La Palma Puerto Rican Restuarant
1340 N Homan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60651
La Palma Puerto Rican Restuarant Menu
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Address :
1340 N Homan Ave
Chicago, IL, 60651 - Phone (773) 862-0886
- Website https://www.lapalmarestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 7:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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tracy h.
We have been coming to this restaurant for several years and they have maintained the quality of their meals. Several authentic dishes to choose from and friendly service!
(5)Lizzy Y.
First. The food is awesome but they charge you extra and be like oh well. My mom and I went here, my mom got Bacalao and Malanga, she told the server she wanted the dinner. He put 5 pieces of Malanga n a spoon of bacalao. They lady charged us saying malanga only comes with dinner if it's 4 pieces! Then said we had too much bacalao...the server gave us food we only told him wat we wanted...smh she was jus like oh well take it up wit The Manager Orlando. I will not go back here because it's always a problem with them charging us extra for something.
(1)Joann H.
Ordered food from La palma for my daughter's party. Ordered the following: Pernil: delicious,not dry and people loved it. Arroz con gandules: good Pastelillos: delicious. Sadly I had one from their grab and go display when I went to pay the balance of my order... and that one was stale. But the ordered ones were fresh, tasty and on point. Papa rellena: good. Pollo guisado: a little oily but good flavor . My family and friends enjoyed the food and I was happy to have ordered from them. Antonia who handled my order was super nice and just great to work with. I also purchased from the grab and go area an alcapurria and it was by far in my opinion one of the best I've tried. Crispy outside, tender inside with a great flavor. I was so pleased. Also ate their tembleque (coconut custard type of flan) which was off the hook delicious!! Its a little place but they have a decent goal of pleasing their customers with home made Puerto Rican food! Happy
(4)Megan M.
Amazingggg food and hospitable service. Very welcoming. My new favorite spot. The owner greeted us as we came in and introduced us to all the specials.
(5)David P.
This is a tiny nondescript place that is part self-serve and part service but the food is the main attraction! I'm Puerto Rican, born and raised in NYC and grew up on this food and I have to say.....this is the BEST pernil and arroz con gandules I have ever had in my life. The pastelillo was not so good (hard and dense) but the pernil and arroz con gandules is to die for. Check it out!!!!!
(5)Ruben M.
HELL TO THE MOTHA F N-O......no no no people this isnt what ppl should think is the AUTHENTIC puerto rican food experience. The real experience is food made to order, not food sitting under food lamps, go to mcds for that crap!! Ok so when you walk in they greet you like they know you, ok, thats cool but if your making me feel like im home then cook like you at home. Everything is sitting in food warmers and the portions especially for the jibaritos are extremely small! Not worth the money and one more thing i made add, i think they have too much on the menu, i think they should shorten it and focus on making a few things taste great. Too many things on the menu and most of them are so bland.....thats all i have to say, theres just so many great places in chicago to get pr food, this isnt one of them.
(1)Dee R.
The food was awful. I paid $25 and the only thing edible was a piece of malanga, and yuca. The rice was edible but had little flavor and with the juice from the chicken it became salty. Chicken/potatoes were so salty, I couldn't eat them and the pork was overcooked to the point that it was tough and couldn't eat. I would recommend going a little more north for way better food. I also ordered 2 pasteles, again no flavor. This really is not what real Puerto Rican food taste like!
(1)Yadira D.
So I came here a couple of weeks ago with my son and mom, bc they wanted PR food, and my mom LOVES this place. We used to come very often before, and BEFORE the food was DELICIOUS!! I'm rating the place on my most recent experience, here is my review: The place was packed, but we found a table to sit at. Since it was my cheat day, I decided to go all out. Picked a porkchop and a pincho, and lechon, I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into. Ordered mine and my son's rice and habichuelas. Rice and habichuelas on point. Porkchop, cold and stiff, pincho, cold and stiff, the meat was like rocks. Couldn't indulge on the 2 items I picked and had my mouth watering!! SMH. Mom's food was ok, and so was my son's. The kicker...when I went to pay the bill. Over $30 for the entire thing....smh. Despite me mentioning that the food wasn't great. I won't be coming back.
(2)Lucia Z.
Delicious Puerto Rican food. Generous portions. Affordable prices. Good service. Tried the jibarito, mofongo, carne guisada, arroz con gandules, habichuelas, encebollado and platano asado. Everything tasted very good, with authentic flavors. If you want to eat good PR food, this is the place!
(5)Kat N.
Where do I begin.. Let's start with the big girl behind the counter with no customer service as soon as we walked in that should have been an indication of it's not gonna be a good experience! She had a fock it look on her face! We seated out self, no problem.. Ok/ the place was empty, second red flag... Then we ordered the man brought the food out to our table to us, he was nice, but the food was blan with not much flavor, worse part the entire meal was cold, the pork the steak sandwiches and rice! All cold!! Worst pr food I ever had! Now I check my receipt and see she effin over charged me and shorted me on my change too! Wow!!...!!! I won't go back and I'll make sure I tell my friends and my huge pr family how much this place suck$. Btw thanks yelp for the bs reviews that said this place was 4/ stars!
(1)Justin L.
