**UPDATE BELOW** This is the best Dominican food I've had in Chicago. I went to some place on Kimball not too far away from here and the food was HORRRIBLE. The morir sonando here is amazing. If you looking for something delicious that's Dominican and authentic you need look no further. UPDATE 3/23/2013 I brought my mom here because my husband and I loved this place out first time. The second time WAS NOT a charm. Our waitress was all of 14 years old and she knew nothing of customer service. I'm sure it's because her mother has her being there working for free instead of hiring someone to come and actually give service. We got the pescado frito and the fish was dry, the lime they gave us doesn't help with the dryness. I ordered my mother pollo guisado and the pollo(chicken) was very chewy like jerky. No I'm black and my husband is Dominican so they assume neither of us speak Spanish because my husband looks like he's Filipino. The woman behind the counter said in Spanish to the 14yr old waitress "That's how its suppose to taste" I cook pollo guisado and many other Dominican dishes for my husband and it never tastes like that. I didn't even taste to cumin which is usually in guisado. My husband asked if the guisado could be taken off of the bill since no one is going to eat it and the lady behind the counter said NO. Now what kind of service is that!? After all that my mother still left a 5 dollar tip and they didn't even say thank you!! So in all, I don't see myself going back here.
(3)
Rafael C.
I got lucky and enjoyed my food but not so for others in my group. I labored whether to go three or 2 stars but since I haven't had the desire to go back, I chose two. This place seems to have a very local vibe to it and unless you mesh right, the experience won't feel entirely welcoming. We came with a big group and instead of trying to win us over with service they lost us entirely.
(2)
Aurore L.
When you say 'tropical' you automatically think: sunny...warm...paradise...lively....welcoming....coconut......bikinis...wet swimming trunks...exposed abs.... Okay, maybe not all this. I am fantasizing a little bit here. Hey, winter is slowly coming along so let me dream on... But here the taste left in your mouth after your meal is not that tropical. Read warm, sunny, welcoming and so on. Except that coconut can indeed lingers on your tongue if, like me, you opted for fish in coconut sauce for lunch. Seriously - this place was borderline rude to us. Fine, we were not all Dominican (but we had ONE among us!!!! Does it count for nothing?!?!?) but we were all polite, happy to be there and willing to order in Spanish. Because forget about Shakespeare here; and it's fine. Just be patient and understanding ladies por favor. I mean - we are giving you business after all. Be nice to us, yes? End result: my fish was lukewarm (at best), the goat stew was really bony and extra fatty, the maduros and tostones - dry and served sin salsa. So, so, so sad - I could have sung the blues would it have been culturally appropriate; but I was too worried to be shot by the pistols eyes of our hosts who wanted us out there so badly we could sense the bad vibrations all across the room. Oh, atmosphere........ I got up to ask 'para la cuenta' (the others didn't dare) and we clearly saw that on other tables things look MUCH better: condiments, presentation, specials.....we were not on the right side of the Dom' Rep'. A shame? I would say so. Tropical Fail.
(2)
Allen P.
As some of the other Yelpers mentioned... don't expect anything fancy and feels a little dirty... But, it's the real deal if you're looking for Dominican food in Chicago, it's cheap, and they give you a lot of food.
(4)
Othoniel C.
Now how in the hell is it that I live in Humboldt Park, and can't find a Puerto Rican restaurant that knows how to make arroz con gandules aka Puerto Rican rice, the RIGHT WAY????? For the RIGHT price? (don't forget the rotisserie chicken) AND enough to feed my 250lbs ass for lunch AND dinner on one serving. I step into this hole in the wall Dominican joint and the lady already knows what I want. ...I'm hooked
(4)
Maria L.
I give Tropical Taste 4 stars for heart. Being the only Dominican restaurant in Chicago for a long time (on and off, there is another one now) takes guts. However, the food is not so hot. There was a bodeguita on Fullerton that sold MUCH better Dominican food, but sadly, no longer there. But, if you're hankering for some pica pollo or a morro or some plain old arroz con habichuelas (bean girl!), this will do. However, if you want some slightly more expensive, but much better food, let me know and I'll give you the out-of-business bodeguita owner who sells REALLY good food out of her home.
