I had heard great things about this place for years, so I was really looking forward to trying it but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. The first time I visited, there were three of us. My friend and I chose the buffet, while her wife ordered from the menu. After we had already gone up to the buffet twice, her wifes food still hadn't arrived. I eventually spoke with someone who identified himself as the ownerto address her food not bring ready. He apologized and mentioned they were short-staffed, and said her food would be out soon. When the food finally came, it was just okay.While we waited, we noticed a steady stream of takeout orders going out, which seemed to be prioritized over dine-in guests. I don't enjoy leaving negative We decided to give it another try this past weekend with a group of friends, hoping for a better experience. Most of us chose the buffet again. For me, the only items I really enjoyed were the rice and the avana. I don't eat pork, so I was excited to try the chicharrón chicken, but it was a letdown the chicken was over-fried, dry, and difficult to eat. It also took about 20 minutes just to get water for the table, while we watched other guests be seated and served water right away. When I asked the waiter staff ejy it took so long for the eater, I had once agin told they were short-staffed staffed. I don't like leaving bad reviews, but I do hope this feedback is taken constructively. With some improvements in both food quality and service, this place could live up to its reputation. read more

I wanted to reach out after my very first visit for your Sunday brunch yesterday. Getting started was a tiny bit confusing we had a reservation and initially headed inside, but then found out brunch was actually next door and upstairs. It was a small detour, but we eventually found our way to the lovely setup. Once we were upstairs it was clear how popular your brunch is. the place was absolutely buzzing. It felt like the team might have been a little overwhelmed with how busy it was which led to a bit of a slowdown in service. Also, I noticed some of the food trays didn't have labels which made navigating the buffet a bit tricky. Trying to uncover each tray while holding the lid and juggling a plate in a busy line was quite a challenge. I do need to mention a couple of things that stood out during the food service. I was a bit surprised to find a long hair on top of a fresh batch of potatoes. The cook at the omelette station was very responsive and removed it and then impressively replaced the whole tray. A little while later I noticed a short, curly hair in the maduros which was a bit off putting. These were definitely unexpected moments that I wanted to bring to your attention as I know cleanliness is so important. On a slightly different note, while the plastic tables and chairs upstairs were functional, I think a little sprucing up of the stairwell and windows could really enhance the overall ambiance and make the whole space feel even more welcoming and clean and perhaps a quick suggestion regarding footwear for the staff interacting with guests and food, closed toe shoes like sneakers might present a more professional and hygienic appearance than crocs. I really hope this doesn't come across as critical. I'm just sharing my observations in a constructive way. Now, for the absolute best part THE FOOD Wow, seriously everything we tasted was incredibly delicious and such great value. The pernil was perfectly fresh and incredibly tasty and I absolutely adored the arroz con gandules. The avena de coco. A definite must try so good. The gentleman at the omelette station was not only a fantastic cook but also a really friendly person. Your potato salad was a revelation. I've never had anything quite like it and the bacon and sausage were spot on. especially that crispy bacon. The coquito latte was heavenly just a touch sweet, but in the best possible way and let's not forget the chicharrón utterly divine. The sweets table was a true highlight, so beautifully decorated and truly on point. Those homemade pastries were incredible, and my absolute favorite was what I think were coconut balls seriously wow. There was also this delightful dessert in a small clear cup with cinnamon on top that was just exquisite. Beyond that the pastelon, carved ham, waffles, and French toast were all equally delicious. Honestly, the culinary experience you're providing is exceptional, and it's clear you put a lot of passion into the food. I truly hope you take this feedback as it's intended as friendly suggestions to make an already fantastic place even better. The potential here is huge and I can't wait to see what you do next. read more

