Now - I want to re-itterate again! FOOD = DELICIOUS, WONDERFUL, TASTY, ENJOYABLE, OFF THE CHAIN, PAINT OFF THE WALL, SLAP YO MAMA
(4)
Bridget M.
Oh good golly, my heart truly skipped a beat after tasting that chifrijo and patacones. Imagine this, lechon (little bites of roasted pig) mixed with beans, tomatoes, and avocadoes served over rice. Each savory bite shoveled into an un-deserving yet eager mouth with delicious patacones. We were certainly head over heels and we had only just begun! Irazu is very popular so they can be packed. Our server had tons of personality and helped bide the time it took for our meal to come out. Unfortunately, we had maxed on appetizers and chips that we had to take our entrees to go. They were still excellent as leftovers, but I am not a fan of reviewing leftovers - I think it's a dis-service to the restaurant. We've ordered for pick up since and have yet to be disappointed. I can't wait for the next excuse to stop in.
(5)
Dana J.
This is a late review, as the meal I am referring to took place a year ago. But, I cannot say enough about how wonderful Irazu is. I had my last birthday party here, with a total of about 10 people. Knowing how small the restaurant is and the fact that we would have to wait did not deter me from wanting to eat here. The food is THAT good. Being vegan, I look forward to the vegan tacos and soy oatmeal shakes, but most of my friends and family are meat-eating and they too raved about the meal. The waiter was a riot, super sweet and funny. I was proud to bring my suburban friends and family to this place. When we first walked in, they all kind of looked at me like "what is this small, out of the way place you dragged us to?" Upon leaving, all I heard was "I am having MY birthday here!" I've also ordered take out on occasion and again....top-notch food. Customer service is big in my book as well, and I have never had a bad experience with anyone at this place. Great job Irazu!
(5)
Filip F.
I like the vibe of this place. Service was friendly and good. Some reviewers complained about it being slow. Well, it is a BYOB place. So, I am perfectly fine sipping on my beer while I wait for my food. Besides, if you are in a hurry to get in and out of a restaurant, get carry out or hit McDonalds. Food was very good. I ordered one of the traditional Costa Rican dishes (can't remember name). When plate arrived, It had a lot of things going on. Chicken, onion, rice, plantains, cabbage, sauces. There was a party on my plate. Everything tasted good. Portion was pretty big. Definitely did not finish. I plan on going back to this place for a lunch and a beer as soon as it warms up.
(4)
Brittany C.
I am a convert. A Costa Rican food convert. Not sure what I am converting from--a Mexican food lover maybe.... Anyway, the moral of that blabber is that my first Costa Rican experience was bliss and had me running back for more--Already twice this week. So much for keeping the scale steady during the holidays. Wait, don't Costa Rican people have bangin bodies? Alright then, moving on... Oatmeal shake. Bloats the belly yet soothes the soul. Empanadas: Plantain, Chicken, Beef and Potato and Cheese... all good, but listed in order of blissfulness. Chips and Guac: Good, but i would skip it next time. TOO MUCH GOOD STUFF! Steak and Chicken Casada to share. These 2 meals are easily 4. Or 4AM leftovers, whichever. Costa Rican Rice, Sweet plantains, juicy and perfectly seasoned meat.... It is a good plate of great food. I ordered tortillas the first time, thinking I would eat the food like fajitas. That was completely unnecessary. Silly Costa Rican Virgin. Friendly staff, easy to-go or delivery ordering process (online). I have the oatmeal shakes just thinking about it.
(5)
Te D.
The first time I went to Irazu, I was slightly skeptical but mainly excited. One whiff of home and I was overwhelmed with emotion and hunger. Irazu's eat-in cuisine is delicious and just like the food my mom used to make in Nicoya, Costa Rica. Portion sizes are generous even though I smashed EVERYTHING on my plate. You really won't want to stop eating even once you're full. With this experience in mind, I ordered from Irazu for a Lunch and Learn at work. I figured they would be late because it's Tican Time - what do you expect, however they cut it waaay too close to the actual starting time of the presentation for comfort. The sandwiches might have been good if they were hot (not completely their fault) and the chips with salsa were good. I was dissapointed in the meal, but everyone at work liked it. The point is, eat in. You won't regret it! Pura Vida!
(4)
Ev S.
Loved the food-and the byob option. We had fried yucca -amazing. The flan is so creamy and rich. Some of the glasses and silverware a little greasy feeling.....my only complaint
(4)
Pat G.
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.
(4)
J M.
The owner of the restaurant followed up and was very polite and seemed genuinely interested in wanting to improve the experience. Mine was a good experience to begin with but this is a good sign when the owner cares.
(3)
Sheela F.
10 things I love about Irazu: 1. Aptly named Vegetarian Delights section on the menu. 2. Super welcoming and attentive staff. 3. BYOB. Red and White conveniently located next door. 4. Didn't bat an eye at us sitting there for 2 and a half hours. 5. Huge portions. One entree equals two meals. Unless you're me. 6. 'I Want To Know What Love Is' played. Multiple patrons swayed. 7. Ultra reasonable prices. 8. Oatmeal shake. Try it. 9. Oatmeal shake. You'll like it. 10. Oatmeal shake. I promise. 3 things to note about Irazu: 1. Hot peppers. Name doesn't lie. Rock them on the side and with caution. 2. Cash only. 3. No reservations. Expect a wait on the weekends. Bottomline, I like Irazu. A lot. But I'm going to have to try a couple more menu options to see if it can earn that fifth star.
(4)
Gabrielle S.
3 stars for the food... 5 stars for great prices and being outside on a summer night 2 stars for service A fun place to come with your friends and a few bottles of wine...bring enough to last the 2 hour wait though if it is a beautiful warm night out! (No idea what they do in the cold months considering the inside is tiny and kind of cheap cafeteria looking) By the time we sat down we were super hungry and our server was less than enthusiastic to say the least. Not horrible but kind of a surprise that employers actually allow service to be that spotty. The hostess was even worse. She kind of snapped at us when she overheard us complaining a teeny bit about their lack of care for the birthday situation(two of us were celebrating our birthday on that very day). Oh well- not a huge deal- I guess that's the kind of place it is. Other than that, the guacomole was awesome, tostones and sweet plantains were great, and the ceviche amazing too. The empanadas though were pretty meh-mostly just deep fried shell and kind of bland and the flan we had for desert had probably seen better days. So it was in all a bittersweet experience. Some tastes were great, a few dissapointing. I would try again- and just stick to the basics and come early.
(3)
Kristi T.
This is totally, completely, and utterly embarrassing. I haven't been to Costa Rica, and wasn't entirely positive what costa rican food was... I know, I know, what a dumb blonde comment. And I live 2 blocks walking distance away... sigh. ANYWAY, now that I have been there once, i have been back 3 times :) The food is awesome! I got the veggie burrito and spinach cheese empanada - perfectly crisped tortilla stuffed with lettuce, rice, tomato, hot peppers, avocado, beans, sour cream, and I added spinach and zucchini (worth the extra $1). It is super filling and healthy feeling all at the same time. Have enough people mentioned this... it is BYOB! And the food is extremely authentic and affordable. I really can't say enough good things about it. And for the spring/summer... outdoor seating! SCORE!! Cash only, but when one whole meal is under $9, you can probably handle it. LEGIT awesome. Back to try the oatmeal shake tomorrow!!
(5)
Cindy C.
Absolutely loved the food! Must try the chifrijo appetizer(can be eaten as an entree)! Great bold flavors! Must get the oatmeal shake!!! Loved the BYOB option! We had chips and water at our table before we were completely settled at our table, now that's what I call great service! Can't wait to come back when I'm back in Chicago!
(5)
Joanne W.
I've been here twice - for Kim A's birthday dinner two years in a row. She picked the same place twice, so it's assumed this place is great. I don't understand why people think the service is terrible. Both times I've been here, it's been with a group of 20+ people. The servers were constantly coming around to refill waters and our chip bowls. After taking down our orders, it seemed like a few sips of BYOW before everyone was being served their order. Recommend the Costa Rican sandwich, the Vegetarian Burrito and the empanadas- too many to choose from, all yummers.
(5)
Jeanne H.
I love Irazu! The food is delicious, the atmosphere is casual and cozy, and despite the constant crowds, the service is always excellent. Plus, it smells like garlic everywhere within a two block radius of this place. Amazing! I highly recommend the vegetarian burrito, which is cheap and tasty. I also love the milanesa dinner and the sweet plantains. Yum!
(5)
Roseann M.
My friend Leon and I had a late lunch today at Irazu. Thanks to the beautiful election day weather, we were able to sit outdoors in the patio. While it's very nice to be outdoors, I wasn't crazy about this patio. Not because of anything the restaurant did, but because the Blue Line El tracks are across the street. When a train passes, it's so loud, you really can't hear the other person talk. And when there are two trains, you can forget conversation entirely. So, while I really appreciate the 70 degree weather and the nice breeze, this is a very noisy patio, and I would probably avoid it in the future. We were the only people at the patio, and we got service very quickly. I don't think we'd been sitting for 60 seconds before we got water, chips, and two kinds of salsa. ButI've been jonesing for guacamole something fierce, and I starved myself in preparation for this lunch, I ordered guacamole. You can get regular or spicy, so I went for the spicy. Spicy means there are chopped chilies at the side of the mound of guac, which comes with tomatoes. I thought the guac was kind of thin, almost watery, and didn't have much flavor. Adding the chilis definitely perked it up, but it still seemed kind of thin. Leon and I are both vegetarians. I ordered the vegetarian burritos, and did not get the extras added (mushrooms, zucchini,or something else), which cost extra. I thought the veggie burrito was outstanding, very tasty, warm, and fresh. I did add some of the red salsa, but just because I like a kick of extra flavor. Leon ordered the veggie sandwich, and he loved it. It had black beans, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, and I don't know what else. I might try that next time. Leon also ordered a shake, which is made in the Costa Rican style. It was oatmeal with mango, the special of the day. I took a spoonful, and boy was it good. I never imagined you could make a shake with oatmeal. I could definitely taste it, and I liked it. That was the only taste I got - I think Leon would have slapped my hand, if I'd tried to take more. I finished with a cup of regular coffee. It took about two minutes to get it after I asked for it. The prices here are very reasonable, and the food was very good. Again, I wasn't nuts about the guacamole, but hey, everything else was really good. I'll be back.
(4)
Aubrey R.
Not that this place needs any more good reviews: I've been coming here since I moved back to Chicago and a friend started working there. BYOB which consequently translates into drink-all-you-can-drink for me, only adds to all the perks of this place. (cash only) Inexpensive, delicious and great portions. Not to mention the eye-candy that is the Irazu staff. Hey boys! I've probably tried just about everything on the menu. I love the chicken soup, as a soup addict, you cant go wrong with either, the black bean is also very good. Appetizers: The ceviche is delish, (i would skip the guac, although its good, $6.00 set back on something I can make at home) Yuca, fried or baked is bomb. patacones or empanadas come in a close 3rd. Sandwiches: I would go costa ricon or pepito unique: I love the veggie salad! cabbage and beets! Veggie burrito is great as well. I love the chile relleno especially, and the tilapia is awesome If youre in the mood for meat I would go with the casado or the tico and get the mixed rice (as opposed to just white) Desserts: im a big bread pudding lover or an oatmeal shake is a people pleaser ;) OH and the coffee/horchata mix I haven't found elsewhere and is a great delicious pick me up!
I've been here once and always remembered how much I loved their vegetarian burrito. I live in NYC so I haven't been back but I definitely will next time I'm in Chicago! I didn't appreciate having to wait for a table though, but in all fairness, we were a large party and it was a weekend. It was worth it though!
(4)
D H.
My favorite place for dinner in the city! Awesome outdoor patio dining in the summer
(5)
L. D.
I did receive a large portion of food, but it was just OK - nothing special I wouldn't make a special trip to visit again. Cash Only and no Credit Cards !
(3)
John H.
There's nothing like eating outside at Irazu in the summer. The service is always fast and super friendly, their prices are great, and BYOB ensures that you'll be sipping on exactly what you like at prices you want to pay. This place is very vegan friendly, from many of their dishes to the awesome shakes/smoothies that they have. Their veggie casado wasn't very inspired, but their veggie burrito (maybe not 100% traditional Costa Rican food - something my friend in Costa Rica gave me a hard time about), is AMAZING... especially when you add mushrooms and zucchini. I could live off of their gallo pinto and friend plantains... and now am hungry for just that. (note to self - don't write a review of a restaurant that's closed at the time of the review)
(5)
nicole m.
3.5, actually. The food was a 5, but unfortunately the service was a 3 at best. My boyfriend and I visited Irazu at about 8:00pm on a Wednesday night and it was crowded. The only place available to sit was inside, which was actually ok since it was about 88 degrees outside. Here's what was great: I ordered the skirt steak with scallions and my boyfriend ordered the tilapia. The steak was cooked and seasoned to perfection, the fried plantains were perfectly browned, and the coleslaw made a nice tangy addition to the dish. I did not try the tilapia, but my bf enjoyed it very much. Here's what was not so great: As soon as we sat down, a busser asked us if we would like guacamole with some chips. We had not even looked at the menu yet, and we thought it was complementary (like how you get free chips and salsa at some restaurants). Of course it wasn't, and it felt a little like we had been tricked into paying for something we might otherwise not have. Of course, it's a good thing we did order it because we also waited for over an hour for our food, and so did several other tables. Our water was not refilled once and the only time we saw our server was when he took our order. Overall, it's worth going for the food, but be prepared to sit for a while...maybe bring a book.
(3)
Allison C.
I was underwhelmed during my first visit, and even more underwhelmed after I got back from Costa Rica. The food is fine. It's fresh and tastes good. But MAN, is it overpriced! I chowed down in Costa Rica on casado (meat, beans, and rice) at $5-7 a a pop. Irazu's casado tops $15. Even as the only Costa Rican restaurant in Chicago, skip it and go to one of the area's many (and phenomenal) Mexican or Puerto Rican places.
(3)
Lisa B.
Irazu has been on my bookmarks list forever, and we finally made it there last night. We arrived about 6:30 and there was no wait at all, but there was a line by the time we left. The food was fresh, tasty, plentiful and reasonably priced. We started with the guacamole (I needed to add some salt and pepper). Hubby got the chicken tiko, which was amazing -- as usual, I liked what he got better than what I ordered, which was the steak with onions. Very flavorful, but the fried plantains on the side were a little too greasy, even for me. We finished with the famous oatmeal milkshake. Our waiter said it tasted like a Cinnabon in a cup, which wasn't a bad description, but I'd say it's more like an oatmeal cookie and milk put in a blender. Very yummy, but it got all frozen and grainy at the bottom. No matter, we were too full to finish it anyway. It is important to know that Irazu is cash only, and BYOB. And thanks to my dear Yelpers, I was prepared!
(4)
Lillian S.
Irazu is a really great neighborhood sort of place. All of the staff is super friendly and the food is simple and flavorful. I've had the gallo pinto both times I've eaten there with a big glass of horchata and left satisfied and looking forward to another visit. By boyfriend has been with me both times and has tried two of their sandwiches and loved them both. The place has such a welcoming atmosphere and it's easy to while away an afternoon on the patio. It's BYOB, but good for a nice lunch. I will definitely be back again and again.
(5)
Katie L.
This place is amazing! Okay. Here is what you need to know. 1) Bring your own tequila and get the frozen lime pitcher of goodness. 2) Get a bunch of empanadas 3) Don't forget to bring cash. But if you do, they have an ATM. It has a great outdoor patio, delicious and inexpensive food, and a great atmosphere. I would go here every day if it was closer to my house!
(5)
Bianca S.
After I wrote the below review with 1 star, the owner contacted me. He gave me his personal cell phone number and told me I could call him directly the next time I was going to be at the restaurant. I won't be trying this restaurant again but I do appreciate the response and have upgraded their rating as customer service was my main complaint. I was EXTREMELY disappointed in my experience at Irazu. Let's start with the reservation we made for 7pm. We had a large party of 12 and wanted a reservation at 8pm. We were told absolutely not for a party that large we needed to be there at 7pm or earlier. We adjusted our plans to be there at 7pm, then we proceeded to wait 45 minutes for our table. We weren't seated until 7:45, our original reservation that we wanted at 8pm would have been more appropriate. Strike 1. When we are finally seated the tables, chairs, & floor around our table were wet, not oh we just wiped the table down so it was clean wet but we dumped a bucket of water on everything and hoped for the best. We had to use paper napkins to wipe the table down ourselves. Strike 2. We had a friendly waiter who did a great job trying to service our large party on his own. He was constantly running around getting us water, wine glasses (which we had to wait for as they were washing some for us to use). Since when to you have to wait to be served because they are washing dishes? Foul Ball. Overall, everyone in our party was extremely happy with the food. We had a variety of food, Chicken Tico, Skirt Steak, Civi-che, guacamole & chips. All were very good. I will say I was disappointed in the Gallo Pinto. I lived in Costa Rica for 3 months and was excited for some authentic gallo pinto, it was a little dry and not very flavorful. When it was served it was cold on the top and lukewarm throughout. The guanabana shake was way too sweet and was most likely made from a syrup. Overall, the food probably gets 3 stars. Foul Ball. At the end of the evening when we received our check, we decided to speak with management about our service and long wait time for our table to see if we could get a discount of some sort. Since we had such a large party we were given an 18% gratuity charge, which the waiter 100% deserved. Our compensation on a $250 bill was 1 free guacamole & to have the gratuity charge removed. How is that fair to the waiter? It wasn't his fault and he did a great job with our table. Strike 3. The food at the restaurant is good which does explain the long wait times and it being so busy however the service was reprehensible and I would not recommend coming here. Maybe try take out or delivery but the drive from my neighborhood isn't worth it. PS - It's CASH ONLY. They didn't tell us that when we made the reservation and it is not on their website. Annoying!
(3)
Johnny T.
I ate here after eating at that Uptown place with the oatmeal shakes. I gotta say... Uptown wins over Bucktown when it comes to the shakes (the difference is ice cream). That said, there's a whole lot to love here... and the shake is still pretty d@mn good. I've never been to Costa Rica. One of my good friends got married there and the pictures were gorgeous. That's when it got on my radar. Forget the beaches, water and lush jungles... I wanted to eat. Her meals sounded phenomenal! I got a taste (hyuck) of that Costa Rican yumminess and I want another. They keep it real simple at Irazu and I appreciate that. I don't need fancy or complicated. I just need good. Cheap helps, but good is a must. After noshing on chips (with no salsa? Um, esc-a-yusa-me?), I settled upon the egg sandwich. It was a solid choice. It was an egg omelet served on crunchy bread with black beans, avocado, cheese, onions, and lizano sauce (think pepper & cumin but a little sweet). It was wholly satisfying. To drink, I slurped down my own (you know how this story goes by now) oatmeal shake. It came in a big cup and topped with cinnamon. Since it was made with milk and not ice cream, the consistency was a little choppier and I needed to constantly stir it in order for it to go down smoothly. Again, it tasted fine but I wouldn't rush back here for it knowing what I know of Uptown oatmeal shakes.
(4)
Michele S.
This place took me back to a summer visit in Nicaragua. It is authentic and delicious. Splurge and get the gallo pinto (mix of rice and beans). Love the sugary plantains. My friend had the oatmeal shake and said it was a meal in itself. The shakes are quite large; I recommend sharing. Tables are seated close together. It was cozy with a table for two.
(4)
Maram K.
Never had Costa Rican food, but my God....I shall be back! I had their vegetarian burrito (their menu claims its award winning....Challenge Accepted). Upon its consumption, I awarded it the Maram's Delicious Burrito Award and the Contains No Meat Award for Central U.S. It had so many flavors going on. I think it was that plaintain, yeah, that plaintain. My better half had their signature all-inclusive Casado. Basically everything they've got thrown onto a plate. I had a bit of the steak and it was amazing, lots of flavors and tender. It comes topped off with an egg and he wasn't too happy that it was cooked over hard. He expected gooey-ness to overtake the plate in a sneak invasion. It was more of a planned occupation in which the ministry forwarded a letter of warning. Horchatas were nice and heavy on the cinnamon. I prefer it that way, not sure what the true authentic way is. It wasn't that sweet which was another plus. ALMOST forgot, the starter guacamole was incredibly fresh and tasty. A definite must. AND SERVICE was great too. This place is usually crowded so we were lucky we made it here after the beach on a holiday weekend. Loved it and can't wait to go back!
(5)
geri s.
Believe it or not, this place has THE BEST HOMEMADE CHICKEN SOUP with fresh vegetables.. I was feeling lousy last week and couldn't get Mom's chicken soup till the next day. All I have to say is that I ordered a second soup and called Momma Titi and told her not to bother making me soup! I felt better instantly and was excited to note that they deliver to Lakeview. The service was friendly and my friend was pleased with his meal.
(5)
Samantha K.
I finally stopped into Irazu for merienda (spanish word for a snack before dinner) and I had a charming experience. I sat in the semi-enclosed patio and had an oatmeal shake and a taco tico. Both were absolutely RICO!! I really liked the chips and salsa verde they set on the table before my order arrived. My server Chris was really laidback and nice. I also talked to another server named Mandy who was very friendly and sweet. I had been her server the night before at 90 Miles (holla!) and we talked about the similarities and differences of Cuban and Costa Rican food. Anyway, back to the food...the oatmeal shake was all I hoped it would be and more. It had canela sprinkled on top and the texture and taste were just outstanding. Next came my taco tico, served with a heaping portion of cabbage and traditional salsa lizano. I usually don't dig cabbage, but let me tell you, I gobbled every last bit of it up at Irazu. It complemented the taco really well and was very light and refreshing. I look forward to my next time at Irazu!
(4)
Emily N.
On a beautiful Chicago Monday evening, 7 fabulous ladies pulled up some patio to celebrate a birthday. The DJ was crankin' some tunes, the breeze was perfection, and our BYOB beverages were on ice. Now that I've set the scene, let's dive in to the most important part - the food. For apps we went with the tostones with mojo, guacamole, and an order of the chifrijo. I have never met a tostone that I didn't like and this was no exception. The mojo was divine and I wanted to put the leftovers in my purse but these broads kept asking me for it. Haters. I loved the guacamole here - probably because it was easy on the cilantro (whew!) and had some type of spicy stuff on the side that was similar to nopales. The chifrijo was crazy good! It was pretty much the gallo pinto (white rice, black beans) with sauteed veggies and chicharones. I mean really, you can't go wrong with chicharones in any form. I kind of wish I had ordered a bowl of this for my meal. That good. Most of us ended up ordering either a sandwich or empanadas for dinner. I did three empanadas; meat and potato, cheese, and spinach and cheese. The cheese only one was a bit bland, but with the help of a little salsa verde, it perked right up. The other two were delish as is. I also got a side of the gallo pinto because, ya know, how do you go to a Costa Rican joint and not get rice and beans? I can't personally vouch for the others grub, but the yum sounds could be heard around the table. Oh, I did sample the sweet plantains and there were great. Super soft, nice and caramelized, perfect. A couple of the gals tried the famous oatmeal shake and it lived up to the hype. Even the soy based one. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference between the soy and milk ones. So yummy. My only gripe about this place was the service. We never got any small plates to divvy up the appetizers with. Our waiter spaced out on drink orders a couple of times. We had to flag him down a few times. Overall though, no biggie. We were there for a leisurely dinner so it was nice that we weren't rushed, even though there was quite the wait building up. Also - he was kind enough to snap some group shots for us on not one, not two, but three different cameras. And he was easy on the eyes so all is forgiven. Irazu - we will meet again soon.
(4)
John L.
I LOVE this place. They have, hands down, the best guacamole I've had in the city. Their tacos are generously sized, and have these earthy tasting, semi hot peppers on them that are completely unique and add just the right touch. The homemade shakes are excellent, and the staff are down to earth and accommodating. BYOB too! Yes, it does get highly crowded here, especially in the summer. Well, hey, what do you expect when you can offer quality food at reasonable prices in a non-pretentious atmosphere in the Bucktown neighborhood. Yeah...exactly, but even when it gets crowded, they do a good job of keeping on top of things as best as they can. Great place.
(5)
Amanda C.
We found this restaurant while walking through the neighborhood. After surveying our other options and reading reviews on the Yelp app on my phone, we decided to give it a shot. We sat outside and were instantly brought water, a basket of chips with some spicy salsa verde. Mmm.. as the busboy dropped off the water and chips he immediately asked, "Would you like to start with some guacamole?" -Which who wouldn't instinctively say YES- I mean hello, it's guacamole. I was able to refrain. After looking over the menu I noticed it's $6.50 for the regular portion of guacamole (which looked delicious and was a generous portion) but wondered how many guests may have thought the guacamole was complimentary? Anyway, we ordered an Oatmeal milkshake to share (this was one of the highly recommended items on Yelp). I've never had an oatmeal shake of any kind so it was an exciting experience. Tasted like a cinnamon topped dessert in a glass. The best part about having this is that it helped to cool down our mouths after eating some of the spicier items we ordered. As far as food we had the Casado entree with the Gallo Pinto (this is a HUGE plate of food) and a Pepito Sandwich. We had a lot of leftovers to bring home after this meal. The food was awesome and so cheap! (BYOB: we ran across the street and grabbed a large beer to share) After finishing our meal, I kinda wish we had just ordered the guacamole and the sandwich because the entree was so large but the entree adds a lot of different elements of flavor which was great. I'll be returning, at least for the guacamole ;-)
(4)
Samuel M.
I'm alarmed at the number of Chicago restaurants Guy Fieri has featured on his show. They are becoming impossible to avoid. Let it be known that I came to Irazu for a change of pace from typical Latin food, not because it was featured on the show. Chifrijo appetizer ($8.50) features delectably crispy fried pork, which blends well with spicy sauce, avocado, and the black bean and rice mixture that it comes with. Easily my highlight of the meal. Pepito sandwich ($5.95) is excellent for the price, although between the cheese, ribeye, beans, and brown Lizano sauce, it is a very rich sandwich. I'd recommend splitting it. Sadly, El Tico entree ($13.50) is a blander take on cuban ropa vieja; the beef is overcooked and too thick, as are the vegetables. This didn't have much going for it. Service is very good, and the closed off patio is very pleasant to dine on when it's nice outside. All in all, Irazu is a welcome departure from the usual Latin fare one finds in Chicago, but it's by no means superlative. It's well worth a try if there's no wait, if for no other reason to sample the chifrijo and drink a Mexican coke (spiked with some BYOL, if you're so inclined) on a nice day.
(3)
Jessica D.
The steak sandwich with avocado is the meal of choice for me here. It's a sure thing and I don't think I have ever ordered anything else because it is just too darn good! We also had the empanadas as an appetizer and they were very tasty. An oatmeal shake is a must as well! Steak sandwich= $4.95 + .50 for avocado...can't beat that price!
(5)
Angelique R.
Irazu, I love you... but the other night... that wasn't right. I waited 2 hours for your food for our dinner party, and you forgot all the sides. You said you'd call back...but then you closed, without any word. We were so hungry and even ordered extra food for your chips and salsa on a $30+ meal - but they weren't in the bag either. Grubhub made it all better, and I think in time the wounds will heal and I'll come crawling back. We all have our bad nights, right? Edit: Very prompt response by owner. I forgive you Irazu... let's do dinner again soon. 4 stars it is.
(4)
Coll P.
My favorite BYOB to date! Cute atmosphere on the patio and cheap delicious (and did I say cheap!!!!!!) food! I had a spinach and cheese empanada and ceviche to start. Every table gets chips and salsa too, but be warned-those salsas are hot!!! I had the Pepito sandwich for my entree. MMMMMMM. It was steak, cheese, onions, beans and lizano sauce on a roll. I thought the sauce almost tasted a bit like curry, but the flavor was not as over powering! Cash only, come prepared!
(5)
Elly L.
Another amazing Chi-Town culinary experience that I can't stop thinking about! Get the oatmeal shake. I dare you. Amazing amazing amazing! Great food and great prices; can't get better than that.
(5)
Jones' D.
The service I received here was stellar. The waiter was down to earth and made excellent suggestions. The food was just as amazing and one of the best meals I've had all summer...and then we got the bill. $25 for two people? Awesome. I will definitely return. p.s. Oatmeal Shake.
(5)
Janell K.
Stop reading and get yer butt over there. Parking....not as bad as it looks. Service...almost too friendly and I totally do not make it easy since I am a total extra sauce whore. Know the waiters names now and get greeted by the owner when I walk in. Food never disappoints...my naughty favorite is the Chichironne plate. They make pork feel, look, and taste very grown up. And I need as much of that as I can get. Love the Chicken with rice dinner....you WILL take half of it home, count on it. The yucca with garlic sauce is wicked good. Oatmeal shake is a must...even if you think it sounds odd or u don't dig oatmeal..GET IT. If you don't like it, you need professional help and someone else at your table will devour it asap. A big plus...they sell bottles of the Linzano sauce which I can drink straight, it's so good. Pricey but worth it. For early afternoon..try the egg and black bean sammy. Bread is perfect pull apart consistency and won't pull out all the other ingredients. It is BYOB, they DO deliver and they do prep Take out. Outdoor patio is decent. Music is oddly cool. Two only complaints: 1. CASH only 2. CLOSED on Sundays. Don't hesitate with this place. Good good stuff!
(4)
Tiffany K.
This place lives up to the hype. Two of my friends and I came here for some veggie burrito action. We were not disappointed. We also split three empanadas - one black bean, one spinach and cheese, and the last sweet plantains - and they were each very flavorful. I think the spinach and cheese really surprised me, and the sweet plantain empanada was almost like a dessert empanada. The veggie burrito is huge - I think it was the size of the plate it came on. Packed with rice, lettuce, black beans, avocado, tomato, onions, cheese, and hot peppers, it's a lot of food compared to the price ($4.95 I believe?). Also, the beans here taste so good. I don't know what they do to the beans, but the beans just melt in your mouth. Of course, we got oatmeal shakes to top it all off. We were drinking beers (this place is BYOB) on top of the shakes so we all left the restaurant in a major food coma. I think we'd all do it again anyway. It just feels so good when you know that the food you are getting is fresh and top quality. It also helped that we went during a crazy 10 minute monsoon/hail period, so everyone was in fun spirits. Our server was a great guy. I really enjoyed the atmosphere here, and the food was excellent. I can't believe it took so long for me to get here, but now that I've been here I never want to go anywhere else.
(5)
Lindsay B.
They have iced coffee with horchata in it. Why did I never think of this?? I took an hour off work one day and came here instead. GREAT idea. Great service, great specials, great tacos, great shakes. Very much looking forward to visiting again so I can try...... everything else.
(5)
Melissa G.
What a cute little place! I've been meaning to try them out forever, but have only had the pleasure of going just last night. Great food, and definitely a fun time. I came with 3 friends last night since we were looking for a nice BYOB place to enjoy a few growlers and bottles of craft beers over dinner. This seemed like just the place. Unfortunately, when we arrived, there was a 30-minute wait! No problem, we just popped open a bottle of beer each while waiting for our table. The hostess even gave us the thumbs up that we were cheerfully taking advantage of our wait time (as long as we weren't being obnoxious, of course!) We were seated fairly quickly, considering how packed the place seemed; of course perhaps it wasn't all that quickly but just felt that way since we were enjoying ourselves while waiting! As a vegetarian, I was amazed at the selection of items I had to choose from. We ordered the patacones appetizer and tried out a bunch of their empanadas (which included 6 vegetarian ones to choose from). All very delicious; we didn't even care that we reeked of garlic from the patacones! I also had the chile relleno entree, which was also delicious and filling. All the while, we happily enjoyed the craft beers we brought throughout the meal. It was so much fun, I can't wait to go back and try out more of their menu. Definitely a good place to go just to chill with friends while enjoying good food. Just remember, as others have mentioned, that it's CASH ONLY, so come prepared! (I'm only giving them 4 stars for now since I've only been there once. Once I'm convinced they are consistently a good place to go, I'll revise my rating!)
(4)
Unity O.
You know, it takes me a LONG time to get to popular eateries. It is not that I do not want to try the place; it is just that I tend to shy away from super popular places. I am always convinced the food cannot live up to the hype. Plus, I tend to not live anywhere near the popular hoods (Bucktown is not so close to casa Unity). So, I finally tried Irazu...I kind of feel like I fail as a Yelper since it took me this long. Not to worry, situation has been rectified! A couple of friends & I were looking for a place to eat for a monthly dinner date. Since Irazu is relatively close to where one of us works and 2 of us had never been...it was time to check it out. Being Puerto Rican, I am familiar with Latin Cuisine and am somewhat convinced that it is all fairly similar. There are definite differences, but the staples are pretty much the same: rice, beans, plantains, and little salads of lettuce & tomatoes. It is the subtle differences that make me appreciated the different cultures in Latin cuisine...mainly how the proteins are flavored. I had never had Costa Rican food prior to this outing and was very much looking forward to it...not to mention that I was HUNGRY! I was the 1st to arrive from our party & was promptly greeted & seated as I entered the door. I was not blown away by the ambiance of the place...a little too hipster trendy for my liking. Also, you walk right past the open area where the food is being prepped to be seated in the back...I am not a fan of that. However, the service was prompt & friendly and the complimentary chips were a bonus. For my entree, I went for the Casado with Chicken...I wanted something authentic. It really was the way to go. Good portion, tasty beans & rice, comes with an egg over it; my only complaint would be that the chicken was over salted. I was not blown away by this place as I was somewhat expecting (it's all the hype!), but I found it was a good place to grab some grub. Overall, I enjoyed the meal there and will definitely return someday to try more of their food. Going on a weekday would be your best bet for getting seated right away...this place is on the small side.
(3)
Steve G.
I'm heading back here to try more things, especially the specifically Costa Rican dishes, but what I've had here is terrific. The vegetable burrito is really outstanding, far superior to any veg. burrito I've had in Chicago (the plantains, for instance, aren't something I customarily see in a veggie burrito). Service is good and fun. Really can't go wrong here.
(4)
Laila C.
I could eat JUST chifrijo for dinner and I'd be completely satisfied! But since I'm me and I require lots of food, I ordered tons of food! Bf and I split the pepito sandwich (which someone mentioned tasted just like a philly cheese steak) tasty, but not special. We also shared the steak tico which was very good and HUGE with a good amount of rib eye steak. My only complaint was that the steak came with a lot of fat. Since we were a party of 7, I got to try lots of stuff! Happiness all around! The tilapia was super moist, chicken was well herbed, the guacamole delicious and good texture and the liver..well it was livery. Even with the hour wait, I'd say the meal still lived up to the hype and I'd definitely go again. While we were waiting, the host offered to open our wine and let us drink and wait. My suggestion: DEFINITELY take him up on the offer. It gets super busy on the weekends and you never know how long the wait will be. Drink your wine so you can fight the urge to crash through the windows and steal bites off of another customer's plate! The delicious aromas wafting through the air can be very enticing!
(4)
Kat T.
I would recommend coming to this place. We ordered three casado and steak and steak and onion. Delicious. The casado comes with white or traditional rice. Highly recommend the traditional. We tried five of the empanadas. They were delicious. I think overall good service and good food. We felt like the meats were good but couldn't differentiate the different flavor. We also got the ceviche VERY delicious!!
(4)
Jill B.
Well now, this place is just a little gem. Having an adorable patio that is BYOB is always an easy way straight into my heart. I found the menu to be slightly overwhelming as everything looked good. I finally made up my mind and went with the veggie burrito. And boy am I glad that I did! This is unlike any burrito I've ever had. They take the veggie part of the name very seriously. It is stuffed to the max with veggies and isn't overpowered by rice and bean fillers. My friend tried a bite and said she couldn't even identify all of the flavors that are in it. I tried a bite of her cheese and spinach empanadas and thought I had tasted a little bit of heaven. Per our waiter's suggestion we finished off our meal with an oatmeal shake. When I first heard about this, I was just as grossed out by it as you probably are right now. Well, let me tell you...it is not gross at all. It is most definitely everything it is cracked up to be. Imagine an oatmeal cookie in milkshake form and then I think you'll get the picture. We got oatmeal banana which I would highly recommend. I definitely cannot wait to go back to Irazu and next time I will be more prepared for the fact that it is cash only!
(5)
Gil G.
Ordered the oatmeal shake, steak sandwich, and fries, and the food was ok at best. Our server was nice, the prices were not too bad, and the restaurant was quaint, but I don't plan on going again unless it's for the oatmeal shake.
(3)
Christine H.
This place is cozy and authentic. The people are interesting, the food is fantastic (oatmeal shake, yuca fries with loads of garlic, and their sandwiches). I was told to go there and I now tell you!
(5)
Mark K.
Gearing up for a trip to Costa Rica we stopped in to Irazu to get an idea of the foodventures ahead of ourselves. And while the food didn't really wow us, the service at Irazu bumped up this review from a 3 to a 4. Our server was really friendly and attentive. He even threw in an extra garlic oil in with my to go box because he noticed I demolished the first bit on the 1st half of the meal. An abundance of condiments goes a long way in my book. The food was decent but not spectacular. The Taco Tico stood out as my favorite (and ultra messy) portion of the meal. I want 9 of them next time. Despite the amazing praise, I was not TOO impressed with the oatmeal milkshake (despite the 9 million yelp mentions). It resembled a thicker and creamier horchata. The Costa Rican sandwich was just sort of meh.
(4)
Kim A.
I already gave this place a 4 star review, but... after this past weekend, definitely upping it to five. This past Thursday I had about 25 people here for my birthday... and the folks at Irazu COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE ACCOMMODATING. We sat in the covered outdoor room, a little warm... but it's mid July! God bless my mother for birthing me in the middle of summer! Constantly refilling chips and salsas, waters, bringing in a cooler of ice for the wine/beer that needed to be chilled. I could not have asked for better service, or food, on my birthday. AMAZING. I REPEAT (ALL IN CAPS, ON THE INTERNET, SO YOU KNOW I'M F'ING SERIOUS) AMAZING.
(5)
lana v.
When we found out that Irazu hosts private parties on Sundays we instantly rented it out for our daughters 2nd birthday. They let us choose anything we wanted for our menu, bring in any alcohol, cake and decorations that we wanted. We came a little early to set up, the staff working the day of the party were amazing...they could not have been nicer or more helpful. I have planned several private parties for work and personal events and Irazu was by far the most accommodating and easy to work with!
(5)
Jane E.
I have never had Costa Rican food before, so thought to try this. The food seemed quite similar to dishes from around the area. The restaurant is nice, the service is fast, and be sure to have cash as they do not accept credit cards. Food is good too. It is not bad, but not out of this world great either. It is filling and you will not need to eat for another day. I ate around 12 today and I still do not feel hungry. The food is tasty, not too greasy and is presented nicely. I would try try it out once to get the experience. Also, the shakes and drinks provided are great!
(3)
Daniel A.
After a maiden trip to Tico-land, we wanted to visit Irazu to see what the hype was all about. Service: Very friendly and it felt genuine, and not simply for money. Food: I swear it was imported. The smell, look and taste reminded us of the lovely dishes we enjoyed on the wayside of Costa Rica. It's a BYOB: Store across the street has Imperial, fyi. So go all out. Make it a Costa Rican night.
(5)
Candi D.
Haven't been here in a long time. Oatmeal/vanilla/milk and vanilla/banana/milk shakes yummy :-). There menu has been expanded. The ambience has improved as well. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
eric f.
YES! so delicious, so chill, and so cheap. there's a section on the menu titled "Vegetarian Delights" and that's just the beginning. huge patio in the summer, and part of it is heated in the winter. super friendly staff. this place is perfect.
(5)
Josh M.
I love this place! Irazu is always full of flavor. The empanadas are always crispy and full of flavor. I ordered the shrimp and veggie plate recently and it was great. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and the veggies were yummy. I also never go without some of the black bean soup. I'm a citrus lover, so I have to add a bit of lime to it, but that's just my own personal taste. I thoroughly recommend this place if you're looking for something other than the typical Mexican burrito/taco joint.
(5)
Megan B.
The food is cheap, but tasty for the price. The "hole in the wall" decor seems to be a good fit for the food. The shakes are a must. But it is popular enough for the tiny size that the wait can be brutal. I recommend going for breakfast (love their beans and eggs options) or lunch. Or go in the summer if you must go on a weekday evening since there is additional seating out doors, and you can easily bide outside while waiting. Still, I you would be hard pressed to find a cheaper way to try a cuisine that isn't well represented in Chicago.
(3)
Cristina T.
After all of the great reviews I have heard about Irazu in the past years, I don't know why I waited until this week to try it out. Byob, great prices, fun atmosphere, great service and majorly delicious food! I loved the appetizer we ordered which was a mix of rice, beans, crispy pork and avocado. We demolished it in about 15 seconds. For our main dishes we got the Pepito sandwich and the Tico plate with chicken. The steak on the pepito sandwich was flavorful and the perfect combination withe the onions and avocado. The tico plate was comparable to fajitas. Served with rice beans and plantains, it was delicious. We were so full, but I had heard to much about the oatmeal milkshake that we got it to go. When I finally had room I tried it, and once again finished it. Tasted like horchata, which is one of my favorite drinks. I can only imagine what this place is like in the summer-can't wait to go back very soon!
(5)
Katie M.
Irazu, I love you. You are close to my house. You are byob. Your food is delicious. Your staff is friendly. I will see you and your $5 chicken burrito tomorrow. Love, Katie
(5)
Robin W.
Irazu is cheap, has great burritos and empanadas, outdoor seating and fast delivery. The dining room is pretty small though so I prefer delivery. I love the black bean empanada and the sweet plantain empanada. I went to Costa Rica shortly after my first visit to Irazu and was sadly disappointed that I could not find an empanada anywhere. The Costa Rican style rice and beans here though are great and true to CR. Definitely get the hot peppers and try the homemade hot sauce. I love spicy food, and this hot sauce is truly hot! The sides, empanadas and burritos (and BYOB) are enough for me to give Irazu 4 stars. The other main courses are just okay in my opinion. Also I'm not terribly impressed by the oatmeal milkshake, but check out the other reviews. Most people seem to love it.
(4)
Shelly S.
A terrific place to go on a date with someone who's not afraid to try different foods. This place gets crowded quickly on any given day, but it is definitely worth the wait! How can you go wrong with plantains in any form? You just can't! Each dish has it's own unique flavoring and is very filling for the price. Do bring cash though (it's a cash only joint) and make sure to save room for a tall glass of Horchata (delicious cinnamon-y drink!).
(4)
Jen T.
Didn't tickle my taste-buds, but the BYOB tickled my pocket. Mango civiche was Great, nice chunks of fresh sweet mango and large chunks of shrimp served with cracker, I prefer eating with tortilla's. Fried Tostada's with garlic sauce is always good in my book! I'm sort of addicted. Empanadas not so impressed...kind of flat and not enough meat/ ingredients inside. I wouldn't order again. I had the tilapia, wasn't bad, but I wasn't blown away. Was soft and had a little crisp which was my favorite part. That dish is served with grilled onion, green pepper and plantains, white rice and beans. I took a bite of the skirt steak, it was pretty tasty...seasoned well and grilled just right. Ehh..the patio not so impressive. crowded and the rain cover doesn't exactly work, I would suggest waiting for an indoor table during April showers. Cash Only! BYOB Bonus! Parking=not too hard
(3)
J N.
Irazu used to be one of my favorite restaurants but over the last year or so they have completely lost it. When I've gotten food there in the last 6 months it has been a disappointment - lots of wrong orders, some late orders and strange things like...there was wet pieces or paper towel/napkin or something in my burrito tonight, yuck. I paid extra for spinach and zucchini to be in it too, but my burrito arrived with mushrooms and zucchini. I really don't like mushrooms and I paid extra to get them, not cool. Anyone who liked Irazu 2-3 years ago knows what I'm talking about when I say that they have lost it. The atmosphere dining in has lost some quality as well. It's super sad because they USED TO BE so good. RIP Irazu ;(
(1)
amanda t.
I can only speak from delivery experience but this places is excellent. The first time we ordered, my partner ordered a burrito and I ordered a steak pepito sandwich. Our order arrives and it's still hot but they've left all of the toppings off of my sandwich. It is just steak and lizano sauce. Which wouldn't be a big deal if I hadn't paid extra for avocado on it. So I call them and they take down my name and number and say that the next time we order, they'll throw in a free sandwich and shake. Since everything was delicious, we made good on that about a week later. The steak pepito is great, the nibbles I've stolen from Rob's steak burritos have been great, the steak fries are awesome, the chifrijio is yummy, the arroz congri is great, and the veggie burrito is the second best burrito I've ever had (I added mushrooms, zucchini, and a side of lizano salso to put on it). The best was the California Veggie burrito from Mariachi's in San Francisco which has become a mythical food creature for me since I ate it three years ago and will never eat it again because they closed last fall. But the veggie burrito from Irazu is a very very very close second. The only thing I've had from here that was even remotely meh was the potato tacos. They were still good, they just weren't as good as everything else and arrived rather cold and lacking mole.
(5)
Nicolas H.
Ok, I've been back now and had some different dishes and now know they do have some good food. The steak casado was defintely tasty, complete with the costa rican rice, plaintains and steak. However, it was defintely lacking some kind of sauce, everything was just a little dry. Maybe a little jus or something would've made the dish a little better. We also had the empanadas (chicken, beef and cheese). They were all good, however again needed some kind of sauce as they were pretty dry...
(4)
Lady C.
The only Costa Rican restaurant in Chicago. The place is small, but always packed with people waiting in line to get a table in the back. No one complains of the wait, for they will be effectively accomodated with friendly service and delicious food at a good price. Mango Lime shake is awesome, which my husband and I received for it was our one-year wedding anniversary. Just try everything at least once and you will be hooked. The only issue is that you are taken off-guard when you are charged for the guacamole for $6.50, which you believed was complimentary, due to how they ask the question. The guacamole was not even that good and not worth $6.50, but everything else is good. Big portions that I could never finish, so I always have something for the next day. Enjoy.
(4)
Jenna H.
Irazu is...decent. I will say, I do not get the hype. Yes, it has a nice little patio area on a stretch of Milwaukee where that's a commodity. Yes, the food is cheap. But it also looks and tastes cheap if that makes sense. Yes, it's BYOB, which is always a plus. It is so so food but unless there's some hidden dish waiting to wow me I certainly don't think it deserves any culinary accolades.
(3)
Nicole W.
My boyfriend and I went to Irazu at around 8pm on a Saturday night. They don't take reservations, and we ended up waiting about 45 minutes. The servers were very accommodating and opened up our wine for the wait. When we were seated, but busboy said that they were out of chips. It kind of confused us, didn't know if they were out for the night or out until they made more. Omar waited on us, and after taking our order, he informed us chips and salsa were on the way. About 15 minutes later and after our entrees were served, I noticed other tables getting chips and salsa, so I had to put in a request for that. Not a huge deal, they were super super busy. Omar suggested for me the chicken tico, and my boyfriend got the bistec casado. Bistec casado was delicious, mine was horrible. The chicken tasted like chicken in water with mushy overcooked veggies. It was super bland. Something must have gone wrong in the kitchen. Omar not only apologized for this, but brought out 2 more entrees - grilled steak and pollo casado, and gave us a gift certificate for 2 smoothies. The grilled steak and pollo casado were delicious! So so good, I could not put my fork down. We ate until we were in pain! So, the hassle of having a bad first plate is why this place got 4 stars and not 5. But Omar and the owner exhibited exceptional customer service skills. I will recommend this place to everyone and anyone, since their menu is so diverse. I can't wait to go back in the summer to enjoy the patio.
(4)
Gretchen V.
Yum!!! I never knew how badly I could crave Costa Rican food until I tried Irazu. The steak casado (I think that's what it's called) is out of this world...and it will feed you for days. Also, the oatmeal shakes with milk are a perfect end to a spicy meal. I recently tried the vegetarian burrito...didn't really do it for me, but that could be because I was comparing it to the steak casado the entire time! The atmosphere is nothing to go crazy over, but that's part of the charm, I think. I can't wait to go when it's nice out and eat on the patio.
(4)
Lindsay S.
I absolutely love this place! My boyfriend introduced me to the wonderful Irazu and I am addicted. The food is outstanding, we always get the casado with chicken or steak. Recently, my boyfriend got the tilapia tacos which were light and delicious. I am big on sweet treats and the shakes are some of the best in the city. Overall, I highly recommend this place and will keep coming back for more!
(5)
Madelyn H.
i had the steak dish that was one of irazu's specialties and it was really not good. i know south american meat is generally less tender, but this was chewy, and the egg over the top didn't help. i loved the black beans and rice, and the plantains though. i'm willing to try it again because i've heard great things, but based on my one experience, i didn't love it. worth trying: plantains and black beans/rice
(2)
Jen E.
Can never go wrong with BYOB, I ordered one of their specialty dishes and it was absolutely heavenly. I decided to upgrade and try their special costan rican rice, it was okay, I will have to try their regular rice next time. Service was okay, it was very packed however, everyone was friendly and for the most part attentive. It has a nice low key vibe but def not first date atmosphere great place to go with friends and split a bottle of wine before hitting the city.
(4)
Joshua C.
So tonight a friend and I went to Irazu. The weather was looking ominous so there wasn't much of a wait (which she had talked about). First impression, LOUD, the restaurant is buzzing with salsa music and scores of conversations. I ordered Bistec, which is steak served with stewed tomatoes . onions . green peppers, rice, black beans and finally boiled tostones. Very generous serving and was delicious I washed it down with a horchata, which was a little on the sweet side. Our waiter was attentive but also very busy, still, he did a very adequate job. Definitely worth a visit, or two.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Missy M.
Great outdoor patio for summer dining! Love this little BYOB gem!
(4)Joseph N.
This was a great find. The food is good and fresh.
(5)Shayna Y.
I went there on a Saturday night with two friends. It is somewhat of a hole in the wall - very casual, in a low key neighborhood. We started with guacamole, which was relatively bland. Likely because my friend ordered mild. The chips were relatively thick and didn't taste all the fresh. The green salsa in the bottle did not appear all that fresh. Ask for pico de gallo. I ordered the shrimp and veggie platter. The shrimp was just okay. The veggies and sauce we're pretty good. The plantains were delicious. The wait staff was incredibly nice. This place is great for a casual night out; but manage your expectations because the food won't knock your socks off.
(3)Jacquie T.
I have been three times, the first two times I actually ate! The last time we waited 30 minutes and never got our food, we walked out. the server came out looking but looked right past us. We won't be back sad! the first two times the food was good, service is obnoxious.
(2)Drew S.
Awesome. My wife is from Costa Rica, and whenever we're in town, this is the first place we go. Full disclosure, being a veteran Tico food eater, I must say it's definitely fine-tuned for American peoples' tastes (you would NEVER be given chips and salsa at a restaurant in Costa Rica, not that that's a bad thing, just not authentic), but just because it's tweaked doesn't mean it's not awesome! Try the steak sandwich, arroz con atún, gallo pinto (duh!), patacones con frijoles molidos, and first and foremost; chifrijo! Wash it all down with some (byob) Imperiales! Pretty much the only Tico joint in the US, other than maybe some unknown hole in the wall in one of the Costa Rica enclaves in New Jersey. Definitely worth checking out, there's a lot to love, and something for everyone.
(4)Damian O.
Saw this place on triple D. The peptio steak sandwich was great and so was the pork bean and rice dip appetizer.
(4)Ryan P.
Loved the atmosphere here. Great service and outstanding food. One complaint would be the chicken that felt like it was heavily salted... like enough that my fiance and I couldn't finish the plate. Maybe it was because we were the last table seated - I'm going to give them another chance. The oatmeal shake is TOO GOOD
(4)Erica T.
This place was really good!! Vegan/veggie friendly. I tried the rib eye which was delicious. This place is cash only and not the best place to dine in at.. The train runs over it so every few minutes it gets ridiculously loud.. Gave me a headache I couldn't wait to get out of there.. If the location didn't suck I would give 5 stars!!!!
(4)Julie T.
I used to work near here, so every time I would walk to work, I would pass by this place and it would smell so delicious. I had also seen Irazu on the infamous "Diners Drive In's and Dives, which fueled my desire to check this place out! It can get quite crowded here, so I was happy to pick up the phone and hear they didn't have a wait. I sat in the patio section, and it was so awesome in there. It feels like you are in Costa Rica. The food is aboulutely delicious, and even moreso, the people that work here are so incredibly nice. The moment I had picked up the phone to check wait time, the man who answered said "There is no wait, and we would LOVE to have you, so come and stop by!" It is the little things like that that make it really big to me at restaraunts. Our server was great, and even the cooks (when I got lost on my way to the bathroom) were super friendly. Keep up the great work. I will definitely be back. Wait or no wait! It is well worth it.
(5)Tanya R.
Love me some Irazu!!!! It's been 4 years strong and I've had a long lasting affair with Irazu's Grilled Steak and Pepito sandwich (steak or chicken). The Chifrijo, as an app, is THE BOMB!! I sometimes go in just for that and wash it down with some Costa Rican beer- Imperial.... And did I mention the oatmeal shake??? Mother of gawd is it good!!!! Just make sure u decide between the beer OR the shake as I have often made this mistake by letting my taste buds get the better of me!
(5)Shayna R.
This place delivered easily the best meal I've had in a long time. It's friendly, loud and warm--just like PR. I had the guacamole and the pepito sandwich with marinated grilled-chicken. The guacamole was to die for. I'd take a bath in it if I could. And the sandwich came with fried plantains which are a new favorite. I forgot I liked them. The spinach banana smoothie wasn't overly sweet, which was awesome and refreshing. Felt energizing not heavy. Overall this place rocks and you'd be a fool not to be there nightly.
(5)Lynn T.
I have been going to Irazu for years, and I can't believe I haven't written a review for it yet. After having been an Irazu fan for years, I decided to check out their catering options for our wedding back in August 2012. Henry was so helpful and it was a no-brainer when it was time to make our decision for which restaurant to choose. Since then, I have brought many friends and family members to enjoy the amazing food at the restaurant. Great for groups or a romantic evening. Great ambience and the staff is always a delight. Highly recommend this place! Get there early, especially on the weekends!
(5)Hannah S.
This is a review for all my gluten intolerant friends out there. Food: Costa Rican food at reasonable prices. BYOB - can't beat that. Our waiter informed my friend and I (also gluten intolerant) of the THREE items on the vast menu that we couldn't eat...only three items besides the sandwiches folks - not so bad. There were so many options, I wouldn't get a sandwich even if I wanted one. Even the tortilla chips were gluten free because they had a dedicated deep fryer. I had ceviche and the palmito salad-both incredibly fresh and satisfying. They had many more savory dishes on the menu including some standard dishes you can get at many Latin American Restaurants and others that were more Costa Rican specific. There's something there for everyone. Atmosphere: Great rap-around outdoor patio. If you closed your eyes you could easily pretend you were on a beach on vacation somewhere beautiful. The Latin music is upbeat and makes you want to shake what your mama gave you. Service: Upon arrival the owner took our name down, poured us a glass of wine to enjoy while we waited, and stored the rest of it for us in the fridge. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about food allergies and even double-checked about the tortilla chips. I give it five bright and shiny stars.
(5)Karlos J.
Just wanted to write an update and let everyone know that the owner, Henry, did reach out to me and offer a free meal to compensate for our poor dining experience. This was definitely a first and much appreciated. While I haven't been back yet, he definitely deserves some credit for showing great character and business management skills.
(3)Stephanie L.
This place needs another review like I need a hole in my head...but here it goes anyway. 1. ladies-there is a lot, A LOT of hot guys that work here...plus 2 stars! 2. food is fantastic and authentic...not like I would know, but I liked the flavors 3. cheap as hell...a chicago place that you can go to eat under $15??? 4. BYOB...?!?!?! YAY 5. Outdoor all the time...heat lamps make it great in the winter. SUMMER all the time! Tips-go early to avoid the super long wait. We went at like 630 for the early bird special and by 730 the place was PACKED
(5)Dylan R.
Yes! Irazu, you are doing everything right. If you are smart enough to visit this fine establishment be sure to bring a bottle of wine (there is a liquor store down the street at milwaukee and western), someone fun to talk to, sit out on the patio, and order the shrimp and avocado appetizer. That's the recipe to happiness. Do it, now.
(5)Dominique M.
Mind blown again! Tried the black bean soup for the first time tonight... as PERFECT as the Gallo Pinto and Veg Burrito. A tri-fecta for sure. Thank you guys n gals for your kind gestures and words. To always feel appreciated by a super duper busy restaurant is an amazing occurrence. It is no wonder why you are among the top restaurants of Chicago. Con mucho amor, Dominique and Paul
(5)Kyle W.
Fun outdoor dining area, large portions and affordable prices. Menu includes plenty of latin American staples and some more unique choices. Lots of vegetarian options. Service can be slow during peak times in the warmer months. When you're craving tacos, burritos, etc. but want something a little different, it's definitely worth the visit. Note it's closed all day Sunday and BYOB.
(3)Anne W.
I've only gotten food here twice - once for carry out and once for delivery. Both times it was delicious. I love their oatmeal shakes just like every other sane person does. They make me happy. Their pepito sandwich is divine - get it with avocado, it makes it even better if you ever thought that was possible. But the biggest plus in my book? Their food tastes delicious even the next day reheated in the microwave. This is huge for me because I never manage to finish my food. And to have your food taste just as wonderful as it did when it was fresh? Well, that's truly magical and earns 5 stars in my book. Irazu, I love you.
(5)Maureen C.
Was excited to come here because we went to Costa Rica a couple of months ago, and we wanted to relive our Pura Vida experience. Came here on a Saturday afternoon, probably around 2pm. No wait for a table, thank God. We were seated right away in the patio outside. It was great weather for al fresco lunch! We waited for a bit for our waiter, but I soon noticed that he was taking care of most of the tables on this side of the patio. So I mentally pardoned him for taking so darn long. Anyway we got our orders in, and the waiter mentioned that they forgot to bring us chips when they gave us water + plates + utensils. I didn't even know they were supposed to bring us chips, and the waiter said he'd bring them. I ended up ordering the casado (tilapia), and my boo ordered some empanadas (beef, chicken, and zucchini) and a little taquito-like taco. Maybe 15 minutes passed since ordering and we still don't have the promised chips. He was busy. We had to flag him to ask for the chips. Thank God for BYOB policy, we just kept drinking to pass the time. Haha! Our orders came at an acceptable time. Food looked good. I felt my tilapia was a bit overcooked (it was a little tough to cut) but it still had good flavors. Loved the over medium egg over the rice. Liked the cabbage salad but it didn't need that Thousand Island dressing, which, thankfully, was on the side. Also came w/ black beans -- can't go wrong w/ black beans and rice! The boyfriend thought his empanadas were okay but he's a bit picky. I liked the zucchini empanada -- maybe it could have used more seasoning for the filling but i liked it. He didn't care too much about the taquito-taco thing, but I did like the sauce that came w/ it. In the end I made sure I had room for the oatmeal shake. It was reminiscent of the Mexican drink, Horchata, but you could def taste the oatmeal flavor. Service, this whole time was pretty slow. I had to flag the waiter for the bill. I understand he was taking care of all the tables on our side and we had some bigger parties on this side of the patio too, but still. Maybe someone called in sick. I would return to try more of the stuff on the menu. 4 stars for food, but had to knock it down 1 star for the slow service.
(3)H B.
Amazing. One of the only restaurants that I have gone to multiple times in Chicago - definite must try! Chicharon is amazing, ceviche, the horchata shake! Oh my - too many amazing dishes on the menu!
(5)Jenn K.
Disappointed. Couldn't even be seated to enjoy the food. My friends and I have a Friday night supper club and we frequent places in the Bucktown/Wicker Park area. Usually we're a group of 4-8. Decided to try Irazu on the recommendation of one in the group, as they were known for good food and a casual atmosphere. I'm a very reasonable person. And a lot of the negativity directed in the review that follows is because the restaurant doesn't live up to a "reasonable person" standard. The story: I arrived very early, 30 min prior to the rest of my party, and was advised by a female hostess that when more than 50% of our party arrived we could be seated. OK, absolutely understood. So I bided my time. Eventually, all of our party except one person arrived. There was turnover at the host stand and a male host now advised us he would not seat us until our entire party was present. Mind you, it was a Friday night and there were open tables. In my opinion, being one person short on a large party when there is no wait is not an unreasonable request to be seated. But the male host refused to budge. Given the inability to accommodate us while we waited for one more person, our group decided to go elsewhere. Upon telling this to the host, he dismissed us and clearly was not bothered that we took out business elsewhere. Bottom line: inflexible seating policy and not good for groups unless the entire party is present. I can't comment on the food because I didn't eat. However, given our poor experience with something as simple as the host stand, I assure you I won't be going back or recommending this establishment to others.
(1)Jessica M.
This place has the killer effects! Small bites, big bites. Irazu. Meat-lovers. Vegetarians. Irazu. Specialty drinks and desserts. Irazu. All of the above with speedy service! Here's what we had on a bustling Friday evening: pepito sandwich, beef and potato empanada, and taco tico. We had our pepito sandwich with steak. I'm usually not a fan for onions and beans but these worked very well with the steak and Lizano sauce. The empanadas were flaky-crispy-licious! The taco tico were very petite but the mayo, ketchup, and Lizano sauce mix was refreshingly excellent. Yes, these are very simple dishes yet oh-so-fulfilling! All for just $21! What can I say?! I'm a simple girl easy to please! Note: The Yelp community has it that the Chifrijo and oatmeal shakes are to die for. I will have to make more trips to Irazu.
(4)Francisco H.
Once again I experienced one of the most amazing Coast Rican food flavors at Irazu. Coming here I had very high expectations with my last visit being GREAT, I wonder if I'll be the same? And yes it was AMAZING again. I like getting most of my plate choices from employee recommendations and I did once again. "Smoothie Girl" is who she called herself was more than helpful especially with her smoothie/shake recommendations, we tried her favorite of the Green Smoothie which was DELICIOUS! We also had the no sugar Strawberry Banana Smoothie and Soy Oatmeal Banana Shake and those were just as GREAT! Drinks were exactly on point, entrees were just as GREAT having the Casado w/ Chicken and some Vegetarian Tacos. Ending the entire dining experience with a very AUTHENTIC tasting Flan. Irazu has had nothing but gave us the most AMAZING Coasta Rican culinary flavors that I've ever had!.
(5)Justino S.
First time here and it was delicious!! Definitely recommend!! Empanadas were phenomenal!! Service was perfect and genuine!
(5)Lisa H.
I finally decided to give this place a try on a Saturday night with my sister. The place was crowded, so there was about a 35 minute wait. The hostess took down my name and number and informed me that I'll receive a text when our table is ready. There wasn't much of an area to wait, so we just sat in our car. About 25 minutes later, my phone started buzzing and our table was ready. Sweet...didn't have to wait the full 35 minutes!! Whoever came up with the design of the place is a genius! They made use of the little area they had by creating a dining area in front of the restaurant. It was covered with wind proof plastic and electric heaters for warmth. It was pretty comfortable and warm for it being below 20 degrees. My sister and I were excited and wanted to try everything they suggested. So excuse our fattiness, but we ordered: Appetizers: - Veggie Black Bean Soup: black bean soup with tomatoes. Only got this dish because my sister wanted some soup, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would. I enjoyed the difference in the texture from the tomatoes and difference in flavor from the lime. - Empanadas: beef and potatoes, spinach and cheese, and zucchini. I enjoyed the beef and potatoes the most out of the three. It had tons of flavor and the beef wasn't dry. The zucchini empanada was bland and the spinach and cheese had too much cheese. Enough said. Drinks: - Oatmeal Milkshake: they offer this with soy, water, or regular milk. This was hands down one of the best milkshakes I had ever tasted. The texture of the milkshake was blended to perfection; it wasn't too thick. It tasted like an oatmeal horchata. Delicious!! Entrees: - Steak Pepito Sandwich: this sandwich was so yummy. I appreciated that the french bread it was served on was soft and not hard. Most french bread sandwiches I have tried are always toasted and way too hard to eat (not my cup of tea.) I also liked that the steak wasn't overcooked. - Tilapia Casado: like other people said, you can definitely share this entrée with two people (unless you are super hungry and/or didn't order anything else off the menu.) It comes with beans, rice, cabbage salad, sweet plantains, and your choice of meat (in our case we got the tilapia.) I just thought this was ok, the tilapia was too dry for my liking and didn't have much flavor. Everything else was mediocre, so this dish was nothing to rave about. Overall, I enjoyed my food and the service here. Everyone was nice and friendly. I definitely will be returning just for the oatmeal milkshake. One tip: bring cash, its cash ONLY.
(4)Katie M.
I visited with some friends after work on a Friday night recently, and everything was delish. I was happy to see and try so many vegetarian options. And they were actually good (and didn't all have mushrooms, yay!). The wait staff was more than accommodating and offered to slice some oranges we brought in to juice for cocktails we made with our BYOB rum.
(4)Jenny H.
The best, authentic Costa Rican food I've had outside of Costa Rica. The oatmeal shake wasn't as thick as I would like, but good nevertheless. The casado though was AWESOME, a platter of rice and beans, plantains (yummy), mixed veggies (more yummy), and a fried egg (the delicious kicker) made for a delicious, delectable, scrumptious, hearty meal. Thank you for existing and bringing Costa Rica to Chicago!!!!
(5)Hossam E.
This place is alright. The menu looks very "Mexican" to me. Delicious but could be a little more sophisticated. Ambiance is good, specially in the summer. Great place for a fast bite!
(3)John I.
Perhaps they are on Latin time. The wait on Saturday night at 8 was quoted as a half hour, and they were kind enough to give us a slip of paper that on on side directed us to a couple bars, and on the other, couple package stores to get BYOB. They took down our numero de telefono to call us when our table came up--I like that style. It was a little more than an hour later when we got the call, but we were happily settled-in at Green Eye Lounge; so the wait wasn't a big deal. But that story is cross-referenced elsewhere. We sat on the covered sidewalk (perhaps an updated, Latin "Little House on the Prairie") which, even with the big heater was a bit chilly in the 40 degree, end of April never-ending Chicago winter. I don't know if chips and salsa are Costa Rican (I don't remember having them there, but it was a while ago), but the green salsa was delicious, as were the fresh chips. We had some tasty guacamole and patacones (smashed, fried green plantains) with pungent smoked garlic sauce--a feast for all senses involved. Highly recommended. I had the "onioned steak dinner" which was tasty, though a bit too well-done for my liking, though I asked for a side of Costa Rica's famous Linzano sauce (a bit similar to Worcestershire sauce), which helped it out. Also, I should have noticed that it would come with patacones when we ordered the appetizer, but you can't have too many of them, and I'm counting them as a fruit even though their being fried must turn that positive into a negative. Make sure you spend the extra cents on the gallo pinto ("spotted rooster"), which contains no rooster (though I have to believe that the rooster means it helps wake you up when eaten at breakfast), but is a Costa Rican spotted delight of black beans, rice, some onion, garlic, herbs & spices, and a little of Linzano. Others have remarked on the oatmeal shake taste sensation, and I concur. Nothing oatmealy about it, though it makes a great thickener, and I'm a huge fan of horchata; the two have similar flavors. Of course, we filled-up too much on appetizers, but that gave us an extra meal to take home. Outside of the underestimated wait time, the service was excellent. I won't ding a star on the wait because of my weakness for Green Eye(s)..
(4)M P.
Have been coming here for years and it never disappoints. The staff is outstanding; very professional, knowledgable and friendly. The food is always top notch, both takeout/delivery and when dining on site. The sandwiches tend to travel a bit better and as a result are better for delivery/takeout whereas the dinners are better had at the restaurant. Make sure to get a chocolate oatmeal milkshake, trust me!
(5)Tara F.
Service was friendly, quick and food was good, especially the fried plantanes. Will be back.
(4)Jillian W.
I don't have any previous experience with Costa Rican food, but I have wanted to try this place for awhile and will definitely be back. We were told the wait was 25-30 minutes, but ended up seated in about 15, so we were off to a good start. I had the cosado with tilapia even though I sometimes find tilapia too tough or strongly flavored and I'm glad I did. It was well seasoned and balanced in the dish. I was especially impressed with the server and staff. I thought they might have been a little understaffed tonight, but even though he seemed to be the only server for the patio section he was quick and attentive. One of our party had a problem with her dish (she had misread the menu, so was expecting something slightly different) and it was fixed within minutes. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Christopher S.
Me and my wife were looking for some authentic Costa Rican food. The grilled steak was awesome, every time me and wife come here. We're never disappointed, I would def recommend this place.
(5)Keyla D.
This place is ridiculously good. Their oatmeal shake is perfectly sweet and creamy. Their banana empanadas are also a favorite of mine. The staff is always so friendly and accommodating. Great to see a place like this thrive!
(5)Jim K.
Had my birthday dinner with 25 friends here this weekend, and Irazu took care of each of us. We rented their party room which was a perfect birthday setting. It is always a delight to eat at Irazu, but when you get to introduce 20+ people to the Costa Rican food, Irazu is the perfect spot. Loved it, cant wait to come back.
(5)Jack P.
Things have changed here at Irazu since my last visit. They've created a much larger and covered kind of wrap-around outdoor dining space which meets the sidewalk and creates a lot more room. We sat here for lunch and experienced a fun and interactive time with the delightful staff, and were very pleased with the "servicio rapido' we received. It's always fun to introduce a newcomer to the oatmeal shake and the steak sandwiches. You cannot beat the price, and they are still nice and big and moist. Joined with a platter of Yuca frita with that phenomenal garlic sauce, it was lunch for two around $20.00. The ambiance is very much like stopping in at little street cafe in San Jose. They've even managed to create all the street noise with the truck traffic, the hipsters on their noisy scooters, and the Blue Line el across the street where the trains seem to pass every two minutes. So don't hang outside here if you are looking for quiet. It's not. But you can always dine inside if it's too much of a distraction. The point is it's authentic.
(4)Nikki W.
I order from Irazu very often. Their delivery is early every time and the food is always hot! Best empanadas in Chicago, and the pico de gallo is always spot on. I recommend this place to friends all the time! Don't miss the shakes
(5)Mindy Y.
Here are some tips and opinions... (1) We got seated right away.. for in door seating.. however, out door had to wait for a while (2) Bring your own alcohol ... i love this place even more! 5 stars! (3) A must, must ... repeat.. MUST get.. OATMEAL SHAKE... taste like horchata! Delish! (4) Empandas - was a little too dry..2 stars. (5) Casado - steak a little too dry... 4 stars (6) Cash only! (7) Shrimp salad appetizer - 5 stars .. another must get... so good! Very interesting flavors! 5 stars and beyond! (8) food comes out too slow... like super slow... waited for like 20 mins .. they were probably out there hunting or fishing for shrimp. (9) Tables are small! **OVERALL: great places to dine and hang with friends. 4 stars!
(4)Kimberly F.
Our office has lunch catered by Irazu quite often. Justin, the catering manager, is extremely accommodating and personable. On our last order we were pleased to find that they will deliver a pitcher of the fantastic oatmeal shakes with our order. The Casada meal is definitely our fan favorite!
(5)Betsey M.
Second time at Irazu and I still stand by my original review. The food is so crazy good here! We love that it is BOB and the owner is very nice. Top it all off with the great prices! Excellent!
(5)John S.
I love this place! It's right across the street from my work and I can't walk by without the smell of delicious food steering me in. They have a good variety of entree's and the price is right. BYOB and Cash ONLY!
(5)Lissette H.
THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! After another BYOB restaurant down the street screwed up my reservation I immediately called IRAZU and they accommodated my group of 15 for a reservation the next day. The staff was amazing from the servers to Mark to Henry Cerdas the owner who contacted me the day after our dinner to follow up about our experience. The food is amazing, authentic and very affordable. I will definitely be back, it was a wonderful culinary experience!
(5)Melissah L.
Damn. Irazu is AWESOME. We were seated on the patio and started with fresh chips and some tangy green salsa. Our waiter was super friendly and helped us order a pepito sandwich, the Costa Rican sandwich, plantains and an oatmeal shake. The sandwiches were both made with slices of steak and cheese and served on a delicious, crusty french bread. The pepito also had sauteed onions, lizano sauce and avocado, and the Costa Rican had tomato, lettuce and mayo. I liked the pepito best! The plantains were hearty, delicious and filling, and the oatmeal shake lives up to the hype too! I believe it is made with oatmeal, horchata, ice, water, cinnamon and vanilla. I added pineapple to mine-- nom. The horchata adds a great, creamy touch that isn't too thick. Also perfect for my lactose-intolerant self. With a great, relaxed patio atmosphere, BYOB and cheap prices, I think I may have to stop myself from coming back every single day! Recommend x 1 million!
(5)Walter H.
I was a little apprehensive for the oatmeal shake, but it's a perfect treat to throw you into a holiday spirit
(4)Lauren D.
Holy guacamole. I'm so glad I've bought into the whole "healthy fats" thing because I can't stop eating this stuff. The crowds here can be daunting in the evening. My husband and I have found luck hitting it at lunch, both on the weekend and during the week. I've gone with the chicken burrito twice, which they lightly press to give it a crispy exterior. Perfection. My husband is in love with the Lizano sauce that comes on the Pepito sandwich, and this is coming from a man who despises most condiments to the point that it's laughable. Come hungry and prepare to leave feeling the opposite. Times two.
(4)Candice G.
After several more visits, a few dozen soy-chocolate-oatmeal-shakes, a couple orders of that amazing salad with beets and hearts of palm with a vinegar base, and taking a long, hard look at my initial 4 star rating of the veggie burrito I'd heard so much about and analyzing the under $5 price tag of said burrito, I decided it was about damn time I throw up that 5th star. Again, I stand by my initial sentiment that the veggie burrito isn't 'all that' (or at least no all that it was hyped to be), but I will admit that it's exponentially tastier if you do what I've down on my last few visits with friends and splurge the extra few quarters to add an extra ingredient. Irazu recommends adding plantains (which I generally am not a fan of) and I have to agree. The sweet plantains mixed with the savory everything else... they're really on to something. Other things you need to make sure you get down on at Irazu: - Famous oatmeal shake, choose chocolate and splurge on the soy, it honestly tastes better than the regular milk. - BYOB... so cost effective when dining, make sure you take advantage. - That freakin' delicious salad with beets and hearts of palm. Best are the best, hearts of palm already have my heart, and being the vinegar freak I am, the dressing is what my dreams are made of. - Veggie taco... so good with LOTS of the hot sauce. Git yer nose runnin! Pura Vida, Baby!
(5)Thomas A.
Affordable (especially with the BYOB) Costa Rican food. It is good for groups in the summer or a date. You can go big with appetizers, meal and dessert or go cheap with a burrito or sandwich. Really for around 6 bucks for a steak burrito you can't go wrong. The plates are authentic and delicous too! I have never been disappointed from Irazu.
(5)B C.
This is an excellent byob dinner option, especially when it's warm and the patio is open. I had some out-of-town visitors stopping by for dinner and we were in the mood for something other than traditional American fare, casual but not divey, and regionally authentic. Irazu fit all those criteria. The menu has a wide range of vegetarian options and meat-loaded options, which should satisfy everyone at the table. I'm new to Costa Rican cuisine, but I liked everything I had here. More specifically, I got the steak casado and we shared an order of plantains and chips with pico de gallo. The casado, allegedly a very traditional dish, was a full flavored and hearty meal that was big enough for leftovers to-go. They cover a lot of food groups on that one plate: fruits, veggies, meat, grains... it all combined to taste like what I imagine Costa Rica would ideally taste like. The restaurant carries itself at a manageable volume so that you can still hold a conversation and the waitstaff was patient with our questions. Overall a great option for a laid back dinner with friends.
(4)Kateryna G.
Food: 1/5. We had empanadas, ceviche and veggie casado. Everything was very underwhelming. The only thing I liked was the cheese empanada. Ceviche was very watery and bland. Our vegetarian option was completely tasteless. Complementary salsas are bad too. Service: 4/5. We were seated right away and our waitress was attentive. Overall: 2/5. Underwhelming food, won't go back.
(2)Molly H.
From starters to entree and the oatmeal shake-loved it all. Shrimp and veggie platter was great and healthy. Plantains were out of this world. Chicken Empanadas were some of the best I've had. Vibe and music are great--excited to see what it is like in the summer months and warm weather!
(5)Carmen C.
Visited here in September 2014. Bf and I were visiting Chicago and staying at an apartment less than 50m away from Irazu. The owner of the apartment had raved about the restaurant, but I filed it in the "if we get around to it" part of the Chicago food list. We ended up there on our last night in town. And I'm so glad that we ate there! The food was cheap, fresh, and delicious! Bf ordered the Guy Fieri combo (oatmeal shake, chifrijo, and sandwich) and I ordered one of the Costa Rican dinners. We had so much food leftover... And we were so sad to leave it behind since we had an early flight the next day. It's BYOB with no corkage fee. We saw a table announcing they had leftover wine and seeing if anyone else would enjoy it. Just a really great casual, friendly atmosphere. If I'm ever in Chicago again, I'll be back!
(5)Javier C.
If you want to know what authentic central american cooking tastes like, this is THE place to go! Where to start? Mmm, well when you walk in it seems almost like you left Chicago and went directly to Costa Rica for an hour trip or so. The decor of the restaurant is unbelievable, the feel is relaxing, and environment is very chill. The drinks came in glass jars, the music selection was great, and the food was even better! Best plates at a restaurant that ive ever had (& for the price too). I ordered el hombre casado plate, and was a perfect example of what costa rican food is about. Also ordered chifrijo, empanadas, and yuca. Would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking to satisfy their taste buds :]
(5)Mitir P.
the food at the restaurant is decent the manager is awful delivery is the worst 3 times we ordered delivery or should say attempted to order 3 times they failed us we ordered at 720 and and they called us at 930 or should i say we called and they had nothing to say would not even refund the money had to go to credit card update now the manager is lying and saying its a new delivery guy but the person i talked to before said they lost our order 3 times you are out
(1)Kajal P.
Came here for dinner for with family and my fiancé, Great food, never tried Costa Rican food before, but from the yelp reviews posted we thought to give it a try. Definitely a good idea to try it. And the biggest reason to try it other than reviews....IT WAS ON DINERS DRIVE INS AND DIVES! If that doesn't get you to try it...I don't know what will.
(5)Aaron Jae M.
Came here with some friends to check the place out. I thought for the longest time it was Japanese because of the name, I was very wrong. The appetizers were probably the best part. The chifrijo and ceviche were amazing and I could not get enough of them. I also ordered the chorizo burrito (with guacamole for only an extra fifty cents) and it was delicious except it was incredibly greasy and oily as they used mexican chorizo instead of spanish chorizo.
(4)Annie B.
Great BYOB spot. Cash only. Really good prices and in a fun neighborhood that I personally don't get to too often. Everyone's favorite pepito sandwich is tasty but so is the casado platter (I get it with tilapia). Share empanadas with the table. Stop by the wine store across the street.. They have some good beers that go well with the food and the people who work there are always helpful.
(4)Caryn M.
I hosted my best friend's 40th birthday party in the private room at Irazu for 15 people back in September. The entire process from planning to executing the dinner was seamless. The food was amazing and we had our own private host, Josh, who kept the flow of the night perfectly. He was knowledgeable about the food, funny, and checked in with me about our needs on a regular basis. Also, Henry at Irazu helped with all of the initial planning and was prompt in returning my phone calls and e-mails. It was really a perfect night at a great price!
(5)Michelle L.
Amazing! You MUST try this place!! Everything that I've had has been incredibly tasty! I've tried the chicken Casado, the vegetarian burrito, the sandwiches, empanadas, everything and I mean everything was delicious. The prices for the empanadas are a little high, they are quite smaller than normal.. But I can't say enough good things about this place. I've read a lot of reviews about the shakes, specifically the oatmeal ones, and its on my checklist to try next.
(5)Andy V.
I'll keep it short and simple. The hype around this place does not do it justice! Both the food and the service were on point. Visiting Chicago for a week and this was on our 'must visit' list and it did not disappoint. Portions were very generous for the price and all 6 items we had were outstanding.
(5)Lara T.
This place is oh-so-good. No corkage fee for wine, it's cash only, and it has a lovely nice outdoor spot. If you can get in on the prix fixe, do it. Let the staff recommend their favorites and then have a good time.
(5)Kevin Q.
Its few and far between when you find a costa rican restaurant and this one is ethnically legit.
(4)Danie G.
Loved this place. Have not had Costa Rican food since I was in Costa Rica a few years back, but definitely felt it represented the simple but lovely dishes we enjoyed in Costa Rica (just lacking the amazing fish and fruit Costa Rica has to offer!) We ate way too much, but that's because we wanted to try a little or everything. Service was prompt and helpful and we sat on the porch, which was a really nice way to spend an afternoon, they didn't rush us and let us enjoy our meal.
(5)Pete M.
This place is one of my favorites as such deserves my first Yelp review. For years my girl friend and I stop in every time we are in the area. We are always greeted like family and have never been disappointed by our food choices. Our favorites among the many good options on the menu are: Empanadas- (black bean,beef & potato, spinach & cheese) Plantains - always soft & sweet Pepito sandwich - (steak but chicken is also good) I would definitely recommend this and often do. This is a great date spot & remember it's BYOB. Hope this helps enjoy!!
(5)Robert S.
finally went here for our second time for dinner and this time we actually planned to go here and try it again so glad we did this place is BYOB and friends we went with draught beer and wine and there is no cork fee here last time we went here it was just a fluke we were out walking around the area and were getting hungry so we stopped and got a sandwich it was good and filling full of flavor now this time around I wanted to sit back have a beer bullshit with my friend and eat a meal yes, yes, yes I know a sandwich can be a meal maybe if it's lunch but not for my dinner anyways you get what I mean one again the service was great, no sooner did we have the wine out and the waiter was there opening it up for us, and when we asked for time to look over the menu he wasn't right back in 45 seconds asking again Ordered up the Casado with steak rice and black beans it also comes with a coleslaw salad that was refreshing and tasty the steak was nice and tender and the onions were perfectly cooked I could go for another plate of Casado right now my mouth is watering just thinking of last nights dinner we also got a few empanadas to take with up home the didn't make it though had to eat them on the L on the way home, dang I could go for 5 or 7 empanadas also right now ok time to go find some lunch
(4)Beatriz T.
Finally popped in here to eat after getting out of work early on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon! Service was kind of slow, but it was lunch time and I wasn't in a hurry so I don't know if it's always like this. Only thing I didn't like that I ordered was the empanadas. They tasted kinda like ones you buy in the frozen food section. The Chifrijo (an authentic starter of black beans mixed with fried pork and diced veggies), served with chips was very delicious. We ordered the small and it was huge. I definitely had more than enough to take home with me. I went with the Pepito sandwich which is one of their specialties. It's a steak or chicken (your choice) sandwich with sauteed onions, cheese and this delicious spicy Lozano sauce. Food is good, prices are reasonable, it's BYOB and has a nice vibe. CASH ONLY! I'm a fan and look forward to coming back to try some more of the food on their menu.
(4)Tony R.
I've eaten at Irazu from the beginning - when it was just a hole in the wall where the artsy crowd use to congregate, to it's now somewhat devolved atmosphere of a party time restaurant that is overly lively. I usually enjoy the meals I've had there, it's pretty good comfort food. Nothing amazing, just hearty and satisfying. Usually they get it mostly right, but I have to say that my newest experience here was a little different. I asked the inexperienced waiter what the sauce was on my plate, and he said he didn't know... Ok, maybe do some research and find that out when a customer asks? It seems like much of the waitstaff here is now young and inexperienced, which is slightly different than how things were when it was more of a mom and pop operation. Secondly, it was very loud in the restaurant. There was a table full of tecate-drinking young ladies that was extra loud, plus, everyone was speaking loudly to be able to hear themselves over them as a result. Compounding this were crashing noises from the back kitchen that were very loud, and the fact that the restaurant has nothing but flat reflective surfaces means that sometimes you just wish things were a little quieter so you could actually have an intimate conversation there. It's not much better outside either - what can you expect when the crowd is so animated... I will still come here for the food but the atmosphere sometimes leaves a bit to be desired.
(4)Lily Z.
The food was tasty. A little bit salty and oily, but still good. The service was alright but the wait was super long. We easily waited about 30 minutes. There were only 2 tables and we were the second one. The casado was good. I didn't like the amount of oil I found at the bottom of my plate. The grilled steak was a little too salty. The plantains were good! Plus the egg was good as well. Egg yolk over anything is good. My friend got the vegetarian paella, which was disappointing. It wasn't a real paella. I've had real paella in Spain and this was like a spiced jambalaya. He didn't seem to like it either, but he didn't want to waste food. His was overly oily as well. However, I did like their lime tea. It was perfectly refreshing on a warm summer day. Also, we ordered a small horchata. I thought they would put cinnamon at the bottom of the horchata cup but I guess that's not standard at all places? Don't forget, CASH ONLY. The other table had to walk out and get money to pay their bill.
(2)James C.
I have never had Costa Rican cuisine before coming to Irazu but given the fact that I have a personal goal to try as many different types of cuisine as possible in 2014, it was an easy choice. I was not surprised that this turned out to be a positive life decision. Our server was attentive and courteous, the food came out hot and fresh (and quickly to boot), and the Pepito is definitely one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Next time, I will have to work up a bigger appetite to try one of the dinners. Despite getting sat down at the table nearest the restroom and listening to drunk hipsters' disbelieving bitching about how could there possibly be a line to a one-seater bathroom, which is a perfect way to ruin your vibes, I withhold no stars for our placement. As it was once said on The Wire: "Life just be that way I guess." In any case, I can't wait to come back because I'm already craving some gallo pinto.
(5)Matt K.
BYOB. Inexpensive. Unassuming. Get a Steak sandwich, Plantains, and an Oatmeal Shake.
(4)Patrick D.
Beautiful presentation Great welcoming host willing to split up or party to help us eat quicker. Now the food : my party of nine ate a good chunk of the menu and enjoyed every bite The Costa Rican iced coffee was massive don't day I didn't warn you. The special sauce is sublime. The yucca was smaller sliced than I had hoped and was disappointing. The pepito was on point Casado was tasty amazing The Tico was huge and filling
(5)Jeffrey M.
Loved the Costa Rican Dinners, Great BYO. We didn't realize this was a byo, but it worked great because the host not only told us where to go, but recommended we get rum to mix with the fresh juices they have for mixing. We started with the Chifrijo, the mixture of pork and veggies with the chips was fantastic. I took the recommendation from the server to order the grilled steak and my wife got the El Tico. The meat was seasoned perfectly and I loved the sweet plantains. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Benny D.
Just went to this place last night with some friends and the food was great! Had the Pepito Sandwich and some tacos. The best part is you can bring your own beer and there's no corkage fee. The waitress was friendly and fun and helped open our bottle and brought us a ice bucket for the rest of the beers. I'll definitely be back soon especially in the spring for the open patio.
(4)Aimee L.
3.5 stars overall. Ate here with a couple of friends, one of whom is from Costa Rica. She said the simple seasonings and offerings here are pretty similar to what can be found in Costa Rica. FOOD/DRINK: * Chifrijo: highly recommended; similar to chips and salsa and with meat and beans * Casado: pretty good, but I would try something else next time; rib eye, onions, rice, beans, plantains, egg, cabbage salad; large portion, but the overload of onions and cabbage salad seemed like filler and not well proportioned * Shake (with some kind of fruit from Costa Rica): highly recommended; delicious; pretty sure they also added oatmeal, which made it extra filling and good SERVICE: good; no complaints AMBIANCE: At first we thought the seating area when walking in was the only option, which were iron tables and chairs, a covered area heated with large heaters, but a little unfriendly... especially in the cold Chicago winter. We were happy to see the area of indoor seating towards the back. Cozy, but colorful and warm. PARKING: I think it's just metered street parking, which we found easily on a weekday late afternoon. Overall, I would eat here again.
(3)A C.
I love this little place! Best Costa Rican food anywhere! Their plantains reminds me of whenever I travel and theyre to die for! You'll appreciate how tasty is the food. Its truly a gem.
(5)Beth R.
Recently I found myself in Irazu for lunch on a chilly February Saturday. When I say "in" I mean inside the outside seating area. It's not cozy, but I guess if it means seating double the people and eliminating waits, I guess it's okay. Most people kept their coats on and tried not to think about how the average high in February in Costa Rica is 76 degrees. But I digress. We started with the chips, which were good but not great. Unfortunately, I ate many, many of them anyway. We also ordered the chifrigo, vegetarian style, and it was good. I appreciate any time beans are whole and not refried, and the avocado and pico tasted fresh. I also appreciate any time my husband will acquiesce and order something without pork just for little ol' me. Since I'd had a dream the night before about a fish taco truck, I had those on the brain. I ordered the tilapia taco platter, which was great, except it arrived with a mountain of onion on top. It was easy to remove, (I am an anti-onionite) and then what was left was simple and great: tortilla and a decent amount of fish. The sides were plantains, rice and beans (again, not refried - yay!) and cabbage slaw. It was a happy plate. Then, in spite of the chilly weather, my hearty companion ordered an oatmeal shake. He offered me a little and man, was it good. Really sweet - possibly too sweet - and cinnamony and addictive. Worth getting cold belly for. I was surprised to see that some people drink them along with their meal instead of after, but to each his or her own. The other thing to note is that they are cash only. This is inconvenient for me, as I am from the future and already live in a cashless society, but luckily my husband had some cash. I believe there is an ATM in the inside-inside if you are in need. Overall, a solid 3.5.
(4)Isis S.
I had been wanting to try this place for what seems like forever and finally my wish came true when my friends decided to have this be the venue for their baby shower. OMG the food was unbelievably delicious! I got to sample a little bit of everything. ..from the platano maduros, to a chicken and veggie mixture, steak and onions and a delicious white rice with black beans, pieces of what looked like lechon (pork), tomatoes, and yummy goodness. I was very satisfied with the food options. The food was full of flavors! I loved that this place is BYOB , so I will def be coming back to have that experience. The only downfall was that this place, which is pretty small, only has ONE bathroom. Mind you this baby shower consisted of about 60 people and I just can't imagine how crazy it would be if this place was open during regular business hours (they're closed on Sundays- but are allowed to rent it out for private parties, as we did) and have it be busy and only have ONE bathroom on site :/
(4)Alex M.
I'm not really gonna provide any new insight that the last 1000 people neglected to point out. I'm just gonna say that the food is so good that you only stop eating when you realize that another bite will literally, and I do mean literally, cause you to throw up. And that would be a monumental waste, right? Also, everyone is right about the oatmeal shakes. So bomb. Bring some whiskey for a reeeeeal party. BYOB and CASH ONLY.
(5)Nekia N.
My friend brought me to this place today and I'm thoroughly impressed. The food was HOT just like I like it and very flavorful. I had the Shrimp & Vegetables. Everything on the menu looked delicious I can't wait until he takes me back again.
(4)Tony P.
I must commend this place on the 'ambiance' - very upbeat, inviting, party-ish. Great place to enjoy a few drinks and eat some food with friends. The 3 stars are for poor service. We arrived at the restaurant at 7:15pm, and were not seated until 9ish. Granted, we had a party of 7, but instead of placing 2 tables together, they waited for 2 consecutive tables to become open. The waiter was rude, and unaccommodating. Despite the reviews on Yelp, I found the food to be so-so. Not deserving of any hype.
(3)Jake B.
As you walk by this restaurant, the festive music plays and entices you into an culinary escape. With copious amount of outdoor seating, a warm summer night is the ideal time to go. I found the food to be adequately seasoned and the portions satisfying. The yucca was not the best but the shakes are worth making the trip to Irazu by themselves. I got the guanabana shake and it was surprisingly bland. However, my friend got the house specialty "oatmeal" shake (I know, sounds a little strange but texturally is a treat) with banana. The shakes are an amazing dinner drink or great for dessert. Vegetarians can eat here but is a carnivorous happy-place. BYO is o.k. and parking is hit or miss. The only thing missing from this establishment is sand for you to plant your feet while you eat.
(4)Taylor S.
Very good with a nice outdoor patio and BYOB, but not ideal when a BYOB runs out of ice for your water and to chill your beer during the summer - they said this happens a lot at the end of the summer, so I highly suggest investing in a new ice maker. Fried plantains with garlic were good, but the garlic sauce was a little intense (mostly just strait minced garlic and oil). Great empanadas - especially beef and potatoes
(3)Sean B.
This is one of those joints that you might walk by a hundred times and never notice, but it is worth a visit or two. Serving up Costa Rican and Caribbean specialties, Irazu is probably best known for their stellar shakes. Every flavor is excellent and especially refreshing after a trip to the gym or working in the yard. Everytime I've eaten here, I feel like I empty a bottle of hot sauce to contrast the bland, but hearty servings. The service is extremely friendly which more than offsets the average food. NOTE: They only take cash, so make sure you hit an ATM beforehand.
(3)Jean C.
Double fried plantains with garlic oil dip. If that was the last thing I ate on earth, I would die happy. They were decadent and garlicky. Two things that are fantastic by me. We also got the Costa Rican beef sandwich and that was delicious. I could taste a hint of curry but I don't know if there truly is any. We have eaten here before and was pleased with the food but this second time was so much more. And it was delivered! The food was still hot and the delivery guy was pleasant. It was only the coldest day so far of the year! I highly recommend Irazu for any meal of the day. Or a snack. Whichever you chose, you will love it!
(5)Lucy M.
I highly recommend the Patacones for an appetizer. They're fried green plantains covered with roasted garlic oil. You can get them with pureed black beans which I also recommend. Servers/staff are all great and seem happy to make recommendations.
(4)Ricky B.
Id give 3 1/2 stars if I could. The food has always been just ok, its a really great place to sit outside though when the weather is nice. The oatmeal banana shakes are really good, but sometimes it seems like they miss and add to much ice or something.
(3)Happy Mama M.
Highly recommend it! Great food- not like standard fair that you can get anywhere. Good service. Very fun place for casual dinner.
(5)Timothy M.
I'm still full, three days later. I'm really surprised that this place totally lived up to all the good things that everyone said about it. What a gem. The staff is friendly, it's BYOB, and the food is absolutely incredible! The Taco Ticos are so good, I've never had anything like them. I got the Milanesa dinner for $12.50, which the menu describes as "thinly breaded steak topped with white cheese & tomato sauce served with yellow rice, pinto beans, plantains & salad". Damn straight! Tons and tons of food, the plantains dipped in beans were out of this world. As everyone commented, the Oatmeal Shake is a must. I wonder if these count towards a nutritious breakfast. Having places like Irazu is what I like most about living in the city. The true uniqueness of the cuisine goes well the great execution. The restaurant runs smoothly, despite being ridiculously sought after and busy. I will definitely be back!
(5)Coco C.
i tried this place for the first time, getting a few pepito sandwiches and an oatmeal soy shake. killer food. highly recommend.
(5)Steph P.
Whoa, there are 280 reviews?! Maybe because this is the epitome of the family-owned neighborhood gem. Last January, I went to Costa Rica, and being the food enthusiast that I am, was a bit disappointed that CR is not exactly a culinary mecca. Everywhere we went, we ate the traditional Costa Rican meal: casado (some meat, beans, rice, egg, plantains, and a wimpy salad). So naturally, when my friend found out about the sole Costa Rican restaurant, we HAD to eat there during my visit, and I HAD to have the casado. My friend had the tilapia casado, which was perfect - light, lemony, and fresh tasting. I opted for the beef asado - AWESOME. You could tell the beef had been marinated in citrus and spice for a long time because the flavor was in your face and the meat super tender. Not to mention this was a HUGE portion, easily feeding two with everything on the plate. Our plantains were perfectly crisped, the traditional rice fluffy and well-seasoned. Another friend had the potato tacos, which came out totally unlike what we expected - more like rolled up taquitos than what tacos bring to mind. But she thought they were also good and very filling. For old times' sake, my fellow travel companion and I got the guanabana shake with mango and papaya (respectively)...refreshing with plenty to share (or not!). On the whole, the meal was much better than some of the casados we had in CR! My friend has been there several times and says that there is some inconsistency (like the tilapia was not so fresh, the plantains more soggy the last time she went), but on the whole that Irazu is pretty darn good. A great casual spot for two or a very small group...Bring a big appetite (or a friend to share with to save even more on the moderate prices)!
(5)Natalie J.
after eating here several more times and after they catered my friend's wedding (best wedding food ever), i am now in love with irazu. one of my favorite restaurants in chicago actually. i bike by it every day and it smells so so so good. and it's real tasty and reasonably priced. perfect guacamole. delicious sandwiches and burritos. go here!
(5)Theresa C.
The vegetarian burrito here is amazing. I've had trouble moving past it to try all of the other delicious items on the menu. I was so jazzed when they started delivering. I also really like dining in. It's BYOB, during the summer they have a nice little outside seating area and the service is always really good. They are friendly and just as excited about the food as I am, which I love. They have this salsa verde that's out of this world. It's so spicy, but for some reason I can't make myself stop eating it. It's usually pretty packed, and sometimes if you come in too late they will be out of certain items, but it's just because it's so great.
(4)Desiree K.
Once upon a time, the stretch of Milwaukee between Armitage and Willow was lonely, its only companions were tenements where buzzers didn't work. There were no Chuck Taylor-wearing people with plastic glasses, and Lincoln Park was the coolest place on earth. A little green shack stood at the corner of Moffat and Milwaukee, a long grill sizzling with casado, bistec teco, milanesa and tacos of all shapes and sizes. Nobody knew it was the only place in Chicago that served genuine Costa Rican food! But then "Check, Please" came a-calling and the Food Hound Steve Dolinsky knocked a knick-knack-paddy-wack on the doors and soon, everyone knew that milkshakes with flavours like oatmeal, guanabana, mamey and cornmeal existed, that yuca with mojo (aromatic fried garlic) was a blessing from heaven, that grilled onions gracing a fried steak was the freshest breath of air anyone could inhale. The lines grew, as did the waiting time for a Formica-topped table, on weekends, giving new meaning to Latin time. But as you stand the enveloped in the aroma of grilling meats of various cuts and sizes, and freshly fried tortilla chips bop by under your nose, it's like your appetite is on steroids and goes from Barry Bonds circa 1997 to 2007 in two minutes. And it's OK, you don't mind, because you like to see the moms and pops do well. Everyone lives happily ever after, and the moral of the story is to save room for all the sides that arrive on your platter -- the cabbage slaw in tangy vinegar and black beans rice is as happy of a fairy tale ending as the main entree.
(5)Alyssa V.
I love their yucu topped with mojo-- you can get it boiled for fried (I like boiled) and huge chunks of garlic everywhere! Can't beat that! They are very veggie friendly, too.
(4)jennifer b.
Recommendations: oatmeal chocolate shake. I've had the burrito and vegetarian special here before, both were excellent and *inexpensive*. Friends have had the potato tacos and report that they are good as well. Also, if your dish doesn't come with them, be sure to get a side of the fried plantains! Yum!
(4)L L.
I am so in love with everything Irazu, I think about it and it makes me happy. There's so much good but what drives me absolutely crazy are their Patacones, specifically the mojo that comes on top. I don't know what the hell they do to that garlic but no other place comes close. The green plantains are fried perfectly, the garlic is delicious and I ask for extra so I can put some in my Pepito...mmm Pepito. Beans, lizano, steak, cheese. grilled onions, hot peppers, avocado...its so good. I am addicted and love it and want to eat it every day. love irazu love love love.
(5)Yogi B.