My first Puerto Rican restaurant! I have always wanted to try a jibarito and finally decided to come to Humboldt Park to try one. Definitely glad I did. The plantain was fried perfectly and the meat was juicy and seasoned well.
(4)Lala M.
I loved this place.. I was there today with my sister and my two kids.. The food is great. We had jibaritos .. Best service ever! I truly felt that they treated me like family.. My kids didnt want to try the food but Antonia convinced them and prepared them sandwhiches de lechon with fries and they finished everything in their plate.. Prices are awesome!! I truly recommend this place and I'm sure gonna be back soon and try different things!
(5)Jessica D.
Love, Love, Love Puerto Rican food! I went to this place in my teens so it had been a while since I last went here. I moved up north so it is harder or just longer to get here. My daughter was craving her P.R. food so we decided to take the drive. It was well worth it. The food is still delicious! We had the carne guisada (beef stew), arroz con gandules (rice with peas), and relleno de papa (stuffed potato). I'm getting hungry now just writing about it!
(5)Lance M.
Love this place. They catered our event tonight and the food was a hit. All the food was great, but I'm glad they had veggie options.
(5)santino b.
Giving 1 star to this place! The server/Prepper was very rude and my white rice was hard as if they served it from the bottom of the pot. Piece of advice you are in the service industry and most important part is to give the best service because that's what keeps people coming back. Hopefully the owner reads this and gets on top of his employees. Good luck!
(1)Cameka R.
I died and went to heaven. I don't care where you live in Illinois, please come by and check out La Palma. I am well traveled and been to major cities to eat - I am a foodie and La Palma is a treat! Head Cater was cool and provided other recommendation on the menu. I'll be back!
(5)Veronica M.
I was pleasantly surprised by the food here. Being a native Puerto Rican (I moved to the States three years ago), I am always looking for good PR food when I'm homesick. Unfortunately, I haven't had the best of luck... until I went to Las Palmas today. After 6 hours of being on the road, my husband and I were starving so we Yelped Puerto Rican food and this came up. It doesn't look like much from the outside. Inside, you have the option to create your own "to go" plate (you literally serve yourself) or ask them to make you a plate if you are dining in. They have everything to typical Puerto Rican fritters (alcapurrias, rellenos de papa, empanadillas, etc) to comfort food (lechon asado-pork, carne guisada-beef stew, pollo guisado-chicken stew, white rice and beans, rice with pigeon peas, cuajito-pig ear stew, etc). You can also order "Jibarito" Sandwiches (meat with fried plantains instead of bread. I had the beef stew with white rice and my husband had the lechón (pork), both were delicious and flavorful. I asked for an order of fried plantains (tostones) and they were made to order (fresh, not frozen). I had a piece of vanilla flan which was ok. It had good flavor but I prefer flan to be creamy which this one wasn't. Overall, the staff was very inviting except for the lady that cashed us out who refused to answer me when I spoke to her in Spanish and then went off to speak Spanish with someone on the phone. The food was very authentic. It reminded me of home. I loved the food there and would go back in a heartbeat whenever I am in Chicago again.
(5)Brenda M.
The best Puerto Rican food that I tasted so far. Very authentic. The gibaritos are so tasty and delicious.
(4)Jason H.
Had taste for pasteles and stopped in here for some with some co workers. Order arroz gandules and chicken. Awesome food very tasty and the meat fell off the bone. Steak and onions where tasty add well. Nice little joint to sit down and eat
(5)Jake B.
Best Puerto Rican food outside of my mother-in-law's kitchen. We recently moved to Chicago and we were lucky to find this little slice of heaven. The Jibarito (both steak and pork) is one of the 5 best things I've ever eaten. Alcupurias, slow roasted pork and rice and beans are out of this world. Antonia runs the show making you feel like family. She recently came through for us when we wanted to make last minute additions to our already large carry out order for the holidays. Would recommend this place to the novice and experienced eater of Puerto Rican cuisine. The staff is super friendly and will help you choose and try items off their menu.
(5)Lulu R.
Located in the heart of Humbolt Park, I must say I was a bit weary coming here to dine in but a friend assured me that this was the spot. I was worried because I am not puerto rican and i didn't know if they were going to be friendly with me. We enter and see a charming little place with a "cafeteria" feel. A real mom and pop type place that is serving up quality food. There are two sections of food. Fried food in one display case (Self serve) for your choosing, and the individual type of foods in the other case (they serve you). Of course I had to choose my favorite, Chicharrones fried crispy, arroz con gandules, and bistec guisado. Best choices I could have ever made! These people don't skimp on their serving sizes either. The arroz con gandules was so flavorful and soft without having an over powering taste. It was the perfect accompaniment to the chicarrones. The Bistec guisado was a stewed beef, stewed so long that the meat was fork tender and sweet. LOVED IT! I also tried the plantain ball with meat inside and that was TO DIE FOR! It was so crispy on the outside and soft in the inside, how did you guys do it? Magic? Yeah I know it was magic. The service was good and they were very nice to me. I am glad they welcomed me in their restaurant to eat some delicious puerto rican fare.
(4)Destiny T.
