Super GemChicago Exclusive Gem$$It didn't fail. Irazu is still Chicago's only Costa Rican restaurant more than three decades later, named after the Irazú volcano back home, and still family-run by their son Henry. The menu leans into real regional dishes — the Casado (rice, beans, plantains, salad, your choice of protein), Gallo Pinto, ceviche — alongside the oatmeal milkshake Miriam invented herself, which has its own small cult following.
Owner Henry Cerdas describes the food as sitting "between our big brother Mexico to the north, all of South America to the south, and Caribbean influences" — simple in the best sense, not fussy. The restaurant has historically run BYOB with mixers on hand, though cocktail service has recently been added to the menu as well. "Pura Vida" isn't just decor here — it's close to the actual operating philosophy. There's a seasonal patio out front that regulars specifically call out as lovely; it's not on OpenTable, but private rooms and catering are both available for bigger groups.
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