WOW! I was just here the other day and I was IMPRESSED! They could use about 5 times the space, but the food was wonderful and well priced. I went there on a Monday night with a party of 4 total. Don't plan to be seated quickly as this place ROCKS any day of the week (if our Monday outing was any indication). They have VERY few tables. We ended up at one of the high "bar tables" near the windows. They really aren't for more than 3 people, but we squeezed in. It was worth the wait! We had a GREAT time! The food was WONDERFUL. The service was prompt (with a minor glitch--they forgot to take a drink order with the meal order and as busy as it was, it took us a few minutes to point this out to them). I had the chile relleno dinner which was very nice. Milder than I'd like, but I'm a SPICE FANATIC! One of our group had Yuca con ajo (I think--Yuca roasted with garlic)--it was YUMMY! I also had a side of a couple of their Costa Rican Tacos. They were interesting. I'd never have expected them to be basically like Mexican taquitos (rolled & deep fried) with meat inside & lettuce & ketchup & mayo on top--YES, YOU READ RIGHT, Ketchup & Mayo)! They were actually quite tasty. One of our group had the steak with grilled onions--WOW, what a PILE of onions! The plantains were scrumptious also. I'll definitely return. It was a VERY pleasant evening! Our two out of town friends were very impressed.
(5)Benjamin H.
I guess with the utter lack of time and patience spent in the general Wicker Park and Ukranian Village neighborhoods, it's no wonder I never had the luxury of having a meal at Irazu. There was so much talk of this place over the years, I finally found out what it was all about. My girlfriend and myself stopped by after she raved about the delicious Costa Rican food. Upon entering, I immediately felt at ease with the smell of fried plantains and tortillas. Our server sat us and I spent the next ten minutes pouring over the menu. So many exotic and delicious options not seen at your neighborhood taqueria. I chose the Gallo Pinto breakfast special with eggs overeasy and plantains. My girlfriend had the notorious veggie burrito. The Gallo Pinto was pretty much no frills, but exactly what I wanted for breakfast on a cold winters day. The amalgumation of eggs, beans, rice and plantains are something truly special that I feel I could eat every day. I can see why so many Latin American cultures have subsided on such dishes for the last thousands of years; it just tastes so good and fills you up. I wasn't blown away, but really loved it nonethless. The veggie burrito I tried was also excellent and a really nice balance of flavors. I finished it off with a dark and strong cup of Costa Rican coffee...black. It was divine. Overall, a great spot, with homely service, excellent prices and very solid food. I'd definitiely check it out the next time i'm in the neighborhood.
(4)Edward K.
this place is "kinda" a hidden gem. although its located on Milwaukee ave its not near the hub of Bucktown/Wickerpark, so many people never know! Food is great! simple and authentic. They are pretty good about delivery times and service is A-OK as well. For the $ this is defiantly a bang for your buck! I would highly recommend for a quick bite!
(4)Anjee J.
Howwww have I not reviewed this place yet?!? I'll get to the point, since I'm sure others have said it all: - GREAT veggie burritos and tacos. Half a burrito or two tacos are more than enough food for one person. I always ask for my hot peppers on the side, though, as they can overpower the taste of the whole thing. I'm usually a huge fan of hot peppers, but theirs are different than what I'm used to. They're kinda growing on me, though. - The oatmeal shakes are a must in the summer. A must. I like mine just plain, but the oatmeal-banana one is also great. My boyfriend had a non-oatmeal mango smoothie once that was also really good. They are HUGE (if you get them in the take out container) and very filling (duh, it's oatmeal) so I would reccomend splitting one with another person. - I was kinda drunk when I had my first actual dinner here (love that no corking fee), but I do remember being astounded by how much colorful, flavorful food was piled onto my plate. I loved the cabbage salad that the tilapia tacos came with. It was a little tart and super refreshing. I'd always get it as a side if I could! *hint hint, guys?* - Very attentive, hospitable and unpretentious wait staff that makes you feel like your business is truly appreciated. I come here alot. I always leave happy. Also, despite the fact that the wait can be long, they have a HUGE bench out front that you can hang out and pregame on while waiting to be seated. This only applies to the warmer months, though, so go on weekdays when you can.
(5)Matt L.
Delicious! Went to Irazu a few weeks ago before a concert down the street. BYOB, can't beat that without any corkage fee. The servings are the best part of this joint....absolutely huge!! Went on a Friday night around 6 - 7 and the place was packed...pretty small dining room, I believe we waited around 20 - 25 min to get our table, not too bad and totally worth the wait. Staff was very friendly and attentive for the most part...Cash only however, but nonetheless had a great dinner and a great time. Highly suggest to anyone looking to try something new.
(5)Bridget S.
I've never dined inside, but carry-out is quick and the counter guys are awesome. I could eat a steak sandwich from here every damn day of the week. EDIT: I've dined-in a few times now and it's just as lovely (albeit crowded). A recent remodel of the place makes it all a bit more polished but still the good ol' Irazu we know and heart.
(5)Tom B.
Stopped by for a quick sandwich and plantains to go. I think this might become my favorite sandwich restaurant. Very nice people, good comfort food, and extremely reasonable prices. Some have reported the food can be bland so I suggest the hot peppers. The peppers and avocado made my sandwich tasty. This is not a fine dining establishment, but it is the kind of restaurant where I can see myself being a regular. The parking is a bit of a drag, and the place is a bit small, but I think the food is worth it.
(4)Jillian S.
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!!
(5)Kimberly E.
Living at Milwaukee & Western, Irazu is one of our go-to take out spots for lazy nights, and it's always reliably delicious. Unfortunately, we still haven't tried any of the real entrees, because the sandwiches, burritos, tacos, sides (anything related to a plantain = delicious), and shakes are all so awesome and so affordable. The steak sandwich and steak burrito are particularly good, especially with the "add-ons" of avocado and those great spicy peppers. Service is also always great and friendly, despite the fact that they're constantly slammed. Expect a wait for a table though -- last night (a Tuesday around 8pm) I could barely get in the door to get my take-out! If you live close enough for delivery/pick-up it's a good idea until the patio opens when it's warm out.
(4)Nicholas C.
What a tasty place. Like another one of my favorite restaurants in not too distant area, our meals arrived heaping with vegetables. Now I like fruit veggies just fine, never have avoided them, but I tend to prefer, you know, the stuff thats really good (meat) or the by-product of vegetables and fruit (beer, wine.) What can I say? I'm a dude. In this case I found myself gobbling up most of the veggies and leaving most of the meat to be boxed up when we left. They were just too good to leave for later. Don't be fooled though these probably aren't the most healthy things you'll eat, they came prepared in a fair amount of oil and seasoning, but they sure where tasty. The one complaint I had was the service. Once we got a waitress everything moved along quickly. But we were sitting for 10 or 15 minutes before anyone brought us any water, which was a little disappointing since we'd been waiting 20 minutes for a table in the heat. After we got our water it was another 10 minutes or so before anyone came to take our order. On the plus side our appetizer (ceviche) came really quick. I'll concede they were probably about as busy as they could be but on a hot day I'd have preferred someone dropped two glasses at the table without so much as acknowledging us than waiting for someone to get water and appetizers for us
(4)Christine U.
Delicious food. Kind of a "hole-in-the-wall" place, but not really. Keep in mind that Costa Rican food is not as spiced-up as Mexican food, especially noticeable in their guacamole, which was a bit too bland for me. Other than that, though, the food is terrific! I had the Casado (steak and onions), my hubby had the Milenesa. Both portions were HUGE, we had tons of leftovers. The Gallo Pinto (a unique blend of white rice, black beans, and spices) is really good, went perfectly with the steak and onions. The cabbage salad (cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, beets, cucumbers) that comes with the entree is surprisingly good, and the fried sweet plantains are cooked perfectly. Oh, and try the Oatmeal shake, you won't be disappointed!
(4)Ang R.
Three and a half. Good: The chips. The sweet plantains--and I don't even like plantains. The yellow rice--and the potatoes in the yellow rice. The guacamole--it wasn't necessarily the best in the world, but it had great flavor. The beans--refried? I don't know, but they were goooood. The shake--my boyfriend had a strawberry-banana shake, and I don't like banana and I thought this was good. The bad: The salsas are really, really spicy. I mean, on-fire spicy. The empanada--it was okay. Just not great. Sam's tacos--very, very chunky chicken. Not to his liking. Cash only--sucks. My potato tacos--they just didn't have quite enough flavor. The cabbage salad--this could have been so good had it not been so heavily cilantro'd. We will probably go back every once in a while, and esp. if we're near, because it's very different from what you're normally eating. But I don't know if we'll ever make a special trip out again.
(3)rachel p.
best. chille. rellenos. evar. i also have to respect a place that has chicharron on the menu as an entree. its a ballsy move. they also have a pretty decent selection of vegetarian options. so yeah, fried pork chunks AND veggie choices. food fun for everyone. prices are SUPER reasonable too. around $12 for the average entrees, which are enormous, and under $5 for a sandwich. plus, its byob and there's a liquor store right across the street!
(5)Shannon F.
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.
(5)M V.
This place is great! We love the sandwiches, tilapia, shrimp and most of all the shakes. Try a shake made with lemon and water. Great place
(5)vivian h.
Tasty, tasty. wow, never had Costa Rican food and I'm glad that my friend Silvia introduced me to this place! Try the Casado which is a traditional dish in Costa Rica. Choose the rib eye steak (it's seasoned to perfection) which is caramelized with onions, served with white rice, black beans, sweet plantains, an over easy egg & cabbage salad. And don't forget to add the Gallo Pinto (the white rice and black beans are cooked together with vegetable and spices). Could there be any more food? I had enough left over for lunch the next day. The place feels like a small road side cafe. Totally low key and no frills. The food is the star here. It's also BYOB which is an extra bonus.
(5)Alex K.
Irazu makes me glad I live in the area. The place is small, but the food is great and very fairly priced, especially the sandwiches. BYOB is great. The staff is super friendly and cool every time I call or go in. I've probably eaten their food upwards of 10 times and can't recommend this place enough. This place is what central american food should be. If you're getting tired of the tacos and burritos at western/armitage, take a short stroll east for this treat. I also noticed that their delivery range is extremely huge when I was there last night. They apparently deliver all the way from Irving park to Roosevelt, and from the lake to Pulaski. WOW. You have no excuse not to eat this food! Call them! edit: the owner sent me a message to point out that their delivery range extends all the way up to Montrose now. Luckily I live close enough to get carry-out, but that's impressive!
(5)Jeanelle S.
I'd been meaning to give this place a go for years, so when my gal pals decided to try it for our most recent Girls' Night Out, I was definitely down. A couple of our girls had public transportation woes, so while we awaited their arrival, we snacked on tasty tortilla chips and salsa and the bottle of Sauvignon Blanc I brought. The rest of the crew arrived and we pondered the menu. Two of my friends did their study abroad in Costa Rica so they were loving the experience and couldn't wait to have a culinary trip down memory lane. I just wanted to make sure I ordered something that would be tasty. After asking our server for suggestions, since two of my friends ordered the Casado, I opted for the grilled steak and a side of the gallo pinto. Boy was it good. The steak was *slightly* oversalted, but overall magically delicious and perfectly cooked. It was served with two stalks of chargrilled green onions, and the side of what seemed to be a mixture of black beans and white rice, sweet fried plantains and a cabbage salad. The whole plate reminded me of other caribbean food (like Jamaican and Trini) but with a decidedly latin slant. With generous portions, BYOB and tasty food, I'll definitely be back. I wanna try the sandwiches and empanadas I keep reading about!
(4)Meredith H.
My friends and I love it here! There is not one person I have taken here who has not been back again! The food is delicious and affordable and the people are always friendly! Plus, you can't beat the byob policy. I have never been disapointed when I have eaten here (or gotten delivery) and even first came here because, after studying abroad in Costa Rica, I was in search of some delicious Costa Rican food. It was spot on (no surprise since the owners are from there). I LOVE the Casada and recommend it to anyone as well as the oatmeal shake!!
(5)natalie b.
Awesome! Good food and great service.
(5)Michelle R.
AMAZING shakes try the Oatmeal it's like a spice cookie! All the flavors are great! The ceviche is great, the quac is yummy and the veggie burrito is my favorite! well priced! You will wait for a table... get it to go and walk to the nearby park just to the NE.
(5)Emily S.
Worth the wait. I went on a Saturday night. I was with three other people. We had to wait about an hour and a half to two hours, but it was totally worth it. Plus we had our wine and chips and salsa to keep us occupied. I split the grilled steak and chicken burrito with a friend. The grilled steak was delish. I wasn't as impressed with the chicken burrito, but will try it again with steak.
(5)Ade Z.
Yummy! Great food. Small place so dont expect anything that you wouldn't get at a diner. THE SALSA that comes with the EMPANADAS is the best ( per the bf). and the entrees are a good size and the drinks are yummy. over all i would def go back when im in the mood for Cuban sandwhich and some spanish talking waitress :)
(3)Jessica J.
The food was yummy and so inexpensive! We sat outside on a warmer November night which was really nice and plenty warm with the space heaters. It's a nice stop before heading to Map Room, Danny's or any other nearby bars.
(4)Jarod P.
When I'm not eating a Costa Rican sandwich from Irazu, I'm thinking about eating one. Part of me wants to get a bottle of this "lizano" sauce that makes it so awesome, so I can put it on everything and make everything awesome, but then it wouldn't be special.
(5)Crystal M.
I like Irazu, but I think people are a tad over-zealous about it. I will say that I don't eat chicken or beef, so maybe I am missing out on some exciting dish that makes it make sense. The veggie burrito is nothing special. It's just a tortilla with rice, beans, avocado, and lettuce basically. I could just assume go to picante and not have to wait for 30 minutes first. I do really enjoy that breakfast dish they have with an egg and some rice/bean mix w/ plantains. Everything else, including the chips and "salsa" (in a squirt bottle) are whatever. I go there, but it certainly doesn't excite me. There's a long wait; the ambiance is, well there isn't one, and the service is indifferent.
(3)Matt R.
This place was good. Tried some empanadas and garlic tostones/plantains. The empanadas were decent, but my tostones were way, WAY too garlicky (and by the way, I love my garlic!). Otherwise, the menu seemed to have a very good selection and the outdoor patio seating was a plus. Also, make sure you bring cash, this place does not except credit/debit.
(3)R J.
Stopped in this place for carry out and was very impressed. I had the steak sandwich with onions and hot peppers and it was absolutely delectable. Also the guy taking my order was super helpful and friendly. The place has a great atmosphere as well. I will be going back for sure.
(4)Libby T.
the bomb.com
(5)Ali A.
I only give this place three stars because I am not a fan of salsa in bottles. I do however love their guacamole. I also had an oatmeal and banana shake.. It was really good but it is a lot of dairy. I suggest getting it with soy milk. They have a large menu and from what I could tell they are always pretty busy. Another downfall is that they are cash only.
(3)Jon L.
Delcious. BYO. Great Staff.
(5)Grace L.
I have a new favorite condiment to add to my list of favorite condiments. Get a sandwich doused in Lizano sauce. Yum.
(4)Lisa A.
Oatmeal Milkshake! I've tried remaking the experience at home but nothing beats an Irazu oatmeal milkshake.
(4)Jaclyn G.
If you haven't been to Irazu, what are you waiting for? Irazu is a unique, wonderful place. While it is rather small inside, they have great outdoor seating during the warmer months and their food is sure not to disappoint. I would highly recommend the Chicken & Rice. Order it extra spicy (if you like spicy things). It is beyond fantastic and not only will leave you full, but ensure that you have extra to take home. And while their portions are more than enough, don't overlook the oatmeal shake. Oatmeal Shake?? Yes, it may sound a bit strange, but try it!! It is unlike any drink I've ever had before and beyond memorable. Yum!
(5)c g.
An area staple, been eating here for over 10 years. Some of my friends think they are greasy. I like it.
(4)Nicholas K.
I may just be a silly Southern boy, but I still can't stop thinking about the mango shakes they serve here. And the hot perfect green salsa they serve from a ketchup bottle. Enormous sandwiches dripping with avocados and other Guatemalan goodies. Plantains. And all the cool Wicker Park folk that eat there, hipster musicians and such (maybe too turn of the century knowledge?)... Just a great place for lunch or dinner or for sitting outside after another Cubs day game victory!
(5)Gia T.
Would like to say that it is more than amazing food that makes this restaurant one of my favorites in the city, it's their appreciation to their customers. After learning about a mistake with an order that my coworkers and I put in, the owner and staff went above and beyond to make it right and make us happy, even personally delivering yummy shakes to work as an apology. Irazu, you definitely have proven why you are a successful restaurant and one of Chicago's staples, and I will be a lifetime customer!
(5)Marc S.
This is a terrific place for party food. Irazu just helped me to host 16 people. People unanimously loved the food. My company loved the price. I was thrilled with the people and quality of service. Irazu is as good as it gets for quality, price, service and ease to work with. (And yes, the empanadas and veggie offerings are excellent!)
(5)Katie H.
Annoyed would be too light a word. I'm pee-ist! I'm peeist OFF! Uuughhhhh. Irazu simply took over my entire night. Look I know Thursdays are typically busy restaurant nights and even the most experienced of servers can get swamped...but get this...for the first time in my life I left less than a 10% tip and even then I felt like I was being generous. Wow, Irazu. Just...wow. They had one server working a completely full dining room. Which included a party of twelve and a fair amount of 4 and 2-tops. I was willing to forgive the fact that it took us about 20 minutes to get our order in because the server was dealing with the large party. But then he proceeds to take the orders of tables who had been seated long after us. He finally saunters over to our table (my great-aunt after a hip replacement moves at more of a clip than this guy). No explanation nothing - I'm not saying that he needs to lick our asses but at least have the courtesy to acknowledge that you're horrendously short staffed. His attitude was like, "Yeah, I work here. Feel lucky that I eventually decided to approach you." Food took about 40 minutes to come out. To their credit I managed to get my milkshake early since I was able to put the order in with a busser. That, and the overly greasy tortilla chips, held me over until my food appeared at about 8:30pm. When the food finally gets to you, there will be a lot of it. It's filling and pretty good but it's NOTHING to wait ages over as we did. This isn't the Bongo Room. But if you don't mind wiling away the hours here - at least you'll go home with a second meal. But first it'll take you another 10 minutes to track down a to-go box. I thought I was being smart when I flagged down our server (stopping by the table?! Pah!) and said "Could we please have two to-go boxes and the check?" The check arrives with one to-go box. I asked for another. Nothing came and I watched him bring boxes to another table. I had to get up and walk over to the bus station and get it myself. They should just make this place counter service for fuck's sake. I wasn't surprised when the cashier didn't ask how everything was. So our plans to take an evening bike ride were killed by Irazu's total inefficiency. We were left crabby and overly full on fried food.
(2)Cristina S.
Phenomenal food for a phenomenally low price and BYOB! I highly recommend the ceviche. Cash only.
(5)Amy J.
So good. Go hungry you will leave stuffed. I've never been to Costa Rica but am a lover of all Latin food and was very satisfied. We ordered tostones, which were good, but I like my mojo to be olive oil with garlic in it, this was more of a chunky garlic mixture on top, but it was still really good. We also tried the Aveno milk shake- SO delicious, I had it with soy milk and it tasted like drinking an oatmeal cookie...YUM! Next was the Casado dish with chicken, wow, huge plate of rice and beans with the most tender, yummy chicken with carmelized onions and roasted tomatoes. We left stuffed and happy, and the best part is it's cheap!
(5)Rachel H.
I love Irazu so freaking much. Seriously. The fresh banana milkshake reminds me of the ones my best friend and I used to make when her mom would leave us home alone. The prices are good and the skirt steak entrees are awesome. Good guac. The only complaints: crowded and cash only. Still gets 5 stars from me though!
(5)molly c.
i have two words for you people. OATMEAL SHAKE!!! i know, it sounds like something your grandma would feed you when you were sick...that you would pretend to like, but you really only finished it to make her feel good. but it's the best thing ever. their veggie burrito is the BOMB too, it has mushrooms in it. YUM-tastic. minus one star because their hours are totally random.
(4)Magglio M.
We've been here a few times. It's okay. I guess we should have tried the oatmeal shakes because the rest of the food was average. In our opinion, there are many better BYOBs.
(2)Jim C.
I like the Pepito sandwich
(4)Kate S.
Delicious veggie (and other) options like everyone else mentioned. But: be prepared to wait. And good luck coming with a bigger group over 6+... my table of 6 had to wait quite a while (on a Monday night!), not the best for a big gathering. Definitely go though! Also, lovely staff.
(4)blake d.
The goods: Food is cheap and generous. I've had the pepito ribeye sandwich multiple times (you find a winner and you stick with it). It's $4.50 and huge at that price. Tastes great with it's grilled onions, bean spread, muenster cheese and lizano sauce. Try the oatmeal shake (with milk if you're up to it), it's like a thick horchata. The chips they serve are salty and sometimes stale...but the salsa verde is mighty nice. also, the atmosphere is lacking...mostly just posters from the costa rican board of tourism.
(4)Zachary S.
amazing. order anything. but order an oatmeal milkshake with it. it will change your life. love it.
(5)emily b.
outdoor seating! yay! just discovered this extra perk over the weekend. another awesome meal had here.... our server, omar gave awesome reccomendations too! and those plantains remind me of a trip to puerto rico... yummmm.....what's not to love?
(5)Kitty L.
Do I have a really hard to please palate? After all the hype I've heard about this place (it was on the Food Network for its ice cream-less milkshakes for goodness sakes!), I was thoroughly disappointed. First, the free chips were way over salted and STALE (I'm guess chips aren't served stale in Costa Rico are they?) Second, I had a tamarind milkshake, which I barely took a few sips. It tasted wrong (and trust me, I know what tamarind tastes like having worked in Guadalajara Mexico for several months). Third, I had the chicken and rice dish and found it really bland. Plus, the whole meal left me thirsty for the rest of the day (which is usually a sign that there is MSG in the dishes...or maybe due to the oversalted stale chips). To me, it was spanish rice stir fried with some messily cut chicken breast and some frozen peas and carrots! The big annoyance for me as well is that this place only accepts cash, although the meal can easily run up to $15/person. Despite what other yelpers say, I actually found the service average to good - he was friendly and prompt, nothing to complain about. The atmosphere was simple and kind of reminded me of the Rainforest Cafe without all the darkness and the crazy animal background noises. Having said all this, I could give this place another try if someone was dying to go (what the hell, who can ever turn down milkshakes?)
(2)Janene M.
I enjoyed it. We went during an off-peak hour so did not have to wait for a place to sit. I had ceviche and empanadas. They were very tasty. I had a free coupon for the oatmeal shake, so I tried it. I was NOT a fan. EWWW. You really need to be a fan of oatmeal in order to enjoy it. You need to bring cash, there is an ATM inside but you'll have to pay the fee. We did not know that before we went there. I told them that's something they should put on their website, since a lot of people don't really carry cash.
(4)Jason D.
This place is massive! They have something for everyone. Two thumbs up on the vegetarian friendly steez. The only subpar item I've had there is the guacamole. It could use a little more seasoning. All in all this place is completely worthy of the 4 stars up above. Definitely leave room for a shake when you go!
(4)K W.
Let me just start by saying that I cant wait for summer so I can go back and sit on the patio! On my first visit last fall, I didn't know it was BYO so I came unprepared (luckily was saved by Red & White Wines). We took a seat at the outside bar after deciding not to wait for an inside table and were immediately brought chips and a great salsa. I ordered the Pepito w/ Avocado and the wife ordered a Costa Rican. The food only took about 10 minutes even though they were busy on a Wednesday night. It was amazing. It was my first encounter with Lizano sauce and oh yes, I will be back! Large portions at great prices. Gotta love this little family run restaurant!
(5)Emily S.
I love Irazu. Who doesn't love Irazu? Sweet plantain, spicy peppers and avocado are a few key players in their meals and I couldn't be happier to see them on my plate. There are tons of vegetarian options. Try them all before choosing your favorite. Irazu is going to be on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives next week. I'm happy for them but I sure hope this publicity won't change the awesome food and service that i have been enjoying for the last 3 years. LONG LIVE IRAZU!
(5)Daniel N.
Steak Pepito, Oatmeal Shake, and pick any random app/side... that's all you have to worry about here. One of my favorites in Chicago! The wait on a weekend can get long (avg 1hr) but it's worth it. BYOB and cash only. The other awesome thing is they deliver super far... I live in the South Loop and it takes about an hour to get delivered to my place, pretty fast considering traffic, distance, etc., Tip: watch the Diners Drive In & Dives segment on this place before eating here, it will taste better!
(5)Christine D.
Great BYOB. I typically go with the Casado which is THE Costa Rican dish to get. Love the flavors even down to the little side of cabbage salad. On a recent visit I defected and tried out the Palmito Salad and was not disappointed. Chifrijo starter is good but the pork can be hit or miss and I'm a big fan of all of the empanadas. Service is always fast and friendly. Wish they were open on Sundays!
(4)Jeffrey C.
Irazu became known to me through its gradually increasing recognition as makers of one of the best burritos in America, but I daresay that's the least worthy of the list of things they could be so awarded. First off, Irazu started as a no-reservations joint in a small space, making it ill-conducive for planning ahead parties. They moved locations and started taking reservations, and that's when I visited. Good choices, both. The BYOB policy makes the end of night bill mind-bogglingly wallet-friendly, even if you (as you should) order a fruit shake pitcher to go along with your spirit of choice (generally tequila or rum, if you're still confused). On the shakes, the oatmeal shake is also something that rightfully gets lots of love as well. On the menu, Irazu's chifrijo is tasty and delicious, and can somehow be made vegetarian and still taste pretty good. Of course, yucca chips should be mandatory, and Irazu's delicious mojo (roasted garlic) sauce should be outlawed for being so good. Irazu's burrito includes half of the "rice + beans" equation prevalent in Latin American cuisine, and it is good. I liked it better than other Chicago area luminaries like La Pasadita or L'Patron, but they're still not as good as the San Francisco counterparts. In retrospect, I wish I had ordered the signature casado platter instead. A simple dinner, with sweet plantains. Alas.
(4)John W.
1 extra star for BYOB Had the Cevichi, fried Plantans with Garlic, and some other rice/beans/meat as apps then the skirt steak entre Was pretty underwhelmed by the taste. It appeared more taco standish than Costa Rica food. Maybe I'm actually comparing it to the food I tasted when I was in Costa Rica for 10 days which was very flavorful this was salty and bland. Not sure what all the hype is about with this place
(3)Kristian D.
I had a great dinner at Irazu after a long train journey to Chicago. This restaurant is a perfect fit for the neighborhood serving Latin American food including their famous oatmeal shake. The layout is mainly a large open patio with the kitchen inside the building. This is probably wonderful on a nice evening, but may be a bit intense when the weather is less than perfect. Irazu is BYOB and cash only, so hit the ATM and wine cellar before heading over. We started with chips and a side of pico. The house sauce was very nice, but having the pico de gallo was a great alternative. I ordered the Steak El Tico which was a large platter of grilled steak with rice, beans, and plantains. The flavors were very wonderful and explosive which was refreshing after eating boring food for several days. Dessert was forsaken due to my nearly falling asleep into the plate. I would absolutely come back here, even with some of the challenges. My friend knew the staff, but they seemed good and helpful. Personally, I do not like waiting long for food, so my experience might be different on a more busy night. However, the popularity of the place tells me that enough customers are willing to sacrifice for that oatmeal shake!
(4)Bart S.
Went last night- can't say enough good things about Irazu- place was crowded, service was fast and friendly- food is always A+...lost of choices for my wife, who does not eat meat. I had the steak sandwich, added cheese- perfection. Oatmeal Shake of course- this time it came in a Mason Jar- I guess that was as much as you would get in a Milk Shake glass...
(5)Yvonne B.
Atmosphere at Irazu: ebullient. It was definitely relaxed, casual, and chill. Oh - and NOISY! It was a Monday evening and it was hoppin'! They don't seat people until everyone is there so many folks were lingering outside on the sidewalk. The actual restaurant is teeny tiny so sitting outside was a beautiful relief. The outdoor portion is fully covered, well-lit, and even has some sort of temperature control mechanism. Service: cheerful! The servers were kind of stretched thin; however, they were made recommendations, brought food in a timely manner, were accurate, and were incredibly good-natured! They were also good about bringing us wine glasses, foil for wrapping up my leftovers, and a box and bag for our friend. Food: many of our dishes were excellent. For appetizers we got chifrijo and ceviche. They were both wonderful in different ways. The ceviche was simple, cool and refreshing. The chifrijo was savory, complicated, and had great contrasting textures. I got the Costa Rican sandwich. I liked it, but I was so full from the appetizers that I only took two bites before wrapping it up for later. The other entrees were equally eaten. M didn't like hers and chose not to bring it home. I also got the famous oatmeal shake. It tasted like horchata, only blended. I really enjoyed it. Our meal for three people came to just under $60.
(4)Elyse L.
I don't usually set high expectations when trying 'Triple D' joints, but Irazu totally blew us away. Make sure to bring cash but if you forget like we did, don't fret because they have an ATM on site. We took the CTA blue line here from downtown and from the Western stop it was only a 5 minute walk. Once we sat down and were brought freshly made chips and a green salsa, it took us right back to all the places we love eating at in Mexico. I know it's a Costa Rican restaurant but it truly has an authentic feel is what I'm getting at. I was extremely impressed with how many vegetarian choices they have. We ordered fried yucca with garlic mojo to share as an appetizer and to say I was obsessed with it was an understatement. If you've never had yucca it's a lot like a potato but with a more unique taste. The garlic mojo was the perfect companion as was the green salsa they already had for us on the table. If you come here solely to try what you saw on the show, they have the Guy Fieri special for just that and it's $17. It comes with the pepito sandwich, a small chifrijo, and a 16oz oatmeal shake. For the shake you can choose any milk you want such as soy, regular, vanilla, or even chocolate and they dust the top with cinnamon before serving. My husband went for it feeling adventurous. They first brought out the shake and the small chifrijo which is fried pork, rice, black beans, fresh pico, avocado, and a traditional Costa Rican sauce. Both were perfection and by the time his sandwich and my vegetarian plate came out, we were already pretty full. The veggie plate comes with their vegetable of the day (it was spinach and peppers that day), yellow rice, beans, sweet plantains, and a cabbage salad. I couldn't eat more than a few bites of each item, but we loved it all. My husband fought through being stuffed for the pepito sandwich because he said it was too good to go to waste. It had rib eye steak, cheese, beans, sautéed onions, Costa Rican sauce, and bread that is delivered fresh to them each morning. He added peppers to it for an additional $0.50. I'm bummed that we didn't know about Irazu when we lived there as we would have easily been regulars. You must put it on your to try list if you are in town!
(5)Claudia D.
We've been ordering for delivery rather than going to Irazu. Their delivery area is one of the largest in the city. For that I am grateful! Delivery arrives as scheduled, and is always complete. The ceviche is delicious. Gallo Pinto spicy and the vegetarian cabbage and beet salad are fantastic sides. I like to eat an order of spicy ceviche on a bed of spicy Gallo Pinto. The husband enjoys his chicken sandwich, with a smattering of my Gallo Pinto. Sometimes you must share with loved ones, you know? I highly recommend Irazu.
(4)Jake C.
The server made an excellent recommendation. I wish they used more plantains. Overall it was filling and would like to check it out again!
(4)Nada B.
4 stars over 3 for the atmosphere. the food was solid and definitely tasty but nothing overwhelmingly amazing. Definitely a good meal for a good price. I got the steak burrito and the portion was perfect, leaving me satisfied and not overly full. The outdoor seating area was great. its byob and there was a mix of large and small groups as well as family's, tables of friends, and couples.
(4)Kat L.
4 stars for food. But there's so many other things that bring this place down! You HAVE to scroll to the end if you wanna skip the rest. I made a reservation through Open Table (Yelp says they don't do reservations.) It's the kind of spot that will make you wait until the whole party is there before seating you... And the staff really isn't very friendly. Because we had a questionable number of people for our table (3 with a potential 4th) we slow-rolled our order. The chifrijo was really good! Beautiful presentation, but very skimpy on the amount of meat/chicharron and avocado that's in it. A great started to share. 30 minutes after our appetizer, we order our entree. After 45 minutes, we still didn't get our order! the waiter was not apologetic, and seemed angry when we inquired. We got a, "Duh! I'm already working on it!" We ordered a ceviche (You don't even cook that! it's marinated!), a shrimp and avocado salad (6 shrimps, which was 10% of the entire plate. cheap and deceiving! $12 plate over red onions and cabbage.. pff.), and the Pepito Sandwich. We expressed our concern over a 45 minute wait on 2 appetizers and a sandwich. The waiter said, "I'm sorry, there's 4 tickets ahead of you." Which felt sooo shady because tables seated an hour after us were fed, boxed, and out before we even got our entree. No apologies from the server. We did try the epic oatmeal shake. Just think horchata with a thicker consistency. Anyhow. The ambience was great, but the service was horrible. The waiter was nonexistent. We arrived at 7 and didn't leave until 9:30. The food was seasoned and flavored well, but don't expect much protein. They'll nickel and dime you over a pretty presentation. For a spot that's featured on Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives, i expected more. At least better hospitality. I'll never come back with how rudely we were treated. OH!!! and to top it all off, there was a --**!!PUBE!!**-- on the styrofoam to-go container.
(2)Stefany V.
Straightforward service with home style flavors! I had limited time in Chicago but knew Irazu had to be one of my stops- so I grabbed a steak Pepito sandwich to go en route to the airport and ate it during my flight! The staff were friendly about packing my order carefully and giving me an ample portion of the lizando sauce. High in the sky, my sandwich was tasty and packed with meat and grilled onions. The lizando was similar to a salsa verde, and added just the right bit of spice to the flavors. Minimal cheese and beans (didn't even notice any, really) kept the focus on the meat. At under $8, this packs a large portion for the price. The cash-only policy is not one I like, but several signs indicate that they are also BYOB with no corkage- which is pretty damn snazzy. I also like how they had signs posted discouraging people from laying around and hogging tables for extended periods of time. Hopefully I'll make it back in for the chifrijo and an oatmeal shake.
(3)Mickey H.
Came in for a party, rented out a space about half a block down the street. I was caught off guard when we realized we weren't actually in the restaurant but what looked like an old storefront. Definitely didn't deter from the food experience. The service was great, food was awesome. Everything was served buffet style, options that were picked were great. I'll definitely be back to try the restaurant itself. Overall, awesome large group space. The price and food you get for it was worth it.
(4)Mei K.
Do yourself a favor and order the Chifrijo...and make that a large while you're at it! Delicious, crispy fried pork belly topped with a mountain of pico de gallo, ripe avocados and tangy lizano sauce. I couldn't get enough of this dish. Unfortunately, this really set the bar for the rest of the dinner and everything fell kind of short. I thought the pepito sandwich was pretty dry and plain. There's definitely other places in Chicago that makes the pepito better. The casado wasn't doing it for us either. The rib-eye was tough and didn't have much flavor to it. Found something questionable in the bottle of green salsa so I didn't have anything to save that dish. If I were to come back, I'd order the Chifrijo as an entree since it was pretty filling too! This place offers indoor patio seating but be prepared to scream across the table when the Blue line train approaches. It's also a cash only establishment.
(3)Natalie M.
Well... Went here again with a friend. The oatmeal shake was as expected--delicious! I loved it and it was so refreshing. As you probably can guess from oats, after a while they start expanding in your stomach so there's that full feeling you get lol. Be careful :P and don't drink too much! If you get a pitcher, it's $10 as opposed to $4 a cup. I got the chifrijo and I really enjoyed this dish! I particularly liked it. The rice/beans were really moist. My friend had gotten the Casado with gallo pinto and tilapia. $1 for gallo pinto is a little steep, especially since it's essentially the same thing. I tried some of her dish and I was again, disappointed by the gallo pinto. She had noted it was very dry. It was. It shouldn't be that dry...hmm. The tilapia (which I also tried) was okay but not amazing. :/ They had forgotten to include the sweet plantains to her dish but the waiter promptly brought some. I got to taste these tasty maduros and they were yummy. The service was alright that day. It took a long long time for us to get our order in even though it was just us and one other person there (a bit ridiculous waiting 10+ minutes for service). I would be curious to try their sandwiches sometimes. I think the concept is really nice and refreshing to have a different type of cuisine in this neighborhood...I love Central American food! It was tasty but not very memorable.
(3)Ashley C.
Irazu was a bit underwhelming. It is BYOB which is great. We got there shortly before 7 on a Friday night. We put our name down on the list picking first available. We were seated inside roughly 15 minutes later. (Note: It is cash only and your whole party must be there to get seated). We started with some empanadas: steak, chicken, chorizo and mushroom. My favorites were the mushroom and chorizo. A good ratio of filings that were tasty and seasoned well. This and the BYOB gets Irazu the three stars in my book. For the entrees, we both got the popular and recommended Casado with ribeye steak upgraded with the pinto gallo. It was okay. My biggest issue was that the meat was chewy and not seasoned enough. (I also wouldn't have marketed it as a rib eye steak.) My husband ordered it spicy but found that it was not spicy at all. The plantains were tasty and were my favorite part of the dish. The gallo pinto (rice and beans) were good but I'm not exactly sure how this was a $1 upgrade. Service was average. Our waiter was friendly but inattentive. We had to ask someone else for the check. I wanted to love it, but didn't. With so many other options in the area, I'm not itching to go back.
(3)Evan F.
Costa Rican food with a cute little outdoor dining area. Last stop of the college tour week...Chicago! Daughter and I met up with a family-freind and we gout our grub on Caribbean style! We chose the outdoor seating area, and even with some sketchy weather in the area we were plenty warm and rain / drip free. We shared a few dishes around the table. Started off with the Chifrijo which was chewy and flavorful. The girls decided to order a bunch of Empanadas and I chose the Casado. I think the girls had 6-7 different flavors...all fried perfectly with a myriad of different fillings: chorizo, chicken, beef, cheese, etc. They said the flavors were delicious. My Casado dish was actually way too big for one person, but had a multitude of different and exciting things to sample. Rice and beans were a great base, and adding a bit of chicken to it was spot on. Other vegetable were good, and the plantains were a perfect accompaniment. Fun spot, would be a great place to dine with a larger group. Oh, BTW...they are currently BYOB.
(4)Mel C.
I have passed this place up a billion of times, but it always seem to be packed every time I wanted to eat there! Finally today was the day my taste buds had their own fiesta I asked our waiter first offered us some watermelon juice (although it is not on the menu) then I asked what was a recommended plate the plate he recommended had chicken white rice black beans plantains and cabbage everything was amazing
(5)Jullie C.
Wrote an incorrect review here last week so here is the correct one. The food here was surprisingly delicious! I never had Costa Rican food before so I didn't know what to expect. My BF lived in CR for a bit so he wanted to show me their cuisine. The stars are really for the amazing food and our server Maria- because she was awesome. However, one thing is, if you're a cash only restaurant you should always make sure your ATM is working. I had to walk several blocks (a good 20 there and back) to find an ATM... Which is why I took off the star. But other than that everything else was really cool. The decor was also interesting. We had the ceviche which is always good! Lots of protein and flavor! Fresh and zesty~ Also had their Casado which is a traditional meal and it was amazing! We got it with steak and asked for yellow rice instead and it was really good. Would definitely recommend this place and hopefully they will work on having a working ATM next time I come. :)
(4)David B.
The taste of Irazu's food is hard to forget. Flavorful, interesting and crave-worthy. The oatmeal shake...oh my! But the savory stuff is just as excellent. They catered lunch at my old job a bunch of times, and I always loved it but was ready to see their restaurant and choose the menu items that I wanted. For this visit, I went with the shrimp and veggie platter, and was not disappointed at all. A great helping of food - including their always awesome fried plantains (maduros) and the cabbage slaw. I was with seven or eight other people and everyone loved what they got. Fun place, great food, awesome atmosphere.
(4)Darren F.
wanted to try something new and since i was around the area and this place seems to have a lot of reviews.. i decided to come here.. first of all.. this place be popping! very busy and waiting for a table can be a while.. the service was great.. everyone seems friendly and nice.. i tried the... steak pepito sandwich which is rib eye steak with sauteed onions, cheese, beans, lizano sauce and added avocado and hot pepper.. it was a great sandwich.. steak was seasoned well and cooked right.. all the ingredients mixed well with each other.. chifrijo is fried pork layered with whole black beans white rice pico de gallo and top with avocado and lizano sauce.. this looked really good on picture so i ordered it.. i am a big pork fan especially if it is deep fried! not sure if they messed it up or it suppose to be that salty.. but this dish was overly salty!! other then that it was a ok dish to me.. felt like too much was going on... empanadas...i picked beef n potato and chicken... it was also just ok.. definitely had better.. the chicken was a little dry.. the beef and potato was very mushy and seemed over cooked inside? eh this place is alright.. i give it 2.5 stars... i would come back for the steak pepito sandwich tho..
(2)Ellen S.
Let's start with the service. THEY ARE AMAZING. Our server was quick, listened, made an effort to get to know us. Everyone smiled and was so kind. The food was DIVINE. We ordered a lot and are thankful to have leftovers. BYOB is great. Our server swore by the watermelon mixer with tequila and he was correct! Amazing.
(5)David C.
Absolutely no complaints about Irazu (except maybe that it's cash only, but they're very upfront about that on the menu, so I can deal). Irazu has a fantastic menu of options that kept me very happy the one time I came here. I can't wait to try a lot of the other great options. I ordered a chicken sandwich (I don't remember what the name was in Spanish). It was great, but my absolute favorite would probably be the empanadas and the oatmeal shake (with no extra ingredients). The best empanada, in my opinion, was the plantains. I officially love sweet empanadas. The crust was perfectly flaky with a bit of a crunch to it without being burnt at all. Definitely don't miss out on the empanadas if you come here! They're also a very affordable $3 a pop. I recommend ordering a few of these to share as an appetizer like we did. Now, let's talk the oatmeal shake. It reminds me a lot of a frozen slushie version of horchata, except with a smoother consistency than a slushie; it wasn't really icy at all except for toward the end where we actually had to add a little bit of water so we could enjoy the rest of it. There's not way in heck I'm going to share the next time I come here because I want to savor one of these babies all on my own! Even though it tasted so good, I am still a little curious if the taste could be improved by additional fruit (like mango). Perhaps I'll find out next time! This will for sure be a regular place to drop by (when I happen to have cash on me) in the future as the weather warms up.
(5)Krysia Z.
I was born and raised in Costa Rica. I live in Texas but came to visit family in Chicago and I had to stop by and try them out after discovering them on "Diners drive in and dives" and boy I was happy I did! In case anyone is doubtful, YES it is true Costarican food. Overall the food was great and fresh. Glad to see lizano(costarican condiment sauce) and glad the food was not spicy, they gave you the option if you wanted it hot nor not. CHIFRIJO was great, rice, beans and pork Cooked to perfection. I am used to the chifrijo be a lil bit more soupy and with red beans, but everyone has a different version and this was a good one. CEVICHE was good, the fish was very well marinated, not sure about the tomatoes on top, but the fish it self was good. PEPITO SANDWICH my favorite by far. Beans on a sandwich might sound weird, but it is true to Costa Rica. My family took picnic to the beach and one of the items was bean sandwiches. This one was definetally elevated to a new level with the steak and saluted onions. CASADO I didn't personally tried it, but 2 people in my table did, and they enjoyed it. TIPS 1. Cash only (they have an atm) 2. BYOB (there is a store right across the street, we got wine and beer) 3. They take reservations!!!!! I wish I knew before we showed up to a super crowded restaurant. They take reservations thru open table. On yelp it says they don't but the host told me they did. We had a large party. He was very accommodating after I told him we had a party of 13 people. We only visit family and friends every so often in Chicago so the large group was necessary. After we sat down the servers were very nice and patient. 4. LOUD, My reason for a 4 star. It was extremely loud, yes we were a large party, but the music made it very hard to hear the person sitting right across from me. Don't get me wrong, it was good music but hard to have a conversation with out raising your voice. Thanks again for being so accommodating, can't wait to comeback to Chicago to eat food from home. And maybe then get a shirt :) size medium please. Pura vida La Tica de Texas :)
(4)Sebastian N.
I took part in a large group dinner hosted at Irazu. There were 18 of us in total, and Irazu allowed us to use a private dining room a few doors down from their actual restaurant. The food and the service were fantastic. Food wise, our setup was a buffet in which we enjoyed slaw, rice and beans, chicken, beef, pork, broccoli, and plantains. I love plantains prepared in the way that they had done, so I went back for a second helping. We were also served their Oatmeal Shake, which tasted very similar to the Mexican drink I enjoy, Horchata. Both are milk based and have a strong cinnamon taste. Everything tasted very "home cooked", which is a great thing. It reminded me of the local "Tico Plates" that my wife and I enjoyed when visiting Costa Rica a few years ago. Real good stuff. I have to give a shout-out to our server, Ivan. His service was excellent, and he really took care of our large group, which may have been intimidating to some. Thank you!
(5)Jess D.
Food: Delicious, anything doused in their lizano sauce is fantastic. Drinks: BYOB, and if you bring hard liquor they'll mix it into some tasty frozen concoctions. I recommend the margarita, it's super fruity but not too sweet. Service: Speedy, but be prepared for a wait most weekend nights.
(4)Monica H.
- cash-only - byob including liquor! this city loves drinking, but now i know it loves DRUNK! - entrees are big enough to share between 2 people! - casado - a giant plate of food piled high of meat, plantains, salad, rice (costa rican rice ftw!!) - empana
(4)Jason W.
Ordered delivery, which took about an hour. Food was OK, but I feel it was way too expensive for what was received. $10 for a regular run of the mill burrito (not much meat or very large), and they charge you .50 for hot sauce. Cmon, really? Who charges extra for hot sauce with a burrito? They also charged .50 for sour cream which they forgot to give. Guac was obviously made in bulk at least the day before. It had that brown color that happens when you let avocados oxidize for a while. $7 for a small amount, I'd prefer it to be made at least same day or fresh. The food itself was OK, but not good enough in my opinion for what we paid or to go back.
(3)Meris H.
Had lunch with my work crew couple weeks ago here. First of all we got seated by the waiter and waited about 20 minutes until he took the order. That's all fine we got our food and ate there, the food was very good and fresh. How ever, a week ago we decided to visit again for lunch. After we ate, we were all sick and slow afterwards. Not one, but all of us. Maybe the food wasn't that fresh that day. Last time were visiting.
(2)Elizabeth F.
I heard great things about this restaurant and finally decided to try it out. I was impressed with the great food and atmosphere. This was my first time eating Costa Rican food and I enjoyed everything from the appetizer (ceviche) to desert (flan). The main dish was a steak plater with rice, beans, and plantains perfectly cooked the way I like! The food was also reasonably priced and good portion sizes (enough to to take a little leftovers home). *It is a BYOB and cash only restaurant. The owner Henry is so friendly and helpful. He even gave us information about traveling to Costa Rica since we are considering going there one day. I will definitely go back soon especially before the end of summer to enjoy the outdoor patio.
(5)Andrea J.
PHENOMENAL customer service!!! Henry Cerdas the owner---AMAZING! So welcoming and accommodating!!! My friend and are teachers so this spot was in our vicinity! Henry greeted my friend and I upon entering and asked if we needed any suggestions or had questions and/or comments/concerns!!! And to top it off the food is DELICIOUS!!! We will definitely be back! Such a warm and friendly environment!!! I love great people and this restaurant is filled with them!!! ESPECIALLY Henry!!! I will definitely be recommending my friends to this spot!!! Keep up the good work!!!! I would give 10 stars if I could!!!
(5)Rachael J.
I love Irazu! I've been to Costa Rica a few times, and was craving casados. I've gotten the chicken casado a few times, and it's delicious. The restaurant is great - the service met all expectations and the host is very friendly. It's also awesome that this restaurant is BYOB, which is a huge money saver. We came in on a Friday and there was a line, and the host put our beer in the refrigerator and we walked to a nearby bar to wait it out, which was perfect. This is the only Costa Rican restaurant that I know of in the city, so I go there often. They also do take out through grub hub which is convenient if you don't have cash on hand since the restaurant is cash only.
(5)Kathy M.
Cash only!!! BYOB!! We started with the chifrijo which was wonderful!! So flavorful and fresh tasting. I had the el tico with chicken and upgraded with gallo pinto and a jalapeño to make it spicy. It was excellent. Hubby had the Casado and thought it was very good - loved the plantains, the flavors and the freshness. We could have easily split either of our dishes. Ashley had the pepito sandwich and David had the burrito and both dishes were wonderful. I wouldn't hesitate to order either one of those for myself. We brought some vodka and ordered a pitcher of passion fruit as a mixer for $10. It was delicious!! Ashley and David each had an oatmeal shake and as odd as it sounds, it tastes amazing! Definitely worth trying.
(5)Dan S.
Amazing!! I asked Henry and Mark for a special request and even though it was a busy Friday night, these guys went above and beyond to make sure that my friends and I had a great experience. Thank you guys! I would highly recommend Irazu. Great food, great employees! Thank you again!!!
(5)Nicole L.
Friday night with my Husband turned out better than expected when we checked out Irazu! We brought a few beers to drink while we waited for our table on the heated outdoor patio. It was a bit chilly so even with the heaters I kept my jacket on. We split a bottle of wine that complimented our food. We started with 3 empanadas which were all delicious. Make sure to ask for some mojo sauce on the side...such an amazing garlicky addition. I got the grilled steak which was delicious. Even though I requested my steak medium rare, I received it almost well done. LUCKILY the flavor of the meat was so good, I didn't even mind. Husband got the Casado with chicken and loved it. Only big con is that I wish it was accessible by train!
(4)Sarah P.
Lovely little place that does remind me of being in Costa Rica! I came here on a chilly summer night and it was still pretty crowded. It's BYOB but they have other fruity sorts of drinks you can mix liquor in with. Servers were attentive and even though we hadn't finished our wine by the time we were done eating, they let us sit and hang out for a while. The food was great. I was tempted to try the casado since you can find that on every corner in Costa Rica, but I went with el tico. It was a huge portion of delicious steak, rice, beans and plantains. I'll fully admit, it's not as good as you can get in Costa Rica, but it's pretty damn close. Next time I'll have to come back for the famous oatmeal shake and casado. I'll definitely be back as long as summer sticks around and I can sit on their awesome patio! Pura Vida!
(4)Steven G.
Really wonderful ambiance (outdoor patio) and incredible food! Definitely make a reservation if you can, as there isn't a ton of seating. Remember: BYOB & cash-only.
(5)Halisa V.
I had a taste for some Costa Rican cuisine. After researching a bit I came across Irazu and noticed it was featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Mind you I grew up watching Food Network all the time with my dad so once I saw Food Network featured this place I was 100% down to go and visit. My brother and I went and really loved it! It's a superrr casual place. They gave us chips & salsa (which was really good). We ordered guacamole, a couple of empanadas and of course: the Pepito sandwich with ribeye steak!! Everything was delicious (especially the sandwich)! Plan to come back again. Highly recommend!
(5)Kyle S.
I didn't think my best meal in Chicago was going to be Costa Rican food... I was wrong. We had to wait a little bit and they skipped us so my outlook for this place started out poor. We got some ceviche to start. GET THE CEVICHE. Just a small filled up four of us just fine. For the entrees we ordered a pork chop plate, tilapia plate, and the ribeye sandwich. Then we topped it off with an oatmeal shake. GET AN OATMEAL SHAKE. This was really, really good. Extremely affordable too. BYOB.
(5)Levi B.
Roses are red, Margaritas should be blue, I love, love you, mi favorito, Irazu! My hunt for amazing Latin food in Chicago has been like a real-life soap opera. It's been a six month journey that has taken me all over the place except abuelita's house. When Irazu is closed, it makes me sad - they should operate a 1-800 support hotline to get us through those long, dark, closed hours. I'll be the Irazu junkie sitting outside the front door with the detox shakes going on. Speaking of shakes, I had one of those too, I'll tell you all about it. Admittedly, after reading all of my fellow Yelper's reviews on Irazu, I was super-duper excited to try them for the first time. I spent all day stalking their web site. I was totally checking out food porn (the menu and Yelp pics) at work...I had it down, my selections selected, and ready to be amazed then I realized it was like 9:30am. So for the next seven hours I went back and forth, what if I made the wrong selections, what if when I get there I throw a wildcard just to screw with myself (love doing that sometimes) and decide to bunk my selections. How would I handle this upset in planning? Then I got nervous that I had Irazu so built up in my mind that it would be impossible for them to ever top what I knew they were going to be like. In that case I'd have to give them like two stars because I totally made up their mission statement, business model and SEC filings; I digress. The owner, Henry Cerdas, seems to be totally connected through technology. Irazu has Facebook - I do not. Irazu has Twitter and of course you can review them on Yelp. As far as I can tell, Henry consistently reads reviews on his restaurant and responds to those reviews. He digs in to try and find out why a guest had a less than perfect experience. You can totally tell that he shines when someone has a great experience, too. All in all, that - to me - is worth five stars because a business owner that cares that much about their guest's experience gets my utmost respect. I truly believe that nine times out of ten, an engaged business owner, like Henry, will prove to be a great experience because they care. Obviously I didn't have to live with them disappointing by me having them so built up in my mind before I even arrived. Here's a quick list of what you can expect when you visit Irazu: CASH ONLY BYOB - NO CORKING FEE CASUAL ATMOSPHERE, from shorts and a tee to ascots and a derby Our friends beat us to Irazu. They didn't seat them because they were an incomplete party - cool with me because I love to make a grand entrance. As soon as we arrived in our black car, yes, you must take a black car to Irazu, Henry insists it's the coolest way to travel in style to his restaurant...I kid, I kid...biking is the coolest way. Anyway, as soon as we arrived we were seated immediately. Our server, Sonny, came over and immediately went to work on showing us his dedication to superior customer service. We each (party of four) had a bottle of wine - that's how we roll. Sonny had the corkscrew in hand and was ready to start it flowin. He was so incredibly good at his job, he even offered to store the whites in the fridge to keep them cool on an otherwise warm evening. Sonny was amazing from start to finish. His up-beat demeanor mixed with product knowledge and can-do attitude made me want to get up and work the shift with him! I'll ask for him every time we come back. Sonny got our wine glasses, told us our waters, chips and salsa were on their way and he'd be back to take our order. The chips were nice and crisp and I loved the tomatillo-style salsa. It arrived at our table in a squirty bottle which is fabulous because you aren't all trying to share out of one or two bowls. And I don't have to murder my friends for double-dipping. Being vegan here's what I ordered: VEGGIE BURRITO: I opted to get the sautéed mushrooms and plantains added into my burrito. DELISH!!! At the time of this review the basic, so-not-basic veggie burrito is $5.95!!! Add $1 per additional stuffin' item (mushrooms and plantains for me, please) and you just got your self the most orgasmic veggie burrito for $7.95! So big and filling I didn't need anything else but I still ordered more. VEGGIE TACO: two corn tortillas because corn tortillas usually break on me so nice touch with having a back up. SUPER fresh ingredients...mmmm so yummy! OATMEAL SHAKE WITH BANANA: OMG so good. It sounds really weird but I'm so serious y'all...you HAVE to try it! It's important to note that the level of spice is perfectly balanced. It's not Tex-Mex folks so it's not out of control. I am giving Irazu five stars because I can't give it 10 but, in a way...I just did! I will be back to Irazu, I recommend Irazu to everyone reading this and I will recommend it to all of my friends and family.
(5)Jaime G.
Wicked good Costa Rican place. Try pork the chifrijo bowl. Super good crunchy pork with pico de gallo, avocado, and rice and beans. The have any of the empanadas with guac. Esp like the pineapple empanadas. To drink, have their shakes like their oatmeal shake or lime-aid. BYOB by the way. Great savings. Go on a nice summer night to sit on their patio with a craft beer of your choice.
(5)Carolyn T.
Irazu has been on my list for a whole because of the vegetarian-friendly food. We had been putting off coming here for many months because we never seemed to have sufficient amount of cash to cover it. We realized we both had cash on a weekday evening after my boyfriend picked me up from the airport, so we decided to drop by for dinner. We started with the spinach and cheese empanada and the plantain empanada. Both were good. The spinach filed up half the empanada whole the cheese filled up the other half. This made it difficult for sharing, as we cut them in half. I had never had a sweet empanada and the plantain was a great option. It was $2.95 for each one. We also ordered the oatmeal shake made with milk based on Yelp reviews and other advice. We were definitely not led astray! I will dream about this shake. It basically tastes like an Horchata milkshake, complete with a sprinkling of cinnamon on too. Just get it, no questions asked. For the cheap price, there's really no excuse. If was mostly oatmeal at the end, so we added a little water so it was possible to sip with the straw. I got the veggie sandwich on french bread, which had eggplant, avocado, black bean paste, lettuce, and another vegetable. It was only $6 and was pretty filling, which is saying something considering I was hungry from traveling all day. The only thing keeping this from a five star review is that 1) it's cash only, which is fine if you're prepared (they list that in huge lettering on the menu so you know before you order anything). Also, 2) the ends of my lettuce leaves were seriously wilted/slightly browned. After such an awesome experience otherwise, this was a bit of a damper to see hey hadn't used fresh ingredients. I tried to ignore this because I loved Irazu otherwise. I will DEFINITELY be back. The oatmeal shake is perfection and I can see myself especially craving it during the hotter months.
(4)Shane E.
There are some places I don't want to review. I've created the ridiculous notion in my mind that once I review a place I love, the whole world will know. Then, they'll want to expand. Then, they'll become a chain restaurant. Then, it'll never be the same and I'll never have a good oatmeal shake again in my life. Delusional ideas aside, I love Irazu. I discovered them via Yelp, but my south-suburban basic taste buds kept this place on the back burner of my queue for a while. That was until I noticed Irazu's name on a "Best Burrito" project by 538. 538 is a website specializing in advance statistical analysis in areas such as Economics, Politics, Sports, Science, and a broader "Life" Category. Although Irazu's burrito didn't quite make the cut as the best burrito, the mere consideration in the best burrito bracket caught my attention. Thank God. The burritos are great, sure, and the sweet plantains are excellent, too. That said, the oatmeal shake is "bae" (as my generation likes to put it - look it up, old folks). It's that good. Sweet, cinnamon-y, but light in its own way. Go here, try it. I'd also recommend delivery, as they are always prompt and the food is always quality.
(5)Allie H.
Heard great things about Irazu, and it definitely did not disappoint! we started out with shakes, my friend got the infamous oatmeal shake and I got the banana flavor and they were probably the best shakes I've ever had! The oatmeal one tasted a little like horchata and the banana was refreshingly sweet. We got the Nachiritos (a new item on the menu) and just about finished them between the two of us. We were too full to try anything else! The prices are a little higher than expected but the great service made it worth it!
(5)Sara T.
Chifrijo - bomb Ceviche - fresh but the fish is kinda tough. Pretty sure it was cooked. Would not order again. Cascado - good but mind was not blown. Empanadas - so money Not my first time here and it certainly won't be my last. Byob with no corkage fee!
(4)Alex H.
I had the Guy Fieri Special. It was fantastic! There was too much food for one person but I gladly took my leftovers. Oatmeal Milkshake: I didn't expect to like it but it was delightful. Chifrijo: Are you supposed to eat it with a fork or with chips? Because I did both. Pepito: I got the chicken because my server suggested it and I think that it was the right choice! I can't remember the name of the sauce that is on the Chifrijo and Pepito but I'd like to have that on everything now please.
(5)Kelsey R.
This review is for Irazu's private party space just down the block from the main restaurant. We recently had our rehearsal dinner here. The owner Henry and all of the staff were easy to work with from the beginning. They allowed us to bring in our own drinks earlier in the day and they set them all up in coolers on ice so the drinks were cold when all of our guests arrived. They have a pre-fixe menu fully of very tasty food that all of our family liked, especially the oatmeal shakes for dessert. The space is very colorful and was perfect for the atmosphere we wanted for our rehearsal dinner. The service was also great all evening. I would definitely recommend Irazu for anyone seeking a private dinner event.
(5)Katie B.
Fun outdoor patio in the summer. BYOB is definitely a plus! There's a small wine store across the street, or they provide awesome mixers for liquor (fresh watermelon juice is THE BEST!). Food is pretty good, but service was a little slow. Also, expect to wait if you're coming on a weekend evening during the warmer months!
(4)Osiris V.
BYOB, again, it's a great concept and people usually end up having more fun with BYOB places! We had a group of 10 and we were very well taken care of. These people understood that service means a lot. We ordered some empanadas for the table. I ordered El Tico (chicken sauteed with onion, bell peppers and tomato with rice, beans, plantains and a cabbage salad which I passed on). The chicken was nicely cooked, not too dry. I am a rice and beans type of girl so the sides were perfect! After taking a sip of Aimee M's oatmeal shake I decided it wasn't my cup of tea. Like Aimee said, it had a dry flavor. Kind of like whey. So yea...alright. FYI, Cash is king at this joint.
(3)Amy M.
Came here after reading the rave reviews from other guests with gluten intolerance. First of all, we put our names in to be seated and were told 15-20 minutes. We didn't mind waiting, but after 40 minutes of still waiting, we were getting hungry. The host apologized that we got lost in the shuffle (it was a busy night). Not great, but not the reason for the 1-star rating. My server did not know what he was doing -- he kept offering suggestions about what would be safe for me to eat, I would pick a dish, and then would come back saying it actually contained gluten. Glad he was checking, at least. Finally ordered a "safe" dish (which he told me would be less tasty in the GF form -- um thanks for pointing out what I would be missing?). When my food came, I asked to make sure it was indeed gluten free, and was told yes. It was tasty -- until after about 10 minutes the server came back to let me know it wasn't actually gluten free because the plantains are deep fried in shared oil. He *then* asked me if I would even notice being affected by one or two plantains, like it was no big deal. Um, I have Celiac's -- I promise that I will feel even a "bit of gluten" for days. The server apologized and didn't charge me for my poisonous dinner (though we still paid for everything else). We had to rush out of there before I got sick, so my fiancé didn't even get to really eat his dinner. I wish the manager had come over to help me feel better about the situation. I will now almost certainly be sick for the next 48 hours. Inexcusable.
(1)Annalise M.
I had the pleasure of working with Justin, the GM for a recent catering event I did. I don't live in Chicago but saw the amazing reviews and popularity and knew it would be a hit for my event. Not only did the crowd love the food, but they ate every last bite. I have never seen people more excited for food I have ordered. On top of it, Justin was great to work with all the way through the process. He was helpful in giving me tips on what to order, and didn't push the most expensive option on me, and recommended quantities and meal options. He was prompt with all of his follow ups and always friendly and helpful. If I am ever in the Chicago area again, I most definitely will be hitting up Irazu for my catering needs!
(5)Dani W.
Love, love, love this place!!! This is my husband and I's go to for delicious food and often a place we choose to entertain guest when they are in town. The food is so yummy, fresh and amazing every time! We always leave there satisfied and full. BYOB too so it makes for an affordable date night. The space is unique and casual and have never had a problem parking. A total must try if you have never been!
(5)Rahul G.
This is one of our go tos in Chicago. Went last night and forgot that I haven't written a review for this place! We love it and everyone we take here loves it too. Great prices and BYOB and awesome service. We love the Chifrijo and guac as appetizers. Also, can't go wrong with the Empanadas. The black bean and potato/beef ones are really yummy. The hot sauce they have on the table is so flavorful, pretty spicy, but perfect for me! The burritos here are delicious. I love the hot peppers they put in them; I don't see that often, if at all. The steak dinners are great too, big portions. A friend got the shrimp dinner and that was super good and super huge; I took the leftovers home. Tacos are great call, along with the sandwiches; the pepito is an easy go to, get the rib eye steak instead of the chicken. The oatmeal shake is really different and really good. I don't normally get desserts but this is a must get. All in all, a hard place to beat. Great for groups too. We tried going to Wasabi last night and it was packed. Coming here instead is not a bad option and it reminded me I need to keep coming back.
(5)Daniella B.
We had a veggie burrito & an oatmeal shake. The oatmeal shake was absolutely delicious! but a little icy in my opinion. The burritos are huge! Definitely enough for two. They are byob but they dont take cards so bring cash! Also, the service is a bit slow. So not the place to get something quick. Also, I'm no expert on Costa Rican cuisine but the menu items didn't really read "Costa Rican" to me. Some of the items, like burritos are most certainly Mexican so, I'm not sure how authentic this place is.
(4)Tiffany L.
I have been to Irazu exactly thrice and it was thrice too much. The 1000+ average 4 star reviews baffle me. The chifrijo is mentioned in many reviews and even on the menu as a popular appetizer. However, the deep fried pork is sooo dry and difficult to chew. The empanadas are also just ok, nothing compared to those at 5411. The oatmeal shake is neither very oatmeal-y nor shake-y. While the Steak Casado was pretty good (actually better the day after), the size of the plate was just too small. Trying to cut the steak was challenging without getting rice all over the table, but since the table was an outdoor patio table, the rice would fall off the plate, through the table holes, and onto my shoes. Mad face. Those fried plantains though.
(2)Angie K.
Flawless. Irazu is so flawless, even Beyonce would give her stamp of approval. The things you (should) know: - BYOB - Lines on weekends but moves quick - Everything is awesome (like the Leggo movie) - Staff won't judge you, even if you have 3 wine bottles for party of 3, trust me - Chips are served fo free - Put salsa verde on everything - Get the casado (steak, tilapia or veg) - Repeat If you don't know, now you know. You're welcome.
(5)Lupe L.
This place is amazing!! Cash only so come prepared. They take big groups but be sure you come early on weekends. Great empanadas!!
(5)Mackayla G.
So far, my FAVORITE place in the city to go eat! Not only is the food amazing (try the veggie burrito with plantains), the service is incredible. We did not realize it was cash only and apologized and left for several minutes to find an ATM. When we came back, there was a table with waters and chips waiting on us! Our waiter was very attentive and helped us pick out a great shake for our bottle of rum. The prices are so reasonable that I'm sure I'll be back frequently!
(5)Carol K.
I have been trying to get into this place for years but never had the patience to wait as they don't take reservations and the lines can be long. But everything I had heard about Irazu came true the other night when we found ourselves in the neighborhood for a show at the nearby Gorilla Tango theater. Armed with a couple of bottle of our favorite wine (Its BYOB) we stepped up to the hostess stand and put our name on the list. Here's a hint, we had stopped in before the show to put our name on the list as the waiting time can be up to 1.5 hours and this really worked to our advantage as we only needed to wait for about 30 minutes for a large table that would fit our party of 8. I suspect if we had been less people, it would have been a shorter wait. If you order nothing else, order the ceviche. Delicious, fresh and just the perfect thing to go with the crunchy chips. We tried a wide range of items from the pork bowl to the empanadas to the burritos. Our server was excellent and even though it was the end of the night, was pleasant and personable to those at our table. Bring a coat if it is cooler out as the dining room is really more of a patio and the breeze blows through the place. I also know they do delivery so this may be the best option to enjoy the great food without the wait. The prices are cheap and the BYOB policy make it even cheaper! It's almost a steal. Great food, good prices and service that rocks? Yep. You can bet I'll be back standing in that line to get in. It's just that kind of place!
(4)Chris C.
The hype is right! The food was fresh, unique, and delicious, one of the best deals in Chicago for food! In this circumstance, I say join the hype - go! They are also super accommodating with the BYOB, and ALL the staff was super attentive and helpful! I got tacos - 5 stars all the way!
(5)Robyn F.
My friends and I had a blast at Irazu last weekend while visiting Chicago from NYC. The atmosphere is warm and positive, the service is friendly and efficient, and the food is delicious and incredibly affordable. Would definitely return!
(5)James H.
Just had the Pepito sand witch and its amazing. This is pure great food. Staff is awesome and had a great nigh with a few friends that came from out of town. He were able to take our own beer so made it so affordable
(5)T M.
It was tasty! Everything was good. Nothing I had blew my mind- but it was all very good!
(4)Sand V.
So it's been a while since I've found a place that would make all 4 of my little "foodies" happy. Well ll thanks to Irazu "Mission accomplished " I'm not sure if the place is normally packed but we happened to be in the neighborhood on a very rainy Monday late afternoon and found the place completely empty. We were the only table in the house for a good 20 min. Just mentioning that for those who might be hesitant to visit based on a restaurants yelp popularity. Ok now on to the fun stuff. Every item we ordered was basically a hit...other than the mushroom empanada which was really nothing more than mushrooms in a pastry shell. Then again as my husband put it "what did you expect when you ordered a mushroom empanada? " :( We started with the chofrijo- not sure if I spelled it correctly. It was awesome, even if I only got to have one bite of it because it went so damn fast (savages I tell you) The pork was so crispy and the Pico de Gallo went perfectly with the rice and beans adding just the right amount of flavor to every bite! Note to self next time order 2 of these badboys. For entrees we agreed on every one getting a different meal so we could all try each others dish. Well this place made a liar out of them all. Once the meals arrived , no one was sharing! The entrees which included the Casado, the El Tico, Carne asada(grilled steak), El pepito sandwich, a chicken burrito, and a steak taco (which by the way they were kind enough to tone down for the sake of 4 year olds sensitive tummy) were a major hit. My son's chicken burrito was so big he was not able to finish it, despite all his " don't touch it, I'm just taking a break". The steak in dinner dishes was juicy, tasty and cooked medium well as ordered. The pepito sandwich was "awesome ". The sauce on the sandwich was as she put it "perfect". Not bland, not too spicy. All in all wonderful meal for all for a little bit over 100 bucks! Almost forgot to mention the Avena shake...everyone had a taste. And we unanimously agreed it tasted like rice pudding liquid form...with extra cinnamon. My kids were not fans, but my hubby enjoyed it. I was able to enjoy 1 glass or 2 :) of my favorite wine. Gotta love BYOB
(5)Ryan P.
Food was great here! Had the guac which was very tasty and definitely recommend it. The salsa is a little spicy but extremely flavorful. The sandwiches is what we had and overall they were very good. Very similar to what you would get get at some of the cuban places, but the sauce they put on the sandwiches was amazing. Overall great place and will be back. Cant beat the fact its BYOB as well!
(5)Mallory Z.
I loved this place and can't wait to go back. It's sit down, which for whatever reason I wasn't expecting. The pepito sandwich was delicious. As was the spinach and cheese empanadas. Wasn't as big of a fan of the steak or chorizo empanadas nor the fried plantains. Just my preference though. Can't wait to come back and try some of the plates. Bill for 2 people was around $20. BYOB, including hard liquor. I'll be back soon and can't believe I waited so long to come here.
(5)Anthony M.
Did Guy F move to Chicago? I really feel like I am food stalking him...everywhere I go...he has been there! Does he have a condo on the lake? Can anyone confirm that info? The only reason I bring this up is because, when we walked in here they asked us, "Are you here because you saw us on Drive-in's, Diners and Dives?" Now I am starting to understand Johnny T's dislike of Guy!!! I proudly told them that I had bookmarked them on YELP and today was the day we were cashing in on that note. First thing..bring cash...no credit here...in fact, next time I am going to bring Costa Rican Colon's here to pay...I wonder if they will take it? If I was paying in Colon's our bill would have been $6,665.09 Colon's...wow that seems expensive and I am going to need a bigger pocket to carry all of that!!! Maybe I will stick to US dollars...our lunch cost us only 13 bucks and we were stuffed...this place is a great value for the money you pay. Okay on to the food. I made a huge mistake. I let the waitress and my wife talk me out of getting a steak burrito. The waitress said, "You should get the papito because that is the one that Guy liked!" And my wife said, "We can split it and you can have my half of my burrito!" This all seemed logical until my wife offered me a taste of her burrito and I realized I had made a huge mistake and not ordering the burrito. Maybe Guy doesn't know what he is talking about. Also, I never did receive the other half of my wives burrito and I do not blame her for that...I would not share it either. She did let me take a knife and cut off a sliver. Now do not get me wrong the papito was good but I was expecting a little more. I also added avocado and hot peppers on there. I did not feel any burn from my sandwich and noticed there was not a lot of hot peppers on there. I pointed it out to the waitress and she brought me over a little dish of more. I dropped those on the sandwich and it definitely fixed what was lacking in my opinion. My wife also started sneaking a fork into my hot peppers. Next time we are going to need separate tables. And if I ever do get this sandwich again I might ask them to cook it medium rare next time. The waitress never asked how I wanted it cooked and I never thought about telling her until it was too late. My wife got the veggie burrito and are you ready for this...added steak to it. Is it still considered veggie at that point? I am not sure but it really tasted good. One bite and I was hooked and sad at the same time. I had to go back to my papito...the sandwich not my Dad! I wish I never had a bite of her burrito. When I do come back I am getting a whole one all to myself. I am also going to bring alcohol too. Yes this place is BYOB with no corkage fee. Thank you for not ripping off your customers with the stupid corkage fee. Our waitress was also really good too. Once she had learned that Guy F had not sent us and she had taken our order...I talked about how many reviews on Yelp talked about the Oatmeal Shake...she said that it was crazy because it seems like that is what they are known for. Minutes later she brought us over a sample of the Oatmeal Shake and said, "You can not come in here and not try the shake!" How sweet was that? I love good service and I also love a business that knows how to make a customer happy. That type of service and dedication to a customer is what will keep me coming back here again and again!!! Also the oatmeal shake was really good. I am not a desert kind of guy but I will order this thing. You can even get a pitcher of it too. I wonder what liquor would taste good in here...maybe some rum! This is where the BYOB comes in handy! I almost forgot about the free chips and tomatillo salsa verde at the start of the meal. The tomatillo was so yummy and spicy...I started sweating but a good kind of burn. I also poured this on my papito too. It was really tasty and one of the better salsas you will find in Chicago!!! I am going to need a jar of this to take home!!! I really liked the vibe at this place. The menu was great. I loved the chalkboard in back with the staffs favorite app and the top ten places to visit in Costa Rica. I had not idea that there was a little Trip Advisor going on back here. I also must comment on there delivery area. I think the delivery area here is larger then Costa Rica...no I am not exaggerating this! They go from Lake Michigan to Pulaski and then from Belmont to 16th Street. I have not used it but I am crossing my fingers for a huge snowstorm tonight to try it out. Who am I kidding? 2012 was the warmest winter ever...thanks farmers almanac for getting it wrong!!! I can hardly wait to come back here and enjoy my own burrito and a spiked pitcher of oatmeal shake. This place was so worth it and I am glad to be removing the bookmark for Irazu from my Yelp. You are now on my list of restaurants I will be coming back to in the future!
(5)Rebecca R.
Came back here on a Thursday afternoon for a meal on their patio on a warm summer day. We were greeted right away and taken to an outside table. It was near the kitchen so we got a little bit of heat out the window, but it was nice enough outside that it wasn't a problem. Our server came over and gave us a tun of suggestions while still leaving the decision up to us. (Sometimes I almost feel guilty if I don't pick the suggestion if they have given me the hard sell.) When we ordered, he helped us customize everything to fit our taste. We ordered three different types of empanadas and they were fresh and delicious. (The best one had a different kind of shell. You will have to ask when you get there.) I settled on a veggie burrito with some hot giardiniera. I was sweating profusely, but it was really good. I was stuffed and still had half to take home. Good food and good service. I promised myself I would eat a little less and also get an oatmeal shake next time!
(4)Sarah J.
First off, I need to note that I have only ordered take-out from Irazu. I've never dined-in. Hopefully dining-in offers a better food experience. I first ordered take-out from here about 8 months ago. I don't even remember what everyone had but I do remember everything being good. I'm writing this review today because of the terrible food I had last night. I don't remember the name of the dish. It was a very flat piece of skirt steak, breaded and fried, covered in two slices of half melted cheese. Rice and beans on the side. The steak was so tough, I literally couldn't get my teeth through most of it. I needed a saw, not a knife to get through that sucker. This is the kind of meat people end up choking on because they can't chew it properly. Beef jerky, anyone? And I really think the presentation of a meal is better with a nice layer of shredded cheese and not two squares lopped off the block and awkwardly arranged on top and half melted. Just my opinion though. The beans were bland but the rice was good. I'm giving two stars and not one because, as I said, I do remember my first experience being much better.
(2)Suzi H.
I LOVE IRAZU!! The TERRIFIC TILAPIA titillates the tastebuds!! MANGO-OATMEAL SHAKE -ES MUCHO DELICIOSO! STAFF IS SPECTACULAR!! (ESPECIALLY JUSTIN!!)
(5)Paul M.
My first taste of Costa Rican food and I liked it :-) I thought it would taste more Mexicany buy it was milder than what I expected. I had a steak burrito, 2 chicken tacos, and an Orchata. The seating was a little tight but I really wanted the outdoor cafe but the wait was 45 minutes, no thanks. Overall it was a good experience and I would go there again. Paul
(4)Nate B.
Irazu is unreal good. It's extremely cheap and delicious. Great vegetarian options as well.
(5)Aaron S.
Not the spot to go if you want to grab something quick (maybe if you call ahead for takeout), but otherwise a wonderful experience. The side dishes were all very flavorful even the ones with little eye appeal (I'm looking at you, refried beans), and of course the grilled steak... Can't say enough about it. We waited for outside cause, not having been here in ages, I thought the inside would be hot and cramped since it was close to the kitchen, but as I saw on my way to wash my hands, it's actually quite pleasant inside--next time I'll certainly pick "first available". The only minor complaint is service, while very friendly, was a bit slow, but that's because all of the food is made with care. There's a good reason this place packs 'em in on the weekends.
(4)Roxy R.
Great food, delicious vegan burrito and other vegan options, great outdoor seating, friendly staff, perfect place for a large birthday dinner, free chips and salsa, and best of all BYOB and they bring out buckets to chill your PBR for you! also brought out complimentary birthday flan with candles!
(5)Richard M.
My wife and I come back to Irazu as often as we can. We really enjoy the Casado (beef) and the fried plantains. Lately I like the Tilapia Casado. The food is authentic Costa Rican, and there is none better in Chicago.
(4)Jeff M.
One of the first places my future wife took me to in Chicago for dinner was Irazu. What a treasure! I love all of their vegetarian dishes and their milkshakes are divine. This is a great family-owned, authentic Chicago dining institution. Definitely recommended!
(5)Karilyn K.
Great spot for lunch or dinner. The burritos are fantastic and the sides are all great comfort food. It's been said again and again, but the oatmeal milkshake is a must-try.
(4)Nick S.
I'm sure you've heard this from many, but OATMEAL SHAKE! Seriously the miracle elixir after a long, rough night of red wine! haha That aside, the food is outstanding considering the fact that Costa Rican cuisine is new to me. I would definitely recommend the Casado plate (grilled choice of meat accompanied with various sides) It's a huge portion and a real steal for under $13. It seriously lasted me two meals. I also would definitely recommend the Chicharron plate. It's very comparable to fried lechon. But unlike many variations I had, the meat actually remained moist and succulent and still had a very nice crunch! Gallo Pinto (their rice and beans) are on point. And who doesn't love fried plantains? I've also had the ceviche here, and it's among the better ceviches I've had in the city. Good citrus, but sometimes an additional dash of salt really wakes up the dish. Dining is enjoyable, they have a lot of outdoor seating and indoor. The waitstaff is very friendly. My only problem would be the cash only policy. But that's minor.
(4)Doug W.
Somebody help me up cause I'm too chubby to jump on the bad wagon! The Oatmeal Milkshakes rule!! The plantains are great, Red Beans and rice...yum. What a great place to try something different!
(4)Natalie P.
So good. Nice patio outside. The empanadas were the best thing we had. Would go back and try more from the menu.
(3)Alex T.
This place is oh so good. I had the potato tacos; my palate hadn't been that satisfied in months. The guacamole and beans complimented the crispy tacos, that were more like tacitos. Fried plantain is the best treat to end the meal on. My partner had the tilapia, which was delicious as well. We washed everything down with an oatmeal shake (soy), and it was one of the best dinners I've had in the neighborhood. Very affordable too!
(5)mary g.
Pura vida!!! I've gone through serious withdrawal moving to the other side of town but on my frequent perusal of grubhub, i discovered you deliver all the way to Wrigley. Booyah! Cerviche, plantains and an oatmeal soy shake por favor.
(4)Christina L.
This place rocks. I have only been there in the summer to sit outside because there does seem to be a lack of outdoor, inexpensive byob options. I always get one of the steak dishes - which are to die for. My favorite is the bistec tico. It is skirt steak, not filet mignon or anything, but it is unbelievably flavorful, the portion is huge and the price can't be beat. The oatmeal shake is an absolute must. I have been known to stop there on my way home from work just to have one. It tastes like oatmeal cookie ice cream! I brought an out of town friend here whose family is Costa Rican and she thought that it was very authentic. The only thing I haven't liked is the ceviche. Totally bland. I was shocked given how flavorful everything else is. Oh, and there isn't much ambiance. Nice to sit outside but it isn't like the view of Milwaukee Ave. is all that appealing.
(4)Erin J.
I have been eating at Irazu for years. It was my post-work dinner spot when I was a bike messenger for a reason, and that was that they give you a lot of yummy food, for not so much money. I still appreciate that. I seldom ventured away from the veggie burrito (it has mushrooms in it!) until recently when I decided to try the yucca(root veggie) with garlic and I have not been able to walk down Milwaukee Ave with out drooling since. Other Costa Rican treats are just as satisfying. I'm partial to the veggie sandwich these days as the bread is a meal in itself. They have a huge menu that omnivores and veggies can both enjoy. It's a great place to try if you are seriously bored of trying new things.
(5)Jules H.
BIG YES I've been to Irazu 4 times, and it's a great down to earth joint. The casual, lively atmosphere (especially when the outdoor patio seatings are out) goes hand in hand with their dishes. They do have yummy vegetarian burritos, but it's really the dinner plates that have me coming back. Ah, love it. I also have cravings of the oatmeal shake sometimes, but I have only had it once :P The last time I dined there was a busy night and our server was taking a long while, but we put on a straight face and tried to play it cool. Knowing he was late, he broke the ice first and went out of his way to apologize and gave us an extra free order of Lava juice (lime & watermelon). Good service for catching on, despite the fact that we didn't complain. TIP: we mixed the lava juice & horchata 1:1 - REALLY GOOD.
(4)Becca M.
Byob. Great atmosphere and outdoor seating. Does not take any credit cards. Best smoothies and oatmeal shakes in town! You can order most entrees for under $5, what a deal!
(4)Christian H.
This restaurant was great. The quality of the food was superb. I had the Casado with chicken breast served with white rice, black beans, sweet plantains, an over easy egg & cabbage salad. It was wonderful. The rice water was very good. Wish I would have gotten it. (I tasted my boyfriends). I had the mango milk shake. It was okay. The service was great. They speak beautiful English so doesn't worry about that. The restaurant was clean and the bathroom was in good condition. I would highly recommend eating there and I would eat there again.
(5)Carlos Z.
I'll start with the good: best guacamole I've had outside of Texas. As a matter of fact, all of the food was great, filling, (this is important for those of us who "ain't ballin'") and it won't kill your wallet/purse/what-have-you. The not-so-great: the service could have been better. I've eaten here a few times and while the servers have always been nice to me they should probably roll their eyes a little less at some of the older, more pain-in-the-ass customers. Also, I've always eaten here at seemingly slow lulls in business and the service can be a tad on the slow side even when things are pretty dead. Overall, not so bad.
(3)Ted P.
This place was great. the food was incredible and cheap. The ambience was cool and the service was aight. the vegan taco is a really good deal--it was the size of my burrito but $4 less.
(5)Filly G.
I live less than a block from Irazu, so I've been there aplenty. Irazu inspires mixed emotions within me. On the one hand, the food is relatively inexpensive and tasty. On the other hand, the service leaves much to be desired. I really wanted to give this restaurant four stars, but the simple truth is that the service could easily be remedied, yet it hasn't. The good: All of the sandwiches I've had are fresh, delicious, and cheap. I'm talking $4.50, and while they aren't monstrous, nor are they dinky. The shakes are awesome, the burritos are huge and yummy (the veggie is especially good), and the freshly fried tortilla chips are just that--freshly fried. And, of course, the plantains. Mmm...plantains. The bad: Ugh! I can't recall a time when I've been in and out of this place in under an hour. First of all, it's not terribly spacious, which isn't necessarily a big deal, until you realize they aren't using all available space. Yo, dig this mutha fuggin example: I just ate at Irazu this past Friday. It was very pleasant outside, and as usual, many people were waiting for tables. The patio was locked with a sign that read, "We hope to have the patio opened by Memorial Day." Huh? The tables and chairs are already out. Why not open the patio now? Serve more people. Make more money. Easy. The other issue with the service is that once you're seated, your server probably won't take your order for at least 15 minutes. After you've ordered your food, it'll likely be at least 30 minutes before it arrives. After you've eaten your food, it will likely be another 15 minutes before your server brings your check. The servers at Irazu certainly aren't unfriendly, but the problem is that I've only ever seen one server working at any given time, even when the lines are well out the door. This seems a bit ridiculous to me. Business is clearly doing well. Add a server to the Friday and Saturday night shifts. The sum total: If you don't mind the wait, go to Irazu. If you're not fond of long waits, but still want some good food, just phone your order about a half an hour to 45 minutes before you'd like to pick it up. Be in the know: Irazu does not deliver and they are cash only. Also, if they run out of potatoes or plantains, don't go all native and try the yuca. Just eat your sock, it would taste about the same. (This is due to the flavorless nastiness of yuca, not the way it is prepared by Irazu.)
(3)Thamara D.
This tiny little place took me back to all the good things about my trip to Costa Rica two years ago. First, the food is amazing. Everything tasted fresh and home made. The vegetarian selection is so impressive. I even took food to take with for my dinner that day. I recommend the Potato Tacos, Vegetarian Salad, Casado( An Authentic Favorite) and Tostones con Mojo( Double fried green plantains). As for the service everything runs on Costa Rican time, so leave your American anxiety behind, relax, and immerse your self in a an authentic Costa Rican experience. Owned and operated by the Cerdas family that takes much pride in their culture took such great care of me I would highly recommend this place. For the menu and other info please visit irazuchicago.com/menu.ht…
(5)Alex M.
This place is the best! Food, servers, atmosphere and outdoor seating. Go there!
(5)Andrea W.
No matter what you get it's going to fill you, the portions here are ridonkulous. I highly recommend the steak casado with the special Costa Rican rice. Insanely good and enough for food for 2!
(5)Erin M.
For those yelpers that like to skim like me, I'll take out the reading part and just give you the highlights upfront: decent priced food, great patio seating, ceviche made without shellfish, BYOB with a super cute wine/beer store across the street, easy street parking. Only downfall is that I never have enough room for their infamous oatmeal shakes. For the real review.... Somehow this place gets better every time. Only draw back is that too many people know about it and there is usually a wait. But, there is a lot more extra seating in the warm months when they can open their patio. My mom somehow read about this place and told me to try it a couple years ago. Went with a couple of friends year or so back and liked the food. We were all too full to try the oatmeal shake, so I kept Irazu on the radar to go back. Time passes, and I actually tried to go twice this winter but the wait was an hour and I was starving, so we had to venture elsewhere. Went last week , and this last experience was pure joy. Maybe it was the nice weather. Maybe it was the tasty Costa Rican beer I was drinking. Or maybe it felt like the perfect way to start a four day weekend. Regardless, it was great, and I feel like I've told every single person I talked to since last week that they should go there. Walk up and there was a wait, but it was a gorgeous spring evening so it wasn't that bad. It was sorta a last minute decision for our dinner spot, so we had no liquor, and were directed across the street to Red and White Wines (awesome place, check it out!). Picked up a six pack of Costa Rican beer and we were able to open them up while we waited. We were seated and had a bit of a hard time reading the menu, as it was pretty dimly lit on the patio. But I immediately noticed ceviche made with white fish and knew we had to order it (BF is allergic to shellfish so ceviche is usually out for us). Bus boy came and brought us water and took our appetizer order (yay for quick service!). Out comes DELICIOUS ceviche with some chopped tomatoes and minced jalapenos on top with saltines. I'm not a ceviche connoisseur, but this stuff was great. Service was perfectly timed - the app was removed, we were able to enjoy the rest of our beers, and the entrees came out. I ordered a vegetarian burrito with grilled zucchini - I can never turn down zucchini and the BF ordered some roasted chicken platter that is new to the menu. Both were sooo good and we overstuffed ourselves. I almost wished we hadn't been drinking our tasty beer so my stomach had more room in it. Sadly, I had to leave another time without trying the oatmeal shake. But I will definitely be back. Probably with one of the many friends that I've been convincing have to give this place a try. Lastly, street parking is plentiful so even if you don't live close, you can easily get here. Also right off the blue line western stop for those of you like me who are car-less.
(5)Jeff S.
Love this place. I only give it 4 stars because although I've been there close to 10 times, I can't bring myself to order anything besides the Pepito. Great steak sandwich wtih beans, cheese, Lizano sauce and I like to throw an avocado in there. All this for $5 and the place is BYOB as well. Highly recommend this spot for a casual dinner.
(4)Lauren R.
A friend recommended this place to me. They don't take reservations so the wait can be definitely long. Luckily, there are a few local bars that they suggest hanging out at until your table is ready. They called us after about an hour wait. We loved that it was BYOB. The food was superb! We've ordered take out a few times since our dining experience.
(4)Andrea H.
Fabulous, perfect, wonderful restaurant. I don't mind the lengthy wait time for a table, the time it takes to have one's order taken, none of it. The food is that good. The Food Is THAT Good. The last thing I ate here was the skirt steak, which is topped with grilled green onions, and includes sides of black beans, rice, plantains, and cabbage salad. Everything about this meal was perfection. Amazing steak, cooked a perfect medium, with massive flavor. The cabbage salad (I am both salad and steak obsessed) was fantastic. The plantains were genius. The friends I ate with and I ordered the fried yucca topped with sauteed garlic as an appetizer; it was amazing. Indeed, a strong garlic flavor, but alas, what can one expect from something explicitly topped with garlic? Twas fantastic. My friends both ordered the potato tacos. They both had enough left over to take home. Later that night, a housemate offered me half a cold leftover potato taco. It was fabulous. Cold and fabulous. I am guessing they are just as good, or even perhaps better, when warm. I shall eat here again, and again, and again. And again.
(5)Joe C.
The place is super dirty. I don't even want to venture to guess what the kitchen looks like. And you might be thinking this is one of those places that looks like a hole but puts together great food, but no. The meat was pretty dry and the veggies were not fresh at all. Better bring lots of booze so you can make sure you can get the food down. Or better yet, just don't bother going there.
(1)Johnny B.
The sauteed plantains and gallo pinto (rice and bean mixture) that came with the entree were fan-freakin-tastic. The entree itself, was kind of bland, chicken with tomatoes and carmelized onions. Not much other flavor. The fried plaintain appetizer, was good, not great. That being said, we both had enough leftovers for a large lunch the next day. So the price is right, and it's BYOB. Next time I want to try a shake and the Pepito sandwich (which Time Out has raved about on several occasions).
(3)Paul K.
As a long time traveler to Costa Rica, Irazu serves up authentic, tasty dishes that won't disappoint. It's a busy, comfortable little place that really just focuses on true and tried Costa Rican favorites. Of course, don't forget the national staple of Salsa Lizano--it's a sauce used on everything from eggs to beans to steaks--delicious! They use it like we use ketchup, but on many more foods. With all the pretentious and fancy places out there, it's refreshing to find local, small, comfortable, restaurants that feel authentic and offer great food at a great price. Irazu is all that and more. Like the volcano this place is named after, this place is hot stuff!
(4)Carrie L.
Things that are GREAT: 1. prices 2. fun/relaxed atmosphere 3. BYOB 4. service Things that are VERY GOOD: 1. food Things that need work: 1. fried plantains...they were quite crisp and rather flavorless in my opinion
(4)Kristin M.
There is something magical about this tiny little place located just off busy Milwaukee with the blue line roaring by in the background. I'm pretty sure the magic springs forth from either the oatmeal shake, which sounds strange but is scrumptious, or possibly the plantains, but either way this place is really stellar. I was so excited to go here after all the good reviews here on Yelp that I did my research and decided days in advance what I was going to get (yes, I know, I'm a dork). The Costa Rican sandwich, side of plantains and an oatmeal shake. The sandwich was pretty good, but reminded me a little bit of an Italian Beef sandwich, which I'm normally not a huge fan of. My friend, however got the steak sandwich, which was awesome! The oatmeal shake, unusual, but if you like cinnamon, which I love, you've got to try this. It reminded me a little of a less sweet Thai ice tea. And the plantains were great, there was something special about them, just can't put my finger on it... The outside of the restaurant is very unassuming, the outdoor seating area (I'm thinking that's what it was) was really weird, an open concrete patio surrounded by a metal fence facing Milwaukee, but the interior was cute and simple, and very small. Service was prompt and polite, and as always extra plus, its a BYOB.
(5)Cory A.
I would have to say that this place serves the best casual Latin food in Chicago...hands down! I had the pepino sandwhich this afternoon and it was awesome. The guac wasn't as flavorful as I thought it would be, given the amazing fried yucca and garlic oil, but it was still worthy of dipping. Also, I had a passion fruit smoothy that made me want to scream, it was so good. It sounds like a pretty simple thing to make, but you'd be surprised to find that so many Latin restaurants in Chicago don't serve anything like that. Our server, Chris, and the cashier guy were pretty cool too. It would be nice if they accepted credit cards, but it would seriously take a lot to make me not return...soon!
(4)Todd R.
Irazu is possibly my favorite restaurant in Chicago. My wife and I tend to suggest this restaurant towards the top of the list whenever anyone asks for recommendations, or whenever we have friends coming through town. The people that run the place are extremely warm and friendly and the food is delicious. In fact I've gone here so many times that the guy who seems to run the place always takes a moment to thank me for my business. I'm a huge fan of the Pepito sandwich and the Oatmeal shakes--if I ever were to move away from Chicago, I'd miss these things right up there with going to Cubs games and that one week in September when the weather doesn't suck in Chicago. In summation, if you don't like Irazu you are probably a jerk.
(5)Ellie L.
More like a 3.5 stars. Our friend introduced us to this place on Saturday night. There was a wait, but well worth it. We shared the fried yuca (nobody ever orders the boiled), plantains, and guacamole=all tasty. Especially the yuca and garlic aioli--no complaints whatsoever. My husband had the special, boasting of all 4 tastes of Costa Rica, and how tasty all 4 were. My veggie burrito, split with Justin, was great. So my experience, although meat free, was recommendable. Best of all Irazu is family owned and run, which translates to: from the heart. You won't be disappointed. BYOB
(3)Jami K.
Mmmm! This place is delicious! It's especially good for someone who is a vegetarian like me who has friends who aren't vegetarians. Everyone gets to be happy! I've eaten here twice and I was happy both times. Their vegetarian food is tasty and wholesome without being spicy. I love their plantains. The portions are huge and the prices reasonable. They are a little slow. I knew that from Yelp before I went, and ordered take out and it still wasn't ready when I arrived. Actually, they just started making it when I arrived...almost gave me the wrong food and then had to go back to the kitchen. But they did make sure that they got it right, so that was good. This place has delicious food and I will definitely be going back here in the near future.
(4)Christina C.
I've eaten at Irazu twice now, once outside on the patio and once for take out. My man took me on a date to Irazu at the end of the summer when we could still sit outside. The patio was packed and we waited for a table for about 15 minutes and then once we were seated, waited another 15 for a server to speak to us. Normally I would have had a hissy fit and demanded free food but the atmosphere at this place was chill and instead I enjoyed the weather and our bottle of BYOB two buck chuck. Also, when the server finally greeted us, I could tell he felt really bad and actually really cared about our service so I let it slide. We ordered a bean/pork dip (or something like that) with chips for an appetizer. I usually don't like pork but let me tell you, this was phenomenal. I had to stop myself from ruining my appetite for my main meal. Next I ordered the garlic shrimp with vegetables. The shrimp, although small, were very tasty, the veggies were great, and the beans, rice and plantain sides were a perfect combination to complete the dish. Lots of food for not a lot of money. So other than the really slow service, this place was great and a must-visit if you are in Chicago and want some authentic Costa Rican food and flare. My second visit was for take out. I ordered a salad with cabbage, beets, avocado, some other veggies, and chicken and my bf ordered a steak burrito. Again, the wait was ridiculous and we waited in the tiny waiting space for almost a half hour. I left the restaurant really annoyed with the place but once I ate my salad, I forgave Irazu. The salad was HUGE and was plenty for dinner and lunch the next day. It was really really tasty too, the beets were a must. I also tried the steak burrito and although it was also really good, it didn't beat the steak burrito at La Pasadita down the street. So all in all, I give this place 3 1/2 stars but rounded up because of the great atmosphere, nice people, low prices, BYOB option, and really tasty food. I took away a star for the long wait, period. Best bet is to order ahead for pick up and if you eat in, bring lots of wine to get you through the wait.
(4)Wren B.
I ate here once about four years ago and remembered being very full and happy, so my fiance and I ate here again last weekend. They must have been terribly understaffed, because waiting was pretty much how we spent most of our time. Good thing we're in love. We were quoted a 30-minute wait time, which we were OK with; we went for a walk and got a bottle of wine. When we got back we were told another 20 minutes, and by the time we actually sat down it had been a total of 60 minutes. First rule of hostessing - overquote your wait time, never underquote. People get impatient. I've worked in restaurants, so I hate to be one of those people that tries to do the hostesses job, but it's frustrating to wait an hour when there are four empty tables in plain sight. The server was friendly but the kitchen was very slow, and while the food came out tasty, in the end it just wasn't worth all the hype. We left there saying "that was pretty good, but let's never come here again."
(2)Sean D.
Excellent! Great guacamole, steak tacos, the chicken soup is amazing. It's basically great authentic Mexican style food. I never had anything nearly as good the several times I went to Costa Rica. The only thing I would ask is for their tacos to be more consistently made. One day their were large chopped chunks of carne asada steak, another day it was almost shredded style beef (which we were told depended on the chef working on the particular day). The place is def a comeback though. 4+ stars for a simple no thrills byob joint.
(4)Slu S.
Very solid Costa Rican food (who are we kidding, it is the only Costa Rican joint in town, but it is good). We have mainly stuck with the burritos which are great. My favorite however is the Pepito sandwich. The pepito is basically a gooey steak sandwich with onions, pintos, and their great Lizano sauce. It is so tasty and simple. If I am famished, I will grab a taco tico as well which is an interesting combo of cabbage, ketchup, and taco. If you have a sweet tooth, the oatmeal shake is beyond compare and goes just fine by itself. FYI, this is a cash only operation.
(4)Mary F.
Irazu is simply the best. Affordable, BYOB, and the best waitstaff ever! I would eat here everyday if I could.
(5)Liliana C.
5 awesome stars for the following dishes: Tilapia Tacos & Sandwich de Milanesa (breaded thin steak). Both of these smothered in salsa verde and I am in heaaaven. Yes.
(5)Kathleen M.
My husband and I came here after a magnificent gallery visit. What gets you hungrier than seeing creativity on display? Well, it being after two in the afternoon. I was so darn hungry and when I looked on Yelp for a restaurant nearby, this popped up. My daughter has raved about it so it was an easy decision. Once we get there, we realized it was cash only so we pooled our cash. We had 47.00 between us which had to cover food, drinks, tax and tip. It was an easy enough challenge and very different for us, we normally just order like hungry truck drivers and throw the meal on a card. I figured food and drinks couldn't be more than 38.00 or 19.00 apiece. I'm not very good at math but I realized I couldn't get the ceviche, a dinner plate and a shake. What was my trump card? The shake. What else looked fabulous and was cheap? An empanada and a taco. Done. My hubz got a sandwich and some rice and he let me try them. Fabulous! My shake was my splurge and worth every penny. I had oatmeal and blackberry and it was practically a meal unto itself. My beef taco plus cheese, avocado and sour cream was the best taco I have ever eaten anywhere and this chica has eaten a huge pile o tacos in her life. The mushroom empanada was perfection but I was glad I was married as when I bit into it, the hot delicious inside juice squirted across the table. Wouldn't that be a hoot on a first date? (I mention this because I think the table next to us was on a first date and I felt a little awkward just watching them. But I digress.) As we were on a self imposed cash restriction we didn't order apps or dessert but I have to admit, we ate every single chip in that basket. And loved them! My husband paid the bill and left the tip while I was in the washroom. Upon my return I asked him if we had any money left. And we did, 15.00. Darn it, I could have had the ceviche! Next time, and there will be a next time!
(5)Julia K.
