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The flavor that exists in this place should be against the law! Me and a friend came by last week for Restaurant week and I am so glad this was our destination. Decent sized place and I love the ambience especially the exposed brick and art work. We had Lourdes as our server and she was amazing...such a lovely person all around! I started with the Sope De Campo which is Braised chicken & rabbit with garlic parmesan and it was delicious! A really great starter...flavor oozing out of this dish. My friend is a plantain addict so we got a side of them and let me tell you, those were the best plantains I've had in my life...was that good!!! The came covered in queso fresco and cilantro...yum! Next I had the spanish octopus which came mixed in with kale, smoked paprika and white beans. My vision of it did not match the actual look of it, but it was pretty good. I decided on the Cuban Oxtail for my main entree and it was packed with crazy flavor as expected. Goat cheese, ravioli and roasted corn made this a fantastic dish. Would definitely come back for it. The dessert came as a chef's choice duo and included pastel de elote and chocolate tres leches. Both were amazing, but the pastel de elote took me by surprise. Its mexican corn cake that comes along with caramelized salted popcorn...woooo! I needs that again lol! Washed it down with the La Consentida which is a tequila cocktail with lime, hibiscus and orange curacao...very good drink. Lourdes gave us another wine like cocktail that was awesome to close our dining experience out. I believe it was mamajuana, a DR sangria. I loved my Amaru experience and plan to come back often! Great place for a date or outing with a friend or 2 and they have a decent bar area
Amaru in Wicker Park Great Latin Flavors 7/10 Creative Cocktails 8/10 Attentive Service 10/10 Relaxed Vibes 10/10 Perfect spot for a date night or plate sharing with friends.
I came here for restaurant week and it ended up being my favorite of the 6 Restaurant Week meals I attended. The restaurant is dark but still cozy and I really liked the music they were playing. I dined alone and my server was very helpful. I was going to do the 4 courses but she said that it would be a lot of food and suggested I do the 3 course. I was going to a show after and didnt want to have to carry around leftovers. Even the 3 course meal ended up being a lot of food. I had the chicken and rabbit sope and it was my favorite thing I had the whole evening. It was very flavorful and came with a sauce that tasted very similar to a mole. The sauce was complex and delicious. For the mains I had the oxtail pasta. It was cheese stuffed pasta on top of a bed of oxtail meat. The meat was tender and I really liked the cheese in the pasta. Sometimes pasta filled with cheese can taste a bit bland but the pasta was very well seasoned. For dessert I had the chocolate tart which was good but tasted like a pretty standard restaurant dessert. I will definitely come back to this restaurant again.
Came here for a birthday dinner. Got a bunch off the happy hour menu and a branzino. Felt full and satisfied by the end. The Guatemalan ribs were my favorite. Melt in the mouth tender and the sauce had a ton of flavor. The piononos reminded me of bacon wrapped dates but with more meat. A great balance of sweet and savory. The coconut fried rice was also a hit. Lots of crispy refreshing vegetables balancing the fluffy rice, I think it was snap peas. The branzino was actually de-spined and the meat was fully seasoned inside. Even without the sauce it was enough flavor. The fish was also super tender, perfectly cooked. The skin could be crispier but not sure if that's how this dish is usually made. The yuca fries were fluffy inside and crunchy outside. The dip was also plenty. The solterito was surprising. Lots of textures with the crispy quinoa, with soft garbonzo and lentils, with crunchy fresh cucumbers, and then the balance of fresh cheese vs sharp vinaigrette Not a huge fan of the shrimp chicharron. It felt over fried. Everything was cut into tiny cubes. Some inside were softer and tasted like shrimp. But then some pieces kind of seems like really hard yuca chunks but the menu didn't have yuca as an ingredient in the dish so not sure what the very dense cubes were. The coating was also an aioli that only added to the oiliness of the dish rather than cutting the fat and hard texture. I would have probably gone for the ceviche instead. They also offered a corn dessert (pastel de elote) when we told them we were celebrating a birthday. Corn in multiple ways - soft dense corn cake, caramel popcorn, a quenelle and a tart sauce (it tasted like and texture felt like pineapple but the menu says passion fruit emulsion so not sure). Had fun textures and balanced cream vs tart. Services was great. They checked in on us often. Cleared plates between rounds since the table was fairly small. Also wiped off the table often. Also heard the cocktails are great here and the bartender was super friendly. I don't drink so can't comment on that much though.