Nellie's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is the go to for great Puerto Rican Avena de coco and great breakfast I've been there a couple of times and have had great meals. They serve you great portions enough to sometimes take home. I went a couple of weekends ago for lunch and my wife and her best friend decided to go for the buffet spread in the back. I decided I just wanted tostones and chicharon de pollo and I also order yucca frita. Well I sat there waiting for my meal and my wife and friend enjoyed whatever they got from the buffet and I sat there waiting some more. Finally my wife calls the waiter and tells him where's my wife order? We are done here and she hasn't been served. He apologized and said it was ready in a few so I waited some more. By now I was upset and just wanted to walk out but, I realized that I saw a lot of order being picked up by Uber eats and that's why the service for people sitting inside was slower. They catered more to delivery orders than people inside the restaurant and that's not cool. I do love their food and the restaurant is nice inside and so are the staff but, they really need to take care of the people coming in and eating at the restaurant as much as they pay attention to Uber eats deliveries. read more

See all

I always drop by Nellie's for their delicious coconut oatmeal. However, during our last visit, the oatmeal was watery and we could hardly taste the coconut. I ordered a coffee which was placed in a cracked mug. To be fair, they replaced the coffee and the mug right away when I asked. Still, they should make it a point to check their cutlery regularly. We ordered three plates on top of the oatmeal which arrived more than 30 minutes after we sat down. Service was unfortunately so slow that we considered just asking for the bill and having breakfast elsewhere. However, when the food did arrive, it was piping hot. Servings were generous. We had no complaints on the quality and taste of the food (except for the watery oatmeal). Atmosphere was noisy and lively. There was a steady stream of customers throughout our visit. read more

I came with my family of 12 for my daughter's birthday. They have a menu but they also have a lovely brunch buffet. Buffet items include continental breakfast like bacon, sausage, and potatoes, and Puerto Rican specialties like pastelon, arroz con gandules, and maduros. The avena de coco (coconut oatmeal) is a must try. It's included in the buffet. The café con leche was delightful too! There is an omelet station with a variety of ingredients to add to your eggs. It takes about 5 minutes for him to prepare each omelet. The buffet also has cereal, toast, and flan! Honestly it's good food and the price is very reasonable. Early on a Saturday it's pretty easy to find street parking in the area as well. Give it a try! read more

See all

Delicious puerto rican restaurant in Humboldt Park that I've heard lots of good things about. I've lived in the area for 20+ years and have been meaning to come to this restaurant for a while, and finally made my way over there this weekend. The space is nice with plenty of seating and the staff are super friendly and attentive. We ordered the famous avena de coco and the el coqui sandwich to split, along with some cafe con leche. Everything was so delicious! The oatmeal was very creamy and cinnamony, and the sandwich had some amazing flavors. I definitely hope to be back to try the brunch buffet some time! read more

Nellie's - Avena de Coco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved the place. We went on a Wednesday afternoon, so a slower time. My husband wanted to try a jiborito. He had a pork one with rice and beans. He loved it I had a omelette with veggies, bacon and avocado. Garlicky potatoes on the side they were wonderful. Nice people and good service. read more

The food was great and the service was good. Their was a long wait time but, I would definitely go back there for the Jibarito. read more

Nellie's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went for the buffet. It's around $25 & includes coffee & juice. I was not asked if I wanted refills as the waitress never came round again. I was not told tip was already added for a large party until I already paid extra tip via the hand held machine. The buffet first round fried chicken & rice tasted like leftovers (cold too) but the newly replenished ones tasted fresh. Highlights were the omelet station. The chef was super nice & created my omelet very skillfully. It has special Puerto Rican spices ,is super delicious & not to be missed. I also enjoyed the waffles with the delicious toppings of fresh cream & strawberry. Bacon, sausages, potatoes & plantains were good. Some type of lasagna was also tasty. I did not think the famous coconut oatmeal was that great. Overall, good to try once for a different take on breakfast. read more

Nellie's - Buffet breakfast plate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service is very nice and inviting, the ambiance is great for a small busy cafe. The food was decent the coconut oatmeal was very good, my Jibarito and fries was a bit soggy but I don't think they were prepared for a lunch early in the morning. read more