My first time here several days ago for a late lunch. Not busy since we came at an odd time. Service was on the slower side even though we were the only ones there for a while. Their casado was okay. The tilapia was delicious - moist, flavorful and soft. Their gallo pinto could have been more moist and flavorful. Cabbage salad was decent. Their vegetables were really flavorful. Plantains were good too. The best part of this meal was the avena (oatmeal) shake. Yum!!! We got a pitcher and shared it. It's worth gettig the pitcher since you can take the rest home. Cost of the meal was $20 ($15 for casado with Gallo pinto and $5 for avena shake) which I think was overpriced for the quality.
(3)Cristina P.
Oatmeal shake was great but that's about it. Steak sandwich was ok and the typical plate was alright. The food isn't that flavorful, but not terrible. I was really let down because people hyped this place up to much.
(3)Bethany M.
Food was good, but terrible service. Not sure why it took the waiter about 20 minutes to take our order, it was around 3:30 on Saturday and the place wasn't very busy. My water was never refilled and it took about another 20 minutes for the waiter to notice we were done and bring the check. It's unfortunate that I won't be returning especially since I was excited to try this place out.
(2)Brandon J.
The empanadas are so freaaaaking delish here. Better than my Venezuelan aunt makes them (shes not a very good cook). The vegetarian ones are super flavorful and the garlic sauce that they give you, which is basically just minced garlic in olive oil, is quite strong but is a great pairing. When I went with my roommate last they had fresh squeezed watermelon juice on special. If you take a picture in front of their goofy face in the whole sign and upload it to social media and show them you get a $2 discount. Worth it! Definitely gonna have to make this my new go to latin american local spot. Only thing that sucks is when you enter through the front of the restaurant you have to squeeze by this big ass counter that is right across from the wall to get into the main seating area. Even as a skinny dude this was somewhat difficult
(4)Sangeetha R.
I'm so upset to change my review because I have always loved irazu food. However last night we ordered delivery for 2 of us, I got the veg burrito(my usual fav) and my friend Steak Casada. But both of us were sick after eating it and had a mad case of food poisoning. I'm so sad that I'll be scared to eat there again. *sniff*
(2)Anna P.
I love Irazu for their cozy patio, fresh ceviche, and oatmeal milkshakes. Also, they are BYOB with no corkage fee! Be prepared to wait on the weekends, but trust me when I say it is worth it. Their patio is open year round, and it's piping hot in the winter even by the front door. No bad seats in the house!
(5)Christina S.
Food is delicious had the steak burrito with a side of black beans and yellow rice it's to die for its so good. The portions are good and filling definitely worth checking out. Love the outside patio and the ambiance was great. Nice music
(5)Sarah V.
I borderline love Irazu! The staff is really friendly, the food is fresh and atmosphere is relaxing. I haven't been there all winter cause I didn't want the snow to ruin the warm, cozy, Caribbean feeling the patio seating gives me. Now that Spring is finally here I'm excited to go back. Everything I've had there was delicious. I of course had to try the DDD special and the Pepito lived up to its reputation. Sandwiches are great for lunch but they also have nicer entrees for dinner. I haven't gone at peak timing but from the other reviews I recommend calling ahead. Definitely will be going back soon!
(4)Chirag P.
What a wonderful and delicious experience at this restaurant. This is a Costa Rican inspired restaurant that serves wonderful and tasty food, which really gives you the experience of eating Costa Rican food. My friends and I had the casado dinner with chicken breast as well as guacamole as appetizer which was very authentic in flavor. A friend of mine had the Costa Rican sandwich which was very tasty. The service was great and the waitress really kept us as her priority. The best part is BYOB option. The line may become busier towards the evening but I can understand why since its great food. Will always come here for Costa Rican food.
(5)Olivia M.
I've been here a handful of times recently after having lived down the street for about a year and it's one of my new go to restaurants. The restaurant itself kind of looks like a shack which initially deterred me, but the place actually has a quite a bit of charm. Turns out Costa Rican food is damn good too. Just a few things to note/reiterate: it's cash only, it's small and not the best for groups unless you're willing to wait, BYOB, is generally pretty crowded, and it's loud - so loud that I feel like I can't hear myself think whenever I'm there and literally had to shout at my friend who was sitting less than a foot away from me to have a conversation during dinner. One thing to know is that they're awesome at takeout, and what I mean by that is they've yet to mess up an order I've placed. 10/10.
(5)Natalia K.
I would give 5 stars just based on our server, who was quite possibly the most delightful waiter I've ever had. He was waiting on 6 girls who had no idea what any of the food was like and were asking him about 20 questions about each dish. Not only was he patient, and he didn't even have that "I'm just being patient right now" attitude, he was so pleasant and happy to help and provide his recommendations. The food, however, was just a 3 star situation for me. I had a spinach and cheese empanada, which was great but not awesome, and the El Tico. My ribeye was definitely overdone and lost its flavor and the rest of the meal was just a bit on the dry side. The chips in the beginning also needed more dip than a bottled sauce, but the guacamole we ordered later to help them out was delicious. I tried my friend's oatmeal shake and it was just alright.
(4)Erik C.
The food is a bit on the bland side for me, but fresh. Definitely recommend doing one of their fresh squeezed juice mixers
(4)J. G.
we found this place because of that one show on tv...."dives diners and drive-ins" we are very very pleased with the food here. the sandwich called "Pepito" was so freakin good. also the empanadas were very tasty too. we r going again this week n taking some friends. i'd highly reccommend this restaurant. :) enjoy.
(5)Noah U.
Irazu has helped me fall in love with cabbage salad and plantains. I definitely look forward to going back next time I am in Chicago.
(5)Steven D.
Why the 5 stars? well there was one other costa rican restaurant I heard about in Chicago, but I'm not sure if it's still around. As far as I know this is the only one and it is the best. Outdoor seating makes it even better. BYOB to top it all off. As if there aren't enough yelp reviews of Irazu already, here's my take. Awesome everything. I've had almost everything on the menu and have never been dissappointed. I have even tried some of their weekend specials that they have from time to time. Their shakes are the best, especially on a hot day. I recommend a 2 flavor of either oatmeal mango or oatmeal banana or even just simply oatmeal. Now for food, For starters, I recommend their guac with freshly minced jalepenos on the side; Simple, fresh, and always delicious. Now on to the main deal, Everyone says they have some of the best vegetarian selections around and I completely agree. I'm not a vegetarian, but I am a foodie. And when I'm in the mood, i will go meatless. Veggie Burrito with mushrooms and avocado or the veggie sandwich are my picks.They are jam packed with fresh veggies and are very well balanced and satisfying. As far as the meat selections, everything is good and I would base it on how hungry you happen to be when you visit. The Steak sandwich is by far my favorite and it was recommended to me by "Mom" who is one of the owners. Now if you are really hungry, I would order the Bistec Tico or the Casado dinner. Both come with a delicious portion of thin rib eye steak cooked in the very famous Lizano sauce (they're available by the bottle there if you want to take some home) The sauce is boss and has a tangyness with a little bit of a kick. You also get a fresh array of sauteed veggies and of course some rice and beans and a side of fried plantains with the dinners. I only get the Casado if I feel like having a fried egg with my meal....mmhmmmmm. The servers are friendly and courteous and they make you feel right at home. Its family run, but still professional, and you can experience that through their awesome staff. I've been going there for years and I'm probably there at least once a week. I can never get enough of those steak sandwiches or their oatmeal banana shakes. So try it at your own risk, you may become as addicted to it as I have.
(5)Stephanie C.
Awesome. Affordable, albeit cash-only, but there's an ATM. BYOB. I highly recommend the Steak Casado...yummy. Just arrive early for dinner and plan on a 15 minute wait at the very least. The aroma itself is reason enough to walk/ride by and check it out!
(5)Anita M.
After visiting Costa Rica a couple summers ago, I've been longing for Costa Rican food ever since. Finding Irazu was an answer to my prayers. I can get authentic Costa Rican food without having to make the trip back to the country (not that I would complain about that!) you can't find Costa Rican food anywhere else in Chicago. The Casado was my immediate choice from the menu as it is one of the traditional dishes offered in Costa Rica. AMAZING!You get a plethora of meat, rice an bean mixture, plaintains, and i cant remember if it was a salad or something else but you definitely get more than your moneys worth. The steak is out of this world.
(5)vitas z.
best chicken noodle soup in the city. with a twist of lime, you can't go wrong. i get every single time i'm feeling a cold coming on.
(4)Neal G.
Irazu is great, which you totally wouldn't know from the outside. It looks like a dump, it's about the size of a postage stamp, and inside is an awesome Costa Rican restaurant. :) If you go here, consider trying the potato tacos; they're excellent. For the meat-eaters, the bistec tico is well worth trying as well. Despite the crowded environment, the service when I've been here has always been good, and I've never had to wait /too/ long for a table.
(4)Abbey H.
Multiple yummy vegan and vegetarian options and everyone working there is always ridiculously friendly. Also, I know its been said here before, but get the oatmeal shake. Don't question, just get it.
(5)B S.
oatmeal shakes will have you in tears of joy
(5)Mark S.
Alright, I like Irazu OK, but the reviews here are from folks who love it, and I don't... First, if you don't eat meat, you'll probably give this place more stars than me. See, they've got the best rice and beans ever! Super tasty, yummy, etc. And as far as fried plantain goes- their's is fried perfectly, not overdone and dry, not underdone, perfect and light as far as fried food goes. When I find the discipline to order a sandwich or something, with a side of the authentic rice and beans, I'm pretty happy. But every time I go here, I drink beer during the forever wait, then read the menu and decide that one of the tradition/authentic dishes that involves grilled ribeye, rice and beans, and plantain is what I need to have to satisfy all of my cravings. When the food arrives, I take a whiff and am taken back to my childhood by the smell of a steak fried in a frying pan- like my Mom would make in the winter. I hated those things- that's no way to prepare meat, unless it's breaded... So I'm not a big fan of the ribeye- thin and kinda tough, and you can smell it was fried in a pan. And knowing that, the menu keeps making me think I'll like it anyway! But I don't. So Irazu gets 3 stars from me, for great rice and beans, perfect fried plantain, but ribeye fried in a pan that I order after a pretty long-ass wait. I just don't like beans and rice enough to make this place worth the crowd as a meat eater. When I finally break this cycle and try the chicken, I'll have to update my review...
(3)Audrey J.
I'm not a fan of Mexican food, so, not being sure how similar the style was to Costa Rican, I wasn't sure how I'd like Irazu going into the experience. I would give this place 3.5 stars. The atmosphere is non-existent and the staff (entirely family-run, so that was pretty cute) was a little slow. The food was really good and not as greasy or heavy as I find Mexican to be. It was also very reasonably priced (sandwiches and burritos were ~$5.) As I was STAAAAARVING when I went there, I sprung for the Casado dinner ($9.95 -- thinly sliced rib-eye steak, rice, beans, cabbage concoction, and sweet plantains), so it wasn't super cheap cheap like my friends' meals (but still pretty cheap). Even so, for the amount of food I got, I was really happy to notice I wouldn't have to cook dinner tonight. The food was so flavorful, and, after having heard SO much about the guanabana fruit from my aunt and a friend (who are both obsessed with it), I was really happy finally to try a guanabana shake (it was deeelicious). Although this place isn't frou-frou or fancy shmancy, it's got solid and very flavorful food for a super reasonable price. In terms of setting, Irazu would be much better to go to as a take-out or super casual meal than a date place. If you call ahead, they can have your take-out ready for when you get there. Also, for you credit card mavens, leave the plastic at home b/c it's cash only (as the two signs out front will tell you).
(4)Heidi M.
Chorizo burrito is the best burrito I have ever had. The steak casado is awesome and of course the oatmeal shake. I love their guac and the guys here are SO nice. You always feel right at home rather if you are coming in to eat for a BYO dinner with friends, or if you are just stopping in to pick up a carry out order. It is one of our favorites in the neighborhood and has been for some time now!
(5)Ariel S.
This restaurant came highly recommended to me and it did not disappoint at all. I had never tried Costa Rican food before but after my meal here I became a quick fan. We started with the guacamole appetizer which was a huge portion and very good with tomatos and crushed jalapeno salsa on the side. For my entree I ordered the steak tica, which came with steak, onions, peppers, tomatos, plantains, rice and beans and cabbage salad. The steak and rice were incredibly flavorful, and the combination of different textures and salty and sweet on the plate made it hard to stop eating. The portions are huge and I took half of it home. For dessert I ordered the oatmeal shake based on the rave reviews it got...it was delicious. Overall a wonderful inexpensive meal.
(5)C S.
Good food, usually ok staff/service, owner is really nice and personable - talks to customers about food and family - cozy! Go a little earlier than normal eating time if you want to avoid big crowds.
(4)Kim W.
best pico de gallo, ever.
(3)Nicole C.
Not much I can add to all of the glowing reviews. I love the veggie plate, especially with spinach or broccoli. The veggies change often. The oatmeal shake is where it's at - tastes like chilled rice pudding. My husband loves the chicken casado. The tacos are very good, the veggie ones are ENORMOUS. If my opinion means anything to you, or even if you could careless what I think, you should for sure visit Irazu.
(5)Nathan J.
It was perfect. It's a small place and super busy but still was able to seat a table of 11 on a saturday night (after a small wait). As the other reviews will tell you the food is great and it's the perfect place for carnivores and vegans to coexist and share a bottle of wine from home with no corking fee.
(5)Laurel W.
I admit to being skeptical about the oatmeal shake--but I decided to be adventurous and try it. It was amazing! On a second visit, I was equally amazed by the oatmeal shake. Next time, though, I think I'll skip eating and go right for the shake. The tico taco was forgettable. I've never been so disappointed by plantains as when I had their Tostones con Mojo...I love plantains but couldn't love these no matter how hard I tried. The Gallo Pinto are pretty good, though, and the Vegetarian Burrito is yummy, but not rave-worthy.
(4)Wesley T.
irazu has really great food and really great coffee - the service is pretty good too - I have been here a bunch of times for brunch and once or twice for dinner - I've never had anything that wasn't good there - try the hell out of the oatmeal smoothie and thank me later - the outdoor seating is pretty great in the summer
(5)Nico M.
So I read about Irazu months ago but never got over to the restaurant. About two months ago my friend and I went on a saturday night to grab dinner but they were super crowded and there were 3 groups of people waiting to be seated so we decided against it that night. So today after getting rid of some recycling on the way back I thought of Irazu! So stopped in with my friend and we both got the Vegetarian Burrito, I got mine with Spinach instead of lettuce also with sauteed Mushrooms. She got the same but without sourcream. We shared the chips brought to the table as well as one Empanada. All of the food was great. We both only ate half of our burritos because they were so filling. Great service great meal..I will definately go back;)
(5)Mel F.
I miss you Irazu. Your food made me so happy and made up for the deficiencies in my failed relationship. You're that good. If my ex did not frequent you so, I might dare to step back in your welcoming arms and slowly eat away all my worries.
(4)box c.
One of my favorite city haunts for a reliably tasty bite to eat. Without exception, the staff is always sincerely pleasant and friendly. As previously mentioned, their oatmeal shake is phenomenal and I'm saying that as a total shake/smoothie snob. The only downside is that they aren't located closer to my apartment.
(5)Mary C.
The oatmeal shake is pretty much the best thing ever. The food is really tasty and affordable. The staff is friendly. Did I mention the oatmeal shake?
(5)Jonathan C.
Irazu's get 5 stars for its milkless oatmeal milkshake alone. Don't let anybody talk you into the milk. The milk version is not bad, but its not as unique tasting as the non-milk. Surpiringly the other food is very good here as well. I haven't ever been to any other Costa Rican places, so I can't compare it, but the service and food have always been good and prices reasonable to boot. There is a nice but small sit down area with wait service behind the walk up counter, and a small outdoor seating area as well.
(4)Kate B.
Great food with vegetarian options. Wonderful service. and a BYOB! I have plans to return again and again. Highly recommend the specials, spicey guacomole and the stuff pepper. yum!
(5)Rachel I.
Very, very good food and friendly service.
(5)Megan W.
Really fuckin good.
(5)Matt L.
3.4 stars. The place looks like a fast food joint if you're coming down Milwaukee. The neon ATM sign is more prominent at night than the sign that says Irazu. The food though is quite good. Get one of the big plates with a bunch of chicken or other meat and you'll be happy. The sandwiches were good, but not great, and my mango shake wasn't nearly as good as I expected after reading the reviews on here. For the prices and interesting food I would definitely go back, but I wouldn't bring my parents or anyone that's put off by the grimy exterior.
(3)Katherine R.
Fan f-ing tastic. We made an order for carry-out and when we got back, they had given me a steak sandwich instead of a veggie. Since I live right by, they delivered my new veggie sandwich super quick and put in an order of free plantains with a little note that said, sorry for our error, enjoy! I seriously almost cried! That is the nicest thing ANY delivery/carry out place in Chicago has ever done. Normally it takes forever, and you question whether or not they spit in it. They even let my meat-lovin boyfriend keep the other mistake sandwich. Besides that, like I said, this place is fan-f-ing tastic! My veggie sandwich was loaded with veggies and delicious. We also got the spicy guacamole which was fabulous and I got a side of yellow rice, which was also scrumcious. My meal was completely satisfying and I don't think any place could have been nicer about the mixed up order. They have seating both inside and out and they only except cash- FYI. They do have an ATM inside though. I will definitely be going back- thanks IRAZU for redeeming yourself from the sandwich mix up :)
(5)eve l.
dear cornmeal shake, i thought you were delicious. and super rad. dear oatmeal shake, you paled in comparison to your cousin the cornmeal shake, but i could've still drank you all up.
(5)Joe H.
I heard the Hype and had to check this place out. The food was pretty good. I have eaten there a couple times because I believe every place deserves a second chance (the first time the service wasn't too great, in their defense they were really busy). There patio is great outdoor Chicago eating, and there shakes are crazy good!
(4)Ryan C.
The food is very good. Everyone in our party loved what they got. Their outdoor seating area is nice. Also nice is the BYOB policy with no corkage fee. Our waiter was a fun guy and our food came pretty quickly given how crowded the place was.
(5)sandra h.
You have to be either very hungry or prepared to eat leftovers for a week if you visit this restaurant. I know an oatmeal shake sounds a bit odd but give it a try . . . I was surprised to find out that it was actually delicious. Who knew? Be prepared to wait 15-20 minutes for a table or if you don't feel like waiting there is always carry out.
(4)steve h.
yelp fanatic review #32402935: i will try to keep this review in check, but simply writing about this place makes me a little bit sideways.... i pretty much love everything here. from the breakfasts: arroz con huevo (rice, eggs, black pepper, avocado) , gallo pinto (rice mixed with beans and served with eggs/plaintains..GET BOTH) to the stuff with meat: pepito sandwich (ribeye, onions, beans, and lizano sauce)/ the fat juicy pork chops (with all the accompaniments) onward to the stuff without meat: the veggie 'i don't need to explain these' burritos/the amazing potato tacos (can't find these things anywhere else!) and finally finishing it all off with the shakes: oatmeal with or without milk, strawberry, whatever! JUST GIVE IT TO ME! I DON'T CARE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE KITCHEN, JUST PUT IT ON A SHOVEL AND DUMP IT DIRECTLY INTO MY BIG FAT MAW! EXTRA LIZANO SAUCE TOO!! ps-ahem, sorry for losing my cool. those of you who have eaten here understand my craziness.
(4)Basal G.
The food at Irazu is superb and the staff is very friendly. It is relative inexpensive, especially considering the plates are piled high with food. One of the things that impressed me the most was their "milkshake," which in Costa Rica is basically a blend of milk, ice, and a fruit of your choice. Having been to Costa Rica and having had multiple milkshakes their everyday, I've tried to make my favorite type - pineapple - here in Chicago and have always failed. It always has tasted quite strange when I've made it. When I ordered it at Irazu, the waitress suggested that she make the pineapple milkshake with Soy make rather than regular milk, since the regular milk would apparently curdle... The result was pure deliciousness and I now know how to successfully make one of these myself! Finally, be sure to get their fried plantains! Now for the reason I did not give this place 5 stars - Authenticity. A few things struck me as odd. Although costa rican food varies widely, it is usually considered to be "bland" compared to the food of neighboring countries. Irazu definitely spices up their food and makes the dishes much more elaborate than you would find in the country. In Costa Rica, in order to make their food tastier people usually put Lizano Salsa on their meals. I was quite surprised when I tasted their rather spicy "Lizano salsa." In Costa Rica, this salsa is not spicy at all and is actually usually compared to a Worcester sauce! When I got home from Irazu I actually cracked open a bottle of my own Lizano Salsa just to confirm that it was completely different from what they were marketing! Finally, the last non-traditional Costa Rican item were the tortilla chips on the table. All in all, the food is great and you get a lot for the price, but its authenticity is a bit in question. Addition - I went back and specifically asked for Lizano Salsa - they gave me a little plastic cup with ~1 tablespoon of the salsa and charged me $1 ;(
(4)Martha P.
When u are away from home.... you really appreaciate everything that reminds you of "casita." I went to this place and i loved it.. I have this delicious steak with rice, beans and salad.. and of course PLANATITOS with a MORA drink.. Go and enjoy the delicious Costa Rican food.
(5)Kel W.
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.
(3)Kara C.
This place is worth the wait. Where else would you want to be on a warm summer night than the patio of Irazu, sampling delicious Costa Rican food and drinking your BYOB wine!? We had 7 in our group, so the wait was just under an hour because the patio is so popular. But once we got seated, the service was excellent (Thank you, Chris!) and we never felt rushed. The entrees are generous, so our group shared several dishes. I'd recommend the steak Casada and the vegetarian burrito. The vegetables are grilled to perfection. And don't pass up the Costa Rican-style rice. It's to die for.... Irazu is a great environment for just about any occasion - catching up with friends, celebrating a birthday (we saw an adorable group of friends with birthday hats), or even a date. The prices are VERY reasonable...just don't forget your cash!
(4)Peter R.
I miss the days when Irazu was just 4 blocks away. I get the Bistec with the black beans and rice, and the sweet plantains almost every time. I order a large horchata to wash it down with. The sweet plantains makes you want to do cart wheels and profess your love for them. Its the simple things in life that make me happy. And Irazu is simple and delicious. No need to write anything else.
(4)Phil P.
If your looking for a good Costa Rican Restaurant, then this is a great option. Before we went, I called to see if they were BYOB and they are. I was surprised that it was not mentioned in other reviews. At least the ones I looked through. Reasonably priced. Indoor or outdoor seating is available. Their dishes are full of flavor. Service is good. Oatmeal shake is awesome. I always get on to go as I am leaving. You have to try it.
(4)Matt W.
The place is delish! They give you way too much food so be prepared to unbuckle your belt. I would come back here again just for the legendary oatmeal shake with milk. No additional flavors needed. It tastes like an icy horchata... much better than horchata though. Wasn't too big of a fan of their salsas, as i like mine a little bit chunkier but still delilsh. Good intro to costa rican food, as i've never had it b4!
(4)Meghan B.
I've eaten at Irazu three times and each time has been fabulous. The outdoor patio area is lovely, the service has also been friendly and attentive, and the food never disappoints me. It's also conveniently a short walk from my house. HIGHLY RECOMMEND: The Vegetarian Burrito. It's around $5 and it's huge (and tasty). Potato Tacos. It also comes with rice, beans, and plantains. You will not leave hungry. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND: The Oatmeal Shake. You will not regret it. Sometimes the servers try to get to you to try a flavored version, but I personally think the original Oatmeal Shake is the way to go. BONUS POINTS: The prices are very reasonable The place is BYOB
(5)Krystyna B.
Hi, my name is Krystyna and I am a casado freak. I admit it. It's an addiction. After coming back from Costa Rica in January, I make sure to stop by Irazu at few times a month so that I don't completely miss the flavors of Costa Rica. Plus, it reminds me that I only have to wait T-29 days before I head back. If only my favorite soda hadn't burned down in the interim. I'm on a search now for a new favorite to replace my Costa Rican soda obsession! Irazu, though, is the perfect thing to tide me over. This is a neighborhood joint and it is almost always packed in the evenings. A mom-and-pop-owned BYO with a homey feel. You might be seated at bar-height tables or a picnic bench. The decor is slightly cluttered but spotlessly clean and reminiscent of Costa Rican sodas. Make sure to arrive with you entire party, otherwise you won't be seated... You might as well make friends with other Irazu lovers while you wait. Often, you're holding a conversation with a person pressed up against you while waiting for an empty table. It's almost....it's almost... like that slightly-creepy dude who presses up against you on the bus during your daily morning commute. You just have to learn to embrace it because the reward is so great. The shakes, sandwiches, and casados are yummy; so, too, are its sides. The pepito sandwich with avocado is delicious and big enough that you can eat half and save the rest for later. Plus, at $4.95 a pop, it's too good a deal to pass up. Order a side of platanos. Depending on their ripeness, you might end up with firm, french-fry textured pieces of sweet banana or something smoother, more caramelly and infinitely sweeter. Like Dan D. said in his review, the must-try dish is the "Casado." It is the staple of true Costa Rican cuisine. Prepare yourself for a feast for your taste buds, your eyes, and a sigh of relief from your wallet. When you order casado, you get the smorgasboard: rice and beans, an over-easy egg, some sort of cabbage salad, platanos (a slightly denser, more sweet variety of banana) and a choice of meat or fish. I usually get the fish and I couldn't be happier with my selection. The fish is flaky, tender, and never over-cooked. No matter which dinner place you get, make sure to try the Lizano salsa from the sides menu. This is a condiment that is served with almost every meal and it truly complements most flavors in the Costa Rican kitchen. If you stop by on the weekend, be sure to try the red snapper special. To quote Rachel Zoe (not that I often do, but....) "I DIE" it's so delicious. If you want to miss the crowd and feel up to a heavier, savory breakfast or brunch, stop by and try the Gallo Pinto. For $5.50, it's a brunch steal!
(4)Leah P.
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).
(5)Jacqueline M.
WOW!!! I was looking for some empanadas, and I found GREAT ones! I ordered delivery, so I wasn't able to get a feel for the environment that many reviews talk about, but I definitely will be paying a visit. Cheese empanada, black bean puree, sweet plantains, and the infamous OATMEAL SHAKE. I am stuffed! Every single bite was delicious. (All for $16, including $3 delivery) Delivery itself was quick, took about 40 minutes on a Friday night. Nom nom nommmmm!
(5)Jessica M.
My husband, 2.5 year old daughter and I visited Irazu again recently after a long hiatus. Everything was as delicious as I remembered. The vegetarian salad was fresh and the perfect combo of crunch/smooth/acid. The Pepito sandwich was perfection. I finished my daughter's left-over chicken taco at the hotel later that night and it was incredibly flavorful. My husband got one of the breakfast dishes and was pleased as well. Oatmeal shakes are a must! The service at Irazu is always top notch. The owner, Henry, truly cares about the customers and makes you feel incredibly welcome. I honestly would eat here everyday if I could (and I did 5 years ago when we lived down the street from this wonderful place!) Definitely check out Irazu. I promise you will not be disappointed!
(5)Kwoky L.
With the prevalence of Mexican cuisine in the Chicago area, it is natural, for an outsider like me, who has very little experience with Costa Rican food, to come to Irazu with the notion that they are somehow similar to one another. Yes, I know they are different but the question is, how are they different? That, in fact, was my mission for the day. Their tortilla chips were served with a warm black bean dip and the fried yuca was perfectly cooked and fluffy on the inside. In fact, I would prefer that over potatoes anytime. The beef casado with grilled onions was surprisingly huge; tons of meat to satisfy a true carnivore. It tasted like homemade with just salt and pepper, nothing fancy, just pure goodness. If that doesn't fill you up, check out their flan. It's was super creamy and rich but it might be slightly on the sweet side. The downside was the plain rice, which was pretty good except that it was slightly undercooked. Nothing ruins the meal like crunchy rice. So I have nothing to complement the meat other than the salad and egg. I should have asked for the gallo pinto, which was amazing. Another dish that was disappointing was their ceviche. I was looking for fresh ingredients that bring out the flavor and freshness of the fish but all I have was tomatoes and probably some peppers. It was quite bland to say the least. Nevertheless, Irazu is worth checking out. After all, it's the only Costa Rican restaurant in Chicago. Just make sure you have ample cash because it is CASH ONLY =(. I would love to try other things that sets them apart in my next visit.
(3)Dallas F.
I LOVE this place. No seriously, if we could get married we would. I'm not sure if it was the potato tacos that sold me or the the casada (chicken for me please). Either way, I have enjoyed just about everything I've ordered from the menu. Oh! How could I forget about the veggie burrito ? Vegetarian or not, its definitely worth trying.
(5)Brian G.
Stopped by with Anders B. to buoy my blood sugar before getting inadvertently tanked at the Map Room. The purported prophylaxis: Pepito with peppers.* Described by some as God's gift to Chicago, the best way I can describe the pepito is as a Costa Rican version of an Italian beef, and if you throw on the peppers I dare you to tell me it doesn't taste exactly like an Italian beef with giardiniera. You won't do it. You CAN'T do it. The sandwich is top tier with warm French break and juicy steak. The fish taco that Anders had was hot stuff as well. Irazu was packed like...umm...Janice Dickinson at Plato's Retreat. My advice to you: If you don't mind staying mobile, get your food to go. Anders and I took this tack and we had our food within five to ten minutes. Otherwise you would be wise to get to Irazu early. The place isn't huge and I can't imagine it takes long for it to fill up. *Forgive the alliteration. I know it's dumb. Also, the pepito did nothing to stymie my inebriation, but the thing was tasty.
(4)David S.
The burritos at this place are pretty dull and bland, but the Ceviche is *incredible*, as is the Costa Rican sandwich. I also tried the "lava juice", which is watermelon juice. It might have been the most refreshing beverage I've ever had.
(5)Laurie S.
FREAKING GOOD. The bad news: super long wait. My group of eight arrived at about 8:15 and were seated around 9:00. The food also took a long time to come out, which is to be expected, but by the time we were halfway through our entrees we were being asked to pay our check so the restaurant could close up. Ehh...... Besides that though, everything was great. The empanadas were really tasty (my table got 7 for $13 as an appetizer). The dinner plates were also pleasing. Our server was very candid in informing us that we should probably skip the pineapple empanada. Dinner success!! BYOB BTW.
(4)Grace R.
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.
(3)Kim B.
We loved this casual place and there were so many great things about it. First, the price is extremely reasonable for high-quality food. We shared a few appetizers and each had a meal and it was still only $22 apiece including gratuity! The fact it is BYOB with no corking fee is a huge savings. The white fish ceviche had to be my favorite dish, spinach empanadas were great, and tilapia tacos were wonderful. We finished it off with an oatmeal shake - way more delicious than I expected. Overall great experience, great food and hope to be back soon.
(5)Matt D.
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.
(4)Rachel E.
I've been eating here for years and take almost all out of towners here for a reliably great meal. Just wanted to zero in on the Oatmeal Shake. I don't even like oatmeal and the first time someone described this to me i thought, I will never even try that, but alas . . . it is indeed the best thing ever and everyone I take here agrees with me. Coupled with the milanesa sandwich, I'm in heaven.
(5)Brandon N.
Tortillas have MEGA amounts of Trans Fat. I do appreciate the fact that they sent me the wrapper of their tortillas after a request. They do care about their customers, and provide full disclosure. That is HARD to find. Maybe bring your own tortillas from Costco or Whole Foods?
(4)Ali M.
Love this place and it is the only Costa Rican food place that there is. Love the gallo pinto..I like the casado and the Costa Rican sandwich....I personally love the Lizano sauce that is a staple there. The shakes are amazing...oatmeal is my fav and a must try!
(4)Ashley V.
What can I say that the hundreds other haven't. I loved my experience at Irazu. We got there early after work and the crowd was small. Brought a bottle of wine and Omar brought us out some chips and salsa and took our order for guacamole immediately. After guac we decided to go for the new empanada sampler appetizer. Super crispy and extra doughy. While I would pass on the chicken in the future, the sweet plantain and spinach and cheese empanadas were excellent. I have to point out that the Pico De Gallo served with the empanadas was AMAZING. It had a ton of cilantro and fresh cut tomatoes. I will definitely ask for this in the future for chip dipping. Our excellent server, Omar was working the whole room and as he took our order made it a point to let us know, customers preference rules at Irazu. I felt no guilt as I constructed THE WORLD'S MOST PERFECT BURRITO EVER! It was a large warm tortilla overfilled with Black beans, YELLOW rice, Cheese, Avocados, Sour Cream, CHORIZO, Spinach and Mushrooms. And yes the rumors are true, I could barely finish half it was soo huge. My friend loved her veggie burrito but my other friend did not like her fried pork dish. It was completely over-fried (Is this possible? Apparently so.). We all loved the side of sweet plantains. At the end I was disappointed that I was too full for a "famous" oatmeal shake but Omar told me I could pop in anytime to grab one on the go. A few minutes later, a bread pudding was magically ordered and it was a block of thick rich cinnamon deliciousness. Done and done. The damage for 3 girls and a ridiculous amount of food was minimal and Irazu has a new cheerleader in me. *Can't wait to come back in the summer to booze up the shakes on the patio. **I would like to point out although we got there nice and early, Irazu was nice enough to let us sit there for about 2 hours and truly enjoy our meal and conversation even though the line was out the door.
(5)Jessica R.
simply wonderful. great vegetarian selection, inexpensive, BYOB, generally a short wait if any (even when there are people outside). We always hope to get Omar as our server since he's always and consistently been nice and has a very positive attitude. A+
(5)Zoran O.
Oatmeal shake and Vegi burrito with mushroom and hot peppers - this is what this place has been for me for years. The shakes must be laced with some addicting additive - you know like coca or something ;)
(5)Natasha P.
Irazu hits the spot. Every damn time. I've dined in and had food delivered and the service remains impeccable, friendly and efficient. The steak casado is a must - be sure to combine your rice and beans when ordering. Seriously though, add a fried egg to any entree and you've got me coming back for more. The steak fries are amazing, crispy but soft and just the perfect amount of flavor, a wonderful companion to any of their dinner options as well as their sandwiches...oohhh the sandwiches! I ordered the pepito sandwich with avocado: ribeye steak, carmelized onions, peppers, beans on white bread -- it was so tasty I didn't even mind it being served on white bread. I also tasted the milanesa, and though it was good, I much prefer the pepito. Everything you order here, even the guacamole with chips -- can be made spicy upon request. Lastly, the restaurant is small, but it's intimate and epitomizes just what a family joint should be. There's nothing really more to say here that hasn't already been mentioned below so if you haven't popped into this Costa Rican eatery, I suggest you get a'movin!
(5)KChicagoan S.
So as you can tell from other reviews, the wait here is long...always. Whatever the host/hostess tells you, be sure to add another 20-30 minutes because this place is popular. I had the vegetarian burrito and was underwhelmed. It was kind of soupy and soggy and didn't hold together well. The service was slow and they ran out of clean silverware so as food arrived, we had no way to eat it (for like 15 minutes). I would maybe go again and give it another try, but upon fist visit, things fell short.
(3)eric m.
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.
(5)Jaclyn D.
They've got a vegetarian burrito that will ruin all other burritos for you forever. If you are not a fan of mushrooms, zucchini, and plantains in your burrito (I know a lot of you freaks are out there) then you will still be satisfied. Their menu has something for everyone. This place has one chill atmosphere, too. It is great coming here in the summer time. My only VERY REAL complaint is that every single time I've come here, they either forget to put Jalepenos in my burrito (which is the case 90% of the time) or so many jalepenos that you can't taste anything else. I would recommend asking for jalepenos on the side, though, you might have to ask more than once. But definitely go, it is BYOB, and there is an excellent liquor store conveniently located across the street. It is also cash only, but (also conveniently) there is an ATM inside.
(4)Frank F.
This is tough since this place used to be top notch and a "go to" for me for years. I used to go back when the seating area was a joke and the chairs were all wobbly and mismatched and it was a balancing act trying not to knock over a three and a third legged table. They've since gone through a number of changes and have made that seating area nicer and even added an outside patio with seating. Maybe I've been unlucky, but the last 5 or so times I've been there, the service and quality have suffered. I don't know if the original family still owns it, but I haven't seen any of them in years. Maybe it's just been bad timing. When the owner was present, it was as good a meal as I've had anywhere. When he isn't, it suffers a little. That said, it is still one of the best veggie burritos in town and has many other veggie items as well as many meat dishes. They are all pretty tasty. I suppose one of the things about turning into an old man in Chicago is that you see some of your favorite places change. This place is still pretty decent but has changed. I would complain about the service, but it's never been good unless the owners were there. Still a great veg option. Would still recommend it and will prob visit again sometime.
(3)Deanna G.
Went for supper club with the girls (4) of us. We were warned that the portions are large and we could probably share dishes. We were also warned to get there before 7. We arrived at 6:45 to get a nice table outside without a wait. About 15 minutes later, people were lined up the street sitting on nice little benches just outside the fenced off area drinking the night away as they were waiting for tables. DEFINITELY arrive before 7pm if you plan on doing anything else that night. We ordered the guac (yummy, but not the typical mexican guac that i LOVE) and then an empanada appetizer platter. I would recommend picking which ones you think you'd love vs. a sample platter. Some were definitely better than others. We also ended up sharing 3 meals instead of 4. But probably would have been fine with 2. We got the Bistec Tico which was delicious. Highly recommended so much that my friend who recommended this restaurant is having her wedding catered with it. Second entree was the Chicken Casado. I really liked the flavoring of the veggies and the mixed rice was delicious. However, the chicken was REALLY dry. I would try that with steak next time. Third we got the Milanesa. I thought that was just ok. For dessert we got the homemade bread pudding (i don't love baked goods but the girls liked) and an oatmeal chocolate shake which was, DELICIOUS. tasted like a potbelly cookie. Overall, I would definitely go back.
(4)Christina M.
I thought the employees, particularly the owner, were exceptionaly nice. The vegan burrito was average, but I may just have to try it again. Also, make sure you bring cash since they're cash only (they have an ATM too).
(3)James G.
this place is great for so many reasons. awesome but cheap food. great patio (even in the winter, its heated and very comfortable). unique menu. BYOB! the only thing to be aware of, is that it can take a very long time to be served and pay. its very small with a tiny kitchen, so when its crowded it takes a while. it only accepts cash, and the register is busy when its time to pay. you can also wait a while for the restroom. as long as you go into your experience aware of these things, you'll have an amazing time for cheap.
(4)Jeanus T.
This place is OK but I didn't think it was spectacular like lots of the reviews on here. Probably built my expectation up too much before I went. It's kind of annoying that they don't take reservation and it's cash only. And the place is loud!! It's so hard to talk. I think this place is better for lunch than dinner.
(3)B S.
The veggie burrito is very good, esp with plantains. The oatmeal milkshake did not blow me away quite as much as it did others, but it is very tasty. Service was a little spotty one of the times I ate in. Must pay in cash. Hours could be later. No Sundays?
(4)Jessica M.
Irazu recently remodeled their outdoor seating area. It's bigger and better in every way! The tables are new, there are nice plants and warm, latin beats. I was just there this past week with a group of friends and we had a totally wonderful evening at Irazu! I recommend the casado. Delicious! I also had a papaya lemonade shake (made with water) and it was totally refreshing. Yay! Nice work Irazu!
(4)Jeanie P.
Wow! Irazu packs the punch with flavor in every part of the entree! And all the savory flavors meld into perfect deliciousness. I came here last night to celebrate, and even though the place was small.. we were seated right away, although it was rather crowded for a weeknight when we left. Anyway, back to the food. I've never had Costa Rican food before but to me it seemed like somewhere a mix of mexican, carribean, and peruvian. In other words, aMAzING! I was really going back and forth b/t the award winning veggie burrito and the casado. And yes I went with the meat.. I can't help myself. The steak casado came with sweet plaintains (ah delicious), flavorful thin rib eye steak pieces topped with grilled onions, and a side chopped cabbage salad with beets, radishes, cucumber etc. We upgraded to the Costa Rican rice (TOTALLY WORTH IT! only a dollar or so) as opposed to plain white rice. The rice was kinda like a flavored "dirty rice" with spices, black beans, and loads of savory zing. And we got free oatmeal shakes (with soy~) for the table (apparently its like 1 free oatmeal shake per 25 dollar purchase if you are a yelper). So we just shared 2 among the group. And I was so curious when I read about this famous oatmeal shake on yelp. It has a slightly sweet cinnamon flavor, and basically tasted like a horchata smoothie/milkshake! It was around 12-15 dollars for an entree, and around like 5 bucks for a burrito. All the entrees are huge portions, so definitely will have leftovers for the next day :) Will have to go back to try the empanadas and veggie burrito! This is why I love yelp!
(4)Diana F.
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.
(3)Kylie V.
I've always loved Irazu but was inspired to write my first Yelp review after their service this Friday night. I went with a group of 10 people and we choose to participate in the family style group option. With a salad, appetizer, steak, tilapia, rice, beans, grilled plantains, and an oatmeal shake for everyone we all left very full and happy! Our server was especially friendly and offered suggestions of places to go out in the area afterwards. Irazu is a great option for a low key group celebration!
(5)Emma S.
I've hear from several friends that this place is not very authentic. I can honestly say I have no idea. I CAN say that it's delicious. There's something about their beans that just satisfies me. I'm also a huge fan of their smoothies. If it's nice out, sit on the patio. It's pretty likable.
(3)Tiff H.
It's no secret that I love this place. I have brought various friends and ladies here in the last 2 years after I discovered this place. Last time I went, a couple of lady friends dined with our bottles of wine. Kudos to deliciousness. I had my normal Casado. Love it. Though it's nothing elegant, it's a hearty meal that really has the home cooked feel--perfect thinly sliced steak with caramelized onions, an egg, Costa Rican rice, veggie salads (yummy beets...!), and delectable plantains. In fact, everything has the home cooked feeling. We had the pork and bean dip as well as the guacamole. Wow, the guac here is delicious. My friends ordered the same as me as well as the veggie sandwich, which I am hoping to stray away from my stable and try. As my companion put it, "It's got all the ingredients that you can make it at home, but, each time you try, you'll just fail miserably. It's so delicious." Even though they were packed....not pointing fingers...there was a table of 15 that seemed a bit high maintenance. Kudos to the staff there. Omar, as always, made sure we were taken care of, and we didn't wait too long for our food. However, we were happily occupied with our bottles of wine in the mean time. I always bank on spending around $15-20 here including tip. It's worth it. That usually includes enough leftovers for lunch the next day. Cash only, so make sure you sure walk up to Walgreen's to buy something in order to get cash back. So...when do you want to get Irazu with me? And, yes, I pronounce the name like an American who's never taken Spanish before.
(5)Jessica D.
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.
(5)kevin c.
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!
(4)Ria C.
How one could drive by this place hungry, with the windows down, and not stop, is proof of the willpower of every human being but the bubs and I. After condo searching through Bucktown, we zipped past and the meaty wafty goodness drew us in. The ease of purchasing wine across the street was also a major plus. The place is quite gritty inside with seating for somewhere around 30. The ambiance is perfect though, for the menu offerings, and the service is hard and fast. To start we shared the empanadas: spinach and cheese, zucchini, and chicken. Spinach and cheese was by far the best-not too doughy and lightly fried. I would have liked to see a creamy sauce accompany the empanadas versus the pico de gallo dip they provide. Pepito Sandwich, a little greasy which is perfect, with sauteed onions and sauce. Milanese Sandwich good, but nothing in comparison to the flavorful rib-eye in the Pepito. Will be back in the summer to sit on the patio. Only con is that they only have plastic cups. For a place that is BYOB, they should invest in glassware.
(4)Nicole L.
Can't believe that it's been a whole year after my trip to Costa Rica, and I'm only now discovering Irazu! A small space in Bucktown, this restaurant has a very authentic vibe. The food was great and was exactly how I remembered it on my trip (got the tico chicken - rice/beans and plantains - my fav). It's BYOB - so great with a group as well. They have a fabulous patio that I can't wait to revisit when it warms up. We didn't wait long and the service was pretty good (although, because it's small, you can kind of hear everything everyone else is saying, especially... the loud table of 10 girls next to us..yeah.. you know who you are)! I found out they deliver to my hood so I can get my fill of Costa Rican cuisine anytime I need my fill or simply want to pretend I'm still on vacation (sans beach and hammock)! As the locals would say, Pura Vida!
(5)Jenny T.
I'm moving to Costa Rica, f'real! Tried Irazu this past week & cannot believe how much I've been missing out on these past few years in Chicago. We went a little after lunch time & it was still PACKED. I mean so packed I had to crawl over and almost fall mind you!) a bench to get to the little table available. We were immediately served their delicious homemade chips & super spicy salsa. Not a fan of the two salsas being served in plastic ketchup & mustard-like bottles, but I got over that real quick. After eating some cheese empanadas (in my opinion, pass on these & focus on the meal ahead of you), I decided on the steak burrito with added sour cream & avocado. I got the hot peppers on the side & am so glad I did. The burrito was so tasty that I think the hot peppers would have taken away from the complete & utter euphoria I was in. I mean seriously on the cold, windy day I felt as if I was sitting on a beach in Costa Rica enjoying a delicious, mom & pop made burrito. Yowzers! I didn't try my dining mates dish, but he finished it all & was totally sweating-shhh, don't tell him I told you. It was spicy, but the addicting kind of spicy. The food is inexpensive, but there is so much flavor. I can't wait until it gets warm again & will frequent Irazu just to try all the dishes on the menu. Word to the wise: Don't go in big groups. It was just the two of us & we were able to skip ahead of all the families & groups of friends (sorry, sorry!) since there was a table for two in back open.
(5)Melly C.
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!
(4)Deek J.
Great food! Great service, great prices, fun atmosphere!
(5)Jerry M.
Ooo de lalala - what's not to love about this place? And what can I say that makes you want to read MY review, when there are 273 of them before me proclaiming the glory that is Irazu? You know about the oatmeal shake. In it's cinnamony goodness. You know that it's BYOB. You know it's very vegetarian friendly - they even have a whole section of the menu dedicated to veggie dishes. And there are even veggie options hiding among the other sections. You know that they've got meat options as well. Although I can't vouch for them since I'm on a meat sabbatical and I couldn't understand what my friends were saying when I asked if their dishes were good. Because they were groaning in ecstasy. Really, who understands that? You know about the cheap sandwiches and tacos - You could fill your tummy for under 5 bucks if you so desire. And, finally, you know about that oatmeal shake. Nom, nom, nom... So good I had to mention it twice. I do want to go back for the yucca - it came highly recommended. By the owner of the other-oatmeal-shake-place-that-I-shall-not-name (yes, I admitted to them I cheated on them with Irazu). Wait, maybe I did tell you something new. Did you know about the yucca?
(5)J Paul H.
Something is new about the food! It has improved immensely. There is way more love in it nowadays. And I believe there is a new ingredient in the salsa verde...I know what it is, as well, But I wont say...nope. My grandma grew it in her back yard, and I would eat it all the time, but never the leaves. Wink wink chef. Kudos to you guys. You have grown into one of the tastiest places around. Much Love
(5)Julia H.
There isn't much not to like about this place. Be prepared to pay in cash and leave feeling stuffed. The ceviche (made with white fish and lime juice and traditionally served with saltines) is fresh and delicious. The oatmeal shakes made with soymilk are thick, creamy and nutty. Today I decided to try the vegetarian plate with fresh broccoli, tomatoes, and hot peppers with the costa rican gallo pinto rice, cabbage salad and sweet fried plantains. And of course, I love when a meal starts with homemade tortilla chips and hot salsas. Prices are ridiculously decent. YUM
(5)Alexis M.
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.
(5)Phil F.
The clock just recently struck 11:30pm. It's officially been two hours since I left Irazu. Yet my stomach is still just as painfully full and bloated as when I initially walked out the door...and I couldn't be happier. I've spent months scouring yelp reviews in search of the city's best burrito. Mexican restaurant after Mexican restaurant left me disappointed. The only thing I have to show for those failed trips is a little more lovin to these love handles and a few extra hours in the bathroom. Little did I know that I wasn't even looking at the right part of the globe. Forget Mexico -- Costa Rica is the place for burritos. Without question, the Irazu Vegetarian Burrito is a 5-star burrito. Wrapped in a lightly grilled, thick tortilla, the standard vegetarian burrito comes packed with delicious yellow rice (not found in the regular burritos), black beans (clearly the bomb-diggity of all burrito beans), and veggies galore (I recommend throwing in some zucchini for $1 extra). Finally, I topped off this bowling ball-sized monsterrito with a little chicken. After all, who wouldn't want a Vegetarian Burrito w/ Chicken (oxymorons be damned)? I'd love to give Irazu itself a 5-star review, but the apps and overly-hyped shake weren't quite as perfect as the almighty burrito. Nonetheless, thank you, Irazu. My burrito journey is finally over. I can die happy. Which just might happen tonight if my stomach doesn't eventually decompress.
(4)Kelsey K.
Let me prime you with the fact that we were REALLY excited to eat here. We're getting married in CR next year and we really wanted to love this local spot. Okay, so maybe it's our fault for going on a Friday, but I've never been told that it would be a 35 minute wait and then not getting a table for over and hour and a half. Granted we were already hungry when we got there, but not getting to eat for over 2 hours will make anyone grumpy. The staff was very nice and they felt bad for our situation, but offered to comp $0. The food WAS good once we finally got it, but maybe it just tasted extra good once the starvation kicked in. Dine in? Never again. Take out? I'd give it another shot (even though it's really expensive for a take out place).
(2)Phillip S.
Just left an amazing experience. Justin our waiter was helpful and. prompt. Ordered the casado, and its the best meal to fill you up and still have leftovers for lunch/dinner the next day. Also had the banana milk shake, it was delicious. Thats actually putting it mildly. So good i ordered two more to go. One was with oatmeal. I highly recommend eating here. If you happen to get justin as your server, ask him for his suggestions he will help you enjoy your experience Prices : Very good in comparison to the portions Service : A+
(5)Francesca R.
After seeing this place on tv I have been waiting,waiting and waiting to try this place. Being at home, pregnant I just had a craving I couldn't resist. Placed an order online. got the infamous pepito sandwich and some empanadas. I probably would've enjoyed it better if it wasn't kind of cold. I had high hopes for this sandwich after reading the reviews and watching them on tv. The empanadas were petty good though. Overall it was just ok, did it hit the spot?no, but it was descent. not sure if I will give them another chance yet.
(3)Eman S.
I would actually give this place 4.5 stars and I will most likely come back and edit this to 5 stars next time I go in because everything was great, except my sandwich. We got there at about 7pm on a Friday and asked for a table for 2. We had to about 5 minutes and then were seated at one for their high boys in the back. The place is really small on the inside and probably has 4 high boys and maybe 6 tables. There were surprisingly two big groups in there of 8 people in each and they seemed to be seated pretty comfortably. This place is BYOB so we brought wine with us (there is a corkage fee), but next time we go it will definitely be some kind of Mexican beer. Our waitress was great! She is the daughter of the owner and has been working there since the place opened 20 years ago. Since we had never had Costa Rican cuisine, she gave us ideas of what to get. We started off with the guacamole (asked for it spicy) to go along with our chips and salsa. The chips are different than you eat at other restaurants, but they were really good. They give you two types of salsas at the table a red and a verde (very spicy). The guac was great, but it was not chunky like fresh guac. For dinner, I had the Pepeto sandwich, which is steak with peppers, onions, muenster cheese and their terizo sauce. I also asked for avocados on top. The sandwich was really good, but would have been much better if they served it as opened-face with the cheese being the top layer because the bread was too much. My wife got their special that night of spinach and peppers. I have no idea how they cooked it or what else was in it, but I can best describe it to you as cooked, spinach, peppers and tomatoes cooked together in a tasy sauce and served with rice, beans and fried plantains. It was so delicious! We were pretty stuffed by the end, but we knew we had to try the oatmeal shake. We got it with the soy milk and it tasted exactly like rice pudding to me. It was good, but I think it would have been a lot better with milk. All in all, this place is great. If you are a vegetarian, there are several options for you and the rest of us meat-eaters should have no complaints. For the two of us, with what was ordered, it came out to $32 before tip. Not too bad!
(4)Shiraz G.
I love this place. I ordered in because I was sick, and it was probably one of the best decisions I've made in a while. I'm vegetarian so I was immediately impressed by the number of options I had. After reading other reviews, I decided on the potato tacos, black bean soup, and oatmeal shake. I also got a side of plantains. They delivered the food in about 30 minutes and even gave me larger portions that I expected (never a bad thing). Everything went very well together. I loved the soup and oatmeal shake the most. They were both fresh and comforting at the same time. Not too heavy but still very satisfying. I wasn't that impressed with the guacamole that came with my potato tacos, but it was still tasty. I'm eager to try their sandwiches and desserts next time!!
(4)Vanessa P.
I came here about 3 times and it was always a failure. One time I came here on a Saturday night with a couple of my girl friends. In total we were three people who waited 3 effin hours to get a table! The host let 5 other couples in front of us and then ended up sitting us at a table meant for 2 people and put an extra chair there. I mean he should have done that in the first place. I do not understand what the fuss is all about the only good thing here is the horchata. If you want real central american/Caribbean food I suggest you go somewhere else.
(1)Kunal K.
I write this review as I devour the leftovers from my Huevoz con Chorizo and I am trying to figure out what is there to add about this place that hasn't already been said in the 273 million reviews that it currently has. But I will try anyway. I walked in nursing a killer hangover from the night before and just wanted to eat and read the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy for the quarter millionth time. It was 4:30 pm (don't judge, it was a rough night) and I finally got out of bed and wanted breakfast. And since it was half way decent outside, I finally decided to venture out to Irazu after having read the yelp reviews on multiple occasions but never managing to make it there. The chips came with 2 kinds of salsa and both were pretty spicy. I loved it. Most places I go, I have had to learn to accept that the salsa is not going to be spicy enough to my liking. No such issues at Irazu. The huevos con chorizo and the oatmeal shake kicked the crap out of the hangover I was nursing. I also came to the realization that eggs scrambled with spicy sausage is the greatest idea ever and wondered why was I not doing this every day of my life? I'll be back. And often. A good place to go grab some breakfast as a really late lunch/early dinner.
(4)Shayna N.
Loved it! I've been biking past Iruza for a year now drooling at the outdoor patio and wishing i was there. Tonight we finally had a chance to appreciate the warm summer night and indulge in the Costa Rican offerings. Service was on top of it. We were promptly seated and served chips, salsa and water. My glass never sat for a minute less than half full. I ordered a breakfast dish with Costa Rican Rice, eggs and fried plantains ($6.50 - for a heaping mound of food) My boyfriend had the Bistec Tico ($13.50) We also ordered a mongo-lime smoothie special. (yum!) Everything was very good, although a little on the salty-greasy side. It's BYOB so come prepared to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. yay summer!
(4)dan l.
Everyone loves this place. Only been once and can't even remember what I had! But I remember it was great and our waiter was super friendly and attentive.. oh and everybody loves this place and I'm sure you will too.
(4)Lori L.
So, I'm sure I will be tarred and feathered for my forthcoming review. With that said, I wasn't extremely impressed with this place. My tilapia was just OK. Just so OK that I don't have anything remarkable to say about it. Of course, the number one reason I've heard to patronize Irazu is for their oatmeal shakes. My date and I were a tad confused when the waitress asked if we wanted it made with milk or water. Um, huh, yeah. Anyway, I wasn't blown away by their famous oatmeal shake. It wasn't thick and lacked that knock out punch I was waiting for. Perhaps my expectations were to high. I will say, my date's dinner was very tasty. He let me have a few nibbles of his steak.
(3)Virginia T.
I've been wanting to try Irazu for a long time. Maybe I went in with my expectations a bit too high because I left thinking it was pretty good, but not great. We decided to put our name in for first available, but I wished I'd chosen indoors because the outdoor "heated" patio was COLD. We started with the chifrito because fried pork always wins in my book, but it was disappointing. It was just rice, beans, and sparse pork- not the "dip" I was expecting. I was kicking myself for not ordering the empanadas, and I'll be back just to try those. The milensa was good, the steak burrito was ok, and potato tacos good. I think the "tacos" were more like taquitos or flautas than tacos though, personally. The plantains were amazing, but I'm kind of a whore for plantains. I liked the cabbage salad, radish and beets that came with my tacos a lot though. We mentioned Yelp to get our free oatmeal shake, but again I think the word shake is misleading it was pretty watery...more like horchata made with oatmeal than a shake. Overall, I will go back and I especially love that it is BYOB. Next time I'll just leave my preconceived notions at the door!
(4)Richie D.
The first and only Costa Rican restaurants. I lived in Costa Rica for 2 years and this place has the closest thing to what a casado should be. Definitely recommended, along with a batido de mora (blackberry milkshake).
(4)Kyle A.
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!
(4)mildred v.
We asked the waiter what was good for dinner (steak options) and he recommended the first three dishes Casado, Bistec tico (what I had), and the Onioned steak which all range from $11-$13. I would also add the fourth item - the grilled steak. All of the seven or eight girls I was with had one of those four dishes and once the food came - we were all silent (mouths were nice-n-full of steak)!! Everything was delicious and the portions were huge!! Me and one of the girls I came here with tried to come here on a Sunday night to satisfy our craving for a steak with a latin flare BUT IT WAS C-L-O-S-E-D. We ended up at Cafe 28 which was okay, but you get waaaay more bang for your buck at Irazu!!! :) The place is small and cozy, but as a party of eight we had a picnic style table with long benches - so we had to squish in and keep our posture (no back support), but it worked out. The other tables are smaller and have normal chairs. The waiter was attentive and patient especially considering our large party. Made lots of reccomendations for us. Warning - they claim to have the best rice pudding but I would disagree (Standard Indian Restaurant does - hands down!). The rice was hard and hard to chew. Oh and they are BYOB! I will be returning VERY soon to make up for the Sunday they were closed.
(4)Selina K.
I love this place, I have been going here since I was nine (possibly younger). This place use to be just a tiny shack. The family that owns it is very friendly. There are a few things that set this place part from other places. 1. They have to most amazing shakes, I have tried almost all the flavors and like everyone else says the oatmeal shake is to die for. 2. If you have never had yucca this is the place to get it. It is similar to a potato, here they either fry it in garlic or boil it and either way I can never get enough of it. 3. If your a fan of plantains you should definitely order some here, I don't usually like plantains but I will occasionally get them here. My mom loves them. This place had a good vibe, but sometimes parking can be a little difficult to get.
(5)Brooke J.
This place was rife with hipsters, and true to its neighborhood. The guacamole was excellent, and my costa rican sandwich was well-flavored. It's cash only, though, so come prepared.
(3)Neal K.
I don't claim to be particularly versed in the cuisine of Costa Rica, but eating at Irazu can definitely make one feel as if they are soaking up a genuine experience. The place itself is nothing special (it's probably an old filling station), but they have made the most of the outdoor patio space, adding at least one new built in table, or stool, or umbrella concept nearly ever summer the last few years. This food has soul. You can feel the love cooked into this food just as it probably has been for many, many years by someone's grandma from back home. The beans and rice are probably the tastiest I've ever had. The portions are huge, and they know how to get the foodies happy with a fried egg on top. Shakes are great too. Go here on a weeknight in the summer for best results.
(4)Iris M.
It was the first time I would take my husband to Irazu to eat Costa Rican Food. Per my husband, the waitress was great, but it took 45 minutes to get a "shrimp" meal prepared and delivered to us. We had ordered Yuca (boiled) for appetizer and that was under cook. When the Shrimp dinner came to the table, the rice was under cook also. We did not eat and left our food there. My husband asked for the owner but a manager listen to his complaint. How would you try to keep your customers coming back? Sorry sometimes just doesn't cut it. You would think they would want to make it up in some way. Each time I have been there, it was always busy. People get tired of "The kitchen is backed up" (remember that quote when you go there..I've heard it each time I've been there.). Will my husband go back, I doubt it. Will I? Probably to talk to the owner and let him know face to face of my experience.
(1)Lexi F.
I absolutely love Irazu, and don't go there enough (especially for living 2 blocks away.) I've had the Costa Rican Sandwich, the Plaintains, the Civeche (yeah, I totally butchered that spelling...sorry), and the Oatmeal Shake. Since there is usually a 20-25 minute wait, especially when it is nice out, it's not a bad idea to put your name in, walk to the liquor store at Milwaukee and Western and buy a six pack to take back with you. By the time you get back your table is almost ready!
(5)Christian P.
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.
(4)Melissa H.
Wanting to visit Costa Rica but never got around to it? This place is probably the closest you'll get in Chicago. We finally made it to Irazu and I'm so glad we did! We got there early on a week night around 6:30 or so.....it got really crowded shortly after. The weather was great, and our seat in the outdoor patio made it even better....very relaxing. Its nice to be away from all the noise on Milwaukee/Damn/North sometimes. I had the Shrimp dinner with the Gallo Pinto rice and sweet Plantains....delish! The hubster had the Fish (Tilapia) tacos which he also thought was tasty. We both thought that the plantains were the best we've had! Its definitely a treat to have Irazu in our neighborhood and I know we will be frequent diners. **BYOB** **Cash Only** ATM inside
(4)Jennifer L.
-------------COOK COUNTY CORONER'S REPORT------------- SUBJECT: Female, early 30s, caucasian SCENE OF DEATH: Subject was found on the floor with one hand on belly, one hand gripping an empty cup. Large smile was noted on the subject's face. Cup had residu
(5)LIDA A.
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.
(2)Jeff H.
Their plantains drives me insanes! The small dining space, the owner guy that always calls you buddy or pal or chief, and the fact that they don't take reservations and only put your name put on a list drives me insanes, too. However, he and the rest of the staff are friendly and the food is superb. I've been there three times and I've just been blown away with everything I've tried. Good date place. Won't break the bank (except the guac, wtf?!). They really do need to expand, though. Small might equal quaint, but it's also really annoying if you can't make a reservation and it's winter and there's no room to stand and wait inside the very small entryway. Summer isn't so bad, as you can BYO and sit in the small parking lot till they call your name. Over-all, the food is worth the wait and you'll be full and satisfied when you leave! Next time I have to try this Oatmeal Shake that everyone keeps raving about.
(4)Jef B.
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.
(5)Diana L.
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!
(4)Raquel L.
My new favorite restaurant! Best plantains ever! The food is great and the atmosphere is nice and up-beat. The waitstaff is as upbeat as the music and although you can have a wait on weekends, it's worth it for the tilipa! Oh - and it's bring-your-own beer/wine.
(5)Carolynne M.
I was extremely pleased with my dinner at Irazu. Walking in at 6:30 on a Friday night I was a little worried at the size of the place and how busy it was. But we were seated in less than 10 minutes! It is definitely one of those places that needs to expand though. Very, very small. I decided to order just a bunch of appetizers, and got a cheese empanada, an order of Patacones (which is fried green plantains covered with roasted garlic oil) and a vegetarian taco. The patacones are REALLY garlicky! Beware! But everything was great overall - no complaints! Andy M got the Casado entree, which is thin rib eye steak caramelized with onions, served with white rice, black beans, sweet plantains, an over easy egg & cabbage salad. The meat was simply mouthwatering - whatever spices they use to marinate the meat made it simply delicious! Our service was pleasant, easy going and prompt. But not so much that you felt rushed. I really liked it there, we will be back for sure!
(4)Dariya T.
Excellent Service. I was overcharged on a delivery order due to the driver not having change with him. Not feeling great about paying a $15.00 tip on two burritos I called the manager and explained the situation. I was very surprised with how well the situation was handled. He was very understanding and accommodating without an ounce of irritation. I had a check in my mailbox within days with a pleasant hand written note as well as some coupons.
(4)Mal D.
I. LOVE. OATMEAL. SHAKES. And I never would have known it if it weren't for this place.
(4)darcy h.
We order from Irazu weekly, never had a bad meal from empanadas to tacos to sandwhiches, I could literally drink their pico de gallo. Have to leave a review because our order was messed up, and I thought it was quite respectable that the owner called us to personally apologize. So along with having great food, I will keep going back to know that I'm giving my business to people who deserve it and truly care about quality customer service!
(4)Christine K.
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.
(3)Jessica C.
Just don't eat outside! Whatever you do, don't eat outside; unless of course, your idea of a good dinner conversation is one that is being interupted by the El every five minutes. I don't care how nice the weather is. So, not only is Irazu good for people watching, but the food is outta sight. While you munch on fresh and chunky guacamole with tomatoes and pureed jalepeno for kick, you can have your own personal contest of finding the tightest pants in the place. Ya know, try to find out who won't be breathing after they are done with thier fried yucca. You can guestimate how long some of the patron have gone without showering as you shovel in the rice and beans that are so soft and full of flavor. Perfect consistency with green and red peppers(the rice and beans, not the patron's hair) and just the right amount of garlic. Ah yes, the garlic...the pureed garlic and oil sauce that I slathered all over each and every bite of the fried yucca. I can barely contain myself over here. And while we are on the topic of fried, you absolutely must try the chiccarones. Deep fried and crisp, these pork chunks are simply evil...wrong ...should be out-lawed. So come on and give it a whirl. Make sure to stop at the liquor store for some drinks before hand and bring your empty tummies and open eyes. This place is definately stimulation for the eyes, ears and mouth! I repeat, just don't eat outside and you'll have far less stimulation on the ears.
(4)Irena A.
I have been to this place twice already. The first time I had a salad that was pretty yummy. The second time I had the vegetarian burrito which was delicious. I only ate half of it because it was huge. My boyfriend loved the leftovers too! The only thing that is annoying about this place is that I had to pay cash. I had the oatmeal shake which was much smaller than the strawberry one that my friend had. I will definetly go back here and have the casados meal! a friend said it's delicious.
(4)Benny T.
Since my array of food consists of pizza, tacos, burgers, pizza, and um pizza this was a step outside and oh hell to the yes this place was real good. Costa Rica what what!?! Me and my friends were the smart ones to go on a Saturday night so we had to wait inside the door while people maneuvered around us as this place has big time carry-out thing going on. They have a small dinning room with capacity of 30 but it was jammed to about 65 which probably wasn't up to fire codes, but who's gonna snitch? Once we got to sit I got real hungry as hot plates of chicken and steak kept whizzing past my nose. Went with the Steak Sandwich with grilled onions and Lizano sauce which was is slightly sweet and spicy at the same aka yumtown. The sandwich was pretty large and served on a ciabatta type bread so was quite satisfied with that. The one drawback was after hearing everyone on here jazzing about the shakes I decided to get a Passion Fruit one and well it just kinda tasted like a lukewarm vitamin water with a piece of fruit in it. I tried the famous oatmeal shake too and that didn't exactly wow me either. Maybe I'm a shake snob, who knows but I'll remember to skip the shake next time. Overall Irazu is a nice place to go if you're looking for something different eat than the usual staples of Chicago. Would like to go back, no doubt.
(4)Jessie B.
This place is super yummy. This place really gets 4.5 stars... I don't even remember what I put in my mouth--but it sure was delicious. That made me sound like a prostitute that hustles around my street corner. Oh well. Either way, I'll be back here.
(4)Hatidza Z.
Irazu is without a doubt my favorite restaurant in Chicago! The food is great, service is great, plenty of vegetarian options which make me happy, and quite possibly the best drink ever, the oatmeal shake! I hate hyping the place up so much, but really just go in without expectations and enjoy some good food and a great atmosphere. Don't forget to bring your cash (cash only) and some Costa Rican beer
(5)Erica B.
A true hidden gem! I've been coming here for about 10 years now - at first, just for the shakes....but then food is super delicious too. I love this place b/c its somewhere vegetarians, meat eaters and vegans can all get something equally delicious and 100% authentic. the service is outstanding and the price can not be beat. its also BYOB. Its a great date spot! Its not too big inside, so it gets crowded, especailly on the weekends. who would have thought a shake would taste delicious with a burrito? i recommend the oatmeal banana water shake. so good.
(5)Marty S.
I love me some Irazu! The empanada's are extraordinary, the Tilapia is sofa-king good, and the vegetarian burrito has won awards! I would be lying if I didn't give this place 5 stars. I love the atmosphere in the summer, you can bring your own beverage and sit outside, or you can dine in for the a/c. Winter time is also great, and the chill of the outdoors never stops me from ordering that amazing banana oatmeal soy shake. With all of that in mind I wouldn't mind if that place would get a second bathroom, the line for that is atrocious. But I do understand that the building isn't capable, and I'll deal with it because I definitely don't want them to move. Typically a place may lose a star for that, but it's beyond their control, and I can't in good conscious take a star away for such great food. This is just a warning for people who can't stand the uno banos. una vez más, en español Me encanta que me algunas Irazu! La empanada son extraordinarios, la tilapia es un sofá-buen rey, y el burrito vegetariano ha ganado premios! EstarÃa mintiendo si no me dan este lugar 5 estrellas. Me encanta la atmósfera en el verano, usted puede llevar su propia bebida y sentarse al aire libre, o se puede cenar en el a / c. El invierno también es grande, y el frÃo del aire libre no me impide ordenar que licuado de plátano increÃble de soja harina de avena. Con todo eso en mente, no me importarÃa si ese lugar tendrÃa un segundo cuarto de baño, la lÃnea de que es atroz. Pero yo entiendo que el edificio no es capaz, y voy a tratar con él porque yo definitivamente no quiero que se muevan. Normalmente, un lugar puede perder una estrella por eso, pero está más allá de su control, y no puedo en buena conciencia tomar una estrella para la alimentación de distancia tan grande. Esta es sólo una advertencia para las personas que no pueden soportar los Baños UNO.
(5)Michael M.
Always great service and great food. Love the Costa Rican sandwiches. Prices are always right too!
(5)Oscar C.
I just thoroughly enjoyed my Grilled Steak from Irazu. I work in the area and usually get my food delivered from them (we've been ordering from them about twice per month for the past year). I've yet to experience a mix-up with my orders. Their sandwiches are awesome and SUPER affordable. Actually, the entire menu is affordable. Being from Central America myself, I can't say that the food is as good as Abuelita's. But it's pretty darn good. 5 stars for you, Irazu... Keep up the great work!!!!
(5)Karen B.
one of my favorite place in chicago! mybe the world. the oatmeal shake rocks, and i love the burrito. its byob which is a plus and cheap. a perfect summer date night place
(5)Katja L.
How have I lived at North and Western for seven months, being a vegetarian the whole time, and not known about this place? It was amazing! I got the veggie sandwich and my bf got the apparently well-known veggie burrito. We also ordered a side of chips and salsa to share. Everything was perfect, to the potent heat of the salsa to to the fresh-cooked-ness of the chips to the perfect balance of ingredients on the sandwich. Since it was -2 degrees out, we chose delivery rather than going to the place. The delivery guy was friendly, courteous, and most importantly fast. The guy on the phone said "see you within the hour," and they ended up taking a little less than a half hour.
(4)John H.
Irazu is one of my local Logan Square/Bucktown favorite, cheap places to get Latin American fare. My wife and I go there frequently, and I've tried many of their sandwiches and entrees. Their steak sandwiches are excellent, and are made even better with a side of sweet plantains. If you like liver, definitely try their liver and onions. Not to miss: Oatmeal shake, chicken soup (I had this when I was sick and it made me feel much better), Pepito sandwich I can't wait to go back!
(4)Janet E.
I made a second visit hoping the second was just as good as the first. We ordered empanadas. They were the special on the menu. Sadly, there was nothing special or delicious about them. We ordered a veggie burrito and it tasted good but bland The black bean soup was ok and the order of plantains was ok too. I dont think I will be back here for a while. How disappointing!
(3)Ken S.
Oatmeal shakes are great! (I had no idea.) Unlike a lot of eateries in the Bucktown/Wicker Park area Irazu knows itself (and knows what NOT to do). It's completely unpretentious and honest. Good food, family atmosphere, friendly sevice. There's nothing lacking. Great prices, too. I'd rather eat at Irazu than anywhere else in the area. I've been there about 5 times and each visit is just as good as the last. I haven't yet met a menu item that wasn't great. For what it is - it's as good as it gets.
(5)Brice F.
We went on a Wednesday night around 6:30 and by the time we left at just after 8 the place was packed. We were greeted by a very friendly staff and the service was great. The food was fabulous and the portion sizes were great, especially for the price (mine was about 12 bucks). My first foray into real Costa Rican cuisine and I'll definitely be back for more. BYOB, inexpensive, great food, friendly staff and atmosphere.
(5)Izabella d.
had dinner here last night, and was not as wowed as I had been the first time around. A few major letdowns: the salsa that comes with the chips. Its served out of squeeze bottles and was definitely lacking in amazingness. we ordered the rolled potato tacos (which were tasty) but the side of refried beans were pretty bland, and had a few dry powdery chunks (leading me to believe they had been made from powder). It would have been waay tastier if they had given us the same black beans that were in the burrito. obviously byob, the beer cooler, outdoor seating all pluses. the menu has a lot of variety, the portions are huge. we'll be back,, but its not one of our go to places.
(3)Mary S.
Loved this place. Very reasonable prices and tasty! I got a steak sandwich for just under five bucks. The tostones were delicious, but beware of the garlic. Not a good option if you're trying to get your mack on. Also, it's a BYOB and they didn't charge us a corking fee. Our wine was screw top (because we roll classy like that). Some places will charge either way. It's very small inside and cozy. The only downside is the bathroom. There's only one and it's right in the dining area. Not exactly optimum placement. You'd best take some immodium before you go or run the risk of any indigestion becoming public knowledge. I'll be back very soon.
(5)Laura E.
This place is absolutely excellent. The food is fantastic and reasonably priced. Plus, it's BYOB!
(5)Johanna C.
I really loved this place! It was reasonably priced, the service was friendly, and BYOB is a bonus. The flavor on all dishes I tried was full and balanced even for simple tastes such as rice and beans. I would definitely recommend it for a low key, delicious meal.
(5)Izzy N.
Oh yes... They have really good tortas here. The onioned steak entree is pretty dream worthy too. SWOON. I've yet to try their burritos or tacos but I can eat their tortas while laying in bed. Effin GOOD damnit. Oh yeah and it's cheap and BYOB.. I want to come back and try this oatmeal shake everyone's talking about.
(5)Rahul I.
Went there for lunch. It was okay. It is casual. Can get a bit crowded.
(3)Julia H.
Well, with all the previous reviews, mine might be slightly redundent. But, overall I enjoyed this restaurant. Living just down the road from it, I was happy with its convenience and the food was absolutely delicious. However, this place may have actually received a higher rating from me, but I was not very pleased with the waitress who took our order. It wasn't necessarily her personality that was bad, but instead the lack of clearity on what we ordered. When someone says, "I've never been here before, what would you recommend?". That is usually an EXCELLENT clue that someone has never been to the restaurant before. Having said that, when she took our orders she asked if we wanted the rice and benas mixture, and my father and I never thought to ask if it was at an additional price. Furthermore, we were asked if we wanted it spicy, again no mention of an additional cost. Needless to say, yes it does state those two things on the menu, hower, it is a very small mention somewhere in the middle of a lot of great food! Next time, don't be shady about it, and I'm sure we would have still ordered the same thing. At any rate, Irazu is a very good place to go, and I definitely will be going back. Give it a try, but remember to check if the price will be more because of what you ordered!
(4)Joe H.
I brought a friend here visiting Chicago from out of the country. We were sat at a table where there was spilled water and we asked 3 times to have it cleaned up but they never did. The chips with the green sauce were good. The chifrijo was ok. Certainly not how it looked on DDD but acceptable anyway considering our hunger at dinnertime. Now we ordered the Pepito where the steak was kinda of dehydrated and chewy. Also, the Costa Rican sandwich which was the same thing except slathered in too much mayo and mustard and the lettuce and tomato were wilting. I can honestly say I've had better sandwiches at Arby's for half the price. But the worst thing about our experience was the swinging door on the covered porch kept banging shut every time someone came in or out. We were unfortunate to sit right next to the entrance. Gotta get some bumpers or springs for that door. I had high hopes for this place but left a little bummed.
(1)Jas D.
The chile rellano and the rice are delicious! The seasoning is just right, and everything is prepared properly. This is the best place to get a soy oatmeal shake.This is how good homemade costa rican food should taste like! This place is always packed, and the line is long on the weekends if you want to get a table. Everyone there is super friendly, and even with the commotion and packed room, they still managed to be polite and smile. I only wish this place were just a little bigger so I could get a table once in a while!
(5)Tu'ens N.
Best flan ever
(5)Y V.
You have to try their double-fried green plaintains with roasted garlic! They are savory, crispy, salty bites of garlicky-goodness...mmmm. I usually order the Gallo Pinto, which is white rice mixed with whole black beans, served with eggs or sweet fried plantains. I ask for BOTH eggs and sweet plaintains (trust me, it's really good). I've had their Oatmeal shake with milk. It's tastes like a sweet oatmeal horchata; loved the cinnamon mixed in. The Pepito sandwich was yummy, as well. It consists of rib eye steak, sauteed onions, cheese, pinto beans & Lizano sauce. You can't go wrong with that combination. My only complaint is that the guacamole is bland, lacking salt and acidity. If you're going to order it, try it with their green salsa :)
(4)Nic K.
i don't think i ever stopped sipping the oatmeal shake. and being vegan it's a bit more difficult to find something so good that you miss. i consider myself lucky to jump off the el stop that i get off at and make the five minute walk there and sip the oatmeal shake (nonstop) on my 20 minute walk home. so good.
(4)Jon E.
I wish I knew were all the raves come from for this place, maybe i've just been unlucky. Last time I was there my sister and I ordered the ceviche, on her past experience. Man that was awful. It was like limey shoe leather in a sunday cup. Yea, that got sent back. The other items we ordered (heart of palm salad, yuca, some shakes) for the meal were all equally meh. The garlic on the yuca tasted like the pre-minced stuff from a jar. Seriously? Isnt it cheaper to just buy garlic bulbs? I dunno, I really want to like it here... But I can't They get that third star because they are really friendly, and accomodating. I'll give them a chance again once its nice out, so I can enjoy the patio.
(3)Viper B.
Excellent, authentic, convenient Costa Rican food. I was in CR two years ago and they may do the food even better here - not in the Amercanized-add-some-fried-and-fatty-stuff sense, but in the authentic-flavorful-filling sense. Dining area is wooden tables and quite casual, but if that's cool for your plans it's a great environment with friendly staff and great energy.
(4)Sylvia T.
$6 for a veggie burrito - the price isn't bad for a HUGE burrito filled with rice, beans, roasted veggies, but it was just so plain. Flavorless and blah. Even the hot chili sauce couldn't give it a kick. The place is wildly popular, so I'm tempted to come in for dinner and actually sit down. Review to be updated... BTW, do you notice a theme in my Chicago reviews? The portions really are bigger than CA's!
(3)Ashley C.
So I have been here twice now and first off I have to say the oatmeal shake is AMAZING! I would have it every day if I could. The food, however, is just meh. Not bad, but nothing fantastic. The first time I had some sort of sandwhich, and just recently I had the potato tacos and my friends had the shrimp pallela and empanadas. My tacos were super dry and the waiter brought out the wrong sides. The refried beans were pretty delicious. My friends said their food was good, but I didn't taste it. Overall, good if you want a low key place to grab dinner, but nothing fantastic....well, except for those amazing oatmeal shakes.
(3)Ruben C.
The Pepito and Chifrijo are great!!! Definitely worth the trip!
(4)Star C.
we went here STRICTLY on Yelp! reviews and have no regrets and plan to go back. Let's just get this out of the way, who ever said the servers can be hit or miss was dead on! And I hope they are reading these reviews to give EVERYONE on staff a pep talk. It's getting HOT outside and they want the place to stay packed. Now, the prices were reasonable for the amount of food you get. Let them know if you want your meat medium. They didn't ask and my meat was over cooked for me. Everything was good, fresh and tasty! The music was excellent, which made the atmosphere bearable (traffic, sirens and train) - which I'm sure is fine for city-folk.
(3)Eric M.
No need to go to Costa Rica now that I've been to Irazu. The lively atmosphere feels like you're eating on a street in Central America, the great music keeps you energized, and then there's the food. Make sure you upgrade to the Costa Rican rice as the flavor is outstanding. The beef here is causing me to salivate right now. And then the oatmeal cookie shake is probably illegal. Go here!
(4)Ali J.
Finally, the patio is open! There's a cooler where diners can store their BYOs, pretty flower boxes and a very substantial line of hipsters waiting to be sat. My threesome had to wait about 15 minutes, which really wasn't that bad. Once we were seated, it took about the same amount of time for a server to stop by. We didn't really care, we were in no hurry. It was the first real day of summer anyhow. The service just needs some time to catch up, right? I eventually gave up asking for a glass and drank my beer from the bottle. The chips were stale. Bummer. We doused them in salsa and ate them anyway. Some advice: Whatever you do, don't expect much from the Vegetarian Salad. When it came out, I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Shredded lettuce and some slivered beets. One slice of avocado. A cucumber. Irazu, why, why did you disappoint? Your savory plantains with black bean puree are out of this world. Your burritos overflowing and your guacamole is delectable. Put some life into that salad, Ok? And make sure to fry up some fresh chips. I will be back to check on you.
(3)seth e.
Oatmeal shakes never lose their charm, ever. Sandwiches are fairly cheap and incredibly tasty. Awesome service and BYOB as well? A+ in my book.
(5)James G.
Delicious! Great BYOB spot in Bucktown. This spot is great for both carrying out and dining in. I just enjoyed the Onioned Steak which was a thin ribeye covered in sauteed onions and topped with a roasted jalapeno. Definitely go for the Costa Rican rice and beans (take the spicy option). The fried plantains come topped with minced garlic which was a big plus.
(4)Atticus B.
cash only caught me off guard, but the oatmeal shake brought me back around. food-wise, i was pretty happy overall. next time, i'm ordering two shakes and as many taco ticos as i can afford.
(4)Justine K.
My first time here made me want to book a trip to Costa Rica! GO to Irazu for: - Incredible, extremely flavorful and very authentic Costa Rican food for very affordable prices! - A chance to bring your own alcohol! (no corkage fee) DON'T go to Irazu for: - A fancy, quiet and romantic time There is just no other way to put it. The food is downright mouth-watering but the atmosphere is extremely small and loud. And, if you go during prime-time - you will wait F-O-R-E-V-E-R. When my boyfriend and I want to go on a Friday or Saturday, we wait till about 8-8:15 p.m. to arrive and we are usually seated immediately. This is a place you MUST try and I can almost GUARANTEE you'll be back!
(4)Meg O.
Regrettably, I have only been to this little gem perched on the edge of Bucktown and Logan Square twice, but both times have been delicious. The first time I went all out with my friend Janna, ordering appetizers, smoothies, and a full platter of mouth-watering carne asada and plantains. Last night was a completely different affair of guacamole and quick sandwiches/burritos. I'll let my dinner mate rave about her veggie burrito, but I will sing the praises of my egg and bean sandwich. Scrambled egg, pinto beans, Lizano sauce, and spicy peppers layered onto chewy french bread--heavenly! I imagine this sandwich as the ideal street food, satisfying cravings for protein and carbs as one wanders a marketplace in Costa Rica. We sat out on the patio, and enjoyed friendly, timely service. The place only accepts cash (with an ATM inside) and is BYOB, so be prepared...prepared to have a fresh, familiar yet different, delicious meal at one of Chicago's only (possibly only) Costa Rican restaurants.
(5)linni k.
On an unfrequented and bleak strip of Milwaukee Avenue, you might not give a passing glance to the tiny green hut on the corner. Look again, my friend, for there resides Irazu, one of Chicago's only Costa Rican restaurants that boasts fare so exotic that the first half of the menu is definitions. Now, don't let the language intimidate you--Avena is just a fancy name for the eatery's signature drink, an oatmeal milkshake. Yes, you read that correctly--an oatmeal shake strongly reminiscent of the Mexican rice drink, Horchata, but delicious nonetheless. And that cinnamon-topped specialty isn't all--other shake flavors include corn meal, blackberry, and exotic Central American fruits such as the tamarindo and mamey, a mild apricot-raspberry flavor that will give you cavities on the spot. Yuca is another menu favorite, a potato-like root vegetable that can be served boiled or fried. We chose the fried option, which was topped with garlic oil and deep-brown bits of roasted garlic. It tasted amazing at first, but proved a little too greasy for my taste. Just make sure you don't fill up on this or the salty-greasy tortilla chips--both are out of this world, but a little heavy. I was looking forward to the gallo pinto, a Costa Rican breakfast of white rice and black beans served with fried plantains or eggs. This was served every morning when I visited Costa Rica, and it was hard to overcome that craving when I returned to the regular American pancake breakfast. Irazu's take on this authentic dish featured the rice and beans molded into a delectable dome and served with steaming aromatic corn tortillas. I chose the fried plantains, which were another oily-yet-extraordinary menu item--they could create a new genre of food with their collection of fried, heavy treats! A dining accomplice of mine chose the gallo pinto with scrambled eggs, which featured diced onions for a surprise twist of flavor. We were served promptly by an adorably authentic old man who spoke minimal english and seemed a little aloof. You won't have to wait long for any menu item--the vegetarian burrito, steak tostada, two gallo pintos, and order of fried yuca took under 15 minutes. There is ample outdoor and indoor seating, although the food must speak for itself in this minimalistic environment. The slightly drab interior might be more seductive if you visit at night, but I would eat Irazu's unique and consistent cuisine from a street vendor if that was what it took. Very affordable, most entrees under $8.
(5)Adlyyn Z.
Love this place! It's byob and food is great! For the price u get quality food.
(5)Angela M.
This place is amazing! We went for an early dinner, which made it easy to get seated at the tiny place. It is very cozy and the staff was very friendly. We tried the Chifrijo appetizer which is soooo delicious - like guacamole, salsa and fried pork all together - yum! I had the steak milanesa with gallo pinto, which was also great, but I also hear the sandwiches are really good. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Dan P.
Incredibly friendly service surpassed only by the food. They really do make the best of a very small, casual space. I'd go back any time I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)Tray I.
3.5 stars. yum! will definitely be back. After missing our stop to wicker park, we ended up walking the extra stop back to damen and found Irazu. After a quick check on yelp, we were happy to stop in and have a quick lunch. I wanted the empanadas, michael wanted the oatmeal shake and we ordered the chicken rice as well. we were slightly worried that it wasn't enough food but the waiter said if we weren't that hungry it would be a good amount of food. I was doubtful. an app, a shake and an entree was enough? we started with the empanadas. so tasty. we got the spinach, beef and chicken. the beef and spinach was excellent, tasty and flavorful. the chicken was fine but not memorable. after splitting the three empanadas, we were still munching on the chips and was a little worried about the amount of food. so i ordered the guacamole side to snack on. that was a mistake. the guac was delicious, but HUGE. this is beyond a party size guacamole dip. I would say this is fit for 6+ people. delicious but I felt i was wasting food when we didn't finish even half of it. Then the chicken and rice came. HUGE. not only do you get a good amount of both chicken and rice, but a large salad and side of plantains. Very good but we were at the point of full that no matter how tasty we couldn't finish even a quarter of this meal. Good but just fine. my main complaint is that I ordered it spicy and it wasn't. at all. Most likely they just didn't hear me when i ordered it spicy. over the top good is that oatmeal shake. I took a sip of the shake and it was so good. i stopped after one sip because i was sure this was pure ice cream, sugar and badness. At the end of the meal, we were paying at the cashier and I asked them how much ice cream was in the shake and the chef said, none. it's just oatmeal, milk and bananas (i'm sure more things that i can't remember at this time but nothing bad). Food is good and consistent with huge stand out stars if you know what to order. service was pleasant and attentive. only complaint was that the food did take a noticeable amount of time to come. probably why we ate so many chips and salsa.
(4)Rachelle B.
My friend suggested the avena shake (oatmeal shake) so we all got it. It was delicious. Light. I thought it was going to be some thick oatmeal sludge, but it wasn't at all. I ordered the pepito sandwich again. This time with avocado on it too. Delicious. Loved it as much as the first time. AND the sandwich is only $4.95.
(4)W L.
So good! Great service, cute establishment, definitely try the oatmeal milkshake.
(5)Lauren C.
Yum. The veggie burrito is the best in town. Got the shrimp/veggie platter last time and it was amazing. The empanadas are so good. Pepito sandwich is killer. Guac/Salsa not that awesome. Service is great - friendly!
(4)Katie C.
SOO overrated. I think the guac here is hands down, the worst I have ever had. I can positively say that Jewel makes a better guac than this mashed up, green, bland, garbage they put on a plate and served to me and called guacamole.
(1)andrew c.
Solid! I have been coming here for years and it never disappoints. Recommendations: -Chips and Guac appetizer (Spicy) -Casado - Pollo (house special - Chicken) w/ Gallo Pinto -Veggie Burrito + Mushrooms + Hot Peppers -Steak Sandwich + Hot peppers -Oatmeal Shake Cash only, ATM inside. And they deliver now.
(5)Nathan B.
We stopped in at about 2 pm on a Saturday, and the comfortable but somewhat cozy dining area was pretty full. This was my 2nd visit, so I had a bit of an idea of what to expect. I would give the food 3 1/2 stars, but a few other aspects of our visit bring down my rating. The oatmeal-banana shake I had was outstanding. My fiancee had the mango-banana which was tasty, but the texture was a bit grainy. Hers was soy-based, which I noticed cost more. When we ordered it, we were informed that the soy shake was also smaller. Wouldn't you think that the price increase would compensate enough? Pick one or the other, but don't charge me more AND reduce the size. I had the Arroz con Huevos, a mix of rice and scrambled eggs, served with avocado and plaintains. Excellent dish. She had the potato stuffed tacos, which came out much more similar to chimichangas. They were good but not great. In the middle of our meal, it also got very drafty in there. Seems like there might be ventilation issues or something, perhaps someone was opening a door to let fresh air in. Overall, it was a good experience, and the staff were nice enough, but it turned out to be a little pricey for everything we got, imo. I'll go back, and would recommend it for the oatmeal shake, plantains and Arroz con Huevos.
(3)Princila M.
This place is disgusting and I do NOT understand the high reviews. My husband got a combination plate of rice, steak, etc. The rice was undercooked, the steak was tough, chewy, and rubbery. I got the pepito chicken sandwich. The chicken, again tough rubbery. The bread was not even toasted, it was stale. The sandwich said it came with sauteed onions, it did not. I asked for Avacado on it, it did not come with it despite me asking waitress for it several times. I am not a picky eater, I was starving but so disgusted by the food I left almost my entire sandwich. We had 5 different empanadas. Not only did these taste like they were fried in OLD oil, the dough was not fresh, its typical commercial dough. I could have made better at home.
(1)Jason m.
We live directly behind Irazu and wish that we could go back.. but we will never go back. The manager is rude to customers every time we've been there. Yes you are busy some nights, this does not give you the right to yell at your paying customers. The food is slightly better than your average taco joint, including the atmosphere of the restaurant. Cafe Lagaurdia (cuban) on Armitage is much better in every way.
(1)Ryan P.
OMG! So delicious. This unassuming (kinda shack-like) restaurant is amazing. Bring some booze to drink while you are sitting outside on the curb, because it will be a wait. But it's well worth it. *I do wish they would rebuild that space or move, the actual space is caca - but good food is good food.
(5)Alisha J.
Thanks Irazu, you are one of the few restuarants where I can take my vegan celiac boyfriend and he won't get all cranky. Give him a plate of tacos and a soy shake and he's fine. He doesn't even complain about greasy meat smells or the lack of actual vegetables in his food (you have plantains! And stuff we've never heard of!). You've added years to our relationship, as I become intolerable if not given a steady diet of tacos. Love, Alisha
(4)Tiffany K.
appetizer: fried yucca with mojo (garlic oil) it was so much better than 90 miles' fried yucca with mojo! lunch: rib eye steak casado & costa rican sandwich both were very good. steak was perfectly cooked, super juicy and super tasty! cabbage salad was awesome. i hate eating with my hands because oil and messy food makes me want to wash my hands a billion times throughout meals BUT this sandwich was well worth it. :) drink: OATMEAL SHAKE! LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS OATMEAL SHAKE! although i have to say, i can't compare to any other oatmeal shake since this is the first time i've ever had it. it is sooo good. soooo addicting. i want it right now. i would give irazu 10 stars if i could! i just wish they had one closer to downtown. boooo. :(
(5)ben c.
My food was good and my wife's food was pretty good, but I need to say that I think it's ridiculous that they charge $.75 to make something "spicy." It's not about the price, because clearly, if I'm going out to eat, I can afford 75 cents. However, has anyone EVER heard of a restaurant charging for something to be "spicy?" I put that word in quotations because it was not even remotely spicy!
(3)Pete D.
Hey it's nothing fancy, so if you're a yuppie/lincoln park trixie whiner stay the f!ck away, and go eat at some trendy hellhole. The black bean burrito rocks the planet, the fried plantains are fabulous, and the oatmeal shakes are dee-lish. Again, not fancy, but just good food. Not open on Sundays.
(4)David W.
New menus and pricing! Turns out I haven't been to Irazu in almost 6 months. The front counter even got a face lift! I couldn't believe that I had gone almost 6 months without eating at one of my all time favorite places for cheap eats and BYOB. As usual we started off with the Palmito Salad. I found it to be a bit smaller than usual and the hearts of palm were now sliced. Delicious nonetheless. Audrey went with the always yummy Veggie Sandwich. It was yummy! Completely outside of my normal ordering patterns I ordered the Chicken Burrito. Now I have been to Irazu probably 25 times and have only ordered the Milanesa, the Milanesa Sandwich, or the Chicken Casado. The burrito was good, but I will probably get back to the usual suspects on my next visit. We washed it all down with a large Horchata. Yum! The interior is a bit fancier than before, but I'd still file Irazu in my whole in the wall folder. Please keep in mind I use "whole in the wall" as a compliment in the case of Irazu. The service can be hit or miss, but was solid on this visit. I am a big fan of Irazu and hope to make It back more frequently. I don't know what I was thinking! 1 Palmito Salad 1 Veggie Sandwich 1 Chicken Burrito 1 Horchata --------------------- $21
(3)Claudia L.
The food was okay,seemed more like a Mexican restaurant with a few Costa Rican dishes. The workers dont have any uniforms or at least a shirt that says the name of the place, you can easily mistake the worker for a customer.
(3)Phil F.
I don't know what authentic Costa Rican food is but this seems like it might be... I love their potato tacos, which are more like flautas. They are delish but nothing too special, really like mashed potatoes in a corn tortilla then fried to a delish crispiness. I likey. The mole sauce is good stuff. And they serve things with a little cabbage salad and a slice or two of beets. I am so glad you don't see the ubiquitous iceberg nightmare as your side salad. And their shakes are yum city. I had one that our waitress recommended, it was chocolate with strawberry and soy. We loved it. The staff and the food are both so special at this place.
(4)Matt U.
Drove by this restaurant numerous times without stopping in, and I was definitely missing out. The atmosphere is very relaxed inside. The servers were all very friendly and professional. We were told there was a 25 minute wait, so we walked down the block to get some beer, came back and they had already called us, but when we talked to the host he was very helpful and got us seated right away. The food was delicious, and came out fairly quickly. All in all it was a pleasant experience dining there. I will be back and a recommend others to try it out.
(5)leslie p.
Sometimes it's nice to not have to do all the work. To come into a restaurant and have it say right on the menu next to the vegetarian taco, "A vegan's choice." that works just fine for me. And the taco was impressive, massive and deliciously tasty. I didn't catch too much hotness from the hot peppers but that's okay. I went a little wild and topped the taco off with some plantains--brilliant move. I also got an oatmeal shake with soy milk and the waiter dude informed me a "users tip" to stir in the cinnamon...really not too sure what else I would have done with it, but it was delicious. As hyped up as this place was to me, it still lived up to it's expectations. Yah! Irazu!!
(5)Tabitha G.
Most often eaten at restaurant in Chicago the last 6 years. Delicious steak in all kinds of ways from burritos to sandwiches. Also you have to get an oatmeal shake and some fried plantains smothered in oil and garlic. What more can anyone ask for? Oh maybe the redone outside seating area in the summer for soaking up the day....
(5)Brett K.
Some reviews are so hard to write without just seeming redundant but I still feel compelled to share my love of Irazu. I can't say I know my authentic Costa Rican but if this isn't it, then that country needs to take a lesson from these guys. Warning it's definitely no longer a "hidden gem" as you may have noticed from the reviews but they will get you in if you want the full experience otherwise there is always delivery.
(4)Megan G.
Apparently this place is pretty popular. There are already a shit ton of reviews, and I have to agree. The food here is freakin outstanding. The red beans and rice, YUM! Salsa, check. Cheese empanadas, delightful. But my review is going to focus mostly on the oatmeal milkshake. You can mix it with fruit, or chocolate (my recommendation). As one of the people at my table put it, "If I could get naked and spread this shake across my body, I would." Everyone at the table agreed. That is all.
(5)Brian P.
This is a 4.5 star place for me. Food is unique and delicious, also cheap. Meats, fish (tilapia), rice & beans, plantains, oatmeal shakes...all worth going back for. Service is direct and friendly. BYOB is nice b/c saves $ as long as you plan ahead. Plus the cool wine store across the street (Red & White) sells Costa Rican beer (Imperial) which is a good fit for all of the food I've tried there. Their mark-up on Imperial is pretty ridiculous, but that's not Irazu's fault. Some call this a 'burrito' joint but to me it's not - it's different and better.
(4)Danielle F.
I went here since a friend was visiting who is vegetarian. I thought this place would give her some variety. YUMMY!!! Even I went with a veggie item. Everything was delicious and I will definitely be going back. It's cash only.
(4)Noah B.
Great chicken burritos and plantains. Amazing oatmeal milkshakes (ask for it with soy instead of milk). Don't expect speedy service or the servers to pretend like they give a shit about you being there. The dining room is kind of small, so expect a wait in the evenings. Carry-out service is available.
(3)Jaymeson A.
This place is fantastic...I live in the Gold Coast and the delivery is timely and the food is fresh...fish ceviche, black beans, and tilapia are fantastic and if you order in the summer, the mango shrimp ceviche is great too. couldn't be happier with this place, will be ordering for time to come.
(5)Lori K.
pretty good. i had the steak burrito. it was tasty, though it lacked meat on one half of the burrito for some reason. it was a good size burrito, which they cut in half for u. one side was really meaty and the other side contained almost no meat, which was kind of weird. my hubby got the porch chops which were DELICIOUS!! i would definitely recommend. really good service, loud atmosphere. make reservations if u come during the weekend or if its a really nice day out. i cannot forget to mention their honesty either. i left my wallet there and the staff found it and Henry the owner called me to say they had it. i picked it up and every thing in it was still there im happy to say!! its nice to see that there are still honest people in the world. oh, CASH only, they dont take credit cards.
(4)Tiffany S.
Just tried this place out today! Service was good. The casado plate is good. The milanesa sandwich was a little bland. The oatmeal/banana milkshake was delicious. Overall, food was good, but nothing I would write home about. Will def be back to try other dishes noted by Yelpers! Warning: the milkshakes are big (and thick) so ask for it in a to-go cup and take it with you if you don't finish it.
(3)S G.
Tried this place for the first time and really enjoyed everything we ate. The green salsa in a bottle is awesome and has a bit of a kick. The spinach and cheese empanadas are great. We had talapia tacos, veggie tostadas and tacos that were great as well. Guacamole was mild but very tasty. They have a large delivery area as well and the prices are very reasonable. Service was friendly and fast. It is BYOB and cash only.
(3)Ben E.
It's ridiculous that I haven't reviewed this place yet, as Irazu is one of my favorite places in Chicago. I've been here dozens of times and have never been disappointed. The complimentary chips and salsa are fantastic, and I firmly believe that the vegetarian burrito here is the best you will get in all of Chicago. That, along with an oatmeal milkshake, may well be the perfect meal, especially if you add hot peppers to the burrito (after a couple of times, I decided that the addition of mushrooms wasn't really necessary or desirable). If you're looking for something less enormously filling, you can get an order of black beans and rice, which actually makes an excellent light dinner, especially with a side of plantains. Great restaurant, great food, great prices.