Yet an another amazing meal and experience at Amaru. First, it seems everyone remembered us. That was very sweet and unexpected. And not just our faces, but our names! That in itself is amazing. It was great to see and talk with Itzel again. She stopped by often, but was not our server. Instead we had the pleasure of sharing the evening with Paola, who was an absolute delight. We tried a bunch of new dishes while repeating a few. The Piononos were outstanding, as expected. The Requeson was fantastic. Both of these dishes are so delicious they are hard to pass up... so we didn't. We tried the Yuca Frita. They were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The mojo verde sauce was quite tasty. This is a very good appetizer at a great price. We also tried the Crawfish Empanadas, which had a fishy flavor. Though I love seafood, I found this dish difficult to enjoy. This is not a dish we would order again. Mark had the Frita Cubana, which he enjoyed. David had Pernil. He thought the beans, rice and veggies on the plate were outstanding. He mentioned the pork's doneness was inconsistent, with some of it being a bit tough. That said, he shared a piece with me and it melted in my mouth; it was delicious. I had Mole y Leon, which was beautiful and super flavorful. The mole, a Mexican mole, was thick and spicy. Everything else on the plate matched perfectly with the mole. It was great, though I still remember and prefer the Pulpo Gallego. I hope the octopus dish remains on the menu forever. We ordered a ride to the airport and we mentioned Amaru to our driver. He knew about it and he took our discussion as a sign to make reservations soon. And we will come back as soon as we can!
Was initially seated in a booth next to a nook that seemed to be a storage area stacked high with chairs which was not a nice view, so we asked to be reseated and ended up at the bar. There, we enjoyed great food, good drinks, good service. The standouts were the sweet plantains, piononos, and shrimp chicharron. This is one of our go-to places as the food is good and the ambience is chic. Unfortunately at the end of the night, I noticed that a 20% gratuity was automatically included but inconspicuously noted right below the subtotal and tax, with a very large conspicuous area right beneath for extra tip. The auto gratuity wasn't noted anywhere on the menu and our bartender failed to point it out to us even when he gave us the check and after we had signed it. It seems like a new thing as it wasn't the case the last time we ate here. I believe in fair wages for restaurant staff and am happy to pay an automatic gratuity to that effect. In fact, even though we realized 20% gratuity was included, we added an additional 20% because of the great service and they had given us a welcome drink and a dessert on the house as it was our anniversary. However, I don't think it's a good look or good business practice to do it the way they did; it felt underhanded and left a bad taste in my mouth. Hence, minus one star.
Every aspect of Amaru is perfection! This is a spot where you get every last sip of that drink and every morsel of food off the plate. The flavors are beyond incredible and I love the beautiful plating. Beyond plating, the entire space is gorgeous in itself--from impeccable lighting to fun wall decor. I will definitely be back, as the entire team was so welcoming, helpful, and attentive. I wish their happy hour was longer than 1 hour!
Amaru is a hidden gem in Wicker Park with some of the friendliest service I have experienced! Stopped in on a Wednesday evening before a show at Den Theater with the beau for Happy Hour, and it wasn't busy at all. Amaru has a cozy, stylish vibe with amazing Latin American bites and cocktails. The menu isn't overwhelmingly large which is a good thing - and every dish feels carefully crafted and so well done, which is not surprising with a James Beard Award nominee (Chef Rodolfo Cuadros) at the helm. Highlights for me were the signature small plates that everyone raves about, and I see why: #1 Piononos - chorizo-stuffed plantains with bacon: This is a MUST - rich, smoky, and addictive. #2 Requesón - toasted sourdough with housemade Spanish cheese with tamarind + chili honey: Jammy, silky, and great balancing of not-too-sweet and savory. We also had the Ceviche del Dia (refreshing!) and the popular Oxtail Ravioli (comforting, unique, hearty - honestly probably my actual #2 favorite in the list of our choices). Also: excellent Mojito! Most dishes have a nice, light kick to them - but not too overbearing for someone that can't handle spiciness / heat (like me). Talking Value -- it's a bit pricey: A 20% gratuity is included on all checks, which feels fair given the quality of food and service. For the best deal, go during Happy Hour (Monday-Thursday 5-6 p.m., and Sunday 4-5 p.m.), when the drinks and several of the standout bites - including the Piononos and Requesón - are offered at a more affordable price. Amaru is great for couples, small groups, or anyone looking for a unique dining experience before a night out. Absolutely recommend.