Nellie's - Jibarito with fries. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Nellie's was amazing! This was a last minute brunch selection and though they were busy we made a reservation on open table for 12:45 and was seated quickly. Our seating was in their event space that was a separate entrance on the 2nd floor. The event space was very spacious with lots of folding tables covered with white table cloth. The servers were very quick and super nice! The food spread was plentiful with a good selection of Puerto Rican specialties including Puerto Rican oatmeal, fresh plantains, rice and the most amazing and flavorful pulled pork. I was so full I didn't get to try the omelet station. The desserts were amazing as well. I would definitely recommend this buffet to anyone looking for a tasty Sunday brunch for a reasonable price! read more

See all

Overall Thoughts: The food was solid with hearty portions, but the flavors were blander / more mild than expected. Despite having a reservation for Friday brunch, we waited a pretty long time to get seated; the service was very friendly but slow overall. The interior has a nice vibe and feels very homey. Prices are not bad and pretty standard for brunch food (came out to ~$22 per person + tax/tip). I'd want to come back to try their weekend breakfast buffet! Food I tried: - Avena de Coco (Coconut Oatmeal): Sweet with a pretty strong cinnamon flavor; the coconut flavor was mostly at the bottom. I love oatmeal and thought it was pretty good. - Jibarito Bowl with Steak: The steak was tender and flavorful, the rice and sauce were delicious, and the portion was generous. I wish it were more garlicky though, to really capture to jibarito flavor. - Nellie's Breakfast Special: Probably my least favorite of everything we ordered... The eggs were pretty bland and slightly overcooked. I really liked the toasted bread though-- it had a soft pillowy interior and crunchy exterior. It barely contained any plantains, but I wish it had more for a sweeter flavor. - Mofongo Relleno Con Caldito de Pollo: This was a dense and filling dish of stuffed mashed plantains. I liked the texture, but found the flavor a bit lacking-- the garlic flavor was much more mild than I would've hoped / liked. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.4/5 Food: 4.2/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 Service: 4.1/5 Overall Value: 4.2/5 read more

See all

Was in Humboldt park and needed a vegetarian meal. I popped in hoping they would have something I could eat. They do have a few veggie options on the menu. I got veggie Jibarito bowl. It was beautiful and colorful and fresh and delicious. Staff is very nice. Will return for sure. read more

Nellie's - Jibarito Bowl veggie - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came in on a Sunday afternoon. I made a reservation online but it was pretty slow so I could've been fine walking in. Service was okay, nothing out of this world. We had just missed the break buffet so we went ahead and ordered from the menu. I went with the jamón y queso sándwich with tostones instead of fries. I also got a passion fruit juice. My friend ordered the mofongo relleno with caldo to de pollo. His looks really good and he enjoyed it. He Ali had a raspberry Italian soda. Over all tasty food with okay service! read more

Nellie's - Jamón y queso sándwich and Mofongo Relleno con Caldito de Pollo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fabulous oatmeal. 5 stars Fabulous French toast. 5 stars Quick service. I ordered out for lunch. I've had other menu items, but these two are my favorite. read more

Nellie's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I've always had friends who rave about the food here. I finally had the chance to try the food. The food was great! The service, eh.. not great. We arrived about 1230pm, ordered our food about 1pm, but didn't receive our food till 2pm!! I don't know what the situation was in the kitchen, however, the restaurant was not busy. There were multiple waiters and waitresses walking back and forth. It appeared some might have been new and still didn't know their way around. With the food taking so long we asked multiple times what the hold up was but were told it'll be out shortly, a couple times. They then brought us pastries to our table for us having to wait so long and then 5mins later the food came out. I think the wait staff should have a system and communicate more with each other and with the cooks in the back. Maybe this is why no one came in for the buffet while we were there. The service is just not happening. Other than that the decor was decorated with local artist's work. Again, the food was great and the avena de coco is a must! read more

Oatmeal is the best. Thinking of ordering a gallon. lol. Thank you for pan criollo toast y cafecito. Yes worth the trip every time.