(5)Charles W.
Flippin' delicious/affordable sandwiches. The main courses are overpriced but did I mention how delicious and affordable the sandwiches are? Plus they have a crew of sexy latin men working there. That doesn't do anything for me but it's good to know if you're a lady, a lady who likes sexy latin men.
(4)andy b.
Plus: food is tasty and all dishes are amazing. And the milk shakes are great, and the price is reasonable negative: fist time i went there i saw one rat in the back. Then i was going to deal with that and still eat , but then i saw another and i had to leave. No..joke..i wonder if that is why they name it IRAZU...similar to " A RAT ZOO"!!
(4)Lauren G.
I must have gone past Irazu a million times before going in for a bite. I'm SO glad I did. The small dining room in back surprised me when I arrived on a week night to meet a new girlfriend. We ordered the fried yuca in garlic for our appetizer. It was good - especially the garlic part. I don't think yuca has much flavor! Next time I'm going to try the plantains instead. I ordered a veggie burrito with hot peppers and have been dreaming about it ever since. The price is nice too. I like the oatmeal shake, but don't know if I agree with the super-rave reviews from some other Yelpers. Someone want to go on a veggie burrito run to Irazu? Any time, any day friends. Just do it!!
(4)Eliot J.
never had the shakes but apparently they're rock n roll. i have been to irazu twice and enjoyed the food both times i went. can't say i've had costa rican before, so i can't really compare it to anything but i will def keep going back. entrees are priced at about $12 each, but the tacos and burritos are about $4 each, or less. i ordered 2 tacos the first time i went there because i didn't want to overeat, but they were huge. second time i went, i had the empanadas special (go for spinach and cheese), which came with three, and i could've had a bit more to eat. but plenty of chips and sauce prior to your meal. also, the yellow rice was super tasty. two words of note: keep the water coming because the sauce is hot. also, if you get tacos or tostadas or anything that has "hot peppers" on it, BEWARE - they are delicious but extremely, extremely hot. cash only. small dining room = long waits for tables. but if they have the patio open, the wait is less and great location for people watching.
(4)hanna y.
YUMM!! Irazu's is delicious! Everything I've had from there is so delicious I crap in my pants! I would highly recommend anything with the steak with a oatmeal shake. I also like Irazu because it's BYOB and there's a wine shop right across the street who are more than happy to help you pick out a wine. The only downfall is the long wait.
(5)Kara Z.
Gave Irazu another try. Pulled menu up online and ordered takeout. Prices we were charged different from what was listed on menu. Asked for steak tacos with lettuce and cheese only. Seems simple to me, but nooo, got tomatoes, jalapenos, and avocado. Probably why we were charged extra, but I didn't want any of it anyway. Other big problem, our food was ice cold. We live a block away and were still waiting on food when we picked up - so really don't understand. Some of our friends swear by this place, but we are officially done trying here. Too many other options with consistency.
(1)Kelly Y.
AMAZING!! We went here today for a Friday afternoon lunch. It is very accessable by the Blue Line (Western stop). Our server, Amanda, helped us pick out just the right items. I highly recommend the veggie burrito. They will make it vegan with no problem. There are actually several vegan options which was amazing. We had a pitcher of the Lava Juice. My advice it to just go ahead and order the pitcher. You will thank me. It's highly addictive. It would have been very good with some vodka or tequilla but since we had to go back to the office we opted for no alcohol. Your choice but it is BYOB.
(5)Chris M.
[updates below] Congratulations, Irazu! You [were] my first bad review! Look, we got delivery, and not from right nearby. Take this with a grain of salt. Still: I am currently eating cold food that I waited an hour and a half for, using a crude spoon that I constructed from tin foil, in lieu of getting any utensils with the damn meal. That, and, one of the large chunks of steak in my taco was sitting on the top, raw side up. It's still sitting off to the side, deep red and urging me on to review. Anyway, I got a steak taco and two Taco Ticos; the steak taco would have been mediocre when warm, the Taco Ticos were still good enough that I ate them out of more than spite. I expect they are legitimately quite tasty in person. I'm getting the impression that this place may be more of an "eat in" restaurant. If you're curious about the size of the $6.50 guacamole, though, it really is $6.50 worth of guacamole, and pretty tasty. [Edit: Quick reply by the proprietor. I'm guessing that this was an unusual experience, given the enormous number of positive reviews, and he has offered to refund the cost of our group's meal. I am, uniformly, a sucker for free food.]
(3)Rebekka T.
This place is great for a cheap, delicious meal. The vegetarian burrito, and chile relleno are favorites. The steak sandwiches are also quite good. I don't get the entrees too often because they are so huge, but they are very good too. The service is ok, usually friendly, but it's fast paced, and they encourage a quick turnover. Last time I was there, it was super busy, and I noticed that the hostess and the cashier guy were texting the whole time. It made me feel bad for all the people working their asses off while those guys just sat on their phones. Bummer.
(4)K. H.
I was travelling through Chicago and passed Irazu a few times. Since I'd lived in Costa Rica and have never seen a Costa Rican restaurant in the U.S., I was intent on trying it. Irazu came through - delicious gallo pinto; plantains, and iced coffee mixed with horchata. Not too sweet. My friend had the avocado with scrambled eggs (also great), and we sampled the oatmeal shake. If you like sweet, you'll love the shake. Tasty. And prices were very reasonable. Great meal. I hope to be back soon!
(5)Philippe F.
Steak Burro, add pico de gallo and avocado showed up a ground beef burro sans the avocado :( There is only one thing in the world that would turn my frown upside down.....and that my friends is the Oatmeal Shake. Damn you for being so effffffin tasty!
(4)Jason S.
I enjoyed Irazu for the most part. I don't think it's great, but considering the rib eye sandwich (Pepito) which was featured on Triple D is only priced at $5.95 ($6.45 w/avocado) it's hard to complain. However, I did find the food to be very salty. The empanadas were ok, nothing to write home about. It's hard to truly critique the Chifrijo, which was their signature appetizer also on Triple D, because we didn't get it with the pork. We got it vegetarian style and it was refreshing, but nothing special. I'm assuming it's better with the pork. My buddies got horchata and I got the oatmeal shake. They said they've had better, but I thought the oatmeal shake was delicious. That alone would make me go back. But be careful, the food is deceptively filling. Between the beans in the chifrijo, the empanadas, the complimentary chips and salsa, and the oatmeal shake I was pretty full before I got my sandwich. After all that I was feeling pretty uncomfortable, and the salt in the food did not help. Almost forgot to mention that it's BYOB and outdoor dining which is a major plus. I'd give it 3.5 if possible, but don't feel bad for giving it 3.
(3)Mr B.
Before dining here, particularly on weekends, you must accept that the odds are in favor of a wait for a table. It's a tiny little space, and they don't take reservations, so that's to be expected. I assure you, it is worth the wait. The food is great, they make kick ass shakes, and you will leave disgustingly stuffed. I usually get the Casado, which can be steak, chicken, fish or veggie. It comes with plantains, black beans, rice, cabbage salad, and an over-easy egg. So good. The vegetarian menu is great too- potato tacos and heart of palm salad in particular.
(4)Martha Z.
I love Irazu so much that sometimes I can't find the right words to give it the perfect review. Although I don't go here as often as I would like, this is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The casado, my entree of choice brings together rib eye, brown rice stuff, fried egg, and plantains together on one plate. It is simply amazing. The shakes they make are delicious but I usually go with a large horchata. It is the best I've ever had. Other things to sample are their sandwiches and burritos. Oh and do try the guac, especially the spicy. Most importantly don't forgot the cash, cos this place doesn't take plastic!
(5)Lou W.
Everything you read here is true... except for like the four crazy people who didn't like this place. We went here on Saturday night before a show at Gorilla Tango Theater. At about 6:30, we were quickly seated, but had we showed up 10 minutes later we would have been waiting in line. This is a teeny tiny restaurant -- really just 10 or so tables tossed in to a back room. I heart places like that, so I immediately felt comfortable at Irazu. Loved the atmosphere. My bf and I ordered the guacamole -- good, especially if you're a purist, I'm talking straight up smashed avocados. I had the vegetarian burrito, which is amazing. Just to be safe, I had them put the hot peppers on the side, but next time I will have them put on the burrito. Boyfriend got some meat dish -- he loved it and I ate his plantains, which were sweet and lovely. We ate every last bit of food they gave us it was so damn good. Unfortunately, I was totally looking forward to trying the oatmeal shake but we were way too full. Next time -- and oh yes, there will be a next time. Hopefully it will be like... tomorrow. Also worth mentioning, this place has a good amount of vegetarian, and dare I say, vegan options. And just for the record, my rating is really like 4.75. The only reason I left off one star is that the service is a bit spotty. We had some angst-ridden teenage bus boy who did not want to bring us our drinks. What was his prob?
(4)Robin W.
I agree that Irazu is way over rated! Sure, the food was dease, but not anywhere near a fine dining experience...and I'd be happy to take my $35 bucks elsewhere. Speaking of bucks, the place is CASH ONLY but there is an ATM inside. It seemed more fast food take-out than sit down restaurant. Maybe people are billing it wrong? The tortilla chips were sopping in grease, the "chef's favorite" Chicken Tiko was good, but nothing more than chicken and pepper shish kabob sans kabob. I loved the fried plantains but that's hard to mess up...and those oatmeal shakes you hear so much about...more like Horchata blended with ice and nutmeg...tasty, but not what I expected. Overall, the place is a Costa Rican version of La Pasadita...good for greasy burritos and tacos. And since they are NOW delivering, I might use this to sop up the next booze infused night.
(3)River J.
The place is great. We were fortunate to get a table for 7 outside on a beautiful night. It's BYO, and having planned accordingly, we had a great dinner, lots of very good food, and still didn't spend too much since we supplied our own wine. Definitely check this place out, and ask the wait staff for recommendations. Our waiter suggested a few items that were all great choices.
(4)Rochelle G.
Ohmmmmm! The carne asada Gods smiled down on my burrito because my mouth tastes like heaven. Get the steak burrito fully loaded. Beware the peppers can be really hot. Finish it of with a (soy) Oatmeal shake. Always delicious and consistent.
(4)Anton F.
So they used to have a REALLY awesome waitress, named Abby, who moved to California, and after that, the service there really started to suck. I haven't been back in probably a year, and I really do miss the Cuban veggie sandwich and the plantains. I may have to make a trek back. The couple who owns this place enlists the aid of their daughter, who I always thought was rather attractive. The wife is surly and takes no guff. The husband is a CTA employee. I'm not sure what any of that has to do with anything, except perhaps if you like surly, or attractive Costa Rican women, or want to shoot the shit about the CTA and it's mismanagement. The water based shakes are pretty good, a bit pricey for what you get, but doable. Would smash again.
(4)Janna V.
I frequent Irazu with the Jason E. below and am one of the people who love the potato tacos (or are the taquitos?) Anyways-- I'm all about the shakes-- I like them with water instead of milk, especially the fruit ones. The service is extremely friendly and speedy-- but the place is definately a tight squeeze when full-- But its part of the charm i guess. Two things that take away a star tho-- (1) no dogs on the patio-- I understand why they dont do this, but in the spring/summer my dining decisions are based almost solely on being able to bring my pooch with me (2) cash only-- for gods sake people- i realize it is a pain in the ass for retailers to use credit cards (fees and the like) but in the end-- if i dont have cash on me i'll opt for someplace else (who carries cash nowdays?)
(4)Sarah H.
Oh man was this place good. And we definitely left in a serious food coma. I can't remember a time that I have been that full! I had an amazing vegetarian burrito.. chip and some delicious guac.. and topped it all off with an oatmeal shake. I have to say I was a little weary about the oatmeal shake.. but I had heard so many good things I had to try it... I am so glad I did! I can't wait to go back and have it again. But maybe this time I will limit my intake and try an prevent another food coma episode!
(4)Jessica H.
SO SUPER GOOD. Oatmeal shake: amazing. Try the fried yucca appetizer, it's super garlicky and delicious. I always eat myself sick at this place. Also, it's cheap--can't beat that in our tough economy.
(5)Cathy K.
Great food and low costs! Veggie burrito... yum-o! Oatmeal shake sounded weird but was delicious! Service was friendly.... I will definitely be back!
(5)Jourdan S.
Weak. This place is just okay. Don't believe the hype. This is some of the worst Costa Rican food I've ever had.
(2)Lauren C.
Irazu is definitely where it's at. They offer a really great variety of vegetarian options and their food is consistently top notch (and certainly on par with anything I've eaten in Costa Rica, if not better). If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend you do!
(4)annoushka l.
I got 2 veggie tacos and a side of patacones - it was amazing and fed me for three meals, which is always a plus. I think everyone I ate with was more than satisfied with their food - next time I'm getting the chile relleno and horchata - wow yum. The waitstaff was friendly and accommodating and despite the wait, the overall experience was excellent. There is no corkage fee and the atmosphere was pleasant. Minus one star for Styrofoam to-go containers - next time (and there will be many next times) I'll bring my own.
(4)Evann G.
Irazu has been bookmarked on my Yelp page for a very long time, and I FINALLY had dinner there (take-out) the other night. I was surprised by how small it was, and the waiting area was very crowded, but the staff was friendly and helpful and we didn't have to wait long for our food to be ready to go. I had been fantasizing about their oatmeal shakes after reading all the Yelp reviews, but I decided we also had to try a cornmeal shake. The very helpful person who took our order recommended we add chocolate to the oatmeal shake and banana to the cornmeal one. When all was said and done, I liked the cornmeal one better. They were both really good, but I think my expectations for the oatmeal shake were just too high. I enjoyed the "gritty" texture of both of them, but the oatmeal one was too... icy, or something. Hard to put a finger on exactly what it was. I'd give the oatmeal shake 4 stars and the cornmeal shake 5. I had the potato tacos, and they were also really good. They weren't quite as "involved" as I thought they'd be -- literally just mashed potatoes in a taquito-like setting -- but simplicity is the way to go when it comes to these things, as far as I'm concerned. All in all? I'd definitely go back again. A bunch of us ate there that night and all the food looked (and SMELLED) really good, and everyone gave it a thumbs up.
(4)Matt C.
I've been here a few times now, and I see no reason why I won't be back for more. Their menu is pretty extensive, though I have never strayed from the sandwich menu. The place seems to always be busy, so I've always taken it to go. Its a pretty interesting spot at night, those that can't get a table seem to simply order it to go then sit outside in the small parking lot eating and drinking their beers. Is this authentic Costa Rican? I have no idea, but its delicious, so I don't care.
(4)Tracy P.
Had a really great late lunch at Iraza yesterday with my sis and a friend. A great place for vegetarian dishes and the like. The chili rellenos was fabulous! The best I've had since the grandma retired from my favorite spot in Pilsen. The Costa Rican black beans and rice was delicious. The host was great. Show them some love this summer! BYOB to boot!
(4)Patricia K.
Let's start with the service - The server had a very interesting attitude and approach. The manner in which he spoke to us was as if he was another patron who just happened to love the place. Not in that fake salesman-like way but in the genuine way that makes you forget for a moment that he is your server, not your fellow diner. And his service level was certainly acceptable. There wasn't entirely much for him to do as we were not refilling drinks or needing extra items but the minimal work required was completed as it should be. As for the rest of the staff, I certainly have no complaints. In fact, it was obvious that everyone got along well and actually enjoyed working there. When I originally walked in, I was carrying a present for my friend. The host and one of the servers quickly joked "Awee, for me?" which was cute and fun and overall made me feel like a regular. The food was pretty good. This was my first Costa Rican experience and I'd say that I will be trying more in the future. I ordered the Casado. Upon the suggestion from the server, I upgraded my rice to the Costa Rican rice and I'm glad I did. It was very tasty and probably my favorite part of the dish. I must admit, however, that I had a few too many chips before my meal and found it hard to eat much of my entree. The chicken was very moist. My only complaint was that the seasoning wasn't consistent and some parts of the chicken had significantly less flavor. Our appetizer was the Chifrijo.... it was delicious and hard to stop eating. The venue itself is a bit of a dive... but in that "good" dive way. It added to the character of the place.
(3)Mots M.
AMAZINGGGGGGGGG. This is easily my favorite place in Bucktown. Awesome prices, great food, BYOB, and an awesome wait staff. It gets packed in the summer to sit outside but the wait is worth it. Love, love, love. The burritos are baller, tilapia too and steak. The shakes are delish too.
(5)Cassie B.
Irazu has become a favorite of mine among Chicago restaurants. There are decent vegetarian options among the meat dishes which makes it great for a party of mixed diets. It's also incredibly affordable. I typically order the vegetarian burrito and an oatmeal milkshake (you have to at least try it once!). The sweet plantains and yucca topped with mojo are delicious additional veg options. I can't wait to give the potato tacos and the empanadas a try! It's a small establishment, but it expands in the summer with outdoor seating. BYOB!
(5)jason e.
Vegetarian haven. Having only had veggie stuff here, I can say that my personal experiences with the eating there have been fantastic, but I have to slight the place a star because a date once had some fish rice combination that looked like someone had poured a can of tuna into some mexican (or rather, costa rican) rice. Fried yuca with garlic oil is not quite health food but wow is it good. Mamey/oatmeal shake, now available with soy milk, is worth the price of admission alone. The palmito salad is something special. Potato tacos seem to be everyone's favorite. Except mine. Yummy with hot sauce. Fantastic place all in all, and one I visit often.
(4)Anonymous N.
I don't know what all the hype is. I ordered and 2 others in our group ordered El Tico. Thin rib eye steak which is suppose to be soft and tender meat was hard to chew and coming from a Latin family I know my meats and the sazón (flavor) of how dishes are suppose to taste. I ordered half steak and half chicken on El Tico. The chicken was diced like that out of a Progresso soup can. The chicken was overcooked and the tomato sauce was sweet. Tomato sauce in a latin dish that is sweet is unacceptable, tomato sauce in Italian cusine is. The beans came out of a can. Disgraceful. The plantains- not ripe..... not sweet, hard to chew. I was there with a group of 4. we anxiously waited 45 minutes to get seated and were looking forward to our dinner. we were hungry but not in a bad mood, at least not yet. The line to the bathroom (one toilet-unisex) definitely added to our bad experience. The other dish that our group tried was the tilapia dish, the fish was swimming in oil.....same comments for the beans and plantains. The only food we liked was the grilled veggies. . If you haven't had good Latin food then this place will hit the spot. The ambience is nice but honestly the food here is terrible. We had a terrible experience.
(1)Ed A.
Whenever the office discovers a new delivery restaurant that is willing to deliver to our zone on Fulton Street we are on it like fly on yah...you know. shhh*t. Taco Tico and that lizano sauce...yum..think this is unique to Irazu...correct me if I am wrong...they are tasty and love the crunch of the tortilla and crunch from the cabbage. Patacones are a meal unto themselves...roasted garlic...damn good. Beef, plaintain, chicken empanadas...good, not too greasy...hits the spot when consumed with hot salsa. All their shakes and the many varieties in which you can satisfy your cravings...don't you dare order soda...order the shakes. Last but not least...drum roll....oatmeal/banana milk shake...sex in a cup. Little extreme but really its so good and unique. PS: Foodler! Again...any restaurant using foodler or any other online ordering system just GETS IT.
(4)lauren r.
Costa Rican food at it's finest! It's just like being there.... I usually dine in, but most recently I opted for take out. I ended up choosing the Palmito Salad with chicken. The beets add beautiful color and flavor with the cabbage, hearts of palm, tomatoes, avocado and tomato. The 'dressing' is basic: oil, lime and a bit a vinegar. It's simple, yet delicious. Again, portion was large, but I feel like I'm getting my money's worth and enjoy having lunch for work for the following day. Forgetting that they only accept cash, I went in to pay with my credit card. The owner was so nice he told me to take my food home and stop by and pay whenever I had a chance. (They do have an ATM, but I didn't have my debit card.) I returned to pay later that night and he offered me a free batido de avena (oatmeal shake)! I know, you may be thinking, 'an oatmeal shake? eck!' It's actually amazing! It's has the creamy, cinnamon taste, but is so smooth! If no one told you, you wouldn't even know there was oatmeal in it! In the past I've had the Chicken Casado, the Chicken Tico and the Tilapia Tacos; all have been delicious and well prepared. I have yet to venture to any beef items, but plan to do so eventually. This restaurant can be busy on the weekends, especially since it's BYO, so expect a wait. Waiting room is limited, but if you go when it's nice out, they let you hang out outside.
(5)Sean H.
Great food. Fresh tasting and well prepared!
(4)Theresa F.
You know what I hate? Fake Latin food. You know what I love? Irazu Restaurant. After living in the midwest for over three years, I have finally found a Latin American restaurant that comes close to the authentic food I grew up eating. A friend of mine and I asked someone we met at the Bucktown Art Festival where we should eat our next meal in Chicago, and she suggested Irazu. "Really good, quick, and authentic" is what she said. And boy was she right. We walked into the incredibly busy restaurant on a Saturday night, starved and ready for some deliciousness. I ordered the special of tilapia tacos, which came loaded with rice, beans and plantains. We also ordered chips and salsa, and chicken ticos. The beans were just like my mother makes them -- cooked down for hours, and flavored with plenty of onions and salt. My tilapia tacos were messy and simply flavored with grilled onions and cilantro. The tilapia was fresh and cooked to perfection. I have to say I was surprised, too, since they were so jammed with to-go orders and in-house diners. Service was funny and friendly despite the craziness inside. The guys behind the counter let us try their special drinks on the house, which were sweet and surprisingly tasty (I'm not a sweet drink fan traditionally). Next time, I will definitely order one. If I lived in Chicago, Irazu would be a staple. As it is, I will be convincing my Chicago friends that we'll need to visit this hole-in-the-wall next time we're visiting. Everytime "Chicago" is mentioned in our house, "Irazu" shortly follows, and my husband is on the verge of making a special trip out to Chicago just to try this place. Really, he doesn't know what he's missin' yet!
(5)Dominique B.
My boyfriend and I live for Irazu. The traditional dish, the casado, is unbelievable in its blend of flavors. Not only that but its the best bang for your dollar as you have left overs for at least two days! We go there just for their shakes, Oatmeal only! It sounds weird but it will be the best thing you've ever tried. Highly recommend it for guests, but get there early. Always a wait but worth it!
(5)Ali C.
I give it five stars simply for their vegetarian salad. It's a simple, yet delicious mix of cabbage slaw, beets, avocado, cilantro, tomato, radishes and topped with lime juice, vinegar and olive oil. It is SOOOOO good! Also, they have great shakes. My favorite is their oatmeal shake, which is earthy and filling. A final compliment goes out to their stock of Lizano sauce. Lizano is a great sauce that is kind of like a Costa Rican A1. I've had a hard time finding it in the states and they are very generous with their Lizano at Irazu. The place itself isn't much, it's actually kind of dumpy. A great place, however, for a casual BYOB meal or take out.
(5)Joe W.
We love the food here, my family comes here all the time. The restaurant is very child friendly, and you cant beat BYOB and the outdoor patio. We did have a problem with delivery one time but the owner and manager contacted us immediately to resolve the situation, which we really appreciated. Overall we have had nothing but an extremely positive experience here, and appreciate the awesome food and great service.
(5)Kori M.
Very good food here. I had the milanesa dinner. Yum! It had a bunch of cheese melted right over the top. I do wish the milanesa would have been bigger. It's a bit on the small side especially compared to the other steaks. I loved the oatmeal shake too. I did feel the service was poor. I don't know if I caught them on an off night but seriously the place is as big as my closet. It shouldn't be that hard to give good service. If it was an off night I'll update this review because I'm definitely returning here.
(4)Kim B.
Irazu gets 3.5 stars overall. Service... meh, could have been better, could have been worse. Salsa... yuck. Just tasted "spicy" and serving presentation was ick. Potato tacos - yummy! Oatmeal/Mamey milkshake - worth returning for If you can just stop and get your food to go, I think that is the best bet. Just make sure you get a milkshake!
(3)Elizabeth N.
The oatmeal shake lives up to all the hype! You need to come here just for that. So our night started off weird - an inattentive server - who brought us 24 oz mason jars to drink our wine (they were out of other glasses). In general the service was slow and odd. But the food was good and cheap! Total bill was $45 for 3 people and we left stuffed. Loved the casual vibe. Will definitely be back. Let's just hope for a better server next time.
(4)Katy K.
We ordered an oatmeal + blackberry shake, a mamey shake, empanadas, chicharrón, and casada with tilapia. Our server seemed a bit stretched thin, he had a lot of tables that sat down at the same time, but he was professional and courteous so it did not affect our visit. The shakes and empanadas stood out from the rest. When it's warmer I will definitely return for some hot empanadas paired with light beer. The chicharrón was good, but a little dry and the casada was pretty tasty although there were bones in the fish.
(4)Claire S.
Love this place. I hosted a baby shower for my sister-in-law in the Irazu party room which is just down the street from the main restaurant on Milwaukee. It was the perfect size for our group of about 25, decorated with art, candles, and brightly colored tableware. Our server Jonathan went above and beyond by helping us put up decorations before guests arrived---- he brought a full sized ladder from another building and hung our paper flowers from the ceiling. The food was spectacular and got lots of compliments from guests. There is a pre fixe menu that includes the most popular items from Irazu's menu, and the owner Henry Cerdas was flexible in adjusting the menu to add more vegetarian options. It's BYOB, and we brought champagne and Corona--- 2 coolers stocked with ice were waiting for us when we got there, and they set up a mimosa station with carafes of orange and mango juice and fresh fruit. I highly recommend Irazu and their party room for events. I saved myself a lot of time and stress by working with them. I saved money too--- I did a lot of price comparisons when looking for a location, and this was definitely the best price, best menu, and best space I found!
(5)Jason A.
I don't get the hype of this place, its so mediocre. The plantains are great but the rest of the items have always disappointed me.
(2)Matt H.
Let's dispatch with the obvious: (1) yes, it's awesome that it's BYOB; (2) it is redonkulously cheap for how good it is; and (3) the porch is the perfect place to spend a summer night. The ceviche was especially tasty and I always seem to end up with a happy mountain of empanadas. The servers are like what you would expect from a really well-sorted beach-side place in San Diego: cool, no pressure, and will dive across the patio to open your beer. Sometimes the table-sharing is a little hit or miss. Last time we sat next to three guys who were having possibly the most intelligent conversation in Chicago, moving from critical theory and alienation, to the historical significance of the new pope, to the nature of time, etc. all with striking fluency. The sudden realization of my own idiocy was distracting. But that wasn't anyone's fault. Will be back.
(4)Areli R.
Went for the first time and tried the Pepito sandwich, it was perfectly warm and toasted. The steak wasn't as tender as I hoped it to be, the flavors blended in well. Everything was nice and fresh. I also tried a beef and potato empanada, I've had better. Will definitely return to try the rice and shrimp platter. I like the cozy atmosphere, music is great, a bit too loud, I felt like I was at a club.
(3)Barbara B.
Had a really great meal here. First timer for Costa Rican food. Decided to try a bunch of things: Apps: Ceviche- solid. Good mix of flavors. Yuca fries with garlic oil- amazing! Piping hot, paired perfectly with the garlic oil. Chifrijo- my favorite thing of the night. The fried pork was so tasty, just the right amount of spice, delicious. Next time I come I would get this as my main dish. For my entree I had the Casado with rib eye steak. The steak was really tasty. I paid the extra $1 for the gallo pinto (rice w/ beans mixed in) . Overall I'm glad I tried this dish but I would try something else next time.
(4)Jen D.
Cmon Irazu you're better than this!! First time in 10yrs I've ever thought boring and bland at Irazu:( Breakfast burrito is solid offering and hearty enough for a linebacker before the big game. Unfortunately it is all mush in your mouth of beans and egg. No heat. Not even a stinkin jalapeno to pretend you care. Why o why! Very disappointed but 4 stars from my historical experience ... I usually only order lunch or dinner. Best breakfast burrito still lives at Flo's ...
(4)Anuj S.
Overall, I like Irazu. It had some unique food and the service was fine. For some reason I forgot to review this place after we went, so I'm forgetting exactly what all we ate. I know we ordered a TON of food, because it was our first time and we wanted to try things. They didn't have enchiladas, but I do remember the empanadas were excellent. Really excellent spinach and cheese empanadas. I think we also asked for mushroom ones, but ended up getting all spinach ones. They were excellent, so I'm not complaining. I believe we also had tacos or something else like that. Overall, I think the food was OK and the empanadas were excellent. The shakes were good. We had a mango and a strawberry shake and those were nice. They tasted pretty fresh, although the waiter told us they were made from frozen fruits. I do remember that this place doesn't accept credit cards, which is somewhat inconvenient.
(3)Bradley B.
Solid food, but stay for the shakes.
(4)Amy D.
Irazu is so yummy! I stopped by with some friends, and ordered a sandwich, the oatmeal smoothy, and a chirjo. The sandwich was fine but the smoothing and chirjo were definitely the highlights of the meal. The chirjo was so fresh tasting, a great savory, yet not too heavy, choice. The smoothie was delicious, and thick enough to almost be a light meal. Definitely try them out!
(4)Liz U.
The first two times I went there it was a great experience. Food was good, service was good, also the place wasn't busy. I went here tonight with a party of 8. Patiently waited while they continued to push our party back 20 minutes, then another 20 minutes and another 20 minutes. We get sat, wine is opened, apps ordered, all is great. Until one in our party orders a quesadilla with extra cheese. Regular quesadilla comes out, wait 15 minutes and the waiter never comes over. We eventually flag the owner down and say we would like the meal fixed. Instead of saying sorry and of course we'll add more cheese he says "looks good to me, I think you've been drinking too much." We've had 3 beers in two hours. Long story short don't DARE complain about anything because instead of getting it fixed you'll be told it's fine and accused of drinking too much.
(1)Crystal Z.
The best burrito I have ever had in my entire life came from this place. I had the steak burrito with avocado, and it was so juicy and delicious. The avocado really probably isn't necessary because the meat in the burrito is so good on its own. The chifrijo appetizer here is also out of this world. It is really unique, and so incredibly delicious. The sauce really pulls all the ingredients together in a really cohesive, amazing dish. I also tried out the famous oatmeal shake, which was really good, but honestly tasted very similar to the horchata for me, so I'd rather just get the delicious horchata for a dollar or two less next time. My husband got the pepito sandwich, which was just okay - it was really hard to compete after tasting how amazing the burrito was.. I really love the outdoor seating too. A perfect way to spend a weekend afternoon.
(5)Katie K.
I really loved this place!! Wow. This place has a super fun vibe to it. My party and I walked in and we were seated immediately on a Monday night around 6:30pm. We ordered an appetizer to share and some shakes to share. The shakes were so delicious. One got a chocolate banana and the other got a fruity shake. Both were delectable. I highly recommend trying a shake. It's also BYOB so you could bring alcohol and add to shake, or they have pitchers of juice available too. Talk about stellar food! I ordered the guacamole as an appetizer and the veggie burrito and taco tico for my dinner. Everything was delicious. And the portions were big, I had a half a burrito to take home with me. The tico taco was interesting and unique. I liked it. I can't wait to try more items from their menu. The only reason for the 4 star instead of 5 star is due to slow service. Maybe just an off day.
(4)Christy L.
I'm a bit torn between giving Irazu 3 or 4 stars. Last week, I ordered delivery from Irazu. Note that they have a very wide delivery area so if you don't live close, don't assume you can't get Irazu delivered. I ordered El Tico with rib eye steak, and it was delicious. The meal has a little of everything: beef, rice, beans, onions, peppers, and plantains. The beef was a little chewy but I expected that given the price ($13.50) for the entree. All mixed together, it was a tasty and filling meal and enough for two meals. My friends and I headed to Irazu again last night. Arriving at 7pm on a Saturday night, we waited about a half an hour for a table for three as they don't take reservations. We sat in the back room which didn't have quite as nice an atmosphere as the heated front porch. I again ordered El Tico, but this time it was a bit too greasy for me. I was almost grossed out. However, when I re-heated the leftovers today, it wasn't as oily and actually tasted better and was delicious. We also shared the Chifrijo appetizer, and the pork flavor could have been a bit stronger, though I liked the crunchy texture and it was still plenty tasty and different than any dish I've ever had. We split an oatmeal shake which was delicious - tasted like oatmeal cookies and milk. It's BYOB which makes it super affordable. We each paid $20 for plenty of food. Metered street parking is pretty easy.
(4)Jackie M.
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.
(4)Maggie W.
Delicious food and friendly service. I had the El Tico, with chicken at the recommendation of the server, and my husband had the Vegetarian Paella, which surprised me because he's normally quite a carnivore, but he loved it. The service was friendly and helpful. The restaurant is BYOB, and there is a liquor store a couple blocks north on Milwaukee. Also, it is cash-only, but there is an ATM either inside or very close (we brought cash but our dining companion didn't). It was a chilly November evening, and we sat on the enclosed patio - it was warm enough but I was glad to have a sweater on, so definitely something to keep in mind. They have indoor seating, but it's smaller than the patio. We definitely plan to go back!
(4)Bill J.
Pepito, chifrijo, empanadas, entrees, oh my. Oatmeal shake - you have got to be bleepin' me it is good!
(5)Leslie G.
If I had written this review a year ago, I would have given Irazu a much higher rating, but my recent experiences there have been subpar, hence the low rating. When I first started coming here, I usually ordered the veggie burrito, which was/is a great value--a huge burrito for under 5 bucks. However, I feel like something has changed in the taste department. I used to think this was one of the better burritos I've had, but on my most recent visit it was simultaneously way too spicy and incredibly bland somehow. Also, parts of it were hot and parts of it were cold, which was annoying. On another visit some months ago, I had a shrimp and rice dish that was also disappointing. The shrimp were not cooked well and the dish overall was pretty bland. I will say that the shakes here are pretty good. My boyfriend had a vanilla shake recently that was quite delicious. All in all, however, I feel like Irazu has gone downhill. At this point, I probably will not be returning.
(2)Jessica T.
Fantastic food for great prices. Loved the grilled steak and patacones. The oatmeal shake was a nice dessert item.
(5)Jessica B.
Just go. It's delicious, reasonably priced, and BYOB. Only downside is cash only, but they do have an ATM. I always leave completely stuffed and happy.
(5)Val P.
Absolutely love this place!! The food is always delicious and prepared correctly and fast! Just this morning I placed an order for myself and fifteen coworkers. When I called to place the order the man who answered the phone, Omar, was amazing! Some of the best customer service I have encountered in a while. I even called back with questions on two separate occasions and I still was greeted with a polite person on the other end. After receiving the enormous order, I noted two things. One, every order was correct (this is a big deal to me, as I always substitute ingredients) and two, the delivery was very fast! Every single person that ordered was impressed with the food and all said their order was "delicious or yummy". This place has definitely become one of my favorite restaurants since recently discovering. I can say this for myself and my coworkers, we will be ordering from Irazu again, very soon!!
(5)Bret C.
We took out from her last week and it was amazing!!! I would recommend the Chifrijo (appetizer) and the Pepito (Steak Sandwich). I have been dreaming about the Chiftijo since we ate it.
(5)Vishal S.
Bean and rice appetizer was pretty good. The Costa Rican sandwich was delicious. Definitely recommend this place, especially for summer time byob place.
(5)E K.
Great experience tonight at Iraziu. Omar was fantastic- attentive, knowledgable, and just fun. The food was very good, must notably the pepito steak sandwich and the chifrijo. Everything was good and you can't beat a no corkage fee BYOB!
(4)Dan S.
Arrived with a group of 7 out-of-towners at 7:30pm and were told one hour wait. They called us (we were at a local pub two blocks North) in 45 minutes and seated us promptly. The BYOB is a great option and we purchased wine and beer at a local store just across the street with a good selection. The food, we all agreed, was excellent. We began with appetizers, including guacamole and chifrijo with chips. The green sauce in the bottles was killer (watch out if you don't like heat) as was the lizano sauce (mild, almost sweet), which we ordered ala carte. Our menu choices varied from vegetarian to chicken and beef dishes. Most of us chose the Casado and El Tico dinners, which were ample, tasty and very affordable. We coupled these with malbec (French Cahors) and rioja wines and weren't disappointed. This is a popular spot on Summer evenings - and with good reason. We will return whenever we're back in Chicago looking for good food on a Summer night. Upside: Great food, affordable, BYOB (store across the street) Downside: No reservations, closing time is 9:30pm (why so early?), Cash Only!
(4)Jen D.
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.
(4)Cynthia E.
This place breathes a Costa Rican vibe. All staff was friendly and chill. They really lived up to "Pura Vida, Cada Dia.", complete with "Pura Vida" staff shirts. The price also reminded me of Costa Rica's affordable food. I met here with classmates I studied abroad in Costa Rica with 7 years ago. We brought laptops, picture cds from our trip, Costa Rican beer and tons of photo albums. Irazu was a perfect reunion spot for us. Overall my group of 5 got meals, sides, appetizers and lemonade and the bill came to around $82. Not bad for 5 people! I ordered the Costa Rican sandwich with a side of gallo pinto. Combined, the total was under $10! And everything was DELICIOUS and fresh. I'm still thinking of that gallo pinto. Words of the wise: -They only take CASH. There's an on-site ATM but make sure you bring your own if you want to avoid any fees. A $20 should surely do it. -They have one baño. From the outside it doesn't look great but inside it's clean and well-kept. -Outside seating can get loud since it's close to the El. But the overall environment of the restaurant makes up for the passing train rumble. Arrive early since outside seating space is limited. -Driving west down Milwaukee it's easy to miss this place since a giant tree blocks the sign. I missed it and had to turn around. -Street parking is easy (Pay to Park Boxes) or you can take the Blue Line -BYOB. Do it! I will be back!
(4)Lucia Z.
Great little place. First of all, I love Costa Rica. The culture and food are so laid back and simple. I love it. And I really like Irazu. They did a really nice job of sort of mimicing the Costa Rican style. The patio is nice. The service is friendly. The food is to the point. And dirt cheap. Can't really ask for much more.
(4)Grant L.
I would give it more but the Milanesa sandwich I ordered was way too thin of meat and over fried to where I had to PULL it apart to eat it. My wife had a burrito and she loved it! I had a bite of hers and I agree, it was great! But, don't waste your money on the milanesa. Very disappointing.
(2)Johnny G.
I had 5 different empanadas- pineapple, mushroom, spinach and cheese, beef and potato, and chicken, and an oatmeal milkshake. Everything was great. The empanada I liked least was the mushroom, bbut it was still good. The one I liked most was the spinach and cheese. The pineapple one was simple but tasty- pineapple chunks in an empanada shell. The oatmeal shake was outstanding; i almost ordered another. My wife had a steak burrito, cuz that's all she ever gets, and i tried it and it was surprisingly good. I wish we had brought some rum so they could make us a drink, but we did bring some wine. The bill was surprisingly small for how full we were and how good the food tasted. Small and intimate atmosphere. 30 min wait but that was to be expected on a Friday night. We got fried plantains with garlicx oil for an appetizer, and that was the only aspect that we didn't care for- the oil is too strong and the fried plantains were too heavy. All together, I was very pleased and will recommend this place to others.
(4)C D.
the burrito is the bomb! we made an online order and they ended up giving us the wrong order.
(4)Ramya P.
The highlight - Chifrijo!! I could literally eat the whole thing by myself. Me, the hubs and a couple of friends went here on a gorgeous Friday evening for dinner. This place is a trending spot and is crowded in the evenings. We had to wait for about 30-40 mins and when we were finally seated we started munching on the chips and tomatillo salsa. The chifrijo reminded all of us of Indian street food that we absolutely love and dove right into it. I got the veggie paella which was good but really enjoyed the casado, the potato taco and tostada. Too bad that we were too full to try the legendary oatmeal shake, but we'll be back for that!! PS - Note that this place is BYOB and CASH only.
(4)AnnaMaria V.
I have known about Irazu for years. Driven by it plenty of times. This was the first time I stopped to pick up carryout. I really liked everything I ordered. I got the steak sandwich, empanadas & fried plantain. Tasty and yummy. I will return and try more items on the menu. It is definitely worth a try!
(4)David M.
They are back on their game. Food is good and the expanded menu allows me to get more plantains, which I love. Onion steak for me and the Casado for the mrs.
(4)Candyce P.
Outdoor patio is ok, but street traffic was very, very noisy. The food is good. I had the Pepito sandwich and patacones. No complaints on the sandwich, it was tasty and I always order it when I go there. The patacones, which were ordered as an appetizer, came after the sandwiches, and they were still raw in the center. I informed the waiter and he took it off my bill, and also made me a fresh order of patacones to take home with me, which was very nice. The oatmeal shake is delicious, reminded me of horchata but tastier. The green juice they make onsite is ok, but served without ice and was pretty much warm juice-not so pleasant. This would be a great place for a friend's birthday lunch or group get-together because you can be as loud as the traffic! I also loved the latin music they play on the patio. One drawback is that it is CASH ONLY, but there is an ATM onsite. It is also BYOB for those that enjoy that. I would return again and recommend this place to others.
(4)Kathleen C.
I recently visited Irazu a few times (both for dinner and for lunch) and have to update my review a bit. I still love Irazu's food - and now that I've tried more items, I can say that everything is pretty tasty. However, the service can be hit or miss. At lunch, we had a great server - really energetic and friendly. We were able to eat quickly (which is good when you don't have a lot of time during the work week) and the price is very reasonable. However, the last two times, we've had the same server, and have been with big groups. He seemed a bit out of it both times, and the most recent time, there was a group of 6 of us and we were seated at a table against a wall (all of us basically had to sit on one side). We tried to move the table around and we were not able to as they said we had to leave an aisle. This would be fine - EXCEPT - we had the exact same table last time with a group of 9 and we were able to sit around it like a normal dining table. This doesn't make any sense - you either need to leave space of not, but don't change this based upon a whim of the day. Back to service...service was slow and our server seemed really confused or tired or something (same as last time). This is such a difference from my previous visits and the lunch visit when service was efficient, but not rushed and really friendly. While I love Irazu for it's food and reasonable prices (and BYO!), I think I need a break since I was a bit disappointed recently.
(4)Adam K.
Friendly Staff, affordable and wonderful food. Try the tortas or any of the traditional items on the menu. The oatmeal shake is outstanding.
(5)Baky S.
I always drove by Irazu because it's a few blocks away from my place but I never bothered going in. Yesterday, on my way home I decided to pick up lunch from there. I got a steak sandwich and some fried plantains, it was absolutely delicious!!!!! Will definitely be a regular there from now on!!!
(5)Craig G.
Just go, it's that good. Get a Pepito sandwich with peppers, and yuca frita. You won't regret it.
(5)Kyle P.
Love the pepito and oatmeal shake. Start with taco tito...
(5)Stella A.
Irazu is a great spot for a casual lunch/dinner/date. Highlights (not in any particular order): 1. Parking: There was ample street parking in that area (at least the day that I was there- 7ish on a Thursday evening). 2. The host: Upon arriving, I gave the host my name to secure a table. He then proceeded to semi-scream it out (STELLAAAAAAAA). Not the first time this happened but still cracked me up. 3. The service: The waiter knew his stuff. Was attentive and knowledgeable. 4. THE FOOD: Appy: The ceviche was awesome. It's served with crackers but tasted better with the complementary tortilla chips they give you when you first sit down. Dinner: I had the El Tico. Rib eye steak with red peppers and onions. The steak was a little on the chewy side but the flavor more than made up for that. Whatever the heck they cooked the steak and peppers in, I want it in everything. I believe the Costa RIcan take on rice and beans may be my favorite. It was light and fluffy and GOOD. Dessert: The flan. I love flan. I love Irazu's flan. Will definitely be back to try everything else on the menu.
(4)Kate L.
This place is great. Great food, good service, cute little outdoor seating that's covered with heat lamps during the winter. I love that's it's BYOB and Costa Rican, you can't find that anywhere else in the city (that I'm aware of). The food is extremely affordable and delicious.
(5)Diana T.
Awesome place, The food is absolutely delicious! It was my first time having Costa Rican food, so I cannot speak to the authenticity. I went here for a birthday dinner with about 15 other people. The bday girl had some sort of family style dinner set up, which was awesome and came out to only $20 per person! Yes it is BYOB!! And yes the service was great!! THE OATMEAL SHAKE: TO DIE FOR!!
(5)Adam B.
In between a 2 star and 3 star rating, decided on a 2 star. Yelp come on man, we need the half star rating. The guacamole was good, BYOB always a plus. I ordered the El Tico and got it spicy. The food was just okay at best. It lacked flavor, even with making it spicy. Not sure how it can be a chef's favorite. The meal wasn't bad but it was nowhere from being good.
(2)Jennifer Y.
Better than the food I had in Costa Rica. Seriously. I came here with a big group of 15+. Food was done family style and amazing. The onioned steak entree was the best thing on the menu, sooo good. Yuca topped with Mojo very good, empanadas were delicious. Didn't have sandwiches but they looked really interesting and I want to try them next time. Chicken mixed with rice dinner and veggie side was okay but not amazing. Oatmeal milk shake done with milk (they have a soy option) is to die for. Cash only but BYOB saves you some extra cash. Not fancy but lively with great customer service. I will def be back.
(4)Miguelina E.
Over-rated. Under cooked and greasy food. Shakes are the better thing there. I've given it three tries and done with it for good.
(2)Chris M.
Reasonably priced and a BYOB! The food is great and I've enjoyed bringing and meeting up with friends here. Casual atmosphere. They don't take reservations so it's good to keep that in mind when you come here, especially on the weekends. Enjoy!
(4)Kathryn F.
My pre-marathon meal consisted of this: Tostones with pureed black beans & mojo de ago Vegetarian plate (spinach) with gallo pinto and maduros 1 avena shake.... ....the 1 avena y chocolate shake to go. Service was wonderful. I had no wait on a Friday night at 7 pm; then again, it was just me. All the food was delicious, the tostones were crisp and hot, the veggie plate had perfectly cooked peppers and the gallo pinto was great. As for the shake(s), I think that ordering one to go speaks for itself. It was just so tasty and made me wish that I could recreate that flavor at home. Ps. This gave me the energy to finish the marathon. Talk about carbo loading! I probably ate 3 whole plantains that night.
(5)Ron T.
Final Update! Almost 4 months later I finally had the opportunity to order a new meal from Irazu. I was hopeful and optimistic and they really surpassed my expectations. Today's order was extremely well handled by Justin, on the phone. He was professional and very detail oriented. I cannot say enough good things about how AWESOME management (Henry,and Omar) were through this process. They were truly and genuinely willing to listen and to help. I call back this long after my original conversation and they still remember me. I gave them so much credit, just for that. Then for them to remain cordial and courteous throughout this process is something I value and appreciate. Now to the food. We tried a variety of items including the Taco Tico's, Casado with Tilapia, Pepito sandwich and Chifrijo. Every single thing was awesome. Even the tortilla chips that came with the Chifrijo were great. I am really happy that we had the chance to try their food again and definitely will go back in the future. The taco tico's were actually our favorite and now we can't get enough of the, Next time we need to order a couple extra for leftovers. I now see that my original bad experience was truly just a bad day/moment and not indicative of the typical Irazu experience. I really have never experienced such great resolution to an issue before and I think the Irazu team should be commended. I now see why the reviews for this place are so good. It really is good stuff. Now I just need to get over to the restaurant to get a fresh shake, cause I still really do want to try one. Thanks Henry, Justin and Omar!!!
(5)Ehow C.
I came here for dinner with friends before a comedy sketch show. Chips and salsa were pretty average, but the Jamaican lime-tea and oatmeal milkshake were pretty superb. I ordered a burrito with chorizo and avocado, and I'm saddened to report the chorizo was a bit too salty for my taste. The spices from the chorizo and peppers were delicious, however, so it wasn't a complete loss. I'd be willing to come here again for the lime tea, and maybe trying something else. The menu is pretty affordable with many vegetarian options, but keep in mind it's cash only!
(3)Michelle W.
PHENOMENAL! I've been to Costa Rica and the food here was exactly as how I remember it! So DELICIOUS! And HUGE portions! Definitely can take another meal home. Also, went with a group of friends for a dual-birthday celebration and Greg and David STARTED OUR NIGHT OFF PERFECTLY! Thanks, guys! :) Muy tuanis! PURA VIDA!
(5)Ashley K.
Hmm. Well I wanted to like this place a lot more than I did. I've driven by it numerous times and when I saw it on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, it was the push I needed to stop in and check it out. As always, I did my yelp homework before I went in and scoped out some of the most recommended things on the menu. I went with the soy oatmeal shake, which was, hands down, my favorite thing that we ordered. My friend had the mango shake, and she liked it a lot. We shared the chifrijo for an app - also pretty tasty. The pork was fried crispy and the pico complimented the richness of the pork and the buttery avocado well. Then things went a bit downhill. I opted for the potato tacos upon the recommendation of our server. In full disclosure, I don't like mashed potatoes, but I still thought they sounded good, so I went with them. I don't even think that the mashed potato was the part about the taco I didn't like. And it's not that I didn't like them. They were just a little on the bland side (and also pretty heavy). I went with both the mole and the guac as my sauce. The mole was decent, if not a little...I don't really know what...I just didn't feel like the spices melded as well as they should in a mole. The guac was okay though it seemed like my particular portion suffered from a few bad avocados. My friend's steak (the el tico) was a little on the dry/chewy side. The flavor was decent but I prefer my steak much more medium rare, so I was glad I didn't get a beef dish. For $25, our food was fine and I'm glad I tried this place out. I wouldn't object to returning but I have a lot more eating to do before I'll go out of my way to come back...though I might have to consider it for the oatmeal shake.
(3)Monica W.
I know everyone says this, but there is a reason why...........OH MY GOD, that oatmeal shake. It is amazing! I had driven by once and thought Irazu looked interesting and had never had Costa Rican food before, so naturally it went onto the "places I am going to try one day" list. My friend wanted to go to lunch and I gave him 6 options. This is the place he picked (thank you, Brandall). We sat in the area that is semi porch-like, not quite indoors or outdoors, but screened in. I have to say that I felt like I was on vacation the entire time I was sitting there. I did not want to leave and had to practically be pulled off of that chair. We split the Costa Rican sandwich and steak burrito and they both had a special sauce (I am not sure if it was unique to Irazu or Costa Rican cuisine in general), but it was delicious. Just like Jenny T., we ordered the hot peppers on the side and did not end up even touching them. The service was great. Our waiter was very friendly and we were able to sit for as long as we wanted. I am convinced this is the cure for anyone with seasonal affective disorder. Cheap vacation. I cannot say enough good things about this place. **BYOB
(5)Vaidehi T.
Love irazu. Went here for lunch on a sat'day. Its a casual place with some seriously good food. We tried the vegetarian chifrijo - wow. It was a flavor explosion. Absolutely loved it. Then hubby and I shared the veggie burrito, which was also very good. Food is pretty inexpensive and super delicious.
(5)John L.
Phenomenal. Food was great and I would absolutely go here again. Price- appetizers are about $7-$10. The yuca fries with garlic was worth it. Quality- empanadas, ceviche, yuca fries and oatmeal shake were superb. Lots of flavor and great texture. Quantity- good amouy of food. You definitely get your money's worth. Staff- only reason why I'm not giving 5 stars. Seemed a bit unattentive. We had to do more flagging down of the staff to get served. Atmosphere- Very quaint and somewhat rustic. Great place. I'd definitely go again after collecting cash from my dance moves at the Admiral Theater.
(4)Linda H.
Far too often, I enjoy toddling on over to Irazu to enjoy some delicious Costa Rican delicacies. Must Haves: Casado (I got chicken) Oatmeal shake (sounds yucky, but trust me, this is not Quaker's instant) Additionally, its BYOB and has a lovely little covered patio. Heads up - its cash only! Go here, you won't regret it!
(5)Harlow-Merissa K.
Food: 4-stars, service: 1.5 (based upon 2 visits) BYOB that is cash-only. The Good: Delicious oatmeal shakes that can be made with soy (love!) The busboy was nice, and gave us a bucket full of ice for our Tecate, and also gave us chips and salsa. Yummy fried plantains & sandwiches. The Bad: The waiter was SLOWWWW, (it was not busy on the patio) forgot several items, and our food was lukewarm to cold. Not to mention that people who were seated well after we were, had gotten their food & paid before we even received our meals. He never checked to see how everything was, didn't clear any of our dirty plates, didn't refill our water and pretty much ignored us. UGH! Not good if you are hungover on a Sunday & wanting a burrito or sandwich to help recover. The Ugly: Thinking the bad service was a fluke, we gave this place another try, this time with out of town friends. WRONG! Bad service, forgotten items, and very slow the second time around. If you want to order from this place, I would suggest carry out.
(2)Annette J.
Oatmeal shake? YES PLEASE. I could drink one every day and twice on Sunday. You simply can't go to Irazu without ordering one. It's like, a law, or something. So this past Saturday I did my civic duty by splitting one with my friend and even though I had had oatmeal for breakfast just that very day it still really hit the spot. The cinnamon is so fresh! Seriously, you can really taste the difference between good, fresh cinnamon and the regular stuff. Irazu opts for the former, God blessem. Dinner? Awesome. Got the Pepito sandwich--steak with some melty cheese, sauteed onions and beans. Split some excellent guac and chips with my buddy and had a perfect and so very filling meal. Even though they implement liberal use of chopped cilantro on top of their guacamole and cilantro is my mortal enemy I still love it. Good on you, Irazu. My friend got the potato tacos and the plate was huge! Lots of toppings and sides. Perfect for veggie eating friends out there. The inside space is pretty small which means there can be a wait for a table when it's cold and rainy and the patio isn't open. It's cool, though, because the food is so good you'll be happy to hang tight. I saw a lady next to us get an oatmeal shake to go while she waited for her table. That is SUCH a good call if you're starving or just can't wait for to mainline some oats. She is smart. I just sat, stomach grumbling, and watched the mouthwatering food go by as they took it from the open air kitchen. But once I sat down and ate some warm chips and spicy salsa I knew it was oh so very worth it.
(5)Adam S.
I've been to this place before, in 2010, which is good for them because otherwise this would be a one-star review. The food is ok. Nothing truly mind-blowing, but it's good. The service on the other hand is terrible. There was 4 of us sitting together this past Saturday. We were one of the first people in the place, and given the choice we decided to sit out on the patio. We placed our orders and were the only table out on the patio. Soon the patio filled and we noticed that everyone on the full patio was getting their food and we had nothing, the waiter hadn't come over to let us know what was going on for a long time. After about 45 minutes people that were seated after us were done eating and paying their bill, getting up and leaving. Yet, we waited. When the waiter finally did talk to us he assured us "only another minute on your food, guys". About twenty more minutes went by and by this time people that were seated after those that had already paid and left were being fed. The hostess came over and assured us that our food was "on its way out". About 10 minutes later our food came and despite not being exactly what we ordered were were nice and too hungry to complain so we just ate what we got. Our waiter pretty much ignored us as we sat and waited and avoided coming to our table and when our food came he didn't even ask to see how things were until we were nearly done. The hostess then came by and gave us all complimentary half-glasses of lemonade. Too little too late. "Sorry that your orders took a little bit to come out". Her understatement and insincere sentiment did not help us. We arrived at 12:10 pm and left after quickly eating and paying at 1:45. Food was ok. Not worth that wait. I've never experienced service so poor.
(2)Thomas L.
Tried Irazu for the first time--certainly won't be the last! In a world that forces you to chose between Americaned Mexican food or high end Modern Latin, Irazu offers something different. It's down home Costa Rican food in a fun atmosphere for very reasonable prices. As others have said, the Oatmeal shake is delicious. The flavor profile is similar to horchata, so if you like that you'll love the shake. The empanadas are great, doughy, fried triangles of deliciousness. They're small and cheap, so try a few as appetizers if you're with a group. We tried the veggie burrito with chorizo (for some reason the staff recommended adding meat to the veggie rather than ordering the meat) and it was great. The portions are huge, so bring your appetite or a to-go box. We also tried the Pepito Sandwich, as featured on Diners Drive-ins & Dives. The flavors infused into the pork were unique and delicious, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great sandwich that's a bit out of the ordinary. My only star deduction was for the fact that the service was a bit slow and distracted. They were friendly when they came to the table, just kept us waiting a bit too long between trips. Also, the salsa verde they bring with the chips at the beginning is long on heat and short on savory. It would be great to add to a sandwich or burrito, but didn't quite fit the bill for chip dipping. Oh--and bring cash and your own beer. If you're in the mood for a fun, casual meal with some unique flavors, Irazu is a great choice.
(4)Elizabeth L.
OK. About 15 minutes ago, I was all sorts of ready to write a 2-star review for Irazu. Yes, fans...you heard that right. 2 stars. And here's why... A dozen of us were looking to check in on the hype surrounding this place, and decided to head on down to Bucktown for Saturday dinner. Because we're courteous diners, we made a reservation for 7pm. We were sternly warned; were we to be late or not have our entire party present at 7pm on the dot, we would lose our table. Rules is rules, so we gathered the troops and were there at quarter to 7. Since we were early, we expected a little bit of a wait. So we waited....and waited...and waited...and waited... And waited. We waited for nearly an hour. The hostess told us, oh, about every 20 minutes that our table would be ready soon...she was just waiting for the people there to finish up. That they had been there for two hours and she expected them to leave any minute. That she had taken away their plates and water and she expected them to leave any minute...but that, under no circumstances, could she tell them that there was another party that had reserved the table (Heavens! Imagine turning a table on a busy Saturday night!). Finally...finally...the table cleared. At this point, totally ravenous with hunger, we sat down. With the exception of having to ask 3 times for wine glasses (they had run out, apparently) we were served quickly. The food was delicious! I had the chicken mixed with rice (spicy) and everything was moist and flavorful. When the bill arrived, we were slightly surprised that none of the appetizers had be comped as a gesture of goodwill. It's not the biggest deal, but getting a free guacamole would have cost them nothing and gone a long way towards any one of us wanting to visit Irazu on a weekend again. We all left shaking our heads..."never again" we vowed. And I, personally, was composing my Yelp review. Then, just 15 minutes ago, the friend who made the reservation sent me a message. The manager of Irazu called her personally and apologized for our experience. He gave her his personal phone number and asked that she call him directly ahead of her next visit. And that's all it took to turn this from a 2 star into a 3 star review. That's what being in the restaurant business is about. Restaurant patrons understand that things can get busy and people can get overwhelmed - but when minor inconveniences turn into less minor inconveniences, small courtesies can make all the difference.
(3)Natalie N.
Can I say OMG!! Guy Fieri can do no wrong! This place is DELICIOUS! We ordered the Chofrijo (check spelling) and I could have just had 2 or 3 plates of that for dinner. I ordered the grilled steak for dinner, let me tell you, I am 100% Puerto Rican and I KNOW you can mess up rice and beans, this plate was top notch, from the cabbage salad to the tender and flavorful steak, and of course, the rice and beans. Best of all, it's BYOB! Our waiter was very friendly and helpful and had great customer service. I want to go back NOW! YUMMY....
(4)Carrie B.
Ahhh Irazu....Irazu...Irazu. Everyone keeps telling me to come and check you out and I see how busy you are every time I go by and I keep putting you on my list of places to go. Finally I went. I went EARLY on Friday around 5PM. We got seated right away. It's a BYOB so we brought a six pack of beer with us. Thankfully we brought our own bottle opener otherwise we'd be screwed since our waiter only came to take our order and we didn't see him for the rest of the night until it was check time which I'll get back to because this is why I'm giving this place 3 stars. I enjoyed the food a lot. I ordered the Milanese and it was so good! The steak was cooked to perfection. The rice and beans were amazing. The portions are huge! My mom ordered the Casado and I had a couple of bites as well. It was delicious! Everything is better with an egg. We even said that we will definitely have to come back here again because the food was good. Our waiter never came to check on us and didn't even deliver our food. We had to flag him down to get our check. Since Irazu is cash only we wanted change back, but I don't think he understood that. I had to tell two people that we were still waiting for our change. We waited for our change for 15 minutes until someone who wasn't our waiter finally gave it back to us. If you were so sure you were getting a $10 tip maybe you should have come and asked us how we were doing. The food is good, but that waiter really irked me. Maybe I'll have to get it to go because I'll get better service at my own apartment.
(3)Brian Q.
Rich and flavorful, the pepino sandwich melted in my mouth. Unfortunately, the thick hair I had to pull from my throat did not melt like butter. Next time, I'll take my sandwich without hair embedded in it, and I'll procure that sandwich from someone else...as it's going to be some time before I'll be able to bring myself to order fom Irazu again.
(1)jenny m.
I'm leaving Chicago and this is the place that I picked to have my going away party at. Not only because my first experience here was so stellar (and it's BYOB), but because Costa Rica, oddly enough, holds a special place in my decision to move out of Chicago so it seemed appropriate to have my goodbye dinner here. I called a couple of weeks in advance to see if they would take a reservation for a large party and thankfully they did. So when we arrived on Saturday night at prime dinner time - there was no wait, yay!! Because we had a party of 11 people, they suggested we go with the prix fixe menu. It wasn't mandatory although they did request either the whole table do it or none of us. We decided to go for it and it was totally worth it. It can be a headache to order when there is a large group and doing a prix fixe made it so easy, so we could get on to the important stuff...talking & drinking!! For the prix fixe, you start out with a horchata drink. It was good, but most of us didn't really drink much of it because we had wine & rum drinks. The next course is chifrio, which is black beans mixed with pork & veggies. Thankfully they can also make it vegetarian (I don't eat pork). For this black bean lover, it was the perfect appetizer. They also brought out a cabbage salad with beets & cucumber and a really delicious house dressing. Between the salad & the chifrio, it was just enough to wet the appetite while we waited for the main course. The main course is the casado which is a traditional costa rican family style platter consisting of a protein, veggies, gallo pinto (my all time favorite rice & bean dish EVER) and plantains. We went with the chicken, beef, and vegetarian platters and this is where you get your money's worth - it was so much food! Everything was really good though and we stuffed our faces until our bellies begged us to stop. Finally for desert you can get their famous oatmeal shake or flan. I tried both and had no complaints on either. (Honestly at that point I was stuffed silly and pretty buzzed so I wasn't paying to much attention to desert.) All through dinner, of which I think lasted about 2 hours, our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. And when the bill came, it was like $25ish with tax & tip. I am sad to be leaving Chicago because I will miss restaurants like this. But, it just gives incentive to visit Chicago often!
(5)Pete V.
Irazu is #3 on my list of favorite outdoor patio dinner spots in Bucktown (Duchamp is tops closely followed by Big Star). We stopped in for dinner on a Monday night around 8 pm and the place was packed! We were offered a table inside right away, or a 30 min wait for the patio. No worries however, as the host took down our phone number and we strolled over to the Green Eye at Western and Armitage (hiding just below the Armintage blue line station) for a beer on their tiny outdoor patio while we waited. We got our call in less than 20 min and hurried back to grab our table, making sure to stop by Red & White on the way to grab a chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, since of course Irazu is BYO. I was in the mood for the chicken burrito, which was delish and you must, must get avocado added to it. I liked how they grilled the burrito after it was rolled making the tortilla toasty! My wife got the tacos, which you must order at least two since they are a bit smaller and served on standard corn tortilla rolls, but at $2 a pop, they might not be as tasty as Big Star, but a great, great value. Irazu is just a fabulous place to have a great, inexpensive meal in Bucktown. Outside patio + BYO + great food. Does it get any better?
(5)Y.D. K.
I've ordered food from Irazu either from the on-site guys, SeamlessWeb, or direct from Irazu for delivery. Not a fan of their burritos or sandwiches, but their tacos are fairly good - complete with the meat, lettuce and tomatoes - oh yeah, their salsa is also very good (IMNSHO), almost comparable to El Faro. I've consistently order nothing but tacos from this place, and its been consistent, quality-wise. My verdict is pending other items I need to try, but at least for delivery, they are very good - SeamlessWeb does well, albeit expensive ($-ouch), and direct delivery is greeted by a pleasant lady who took my order, and delivery regardless of ordering method was good too. If their other items are as consistent as their tacos, I may upgrade to 4/5. Plus, I actually have to go to this place and dine-in too. Pending further review and food items...
(3)Terri F.
Great reviews made hour wait tolerable but meal was a major disappointment. The chifrijo was tasty but entrees from the pepito sand which, heart of palm salad and chicarons left us with little desire to go back sadly
(2)Delightful D.
Just ok not all that. The appetizer chifrijo was tasty but the steak entree was just ok was missing gravy or sauce. The entree was dry. I would try again to try another entree but honestly other places are a lot better tasting such as 90 miles cuban cafe or cafe laguardia which have similar entrees n ingredients.
(3)Jessica D.
Delicious tropical food. Just the maduros and boiled yuca with mojo are enough reason to keep coming back. The tinted squid with rice and the iced coffee with horchata were amazing. Got an oatmeal shake to go, and it was the pefect dessert. Portions are plenty and the food is spectacular. Casual atmosphere and lovely tiled restroom facilities. Clean, and the staff are great and fast! Love it. There was plenty of seating when we dropped by for a very late lunch, but I hear it can get incredibly busy sometimes. Will be back often!
(4)Swati B.
WOW. So rumors are true...the Oatmeal Shake is AMAZING. it is quite filling and you can get it mixed with something else ie strawberry or banana etc, but even the plain oatmeal shake is outstanding. PLENTY of vegetarian options here! Had the 'award winning' burrito, definitely delicious, very fresh tasting The empanadas we had as an app and it was actually quite delicious My sister had the potato tacos and raved about them as well this is definitely a BYOB place...pretty packed for a Tuesday night street parking on milwaukee for us was no problem. ps CASH ONLY
(5)Lola V.
OMG I loved this place. As stated in many other reviews before mine that oatmeal shake is a must do,it was the bomb! Also I asked for the traditional Costa Rican dish and it was the BEST!!! everything was so good and now that I'm back in California I'm totally craving IRAZU!
(5)Rebecca Y.
Oatmeal shake was DELICIOUS: basically a liquid oatmeal cookie. Service was super friendly and all of the food was homemade and delicious. The chips are made in-house and were thick and crunchy with a hint of lime. This was my first trip to a Costa Rican restaurant and I thoroughly enjoyed it, I'll definitely be back again to sample their other dishes.
(4)Rebecca P.
When my friend Kat recommends something, you listen. So when she told me the Irazu oatmeal shake is "legendary," I knew this had to be my first meal stop in Chicago. Lo and behold, Kat was right (as usual). She was so right about it that I feel compelled to publish her rightness in a review, even though this thing is so highly regarded that it will be in the review highlights for all eternity and certainly does not need my help in promoting it. We also ordered a pitcher of guava juice, in which we dumped our BYO Bacardi from the liquor store down the street. This was a tip from our waitress, and she was right: it really is the only way to drink the guava juice. Everything about this place is just right.
(5)Angela C.
I used to LOVE this place. Unfortunately this evening I had a bad experience. I get the Pepito sandwich which used to be $5. Now it is $6 and is literally HALF the size. They are using skinnier bread so the portion is way smaller. This is lame and truly disappointing. Also, the last time I ordered the Steak Tico the portion was smaller and didn't taste as good. I won't be back :(
(2)Neha N.
Am I ashamed to admit I've been here two times and I've lived in this area for less than a week? Kind of, but it's so yummy! I got the veggie burrito with plantains. Heavenly. The bf got the veggie burrito with chorizo added and loved it. Seriously packed with flavor. Please do yourself a favor and get the oatmeal shake with soy. Too good...you haven't seen the last of me Irazu.
(4)Mary Kate D.
Everything we had here was great. Came here for dinner last Wednesday. Wait wasn't that long for an outside table. BYOB so that was a plus. We had the ceviche, guacamole and oat meal shake. I had the chefs special with rice, beans, peppers, plantains, and steak. Exceptional food and service. Looking forward to my next visit here. Quality food/service and not that expensive. Total bill was around $45 for two appetizers, two entrees and the oatmeal shake. I don't think I have ever had that small of a bill at a restaurant in Chicago for dinner.
(5)Polly S.
Negatives: 1. Cash only. 2. The wait for a table can be long and cramped. 3. Closed on Sunday. Positives: 1. BYOB 2. Food is top notch. I always get the vegetarian plate. 3. Good hearty portions. You will leave full or with leftovers. 4. Staff is personable and makes an effort. 5. Affordable. 6. Diverse crowd. 7. The oatmeal shake. Get it. Located on Milwaukee Avenue and walking distance from the Western Blue line stop, Irazu is worth taking a train for. I've had friends from out of town demand I take them there when they visit Chicago. The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed - the food is reliably good.
(4)Elvis T.
Got a chicken burrito, that was ok but the horchata coffee was great!
(4)Tom D.
Wow, I tried the milk chocolate shake, it was pretty bad. I tried a steak burrito, it was also pretty bad. I did like the cuban sandwich, once I wiped off half of the mayo. There was so much on there, when picking up the sandwich, mayo was flopping off the edges. The entire meal felt like airport food, definitely not fresh. I can't even begin to describe how unsatisfactory the steak in the burrito was. It was mushy. Like, shredded and not fully cooked.
(1)Tera D.
Yum! I am moving to this hood next month, so in my excitement I started checking out the local restaurants. Score! This place is cheap, delicious, BYOB, and has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating! Menu items range from $2 al a carte tacos and $4 sandwiches, to larger platters and dinners in the teens. So there's definitely something for everyone. We had the empanadas and fried plantains with garlic sauce for apps. The plantains were good, I would have liked them a little thinner and crispier, though. The empanadas were delicious. We ordered 3 and our fave was the spinach and cheese. For entrees I had the veggie burrito ($4.95!?!, so reasonable!) and my bf had a mix of al a carte items - a taco, a tostada, and a toquito. His favorite preparation was the taco, and his favorite meat was the chicken. We will definitely be back here many times once we move, and I will definitely be enjoying the other half of my burrito for lunch today!
(4)Regina C.
Oatmeal shake, get it, you will not be sad. Vegans - order it with water! Vegan options are few, but they are good. Service is always great. Friendly people, great food.
(4)Mara M.
I've been to Irazu many times, and last night was the last straw. It always sounds like a good idea: sit out on the patio, drink some beers and eat some cheap tasty food. Unfortunately, that's not what happened. It was a Saturday afternoon and the weather was perfect. Arriving at Irazu, we noticed that the patio was still boarded up for winter time. It's almost June. I almost convinced my date not to go in. I wanted to sit outside! I wanted to be able to see the sky. But, we were hungry and thought the food would save us. We sat on the 'patio'. Our waiter was a disaster. It took over 30 minutes to finally get our order in with him. We ordered the ceviche as an appetizer, I got 1 taco tico and 1 steak taco and my date got the shrimp burrito. Seems pretty simple. I'm not sure what was going on with the kitchen, but we waited...and waited...and waited. I think it took 30 more minutes to finally get our ceviche out. Tables that had been seated after we ordered were getting their food, and we were still waiting. The ceviche was probably the highlight of the meal. For $8 bucks, the shrimp burrito was just bad. My 2 tacos were bland as well. We sat down around 5 and didn't leave until after 7 because of the slow service. Skip this place. Hopefully I can find a new patio hang for the summer -- Irazu just isn't worth it.
(1)Julia M.
I simply love this place. The food is fresh, fantastic, and you can always be adventurous and try something new without disappointment. The servers are friendly and helpful, full of recommendations. The Pepito and Chifrijo are amazing and definitely worth trying if you've never been. I'm glad that this place gained popularity from DDD because, man, it's worth it and deserves it!
(5)Kayu T.
So I just recently visited Costa Rica and craved a taste of memory and tried this place out. I went to their 20th Anniversary Block Party and loved the vibe! The music was spot on, the crowd was good, the neighborhood was perfect. We ordered the following: "Casado Bowl" Black beans and Rice - Good Fried Plantines - Completely uncooked properly. Besides the fried batter on the outside, the plantines itself was raw and hard. I couldn't even bite it. Chicken - Barely any chicken, but it was decent Beef - Very tender, good. Strawberry Milkshake - Very close to what I've had in Costa Rica, Good Oatmeal Milkshake - My bf said he loved it since he finished the whole thing. Costa Rican Sandwich - Good, but a lil messy So you asked, "WHY THE LOW SCORE??" - Although I've enjoyed the taste of the food for the most part, I GOT SICK FROM IT!!!!! (A lil background on myself... I am not allergic to anything nor have I ever gotten sick from eating in my life. I am positive it was something from here because that was my first meal of the day.) About an hour we finished eating and walking around, I literally PROJECTILE VOMITED off of my freaken bike. It was horrific! My BF was fine, so I am going to guess it was either the bad Plantines or the Strawberry shake (since I had those and he didn't). Although I love Costa Rician food, I regret trying this place and I will not return.
(1)Colleen C.
It is now time for my 5-star, 2010 review of Irazu. Still 5 stars. YES! And this time, for the delivery! And, let me tell you...the food (and famous oatmeal shakes!) taste just as good after traveling a few miles. The delivery was super quick, the phone answerer was very efficient and clear, and my food arrived with a friendly smile in about 20 minutes. 1 veggie burrito 1 steak burrito 1 oatmeal shake with milk DELIVERED ----------------------------------- $17 + tip Hooray for Irazu they still rock my oatmeal-lovin' socks off, and I will continue to write them a 5-star review each year that they continue to serve up some of the best (ONLY!) authentic Costa Rican food in Chicago. Get your oat on, they travel. No excuses now.
(5)Sherie P.
I'm broken... Well, my foot that is. It sucks not being able to walk around and not being able to stand in the kitchen and cook a decent meal! That's where Irazu comes in. They deliver!! The other night I ordered a wonderful meal from Irazu. I ordered the fried yuca and the empanadas to start. I was not impressed with the chicken or the plantain empanada, but the beef and potato? YUM! All three were perfectly crispy when they were delivered and had a nice filling to crust ratio but the beef and potatoes had a wonderful flavor to them that the other two lacked. They were ok, but not up to par for a Miami transplant. The yuca was crispy as well and came with a great garlicky mojo. It's not a myth! Delivered food can remain crispy! For dinner I had the pork chops. They were moist and tender with perfectly grilled onions on top. It's nice that they include a salad which I didn't eat of course. I filled up on the yummy sweet plantains, rice and beans. I was expecting beans but it was more of a been puree. At first I was a bit disappointed but after I tried them, I forgot all that. They were so good! Next time I want take out and don't want the standard pizza or Chinese, Irazu will be my go to place. I can't wait to try even more things on the menu!
(4)Laura K.
I feel bad giving this place a 3 because I would definitely want to go back again to try some of the other items on the menu. We went here on a Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) with a group of 11 and I was shocked that they had a table ready for us so we didn't have to wait. The place was pretty much dead which was shocking after reading the reviews about the long wait. So we definitely lucked out with that. We ordered some of the appetizers (guac, fried plantains) and I got the tilapia tacos. I don't think I would get them again, but they were good. Their menu has some really good options, and their sandwiches are REALLY cheap (I'm talking $5ish cheap). My tilapia platter was more expensive (still cheap though), but I think I would go with the $5ish meals since they looked yummy and were so inexpensive. I definitely would be back to enjoy the more from their menu and enjoy the fact that it is BYOB.
(3)Mari Y.
If you like to shout over dinner, this is the place for you! Since it's BYOB the shouting comes naturally after your first sip, so don't forget the alcohol. My friends and I started with a few apps, guacamole and empanadas. I think guacamole can be a generic Latin appetizer so I wasn't impressed. This was the first time I've had fried empanadas which felt really greasy going down but they were indeed tasty. I'm not a fan of unsweetened plantains - I wouldn't order that as an app again based on personal taste. I ordered the chicken and rice dish non-spicy but it came out spicy. My friend ordered her dish spicy and hers came out regular. One mistake there. I've actually been to Costa Rica and I will say that the flavors and preparation are pretty darn authentic. That was impressive to me. Since there are no reservations and a long line out the door, this isn't the type of place where you can casually eat your meal and laugh and drink with your friends after you're done. Irazu relies on fast eating and quick turnarounds so slam that beer, get out of there and continue your shouting elsewhere.
(3)constance k.
Hands Down The Best Place For A Taste Of The America's! Irazu has the perfect ambience inside as well as outside....I should know I just had my birthday party there with 18 people and let me tell you if was WONDERFUL. I love their veggie burrito with Plantains...I love their veggie sandwich...I love their empanadas and when I was a carnivore I loved their pepito sandwich. Even though the salsa is too spicy for me I can't stop eating it. Everything on the menu is always fresh and delicious. Horchata and B.Y.O.B.!!!!! I have been coming here for years now and will continue to do so. Thank you for your exceptional food and service! Muchas Gracias! Love, CK
(5)tages t.
Amazing burritos for cheap! I know it sounds weird to eat with a burrito but the oatmeal shakes are a delicious treat! Also this place is BYOB!
(4)Joseph H.
Went back again with a small group this time. The wait wasn't as long and the server we had was very attentive, friendly, and knowledgable about the food and drinks. We all ordered Pepito sandwiches only. The sandwiches alone are a meal and they are reasonably priced. The sandwich was delicious and far exceeds what someone would expect for the price that is charged. The only tiny negative is the cash only policy. I am someone who carries little to no cash and having to either go to a bank first or pay to use their ATM is not cool.
(5)Sharon K.
Went there today for lunch with 15 members of our monthly ethnic dining club none of whom had ever been there before. Food was wonderful and servings plentiful. Although oatmeal shake didn't sound that good I figured I would try it since it was one of their specialties. And...special it was! Very very yummy. All of this could stand on its own but the service was the best of all. Omar managed to keep all of our individual orders(did not opt for the family prix-fix offered-this time) and checks straight. He did it with a smile and an extremely engaging personality. The food was great but Omar is a true asset to the business - give him a raise!!! Sure we will all be back!
(5)Lauren K.
I am so obsessed with this restaurant. Staff is amazing. I just moved down the street, so you will be seeing me on a weekly basis :) If I could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life, this would be it. That pepito sandwich is to die for. Your burritos are to die for. Your empanadas are to die for. I LOVE your food. See you tonight!
(5)Katina E.
I love this place. We ordered chicken tacos, chicken empanadas, spinach and cheese empanadas, guacamole n chips, and the patacones. Everything was really good. I only wish there was dipping sauce for the empanadas. But that won't stop me from coming back with my girls. Oh! did i mention its byob? I know it just keeps getting better. Our server, Linda was a true gem. Love her. Bye for now.Gotta finish my wine.
(4)Katy H.
I visited with a friend on a Friday night a few weeks ago. I'd never had Costa Rican food and boy was I blown away! They have a very extensive menu and I had a hard time deciding on what I wanted. My friend was a pro, having visited dozens of times before, and ordered spinach and cheese empanadas, chicken tacos and horchata (all of which she graciously shared!). For myself, I ordered the casado with steak. The empanadas were gooey and delicious! The tacos were also quite tasty! As was the salsa they brought to the table while we waited- and a bit spicy! The horchata (rice water) was way too sweet for my taste. The casado was huge and very filling. Everything on the plate was done well! Irazu has a huge delivery area and very friendly staff, I will definitely be back!
(4)Kim S.
O. M. G. I have never had such a satisfying veggie burrito. Usually it's all rice and filler, but not at Irazu's! There was so much crap in that burrito, I couldn't even tell you what I ate. I think there was some zucchini, spinach.... etc? Def not typical burrito stuffins'. I've only ever gotten delivery, which did take the full hour they said it would, but it's still worth it. Also - guac is to die for.
(4)Evelyn R.
All I can say is... Meh. Not at all worth writing home about. Sevice was very friendly. Food was pretty bland. Byob no cork fee but CASH only ugh
(2)Tiffany P.
Only ordered take out so far, but delicious EVERY SINGLE TIME! I get the Steak Milanesa and Bread Pudding, I try something new every once in a while---never disliked anything that I've ordered.
(4)Francesca B.
They never fail me: food and customer service is great!!! I always get takeout but the place is really cool as well. Costa Rican food, one of my favs in Latin cuisine!! Remember to bring cash for that ass mannnnnnn.
(5)Michael S.
Food is really excellent here. It's BYOB but there's a great liquour store on the adjacent corner with great selection. I cannot remember what I had; not because the food isn't memorable, but because I can't remember the name of it. Whatever it was that each of us ordered, it was all good. The only thing keeping this from 5 stars is the service. The service was extremely poor. Server forgot to make a change to our appetizer order, we had to get his attention to refill our water and he never came and checked on us during our meal. We will give this place another shot, as it was really good!
(4)Doris F.
Ok, may be I am a little biased because I never had Costa Rican food before this place but Yes, yes and YES!!! Orgasmic food. . . you can smell the place from blocks away. I learned of this place from my now husband as he is familiar with the owners and the owners know him which is great because it takes the confusion away from ordering for him. Being as I am a vegetarian and my husband is a beloved meat eater this place is sure to please us both in food, price and all. I love their fries, empanadas and their claim to fame. . . OATMEAL SHAKE! They let me try one for free and I was in heaven after that. It is one of my many comfort drinks. I have taken my mother here and she loves the place. (note- my mother lives in Arizona) So, no complaints here except they take cash only so you better have a debit card handy because they have an ATM in the facilities. The food, the atmosphere, the friendly staff, the only thing I am missing is that cute shirt. Irazu is definitely a place worth trying out!
(5)Emily A.
We came here late one Friday night, so obviously there was a wait. Having been a hostess myself for a long time, I took their host's estimate of a 30 minute wait with a grain of salt. To my terrific surprise, we were seated in about 30 minutes! We were even seated outside! Our server was fast and friendly. The food was fresh and simple, the fried plantains are a must. I had the Vegetarian salad which is splashed with olive oil, vinegar and lime juice. I feared it would be bland but it was actually delicious. I loved their prices, they fit right into my measly budget. They had great music and lots of Latino fabulousity. The only thing was they are cash only, but they have an ATM right inside to the rescue!!!
(4)Jess D.
Two words: Tilapia Casado. Oh, with Cuban rice! Soooo gooood. We also shared the "Award-Winning Vegetarian Burrito," and although I'd deem "Award-Winning" to be a bit of a stretch, it was still "Mighty Tasty." With a bottle of white wine from Red & White across the street our evening proved to be an authentically delightful experience.
(4)Art V. B.
The food was tasty and the service very friendly. PROS: Vegetarian options, empanadas were the best, they don't sell alcohol but they allow you to bring your own. The salsa was tasty and the food ingredients tasted fresh. CONS: The bathroom had some kind of leak, they don't accept credit cards and the vegan taco lacked some imagination.
(3)Erin V.
Yummy! I second, third, and fourth the comments about there being a way long wait, though. The good news? The food was well worth the wait! The bad news? I had almost filled up on chips and was half in the bag from finishing half a bottle of wine (YAY, BYOB!!) before my food ever got there... This place is always packed, so you know it's good when you roll up on a Tuesday night and can't get a seat for 30 minutes! Chorizo burrito - delicious. (Ok, who am I kidding, chorizo with anything is delicious.) The absolute best thing about eating here? Lizano sauce!! I fell in love with this in Costa Rica, and was able to get a bottle of it home, but haven't seen it anywhere again until here. PUT IT ON EVERYTHING! :)
(4)liz d.
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.
(4)Foram B.
I've known of Irazu for a while now but never made it over there. I finally did this past Tues (it was fairly busy), and I'm glad I did! The restaurant isn't very large so seating was limited, but it's worth the wait. During warmer months it looks like they can seat more with their outdoor patio. I had the Grilled Steak Dinner and it was awesome! Steak was cooked just right and tasty, you get a small cabbage salad, rice, and sweet fried plantains (my favorite!). They'll ask if you want the yellow rice or one mixed with black beans (forgot the name)...I highly recommend the black bean one, it was full of flavor. Only downside to my dish was that the sauteed scallions were hard to cut further away from the root. Friend had the Veggie Burrito and loved it! It sounds like it is busy there often, so if you're not willing to wait, get take out (saw many people go that route)...but definitely worth trying and going back to!
(4)Kammie G.
Today was my first time actually eating at Irazu. The friend I came with is pretty much obsessed with that place so I wanted to finally go in and check out their food. I ordered Casado with tilapia. It was really good, although I think the Gallo Pinto rice was a little bit too dry and did not have that much flavor. The tilapia was done perfectly, it was delicious. The cabbage salad was also amazing, I pretty much devoured it. The platanes are interesting, have never tried them before, and they were okay, although the fact how different they are made me want to eat them more & more. The Oatmeal Shakes are THE BOMB. First time I went I had a Mango one - delicious! This time I had a pineapple one - ALSO delicious. I take mine with soy milk. Overall, it's a great restaurant, definately would recommend everybody to go check it out. The staff is very friendly and has a family atmosphere. It also has an outdoor section so when it's nice out you can sit outside although I did hear the lines can be quite long. But still. I will definatey visit again soon!
(4)Rayid G.
Maybe my expectations were too high after seeing a 4 star yelp average or maybe they were just having a bad night, but Irazu just didn't do it for me. We tried a lot of different things just to make sure but the result was just the same - meh. There was the tico taco, there was the potato taco, there was vegetarian taco, the vegetarian burrito and even the gallo pinto (extremely dry and bland)...all failed to impress.
(2)Yanyao N.
I am severely depressed right now. Why? Because I'm back home in Evanston after having a late lunch at Irazu today and want to go back NOW for a late night meal. There are so many other things on the menu that I want to eat. Irazu, why are you so far away from me?! :( Here's what we had: - Chips (free!) to start with squirts of green sauce in a bottle. My mouth was on fire. I loved it. - 3 empanadas: beef and potato (YUM!), spinach cheese, zucchini. - Patacones: double fried green plantains with roasted garlic oil. But they lie to you. The roasted garlic oil is more like a chunky garlic oil paste that I wish they sold in jars because I would eat that stuff on everything and breathe ferocious garlic dragon breath to keep annoying people away. - Pepito sandwich: Hubby got this and loved it. I had one bite and loved it, though rice dishes always trump sandwiches in my eye (what? I'm Chinese). - Tinted squid mixed with rice: I got it spicy. It was so beautiful. A mound of rice mixed with squid pieces. Yes, it was a strange gray color, but it is tinted squid rice...what do you expect? Squid ink pasta looks weird but is delicious. I will dream of this rice all month. The dish comes with fried plantains and a cabbage salad. Complete comfort on a plate and I'm not even close to being Costa Rican. - And of course, the oatmeal shake. I got mine plain with soy. Nom nom nom. It tastes like a thick chunky horchata almost. Oatmeal banana is an excellent combo too. I have no clue how many trips I'll be making to try everything on the menu... chifrijo?! chicharron?! ceviche?! liver?! and the veggie stuff even sounds good! The places was completely empty when we arrived (on a cold rainy Friday at around 3pm) and we parked right in from of the restaurant (metered). Another table came in while we were eating and did the unforgivable deed of not ordering an oatmeal shake (and they didn't know what empanadas were....really?) but I've erased them from my memory (get the shake!) It is also cash only but if you forget, there's in ATM inside. Nice helpful servers, terrific food, outdoor patio space. I can see this place getting insanely busy on sunny weekends, so go early and do yourself a favor and order take-out food after your meal. I am kicking myself in the face for not doing that right now. I should be eating deep fried pork chunks but am going to munch on a stuffed pizza pretzel instead. Sadface! I miss you already Irazu.
(5)Sasha B.
I drove by Irazu frequently and so my friend and I finally decided to try it because they had great vegetarian options on the menu (shes the vegetarian). Once both of us stepped in, I had a good feeling about this place. The ambiance is very laid back, and the only thing missing were some palm trees and a beach in the background. My friend ordered the veggie burrito and I got the shrimp plate. For what we paid, the amount of food we got was great. She enjoyed her burrito (it came with many veggies she showed me and was so happy she could fully enjoy so much flavor). I loved the shrimp and was happy to have some plantains on the side (although my only wish is that there were more!). I had heard about the oatmeal shake and the waiter asked if we wanted to split one to try. I love trying new things, so why not....it was incredible! Honestly such a cool twist on the cinnamon milky drink. And after being so full, it was nice that I could take it to go.
(4)Jackie P.
Their delivery area is huge: Montrose/16th/Lakeshore/Palaski. Went here with a group of 14 in the back room. We went on a Thursday at 6pm and a line started forming shortly after we arrived. Definitely count on a wait for any normal dining time. Tight squeeze for a group. They created a prix fixe menu and we had about seven different dishes/apps and every one of them was delicious. It was only $20/pp and we were STUFFED. It's BYOB and there is a very cool wine/liquor store across the street. 90% wine, very small beer/liquor section. Our server was Costa Rican and told stories about the food, how it's prepared/served, and was an overall delight. Despite the crowded restaurant and size of our group, we were out in 1.25 hours. I can't have milk and wanted to peel my eyeballs out because I couldn't have the oatmeal shake. That thing is DELICIOUS.
(4)C S.
I haven't written a review in awhile so I figured I was due. I love diners drive-ins and dives. I try to go to all the places in Chicago if I can. I saw this place on there and I have never had Coasta Rican food so I really wanted to try it. Wow I was really impressed. First we got the Chifrijo. This appetizer was amazing. I couldn't stop eating until the last bite. I got it mild but it was delicious. Next I got the Pepito sandwich withe ribeye. It was delicious. The cheese, onion, and the bean paste just blended so well together. Last but not least we got the empanadas. You get 3 for $8. We got the spinach and cheese, beef and potato, and chicken. Wow these we're fantastic. They were flaky and crisp. The filling was great and the pico de gallo served with it complimented the empanadas perfectly. Overall this restaurant was awesome and I will be back here in the near future even though I don't venture often in the city. Also the outdoor seating is great to sit in with this awesome weather we are having. I wish I would've gotten an oatmeal shake. I will next time.
(5)Leticia L.
My son and I were stolling through the neighborhood doing a power walk and it was sweltering outside. We were both getting a little hungry so we stopped in and ordered some food. My son is almost 2 so I thought we might try the empanadas. I ordered 3 empanadas, rice and plantains. I thought their empanadas were excellent and so did my son. I liked the fact that you could get different fillings for each empananda. I ordered a spinach and cheese, beef and potato, and a chicken. My son loved the beef and potato. I was surprised, their chicken ones were not dry. The salsa they give you was very spicy. I passed by a few days later and ordered a Costa Rica Coffee. It is a blend of two of my favorite drinks, horchata and coffee. Yummy!
(4)Jacob a.
This place has good food and good portions with a good price! Great vegetarian options! The Costa Rican rice is highly recommended! In the summer there is great outdoor seating. The place is small though which some people like but also can be tough to get a good seat on certain times of the day. I will also mention that it is a cash only place! Two thumbs up for this place!
(4)Danielle T.
Flavor-full food, BYOB, and Costa Rican vibe - what else can you ask for out of a place! Love the location, not in the midst of all the action on Milwaukee - but definitely an easy-to-get-to place. There is a phenomenal corner store with an extensive wine selection and a small assortment of beer (they do have Costa Rican beer though - Imperial). Food was delicious - the real plantains that aren't sweet and made from the green plantains - which are DELICIOUS and how they serve them in the Dominican too. The grilled steak with the black beans/rice combo was delicious - along with the empanadas. In all honesty though, I wasn't UBER impressed with the empanadas, but that would NOT stop me from visiting again and just trying another flavor. Definitely must go at least once to experience the great vibe and if its a nice night, patio preferred.
(4)Laura Y.
Was in Chicago about 2 weeks ago visiting my boyfriend, and on my first night in town, we decided to stop by Irazu for some shakes (some friends insisted we had to try them). I got the avena (oatmeal) chocolate and my bf got the avena banana. Believe the hype - both of our shakes were unbelievably delicious, so much that we stopped by again the next day, and again the day after that. We would have gone the next day too, but they were closed! If this rating were based only on the avena shake, it would deserve a 5 hands down; i'd give it a 10 if I could. The customer service is also excellent; the people who work there are so friendly and even recognized us when we stopped by several days in a row. Since the shakes were so great, we also had dinner here on one of the nights I was in town... the food was good but I'm not dreaming about it or craving it the same way I am with the avena shake :).. I wasn't too impressed with their guacamole, and my burrito was good but not over-the-top good. Boyfriend got the pepino sandwich, which he loved and I would recommend over the burrito (i had a bite). Now that I'm back in Ohio, I need to find a way to replicate that avena shake... now that I know such a delicious concoction exists I can't live without it!
(4)Zoya D.
LOVED IT. This place is off the chain. It makes me want to live off plantains and move to a tropical island. The burrito is delish, massive, and $5. $5??!! Awesome. Small quaint joint-- hot. Good music. Friendly staff makes me want to be a regular....and I will. Go here in the midst of winter to lift your spirits and warm your soul. Excellence!
(4)Donielle A.
Soooo, I saw this place from Milwaukee and almost thought that it was just a "take it to go" type place (the seating area is not visible from Milwaukee). But I walked in and was promptly attended to and taken to the seat where one of my best friends was waiting for me! I ordered the Costa Rican sandwich and she had the potato tacos. Both were delicious...and I recommend getting the Lizardo sauce on the sandwich if you are an A1 (steak sauce) fan. If not, ask for it on the side! The prices were decent and the service was excellent. Will be back for the shakes!
(4)Rachelle D.
***Updated 3-11-10*** I received a very nice message from the owner of Irazu after posting my initial review below. In this message he apologized and told me that he would send me a gift certificate. I initially did not do anything or reply to his message because I wondered how he would send me a gift certificate w/o my information. I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my mail this afternoon and found a gift certificate from Irazu. For having such great customer service, I decided to update my review and give them 2 stars (I originally gave them one). One thing that I think is very important for any business is to have an excellent relationship with your consumer and to listen to them. I think I will try Irazu again.....maybe they were just having an off night. After all, most of their reviews on here are great! Thank you, Irazu! ________________________________________________ We ordered Irazu through Grubhub a couple nights ago and I was very disappointed. I'd have to say the best thing about my meal was the plantains that came with the dinner. I've been thinking about giving up red meat for weeks now and after having the Bistec Tico, my decision was so much easier. The beef was very chewy and bland. I feel like the meat was probably sitting in their freezer for weeks...was not fresh at all! It made me feel nauseas after eating it. My boyfriend ordered a sandwich and they didn't get that right either! He did like the Chifrijo, it really wasn't my thing. I don't think I'd ever order from here again. But maybe it's different dining in.
(2)Kristine G.
Irazu is by far one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago. I actually visited Costa Rica for the first time after patronizing Irazu and found that, hey, Costa Rican food DOES taste like Irazu! It's authentic, delicious, and BYOB. What more can you ask for?
(5)Leo H.
Yes, this place rocks...simply fantastic....I've lived in the neighborhood for six years and just made it to Irazu about 6 months ago...yes, I am a little ashamed. However, I've been at least 15 times since then...it's all good...The service is caring and genuine, the food is rockin' and not expensive. Get the ceviche, spinach and cheese emapanadas...I also love the palmito salad and the oatmeal shake rocks my world...I will try more things once I stop craving the items above...oh, and Lizano sauce is crazy good, like everything that A1 wishes it could be and I think it might be infused with crack
(5)Brad C.
Can't wait to go back again. I've gone here a couple times recently and have enjoyed both visits a lot. Everything I ended up ordering rocks but the veggie burrito is hands down my favorite thing I've had from them. I've had the shakes a number of times and of course the famous oatmeal shake. Now don't get me wrong the oatmeal shake was good but it wasn't as blissfully wonderful as I thought it was going to be. Good friendly services with great prices and amazing food what more could you want. Watch out because Irazu isn't open on Sunday and that is always the day I end up think about going. Be ready to deal with a crowd and bring something to drink because they are BYOB.
(4)Steve S.
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.
(1)Sean G.
I'm not writing this update because I visited Irazu again recently or because my opinion has changed. I am writing this review because shortly after posting my original review the owner emailed me to let me know he appreciated my review and that he couldn't wait for us to visit Chicago because he is excited to meet our new baby. Support this local business any time you can. Business owners like this are a dying breed.
(5)Eleanor B.
My husband and I have never had Costa Rican food, but if this was it we are soooo in!!! Oatmeal and Guatabana shakes, plantains, their sandwiches, taco tico, Costa Rican rice, Casado dinner with the steak option and the Guy Fieri special came with a Costa Rican sandwich, small chifrijo (which OMG was so delicious, I almost took my husband's plate) and oatmeal shake...I honestly can't begin to tell you how much I loved this place! Also if you're a Vegan or just want healthy, they have such different options that you can satisfy anyone with their menu! You will leave full and happy! The wait staff and (I believe the owner was there) and they were SUPER friendly! For my husband's and my first time in Chicago, we were extremely happy to have found this place our last day in town and sad that we don't have anything like it in OH. If you are in Chicago...GO HERE! It's a must and you won't be sorry! Again, "Chifrijo and Oatmeal Shake" are a MUST for side options and you won't go wrong with anything else you get!
(5)Kerri C.
After visiting Costa Rica in February, my friends and I wanted to relive our experience by having some of our favorite dishes like gallo pinto, sweet plantains, Imperial (which we provided byob) and Lizano sauce. Irazu has great outdoor seating and excellent vegetarian selections. Parking is easy and there is a wine store across the street. I haven't had the oatmeal shake yet, but it sounds delicious. So far, I've tried the vegetarian burrito, taco, veggie sandwich and chile relleno. It will definitely be a monthly outing for the excellent food, service, and price. Definitely authentic costa rican.
(4)Sean L.
I'm vegan, so I love their veggie tacos and killer guacamole here. The oatmeal shakes are also very good. This place is great, you can eat like a king for very little money. As busy as they always are, it's amazing that the owner always remembers my name. Its just a great find in the bucktown neighborhood. I've lived here for over 17 years and unfortunately only discovered this place about 5 years ago. It's so good I've heard people want to keep it a secret. Also, if you come definitely get the mashed potato tacos...awesome.
(5)Andy C.
Great experience! Great Service! Great Food! This is definitely a place you want to dine in at. If the food is not warm, it does no justice to how awesome it really is. I got the Steak El Tico, and I would definitely recommend it. It comes with tons of rice, black beans, and peppers. The spice on the steak was perfect. I dined with four others and the consensus around the table was that the food was delicious. I had previously got delivery and it was nothing close to the dining experience in the restaurant. Irazu has great customer service, so go in and enjoy the experience.
(4)Cylene P.
I was in Costa Rica for a few weeks a couple years ago and have been craving the food for awhile now. Naturally I dragged my boyfriend out to Irazu for dinner. I like the feel of the restaurant. To me it felt like a really high-end soda (which is basically a small Costa Rican diner). You can see into the kitchen and sort of walk through it to get to the dining area. The dining area is very small with tables pretty close together. There is a large outdoor patio area and tented area in addition to the indoor dining area. The biggest test for me was the gallo pinto and plantains - which I ate at least once a day in Costa Rica. Irazu's were awesome. Though honestly, if a restaurant couldn't do gallo pinto and plantains it wouldn't deserve to call itself Costa Rican. The guanabana and oatmeal shakes were both delicious, as were the potato tacos and the beef and potato empanada. The fried yucca and the ceviche were good, but not amazing. I left Irazu full and happy, I will definitely be back.
(5)Beebe G.
the staff in irazu are extremely nice and helpful. i ordered their casado dinner, two taco ticos and their steak sandwich to go. the waiter helped me choose all these entrees and he was right on. i look forward to coming back and dine inside next time.
(4)Jen N.
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.
(5)Heather D.
We were looking for a place that delivered and wanted to try something different, so we discovered Irazu through a random search. We got the ceviche, empanadas, tilapia tacos, chorizo burrito, and the taco ticos. The ceviche was a small portion, but was tasty. The empanadas are super crispy and deep fried, but again tasty. The tilapia tacos were very delicious with the beans and rice. The chorizo burrito was super spicy with the hot peppers. And the taco ticos were delicious and they were basically like taquitos- like an eggroll but a taco shell rolled up with meat inside and associated veggie toppings. We would definitely order from Irazu again.
(4)Amy F.