The food here is good for what it is-a Puerto Rican buffet. The yellow rice doesn't taste like authentic Puerto Rican rice and was bland; it tastes more like Mexican rice to me. The jibarito was whatever. I was really disappointed because I had a taste for the kind of Puerto Rican food that my grandma would make and I thought it would be good, considering how many stars they have. I wouldn't come here again.
(3)Alison G.
If you are looking for a place to eat or planning a big event, I highly recommend La Palma!!!!! When planning an event, ask for Antonia, she is the best!! I needed paStelillos and arroz con gandules for 250 people, delivered to the southwest side at 9am, and Antonia made it happen! The food was fresh, delicious, and delivered on time. Thanks to Antonia, I had hundreds of happy teenagers (and that never happens). She took about 20 phone calls and a thousand questions and helped me every step of the way when planning the event. I could not be happier with the food and service that we received!!
(5)Christy J.
I go often and I must say they are very nice and have good service. I have ordered for pick up and sat and ate. Either way they are nice and friendly. Its a small place but nice. Hopefully they do good and expand and open other locations so people all over the city can taste the food. I will be going back as I have been.. It's my weakness.. Lol
(5)Pulga T.
Oh man where to begin..... Let me start by saying I'm Puerto Rican and have tried plenty of prican food around this area. I have to say that I was so disappointed, I had been looking forward to going to this place all week. I went on a Saturday afternoon, was not crowded. when I walked in I literally said to myself "what the fu@$" its so small inside hardly room to walk. We got a table quick were greeted nicely. I went to the bathroom and right away I knew the place was going to suck. No it wasn't dirty, it was ghetto!!! The toilet paper just sitting on a ledge where literally everyone is touching the whole roll! Sick!!! The paper towels are located outside the bathroom (wtf). Oh and forgot to mention I was with 3 other ppl. 2 of us ordered the jibarito with arroz con gandules and habichuelas. The other person ordered a pork chop w/rice and beans. Ok so the food wasn't the worst I've had but not the best and the quantity SUCKS!! My jibarito was so small, but I'm also use to the big ones that were served @ boriquen. Anyhow while I'm eating some (gangbanger type of looking dude) walks in with his gf and kid sit at the table next to us and literally I lost my appetite after listening to him talk very loudly saying and I quote "I was raised by nig$ers so I don't speak Spanish" omg I was ready to just stand up and leave but unfortunately my friends were still eating! This place is just so poorly ran. I think it gets all the hype bc of the style of how they present the food and all of the options. That doesn't mean its good though. Why would u want to eat pork chops or anything else fried sitting under a lamp? I believe this dump was even announced on TV for great prican food. This place is an embarrassment to prican food. I would never return. I also noticed a lot of the customers are usuals that live close by (listening on the convos). Oh and by the way one of the other biggest disappointments, I was really looking forward to eating the rum cake.....its literally yellow cake out of a box with rum on it $3 a slice. Seriously can't even make the cake from scratch. This place is a dump.
(1)Doug P.
La Palma Puerto Rican Restaurant is a prime example of why the WeDeliver team LOVES what it does. Not only does La Palma provide authentic, delicious AND nutritious Puerto Rican cuisine, but it continues to strengthen a 15-plus-year relationship with the Humboldt Park community. The fact that we can do our small part and ease the delivery process for a neighborhood staple like La Palma is at once exciting and humbling. The food is rich with flavor and tradition. La Palma graciously served the food at our last celebration of community, and not a forkful of food survived! Thank you Rolando, Jessica, and the entire team at La Palma; your cooking is magnificent and your warmth and sense of community is inspiring. Our delivery specialists, many of whom are from the neighborhood, have told us how thrilled they are to provide you same day delivery and extend the La Palma brand to all corners of Chicagoland.
(5)Slobodan J.
Love this place. If your new to PR food then come here. You have a bunch of options before your very eyes. Great food, pleasant people and good service.
(5)Daniel L.
After living on the West Coast for several years, I come to Chicago with fellow Yelper Fia R looking to get reacquainted with Puerto Rican cuisine--one of my favorites in the world. We found this fast food hole in the wall sitting in this quiet residential neighborhood. They have several parking spaces right across the street, and the place looked charming and warm as if we had just stepped into my friend Rene's kitchen. We were quickly greeted upon entering. Once inside, there was a glass case stacked with all kinds of goodies ranging from fried fish, plantains, and mouthwatering roast pork. The cuisine doesn't just stop there. The steam table was filled with colorful dishes from sopas to stews, yuca, tamales, and more. In spite of the humble decor, the tables were decorated with colorful tablecloths, and from top to bottom there were touches of Easter to make us feel at home. The servers were extremely nice to us, especially when they learned that this was our first visit to their restaurant. There was no better place to be on that Sunday afternoon. We started off with the Mondongo ($6), also known as the Tripe Soup. This soup is their weekend special and came with a rich combination of tripe, pigs feet, and vegetables such as onions, carrots, cabbage, celery, tomatoes, cilantro and spices. The taste of the soup had a lot of depth, enriched by the tripe, pigs feet, and naturally sweetened by the fresh cut vegetables. It came with a bowl of steamed rice, and it was so good that we left no soup behind. Next, we had the Bistec Jibarito ($5.95). This is their version of Beef Sandwich that came with well-seasoned, tender slices of beef stacked with cabbage, cheese, garlic, and mayo in between perfectly fried plantains. The flattened plantains were not noticeably greasy, which made the jibarito easy to handle. The bistec was nicely seasoned to allow the natural flavors to take center stage with a finesse hint of garlic here and there in the background. This dish also came with a sizable portion of Spanish rice that was delicious and well executed. Most reviewers had raved about their jibarito and I too, believe this is a must get. From the glass case we got a piece of Alcapurria ($1) that was made of plantains and unripen banana filled with ground beef. We also shared a piece of Platano Maduro ($1.95) where the ripe plantain was sweet, buttery, and sinfully delicious. We washed everything down with a cup of fresh Guayaba Y Acerola juice ($2.75) and the rest was history. For a small, fast food local joint, their food was uninhibited with flavor, freshness, and downright deliciousness. It is places like La Palma that continues to reinforce my belief that good food does not have to be expensive or come with the most exotic decors. I wanted to order more food at the end, but the search for the next best of the best continues. I would absolutely love to come back again.