Went here for a pre-show dinner and it did not disappoint! My husband and I shared the following: - Sweet Plantains - these were a fun twist with queso fresco and cilantro - a nice mix of sweet and savory - Andean Carrot Salad - this was fun too! I liked the thin beets on the bottom that were very acidic (in a good way) - the carrots were quite al dente. Very fresh, herbaceous and summery salad. - *Ceviche Del Dia - this was probably my least favorite thing based on the way they sliced the fish. I prefer ceviche cubed into smaller pieces, but these were bigger pieces of fish. The acid/sauce was nice and fresh, just not my favorite ceviche I've had. - Pollo Criollo - this was probably our favorite! The presentation was beautiful, the chicken had a really nice grilled flavor, and the potatoes were cooked really nicely.
Genuinely obsessed with this place ? We did a three course prix fix menu for Bridgette's birthday, but basically we got three apps, three mains and three desserts to try each. It was insane and so so good. For starters we had Yuca fries (best I've had in a while), quinoa bean salad & wrapped plantains (obsessed with these). For mains we had chicken skewers, coconut fried rice (insanely good and almost creamy), some pork dish and oxtail ravioli (the ravioli was insane and it was my first time trying oxtail!!! So flavorful). For dessert, we tried these corn bars (my favorite and served with Carmel corn!!), chocolate tres leches and some guava ish cheesecake. I also had a mojito which was fine. Mainly I was very impressed with the quality of the food, the serving sizes and how flavorful everything was. Would highly recommend if you are looking for nicer Latin food in the city or just a fun winter escape. It feels like summer inside. The service was fine and the atmosphere inside is tropic, but pretty small. Overall, a fun time and honestly worth the $70 price!
Went back to Amaru and it was amazing per usual. Itzel was extremely helpful and accommodating. Everything we ate was delicious and worth ordering. They were also able to split the bill per item which I don't see very often in Chicago so that was very nice.
I could've sworn somewhere in someone's review somewhere, I said that this place beats Girl and the Goat! G&G being one of my all time favorite restaurants meant a visit to Amaru was all but guaranteed, especially when I was in Wicker Park. My experience was somewhat lackluster, and while I haven't been to G&G for a hot minute, there's no comparison. In a sentence: while the food dishes had creativity and fresh ingredients, the execution left something to be desired. I had the opportunity to eat the Piononos and the Ceviche of the Day. The Piononos were almost there. Other than the rustic feeling tomato sauce, I felt that the flavors were all-around muted. The chorizo didn't have punch to it, the gentle sweetness of the plantain only made itself known once, ditto for the and the salty savory fatty flavors of the bacon, Don't get me wrong. It was a fine dish, the flavors were just on vacation somewhere. Then there's the Ceviche of the Day. I felt as though this one kind of struggled with the opposite as it went a bit overboard on the salt. A little salt crunch is all good and fine on a nice thick juicy steak, but if something is as delicate as ceviche, I'm not sure it's as appropriate. I do want to give them some points for the very early flavors, and the refreshing nature of the salad underneath the fish. White barramundi is a unique choice, and it works great! Other than one that was a bit chewy, it was a delightful way to experience something new. The vibe in here is unique: relaxed and free spirited. It's like that ceviche, it's not something you see in an every day restaurant, but it just works. Now let's talk service: while the food came out fast and fresh, the service itself, especially early in the experience was slow to even acknowledge my existence. I don't ask for much, just a welcome and a glass of water. The slowness continued when it came time to take the order... I will give the bar-server a pass for being busy with drinks, but there were two or three other people just standing around talking, laughing, joking amongst themselves. At this point, I take a heavy sigh and I address the elephant in the room, this restaurant has a mandatory 20% service charge added to all checks. I am grateful that they are upfront about it and don't put somewhere in the fine print that "oh by the way we're gonna hit you with a 3.5% surcharge" like so many places in Chicago do. I'm off for a restaurant staff being paid a fair wage, but at that point just raise your dang prices. That's all I'm gonna say about that before I start waxing poetic and devolving into a rant. Thus, while Amaru has some good things going for it, my experience was underwhelming. Muted flavors in one, too much salt in another, and service that was too slow to start. While their menu changes often, and I'm not against returning if I see something really interesting, I don't feel any kind of pull to come back otherwise.