If I had to list my top 10 favorite foods anywhere, Irazu has to be at the top of this list. Their food is delicious and their Oatmeal Shakes are TO DIE FOR. I have seriously thought about intentionally missing my connecting flight when I have layovers in Chicago now for the opportunity to hop on the train and grab a shake. Seriously... its an addiction.
(5)Amanda Z.
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)!!
(5)Joanna P.
Decided to try this place out to cater for my wedding and I canceled my other catering options because this place was so amazing! The customer service is outstanding and the food is delicious. I highly recommend this place for brides who want something unique instead of the usual wedding food. I plan on making this one of my staple Chicago restaurants.
(5)Sonja B.
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.
(4)Jocelyn P.
Yes! This place is the best! Low price, byob, delicious, cool music, great vegetarian options, and yummy yummy shakes/smoothies! It is cash only- that with the byob gives it a bit of an underground feel. Everytime I go there are stylish people around, which enhances the fun effect. I LOVE their plantains and I LOVE the oatmeal-banana shake with soy. (Reminds me of Mexico a bit.) I feel like this is just... the greatest restaurant ever. Staff & diners alike are cool, very cool. Laid back. Great outdoor patio. Take out, delivery. Plus a tall table for single diners to eat. It's all good!!!!! :D :D :D! Great selection and tasty. And very low bill! If you haven't gone here yet, go go go!
(5)mariah c.
I'm pretty sure I am *still* full from waaaay overeating at Irazu yesterday. My friend and I decided we'd be smart by sharing several things -- a banana oatmeal shake (which I figured I'd like due to my experience at Tiztal), 3 empanadas, chips with guac, and a tilapia fish taco special that came with loads of rice and beans and plantains. Good lord! We should have had that amount of food for at least 3 people, 'cause we spent the next 4 hours or so walking around, trying to get over feeling so dang full! It was worth it, though, and I'm glad she suggested this place. Sure, as some people have mentioned, it's small. However, even when they got busier (mostly outside 'cause of the nice weather), we had great service -- plenty of water and a server who was super attentive despite admitting he had Zyrtec/allergy head. I'd love to go back and would do so for the empanadas alone -- the exterior is the perfect crispy/flaky texture hiding the flavor inside... I'd recommend the spinach w/cheese, plantain, and even (yes) the zuchinni). Next time my empanada-loving fella is in town, we'll make a beeline here, and I'll be more careful to eat slooowly and savor a bit more rather than stuffing my face!
(4)Charlene A.
We have been wanting to try this place for a while now. We had the table chips & salsa YUM! & the 5 piece empanadas, our favorite was the spinach & cheese the rest were ok. My husband had the dinner w/ steak, onions & a refreshing cabbage salad, upgraded to the rice & beans w/ a fried egg on top & sweet platanos. I had something similar but w/out the egg. My meat tasted old but my husbands was very good. I was disappointed. The paid upgrade of the rice & beans was not worth it, it was bland. 3 stars for the service, chips & empanadas & I'd go back just for those as appetizers & to try their oatmeal milkshake.
(2)Josue P.
Great service ...will consider coming back..BYOB
(3)beth w.
Came here with my buds because its BYOB. Yay! I was really impressed with the food. Guacamole was absolutely delicious and fresh. I *had* to try the oatmeal milkshake- it was pretty good, not earthshaking. The food however, was absolutely delicious. My friend and I both got the casada, my boyfriend got something else equally tasty. My boyfriend and I proceeded to eat there 2 more times within the following week and a half. Im currently trying to space it out a bit, especially since the portions are so large.... but can't wait to go back. Downside-- cash only
(5)Dan R.
I've been meaning to come here for awhile. Everyone keeps raving about the oatmeal shakes. Well, I didn't have the oatmeal shake. I did have something called "Lava Juice" which was a watermellon/lime juice concoction. It was a really hot day and I could've had a whole pitcher of that. So refreshing and wonderful. I was a little disappointed with my meal. It was just "eh" (shrug shoulders). My friend (who is costa rican) got something delicious though... it was some sort of dish with green plantains, fried and served with dipping sauces (one was some kind of garlic spread). Those were delish. My advice: pick a sunny day, grab some sunglasses, sit on the patio, get some lava juice and some of their appetizers and enjoy. The meals are unremarkable. Sorry Irazu.. .I want to love you. Maybe I'll get a milkshake next time and you'll change my mind.
(3)Hen H.
My boyfriend and I go to different restaurants around Chicago to taste new things out. We had heard great things about this place, so on a warm summer day we made our way to Irazu. We sat ourselves on the patio and waited to be waited on, and we waited. After of what seemed like forever, but was only about 15 mins, our order was taken. We waited for our food in the sizzling sun for way longer than expect 25 mins later the food finally came. While eating I went to pick at my boyfriends food, which he had barely touched, and spotted a disgusting hair in it. I was both disgusted and furious. I completely lost my hunger. We again waited for a waiter to make them aware of my dissatisfaction. The waiter noticed me looking around and came over and asked if all was well. I explained to him the situation and took the plate and said he would bring another one. I was so angry and disgusted that after that I wanted nothing but to leave. After the plate was taken and taken off our bill we had 3 different waiters how we liked the food. What was there to like? What did they mean how do we like our food? We barely got to taste it! Quick question shouldn't the chef be wearing hair nets? Overall the service was awful. The food was, well let's say a hairy topic. And the parking was impossible.
(1)Stefanie P.
I've been to Irazu countless times, so I guess I started to take it for granted. I went last week for the first time in awhile and was reminded of how great it is. Seems as though they've added some new items to the menu, one of which was a garlic shrimp and veggie plate. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and they included all the best vegetables (including their fabulous plantains, which I never miss). I've never been disappointed at Irazu. The customer service was incredible as always, and they have both vegetarian and carnivore options. Now I just need to find them a location in Andersonville so they can open up a second spot. Tee hee.
(5)Edwin Q.
As a Costarican I don't want people to think that I am biased when I review this place. On the contrary, it gives me better ground to rate it since I know the food from my country very well. First thing you have to know about Irazu is that the food here taste like homemade. It doesn't taste like restaurant food. I can't tell the difference between their dishes and those that my mom and my sisters prepare back home. And I think that's enough to say about Irazu. The smell of their pudding bread transported me back to the times when I was a child and my mom backed pudding for us at home. The smell of the house when you come in after your school day... mmmm!!!!! Sabroso! The service is excellent and the place is neat and clean. Five stars and Pura vida to Irazu!
(5)Summer P.
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!
(5)Love S.
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!!!!
(5)Marshall G.
There are so many great things about this place and every thing I have ordered so far has been very good. High quality ingredients, great selection, good tortilla chips and low prices. I admire the no corkage fee too. There are quite a few Mexican/Latin American places in the area but this is one of my favorites.
(5)Annie W.
Yes, their oatmeal shakes ARE really that yummy. We got it soy style as the waitress suggested and it was the bomb. I've always been an oatmeal fan but now even more so. I drink like a whale so that was finished in no time. The guacamole appetizer is HUGE and plentiful. We just said "sure" when they brought over the chips and asked us if we wanted any, and didn't think it would be such a big plate. There had to be at least 2-3 avocados in it. The award winning veggie burrito is really good! Esp with sauteed mushrooms. The wrap was thinner than most I've had and unlike many other burritos where I feel like I'm just downing a ton of carbs due to hormonized wraps and rice, there was plenty of veggies in it, including carrots! I wasn't impressed by the Costa Rica sandwich, though. The beef was tough and they doused it in mustard. Besides perhaps the beef and hot peppers, it was nothing more than a regular ol' sandwich.
(4)Jonathan A.
Pretty good food for good prices. I ride my bike by here on the way home, and the smell coming from this place is like a tractor beam pulling me in. We ate here a while back before they put in the outdoor patio. We thought it was ok, and hadn't been back in a long time. Since then it was on Check Please and they built out the outdoor seating, and now business is booming. We stopped to pick up a carryout order the other night. The food is really good, but the wait times are kinda long. I had the Chicken Casada. Very tasty, and a great deal. I also had the oatmeal shake, which I wasn't too impressed by. It wasn't blended very well. Very runny and then just a bunch of ice at the bottom. If it looks like there isn't a long wait for the patio, I'll probably try it again soon. But the way it's been lately, I may have to add this on my list of places ruined by success.
(4)Stephanie C.
Is it possible to give a place 6 stars? This used to be a hidden gem, but the world found out how awesome it is. Sometimes there can be a bit of wait. They are BYOB and have outdoor tent seating. Awesome food with great flavor.
(5)Ali C.
Their oatmeal milk shakes, patacones, guacamole and vegetarian sandwiches are the best there is. One of my favorite vegetarian restaurants. Try it!
(4)Jacob S.
We have been in the process of moving to Chicago, and on a visit to find an apartment, we had a terrible experience with delivery where it took about 2 hours longer than it should have even when busy. It seems there was a miss communication between the delivery guy and the restaurant about our address and they lost our phone number. I discussed with the manager over text that we were eating cold food and were very frustrated. He said to talk to him next time and he would make it right. We have moved permanently now, and called back, and the manager did make things right. I am now a huge fan of Irazu. The food is so fantastic when it is hot... and I really appreciate the effort to make up for the terrible first experience. I look forward to a long relationship with Irazu. I love the food and I appreciate an establishment that cares enough about customers to fix problems the way they did.
(5)Helena B.
OATMEAL SHAKE! [Yelp won't let me draw those cutesy little hearts out of a "less than" sign and a 3, so you just have to imagine them here. A lot of them.] Hooray for outdoor seating as the weather starts to warm up. Yesterday was muggy as all get-out, in true Costa Rican Rainforest style, making the experience all the more authentic. I was famished by the time we got here, so I was excited to have chips and salsa placed on the table shortly after our arrival. I snarfed them all down, record-speed, and *poof!* there was another basket of chips before we even had to ask. For my main course I went with the potato tacos (out of homage to their sheer odd-ness). They were decent (not sure what I was expecting... they are potato tacos. Tacos full of potatoes. Yeah, you can probably pretty well imagine them without buying the entree. Ah well.) The mole sauce did kick things up a bit and the fried plantains were delish. An ideal return trip for me would be a plate of fried plantains and an oatmeal shake. I wonder what kind of toppings you could put on plantains: cinnamon? chocolate? Mmmmm.... Irazu is BYOB (and conveniently close to Red and White Wines) but less wine = more room for oatmeal shakes. Priorities, people.
(3)Diana B.
DELICIOUS. I recommend this place to everyone I know whenever they head toward Logan Square
(5)jen m.
I can't get enough of this place!! We ordered the bistec casado and the tinted squid mixed with rice. It couldn't be anymore tasty. When we ordered the tinted squid, the waiter asked if we liked the taste of ocean. HUH?!! We reluctantly said yes, but we now understand what the taste of the ocean is. You must be a true seafood lover to eat this and very used to eating cooked squid. So good! I recommend getting your rice cooked with the beans, such a different take. Your meal is not complete without ordering an oatmeal shake! Try it mixed with banana, my fav combo.
(5)LaShelle N.
We first visited Irazu last year based on a recommendation, so my husband and I went. I ordered the Veggie Burrito with mushrooms,spinach and SHRIMP. (The waiter Justin called it the Lagrange Park specia) .He gets the meat burritio add mushrooms, spinach, and avacado. After the first visit we were hooked, we started going a few times a week. The OATMEAL SHAKE with MILK is awesome! Then winter hit and we stop going. Today my husband and I eagerly returned and was thoroughly disappointed. Their customer service has suffered. My husband and I watched as guests who arrived after us got served first, we watched one of the waitstaff take our appetizer to the wrong table, the waitress then brings it back out to us and questioned why we sent the appetizer away..(.I politely told her that it was not brought to our table to begin with.. really you question me? Really? We ordered the usuals...When our food finally arrived i did not see any shrimp and the burrito was cold. I stated that i did not want to wait for another one and asked the waitress to take it off my bill. As i went inside to take money out of the ATM, I listened as one of the managers berated the customer who just returned the burrito (which happened to be me). I turned around and asked if those comments were directed towards me? To bad today was a bust and I had to rate it this low because last year, it was soo wonderful but Oh well guess this is what happens after places become popular.. maybe I will try again next year....
(3)Mandi G.
This stuff is fire. Late to jump on the wagon... Making up for it.
(4)Claudia G.
First, this place serves delish food! Second, it is cash only so make sure your friend has cash and you have only credit cards to get a free din like I did. (smile) This is a great place for vegetarians and vegans. Tons o' options! My friend and I split a cheese empanada to start. Yum. I can't remember what my friend had (and enjoyed) because I was way too absorbed in my chile relleno. We both "upgraded" to the costa rican rice. It is like a dollar more so go for it. The garnish-y food is all good as well: fried plantains, cucumber, beets, radishes. Oh, for the chips and salsa free starter, the salsa is super spicy! I love the spice and caution those who don't take spicy food too well or too often. It is really spicy. I know for next time that this place is BYOB with no corkage fee. (Most excellent.)
(4)George A.
Aveeno shakes, Pepito sandwiches!!! Everything is great!
(4)Jeff S.
This place is yummers and I'm thankful it's so close by. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner which are all delicious. Make sure to try and oatmeal shake. They're fantastic. I recommend combining oatmeal and chocolate flavors.
(4)Jo P.
My friend and I came here for the empanadas, but I will be coming back for the sandwiches. While the spinach and cheese, beef and potato, and zucchini empanadas were perfectly done, nice and crispy on the outside, the black bean fell kind of flat, with a pasty texture. But the sandwiches that we ordered as an afterthought made both of us pause after the first bite and look at each other in awe. Definitely worth the trip if only for the steak sandwiches. I will have to return to try the oatmeal shake I just couldn't fit in..
(4)Amy X.
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.
(5)John P.
The best Costa Rican restaurants in the city.I have been going here for the past 15 years.It's a BOB with outdoor seating and some great fresh made juices.I love the garlic plantains are to die for the sandwich's are killer but my fave is the Vegi Burrito with marinated mushrooms and hot peppers.Now I'm making myself hungry...
(5)Jillian P.
Our regular taco delivery joint has service a little later in the night so I searched Grub Hub for other joints that were closer. I quickly decided to give this a shot after reading all of the 5 star reviews. Unfortunately, We were pretty disappointed. The steak tacos were waaaaaay too salty for our liking. Yes, I know it is Costa Rican, but i wasn't expecting to taste the ocean. I had avocados, sour cream and cheese added in case it was bad at least those 50cent a piece, additions (per taco) would save them. They didn't. Their steak fries were my filler in case it was all a failed feat. With that being said, they're huge, crispy and delicious. If I wasn't so hungry, they would have been perfect for poutine. That saving grace and the 20 minute early delivery were the only reasons I gave the restaurant two stars. The look on my boyfriend's face, when he bit into his steak torta, didn't even make me want to try it. Needless to say, he didn't even eat 1/3rd of it! Oh, and props to the delivery boy who had no clue it was a cash order who almost gave me my food for free, he was all confused when I gave him the money. I sure could use that money right now! Really...
(2)Lauren H.
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.
(4)Victoria C.
My most favorite. Delicious, fresh, economical, fun, great atmosphere, unique flavor and spot. Love it!
(5)Jennifer S.
Favorite new spot for dinner!! A+
(5)Ericka C.
I never been here before and the El Tica dinner I ate was good and I don't eat Plantains but these were really good, I would do it again yum.
(4)Lora S.
YOU MUST TRY THIS RESTAURANT! I've only been to this restaurant once, but I've ordered delivery at least a handful of times now, and I plan to continue eating their food. Atmosphere: Not a very big restaurant but very nice people, and it's worth the wait. It's BYOB, and there is a wine place conveniently located across the street. FOOD: I definitely recommend the CASADO (steak and chicken are both delicious) and the OATMEAL SHAKE. The casado meal is big enough for two people to share. The meat is grilled with onions and served over amazing rice with a fresh vegetable slaw-type thing on the side and a side of sweet plantains. The oatmeal shake may sound a little weird, but it is sssooo good. My roommate enjoyed the VEGGIE BURRITO. The GUACAMOLE is fresh and tasty. The small is a pretty big-serving (which makes up for it costing $6.50) and you can get it spicy or not spicy. Price: I wouldn't say cheap, but it's definitely a value. Even with tip, you could probably get very full for under $20. [The actual restaurant isn't very big, but here's a helpful tip: If you order delivery off grubhub.com , not only is the food just as delicious but you can use a credit card.]
(5)Steve L.
It was March 31 and we were sitting outside eating Irazu for dinner. What more could you ask for? We started out with guacamole. The guac is good...somewhat overpriced though. Guac is, at more than $6, more expensive than the burritos and sandwiches? Seems kind of strange. For dinner I had the Pepito sandwich...it was superb. My wife had the vegetarian burrito...she said it's the best she's had in the city (and as a vegetarian, she's had many). Another person in our group had three different empanadas...they were supposedly amazing as well. We walked away a very satisfied group of people. The only downside to going to this place is the hipsters...but I'll save that rant for another time and another place.
(5)Caitlin G.
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...
(5)Jessica K.
This damn flu makes me yearn for odd foods. Like that g*ddamn oatmeal shake that everybody talks about. If you get it in house, it comes all thick and sludgy in an unappetizing manner, but there are different flavors! The service is top notch and our servers are always so patient and helpful. I always end up with paperwork and my phone constantly interrupting us during dinner but they accommodate with a larger and quiet corner. Bless you guys! I'm going to hang my epicurian head in shame and will relenquish my Michelin review guide when you come to understand why it only gets 4 stars in my book. I can't distinguish this from Mexican food....alright, let the mud slinging begin. The steak tico just reminds me of an open faced taco, minus the actual taco. My friend insists it's a requirement that everybody that lives in Chicago has to try this place and while the gas station corner location does have it's charm (It did take over an old gas station by the way) I can't bring myself to tell him it tastes like dressed up Mexican food. He'd tell me to get out of Bucktown 'cause I don't deserve it... I'll be awaiting those nasty PMs now.Don't hate.
(4)Raquel D.
This place is the BOMB! And the consistent wait on any given night proves that. I actually grew up with the family who opened this establishment...so I have been eating with them for a very loooong time. I was fortunate to grow up on Miriam's food BEFORE Irazu was born and I must say, they sure know what they are doing. Delicious. And oh those oatmeal shakes are to die for. I always crave them. Always. Since moving out of the neighborhood, I try to eat there as much as I can and was over the moon when they started delivering to the University Village area. But sooo much better to eat there when it's fresh, BYOB and with the friendliest owners and servers around. Ok, now I want a milkshake.
(5)shirley m.
from all the reviews i expected this place to be stellar unfortunately this is where it missed some stars- my bf ordered the steak...i expected a nice piece of ribeye grilled and nicely marbled, what arrived was a flat piece of meat (similar to steak taco meat) that really didn't have much seasoning and a bit dry. I ordered the shrimp and vegetables which is pretty much what it sounds like with adobo seaoning sprinkled on top. Empanadas were pretty dry, the highlight of the evening was the shrimp and mango ceviche which was outstanding. Service is very attentive, yea for BYOB as after a few drinks we stopped noticing that we were being rained on even though we were sitting in the covered patio. Prob be back in the summer for appetizers, pass on the entrees.
(3)Mike K.
Delicious food. Seating outside. Also, I am impressed with the speed of their service. It's fast and reliable. I have ordered delivery from the place like 10 times and every time it was perfect. It is also good foe vegetarians. Not 5 stars because the wait is long.
(4)Megan B.
My first experience with Irazu matched the hype. Service seems great. I ordered from them and my food arrived 40 minutes before it was supposed to. I will certainly be returning to eat in house, and can only imagine the Pepito sandwich tasting even better "fresh." It was one of the best sandwiches I have had in a while - sweet with a hint of spiciness. The meet was tender and well seasoned. As most reviewers have said, the oatmeal shake is really tasty. For those who enjoy horchata and/or oatmeal cookies, I would highly recommend it. The chips were standard, but I'm sure they come free if you dine in. I am very pleased with my meal, and look forward to returning with friends for the supposedly great vibe. The food will be worth the wait.
(4)Darren O.
Very, very overrated. The food is OK, but it's just not worth the wait. We waited more than two hours on Friday night for two. Everyone loves BYOB, but not when your beer is warm from a two hour wait.
(1)Darren O.
We were heading over to the Congress Theater to see the Pogues, so we figure we're going to see an Irish punk band, what better food to have then some Costa Rican fare! I hadn't heard of Irazu until we were heading to the show and typed in the address of the Theater and asked to see what was in the area via Yelp! All I can say is Yelp! to the rescue again. We had an excellent meal, starting with some chips and hot sauce. We ordered up some guacamole and chips and it was some of the best I have ever had. I had the Casado with the rib eye steak and it was amazing. The steak was seasoned perfectly, the seasoned rice was out of this world, the plantains brought a nice bit of sweetness to accentuate the spiciness of the food. The over easy egg over the rice was a nice choice, as I agree with Anthony Bourdain that a runny egg makes just about everything better. I had the oatmeal shake, which was also very good. It really is like a shake version of horchata. Before the days of Yelp! I'm sure we'd have wound up someplace else for dinner and that would have been a shame. Irazu was a real treat with some great food, great service and great prices. Living an hour or so away from Irazu is unfortunate for us as I'd eat there weekly if I was closer. As it is, I'm sure we'll make the trip back just for the food.
(5)Kate S.
I like Irazu a lot. Their breakfasts and sandwiches are super cheap, and I love their beans and rice. I just don't think they're great. I've been there a few times, and each time I thought, "this just needs a little more pop." For example, the fish tacos are tasty, but even with the lime and cabbage, they're not flavorful enough. Maybe some pickled onions, or a bit more seasoning on the fish? The chili relleno was similar. I thought it was very tasty, but the sauce was a bit dull. I also don't especially like the lizano sauce on the sandwiches, but other people I've been there with do. One other negative is that while most of the empanadas are good, there's something off about the cheese only empanada. The spinach and cheese, though, is to die for. Definitely my favorite thing on the menu. The spinach is fresh and flavorful, and makes you feel a little less guilty about eating an ounce of fried cheese.
(4)Candice R.
Finally, I discovered the key to Irazu: the pepito with black beans and avocado, and their empanadas. Tasty! It really is all about the sandwiches.
(4)Mark E.
I visited this place to try Costa Rican food. I was met y Mad I, who seated me and Sonny, the wait staff. He recommended the Chifrijo, which is an amalgam of every food I like and was textured and layered perfectly. Since I wanted traditional. Sonny sugestedt the El Tico, steak. Onions. Fresh salad, delicious. One of the owners, Gerardo Cerdas came to the tables greeting everyone and spoke about his country and the cuisine...just a wonderful dining experience...recommend to all for food and circuses. Irazu in Chicago is a wonderful volcano to drop in to.
(4)Benjamin D.
The food is pretty good, but not game changing. Yes its "Costa Rican" so to speak but much of the menu its really just Mexican (i.e. burritos, chips and guac etc). I've now been three times and can safely say that if you want a casual meal that will not cost you very much money, this may be the spot for you. The servers are very nice and the place has a decent patio as well. On top of this, it is also BYOB.
(3)David H.
Love (most of) the food and especially the oatmeal milkshake, but delivery orders are wrong all the time. Seriously, they've at least two things wrong in our last four orders in a row. We keep ordering, though, because it is still delicious. Except the empanadas - those are awful.
(3)Nate V.
Excellent cuisine for vegheads and omnivores alike. It was delicious and the prices were great! My girl nearly split her little black dress. Waiter was great, with suggestions for our rum accompaniment. Excellent spot.
(4)Shruta S.
Best Costa Rican food ever. Must try the oatmeal shake. Actually, must try everything, thats how good they are! Love them!
(5)T C.
First experience at Irazu - likely the last. Party of 4 and I will start by saying that our server, Sonny, was great. I will also say I thought the empanadas as an appie were very good as well. We ordered A LOT of appies and then moved onto the entrees. For me, this is where the goodness ended. I ordered the "Chicago favorite" pepito sandwich. I figured I would keep it simple and go with what seemed like a staple on the menu. What arrived was nothing short of pathetic. An anemically thin piece of cold chicken with a tiny "smear" of black beans hiding under the half melted cheese on stale bread. I actually had to ask for a menu again to see if I actually ordered this depressed sandwich disaster. Having cooked pepito sandwiches myself, I was happily validated when the menu showed that it should have had a healthy bit of black beans, sautéed onions, MELTED cheese and sauce on a roll that presumably shouldn't have been stale. This place gets great reviews so I'm not sure how this sad sammie made it out of the kitchen but one bite was quite enough and I'm certain I'm not to blame for it. Called over Sonny and showed him, in all its lame close-up detail, a simple sandwich prepared so poorly it was conservatively missing 3 out of 4 key components. Sonny was very apologetic; offered to get me something else which, as any frequent diner knows, sucks because everyone at your table will be long done with their meal by the time your new order arrives. I appreciated the offer but politely declined. I was not, of course, charged for this one-bite wonder and was told they would give me a gift certificate which I thought was very appropriate and would make me come back to give this place another try. What I received was a gift cert. for "one small appetizer" with a handwritten note saying "thanks for your feedback." Feedback???? I didn't suggest you get new glassware (which you need, fyi). Maybe writing "sorry about your sandwich sucking" on a gift cert. for ANOTHER SANDWICH, may have been the proper thing to do. Oh please Irazu, I can't wait to run back for a free, small plate of your yuca fries. I think not. The rest of my party said their entrees were "good" not great. So many other places in the city are better and know how to properly handle what was clearly a quality control issue in their kitchen.
(2)Natasha T.
After being a yelp lurker for years, I had to make an account just to review my experience at Irazu yesterday. Henry and the staff are amazing! Being a regular consumer of the oatmeal shake, I had to share my love for the food at Irazu with my friends. Henry was able to accommodate 20 of us at short notice- and on a busy night too! Our server was incredible, and always seemed to show up right when we needed her. Everyone had a great time and I'm sure we'll be returning soon (in smaller groups of course). Thanks Irazu!
(5)Joanne D.
Oatmeal SHAKE! Chifrijo! BYOB! One of my favorite meals in the city!
(5)Lynn L.
I was seeking a place to celebrate my birthday with a large group for a low cost and delicious food. Irazu is literally the place to be! Although they have a separate dining room which comes with a fee, Henry was able to accommodate my party of 19 in the restaurant on a Monday evening. He was great with last minute changes as well. We had pretty much a split of vegetarians and carnivores. The food was delicious. We went with a Prix Fixe menu which was basically Family style was our option for such a large party and we had more than enough food. What's better is that it is totally BYOB! They even have a fridge to help chill any cold beverages for you. The server we had was incredibly friendly and accommodating of our needs. They were great with acknowledging allergies at the table as well. Mmm I just want some plantains just thinking about how great it was! Thank you for making my Birthday a special night! For basically like 22 bucks a person, for such a large party and the amount of food, i'd recommend this place for an small event.
(4)Esther L.
I came here with three other friends for dinner around 6:30pm. We were seated outside. Though it may not look like it, there is also indoor seating. We were seated right away. The table we were seated at was kind of small because we ordered so much food. The waiter kept asking if he could take our food away, to which I vehemently said no because we were still working on it. We ordered the chifrijo, chile relleno, pepito sandwich, casado, horchata, oatmeal shake, and I believe paella. Overall, the food, especially the vegetables were pretty bland. My favorite part of the meals were the plantains because they were crisp and sweet. I also liked the avocado on the chifrijo mostly because it was seasoned well. The drinks were just run of the mill, a little lacking in flavor, but I thought the oatmeal shake was creative. I was happy to see that they had an extensive list of vegetarian options. There is free street parking around the neighborhood about a block or two away. The parking directly in front of the restaurant is pay for parking.
(2)Luis P.
I've been back since. Had tacos. I think it's super average. I don't get why it's so highly regarded. Oatmeal shake was good.
(2)Joni L.
Love this place more and more each time I go. No wait at all for dining room at all. Started with a big bowl of guacamole and chips. I dug right in. Side of pureed black beans and lizano salsa completed everything. For dinner I had the shrimp/vegetable platter. The plaintains are to die for. Shrimp was cooked and the sauce was tasty. Veggies were really fresh too. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It's BYOB and there is a wine store across the street.
(4)Rachel V.
I came here with some friends based on the recommendation of a friend who visits Cost Rica often. So, I'll take her word for it that the food is authentic, but I can only comment on how it tasted...delicious! I highly recommend the Chifrijo appetizer - it's a perfect starter with chips. We ordered a few plates to share, but I think my favorite was the shrimp/veggie platter, because it was topped with a really different, tasty sauce. Plus, it's BYOB with no corkage fee...we definitely took advantage!
(4)Stephanie H.
I debated giving Irazu 3 stars but the reality is I probably wouldn't go back. This was just 'meh' for me. I went 2.5 weeks ago with 2 friends on a Saturday night. We figured there would be a wait, so we weren't surprised that we were huddled inside the covered patio. But it was a bit annoying there there were a few empty tables on the patio yet they were not seating anyone there. We waited at least 30 minutes and then were seated inside the restaurant. I couldn't wait to sit down because I was starving, and when I saw the basket of tortilla chips I was psyched. Unfortunately the chips were terrible. They were hard (overcooked I think, not stale) and had no flavor. Because they were in front of me I ate them anyway, but they were not good. Supposedly the chifrijo is their big appetizer so we ordered the large for the 3 of us to split. This was never finished. As a proud member of the clean plate club, it pained me to see unfinished food but it wasn't that great. It's basically a rice salsa with fried pieces of pork. The pork was lost on me because all I tasted was chewy batter and it got stuck in my teeth. For my main I had the steak el tico. It was fine, nothing great. They upsell you on the gallo pinto which was fine but bland. My friend shared her oatmeal shake with the table and it was very tasty and surprisingly sweet, which is not how I would ever describe oatmeal. I wouldn't suggest going out of your way to come here, perhaps delivery is the best way to go?
(2)Dustin A.
Delicious Costa Rican. Do yourself a favor and order an oatmeal smoothie for dessert.
(4)Monik S.
im costarican food dont have taste of my country ceviche is not with tomatoes chifrijol so salty all food taste lizano sauce and for worst no credit card only cash never go again
(1)Courtney C.
I had SUCH high hopes for Irazu. I traveled to Costa Rica over the summer and figured I wouldn't taste Costa Rican food for a while. When I found out about Irazu, I was pumped! To me, their gallo pinto tasted NOTHING like I had in Costa Rica; it was bland. I know my gallo pinto-I had it just about every day I was in Costa Rica, and I was there for a month. Maybe I caught them on a bad night. The rice in my vegetarian taco was VERY salty. I ordered two tacos and took one home for leftovers but I highly doubt I'll eat it, and I hate wasting food. =/ I had high hopes of tasting guanabana again, but I found out that you can only have it in the form of a smoothie. If you've ever tasted fresh guanabana, a smoothie is not the best way to experience this amazing fruit. I would love to give them another chance but considering what a drive this is for me and the fact that I hate wasting money (and I feel like I wasted money), I more than likely won't be back.
(3)Mike M.
35 min wait at 9pm. Wait was worth it. They corked our BYOB wine bottle for free while we waited. Food was good. Hot sauce really good. Nice big patio.
(4)Pat M.
3 of us went out here Saturday and we loved it! Bring a laid back attitude when entering the building. There may be a wait and there isn't a lot of room, but everyone understands this, is friendly and works with the space given. It is a HUGE bonus that you don't have to worry about finding the cocktail waitress! It's BYOB. Just find some space, enjoy your drink and look over the great plates walking by to make your decision. We started with the Chifrijo....order it, it is as good as they say it is! It even is more of an experience, because it has more ways to eat it than nachos. We all shared the shrimp and guacamole salad and I think it was the favorite of all 3 of ours. Next course we shared with empanadas, the steak Casado and the steak pepito. The empanadas and steak casado rocked! The pepito was properly suggested to us as perhaps best served for a luncheon sandwich. Recommendation was spot on, we probably wouldn't order again for dinner, but it was good. We enjoyed our beer and wine, they set us great opening our wine and servicing us with glasses. Henry, the owner, introduced himself and spoke with us periodically throughout the night, often sharing advise for our experience, advise we were asking for and in need of. All of it was spots on! We finished the evening sharing the bread pudding, that was terrific! We all said good bye to Henry, who was the owner when walked in and seemed to be our new friend when we left! A great experience!
(5)Stef C.
This place gets super crowded. So I recommend going with enough time.Oh and make sure to bring cash because they don't except debt cards. Their salsa is pretty good. I loved that! I got the Pepito sandwich. It was good but didn't love the seasoning.It might be because I've never had Costa Rican food. I will definitely come back and try something different.
(3)Matt M.
The friendliest staff, great food and it's BYOB. There's literally no complaints to be had. I recommend the Chifrijo as it's their specialty; it does not disappoint!
(4)Steven M.
I've only tried one thing at this place ever and I keep coming back. My first time there the waiter told me to get the veggie burrito with chorizo. Sooo good. The hot peppers are nutzo hot though, so I'd strongly advise not doing that unless you're eating with someone who doesn't think you're manly enough. And then..you know..the only way to prove something like that is by eating fire. The veggie burrito comes with extra stuff the regular burritos don't, in case you were wondering. And it's one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest altogether) large plates you can get there. The oatmeal shake with soy is the gf's favorite. It's kinda like an oatey horchata. That sounded less strange in my head. Trust me, it shows up in a lot of reviews bc it's good. If you come for dinner on the weekend, be prepared to wait...like an hour That is unless it's raining. Their waiting area is all outside and most people don't like to wait in rain, so the line basically goes away completely.
(5)Xiaoyua W.
I don't understand why ppl ate so crazy about this place. Their steak is not even chewable, like rubber. I had their delivery three times, every time was the same. Why????
(1)Veronica L.
I'm having a hard time believing that I actually went to the same place as all these other people with great reviews...the food just sucked. We didn't finish a single thing on the table. My chicken burrito was probably the worst though. The chicken wasn't even seasoned...It was just chicken that had been grilled all the way to one side with ten pounds of shredded lettuce all the way on the other side, a tiny amount of cheese in one place, and a slice of tomato. No sauce, no seasoning... I don't even think they put salt or pepper on it. Someone who had never cooked before could have made a better one. I ended up opening it and eating the chicken because I couldn't get all the ingredients in one bite. Also had one bite of an empanada that was so oil soaked I didn't want to eat anymore. And what is with charging for every little thing? Fifty cents for sour cream? I had really high hopes for this place and have been talking about it for months- really disappointed and definitely won't be back.
(1)Mary F.
I recently had Irazu cater a party on our rooftop deck. Leading up to the event, Justin was very helpful in assisting us with our menu planning. He was very prompt with our quote, and always answered our calls immediately. He worked to put the perfect package together. The day of the event was fantastic. The gentleman who delivered our food was on time and very speedy and professional. We had the Gallo package for 35 people. We chose from a variety of steak, chicken and veggie tacos. These were served with the Gallo Pinto, and mixed salad and sweet plantains. Irazu provide all utensils, serving dishes and serving utensils. They also provided the salsa's, cheeses etc. The meal was finished off with a perfectly cooked bread pudding. All of our guests raved about the food. I was thrilled with the service. We live locally and bring our little kids to Irazu often for weekend lunches. I will continue to frequent this place and support this business. When I host future parties, I will continue to call on Irazu!
(5)Jenna C.
This place is a little gem. My wife and I were on our way to a restaurant just down the street when we sported Irazu and decided to try it. Our server (Sonny) really knew his stuff. It was our first time trying Costa Rican food and he was able to walk us through everything on the menu. We ordered some of the dishes he recommended and the food is definitely worth coming back for.
(5)Patty T.
Irazu handled the mishap VERY well. After calling management twice to "complain", they profusely apologized, and refunded my money. They even called and texted to keep me posted on my refund. In addition to my refund, they also sent me a $15 gift certificate in the mail. At the end of the day, their food is awesome, value is unbeatable, and service is awesome. Everyone messes up from time to time (especially on a busy night) - and it's all about the way you handle the mistake. In their case, they handled it VERY well.
(5)Emy F.
We ordered take out from Irazu and I was really impressed by the service. The individual who answered the phone was really nice and actually charming and not just trying to get my order through and off the phone. The delivery guy was very nice too so I appreciate that. With that being said, I agree with others when they said "what's the hype" or "it's not game changing". I get that maybe it isn't meant to be "Game changing", but I will say that it wasn't something that I was like "this is the best food I've ever had". I'm from South Florida, I've been to many Costa Rican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Haitian restaurants, get togethers, parties, and weddings so I like to think I have a good understanding of that type of food. My fiance is also half Puerto Rican/Cuban so again, it's not like I've only eaten Mexican or have little experience with this type of cuisine. We ordered two of their "Pepito sandwiches" and again I just felt like it was just a sandwich that I could get from any place in Bucktown or Logan Square. Nothing about it felt special. I know that it was recently on DDD and this isn't the first time a place on DDD has fallen short. I would reconsider trying it again and trying more menu items that are more diverse.
(3)Max S.
Great food
(4)David B.
Been going here for let's just say - over 15 years. Always been great. Has only gotten better over the years. The Veggie Burrito with mushrooms - still one of my favorite burritos of all time. Like some pork too? The Chifrijo is also a must. And the shakes? Please.
(5)Riko P.
Absolutely lived up to the hype. The salsa, the chips, the sandwiches, and the milkshakes. Will be going back.
(5)Shumaila D.
I really like their bean burrito and the oat meal shake it's just awesome. I never had that kind of shake before. Place are quite small but you can wait for their yummy food.
(5)Penelope S.
This place is tiny but mighty. The best shakes, best empanadas, best steak. One of my favs...got to try it!!!!!
(4)Alexandra C.
Just one word : WOAH. I ordered irazu via grubhub twice this week it was that good. The first time I ordered the chorizo burrito (I gravitate towards anything with chorizo) and also got the rice and flan. The burrito was pretty good - the chorizo was fantastic but it was a little greasy? Guess that's what happens when you stuff that much chorizo in a tortilla. the second time, I did it right. I got the pepito sandwich and it blew my mind. The meat was perfection and the sauces were incredible. Add the avocado you won't regret it. I also got the fried sweet plantains which were amaze. Simply amaze. Kinda can't wait to order again.
(5)Brett M.
Amazing lunch choice. So glad that I chose Irazu over all of those other chain options. Hot, healthier and way fresher with such better service (pooled tips). I believe 4 people all greeted me upon arrival with warm smiles and hello's. Food was really fast. Vegan black bean soup was awesome; I dipped the tortilla chips in it which I highly recommend! Vegetarian taco and paella were fantastic too. This was my second visit to Irazu and i was yet again pleased... Check this place out!
(5)Lauren D.
We've been wanting to try Irazu for many, many years. We finally got around to eating here, and we were not disappointed. La comida tipica en Costa Rica is known as the "Casado." What is it? This is a commonly known Costa Rican dish which consists of beans, rice with finely diced red bell peppers and onions, fried plantains (usually platanos maduros), a cabbage salad with tomato and carrot, and your choice of meat (usually pollo, fish, pork, or rib eye steak with grilled onions). La carne (the meat) que viene con el Casado is grilled or sautéed, but never fried. We ordered the Casado with rib eye and it was flavorful and tender. All the sides complemented the rib eye nicely and made for the perfect amalgamation. This dish is worthy of FIVE stars. My husband ordered the grilled steak, and he thought it also deserved FIVE stars. He said the grilled steak was incredibly flavorful, super tender and one of the best cuts of meat he has had in a while. He enjoyed the yellow rice, beans, sweet plantains (also known as platanos maduros or platanos dulce) and small salad. If you have had the pleasure of exploring different Latin American cuisine, such as, Colombian, Cuban, Barbados, Dominican, Peruvian and Puerto Rican, you will be happy that you tried Irazu's cuisine. It definitely offers up tropical Carribean flavors with a zest of unique twists. Latin Caribbean cuisine is a combination of local and imported ingredients and culinary methods that melds cultural traditions and heritage. It is a sensational blend of striking colors, tropical tastes, aromatic herbs and spices and exciting flavors, sure to leave your taste buds craving more. The Chef, Miriam, opened the restaurant in 1990, and it is going stronger than ever. My compliment to Chef Miriam for getting it RIGHT every single time. Todo siempre esta muy delicioso. Irazu has a great following from people of all ages and from all over the city (and in some cases, suburbanites, who are not afraid and open-minded enough to explore authentic Costa Rican cusine in the heart of the City). I have a friend who is "afraid" to come to the City, but I know not every suburbanite feels this way about the city. There are many outstanding restaurants in the City, including, Irazu. A very, very long time ago my husband took a trip to Costa Rica. He loved the country, the food, the culture, the beautiful rain forest, and the warmth of the people. He agreed that the food here is as authentic as it gets and it reminded him of all the foods that he ate while in Costa Rica. NOTE: As is usually the case with most "mom and pop" Latin restaurants they do not accept any plastic of any kind. Be sure to bring a nice red wine to complement your dinner (especially if you are eating steak or chicken). They have an awesome selection of vegetarian dishes, so vegetarians are bound to find something great here. We would have rated Irazu with five stars, but the wait was crazy long, it is cash only (which is a deal breaker in my book), and the service was super slow. Our server was hospitable, but not overly attentive. Our water glasses were kept filled and we were given extra napkins (without asking) which we appreciated. Did we enjoy the food? Was the price-point reasonable? Was the service hospitable? Was the food authentic in flavor? Si, si, si to all these questions.
(4)Joshua K.
Take out, delivery, and dining in alike I've never been disappointed with Irazu. Meat and Vegetarian friendly, the food is always delicious and unique. First time in?: ask your server for recommendations, the staff here is awesome. If only they were open on Sundays!
(5)Natalie I.
I wanted to follow-up on my previous review of Irazu. After I posted a not so great review from my last visit, the owner of Irazu contacted me and apologized. He wanted to know all details about my last visit. I was so surprised to receive any feedback especially from the owner. WOW!! He let me know heaters were now installed in the front part of the restaurant for the winter, so guests will now be warm and cozy while eating their tasty meals. He invited me and my boyfriend back for a second visit, so that we can enjoy the meal and have a positive experience. Boy am I glad I took him up on his offer. This was a completely different experience. We went again on a colder rainy day and it was so comfortable inside. We we're seated right away and had excellent service. The owner came to meet me and apologize again in person. I was again very surprised and happy I got to meet him. He takes pride in his restaurant, service and food and wants every customer to leave happy and full. The food was never an issue. Everything we had was incredible, but I couldn't enjoy it because of the experiences that led up to it. We ordered pretty much the same meals as we had the last time and they were outstanding. Steak was cooked to perfectly and the sauce that comes out with the chips is soooo good. I actually asked if I can purchase some to take home with me. I would definitely recommend Irazu to everyone that I know and actually have to a few co-workers already. The food is incredible and has so much flavor, plus its BYOB so you can enjoy your meal with your favorite beverage. I couldn't thank Henry enough for inviting us back and letting us experience Irazu again. We had a great time.
(5)Melissa K.
Went to Irazú last night for the first time! BF and I ordered a ton since so much sounded good - nothing disappointed and there's enough leftover for lunch today - great! We ordered a small chifrijo, the pepito sandwich, the el tico dinner plate with chicken (upgraded to the gallo pinto on the side - yum), 2 empanadas (one spinach, one plantain) and finally an oatmeal shake (to go, because at that point we were so stuff, but we HAD to try it). Everything was delicious, and all of it was just $41. Love that it's BYOB. Two minor complaints that keep this from being a 5 star review. First, when our empanadas came out, both were just plain cheese. They were delicious, so we just kept them - plus the place was slammed at that time, and we figured it would be more trouble to ask for new ones than it was worth. I guess we'll have to go back and try the ones we actually ordered! Second is that as we were leaving, we noticed they have a "Guy Fieri special," which includes a small chifrijo, a pepito, and an oatmeal shake for $15. This special is not listed in the menu, and our server did not tell us about it. Ultimately, we ordered all three of these things, but we didn't get the special price - each item was charged individually. It was only $2.95 more total without the special, but it still would have been nice if we had been told or if, upon seeing that we ordered the items that make up the special, our waiter gave us the deal anyway. Not going to stop me from going back, I'll just be sure to remember this for the future!
(4)Elissa M.
My favorite thing about Irazu has got to be their oatmeal shakes. It's like horchata in shake form. Cannot be beat. I'm also a huge fan of the liver and onions, which is really well done, reasonably priced, and also comes with a bunch of sides (salad, plantains, beans, rice) which leave you wanting for nothing. The atmosphere is neither here nor there, the wait can be long on weekend nights. In winter, a seat by the door can be harrowing. But other than that, the oatmeal shake and liver and onions are one of my favorite meals in Chicago.
(4)Lee B.
I don't really remember the disappointing burrito I had at Irazu because all I ever get anymore is the empanadas. Someday when I do not live in Chicago anymore I will have dreams about those empanadas and be inexplicably cranky for the next few meals. The one time I got the sweet plantains they were pretty dry and mealy, but that might have been an off day, I don't know. I love those empanadas enough that I will forgo plantains to eat them, which says a lot, at least in my book.
(5)Lois A.
This place is amazing but it sends me into a food coma. You get so much food and it all tastes fantastic that it's hard to stop eating. The steak casado is excellent. I can't remember ever raving about cabbage so much but god, it's like heaven and when mixed with the mountain of fried onions and egg on my plate it's even better. There is so much steak it seems insane to try and finish it all and it goes so well with the fried plantains. After eating here I can't even think about food for about 24 hours. I love that this place is BYOB and the service is very laid back and friendly. I am dying to try the shakes but really, there is just no way I can eat a meal here and also have a shake. That is crazy talk.
(4)El B.
I had been driving by Irazu for the past year and a half and finally, after seeing people enjoying themselves on the patio on a beautiful summer day for the hundredth time, decided to try it out. We bought wine from Red & White Wines and sat outside on a nice weekend evening. The place was packed as usual, but we were seated quickly. The food was....outstanding. We ordered the ceviche to start. I am a ceviche addict and found their version to be outstanding (the waiter said that the cooks put ginger ale in it...who knew?). I ordered the Casado which could have easily served two people. Everything was excellent, the service was very good (Chris was our server), the pricing is just right, and I can't WAIT to go back for my birthday this month. I'm still drooling about it. Definitely check it out.
(5)Emily K.
I really love this place and try to bring out of towners here as well. The first time we were here I reluctantly ordered the oatmeal shake (with water, not milk) on the recommendation of a friend and expected to be grossed out- it's THE. SHIZ. I either get the steak sandwich or the costa rican sandwich, which are pretty much the same thing but not- the descriptions are on the menu, figure it out. I love the costa rican sauce as well, the next time I'm there I'm going to buy a bottle. My vegan girlfriend swears by the vegetarian burrito, which she can only eat half of at a time so she has dinner for the next day. Very inexpensive for the portions. Cash only still, I believe.
(4)Edward H.
After a long workout, I came out of the gym so ravenous that I was ready to eat the leather off my shoes. I tossed aside all plans to eat healthy by cooking at home and made a bee line to Irazu. This place reminds me of hole in the wall places like Paco's Tacos - inadequate lighting, approximately 6 sets of lawn furniture for their outdoor dining area, a couple of stools near the entrance so you can let the smells permeate every fiber of your being... and your shirt, and a small dining area. I ended up getting a veggie burrito with mushrooms, the casado w/ pinto gallo, and an oatmeal shake to wash it all down. The large girth of the burrito made it an exceptional value. I wasn't too keen on the casado (chicken a tad dry) but I absolutely loved loved loved LOVED (does that tell you how I feel?) the pinto gallo. I think next time I'll get 2 orders of this stuff by itself. The portions were more than enough to split between my gf and I. We were both satisfied with the food although neither of us were big fans of the chicken casado. Maybe we should've gotten beef? The shake was pretty darn good though - just like a dirty horchata. I'm an horchata h00r so it didn't take me too far outside of my comfort zone. I think I'll try the pepito sammich next time.
(3)Colleen J.
I could ALMOST give this place four stars. First things first, the bf and I went here about a week ago. We walk inside and are greeted by a frantic pigeon flying around and the workers attempting to shoo it outside. I was so nervous it was going to fly right into my face. I got out before this could happen, and shortly after they succeeded in coercing said pigeon out the door. We decided to sit outside because it was a warm sunny day. The staff here seemed friendly enough. When our server approached the table with waters and menus, he fumbled a bit and ended up splashing an entire glass of water into his crotch. I told him that he had some good karma on the way regarding all the bad stuff that was happening for him. I ordered the potato tacos with guacamole and black beans. I was disappointed with the guac. as it was very bland; I think it was just mashed avocados. I did enjoy the cabbage and cilantro salad, but my body later didn't appreciate it; i ended up with some hefty heartburn--it hurt a lot! Overall, it was pretty good, but very simple. I wish they could offer just the main part of the entrees without all the extras. I would have been happy with some soup and just the potato tacos themselves. I also had a pineapple shake with water (you could choose between milk, soy, or water). It was tasty. Maybe if I ate meat I would like this place more.
(3)Sarah M.
I love cheap food. I love burritos and platanos. I love soy shakes. I love Irazu more than my boyfriend (and vice versa). I live for their mango oatmeal soy shakes so much so that my boyfriend and I have to order two because I refuse to share even a sip of my delicious nectar from heaven. While I love the food, I hate the crowds. I wouldn't have such an issue with it if I could leave the restaurant without having to wade through 20 people in the front. Honestly, I think the owners should really discourage their patrons from drinking Rolling Rock beers while standing directly in front of the door. Try the casado. It's a little more than a burrito (about nine bucks), but you won't be disappointed.
(4)Ji K.
The ceviche? Very limey-- but if you like it that way, it's delicious. The skirt steak? Quite delicious. The spicy squid with dirty rice? Sounds gross, but is also delicious. The oatmeal milk shake? Oh. my. gosh. Freakin' delicious (and it comes in a soy variety!). So yeah. I think you get my drift. Yes, this place definitely sounds overrated, but I've been here twice now and both times have been pretty darn good. It's a small place and it may involve a considerable wait, but I think it's worth it. Oh yeah-- it's also BYOB, which is great for a cold Chicago night when you need to warm up right away. And it's family-owned which I always consider a plus. Note: The one annoying thing is that they only take cash-- which I fail to remember until I'm already on my way-- so I've had to stop by a bank that charges a $2.50 ATM fee (or use the in-house ATM). Argh.
(4)Paul H.
I'm a huge fan of Irazu, huge. I've been going pretty regularly since 1995, when it was a tiny place with 2 cramped tables. As the place has grown the quality of the food and service has stayed at the same high level. I enjoy it so much that I bring all of my out of town friends to Irazu for dinner. None of us has ever left disappointed, just full. I love the Costan Rican sandwich, it's a simple sliced beef sandwich served with lettuce, tomatoe and completed with yummy Lizano sauce. I always pair it with the fried yucca and garlic. So good! The chorizo and eggs with rice and beans and fried plantains makes a wonderful meal. I always finish off my meals with a shake, they have a number of fruits to try and you can have them made with either milk or water. I suggest the guanabana with milk. Again, so good. Another thing that I love about Irazu is the BYOB policy. In the summer it's great to grab an outdoor table, enjoy a burrito (or anything off their menu) and crack open one of your favorite beers or wines. Plus, no corkage fee. The prices are really reasonable too, so Irazu is great for cheap eats. I think that the Check Please effect is still in effect, meaning that sometimes there is a wait. Also, parking can be tough. But it's always worth the trip.
(5)Lala S.
Irazu was my first exposure to Costa Rican cuisine 7 years ago and I swear by this place. The quality of food there is amazing for the price! They have the best Ceviche that I've had in Chicago and when I dine out and Ceviche is on the menu, I'm ordering it. Needless to say, I've eaten a lot of Ceviche. I highly recommend the Casado, which can easily feed two and you'll still be bringing food home. You can choose between the steak or chicken (both are great). The dish is also accompanied by platanos maduros, rice, and salad. If you're by yourself go for the steak sandwich, Lazano sauce has forever changed my life. The cabage salad, although very simple is very good. The tacos are tasty. Everything on the menu is amazing. The Oatmeal shake is great for hangovers and should be patented, trademarked or whatever it is you have to do to make sure no one steals the idea! Otherwise I like the Mamey shake...I wonder what the fruit looks like, but who cares I heart it!
(5)jay w.
I first ate at Irazu about 10 years ago while gearing up to spend a month at a Costa Rican high school. I remember thinking the neighborhood was really divey and gritty at the time--but things change. Luckily the tamarindo shake/refresco hasn't changed. Costa Rican food isn't as spicy as other cuisines of central America--and I like it that way. I usually get an order of casado and have enough to take some home. I have tried to make my own gallo pinto at home, but it's never quite as good as theirs. And really, why shouldn't cabbage salad be served at every meal?
(4)Bo L.
Absolutely some of the best food in the entire city, I love it. I highly recommend the steak sandwich, sweet fried plantains, and an oatmeal shake. Perfect
(5)Jenny z.
Unlike other reviews of mine where I start out saying "I've been coming here since the day it opened," and I go off on some ridiculous rant about d-bags and such, I'm not going to bag on Irazu - it has remained a great, friendly, inexpensive place to eat. Back in the day, this place was only the front room, they didn't have the back dining room, so you could eat at the counter or outside at the picnic tables. We'd run in here and grab shakes and the gallo pinto or burritos and head out. I'm glad they've expanded and added the dining room as it makes it easier to grab my takeout and go - the lines in here used to be hellish. Everyone is helpful, food is pretty good across the board (the gallo pinto remains my favorite), relatively inexpensive and family owned. Although I prefer their other shakes, the oatmeal shakes have a cult following - I have several friends who have moved from Chicago that want to go directly to Irazu when they get off the plane to indulge their shake fix. One friend has even tried (repeatedly and unsuccessfully) buying the recipe off the owners as she can't find anything like it in Austin. Heartbreaking, really.
(4)M N.
This place is small, sketchy and not good. But it is conveniently located. My guilty friends go there. EDIT: I feel bad taking shots without elaborating. This is Costa Rican food with a few reasonable vegan options... think Mexican, but seasoned differently. I didn't find the place to be worth the price, and it is very small and definitely not suitable for spending any more time in than is necessary to eat your food. I think you can do better.
(2)Emily C.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Food & selection are amazing. Love the original empanada (gluten free!) and the selection of batidos. I could eat every meal here for a week a be happy. Remember to bring cash & know that service is a bit spotty-- just as it is in Costa Rica! Muy auténtico!
(5)Wayne M.
I was glad I tried the oatmeal shake. It was very good and much, much better than it sounded.
(4)Amy C.
This is another place where I think my fiance will kill me over. Week after week, I keep wanting to go back and I suggest it everytime I am asked for an idea for food. He likes to try new things but I like to have my rice and beans and mango oatmeal shake! I have to keep pushing for this.... Also, try the fried yucca. Me like garlic lots! I ordered the steak sandwich...not the spicy one and the steak was bad...sad about that but since they are like 6 stars...they are stil 5 stars...I am sticking with chicken.
(5)Steven N.
Updating a previous review (and I don't do this often). Gotta say, second time back to this joint now and it's still wonderful! Our server Amanda was a pleasure, and the food is always good. Got the oatmeal & banana milk shake and the shrimp & veggies this time around, and boy, it was a tasty meal with a wonderful outdoor atmosphere. Definitely will be back again!
(5)Marina M.
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.
(4)Kara M.
after searching on yelp for a good byob place for dinner, we finally decided on irazu. i had passed by it a number of times and even bookmarked it a while ago but didn't get excited enough to go. what the hell was wrong with me? we went on sat night and of course there were tons of people waiting outside and drinking. we were told 30 min so we took the chance to go to a liquor store and grab something to drink with dinner. as it was the weekend of the PR festivities there were tons of people out and we managed to almost get caught between two groups fighting but hey, i like an event filled night from time to time. we went back to the restaurant, libations in hand where we waited an additional 15 minutes before being seated inside. part of me thinks that we were seated inside because it was close to closing time and they were just trying to get everyone off the list quickly..and this is why a half star was lost. it took a while for the one waiter to come get our orders but once he did we promptly were brought water, chips and salsa. i have to say that the salsa had a nice kick to it as i'm always looking for something hot that threatens to put a hole through my tongue. i had the beef with gallo pinto made spicy as did one of my friends. my other friend who is vegetarian was much impressed with the veggie options and especially that she could actually order the pinto beans since most of the time restaurants use lard or some sort of meat products. i love love loved the spicy gallo pinto. i've had rice and beans that turn out too saucy but these were cooked just right with the extra spice being a compliment and not an overpowering force. the beef was well cooked and the plantains were sweet and fried just right. everything could not have been better done. my friend is from trinidad and rarely finds food that she feels takes her back home and she loved irazu. we didn't get to try any of the shakes but you can believe that this place is still on my list especially since they deliver now. i look forward to running though the menu!
(4)Shirese L.
I thought I had upgraded this a while ago. I have been back to Irazu's numerous times and have not had a bad experience yet. The empanadas and veggie burrito are in a class of it's own. This could be my favorite restaurant in the city.
(5)danielle f.
8 hours later I am still full and happy. Great vegetarian selection, tasty empandas. The potato taco looks like flautas and are delicious. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. Highly recommend!!!!
(4)Brooke M.
Irazu is THE BEST little restaurant you can only find in a big city 'hood. The steak w/ Costa Rican rice, cabbage salad and plantains is absolutely amazing and something I DREAM about. Order it spicy for a grilled jalapeno on the side. The service is lovely and the atmosphere is amazing - especially in the summer w/ the expansive porch open. It's BYOB so head to Red & White for a gorgeous bottle of wine or a couple of single beers.
(5)Kelly S.
Damn delicious! I have been going here for years. There's nothing for me to say that hasn't already been said. I wish they were open Sundays!
(4)Jeffrey B.
I had the breaded steak sandwich and it was amazing. Flavors galor. Didn't get to finish because the portions were nicely sized. I also had a taste of their veggie burrito an it tasted good as well. Great seasonings.
(4)Brynna P.
This place is a treasure. 1. BYOB. Woo hoo! 2. So ridiculously affordable, literally every time I've eaten here, I've been shocked, SHOCKED, at how small the bill was. 3. You will not find a nicer, more attentive wait staff in the city (without paying considerably more). These guys are funny, accommodating and attentive. You kind of want to hang out with them later. 4. Delicious. Palmito salad is a revelation (and enormous). Fish tacos never disappoint, Chicken tico, a delight. Chifrijo, amazing. Oatmeal shake, oh my god. 5. Patio area, a fine perk. 6. Delivery! Seriously, to like the entire city of chicago. Check it out. Don't miss out on the fun, a great place for a small group and a six pack (or two) on a summer evening (or whenever). Be prepared to wait a little on the weekends, but tables turn fast.
(5)vivian c.
5 stars for the oatmeal chocolate shake, pork dip (Chifrijo) to start - i still dream about this, garlic yuca, and pork sandwiches (Pepito is the best). delicious, delicious, extremely filling and very reasonable to boot. if i lived nearby i would go every day. looks very unassuming on the outside. during peak hours expect a wait. but it's well worth it!
(5)Abbey J.
This place has the best vegetarian burritos with the freshest ingredients and the best price. We go here for large group dinners all the time and the BYOB makes up for it being cash only.
(5)Dawn L.
Irazu is overrated. My last roommate ate here on a nearly daily basis for a while, and I still don't understand the appeal--except for the milkshakes, the food here is nothing special. It's not bad, it's not good, it just is. (One particularly uninspiring item is the salsa, which comes in ketchup containers on each table.) Believe me, I've tried to like this place--I've eaten at Irazu probably four times thanks to friends who loved it. The restaurant is tiny and popular, so expect a wait. In short: order yourself a milkshake here, but don't expect much from majority of the menu.
(3)Jason Z.
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!
(5)Sooyon H.
Even though my friends and I waited for about an hour and a half, I thought it was worth the wait! Please note that this restaurant is cash-only and has cramped seating. I absolutely love eating Latino food. . . I ordered the casado with rib eye steak and a mamey shake (mixed berries). Definitely order the oatmeal shake. . . it is a lot more flavorful than you think. I'll have to come back during their off-time!
(4)Amanda F.
Great, chill, fun BYOB. No reservations however, they give you wine glasses to drink your wine while you wait. I ordered the chicken tico and it was plain and simple but tasted yummy!
(4)Gigi L.
Love it, love it, love it -- never had a bad meal here. It looks like a dump from the outside, but is only semi-dumpy inside. Ok, it's really not that bad inside. I'm sure the methodone clinic across the street is worse. Just kidding. I think that has been torn down to make way for $800K condos. I used to live right over there and had a tin can telephone hooked up to the el platform so I could converse with the gen pop on my Evita-style condo balcony. I enjoyed viewing the scissor fights in the alley from up there as well. Ah, youth. Good times. Anyway, since the place is so small, you might end up smelling like one of their delicious sandwedges. Only because of that do I recommend taking it out. Place your order with the people at the counter. They are friendly. Get the guac, spicy, and be delighted that they leave the pit in the dish with it. How marvelously rustic! Order the pepito sammidge, and a mango shake with water. So fruity! If you like rice pudding, get the oatmeal shake with milk. Sublime. I want to take a bath in that stuff. Take it home, eat it and then take a nap. In that order.
(5)Marcus Z.
Oatmeal Banana Soy shake!!! I go out of my way to make sure I make it to Irazu at least once a week...even for just that! The food and service are always great--never a let down. I don't think I've ever seen this place not busy. Easily one of my favorite restaurants in the city.
(5)Laura C.
I saw Irazu on Check Please and decided to try it out for myself. It is a great, off the beaten path, BYOB choice. I had never had Costa Rican food before, but man was I glad that I gave it a try after the meal. The dining area is nothing to talk about, but the food for sure makes up for it, along with their prices. I think you can order to go too!
(4)Patrick H.
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.
(5)Leah J.
Came here a while ago, but can't forget it. Just thinking about it makes me drool..(uggh *homer moan*). The place is tiny, but it suprisingly carried a relaxed, warm vibe inside. Must be the candles. Inexpensive, huge burritos that DO NOT dissapoint. I split a veggie and steak burrito. The portions are so big, I had to doggy bag the other half. And don't forget the chips and guac! I'd eat from here again, but probably just convenietly order my food to go up in front so I can chow down like a pig at home!
(4)Tyler W.
I honestly don't understand how this restaurant has all these good reviews. I expected the best tasting Costa Rican food when I came here. I waited for almost an hour to be seated while my mouth watered. Haha. We ordered empanadas --Beef and chicken. I wasn't a fan of the beef but the chicken was tasty. Now.. dinner time. Dinner plate: Steak, black beans, yellow rice and cabbage salad. Honestly the only thing I enjoyed was the sweet plantains. Everything else was kinda bland, too many onions and the rice was over cooked. The beans were... alright. I seriously didn't enjoy this place and was mostly upset that it cost $50 bucks. I won't be back here. I also wish that "yelpers" had better TASTE in restaurants bc I believed that this place would be awesome. :( And also this place was filled with a bunch of wealthy snobby yuppies or shall I say "Old Hipsters".
(2)Phil M.
Saw this place on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives and HAD to try it! Guy Fieri was so right about this place- it's delicious! I stopped in after a round of golf and ordered the "Pepito" sandwich. Oh my, the Pepito is right on time! The steak meat was succulent and the Lizano sauce is so good. Also, the sandwich was huge! I sat outside on the patio because it was a nice day and it was perfect. The house speakers played really cool music and everybody was super friendly. The prices are on point here too! Great place for authentic Costa Rican grub!
(5)Jodey W.
I had a steak burrito and showed up almost ice cold. The pico was old and inedible. I didn't bother to call and explain that to the restaurant because I felt sick after eating and thought it was in my best interest to post a review instead. If your food is cold I strongly suggest you heating it up in a microwave because their steak did me very badly. I won't ever eat here again because of the way they run their business. Plenty of other options on grubhub and seamless then this.
(1)Kathy S.
The casado dinner is to die for!! And the mamey shake is the best! The owner is almost always there making sure things are running smoothly. One time, we ordered food ahead of time and they had both the food and a table waiting for us! Wow! I will give it five stars when they accept credit cards and when they build a lot. Parking in Bucktown is a total nightmare. I would even give them six stars if they built another location further north so I don't have to drive an hour to eat there!
(4)Anne M.
I concur with the masses: the oatmeal shake is the shit. Combine that phenomenal, creamy shake with some sweet, crispy plantains; something ooey-gooey-cheesy; perhaps some piping hot empanadas; rich black beans and rice; one of the many other awesome things on the menu, and you've got yourself a combo of perfection. Yay Irazu!
(5)Enrique M.
After a less than satisfactory experience on my last visit, the owner went above and beyond to rectify the situation. This place really does care about their customers, and has great food to boot. Thank you for the excellent dinner. We will most definitely be back in the future!
(5)Charley B.
All I had was a burrito delivered to me while I was in town visiting and now I consider myself a changed man. My food arrived rather quickly, probably around 20 minutes and didn't skimp on anything. My burrito was almost overflowing with ingredients which tasted new and fresh, not microwaved. My taste buds and stomach were happy as I sent myself into a food coma. If you're in the area, I recommend this restaurant. I can't wait to come back and visit.
(4)Steph U.
My friend wanted to come here because he saw it on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and I was already hesitant, because I can't stand Guy Fierri (he's such a tool), but I decided to give it a try. The food was horrible! Is this a joke? I asked the waiter what he suggested and he said the chicken casada, so that's what I ordered. He asked if I wanted it "spicy", and I love spicy food, so of course I said yes. He also asked if I wanted to upgrade my rice to the beans and rice and I was feeling adventurous, so I said yes. The chicken was dry and bland. They forgot the egg that goes on top of my dinner. Also, the "spicy" thing?? IT WAS ONE FREAKING STUFFED PEPPER ON THE PLATE. Seriously?! That's it. I paid extra money for a tiny stuffed pepper that I didn't even eat. What. The. Hell. The rice and beans were also dry and lacked any kind of taste. The only good thing about this meal was the fact that it was BYOB. I definitely won't be going back and I really don't understand why this place has such a good rating.
(1)Nelly H.
Time and time again Irazu's gives me a pleasant experience. I am a loyal customer and I always bring a new one in. I'm happy to say that once again the food was on point. Thank you Irazu's for providing amazing food!! I will be back!
(5)Rachel G.
Irazu just catered an 80th birthday party for my father and it was FANTASTIC!! We had a mix of vegetarians and carnivores and Catering manager Justin was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about what to order (our guests were a mixture of vegetarian and carnivores), the amount, set-up, etc. He was very patient when I made changes and communicated throughout the process. Food was delivered on time and set-up expertly. We ordered casados (a traditional Costan Rican meal of salad plantains, rice and beans) with choice of steak, chicken or vegetables. Everything was absolutely delicious, serving sizes were generous and the price was very reasonable. I highly recommend using Irazu catering service for your next event!!
(5)Mary H.
Holy. Shiitake. Mushroom. Came here last week with a group of 5, after several rounds of empanadas, sandwiches and other tasty treats our bill came out to $55 with tip. That's $11 a person people. I don't remember the last time I paid this little to eat this well. Definitely give it a shot! As other reviewers have mentioned BYOB. They have a great patio too!
(5)Edwin Giovanni C.
The first time I tried this place was for carry-out and the food was average. I decided to give the place a second chance and dine in. I went with a group of 12 people and made reservations at 7pm. We all got their around 6:30pm and expected we would have to wait a while to be seated since the place is always full. I was not ready for what would follow. Around 8pm after waiting patiently we asked how much longer until we were seated. We were told it should be soon. Another hour passed. Around 9pm we asked once again and were told a table was leaving and we would be seated. 7pm reservation 2 hour wait, I was thinking to myself this food better worth it. Around 9pm another group of 10 women came in and within 10 minutes they were seat. At this point we complained to the manager and we were told that they had reservations at 9pm. We reminded them that we had reservation for 7pm to which the manager seems indifferent and walked away. We were finally seated around 10pm. I thought to myself a 3 hour wait this better be the best food I have ever eaten. Unfortunately it was not. The food was very bland. I am puzzled why everyone talks so highly of this place. The food was below average, customer service was non existent and after waiting for 3 plus hours for our food we were being rushed out as the place was closing. Needless to say I will never be coming back to this restaurant and I have talk tons of friends from ever going back as well. For the below average food and lack of customer service this place is over rated. There are plenty of other great places around the neighborhood that are better. Even if it was the last restaurant open I would still not go back to it. I would give this restaurant zero stars but yelp forced me to give it at least 1
(1)Mark M.
My partner & I went to Irazu this past Friday for the first time. We loved it so much that we took friends and went back again on Saturday! Our friends loved it as much as we did. Both nights we were told there would be about a 40-minute wait but we were seated before that. The waitstaff is very friendly and helpful. No attitude whatsoever. Complimentary chips & salsa are provided while you look over the menu. I highly recommend the Chifrito (an appetizer of pork belly served over beans & rice and topped with pico di gallo & avocado), the Pepito sandwich (with steak) is extremely flavorful & large, the empanadas (I really liked the spinach & cheese) and the yucca fries with mojo (garlic oil). Our entire bill...for 4 people...was around $64 and we definitely didn't walk away hungry! Can't wait to go back. One of my new favorite restaurants!
(4)Carmen C.
Ordered today some lunch and had it delivered by Eat24. Ordered a steak burrito, Empanadas, large chifrijo, steak Casado, chicken mixed with rice, steak sandwich, and large maduros. Not only did it hit the spot, but we got it super fast! Thank you Henry and your crazy brother Gerardo for the wonderful food and super fast delivery service. We will definitely be ordering again soon!
(5)S.E. A.
Tasty and fresh. We loved the cabbage salad that came with everything -- perfect compliment to the richer, spicier meats and black beans. Definitely order the special house salsa, too. The dark, hard chips suggest it's time to change the oil in the deep fryer.
(4)Iman W.
One word: patacones. Our group tried a lot of stuff. I had the chicken sandwich with avocado. Yum. The green sauce that came with their complimentary chips was a bit much for someone with extremely low tolerance for spiciness, and yet I kept eating it. The beef and potato empanadas could have used a little bit more flavor, but are still worth trying. And the chifrijo is interesting...in a good way. It has a lot of layers to it. But in the end, it all comes back to the patacones. Sooooo good. The roasted garlic oil is potent but you won't care, I promise you. Your taste buds will be in their happy place. Despite all we got, the bill was reasonable. BYOB. Cash only. Gets really busy on weekends, so let that be your warning, you may have to wait a bit if you're with a bigger group. And they deliver, so there is no reason to not try this place out as soon as possible. Go. Do it. Peer pressure. All the cool kids are doing it!
(5)Kelleen L.
I am a fan. A big fan. I should probably share what I have had and LOVED.... Skirt steak. Amazing. Oatmeal shake.... i get it with soy, so good. Casado, one of my favorites, i get it with Chicken. Their steak sandwich is amazing, too. I love cheese empanadas.. theirs are pretty good. Sometimes it is a hit or miss with these. i have had their beef and potato and it was pretty dry. I usually get one cheese, and sometimes it is a little soggy. Other times it is perfect. The Restaurant itself it cute. I like the vibe you get when you sit outside.
(4)Jennifer P.
Really enjoy going to Irazu. They have the best veggie burrito in town (says someone who usually won't get anything but steak), and it's BYOB. The only disappointment I've had with Irazu was getting delivery through Grub Hub, in which we waited 3 hours for a couple burritos. That was rough and will never be repeated.
(4)Tim S.
CASH ONLY We arrived for lunch and were seated right away by an incredibly cheery server who was pretty on point as the lunch crowd was filing in fairly quick. We received our water and he took a drink order arriving back with chips and salsa to take our meal order. Nice spicy salsa that had the right amount of kick without being to overpowering. I went with the Pepito sandwich. Great blend of steak (or chicken) thick sauteed onions, cheese, beans, and Lizano sauce. What is the Lozano Sauce you ask... sweet and spicy deliciousness. My buddy had the Casado which looked fantastic too. Food was great, service was on point, and the prices were more than fair for the amount of food served... nice overall experience. CASH ONLY
(4)Michelle K.
This place rocks socks! I really had no idea what to expect when it came to Costa Rican food but was pleasantly surprised and happy with the service. We were in town for a good friend's wedding and wanted to take advantage of the local Scoutmob deal. The oatmeal shake tasted like a liquid oatmeal cookie! YUM! I had the raspberry smoothie and it was perfect! My steak burrito with guacamole and sour cream was non-greasy and super filling. The boyfriend had the chicken casado. I had a taste and enjoyed the sauteed onions with the pan seared chicken. Overall, the chicken casado tasted a tad bland but they do serve large portions so be prepared to be stuffed/ fully satisfied. :)
(4)Jessica M.
I have been here twice. Both times were excellent, but the second time I was really able to enjoy it because I got more adventurous with the menu since I knew everything that was served would be delicious!! Most important thing: OATMEAL SHAKE!! YES! YES! YES!!! It is a must get! I got it with soy and it was amazing!! Other suggestions would be the guac, the patacones (the garlic on the side is key!!), and vegetable paella (all vegetarian). Hope this place continues to do well and is around for many years to come!!
(5)Alana T.
The cosmos were working against me. My momma always said, good things come in threes, well, nah, she didn't, but I'm telling you, how I ended up eating here today was a straight up SET UP! 1) I had already bookmarked this spot to try after reading soooo many expressive reviews. 2) I went to do laundry 4 days ago, and passed this place on my way to the laundromat. I was like, "there it goes"! 3) I was volunteering with the red cross and they ordered this for lunch...YESTERDAY! 4) My friend and I needed lunch today, and this popped in my head! If these are not good indications that I needed to try this place ASAPTUALLY, then I don't know when I should take a hint! I really enjoyed this place. I ordered the Chiles Rellenos. YUMMMMMMM! It came with rice, AMAZINGLY perfected fried gooey, crunchy plantains. Refried beans, and yellow rice. I was STUFFED!!!! My friend had the the vegetarian burrito. She said it was okay. We also ordered 2 of the raved about empanadas. The beef and rice, and the spinach and cheese. Here's where I'm not happy. The stuffing wasn't AMAZING. It was just okay. They were pretty small, for 3.00. However, what is WONDERFUL about those empanadas was the CRUST, the dough, the covering, the protection of the filling. OH MY! There's crack cocaine in that crust! Our waitress asked us how the empanadas were. I said, they were okay. Pretty unenthusiastically. She said, that doesn't sound convincing. She pushed me, so I was honest. I said, there was something AWESOME about it, and something mediocre about it. She asked, what was mediocre? I said, the filling. When she brought our bill, she brought me a coupon for 2 free empanadas. I WAS BLOWN! The food was GREAT The service was GREAT Will I be back? HELLLLLLLS JYEAH!
(4)Emily B.
We rolled in around 8:30 starving and pretty tired. There was a wait for a table and as much as I wanted to stick around, we opted to order our food to go. I got the steak sandwich and an oatmeal shake and my husband ordered the steak and onions with Costa Rican rice. We paid the nice man and then went out to the sidewalk to wait for our food. A few minutes later my shake was ready and they tracked me down. I could not have been happier. I took a few slurps of that heavenly concoction and was instantly addicted. I want an oatmeal shake every day for the rest of my life. I am convinced that the steak sandwich is also created by the gods. I added the avocado and cheese and it was amazing! I was pretty mad that I could only eat half of it. However, I got over that when I realized I would have leftovers. Hooray! Irazu was a pretty chill spot. The hostess and every worker there were extremely friendly and appeared happy to be there. We will be going back to enjoy the patio seating, BYOB, and other menu items.
(5)Adam K.
This place is totally what Guy Fieri hyped it up to be. The Empanadas are delish, as is the grilled steak, but get it with sweet plantains on the side. Wash it down with a soy oatmeal shake and you're in Costa Rican heaven. Can't wait to go back! Also, this place gets packed around dinner. In the summer it gets packed and everyone wants a seat outside, if you don't want to wait then opt for a seat inside.
(4)Christina M.
I really like Irazu. The prices are good. I'm a fan of the steak sandwich. I'm not a fan of their yuca...it lacks flavor. The waiter....((can't remember his name)) The big guy. He's always awesome and has an amazing memory... the cashier which i think is the owner....can be a bit warmer...he's always a little cold...snatches the money and kinda tosses it back... Hey I know your busy but GEEZ!
(4)Lauren F.
Oh Irazu, to say you were quite a disappointment is an understatement. We came in with a group of 4 on a Friday night around 7:30. They told us the wait would be about 40-45 minutes, no big deal-we cracked open our beers while waiting on the sidewalk out front. Over an hour later, we were seated. The service was painfully slow. We had to drink our wine out of giant plastic water glasses. These giant glasses plus our regular water glasses left no room on our tiny, crowded table. The spinach and cheese empanadas were mainly just over-fried dough with little filling. And to re-emphasize....service was slow to non-existent. The saving grace was my vegetarian burrito which was very, very good, but doesn't quite make up for all the other shortcomings. We knew it was getting close to closing time, and since getting the attention of any staff there was nearly impossible, we grabbed our waiter midway through our meal to put in an order for the oatmeal shake. He then informs us that the kitchen is closing and they can't make it. Seriously?? Is this standard restaurant procedure, because it would have really been nice if our waiter had come by and maybe mentioned the kitchen was closing soon in case we needed anything else-just a thought. Service really ruined it for me and I can assure you I will not be back.
(2)Tita A.
First timer and the reviews are accurate! Authentic, fresh and tasty food. I will be a regular here!
(5)Jason C.
Big portions, yummy food, get an oatmeal shake. All you need to know.
(4)Bob F.
AMAZING FOOD, horrible dining experience. It was so damn cold on the patio that it made it impossible to enjoy the dinner. There is a heater hanging that wasn't on. Everyone was freezing. Killed all the enjoyment I would have gotten from the delicious food. Oh you love the oatmeal milkshakes? Good luck trying to drink one while you cant feel anything. Please turn on your heat and pretend you care about your customers.
(2)Susu A.
This place has amazing food but I couldn't enjoy my lunch with the super loud heavy metal music they were playing it just didn't go right with theme!!! We didn't want to complain because it was our first time I didn't know if it was the usual music they play but we did at the end to the cook he was very understanding and nice he apologized and changed the music but we were done by that time maybe some costa rican music or some type of Latin American music to get that full experience would be better so you don't scare off the newbies
(3)Ida G.
Our visit to Irazu could have been a total flop, as three colleagues and myself were visiting Chicago in relation to a project we're working on, and due to someone's scheduling flub we ended up having lunch meetings with two different groups just an hour apart. Unfortunately the second group didn't know this until we were already seated (we thought we were just going for coffee), and we were uniformly bummed out because the menu here was so much more interesting than at the place we had just come from. Had we know we were coming to Irazu, we would have had a much lighter first lunch. Luckily, it all worked out, as most of us ordered one of their (apparently) famous shakes and those who had already eaten shared a variety of tantalizing appetizers such as yucca chips, fried plantains, bread pudding, and of course chips and salsa. This was my first time having Costa Rican food, and I loved how flavorful it was without being too spicy. I do love the hot stuff, but it's great when foods can stand on their own without a ton of chili pepper. Upon our very friendly server's recommendation, I ordered an oatmeal shake made with soy milk, which turned out to be a great choice. Pretty much everyone at the table ordered something similar, some mixing it up with combinations like oatmeal and chocolate, and everyone was pleased in the end. The only thing I didn't like was that the inside was full up (they accidentally gave our reserved table away to another group who arrived just before us, thinking they were us), so we ended up sitting outside. The 'L' kept roaring by every few minutes, making it difficult to hear one another as we were in a large group. Also, they only take cash. Apart from that, we had an excellent experience and I would be more than happy to come back next time I'm in town.
(4)Kevin Y.
This is an updated review of Irazu. I've upgraded it one star for the following reason: I was blown away at how quickly the owner of Irazu (Henry) contacted me after my uneventful experience with my casada dish. He personally contacted me and refunded my meal. This goes to show how much the owners actually care about the feedback from the diners, and always want to make a lasting impression. What blew me away was he even personally mailed me a small gift certificate to Irazu. He took the time out of his day to make sure that all his patrons have a good experience, or at the very least, give it a shot. Job well done to Henry for being an awesome owner.
(3)Kate C.
I've never been to Irazu but I get dinner through Grubhub often, including last night. It is good food and particularly good considering the price. I usually have enough for a filling dinner and little extra rice and beans or plantains for breakfast or lunch the next day. I will continue to order from this restaurant and hope to visit it in person sometime soon!
(5)Steve R.
A group of us recently went to Irazu for dinner and sat on the patio. Since there were 15 of us, we went with prix fixte option ( irazuchicago.com/pre-fix… ) Everything was delicious and food was plentiful. Our favorites were the plantains and the chicken breast casado. Note: if you plan to bring a group, be sure to call well in advance.
(4)Ana A.
Yes, yes, we know. Unique food, fun patio, tasty empanadas, reasonable prices, byob, oatmeal shakes... But why has no one mentioned Irazu's REAL draw: a seriously hot server. The one with the tattoos. You know who you are. Call me.
(4)Oscar S.
Found out about Irazu a while back doing my " research" on Yelp.Went online to learn everything I could about their menu before coming in the first time.Even saw the Diners,Drive In's and Dive's episode on Youtube countless times.Now I come in every so often to get my fix of chicharron and whatever milkshake Im in the mood for.Never disappoints me!!! NEVER!!!! I've recommended them countless times to my customers(Im a cabdriver.).I've even put the DDD episode on my iPhone for them to watch while we're on our way to their destination.I've done that quite a few times.If you've never been there,I 100% recommend you do.It feels like Im not even in Chicago sometimes.Feels like Im on vacation in some far away tropical place!!!!
(5)K L.
Irazu has some great food and I love that they are BYOB. It is often difficult to get in here without a wait (particularly on weekend nights), but it's still a cool place. The first time that I had Irazu, my husband and I just ordered delivery and weren't that impressed (lukewarm food, not very flavorful, etc.). We decided to actually go there and try it again, and things were much better. I love the Pepito sandwich (chicken for me, steak for my husband) and I just tried their ceviche today, which was tasty and seemed pretty fresh. My husband likes the empanadas (beef) and the shakes are great too. We now live only a few blocks away from Irazu, so we usually just get takeout. They always seem really busy and sometimes the wait for picking up our food is longer than what we were told, but the food is consistently tasty. Irazu isn't necessarily a go-to place for us - mostly because of the wait - but it is definitely a good option.
(4)Olive H.
I have been going to this restaurant for several years, and have never been disappointed! I am an ovo/lacto vegetarian and love the veggie burrito, potato tacos, and pretty much all of their veggie choices. My meat eating friends always find a delicious offering. The staff is gracious, friendly and attentive. It is a fun and relaxed atmosphere and I highly recommend Irazu to anyone looking for a friendly and yummy Costa Rican meal!
(5)Janine D.
A longtime favorite among my friends, especially in the summer, when we bring in our own rum or vodka and order mixers from the staff: They have these amazing sweet, fluffy syrupy drinks that are perfect for a hot summer night. Even aside from those mixers, the shakes -- especially the oatmeal, surprisingly -- are refreshing and delicious, like a thicker version of horchata. The empanadas are delicious but I've always thought they're a little overpriced for what you get; my favorites are the pepito or Costa Rican sandwich, or the chifrijo "appetizer," which for one person is a big meal: crispy pork, avocado, fresh tomatoes and onions, black beans and rice, all with chips. All these options are cheap, hearty, and juicy. This is a popular place, so expect a wait, especially on weekends, but it's worth it, especially for a group wanting to sit in the open air and enjoy a party atmosphere.
(4)Katie L.
This place is the best!! The owner/management are the nicest, most accommodating people in the world. They now have a private room across the street for private parties and it's perfect for birthdays & bachelor(ette) parties. We had my sisters bachelorette party in there in May...it was everything we could have asked for and more. We had our own room with private service, our own bathroom (key for 30 girls), delicious food, and even pitchers of margaritas (if you bring tequila)! It's BYOB, which is always great. They gave us as much chips & salsa as we could handle, let us decorate the room, bring coolers of beer, and blast our own music! We had so much fun there that it was hard to leave! The people serving us & arranging our evening were so unbelievable! I cannot say enough nice things about it ...every person we were with could not stop complimenting it too! Smiles, good food, & great times all around! Thank you, Irazu!!
(5)Bun B.
Take cash or use an atm there.
(4)Kels E.
Irazu is so good. Delivery is always very quick, nothing is ever forgotten and every thing on their menu is fantastic! Their prices are very reasonable, too, Definitely one of my favorite restaurants.
(5)Cristina A.
We've been going here since it was a lil shack, and pretty much pick up only, love to see how much it's grown! Always the milanesa sandwich, chifrijo y patacones. We venture out, but this is our most frequent picks here and they are always consistent ;). The servers are verrrry friendly, one guy has been there for years that we see, forgot his name, but he's awesome! ;). The tamarindo drinks are good here, not too watery or sugary, perfect! Please get a liquor license soon! ;)
(5)Juliana R.
I came here yesterday and it was amazing! I had the pepito sandwich and a milkshake. The bread was nice and crispy,the lizano sauce was delicious. My milkshake was kind of watered down but still good. The service was great and our server was very friendly! The only thing was our table was wobbly because the napkins under it were holding it steady and were slipping out, I looked around and there was another table with napkins under it to also keep it balanced. They should probably fix their table problem but other than that I will definately be back!
(4)Sandra A.
This place didn't wow me. I wanted it to, but it didn't. My mamey milkshake was absolutely delicious but that was the meal highlight for me. The ceviche was fresh and a good portion but neither it nor the potato tacos were destination worthy. Service was attentive and friendly. Cash only.
(3)Gina S.
Irazu? Yes, I DO-razu. I was totally intrigued by the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives connection. This was gonna be good and it was EPIC! I had the pepito sandwich with chicken. I loved how they used black beans like a spread. Words like "pretty awesome" don't even come close to describing how yummy it was. I'm drooling just thinking about it. The hubby had El Tico with chicken; really good favors all sautéed together, served with a few slices of sweet plantain, side of black beans, slaw and rice. Nothing but love for that dish too. For Chicago this place has great prices. We also split an oatmeal banana milkshake (2% milk is what they use, soy is the other option). I have to say I was a little surprised it wasn't cold, it was almost room temp. I fixed that with some ice cubes from my water. Once it got chilled down a bit, I could full enjoy what was probably one of the best milkshakes ever! I was a little skeptical about the oatmeal factor, I was expecting it to be grainy but it was so smooth and thick and utterly amazing. If I was smart I would have order my own and then another one for the road. Cash only.
(5)Mark S.
So good, so good, I want to go to Irazu now! Costa Rican food is known to be flavorful and Irazu does not fall short. The food is very tasty though not very spicy, so you wont have to worry about crying unless you are into that sorta thing. Everything I have tried is amazing and just thinking about the food makes me hungry. The milkshakes in summer are a must, with my favorite being the Chocolate Oatmeal Milkshake, though I dont think there is a bad milkshake choice other then no milkshake at all. If it is too cold for a milkshake just have hot chocolate and be warm and happy. They have tons of veggie options including their veggie burrito, veggie tacos, and beet salad. Dont forget to throw in some fried plantains to seal the deal and you will leave a happy camper. The food is all decently priced so dont worry about adding those extras. Irazu is in a good location that is both easy to get to and has relatively easy to snag street parking. The patio is great and everything makes you feel like having a worry free pura vida dinner. The only thing that can get in the way are the lines of people and how packed it gets inside. However, if you are in a rush just order carry out and enjoy Irazu on the street or in your home if you can make it that far with the amazing food.
(5)Reenu J.
Cash only..don't forget..if you do there is an ATM machine...great food..great people..try it..
(5)Kelly M.
Last summer I stumbled up on this place completely famished and frustrated. Our first dining option didn't work out, and this was our "plan B"......What an amazing surprise this was!!! I literally can't WAIT for my next visit!! Things I love: it's in a convenient area, but not "in the belly of the whale" in terms of chaos the service the food the server educating me on the menu items (I'd never been to Costa Rica) the liquor store literally across the street to make the byob SUPER easy lazing on summer evenings on their patio their "no fuss" approach to really good food it's literally STEPS off the blue line Things I don't love: Ummmm..... Ummmmmmm...... I got nothin'
(5)Ronak S.
I've been a non-contributing Yelper since 2007 and my dining experience makes me want to write a review. I came to Irazu after many recommendations and a few catering run-ins. There was a 30 minute wait. The host Henry was very helpful in guiding me to a liquor store to pick up my BYOB selection. He even offered to make me watermelon based drinks at no charge which were amazingly refreshing even with the cheapest small bottle of rum we picked up. Then he earmarked us an outdoor seat. Our server was amazing. Very passionate. Great recommendation on the shrimp with vegetables. The sauce was so good that in every bite I was trying really hard to taste more of the sauce than the shrimp. That's the point when I realized the flavor was more appealing to me regardless of meat selection. That's called good cookin. When we started checking out the cashier was very friendly and very interested in our experience. Every one that works here is passionate and happy about their work. We ended up talking to the host Henry again about the food and our experience and he was very happy to have us dine there. He gave me a business card and asked me to text him next time I come and to see him. That's when we discovered that Henry was the owner. That explained a lot about our successful experience. When the owner takes an active, and passionate role in a restaurant, and it's customers it is bound to be a hit.
(5)Pam D.
Glad that I noticed other reviewers saying that the oatmeal shake is awesome. I got one, and it is awesome! I had it with soymilk. Looking forward to when they have other milks... The thing that sucks about this place is the wait to get in. Its a popular neighborhood spot and I don't think they take reservations. We had a 30 minute wait for any table for two. Not sure how long we waited, but it was awhile. The food was amazing and fresh which made up for the wait. My boyfriend like to order seafood where ever we go and complain how it's either not fresh or over cooked. He liked the shrimp here. They have several vegetarian options. I had two empandas, one mushroom and one spinach and cheese. Both very good and fresh! I was saving room for flan which was a disappointment too. We'll definitely go back when we're in the neighborhood!
(4)Heather J.
All I have to say is: Milanesa Sandwich (the sauce is so amazing and what definitely differentiates the sandwich from a typical torta), Chips & Guacamole (both fresh!), and Oatmeal Shake (need I say more?). The only three things you need to be happy in life! Their Horchatas are really good, too. This place is super casual and very, very inexpensive - two people can eat for under $25, for sure. It's basically a fast food restaurant, except with a waiter. Their entire seating area is technically outdoors, too. It's one of those things you'd have to see yourself to figure it out... I'm really not sure how it works in the winter..... Overall, I really love the food, the atmosphere is pretty weird, and I'm not at all a fan of their "Cash Only" policy, even if they have an ATM on hand.
(3)Jitka R.
Extremely loud music, overly spicy and salty taste to cover not so fresh food, in my opinion. Had fish tacos and the fish tasted more as a paper cartoon box. Beans were the best and most edible part from all. Ceviche were also OK. The most pleasant from the whole dining experience was very nice service. But otherwise so so food to come back. No thanks.
(3)Angie M.
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!
(4)Adam J.
Very good, very traditional Costa Rican. Often tough to get a seat. BYOB is nice. The food is a little under seasoned, but that's standard for a lot of CR fare. Seating is right to the point of being uncomfortable. Like it a lot, don't love it.
(4)Caitlin G.
I've eaten in here and had delivery. Their service was great in both cases. I love that they have lots of vegetarian options and everything I've ordered has been tasty and fresh. I only wish they accepted credit cards in the restaurant. We were able to pay with a card for delivery.
(4)Arthur M.
Irazu used to be my go to spot when I was vegan. I would get the veg plate and loved it. Now I'm not vegan I get it with melted cheese.
(5)Terrance H.
Got to say, it's been a while since I've been here but I was reminded of the place recently and after thinking bout it while browsing yelp I wanted to leave a positive review. I original went here on a date for the first time based on a recommendation from my dates friend. Great choice by the way. No longer dating that young lady :( (my fault so don't feel too bad for me) but grateful to be introduced to this place. N a nutshell, I'm not Costa Rican so I don't know how authentic they are but the food is damn good. I've had several things since I've been back, but the pepito sandwich stands out to me the most. Excellent sandwich, I had it with black beans instead of the standard pinto beans (substitutions are in problem). sandwich melted in my mouth, just enough juicy on the steak to make it flavorful without being greasy. The wait is never to long while, and you have the choice of sitting in or outside. Outside area is great even on chilly nights cause they have heat lamps out there. great touch. Place is BYOB, which is always a good thing and I even got recommendations on what beers pair well with different dishes for future visits. Can't remember what the are our I would have listed them. lol Finally, I tried an oatmeal shake, smoothie or something. it was odd but good. Oscar recommended it, brought me a big cup and said if I didn't like it it was on the house. I enjoyed it, wasn't the greatest thing in the world but I'm always open to new things, yet it didn't appear on my bill. thanks Oscar. Damn, I gotta go. I'm thinking about the chick I was dating at the time and now I may go find her number and stalk her a bit.... not really, well maybe just a little good eating...
(4)Ron S.
Pre-order Pizza for dine in? Sure. But, pre-order Irzau for dine in? Making our way back to the burbs from the museum campus with an overtired 2 year old, my wife and I had a craving for Irazu. On a whim and 10 minutes away, we called to see if we can pre-order our food. Our order was taken. When we arrived, we were treated like rock stars! We were instantly identified on the way in and led to a reserved table with high chair. As we were taking off our jackets, our two casado dinners was served immediately! Unbelievable! Haha! Someone from another table glanced over and was like, what did you order?? Can't say enough about the accommodating, down-to-earth, good customer service. GO HERE.
(5)Gina F.
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!
(5)Natasha C.
LOVE THIS PLACE. The food is immaculate (I reserve that word for very few eateries). With that said, I have to admit 2 things. 1.) I work fairly close to this place. 2.) I live fairly far from this place. I order for lunch (amazing). I order to take home for dinner for myself and the husband (still amazing). I am writing this review mostly to brag about the fish and platains. The tilapia is some of the BEST flavoring of that particular fish I've ever had. the vegetables are always well seasoned and it's simply a wonderfully light combination. I also love their fried platain. Believe it or not, some places can mess this up. But their plantains always take me back to "the country" in Jamaica (Jamaican know what I'm taking about with that reference). Try the shakes. I LOVE them because they can be made with soy (I'm NOT a milk drinker). So, you can't beat that. I've never been disappointed by them and once, the delivery guy called me just to tell me that he was on his way ( I thought that was sweet). In short, EXCELLENT food, excellent delivery service, and all for a great price. Now, if they only made t-shirts.....hmmmm.
(5)Hillary V.
We waited in line for about 2 hours which was mostly due to a bachelor party taking place in the back room. However, we were nicely taken care of while waiting outside with chips and guac. When we finally were seated, everything else moved along smoothly. Our waiter was really great. The food was amazing. Our group had the the chicken mixed with rice, the chile relleno, chifrijo, empanadas, the veggie burrito, patacones, and the oatmeal shake. All the food was amazing. However, the patacones was strange. Stick with the sweet plantains. The oatmeal shake was phenomenal. To top it all off, it was byob. We were incredibly satisfied with our experience. The food was just as we remembered on our Costa Rican vacation many years ago, minus the amazing Costa Rican ketchup.
(5)Melanie V.
I'm here to sing Irazu's praises. Each and every one of them. Let's begin..... +Amazing, amazing service. Any waiter that references 'Filipino empanadas' is a winner in my book. Adoration at its finest. +BYOB - 2 bottles of wine, a case of Blue Moon, a bottle Jack - perfection. +Empanadas galore! Our fun waiter suggested we get one of each kind of the table. Good idea! My favs were the beef and potato and spinach and cheese. Yummy crust! +Steak casado - steak, onions, costa rican rice, plantains and an egg on top. Delicious! The portion size was super huge and enough for my friend and I to split. +They're SO DOWN with you bringing in your own bday cake. AND they sing! So cute, so cute. +LOVE the atmosphere. It's just fun and happy and lovely. +They serve breakfast at all hours of the day. Chorizo and eggs, anyone? +Cash only, but their prices are so effin' cheap that you will be thankful that it's still cash only. I mean, $5 for the sandwiches?? Yes, please. Ay. Love this place. So good, so good.
(5)Char Y.
really packed place on a weekend night! we waited 1 hour for the food but the main complaint i have is about the service chifrijo casado el tico pepito sandwich empanada oat meal shake we were seated right next to the station where they dumped the dirty dishes and glasses. the servers were just throwing everything in there loudly and ruthlessly. of course one of the server spilled lots of wine on my brother's jacket, and all of our shoes. really? never go back!!
(1)James H.
Irazu is a great place to eat ! I think i have been there at least a dozen times and always had a great meal and a great experience / and i can speak for others i took there too / never heard a complaint / only praise : )
(5)Jeff P.
My fiance and I had never tasted Costa Rican food and really enjoyed this. The menu reminded me a lot of mexican food, though it did point out the authentic Costa Rican items that were very delicious. The patio was nice, the service and food were good and it's BYOB...we will be back.
(4)Caroline A.
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!
(5)Derek H.
Picked the perfect friday evening to eat outside. Started with guac, and patacones with black beans. Those two are a feast in itself. Once the first basket of chips was gone, none were ever offered again. There was still guac to be consumed! I had the pepito sandwich, she had Steak and yucca mojo instead of plantains. Someone on Yelp had suggested the Oatmeal milkshake. It's good, but don't go out of your way to have it- BYOB instead.
(4)Mark B.
Very good food and the milkshakes alone are worth driving over there. When we went, the patio was very busy so just sat inside. The staff is fun and the noise level is tolerable so not missing anything by skipping the patio. Sandwiches are excellent. Great value. Hi Henry, I had the Chifrijo to start (incredible) followed by the Pepito Sandwich. For the shake, I think it was the strawberry oatmeal. All of it was over the top good and recommended by our waiter. Will be back soon.
(4)Laura R.
Cash only so keep that in mind. Love the pepito sandwich, the Oatmeal Shake, and the broiled yuca with garlic mojo. And BYOB! I take all of my guests here.
(5)Kit G.
A gem of a BYOB with satisfying inexpensive food. I met a friend here for dinner and loved it. We were shocked when our bill for an appetizer and 2 entrees only came to $28. This might become my go to BYOB. We arrived at 6:30 on a gorgeous Tuesday and got a table outside no problem. We got started with an order of fried plantains which were so crisp and served with garlic. What a perfect flavor combination. I had the veggie burrito which somehow costs less than $10 even though it is a substantial amount of food, and I had spinach and mushrooms added. It was a great burrito. My friend ordered the Shimp Platter which was a lot of food. I will probably get a platter next time since I was a little jealous. Irazu is a fun dining experience and a great place to grab a bite with friends. It is very casual. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. Great service.
(4)Laura L.
Best vegetarian burrito anywhere. And it's $5! I've lived in Wicker Park for 12 years, and I have unending affection for this quaint, bustling restaurant.
(5)Genefe D.
So all I've ever had here are the burritos because I can't help! It's so good. Especially when you add plantains. It adds a little sweetness to it. I've had this once grub hub and then once in the restaurant. Oh and don't forget the oatmeal shake! It's out of this world. It reminds me of horchata. Love this place! It's definitely on my place to hit up when I go back to Chicago.
(4)Natalija S.
Came by here with a friend after hearing all the good reviews, I must say I am pleased with my experience here. I had the vegetarian sandwich, which was the tastiest veggie sandwich I ever had, and their bread was toasted to perfection. The yucca fries were alright, they weren't as good as I thought they would be. The oatmeal shake was delicious, I was debating on whether I should get a second one, but unfortunately I didn't. I'm definitely coming back here next time with my half Costa Rican friend to try some more yummy food.
(4)Rose M.
Loved this place! I ordered the pepito sandwich with plantains- delicious! My friend and I also shared some cheese & spinach empanadas which were fantastic. The black bean soup was amazing - we dipped the empanadas in it! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Bre P.
I love the Shrimp and Rice dish! We asked our server which items to get and he didn't steer us wrong with any of his suggestions. There were a few of us so we ordered different items and passed them around buffet style. Its BYOB and you can rent the whole patio. Its a great place with inexpensive prices.