(4)
Chan K.
Amazing oxtail stew. The place is a real dive, and the chef speaks a bit of English, but the food is authentic.
(3)
Heidi D.
Delicious & healthy portions! There's a restaurant in Wash Heights (ny) Nueva Espana that I like better but this place is amazing! Ordered takeout for 2 . The chicken soup, arroz con habichuelas, maduros and a half chicken. The white rice is free. The total came to less than $18 and could've served 4 people! There were leftovers & even 2 dogs were happy :) The only bummer is that they only serve sancocho on Sun:(
At a site visit in the area, and a staff member recommended this Dominican place as an alternative to Puerto Rican food. He told us, "it's a little whole in the wall kind of place" and he was not kidding. It's a very unassuming, small yet homey little restaurant. NOTHING fancy about it, but as soon as we sat down the lady in charge came to take our orders and was very patient in explaining the menu to us. I ordered the beef stew (guisado de res) with white rice and beans, and my coworker ordered the 1/4 chicken with arroz con gandules. As we sat and waited for our food, the same lady brought out a plate of fried chicken for another table. My coworker then asked if he could order that instead, she informed us that that plate was the last one. My silly coworker asked if he could have a taste, and since she knew the other guests well asked for a drumstick for my coworker. My coworker LOVED the fried chicken. Then our food arrived and it was HEAVENLY, all of it! We finished our meal with an order of maduros and another of tostones. Those were amazing and perfect as well. Will be going back as soon as I can!
(4)
Antonio r.
The food was good. I ordered Moro de guandules which is yellow rice with pigeon peas and a side or morir soñando which is like a liquid creamsicle and it was pretty damn spot on with what I expected. I am giving them 3 instead of 4 stars because the service was super slow and while I've come to expect super slow service from Dominican restaurants based on my experience in DR and living
(3)
Vivian A.
real good dominican food. only come here if you're familiar with the cuisine. my go to spot for mangu in humboldt park. loooove it!
(4)
Johnny T.
I did not know fear until I entered the darkened hall of Tropical Taste. Don't be fooled by the name: you won't be welcomed by calypso music and fruity beverages here. Instead, the groans of maligned guests will be your soundtrack and you'll sip the salty elixir of bitter tears. I arrived at this Humboldt Park spot because I hadn't eaten Dominican cuisine since I roamed the streets of Washington Heights in NYC. Searching around on the site, I came across a few options here in Chicago. Searching around on foot, I decided on Tropical Taste. You know the phrase, "Feets don't fail me now?" My feets? They failed me. What looks warm and inviting from the street is anything but on the inside. I'm not talking furniture or decor. I am talking about the rude ways in which the owner/cook/bodyguard/whoeversheis treating my party and in particular, me. I walked in, smiled and went about being my charming, adorable self. I was addressed in Spanish, I replied that I didn't speak Spanish (in Spanish) and the fun began. We were yelled at -- from the counter -- to give our orders within minutes of sitting down. Other tables were waited on. We were given a small selection of dishes from which to order. Other tables were given special menus and secret sauces (seriously). We were given food that may or not have been sitting around for a while. Other tables were given food so hot we saw steam rise from it. In particular, I ordered a fish dish with coconut milk. I was given (almost immediately after ordering) a cold fish dish with coconut milk. Cold. Fish. That had been cooked. Our tostones? No sauce. And dry. Very. Very. Very. Dry. I looked up at the counter (and at our antagonist) to inquire about wth was going on and received a "QUE?!" barked like from the mouth of a rabid pelican. Toucan. Rabid toucan. Basically, I was made to feel as though if I didn't speak Spanish, I was not welcome to be here. Fine. Cool. I get it. You want a certain clientele and that's it. Free country. Do you. The thing is, don't take my money. Don't open for business to the public. Get a dinner club license or something. Open to those on a mailing list. Y'see, if you're open to the public and take everyone's money, odds are you're going to get the occasional (or, every day ) guy or gal who doesn't speak your native tongue. But, there is a universal language: kindness. Smile. Point. Nod. Communicate in ways other than glares, loud sighs and sucked teeth. You lost a great opportunity to open your business to a new audience by being so needlessly hostile to a bunch of folks WHO GAVE YOU MONEY! But, I don't think you much care. oh, thatsecondstarisbecauseiamtooafraidofyoutogiveyoutÂheoneyoudeserve.