(5)Michelle F.
This place is amazing! The food was amazing! And oh my gosh the manager was the sweetest person ever! This will be the first place I go when I come back to Chicago =)
(5)Danielle C.
La Palma has the BEST jibarito sandwiches in town! I have tried them at other locations but NO ONE can top La Palma Restaurant. Try steak or chicken, DELICIOUS...I've enjoyed both. I visit frequently at least once or twice a week for lunch/dinner. The jibarito sandwich has so much flavor. I'm hooked! Every time I visit the service is excellent. The owner and staff are friendly and welcoming. Never had a bad experience. An experience every Chicagoan or visitor MUST have!! Definitely 5 stars!!!
(5)Cash K.
Delicious jibaritos, but not a lot of seating so go eat in Humboldt Park! Service was pretty slow, but I might have just been really hungry?
(4)Rosy P.
My first time going to La Palma and I loved it...They have amazing food their rice is very Delicious as well their Jibaritos .The staff is very friendly especially the lady at the cashier by the name of Antonia , I will definitely be going back to La Palma soon.
(5)Shirley C.
Good Puertorican Food!
(4)Joey D.
If you really want a home cooked Puerto Rican meal, this is the place! No where in the city does it better. Being a latino, growing up in the windy, I've had my fair share of "authentic food". My family has been coming to this restaurant for 10+ years and we have never left this place unsatisfied! When my family members come in from all over the east and the west, the first thing they ask for when I pick them up is La Palma. The whole atmosphere, the paintings on the walls, the music in the kitchen! Thank you La Palma for making us feel like we're home. See you guys very soon!
(5)Hello K.
Food is delicious comfort Puerto Rican food! Hits the spot and makes you feel right at home.
(5)Earliana M.
Dudes...if you like plantains get the jibarito with sweet plantains and chicken...its tender and expertly seasoned! All the desserts all delicious, the rum cake in particular is not for the faint of heart (heavy on the rum just like I like it)!!!
(5)Kary M.
They catered an event I helped plan in October. Food was amazing (according to everyone too!) ... Tastes authentic. Just as good as eating in PR
(5)Erin T.
My friend and I went here before our work shift and it is a gem! It is a wonderful, ethnic hole in the wall. The service was absolutely wonderful, Antonia, albeit not even the owner, runs the restaurant beautifully. The locals seem to love her and she is a new great acquaintance. The food itself is freshly cooked, delicious and very satisfying.
(5)Nick I.
Best Jibarito in Chicago!! Their food is delicious and cheap. The staff is super friendly, they make you feel like you are eating at a friend's house. If I lived closer I would have to get there by rascal scooter because of how large I would be from eating at La Palma every day of my life! Keep it up! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
(5)McStrokin J.
La Palma's makes a damn good Jibarto. One of the best I've ever had honestly and I've tried a lot of Jibarto's. The steak is so tender and bursting with flavor. I will definitely be making a return visit to La Palma's.
(4)Roberto G.
I don't give out Five stars but for this place i would give them 10.. they keep it simple no frills no fuss, Great food Great Service.. the only thing that would make this place better is if they delivered(HINT HINT)... But all in all I must say #1 spot for my PR food Fix...
(5)David M.
Ever since wanting to cut gluten from my life, I have been trying to find a sandwich option. Enter, the jibarito. My friends and I went here on Friday the 13th and each ordered one of these wondrous delicacies. We didn't even specify what meat. We were told to sit and wait and they would arrive at our table. We received steak. While the meat is tremendous and the plantain "bread" was a great change-of-pace, it was the phenomenal garlic sauce that made this thing unbeatable. This place vows that you will not leave hungry. Well, it was so delicious that we tested that theory by each ordering another round, this time pork. This must have been taken as a challenge because the second sandwich was even more jammed full of meat along with more pork on the side along with some fresh chicharrons. This one was even better, we all agreed. Next time, I will have to try the chicken, maybe two. Just amazing.
(5)Brenda H.