This is a cute little spot in Humboldt Park. It is a cozy cafe inside with lots of Puerto Rican art giving it a homey feel. The brunch buffet is a great value with tasty options. It's a good mix of traditional and authentic Puerto Rican. Loved the waffles, omelets, plantains, chicharrones and rice. read more

Nellie's - Inside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been wanting to try this place for years and I'm glad I finally was able to. Came for Sunday brunch and was seated immediately. Place is cozy and seating is limited. The buffet was set up in the back but ordering off the menu was also available if that's what you fancy... buffet was a little smaller than what I had imagined but we were informed they used to have an omelette station and they were currently looking for a new cook. It made no difference to me- because the food was itself was enough for me. My favs were the sweet plantain and egg casserole, the maduros, the arroz con gandules, and the chicharron con pollo... and and let's not forget about the coconut oatmeal!! Yum, yum, and yum! They also had regular breakfast items like French toast, bacon/sausage, potatoes, eggs, cereal, and some pastries- but I didn't go there to eat food I can make myself... read more

See all

We wanted to go to another restaurant but it was unexpectedly closed so we ended up at Nellie's. Cheerful greeting by hostess, we ended up sitting outside because the music was a bit too loud. Service was inattentive, sparse, food was okay but took a long long time. read more

Delicious oatmeal and crunchy French toast was so good! The server was super attentive and very helpful during our stay. Love this little local joint for breakfast! read more

great patio seating and lovely breakfast buffet. Service is great here even if you're not from the neighborhood Jibaritos were amazing and we will be back!! read more

Nellie's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Very disappointing visit! I came 3-4 years ago. Amazing experience! This time- Nothing tasted the same and the service was less desirable. They have a very youthful staff that needs to be trained to serve and be more attentive to their customers. I had their famous avena- last time I came it was the best in the planet. This time it was clumpy, barely warm and tasted like American style oatmeal. They lost their touch! I had their jibarito steak bowl. Steak was flavored very good, but barely warm. The tostones was good. The rice tasted weird. My wife had their Sopa de Salchichn (Puerto Rican Salami)- very, very good and the best thing we had. And we had a chicken sandwich- that was good too! Service and food consistency - needs help! read more

See all

My son and I stopped here on our way to the Garfield Park conservatory. We had limited time but were incredibly hungry. Well, Nellie's did not disappoint. The food was amazing! I had the Avena de Coco and it reminded me of my papi's. It was like a warm hug on a dreary day. My son had the egg and ham sandwich. He told me how tasty it was. Our waiter knew we were short on time and did accommodate us. A family oriented place, great service and incredible food. Highly recommend. read more

I ordered a breakfast special with a cafe con leche, everything was amazing! The coffee reminded me of home and the onelette was different but delicious! The plantains give it a sweet touch, but overall, it's a savory meal. The coconut oatmeal is also outstanding! Highly recommend if you want some Puerto Rican breakfast! read more

Nellie's - Nellie's Breakfast Special - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Don't think I had previously had plantains in an omelette, but now I can't wait to have it again! Nellies was great I got the breakfast Special which is an omelette with a bunch of fillings and some plantains on top. It was excellent. So full of flavor. And it comes with some coconut oatmeal with cinnamon on top which is like a dessert. Amazing for brunch and exactly what I was looking for. Also got a slice of chocolate chip banana bread because it was available and you can't just see chocolate chip banana bread and say no to it. I will absolutely be returning and getting it all again. So good. read more

Nellie's - Breakfast Special was amazing. So full. Can't wait to get it again - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

