6:45pm on a Wednesday and I dont feel like cooking, but i want a home cooked meal. I learn there is a Puerto Rican resturant at the mall. Whaaat! So you know i had to try it out. As a Puerto Rican woman who has eaten Puerto Rican food my entire life--and has tried it everywhere from PR to New York, Florida, and Chicago--I can honestly say this place is legit. Now listen, mi gente... don't compare your family's rice to a restaurant's rice. It's good, but nothing will ever taste like abuela's, okay? The menu is simple right now because they're testing the waters. Please support them! There are so few Puerto Rican restaurants in the suburbs, and we need to help keep them around. They even have dancing at night, and the ambiance is beautiful. So go eat, enjoy, and be patient--the food is fresh and made with care. read more

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Unfortunately, this was not an enjoyable dining experience, and I will not be returning. The atmosphere was unusually quiet and lacked any energy. The service was disappointing--rather than offering recommendations or helping guide us through the menu, the staff repeatedly asked what they could remove from the table, which made us feel rushed throughout the meal. The food was the biggest letdown. Everything I tried was bland, underseasoned, and lacked flavor. I ordered a pastillo that contained pink ground beef, which was especially concerning and left a poor impression. The only item I somewhat enjoyed was the Pink Flamingo Margarita ($14). It was decent, but not memorable enough to justify a return visit on its own. Overall, between the rushed service, underwhelming food, and disappointing experience, I cannot recommend this restaurant. 1 star because I can not give it anything less. read more

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Overall I'll give this place ZERO Stars. Last Monday January 19th, 2026 about 6:50pm, my fiancé who is Puerto Rican and I were so excited to finally see a Puerto Rican restaurant open up in the area, praying that they will not play in our face like the Mexican restaurants in the area does. And what I mean by that is, they come from Chicago to the suburbs and get lazy and money hungry. Everything from customer service and food quality tends to go out the window when they come to the suburbs and open their restaurants. Well my fiancé is a Puerto Rican from Humboldt Park in Chicago and when I say he was PISSED, he was P I S S E D! They literally played in our face. We walk in and was greeted and immediately seated at a dirty table; was told our server will be with us and it took 15 mins before another table server walk by to which we called her over to tell her how dirty the stable was. She walked around looking for a clean table to seat us at and when we're reseated she took our drink order and she went to get our server. It still took our server another 10 mins to come out with 6 small slices of french with 2 small butters and 2 glasses of water and then asked us what would we like to drink. I told her that it was already taken and the she repeated our drink order to us. Firstly why are you asking if you already know and secondly where the hell you been? We've been waiting 25 fucking minutes! The music in the restaurant was like a club, overly loud, couldn't even hear myself think let along have a conversation with my fiancé over dinner. Now the aesthetic of the restaurant is top tier very beautiful but what good is a nice looking restaurant when customer service and food is TRASH!!!!!!!!! Before she finally arrived to our table we immediately knew she wasn't getting a tip and we weren't ordering drinks from the bar because THEY DID NOT DESERVE ANYTHING. We stayed to at least try the food to determine if this place is even worth it. Not even 5 minutes later she's back with our appetizers and then about 8 minutes later with our entrees. While the food presentation of our ENTREES was lovely, ALL of the food tasted like it should be served to people in the hospital on special diets... you know the no/low sodium and no seasoning, no fat diet. We spent $78 for 2 rellenos that was white as a potato can be with a teaspoon of unseasoned ground beef inside, 2 empanadillas that was so soft that it was tough to bite through the disco... just soggy no crunch, far from fresh, and a order of maduros that came with no salt or sour cream... just dry as fuck and 1 steak and onion entree and 1 jibarito entree and 2 soft drinks. Spent $78 and left with all the food still on the table. They were soo worried about partying like it's a night club on a Monday night... the cook or whoever was all on the mic like it's club filled with people but with only 3 full tables (us included) and their friends at the bar who was cheering for whatever reason. The Who experience was a hot ass mess, PURE SHIT SHOW! I've seen so many restaurants come and go at that location in the mall and I'd like to say they are next to come and go! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY! Let it close down! My fiancé felt so ashamed that his own people pulled this garbage out their ass! Mexicans I can expect them to give shit food because their racist and the white people don't know any different when it comes to cultured food... they've been coming to the suburbs for years and fucking over the white people with their restaurants but the Puerto Ricans, they need they ass WHOOPED! To top it all off, our server knew we were pissed, she did not apologize for extremely poor service nor offered to comp anything off out bill but instead said "if anything is nasty let me know", girl what the fuck we're you going to do about this nasty ass food? Because when you saw the food was not completely eaten and still on the table as your taking plates away, that's was your que to discuss the meal with us and offer to help or fix SOMETHING! Also don't get their hot sauce, literally just HOT AS HELL, no flavor just hot as fuck! I posted pictures but I wish I could've posted the videos. read more