1 year ago
Wonderful Latino fusion experience. The servers are very attentive and explained the menu carefully to me, and the food is tasty. Portions are good compared to similar tapas based places. read more
3 years ago
Good food and good service overall but the overall flavors left a tad bit more to be desired to give it 5 stars. We got their mojito, the ceviche, the octopus, the branzino and tres leche for dessert. I certainly recommend it for a low key weekday night out or dinner before a weekend of staying out. read more
2 years ago
I've been wanting to try Amaru for a while and so stopped by around their happy hour to try some food. The happy hour prices are such a good deal - if you want to get some of their food and drinks, I absolutely recommend it because the prices are like half off. The service was also very friendly and lovely when we were there. It's also cute inside so solid place for a date or cute friend hang. Onto the food - we ordered the piononos, requeson, lion's mane mushroom mole, and the Cuban frita burger. I would say we both liked the apps (the piononos and requeson) the best and in that order. Plantains and bread are delicious and they do a fun job with it. The lion's mane mushroom mole was interesting and fun to try as well. The cuban frita burger was the least exciting to us because we have both had much better versions of this burger (for cheaper, in Miami lol where they are delicious) but still solid. Generally, I would say it was fun trying their food but nothing was Amazingly delicious to me in a way that stood out or would make me want to order the same items. They changed their menu recently and took off stuff I had been wanting to try, so it might be a while until I come back. But a fun meal experience, even if not outstanding. read more
2 years ago
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Amaru. From the moment we walked in, we were met with warm hospitality. Because we were seated at the kitchen bar, we had the privilege of watching all the food being prepared. Every dish looked tantalizing but alas we were only two people with limited stomach space... I especially enjoyed the yucca fries, heirloom beet salad, and lion's mane mole. I didn't like the fish empanadas but that might be personal preference. With bright flavors and fresh ingredients, the dishes were right up my alley. Would recommend this restaurant if you're in the area! read more
Overall Thoughts: I went to Amaru for 2024 Restaurant Week, and it had lovely vibes, solid food, and friendly service all around. My friends and I got the cheaper $42 dinner option and felt the value was good-- we were stuffed and satisfied afterwards. Out of all 3 courses, the dessert was definitely the weakest, but I really enjoyed the other two courses! - Course 1: Requeson (4.6/5): The soft cheese was delicious; it was creamy and slightly sweet, pairing nicely with the slightly spiced salsa. - Course 2: Mole Y Leon (4.5/5): This was my first time having lion's mane mushroom, and it was great! The texture was stringy and chewy, and the seared flavors were strong. The yuca was crispy and tasty, and the mole was rich and earthy. - Course 3- Espresso Tres Leches (4/5): Definitely lacking relative to the other two dishes; the cake wasn't moist enough in my opinion, and the flavor was kind of monotonous. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.2/5 Food: 4.4/5 Ambience: 4.9/5 Service: 5/5 Overall Value: 4.5/5 read more
7 months ago
4 months ago
9 months ago
Went to Amaru last night and the food and service were incredible. Sabrina - our waitress - was extremely attentive and super friendly with excellent recommendations. We had the branzino with mussels - delicious! The goat cheese and beet salad was refreshing and one of the best beet salads I have ver had. Drinks were also great - especially "Holywater"'- a rum drink that comes with a flaming orange. Highly recommend. read more
I would probably go 3.5 but I'll round up for service. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. We snuck into an 815 reservation Saturday night for dinner. We got the octopus and some drinks to start. Limited wine choice, def more of a cocktail bar. My husband loved his drink. For dinner we split the cod on special and the tenderloin. The cod was underwhelming but the squid ink pasta on the side was delicious. The tenderloin was really over cooked, so the flavor was alright but wasn't very enjoyable. Because of that our server comped the guava cheesecake which was much appreciated. It was delicious! My husband added the tres leches which he enjoyed. Overall, the cheesecake and octopus were the highlights, everything else was just ok. read more