OK. Came here on a Sunday for brunch. Made a reservation with Open Table and scored a seat outdoors. We are still hesitant eating out so outside dining is preferred. Plenty of street parking was available and I was glad I could get in a little walk after breakfast because I was FULL. Went with the El Coquit scramble which comes with breakfast potatoes and toast. The El Coquit has onions, avocados, and tomato. You can also add a meat protein which they throw into the eggs. I went with rye bread. I of course also ordered a side of plantains. My brunch mate did the same but elected for the El Coquit omelet. We were tempted to try the coconut oatmeal but we'll do that next time. Yes, there will definitely be a next time. Food was good and portions were huge. I ate half and brought the other half home to share with hubby who went on a long run while i brunched. Service was slow but not awful. It was actually welcome given that it was good and many places churn out breakfast so fast you wonder how long the food has been sitting there. Not this mom and pop joint. You could tell our food was cooked to order. As we chatted, waited, ate- we observed the staff cleaning the outside tables as they were vacated. The entire place, including bathrooms, was clean. Staff is wearing masks. Will definitely return to try some new things. read more

Nellie's - El Coquit scramble (eggs, avocado, tomato, onion, bacon) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

My oh my -- if it wasn't for the lady on the street that suggested this place, I would have never wandered in. Nellie's is an extraordinary Puerto Rican restaurant serving up authentic dishes. The hospitality is amazing, and the food is magnificent! This was my first time trying jibaritos and everything about it was wonderful! The flavors and love that go into this dish will have you coming back for more! read more

Nellie's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

If you want to wait 1 hour to get an iced coffee and 2 for your food, this is the perfect place for you ! I had family coming from out of town and on their last day they wanted to get breakfast somewhere near my home. As a Humboldt park resident, I would always pass by Nellie's and wanted to give them a try. It took staff one hour to seat us. We ordered all our food as we waited on a table so it would "be ready" by the time we got to sit down. Once we were seated, I still hadn't received the iced coffee I ordered and the ladies at the bar were doing literally anything but making an iced coffee. Once I got my coffee, I gave it a taste and it wasn't very good. Once we got our food another hour later, I was ready to go home. The oatmeal is the only thing saving this place from getting one star. Everything else was pretty average. read more

See all

I want to start by saying that the server and host were really nice. We ordered cafe con Leche and one didn't taste right so they were so nice about redoing it. Only thing that was absolutely terrible was waiting for our food for over an hour.. the breakfast jibarito was good but it did have too much garlic. The healthy French toast was not good at all. Very dry & just not good. They could also turn the heater up more with the cold weather. read more

If I could give no stars I would. I made a TikTok on my account that I often review foods on and explained the terrible customer service experience I've had, this one not being the first but definitely the most memorable. The server then found my account and threatened to provide the police with false information based on my license plate as well as expose my personal address and information on the internet. This is absolutely a threat to my safety and complete violation of privacy and will NOT be taken lightly. read more

Nellie's - A police report for harassment as well as an order of protection is filled because the server chose to threaten my personal safety. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

While in town visiting, my family and I were looking for a new Puerto Rican restaurant to try and decided to give Nellie's a try. We're so glad we did! Our dining experience exceeded our expectations! The service was excellent and the food was delicious. Our server Mya was very friendly and attentive. She made the experience for us all that more memorable. This is a new go to spot for us when we are in town. read more

Slow, slow, SLOW, and utterly disorganized. We arrived on a Saturday morning and were told it would be a 10-15 minute wait. After 30 minutes and seeing two parties of the same size who arrived after us get seated ahead of us, we were told it would be another 10-15 minute wait. When we finally got seated, we ordered the breakfast special, french toast, a mocha, and a coffee. The mocha arrived promptly, the coffee never arrived. We were not approached by a server until the food came, which was FORTY-FIVE minutes after ordering, when we were finally able to tell them that they forgot the coffee. The French toast was inedible. It was extremely dry and crumbly and didn't taste like it had any sugar in it at all. The breakfast special was boring and underseasoned, but at least it was edible. They forgot to give me the coconut oatmeal side that comes with the special, so I told my server about it, who promptly forgot. So after another ten minutes, I had to flag down a different server walking by in order to get my oatmeal. The coconut oatmeal was by far the best thing I ate. It was the only thing either of us finished more than half of. My recommendation is to only order takeout coconut oatmeal in advance if you ever want to get Nellie's food. The less time spent in Nellie's, the better. You could end up trapped for hours like we were. read more

