BeaUnique Latin Kitchen — Restaurant in Elgin

As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by two upbeat, friendly faces that were so grateful and appreciative of my just walking through the door. The customer service they provided was top-notch, and the food they served was even better. Every bite I took was infused with insane amounts of flavor... making every penny spent well worth it. So, you can imagine my shock when I come on google to do a review, and I see a review with two stars!!! However, after reading the review, it became apparent that the comment was nothing but a poor attempt to slander a small, family-oriented business to divert customer attraction to another restaurant. Nonetheless, I'd like to unpack that review just a little bit.

Comment 1: "I ordered a steak sandwich, and what I got seemed like shredded beef with melted cheese in between bread roll."

Not my experience at all! In fact, my favorite dish had to be the steak sandwich. The meat was at peak tenderness and marinated to absolute perfection. Between the marinate and the delicious green sauce, this sandwich was easily one of the best ones I've had. The bread didn't fall short either, as it was also perfectly seasoned.

Comment 2: "The steak was shredded beef again, and they used old lettuce that had black on most of the leaf. Why even use old lettuce? Just skip it and tell us you don't have any lettuce."

-I've never had anything but fresh food from this establishment! In fact, that's why Beaunique is one of my preferred restaurants. The food is never greasy. It's never been served cold. And I can honestly say that I've never been served spoiled lettuce. However, I also have no doubts that the owners would not have hesitated to fix the problem and accommodate the customer if such an event occurred.

Comment 3: "We found it kind of weird that inside had no tables and chairs even though there was room for indoor dining. Sidewalk had 3 tables, so we had to eat outside."

-I don't understand the alleged 'weirdness' of the lack of indoor dining, considering that our country (and the world, for that matter) has been dealing with a global health crisis (Covid-19). If anything, I think we should appreciate the fact that the business owners are making sacrifices for the sake of their customers. Especially with the massive uptick in Covid-19 cases, now is not the time to cram a bunch of people in a dining area.

Comment 4: "There's another solid Puerto Rican restaurant in Elgin on Villa St that has better jibarito sandwiches. My other option is our go-to Puerto Rican spot in Melrose Park on Lake St, but that's a hike but worth the drive."

-Queue the plug-in... Propping up one business after tearing down another. This needs no further explanation.

There were many more statements in that negative comment that I disagree with. However, I do not have enough time in my day to debunk them all. I recommend that YOU stop by this restaurant and taste the truth...

Stepping into BeaUnique Latin Kitchen feels like a dive into the vibrant heart of Latin America, albeit nestled inconspicuously in the bustling Elgin neighborhood. My culinary expedition began with an assortment of empanadas – beef, chicken, and veggie. These weren't your average pastries; they boasted a distinctly Puerto Rican flair, with lightly mashed whole potatoes cradling the perfectly seasoned meat. The fillings were generous, a welcome defiance against the modern sin of skimping on protein. Accompanying these were a salsa verde and a sauce reminiscent of Thousand Island dressing – both solid, though a tad more fire in the verde wouldn't have gone amiss.

The true test of any Latin kitchen, in my book, is the Birria Tacos, and BeaUnique's rendition with steak did not disappoint. There’s something about the consistency and seasoning of the consomme that lets you know you’re dealing with pros. The steak was tender enough to submit to the mere suggestion of a fork – a rarity in a world that too often toughens its promises. I devoured two at lunch and found the third just as compelling when it made a curtain call at dinner. These tacos aren't just food; they're a reliable pleasure.

The standout side was unexpectedly the Yuca fries. In a refreshing twist from the ubiquitous beans and rice, these fries paired perfectly with the rest of the meal, elevating the humble yuca to something borderline sublime.

Our table shared mojitos, which struck a fine balance – not too sweet, not too salty, with just the right whisper of mint. It’s a concoction that respects the rum and the ritual.

BeaUnique Latin Kitchen earns a solid 7/10 on my scorecard. It’s the sort of place that beckons a return whenever my path leads back through Elgin. In a world often overeager to reinvent, this kitchen sticks to its roots and delivers...

Not sure why people giving 5 stars but my review was not amazing. I ordered a steak sandwich and what I got seemed like shredded beef with melted cheese in between bread roll. Nothing great for the $15 price point you pay. Also this should not be advertised as steak sandwich cause a piece of steak was no where to be found. I should have known better when I was told they do not grill the steak.

My wife ordered steak jibarito sandwich and that sucked too. The steak was shredded beef again and they used old lettuce that had black on most of the leaf. Why even use old lettuce just skip it and tell us you don't have any lettuce. Puerto Rican rice was not authentic tasting either. Another sad $15 meal.

Finally my kids ate steak quesadillas. Which they enjoyed but that was also $15 as there is no kids menu here.

We found it kind of weird that inside had no tables and chairs even though there was room for indoor dining. Sidewalk had 3 tables so we had to eat outside. Also no beer is served which not a deal breaker but if I'm going out to dinner I like 1 or 2 beers with dinner but no big deal.

Would I go again? Probably not.. there's another solid Puerto Rican restaurant in Elgin on Villa St that has better jibarito sandwiches. My other option is our go to Puerto Rican spot in Melrose Park on Lake St but that's a hike but worth the drive. Good luck I hope this business does better as it...