(5)Sabrina C.
This restaurant deserves 5 stars just because the owner takes pride in his business and takes care of his customer's needs. I really appreciate how they addressed my concerns from my last review. I will be back in the near future to dine in and try other menu items.
(5)Michelle M.
I love going to Irazu. I don't get to come out here often but when I do I indulge. I always order the oatmeal shake is to die for! The last time I went I ordered the vegetarian sandwich and it was so good. I've also ordered the pepito sandwich. This is a must go to if in the area or heck if you want a good sandwich. Its worth the drive.
(4)Sarah S.
I got the Onioned Steak (thin rib eye sauteed with onions, served with yellow rice, beans, patacones & cabbage salad). It was soo tasty. It could have used a higher patacones to everything else ratio, and the cabbage seemed kind of like an afterthought, but it was really good. I have eaten there before, and will definitely eat there again!
(4)Nicholas G.
Excellent! Though I've never eaten inside, every take out order I've made has been delicious! My Wife introduced me to this place and even though we've moved out of state, we still try to make it a point to stop in whenever we are in Chicago. From the steak and chicken Burritos to the Pepito (my personal favorite), Irazu is has great food for the price. The people have always been friendly and our orders have always been accurate. Thanks!
(5)Shara M.
I always order the veggie burritos with the vegan option. (Seriously, I'm addicted.) Was very happy today when I placed an order on GrubHub and a nice woman employee called to see if I wanted my cafe con leche with soy milk since she noticed I ordered the burritos vegan. Was super impressed with her notice to my order. Nothing but great food and fast deliveries. Obviously, I will keep ordering from them.
(5)Tennele B.
Omg!!! Ive been dreaming about the strawberry oatmeal milkshake that I had last week. My bestie and I went for dinner, and I can't wait to go back. We had empanadas (delicious), oatmeal shakes (again delicious), she ordered the tico (she loved it) and I had the chicken mixed with rice (I think somebody's grandma works in that kitchen because, I'll say it again delicious). The food was inexpensive and the service was great.
(5)Karen S.
Super cheap, byo, big portions of delicious food (fyi - I am a costa rican newbie... but I loved the shrimp with veggies and plantains) and good service...what more could you ask for?
(5)Sitka C.
This is a two star, from early this very afternoon, and I feel this one is earned. . And should any questions need to be asked I would not hesitate to answer. Let me get down to it: both my wife and I are feeling a bit ill, she with a queasy feeling and me with heartburn, most probably from the Costa Rican Sandwich. Just upon a bit of light reading on past yelps there had indeed been several recent mentions of people feeling ill and unsatisfied with the sandwich. Irazu, read your yelps and please look into this. Additionally, the sandwich was almost drinkable it was so soaked in mayo. As you are a Costa Rican Restaurant, I would not choose THAT sandwich to represent my country. (snarky fun ending)
(2)Dan C.
I absolutely love this place - for me, it's one of my top 5 restaurants in the city as far as value for what you get. I love every meal I have had here, but this particular review is for the meal I had on Saturday night, which was their family-style prix fixe menu. I had no idea they even offered this, but for large groups, it is mandatory, and it's terrific. For $18.50 per person, you get a Chifrijo appetizer (basically pico de gallo with black beans, fried pork and rice) and a salad to start. The main course is giant bowls of chicken, steak, plantains, gallo pinto and grilled vegetables, which was more than enough for our party of 12. As if that wasn't enough, dessert is an oatmeal shake for everyone, which tastes an awful lot like horchata and when rum is added, tastes phenomenal. It's hard to ask for much more from the only Costa Rican restaurant in the city. Authentic food, BYOB, and reasonable prices. I'll always make a point to return here.
(5)Helena G.
This place doesn't accept cards which is annoying. The food is good but simple, it's comfort food from Costa Rica. We had a large plate of ceviche with patacons as appetizer. It was good, the issue is that it only has a type of fish. For main dish we had pork chops and el Tico. The plates are large and they have lots of different things (rice, beans, salad, plantains...).
(3)Luis C.
I've been to Costa Rica! The food here is far superior to anything that I had in Costa Rica. So I would call this a Costa Rican inspired restaurant. Good environment if you are with friends, not so much if you're looking to have a quiet dinner for two. The staff is great, everybody is usually very personable and work with a sense of urgency. They really seem to want to provide good service. I like the dish named El Tico and I've enjoyed it on several occasions. I also enjoy their bistec encebollado (steak & onions). The portions are big and prices reasonable especially for the amount of food you get. So... If you have room for dessert then PLEASE have their bread pudding. If you don't have room order it anyway and take it home so when you do have room, it's that good! You won't be disappointed, in fact you'll thank me later. FIN
(4)Rhonda G.
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!
(5)Mental Jewelry ..
Pros: - Close to the blue line L- station - The veggie burrito (minus cheese & sour cream, add zucchini) made my taste buds happy (too spicy with jalapeños and too big for one person), so good to share (thanks to follow Yelpers for the praise so I knew what to order) - friendly service - reasonably priced Cons: - the loud, annoying laugh by some guy at a near by table - server did not write down everything and forgot a drink order until he was reminded when he brought our food I will have to go back another time to try the oatmeal shake. Recommended. You should try this place.
(4)Carolina E.
Love this place!! My favorite is the oatmeal shake OMG! The staff are very attentive and nice. I've been here many times bringing new friends! Keep doing what you do :)
(5)Dana A.
I have been wanting to try this place for awhile!! I got the Chile Relleno! It was delicious!! They have great vegetarian options! The service here was great and everyone was very friendly/helpful. The plantains were so good too! I will for sure be back here! Can't wait to get it delivered too sometime!! CASH ONLY and the best part of all BYOB!
(5)Jeka M.
Ooo, oatmeal/chocolate shake recs were accurate. Yum! Also, BYOB. However, the tico tacos were dry and the sauce was nothing special... they were pretty much flautas. :/ The torta was similar to a philly cheese steak and nothing to yelp over. Service was good, it's a cute atmosphere, but the waiting is awkward because you are in the middle of the room and right on top of people. Prices weren't bad, either.
(3)Clazier D.
I love this place! Delicious food, GREAT service and BYOB... I'M IN HEAVEN! Everyone working here was very nice as well, how refreshing. I can't wait to come back.
(5)Don B.
I was recently in Costa Rica and wanted a taste of the excellent food. Rather than make it myself, I decided to test out Irazu. First off, the food does not taste as good as the food in Costa Rica. That said, it's still good. I ordered Chicken Casado...comes with blackbeans, plantains and salad. I also got a Guanabana with milk drink (just about as good as in CR). I wanted to try the oatmeal one, but didn't have any room left inside of me. Blackbeans=good Chicken=ok...had some spongy texture...not sure why salad=it was a salad (I liked that it had radishes included) plantains=ok...some were not fried enough +1 star for having Lizano Sauce (if you haven't tried it, find it and try it on rice, chicken, beef etc.) Service=Excellent Bathrooms=1 single bathroom that was clean and pleasant Price=moderate. Much more expensive than CR, but that's expected in Chicago The restaurant is a good size. Parking is decent, but you'll have to search around for a spot...no big deal. I would probably eat here again.
(4)Claudia S.
It took me a long time to finally try Irazu considering several of my friends would rave about it. I finally went there one day after work to meet a friend and loved it. A few months ago my mother wanted food and we were driving by when she said "how about there?" and I immediately pulled over. Don't have to ask me twice! I don't even remember everything I've tried from there, but oh man, the food is so good. The last time I went I asked one of the guys behind the counter what dishes he might recommend, but more importantly, which empandas he thought were the best. There are quite a few, and I probably should have written this review a lot sooner than I am, but oh man, those empanadas were delicious. I believe one of them was spinach and something. All I can say it, that guy didn't lie! I believe one of the things he recommended was the veggie burrito, but the best part was "I'm not gonna lie, the veggie (insert actual food item here) is delicious. Seriously, for veggies....yeah." I really like the sandwiches from here, but the best thing is definitely the Oatmeal shake! Everyone I know that's been here doesn't have a bad thing to say. The food is flavorful, quick and attentive service and the patio is perfect for those really nice days.
(5)Lauren R.
I will definitely be coming back! This place has something for everyone! Tons of vegetarian options and some of the best flan! Another great aspect about this place is that it is BYOB with no cork fee. They will even provide mixers for hard alcohol, big plus. The food is very reasonably priced and the menu is huge! The large patio provides a ton of seating and the service was fast. It was featured on Diners, Drive ins, and Dives for good reasons!
(5)Caity F.
My first few visits here were in the summer, and I didn't stray from the veggie burrito and oatmeal shake. The oatmeal milk shake is amazing - absolute perfection. I wonder how the other shakes tastes, but can't pass up the oatmeal. I've seen it very busy on the weekend, but almost totally empty on a chilly winter weeknight. The spicy dishes with beans, rice, and plantains warmed me from the inside out. A really delicious, affordable meal. Plus it's BYO
(4)James T.
One of the restaurants in Chicago that I always want to bring people to. The service is great. Always friendly, and the food comes quick. BYOB is free and they will open your beers and bring you an Ice bucket for wine. The food is awesome. If you want something small, their sandwiches are filling and delicious. The pepito and Costa Rican sandwich are amazing. If you want a plate, I love the liver and onions, and their pork chops. They give you really good portions. The food is defiantly worth the price. For the winter, they have heaters and a screen so you don't get too cold, but the summer is the best time to go and eat outside. I can't begin to list all of the food I had here. Definitely try this place out!!!
(5)Lauren P.
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.
(4)Tim H.
UPDATE: Almost immediately after writing my review, the owner contacted me to apologize for the service and told me to email him next time I plan on going and he'll make sure my experience is better. A+ customer service here. I was already planning on going back because the food is great. The fact that he took a few minutes to send me a note, that's the type of thing that goes a long way.
(4)Nilda L.
Never disappointed when I come here. I always order the Palmitos salad with chicken. It's so good. Hearts of palm, beets, avocado on a slaw with vinaigrette. Also good the steak sandwich, and favorite drink is agua de jaimaica with lime. .And my little guy approves. He loves their "giant"fries. Perfect for a warm day. Great prices, byob, cash only.
(4)J M.
Always happy on my trips to Irazu. Service is a bit low-key/no-frills, but the food is always enjoyable. I stick to the El Tico and the oatmeal shake, which are excellent, but the empanadas are also top notch too. I need to explore the other menu options. One thing I did notice on my last visit: when I took my El Tico leftovers home, I found the steak and onions to be extremely oily. Not sure if they are always like that and I never noticed because of the dim lighting in the restaurant.
(4)Valissa W.
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.
(4)Brigit T.
My mom was in town for the weekend and we were looking to try something we hadn't dabbled in before. A few friends recommended Irazu, and I'm so glad they did! We had to wait about 30-40 minutes which was expected on a Friday night. We had great seats on the patio and our server even uncorked our wine without a charge! He made some great menu suggestions and we ended up ordering all the items he loves. Our meal was fantastic - delicious, fresh, and the price was right too. My only complaint was that our server was extremely busy and seemed a little flustered, though he kept a smile on his face. We had to wait for our bill a little longer than I would have liked, but overall our server made some great suggestions and made our experience enjoyable. I'll definitely go back with friends sometime soon!
(4)Sarah M.
Solid service, casual and affordable dining, and delicious food has made Irazu one of my top spots for over a decade. I LOVE the Casado and Pepito sandwich (both house specialties) and their wide variety of delicious shakes.
(5)dan g.
Irazu has a great green salsa and for some reason I love their basic salad and hearts of palm salad. Beets, Raddishes, shredded cabbage and a really nice citrus vinaigrette dressing. Everything here is really good.
(5)Kat F.
Justin, eyeing my oatmeal shake: "Is that a safe amount of oatmeal for one human to consume?" Probably not, but if you profess to know anything about me you know I inhaled the whole thing. This oatmeal shake is legendary - before visiting Irazu I didn't even know oatmeal shakes were "a thing" but now I can't imagine not ordering one. Portions are plentiful and the veggie burrito is a steal at $4.95 for two fistfuls of food: enough black beans, yellow rice, cheese, tomato, avocado, sour cream and hot peppers to satisfy you for 2-3 meals. You'll leave stuffed to the brim and with nary a dent in your wallet. Three of us feasted like royalty and when a $25 bill came our way, my jaw remained gaping for a good ten minutes ( yelp.com/biz_photos/F7IQ… ).
(5)Kendal K.
If I could eat here every day, I probably would. Love this place so much. There is a huge vegetarian menu, but I almost always get the vegetarian tacos. They are huge, so I only get two. The only real bummer about this place is the wait. At the end of the week and on weekends, it takes about 30 mins to an hour for a table, and you have to wait outside... Which is very cold in the winter!! But honestly, the wait has always been worth it for me. Yum!
(5)Ruiz Garage Door I.
just got back with the wife and kids from Irazu. service was awsome we showed up were told a hour wait. so we walked over to the nearest store byob we brought a bottle of wine then they had our seats ready when we got back 20min later. food was awsome chifrijo is a most great, wife had the grilled steak delious, El Tico was good, oatmeal shake for desert!!!!***** highly recommend.
(5)Dave H.
I want to like Irazu, the server was incredible, the atmosphere fun and the milkshake was solid...I just did not care for the food at all. I will try it again come springtime but I found the food bland and just meh.
(3)Adrienne G.
I love that Irazu's delivery zone covers most of where I go in the city. Theoretically, I can have t brought to me in 4 different neighborhoods (ranging from the West Loop to the Loop to Lakeview and if I were over by Skylark, I could get them to bring me a torta and a salad. Actually, I just realized that I can have them bring me food to Gold Star, cause they allow outside food. Aw. some. Yes, I've ordered delivery from here on Grub Hub. It always takes about an hour if you order when you are on the far north side (read: Lakeview) but it is SO. WORTH IT. I mean, really. If I want a delicious salad with beets in it, and an oatmeal shake and some tacos or a torta or all of those, I am going to order this and have it brought to me if I don't feel like putting on shoes. And I don't mind waiting because the food is always ready to be eaten! Really, can you name another Latin restaurant that offers a plethora of options that will also deliver in such a large expanse of the city? If so, I shall add that to my list. Last time I got delivery, I had an oatmeal-soursop shake (I wanted tamarind and oatmeal but tamarind is not yet an option on GrubHub), the shrimp salad and a taco tico. The taco tico probably is better ordered in the restaurant since it's a taquito with salsa on it which was pretty messy, but everything was super tasty! The salad was good and had plenty of shrimp and the right mix of dressing to go with everything. Seriously though, I think that I will order delivery from Irazu to Gold Star next time I'm there. Class that place up.
(5)Jack F.
Fantastic food, good prices, and nice atmosphere. For some reason, I like comparing this place to 90 Miles. Similar food selections, and they are on par in terms of quality. Cash only, but that shouldn't be an issue with the ATM located inside the restaurant.
(5)Kim M.
After wanting to get back here for a while, I finally made it back in. I have to say, this visit was much more impressive than my first. In all fairness, it was FAR less crowded than our inaugural experience, allowing both the kitchen and the servers to do their thing in a less frenzied manner. My first review might have come off a little harsh, and I was contacted by the owner via Yelp right away. Impressive. He was apologetic, but also willing to address the issues I had brought up, and was genuinely interested in providing me a stellar experience if I gave them another chance. I am so glad I did. Everything we had this time was completely "on point", from the sandwiches, to empanadas and the amazingly craveable oatmeal shake. The Chifrijo is in a class of its own. It makes me swoon with delight. If you are not anti-pork, this is definitely THE appetizer to try here. Everyone was super friendly, despite the fact that I was not a regular, and I never did reveal that this was my follow up visit, like the owner had encouraged me to do. They did a perfect job without knowing. And that my friends, is a true success story in my eyes. Still a cash only establishment, so come prepared or use the handy dandy ATM in the restaurant.
(5)Kelly S.
Irazu saved me from myself. After two days of pitchfork and three nights of past 3 am, my body was moments away from just calling it quits. I was so nauseated I didn't know that I could force something into my body. So naturally I did just that. This place... adorable, Costa Rican, small, cute patio, gets rave reviews, has veggie options and the friendliest staff in Chicago. So we sit down and this tall dude wearing a Pura Vida shirt gives us the run down. His name is Omar btw and he's hands down the friendliest mofo on the planet. He gave me a bunch of suggestions which I promptly rejected in favor of the Gallo Pinto. Then he brought us some of that recommended stuff anyway because he could tell that it was about three minutes past where I should have shuffled off this mortal coil. Justin, our gorgeous server, was super fast, nice, chatty, friendly, happy and I think I mentioned more than mildly attractive about five adjectives ago. Those guys are both dynamite and the food lived up to its rep. The hot crispy chips with green salsa to start, then an oatmeal shake. Not my thing because I'd prefer to avoid those calories in favor of something savory but it's as you would imagine: cold, creamy, cinammon-y and definitely shareable. The star of the show was the Chifrijto. We didnt even order it -- Omar brought us a bit so that I would know what I was missing. It might have been a subtle "I told you so" but I prefer to think it was his way of providing me with enough protein to knock out the hangover. Rich, spicy, chewy, beans, pork-y and in a molcajete. Absolutely get this. We got the bill. 9 drinks, 2 veggie burritos, 1 oatmeal shake, 1 diet coke = $25. Rachel Ray would be proud. Cheap eats and awesome service. THIS is why I love Yelp.
(5)Vernadine K.
I believe I am Costan Rican!! I simply love the Oatmeal Shake!! I will roll over for their Vegetable Burrito. I have been going to Irazu when there was NO outdoor Patio, You Hear me!! The food is soooo delicious and my entire family love the food. Me and my daughter got into a huge argument when I saw her sitting in her bedroom with Irazu Burrito: Honey I know the smell. I was like, 'when did you go to Irazu's?' She replied, "They Deliver!" WHATTTT!!!!! OMG!! I am going to have an IRAZU COSTA RICAN HEART ATTACK!!" Now I am truly a Costan Rican!!
(5)Kate O.
Delicious food and great atmosphere. Sat outside on one of the hottest days of the year so far and the staff could have whined about serving in the heat, but instead were pleasant and fun. Our waiter Omar was especially fabulous, making spectacular menu recommendations, cracking jokes and helping us stay hydrated in the heat with constant refills on our water, showing fabulous attentiveness. Let's not forget the food which was delicious too! Recommend: Empanadas - off menu corn empanada with cheese, spinach and cheese and definitely the sweet plantain Potato tacos - sound heavy, but the mole made it Can't wait to try so many other yummy items on the menu!!
(4)Christopher B.
Is it possible to get a legal patent on food? If so, Irazu Cafe could easily lock down and license it's Oatmeal Shake recipe! It is like drinking heaven...with just a pinch of cinnamon on top. So, so good! And I haven't even gotten to the food yet! Their menu has a pretty wide range....and most importantly, they consistently deliver well prepared meals that are extremely tasty. I've never had a bad meal there! The staff is super friendly (cozy even) and treat you like family! No question...Irazu, at a minimum, is a monthly stop for me. Here are a couple of my favorites: Gallo Pinto (with both plantains and eggs), Steak tacos, chorizo burrito, plantains, horchata (second ONLY to the oatmeal shake), arroz con huevos, vegetarian burrito (and yeah, I love meat...so this surprised me), and casado! Enjoy.....and pura vida!
(5)Dana K.
I'm updating my review from yesterday to 3 stars for two reasons: First, the food is always delicious. And second, the quick and genuine response from owner Henry was very nice. I do not enjoy giving 1-star reviews, but the events of my delivery were too serious to ignore. Thanks, Henry. We look forward to our next order being just as delicious and otherwise uneventful. A lesson to all business owners reading this, whether you use Yelp or social media or whatever: Listen to your customers. You have nothing without them.
(3)Kristin W.
Love this place both to dine in or have delivered. Stumbled across Irazu after a week of living in Chicago, so knew very little about it. What a unique, delicious place! I love love love their sweet plantain, steak sandwich, and stuffed poblano pepper. Their delivery service is fast and pleasant, so that's a positive feature as well. In the summer months, they have a large patio, only downside is that it's across the street from the blue line, so a little noisy, but still enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)Joshua M.
[12:00PM] (Boss) Hey, I'm ordering Irazu. Would you like something? [12:00PM] (Me) I don't know. Let me look at their menu. [12:05PM] (Me) I guess I'll just have a steak burrito. Thanks for lunch! 1:30PM - Food arrives (1.5 hours later?) 1:45PM - I finish my burrito (Tasted okay. Nothing to write home about) 2:00PM - Profusely vomiting 2:15PM - Yelp review Pass. EDIT -- I'm bumping this review up to three stars because the business owner contacted me to express his sincere apologies for the problem with my food (and was able to do so politely and without violating Yelp's rules about that sort of thing... Something few people are able to do.). I don't feel that my particular experience was completely the restaurant's fault, as it's probably pretty tough to keep food-borne illness away from food when you're delivering in 100 degree temperatures. 3 stars for now. I'll give them another shot in the near future and re-evaluate the review at that point.
(3)Tim H.
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.
(4)Timtim H.
I went for brunch, sat In the patio. The iced coffee is soo good! Empanadas are very delicious! You can order different flavor in one order, even the veggie option is very delicious...( I'm a meat person), the sauces are yum! Big portion too! Good price!
(4)Diana S.
The food is on point, steak tacos make you want to cry and the ceviche ayyyy que rico.... so good!
(4)Laura M.
Henry reached out to me after seeing my review and apologized for the lackluster service, which I really appreciated. Hopefully I'll be able to make it back over for a better time there soon!
(4)Allison W.
I can't say enough great things about Irazu! I've been there 4 times now, each time very different- quiet lunch eating $4 delish cuban sandwiches, dinner getting individual entrees, big party family style, etc. Each time the service has been great, the ambience fun and casual, and the food outstanding. Last Saturday I celebrated my birthday with 15 people at Irazu- I made a reservation for us to do the prix fixe menu. The waiter was SO nice and the owner/manager came over to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. The food was awesome and PLENTY for 15 people (and only $18.50/person!), including veggies, meat, plantains, salad, and oatmeal shakes. They even made a gigantic separate plate for my friend with a severe gluten allergy. Thanks Irazu for providing us such a welcoming, easy-going, and DELICIOUS place to celebrate!
(5)Judie S.
YES! YES! YES! Vegetarian section of the menu, some really authentic dishes also. The best burrito I have ever eaten. In fact, one of the best things I've eaten EVER. I will be back, often :) Cheers also to the super chill atmosphere, BYOB and awesome staff!
(5)Alex C.
I was a Costa Rican virgin prior to my visit, and let me say, my world was expanded after eating here. I ordered empanadas and the vegetable platter of the day. All this followed by a tasty oatmeal smoothie to finish me off. I will definitely come again!
(5)Keith A.
scrolling through grubhub at my friend's place I came across irazu and in need of food I put a call in. I ordered up some chicken tacos and a costa rican sandwich. the delivery got to us pretty fast. They quoted us an hour, but really it was more like 35-40 minutes to where we were in avondale. I asked for peppers on the tacos, and they put in a serious kick. It caught me off guard, but I'm happy when I get caught off guard like that. The tacos were also very good as they just had a different spice to them that was different from what I'm used to. The sandwich was pretty good, but it just wasn't on the same level as the taco. I'm going to have to visit here and try more stuff. The sandwich was solid and the tacos were good which was perfectly fine by me.
(3)Becky P.
Potato tacos all the way! I loved the atmosphere here and that it was byob. They made accommodations for our group to be sat immediately since we had a baby with us, which was super sweet of them. Definitely coming back for some more platanos....yum!!
(5)John S.
Absolutely delicious, but be forewarned that you're going home with a to-go box... super-huge portions.
(4)Jonathan C.
So I while back I wrote a review on the Oatmeal shake. It was not what I expected at all...... It was chunky and full of ice. I wrote a non-stellar review of it. The owner than asked me to come back and try one for free, just bring in the email and he'll make it. I really don't want to get free things from hard working small shops unless I'm a regular. I also didn't want to have him know that by making it extra smooth he'll get a great review. So I chose not to use that email for a free shake. I went back and ordered a shake (with my own money), and it was great. I really enjoyed it. My guess was last time they were just busy and didn't have as much time to put into making such a tastey treat.
(4)Kat L.
Holy hell, I love this place. As a vegetarian, I can only speak to those options on the menu but the potato tacos are fanfreakingtastic. They also serve them with a shredded salad with some sort of real strong white wine vingear on top (and beets -- I looove beets). The salad is about my second favorite part of the meal. The rice is good, the beans are good... it's more comfort foody than mexican food. Not sure how else to explain it. It's different in a comfortable way? I skipped the oatmeal shake once and it was a big mistake. I ordered delivery once when I was sick. I called to order and the guy that took my order said, "Oh, you sound terrible." I said that I had a cold and, when my food came, someone had written "Feel better soon, honey!" on my take out box. How cute is that. I'll forever be a fan of this place.
(5)Tom K.
Went down to buy a gift certificate for a friend's birthday and grabbed some takeout. Even with it being very far from our house, we will definitely go back. We got a couple of empanadas (beef/potato and spinach) that were very tasty, and a couple of tico tacos (little taquitos with skirt steak inside, cheese and crisp shredded cabbage on top, and a weird but good mayo/ketchupish sauce). Everything was great, but the knockout was the oatmeal shake. Kind of like drinkable horchata-flavored oatmeal. Sounds strange, but it was very good (and I could see that being a very good stick-to-your-ribs, on-the-go breakfast). Nice guy at the counter, too -- clearly a guy who enjoys doing what he does. One word of warning -- they don't take credit cards, and the little ATM they have seems to have problems with Chase debit cards' magnetic stripes. The counter guy explained all of this, apologized profusely, and told us where we could go grab some cash quickly (the McDonald's up the block). Check it out -- it's very similar to Mexican food, but different enough to be really interesting. And you can either do the big entrees for $6-$12 or order a la carte -- the gift certificate aside, two of us ate pretty well for $15.
(5)Kristen H.
Loved Irazu! After hearing it would be a 40 minute wait, we walked to a liquor store nearby and grabbed a 6 pack which was nice- BYOB. Our waiter was super friendly. Ordered the smaller portion of guacamole and chips and it was plenty for two people. Tasty too! It actually was starting to turn brown by the end of the meal so you know it was freshly prepared! It was nice how the waiter suggested that my boyfriend get a veggie burrito and add steak in order to get more bang for his buck. Overall the food was great. I had chicken tacos. I only wish they had red salsa as well as the green kind to put on my tacos. Service was excellent and the food was yummy. Great outdoor atmosphere and worth the wait! Also, it's CHEAP!
(4)Jeff D.
Great portions, fantastic recipes (casado, tilapia tacos, ceviche, and onioned steak), are incredible!
(4)Phoebe W.
Okay Irazu, there's so many things that I liked about you... the oatmeal shake, the fried plantains, the rice.. sigh. Unfortunately, there were a couple of things I wasn't a fan of either such as the flavorless guacamole, slow service (only ONE server in the dining room? what is that??) and the sad skirt steak milanesa. I had high hopes of milanesas thanks to Cemitas Puebla, but Irazu's was like a squishy steak parmesan (its topped with tomato sauce and Chihuahua cheese, MEH) Irazu, I'm willing to give you another chance. Maybe I just ordered a weird dish on a not so good night. I'll come back for those plantains, another milkshake, and maybe an empanada or three.
(3)Dixie D.
Great food, great service.
(5)Jessica S.
food was really good. I got the burrito. yucca was a bit too garlicky. loud inside. would go back and try some other things
(4)Jennie T.
Still in love with Irazu. I can see why Tiff H. love Omar so much. He's a great server and has given me great recommendations. I've been here on more than one occasion, usually with Tiff H., but this review is for their delivery service. The food taste just as great after traveling to their northeastern border of their delivery route. The delivery was speedy! I ordered online and I was happy to find out that they'll accept credit cards online (they're a cash-only establishment). Yay for speedy Costa Rican deliciousness!!
(5)Tran T.
Never had Costa Rican food before so I'm not sure what was authentic or what was a trend. Is real Costa Rican food vegetarian friendly? Whether or not it is, I'm glad Irazu served vegetarian food. I got their "award winning" veggie burrito. Even as a vegetarian, I've never heard of an award-winning burrito. How can that be? Well, Irazu certainly impressed my taste buds with their veggie burrito. I don't know about award winning, but it was definitely winning over my hungry stomach. First of all, their veggie burrito is monstrous! My hand only wraps around half of the girth of this burrito! Their veggie burrito's tortilla has been grilled on the outside. Reminds me of Taco Bell when they tried to grill their burritos shut. It was good stuff! Thank you Irazu for grilling the exterior of your burritos. As for the stuffing, it was actually a lot of rice and not so much black beans (but this is a great thing for me as i'm not a big fan of black beans). The first half of my burrito that I ate tasted awesome because I think I got the bulk of the creamy avocado slices and not too many peppers. But my second half was mostly peppers and my mouth wanted to die!!! My bf got their steak casado. It looked good on the plate, but the bf did say that the meat ended up being too dry and he wasn't too thrilled with his dish. Based on everyone's reviews, we knew we had to try their oatmeal shake. The waiter recommended us doing an oatmeal banana shake and it was woooonderful! Who knew an oatmeal shake could be so good?! My bf and I went on a Monday night and it was pretty packed for dinner time. We got seated quickly and the service was great.
(4)Jacob G.
The food at Irazu is really good. Their oatmeal shake is something that you have to try at least once. It's amazing.
(4)Anastacia B.
I'm in a quandary... Today started off normal as usual. Then lunch time came around and the whole earth shifted off it's axis the moment I scarfed down a giant spoonful of Irazu's CHICKEN SOUP. I sort of wish I never had it because I can't stop thinking about the next time I'll get to have it. I also worry if I squeezed enough lime juice into the most perfect chicken broth ever to grace my palate. Did I mention the chunks/shreds of chicken? The rice and carrots? Let me just state- chicken soup does NOT get me excited. Ever. Oh yeah I also sampled the potato taco's with the mole, the chile relleno, tostones- we got carry out for work so things we're not as fresh or crisp because of packaging but yet still had amazing flavors. I also have to say the coleslaw that came with the potato taco's is some of the BEST coleslaw I've ever experienced. What is going on?!?! I think Mercury is in retro grade because today I found the perfect two completely random, often over looked, never eaten together- food items ever. Amen!
(5)Kerri S.
This really is more of a 3.75. I really, really, do want to give Irazu a 4 star review, because I do love their food, and do recommend it, but can't for one reason- they have never gotten my order right. I'm a vegetarian, so I always go with the veggie burrito, and customize it. But they never get it right. I'll ask for mushrooms, but no lettuce or avocados, and wind up instead with lettuce and avocados, but no mushrooms. I'll ask for no peppers, cheese, or sour cream, and wind up with all three. I spend more time picking things out of the burrito than eating it (and it's huge, so that shows how much work I have to do to eat it). Once I remake it, it's great. I love the yellow rice too. I would say definitely do delivery or takeout. It's a very small restaurant, so getting a table takes forever. And bring cash- no credit cards. I really do recommend Irazu- the food is great, I just really wish they would make it the way I order it. I would go there much more often if they did.
(3)Ben H.
My wife and I honeymooned in Costa Rica. 2 out of 3 years, near our Anniversary, we have gone to eat at Irazu in commemoration of the great time (and great food) we had in CR. Additionally, we have eaten there on at least one other occasion, and gotten take out at least once. I would say that based on my first visit I would have given this place 4 stars based on the food alone. As far as the service/decor/cost/etc, nothing special, no complaints, no real praises. However, I feel that each time we go back, I don't like it quite as much. It is still tasty, and reasonably priced - but nothing special and I will unlikely continue to return unless my wife requests it. I would probably give it a strong 3/3.5 star on food. The reason I am giving just 3 stars overall (and I thought about giving less) is to reflect their "no credit card" policy. Firstly - while this is a small(ish) restaurant - it has been around a while. It isn't a hole in the wall in some backwoods part of IL, it is on a major thoroughfare in the city of Chicago. To not accept credit cards in this day and age is really just totally ridiculous. No one is going to stop eating at your establishment if you raise your prices a few cents to cover the 2-3% credit card transaction fees that you might get charged by your merchant provider! (Oh...the drink is 1.85 instead of 1.75? I'm leaving!). Secondly - OK, suppose you convince me of some legitimate reason why you shouldn't accept credit cards (good luck). Well, don't you think it would be a good idea that you advertised this situation fully? (Partly shame on me here - because I had eaten here at least 2-3 times in the past but did not remember that they were cash-only. I think I can be forgiven since it is less than once a year). When we were close to being done my wife noticed a very small placard tucked away in the corner of the dining room that said something like "cash only" or "no credit cards" (can't remember which). I mean, this sign was small - maybe the size of a large postcard, and tucked into the corner near the dish rack. I realized I didn't have the cash on me and verified with the waiter that they only take cash (not even debit!). So - now there are two reasons that I am upset at how they handle their (ridiculous) cash-only policy. 1) I checked all over the restaurant. Besides the little sign I mentioned above, there is a small sticker on the cash register that says "Cash-only". Neither of these things were really visible when entering the restaurant and being seated and their policy was not listed on the menus or called out by the wait staff. And yet, as I surveyed the rest of the signage at the restaurant I was bombarded with info about their BYOB policies. Don't you think advertising your methods of payment should be as important as your BYOB signage? 2) When I asked the waiter if there was an ATM around, I was pointed to one at the front of the restaurant that wanted to charge me a few dollars fee. So - not only don't they take your credit cards, but they encourage you to use their ATM, which they certainly get a cut of. No wonder they don't advertise their cash-only policy! I walked 1/4 mile to the Walgreens at Western and used the ATM there instead. I'll probably forget if we every go back that it is cash-only...it would just be nice if they tell you that before they seat you, so I can go and get cash before my meal instead of running out and ruining my dining experience. EDIT: To respond to the restaurant's comments below (aside: why does Yelp allow businesses to comment, but then not allow a response?). Perhaps your menus on the site say "Cash Only", but the menus that were in the restaurant that day did not. Neither my wife nor I could find anything on them, when specifically looking. Just wanted to add that I checked the historical internet archive for you posted menus. And it looks like even as recently as June 5th, you had a version of the menu without the front-side "CASH ONLY" piece as is displayed on your menu now ( bit.ly/19JuQPd ). My guess is you still have old menus laying around that don't say this. I appreciate that you are making an effort to state it on the menus now - but your servers should also be pointing this out.
(3)Mike H.
What a great dining experience. We went around 7:30pm on a Saturday. There were many people waiting but the wait went fast. Very friendly service. Server helped explain dishes to us. The oatmeal shake (with banana) was tasty. The steak Pepito sandwich had great flavor and was LARGE! My favorite was the Chifrijo! It had amazing flavor and was a great starter. My next visit I'll be sure to have it again!
(4)Brooke B.
Good place!! I had the chile relleno and the oatmeal shake. Very reasonably priced!
(4)Justin K.
Love this place! I'm definitely a regular. Atmosphere: Great, love the outdoor patio. Makes you feel like you're in Costa Rica :) .. Even in the summer you are sitting in an outdoor patio (but is heated) so it feels like it's warm outside! Patio chairs fit the theme. Food: Love the food. Everything tastes to fresh. Definitely try the Pepito sandwich with avocado, it's my regular order. If you are there to treat yourself, get the oatmeal shake. For an appetizer try the chifrijo. The chifrijo has a very fresh taste to it, and you can really enjoy a ton of natural flavors together. It isn't one of those "blow you away" dishes but is really just a nice relaxing, fresh tasting, refreshing appetizer. Service: The whole staff take full ownership of your experience. There is a definite sense of pride among the staff. I will admit that the service takes a bit long, but they give you some really good chips while you wait. I would not go to this place with the expectation of a quick meal though. The BYOB policy also helps the time go by :) I think it's an excellent place to take visitors for an inexpensive, yet tasty lunch. You can entertain them with chips and cheap BYOB beer, and then get a really good, unique meal while you are at it.
(5)Pete S.
Reading some of these reviews makes me feel like I need to share something....Costa Rican food is bland. They eat bland meals...2-3 times a day. Irazu does a fantastic job of making traditional CR food...better! They add some spice, they add some love, and it really is great food. Today I placed a to-go order for empanadas and the Pepito. My order arrived at my house in 10min. I can't even drive to Irazu in 10min. Maybe they cook it on the car's radiator...who cares!? This place is awesome! Great job guys!
(5)Andrea R.
Twas the Monday night before Thanksgiving and my girlfriends and I were in the mood for something fun, yummy and ethnic! And while Irazu is typically slammed at all times I figured it couldn't be too busy on a Monday night. Right? Um, wrong! Apparently people are always in the mood for those delicious oatmeal shakes no matter what day of the week! After a 20-30 minute well worthwhile wait we were seated and greeted by the fabulous Omar. And based Omar's suggestions we filled our tummies with the following: Chlfrijo- I wasn't sure if i was going to like this one cause of the fried pork topping, but I pretty much licked the bowl. Uhmazing Veggie tacos- we split 3 among the 4 of us, but I decided mine was too good to share. Sorry friends Shrimp, rice and veggie dish from the "special menu"- there's a reason they call it special...it was darn good Chicken Tico- eh. The only thing I didn't like. It took 5 billion years to come and I think the reason may be that they ran out real fast to buy a chicken. My friends commented that they've loved this in the past, but were not fans this time. Fortunately, we were pretty full from the rest of the meal and didn't need the chicken Lucky yelpers these days can score a free oatmeal shake for the table by just mentioning Yelp. Yay! My friends and I split the best shake EVER (seriously) and I found myself wanting a big one for myself even though I was full enough to feel like I had just devoured Thanksgiving dinner. It had been a few years since my last visit to Irazu, but I'm going to be knocking on their door daily for one of those oatmeal shakes. Oh wait- I don't even need to knock because they'll deliver that oatmeal shake (and the rest of the menu if I'm lucky) right to my door!
(5)Christine L.
I don't know if it is just my bad timing, but the past two years when I wanted to try Irazu, it was always closed for the holidays (Dec 23 - Jan 2). That is why, when Jan 3 approached, I was determined to brave the weather and go eat at Irazu. Unfortunately, that was a poor decision. Basically, when we arrived we were seated on the outside patio area. I am surprised that people were still being seated outside, especially since everyone was eating with their winter coats on. The sources of heat for the night included two heating lamps and my black bean soup I quickly ordered. Other items that were ordered throughout the night included the Chifrijo (the small appetizer is more than sufficient for two people), Pepito sandwich (I chose steak and to add avocado for 50cents extra, very tasty and a big fan of their Lizano sauce), and the El Tico (chose steak as well, with similar contents to the Pepito, but the plantains and cabbage salad make the price well worth it). I hope to come back sometime in the summer, because I see potential for this place to be great. Then, hopefully I can try their famous shakes everyone talks about!
(3)Michael G.
Scientists recently uncovered a find for the ages. The First Mate's log of the final voyage of the S.S. Veggie Supper Club from October 14 (or 20, who's counting) 09. Here are some of the excerpts that would be interesting to modern audiences: --- DAY ONE: Travelling deep into the heart of "Costa Rica" we have come to the village of Irazu. It might seem close to home to many of the crew, just off the Western Blue Line port on Milwaukee Avenue, but it is a different world. The natives are friendly, accommodating our motley, rain drenched, crew of about a dozen at a table near the back of the village for their traditional meal - I believe it is called "dinner." DAY TWO: There are so many interesting variations of other Panamerican cuisine here in this village, I have had a tough time deciding what to eat. The menu contains such familiar things as tacos and burritos, but all with a Central American twist. Thankfully we have a local guide, Omar, who is genial (also somewhat funny and very informative) and willing to explain to us the complex local flavors. We have decided to sample the "empanadas" (of which they will serve in increment's of three, five, or seven - the last one perfect for sharing, though expensive at $12) to begin with and I have found them a range from delightful (cheese) to "interesting" (plantain - could have been sweeter). There are many varieties of these local treasures ranging from sweets to meats. DAY THREE: If I didn't know better, I would swear that the natives are in cahoots with Omar to fatten us up and put us on the menu (maybe that's just the b.y.o.b. talking). They are shoveling complementary chips and local salsa and pico de gallo like substances at us. There is nothing especially spicy but they will make these as mild or hot as you want. DAY FOUR: I feel like I've been hit with a tranquilizer dart after trying to eat the main course. The potato taco is a herbivore's delight (flavorful and filling - which by this point is a given) - though they also specialize in many fish dishes and sandwiches. It comes with huge sides of rice, beans, and a cabbage salad. Some of the natives have "messed up" some of our orders but Omar has corrected these mistakes quickly and perfectly (and with minimal whipping of his villagemates). DAY FIVE: We have begged our leave of Omar. He offers us another full sized meal called "desert" but I feel as though I may not be able to leave the village if I consume this. Perhaps I will come back again or have them deliver. They will send a food-bearing vessel to pretty much anywhere on the north side of Chicago - including downtown. --- Legend has it that on that final rain soaked night, the crew of the S.S. Veggie Supper Club left the port of Irazu and was never seen again due to being "drunk" on happiness, food, and conversation. Or there may have been a mutiny (though after Irazu it definitely wasn't due to cannibalism, that's for sure). This final fate, unfortunately or not, was lost to time.
(4)Shradha A.
I've had this place bookmarked to try ever since the Yelp Veggie Club hosted one of their dinners here! Finally made it out there tonight! Loved loved loved how warm and friendly this place was! And loved how vegetarian-friendly this place was! I'm not sure how Costa Rican food is much different from Mexican, but two noticeable differences: one good - the food was wayyyy less cheesy - and the other not so good - food was not spicy at all. The cheese empanada was the only thing we didn't like, otherwise the guac, tostada and burrito were pretty good. And of course, how can I forget mentioning the oatmeal chocolate shake - totally unique and exquisite!
(4)Charlene S.
I wanted to try the avena shake, which I've heard raves about. I loved it. Sweet and cold and refreshing. I enjoyed it and so did the hubs. But he soon got sick of it. As he kept drinking it he thought it got too "fragrant". Too much cinnamon. I thought it tasted like horchata. We ordered dinner to go. I ordered the pepito sandwich. A ribeye sandwich with cheese, beans, grilled onions and avocado (extra). It was very good. He bread was chewy. They steak was tender. The hubs ordered the casado with rib eye. It was a stew like dish with carmelized onions. It was very tender. Served over rice with an over easy egg. Ahhhh. That's the way to my husband's heart. Especially with a take out order to have an egg that had its yolk still runny was a winner. You had him at hello. He broke it over his rice and it complemented his rich casado well. The cabbage slaw was nice and refreshing I break up all the richness. The Lizano sauce is their green spicy salsa verde. Nice and cool and a bite of spiciness. Delicious with the sandwich. I'd go back and try some other costa rican dishes. And other combinations of shakes they have. My only criticism? Cash only. Come on. Are you paying your staff under the table?
(4)Grace Y.
Hi my name's Grace and I'm a spice-a-holic. I fell in love with Irazu as soon as they brought out the fresh home-made tortilla chips with the salsa verde. The chips were crispy and salty and super fresh tasting. The salsa verde was spicy and flavorful. The salsa could pretty much complement any of the dishes from Irazu, although not necessary. My boo and I also split a spinach cheese empanada which was a-mazing! The last time I had a empanada was at Tango Sur, where I was highly disappointed. This empanada was 10 x better than Tango Sur. The outside dough was crispy and thin and the spinach and cheese was perfectly melted and oozed out into my mouth with every bite. We also had the chicken sandwich and a breaded steak sandwich, we added hot peppers to both. The bread they used was a hearty french bread (I think). We also added avocado to the steak sando which made it super creamy. I'm sad that we didn't try out there oatmeal shake :( but will get it next time. The empanadas and hot sauce -- are enough to keep me coming back to this place!
(4)Samantha L.
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.
(2)Josh V.
Irazu! First of all, I've never been to this restaurant. I've only ordered delivery so that is all I'll be reviewing. Got it? Good. OK, unless this is the first review of Irazu you're reading (in which case, I'm flattered! Thanks!) you've probably heard about the oatmeal shake. And yes, it's as good as people are saying! If you like oatmeal. Which I do. I order it every time! So yeah, just get it, OK? There are other shakes, but I've only tried a sip of the chocolate and the oatmeal is better. Things that I like about Irazu: = Cheese empanadas. They're sort of like Hot Pockets, but with just cheese. And better. = Sandwiches. I've tried a couple different chicken sandwiches. They are yummy and a generous size. = Sweet plantains. = Oatmeal motherfreakin' shakes! = Generous portions. I always end up ordering more than I need, and the shakes themselves are pretty filling. = Black beans. = Ability to order online using GrubHub. (I hate ordering things over the phone!) = All of my orders have been correct. There's nothing worse than not getting what you ordered! Things that I don't necessarily love: = Delivery time is usually around an hour or a bit more for me, though it was maybe 35-40 minutes last time. = Chicken burrito. It was big, but pretty meh. You're better off getting a burrito from a Mexican restaurant. The good definitely outweighs the bad. So yeah, I think it's safe to say I'm a fan. Yay!
(4)Carla H.
Delicious!! Almost as good as my 89yr old grandma (Costa Rican) makes it!!! A steak casado, yuca frita y jugo de maracuya!!! Next time I will ask for some natilla or salsa rosada to go with the yuca frita!!!
(4)Lauren W.
I rarely eat in the restaurant, but when I do go it's in the summer on the patio. Their delivery has yet to let me down. It's always packaged securely and neatly :) As a creature of habit I always order the potato tacos and a hibiscus tea. From time to time the empanadas and they're gooooooooooooooood.
(4)Sunshine H.
First off, the food was amazing and exceeded my expectations. If you have the option, pay the extra $1 and get the Costa Rican combo rice as your side. I ordered the first entree on the list, and the entire plate was delicious. The food was seasoned well. Also, it's byob and the ambience is fun. I am docking it for two reasons. First, the service was bad. Our waiter forgot to bring the ice bucket for our wine. He also was in a hurry and spilled salsa on my friend's coat. He then almost dropped the side of black beans all over our table. The other problem is this place has ONE bathroom (one toilet) for the entire restaurant. How is that even legal? Be sure to stop at the bathroom before leaving your house. AND THIS PLACE ONLY TAKES CASH.
(4)Paul T.
Love the food. Have never eaten in, only had GrubHub deliver and it's piping hot and delicious when it gets there. The oatmeal shake is unbelievably good. No, really, you'll look at it and say "I cannot believe I like this." But you will. -- After initially posting this review, and getting a response from Henry the owner, I did venture into the restaurant last night. Again, Irazu lived up to my expectations. Service was extra-friendly from the moment we walked in the door. Food came out very quickly and was well seasoned. I had steak tacos, and asked the kitchen for an extra serving of Lizano - I can't get enough of that stuff! The side of black beans were tender and juicy and very well prepared. We were in a hurry, so no BYO or dessert, just a great, quick dinner and out. Will definitely be back once the heat clears to luxuriate with some adult beverages on the patio.
(5)Nishan P.
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.
(4)Mary T.
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.
(4)MARIA O.
I know, I know, it makes no sense. How could've I possibly waited this long before trying Irazu??? I don't get it either. I've driven by, thought of driving by and planned on driving by multiple times, but never went to this area with the sole purpose of stopping at Irazu. Well, I got my priorities in order and scheduled a date. With my mommy. I had recently moved out and we hadn't spent much time together since, so I took her to Irazu for lunch. Both she and I really enjoyed it. I have to admit that I'm really picky when it comes to meat, I get grossed out with anything chewy or tough but I did not have that problem with their Pepito sandwich. The steak was perfect. We also tried some empanadas, a Palmito salad, mom had the Casado, and of course, we tried the Oatmeal shake. I LOVE the sweet plaintains!! I'm craving some now, actually. The service was wonderful. We were lucky enough to stop in at a time when the place was practically empty, so, no wait time. Couldn't have had a better experience. Irazu, I luv U!
(5)Marty W.
We were told the restaurant does not take reservations even though the table next to us had one... The service started out horrible and only declined from there. We waited 30 minutes in the supposedly heated patio which was freezing to order and another 45 before we decided it was a lost cause. Instead of apologizing or offering any explanation out waiter, the hostess, and the supposed manager told us to have a great night. There's no chance I would attempt a second time at Iarzu.
(1)Jim M.
Nice niche place the sandwiches and shakes are real good, and they deliver too. I had to edit my review from three to four stars though because on a recent order that I had placed for delivery, about a half hour after I had placed the order they called me back and told me they had run out of bread so my sandwich would be a tortilla wrap, but "don't worry" he told me, it was just as good - it wasn't. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't what I had ordered and I felt like I paid for something and didn't get it. I get it stuff happens but c'mon who runs out of bread? But I felt at the least they should have offered to give me a discount or something extra, which they did not.
(3)Jessica V.
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! =)
(4)Ashley W.
Delicious food. The aroma is killer. Friendly staff and great owner. Even better when they open the patio area.
(4)Angela S.
Had a giant crowd of 20+ for my birthday dinner and they really took care of us. The BYOB makes the price of dinner and drinks perfect.
(4)Simma Down Na H.
I was expecting to be blown away but was not. Okay, the oatmeal was really awesome. Being filipino (and fan of eating Mexican and Puerto Rican), parts of the dish and those I saw amongst my friends were familiar to me and therefore was not that exciting. I'M NOT SAYING that Mexican food is the same as Costa Rican. But if Costa Rican is exotic to you then you'll have a great food experience. Definitely, the food feels homemade and true to being a Costan Rican dish.
(3)Mark H.
There's more to Hispanic cuisine than Mexican food. Irazu's an oldie and goodie joint. The decor is down and dirty. The location is sketchy-chic. Parking is okay. The food does bring it. COSTA RICA! Must love bananas. The attitude is take it or leave it. Great place to bring a foodie but not a first date.
(4)April P.
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.
(5)Jeremy C.
The Vegetarian Burrito is not only AMAZING but extremely filling.. and it's so cheap! The guacamole and chips are definitely the best I have had in a while. Great place!
(5)Basil D.
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!!!
(4)Annie L.
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.
(2)Claudia V.
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.
(5)Alex R.
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 :)
(4)Rachel W.
I work as producer, and in this bizarre and crazy world we get food all day long. Including catered lunch. I took over ordering lunches because for starters I love food, trying new food, and supporting my favorite restaurants, and also because generic catered food starts to taste exactly the same each time. I have now gotten Irazu for the crew 3 times, and each time we are blown away. I order the Casado in steak, chicken, & veggie. The chicken is pull apart, tender, flavorful and yummy, as is the meat. It comes w/rice & beans, sweet plantains, and cabbage salad. I can't vouch for the salad because cilantro is #1 on my most hated things, but people give it 2 thumbs up. Also, their guac is beyond. Super salty chips. Heaven. These wonderful people also take care of me...last time they brought me their famous oatmeal shake which lives up to its name, and this past time a mango shake. Woah. I had to share w/my coworkers as it tasted like the sweetest mangos in the world. Haven't dined in the restaurant, but the most important part is the food...and it's fab.
(5)Kerri M.
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!
(4)iddells E.
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!
(5)Rob G.
The Oatmeal shakes were awesome.
(4)Felicia H.
BYOB, which is wonderful! We brought a bottle of vodka to drink with their watermelon lime juice and it was perhaps the best drink I've ever had! The sandwhich I had was delicious, and they give you complimentary chips and green salsa (very spicy). I didn't even realize they had indoor seating until I went looking for the wash room!
(4)Justin T.
Here are a couple things I experienced during my first visit at IRAZU...... 1. The waiter, which seemed bored and uninspired, took about 30 minutes to ask us about drinks and appetizers. 2. Food took over an hour and a half to get to our table. We finished an entire bottle of wine. I had to run over to the wine shop across the street for another bottle. 3. While waiting forever for our food, I glanced into the kitchen and saw the wait staff eating dessert and cracking jokes..........in my head im like WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE? 4. Food was cold and mediocre. My fucking Siamese cat can cook up better steak and veggies. 5. Towards the end of our meal one of the food runners was screaming that the shake machine was about to get shut down for the night. He obnoxiously approached every table accosting people into buying a shake. I dont know what scam their trying to pull here. Why the fuck would you turn off your shake machine at a certain time? Overall, IRAZU is just a shitty low quality low service joint that every byob turd runs to because they dont know better costa rican food. Dont settle for the minimum people.
(2)aisha p.
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!)
(3)Pascal M.
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!
(5)Jennifer O.
Amazing food, lively, fun atmosphere and great staff very friendly but let me say one more time amazing food and did I mention amazing food!" I had the Palmito salad simple and delicious also had the Costa Rican sandwich and I loved it!!! I can't wait to go back and try other things. I highly recommend this place and with the weather getting better they have an amazing patio!
(5)Maria D.
I love this place. I have driven from Rolling Meadows to Chicago just for a mango drink. I bring out of towners here and they love it. The only thing is, its small inside. Which is fine, but the bathroom is like IN THE RESTAURANT, next to tables. Which kind seemed weird to me at first, but hey, its a old building and Americans are a bit spoiled LOL Sit on the patio if you can, its awesome to sit in the sun and have empanadas. *SInce Zaggat made them famous, sometimes they get busy. Dont think its lost its awesomeness by being bombarded by zagget-ers. Its still incredible food!
(5)Aldi J.
Came here on a cold night.. was hoping to sit by the burners but it was too packed inside! We sat in the back area. They give you a large bowl of chips and green salsa to munch on while you are waiting to order. Our server forgot about us, but when he came back he apologized and offered a free appetizer or dessert. That was a nice gesture. We had the Casado and El Tico in spicy (it's not really that spicy though). Perfect combo of meat, white rice w/ beans, and plaintains yum! Good portion sizes too. We had the bread pudding for dessert, but it was forgetful. Everyone keeps talking about the Oatmeal milkshake... I'll have to try that next time.
(4)sue f.
Awesome food and awesome service!! Snowy day in Chicago came into the city to visit son who says this is one of his fav's. As his parents we weren't sure. But he was right on the money. From the burrito's to the empanada's the food was great. They grill the burrito after its been made to crisp up the dough and they cut it so you can eat it like a sandwich. My husband said it was the best burrito he's ever had. The empanada's were good. Had the beef and potato and definately more beef than potato. I told the waiter I had made chicken empanada's a couple of weeks earlier and much to my surprise he brought one out and it was definately good. Must try the oatmeal milkshake. Sounds terrible but very very good. Overall can't wait for spring/summer to come so we can go again and this time sit outside and enjoy the views.
(5)Cassie S.
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!!
(3)Mandy A.
Another hit for the Supper Club Monday crew. Since I can't think of that many synonyms for "amazing" I'll just tell you about what I can remember... - Pitcher of Java Juice or Lava Juice... watermelon and lime slushie that we mixed with tequila... delicious and refreshing. - Casado and Tico platter... both looked like shit tons of good food. Get it with spicy gallo pinto (black beans with white rice and spices and jalapenos). - Veggie Burrito with plantain... as good as what everyone else says. i might skip the plantain, t'was literally a huge plantain running down the middle of the burrito. Made for easy cooling bites after bites of jalapeno, otherwise slightly overwhelming but still tasty. - Spinach and Cheese Empanada... it is crispy. It's kind of like a rangoon... small pocket with delicious filling and large flat non-filling edge to grasp and then dip in pico. I don't know why everyone be hatin'... Delicious. - Oatmeal shake with milk... yes please. Like an oatmeal cookie in shake form. Sit outside when it's nice out and enjoy the fun servers, ours were super.
(5)Fred E.
We stopped in 2pm last Saturday for lunch. The sandwiches were very good, but the waiter a little inattentive. Took a long time to get a second glass of water. We sat outside which is a really nice dining area. The music was a little too loud for conversation, tho. But I'll try it again.
(3)Peter H.
dined in the other nite with some friends and their baby, previously had gotten takeout. this experience was very nice, pretty white lights on their little covered outdoor patio seating area was nice. BYOB always a plus, not crazy about drinking vino out of a plastic cup, but whatev, i understand the situation i guess. and don't get me started on henry, OH HENRY, what service you provided. need more chips? need recommendations? we asked for guac, he asked mild, hot? we waffled, he said, don't worry, i'll make it happen. i was goin back n forth between steak and tilapia, told him to make my decision for me. he gauged the temperature to be a bit on the more humid side, so he felt the tilapia was the better route to go. tilapia was great, girlfriend's ceviche was average. this watermelon shake concoction was really delicious. my buddy ordered one and let us all have a taste, and my gf got one to go. henry (of course) packed up her ceviche leftovers and threw in some extra chips to go, henry's tip fell somewhere between 25 and 30%, he was that good. overall a very nice experience, they run a pretty good operation over there with carryout and delivery too. think i saw three or four delivery people workin on friday nite. reasonable prices, good food, friendly staff. i'll be back.
(4)Edward W.
I had the Onion Steak. Good but kinda tough. Prices good. Service very slow. We were seated inside. Not much atmosphere. The outside area with the fire heaters looked nicer.
(3)Elise S.
Amazing food, good taste, portions and price. The waitstaff were friendly and funny. This place is BYOB and does not charge a corking fee which is great! Nice patio area too. I plan on going back to Irazu next week. It was really good.
(4)Amanda Z.
This is how i figured out who would cater my wedding. Step one: What kind of food do me and my hubby-to-be want to eat? (ANSWER: Something ethnic, something fun. Most definitely NOT dried out chicken.) Step two: What would be a FUN food to have at our wedding? (Again, dried-out chicken didn't get penned onto my list.) Step three: What can we actually afford? A quick email inquiry to Irazu resulted in the most fabulous wedding meal for which we could have hoped. Henry was responsive to all of my email inquiries, forwarding a price list immediately and setting up a tasting quickly. He was very responsive to my needs for the wedding (which consisted of: Feed us all happy, bright and delicious foods) and was an absolute pleasure to deal with throughout the planning process. Fast forward to our wedding day. They arrived on time. Servers were SO pleasant and sweet. And the food? Bright, colorful, flavorful (he got the memo on the "no dried out")...everyone was full and happy. We enjoyed beef, chicken and veggie entrees, served with a FABULOUS cabbage salad, black beans, yellow rice and sweet plantains. It was wonderful. Thanks to Irazu and your fantastic staff for making our wedding day so unique and special. I highly recommend them for your catering needs!
(5)Andrew S.
Let me say first that i eat alone. I go to restaurants with my kindle and eat. I enjoy it. It's my life. So, this review isn't for groups or parties because that isn't my experience. I am judging the taste, and ambiance of the place. So obviously, the restaurant gets busy and a crowd was pressuring me to get and leave. There was a line of about 12 people before the waitstaff made me put down my kindle and ask me to leave. Look, the food was fine, and I liked the experience. However, the low rating is due to the unpleasant nature of the employees who pressured me into leaving. thanks, Andrew Saucer "I feel like I live in the present when I eat at this place. When I go out to eat I want to feel like a futuristic spaceman tasting the delicacies of some far off planet. The food here is quite good, in that boring "normal" sort of way." - Carl Sagan
(2)Riley S.
I lived in Costa Rica for a year, so I was really excited to try Irazu! Everything we had was fresh, delicious, and authentic. I especially recommend the chifrijo appetizer. Their empanadas and casado were quite tasty as well. Warm, friendly atmosphere with quick service and a good amount of food for the price. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Jennifer R.
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.
(4)Gamaliel E.
I came here with a group of friends on a warm summer night after hearing some mixed reviews of the place. There was a very long wait due to the great weather we were having.....so after a about a 45 min wait...we decided to jump at the fist table that popped up inside. We were given chips and there was two kinds of salsa in squeeze bottles at our table. I'm not a big fan of salsa in squeeze bottles, due to the fact that half of it ends up on the table. I wasn't impressed by either salsa, but found that both were decent. We ordered a number of empanadas and I found the chicken empanadas to be awesome. It went really well with the red salsa. My vegetarian friends ordered a plantain empanadas which i found too sweet for my liking. We also ordered guacamole, tostones, and a black bean dip for the table. We were all getting full from gorging on the spread. Everyone really loved the black bean dip. I could fill a bath tub up with the stuff and eat my way out of it. The tostones also were really good when eaten with the black bean dip. I found the guacamole to be a okay. I've had better at Mexican restaurants. I ordered the steak which was served with rice and a cabbage salad. I found the steak to be super salty. Almost to the point of being inedible. The cabbage salad was also a bit bland. Others at the table really enjoyed their food. One raved about her chile relleno, and another loved her grilled vegetable platter. The bill came back to be about $20 a head after eating like pigs......so its a great option for a group of friends...however just realize you might have to wait in a long time for a table.
(4)Nicole E.
I am a frequent diner at Irazu as well as ordering delivery from them often. I felt it was necessary to write this review after my last couple of experiences. I find the front of house staff to be very rude each and every time that I dine there. They are rude on the phone too. A few weeks ago I had a reservation through open table and I needed to adjust it. I called them because the open table app couldn't make the adjustment that I was needing. I thought the restaurant may be able to help and that it was at least worth asking. If they said they couldn't help I would have just canceled (no big deal). I called and one of the rudest men answered and immediately told me that they can't help me since I booked through open table and that I needed to call open table. I have never had that happen. It was a simple question. Not to mention one that I tried to work out with open table first. The restaurant knows If they have the space to add a person. I called open table and explained and even they were confused as to why I was told to call them. I called Irazu back and they still wouldn't help me so I canceled. This last time the man working as the host (pretty sure it was the same guy) was very unpleasant. I asked about sitting outside and he told me that "just because you have a reservation doesn't mean you can sit outside". I was just asking if it was possible. A simple, "I'm sorry we don't have the space" would have been fine. He then sat us and just pointed at a section of the restaurant. I asked "which one?". He replied "the one with the water". Very short and rude. I understand that it's busy but a smile goes a long way. And to top it off. I received an email from open table a couple of days later asking why I hadn't gone to Irazu for my reservation. The restaurant marked us as no shows. I definitely do not no show on reservations. I was there. Open table solved that problem with the restaurant but it still bothered me after my experience. That's the last straw for me I think. Delivery only from now on. What used to be a favorite BYOB, fun and delicious spot has now become pretty unpleasant. The service was fine (no frills but ok) once we sat down and the food was delicious as always. The servers are generally helpful and great about BYOB things. The atmosphere and food are consistent as well. I will have to enjoy it delivery only now :-(
(3)Megan T.
Yelp, you did not lead me astray because Irazu 100% lives up to the hype. The hubs and I finally made it over last weekend after talking about going for at least a year. W e started by sharing an order of the vegetarian Chifrijo, which subs fried plantain pieces for the pork, and were immediately hooked. He got the pepito sandwich, I opted for the milanesa sandwich and we both impressed that despite the toppings that neither felt greasy. We finished our meal by splitting a raspberry shake, which did not disappoint (I couldn't convince him to try the oatmeal). All and all our bill came to $27. As many other posters have warned - Irazu is cash only, but if you forget they did have an ATM on site. I'm already looking forward to coming again this summer for empanadas when the porch is open.
(4)Sarah C.
I have ordered irazu to-go now maybe four or five times.. haven't even been to the restaurant to sit and enjoy bc I've been so busy.. but I wanted to take the time to express just how good it is even as delivery food! what I love: pepito sandwich. seriously so simple and yet so good. the beans spread made with garlic adds just the right amt of flavor to what would be a plain steak and cheese sandwich. Munster was the right choice for cheese imo. chifrijo. I would imagine this is just ridiculous in person when it's fresh.. but I love it even from home. I am a big fan of Latin beans and rice combos.. and this just takes it to another level with the pico de gallo and avocado. let's not forget the lizano sauce.. it's a just a nice bowl of texture and flavor exploding in your mouth with a nice crisp from their fresh chips. oatmeal shake. what in the world. didn't know this existed till a few months ago when I discovered irazu.. didn't really know what to expect. so. good. not too thick. not too sweet. I usu get the regular avena shake.. tried it with strawberry once and I felt like it took away from the original flavor of the avena shake. and I always add plantains on the side. I have also had the casado with steak.. again, really flavorful. pretty standard Costa Rican dish and did not disappoint. can't wait to get my life back to eat all of this goodness in person. (medical student)
(5)Jeana C.
LOVE all things plantains!! One of my favorite Costa Rican restaurants in the city. Hole-in-the-wall, cash only, limited seating, BYOB type of restaurant. Every time I visit this place I always order either the El Tico with steak, Grillled Steak or Casado with steak. Love it, love it! The reasons I haven't gone here in a while: 1. They close early. I think around 9 or 9:30, even on weekends! 2. They don't take reservations so if you have a large party, make sure you bring a few extra bottles of wine because unless you are lucky, you'll be waiting for a while.
(4)Leila V.
The food here was delicious. Seriously. Go for the Yuca fries with pickled ginger dip. The vegetarian burrito is massive and delicious. It also has plaintains, so you can't go wrong there! Prepare for a major food coma after eating here. I would've given five stars, but the service could have been better.
(4)Emily S.
Any excuse I get to go to Irazu, I take. But I think many people feel this sentiment (just look at all the reviews!), so I'm going to leave my first tip early: I came by with a friend last Saturday night for dinner around 9. We were able to be seated within 60 seconds, maybe less, but the host told us the last group had been waiting for an hour--so timing is key, and I'd recommend just before or just after peak hours to avoid the wait. The alternative to that is order delivery--you'll definitely have a bit of a wait, but nothing too unreasonable. I was in the neighborhood and the food was delivered to my friend's within 45 minutes of placing the order--I just ordered it about an hour before we were planning to eat, so it worked out perfectly. Take heed to this advice and do the same if you're looking for delivery. There is a $15 delivery order minimum, though, so just make sure you're cognizant of that as you're picking and choosing from all the delicious sandwiches, burritos, sides, and such. Next tip? If you're dining in you should know that this place is BYO! If you didn't come prepared, though, no worries. The shakes they've got here really will bring all the boys to the yard. Most flavors are fruity, but they've got a traditional chocolate and vanilla, too. You can order shakes with one flavor or, for a couple bucks more, spice it up and mix two. As for food, its hard to know where to start, because its really all so delicious. Definitely don't fill up on the free chips and salsa before you get your meal--you're going to need plenty of room for all of the delicious menu items. I've split the Chifrijo with friends on a couple occasions and it's delish. The empanadas are also amazing. My favorites are the plantains and beef & potatoes. For the main dish, my go-to is the Vegetarian Burrito with sweet plantains thrown in. I usually can't finish it in one sitting since it's packed with so many good veggies, beans, rice, etc. In summary: Go. Go eat here now. You can thank me later.
(5)Amy S.
This place is off the charts!!! I went Friday night with a few girlfriends and arrived early. They let me sit down, I brought drinks since it is BYOB, and have some of their chips and salsa verde. The chips are perfectly crispy and salted to perfection. The salsa verde is HOT, but I like hot, so this was fabulous! I ordered the spinach and cheese empanada and the rib eye pepito (thanks to Guy Fieri's recommendation). The empanada was average - not as crispy and fluffy like Xoco, and the filling was okay spinach but the cheese was like mozzarella cheese. So I felt like I was eating a mozzarella stick instead of a real empanada. However, the Rib Eye Pepito was beyond delicious and I would eat one every single day if I could. I will definitely be coming back!
(4)Meghan N.
The Chicken Empanadas and Chorizo & Potato Empanadas and the Guacamole are the things that I am very glad that I tried and wouldn't recommend missing.
(5)Mr. T.
I regret to say that my experience at Irazu wasn't all that great. Don't get me wrong -- nothing was bad about the food. It was quite good. My problem was with the poor service and many missed opportunities this place had to really shine, but didn't manifest. First, while I always try to support waitstaff, there comes a point where you just have to wonder sometimes HOW and WHY certain people are hired. While our server was friendly, that just isn't enough. IMO, a server does well by making suggestions, being informative, and most definitely, displaying enthusiasm about the food and specialties that make the establishment unique. Our server, while friendly, didn't offer much to us in terms of suggestions or assistance with navigating the menu. It was a bit sad, because it felt on par with a late night taco spot -- not a place that has garnered considerable media attention. When I asked what the vegetable of the day was, I was told one thing, but received something completely different. And while it was very good, that's just a bit weird and sad (that no one caught it). And what is with an up-charge of $.75 to make entrees "Spicy" -- ?!?!? Like adding some heat in a Costa Rican restaurant should cost extra?! And for that matter, the dish I got, which was $11, really shouldn't have been more than $8 or $9 (max). I get the sense that Irazu is milking the area and media notoriety more than just a bit. But I will give them props for keeping some less expensive items on the menu (like a $5 quesadilla). Another thing that confused me about Irazu was the lack of tasty, zippy or otherwise remarkable sauces, etc. When we asked if there was anything interesting in the way of dipping sauce we might have with one of our appetizers, we were told that the salsa they served with the chips on the table was basically it. They had some optional garlic oil (mojo), but that wasn't particularly flavorful as it's just garlic and oil for the most part. IMO, making a few interesting sauces and condiments available would go a long way. At the end of the day, things were generally tasty and there was no issue with quality. Sitting in what amounts to a big enclosed patio and paying relatively premium prices ($15 per person for lunch not including beverages and tip) for lackluster service and missed opportunities for engagement and rapport are another matter. At the very least, I hope the owners read this and realize that people who are not eating their meat specialties might enjoy some extra pops of flavor -- and paying any up-charge for a "spicy" option on dishes over $10 doesn't reflect an appreciation for Irazu's customers. Charge me a dollar or two for a pair or trio of flavorful specialty sauces on the side, and I'm cool. Charge me a few quarters to sprinkle some hot pepper in my food and you've kinda lost my respect for your priorities. I miss the "old" feel of Irazu -- before the hype, and when it felt like they were anxious to please customers by trying to meet their needs. But as it stands right now, I'm afraid the vibe I got this go-around was that it was less about me and more about them. This extends from the "Cash Only" decree from our server after putting down a credit card (which I still fail to understand the rationale for other than profit margins), to the lack of any interest in getting the least bit creative about trying to meet a simple request for something other than the salsa on the table (which we already had with chips) to dip unseasoned yucca in. Bottom line: I don't think you'll get a bad meal here, but you there may be some bumps in the road along the way.
(2)Liz S.
I've been a loyal Irazu customer for the last 4 years and figured it was time to give them the review they deserve! Not only do we frequent the patio at Irazu for a great dinner here and there, but I have done my birthday there the last three years. They have a private party room that is perfect for any celebration - you can plug in your own music, bring your own booze and they set up a delicious array of their best menu items for everyone to eat family style. The chifrijo is definitely my favorite and you can't skip the casado with chicken. Add in the oatmeal shake for dessert and you will always leave satisfied! Henry (the owner) is the best and I can always count on a stellar experience because of him! One of my friends who went to Costa Rica this year was so thrilled with the food, she said she felt like she was back there! Would recommend this restaurant time and time again, just make sure you bring cash!
(5)Maritza C.
Soooooo delicious!!! Chifrijo appetizer was perfect combination of fried pork, rice and beans. Favorite empanada was the spinach and cheese. Casado entree of ribeye steak, plantains, rice, beans and beet/cabbage salad was so well balanced. Will definitely be back!!!
(4)Pari P.
Irazu sounds Japanese and the appearance looks just like 99 Miles but don't be fooled - it's actually Costa Rican cuisine. Prior to Irazu, I had no clue to what Costa Rican cuisine was but after looking over the menu, it seemed like a blend of Latin flavors. It seemed like a combination of Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican cuisines. We ordered the oatmeal shakes, yuca and mojo, and chifrijo. If you love Mexican horchata, then you must get the oatmeal shake. It's a dense milkshake form of horchata and it's awesome. Beware for those who are lactose intolerant because you'll need a lactaid. The chifrijo is chicharron and frijoles combined. If you aren't familiar with those words, imagine a burrito bowl from Chipotle with fried pork fat. It's delicious and made me want to write Chipotle to add chicharron to their menu. The place is loud and gets crowded fast. With most items averaging $10 and BYOB with no cork fee, it's no wonder that Irazu does well.
(4)Andrew D.
It's entirely possible that had the weather been 70 degrees and my party would have been able to sit outside, 5 stars would have happened. The food here is incredible, and to best of my knowledge, they are the city's only purveyors of Costa Rican food. At least the only one's worth knowing... I had the Guy Fieri special, which included chifrijo appetizer, skirt steak pepito sandwich, and a famous oatmeal shake for dessert. All of the above items absolutely nailed it. I couldn't even finish my meal and look forward to finishing the sandwich at lunch today. The Lizano sauce that I have never seen or had anywhere else is one of my favorites. Ever. It's that good. I wish I could find somewhere to buy it! Their green salsa also has a great spicy kick and is excellent on their fresh tortilla chips. Only slight downsides are the cramped dining room (we were seated by children... who cried...). I am all for children not being allowed into restaurants. What a novel idea and I hope more restaurants adopt that policy. The shake also should not have taken 15 minutes as we were starting to get antsy at the end of the meal. Still, amazing food, kind service, and a unique dining experience. Will definitely return.
(4)Consumer N.
It's alright. Not great, not bad. The food isn't much different from my own cultures cuisine. I expected more but I wasn't unsatisfied.
(3)Peter D.
Awesome spot in Bucktown featuring Costa Rican food (a rarity in most cities). The Pepito sandwich is basically the Central American/Caribbean version of a cheesesteak and I would argue it's much more flavorful given the fact you can add hot peppers and an avocado on it. Also of note is the chifrijo, which is (and I am paraphrasing) rice and beans, pico de gallo, and chicharron (fried pork). Awesome. If you want Caribbean meets Central American, come to Irazu. Oh and the oatmeal shake is AMAZING. I wanted to find something like this after moving from Brooklyn and missing the plantain porridge found in a vegan rasta spot in Prospect Heights. So basically: Get the chifrijo, the rib-eye steak pepito, and an oatmeal shake for dessert. The wait was not bad at all and I would most certainly come back again! One bad: Very loud in here if you choose to sit inside. The speakers blare music so keep that in mind!
(5)Abby A.
Great food,Geat customer service, Great atmosphere and the owner Henry was so pleasant!
(5)Erin K.
Yes. Yes. Yes. I'm actually really sad that I just found this place on a visit back to Chicago - not when I lived in the neighborhood 5 years ago. We ordered delivery last night. The burritos are fantastic - good quality food, great mix of spices, etc. We also split the guac and ceviche...while we ordered empanadas too, I didn't get to mine on account of everything else we got but my friend said they were amazing too. Love it. Really love it.
(5)Aimee M.
We had a wonderful time at Irazu. Sometimes service suffers with big groups, but they treated our group of 10 wonderfully. Reservations for groups are a must as there's not much room to wait around inside and you're going to get hungry waiting around with all the delicious aromas of Costa Rican cuisine cooking in their kitchen. There was a slight hiccup with our reservation--this is why I like to arrive early--it's a habit really. But the hostess quickly realized it was their error and we were seated pretty promptly. It's BYOB so plan accordingly. We brought wine and beer and ice buckets were brought out to keep it all chill. My Tip: Revolution Brewing's Rosa Hibiscus Ale or 5 Rabbit's 5 Lizard pairs great with Irazu's cuisine! Our group ordered some things to share and single meals. Everything I tried was wonderful and I can't wait to go back. The Chifrito--fried pork (friiiiiiied pork!) black beans, rice, pico de gallo and avocado. So good and flavorful. The Pepito--Steak for me, sauteed onions, cheese and Lizano sauce. I added avocado like many Yelp friends had suggested and it was spot on. This sandwich was flavorful in every bite. I also tasted a few empanadas and my favorite was definitely the cheese. I felt the beef and potato and chicken a little on the dry side. I purchased a raspberry soy oatmeal shake to go and although these oatmeal shakes seem to have a loyal following, I really didn't enjoy mine. I know, I know, what do I know...I found it a little bland and "dry" if that makes any sense. But with such a loyal fan base and seeing as how people talk about these shakes with such devotion, I'm game to try them again. Anyone want to go with me?
(4)Rebecca N.
This place is lovely! Fun, laid back atmosphere on the patio and they serve huge potions. The milkshake is delicious! It's a must get-- big enough to share.
(4)Nicole S.
My husband ordered the Pepito sandwich, I ordered the Costa Rican sandwich. Both were absolutely amazing. I also tried the cheese, beef and potatoe empanadas. So good! To round out or meal we had the bread pudding, literally one of the best I've ever had. I'll be thinking about this food all week which means I'll probably be a frequent flyer here. I initially gave the restaurant 4 stars but I'm gonna go ahead and give it 5 because of the wonderful staff. The staff was extremely nice, welcoming and approachable. After my first review I received a nice message from the owner and that's what made me change my mind. Great service is hard to come by sometimes and this place is definitely not lacking in that department. They've earned themselves a customer for life!!!
(5)Meghan D.
Tried to go to Irazu yesterday since I finally had some extra time to drive down there. I was extremely bummed to see they were closed!! I completely understand everyone deserves a break & some time off but the biggest bummer was I had actually checked their website to see if they were open & they put nothing about closings! The only notification was a small sign on the door. Love the place & LOVE the food but it would definitely be helpful in the future to put postings on your site for the people not in the immediate area. I will try again soon!
(4)Gerrell W.
This place is as good as it gets. Affordable prices, good service, excellent spicy food, and it's BYOB! I typically come here once a month and it never disappoints. Their steak selections are cooked perfectly every time and their salsa is muy picante. The empanada selection is diverse and delicious. The guacamole is some of the best that I have had anywhere (it's a must order item). To top it off, they have a variety of milkshakes that you can order for dessert, or you can just order the Horchata (sweet rice milk drink) and pour your favorite rum in the drink. Did you forget this place is BYOB? No sweat--just walk one block down the street and grab liquor or cold beer from the Walgreens at the nearby corner. Irazu is one of my favorite places in all of Chicago. Distinct and delicious!
(5)Carolina N.
I love this place! Definitely go when the patio is open! Plus it's BYOB! Note: it's CASH ONLY. I always forget! It's rare to find a Costa Rican restaurant in Chicago so this place is a gem! I've actually visited the Irazu volcano in Costa Rica so now I love going here even more. The empanadas are amazing, especially the chicken, and spinach/cheese. The guacamole appetizer is always a safe bet. My favorite thing to order is their burritos. Gotta love that black bean and rice combo in the burritos!
(5)Angela P.
Everything I had at Irazu was delicious. Wherever there are plantains on the menu, I want to be there! So I've heard that Irazu was featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," and even though Guy Fieri is dumber than a box of rocks, my Pepito sandwich (with steak, avocado, spicy Lizano sauce, cheese, all on a crusty French bread) was a hell of a trip to "flavor town." For $6, I got a good portion and added a side of plantains for $2. The plantains are caramelized, and were just as good as a side as they would be for dessert. I also had one of their much talked about Oatmeal Shakes. I had the oatmeal with chocolate and soy. The consistency was more like chocolate milk than a traditional milkshake, but it was very good. Since I expected something thicker and more dessert-like, I probably wouldn't get one of these again. It's worth trying once though, because if you go to Irazu and don't try a shake, it's like going to Disney and not shaking hands with Mickey Mouse. Also, it's BYOB with no corkage fee, so take advantage of it! They were definitely busy on a Thursday night, and if you want to sit on the patio definitely make a reservation. My friend made a reservation here for 11 people at 8:00 p.m. They have a basic reservation system (names and times written on an order pad) and happened to lose ours. We were seated pretty quickly though, and management was kind enough to give my friend a gift certificate for her next visit as an apology.
(4)Michelle S.
Yum! We opted for delivery tonight and I'm so glad my friends suggested this delicious delicious restaurant. We ordered so much food that I'm ready to fall asleep, happy and content with a belly full of great food. The pineapple empanada was outstanding. I don't know why it's so good but the chicken burrito was perfection. Seriously. We had an oatmeal strawberry shake with water and it was great. The casado plate was yummy! I loved the egg with the beans and rice. We tried various other empanadas and something else that I've already forgotten but only because there was so much food, not because it wasn't good. This is going on my list of remember to order from here restaurants! A real winner.
(4)Kristine N.
BYOB is always an amazing touch. Their chips and salsa were good but the chips weren't hot and fresh. We just wanted to try their infamous chifrijo so we ordered a large portion to share. It is indeed large. The pork was delicious with the rice, beans, and salsa but I wouldn't say it was amazing. I'd like to go back and try their sandwiches and oatmeal shakes.
(3)Clifford S.
My wife and I recently visited here for the first time. Our daughter had raved about it and in fact was jealous we were here. Our visit had several ripple effects. #1 Our daughter was so jealous she came the next week and introduced her own 17 month old to the food here. A new fan as well. #2 My wife liked it so well that she wants her family birthday party to be here. # 3 We had a great meal. For the next visit, I am bringing a bag of cash so we can try all the things on the menu we didn't get to sample last time. I had the beef sandwich and rice last time. Next time, the sky's the limit. After all it will be my wife's birthday, I need to show my respect.
(5)Jennifer C.
I am shocked that this place has so many good reviews. For me, this was some of the worst food I've had in awhile. The only really highlight of the meal was the strawberry oatmeal shake. Even though my husband didn't think it should be called a shake since it was really more of a smoothie, it was quite tasty. Now onto the rest, we got the tico taco, chicken burrito, steak sandwich, and sweet plantains and rice. The worst items were the tico Taco and the mojo. The Tico taco does not have a good flavor at all and the mojo was not well-balanced and was overpowering. Also, if you ask for mojo be warned that they charge 50 cents a pop. The chicken burrito, steak sandwich, and rice were mediocre at best and the sweet plantains weren't bad. Overall, the food is poor and the service isn't great. It took FOREVER for someone to bring our check. The restaurant only takes cash which I don't care for. A lot of other people seemed to think this place is cheap, but we paid $27.14 for the items listed above. Considering the taste and quality of the food it most certainly was not worth it. Lastly, the free chips and salsa which a lot of people seemed to like, we didn't care for because the salsa was inedibly hot. I will not be back!
(2)Josh R.
So many great things to try here. The taters are great, but the real star is the Pepito sandwich! Pair that up with an oatmeal shake and you have quite the meal. Also, for the price you cannot beat this place. Not my first time here and definitely not my last!
(5)Julia D.
First time trying Costa Rican food, and far from the last! This place is aaaaamazing! Ceviche -- After a mile walk on a hot Chicago day this was the most refreshing appetizer Ive ever had. Perfect consistancy with tons of fresh tilapia bits topped with sliced avocado. Pepito Chicken Sandwich (or any pepito) -- i was told they are known for the Pepito sandwich, and now I know why. A blend of Chicken, cheese, sauteed onions, beans, and fresh avocado for an extra .50 cents on french bread. The whole sandwich is $6 and probably the best sandwich Ive ever had.. I never, ever take home left overs but as a small eater I could only finish half, took the rest home and relived the mouth orgasm for dinner. Flan -- I basically inhaled it. Sharable portion of absolute amazingness. My boyfriend and I had ceviche, two pepitos and the flan, our bill came out to $27. BYOB and no corking fee. Fast and great service. I wish i could give this place 6 stars. Cant wait to go back!
(5)Dan N.
This place is the tits. I ordered delivery from here last night and even though it took an hour, it was worth it. I had the porkchops with carmelized onions, rice, and plantains. All were very tasty. I also had some ceviche, which was great. It's tough to find ceviche around Wicker, so this was a nice treat. Since I live around Wicker Park I'll definitely order from this place again!
(5)Eileen Z.
Let me bathe in that Casado Dinner puh-leeeeeeaze. Preferably with the wincing spice of all them jalapenos and that lovely tender ribeye I'll drench in broken egg yolk. Yeah, that sounds like a good day. It takes a muscle to fall in love and the abdominal muscle group will be hard at work. #willworkoutforfood Note: CASH ONLY but there's an ATM on premise.
(5)Brittany S.
That ALWAYS forget to put Lizano sauce on my sandwiches!!! That's the best part! We get delivery there often, and I've got the milanesa every time and it only has Lizano less than half the time:( even when I order extra and pay for it, it's never included.
(3)Joe C.
Short and sweet, ordered the Pepito sandwich it was delicious. A real work of art. The service was really good too. This would have been 4 stars but I got a parking ticket while I was eating which soured my lunch a bit. The neighborhood is a little sketchy but don't let it stop you. Pepito!!!! Thanks
(3)Michelle R.
Well, after all the good reviews I have read about this place I decided to order dinner the other night. I order 3 tacos, and one of the popular appetizer plates that were suggested. I placed the order for delivery online at about 6:45 p.m. I got my confirmation that the restaurant had received my order by 7:00 p.m. The estimated delivery time that I was given was 45-60 minutes. (Great, that sounds reasonable for a week night during dinner time, right? I'm okay waiting a bit, I just want to be lazy and eat in.) After 60 minutes pass, I begin to try and contact the restaurant just to check on the status of the order. No answer. Finally at 9:15 p.m I get a call that they have arrived. Mind you, I live about 1.5 miles from the restaurant (A whole 8 minutes). The whole thing took just under 2.5 hours...2.5 hours for 3 chicken tacos and an appetizer. Okay, fine, they were probably busy, I can even look past that long wait. I'm not even mad yet, because I'm extra excited for this highly rated food. Also at this point i'm starving. I start eating and everything was ICE cold. My chicken was dried out and freezing. I ate half a taco and a spoonful of the appetizer and thats all I could manage. I'm so disappointed because I know that their food is probably amazing but that service really turned me off. I mean if you can't successfully deliver hot food in a timely manner, YOU SHOULD NOT OFFER DELIVERY, plain and simple. I WASTED 34 DOLLARS ON 3 COLD TACOS AND A COLD APPETIZER. You would think that they would have apologized when the food came and offered coupons or something of the sort but nope, he didn't even acknowledge how late it was.
(1)Lucy W.
This place is so good for vegetarians!!! The veggie plate is great- with the main part of the dish changing every day based on seasonal produce.
(4)Marie G.
Avena shake is a must! Sweet treat with no guilt trip. Service was ok. Chill and have a conversation. Food was good as usual. Empanadas were just ok.
(4)Jessica V.
I went there the other day with my cousin, the food is delicious. Please try the oatmeal shake
(5)Mona S.
really good food ! if you like spicy then this is the place for you !!! had their chicken burito ! it's spicy without making your eyes water .
(5)Tiffany P.
Iced coffee with horchata...bomb! Smoothie...bomb! Empanadas...bomb! I haven't had anything off the menu I didn't like. The plantains are always sweet. I've had breakfast and dinner and enjoyed it all. The fried potato tacos are way better than what I expected. You must visit the place. Just remember its BYOB and cash only.
(5)Samantha G.
Can finally write a review after coming out of a food coma from last nite! I had never tried Costa Rican food prior to Irazu, but I am definitely impressed! Their empanadas were insanely awesome, especially the cheese one. The ceviche was surprisingly very filling, as most are not, and had the perfect amount of citrus. I was, however, not impressed by their yuca frita. I think we got the leftover yuca from the bottom of the deep fryer ;( The bf n I decided to split the pepito sandwich, since we had appetizers galore. It was tasty, and reminded me of an Italian beef sandwich. The highlite of the place? DEFINITELY the oatmeal shake! It was like a mixture of rice, vanilla, cinnamon, oats, and milk. It was soooo delish and addictive, it's like crack in a cup! The service was great, and the waiters were not bad looking at all ;) And best of all, there's delivery!
(4)Ami S.
Great food at reasonable prices. The plantain appetizer with the garlic sauce was really good and their empanadas are to die for!!! I love that they have a nice selection of vegetarian dishes! The only thing that sucks is the small dining area...can't fit More than 20-25 people.
(4)Emily S.
I have been wanting to come here for months since I saw it on the food network channel (Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives). I am very stubborn when it comes to trying new food and getting out if my comfort zone, but all of the food I saw on the show looked like a must try! My two friends and I arrived at about 7:45 on Thursday night, and there was a few other people waiting to be sat, but we were seated within about 10 minutes. We started off with chips and guacamole, and ordered some cheese empanadas and our entrees as well. I got the Pepito sandwich with steak, and I can't remember what my friends ordered, but all I know my sandwich was DELICIOUS!! It was so flavorful and the steak was juicy and not fatty at all! The cheese empanadas were delicious as well! I was a bit nervous of trying some new flavors and food, but I am glad I did. Last but not least we all ordered dessert; my friend had the bread pudding, my other friend had a chocolate shake with soy milk, and I had the famous oatmeal shake I had read and heard so much about and it lives up to the hype! Just the thing to end a lovely meal :) Overall this place is awesome; the service, food, prices, and atmosphere were all very good. Love that they are BYOB too! The only downfall I saw was that it was a bit chilly where we were sitting, but it was a pretty gross day out so can't really complain about that haha. I am happy to have finally experienced Irazu, and I will definitely be returning soon when the weather is nicer! Last tip, be prepared to fall into a FOOD COMA!!!! :D
(5)Jamsaheb ..
Being vegan - felt like just another place.. Not bad.. But def not something to brag about.. Having said that would probably walk in again someday, not anytime soon thou... Had veggie sandwich - was decent, oatmeal shake - read a whole lot of wonderful things about it and it was good just nothing exceptional, passion fruit shake - okish, vegg tacos - okish... So all in all just good.. Sorry am kinda stingy giving away 4 stars to any restaurants.. Have to really like it for me to give away 4/5..
(3)Abby H.
I went here with some friends to enjoy a meal and catch up. The empanadas were great and tasty! The chips were crisp and delicious. However, I ordered El Tico, which is labeled as the chef's specialty and wasn't as impressed. You get a choice of chicken or rib eye and I requested rib eye. I was only provided a small amount of meat in comparison to my friend who ordered the grilled steak. His was a thin slice of steak about this size of a hand and I had a few pieces of meat hidden under a bed of onions. I was disappointed but all other aspects of the meal were great.
(3)Irene H.
I recommend ordering the Guy Fieri special for $15 (not on the menu, but you can ask for it) which includes the Chifrijo appetizer, the Pepito sandwich, and an oatmeal shake. I ordered the Pepito sandwich with steak, added avocado and asked for extra Lizano sauce on the side - absolutely delicious. I love the outdoor patio and that its BYO
(4)Jessica P.
I came here on a Thursday evening for dinner with friends...it was busy, but no wait to get seated so that was great... FYI.. seating is outdoors so if it's chilly out.. make sure you bring a light sweater...or make order food to go?....if you don't like bugs/insects/outdoors (not that there were many bugs out when I went).. then maybe this is not the place for you? ooo and it's BYOB... Food: Appetizer -Chifrijo ($8.50 sm/ $10.50 lg): a delicious dip for your chips (free chips upon seating)..I really enjoyed this appetizer Costa Rican Dinner/Entree -Casado ($12.95) the entree contains your choice of meat with rice, black beans, sweet plaintains, an over easy egg & cabbage salad..definitely very filling--great for sharing.. my friends enjoyed the plaintains the most from this entree..overall, the entree was ok... -Pepito Sandwich ($5.95): choice of rib eye steak or chicken with sauteed onions, cheese, beans, and lizano sauce.. I really did enjoy this sandwich and the portion was decent.. I would be full after eating one sandwich.. Customer Service: our waiter was soo helpful, attentive and friendly!! I would say great service!!! Wait time: no wait for seating..wait time for food isn't too long.. Atmosphere: it's like an outdoor patio.. wouldn't say it's the most comfortable seating, but it's decent...the tables are sort of small if you order a lot of food..you might run out of room to place your plates.. but the waiter is good about clearing the finished plates quickly so you can place your other plates... Parking: plenty of street parking around the neighborhood.. and i believe it's free!...or if you take the CTA.. the blue line is really close walking distance (just around the corner). I would come here again to try some other items on their menu...
(4)Olivia U.
My first time at this establishment was a pick up order. I walked in and spoke with Henry, who told me, "You'll get your food when I get it." He was EXTREMELY rude, to the point where I asked for my money back and he handed it back without an apology. Piece of advice- You're in the hospitality industry. Be nice to people and you will have returning business. I don't care what show your food was on, I refuse to be disrespected in my own neighborhood. Good Luck, Henry.
(1)Christopher M.
Awesome BYOB. I knocked off one star becasue our meat was a bit dry, but everything else was fantastic, in particular the Oatmeal Shake. You wouldn't expect an oatmeal shake to be anything special (I thought I wouldn't like it because it would be 'too healthy') but it's really fantastic. A perfect dessert to the end of a very good meal. 104/365
(4)Amanda P.
This place is just the best. Delivery quick and food hot and SO SO GOOD. Makes my life better every time.
(5)Kimberly K.
What's the point when everyone loves this place. But, I love it too! It's the best in the summer. Sit outside and soak in the warm night air while sipping a shake. Love their empanadas, love their soups, love their gallo pinto, love that they are BYOB. There is not much I don't love about Irazu. Go there. :-)
(4)Haydee S.
Now....I get spoiled cause my office orders from this place from time to time (how is a real good question cause they are a CASH ONLY spot). Delivery, while slow sometimes and a touch messy, still delivers good food. Dine in:...is the WAY TO GO! Here's why: 1) No corkage fee- when I went I was with five other people who can easily go through at least three bottle of wine. We were even given an ice bucket to keep our additional bottles chilled which was delightful 2) The menu- for someone who's gluten free, and loves Latin foods, this is a must. The Cascado? Is everything. I somehow failed to mention that I don't really do over easy eggs and someone in the kitchen must have been psychic cause it was just the way I like it...still done with light yolk. 3) The quantity of food given is worth the price. The order I got came on a plate twice the size of my face with generous helpings. The fact that I almost (ALMOST) couldn't eat everything speaks for itself. It's great for friends and groups, wouldn't want to try this place for late dinner since it does get loud and family filled, but it's just wonderful. So worth the commute from Edgewater.
(5)Jennifer E.
So after writing this 1 star review (see below) a couple of hours ago, Justin - manager at Irazu's contacted me on my work phone. Granted my cell phone was the one on file on my order but I don't answer phone numbers I don't recognize. It just shows your the length that Justin and Irazu will fix a customer service issue. I have been a loyal customer of Irazu for years and have ordered delivery at least 25 times and I never had an issue til yesterday. I want to thank Justin and Irazu for making things right :) **************************************************Â************** This review is for their delivery service via Seamless. I have been here and it is a great restaurant. Great food at great prices. However, I placed an order at 9:30 am yesterday and did not get my food til 11:30am. I called at 10:45am and they said they were swamped with orders but it will get to me in 20 mins. That was a lie. I understand running a little late, but by the time I got my food it was cold - the rice was hard as rock. To top it off, I did not even get an apology. Food at great prices is great but the service I received yesterday left a bad taste in my mouth.
(5)Alex S.
Great prices and amazing food. I always get the Chifrijo (which is technically an appetizer) but is awesome enough as a meal on its own. Great for friends and company parties. Don't forget to order the Lizano sauce!
(5)Sarah P.
Try the empanadas. Aaaallll the empanadas.
(4)John R.
There is nothing I didn't enjoy. I had the highly recommended oatmeal shake w\ banana and the milanesa sandwich. They were both great. I couldn't expect anything more. The price point was also exactly what I expected to spend. Coming back for more soon!
(5)Heather P.
I've heard so much about Irau, I guess I expected it to be different somehow. It is very discreet. We sat outside and i never ventured in so perhaps it was different inside. I take it from my experience, you don't go for the atmosphere, you go for the food and lots and lots of people do. We got there at 6pm with a party of six adults and two kids. We were seated right away; which was awesome considering they don't take reservations. BYOB, and we did. Please and thank you. Our server was outstanding, making recommendations, being patient, and taking our food allergies into consideration. I had the oatmeal shake everyone raves about and I am hooked. It's been a week and I've tried replicating it at home four times. I'm close, but not quite there so I guess I'll have to go back to Irazu to make sure I'm not missing something. We had a shared appetizer the chifrijo. It was alright. I wasn't blown away. My entree was the pepito sandwich with hot peppers and it was excellent. The meat was seasoned perfectly, great amount of heat and the bread it was on was the best part for me! Cash only, yikes...good to know ahead of time. I'd go back for sure, cash and wine bottle in hand!
(4)Naomi Q.
The food was delicious! It's a casual place and good for group gatherings. The portions are extremely generous so I would recommend ordering an appetizer then splitting a meal between two or at least that's what I should have done. We didn't have enough room to try the shakes this time around so we'll definitely have to try them the next visit. We were seated right away and received very good service. Definitely worth checking out if you love Latin food.
(4)Erin B.
Love Irazu! Love the plantain dish with the beans and garlic sauce (appetizer) and love the empanadas (chicken are the best!) and alsooo love the veggie burrito!! Those above are the only things Ive tried, but they are so good, that I get the same thing every time (sorry not sorry). Ive eaten there a few times, lively fun vibe if you bring a group of people and its BYOB so go wild. I do notice on a saturday night when its packed that the service can be SUPER slow, but, still gets 5 stars from me for the overall atmosphere and food. Don't come here on a weekend night when its busy and expect to be out in less than an hour. It's not fast. Also have had it delivered via the Eat24 iphone app, and its always delivered within an hour and delivery men are nice, and food is delicious. Irazu is my go-to for delivery. 5 stars!
(5)Matt S.
I almost don't want to write a review, because I don't want more people there. But this place is the best in the city. Make sure you try the chifrijo and yucca. The only potential issue is that there can be some water coming into the patio area when it rains. But hey, it's worth getting a little damp for the food you get at this place.
(5)John M.
Nearby eatery, decent food, ordered takeout on several occasions, mainly empanadas, they got it wrong every time. I don't set out to be critical but how hard is it to get an empanada order right, I know this place is busy but the takeout service is below par, please get your people more focussed when it comes to takeout/delivery food!
(3)Ritika K.
Irazu is a costa rican restaurant on Damen Avenue. They accept cash only. Our group of 9 went there on a Saturday night without making a reservation. The wait as expected was about an hour. We were seated inside. Outdoor seating looked very nice so try to get a table there. Chips were complementary so we ordered a large bowl of guacamole. I ordered grilled chicken casado. The food in general was okay. We also ordered bread pudding and flan for dessert. Bread pudding was not that great but the flan was delicious. I like that Irazu is a BYOB restaurant. I don't think I will be going back considering that there are so many good restaurants in and around Irazu that I wanna go to.
(3)Steve Z.
Love it! They got it. whatever it is they have got it. The sandwiches are all great. The burritos are all made with top grade meat. The Chifrijo is unique and wonderful. Fast delivery too.
(4)Anna G.
I live right by Irazu and am a frequent customer, so I can't believe this is my first time reviewing. Everything about it (except for the long evening waits) is great. Most of the time we call our order in for pick up and the wait for that has never been longer than 30 minutes. There hasn't been anything on the menu we haven't loved. Personal favorites include the casado, pepito sandwich, milanesa sandwich, and chicken burrito (which you should ask for the spicy version). The shakes are really good, especially the mango mixed with BYOB tequila....or do what we do and order 2 shakes that you mix with tequila at home! Service is always friendly and remember that it is cash only! I would also like to review their private party space and services as earlier this year, we were lucky enough to host our rehearsal dinner with Irazu. About half a block away from the restaurant, they have a private party room that fits around 35 people. This is also BYOB, which was fantastic. I believe we had the space for either 2 or 3 hours, but were able to drop off alcohol earlier to put on ice as well as bring in decorations. We were able to plug in an iphone into their speakers, they can set up a coat check area, and have a little bar. There is a single unisex bathroom as well. The service was, again, incredibly friendly--from the initial phone call to inquire about the space until we left that evening, everyone was so accommodating. The price per person was very affordable and they offer a set menu that you can customize. At this point I can't quite remember all of the food we had, but the chifrijo and flan were soooo good. Any leftovers that our relatives didn't want to take home, they donated to a food shelter. I wish we had another party coming up so we could rent the space again!
(5)Marcy B.
Oatmeal shake, all day long. Great Costa Rican food. Bummer it's cash only, and the ATM has a hefty fee, but well worth it!
(5)Brittany A.