(2)
Ben E.
I'll give Tropical Taste a solid three stars for the meal I had there (stewed goat and rice with gandules) but really...the rest of the place probably deserves just two. The atmosphere is essentially that of a low-grade, slightly dirty, Chinese takeout place (i.e. none), and unless you speak Spanish you won't have much, if any, luck in communicating with the staff. Everyone working there the day I visited was friendly, but it was abundantly clear that many menu items were available that simply were not on the menu I was given, and nobody could communicate those options to me. Too bad. While the prices aren't bad, I'm not sure I'd call this a bargain either, at least when lunch runs over $10 if you order a drink and leave a tip. I'm not sure I would avoid this place, but the owners certainly don't do much to encourage repeat business either. There are several other nearby spots that offer much better food, service, and value. I'll probably search for Dominican food elsewhere in the future.
(3)
jason t.
i just rolled in and got some bistec guisado and arroz con habichuelas to go, seven bucks for a huge heaping plate. the rice was about perfect, but the guisado tasted like it had been sitting out for a bit. i reckon if i had come in as they had brought out a fresh tray i'd be giving them another star.
(3)
Emily C.
Delicious! I don't have much of a reference point as it was my first time eating at a Dominican restaurant, but we really enjoyed it. We just ordered a bunch of things and shared them which is probably the way to go. The menu is quite limited, but clearly they know what they're doing. The Mangu was my favorite and I absolutely loved the beans. We also had really good Tostones (although I'm used to having them with a sauce of some sort), chicken soup, yucca and roasted chicken all of which were good. I was not a big fan of the bacalao as it was over cooked and really fishy. Don't expect Americanized style service here either. Just because you know you are done eating does not mean they will just clear your plates and bring your check. You need to ask. Don't take this for bad service. It's just a cultural difference. Really loved the owner, she was very nice and very interested in our opinions of the food. Also of note, Carlos Marmol came in for lunch while we were there. Very cool and probably a great testament to the authenticity and quality here.
(4)
David J.
My wife is from the Dominican Republic and we go here once in awhile for Dominican food when she does not feel like cooking. The family is Dominican and the food is Dominican so this is the real deal. The only problem is that you feel like your not welcome. The owners treat other guests who come in that are Dominican friendly but if your borned in the United States its the cold shoulder and you sense that they don't like you. Its like your being intrusive or your invading there neighborhood. So the food is good and this place is legit but if your an American citizen borned in this country prepare to be made feel unwelcome and unwanted in your own country. Bon Appetit!
(1)
Patricia P.
This restaurant is a great value for your money, and as a Dominican I can tell you is authentic Dominican food! Dont expect a fancy restaurant here....its more of a cafeteria! food is seating there until its over, so the earlier the fresher.
(5)
Flor O.
Food is good . If your looking for inexpensive authntic dominican food this is the place to come.
(3)
Anny R.
Typical delicious Dominican food. Don't expect anything fancy or exceptional service, just great portions, delicious food and a whole lot of dominicans!
(5)
Eldiva S.
Went last week and I am a fan of this restaurant! I moved here a few months ago and being Dominican I was craving good dominican food - I can confidently say this is good Dominican food : ) It has a very limited menu and is a hole in the wall, but it delivers the flavors that are dead on Dominican (a good thing)- well seasoned, flavorful, juicy meat. My favorite thing to get is the roasted chicken with the steamed yucca topped with grilled onions...tastes like my mom or grandma made it! Yum... Looking forward to trying a couple more of their dishes! Also the cost is very low for all they give you and the staff/owner is nice. I am giving this place 5 stars because it is good, authentic food - so if that's what you want, come here! But don't come for the atmosphere. Also, I agree with the reviewer that said the food will be fresher when you go during peak times- lunch I assume would be the busiest...