I get bread now?!! Awesome... oh, they were actually nice to everyone while I was there too, it was a first for me. I see you improving on that 'tude La Palma, and I'm loving it!
(5)jaime c.
It used to be fantastic. The food now is pretty normal. Nothing extraordinary, but their pork is still their number 1 thing. That alone is 4 stars.
(4)Papito R.
OMG I'm still hurting. My whole family is sick today. We went to a birthday party yesterday and our host catered from here and today we are ALL paying the price. After research on what everyone had we narrowed it down to the ground beef "PASTELONE" dish. Even my little boy got sick. My older son had everything except that and he woke up fine today. Even the host of the party called to apologize. Over 15 people today had a special event with their toilets. Sorry guys for the tough review, I love Puerto Rican food but I love my family more.
(1)Gerry T.
We drove here from Skokie because friends of mine at work recommended coming here and they are ranked at the top of the list on Yelp. Well we were not disappointed. In fact, we were greeted when we came out of our car. Once inside, the ladies explained every single dish to us in detail. We had lechon with crispy skin, beef stew (my favorite), arroz con dules with beans, the steak jibarito and numerous small appetizers. First, Don (the owner) is a very caring man, he wanted to ensure that the diners were enjoying their food and the atmosphere. Don and his staff are just really good people. Add to that the food and atmosphere and I have to say that I was Puerto Rican for the day. Also, the word jibarito is derived from the word Jibaro which means day laborer. These plantain sandwiches were fed to hard working people in the fields. Well Don, your jibarito sandwich and hospitality made me feel like a king and we will be back.
(5)John M.
I'd give this place 5 stars for service alone. The staff is incredibly warm and accommodating. The jibarito was pretty good--better than Borinquen's. However be warned, it's a lot of food. I always go for the pork, which was a little dry and there was too much mayo on the sandwich for me. However, the plantains did their job and didn't fall apart on my as I've experienced in the past with other jibaritos. If you like a good jibarito, definitely check this place out. Also try the boricua at Belly Shack for a more non-traditional take.
(3)Phil T.
Hands down....repeat customer going forward. Yes not my typical neighborhood I hang out in but was in the area. Came in 5 minutes after kitchen closed and they had no problem making whatever I wanted. Steak Jibarito por fa vor! The steak was delicously tender n infused with garlic. Heaping amounts of meat fyi They also loaded me up extra with rice n gandules! Total of two meals!!! Owner was a super sweetheart!
(5)Kristina P.
amazingggg jibarito sandwich. seriously...AMAZING. on par with all of the other great reviews. love the character of the place and staff.
(5)David N.
Grabbed a Vegetarian Jibarito with rice and beans to go. It was good, not great. Could've used some more veg, and the cheese on it reminded me of a Kraft American Single. That said, the other ingredients were fresh, the plantain was toasty, and my Jibarito was definitely made to order. Rice was cooked to perfection, and the beans were solid. Definitely missed the boat on preparing my to-go order, as my bag was void of necessary utensils and napkins. No fun with a messy sandwich and containers of beans and rice. All in all pretty good job. Good prices, nice staff. Room for growth, but well worth future visits if I'm in the Humboldt park neighborhood...
(3)Kimberly M.
In general, I think jibaritos are amazing. This place did not disappoint. For about $8.00, you get the sandwich with some puerto rican rice. At lunch, they have cafeteria style layout. That looked delish too, but I wanted a jibarito.
(4)M L.
Let me start off by saying that I myself am Puerto Rican so I know a little something about Puerto Rican cuisine. After reading the rave reviews this place had I decided to try it out, after all we are always looking for good Puerto Rican restaurants. I've had better! I can only assume that the people who wrote the reviews either have no clue what Puerto Rican food is supposed to taste like or they know the owners. Walking in there's no clear direction as to where to go to order your food, aside from that there's no way to know how much you will be paying for the food you select so basically they can charge me whatever they feel like charging me and I wouldn't even know. The majority of the food they have under the heat lamp is dried up. Why would they sell that to their customers. When I pointed that out to the woman who I assumed was the owner or manager she said I know but it will take 20min for me to make you a fresh one (talking about the blood sausage). I bought some anyway because my daughter was insisting she wanted some and as I suspected it was dry and hard to eat. They don't seem to remove the nerves or fat from the steak so even though the flavor was tasty it was ruined by me having to pull that grossness out of my mouth. Why doesn't the woman at the steam table speak English!?!? C'mon now! It's 2014 people. Even speaking Spanish didn't help me communicate with this woman so I finally just pointed at stuff and nodded. The pasteles were flavorless, a disgrace to our heritage. We will never buy food from this place again. We will continue our search for the perfect Puerto Rican restaurant.
(2)Kattiana A.
I travel 45 minutes every time, each way to eat here. Love it! I feel like I'm back home everytime. Love the jibarito sandwich and the pernil :)
(5)Michael D.
So, I went to this restaurant today. I was craving Puerto Rican food. The place isn't the nicest area, the restaurant is small. However the employees were very nice and friendly, and the food was very good, I wouldn't say the best Puerto Rican food I ever had but very good indeed. Bottom line, I would return to eat there again.
(4)Ana M.
Amazing food!!!!
(5)Robert L.