Ok, so I wanted to like this place. Really...but so much about it was just so-so. Upon entering I was intrigued thinking it was like a little hole in the wall, hidden gem...love those kinds of places...especially for a Friday afternoon lunch. Most of the string lights on the patio were out, things like this always make me wonder how little attention to detail overall a place is paying. Right inside the door they have a folding table set up where is like there silverware wrapping station. Is there not a better place to do this? Come on. Now onto the important stuff...I ordered an iced tea (the place is BYOB but I still had several hours to work after lunch so refrained from this option)...I had to ask for sweetener twice. The waitress didn't come around to refill water etc and had to be flagged down. Mind you, it wasn't busy. We ordered the shrimp and avocado cocktail...this was actually worth 4 stars. Super good and I would highly recommend. I am going to give Irazu another chance, no time soon, but I am sure I will find my way back.
(3)Cassie C.
CASH ONLY and BYOB-- the 2 most important things to know. Went on Thursday and seating was not a problem. The host and waiter were very friendly. The food was good and the Chifrijo is a MUST get. We probably should have tried the dinners but we ended up trying the sandwich's which were good but not amazing. ** There Lizano Salsa has a very strong flavor. Street parking was easy to find but I would assume that it would be a lot harder on the weekend.
(4)Christine L.
Food: Hit or miss. Outdoor Seating: Lots of it, if that's your thing. Seating was very quick, and they started us off with some chips & salsa. We ordered a small Chifrijo (but we asked for it vegetarian) to start. Our main dishes consisted of the Chile Relleno, Casado (steak), Vegetarian Paella, and the Pepito Sandwich. My favorite was definitely the Pepito, it had the most flavor out of all the dishes. There was a bug that landed in our food, but I guess those are the risks you run with outdoor dining. The rest of the food tasted really fresh, but in all honesty wasn't as memorable as the sandwich. The table was a little cramped with all the food we ordered, we tried to eat family style but it was a little difficult. I didn't order any of the drinks for myself but I did get to try my friends' horchata and oatmeal shake. They were both really good. The horchata was served in a really cute and tall mason jar mug.
(3)Elaine W.
My favorite dish at Irazú is their chicken soup! Big chunks of chicken, delicious broth and cilantro. Followed by some empanadas and I'm happy. The empanadas are crisp on the outside with yummy fillings...meat, chicken, or spinach. I always order an assortment. The batidos can't be beat. Additionally the service is always friendly and attentive. Love this place!
(5)Jeff J.
Two things that keep me going back for more, their pepito sandwich and banana oatmeal shake. I'm not a big fan of their plantains. But their pepito, everyday baby. Their oatmeal shakes are very unique, kinda remind me of a horchata milkshake. I've seen this place grow from being a simple corner restaurant to being a neighbor hot spot. Fantastic outdoor patio. Family owned and very nice. You earned my respect.
(5)Brett F.
It's no secret that Irazu is great. If it does happen to be a secret to you, you've apparently been living under a rock. And that sounds uncomfortable. Their patio is positively divine during the Summer, but feel free to pass on eating indoors here during the colder months as the dining room is tiny a bit of an afterthought. Don't let inclement weather keep you from your patacones and plantains though! Irazu has what must be the largest delivery area in all of Chicago. From Montrose, to 16th, to Pulaski, to Lake Shore Drive, they hit it all. If you don't live in that zone, well, then you're just shit out of luck. So there's that. Irazu is amazing for their killer burritos, Costa Rican plate dinners (the El Tico with chicken is my fav) and, of course, the muy famoso oatmeal shake. Order all of the above, all at once, and you have a real tasty feast. Don't forget to ask for a side of their yummy, extra garlicky mojo, too. No, not that kind of mojo. Not like "I think I've lost my mojo." Pronounced mo-ho, it's an amazing chunky-garlic-oil mixture that tastes like pure heaven on chicken, rice, burritos, EVERYTHING. Just don't plan any makeout sessions post-mojo consumption. F'real. So good. So affordable. And the guys here are super friendly. Support local!
(5)Stephanie H.
I went here last Tuesday night with a girlfriend. She got there before me and put in her name, and we waited about 15 minutes for a table. I ordered the steak sandwich and steak fries. The sandwich was delicious and only $5.95, but the steak fries were nothing special. I tried my friend's oatmeal shake with milk (you can if you want it made with water, milk, or soy milk), and it was delicious. The server was nice, but didn't check up on us until we were pretty much done with our meal. I'd definitely come back to try other things off the menu!
(4)Karl S.
I'm not from Chicago, but just happened to stumble upon this place on Eat24 and decided to give it a try for delivery. The delivery arrived before the scheduled time, which is a rarity (for places that offer delivery) and the food was hot! The empanadas were absolutely delicious and the pepito sandwich (steak) was tender and bursting with flavor!!! I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
(5)S C.
This is a great lunch spot. The food is delicious and so cheap. You must try the Chifrito! Crunchy pork over black beans, rice and pico de gallo. The plantains were outstanding, and the Empanadas as well. The service was pretty bad, so be patient.
(3)Diva G.
I've been to Irazu several times, but this is my 1st review. The food is ALWAYS excellent- fresh and flavorful. The servers are helpful when ordering and attentive during your dining experience. Started with Taco Tica and Empanadas- chicken, plantain and bean- everything was sooooo good! Ordered the Onioned Steak for my entree and as always, it was absolutely delicious! Definitely substitute gallo pinto for white rice and beans. The steak was seasoned perfectly and the sides really complimented the dish. I always have to order a side of steak fries, because they are so good and always served hot. Irazu is casual dining with no frills and no fancy fixtures. In the summer they do have outdoor seating. With consistently good food, good service AND BYOB, you will not be disappointed!
(5)Stacy S.
I'm a little surprised I haven't already reviewed Irazu. I've been here several times and will keep coming back! My cousin studied abroad in Costa Rica a few years ago. When she found out about Irazu, right here in Chicago, she decided to invite me to try Costa Rican cuisine, and I was not disappointed. The restaurant is located off Milwaukee in Bucktown. Keep in mind this place is CASH ONLY. The place itself is a little on the small side, so it would be good for smaller groups. They have a nice patio area that is heated during the wintertime. So what to order? - CHIFRIJO. They have a small and a large portion. The small is actually enough to share among 2-3 people or can be satisfying as an entree for one. Chifrijo is basically rice, beans, lizano sauce, with pork bits and avocado. This dish is THE reason I keep coming back. - Ceviche. I'm a fan. It's pretty consistent here. I don't always order ceviche, since I have chifrijo mostly, but would definitely recommend as an appetizer. - The Dinners here are pretty good. i've had the Casado before, which is full-out complete Costa Rican meal. Standard rice, beans, plantains, meat. Good value for the portion size. - Actually, I prefer ordering the empanadas over the dinners. They come in 3, 5, 7, or 9, so they are good to share. The empanadas are crispy with a delicious center and come in a variety of flavors. My go-to empanadas are spinach and cheese or sweet plantain. - Last but not least, the Oatmeal shake is HIGHLY recommended. You can either make it with milk, water, or soy. I typically go with milk. I'd say the Oatmeal shake is similar in taste to Horchata, but something about the texture that adds to it. Love Love Love the Oatmeal Shake. Irazu is also BYOB, so what more can you ask for.
(5)Andrea R.
BYOB, cheap, delicious Costa Rican food, big patio, casual & laid back, great service, around the corner from our new condo...5 stars!! Have been here twice already since we started house hunting in the area, and have tried the steak pepito sandwich, ceviche, empanadas & the chicken el tico dish, which was recommended by our waiter. Pepito sandwich and the el tico are both amazing, and we also loved the empanadas. Meat is tender, juicy & flavorful...and if you love spicy food, you can add jalapeño to pretty much everything. Apparently this was on Diners & Dives, and is a popular joint, so I have noticed it gets very busy and can get lines on the weekends. For any Los Angelenos, Irazu reminds me a TON of Cha Cha Chicken in Santa Monica, though it is a different type of food & definitely not right off the beach....but the BYOB, cheap & amazing ethnic food, beach hut feel are a throwback to my days living in SoCal!! Couple tips: Cash only-- but if you forget, they do have an ATM inside. BYOB and liquor store is just a couple blocks away. Will continue to go back here & I worry about my waistline. Update in January 2015: Have been back a number of times and Irazu is consistently good. The reason for updating my review is that I finally tried the Oatmeal Shake for the first time and it was AMAZING!! It was every bit as good as everyone says it is. The only other thing I'll add is that we used their catering delivery back in the fall and I definitely recommend it. We got couple meat and veggie trays, picked up some tortillas and used them to make tacos. They were on time, the food arrived hot, the portions they recommend for different group sizes are accurate and we got lots of compliments on the food.
(5)Bryan C.
It took me a while to find out about Irazu since I normally don't walk up Milwaukee past Damen but one fateful trip to a KFC changed my life. While on the 56 bus heading North, I glanced out the window and "Irazu Costa Rican Dining" caught my eye. I immediately got off the bus at Western and walked back toward this new found restaurant and just had to give it a try. 9 visits and about 5 pounds of Chifrijo later it is now one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Needless to say i didn't make it to KFC that night. My first visit I ordered the Chifrijo and the Pepito Steak Sandwich with avocado. First the portions size can't be beaten for the price. Second, the Lizano sauce is magical, the kinds of stuff dreams are made of; And third, I enjoy the BYOB aspect but it also has its downside which I will explain later. Since my first visit; however, I have had a range of different menu items and I am never disappointed by the level of quality, speed, and staff service. The owner and all the staff in general are just outstanding. The atmosphere is pretty loud and might at first discourage some older patrons but it's a more casual dining experience. If you want to go on a Friday or Saturday make sure you arrive early as lines can sometimes get out of control. It's optimal to come with a party of about 2 to avoid overly bearing wait times. I think the reason for this is far too many people camp out and feel the need to sit there for hours after the meal drinking multiple bottles of wine/beer. This is the reason for the long wait times because there are a limited number of tables which is disappointing because the food service is fantastic and wait times for food once you actually get a table are quite fast. So I guess the take-away here is if you go to Irazu please don't linger at the table and give others the opportunity to experience this great restaurant. If you go to Irazu expect amazing food at a very reasonable price, great service from all the staff, and don't forget to bring your booze. You'll definitely leave completely stuffed and satisfied. Also they are closed on Sunday's.
(5)Jenna S.
So, I definitely understand the appeal of this place. However, let me explain something: the only reason I'm giving Irazu a 4-star rating is because of their prices and vast vegetarian menu. The food here is typical and tastes like stuff you can get at other restaurants. However, the food is tasty for some average fare and the prices are so low that you HAVE to eat here. I couldn't believe the entire bill for two people was less than $20 for an appetizer and two entrees. Since it's BYOB, you don't have to waste your money on booze - stop across the street, get a six pack or a bottle of wine and enjoy yourself. In the summer and on weekends, be prepared to wait. There's always a ton of people waiting to sit outside on the patio and this place is always bustling and crammed full of people. There's also a steady stream of people coming in and out for take-out orders, so prepare to squeeze past them going to your table or the bathroom. I've heard the delivery is awesome, they don't charge a fee and they deliver almost anywhere. Maybe I'll try that sometime and see if I'm more inclined to enjoy the food.
(4)Faye B.
I really wanted to like this place because I have only ever had Costa Rican food on a quick business trip to Costa Rica. I came with an open mind to a dinner with a bunch of friends. Overall I think I left underwhelmed. I love empanadas, but the 3 different ones I tried were kinda bland. I had the casado and my husband had the tilapia taco platter. His dish was also a little tasteless, but at least the meat in the casado had a little flavor. It didn't come close to the one I had in Costa Rica, but at least there was a little more flavor than in the empanadas. Their winter setup is also very interesting. An extension of their indoor restaurant which is small, the 'patio section is covered up and has heaters. However, depending on where you sit, your backside may still feel the winter chill.
(2)Callie S.
This place is amazing. I get the steak deliciousness with onions and an egg all over it, and I want to make steak/onion/egg babies with it all day long. Shakes are outstanding as well.
(5)Liz K.
Their drinks are SO good and the food is pretty good too, though I've only eaten there once.
(4)rebecca s.
my boyfriend took me here recently because it is one of his favorite places. staff was very friendly. ordered some guac and chips. asked for it with no cilantro...which wasnt a problem. nice. for my entree i ordered the potato tacos. the potato could have used a little flavor but besides that they were good. the boy ate the costa rican sandwich. it was sliced beef with basics. pretty tasty. also had an horchata. yum. i liked it. had left overs. would go back.
(4)Dino s.
Incredible food, amazing milkshakes (try the soy- much more rich), very home-y atmosphere overall. I've had the chicken tacos, chicken sandwiches, vegetarian selections, plantains (so fresh), and the guacamole is amazing. The staff is quick, very friendly, and helpful. Affordable dining experience at a longstanding Bucktown staple. Get take out if you'd like- it's quick, but make sure to remember that they don't take credit. They do have an ATM in the restaurant though.
(5)Matthew S.
Wow this is a good restaurant! On the recommendation of a friend and having passed this place many time the wife and I mosied on to here. I started with the oatmeal shake w/ soy milk and this was awesome!! Very tasty as I shared with the wife. She got Ice tea and I normally don't like ti but thought it was good actually. I got the vegetarian sandwich which was full of flavor and portioned well for a meal, not to much but just enough. The wife got a steak that was real thin and she said it was great. We both got the rice and beans which were really good. Flavored with a little bit of lime. Yum! Outdoor seating was a plus but it was a little crowded. Not really a big deal seeing as how everywhere here is like that. Service was friendly and good, they take cash only but have a ATM inside which helps. Would definitely go back...
(4)Jesse L.
I used to live in the area and definitely did not go to Irazu as often as I should have. I took a date here last Friday and had a great time. I had the steak and onions, which was very good. The chips and gauc were also very good, but not the best I've had. Service was friendly, but a little pushy, and seemed to be rushing us through the ordering process. I understand given the long wait to be seated. My only real complaint was that it took forever to be seated on a Friday and they do not take reservations. I definitely plan to go back.
(4)Haley M.
I've ridden past this Milwaukee Ave restaurant a plethora of times on my bike but hadn't eaten there until yesterday. I ordered the veggie burrito which was fantastic...simple...but delicious. The only complaint I have is that the salsa is in squirt bottles instead of bowls so it can get a little messy if you're a clumsy eater like myself. We ate outside, so I'm not sure what the inner restaurant is like but the outdoor seating area is great...in an ideal location for people watching. Good service as well. I would definitely go back.
(4)amy c.
Love the dishes at Irazu and the chocolate cornmeal shake us absolutely delicious!!!
(4)Nancy H.
My bf loves the Pepito sandwich, the steak sandwich is more my style, and I think the burritos are just ok. The sandwiches come on thin French bread and a combination of Lizano sauce, sauteed onions, tomatoes, lettuce, mayo, and mustard. The steak fries are hefty and salted just enough, and the cheese empanada was heavenly. I didn't know cheese could taste like that! I could only take a few nibbles of it, though, for fear of having a heart attack right there. Most everything we ordered was greasy, surprisingly except for the sandwiches. It is a great alternative to fast food without making you feel like you drank a pint of grease--maybe just a spoonful. The restaurant itself is pretty dumpy, if you don't mind that sort of thing. It's definitely a place you'd go to to grab a quick lunch or carry-out. There are enough tables in the back to seat maybe 25. And there is a very small parking lot in front (fits maybe 4 cars). I'm definitely interested in trying the Casado dinner next time which supposedly serves two for $12. Strong recommendation: finish your meal off (or pair it ) with an oatmeal shake! For $3, you can get a huge oatmeal/tapioca pudding tasting milk with cinnamon on top! For the prices, I'd come back again. Lastly, Irazu now delivers!
(4)Dieter B.
This place is nondescript from the outside and tiny on the inside! Only about 30 people fit, although they have carry out. We went for a late lunch and were seated by the back door, where there was a very cold wintry draft slipping under the seals. The food wasn't bad--Jen ordered chicken and rice, and I had a Tico Costa Rican taco, steak tostda and horchata (rice water). The meal took a while to serve, which was good as it was piping hot and tasted fresh. The differences between this Costa Rican meal and other Latin-American fare is very subtle. But to this gringo the minor differences don't justify the greater cost. Typical meals here range from $11-13 per person. I can go to Pilsen for less, and get more food. However Jen kept reminding me it wasn't Mexican. Anyway, it was good, but I doubt I'd go back unless I lived in the neighborhood. I would instead choose a much different and tasty Cuban meal, or fast food Mexican, which is everywhere and tastes similar, expect for the sauces. If you decide to go bring cash as they don't accept plastic.
(3)Robert S.
This place isn't much to look at, but WOW is the food amazing!! I had the most delicious casadas, which was a huge portion of wonderfully flavored steak with Costa Rican rice and thick, chewy plantains. The oatmeal shake made this a perfect meal. I can't wait to back and try some other dishes.
(5)Brenton J.
Pretty darn good! Gallo pinto with plantains for $5.50, and some empanadas at $2 each? Can't beat it! I wish I had gotten more gallo pinto, however - it was just a little scoop. I mean, beans and rice are not exactly pricey, I feel like they could have been a little more generous. My friend had chicken and rice, which seemed really expensive at $11 for what it was (just chicken and rice - nothing fancy). Will probably order again, even if just for the empanadas - they were delish!
(4)Kevin J.
This was the first restaurant I went to when I moved to the neighborhood. It can be pretty crowded with a long wait during peak times so I (unfortunately) take out more often. Definitely get a shake with whatever entree you choose. I'd love to recommend just one but I can't. Try everything.
(5)Swapna P.
The service here was truly excellent. There aren't really many Costa Rican restaurants in Chicagoland and this one definitely was worth trying. I went with a friend and we shared the Patacones appetizer which were really yummy and not as garlicky as you would think they would be. They came out piping hot and just the right amount of crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. My friend, who's a vegetarian, got the vegetarian taco which was extremely filling for only $4. I got the Casado and my only complaint was that my steak was a little greasy, but still tasted great. That and the really small seating area merited Irazu four stars. Although I went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and had no problem getting a small table for two. The portions here are huge (my leftovers will easily be another meal and a half) and they have a decent number of options for vegetarians.
(4)L Z.
Irazu is a rare example of a restaurant that gets everything right: ambiance, service, portion sizes, temperature, quality of food, seasoning. Flawless! Went to dinner last night (a Wednesday) with my husband and a college friend who is a military man with a strong appetite. We arrived at a quarter to 8 and were seated almost immediately, despite the crowd outside. Our server, JUSTIN, was so great. Our friend asked if the portion sizes would be enough for him (he seriously eats a lot). With a big smile, Justin replied something like "If you aren't satisfied, I'll get you anything you want." Whatever that means, his sense of humor and awesome attitude made us feel really well taken care of. Literally 2 or 3 times, we felt like staff was reading our minds. As our friend said, "we're gonna need more chips" someone plopped some on the table, saying "Here are some more chips for you!" It was great. I am so grateful to Irazu, because we only see our friend once or twice a year, and he LOVED it. We had such a great time, with no exception. I have worked in food & beverage, so usually I experience something - lip stick mark on a glass, cold food, underseasoning, portion sizes - I guess I have bad luck. No such occurrence at Irazu. Even the 1 bathroom shared by women/men in the back of the restaurant was not bad. Everything was wonderful.
(5)Stephanie H.
Great. Food, Price. I have dined on the patio once, and have gotten takeout quite a few times. I usually stick with the Chicken Burrito and Guacamole and Chips. Very casual...Love the food, but the decor, not so much. If you haven't tried it...what are you waiting for??
(4)Rob L.
Where did you have a dinner tonight? Irazu. So how was it? Oh just another food orgasm. In fact I was thinking about having a cigarette and no, I don't smoke. This four and a half star, laid back, super casual BYOB put me on my back with an outstanding pressed steak sandwich, some succulent fried plantains and some amazing rice and beans. The guacamole was good, the empanada was a little greasy and the service was a little slow, (but considering there was one girl working ALL of the tables inside and outside, I was more impressed), I still want to come back over and over again, if you do come early if its nice out, limited out door seating. Though you have to excuse me, I just think I need a moment to savor this flavor moment and cuddle with my leftovers.
(4)starli h.
i love irazu. i have only ordered the vegetarian plate because i love it so much, but it is always good no matter what the vegetables are. my boyfriend loves the oatmeal milkshakes, eh i think they are OK. but i am not really a milkshake or oatmeal lover. He always loves his food (usually the sandwiches) and introduced me to the place. I am assuming that i am not incorrect in my love for the veggie options because his discrimating puerto rican vegetarian mother loves it all as well. you should probably go for that reason alone! the major con is that it is small which is great when not busy, but better left avoided on busy nights and weekends.
(4)Alec B.
The outside, is terrible. The door, is immovable. The food, is amazing. And plentiful. And unique. A good time was had by all.
(4)H N.
Friend and I had dinner tonight; food was good. Service was attentive. However, they overcharged me by 25% or $6. It's my fault for not paying attention to the receipt b/c I was engaged in a conversation with my friend. So, before you pay, CHECK THE RECEIPT and MAKE SURE THEY AREN'T OVERCHARGING YOU.
(3)Colleen B.
This place is very very very tasty. I went there with 8 people at 7:30 on a Saturday (very bad idea). It took 1.5 hours to get a table, which is easily the longest I've ever waited for a table. The staff was really friendly, though, and I'm not going to blame them for my friends' stupidity in planning to take a large group to a no-reservations restaurant during prime going-out time. I got the casado, and it was AMAZING. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of plantains, but I never thought I'd like cabbage salad, and it was fabulous. The meat, the beans and rice, the chips and salsa... good good good. Despite the wait, I will definitely be going back.
(4)Mimi G.
I got the veggie burrito, and it was alright. It was huge so I had to use a knife and fork to cut it up. Either way, i ended up just digging everything out and eating with the fork. Needless to say, it was a mess. The hot peppers tasted like cleaning solution.....it was weird. and my friend ordered the pepito sandwich which came without the sauce it said it comes with on the menu. She wouldn't ask the waiter for the sauce but ate it anyways. She thought it was a bit dry and didnt like it too much - even though she was the one who was dying to try this restaurant. The oatmeal shake was interestingly good though.
(2)Cristina G.
We've only eaten at the restaurant a few times. My first time there I wasn't impressed but I did enjoy their gallo pinto the next time. Their shakes are to die for, if you know what to order. My favorite dishes there are the gallo pinto for breakfast or brunch and I get a spicy shrimp and rice dish for dinner. We usually order delivery, and that's my favorite thing. Get it if you like spicy food. My husband thinks that their veggie burritos are the best!
(3)Emily P.
contrary to the survey answers, i would say this place is $$ instead of the $ it is given. that said: their plates are generous and i left full. of course, i probably shouldn't have stuffed myself with their greasy chips and amazing salsas. i had the potato tacos that, while yummy, seemed rather uninspired. the mister had chile rellano, which once again--though it hit the spot--seemed to be lacking in something. irazu still gets four stars bc the food, whether inspired or not, is authentic, fresh, flavorful and filling. there are lots of fresh veggies on the plates as well. i love how crowded and cozy the restaurant is and it's hard to beat BYOB. this is not a place for groups or for intimate dining.
(4)Emily C.
Been meaning to come to this neighborhood place for awhile and glad we finally did! Both ceviche and guac were great starters and big portions. I tried Casado which was HUGE. Plantains, chicken, rice, beans, salad. Everything was great. Chicken was a tiny bit dry, but I drenched it in guac and beans. The oatmeal shake is as great as everyone says. I was expecting more of an oatmeal, thicker consistency. It was way smoother and icy - I finished it in approximately 90 seconds it was so good. Will definitely be back! 324/365
(4)Annabelle H.
Ceviche Shrimp and Avocado cocktail Steak Burrito Pork Chops Banana Oatmeal Shake with soy milk The food was fresh, plentiful, and tasty. We ate this for dinner the day we flew into Chicago. I didn't like ceviche, but this place changed it. It was addicting. The shrimp and avocado cocktail was soooooo good. I thought i wouldn't like it because of the shrimp, but I was wrong. The burrito was good too, but the only dish I didn't really like was the pork chops. It wasn't that it was bland nor under cooked, I just didn't like it. The rice and beans were good though. Would I come back? Yes. Even just for the oatmeal shake! My goodness it was yummay!
(4)Yvette C.
If you're looking for a taste of Costa Rica, this is the place! I haven't personally been, but the food smelled so good I had to stop in after my yoga class. Try the skirt steak it was delish. Dinner plates come in large enough portions and you get free chips so if you aren't starving you can have a light app before your meal. Food is cooked fresh and it was all delivered to my table in a tiny manner. Cash only but there is an ATM up front. Also, the front space is for large parties but there actually dining rm is in the back. I thought it was closed at 1p on a Thurs, but you can smell that it isn't. A definite Bucktown gem.
(4)Vivian A.
THE FRIED YUCA IS TO DIE FOR! I don't remember what i got, but it was delicious! byob, with no corkage fee, always a plus. plus, service is wonderful and super friendly. came with a pretty large group (7 people) and we didn't wait that long for our orders to come out. highly recommended for both the expert Costa Rican food connoisseur and the newbies alike.
(5)Elibe E.
Irazu is located on a stretch of N. Milwaukee JUST NW of where most of my days/nights in Bucktown/WP have been spent. My first dinner here was also my first experience with Costa Rican food - very cool. What's even cooler is that Irazu is a BYOB restaurant. I'm guessing that the BYOB coupled with the very cool modular patio space makes for chill dinner spot in the summer. We cracked open the premium beverages that we brought from the grocer and ordered some pico to start our night. For entrees, I had the chicken mixed with rice - she had the empenadas and a veg taco. The portions are massive and the service is attentive. My rice entree was a bit lacking in the flavor department. I understand the this type of cuisine is meant to be simple and casual, but I would rather enjoy half of the portion size (which would still be enough food for a grown man) with more inspired flavors.
(2)Ashley M.
A rat scuttled right under our table. I know you're thinking, "But you were sitting outside on the porch". Sorry, not an excuse. There is a border that runs under the fence, they should close it up. The rat came from outside, I should note. Gross. The food, pre-rat, was ok. Nothing to return for even without the rat.
(2)Justin B.
I'll have to go back to Irazu, because I'm missing what the big deal is with the food. Big ups to cheap prices, cash only and BYO, so there are always going to be things to love about this place. But the empanadas I had--while tasty--would be crushed by 5411 Empanadas in a straight-up taste test. Irazu's spinach & cheese was a highlight but I don't know if I would take it over anything at 5411. But the big surprise was my letdown with the milkshake. It was basically a glass of chocolate milk (and that might be on me for not getting oatmeal...but then again, I generally don't like oatmeal), and as a fan of milkshakes at so many other places in Chicago, I had very high hopes for this milkshake since I live so close to this restaurant. Uhh...no.
(3)Nathaniel C.
Very good, delivery was quoted 1 hour, (grubHub) arrived in about 40 mins. The food def. hit the spot and was fresh and delicious! Kind staff over the phone too. Will order again soon. -over and out
(4)Mike P.
I don't understand the hype with the food at Irazu. The good: Prompt, friendly service. Inexpensive. BYOB. Comfortable setting. The meh: If only the food could match the rest of Irazu's great attributes. Maybe Costa Rican food is just very simple and rather boring or maybe Irazu just serves their food this way. The food wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't yummy or memorable. The quality of the meat is very average and the flavors in the sauces and vegetables are quite boring. Even the horchata was average at best. As for the oatmeal shake? I'm glad I tried it, but I can't imagine I'll ever have a craving for one in the future. I wouldn't object to going back if a bunch of my friends wanted to eat there, but I would never choose to go back for a date and I would never recommend it. It was among the most simple and bland Latin meals I've ever eaten. I have no idea why it would be included on the Eater 38. Still scratching my head about that one.
(2)Monty W.
this place gets busy on the weekend for early dinner. gotta get here early. food was good. service was slow as a result of the packed house. if I'm in the area I would return
(4)Leslie B.
Just delicious. And I didn't even have the oatmeal shake! This is only because the kitchen closed in the middle of our meal...I suppose it WAS 10:45. We were quoted 45 minutes for a table for 6 on a Friday night and it was ready in 30. There isn't really room to wait at the front of Irazu so we went down the street to grab a beer and then were chugging/paying our bill to get back as quick as possible for our table. We started with the guacamole and the chifrijo which were both delicious. We also ordered several empanadas and each couple had one. We ended up with the steak and potato and loved it, everyone else enjoyed theirs as well. For dinner, I had the Pepito Sandwich with hot peppers. NOM. I'm casually obsessed with sandwiches and this one was a dream. How can you go wrong with steak, onions, cheese, that tasty Lizano sauce, and hot peppers?! You can't. You just can't. I can't wait to go back and have this sandwich again. Other members of our party had burritos, the Casado, and other plates of veggies and meat. We all left happy and full. The BYOB component made it a lot of fun, we basically closed down the place (sorry to the waitstaff, thank you for your patience!). Additionally, you can't beat the price point ($20 a person with tip) and no corkage fee. Can't wait to return!
(5)Rich M.
Great fresh food, great relaxed service, great outdoor area, great BYOB, great... well you get the idea!
(4)Caeleigh R.
Nothing spectacular and kind of pricey. The reason this place gets two stars was because I asked the waiter if anything had MSG in it and he said no. Well that was a lie. I bloat to the size of a full term pregnant lady when I have MSG and yeah, it's not pretty and I end up in tears because of the pain. Their homemade sauce has MSG in it... Which is why it's so tasty. Anyway, they use MSG, they need to tell their employees this, and a waiter should be certain about food and allergies because it really made for a horrible evening. I started to realize within 5 min of having the appetizer that the waiter misinformed me, so I asked him again and he said no MSG is used. I ended up not eating anything and I brought my entree home to my fiancé. On my walk home, I called the restaurant and asked if they used MSG and they put me on hold to ask the cooks. Not even a minute later they're back and tell me the rice, their homemade sauce and something else has it in it and that they can't guarantee no cross contamination. I said thank you and hung up. That's all it took; a quick run to the kitchen to check with the cooks. Don't mess around food allergies people, and to my waiter, if I ate my steak entree I would've had to go to the hospital because then my reaction is too bad to handle with pepto bismol. My girlfriends like this place and my fiancé like the leftovers but they use MSG and the waiter we had was an idiot and I had an allergic reaction due to his incompetence and laziness.
(2)Reyna M.
We waited over 30 minutes to be seated. The wroth iron lawn furniture is very uncomfortable . Although they try to create a tropical ambiance the noise from the L kills it. The waiter was nice but only checked on my table once & wasn't around when I needed something. The food is mediocre , not very authentic. The rice was lukewarm , the black beans were el dente & could have used more seasoning and more cooking. The meat was tasty but warm. I like my food hot and freshly made as well as a good presentation. I feel all this was lacking. The plantains were burnt on the outside and raw & gushy on the inside. I won't eat here again. There are better choices for the money.
(2)Briana M.
Great empanadas. Super nice, helpful, and professional owner. I ordered some gallo pinto and empanadas for my baby's birthday party. When my husband arrived to pick up the food he said there was a line out the door. That has to be a good sign. Everyone raved about how delicious the food was. Overall great experience highly recommend. We will be back to try more menu items.
(5)Patrick S.
If you don't like this place, punch yourself in the face, bomb steak, bomb empanadas.
(5)Kate B.
I recently organized a bachelorette party for 17 ladies and wanted to go somewhere I already loved. This was the place. Not only was Henry (the owner) extremely communicative and helpful while figuring out my options for this party, but he was incredibly kind. I ended up renting out the private party space and it was absolutely perfect. Josh was our private server and he was also amazingly kind and helpful too. So long story short, the food is divine, the service is amazing, and the pricing was fantastic for how much food we all got to stuff ourselves with. Henry and Josh definitely made this a really special and easy weekend and made some converts out of my guests.
(5)Ken V.
I've been following Guy's DDD and sadly I was disappointed. Pepito sandwich needs more seasoning. Fish taco needs more seasoning and a little fishy. Ceviche had too much acid. Chorizo was ok. My friends and I loved the oatmeal shake, power green smoothie, the outdoor space, and staff.
(2)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.
(5)Monica D.
Read about this place somewhere online so we thought we would head in. It took them about ten minutes to seat us which was ridiculous because there was four empty tables. When we did get seated it was in a cramp corner and neither of us could move our legs...then it took them about twenty minutes to take our order. We had the pepito sandwich, a taco tico, an empanada, and a pitcher of the oatmeal shake. Over an hour later we had not received our food. The waiter came by exactly two times, to take our order and bring our food. There was one guy there that was really nice but unfortunately I did not get his name. When finally did get the food, it was okay. They were all really small portions but I guess they were somewhat cheap so I guess they've got that going for them. The taco was literally drowned in cabbage, but I will say I liked the mushroom empanada. I was really disappointed because there were several people who came in and ordered after us and they got their food way before us. It was just an upsetting experience overall. The food was okay but it's definitely not worth the way we were treated. Shout out to that one nice guy though. I joined Yelp literally just to write this review.
(2)Rachel L.
This place is delicious, authentic, and the staff could not be more wonderful. BYOB too! I'll be back soon.
(5)KJ K.
Straightforward and delicious Costa Rican cuisine. byo and super lively any night if you're dining in. They also deliver!
(4)Sharon V.
I don't get it. What's all the hype about?? After many hopeless attempts, I was finally able to try this place out. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to all the hype and 4+ star reviews I've read on Yelp. We ordered the ceviche, huevos con chorizo, spinach and cheese empanada, and oatmeal shake. The ceviche was good but nothing special. The huevos con chorizo was extremely bland and I didn't like the texture of the eggs mixed with the chorizo. In fact, the description said it would have eggs scrambled with "spicy" sausage. There were no sausages in the dish! It just looked like ground beef mixed with scrambled eggs that had absolutely no taste. Considering how much of a weak sauce I am when it comes to spicy food, me calling this dish mild might be the understatement of the year. Highlights of the meal were the empanada and the oatmeal shake. The oatmeal shake just tasted like a thicker version of an horchata. I happen to love horchatas, so this was a good thing. This place is only worth it if you're vegetarian and like a lot of options to choose from. Carnivores - not worth the trip.
(2)Tyler B.
I love Irazu. Saw it on TV and had to give it a try. We take most of our out of town guests to Chicago for a stop as it always is an enjoyable experience. BYOB is nice. We love some Rum with the punch options they have on the menu. Also, the food is fantastic. The layout is a bit crowded, but gives a very homey feel. Can't say enough good things about this place and it should be a must try if you haven't experienced Irazu. Since they are so good and well known you may have to wait. We typically put in our name and go grab a drink down the street. If you don't like waiting this will not be your place.
(5)Liz K.
I have tried quite a few things on the menu and they are all delicious. Try the chifrijo and oatmeal shakes, they are both quite unique. The service was a little slow (which is the only time this has happened). They might have been understaffed and it was quite busy. But they gave us some free oatmeal shakes to make up for it. Great local restaurant, definitely give this one a try.
(4)Kathy L.
I hope I don't get sick! Everything was either super mediocre, just edible or awful. In the "awful" category: the 2 pork chops meal. The pork chops were old - (they actually had an odor!) & tasted like they were going bad. Their specialty rice (which you have to pay more for) is just white rice (full of cumin) & beans. My bf had the fish tacos & he said it was super bland. We also had the mushroom (canned) & beef/potato empinadas which were so tasteless. Throw in the super greasy salsa chips and you have a disastrous dinner. All this for $50....and it's cash only. Don't waste your time, $ or risk your health.
(1)Gregg J.
Irazu is Ir-awesome (word play). We ate lunch there, the second time we've been to the restaurant. I'll start with its one negative - its small and there's little room to wait, which we didn't encounter but could imagine on a busy winter night wouldn't be fun.... that's where the unpleasantness ends. The decor, atmosphere, and food are all a nice slice of Costa Rica - which lives by the code "Pura Vida" or pure life. Irazu gets that right by having a fun atmosphere and attentive staff who you can tell like working there and interacting with customers. FOOD: I had the chicken casado. The casado is the typical meal of Costa Rica - marinated meat and veggies, gallo pinto (rice and beans) an egg on top of the rice and gooey fried plaintains. So good all around. I've visited Costa Rica and I loved the American quality of the meat here with the authentic tastes of CR. Top all that off with the famous Oatmeal milkshake. Its as good as advertised - get one yourself and you'll know what I'm talking about. It was several months between my two visits to Irazu - I'm pretty sure it won't be that long before my next visit.
(5)Fresca T.
Jennie T introduced this place to me and I LOVE IT! I kinda embarrassed her by not having enough cash since I didn't realize that they don't take cards. Bring cash! I'm going back for the second night in a row to sample more. I had the skirt steak, oatmeal shake and a chifrijo appetizer. The skirt steak was well seasoned and cooked to a medium rare perfection. It came with a really flavorful yellow rice, a pickled cabbage thing and yummy fried plantains. The oatmeal shake was incredible. It's very filling so I may share with somebody next time. Being lactose intolerant doesn't help much either. You need those healthy oats to soak up the triglycerides from the food. The chifrijo had deep fried pork belly. Freaking deep fried PORK BELLlllyyy! I warmed it up the next day for lunch and it was still good.
(5)Joe M.
Love Irazu! The food is amazing. Sometimes I wonder what distinguishes a $200 meal from a $20 meal. Is it the atmosphere or the food? Maybe it is both or maybe niether... Back to Irazu. The resturant is old and a bit ugly but not without its charm. It looks like it was once a Taco Bell, possibly built in the late 70's. If it wasn't for the lines of people waiting to get seated you would never know they were even open. They have a large outdoor patio positioned neatly near the Milwaukee Ave. The menu is outstanding, Costa Rican food is outstanding. The service is outstanding. Our waiter was truly helpful and informative. It is BYOB and the liquor store across the street sells Costa Rican beers. The Costa Rican Black Bean Rice is amazing. I really like this resturant. It's simple. I'm simple
(5)Danielle K.
As a visitor to chicago I am amazed at how many reviews this place has, but you have to love a restaurant that posts a yelp review by the door. We waited a while for a table Sat night, but it was well worth it. Like mentioned before they are BYOB (which my Washington DC is SEVERELY lacking), and while we were waiting the guy behind the counter suggested we run across the street to a conveniently located liquor store! We asked for our servers favorite two shakes and he brought out Oatmeal and Oatmeal-Banana. I am a huge fan of both! They were refreshing and helped cool my mouth from all the yummy hot food. For starters we had the fried yuka. Warning to daters: it is covered in tons and tons of yummy garlic. Not just garlic oil, lots of chunks of garlic. I thought it was amazing, but I was burping garlic the rest of the night. : P I had the veggie burrito with mushrooms and it was HUGE and delicious. I couldn't come close to finishing it, but man did i try. The green sauce on the table is amazing. I want to put it on everything I eat. I guess this place is pretty hyped up, but i say its worth it. it would be dangerous if i lived in the delivery zone.... luckily i'm a few hundred of miles outside of it.
(5)Martha M.
Hip hip hooray! 3 cheers for Irazu! A friend of mine recently moved around the corner from this fabulous Costa Rican joint and we happened upon it while on a Saturday afternoon stroll. I had no idea that I was setting myself up for a new Chicago obsession. The service was quick and super friendly and the staff was so nice and attentive. And the food. Oh, the food. The yucca was divine with a delicious garlic oil spread (Warning! Not good date food! I can still smell garlic on my breath four hours later...so worth it though...) I had the fish taco special which was amazing. Not as light as your normal fish taco but equally if not more so delicious. And the plantains on the side, well, had I thought it through I would have gotten some to go. Their smoothies are on spot as well. I had blackberry with soy milk and was in heaven. Another plus, this joint is freakin' adorable. Tons of outside seating, some in the shade some in the sun. Great music was playing and the decor felt very authentic and islandy. Price was definitely a plus as well. Thirty dollars for two of us, appetizers and all. I cannot wait to go back...
(4)Sophie M.
I seriously recommend this place to everyone. And I've taken several first-timers there. For some reason people don't just happen upon it and decide to go in. Anyway, their oatmeal shakes really do knock my socks off. I've had several of their dishes (burrito, vegetarian sandwich, and some other things), but I almost always get the potato tacos with guacamole; they're just so damn tasty. I usually can't finish it all, so I'll have my leftovers for breakfast the next day. The servers are always friendly. It gets really busy during the summers, so there's sometimes a wait, but it's usually not longer than 15 minutes. Irazu is BYOB, so don't forget your beer/wine/whatever. A word of warning though: You won't get no fancy glasses to drink your beer or wine out of--it's all plastic tumblers. I'm cool with that, but I'm sure it could be a turnoff to some.
(5)Annie S.
This was my first time at Irazu and I was not disappointed. Our waiter had suggested the Casado and I was totally blown away. It was full of flavor and spice that was out of this world. I am moving to the area in month and I can already sense I will becoming a regular in no time.
(5)Ellen M.
I finally made it to Irazu - looking forward to making regular stops in the future. Thanks, Kathleen O., for suggesting this great little place. We started with the tostones as an appetizer - fried green plantains with a side of black beans. WOW! I ordered the chicken and rice for lunch. It was fantastic - fresh, tender chicken, rice with carrots and tomato, a cabbage salad and ripe plantains - great blend of sweet and spicy. Kathleen got the casado, another rice and beans dish with a fried egg on top. The shakes are where it's really at. No ice cream (are you kidding?). Choose your flavor, ask to have it made with milk or water. Kathleen got the oatmeal (milk is default) and I got the mango with water. It went great with the food, sort of a mango slushie. I might try it with milk sometime, but it's a terrific summertime drink. Not heavy on atmosphere. A counter when you walk in, a small dining room in back. Clean bathroom. Tiny parking lot. Cash only. Come for the only Costa Rican food in the city and enjoy.
(4)Jesse A.
Cheap, delicious tacos. Honestly, I probably only needed one -- these things are FULL of yummy ingredients.... but I didn't realize a $1.95 taco would be so filling, so I ordered two. One was the special 'Rican taco, which comes buried under a pile of cabbage and sauce.... it reminded me (and those picking at my dinner) how much I like cabbage. The meat was tasty too, and it too had a reminder message: remember? You've been a pescetarian for a while now, but here's some evidence to remind you why you like beef and chicken. Oh yeah. Flavorsome goodness. My friend had the oatmeal shake, wow - what a shake! That shake inspired me to want to buy a blender, so I can go home and make something like it, every day, for breakfast. We had a very funny waiter too. Now... BYOB, and tacos under $2 ... that makes for a cheap, satisfying meal. They have vegan tacos too, we didn't have them, but I think they're only about $2.50 or so. PS - I actually never bought a blender. My housemate has a food processor in the trunk of her car, so I'm still kind of waiting for her to bring it in. In the meantime, I might go back to Irazu instead. Oooo yeah.
(4)J M.
They brought bread pudding for dessert when I was there for my birthday. With a candle in it. When I asked for extra cilantro on my rice, they put a quarter cup of chopped cilantro on it. It's got a beer cooler. The servers talk to you. Really, does it get better than this? I think not. Irazu has an outdoor area that's about twice as large as the inside, complete with patio heaters, which the host/hostess cheerfully rearranged for my rather large party, in case we got cold (it was one of those fun 60 degree June days). I think I'm going to propose to this restaurant simply for that. The menu is simple, the ingredients ordinary, the flavors mindblowing. Irazu has quite possibly the best ceviche I've tasted in Chicago, full of lime-y goodness and seafood. And avocado. That was a nice touch. Both times I've been there, the entrees were fantastic. It's BYOB, which makes it that much cooler in my book. I'm not all about paying $9 for a glass of pruno, or whatever the house wine is. There's a liquor store up on Western and Milwaukee for those who want beer, and a wine store right across the street from Irazu for those with sophisticated palates. Just don't expect a fancy glass with a "stem" and made of....well...."glass". Long story short, Irazu, I'll marry you any day of the week. You cook, I clean. Deal?
(4)Keki L.
Irazu is great. I have been wanting to try it for a while and was finally able to a few weeks ago. The delivery was fast. I love the casado, it tasted great, was a large portion (it was 2 meals for me), and was reminiscent of the casado I had in Costa Rica. I would definitely order from here again.
(5)Holly R.
Every time I go here, I end up with a huge belly ache, which is completely my own fault - I order too much 'cause everything's so good. The menu's great for vegetarians, and, actually, it's great for meat-eaters too. If you have out-of-town guests who fall into one of those groups, bring them here, and they will be totally impressed with Chicago. My favorites: the palmito salad, the ceviche, the plantains (even better if you get them double-fried in garlic oil, obviously) and basically all the sandwiches. Actually, just order whatever you want - it's probably really good.
(5)Crystal P.
Always good for a quick delish lunch! the potato tacos (actally like flautas) are awesome the vegie burrito is supper goood... yum! and the Mango or oatmeal shake is perfect to put out the sting of the super spicy hot sauce!! Don't even get me started on the chips!
(4)Paul F.
Lets start with the black bean dip which is smoky, a lil spicy and something to write home about. Yes, the oatmeal shake is what dreams are made of. We needn't spend anymore time on that. The Chicharron! The Chicharron! When I ate this it honestly changed the way I live my life. The fat and skin peel away from each other and melt in your mouth. I apologize if that sounds gross to some, but I'm not sorry for my description. I'm sorry that you will never know what true love is.
(5)Christine D.
The one thing I always forget about this place is that it is cash only. I think I forget because I am just so excited to get some deliscious patacones or a refreshing palmito salad with hearts of palm and radishes.. I also enjoy the costa rican sandwich. Take out, dine in or delivery to most of the city. There is no where else that delivers both to my home and work.
(5)t.n. t.
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!
(3)Yumm y.
Incredibly vegetarian friendly and equally incredible prices. I got the vegetarian burrito and threw down a mere 4.95. I checked with the owner and the beans, rice, chips and tortillas are all vegetarian friendly. You know how sometimes you believe that and others seem less sincere...? I feel confident about this place-- he took a lot of pride in his ability to assure me of the lardlessness of the goods and the lack of chicken broth in the rice--even w/out prompting for specifics. They even have a vegan friendly item on the menu--labeled as such. My carnivorous party enjoyed their huge meals that could easily be shared by two and the guacamole was yummy. Plus, I was ear hustling at the table next to us and heard that they deliver... so if you're feeling lazy, don't let that stop you from trying the deliciousness that is Irazu Costa Rican Restaurant.
(4)Terrance D.
Wife and I wanted to patronize Irazu this past sunday BUUT(closed sundays!)..ahem.. hint hint:) Soo we had to wait it out but boy was it worth the wait in gold!! I mean the steak was tender and seasoned to perfection, the Costa Rican rice was savory and the green sauce added just the right amount of kick to my taste buds- WHOA! The guacamole and chips were on point, the chicken was flavorful(a tad dry), Omar the waiter was cool biz, atmosphere was fun and diverse and the prices were MORE than reasonable considering the portion sizes. We'll def be back very soon... what are YOU waiting for?? P.S.- word on the street is Irazu will be open for biz on SUNDAYS this summer...now that's what's up!
(5)Dan D.
I went here for the first time tonight and I was totally blown away. Having spent many months in Costa Rica, I knew authentic food - and this place hit it on the nail... AND it tasted even better than Costa Rica! :-) The must-try dish is the "Casado" - this is the true Costa Rican cuisine. Basiically it is a dish with rice, beans, egg, salad, platanos (sweet bananas), and your choice of meat. I had the chicken breast which was SO tender and juicy that it literally comes apart with just a fork! Plus the sauce is quite great too! And for the icing on the cake.... the "Casado" entre ONLY costs $11ish dollars! This is prolly one of the best deals unknown in the area. I will be coming back here for the great food, super friendly service, and keep a few bucks in my pocket.
(4)Don H.
If you're looking for a pretty low-key date night this is the place. It's charming with plastic stemware and plates. But don't let that dissuade you. I haven't been here in forever and really don't have an excuse, though we tried before on a Saturday night at 7p and it was jam packed. This time we went on a Friday when it opened. As always, the service and food were exceptional. Because of our out-of-town guests, our server gifted a round of complimentary oatmeal smoothies. Remember they don't take cards, but there's an ATM at the front. Parking is limited in their lot but there's plenty on the meters on Milwaukee. If you forgot the wine, check out Red & White Wines across the street.
(4)Car M.
I've lived in the neighborhood for 5 years and have driven or walked past this restaurant and always said, "hmmm, I want to try it" and finally I went. We had a table of 5 on the covered patio on a June night. Service was bad. I don't know if our guy had an off night, or what but he was a total space cadet. We'd ask for a plate and an extra set of silverware and he'd bring just the silverware. He didn't check in on us and our waters were never refilled. Finally management must have noticed because they switched servers on us. The food was good, but it didn't blow my mind. I got the spicy fish tacos that our server RAVED about and when it came to the table, I thought it and the cuban rice was pretty bland... not spicy at all. The salsa was great but it was a little weird to have to squeeze it onto every chip from a bottle, rather than having a bowl. The empanadas were delish! Two things to note:BYOB and they only accept cash and there's not an atm very nearby (big negative in my book). I might go back here to give it another chance, but it really didn't live up to my hopes.
(3)Jillian D.
i have been to irazu twice. once this summer when there was a party atmosphere on the patio. the dj made my whole table want to dance! and a second time about a month ago when the patio was hopping, but the music was MIA. and i must admit, i missed it! it really helped set the scene and made you feel like you were on an island somewhere (mmmm costa rica?) instead of a stretch of milwaukee avenue. the food is plentiful and fabulous. each time i have set out with the goal of saving enough room for an oatmeal shake. and each time i have failed failed failed!!! bountiful portions and every bite gets more and more delicious so how can i stop?? :) get thee to irazu, tout de suite!!
(5)El gee O.
Great Coasta rican cuisine. But, it's cash only!!!...come on, this is America. Grow. Up. Please.
(4)Adisak P.
Great Costa Rican food at a decent price. They have wonderful fruit and/or oatmeal shakes and the various meat plates can easily feed two people. Everything on the menu here is delicious. For an interesting treat, try the potato tacos. They're deep fried like flautas and served with a generous portion of guacamole. They're great if you bring a vegetarian friend (and so are their veggie empanadas). For garlic lovers, I also high recommend the tostones con mojo (deep fried plaintains with a pile of garlic on them). I did go once when the tinted squid was more than a bit off, but I'm forgiving them for that because everything else is so tasty. It's cash only and BYOB and gets quite crowded some nights but it's usually quite easy to get into for lunch.
(5)gypsy b.
I've been coming here for a while now and my last visit just reminded me that i was on yelp and should write a review! the place is really small and always crowded, so if its nice out i suggest sitting outside. I've tried a handful of dishes all very tasty! if you can't have sodium in your diet then i can't recommend much on this menu as they love to use salt on everything! its BYOB and if you forget there is a wine shop across the street!
(4)Sarah P.
Great veggie burrito, guac! Food is better eaten there than delivered.
(4)Jacqueline W.
So I've been here for lunch, dinner and drinks after work (BYO!- one time we ordered the shakes, with water, and added a little extra good stuff). The staff +food +vibe = perfect. If you're coming in a group -it's great for groups outside- you don't have to call ahead but you can. They bring out a big bucket of ice for your drinks to chill if you need it. The food is great and affordable.. there are a good amount of veggie options and the sandwiches are yum! The staff is also as equally attentive as they are laid back.. Kudos to whoever is hiring these people. Omar is the best- he takes really good care of us every time. Last time I was there with my little family of friends from high school and we didn't want to leave. We stayed until closing and he schooled us about house music and djs. Chicago's northside can be a small world, but it's better with IRAZU in it!!
(5)Kim Y.
I am currently eating empanadas that I got last night. I asked the waiter if reheated well and he was right. So yummy, it is a continuation of the fantastic meal I had last night!
(5)Jia T.
I love the food here! The portions are huge! I would recommend the Stake Burrito. It's only $5.95!
(5)Rico T.
I enjoyed my oatmeal shake alot, but the steak burrito was just OK. The outside patio is a nice place to hang out, but the seating is uncomfortable. The chairs and tables are mismatched and too oversized for the space. Maybe I was just crabby today. I'll give it another try next week.
(3)Stacy C.
Wow, what a find! We drove by this restaurant a few times and it looked fun. A quick check on Yelp to see what the reviewers thought of it and we were sold. The food is delicious! It tastes like home cooked comfort goodness. Like going to your Costa Rican grandmother's house for dinner (if you actually had one...). The Casado with Gallo Pinto is the best way to experience all the yummy flavors. And if you're a garlic lover, you MUST try the yucca. I have no idea what they do to the garlic to make it taste so much better than when I cook with garlic, but mmmmm, I could eat that all day. They deliver downtown which is a huge plus. Takeout tastes 95% as good. But if you're in the neighborhood, they have a great outdoor patio in a quiet area and are BYOB. Definitely a fun place to go on a foodie adventure. Just remember, they are cash only!
(5)Joshua G.
It was my first time eating Costa Rican food and it was pretty interesting. I order grilled steak which came with salad, Sweet plantains, and rice. Second, I order their Flan which was heavenly! Probably one of the best Flan I ever tasted. Overall, the food is delicious. I will recommend this restaurant.
(5)Albert T.
I had the Costa Rican Sandwich and I highly recommend it. I also got a bite of my buddy's steak sandwich that was cooked to perfection. Simple but delicious food for a low dollar amount, great atmosphere, and it's BYOB! Going back later to try their oatmeal shake....
(5)David N.
Tasty, cheap if you know what to order. Cons: Super greasy.
(4)D'arcy N.
Looove Irazu. Get the Milanese (?) or the Pepito sandwich and the oatmeal shake, you'll walk out happy. Go into it knowing that it's a no-frills place and that the service can be spotty, but that you're there to enjoy good and affordable food with good friends. Plus it seems like a nice family-owned place that you just want to support.
(4)Irina I.
I love this place! I always get the Biztec Tico and it is always wonderful. The place is cheap and good. Be warned it is always crowded and cold. For some reason they can't get their heat to work. The last time I went we were all sitting eating dinner in our jackets!
(4)Leigh K.
I still find it funny finding places on Yelp that I thought I wrote a review of and didn't. Irazu, what else is there to say? I went here on my first trip to Chicago in August of 2001 before I had moved here in October of 2003. The avocado burrito is gigantic, one of the best burritos in the city, and affordable. The waitstaff is sweet. The plaintains are great. This place rules. I should go here way more often.
(5)Jasmine D.
Fresh, tasty, and affordable. The milkshakes are amazing, my personal favorite being the oatmeal-banana.
(5)John K.
Tasty food. Nice staff. If you like Latino food and want something a little different, I recommend it. Get the costa rican rice kind of like a "dirty rice" variety. I enjoyed it alot.
(4)lisa r.
When I first moved to Chicago in '98, I lived conveniently 2 buildings up from my favorite restaurant, Irazu. One veggie burrito, one shake, and one order of tostonas were a shared meal for two. I've had numerous BYOB celebrations inside and out on the patio. In yet another review I can't really provide much info on the non-vegetarian options. I've tried the steak and chicken tacos and I wasn't wowed, but the chicken soup will cure what ails you. It never fails I want a burrito on the one day they are closed - Sundays!
(5)lisa m.
I don't even like burritos, but I will go to Irazu solely to purchase one. They offer a good selection of other veggie options, but I feel as if I have already attained perfection in the form of vegetables and some other crap wrapped in a tortilla. Highly recommended. Be warned, though, that they tend to get very busy. Expect a wait if you want to eat in at peak dining hours.
(5)Ab A.
hey, do you like underwhelming tasting meat served by incompetent morons? me too! cool, meet you at Irazu.
(2)Lauren W.
Two words, OATMEAL MILKSHAKES! When anyone comes to visit Chicago and stays with me I send them down the street for an Oatmeal milkshake and they usually go back a couple times before leaving town. They also have great vegetarian options and everything is delish.
(4)Jaclyn C.
Since I have already reviewed how amazing the food is here, this review is on the restaurant's catering. We wanted something different to serve at our anniversary party and I quickly thought of Irazu. I'd been telling my friends about it so I figured it be a great idea to serve it for dinner. I requested a quote through the website and Henry quickly called me. Our party was on a Sunday and I didn't even realize they are closed Sundays. But Henry said he would promise to make it happen, they never turn down opportunities to please their customers. The food arrived on time, setup was great and there was plenty of food and food for 3 days after too. My guests were very impressed and were already making plans to visit the restaurant. Overall, I was very impressed with not only the food, but Henry was especially professional and extremely accommodating. Thank you Irazu for making our special day a great success.
(5)Andy R.
exotic cheap date charm and new flavors don't forget the shake
(3)Jake B.
Oatmeal milkshake = tasty time!!
(4)Manhoso C.
Been going to Irazu for 6 years now and its consistantly good. The shakes are great, and the steak sandwich is one of the better ones in the city. The downside is the small dining area fills up quick.. especially during the weekend.
(4)Mark T.
Two words: Oatmeal Shake. I'd come here just for that item alone. After visiting this place for the third time today, I've finally come around to writing up a little review. Granted, you don't come here for the ambience (although the various pictures and stuff along the walls look cool; kind of reminds you about the country in itself), you come here just for the food. The first time I came here was almost eight months ago; it was a dinner with five other people. We ended up getting a gigantic family style meal: Chifirjo (black beans w/pork and veggies), Chicken cascado, steak cascado, veggie platters, rice & beans, plantains, guacamole w/chips and cabbage salad. YUM! Every single dish was delicious. For dessert, we had the almighty oatmeal shake; first time I tried it it was totally not what I expected it to taste like. To me, it was like a large oatmeal cookie--in liquid form. Be sure to order the large size shake; you'll be glad you did. On subsequent visits, I've pretty much ordered single dishes of food that I had at the earlier meal: a plate of chicken cascado; an side of plantains, etc. The empanadas weren't bad either. The service here is excellent as well. Staff here is pretty friendly, also the food here comes fast and cheap. Be sure to bring cash though; the place doesn't take credit cards. All in all, an excellent place to come back again.
(5)Andy M.
In these trying times it is refreshing to find a place that gives you great value for your hard earned dollar. Irazu is a wonderful Costa Rican Restaurant in Bucktown. The interior is small but well decorated. The staff could not be nicer and the service was wonderful. I ordered the Costa Rican steak which was mouth watering. The portions were huge and even though I had no idea what half the food on my plate was called, I enjoyed every bite. One of the things I love about Spanish food are the sauces and spices. Every morsel of food on my plate was spiced to the hilt with wonderful Costa Rican flavors. If you have never tried Costa Rican food, I highly suggest that you give Irazu a try. I can just about Guarantee that you will enjoy the experience.
(5)Chandani J.
I went here with my fiance and mom for her birthday. She is very very picky and we needed a veggie friendly place near work. Everyone is so incredibly friendly and accommodating here. We did have a to wait a bit for a table in the restaurant instead of the outdoor seating area. We ended up ordering a empanadas (all the veggie ones), veggie taco, the famous burrito, and potato tacos. I was slightly disappointed that they forgot the hot peppers in my burrito, and it didn't taste the same having them on the side. The two highlights were definitely their house salsa (which is fiery and delicious) and the oatmeal shake. I would go back again and again for their shakes alone.
(4)Amanda G.
I love IRAZU! It was my first time here a couple weeks ago. I would have to say my favorites at this Costa Rican eatery were the fried plaintains with lots of garlic.. not good for you and give you bad breath but man they are so tasty! I also had the ceviche which was also fresh and I love their rice! Its the best combination of spices and beans! Awesomeness! I also like that this place is BYOB. We brought a bottle of wine from the winestore thats a stones throw away. We ate inside but they have a nice patio that I'm anxious to get back to. Will definitely be back here. The staff is also super friendly!
(5)Karla N.
So we came here after dining in Chinatown (which I will also write a review of) so sadly, we didn't each much, hence why I didn't give full review....but what we had, was amazing, and the service was great, so I'm giving it the next best review. My mother is Costa Rican, and so I've spent years traveling to Costa Rica and eating authentic food....so going with two women from the country and myself, this place had a lot to prove. But we were all very pleased with what we had! I had cafe con leche, which was good...our friend had Tamarindo (which was great and she loved), and my mom had the Avena (oatmeal) shake. I've seen the Avena shake before, but it never looked appetizing so I never tried it....but I decided why not? And took a sip, and boy did I wish I ordered that instead of my coffee! It was SO GOOD. We also had the Chifrijo appetizer...black beans mixed with fried pork, as well as diced veggies served with chips....really good as well. We were joined by our friend later who had empanadas....what can I say? Good, good, good. Sadly, that was all we ate. But it was really busy for a Wednesday night...and what was great is that it was BYOB (I've never seen that in LA) and so all the guests brought their six pack or bottles of wine....which is a huge save since alcoholic drinks can get really pricey at restaurants. Our waiters and hostess were all really nice as well. Next time, I'll order patacones and the classic gallo pinto....and I will DEFINITELY be ordering the Avena shake. Yum!
(4)James M.
Irazu is so awesome! The guys who work there are super nice. The shakes are great. The burritos are awesome. Bring your own booze. Great date place!
(5)Chris M.
Hooooooooooooooray for Irazu!!! This place is awesome, from the many different flavored shakes to the veggie burrito. For the non vegetarians, go with the steak sandwhich. Absolutely terrfic to the point that I want to steal whatever the secret sauce is they use for that puppy!!! Kind of in a shady neighborhood or something cause they have bars on some of the windows, but don't let this deter you. Irazu is a great place and I will keep coming back :)
(5)Rich K.
First time at this restaurant. I am very familiar with Costa Rican cuisine so I was excited about eating here. The fish ceviche was perfectly refreshing. The Pepito Beef Sandwich was also excellent, meat was very tender. The chips brought to the table were a little overcooked or the oil needs to be changed. The Chicken Pepito Sandwich was just okay, nothing special. The hot sauce on the table was super hot, so first timers are warned.
(4)Tommy D.
Cheap, well-made food and BYOB! Makes for a cheap getaway as eating outside makes you feel like you're not in Chicago. (but in a good way). Check it out!
(5)ann s.
I still haven't been back since my last burrito, which wasn't like all the good ones I've had before, and I have traditionally been a fan of Irazu, so I'd be remiss if I didn't note that after my last review, one of the owners wrote me a nice, warm, funny note. And because of that, I will definitely give it another try next time I'm hungry and in that neighborhood.
(4)Claudia T.
Worst place I've been to with horrible customer service! I was with a group of 12 people total (we're between the ages of 25-35) and we made reservations for 7 pm at Irazu. We were all there by 6:30 pm and we were told to wait a few until they got us our table. We were ok waiting and we knew we would have to wait since this place is always full. Around 8 pm we started growing impatient and we talked to the manager. We were told we would soon be given a table and not to worry. At 9 pm a group of 12 women arrived to the restaurant and were seated within 10 minutes or arriving. They were given the table we were promised. We spoke to the manager once again and told us the group of women had made reservations for 9 pm and we reminded him we had reservations for 7 pm and were still not seated. He promised us free appetizers for the inconvenience. After being seated around 10 pm half our group had left already and the promised appetizers were chips and bean dip. To make matters worse, they were rushing us because it was getting close to closing time. Worst customer service, average food, high prices for the quality. I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS PLACE EVER AGAIN!!! Not to mention one of the staff members just emailed us a very rude email!
(1)Marissa G.
Just went last Friday, expecting the Irazu I loved so much two years ago -- it was not there! Chips were oily. Guac had no spice. Milanesa was dry and greasy. Waited for too long to even get water from the server. Sigh, too bad!
(1)Kathy S.
Finally got to try this place and I'm so glad I did. We decided to take it to go so we could eat while watching the nba finals (don't you just love the combo of good sports and good food?). The wait wasn't too bad, especially since we got the soy oatmeal shake while waiting so I was content sipping on that. Now I know why everyone loves it...it is so delicious! One funny thing that happened while I was waiting was that a customer while leaving, looked me straight in the eye and said "ni hao!" which is hello in Chinese but as I am not Chinese, I thought "wtf??" Very very weird. So anyways, we got back home and started munching away. The tico was pretty yummy. The rib eye was a tad bit overcooked but still good, especially when I made sure to dip it in the sauce that it came in. Loved the sauted veggies, especially the spicy peppers...I love food with a kick! And I finished my meal off with the sweet plantains. Yum! Keep in mind that the portions are huge! I don't always trust when people say "definitely enough for two meals!" because there have been times when I've been able to polish off whatever they were talking about in one sitting. However, yeah...no way I could finish off the tico with the four pieces of rib eye that they give. Btw, the person at the register also sincerely said "Thank you for your business!" when he gave us our food. Such a small thing but little gestures like that go a long way for me. :D
(4)YANETTE M.
Came here for my birthday on a gorgeous Chicago day. The patio is great, tables,chairs,and a Dj, thats all I need I thought I was at a backyard house party :) I should of went authentic but I didn't,so I played it safe don't know why. So my lovely dinner started out with of course chips and salsa,guacamole and some weird rice beans and chopped up pork stuff. So sorry for not knowing the names of what I was eatting, Ha !Ha! I order the empanada's, one spinach and cheese,the other zucchini, last but not least cheese and a side order of there black beans and rice. The empanada's were good, the zucchini and spinach were great, cheese a bit bland. Rice and beans off the Hezzzzy ! Last but not least a lovely cool glass of white wine.Oh yah and the gorgeous company I was eatting with.What more could I have ask for that day.Thank you Irazu for making my b-day awesome and thank you company for being awesome.Sorry for making it a b-day review :(
(4)Nick C.
I've been here twice now and am very impressed. The patio atmosphere is great! The perfect place to go hang out with friends, bring your own booze and munch on very affordable food. Food that, oh yea, happens to be delicious! What really does it for me was the customer service. On my last visit the server misunderstood my order and only brought one dish when we ordered two. He immediately apologized and had the kitchen made up another dish quickly and brought it out all free of charge! He really didn't need to do that as I thought it was only a small communication error (probably on my behalf), but the gesture was great and will keep us coming back often!
(5)Paul S.
I have gone here everyday of the week, and once three times in one day. The first time I was taken here on a date when I first moved to Chicago a decade a go. I forgot where it was, and it took me 2 years later for someone to re-enlighten me of this awesomeness. Great staff! The owners are so nice. I can't say anything new about the food that hasn't already been praised here. Now I just need to go to Costa Rica. Oatmeal shakes kids!
(5)Heather M.
Favorite. Sandwiches. Of. All. Time. Irazu's sandwiches have lizano sauce, which is made from the dreams of the gods, apparently. Maybe the secret ingredient is heroin or something. I don't care, I am addicted to it. This place makes me regret moving out of Chicago. Some people think the entrées are pricey. These people are dumb, because they should have gotten a sandwich. The sandwiches are far under priced for what you're getting: HAPPINESS. Also, try the oatmeal shake. Surprisingly delicious!
(5)Jason G.
definitely one of my favorite BYOs in the city. EVERYTHING is delicious. can be warm, loud and crowded, at times. but that's just because the food is so good.
(4)Michael H.
The value has gone done (prices up) and the crowd is often overwhelming. Food is still great, but the value isn't as strong. Still a trusty go-to place in the area.
(3)C H.
1. They deliver breakfast 2. They have the best Costa Rica cuisine ever. 3. BYOB I love Irazu with all my heart. It is one of my favorite restaurants in the city.
(5)Kristin S.
Amazing food! I've never had anything quite like this, but I can't believe I haven't been back since the time I went months ago after with with some friends. The oatmeal shake was so good. Even if it sounds strange to you, get it. You will love it. The rice, beans and plantains that come with multiple dishes were absolutely fantastic. The portions are huge, too, so four of us shared two entrees and an extra side. The seating area is tiny, so I can imagine it gets packed on the weekends during normal hours. We went during the week for an early dinner and had no problems at all though. I can't wait to bring my boyfriend here so we can order one shake, two straws and so much delicious Costa Rican food.
(5)Hayley S.
Please get the oatmeal shake. AND get the mamey shake--an unlikely but fabulous choice!
(4)Vickie L.
Yum yum yum. This place is great (service not so much...). When you dine in you get free chips & salsa. Love that they expanded their outdoor seating, because inside gets a little cramped. I wonder if their service outside is a little better now... Shakes - Definitely get a shake. My bf always get the chocolate shake, I usually mix it up and get a choc/strawberry shake. The oatmeal is awesome. Definitely get it with milk and not water. Food - Chicken and rice - so good, very filling. You will have leftovers. Because the dinners are so big, lately I've been getting sandwiches. The breaded milanese (sp?) sandwich is great, they press them I think. They put their Lizano sauce on all the sandwiches, it's like this tangy tomato sauce, it's SO good. Burritos are also very good - they are huge! The only bad meal I have had here was when I ordered the potato tacos (after reading many good reviews on them). I was disappointed though, I didn't expect them to be fried and rolled up like those taquitos at 7-11. It was too much tortilla, too oily, and it was bland! I had to salt the hell out of it, and I never have to salt my food. That was a big disappointment. Service - It's family owned, so you see the same people guy and girl there all the time. The last time I went there was a blonde caucasian male there who looked new.... Service is not the best. They are pretty slow, but when you see the size of the kitchen, it's a little understandable. The wait staff does a decent job, but they could be a little friendlier, they just seem a little cold. One of the reasons we get take out is because we don't like the wait staff that much... They have delivery now, woohoo! Remember, it's cash only! But they have an ATM on site.
(4)Steven D.
I am now a great big fan of Irazu. Intimate dining room makes it feel that much more inviting. Food was phenomenal. Wait wasn't long either.
(5)Claire A.
don't get me wrong, i love irazu. especially as a summertime spot. but i want to point out: if you order a shake with soy rather than milk, they not only charge you more (fine, this is typical) but they also give you a smaller portion. an oatmeal soy shake costs more and comes in a smaller glass than an oatmeal milk shake. when i asked the (very nice) server about this discrepancy, he told me it was because i'd get sick if i drank that much soy. actually, sir, i personally would get sick if i drank that much milk. let me be the judge of such things. that said, i could kill some of their patacones right about now....
(4)Richard K.
Let's see, food attractively served and its tasty. I had an "authentic Costa Rican breakfast" named Gallo Pinto. I figure that I'll probably not see Costa Rica in the near future, so Costa Rican breakfast sounded good. It was attractive, well priced, and tasty. Come to have some fun and tasty food. Bring your kids, bring your spouse, bring a friend. You'll enjoy it. And its affordable and parking seemed available on a Saturday at noon.
(4)Peter G.
I've lived around the corner from Irazu for a few years and never knew that it existed. After a tip, I tried it out and can't believe what I have been missing out on! Highly recommend.
(5)igor I.
Affordable, unpretentious, laid-back, yummy. Why would you not want to eat here?
(5)Jacqueline G.
Absolutely flawless - I could eat here every day ;)
(5)James D.
Went here for a quick lunch and the food was great. Will definitely go back.
(4)Monica W.
Good lunch date place, great food, filling , always bring a TO GO box home, beans and rice, excellent fried plantains, service is great, interesting fruit shakes (did not like the tamarind - mango is good though). Wish they took debit cards but have an ATM machine on site.
(4)Roll T.
Great Costa Rican food; my wait for a table, however, was RIDICULOUS (over an hour). All the same, I'd go back if I was in Chicago...
(4)melissa a.
those milkshakes, that oatmeal milkshake is amazing and addictive. the service is always timley. the steak sandwich with avocado was ok, a little sot and greasy. its a great place to stop in if your in the neighborhood..not a destination spot
(3)Osh J.
My buddy moved out of state and told me that before I moved to the bay, I HAVE to get a steak sandwich from Irazu. I did get one...and then I got another the next day. The steak is lean and there are no gristle-y pieces. The bread is phenomenal as well. Yesterday I ordered a chicken burrito and the chips and guac. Wow. Pretty sure everything is good here. I get a side of yellow rice and sour cream every time, too. Huge fan...kinda pissed I didn't try this place sooner.
(5)Carolina P.
I love the food here. The cuban sandwich is fantastic, especially when you compliment it with a mango shake. The price is very inexpensive. I've only had bad service here once. Don't ask how they make their oatmeal shake or they'll think your trying to start your own restaurant.
(4)Tiff B.
I'd never had Costa Rican food until I went to Irazu and now I love it! Those oatmeal shakes are to die for and I love the rice and beans and the chicken with onions dish they make. Very friendly service too. The family that ownes this place is so welcoming and customer service oriented. Which seems to be a lost art in a lot of other restaurants out there so I appreciate it when I see it. The only reason I didn't give Irazu 5 stars is because I feel that the portions could be a bit larger for the price. I've only ordered takeout so I'm not sure if the dine in portion sizes are larger.
(4)s y.
My only complaint about this place is waiting outside in the freezing cold because its always busy. Also I'm not sure how really Costa Rican the food is, but its delicious and their waiters always help me decide on the perfect amount of food.
(4)Anne A.
oatmeal shakes and veggie tacos ease the pain of spending my hard-earned cash at chicago teacher across the street. irazu is a place i recommend to everyone who is looking for a new place. i love the outdoor seating, which i think just expanded recently. i usually get food to go, but outside is where it's at if you're dining in. the food is fresh and i like the mild flavors in the dishes i order. as someone who likes rice, beans, veggies, but not super spicy, irazu hits the spot.
(5)Dave S.
One word YUM! I was surprised at how small this place was. I think that the sign out front was bigger than the place itself. I figured since it was a Wednesday it would be rather slow NOT. The place was rather cramped but they were able to accommodate our party of seven Yelpers very quickly. It was either the owner or manager that greeted us and he was very welcoming. Our waiter was somewhat of a smart ass but it was meant more in fun and not in rudeness. I ordered the Milanesa. It was excellent! I was concerned that it may be overcooked. When you order such a thin steak it has to be cooked just right or it will be overcooked. They fixed it perfectly for me! It came with beans, rice, cabbage salad and plantains. Everything was very good. The prices were very reasonable. I did not break down and order an oatmeal shake but I did get a Pina Pineapple which very good.
(4)Tracy K.
Just went to a catered event and found out Irazu was the behind the scenes caterer. Amazing! All foods that were supposed to be crunchy were crunchy, meat was tender not tough. The flavors were just like I remembered from my Costa Rican get-away last Spring. If you're looking for a somewhat healthy & unique option to the pasta / American type cuisine for your holiday bash, I would highly recommend Irazu!
(5)Michelle C.
Amazing veggie burrito! This tiny little gem is super afordable and friendly. It's BYOB, which makes it even more affordable. Also,it's right off the blue line and close to the Congress Theater if you want to grab a bite before a show.
(4)Nikki L.
This is not "mindblasting" as most of my friends would say, but it's pretty damn good! As my first time eating Costa Rican food, I didn't really know what to expect. One of my good friends is Costa Rican and always talks about Gallo Pino which is rice with black beans served with an egg. I did not personally order this, but a friend of mine did and I was able to try it, not bad! I ordered the steak and onion with yellow rice and tostones. This is a huge portion and should be shared with another person unless you are a big eater. The steak was flavorful and rice was amazing. Since we came on a nice warm night, wait to sit outside was 30-40 minutes! No thanks, we enjoyed a nice table inside and had a hilarious server. Unlike your conventional style of service with a proper well mannered non potty mouth server, ours was the complete opposite, yet I didn't leave feeling offended. He was fun, loud and BIG! Literally. We ordered everything he suggested, even the bread pudding for dessert, Ugh can we say 2000 calories per bite? Well worth it. I will be back and next time with my Costa Rican friend!
(4)K M.
Does a restaurant really need 355 reviews? Probably not. Can I help myself from reviewing such places anyway? Um. No. I'm not terribly familiar with this neighborhood. And by "not terribly familiar" I mean I have no friggin clue where I am going. So the streets getting here drove me nuts (Aside from traffic really being sucky). However, once there, I was able to easily find parking on a side street so that was a bonus- I really had no idea if parking was going to be a hassle. I am thankful, because I took someone here who whined about everything, and if I gave said person another thing to whine about, I would have gone ape-shit. :) I will add my endorsement to the oatmeal shake. I don't know if I'd ever find myself craving it, but it was definitely different, and I find it harder and harder to give that label to anything. I liked it for sure. I also really liked their chips and salsa. Honestly, I have surprisingly not found too many places where that is true! And the potato tacos were really good- I thought it was a bizarre thing to see and had to try them. I know others have commented that they are a bit boring, and perhaps that's true, but I look at is as "potatos- good. taco shell- good guacomole- good. rice- good" it was all just plain good, even if not a terribly exciting dish (and it was plenty of food for the price too). Based on this one attempt, I would love to have a reason to come back and try more of the menu. I have no idea what my lunch partner ordered as all I remember is being irritated with him for being so ridiculously unimpressed (but that is a whole different story) The outdoor seating area was nothing all that exciting- but I went in April on one of the very early nice days of the year, so I am guessing it gets spruced up a bit as the summer approaches. Maybe my limited experience with this place is screwing with me- is there more seating somewhere else? This was a little patio with about 10 smallish tables right? I think I'd like to try it at night some time, as I was there on a Saturday afternoon and there wasn't much atmosphere to speak of. But I also appreciate outdoor seating in any form so I wouldn't hold it against them if I returned and had the same experience. I would direct people here without hesitation, particularly if they were looking for something in that neighborhood.
(4)Karen L.
Irazu is one of those "gems" in the Bucktown area. It is Costa Rican food, which I find very flavorful yet lighter than Mexican or Cuban food. I have been there a few times, and have never been disappointed. There are only about 15 tables or so, so be prepared to wait for a table if you are dining-in during the late dinner rush. You have to walk in knowing what to expect. It is just a little bit above the typical "hole in the wall" feeling. However, the atmosphere is comforting and warm, being a very family-friendly place. Many of my friends who enjoy Irazu love their fruit shakes. Since I am not a shake fan, I have never tried them. But they seem to be pretty popular, with many different flavors including some exotic fruits--and they can be made with either water or milk.
(5)Leon L.
We lived near the restaurant for eight years until 2006. Everytime we come back to Bucktown, we have to stop by for a mango shake and the costa rican sandwich. If you ever make it to Costa Rica, it is the same food at Irazu. Unfortunately for Costa Rica, it is the same food/menu across the country until you get to the Caribbean coast where Jamaican influence the food with more spice.
(4)Rebecca H.
I haven't lived in Chi-town for five years, but on occasion, I wake up in the middle of the night, think about the Irazu Oatmeal shake, and weep softly to myself. I shudder to think what will happen to me if I ever become pregnant.
(5)Patrick W.
Don't blink as you drive up Milwaukee or you might miss this place, and trust me, it would be to your detriment. This is a small, family owned establishment that does everything well. The menu is full of surprises, lots of things you've never tried before or wouldn't expect to have at a place like this- for instance, the milkshakes. The entrees are great, but my favorites here are the sandwiches, especially the pepito- steak, cheese, and special sauce on fresh, crusty Gonnella bread. The palmito salad is a winner too- simple but a great flavor combination. I never really liked guacamole, but after trying it here, I suddenly started to like it a lot more. I can't explain it either, but take it to mean they do it right! Remember, it's CASH ONLY and they close pretty early. If you can't get there early on a weekend night, consider calling ahead for carry out. The place is pretty small so wait times can soar.
(5)Mia F.
I am a big fan of their empanadas and blck bean soup!
(4)Kate F.
This is one of the best places for a unique breakfast in Chicago. The Gallo Pinto, a traditional Costa Rican breakfast is the best! Tortillas, black beans, rice - get it with both plantains and eggs. It's so delicious. Add to that an avena (oatmeal) banana shake (just try it!) - Heaven! My only warning, wait a half an hour after the posted opening time to show up. They're on their own schedule and are never ready on time.
(5)John B.
Thank goodness there's a big sign outside this place, or I would have walked right past it. Even with the sign, I wasn't sure I was in the right place. It's a tiny building, and when you walk in, you are in a small take out area. Don't worry, this is the place. The dining area is "cozy." Which is to say, it's about the size of my living room (okay, maybe living room and dining room), with seating for maybe 30 people. Tops. It's nothing special, but you don't come here for the atmosphere, you come for the food. Which is delicious. At the urging of everyone on Yelp -- and the invisible hand of Molly McButter - I had the oatmeal shake. It is exactly what it sounds like, yet somehow more. Very tasty, with a touch of cinnamon and sugar but not too much. The menu offers a range of choices, from sandwiches for less than 5 bucks to full dinners in the $10-12 range. Very affordable, and worth every penny. I had the Onioned Steak, which is thin slices of rib eye (think "minute steak") smothered in onions and served with a side of rice and beans, tostones (fried plantains), and cabbage salad, which is similar to a vinegar-based cole slaw. Our server was pushing the Gallo Pinto, which is a Costa Rican version of black beans and rice, and it was great. Definitely order it in place of the standard yellow rice and pinto beans. My meal was delicious and very filling, and a bargain at $12.50. And it was one of the most expensive things on the menu. If this is your first visit, I'd suggest the Casado dinner: it's a little bit of everything. But everything I saw come out of the kitchen looked great. When we went, the service was a little indifferent. Not enough to put me off to the place, but a bit questionable. If you're going out for dinner, get there early, 'cause they close at 9pm. Shocking!
(4)JaNille P.
I absolutely love this place! Best smoothies EVER!!! The signature Costa Rican oatmeal shake(with soy) is a must. However, the mango smoothie(with water) is an everyday favorite of mine. Their gallo pinto(rice dish) is amazing as well. Great sandwiches and great steak tacos! Give Irazu a try. You will not be disappointed. Great food, great service, great people, and a great atmosphere all in the heart of bucktown!
(5)Terrence K.
Authentic Costa Rican food. Lots of long reviews but do yourself a favor and try the Aveno shake or any of the other drinks to go along with your delicious meal. You won't be disappointed....
(5)Corie Z.
DISAPPOINTING! I had been wanting to try this restaurant for months when I finally got the chance to head out that way. The reviews were plentiful and positive, the photos were deliciously tempting, and the menu looked great. However, I was seriously disappointed in the food and service we received. The guacamole was fresh but tasteless. It needed some lime or lemon, salt, and cilantro. The oatmeal shake that everyone raves about tasted like plain oatmeal in a cup with a straw. Nothing spectacular whatsoever. My food was not prepared the way I asked for...how hard is it to make French fries extra crispy? To top it off, my bf and I waited one hour....yes an HOUR for our food! He ordered one of the steak dinners and I got a simple sandwich. They obviously forgot about us in the kitchen. There was no apology or adjustment to our bill for our bad experience. Oh and btw....they only accept cash. Come on! This is supposed to be a decently nice restaurant. How CHEAP can u be to not accept credit cards? We will definitely not be back. It's unfortunate because I really wanted to like this place.
(2)Maria A.
I like this place. The food is good, you can sit outside, it's byob...it's the kind of restaurant you can picture coming to multiple nights a week. During the colder part of Chicago spring, they even had heat lamps, so you could pretend it was spring-y enough to sit outside...which was much appreciated. Last time, I had some tilapia with yuca and fried plantains and a cabbage etc. salad...all of which was delicious (and fed me the next day, since the plate was mildly overwhelming). Be hungry when you go!
(5)A K.
The oatmeal shake? To.die.for. Really, as other reviewers have said, the outside is nothing too special. But the chips, the guac, the burritos, and the shakes keep me coming back. And a recent trip to Costa Rica confirms that this is pretty dang close to the real thing.
(5)Joanna L.
When I agreed to go to Irazu, I had no idea what to expect. I had no idea what Costa Rican food consisted of and had no ideas on what to order. Frankly, I probably just ordered the wrong thing (some sandwich), but the fried plantains saved the day. Although they were a little strange for my taste, they were still quite tasty. The sandwich was very bland, and it was cramped and quite expensive for a place that seemed very "hole in the wall."
(3)Leang E.
This place was not how I imagined it would be, especially since I saw it as one of the places on Check Please. It's pretty small and looks like a fast food Mexican spot. You don't even notice that there's a seating area until you walk around the building. We had to wait for seating for about 15-20 minutes. The place is cold, but the waitress was super nice and friendly. They start you off with chips and you have the option of 2 hot sauces that are bottled. I was making a mess eating them dripping sauce all over the table. They are pretty spicy and not something that I would consider being a salsa. We ordered the ceviche, which is very good. I'm a huge fan of the portions of food that you get here, well worth the money. I tried one of their shakes, which they give you the option of having it in water, milk , or soy. They are pretty yummy, but too cold for me to order one for just myself. I ordered the Casado dish that has the option of steak or chicken - um which you can assume that I ordered the steak. It comes with this carmelized onions that melt in your mouth, rice, beans, cabbage salad, and plantains. I believe dishes there are pretty inexpensive. You can order other Latin dishes aside from the Costa Rican ones that they specialize in. It's one of the few if not only Costa Rican restaurant in Chicago. I was too full to finish my food or order dessert, but I'll definitely be back. My friend ordered a burrito to go here, and it was huge! It's sad that they are only open until 9pm.
(4)Corey B.
I could have reviewed Irazu after any of the many many times I have dined in or ordered out, and I would tell you to get the oatmeal shake and vegetarian burrito (loaded!). I'm sticking by that choice, but I want to review because of the customer service. I ordered on a busy Friday night and there was a snag in the ordering process. When I called to straighten out the issue, the man on the phone immediately reacted defensively to the situation although I had never placed blame on anyone. Usually, this is where it all goes wrong--I tell the person I am speaking with that I am not blaming anyone and I don't think the tone is necessary, etc. and then I am unhappy the rest of the night. But as soon as I started to argue back, the other guy relaxed and said he was sorry, it was just really busy and he didn't want my order to be cold. Now THAT'S what makes me come back (as long as the food is good, too)!
(4)todd s.
Great food and affordable. Very Unique. Must try an oatmeal shake. Simple atmosphere and nice people. Give it a try.
(4)Elizabeth T.
love this place. it's BYOB so the meal is never very expensive. i love the vegetarian burrito which is $5. $5?? i am pretty sure a chipotle burrito is more than $5. we spent some time in costa rica and it always takes me back. in central and south america i basically lived on mango smoothies and i love that i can get one (even in december) here. i'm probably just sentimental, but irazu, i dig you.
(5)Alexis S.
I thought the service was poor, the seating area was tiny and the food wasn't particularly good. Maybe if I sat outside and came on a different day I would have had a different experience.
(2)Suj S.
Irazu - everything was great until the food arrived. The oatmeal shake was delicious. The mango shake was good. The service was fast and friendly. But the food .... very disappointing. We went with our server's recommendations. Very mediocre food that seemed overpriced. We'll be back for the shakes just not for the food.
(3)Pickle P.
I LOVE this place!!!! Delicious veggie burrito and soy oatmeal shakes. Great service, fast, Costa Rican decor makes it fun and authentic, cool patio area. Note that this is CASH only and not a lot of ample parking surrounding, but totalllllly a place you need to go to at some point. This is one of my staples for taking friends. Love love love.
(5)Marie K.
you know how you find a dish on a menu and every time you go back to that place you end up ordering that one dish every time because you don't want to take a chance and be disappointed? you will not be disappointed at irazu. not only are the owners and waitstaff genuinely nice, but the food is amazing. no matter what you order. seriously. i'm not kidding. take a chance. chances are, the only thing you'll be sorry about is reading this cheesy review.
(5)Deacon M.
if you haven't been, go. they have something for everyone. good vegan. love the tostones with black beans.
(5)Gil N.
I had totally forgotten about this place until I saw it on the ROTD. This place is excellent. Clean, good service, great food. Really good food. I had never had Costa Rican food and I was pleasantly surprised. It can be difficult to find a spot at times which is why I hesitate to give Irazu five stars. A bigger location would be nice but all in all I can see myself going back real soon. Hell maybe this afternoon.
(4)Nana H.
I really like irazu in the summer. I love going there and getting a oatmeal shake after swimming. And i love their weekend special chicken, it is the best thing on the whole menu and there are plenty of other good things, such as their plantains. My god, their plantains are good. When they open at 11am, theres oftern ALREADY a line of people! It is completely normal to wait, but it will be worth it!! BYOB baby!
(4)Lauren S.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Everything I've tried has been amazing. The vegetarian burrito is the best I've ever had, the chile rellenos is amazing, and I love the oatmeal shakes! The servers and hosts are also super nice. There is nothing that I don't like about this place.
(5)Hayden J.
While I have never dined in here, I have grabbed take out on a few occasions. I always get the Casado dish, which has been great on some nights and decent on others. The chips and salsa (which is offered as an appetizer for $2.50) is far too spicy. I enjoy spicy foods, but I couldn't take the spice level on this salsa, and thus wasted my money. Never had lunch here, but I look forward to trying out the Costa Rican Sandwich. Many of the comments mention the Oatmeal Shake, which really is as good as the hype. Well, at least to me. My wife didn't seem to care for it that much, so perhaps it is a required taste. Still, I urge you to give it a try. You just might crave it as much as me or any of a number of other reviewers on here. In fact, the Oatmeal Shake is worth the four stars alone!
(4)Christopher M.
I love this place. They have very exotic food at lost cost. Its a very small place, only problem is finding parking sometimes. Well worth it though :-). Great authentic CR food!.
(5)Alice S.
i lived in costa rica for a bit and having a costa rican restaurant in chicago definitely gives me a taste of being back in san carlos. i would say that the food is not as good as it was when it was being made back in CR, but it does the job. Plus, its great to know there is a place in chicago that I can purchase costa rica's famous sauce... Lizano salsa. YUM! give it a try just to have a taste of something new.
(4)S T.
Pretty good food. I like the food here, i'm just not as taken by it as others seem to be. I love seeing a vegetarian section on any menu. The vegetarian burrito is pretty good, but i can't stand the mushrooms they put on it (by request only). I don't know if it's the way they are prepared or if they are canned or what but they are not good. The vegetarian salad is very small. The green salsa is super hot n good. The chile relleno is pretty good and stuffed with tons of cheese. The sides are good but nothing special. The best thing about this place is the shakes. Got to try a shake and get one you can't pronounce. Call ahead for take out cause if you have to wait inside there isn't much room.
(3)rachel a.
I love this place. only eaten here once, which will soon be remedied. its so good, cheap, and just awesome. i will probably write more when i eat there again, but i highly highly suggest it.
(4)Sarah S.
Irazu didn't change my life or anything, but it was some great chicken! I wish they delivered though.
(3)Kami T.
This is definitely a hole in the wall, but I love the food and the family-run atmosphere. I just ordered a vegetarian burrito, but it was very tasty. the prices are reasonable. I will definitely try something more authentic next time.
(4)Clare K.
i totally wimped out and got a burrito when i came here. mistake. my friend got something totally tradition and SO MUCH better. the oatmeal shake was life changing, however. actually-i am being a little dramatic. it tastes a lot like horchata, so if you like that, you will love this. this is much thicker and cinnamony. the fried plantains were disappointing, though. the oil that they were fried in tasted really old. blegh! the entire dinner lasted a reallllly long time because no one would bring us the bill. i find that to be really annoying and worthy of a star deduction. the food gets a 4 star review, the experience gets a 3.
(3)Alex X.
I tried to eat here on January 3. There were boards on the window and the sign was dark. I thought it had closed! Perhaps it was being renovated? Anyway, I was disappointed because I really wanted to try the oatmeal milkshakes everyone has been raving about... (I gave it a 3 star, so as not to affect the overall rating that much...)
(3)Zach H.
A friend from Florida brought me here. The stamp of approval from the Floridian (well acquainted with good Costa Rican food, of course) got my hopes up, and I was not at all let down with the results. Upon recommendations from some 'other' restaurant review site, I tried the casado with chicken, and it was filling and deeelicious. My friend's veggie burrito was pretty good too. I would like to come back here soon.
(4)mary b.
This is the only restaurant that I would wait an hour and 1/2 to be seated. I arrived around 8 to meet some friends who had put out name in about 10 minutes before I arrived. we sat outside at a metal picnic type table and plastic chairs. It is BYOB so we sat around and drank some white wine while we waited for our name to be called. I stepped inside to check it out and saw about four or five groups ahead of use sitting inside on a bench. I glanced intot he dining room which was super small and could not wait to be seated to eat. Went back outside and before you know it was after 9 and we still had not been called! I went inside to check and the guy at the counter said we were the next party. thank god. we were starving at this point! Ordered the guac and cheese empanadas to start off with. *sigh* The guac was delivcous and generously sized so there was plenty for the group of four of us!! I splashed some of the red hot sauce onto the chip with the guac and the combo of the sauce and the avocado was superb! mmmmmmm. the cheese empanadas were so light and crispy on the outside and after adding more of the red sauce onto the empanada it simply was one of the most delicious pastries!!! Mexican food will never be the same after trying these costa rican delicacies! I had the chile rellenos for a main course and they were quite frankly, the BEST chile rellenos I have ever had. Pure heaven. With a huge side of delicious yellow rice, beans and a perfectly dressed cabbage salad, this may have been one of my best latin american meals ever. I will definitely be back even if I have to wait for an hour and half to be seated. It was worth it, YUM!!!!! Thanks Irazu!! You should open another location really. I plan to be back alot,.
(5)YerMah L.
Cheap, Loud,and BYOB... much like my last relationship, I return for more.
(4)Sunny W.
Yes, its not fancy looking at all. It looks like a shack. I've always found it to be very clean though. I think that people like it because the food is very, very fresh and not -processed tasting plus its delicious. To me it tastes very flavorful and you get a lot for your money. If you eat meat I think its got plenty for you but if (like me) you don't eat meat you are not shortchanged at all. There is lots for vegetarians. Plantains are yummy and I absolutley LOVE their cabbage coleslaw. The papaya shake with water is so refreshing and good for you as well. I stand by this place having some charm! Only wish it were open later.
(5)Jane M.
This joint is always hoppin', especially in warmer weather when the patio is open. The food is good - fair variety, too. Excellent shakes. Even my 6 year old loves it.
(3)Natalie C.
Saw it on Check Please so thought I would check it out. Wasn't impressed with the food but I frequently make trips back for the oatmeal shakes. If you're in the area, stop in....but not worth the drive, IMO.
(2)Amanda B.
I LOVE IRAZU. Great prices. I go here a lot, and never am disapointed. Besides the food, they also have great drinks. Best fresh squeezed lemonade EVER...It's a good choice for summer, otherwise I go with the banana shake, they now have soy as an option along with milk or water.
(5)Cristina A.
This is the first time I try Costa Rican food, and I am grateful to the guy that chose this place!! A group of friends and I went here for dinner on Saturday night. And it was an excellent choice. The staff is great and the outdoor seating is so comfortable. Perfect summer night dinner.. It was a little chilly for the girls, so they even brought out a heater to keep the table warm. Ha! Their food tastes homemade. So good. Their Ceviche was amazing. I had the Casado, the rib eye steak. So juicy. Everyone else loved their food. With, like, one exception. The chicharron wasnt too good, not for my taste anyway. But everything else, Delicious! Its BYOB.. Which I actually think is so much more convenient. More booze, for less cash.... And last but not least, the pricing is extremely moderate! Cheap, amazing food. What more can I ask for? I will definitely be here this summer... No questions asked.
(5)Tony G.
Excellent place for great Costa Rican food. I wasn't sure if I'd like this type of food because I wasn't exactly sure what it was. The dishes seemed to be 'plantain-heavy', and the portions were pretty big. This is BYOB, which helps with the bill - though the food's not that expensive to begin with. The 'shakes' are pretty good, and there are many many different fruit (and other) flavors to choose from. One think I didn't really like, they were hesitant to seat us until our entire party wa there. I understand that table space is at a premium sometimes, but there's really nowhere to wait! Overall, I'd definitely go back!
(4)joanne y.
it was the first time i've had costa rican food. many of the food items on the menu were very similar to mexican food. i ordered the milanesa dinner plate. it was pretty good but i think they put too much cheese on my milanesa. the rice, the cabbage coleslaw and my friend's dish were amazing!! she ordered the casado? i know i will be back there and i think i'm going to try the taco tico. yummy!!! oh, and they close for the winter so we were very shocked that they were opened. i guess they will be closing for only a couple of weeks this time.
(4)B. L.
Amazing!!!! Everything I sampled was absolutely delicious. They simply know exactly how to season every little thing to perfection. And the ambiance is excellent! Delicious, fun, inexpensive & BYOB! What more do you want? I will definitely be back.
(5)Nellie T.
I LOVE this place! I would say this is a definite local's favorite. Cash Only, but well worth it. They have the best plantans. Having sauces on the table the way they do is what I love. The chips are always warm and delicious. BYOB cannot be beat. It's a small place, so there might be a wait. I say it's well worth it. They also have a couple parking spaces out front. My boyfriend and I have always been able to grab a spot when we've driven there. Their smoothies are also a must if you didn't bring your own booze. I had the tamarind one. YUMMY! Very well priced as well.
(4)Jenny P.
Delicious food, hearty servings, low prices, friendly staff. I little cramped and crowded but that's part of the charm and par for the course for such a great little restaurant.
(5)Always Right C.
The Oatmeal Shake is an absolute MUST HAVE.
(5)Allison N.
My boyfriend and I practically ran to Irazu after seeing it on Check, Please! (oh come on, you know you love it), but it didn't completely live up to my expectations. He had the veggie sandwich, and I had the veggie burrito. The burrito was very bland, and not unlike something I could make at home. We had a side order of the sweet plantains, which were delicious at first, but after a couple of bites just tasted strange. I will brag about the oatmeal shake though, which I LOVED (and immediately ran home and experimented making my own until I cracked the recipe). The service was very slow, but we had an outside seat and that made it fun to people watch. Nonetheless, it could be a great restaurant but an off night for us. I would possibly try again, but with the experience I had I wouldn't whole-heartedly recommend it.
(3)noel c.
the oatmeal shake really will change your life. i am now obsessed with mastering this recipe so that i can drink one every day. a friend passed along rave reviews about the vegetarian burrito and i couldn't imagine what would be so special about a simple burrito... now i know. it was damn delicious and only 5 bucks. you have the option of adding other vegetables and i added zucchini. overall, the burrito was amazing and delicious but i don't think it needs any additions. keep it as cheap and simple as possible for maximum happiness.
(4)Purnima M.
Wow. That pretty much sums it up for me. This was such an unexpected place for us to begin our Saturday evening, but turned out to be a great choice. The byob made it even cheaper than it already was, and the portions are huge! We lugged in a few six-packs, and were delighted when they put down our names on the list, and then switched the store sign to 'Closed'. Last ones in! (and eventually out, as it turns out). The vibe is relaxed and the music festive. We started with some guac and ceviche, and once the entrees arrived, wondered if we should have. The flavors combinations are fantastic, and everyone was too busy chomping to speak for the next few minutes. I got the veggie burrito, with both mushrooms and spinach, and it was outrageously good. Didn't come close to finishing it, but whatever. My friends settled for various other winners on the menu. Service was friendly, and we left happy and full. Yummy!
(5)Grace G.