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Waiter Service : No
Beatrice D.
**UPDATE BELOW** This is the best Dominican food I've had in Chicago. I went to some place on Kimball not too far away from here and the food was HORRRIBLE. The morir sonando here is amazing. If you looking for something delicious that's Dominican and authentic you need look no further. UPDATE 3/23/2013 I brought my mom here because my husband and I loved this place out first time. The second time WAS NOT a charm. Our waitress was all of 14 years old and she knew nothing of customer service. I'm sure it's because her mother has her being there working for free instead of hiring someone to come and actually give service. We got the pescado frito and the fish was dry, the lime they gave us doesn't help with the dryness. I ordered my mother pollo guisado and the pollo(chicken) was very chewy like jerky. No I'm black and my husband is Dominican so they assume neither of us speak Spanish because my husband looks like he's Filipino. The woman behind the counter said in Spanish to the 14yr old waitress "That's how its suppose to taste" I cook pollo guisado and many other Dominican dishes for my husband and it never tastes like that. I didn't even taste to cumin which is usually in guisado. My husband asked if the guisado could be taken off of the bill since no one is going to eat it and the lady behind the counter said NO. Now what kind of service is that!? After all that my mother still left a 5 dollar tip and they didn't even say thank you!! So in all, I don't see myself going back here.
(3)Rafael C.
I got lucky and enjoyed my food but not so for others in my group. I labored whether to go three or 2 stars but since I haven't had the desire to go back, I chose two. This place seems to have a very local vibe to it and unless you mesh right, the experience won't feel entirely welcoming. We came with a big group and instead of trying to win us over with service they lost us entirely.
(2)Aurore L.
When you say 'tropical' you automatically think: sunny...warm...paradise...lively....welcoming....coconut......bikinis...wet swimming trunks...exposed abs.... Okay, maybe not all this. I am fantasizing a little bit here. Hey, winter is slowly coming along so let me dream on... But here the taste left in your mouth after your meal is not that tropical. Read warm, sunny, welcoming and so on. Except that coconut can indeed lingers on your tongue if, like me, you opted for fish in coconut sauce for lunch. Seriously - this place was borderline rude to us. Fine, we were not all Dominican (but we had ONE among us!!!! Does it count for nothing?!?!?) but we were all polite, happy to be there and willing to order in Spanish. Because forget about Shakespeare here; and it's fine. Just be patient and understanding ladies por favor. I mean - we are giving you business after all. Be nice to us, yes? End result: my fish was lukewarm (at best), the goat stew was really bony and extra fatty, the maduros and tostones - dry and served sin salsa. So, so, so sad - I could have sung the blues would it have been culturally appropriate; but I was too worried to be shot by the pistols eyes of our hosts who wanted us out there so badly we could sense the bad vibrations all across the room. Oh, atmosphere........ I got up to ask 'para la cuenta' (the others didn't dare) and we clearly saw that on other tables things look MUCH better: condiments, presentation, specials.....we were not on the right side of the Dom' Rep'. A shame? I would say so. Tropical Fail.
(2)Allen P.
As some of the other Yelpers mentioned... don't expect anything fancy and feels a little dirty... But, it's the real deal if you're looking for Dominican food in Chicago, it's cheap, and they give you a lot of food.
(4)Othoniel C.
Now how in the hell is it that I live in Humboldt Park, and can't find a Puerto Rican restaurant that knows how to make arroz con gandules aka Puerto Rican rice, the RIGHT WAY????? For the RIGHT price? (don't forget the rotisserie chicken) AND enough to feed my 250lbs ass for lunch AND dinner on one serving. I step into this hole in the wall Dominican joint and the lady already knows what I want. ...I'm hooked
(4)Maria L.