3 years ago
Tried their stand in Time Out Market. I only got their Jackfruit Barbacoa and I honestly didn't like it at all. Normally I love all things jackfruit and barbacoa, but this was a huge miss for me. The texture was weird and there was no flavor outside of the spiciness provided by the smoked chili. I was disappointed especially since it's an expensive taco. There's a lot better taco places I've been to that aren't as pricey as here. Not worth it in my opinion. read more
Everything about our experience at Amaru deserves 5+ stars!! We had a 6:30pm reservation on Thursday, 9/28. We arrived quite a bit early (5:40ish). Thankfully, the host was able to accommodate us with an immediate table. To our delight, we arrived before happy hour was over! Our waitress, Brianna, had fantastic drink and food recommendations! Next time we visit, we will definitely be asking for her! Drinks: we ordered drinks from the happy hour menu - Mojito (two for me) and Caipirinha (two for my husband). The drinks were strong pours (not your typical HH items that taste watered down). Both were very good! Food we had: - Requeson (best described as a flavor explosion of salsa and soft cheese to spread on delicious sourdough bread) - on HH menu - Guatemalan Ribs (the meat was cooked perfectly and full of flavor and topped with the most amazing tomatillo bbq) - on HH menu - Piononos (sweet plantains, chorizo, wrapped bacon - this was my favorite item - full of flavor and the perfect combination of meat and sweetness) - on HH menu - Pernil (Puerto Rican slow roasted pork shoulder - yet another dish that was cooked perfectly, a good portion size and full of flavor) - on regular menu The restaurant is small, but perfectly decorated and not too loud. Great ambiance - perfect for a date night, happy hour or just a quick outing with friends. We ended with Espresso Tres Leches - a complementary dessert provided from our waitress when she heard us discussing celebrating our anniversary. I am not a tres leches fan, but this converted me! I would come here just for this dessert! read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
Amazing ambiance and extremely friendly staff. The drinks were fun and the rum list is great! We tried 8 different dishes. The plantains and Chorizo was great. Loved the carrot salad, the ox Tail and branzino were out or this world. Also the octopus was so tender and flavorful. My least favorite dish was the cerviche, it was not bad per se' but we all agreed that was one thing we would have skipped. Don't forget to try the muscles. We will be read more
3 years ago
Its very chic inside but its pretty dark. Upon walking in my friend & I were reminded of the 1.5hr time limit. It wasn't busy at all. I'm totally fine with policy but this policy wasn't mentioned to the patrons ,sitting next to us, as they walked in or sat down. We were there around 5pm on a Saturday. The makeup were the drinks & our server. The food I give a 7 out of 10 Our server was speedy & the bartender was giving . I'd come again for a pre-game before dinner or an event. My friend and I chose to try this place before an event and it was the perfect place to do it! Piononos: Most of my favors in one dish. Chorizo , bacon, & plantains. Ravioli: The oxtail was tender & flavorful! The kale was amazing i wish there was more, it helped cut the texture of the ravioli inside. Im still not sure what the filling is. I was looking for the pasta to be stuffed with the oxtail vs outside the dish. The inside is filled with maybe ricotta cheese? The burger was ok. I'd give a 6.5 because I felt the bread was overwhelming. It was more bread than ingredients but it wasn't dry it was flavorful & tender. My friend ordered the burger in medium well. We also had the Yuca fries (the burger doesn't come with) & I'm giving 7 because its too hardy in texture but it was cooked well. Overall, the initial encounter blew me but I enjoyed myself . We spent $152 roughly for 4 drinks , 4 shots , 1 app, and 2 plates. The price wasn't bad at all. read more
2 years ago
Busy place, even for a Monday night. Wife and I opted for the bar seating and were greeted warmly by the bartender. Opted for: Piononos - savory bacon wrapped around plantains, can't go wrong Guatemalan ribs - the green sauce coating the ribs was phenomenal Pulpo (charred octopus) - was average; the octopus was very thick and not as tender as I've experienced in some other places Coconut Fried rice - amazing coconut flavor, couldn't get enough of it Matambre (short rib) - probably one of the best short ribs I've had, very soft with great flavor, the plate was gone within 5 minutes of hitting the table Chocolate tres leches for dessert - great end to the night. We also ordered the Spicy Girl cocktail - I pretty much enjoy anything with mezcal these days. Would definitely be back, ambience is great as well read more