The BEST!!!!!! OMG it was good. It's like walking into your friends house and there mother is right there to make you a home cooked meal
(5)O C.
Ha! It's Puerto Rican, not Mexican, and it is awesome! I recommend the chicken with arroz con gandules also bistec encebollado, the soups are also super flavorful. Perfect comfort food on a cold day or when you're sick. And don't even get me started on the frituras, the fried food is bad for the heart but so good! I like the fried chicken and the papa rellenada, a breaded mashed potato thing with meat in the middle. Its cafeteroa style so you can watch them cook everytging. Enjoy!
(5)Victor F.
When I walked into this joint on a humid mid-June afternoon, I made it plain and clear to the nice ladies at the counter that I came all the way from the Bronx to order that jibarito sandwich. I even put them on the spot, telling them that this Bronx-born Puerto Rican brother's got one eyebrow up, daring them to challenge my hometown on good, old school Puerto Rican cooking. They chuckled at my boasting and with a kool-aid smile, served up the dish that I traveled 800 miles for...and how stupid I felt after savoring that first bite of my steak sandwich made with tostones, not bread. Taking a bite out of that jibarito steak sandwich felt like something out of a time machine that we weren't allowed to build but hacked into anyway. It might be second-nature to Puerto Ricans in Chicago, but this Bronx-born Puerto Rican was enamored and mesmerized by the ingenuity of using tostones instead of bread for a steak sandwich. Then the rice and beans...beyond belief how La Palma made me realize how much my birthplace of the Bronx has sold out and gave up on good Puerto Rican food. I haven't had good Puerto Rican food like this since I was a shorty, no question. I'm not one for morcilla but if I were, this would be the place to have it. That and the alcapurrias, papa rellenas, all marinating in the cleanest heat-lamped display case I ever seen at any Puerto Rican restaurant. Chicago is so damn lucky to have a spot this good! This place is worth the 1 hour, 40 minute, $200 round-trip plane ride from NYC, believe that!
(5)Megan M.
Oh my my my. The times I've eaten here I always wondered if the staff goes "Gees! Look at how much that gal can eat!" Everything is so good, I want it all! I've had most of the cuchifritos, beef stew, jibaritos, rice and beans, etc. All was soooo good! And the staff there are super nice! My only complaint (and as you can see from my 5 stars, it's not that big of a deal) is that they don't have mofongo. Or at least they didn't on the days that I went. If you want to try good Puerto Rican food that is a little different from some of the restaurants on Division, I'd check out La Palma. Super good!
(5)Jesus S.
Went there for a date with the girlfriend, the lady at the front was really nice and helped us out with everything. Reminded me of my Titi from back home. Also helped out my Mexican girlfriend figure out what to eat. Really great customer service and great food.
(5)Janine T.
I cook puerto rican food, so if I'm gonna buy it it better be good. And let me tell you, this place is good. All the food is very fresh and tasty. The ladies who work there are always so sweet. When I don't feel like cooking and want PR food, this is the only place I buy from. La Palma is a not a fancy restaurant, this is just a place you go if you want real good authentic Puerto Rican food. I feel like I'm at home when I eat there.
(5)Israel E.
Growing up in humboldt park I was introduced to P.R and immediately loved it,but above all the spots around the area this is the place for jibaritos. It's a small little restaurant,but with so much flavor....
(5)Arlene G.
I usually love this place for the great food, but I was a bit disappointed the last time I went last week. The lechon was a bit overcooked becuz the meat was a bit dry and hard to eat. The same for the sorullos (spelling ?) However the bistec and arroz con gandules didn't disappoint me! It was juicy and delicious, just as I remembered. I was also disappointed bythe service we received cuz we had a long time to get a jibarito due to the line of people waiting to served and only 1 lady working. Eventually another guy came out from the back to help serve while the lady rang people up. She apologized for the late serving of the jibarito but I still think they should have more than 1 person working at any given time.
(4)Jan E.
So delicious. The jibaritos - sandwiches made with toasted plaintains instead of bread - are scrumptious. Warm and friendly service. Loved. My. Meal.
(4)Vanesa B.
Lady cashier was rude. Food was to salty.
(1)Ivan G.
I effin' love this Puerto Rican dive! Great rice beans and greasy delicious meat platters, probably not the best when you are trying to lose weight lol, but the lingering island taste will make it worth the extra pounds. Very family oriented place, not the safest neighborhood, but they make up for it. I left my scarf there once and they chased me out 2 blocks for it. Very amiable folks work there.
(5)Nikki F.
I love La Palma! When ever I hear friends talk about their favorote P.R. restaurants, and they say Boriquen or other places I ask WHY? Las Palma on Kimball is small storefront location, but its' perfect. Its like a cafeteria, P.R.Style. Full of options and Sabor (flavor). I had yellow aroz with habicheulas on top, with a chuleta and a Reyeno De Papa to go. They were all soo good. Probably the best rice an beans I've ever had. Most people seemed to go for takeout cause its so quick to order, but I had lunch there with my Mom and loved it. Good Food, Big Portions, Fast and Kind Service, and Cheap Prices, what more could you ask for?
(5)Genevieve S.
