Amazing Indonesian cuisine in Wrigleville! Having been to Indonesia, these dishes brought me back to the islands I visited years ago. They serve traditional beef, as well as chicken, and jackfruit (which was appreciated during Lent). The Duck Inn-do dog was amazing! Indonesian flavors with an homage to the city. It's also chicken btw. Worth mentioning is all the food has allergen warnings, so gluten-free, dairy-free, shrimp-free, etc. diets are accommodated. Bonus for Muslims: all the food is zabiha halal (except the hotdog, but it's prepared halal). The owners (one is the chef) and all of the staff are super friendly! The vibe is very chill with great music playing and a mural painted by an artist from Bali. Great place to try something different whether you're watching the Cubbies or not! read more

Why a lovely place! The food really delicious and they have real silverware, napkins and glasses. Just don't forget to clean after yourselves. The vibes are friendly and casual. Really nice. read more

Rendang Republic - Inside - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm Indonesian and live in LA, and this spot easily serves one of the best rendangs I've had, on par with Pagi Sore and Sederhana back in Indonesia. The rendang platter was incredibly authentic, and I was pleasantly surprised by how manageable the spice level was. The duck hot dog was also delicious, super juicy. read more

Rendang Republic - Top: Rendang plate Bottom: Duck Inn-Do Dog - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely incredible - highly recommend. I typically only ever review places that go way beyond any expectations, and this place definitely did that. Speaking of expectations, don't come here thinking that you're going to get a fully expansive menu full of a ton of authentic Indonesian dishes. That's not what they're going for, and even if there were another Indonesian place in the city, it's the fact that they're a Chicago-Indonesian fusion that makes them unique! So, enjoy it for what it is! We really liked the chicken sandwich & beef sandwich - and the crème brûlée was super unique/delicious :) Hopefully will upload photos sometime soon read more

Food is delicious, unique, beautiful. Really tasty gem and worth getting again in the future read more

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Fast, efficient and friendly service. Interior feels homey and rich in culture. Only thing better than the service was the food. Will be returning any chance i get! read more

Rendang Republic - Rendang Plate - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I met chef/owner John Avila at his restaurant Rendang Republic, an all-day counter service restaurant at 3355 N. Clark St in Wrigleyville. I read that Rendang Republic is Chicago's Only Indonesian Restaurant. Could that be true? I loved chatting with Chef John and thanked him for sharing his cultural heritage. He's a northwest side native, and the restaurant impresses with both its authentic Indonesian dishes, like the chicken sate, and also by taking fresh authentic Indonesian ingredients and techniques and reimagining them as Chicago classics, like their "Beef Rendang Sandwich," a cross between an Italian-Chicago beef, and Indonesian beef rendang incorporating a bouquet of chillies, shallots, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, and kefir lime leaves. You also won't want to miss the "Duck Inndo Dog," which features a delicious Duck Inn Dog made by Bridgeport superstar Chef Kevin Hickey, and serves it up with uniquely Indonesian trimmings, including pickled vegetables, a drizzle of hoisin sauce, crunchy fried shallots, and more. They were out of lumpia during my visit, but I'll be back soon to try them, because if the lumpia are as great as everything else on the menu, they will undoubtedly be a new favorite. Conveniently individually packaged Umaga Bakehouse pastries are available for dessert. I took one of each home to enjoy later. The woman staffing the register also provided great service and I regret not catching her name to give her a shoutout too, because she was welcoming and informative and added to our terrific experience. read more

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Top 1 favorite spots in Chicago! John is an amazing chef and this Chicken bowl is to die for. The beef bowl is equally as good and i must mention that the meat is halal. Eating Rengdan makes me feel like im home and the environment is welcoming. Come visit and support a small business owner :) read more

Rendang Republic - Chicken bowl - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It slaps! We're glad finally we got nasi rendang in Chicago near Wrigley Field! Hope more variation will be added like Kalio Chicken, Ikan padeh, etc read more

Rendang Republic - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cozy clean space and friendly service. My only issue was that the beef rendang was a bit tough! Not sure if they need to cook it longer or it's the quality of meet that they serve. It's also a little bland but the collard greens around it was flavorful. Will have to try the hotdog next time to see if that's better. read more

Have been here a couple of times and every time it's amazing!! I recommend stopping by for breakfast and getting the matcha pandan late. For lunch/dinner I recommend the duck inn-do dog with the AMAZING fries! read more

I wanted to love this place, but I felt like it was overpriced for what it was. Their noodles are literally instant ramen noodles. The rendang chicken and beef were definitely the highlight, but the portion given was scant. Additionally, my husband and I both got the worst case of food poisoning we've ever had after eating here (both had to take a day off of work the day after). Unfortunately, we won't be returning. read more

Yum! Solid food if you want to try something a bit different from your normal beef or chicken sandwich. service was quick as well! Next time would love to try the platter read more

Rendang Republic - Beef Rendang Sandwich Mie Goreng Fries Chicken Sandwich - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time - got the Rendang platter with jackfruit for protein. Flavors have a lot of depth. I also got the IFC (Indonesian Fried Chicken) sandwich which was yummy. We Will come back, lots to try on the menu. read more

Rendang Republic - IFC sandwich - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So happy that there's an Indonesian place in Chicago. Much needed and delicious! Highly recommend.