Although I have been to Chicago for quite a few times, I always look for trying some new restaurants. Amaru is among the very few ones that I have been to for more than once. The food there always had high quality, the service was quick and stuff was polite, and the vibe was perfect--in short, they were doing the job in creating some satisfactory dining experience. Food was delicious, creative and had good platting. For starters do not miss the pork ribs and piononos, the latter being bacon wrapped plantain and meat mix (a South American version of bacon wrapped dates). If you want to have some larger appetizers, try the Mole Y Leon or chicken kebab or cod empanadas. Mole Y Leon was a vegan dish consisting of ~5 pieces of lion mane mushrooms, some broccolini, corn salad, yuca fries, and their dense, rich, nutty and fruitty mole negro sauce. For entrée I recommend the oxtail ravioli. At only $26 you get lots of juicy pulled oxtail meat, several large pieces of ravioli filled with cheese and perhaps some mashed potato, and kale, green beans and other veggie. Tasted divine and was healthy as well. The coconut rice side was not bad either--remember also it was served with a lovely egg. The service was pretty quick. Each time I got the first dish shortly after ordering it. As the restaurant was small the stuff often responded quickly. They were also nice enough to help me (and my friends) decide what to order (suggestions about dish sizes, flavor, how to pair the app & main, etc.). Besides, the restaurant had a good vibe. From the reasonable price of dishes to the dim lighting to relaxing music, it was easy to feel calmed and focus on the food throughout a meal. Overall it was a perfect restaurant for having South American food. Will come here again next time I go to Chicago--possibly with my friends. Hopefully they can add some patio! read more
Came here on a Monday for happy hour. The service was attentive and paid attention to how our food was coursed out. It is a pretty restaurant inside and is a great place to meet friends for drinks and food. These plates are all shareable. We had the sweet plantains, pernil, yuca frita, and requeson. The sweet plantains were good, but nothing mind-blowing. The yuca frita were great and a sizable portion. The standouts, to me, were the requeson and pernil. The meat was so tender in the pernil, and the requeson's bread and dip are so flavorful and texturally satisfying. I would definitely recommend coming here for a happy hour since it is a great deal! read more
11 months ago
We really liked this restaurant. They had several gluten-free options. Everybody liked what they got. It turns out everyone got the pork shoulder but everyone did like it. Ha. The drinks were pretty good too They had good music going, and it had a good vibe. Lots of people were there on dates if that helps you understand the scene. read more
1 year ago
We went to Amaru in March for our anniversary and have been recommending it to EVERYONE since then. Honestly just high quality food, excellent drinks, and not break-your-budget expensive. I believe our 4 drinks, coconut fried rice, yuca fries, octopus, and jerk chicken was under $100 before taxes/tip. Felt like such a steal for the quality of food. The octopus was INCREDIBLE. Some of the best I've had. It sparked a conversation about how I'll never watch that octopus documentary because I can't give up eating them, lol. The coconut fried rice was a sneaky winner too. Tons of fresh tropical flavors. I will definitely be back and will keep telling everyone I know to stop by. read more
2 years ago
Came here for restaurant week a few months ago (whoops, I am behind on my Yelp reviews). Was really excited to try the octopus and it did not disappoint! (Would recommend ordering 2). Tapas were perf for 3-4 people to order a bunch and share. The interior and table settings are really cute, I'll be back again. read more
