117707 Sun Apr 24 23:01:33 -0700 2005 8 7 Chicago Area 0 642713 I'm looking for Latin American food. Starting location will be near the West Loop or less then a 15 minute cab ride from it (no car is available and public transportation is not an option because one member of the party is on crutches). I'm not interested in Mexican at all or Spanish tapas- I want true blue Latin American, bring on the plaintains, though I wouldn't mind if the place also makes good drinks as we do have something to celebrate! I've been to Nacional 27 before and only found it so-so, so would welcome other suggestions (unless its really the best try out there). Any other suggestions? I've heard Mambo Grill, but Metromix reviews seem very mixed so I'm unsure what to think. Sun Apr 24 23:01:33 -0700 2005 0 pechnmew 1 642718 true blue Latin American I'm not sure what that is. Excluding Mexican leaves at least the following cuisines from Latin American countries, all represented in Chicago and most available within 15 minutes of the West Loop: Puerto Rican, Cuban, Guatemalan, Argentine, Brazilian, Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Salvadoran, and Colombian. Sounds like maybe you are looking for "pan-latino" or "nuevo-latino." Mas on Division in Ukranian Village might be your best bet. Mon Apr 25 09:55:46 -0700 2005 642713 0 JeffB 2 642721 Thanks for your suggestion. I know it was terribly vague to say I just wanted "Latin American"... even as I wrote it I knew it would be the equivalent of saying "um, I want Southeast Asian". Unfortunately I didn't know how else to describe what I want: I haven't had much exposure to Latin American cuisine besides Nacional 27 and one Cuban restaurant years ago that I *wish* I could remember but loved. When I said "true-blue" I guess I felt Nacional 27 food was ok, but slightly removed from an authentic experience like the Cuban restaurant had offered me (at least in my memory). I don't need it to be a trendy atmosphere, I'm looking for good food, and my mind is totally innocent and open, I guess that's what I was trying to communicate. Mon Apr 25 11:07:52 -0700 2005 642718 0 pechnmew 3 642723 OK, that makes sense. Try Rudy's Taste, the Guatemalan/Carribean -- meaning here Dominican, Cuban and Puerto-Rican (Chica-Rican if you count the jibaritos, an Humboldt Park invention) --spot at arount 1000 N. Ashland. They have some Mexican dishes, but you don't want them. You Cuban place could have been Bolero on Western or LaGuardia on Armitage, and both are pleasant enough sit-down spots. Further north you might enjoy Cafe 28's Cuban stuff for a festive meal. Thats more than 15 min. away, though. PS, I could have added Venezuelan and Costa Rican to my list of Latin above. Mon Apr 25 11:22:04 -0700 2005 642721 0 JeffB 4 642768 Las Tablas on Lincoln ave. is ok. I prefer La Fonda Latino Grille (well, it's really a colombian grille) on 5300+ N. Broadway. They surprised me. You can't be starving or in a hurry when you go though. The Peruvian place mentioned earlier Rinconcito Sudamericano was pretty good, I thought. Nacional 27, Mas,Rumba etc are all nuevo-latino (eek). They serve a purpose I guess but when I want latin food, I want latin food. In my humble opinion most latin restaurants in Chicago are sub par. NYC is where to go!!! Tue Apr 26 20:53:12 -0700 2005 642723 0 Chichón de piso 5 642774 Dude, you might be right about having to go to New York