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    El Che Steakhouse & Bar

    4.2 (546 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndArgentine, Steakhouses, Seafood
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    El Che Steakhouse & Bar Photos

    Business Info

    EL CHE STEAKHOUSE & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - El Che Steakhouse & Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Empanada
    Sabrina M.

    El Che is such a gem. Cozy, moody, and perfect for a memorable night out. What really sets this place apart is that they offer three halal steak options, which isn't easy to find at an upscale steakhouse. The steak was cooked perfectly with amazing flavor and a great char. The empanadas were golden and crispy, and the sides were just as good as the mains. Dessert was rich and indulgent absolutely worth saving room for. Service was friendly, attentive, and never rushed us, which made the whole experience even better. If you're looking for an elevated steakhouse with great vibes and halal options, El Che is definitely worth a visit.

    32 oz. Bone-In Ribeye
    Eric L.

    TLDR: get the BONE-IN RIBEYE! I was looking forward to this dinner all week as it is listed as one of the best steakhouses in Chicago. And they did not disappoint! We knew we wanted the Wagyu Picanha give it was an Argentine steakhouse but our waiter convinced us to get the bone in ribeye as well. That was honestly the best decision we made all night. I would have honestly regretted it if we didn't get the ribeye. The ribeye is hands down one of the best steaks I've ever had. It was tender and so flavorful from the aging. So if you just get one thing, make sure you get the ribeye. I guarantee you won't regret it!

    Laura P.

    This place was amazing. Everything we had from the cocktails to the apps and mains delish. Our server was so nice and really gave us good recommendations as well as treated us to a yummy dessert. The standout were the Argentina pizza bread the foi butter was so good with the sweet berry too!! The papas bravas delish and and bone marrow too. We so enjoyed and were super happy. They even gave us a cool list of staff picks to visit. Super cool !!

    branzino
    Nicole J.

    I chose this restaurant for my boyfriend's birthday and the entire experience from start to finish was nothing short of phenomenal. Without a comparison, this is the best steakhouse we have ever been to and we have visited many steakhouses in various locations. What made our dinner so outstanding was the food and service. We ordered the spinach & cheese empanada, coal grilled prawns, wedge salad, bone in ribeye, and branzino. All of the dishes were spectacular but the standout was the bone in ribeye with chimichurri. The steak was cooked to absolute perfection over an open fire which is impressive as it is difficult to do. The chimichurri's acidity and herbacious flavor left nothing lacking. I will be dreaming of this steak for years. Our server's name was Guillermo and he was extremely kind and informative. The other servers cleared our plates and filled our waters quickly. At the end of our dinner, we declined dessert, but Guillermo brought out some ice cream for my boyfriend's birthday regardless. We felt welcomed and attended to all night. 10/10 for the food, service, and vibes. We will definitely return the first chance we get and will be recommending this restaurant to any and all who visit Chicago!

    La'chelle S.

    Every time I'm in Chicago, I make it a MUST to get a reservation at El Che. The vibe alone is worth it. The restaurant is beautiful with dim lighting and a super romantic atmosphere, perfect for a date night or a special occasion. It feels upscale without being stuffy. The staff is genuinely amazing too. Friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable without hovering, which I really appreciate. Now the best part: the food. The steaks and seafood are consistently cooked to perfection. Everything comes out flavorful, well-seasoned, and exactly how you ordered it. El Che has never missed for me, and that's why it's always a repeat visit whenever I'm back in town.

    Nergal M.

    My family and I came here for our annual fancy steak dinner. We decided upon the monstrous 40 oz party steak and got some sides to go with. The crust they got on the steak was incredibly delicious. It was more than enough to feed 4 people. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Another wonderful steakhouse experience in downtown Chicago! There is a parking lot directly across the street from the restaurant, however the pricing is pretty typical of downtown (expensive). I wouldn't rely on getting metered street parking, so if you don't want to pay much for parking, I would use Spot Hero or do some research ahead of time.

    Rib 32 oz. Bone-In Ribeye
    Heena S.