Now here's a taste of a Chicago hole-in-the-wall that can't be beat simply because there's only one of it's kind. Irazu (accent on the zu) should not be mistaken for a Mexican restaurant. As mentioned in prior reviews, it does have a hispanic background, but it is NOT Mexican...it is Costa Rican, and thus the foods of Costa Rica are very different from that of Mexico. Hence, the lack of spice. Costa Rican food is not about spice, it is about basic, simple good food. It's the kind of food that mothers make for their families, relatives and friends. Irazu is owned and run by Miriam and Gerardo Cerdas with the assistance of their children, Henry and Donna. While most of the staff is family, the others may just as well be family because of the length of time they've been with the Cerdas family. Gerardo shops, Miriam cooks and supervises in the kitchen, and Henry and Donna do everything they can to help make things run smooth. Upon entering the restaurant, it would be easy to mistake this awesome restaurant for another burrito joint, and while they have it on their menu, a burrito joint it is not. In the back is the actual sitting area and it is very small, but it is clean, quaint and simple. The sitting area can accommodate at most approximately 30 people. And since they don't take reservations, waiting is almost a sure thing, even up until 15 minutes to closing time. But don't let that discourage you or you will miss out on some of the best ethnic food in Chicago. Enough about the restaurant, let's talk about the food. As I mentioned before, Miriam is the cook and she cooks like there's no tomorrow. It's home cooking like you've never had. The Hub and I ordered the ceviche, and while we ordered it spicy, it wasn't, but that did not deter from the flavorful goodness of this ceviche. It was light, it was fresh, it was delish!! Both of us ordered the signature meal, the Casado, a traditional Costa Rican dish. The meal comes with either thin rib eye steak or chicken breast and caramelized with onions. It can be served with white rice, black beans or the gallo pinto ( a staple of Costa Rican food which is a mixture of beans and rice and is truly tasty) with an over easy egg, sweet plantains and a salad. Both were fantastic. The steak was so tender and flavorful, and the chicken was juicy and just as tasty. The plantains are sweet, but not over-sweet. A must try is the oatmeal shake. There is nothing like it. It is really delicious. I know, oatmeal isn't really a fundamental for shakes, but they've managed to create a really original flavor that works. They have other unique flavors, some of which are not native to the US (guanabana, mamey and pinolillo) and I can't wait to try them. For the cost of the meal, there was so much food. I wanted to finish my plate, but I just couldn't find the room. I was excited, though, at the thought of having it again the next day. I would just fry another egg and add it to my leftovers!! We were full, but we had to order the flan. And what can I say...it was superb. Just the right texture and flavor of custard to caramel. All in all, really a great meal. Now, I have to tell you, we got to the restaurant at 8:45 p.m. and they close at 9 p.m. We didn't get seated until a little after 9 p.m. because there were 3 couples before us. We didn't have an issue with the timing of the food. It came at the right time, but then again, we ordered while we were waiting. Our appetizer arrived as we were seated, and our food came shortly after we completed our appetizer, piping hot. While we had no issues with our meal or the service, we were told by Henry that he and Donna were the only waitstaff, and they were assisted by a busperson, thus the service may be a little slow. The kitchen is small and all the cooking is made to order, so the food comes out slow when it is really busy. While there are no immediate plans to expand, they do plan to work on their kitchen efficiency, but they ask that everyone try to be patient and understand that everything is cooked with the love and attention as every other meal that is served out of their kitchen. They only have one mom, and for her, everything has to be perfect before it's served to the customer. It's the quality of the food that counts at this place. The hours are limited (M-Sat, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., closed Sundays), the wait may be long, and they only take cash. But believe me when I say the food is definitely worth it. I would say an average meal is about $15/person. Oh, and there is no alcohol, but it is BYOB. I would suggest a bold red for the wine drinkers. And I wouldn't recommend a big group for this restaurant, especially since they don't take reservations. They're also open for lunch, and if you are in a hurry, they recommend you call ahead. As Miriam says, her food isn't fast food, so give the kitchen a break. Kick back and relax...the wait will be worth it.
(5)Bob D.
This place is the best. It is not fine dining nor is it priced that way. It is a great cafe that has unbelievable food and is byob. Their chicken sandwich and burrito are my favorites along with the ceviche
(5)johnny b.
wasn't that impressed. mediocre at best.
(2)ame c.
More love for Irazu. I always go for the plates or the steak sandwich with the yummy costa rican sauce and a shake. Bummer they close at 9pm though...
(5)jason t.
onioned steaks & oatmeal shakes! so damn good it should be illegal. but remember...CASH ONLY! BYOB! CLOSED ON MONDAYS!
(5)Jacob F.
Irazu totally and completely deserves the praise it's gotten from other reviewers. Since I'd been spending the week at my cousin Melissa F's house (which is why all of my recent reviews mention the common foodie experiences), we were doing a culinary world tour and Irazu was a place we knew we'd want to stop from the beginning. She'd spent part of last summer in Panama, and since there's seemingly no Panamanian restaurant in the city, this was the closest we could get. We approached the restaurant at 8:30 on a Tuesday and were dismayed to see patrons waiting all over the place in front of the restaurant. Fearing a ridiculous wait, we went to put our names into the line as soon as possible and found that it was just the line for patio tables. Seeing as it was still 90 degrees and humid, we selected an inside table and were seated immediately. Our waitress came promptly and quickly took our drink orders and got us the guacamole (again with the guac, I know...it's not costa rican but it was good) we asked for in a minute or two. We decided on getting some empanadas and then we both settled on some steaks (she got cubed tri-tip and I got a skirt steak. The empanadas arrived hot and fresh and although I was not a huge fan of the plantain one (just don't like plantains I guess), the chicken and beef and potato ones were delicious. The steaks came soon after we finished the empanadas and they were great. I ordered mine with the special Costa Rican rice and I was not disappointed. The steak was brilliantly seasoned, the rice and beans (and whatever else was in there) were really nice and zesty and i gave my cousin my plantains, which she said were really good as fried plantains go. I highly recommend this place and I'm going to come back soon.
(5)Rathi J.
Incredible food for the price. Little crowded inside, but we totally understood why. Oatmeal shake really is good as was everything we ate. Will definitely go back for more
(5)Allison B.
I don't have a lot to say that hasn't already been said. We started out with the guacamole... I'm glad we got it "spicy," which meant there was a pile of seeded, minced jalapenos on the side. Without the jalapenos, the guac may have been a little on the bland side (although very fresh), but with the jalapenos, it was pretty good. Even my husband, who can't handle much spice, was adding the jalapenos. I had an oatmeal shake, and hubby had an oatmeal-banana. I was very uncertain about getting an oatmeal shake, but I'm really glad that I listened to everyone's advice and tried it.... it was PHENOMENAL! I enjoyed it so much and can't wait to have another! The oatmeal-banana was excellent as well. For dinner, I had the veggie burrito (w/ sauteed mushrooms) and my husband had the chicken burrito. We were both very pleased with our meals and left w/ half our food as leftovers. Menu prices are SO reasonable... you get such a bang for your buck at Irazu! We also each had a side order of sweet plaintains-- yum. I love me some plaintains! Our server was excellent-- the best service I've had lately, for sure. No complaints, and we'll absolutely be back!
(4)Luther Z.
Chicken burrito, passion fruit shake with water. Oh, th sandwiches are fantastic too. Only problem with the place is the wait you'll have to encounter at times. I'd rather get my food to go anyway. Best burrito in the city... this place was my standby when I used to live in Bucktown and didn't feel like cooking. Nothing compares to it. When my stepbrother came in from the UK, this was the first place I took him.
(5)Tanya Z.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. From the cabbage salad with avacado & hearts of palm to the casado or tika- it's all excellent! The food is filling but not heavy or greasy and if you're health conscious this is your place! The shakes are also outstanding!
(5)Brian L.
Really tasty food. I've only been twice but each time I was more than satisfied w/ my food. The second time I had eaten just before so I couldn't get through my food but I still wanted to gorge myself on it. The first time I was there was on a weekend night and was able to get a seat fairly quickly to my surprise with a large group despite the relatively small seating area. I definitely need to try out more of their menu but their sandwiches and burritos were really tasty. My brother enjoyed their skirt steak as well. Shakes were interesting and delicious too. A highly recommended change from all those wonderful taquerias you probably often eat at.
(4)Tobia C.
This place is great. I always get the food carry-out becuase of the tiny seating area on the interior. They do have a very small patio in the front of the restaurant...but there isn't much scenery on that portion of Milwaukee. Much of the food is deep fried...so keep that in mind. For some reason, I always have the need to take a nap after I eat this food...yet, I keep coming back!
(3)Susan A.
When you look at this place, all you see is a dive. I was not at all impressed when I walked inside and had to walk through part of the kitchen to get to a tiny sitting area. However......the food makes up for all the atmosphere lacks! It is so yummy and plentiful! I highly suggest getting the vegetarian special (no matter what it is that particular day).
(5)D S.
This is a bucktown gem. Food is very good and fresh. The vegie burrito is fantastic. Oatmeal shake is interesting but I prefer the lemonade.
(4)Lynn C.
The Pepito sandwich makes me happy. So good!
(4)Glynnis S.
I come here for 3 things: (1) Oatmeal / Avena shakes....get it with milk (2) The Pepito sandwich and (3) Their labor-inducing salsa. No seriously, it is hot, delicious and labor-inducing. 9 months pregnant and craving Irazu, I went thru buckets of their salsa...only to find myself giving birth the next day. Oh and be sure you call ahead for take-out...it will take awhile for them to get your order ready.
(4)Dee W.
The food here makes up for the lack of atmosphere. Try the the plantains and the empanadas. They've got some great vegetarian options but for meatlovers like me, they also have the Costa Rican steak dinner. Try one of their shakes - they've got some funky flavors but keep in mind that they run on the sweet side (I request mine minus sugar) but the more interesting ones include guanabana, papaya, passion fruit, and tamarind
(4)Mo L.
Irazu redefines what you should come to expect from a hole-in-the-wall dining establishment, and I mean that in the most endearing sense. On the unseasonably cool summer night when I ate there, I felt like I was eating in Old Town San Diego. But not to confuse Costa Rican food with Mexican food...the family-style food has a charm and flavor profile all its own. I felt like I was eating authentic home cooking. The cheese empanadas weren't great but they're certainly better than Hot Pockets or mozzarella sticks. I know...not a ringing endorsement. However, the oatmeal shakes were surprisingly good; I can't believe such a shake works, but it does. The Bistec Tico was slightly overcooked in parts, but the fatty, properly cooked morsels were absolutely delicious with the side of beans and rice, plantains, fresh cabbage, tomatoes, and peppers. The portions are gargantuan so come hungry!
(4)Liliana S.
Great Costa Rican food in the neighborhood. The restaurant doesn't look too appealing from the outside but the food definitely makes up for it. What I love most about Irazu is there milkshakes. Try the mamey one! Its fantastic! The salsa isnt great, lacks flavor..and the plantains are too greasy and thick..but other than that, everything else makes up for it.
(4)yamani h.
hands down one of my all time favorite places to eat. its been consistent since i first discovered their "vegetarian sandwich" (black beans, muenster, lizano sauce, lettuce, tomato + avocado on french bread...YUM) 10 years ago. in recent years it has become even more reliable hours-wise/random vacation wise etc. its small but cute. the food is delicious, served in healthy portions, tons of vegetarian options and its affordable. go get some =)
(5)ABC D.
It's unbelievable how well you can eat here for such little money.
(4)Mariella C.
nice place for lunch, i thought the food was kind of bland, their speciality rice from costa rica was just so so. i like spice and didn't get any, but the service and staff were very agreeable. would return for lunch, not really a nice spot for dinner but i wouldn't be that opposed.
(3)michelle c.
Oatmeal shakes, patacones, guacamole. It all rocks! Get yourself some. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
(5)Mike H.
I love this place too. But the food is super good and way less greasy than Mexican food. But be forewarned: the inside is super small and they keep really weird hours. This ain't no place to grab a taco at 4AM.
(4)Chris C.
Ate here today for lunch with the kids and it was great. Everything was fresh and very tasty. The idea of "have you ever eaten in a closet" is a bit of an exaggeration, in my opinion. The Palmito salad was great, oatmeal shake was super good and the rice and chicken entree was really good. It was a bit overpriced.
(4)k s.
Great place to go on a nice afternoon. There's a little, fenced-in outdoor patio. Food's good, Costa Rican take-out, come on. The shakes are a lot of fun. Mmmm.
(4)jen b.
costa rican food is pretty much just fresh food prepared well. not alot of seasoning since you want to let the food speak for itself. irazu does just that. good food, cheap prices, and no pretention. the restaurant space is not very big, so it can get crowded. there is a patio that is nice to take advantage of in the summer. oh and they only accept cash. there is an atm if you don't come prepared though.
(4)Jenny I.
This place is a total dive, but it's exquisite. Great shakes (with milk or water) - many of which I cannot even comprehend. (Mamey pulp?) Always good vegetarian options (usually Spinach Plate or Potato Tacos...go with the tacos). The salsa is disappointing, but nothing else is.
(5)Rosie p.
very delicious food. it is slightly pricey but very worth it!
(5)Bianca W.
As the only Costa Rican restaurant in the city limits, I had to try it at least once. I must say the sweet plantains were better than what I had when I was in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The avocado, onion, and cilantro salsa is not spicy. If you want spicy, go to any Mexican restaurant. I like the friendly casual atmosphere and how the servers and owners address you by your first name.
(3)K J.
The best guacamole I've ever had! The lizano sauce on their sandwiches is delicious also. Only downside- they are closed on Mondays.
(5)Ed M.
THIS PLACE IS ALWAYS FUCKING CLOSED WHEN I WANT TO EAT HERE. Oh ye, one of these days i will feast here. I saw this place on Food Network. Try the shakes they say.
(1)toqi c.
all i remember was the oatmeal shake which my boyfriend ordered and i secretly coveted. Why didn't I order the oatmeal shake?! since i'm no longer in Chicago, you order the oatmeal shake. everything else is yummy.
(4)A S.
this place rocks. i got the stake sandwhich which was unreal. looking forward to many more dining experiences there. friendly waitstaff and great place overall. glad i was driving aimlessly last night in search for a new restaurant.
(5)W. E.
Having never eaten costa riccan food before I had very little expectations for my first experience at Irazu and fortunately the food and service far surpassed my expectations. We started with the patacones - double fried green plantains slathered in garlic sauce. The plantains were a bit on the bland side - wished there was more of a kick, but I was still hopeful that my main dish would make up for the slow beginning. I went with the vegetarian burrito with sauteed zucchinis - so flavorful, avovado was fresh, the beans and yellow rice added so much to what appeared to be a very simple burrito. My friend had the pepito sandwich which was filled with a rich, tender, and flavorable beef. We ended the meal with the highly reccommended oatmeal shake. It tasted like a snickerdoodle in a cup...very delicious. The place is great for a large group or an intimate date and you get great food for wonderful prices. Not to be missed.
(4)Blah B.
MMmmmmm....yummy steak sandwiches, but the wait is to LOOOOONNGG!!!
(3)bumpers k.
after a four year hiatus for unknown reasons, i am back to eating here a lot. the food is high quality, the vegan friendly options let me invite my hard to please friends, the service is good, and the space is nice (inside and out). byob rocks too. thanks for waiting for me irazu.
(4)Amy L.
Irazu is one my most favorite places in Chicago. It's so good that I could probably eat there every day. It's priced well and the food is amazing, especially the potato tacos and sweet plantains. You'll never leave Irazu hungry 'cause the portions are huge. Try the oatmeal shake!
(5)Mork M.
OVER RATED. Skip it, unless you have no taste buds. What's the point in eating food if you can't taste it? Bland salads, mediocre tacos, and those oatmeal shakes? Great, I'd love a mouthful of grainy coarse tasteless cum. Long waits and boring food.
(2)Abby T.
I only order the grilled steak now. PERFECTLY seasoned and regardless of the thickness/thinness of the steak, the cooks WILL cook it to your desired temperature. In my opinion, it's one of the best menu options.
(5)Fried L.
Even though it's crowded on the weekends, you can still go on a weekday and get in pretty quickly. The food differs enough from typical Mexican fare that you can get a little excited about it. There's plenty of veggie dishes and the shakes are so amazing, my friend and I had one at dinner and ordered one to go!
(5)Daniel E.
Chicken tico=delicious. informal byob cute patio always crowded long lines on F/S nights fun food great with friends foodie friendly & accessible for normal people i think its my fiance's favorite restaurant...so i love it. :)
(4)Christina H.
Delicious food every time and great service. Sucks to wait during the weekends, but for the price and taste it's fine. They were very nice and accommodating when I had a large party (10) and made reservations. I also love that they are BYOB! Even better knowing that they now deliver. This place is very different from when we started coming here 8 years ago.
(4)Constance H.
What a great experience. Fun atmosphere, great food, wonderful service and attention from the staff. We started with the Chifrijo an authentic starter of black beans mixed with fried pork and diced veggies, served with chips. So VERY Good. Will come back often.
(4)Frank M.
Close your eyes and imagine this: take a forkful of the wonderful cuisine of Costa Rica and put it in your mouth. Now open your eyes and realize you've just ingested the most flavorless morsel that no amount of salt will save. You've just ate at Irazu. For the people who recommended the oatmeal shake, you owe me a few bucks. The service was prompt and hospitable. They were always there to refill my water, which was the only potable item there.
(1)Pattie P.
I go for the empanadas and always try something new. Never disappointed.
(5)Lauren K.
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!
(5)Ebs B.
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to Irazu so it can be put into its Casado de Pollo (enter laughter here)... I actually really enjoyed this place for its homemade taste. Even though I'm not part Costa Rican by any means (though sometimes when I'm in a bar I pretend to be at times), the food reminded me of a homecooked meal. The restaurant was small so you're sitting very close to other tables, but isn't family about touching those around you and listening in to their conversations...hmmm... I did try their oatmeal shake, but with soy...darn it, what was wrong with me?? It completely changed the taste. Next time, it's original milk for me baby! The flan was not the best flan I've had and neither was the bread pudding, but they were good enough...good enough that I forced my stomach to keep accepting each new bite. Oh, oh, and the prices were very decent (no indecency allowed)... If I were a dog, my tail would be wagging for the home cooked taste of Irazu!!!! I'll be panting on my way there again very soon...
(4)D. O.
Irazu's food in wonderful; but it is the staff and atmosphere that really put it over the top. I've been in multiple times during "rush hour" and am always just so impressed with the courteous and cheerful staff! BYOB's are priceless and it is just a 10 minute walk to the center of Wicker Park nightlife. Cannot say enough about the decor and music in the place and besides 90 Miles Cuban Cafe down the street and Piccolo Sogno on Milwaukee, might be one of the best place for open-air dining. Order the sandwiches/burritos for lunch and the tilapia for dinner- also, do not be scared off by a long wait. Put your name down on the wait list, walk over to Bucktown Liquors 2 blocks North (not the wine sommerlier next door- unless you want to pay a minimum of $40 a bottle) to pick out some BYOB action, order some empanadas to munch on outside while you wait, and chilllll!!! Also, don't sleep on their shakes... solid.
(5)Jo W.
Psst. Look up at this restaurant's title. See that last part? "& Catering"? I'm here to tell you that their catering is DA BOMB and will make you popular around the office pretty quick. This time of year we have events a couple times a week, and I am so freaking sick of every single chain caterer we were ordering from. I whined to the person in charge of catering, "can we PLEASE try something new?" Her response was: "Restaurant X has the cheapest catering around. If you find something better and cheaper, then yes." In the words of the great Barney Stinson... CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Enter Irazu. I showed her the menu. Showed her the prices. Somehow, I convinced her to try them out for a smaller event. And Irazu passed with flying colors. Everyone loved it. The food was delicious and we had plenty to go around. My boss loved the prices. They delivered on time. Set up was easy. They gave us actual silverware to use for serving (that I am determined to return to them, because, really?). And I think everyone agreed that we love supporting a local business over Corporate Caterers R Us. My coworker told me that the man at Irazu she's been working with has been a dream. After we used them a second time, I happened to be standing at her desk when he called to make sure everything went smoothly for us. Gotta love the follow up. So kids, if you want to have delicious, local food at a fair price at your next event, give Irazu a call. You will not be disappointed, and you will earn at least 15 popularity points around the office. Trust.
(5)Anne S.
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!
(4)Adam K.
Everyone loves this place like they are partial owners. It's pretty good, not anything that special. As mentioned in almost every review the oatmeal milkshakes are killer, but pretty much everything else is jst about average. Cuban sand. is good, but nothing to write home about. Fish tacos are aight, kinda bland actually. Steak is fair, but the real gem? Listening to white kids from the burbs try to pronounce patacones.
(2)Shana M.
I finally went back to Irazu last weekend, after being struck by plantain-cupid's arrows almost two years ago. MAN! I want Anthony Bourdain to come back to Chicago just to get him to eat here and then validate my love with his supreme wisdom and snark, because I'm sure he'd give this place the 4 star, solid thumbs up review. The plantains are indescribably perfect. The beans and rice heavenly. The oatmeal "shake" was much more like a horchata slushie and much less like a milk shake than I expected, but was still great. I don't recall what I ordered the first time I visited Irazu, but I do recall thinking there wasn't a dining room. Can you imagine my delight when told that there actually Is a dining room when I called Saturday? You can't? Jump up and down more. They don't take cards so make sure you have at least $25 if you're paying for two. My lady and I paid around $22 for a shake, the incredible Potato Taco dish with both Mole and Guacamole and the refreshing and wonderful Palmito Salad. We also carried in a six-pack and paid a $0 corking/bottle fee. I even liked their menu with it's stories and glossary and their website, which is one of the more useful and tasteful online restaurant menus I've seen. Re-commence the jumping up and down. I can't wait to go back (sooner than two years from now).
(4)Tanya N.
Yes yes yes yes! I took all of my ordering tips off yelp and they were spot on. Potato tacos with this great slaw side? Check. Empanadas of all sorts? Crispy, yummy check. Oatmeal shake? ohhhhhh yeeeaaaah. Check. Good value? CHEEEECK. AND they're on grub hub, so I've had it delivered too. My one qualm... during the winter, the door to the patio SLAMS anytime anyone walks into or out of the restaurant. Sit far as far from that patio door as possible!!!
(4)Ann C.
Great food! BYOB. Cheap, but cash only. Started with guacamole. Fresh, good texture, with chips refilled regularly. Ordered El Tico with chicken and Costa Rican style rice. Finished with the oatmeal smoothie - think oatmeal cookie shake. YUM! Fantastic staff. Extremely tasty, fresh, quality meats and vegetables. Shared appetizer, full dinner, shared dessert, $23 including tip! What a deal! Highly recommend!
(5)Anna S.
bumping up my stars from my last post, though i have not visited again. i just needed to say that the owner went above and beyond to reach out to me after our one unspectacular food experience there. Irazu's customer service does seem extremely considerate and i would give it another try because well i like the people I've encountered there. i really hope i enjoy the food next time because I'm rooting for you Irazu! :). i will write another update when i eat here.
(3)Dan S.
I have been going to Irazu for at least 4 years and it has never failed to satisfy the craving it has created in me. Despite the growth that they have experienced since I started going, they have been able to put out the same amazing meals time and time again. I just wish I could get myself to branch out a little on their menu but I am always so content with my Pepito sandwich if I am there for lunch or the Casado if it's dinner.
(5)Anne Marie J.
"i've never been to a restaurant that has asked me to leave bc i've been here for a while. wtf!!!! i want my tip money back!!!! wtf!!!!!!!!" 2 weeks later, I've finally calmed down enough to be my normal, reasonable self. It's unfortunate that a restaurant I had high hopes for was so disrespectful that I had to come out of my non-yelping state to write a bad review. Sad. It was 9 PM Wednesday and we were there for 2 hours, about to finish our last bottle of wine after bagging the remaining food. That's when Jose, the host, told us "you've been here for 3 hours and other customers are waiting. If you were waiting that long, you'd want people to leave, too." We were so shocked by his rude and audacious approach that we didn't know how to respond, except utter out "we've only been here for 2 hours at the most and we're almost done" The restaurant closes soon, why are we the only ones being asked to leave? And WHO ASKS CUSTOMERS TO LEAVE???????? IS THERE A SIGN UP THAT STATES YOU HAVE A TIME LIMIT? It's amazing how poor customer service can really kill your taste for a restaurant. The owner found us outside and apologized, saying that Jose will be reprimanded. I highly doubt that. Food: The grilled steak was good quality, as expected at such an establishment but it's nothing to go out of your way for. If you have a good taqueria near you, stick with them. Oatmeal shake - surprisingly smooth and creamy, not lumpy with ice chunks at The Brown Sack. I would definitely recommend The Pepito sandwich - um, Chicago's favorite? I don't think so, not when the bread is chewy and the sandwich doesn't wow 3 people who ordered it. Emapandas - bland bland bland. The "best" one was the cheese and spinach, and that's bc the cheese had to support the empanada in flavor, since it had nothing else to offer.
(1)Alex G.
Everything you've heard about the oatmeal shake is true. Who would have thought adding cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to a shake would taste this good?! Brilliant. We sat inside although the heated patio seemed plenty warm. Plenty of tables available at 5 on a Saturday. By the time we left every table was taken. The green salsa served with the chips was very good. Not too spicy but enough to give the chips a needed kick. We had the chifrijo appetizer and thought it was pretty good. When my gf mentioned that she doesn't like really spicy food, our waiter said he'd put the spicy salsa on the side. I loved it. The pork was a little dry making it hard to keep in the chip but we managed to finish the bowl so I'm guessing we can't complain too much. I had the empanadas and ordered one cheese, one chicken, and one beef and potato. I liked the cheese empanada best if I had to choose. My gf went with the Costa Rican sandwich and said it was great. Our waiter was great and answered all of our many first-timer questions. No complaints about the food or service. I wish I had a restaurant like this in my neighborhood but we'll add it to our list of reasons to get into the city. Almost forgot to mention they are BYOB.
(4)Zo O.
3.5 :) Their oatmeal shakes are a MUST. So good. But my friend told me it just tasted like rice water? Huh? Anyway, I got mine made w/soy milk :) mMm. Btw, I got it for free by mentioning yelp ;) I got the tilapia. It was O-K. Love their condiments/sauces though. My friends got the pepito sammich and the milanesa. Both thought it was O-K. I'm def going to come back to try the potato tacos.. sounds interesting/I never had mole! I want to come back when they have dining alfresco!
(3)Beth M.
Irazu is especially great during the summer when you can sit in the open-air patio. They don't have a ton of inside seating, so it can get crowded quickly! I used to get the veggie burrito (without cheese or sour cream to make it vegan, plus the optional mushrooms and spinach) cuz I just like it so much. They note on their menu that the veggie taco is great for vegans as well. Lately though, I've been ordering the potato tacos for delivery and in the restaurant. It comes with enough food for a couple meals: three mashed-potato-stuffed crispy tacos, vinegary cabbage salad with beets, radishes and cucumber, yellow rice, refried beans, maduros (ripe plantains) and your choice of guacamole or mole. The mole isn't vegetarian though, so get the guac! I have yet to try the Vegetarian Plate, though it would be another vegan option. FYI, the empanadas on the menu aren't vegan either; they have some egg in the dough. This last time in the restaurant the patacones (tostones, or fried green plantains) were a bit overdone, so they weren't as tasty as usual. But I must say, the garlic and oil "mojo" is so addicting and makes everything taste good. I shamefully admit I haven't ordered a shake in a while, but they are delicious and they do have soy milk as an option. Mango was my preferred flavour. I had one bad experience with a delivery over a year ago - the delivery person said they didn't have change for my $20 so I had to give him a $10 tip! But I haven't had any problems with recent orders through GrubHub. Service was a little unusual at this recent visit. The server would ask us if we needed anything, but then he'd turn around and walk away before we could say anything. In the end, we got everything we needed though! Irazu will continue to be one of my main restaurants in the area.
(4)C C.
I love this place. The food is great and definitely try their famous oatmeal shake. I'm not a big fan of shakes, but this one is good. What I like about Irazu is that the menu can accommodate meat eaters, vegans, and vegetarians. Gluten free too. So, I can usually take all kinds of people here without having to worry about the quality of taste and food --since it's all yummy regardless of what you eat. Service is good and people are friendly. Once a friend of mine even got a mug, simply because the owner heard it was her birthday.
(5)Aurore L.
Veggie burrito with sautéed mushrooms and spinach. Slightly charred tortilla. Busting with veggies busting with flavor. $6.95 Almost made my toes curl up. Oh yeah....no short-comings here. Irazu food is like the missionary position: not the most original or the most inventive but a good ol' reliable that always feels good when all the big guns, fancy hustle and bustle and innovative variations are just not enough..... 'Cause in the end simple is always more.
(5)Luan N.
I think I have been a victim of great expectations as a result of high yelp approval. I was hoping to experience the best cheap eats in Chicago. I tried the steak dinner and it was way too salty and way too sour. The oatmeal shake did not make my head spin right round either. I actually preferred Pepito sandwich over the dinner plate. Oh, you should check out the pics I posted.
(3)Suzy D.
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!
(4)Andrea H.
I love the fact that Chicago has a Costa Rican restaurant! I have spent a lot of time in Costa Rica and I am in love with the food. I was really excited that they had some of my favorite dishes on the menu. We had the taco Tico, gallo pinto and arroz con camarones (rice with shrimp). The taco Tico tasted just like my friend's mom's and the gallo pinto was all kinds of delicious. Just what I was missing. The arroz con camarones was good, not quite the same as I was used to, but hey, glad to have a place where I can get my fix. The oatmeal shake was really good too. To top it all off, the place is family owned and every employee we encountered was friendly and happy to indulge my trip down memory lane. Gotta start planning my next visit.
(4)Juliet H.
I love Irazu. It is a family joint and they are good to their loyal customers. So much delicious food. The guacamole is superb, as is the yucca con mojo. All of the drinks are excellent!! I like the shrimp and rice. The chile rellenos are excellent. The servers are the best!!
(5)Tracey M.
A few opening goodies about this place: it's BYOB and has oatmeal milkshakes. The first is awesome no matter what. The second sounds odd but is delicious. Now for other things. I went here as part of a Grubwithus, so I'm not sure if what we had is typically on the menu. I just remember the veggie paella above all else. Very peppery, which I loved, and outstanding. Everything about my experience there was great, from the presentation to the food to the great looking waiter who served us. Hey, I believe in the all-encompassing review :)
(5)Daniel S.
Is the net 4 star based on BYOB and cheap prices because the food is slightly worse than average? not awful, but not any good... anyhow, don't run here unless you want a cheap burrito and BYOB.
(2)Cyn F.
I enjoy the shakes and the platanos maduros very much. It recently expanded and I'm looking forward to another stop. Cash only used to keep me away.
(4)Allen F.
Horchata milkshake, I don't know why I never thought of it before. I also have no idea why Irazu calls it an Oatmeal shake. But hey, they can call horchata, milk, cinnamon, and ice cream whatever they want as long as they keep making it. The other item I tried was the sweet plantain empanada. Though the shell was expertly cooked, a riper plantain selection would have made a world of difference. This would have allowed for a softer, sweeter center filling. Irazu has potential for 5 star greatness. I have a feeling that if I came back and tried more items, the variety, quality, and lack of corkage fee would win me over for the fifth star.
(4)Oscar I.
I live right around the corner from Irazu and I have to say this is one of my favorite places to bring friends too. The service is great and the food is amazing! Do yourself a favor and get the Oatmeal shake and the steak pepito you will not be disappointed. Henry is an awesome host and I truly feel like family everytime that I visit. This is a must if you are in Chicago!
(5)Kris R.
meh. i was disappointed after ordering take out twice in one week. 4 stars and 900 reviews? i just dont think so, bro. my first time i ordered a load of food with a friend at my hizzy. we had a seamless.com discount so we kinda went nuts. guac and chips 2 empanadas (one chick, one cow) 4 steak tacos 1 steak tostada horchata the only thing i really liked was the beef emp. everything else was bland and i was definitely unimpressed. the horchata was okay, but watery, which i hate. my friend said the tostada was good, but nuttin' spesh. the green salsa is effing hot as hell. good, but insanely hot. there's not much you can do with that. i dont want to pour fire down my throat. 2nd time, i ordered with coworkers for our free, once-a-mo lunch spectacular. not my choice to order from here. i got another empanada, but this time, and i swear i'm not a lunatic, it had cilantro in it. 4 days before, no cilantro. i can't stand that stuff. so, insert sadface here. i also ordered the pepito (chick) sammy, which was bland and underwhelming. it's coined "Chicago's favorite!" on the menu. favorite what? Chicago's Favorite Mediocre Sandwich in Bucktown? so, dont waste your time here. maybe head over to 90miles instead.
(2)Heather R.
Irazu's is not effing around when it comes to delicious Costa Rican cuisine! I was highly impressed with everything I've ever ordered. The empanada's, the guac, and the horchata were all muy delicioso! Every time, I go I stop at Red+White Wine store (right across the street)and pick up a bottle of Spanish red to enjoy with my meal. It's BYOB and the perfect place to sit out on the patio and enjoy a wonderful, affordable, filling meal. My only complaint is that it's small and it's cash only, so don't forget to stop at the ATM beforehand. You will not won't be disappointed.
(4)Amanda S.
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.
(5)Lauren M.
The food was so fresh! I enjoyed the empanadas, the guacamole, and the amazing plantains.
(4)Erin C.
Oatmeal shake is rather delicious. Really low key vibe, festive and chill, BYOB so lots of happy loud crowds. Food is delicious as well, the veggie platter was good, as was the steak. Can be a bit salty, but what restaurant isn't. At it's price point and atmosphere, it's all I can ask for.
(4)Khadijah L.
One year later.... I am compelled to write another review for this place. I've been back a few times since I last reviewed Irazu, obviously I like the food a lot, and the milkshake yada yada, same thing as everybody here loves. My experience last Saturday 8/13 was a little different though. There was a block party going on, and the place was packed, I mean slamming! The street was already crowded with youngsters, hipsters, weirdsters, some plastered on the curbside. Irazu was the closest establishment, coupled with the fact that it was BYOB, some people thought it was ok just to park their derrier with a few bottles of wine and drink there all throughout the duration of the party. My friends and I waited for 2 hours, (we were told about an hour) but we soon realized that the large party tables were not leaving, in fact more of their friends came over, as some left, and they kept on drinking. At that point we decided to split our party to sit at the smaller tables. Which worked out fine. The food was good, and we were glad they were accommodating. I wish we had more time to enjoy our food but they were closing up, and the large obnoxious tables/parties that were there 2 hours before us, were still there drunk and yapping loudly... Even after the staff turned off a couple of the lights. We got the hint and asked for boxes, proceeded to pay at the front, where we saw the entire staff just waiting right there. I felt bad because I've been in their shoes before, waiting for diners to leave. We thanked them as we paid and left. Did I mention that the loud obnoxious drunks were still in the dining room? Can u knock off stars for service that is too nice?
(4)Jeremy S.
Great place for fun with a group! Irazu rocks for the following reasons -Food tastes great! -Atmosphere is lively -Staff is really friendly -Prices are very reasonable Warning, do not come here if you are very health conscious. This is where you go to be happy and stuffed. Make sure to try the Pepito Sandwich... $4.95 and you get Rib eye steak, sauteed onions, cheese, pinto beans & Lizano sauce. Go give it a try!
(4)Candace C.
Whenever I go to Irazu I can count on tasty food, fast and friendly service and low-key atmosphere. And, a very tasty oatmeal shake. (I honestly don't think I've ever NOT gotten their famed oatmeal shake). Anyways, we stopped by here after picking up some movies at Odd Obsession and decided to take our night out, in, with a to go order. The place was packed (not unusual for Irazu) but especially busy since the recent renovation with their outdoor patio. We ordered a veggie burrito with a side of gallo pinto, chips and salsa, empanadas and an oatmeal shake to split. Truthfully, the empanadas and the oatmeal shake were the whole reason for coming, we figured we should probably order a real dinner, hence the other stuff, so when we got home and realized our order came sans empanadas, we were a little bummed out. We made a call to explain our empanada-less situation, and the manager let us know that although his delivery drivers had just been sent home from their evening shift, he would see what he could do about sending someone over. A very short time later, the delivery man arrived with our beloved empanadas, AND a bonus order of chips and guac just because. We also received a follow up phone call from the owner/manager checking back to make sure things were right. We were honestly taken aback by how awesome their customer service is and it's another great reason to keep coming back. Big thank you to the awesome staff at Irazu.
(5)Nate S.
LOVE this place!! I've been a regular here for years. Fantastic place for people on a budget or for lunch (great sandwiches for like $5-$6), literally the biggest delivery area I have EVER seen in Chicago and the food is always consistent and delicious. The staff has always been friendly and punctual and the manager, Omar, is one of the nicest guys. (He's also a total house head, which is a big plus in my book, so it's not uncommon to hear an old Mark Farina or DJ Sneak mix playing on the system at times.) :) It's BYO but there's a wine store right across the street. I will certainly be going here again very soon.
(5)Dee Y.
I would come back just for the Chifrijos alone. I'd suggest getting a sandwich or smaller entree if you are thinking of getting an appetizer. I barely made a dent in my tinted squid w/ rice entree.
(4)B L.
I wouldn't go here again! Problems I have with this place: 1. No booze! What the hell, there's liquor in Costa Rica, get liquor in your restaurant. BYOB? STFU! 2. Disgusting food! Every time I've gone here I've thrown up afterwards. Oatmeal shake? Barf! Veggie burrito? Vomit! Steak pepito? Puke! It doesn't matter, name an item on this list and I will tell you it made me throw up! Maybe it's the way it's cooked? I don't know, but I'm not going to dance with the devil again to find out!
(1)Brenda G.
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!
(4)Martin G.
I went to Irazu with friends to celebrate a birthday. The food was terrific, service was good. The only reason I didn't rate higher was because our party was seated in the covered patio and half of the seats were FREEZING! There was an actual breeze at knee level. We notified the server on multiple occasions, but no heat was provided. The patio is covered by cloth and plastic with no insulation. This is obviously a known issue. How can you operate a patio in a Chicago winter w/o insulation? If they every spend the money to fix this known issue the place would be an Awesome year-round restaurant.
(3)Isla E.
I like this place because it feels like a vacation. It's cool how you walk into the kitchen and the seating is in the back (or outside). It's not the typical layout of an American restaurant. The flavors aren't groundbreaking, but they have wholesome, fresh food of good quality, and the price is right. The hearts of palm salad isn't over-dressed, and the cabbage is shredded finer than angel hair. I had a few bites of chicken soup that brought me back to childhood, and my companion's steak was satisfactory. The oatmeal shake is not a big deal. It's pretty much exactly what one would expect. Kind of rice-pudding flavor, but oatmeal. Maybe suitable for breakfast, but as a dessert too....oatmealish...and along with a meal, again, too oatmealish. I wouldn't waste the stomach space again.
(4)Vanessa P.
Irazu delivers. Everywhere. Well, almost everywhere. Their boundaries are the biggest in the city: North to W Montrose Ave, South to Roosevelt, West to Pulaski, East to Lake Shore Drive. And it's fast (about an hour at most). So. Damn. Worth. It. They're like Santa. But deliver deliciousness.
(5)Eliana L.
This place is a hidden gem, Tried their chicken sandwich, chips and guacamole. good food and nice atmosphere, reasonable price and service is great.
(4)Danielle F.
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.
(5)Kensey W.
yum! lot of good stuff here. i had the veggie burrito the steak pepito, spinach and cheese empanada, beef and potato empanada, and plantain empanada. the veggie burrito was great and grilled with a perfect layer of crisp on the outside. pay the extra dollar and add spinach! you won't regret it. just a great mishmash of ingredients. the only complaint would be that it was a little too heavy on the rice. the steak pepito was godo too. a little too salty, but the cheesiness and the soft chewy bread were fantastic. each empanada was fried to perfection and the filling hot, delicious and satisfying. the best was the spinach and cheese, though the other two were fantastic too. the guacamole was simple and not terribly flavorful, but i know some people like when guac retains its mainly avocado flavor, so that might be good anyway. the salsa verde was also great. so spicy and went well with everything. service was good and sitting outside to eat was fun. the prices were so great that we all ate too much and didn't have room for an oatmeal shake! but i will be back to try it!
(4)Brian F.
The oatmeal shake is really quite good. I also realy enjoy the Taco Tico. It's a costa rican taquito topped with a spicy cole slaw. Yum! I really can't recommend the empenadas though. Way too much dough for the amount of filling. Cool place.
(4)Yvonne Y.
Came here around 7:30pm on a warm Sat night. Tons of people waiting for outdoor seating but no wait for indoor. Portions are HUGE! Two of us shared a ceviche and a bistec tico. Husband wasn't crazy about the horcafe. Ceviche did seem like a never-ending bowl topped with tomatoes and avocado. Bistec with bell peppers, tomatoes and onions were so tasty but a bit too salty. Friendly service and we'd definitely go back. byob, gotta love that.
(4)Boon K.
I love their empanada selection, they have so many different favors from pineapple, traditional, to black bean. You cannot go wrong with the Casado but everything is i great too. They have a great selection for veggie too. I usually get the potatoes tacos. I also really like the oatmeal milkshake too. I just wish the wait was shorter but it is worth it, plus it is so cheap for such a great meal.
(5)Emily M.
oh my gooooooodness. Incredible. I was here with a large group and my cousin had pre-ordered everything so I'm not quite sure exactly what I ate. The salsa was delicious. The chicken was delicious. The rice was incredible! I could eat that forever. And the important stuff: like the other 900 something Yelp reviews this place has, the oatmeal milkshake is insanely good. There are no words. It's like nothing I've ever tasted before. You must order it. And for what it's worth, it's not as heavy as your typical milkshake, which I liked. Only con: this place has one bathroom. Oh well. The food is incredible and affordable. Go. Eat. Enjoy.
(5)Fallon D.
I moved away from Chicago, and this is one place I still crave fiercely! Veg options, the best plantains ever, and cute little space. The only problem I can recall is how busy it got and having to wait. But hey, I'll wait for a little taste of heaven!
(4)Jamie G.
Amazing, mouth-watering food and friendly, attentive service. Had "El Tico" with chicken. Comes with peppers and sweet plantains. So savory. It may seem pricey, but the portions are big! I had enough for two meals!
(5)Angela T.
The oatmeal shake alone is worth the visit. It's just that tasty. And that you can swap the dairy for soy is appreciated by this lactose-intolerant patron. Went here for an early dinner with my folks. I saw early dinner, I am talking barely 5p. They are seniors. There was no wait, the service was swift and the food came out quickly. Perhaps as there were only a small handful of us in the restaurant that early. My father, being a fan of Puerto Rican food, kept pointing out the very stark similarity of this menu to his favourite haunts. I couldn't tell you what makes a place distinctly Puerto Rican or Cost Rican, having such little exposure to the latter, but I must admit I had a difficult time differentiating. Whether that makes this place any less distinct or authentic is no matter, the food is delicious either way. The meat is perfectly marinated and grilled, the plaintains fried to perfection, the beans and rice as tasty. The meal for three, including dessert, came in under $60. Total bargain! Will definitely be dining with them again, especially as I learned they offer takeaway. Perfect in the winter months, when you cannot appreciate their outdoor dining.
(4)Kimberly S.
When ordering delivery last night I decided to mix up my regulars and try something new... kudos to google for leading me to Irazu.... Not only were they right on time and affordable, but the food was delicious! I move in the next week and am extremely disappointed I didn't discover them sooner...
(5)Trevor G.
I expected the food to be a bit more spicy-- but once I got past that, I found the food to be good. I had the casado, and a pineapple empanada-- both of which were good choices and flavorful (but, not spicy).
(3)Katie V.
Talk about amazing, I couldn't believe my taste buds the first time I went here. Highly authentic cuisine. Absolutely delicious food, friendly service, does take out, and it's cheap (and BYOB!). I've never had dish I didn't like-- however, our big favorites are the Tico Tacos and the Potato Tacos. And the Oatmeal Shake. And the black bean soup (vegan and warms you up from the inside in the winter!) Oh and don't forget the plantains! Muy Rico! The restaurant building itself is tiny, but the patio is really nice, great atmosphere for small tables or moderately sized groups. The owners are almost always there and remember repeat customers. Wait can be long in the late evening/on weekends, but I never have trouble around 6-630 getting a table, even on a Friday. I will definitely keep going back to Irazu as often as I can for as long as I'm in Chicago.
(5)Kevin A.
REVIEWING OLD FAVORITES #2: BEEF + GRILLED ONIONS = HAPPINESS If there's one combination of flavors on this planet that never fails to make me happy, it's the simple yet magical pairing of beef and grilled onions. Add avocado to this pairing and it's almost sexual. Hence the pleasure that is induced by Irazu's pepito sandwich. Think juicy rib eye steak, buttery caramelized onions, and cool creamy avocado (request this as an add-on), all intertwining on hot, crusty bread. All for around $6! It's crazy to think that only a block away people are paying the same thing for crappy fast food at McDonalds.
(4)Lisa E.
My friends and I went to 4 restaurants featured on Diners, Drive ins and Dives on one day, this being one of them. Irazu was our hands down favorite. From the amazing service to the menu full of tasty options. Loved anything that had fried pork in it. Delicious!
(5)Angelica E.
I gave it another shot and it was great! I brought my mom here for lunch (she came to visit me from florida) and our server was nothing less than a sweetheart. The Pepito sandwich was on point, the horchata was yummy, and my mom enjoyed the chicken and rice with the plantains. Thanks yall!
(5)Min C.
I've been a here a few times, and after the last trip, I have no intentions of ever returning. A few things to know: Cash only. Service will always be slow, though the servers are usually fun. No reservations in advance. Seating: When we arrived, we had a friend that gets cold easily, so we asked to be seated indoors. When they called us after an hour of waiting, we were being led to an outdoor table, anyway. Thanks? We took our losses & sat down... only to see a large table inside (well, in the tented, heated area anyway) that was empty and was being reserved for a group..despite the "no reservations" policy. Awesome. Service: The service was slow, as usual, but usually the waitstaff is pretty cool. The waitress we had was a complete mess and rude. I understand, it's busy and can be hectic for you, but there's no excuse to be rude to a table that doesn't give you attitude. We got chips, but no salsa. We got the Chijifrito (amazingly delicious, btw) but no individual plates to start eating. We got our main course, but no utensils to eat. And when we requested carryout boxes, the waitress came back, scowled, then smacked my friend with the box to get her attention. Food: A friend of mine disliked the burrito, the Chicharron tastes amazing but is heavy and can probably give you a heart attack on the spot, and the Pepito was said to be pretty good. Cost: Our bill showed we were overcharged on items where we did not order extras. We were tired of sitting in the cold, so we tossed our cash on the table and booked it out of there. TL;DR (Too long, didn't read) : If I want deep fried heart attack on a plate, I'd rather go somewhere where they don't smack us with boxes, accept credit, and don't overcharge us. The food is great, but get carryout or something.
(1)h h.
The Chicken soup is honestly some of the best chicken soup I have ever tried. A large chicken soup and a big container of rice will run you about 9 dollars. The chicken soup had these massive chunks of chicken in it. It was wonderful! The people who work here are great and really nice to me. They rock. I guarantee this- You will love the chicken soup!!!! (steak fries are good too.)
(5)Melmoth K.
I started eating here about 15 years ago and over the years it has only gone from greatest to greatest-er. The people are super nice, the food is awesome, and the price is low. I just love stopping here when I'm in town. The oatmeal shakes and the guanabana shakes are awesome. Traveler's tip: if you're taking the el to O'Hare for your flight home, leave an hour to get off at the Western stop on the Blue Line and walk south on Milwakuee a couple blocks to pick up a shake and a couple of sandwiches for the road. It is such a great capstone to a Chicago trip that I now try to book flights that will allow me to do this (if you have time, eat in the restaurant AND take sandwiches to go).
(5)tracy f.
I want to start by saying that the Oatmeal Shake made with soymilk was one of the most delicious things I can think of. So, so good. I've been waiting a long time to eat here. We're on the faaaaar north side, so whenever I make it to the Wicker Park area, I always end up eating at Sultans, Handlebar or even Ear Wax with meat eating friends. Irazu is a great addition to the plethora of great vegan options in the area. The outdoor eating area is great. I saw kids and dogs and dates and it was a great atmosphere. The service was strange. Super friendly, but very slow, forgetful and maybe a little overwhelmed. Forgot our appetizer, brought spinach and cheese empanadas out to my brother who is terrified of all green things. It turned out, though, that according to my bf those were the most delicious things at the table. My brother killed his replacement empanadas, my bf liked his tacos. I was disappointed with the vegan burrito I got - I love hot stuff, but the hot peppers didn't really mix well with the mushrooms and spinach I ordered with my burrito. The tostones with garlic olive oil were great.
(4)David R.
This place rules. My friend from St Louis brought it to my attention, which should never happen (I'm so ashamed), but apparently he had seen it on some TV show. He was visiting last month and, as we were driving up Milwaukee, said "Hey, there's that Costa Rican place that I saw on TV. You should check it out." I said, "Huh? Never heard of it. Costa Rican? Hmm...sounds interesting." So it's been on my list for several weeks, and when it came time to pick a birthday spot, this came first to mind. I just wanted a fun little place with good food and no pretension, and that's exactly what we got. And holy shit, is the food ever good. Chifrijo appetizer--A; chicken casado--A; chicken tico--B+. I went home with a bunch of leftovers thanks to the enormous portions. My friends all liked their dishes. The chips are not that good, so don't show up hungry and not be able to control yourself. Save your stomach space for the deliciousness which lies ahead. It's like when Mom always said, "Don't fill up on bread." We got there at 6:30 and were seated but when we left close to 8, there were people waiting. On a Tuesday! Popular place, I guess, and for good reason. I want to return ASAP.
(4)Marilyn C.
So first off - this food is AH-MAHZ-ING! So good, so affordable, ambiance nice, people friendly - it's like wow, I almost forget this was possible! Now onto my unique abridged experience: waiter asked if we needed a few more minutes, we did...after several mins. waiter is not coming back...boyfriend gets upset, speaks to some one...we get three apologies, from different staff members along with a comp app...(spoiler alert here is the missing star) I ordered a pepito add avacado, sandwich comes, no avacado...it's like damn - superior attempt at customer service, only to miss the mark by a nose...and yes I was charged for the avacado - a whoping 50 cents. Now here is my thing, it's not about the 50 cents, or the missing avacado, it's like just work on getting it right the first time. The appetizer they comped us was undoubtedly worth more than my missing avacado...and it was delicious but in my book, I go by the phrase, "keep it simple, stupid" translation? Wait tables promptly, get the order right. Now - I want to re-itterate again! FOOD = DELICIOUS, WONDERFUL, TASTY, ENJOYABLE, OFF THE CHAIN, PAINT OFF THE WALL, SLAP YO MAMA
(4)Bridget M.
Oh good golly, my heart truly skipped a beat after tasting that chifrijo and patacones. Imagine this, lechon (little bites of roasted pig) mixed with beans, tomatoes, and avocadoes served over rice. Each savory bite shoveled into an un-deserving yet eager mouth with delicious patacones. We were certainly head over heels and we had only just begun! Irazu is very popular so they can be packed. Our server had tons of personality and helped bide the time it took for our meal to come out. Unfortunately, we had maxed on appetizers and chips that we had to take our entrees to go. They were still excellent as leftovers, but I am not a fan of reviewing leftovers - I think it's a dis-service to the restaurant. We've ordered for pick up since and have yet to be disappointed. I can't wait for the next excuse to stop in.
(5)Dana J.
This is a late review, as the meal I am referring to took place a year ago. But, I cannot say enough about how wonderful Irazu is. I had my last birthday party here, with a total of about 10 people. Knowing how small the restaurant is and the fact that we would have to wait did not deter me from wanting to eat here. The food is THAT good. Being vegan, I look forward to the vegan tacos and soy oatmeal shakes, but most of my friends and family are meat-eating and they too raved about the meal. The waiter was a riot, super sweet and funny. I was proud to bring my suburban friends and family to this place. When we first walked in, they all kind of looked at me like "what is this small, out of the way place you dragged us to?" Upon leaving, all I heard was "I am having MY birthday here!" I've also ordered take out on occasion and again....top-notch food. Customer service is big in my book as well, and I have never had a bad experience with anyone at this place. Great job Irazu!
(5)Filip F.
I like the vibe of this place. Service was friendly and good. Some reviewers complained about it being slow. Well, it is a BYOB place. So, I am perfectly fine sipping on my beer while I wait for my food. Besides, if you are in a hurry to get in and out of a restaurant, get carry out or hit McDonalds. Food was very good. I ordered one of the traditional Costa Rican dishes (can't remember name). When plate arrived, It had a lot of things going on. Chicken, onion, rice, plantains, cabbage, sauces. There was a party on my plate. Everything tasted good. Portion was pretty big. Definitely did not finish. I plan on going back to this place for a lunch and a beer as soon as it warms up.
(4)Brittany C.
I am a convert. A Costa Rican food convert. Not sure what I am converting from--a Mexican food lover maybe.... Anyway, the moral of that blabber is that my first Costa Rican experience was bliss and had me running back for more--Already twice this week. So much for keeping the scale steady during the holidays. Wait, don't Costa Rican people have bangin bodies? Alright then, moving on... Oatmeal shake. Bloats the belly yet soothes the soul. Empanadas: Plantain, Chicken, Beef and Potato and Cheese... all good, but listed in order of blissfulness. Chips and Guac: Good, but i would skip it next time. TOO MUCH GOOD STUFF! Steak and Chicken Casada to share. These 2 meals are easily 4. Or 4AM leftovers, whichever. Costa Rican Rice, Sweet plantains, juicy and perfectly seasoned meat.... It is a good plate of great food. I ordered tortillas the first time, thinking I would eat the food like fajitas. That was completely unnecessary. Silly Costa Rican Virgin. Friendly staff, easy to-go or delivery ordering process (online). I have the oatmeal shakes just thinking about it.
(5)Te D.
The first time I went to Irazu, I was slightly skeptical but mainly excited. One whiff of home and I was overwhelmed with emotion and hunger. Irazu's eat-in cuisine is delicious and just like the food my mom used to make in Nicoya, Costa Rica. Portion sizes are generous even though I smashed EVERYTHING on my plate. You really won't want to stop eating even once you're full. With this experience in mind, I ordered from Irazu for a Lunch and Learn at work. I figured they would be late because it's Tican Time - what do you expect, however they cut it waaay too close to the actual starting time of the presentation for comfort. The sandwiches might have been good if they were hot (not completely their fault) and the chips with salsa were good. I was dissapointed in the meal, but everyone at work liked it. The point is, eat in. You won't regret it! Pura Vida!
(4)Ev S.
Loved the food-and the byob option. We had fried yucca -amazing. The flan is so creamy and rich. Some of the glasses and silverware a little greasy feeling.....my only complaint
(4)Pat G.
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.
(4)J M.
The owner of the restaurant followed up and was very polite and seemed genuinely interested in wanting to improve the experience. Mine was a good experience to begin with but this is a good sign when the owner cares.
(3)Sheela F.
10 things I love about Irazu: 1. Aptly named Vegetarian Delights section on the menu. 2. Super welcoming and attentive staff. 3. BYOB. Red and White conveniently located next door. 4. Didn't bat an eye at us sitting there for 2 and a half hours. 5. Huge portions. One entree equals two meals. Unless you're me. 6. 'I Want To Know What Love Is' played. Multiple patrons swayed. 7. Ultra reasonable prices. 8. Oatmeal shake. Try it. 9. Oatmeal shake. You'll like it. 10. Oatmeal shake. I promise. 3 things to note about Irazu: 1. Hot peppers. Name doesn't lie. Rock them on the side and with caution. 2. Cash only. 3. No reservations. Expect a wait on the weekends. Bottomline, I like Irazu. A lot. But I'm going to have to try a couple more menu options to see if it can earn that fifth star.
(4)Gabrielle S.
3 stars for the food... 5 stars for great prices and being outside on a summer night 2 stars for service A fun place to come with your friends and a few bottles of wine...bring enough to last the 2 hour wait though if it is a beautiful warm night out! (No idea what they do in the cold months considering the inside is tiny and kind of cheap cafeteria looking) By the time we sat down we were super hungry and our server was less than enthusiastic to say the least. Not horrible but kind of a surprise that employers actually allow service to be that spotty. The hostess was even worse. She kind of snapped at us when she overheard us complaining a teeny bit about their lack of care for the birthday situation(two of us were celebrating our birthday on that very day). Oh well- not a huge deal- I guess that's the kind of place it is. Other than that, the guacomole was awesome, tostones and sweet plantains were great, and the ceviche amazing too. The empanadas though were pretty meh-mostly just deep fried shell and kind of bland and the flan we had for desert had probably seen better days. So it was in all a bittersweet experience. Some tastes were great, a few dissapointing. I would try again- and just stick to the basics and come early.
(3)Kristi T.
This is totally, completely, and utterly embarrassing. I haven't been to Costa Rica, and wasn't entirely positive what costa rican food was... I know, I know, what a dumb blonde comment. And I live 2 blocks walking distance away... sigh. ANYWAY, now that I have been there once, i have been back 3 times :) The food is awesome! I got the veggie burrito and spinach cheese empanada - perfectly crisped tortilla stuffed with lettuce, rice, tomato, hot peppers, avocado, beans, sour cream, and I added spinach and zucchini (worth the extra $1). It is super filling and healthy feeling all at the same time. Have enough people mentioned this... it is BYOB! And the food is extremely authentic and affordable. I really can't say enough good things about it. And for the spring/summer... outdoor seating! SCORE!! Cash only, but when one whole meal is under $9, you can probably handle it. LEGIT awesome. Back to try the oatmeal shake tomorrow!!
(5)Cindy C.
Absolutely loved the food! Must try the chifrijo appetizer(can be eaten as an entree)! Great bold flavors! Must get the oatmeal shake!!! Loved the BYOB option! We had chips and water at our table before we were completely settled at our table, now that's what I call great service! Can't wait to come back when I'm back in Chicago!
(5)Joanne W.
I've been here twice - for Kim A's birthday dinner two years in a row. She picked the same place twice, so it's assumed this place is great. I don't understand why people think the service is terrible. Both times I've been here, it's been with a group of 20+ people. The servers were constantly coming around to refill waters and our chip bowls. After taking down our orders, it seemed like a few sips of BYOW before everyone was being served their order. Recommend the Costa Rican sandwich, the Vegetarian Burrito and the empanadas- too many to choose from, all yummers.
(5)Jeanne H.
I love Irazu! The food is delicious, the atmosphere is casual and cozy, and despite the constant crowds, the service is always excellent. Plus, it smells like garlic everywhere within a two block radius of this place. Amazing! I highly recommend the vegetarian burrito, which is cheap and tasty. I also love the milanesa dinner and the sweet plantains. Yum!
(5)Roseann M.
My friend Leon and I had a late lunch today at Irazu. Thanks to the beautiful election day weather, we were able to sit outdoors in the patio. While it's very nice to be outdoors, I wasn't crazy about this patio. Not because of anything the restaurant did, but because the Blue Line El tracks are across the street. When a train passes, it's so loud, you really can't hear the other person talk. And when there are two trains, you can forget conversation entirely. So, while I really appreciate the 70 degree weather and the nice breeze, this is a very noisy patio, and I would probably avoid it in the future. We were the only people at the patio, and we got service very quickly. I don't think we'd been sitting for 60 seconds before we got water, chips, and two kinds of salsa. ButI've been jonesing for guacamole something fierce, and I starved myself in preparation for this lunch, I ordered guacamole. You can get regular or spicy, so I went for the spicy. Spicy means there are chopped chilies at the side of the mound of guac, which comes with tomatoes. I thought the guac was kind of thin, almost watery, and didn't have much flavor. Adding the chilis definitely perked it up, but it still seemed kind of thin. Leon and I are both vegetarians. I ordered the vegetarian burritos, and did not get the extras added (mushrooms, zucchini,or something else), which cost extra. I thought the veggie burrito was outstanding, very tasty, warm, and fresh. I did add some of the red salsa, but just because I like a kick of extra flavor. Leon ordered the veggie sandwich, and he loved it. It had black beans, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, and I don't know what else. I might try that next time. Leon also ordered a shake, which is made in the Costa Rican style. It was oatmeal with mango, the special of the day. I took a spoonful, and boy was it good. I never imagined you could make a shake with oatmeal. I could definitely taste it, and I liked it. That was the only taste I got - I think Leon would have slapped my hand, if I'd tried to take more. I finished with a cup of regular coffee. It took about two minutes to get it after I asked for it. The prices here are very reasonable, and the food was very good. Again, I wasn't nuts about the guacamole, but hey, everything else was really good. I'll be back.
(4)Aubrey R.
Not that this place needs any more good reviews: I've been coming here since I moved back to Chicago and a friend started working there. BYOB which consequently translates into drink-all-you-can-drink for me, only adds to all the perks of this place. (cash only) Inexpensive, delicious and great portions. Not to mention the eye-candy that is the Irazu staff. Hey boys! I've probably tried just about everything on the menu. I love the chicken soup, as a soup addict, you cant go wrong with either, the black bean is also very good. Appetizers: The ceviche is delish, (i would skip the guac, although its good, $6.00 set back on something I can make at home) Yuca, fried or baked is bomb. patacones or empanadas come in a close 3rd. Sandwiches: I would go costa ricon or pepito unique: I love the veggie salad! cabbage and beets! Veggie burrito is great as well. I love the chile relleno especially, and the tilapia is awesome If youre in the mood for meat I would go with the casado or the tico and get the mixed rice (as opposed to just white) Desserts: im a big bread pudding lover or an oatmeal shake is a people pleaser ;) OH and the coffee/horchata mix I haven't found elsewhere and is a great delicious pick me up!
(5)Charles A.
Irazu is just is one of the best restaurants in this city. The food is hot, green, fresh, zesty, flawless. Never skimping on the fillings, sides, or sauces where others hold back - whether with the garlic, avocado, peppers, or black beans - the offerings taste as fresh as they are generous in portion. It is easy to leave here in danger of being overfull. Besides the food, Irazu just kills in the other categories: price, atmosphere, service. Food is more important than all these things, but price is a constraint you cannot tune out like the other two, and Irazu, for the portions, is pretty much as good a deal for great food as you can find outside of Hot Doug's or your favorite place for fried rice. The burritos are just immense, the patacones are plentifully plated, the shakes tall. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that given the quality and quantity that they could double the price on half their items without losing many customers. Especially in Wicker Park. The biggest money saver, however, may be that it is BYOB and located across the street from a high-end boutique of beer, wine and spirits, which is an awesome convenience. The service is so warm you either wonder how someone can be so exuberant at work or feel ashamed for complaining so much at/about your own job. If they don't remember who you are by face - and I think they do - they do an amazing job pretending, and in sincerely treating returning customers like friends. If I ever get in a debate as to whether a cheap eat can match fine dining, I bring up Irazu. Most times that I get some delicious $30-plus entrée elsewhere I still say to myself "Irazu's spinach burrito is as good." Sitting outside in the summer is a perfect way to start your night. In the winter, you may opt for their delivery service, which goes from Des Moines to Memphis. Actually, I think Pulaski to the lake and Roosevelt to Montrose. How that's profitable, I have no idea. Clearly, the ownership is driven so much by that.
(5)Zoe G.
I've been here once and always remembered how much I loved their vegetarian burrito. I live in NYC so I haven't been back but I definitely will next time I'm in Chicago! I didn't appreciate having to wait for a table though, but in all fairness, we were a large party and it was a weekend. It was worth it though!
(4)D H.
My favorite place for dinner in the city! Awesome outdoor patio dining in the summer
(5)L. D.
I did receive a large portion of food, but it was just OK - nothing special I wouldn't make a special trip to visit again. Cash Only and no Credit Cards !
(3)John H.
There's nothing like eating outside at Irazu in the summer. The service is always fast and super friendly, their prices are great, and BYOB ensures that you'll be sipping on exactly what you like at prices you want to pay. This place is very vegan friendly, from many of their dishes to the awesome shakes/smoothies that they have. Their veggie casado wasn't very inspired, but their veggie burrito (maybe not 100% traditional Costa Rican food - something my friend in Costa Rica gave me a hard time about), is AMAZING... especially when you add mushrooms and zucchini. I could live off of their gallo pinto and friend plantains... and now am hungry for just that. (note to self - don't write a review of a restaurant that's closed at the time of the review)
(5)nicole m.
3.5, actually. The food was a 5, but unfortunately the service was a 3 at best. My boyfriend and I visited Irazu at about 8:00pm on a Wednesday night and it was crowded. The only place available to sit was inside, which was actually ok since it was about 88 degrees outside. Here's what was great: I ordered the skirt steak with scallions and my boyfriend ordered the tilapia. The steak was cooked and seasoned to perfection, the fried plantains were perfectly browned, and the coleslaw made a nice tangy addition to the dish. I did not try the tilapia, but my bf enjoyed it very much. Here's what was not so great: As soon as we sat down, a busser asked us if we would like guacamole with some chips. We had not even looked at the menu yet, and we thought it was complementary (like how you get free chips and salsa at some restaurants). Of course it wasn't, and it felt a little like we had been tricked into paying for something we might otherwise not have. Of course, it's a good thing we did order it because we also waited for over an hour for our food, and so did several other tables. Our water was not refilled once and the only time we saw our server was when he took our order. Overall, it's worth going for the food, but be prepared to sit for a while...maybe bring a book.
(3)Allison C.
I was underwhelmed during my first visit, and even more underwhelmed after I got back from Costa Rica. The food is fine. It's fresh and tastes good. But MAN, is it overpriced! I chowed down in Costa Rica on casado (meat, beans, and rice) at $5-7 a a pop. Irazu's casado tops $15. Even as the only Costa Rican restaurant in Chicago, skip it and go to one of the area's many (and phenomenal) Mexican or Puerto Rican places.
(3)Lisa B.
Irazu has been on my bookmarks list forever, and we finally made it there last night. We arrived about 6:30 and there was no wait at all, but there was a line by the time we left. The food was fresh, tasty, plentiful and reasonably priced. We started with the guacamole (I needed to add some salt and pepper). Hubby got the chicken tiko, which was amazing -- as usual, I liked what he got better than what I ordered, which was the steak with onions. Very flavorful, but the fried plantains on the side were a little too greasy, even for me. We finished with the famous oatmeal milkshake. Our waiter said it tasted like a Cinnabon in a cup, which wasn't a bad description, but I'd say it's more like an oatmeal cookie and milk put in a blender. Very yummy, but it got all frozen and grainy at the bottom. No matter, we were too full to finish it anyway. It is important to know that Irazu is cash only, and BYOB. And thanks to my dear Yelpers, I was prepared!
(4)Lillian S.
Irazu is a really great neighborhood sort of place. All of the staff is super friendly and the food is simple and flavorful. I've had the gallo pinto both times I've eaten there with a big glass of horchata and left satisfied and looking forward to another visit. By boyfriend has been with me both times and has tried two of their sandwiches and loved them both. The place has such a welcoming atmosphere and it's easy to while away an afternoon on the patio. It's BYOB, but good for a nice lunch. I will definitely be back again and again.
(5)Katie L.
This place is amazing! Okay. Here is what you need to know. 1) Bring your own tequila and get the frozen lime pitcher of goodness. 2) Get a bunch of empanadas 3) Don't forget to bring cash. But if you do, they have an ATM. It has a great outdoor patio, delicious and inexpensive food, and a great atmosphere. I would go here every day if it was closer to my house!
(5)Bianca S.
After I wrote the below review with 1 star, the owner contacted me. He gave me his personal cell phone number and told me I could call him directly the next time I was going to be at the restaurant. I won't be trying this restaurant again but I do appreciate the response and have upgraded their rating as customer service was my main complaint. I was EXTREMELY disappointed in my experience at Irazu. Let's start with the reservation we made for 7pm. We had a large party of 12 and wanted a reservation at 8pm. We were told absolutely not for a party that large we needed to be there at 7pm or earlier. We adjusted our plans to be there at 7pm, then we proceeded to wait 45 minutes for our table. We weren't seated until 7:45, our original reservation that we wanted at 8pm would have been more appropriate. Strike 1. When we are finally seated the tables, chairs, & floor around our table were wet, not oh we just wiped the table down so it was clean wet but we dumped a bucket of water on everything and hoped for the best. We had to use paper napkins to wipe the table down ourselves. Strike 2. We had a friendly waiter who did a great job trying to service our large party on his own. He was constantly running around getting us water, wine glasses (which we had to wait for as they were washing some for us to use). Since when to you have to wait to be served because they are washing dishes? Foul Ball. Overall, everyone in our party was extremely happy with the food. We had a variety of food, Chicken Tico, Skirt Steak, Civi-che, guacamole & chips. All were very good. I will say I was disappointed in the Gallo Pinto. I lived in Costa Rica for 3 months and was excited for some authentic gallo pinto, it was a little dry and not very flavorful. When it was served it was cold on the top and lukewarm throughout. The guanabana shake was way too sweet and was most likely made from a syrup. Overall, the food probably gets 3 stars. Foul Ball. At the end of the evening when we received our check, we decided to speak with management about our service and long wait time for our table to see if we could get a discount of some sort. Since we had such a large party we were given an 18% gratuity charge, which the waiter 100% deserved. Our compensation on a $250 bill was 1 free guacamole & to have the gratuity charge removed. How is that fair to the waiter? It wasn't his fault and he did a great job with our table. Strike 3. The food at the restaurant is good which does explain the long wait times and it being so busy however the service was reprehensible and I would not recommend coming here. Maybe try take out or delivery but the drive from my neighborhood isn't worth it. PS - It's CASH ONLY. They didn't tell us that when we made the reservation and it is not on their website. Annoying!
(3)Johnny T.
I ate here after eating at that Uptown place with the oatmeal shakes. I gotta say... Uptown wins over Bucktown when it comes to the shakes (the difference is ice cream). That said, there's a whole lot to love here... and the shake is still pretty d@mn good. I've never been to Costa Rica. One of my good friends got married there and the pictures were gorgeous. That's when it got on my radar. Forget the beaches, water and lush jungles... I wanted to eat. Her meals sounded phenomenal! I got a taste (hyuck) of that Costa Rican yumminess and I want another. They keep it real simple at Irazu and I appreciate that. I don't need fancy or complicated. I just need good. Cheap helps, but good is a must. After noshing on chips (with no salsa? Um, esc-a-yusa-me?), I settled upon the egg sandwich. It was a solid choice. It was an egg omelet served on crunchy bread with black beans, avocado, cheese, onions, and lizano sauce (think pepper & cumin but a little sweet). It was wholly satisfying. To drink, I slurped down my own (you know how this story goes by now) oatmeal shake. It came in a big cup and topped with cinnamon. Since it was made with milk and not ice cream, the consistency was a little choppier and I needed to constantly stir it in order for it to go down smoothly. Again, it tasted fine but I wouldn't rush back here for it knowing what I know of Uptown oatmeal shakes.
(4)Michele S.
This place took me back to a summer visit in Nicaragua. It is authentic and delicious. Splurge and get the gallo pinto (mix of rice and beans). Love the sugary plantains. My friend had the oatmeal shake and said it was a meal in itself. The shakes are quite large; I recommend sharing. Tables are seated close together. It was cozy with a table for two.
(4)Maram K.
Never had Costa Rican food, but my God....I shall be back! I had their vegetarian burrito (their menu claims its award winning....Challenge Accepted). Upon its consumption, I awarded it the Maram's Delicious Burrito Award and the Contains No Meat Award for Central U.S. It had so many flavors going on. I think it was that plaintain, yeah, that plaintain. My better half had their signature all-inclusive Casado. Basically everything they've got thrown onto a plate. I had a bit of the steak and it was amazing, lots of flavors and tender. It comes topped off with an egg and he wasn't too happy that it was cooked over hard. He expected gooey-ness to overtake the plate in a sneak invasion. It was more of a planned occupation in which the ministry forwarded a letter of warning. Horchatas were nice and heavy on the cinnamon. I prefer it that way, not sure what the true authentic way is. It wasn't that sweet which was another plus. ALMOST forgot, the starter guacamole was incredibly fresh and tasty. A definite must. AND SERVICE was great too. This place is usually crowded so we were lucky we made it here after the beach on a holiday weekend. Loved it and can't wait to go back!
(5)geri s.
Believe it or not, this place has THE BEST HOMEMADE CHICKEN SOUP with fresh vegetables.. I was feeling lousy last week and couldn't get Mom's chicken soup till the next day. All I have to say is that I ordered a second soup and called Momma Titi and told her not to bother making me soup! I felt better instantly and was excited to note that they deliver to Lakeview. The service was friendly and my friend was pleased with his meal.
(5)Samantha K.
I finally stopped into Irazu for merienda (spanish word for a snack before dinner) and I had a charming experience. I sat in the semi-enclosed patio and had an oatmeal shake and a taco tico. Both were absolutely RICO!! I really liked the chips and salsa verde they set on the table before my order arrived. My server Chris was really laidback and nice. I also talked to another server named Mandy who was very friendly and sweet. I had been her server the night before at 90 Miles (holla!) and we talked about the similarities and differences of Cuban and Costa Rican food. Anyway, back to the food...the oatmeal shake was all I hoped it would be and more. It had canela sprinkled on top and the texture and taste were just outstanding. Next came my taco tico, served with a heaping portion of cabbage and traditional salsa lizano. I usually don't dig cabbage, but let me tell you, I gobbled every last bit of it up at Irazu. It complemented the taco really well and was very light and refreshing. I look forward to my next time at Irazu!
(4)Emily N.
On a beautiful Chicago Monday evening, 7 fabulous ladies pulled up some patio to celebrate a birthday. The DJ was crankin' some tunes, the breeze was perfection, and our BYOB beverages were on ice. Now that I've set the scene, let's dive in to the most important part - the food. For apps we went with the tostones with mojo, guacamole, and an order of the chifrijo. I have never met a tostone that I didn't like and this was no exception. The mojo was divine and I wanted to put the leftovers in my purse but these broads kept asking me for it. Haters. I loved the guacamole here - probably because it was easy on the cilantro (whew!) and had some type of spicy stuff on the side that was similar to nopales. The chifrijo was crazy good! It was pretty much the gallo pinto (white rice, black beans) with sauteed veggies and chicharones. I mean really, you can't go wrong with chicharones in any form. I kind of wish I had ordered a bowl of this for my meal. That good. Most of us ended up ordering either a sandwich or empanadas for dinner. I did three empanadas; meat and potato, cheese, and spinach and cheese. The cheese only one was a bit bland, but with the help of a little salsa verde, it perked right up. The other two were delish as is. I also got a side of the gallo pinto because, ya know, how do you go to a Costa Rican joint and not get rice and beans? I can't personally vouch for the others grub, but the yum sounds could be heard around the table. Oh, I did sample the sweet plantains and there were great. Super soft, nice and caramelized, perfect. A couple of the gals tried the famous oatmeal shake and it lived up to the hype. Even the soy based one. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference between the soy and milk ones. So yummy. My only gripe about this place was the service. We never got any small plates to divvy up the appetizers with. Our waiter spaced out on drink orders a couple of times. We had to flag him down a few times. Overall though, no biggie. We were there for a leisurely dinner so it was nice that we weren't rushed, even though there was quite the wait building up. Also - he was kind enough to snap some group shots for us on not one, not two, but three different cameras. And he was easy on the eyes so all is forgiven. Irazu - we will meet again soon.
(4)John L.
I LOVE this place. They have, hands down, the best guacamole I've had in the city. Their tacos are generously sized, and have these earthy tasting, semi hot peppers on them that are completely unique and add just the right touch. The homemade shakes are excellent, and the staff are down to earth and accommodating. BYOB too! Yes, it does get highly crowded here, especially in the summer. Well, hey, what do you expect when you can offer quality food at reasonable prices in a non-pretentious atmosphere in the Bucktown neighborhood. Yeah...exactly, but even when it gets crowded, they do a good job of keeping on top of things as best as they can. Great place.
(5)Amanda C.
We found this restaurant while walking through the neighborhood. After surveying our other options and reading reviews on the Yelp app on my phone, we decided to give it a shot. We sat outside and were instantly brought water, a basket of chips with some spicy salsa verde. Mmm.. as the busboy dropped off the water and chips he immediately asked, "Would you like to start with some guacamole?" -Which who wouldn't instinctively say YES- I mean hello, it's guacamole. I was able to refrain. After looking over the menu I noticed it's $6.50 for the regular portion of guacamole (which looked delicious and was a generous portion) but wondered how many guests may have thought the guacamole was complimentary? Anyway, we ordered an Oatmeal milkshake to share (this was one of the highly recommended items on Yelp). I've never had an oatmeal shake of any kind so it was an exciting experience. Tasted like a cinnamon topped dessert in a glass. The best part about having this is that it helped to cool down our mouths after eating some of the spicier items we ordered. As far as food we had the Casado entree with the Gallo Pinto (this is a HUGE plate of food) and a Pepito Sandwich. We had a lot of leftovers to bring home after this meal. The food was awesome and so cheap! (BYOB: we ran across the street and grabbed a large beer to share) After finishing our meal, I kinda wish we had just ordered the guacamole and the sandwich because the entree was so large but the entree adds a lot of different elements of flavor which was great. I'll be returning, at least for the guacamole ;-)
(4)Samuel M.
I'm alarmed at the number of Chicago restaurants Guy Fieri has featured on his show. They are becoming impossible to avoid. Let it be known that I came to Irazu for a change of pace from typical Latin food, not because it was featured on the show. Chifrijo appetizer ($8.50) features delectably crispy fried pork, which blends well with spicy sauce, avocado, and the black bean and rice mixture that it comes with. Easily my highlight of the meal. Pepito sandwich ($5.95) is excellent for the price, although between the cheese, ribeye, beans, and brown Lizano sauce, it is a very rich sandwich. I'd recommend splitting it. Sadly, El Tico entree ($13.50) is a blander take on cuban ropa vieja; the beef is overcooked and too thick, as are the vegetables. This didn't have much going for it. Service is very good, and the closed off patio is very pleasant to dine on when it's nice outside. All in all, Irazu is a welcome departure from the usual Latin fare one finds in Chicago, but it's by no means superlative. It's well worth a try if there's no wait, if for no other reason to sample the chifrijo and drink a Mexican coke (spiked with some BYOL, if you're so inclined) on a nice day.
(3)Jessica D.
The steak sandwich with avocado is the meal of choice for me here. It's a sure thing and I don't think I have ever ordered anything else because it is just too darn good! We also had the empanadas as an appetizer and they were very tasty. An oatmeal shake is a must as well! Steak sandwich= $4.95 + .50 for avocado...can't beat that price!
(5)Angelique R.
Irazu, I love you... but the other night... that wasn't right. I waited 2 hours for your food for our dinner party, and you forgot all the sides. You said you'd call back...but then you closed, without any word. We were so hungry and even ordered extra food for your chips and salsa on a $30+ meal - but they weren't in the bag either. Grubhub made it all better, and I think in time the wounds will heal and I'll come crawling back. We all have our bad nights, right? Edit: Very prompt response by owner. I forgive you Irazu... let's do dinner again soon. 4 stars it is.
(4)Coll P.
My favorite BYOB to date! Cute atmosphere on the patio and cheap delicious (and did I say cheap!!!!!!) food! I had a spinach and cheese empanada and ceviche to start. Every table gets chips and salsa too, but be warned-those salsas are hot!!! I had the Pepito sandwich for my entree. MMMMMMM. It was steak, cheese, onions, beans and lizano sauce on a roll. I thought the sauce almost tasted a bit like curry, but the flavor was not as over powering! Cash only, come prepared!
(5)Elly L.
Another amazing Chi-Town culinary experience that I can't stop thinking about! Get the oatmeal shake. I dare you. Amazing amazing amazing! Great food and great prices; can't get better than that.
(5)Jones' D.
The service I received here was stellar. The waiter was down to earth and made excellent suggestions. The food was just as amazing and one of the best meals I've had all summer...and then we got the bill. $25 for two people? Awesome. I will definitely return. p.s. Oatmeal Shake.
(5)Janell K.
Stop reading and get yer butt over there. Parking....not as bad as it looks. Service...almost too friendly and I totally do not make it easy since I am a total extra sauce whore. Know the waiters names now and get greeted by the owner when I walk in. Food never disappoints...my naughty favorite is the Chichironne plate. They make pork feel, look, and taste very grown up. And I need as much of that as I can get. Love the Chicken with rice dinner....you WILL take half of it home, count on it. The yucca with garlic sauce is wicked good. Oatmeal shake is a must...even if you think it sounds odd or u don't dig oatmeal..GET IT. If you don't like it, you need professional help and someone else at your table will devour it asap. A big plus...they sell bottles of the Linzano sauce which I can drink straight, it's so good. Pricey but worth it. For early afternoon..try the egg and black bean sammy. Bread is perfect pull apart consistency and won't pull out all the other ingredients. It is BYOB, they DO deliver and they do prep Take out. Outdoor patio is decent. Music is oddly cool. Two only complaints: 1. CASH only 2. CLOSED on Sundays. Don't hesitate with this place. Good good stuff!
(4)Tiffany K.
This place lives up to the hype. Two of my friends and I came here for some veggie burrito action. We were not disappointed. We also split three empanadas - one black bean, one spinach and cheese, and the last sweet plantains - and they were each very flavorful. I think the spinach and cheese really surprised me, and the sweet plantain empanada was almost like a dessert empanada. The veggie burrito is huge - I think it was the size of the plate it came on. Packed with rice, lettuce, black beans, avocado, tomato, onions, cheese, and hot peppers, it's a lot of food compared to the price ($4.95 I believe?). Also, the beans here taste so good. I don't know what they do to the beans, but the beans just melt in your mouth. Of course, we got oatmeal shakes to top it all off. We were drinking beers (this place is BYOB) on top of the shakes so we all left the restaurant in a major food coma. I think we'd all do it again anyway. It just feels so good when you know that the food you are getting is fresh and top quality. It also helped that we went during a crazy 10 minute monsoon/hail period, so everyone was in fun spirits. Our server was a great guy. I really enjoyed the atmosphere here, and the food was excellent. I can't believe it took so long for me to get here, but now that I've been here I never want to go anywhere else.
(5)Lindsay B.
They have iced coffee with horchata in it. Why did I never think of this?? I took an hour off work one day and came here instead. GREAT idea. Great service, great specials, great tacos, great shakes. Very much looking forward to visiting again so I can try...... everything else.
(5)Melissa G.
What a cute little place! I've been meaning to try them out forever, but have only had the pleasure of going just last night. Great food, and definitely a fun time. I came with 3 friends last night since we were looking for a nice BYOB place to enjoy a few growlers and bottles of craft beers over dinner. This seemed like just the place. Unfortunately, when we arrived, there was a 30-minute wait! No problem, we just popped open a bottle of beer each while waiting for our table. The hostess even gave us the thumbs up that we were cheerfully taking advantage of our wait time (as long as we weren't being obnoxious, of course!) We were seated fairly quickly, considering how packed the place seemed; of course perhaps it wasn't all that quickly but just felt that way since we were enjoying ourselves while waiting! As a vegetarian, I was amazed at the selection of items I had to choose from. We ordered the patacones appetizer and tried out a bunch of their empanadas (which included 6 vegetarian ones to choose from). All very delicious; we didn't even care that we reeked of garlic from the patacones! I also had the chile relleno entree, which was also delicious and filling. All the while, we happily enjoyed the craft beers we brought throughout the meal. It was so much fun, I can't wait to go back and try out more of their menu. Definitely a good place to go just to chill with friends while enjoying good food. Just remember, as others have mentioned, that it's CASH ONLY, so come prepared! (I'm only giving them 4 stars for now since I've only been there once. Once I'm convinced they are consistently a good place to go, I'll revise my rating!)
(4)Unity O.
You know, it takes me a LONG time to get to popular eateries. It is not that I do not want to try the place; it is just that I tend to shy away from super popular places. I am always convinced the food cannot live up to the hype. Plus, I tend to not live anywhere near the popular hoods (Bucktown is not so close to casa Unity). So, I finally tried Irazu...I kind of feel like I fail as a Yelper since it took me this long. Not to worry, situation has been rectified! A couple of friends & I were looking for a place to eat for a monthly dinner date. Since Irazu is relatively close to where one of us works and 2 of us had never been...it was time to check it out. Being Puerto Rican, I am familiar with Latin Cuisine and am somewhat convinced that it is all fairly similar. There are definite differences, but the staples are pretty much the same: rice, beans, plantains, and little salads of lettuce & tomatoes. It is the subtle differences that make me appreciated the different cultures in Latin cuisine...mainly how the proteins are flavored. I had never had Costa Rican food prior to this outing and was very much looking forward to it...not to mention that I was HUNGRY! I was the 1st to arrive from our party & was promptly greeted & seated as I entered the door. I was not blown away by the ambiance of the place...a little too hipster trendy for my liking. Also, you walk right past the open area where the food is being prepped to be seated in the back...I am not a fan of that. However, the service was prompt & friendly and the complimentary chips were a bonus. For my entree, I went for the Casado with Chicken...I wanted something authentic. It really was the way to go. Good portion, tasty beans & rice, comes with an egg over it; my only complaint would be that the chicken was over salted. I was not blown away by this place as I was somewhat expecting (it's all the hype!), but I found it was a good place to grab some grub. Overall, I enjoyed the meal there and will definitely return someday to try more of their food. Going on a weekday would be your best bet for getting seated right away...this place is on the small side.
(3)Steve G.
I'm heading back here to try more things, especially the specifically Costa Rican dishes, but what I've had here is terrific. The vegetable burrito is really outstanding, far superior to any veg. burrito I've had in Chicago (the plantains, for instance, aren't something I customarily see in a veggie burrito). Service is good and fun. Really can't go wrong here.
(4)Laila C.
I could eat JUST chifrijo for dinner and I'd be completely satisfied! But since I'm me and I require lots of food, I ordered tons of food! Bf and I split the pepito sandwich (which someone mentioned tasted just like a philly cheese steak) tasty, but not special. We also shared the steak tico which was very good and HUGE with a good amount of rib eye steak. My only complaint was that the steak came with a lot of fat. Since we were a party of 7, I got to try lots of stuff! Happiness all around! The tilapia was super moist, chicken was well herbed, the guacamole delicious and good texture and the liver..well it was livery. Even with the hour wait, I'd say the meal still lived up to the hype and I'd definitely go again. While we were waiting, the host offered to open our wine and let us drink and wait. My suggestion: DEFINITELY take him up on the offer. It gets super busy on the weekends and you never know how long the wait will be. Drink your wine so you can fight the urge to crash through the windows and steal bites off of another customer's plate! The delicious aromas wafting through the air can be very enticing!
(4)Kat T.
I would recommend coming to this place. We ordered three casado and steak and steak and onion. Delicious. The casado comes with white or traditional rice. Highly recommend the traditional. We tried five of the empanadas. They were delicious. I think overall good service and good food. We felt like the meats were good but couldn't differentiate the different flavor. We also got the ceviche VERY delicious!!
(4)Jill B.
Well now, this place is just a little gem. Having an adorable patio that is BYOB is always an easy way straight into my heart. I found the menu to be slightly overwhelming as everything looked good. I finally made up my mind and went with the veggie burrito. And boy am I glad that I did! This is unlike any burrito I've ever had. They take the veggie part of the name very seriously. It is stuffed to the max with veggies and isn't overpowered by rice and bean fillers. My friend tried a bite and said she couldn't even identify all of the flavors that are in it. I tried a bite of her cheese and spinach empanadas and thought I had tasted a little bit of heaven. Per our waiter's suggestion we finished off our meal with an oatmeal shake. When I first heard about this, I was just as grossed out by it as you probably are right now. Well, let me tell you...it is not gross at all. It is most definitely everything it is cracked up to be. Imagine an oatmeal cookie in milkshake form and then I think you'll get the picture. We got oatmeal banana which I would highly recommend. I definitely cannot wait to go back to Irazu and next time I will be more prepared for the fact that it is cash only!
(5)Gil G.
Ordered the oatmeal shake, steak sandwich, and fries, and the food was ok at best. Our server was nice, the prices were not too bad, and the restaurant was quaint, but I don't plan on going again unless it's for the oatmeal shake.
(3)Christine H.
This place is cozy and authentic. The people are interesting, the food is fantastic (oatmeal shake, yuca fries with loads of garlic, and their sandwiches). I was told to go there and I now tell you!
(5)Mark K.
Gearing up for a trip to Costa Rica we stopped in to Irazu to get an idea of the foodventures ahead of ourselves. And while the food didn't really wow us, the service at Irazu bumped up this review from a 3 to a 4. Our server was really friendly and attentive. He even threw in an extra garlic oil in with my to go box because he noticed I demolished the first bit on the 1st half of the meal. An abundance of condiments goes a long way in my book. The food was decent but not spectacular. The Taco Tico stood out as my favorite (and ultra messy) portion of the meal. I want 9 of them next time. Despite the amazing praise, I was not TOO impressed with the oatmeal milkshake (despite the 9 million yelp mentions). It resembled a thicker and creamier horchata. The Costa Rican sandwich was just sort of meh.
(4)Kim A.
I already gave this place a 4 star review, but... after this past weekend, definitely upping it to five. This past Thursday I had about 25 people here for my birthday... and the folks at Irazu COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE ACCOMMODATING. We sat in the covered outdoor room, a little warm... but it's mid July! God bless my mother for birthing me in the middle of summer! Constantly refilling chips and salsas, waters, bringing in a cooler of ice for the wine/beer that needed to be chilled. I could not have asked for better service, or food, on my birthday. AMAZING. I REPEAT (ALL IN CAPS, ON THE INTERNET, SO YOU KNOW I'M F'ING SERIOUS) AMAZING.
(5)lana v.
When we found out that Irazu hosts private parties on Sundays we instantly rented it out for our daughters 2nd birthday. They let us choose anything we wanted for our menu, bring in any alcohol, cake and decorations that we wanted. We came a little early to set up, the staff working the day of the party were amazing...they could not have been nicer or more helpful. I have planned several private parties for work and personal events and Irazu was by far the most accommodating and easy to work with!
(5)Jane E.
I have never had Costa Rican food before, so thought to try this. The food seemed quite similar to dishes from around the area. The restaurant is nice, the service is fast, and be sure to have cash as they do not accept credit cards. Food is good too. It is not bad, but not out of this world great either. It is filling and you will not need to eat for another day. I ate around 12 today and I still do not feel hungry. The food is tasty, not too greasy and is presented nicely. I would try try it out once to get the experience. Also, the shakes and drinks provided are great!
(3)Daniel A.
After a maiden trip to Tico-land, we wanted to visit Irazu to see what the hype was all about. Service: Very friendly and it felt genuine, and not simply for money. Food: I swear it was imported. The smell, look and taste reminded us of the lovely dishes we enjoyed on the wayside of Costa Rica. It's a BYOB: Store across the street has Imperial, fyi. So go all out. Make it a Costa Rican night.
(5)Candi D.
Haven't been here in a long time. Oatmeal/vanilla/milk and vanilla/banana/milk shakes yummy :-). There menu has been expanded. The ambience has improved as well. Can't wait to go back!
(4)eric f.
YES! so delicious, so chill, and so cheap. there's a section on the menu titled "Vegetarian Delights" and that's just the beginning. huge patio in the summer, and part of it is heated in the winter. super friendly staff. this place is perfect.
(5)Josh M.
I love this place! Irazu is always full of flavor. The empanadas are always crispy and full of flavor. I ordered the shrimp and veggie plate recently and it was great. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and the veggies were yummy. I also never go without some of the black bean soup. I'm a citrus lover, so I have to add a bit of lime to it, but that's just my own personal taste. I thoroughly recommend this place if you're looking for something other than the typical Mexican burrito/taco joint.
(5)Megan B.
The food is cheap, but tasty for the price. The "hole in the wall" decor seems to be a good fit for the food. The shakes are a must. But it is popular enough for the tiny size that the wait can be brutal. I recommend going for breakfast (love their beans and eggs options) or lunch. Or go in the summer if you must go on a weekday evening since there is additional seating out doors, and you can easily bide outside while waiting. Still, I you would be hard pressed to find a cheaper way to try a cuisine that isn't well represented in Chicago.
(3)Cristina T.
After all of the great reviews I have heard about Irazu in the past years, I don't know why I waited until this week to try it out. Byob, great prices, fun atmosphere, great service and majorly delicious food! I loved the appetizer we ordered which was a mix of rice, beans, crispy pork and avocado. We demolished it in about 15 seconds. For our main dishes we got the Pepito sandwich and the Tico plate with chicken. The steak on the pepito sandwich was flavorful and the perfect combination withe the onions and avocado. The tico plate was comparable to fajitas. Served with rice beans and plantains, it was delicious. We were so full, but I had heard to much about the oatmeal milkshake that we got it to go. When I finally had room I tried it, and once again finished it. Tasted like horchata, which is one of my favorite drinks. I can only imagine what this place is like in the summer-can't wait to go back very soon!
(5)Katie M.
Irazu, I love you. You are close to my house. You are byob. Your food is delicious. Your staff is friendly. I will see you and your $5 chicken burrito tomorrow. Love, Katie
(5)Robin W.
Irazu is cheap, has great burritos and empanadas, outdoor seating and fast delivery. The dining room is pretty small though so I prefer delivery. I love the black bean empanada and the sweet plantain empanada. I went to Costa Rica shortly after my first visit to Irazu and was sadly disappointed that I could not find an empanada anywhere. The Costa Rican style rice and beans here though are great and true to CR. Definitely get the hot peppers and try the homemade hot sauce. I love spicy food, and this hot sauce is truly hot! The sides, empanadas and burritos (and BYOB) are enough for me to give Irazu 4 stars. The other main courses are just okay in my opinion. Also I'm not terribly impressed by the oatmeal milkshake, but check out the other reviews. Most people seem to love it.
(4)Shelly S.
A terrific place to go on a date with someone who's not afraid to try different foods. This place gets crowded quickly on any given day, but it is definitely worth the wait! How can you go wrong with plantains in any form? You just can't! Each dish has it's own unique flavoring and is very filling for the price. Do bring cash though (it's a cash only joint) and make sure to save room for a tall glass of Horchata (delicious cinnamon-y drink!).
(4)Jen T.
Didn't tickle my taste-buds, but the BYOB tickled my pocket. Mango civiche was Great, nice chunks of fresh sweet mango and large chunks of shrimp served with cracker, I prefer eating with tortilla's. Fried Tostada's with garlic sauce is always good in my book! I'm sort of addicted. Empanadas not so impressed...kind of flat and not enough meat/ ingredients inside. I wouldn't order again. I had the tilapia, wasn't bad, but I wasn't blown away. Was soft and had a little crisp which was my favorite part. That dish is served with grilled onion, green pepper and plantains, white rice and beans. I took a bite of the skirt steak, it was pretty tasty...seasoned well and grilled just right. Ehh..the patio not so impressive. crowded and the rain cover doesn't exactly work, I would suggest waiting for an indoor table during April showers. Cash Only! BYOB Bonus! Parking=not too hard
(3)J N.
Irazu used to be one of my favorite restaurants but over the last year or so they have completely lost it. When I've gotten food there in the last 6 months it has been a disappointment - lots of wrong orders, some late orders and strange things like...there was wet pieces or paper towel/napkin or something in my burrito tonight, yuck. I paid extra for spinach and zucchini to be in it too, but my burrito arrived with mushrooms and zucchini. I really don't like mushrooms and I paid extra to get them, not cool. Anyone who liked Irazu 2-3 years ago knows what I'm talking about when I say that they have lost it. The atmosphere dining in has lost some quality as well. It's super sad because they USED TO BE so good. RIP Irazu ;(
(1)amanda t.
I can only speak from delivery experience but this places is excellent. The first time we ordered, my partner ordered a burrito and I ordered a steak pepito sandwich. Our order arrives and it's still hot but they've left all of the toppings off of my sandwich. It is just steak and lizano sauce. Which wouldn't be a big deal if I hadn't paid extra for avocado on it. So I call them and they take down my name and number and say that the next time we order, they'll throw in a free sandwich and shake. Since everything was delicious, we made good on that about a week later. The steak pepito is great, the nibbles I've stolen from Rob's steak burritos have been great, the steak fries are awesome, the chifrijio is yummy, the arroz congri is great, and the veggie burrito is the second best burrito I've ever had (I added mushrooms, zucchini, and a side of lizano salso to put on it). The best was the California Veggie burrito from Mariachi's in San Francisco which has become a mythical food creature for me since I ate it three years ago and will never eat it again because they closed last fall. But the veggie burrito from Irazu is a very very very close second. The only thing I've had from here that was even remotely meh was the potato tacos. They were still good, they just weren't as good as everything else and arrived rather cold and lacking mole.
(5)Nicolas H.
Ok, I've been back now and had some different dishes and now know they do have some good food. The steak casado was defintely tasty, complete with the costa rican rice, plaintains and steak. However, it was defintely lacking some kind of sauce, everything was just a little dry. Maybe a little jus or something would've made the dish a little better. We also had the empanadas (chicken, beef and cheese). They were all good, however again needed some kind of sauce as they were pretty dry...
(4)Lady C.
The only Costa Rican restaurant in Chicago. The place is small, but always packed with people waiting in line to get a table in the back. No one complains of the wait, for they will be effectively accomodated with friendly service and delicious food at a good price. Mango Lime shake is awesome, which my husband and I received for it was our one-year wedding anniversary. Just try everything at least once and you will be hooked. The only issue is that you are taken off-guard when you are charged for the guacamole for $6.50, which you believed was complimentary, due to how they ask the question. The guacamole was not even that good and not worth $6.50, but everything else is good. Big portions that I could never finish, so I always have something for the next day. Enjoy.
(4)Jenna H.
Irazu is...decent. I will say, I do not get the hype. Yes, it has a nice little patio area on a stretch of Milwaukee where that's a commodity. Yes, the food is cheap. But it also looks and tastes cheap if that makes sense. Yes, it's BYOB, which is always a plus. It is so so food but unless there's some hidden dish waiting to wow me I certainly don't think it deserves any culinary accolades.
(3)Nicole W.
My boyfriend and I went to Irazu at around 8pm on a Saturday night. They don't take reservations, and we ended up waiting about 45 minutes. The servers were very accommodating and opened up our wine for the wait. When we were seated, but busboy said that they were out of chips. It kind of confused us, didn't know if they were out for the night or out until they made more. Omar waited on us, and after taking our order, he informed us chips and salsa were on the way. About 15 minutes later and after our entrees were served, I noticed other tables getting chips and salsa, so I had to put in a request for that. Not a huge deal, they were super super busy. Omar suggested for me the chicken tico, and my boyfriend got the bistec casado. Bistec casado was delicious, mine was horrible. The chicken tasted like chicken in water with mushy overcooked veggies. It was super bland. Something must have gone wrong in the kitchen. Omar not only apologized for this, but brought out 2 more entrees - grilled steak and pollo casado, and gave us a gift certificate for 2 smoothies. The grilled steak and pollo casado were delicious! So so good, I could not put my fork down. We ate until we were in pain! So, the hassle of having a bad first plate is why this place got 4 stars and not 5. But Omar and the owner exhibited exceptional customer service skills. I will recommend this place to everyone and anyone, since their menu is so diverse. I can't wait to go back in the summer to enjoy the patio.
(4)Gretchen V.
Yum!!! I never knew how badly I could crave Costa Rican food until I tried Irazu. The steak casado (I think that's what it's called) is out of this world...and it will feed you for days. Also, the oatmeal shakes with milk are a perfect end to a spicy meal. I recently tried the vegetarian burrito...didn't really do it for me, but that could be because I was comparing it to the steak casado the entire time! The atmosphere is nothing to go crazy over, but that's part of the charm, I think. I can't wait to go when it's nice out and eat on the patio.
(4)Lindsay S.
I absolutely love this place! My boyfriend introduced me to the wonderful Irazu and I am addicted. The food is outstanding, we always get the casado with chicken or steak. Recently, my boyfriend got the tilapia tacos which were light and delicious. I am big on sweet treats and the shakes are some of the best in the city. Overall, I highly recommend this place and will keep coming back for more!
(5)Madelyn H.
i had the steak dish that was one of irazu's specialties and it was really not good. i know south american meat is generally less tender, but this was chewy, and the egg over the top didn't help. i loved the black beans and rice, and the plantains though. i'm willing to try it again because i've heard great things, but based on my one experience, i didn't love it. worth trying: plantains and black beans/rice
(2)Jen E.
Can never go wrong with BYOB, I ordered one of their specialty dishes and it was absolutely heavenly. I decided to upgrade and try their special costan rican rice, it was okay, I will have to try their regular rice next time. Service was okay, it was very packed however, everyone was friendly and for the most part attentive. It has a nice low key vibe but def not first date atmosphere great place to go with friends and split a bottle of wine before hitting the city.
(4)Joshua C.
So tonight a friend and I went to Irazu. The weather was looking ominous so there wasn't much of a wait (which she had talked about). First impression, LOUD, the restaurant is buzzing with salsa music and scores of conversations. I ordered Bistec, which is steak served with stewed tomatoes . onions . green peppers, rice, black beans and finally boiled tostones. Very generous serving and was delicious I washed it down with a horchata, which was a little on the sweet side. Our waiter was attentive but also very busy, still, he did a very adequate job. Definitely worth a visit, or two.
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