Amaru was a delight. I have always passed by this place but never really noticed it. The place is small with tropical South American decor. The menu was a bit limited in my opinion and not very vegetarian friendly, but the food was still great. We tried the yucca fries, the coconut fried rice, the sweet plantains and the chicken. All the dishes were really great. Our server also suggested a mushroom dish with lions mane mushroom, which was really interesting. The service was fast, although the server ignored us a bit as we were nearing the closing time. We tried the holy water cocktail, and it was the main highlight! No wonder that's their main selling point. A must visit if you are in wicker park/bucktown. read more
came for restaurant week! my friend and i got tried the $42 and $59 dinner menu and split everything! we got to try 8 items!! the dishes were all the same nicely portioned sizes as if you ordered normally so a win and we left super satisfied! our absolute faves were the ceviche del dia and pulpo a la plancha (charred octopus with potatoes) and would def recommend to anyone. the ceviche was well flavored with citrus and dill. it had lots of sauce and we loved the apples in them! the octopus had a smoky flavor and was super tender. we liked the broccolini and the papas bravas with the sauce. the tresh leches was a big portion and the better of the dessert compared to the other two which were really sweet in the dessert duo. it is small so it may feel cramped, but didn't bother us and staff was nice! overall some dishes we did find a little on the salty side, but definitely worth checking out and was a great deal during restaurant week! read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
Everything about our meal was excellent. We were seated at a nice table, the service was spectacular, our food came out fast, and everything was delicious. My girlfriend and I have no complains about our experience and only have positive things to say about this place as it was a great dinner for our date night. Thank you, Amaru. read more
2 years ago
Came here for dinner with my sister on a Sunday and had a pleasant experience! We made reservations in advance which wasn't necessary because it wasn't too busy. Service was super friendly and the ambiance was casual yet intimate. We ordered a few things from the botanas and medianos categories: - yuca frita - Guatemalan ribs - jerk pollo - mole y leon - pulpo a la plancha Everything was delicious and the portions were perfect for the two of us. The mushroom dish was a standout because it was so creative and flavorful. I also could not stop snacking on the yuca frita - I love them more than regular French fries! read more
2 years ago
Stopped in on a Saturday around 530pm before a 715 show at the den theater. They only had bar seats available so we grabbed those. The drinks were very creative and delicious. The service for the drinks was a little slow as only one of the bartenders seemed to be doing much. She was very pleasant and helpful with the menu while her partner was mostly standing around. We both got the burger, which was exquisite! The party was perfectly cooked and the flavors were delicious. We did both thing the shoestring fries would be on the side instead of a couple inside the burger, but overall we really enjoyed the meal and were out in time to make it to the show on time. read more
Few restaurants have impressed me as much as Amaru has. My partner is Guatemalan and I could think of no better way to help celebrate his birthday then to enjoy Latin American food together. Amaru did not disappoint! I made a reservation about a week in advance very easily online. When we arrived on a Saturday night, there was plenty of paid street parking outside of the restaurant. The atmosphere is so inviting with a bar that greets you when you walk in, boasting every rum you can think of, and dark wooden tables set with black dinnerware. Our server was incredibly friendly and was helpful when we asked for suggestions. We ordered the Piononos, Inca Salad, Frita Cubana and Jerk Pollo. A separate paragraph has to be dedicated to the piononos -- delicious sweet plantains and well seasoned chorizo wrapped in bacon. I could eat this everyday. But everything was unbelievably delicious! We also ordered a few rum based drinks that were strong and well balanced. We will be back and you should visit ASAP! read more
2 years ago