They were gracious enough to make me a vegetarian jibarito! It was fantastic. My husband had the lechon and loved it!
(5)Daniel H.
This is probably my favorite Puerto Rican food in the city. I last went there after game 4 of the Bulls/Celtics series (huge win!). I got my usual which is the beef stew. I love this stuff with either arroz con gandules or arroz blanco. Both work good cause the stew's juice is full of flavor. They gave some beans and bread to make the dish complete. Best beef stew around outside my mother in laws! Another go to thing here is the papa rellenas. It is just potatoes with ground beef inside and crusted on the outside. Very good stuff and highly recommended.
(5)Lourdes A.
This place is da bomb! My favorite P.R. place in the city (even if some say it's Dominican - whatevs - I don't care if it's Haitian, it's damn good). And what's best about it is that since it's a cafeteria style setup with the food sitting in large trays, you can eat immediately. Order the carne gizada (beef stew), which I think is their best offering. I like to get it with white rice and beans but the rice with pigeon peas is also delicious. The lechon, pork chops and papa rellena are my faves in the fried foods case and do try the passion fruit juice called parcha with your meal. UPDATE: I got violently sick from this meal as did my two dining partners. Called the restaurant to inform and they were gracious, apologetic and offered free meals but frankly, I'm not raring to go anytime soon given how sick we got. Sigh. It was a wonderful meal. Too bad it ended this way.
(5)Celi A.
This place is amazing! The food is delicious. I had a jibarito con pollo guisado which comes with arroz con gandules, I think I closed my eyes with each bite. Employees are very friendly and helpful. I will be back & I will tell all my friends about this place.
(5)Sterling Cooper V.
You must try the Jibarito, the steak and chicken are delicious. The side of arroz con gandules is the perfect combo. While the place is small and the counter is cafeteria style the staff is nice and welcoming.
(4)Juan S.
I love the food It's always so fresh. I love the alcapurrias. The girls there are always so friendly especially Vanessa, she explain everything so clearly and she's very nice. The only complain I have is the new guy that's there he's so rude and obnoxious. Who put him in charge in there? I've been going there for years and i've never seen someone so rude to the employees and so cheap with serving. I just hope he's not the owner. If he is the owner i will never be back.
(3)AllAround C.
La Palma has very good authentic Puerto Rican food. Beans - excellent Rib stew - Aww yummy Plantains, corn fritters - all good. The staff need to be more friendly to non-Puerto Ricans though.
(4)Paul F.
Delicious. Lechon! Pastelles! Jibarito! Carne Frita! Morcilla! That pork gets salty as hell. I found myself chugging water all day after my many lunches here. Its also hard to get just a little food, I always stuffed myself far too much for a lunch, but this is true comfort food and it did my soul well. I will say that I think the cucchifrita (pig ear stew) is much better at la bomba on armitage. I think palma wins on all other counts.
(4)Gilbert A.
You know a restaurant is special when neighborhood folks brave sub-zero temperatures and plow through a foot of snow for a meal. This was my first experience at La Palma, in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. La Palma's is the kind of place you envision in a crowded marketplace in Puerto Rico: complete indifference to comfort and design (meals are served cafeteria-style), offset by a rich variety of some of the best-loved Boricuan comfort food. A quick glance around the restaurant will show that a lot of people go for the arroz con gandules, lechon and pasteles. Knowing how labor-intensive it is to cook pasteles (I used to help my grandmother make them for special occasions back home in Hawai'i), I immediately seized upon the last two pieces, as if rationing for supplies during a hurricane. These were full-bodied pasteles, seasoned perfectly with achiote and stuffed with tender strips of pork. Though not a big fan of bacon, I tried a serving of carne frita, which was well proportioned with meat and fat, minimally spiced, and succulent with moisture. I finished my meal with some papas rellenos, or meat-filled potato dumplings, which were slightly overdone on the inside (though I would've probably loved it if I hadn't first experimented with the carne frita). Alas, my feast had to come to an end. To savor the experience I ordered a plate of dishes [that I hadn't sampled] to go, before heading out into the bitter cold and making my way back to a hotel in the Loop.
(4)Jesse M.
This is where I had the greatest jibarito 12 years ago and finally I found you. I took my wife and she loved the food and I was very happy that I found this great place. Orlando gave us a great educational taste presentation of all the great Puerto Rican food in his menu. Orlando gave us great service as well Jenny. Thank you, we will be back. I strongly recomend it, the food taste just like it was home made. When you are in the humbolt park area stop by and ask for Orlando or Jenny. Thank you guys you made my wife and I feel very welcome!
(4)Oscar D.
The best Puerto Rican food in Chicago hands down. The arroz con gandules reminds me of the way my old land lords wife would make it back when i was a kid. The best Jibarrito dont need to try one anywhere else. the habichuelas gangsta, and the guisados alway on point always. hole in the wall delicious food reasonable prices. Oh how i miss you la palma.... i dream about a plate full of everything arroz, guisado, jibarrito, habichuelas, lechon, yucca, papa rellena. mmmmm send me some to LA please..... Places this good are hard to come by.
(5)Maria L.