Lack of service, food was cold, tasted reheated. Would never come here again . Thought for them just opening up it would be nice read more

El Flamingo - Nasty late of food - pizza puff and fries - Sports Bars Near Me - Joliet, Illinois

Came as a black woman, dragged in by my Colombian/PR best friend. The music was very loud you could hear it right when you walk in which isn't a bad thing! It sounded like the clurb from the outside. The food was great, drinks amazing, and the guy in the straw hat with the tattoos (Chino) was wonderful and fine! Loved the atmosphere felt like I was in Puerto Rico again. Live DJ this present Friday (3/6) plenty of space and perfect for a night out. Whether you're walking in, hosting a party or here for a good time it's a place for you! read more

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Denise was our server and she was very attentive and nice, LISTEN I EAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOODS I drive to the city to get good Puerto Rican food, and never knowing this is literally 5 mins from my house they have been there since January and I'm mad I just found out about them!!! Alcapurrias were delicious very authentic l, jibaritos were definitely delicious! Neck and neck with the city I haven't tried it all but give me a month or so and I'll be back on to review some more YOU HAVE TO TRY!!! read more

El Flamingo - Menu - Sports Bars Near Me - Joliet, Illinois

Service was outstanding! The owner/chef came out to speak to us. The jibarito is fire! Don't sleep on this sandwich. I will say the gandules was not what I'm used to, but still can't wait to go back! read more

Food very delicious, the ambience, nice place to eat , dance , the DJ is amazing very recommend

Pleasantly surprised with great food, full of flavor. Our server was super friendly and attentive. Even a manager was going around checking on tables. Super clean. Give this place a try, new restaurants are far and few. I saw earlier reviews and I feel like people dont take into consideration when a place is new. They should probably try opening a restaurant in today's day and age. Congratulations to the owners on a job well done. read more

Waited 20 + minutes for the waitress. Took our order finally. Another waitress came and checked on us 15 minutes later. We complained that other tables that came in 25 to 30 minutes after us were already eating, yet we didn't even get our drinks yet. She told our waitress who came minutes later and said I know you're mad but it's not my fault? Perhaps at first but still didn't even get the drinks until we complained after 15 minutes. Meanwhile a waiter that took care of the table next to us came 6 times in 20 minutes. WTH! Food was bland, completely flavourless. Can make more authentic Puerto Rican food with packaged food from my freezer! Oh well, won't be back. If you're looking forward to Puerto Rican food, do yourself a favor and drive out of the way if you have to! read more

Food was great! Waiter was amazing and helpful. Atmosphere was an amazing vibe. Music was on point! Definitely needed a place like this in Joliet! read more

El Flamingo - Sports Bars Near Me - Joliet, Illinois

My husband and I went to El Flamingo restaurant yesterday 2/15/2026. We are both Puerto Rican in our 70's. I cook traditional Puerto Rican food and even make my own sofrito for traditional plates including pasteles. My husband and I were blown away with the excellent Puerto Rican food. The service was great. The waiters were very friendly, polite and upfront with telling me how long it would take for the extra alcapurrias for take home after were done eating. This restaurant is classy and elegant. Proud to eat at El Flamingo! read more

The aesthetic is very pleasing, but the service and quality of the food is relleno de papa no flavor, empanada flavorful but dry and no crunch, rice bland. read more

discovered this new spot and let me tell you. 10/10 the food was fantastic. I used to have to drive to Aurora or Chicago to get jibaritos but this will definitely be the place I go to now! read more