Great chocolate Chai and coconut oatmeal!!! 100% on the list to do it again. The breakfast of scrambled and omelet was good as well. Great sour dough bread. read more

Nellie's - Chocolate Chai and coconut oatmeal. 100% have to do again - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A trip to the Chi during the Easter holiday, and we just came across Nellie's. They were serving an Easter holiday buffet, I have to say, it was amazing! Of course, we had to make a reservation due to the holiday. 2nd floor, and it was on! It was set up like a catered buffet but was cooked, prepped at location. Pastelon was good, I loved the plantains in this dish! Maduros (plantains), Lechon (Cuban roast pork), Chicharron de Pollo (Puerto Rican fried chicken), very nice tender, crisp crust, very good. Ensalada de Papa (potato salad) looked very tasty, not overcooked as it sits out. We also had the pleasure of having a cook to prepare omelets or scrambled eggs, who were personable. After breakfast/brunch, there was the dessert table to take care of. Of all the wonderful desserts, my favorite was the coconut custard, chilled, very good. Happy Easter all read more

See all

Out of the Puerto Rican Restaurants in Humboldt Park, Nellie's is DEFINITELY my go to. So much so that after I was discharged from giving birth at Northwestern Hospital, Nellie's was my craving before heading home. We always did take out but when we finally were able to dine in, it was a good experience. The service was a little slow due to them being short staffed, but they were upfront about it and kept checking in on us. The kids loved the food and couldn't get enough. Our usual order is the Jibarito and Sancocho! As I am writing this, I am literally drooling and wish that I had some Nellie's in front of me now! read more

See all

Cute Puerto Rican restaurant with welcoming & friendly service. Weekend buffet brunch/BYOB is the way to go for $25. The food is well seasoned. Potatoes were soft and buttery. Coconut oatmeal stole the show! Fresh bold coffee was good too. read more

Nellie's - Nellies Nellie's Breakfast Special - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love the concrete jungle of Chicago as much as anyone else - but as any true local foodie will tell you, the gems are out in the neighborhoods. You just can't replicate true authenticity, no matter how much Abba wants to try (it's just good for the gram admit it) Nellie's is a true one of these gems. Tucked away off Campbell, it's got a simple open setup with a chalkboard menu and an old school espresso machine behind the bar. I opted for the breakfast special, a solid bundle deal which included their unique coconut oatmeal and a side of french bread. Their pièce de résistance was a giant Tortilla Boricua, an omelet stuffed with veggies, meat, spices, and plantains. I kid you not, Yelp reader on paragraph 3 of 5, this meal had heft. I can't be sure how many chickens (adult and yolk) died for this meal but it was at least one nuclear family. The spices were wonderful and the meat was cooked to perfection. And strangely, the plantains were a wonderful touch. Who knew? Bananas in an omelette? The sides were an ideal complement as well, fresh bread and a creamy dreamy oatmeal to wash it all down. I can't say I've tried Puerto Rican food much, purely as a blind spot and not as an intentional snub, so I can't rank it against other popular spots in the city. But I can say this meal makes me want to dive deeper into this beautifully rich cuisine. Additionally, I did not try any coffee this time around, but their menu is impressive and looks worth checking out. So if you're a gym bro looking to optimize the protein to dollar ratio, a hungover 30 something looking for sustenance to make you feel alive, or a city rat looking to nibble on something new, Nellie's is a top tier local diner that will satiate your needs and probably make you take a nap afterwards. read more

Delicious food, top notch service, they don't rush you at all, lovely artwork- make sure to try their heavenly oatmeal made with cinnamon and coconut milk. read more

The first time I came here , food was excellent, the second time I ordered for delivery and the oatmeal was very salty, today I ordered oatmeal and it came with a big peace of plastic wrap in it! Sorry never again! read more

Nellie's - Plastic in my oatmeal! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all