Pretty darn good Boricua food! It's cafeteria-style, so you wanna go for lunch. Standard frituras (all kinds of Puerto Rican fried goodies), habichuelas, gandules (whatever a "Morro" is in PR), and you pay a flat price! Yum!!! Must disclose: My friend's sister works here. So, yeah, I like it, ALTHOUGH I've had better. At my friend's house. :)
(4)Dallas F.
Holy frijoles negro, this place puts my Puerto Rican grandmother to shame. Though im not a big fan of the cafeteria style setting, you cant deny the deliciousness of the food. I would recommend the jibarrito (a very tasty sandwich), and you'll leave with a smile.
(4)Iris H.
Absolutely wonderful! I had planned a trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory last weekend and searched Yelp for cheap eats in the hood prior to starting my day. What a find La Palma was that fine afternoon! The place is small and perfectly dive-y with a serve-yourself array of deep fried P.R. taste sensations. Behind the counter were selections that included an AMAZING banana stuffed w/pork entree that tasted nothing like one might imagine. The flavor was delicate and unique -- I highly suggest trying it even if you don't much care for bananas normally. The rice and beans was some of the best I've ever had. The rice pudding, flan and guava pastry (that we took home as we were STUFFED and had doggie bags as well) were delicious too. All this for $21.00! Unbelievable. The place was filled with loud, happy, full people. Don't go for the atmosphere -- go for the fabulous eats and laughter.
(5)Mayari G.
This is the grittiest place yet best place for PR food EVER EVER!!! Their arroz con gandules are the best I've ever had and believe me, I've had much exposure to PR food. Aside from the food, you never have to pay up front, they don't rush you and don't bug you every 2 seconds, you want something, just ask for it. Their lechon and carne guisada is so great is just melts - it's a bit on the salty side (love it) so make sure to drink plenty of water. If you order to go (or in), one plate is enough for 2 (and sometimes 3) people!
(5)Maria C.
Absolutely the BEST jibaritos in Chicago!!! We moved to the burbs but still drive down to La Palma atleast 3-4 times a month. Recently brought my mom there, and she hates rice. She tried their rice and couldn't stop eating it, and continued to rave about it all weekend. Try it, you'll love it!!
(5)Melissa B.
As others have said, they COULD be nicer to the gringo crowd, but as far as I'm concerned, "Mami" behind the counter could yell at me every time and I'd still go back for that goodness! I LOVE the garlicky tostones. That's how good La Palma is.
(4)Ananda I.
I can't believe this restaurant is the third Puerto Rican restaurant on the list. I went there and it is merely fast food. You grab your own alcapurria, relleno de papa, and pastellilos, etc and other food such as arrroz con gandules is on a buffet. I tried the alcapurria, relleno de papa, and arroz con gandules. All lacked flavor. This restaurant has a lousy environment and the food is lacking in taste and quality. The only thing that is decent is the price, but you pay for what you get.
(2)Mathew P.
Went here with the gf on a weekday night. It was empty and well worth the multiple buses it took to get there from work.
(4)Misi P.
I was apartment hunting over here, and stumbled across this bastion of Puerto Rican bliss. Now, I love me some beans and rice, so I could easily make it in Puerto Rico, but this spot looked kind of suspect at first with the cafeteria-style tubs of food under the heat lamps. Then the lady of the house fixed my plate and I was like WHOA. There was enough food there to feed two or three folks. The decor ain't much, but who cares? I enjoyed my chicken, arroz con gandules and pinto beans with a couple of slices of french bread that she threw in for good measure. I had to box up my meal and take it home, and I was actually kind of upset because I just wanted to keep eating. I don't know if they put crack in the pintos or what the deal is, but La Palma is hereby a staple for dinner in Chicago. My bill was $7 with a drink, and the service was superb - far better than what I usually get in swank establishments. For a minute, I almost felt like I was at home. Thank you La Palma!!!
(5)Danny P.
I Love the food here. You have to come for the food. Best Jibarito sandwiches in the city by far. If you don't believe me, go out and compare them for yourself. Actually, it's a good idea that you have others to compare to before coming to the best. Coming here is like entering an old Puerto Rican grandmothers kitchen, It trully is. Don't expect a fancy waiter to attend to your table. Pretend like you are visiting someones home. The food tastes GREAT and extremely authentic. They use the best ingrediants. Try the Kola Champaign Soda or the Coco Rico sodas for an extra authentic meal. Thanks La Palma, for doing what you do!
(5)fina m.
The owner greeted me and my family with such warmth I felt like family. Very clean and the art work is just beautiful. You can see the ladies in the kitchen cooking. We ordered three dishes (Chicken and rice, monfongo and pork, steak w/onions and rice w/condules) which was so tastey. Very authentic puerto rican food. I can't for get the bread they serve OMG so yummie. My kids left me a piece to try LOL. I'm a Puerto Rican Californian and we don't have any Puerto Rican resturants out here. And the portions are huge and the prices are not bad either.
(5)Dora A.
This is where Puerto Ricans go to eat PR food. Snob that I am, I'd rather do take out than eat there, but people seem to love this place. I've had their arroz con gandules and yucca. I don't eat pasteles or lechon, but they seem to sell quite a bit of both.
(3)