    Ambience was on point. It's intimate and has a romantic vibe. The service was impeccable as well. The food: it's all good just not great sadly for me. The lobster tails were good. The sauce was mediocre. The filet and the rib eye both were a bit more done for my taste and unevenly cooked but pretty bland. The sauces definitely helped. Empanadas were yummy. Chocolate cake was good as well.

    Banana split
    Mark M.

    Made a reservation for our anniversary for El Che. The girls at the desk were so easy to talk to and they quickly seated us. Definitely a date vibe inside with some outdoor seating too. Our server Liam was the man. He helped guide us through the menu with me ultimately deciding to start with the prawns on polenta then having the picanha with the sweet potato side. The prawns were grilled to perfection. The polenta was nice and light. The sauce was subtle. Not spicy at all.The picanha came out a perfect medium rare. Every bite was fantastic. The sweet potato was sweet but not overpowering. For dessert, we had Liam pick one of the two we had chosen and he came back with the banana split sundae. Holy crap we devoured that thing. Bananas had a great brûlée on them. Whipped cream was plenty and the ice cream was so creamy. The peanuts added a nice crunch and the blueberry added a nice tartness. Everything was fresh and made with love. Will be back for another special occasion!

    Blood Sausage
    Tina W.

    845 W Washington (Fulton Market, Chicago) This place has been on my list forever and I was excited to finally try it. The space is dark, intimate, modern, and warm. The host was inviting and gave us table options. Loved the funk/old-school music in the background. The butternut squash salad was fresh and cold, but underdressed and under-seasoned with very little squash. We also ordered one of the house sausages that turned out to be a blood sausage--wasn't for me visually, but the chimichurri was excellent and my husband liked it. Does anyone else hate when a martini comes in a coupe glass? Because same. And at this price point, the blue cheese olives should be stuffed in-house, not jarred. Entrées: My husband (Wisconsin born and raised fish lover) ordered the trout and was shocked it was seasoned and cooked well--he genuinely loved the shellfish butter. I ordered the surf & turf. Filet cooked perfectly, lobster tail too, but I needed to season both myself. Requested chimichurri and THAT made the filet good, but again... at this price point, I shouldn't need to salt and pepper my own lobster. Additional side: The shoestring fries fried in beef marrow, served with aioli and ketchup -- piping hot, perfectly seasoned, insanely good. They brought a complimentary dessert (vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream, brownie crumble) after we said we were celebrating life -- appreciated that. Service and ambiance were great... but the food didn't match the spend. Bright star of the night = the fries. Overall: (5/10) Glad I tried it. Would return for fries & vibe only.

    Tomato salad
    Ritti T.

    100% recommend. Loved this place. Came here for my birthday and my husband and I did the option where our waiter picks our meal for $175 each. We left SO full. We basically tried almost all the appetizers. All the seafood except lobster and tried the A5 wagyu (my husbands favorite). Our waiter start of by asking what caught our eye to help best accommodate including it during our meal. He also made accommodations for this pregnant mama who can't have raw food but allowed my husband to be able to try it. When things just kept coming out we were in shock because it was so much food for the price we paid. A highlight to my birthday! Make the reservation, you won't regret it!

    Beef fat fries
    Vincent S.

    I dined her for the first time last night. We shared a ribeye steak. I asked for it to be cooked medium well, but it was cooked medium which wasn't too bad, but not what I expected. The beef fat fries are very good as well as the baked oysters. I ordered a drink which was 75% ice and 25% actual drink. I need to remember to ask for easy ice when I order drinks. The drink was a mojito which was very good. The prices were a bit high for what you get. Service was very good and the hosts were excellent.

    Amber M.

    Wow! Got the Seafood platter and I have no words! From the first step into the restaurant, the host staff and atmosphere was incredible. Our table wasn't ready upon our arrival, but they were communicative about our wait so that was great. Scott, our waiter, was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. His wine pairings were great for our meal. Can't wait to come back!

    "Wagyu Tira de Asada" - yes it's a 14 oz Wagyu but on the menu it doesn't state what type of cut it is and is very deceiving.
    Erica N.