for Latin food, but based on what you've tried I'm not sure you have all the info yet to make that statement. have you tried any of the below: Ambassador Caffe (Cuban) 3605 N. Ashland Chicago (773) 404-8770 Blue Parrot Tearoom (Cuban) 31 Forest Ave. Riverside, Illinois (708)447-CAFE Boriken Cafe (PR) 2638 W. Division Chicago (773) 276-1780 Borinquen 2 (PR) 3020 N Central Chicago (773) 622-8570 Borinquen Lounge(PR) 3811 N Western Chicago (773) 442-8001 Borinquen Restaurant (PR) 1720 N. California Chicago (773) 227-6038 Brasa Roja (Ecuadoran/Columbian) 3125 W. Montrose Chicago (773) 866-2252 Cafe 28 (Cuban) 1800 W. Irving Park Chicago (773) 528-2883 Cafe 911 ( PR) 2523 N. Milwaukee Chicago (773) 489-9111 Cafe Ay Caramba (Cuban) 2714 N. Milwaukee Chicago (773) 772-1662 Cafe Bolero (Cuban) 2252 N. Western Chicago (773) 227-9000 http://www.cafebolero.net/ Cafe Central (PR) 1437 W. Chicago Chicago (312) 243-6776 http://www.menus.com/menus.com/modular_templ/menu_page.asp?Menu_id=3122074&mhd_id=20766&rest_id=3122074 Cafe Cubano (Cuban) North & Lathrop Chicago (708) 456-6100 Cafe Laguardia (Cuban) 2111 Armitage Chicago (773) 862-5996 http://www.cafelaguardia.com/ Cafe Las Delicias (Salvadoran) 4911 N.Western Chicago (773) 293-0656 Cafeteria de Pancho (Cuban/PR) 2200 N California Chicago (773) 772-7811 http://www.dropby.com/indexLF.html?content=/CafeteriaPancho/menu.html Cafeteria Marianao (Cuban) 2246 N. Milwaukee Chicago (773) 278-4533 Caracas Grill (Venezuelan) 6340 N. Clark Chicago (773) 743-3593 Click On Cafe (Cuban) 3656 W. Fullerton Chicago (773) 252-1760 Coco (PR) 2723 W. Division Chicago (773) 384-4811 Costumbres Argentinas 1309 N. Ashland Chicago (773) 489-6214 http://www.cafelaguardia.com/ Cousin's Grill (PR) 4612-A W. Diversey Chicago (773) 205-7619 Cuban Island (Cuban) 3446 W. Peterson Chicago (773) 588-9922 Cuchilandia (PR) 4438 W. Wrightwood 3 blocks south of diversey Chicago (773) 742-7547 Delicias Crucita (Ecuadoran) 3314 W. Foster Chicago (773) 539-4702 Delicias De Gautemala Bakery (Guatemalan) 2901 N Kedzie Chicago (773) 539-9312 El Condor (Ecuadorian) 2349 N Milwaukee Chicago (773) 252-5112 El Guanaco (salvadoran) 6345 W. Grand Chicago (773) 637-2915 El Llano (Colombian) 3941 N. Lincoln Chicago (773) 327-1659 El Llano-Rogers Pk 7018 N. Clark St. Chicago (773) 338-0531 El Nandu Restaurant (Argentinean) 2731 W. Fullerton Chicago (773) 278-0900 El Rinconcito Cubano (Cuban) 3248 W. Fullerton Chicago (773) 489-4440 El Tinajon (Guatemalan) 2054 W. Roscoe Chicago (773) 525-8455 Flying Chicken Restaurant (Colombian) 3811 N. Lincoln Chicago (773) 477-1090 Guatemala (Guatemalan) 1027 W. Wilson Chicago (773) 271-2761 Havana Cafe (Cuban) 2739 W. Lawrence Chicago (773) 561-4665 Ibis (PR) 2509 W. North Chicago (773) 235-7377 Irazu (Costa Rican) 1865 N. Milwaukee Chicago (773) 252-5687 Izalco (Salvadoran) 1511 W. Lawrence Chicago (773) 769-1225 Joe's Food & Liquors 3626 W Lawrence Chicago (773) 478-1078 La Bruquena (PR) 2726 W. Division Chicago (773) 276-2915 La Cocina Criolla/Galarza (PR) 2418 W. Fullerton Chicago (773) 235-7377 La Esquina del Sabor Truck (PR) Munoz Marin Drive Chicago La Humita (Ecuadoran ) 3466 N Pulaski Chicago (773) 794-9672 http://www.lahumita.com La Palma (PR) 1340 N. Homan Chicago (773) 862-0886 http://www.chicagoyouthboxing.com/la-palma.html La Parilla (PR) 2808 W. North Chicago (773) 278-0665 La Pena (Ecuadoran) 4212 N. Milwaukee Chicago (773) 545-7022 La Sierra (Ecuadoran) 1637 W. Montrose Chicago (773) 477-5466 La Unica (cuban) 1515 W Devon Chicago (773) 274-7788 Latin American Restaurant and Lounge (PR) 2743 W. Division Chicago (773) 235-7290 Latin Sandwich Cafe (Chilean) 4009 N. Elston Chicago (773) 478-0175 Latina's Subs/ La Esquinita Boricua (PR) 3500 W Montrose Chicago (773) 583-8844 Markelos (Guatemalan) 3520 W Lawrence Chicago (773) 539-9344 Marta's Restaurant (PR) 1143 N. California Chicago (773) 384-5403 Mekato’s Colombian Bakery (Colombian) 5423 N. Lincoln Chicago (773) 784-5181 http://www.mekatos.com Mi Familia (Peruvian) 3624 W. Fullerton Chicago Mitad del Mundo 2922 W. Irving Park Chicago (773) 866-9454 Mr. Pollo (Colombian) 3000 W Belmont Chicago (773) 509-1208 Papa's Cache Sabroso (PR) 2517 W. Division Chicago (773) 862-8313 Perry's Place (PR) California & North Chicago Pico Rico (Ecuadorian) 4107 W. North Chicago 773-252-Rico (7426) Pipo's Pizza (Argentinean) 2550 W Addison Chicago (773) 305-3333 Pueblito Viejo (Colombian) 5429 N. Lincoln (3 blocks W of Western) Chicago (773) 784-9135 Pupuseria El Guanaco (salvadoran) 916 Glenwood Ave Waukegan (847) 599-1285 Rancho Luna (Cuban) 3357 W Peterson Chicago (773) 509-9332 http://www.rancho-luna.com/ Restaurante El Salvador (Salvadoran) 4125 S. Archer Chicago (773) 579-0405 Rinconcito Hispano 2 (salvadoran) 1669 Oakton Des Plaines (847) 803-6180 Rotisserie's Restaurant (Columbian) 3300 W. Fullerton Chicago (773) 342-1050 Sabor a Cafe (Colombian) 2435 W. Peterson (1/2 block west of Western) Chicago (773) 878-6327 Sabor a Cuba (Cuban) 1833 W. Wilson Chicago (773) 769-6859 Sabor del Caribe (Dominican) 2438 W. Division Chicago (773) 227-1939 Sabor Latino (Guatemalan) 3810 W. North Chicago (773) 227-5254 San Juan Bakery (PR sandwiches) 3437 W North Chicago (773) 395-0099 Tango Sur (Argentine) 3763 N. Southport Chicago (773) 477-5466 http://www.tangosur.com/ Taste of Peru 6545 N. Clark Chicago (773) 381-4540 http://www.rogerspark.com/saborperu.html Tropical Taste (Dominican) 3330 W. North Chicago (773) 395-0804 , (773) 395-0801 Yambo Nicaraguan Restaurant 3324 N. California Chicago (773) 588-5583 This list is a little dated, so you may want to call places before showing up, some may have gone out of business. Also this list is mostly culled from chowhound and LTH mentions, so if you search, you can find more info about most of these places Wed Apr 27 09:55:56 -0700 2005 642768 0 zim 6 642804 yum Link: http://vitalinformation.blogspot.com Thu Apr 28 00:00:54 -0700 2005 642774 0 Vital Inbformation 1 642725 Caracas Grill on Clark near Devon. I have had the Pabellon and the Arepas and they were really good. Home cooking storefront type place. Mon Apr 25 12:13:49 -0700 2005 642713 0 beergeek 1 642729 Something different from the Carribean/Central American direction your recommendations are going in so far might be Peruvian food. Several of us gathered at Rinconcito Sudamericano [1954 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, 60622 - (773) 489-3126] for a wonderful dinner. Peruvian food has Indian, European and Japanese influences in it [among other things? don't claim to be an expert] An account of the dinner with pictures and comments can be found at http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3098 Even if this isn't what you're looking for now, it's well worth checking out. Mon Apr 25 15:11:00 -0700 2005 642713 0 Giovanna