I give Tropical Taste 4 stars for heart. Being the only Dominican restaurant in Chicago for a long time (on and off, there is another one now) takes guts. However, the food is not so hot. There was a bodeguita on Fullerton that sold MUCH better Dominican food, but sadly, no longer there. But, if you're hankering for some pica pollo or a morro or some plain old arroz con habichuelas (bean girl!), this will do. However, if you want some slightly more expensive, but much better food, let me know and I'll give you the out-of-business bodeguita owner who sells REALLY good food out of her home.
(4)Chan K.
Amazing oxtail stew. The place is a real dive, and the chef speaks a bit of English, but the food is authentic.
(3)Heidi D.
Delicious & healthy portions! There's a restaurant in Wash Heights (ny) Nueva Espana that I like better but this place is amazing! Ordered takeout for 2 . The chicken soup, arroz con habichuelas, maduros and a half chicken. The white rice is free. The total came to less than $18 and could've served 4 people! There were leftovers & even 2 dogs were happy :) The only bummer is that they only serve sancocho on Sun:(
(4)Ramon G.
Very authentic Dominican food. You don't come here for the décor.
(4)Irma L.
At a site visit in the area, and a staff member recommended this Dominican place as an alternative to Puerto Rican food. He told us, "it's a little whole in the wall kind of place" and he was not kidding. It's a very unassuming, small yet homey little restaurant. NOTHING fancy about it, but as soon as we sat down the lady in charge came to take our orders and was very patient in explaining the menu to us. I ordered the beef stew (guisado de res) with white rice and beans, and my coworker ordered the 1/4 chicken with arroz con gandules. As we sat and waited for our food, the same lady brought out a plate of fried chicken for another table. My coworker then asked if he could order that instead, she informed us that that plate was the last one. My silly coworker asked if he could have a taste, and since she knew the other guests well asked for a drumstick for my coworker. My coworker LOVED the fried chicken. Then our food arrived and it was HEAVENLY, all of it! We finished our meal with an order of maduros and another of tostones. Those were amazing and perfect as well. Will be going back as soon as I can!
(4)Antonio r.
The food was good. I ordered Moro de guandules which is yellow rice with pigeon peas and a side or morir soñando which is like a liquid creamsicle and it was pretty damn spot on with what I expected. I am giving them 3 instead of 4 stars because the service was super slow and while I've come to expect super slow service from Dominican restaurants based on my experience in DR and living
(3)Vivian A.
real good dominican food. only come here if you're familiar with the cuisine. my go to spot for mangu in humboldt park. loooove it!
(4)Johnny T.
I did not know fear until I entered the darkened hall of Tropical Taste. Don't be fooled by the name: you won't be welcomed by calypso music and fruity beverages here. Instead, the groans of maligned guests will be your soundtrack and you'll sip the salty elixir of bitter tears. I arrived at this Humboldt Park spot because I hadn't eaten Dominican cuisine since I roamed the streets of Washington Heights in NYC. Searching around on the site, I came across a few options here in Chicago. Searching around on foot, I decided on Tropical Taste. You know the phrase, "Feets don't fail me now?" My feets? They failed me. What looks warm and inviting from the street is anything but on the inside. I'm not talking furniture or decor. I am talking about the rude ways in which the owner/cook/bodyguard/whoeversheis treating my party and in particular, me. I walked in, smiled and went about being my charming, adorable self. I was addressed in Spanish, I replied that I didn't speak Spanish (in Spanish) and the fun began. We were yelled at -- from the counter -- to give our orders within minutes of sitting down. Other tables were waited on. We were given a small selection of dishes from which to order. Other tables were given special menus and secret sauces (seriously). We were given food that may or not have been sitting around for a while. Other tables were given food so hot we saw steam rise from it. In particular, I ordered a fish dish with coconut milk. I was given (almost immediately after ordering) a cold fish dish with coconut milk. Cold. Fish. That had been cooked. Our tostones? No sauce. And dry. Very. Very. Very. Dry. I looked up at the counter (and at our antagonist) to inquire about wth was going on and received a "QUE?!" barked like from the mouth of a rabid pelican. Toucan. Rabid toucan. Basically, I was made to feel as though if I didn't speak Spanish, I was not welcome to be here. Fine. Cool. I get it. You want a certain clientele and that's it. Free country. Do you. The thing is, don't take my money. Don't open for business to the public. Get a dinner club license or something. Open to those on a mailing list. Y'see, if you're open to the public and take everyone's money, odds are you're going to get the occasional (or, every day ) guy or gal who doesn't speak your native tongue. But, there is a universal language: kindness. Smile. Point. Nod. Communicate in ways other than glares, loud sighs and sucked teeth. You lost a great opportunity to open your business to a new audience by being so needlessly hostile to a bunch of folks WHO GAVE YOU MONEY! But, I don't think you much care. oh, thatsecondstarisbecauseiamtooafraidofyoutogiveyoutÂheoneyoudeserve.
