El Palmar — Restaurant in Lake View Township

El Palmar is one of those dive joints you really wish you had known about years ago, as the amounts of food you get and the various flavors are mind-boggling. And for said amounts they serve, they serve you fairly quickly!

Walking into the narrow entryway, you don't think much about the decor or seating arrangement, but being just outside the Wrigleyville bar district, it's plenty spacious for about 30 total people. The space is well kept, floors and tables clean and set, though the decor is a bit ostentatious.

Menus are translated (both English and Spanish) and have some funny & creative names for some of their dishes. Their menu consists of an ample number of seafood, steak, and chicken entreés, as well as breakfast items, appetizers, desserts, and beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Staff is courteous, respectful, and make you feel like you're there for family dinner. No rush to get you out the door, which is always nice!

Post-pandemic, the food has not let up. Still the best seafood I've had in a very, very long time. I wish I were joking, but the seafood is freakin huuuge! I recommend ordering the "Levanta Muertos" which translates to "Raise the Dead", which is a cold seafood cocktail with octopus, shrimp, and calamari. This massive beast will drain your hangover and load your stomach up for the rest of the day.

If you don't try this place, you have no room to complain when looking for a great seafood spot. I'm honestly surprised this place isn't packed to the brim during the day! Easily my favorite...

Great eats! 1/5/2023 update— the food is still great ! the service from the employees today was a bit disappointing. I was actually shocked because I have always been treated very nicely and greeted warmly here. Today , though, I was actually told I would be charged for chips unless I ordered inside, which I was already planning to do , so I honestly believe it was a misunderstanding.After stating that I would be ordering inside in addition to the online order I just made , I had to ask for the chips THREE times , and I got a dirty look ! Because I’ve been a long time customer here , I will just say that the young lady was just having a bad day, or perhaps, I did not order enough food for her to feel like fulfilling the request, ( last time I ordered about $18 worth of food) so I will give this business another opportunity . The next time I come in, I will order in person and see how the service is at that time, and I would be willing to update this again, but right now I give only 2 Stars, which makes me...

Definitely one of the better Mexican food places I've been to whilst in Chicago, although I am aware there are quite a few I have yet to try. With the smell of fresh Menudo in the air when you first walk in I knew it was going to be good. First off, I am a firm believer that the quality of the chips and salsa when toy first sit down sets the tone for what in store and I couldn't get enough of theirs; the chips were make perfectly and both the red and green salsas were equally flavorful! My friend loves their carne asada burrito so he had that while I enjoyed the Enchiladas Verde and boy were these servings large! Definitely more than enough food and the plating was really nice with the condiments nicely presented. The only thing that wasn't to my liking (personally) were the rice and beans, just were not to what i am used to flavor wise. All in all this sit down style Mexican taco shop was well worth it and I will definitely be going back, specifically to try their...