Pros: Street parking - If you drive you have the option to park on the meter, and your car will be safe. The neighborhood looks a bit sketchy because it's so dark at night but it's fairly safe and not full of crime. It could be a bit cleaner but you are eating inside of the restaurant, not outside so you are good to go. Diverse menu - There's something for everyone. Comfortable seating for such a small restaurant. It was packed.... Very good sign that turned out to be true. The food was delicious! The customer service was top notch. Cons - If you don't make a reservation, you may not be able to eat here. There are only a few tables and they don't turn over fast. It's just a great place for talking, and people don't eat and leave. Maybe it's the decor, service, or the time it took to get the food. Either way, don't go in and try to wait on a table because people have reservations and for the handful of tables available most are occupied with reservations. We circled the block before finding parking and walked several blocks back to the restaurant. If you make a reservation show up early to look for parking because it's hit or miss, and if you miss you'd miss your reservation. The drinks are good, but the Pina Colada - ha no way! It tasted like a soda and it was actually a mixed drink. It was the color of ginger ale and wasn't suppose to be soda. It had alcohol but wasn't very good. Hard pass, I wouldn't order that one again. Note: They have an app that you can signup on and get a 20% discount off your next bill. Go ahead and sign up for it and pay your bill on the app you will get 20% off your first bill. Lol :) read more
Came back to Amaru for happy hour with some girlfriends and I love how consistently good the happy hour here is. We pretty much ordered everything off the menu and everything was delicious. I tried a new cocktail off the happy hour menu - the caipirinha - and loved the tartness/sweetness of the cocktail. It was super refreshing and easy to drink. As always, service is on point. This place is my go to for happy hour here in the city! read more
2 years ago
Super cute vibe! Friendliest staff, fun drinks (if you like rum or tequila) I got the sweet plantains and they were PERFECT. So so yummy. I went by myself and sat at the bar and felt so comfortable and welcome. read more
I've been meaning to write this review but wanted to take some time with it. Amaru is another great Chicago dining experience. We elected to sit at the bar for dinner upon our first visit and we have been back twice since. Amaru atmosphere is bright and cheerful with a friendly and conscious staff. We go out often... three or four times a week because we love all the wonderful food choices Chicago has to offer. The menu here is an adventure. As a pescatarian, I was pleased to see the choices available, and our food appeared to be carefully prepared under discerning eyes with both attention to presentation as well as flavor. In a few words... Amaru is "delicious, authentic Latin American food and warm hospitality." Starters - a bottle of the Malbec red wine. "Vista Flores" - Mendoza, Argentina which was a somewhat complex red with a nice finish. Medianos we chose the the Humitas... an absolutely delicious combination of Fennel seed tamal, jackfruit barbacoa, white bean sofrito, arugula... it's outstanding. Entrées included Japanese black sea bass, w/ chupe, criollo rice, herbs - amazing! and Frita Cubana which is a Cuban burger, seasoned grass-fed beef, queso Oaxaca, burnt garlic aioli, shoe string potatoes. We split the Roasted Beet Salad (Roasted local beets, Jamaica vinaigrette, sugar snap peas, requeson de cabra, pumpkin seed praline) which was both fresh and mysteriously flavorful. POSTRES (dessert) we had the Chocolate Flan. An impressive presentation of what appeared to be homemade Ecuadorian cacao flan in a bed of mango cardamom sauce topped with delectable and crunchy burnt cinnamon cracker(s) just as described. Tip: If you're a coffee lover, order the the plain espresso to accompany any of their dessert options... the equipment is super clean insuring you're getting all the flavor the bean has to offer. Amaru is now on our A list for Latin American food adventure! read more
More info about Amaru
1904 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
Wicker Park, West Town
Directions
(773) 687-9790
Call Now
Visit Website
https://amaruchicago.com
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Ask the Community - Amaru
Does Amaru have a happy hour menu?
Yes! They have an awesome Happy Hour Menu!! One of my favorites. It's listed on their website. Try the capirinha!!!
Do they have non-meat options?
Few, but the chef owns a WONDERFUL vegan/vegetarian restaurant just 3 blocks away called Bloom. And it is fantastic!!
Do they have gluten free options for celiacs?
Yes, almost the entire menu is gluten free
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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
33 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Amaru - latin - Updated August 2026
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