    The food was great! I'm only rating it a 4.5 if I could because of the snag with the misinformation about the "Tira de Asada" . As I thought it would've been a nice cut of steak instead of it being 2 pieces short ribs. So when I received it, I let them know there wasn't any description. I then changed my order to the 14 oz Wagyu NY Strip and it was on point, finished every single piece. *Get the grilled prawns! It was my fave app over the oysters! Service was also great and they kept checking in on us periodically to ensure everything was good. Ambiance has dark, cozy, and intimate vibes.

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    4 months ago

    Service was amazing! Steak and sides were spectacular! Great date night spot! We came here for my husbands birthday.

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    Page 1 of 14

    Ask the Community - El Che Steakhouse & Bar

    Prices for 2?

    Varies depending upon your order. If the two of you buy a Coke and that's it, the price will be about $7 with tip. If you both order one of everything from the menu it may be over a few thousand dollars. So figure out what you'd eat and drink and do… Read more

    Do they accept walk-ins?

    Yes, but there expect to wait or try sitting at the bar

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Shaw's Crab House | Chicago's ultimate happy hour just got a major upgrade!…read more Sip on a savory $10 Mignonette Martini or a crisp $7 Wine of the Month. Treat yourself to $15 mini lobster rolls on pillowy, buttery brioche. Turn up the heat with crispy buffalo shrimp tossed in signature blue cheese. Live large with the $57 Happy Hour Tower loaded with fresh oysters and lobster tails! Shaw's Crab House | 21 E Hubbard, Chicago | Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 4-6pm

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    The vibes were great and felt like a true old-school steakhouse. Lots of families, business…read moredinners, and longtime regulars. Not a trendy spot, but that's part of the charm. The wood shelving, classic decor, and lively atmosphere made it feel timeless. The service was easily one of the best parts of the experience. Since it was our first visit, David walked us through the restaurant's history, constantly refilled waters, and somehow managed to clear plates within seconds of us finishing. They also made us an anniversary card, gave us complimentary sparkling water, and surprised us with a slice of key lime pie. The hospitality was incredible and made us feel genuinely celebrated. The stone crab was super fresh and the mustard sauce was the perfect pairing. The crab bisque was rich and creamy. The filet was cooked perfectly with a great sear, while the stuffed lobster tail was warm, flavorful, and topped with a parmesan crust. The lobster roll was solid with a perfectly toasted brioche bun. The sweet corn was sweet, buttery, and smoky. For dessert, the blueberry pie was so comforting. The filling had a chewy texture, wasn't overly sweet, and the crust was perfectly crisp. The key lime pie was a nice surprise from the restaurant and had a great graham cracker crust. Overall, every dish was delicious and executed well but nothing really wowed me flavor wise. If you love classic steakhouse food and seafood, this is the spot. The service alone makes it a fantastic spot for celebrations. Thank you David & Joe's Seafood for the incredible night.

    Some maître d's are good at hospitality. Jeff W. is operating on another level. Remembering a…read moresurname is one thing; recognizing you early, out of context, before you even formally check in, and greeting you with confidence -- that's a genuine talent. People like him have almost a "super‑recognizer" ability: they store faces, mannerisms, and micro‑details the way others remember song lyrics. It's rare, and when you encounter it, it feels almost uncanny in the best way. And the fact that he consistently recognizes you over the years tells you it's not luck. It's intentional, it's skill, and it's part of why the place feels special before you even sit down. Pair that with a meal that exceeded expectations -- that's the kind of night that reminds you why you've been a loyal patron for so long. Great food is memorable, but great hospitality is what makes a restaurant feel like a second home.

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    Great food, a clean and welcoming atmosphere, and beautiful decor. The service was absolutely…read moreamazing from start to finish, and the staff made us feel very well taken care of. This is a wonderful spot for a date night or a special evening out. I would definitely recommend it and look forward to coming back.

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    Absolutely delicious! I went with friends to celebrate my birthday and had a wonderful time. We had…read morean assortment of appetizers, drinks, meals and desserts and everything exceed our expectations. Everyone was beyond friendly and the food...sooo good. I shall dream about their chocolate cake. Definitely recommend you give this restaurant a try- you won't regret it!

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    $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays
    $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays
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    El Che Steakhouse & Bar - argentine - Updated June 2026

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