Chicago once again has Indonesian cuisine! Rendang Republic is a new eatery in the Lakeview neighborhood. Rendang (pronounced ruhn-dahng in Indonesia) is a meat dish that hails from the city of Padang in West Sumatra and will excite your tastebuds with its spices and rich, intoxicating flavors. Rendang Republic's lead chef, John Avila, has honed his culinary skills in mastering rendang cooking. The cafe has a variety of offerings - from the rendang plate (protein options include beef or chicken or, for the vegetarians, jackfruit) to the rendang sandwich if you prefer handhelds. Speaking of handhelds, you can also choose from the IFC (Indonesian Fried Chicken) sandwich or The Duck Inn-do, a loaded and savory hot dog which has ties with Chicago's very own Duck Inn in Bridgeport. Rendang Republic also has a great variety of coffee and tea beverages from local companies Big Shoulders and Volition Tea, respectively. Shout out to artist Natalia Granquist for her exquisitely detailed hand-painted mural inside the restaurant- an homage to the city of Padang in West Sumatra. The staff is polite and will answer any of your questions about the menu. I sensed excitement and passion from them talking to their guests about the rendang style of cooking. Come visit Rendang Republic and see why Eater Chicago named it one of 'The Best New Restaurants in Chicago, May 2025'. read more

Rendang Republic is a flavorful gem of Chicago. If you haven't had Indonesian food this is the spot. Chef John uses unique authentic bursting flavors & even ties some dishes with a Chicago flair. Highly recommended! read more

The innovation coming from here is the type of spark the Chicago food scene has needed. The rendang sandwich is easily one of my favorite sandwiches in the city. I'll be coming back for more. read more

Rendang Republic - Rendang sandwich - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've got a nut allergy so I was limited with what I could order. The chicken sandwich was good, but it wasn't too different from an ordinary chicken sandwich. The chicken was extremely crispy which I liked. Also, the fries were quite a large portion. I like that it's a fast casual restaurant. Great option if you are in the area and want something better than fast food, but won't take too long to cook. read more

One of the most flavorful dishes I've ever had! Absolutely delicious! The beef rendang bowl is packed with flavor and tender, perfectly spiced beef. Every bite is a treat, and the portion size is generous. Highly recommend for anyone looking to try something new--definitely a must-try for new customers. WRIGLEY LOCATION COMING SOON IN APRIL!!! read more

Rendang Republic - Beef rendang bowl - Indonesian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Incredibly tasty food and very generous portions. We tried a wide variety of dishes from across the menu and all delivered on the flavor front! read more

Had such a great meal here! Food was delicious, staff was friendly. Happy to see it thriving!

Great addition to the neighborhood and city! The hotdog and beef rendang are soooo tasty! Portions are filling and the atmosphere is welcoming. Definitely will be visiting and eating here again. read more

I don't understand why people are raving about this place. I tried the chicken, which is very heavy on seasoning. I tried the beef, which is also very heavy on seasoning. The Italian beef sandwich is very misleading. It has nothing to do with the Chicago Italian beef sandwich. It is simply their heavily seasoned beef in a bun with some kind of sauce on it. The only thing I actually enjoyed was the fried rice. I definitely do not recommend this place. The hype is simply hype. read more

Heard about this place opening from the alderman's weekly emailed newsletter. Absolutely loved it! I had the chicken plate with fried rice. Amazingly rich, subtle and sophisticated flavors. I haven't had Indonesian food before and this was a very pleasant introduction. While it's a small, informal space they had proper silverware and cloth napkins which definitely added to the quality of the experience. Will definitely go back and try some of the other dishes. read more

fall off the bone chicken. thoughtful delicious sides & accoutrements. some of the most interesting flavor profiles in the city. & the chef is a solid human. go & go & return read more

The Rendang taste is not tasty as the authentic Rendang Padang, the service was below expectation. The ambiance is just fair.

Such a unique and fresh idea. The atmosphere is great, the the food is even better. 10/10 must try.

Exciting new Indonesian restaurant concept opening in wrigleyville. Great flavors and amazing food. Can't wait for the opening

Simply delicious , food so good you gonna want more . The beef rendang is to die for , cant wait to go on their actual spot once they're open read more