(2)Ben E.
I'll give Tropical Taste a solid three stars for the meal I had there (stewed goat and rice with gandules) but really...the rest of the place probably deserves just two. The atmosphere is essentially that of a low-grade, slightly dirty, Chinese takeout place (i.e. none), and unless you speak Spanish you won't have much, if any, luck in communicating with the staff. Everyone working there the day I visited was friendly, but it was abundantly clear that many menu items were available that simply were not on the menu I was given, and nobody could communicate those options to me. Too bad. While the prices aren't bad, I'm not sure I'd call this a bargain either, at least when lunch runs over $10 if you order a drink and leave a tip. I'm not sure I would avoid this place, but the owners certainly don't do much to encourage repeat business either. There are several other nearby spots that offer much better food, service, and value. I'll probably search for Dominican food elsewhere in the future.
(3)jason t.
i just rolled in and got some bistec guisado and arroz con habichuelas to go, seven bucks for a huge heaping plate. the rice was about perfect, but the guisado tasted like it had been sitting out for a bit. i reckon if i had come in as they had brought out a fresh tray i'd be giving them another star.
(3)Emily C.
Delicious! I don't have much of a reference point as it was my first time eating at a Dominican restaurant, but we really enjoyed it. We just ordered a bunch of things and shared them which is probably the way to go. The menu is quite limited, but clearly they know what they're doing. The Mangu was my favorite and I absolutely loved the beans. We also had really good Tostones (although I'm used to having them with a sauce of some sort), chicken soup, yucca and roasted chicken all of which were good. I was not a big fan of the bacalao as it was over cooked and really fishy. Don't expect Americanized style service here either. Just because you know you are done eating does not mean they will just clear your plates and bring your check. You need to ask. Don't take this for bad service. It's just a cultural difference. Really loved the owner, she was very nice and very interested in our opinions of the food. Also of note, Carlos Marmol came in for lunch while we were there. Very cool and probably a great testament to the authenticity and quality here.
(4)David J.
My wife is from the Dominican Republic and we go here once in awhile for Dominican food when she does not feel like cooking. The family is Dominican and the food is Dominican so this is the real deal. The only problem is that you feel like your not welcome. The owners treat other guests who come in that are Dominican friendly but if your borned in the United States its the cold shoulder and you sense that they don't like you. Its like your being intrusive or your invading there neighborhood. So the food is good and this place is legit but if your an American citizen borned in this country prepare to be made feel unwelcome and unwanted in your own country. Bon Appetit!
(1)Patricia P.
This restaurant is a great value for your money, and as a Dominican I can tell you is authentic Dominican food! Dont expect a fancy restaurant here....its more of a cafeteria! food is seating there until its over, so the earlier the fresher.
(5)Flor O.
Food is good . If your looking for inexpensive authntic dominican food this is the place to come.
(3)Anny R.
Typical delicious Dominican food. Don't expect anything fancy or exceptional service, just great portions, delicious food and a whole lot of dominicans!
(5)Eldiva S.
Went last week and I am a fan of this restaurant! I moved here a few months ago and being Dominican I was craving good dominican food - I can confidently say this is good Dominican food : ) It has a very limited menu and is a hole in the wall, but it delivers the flavors that are dead on Dominican (a good thing)- well seasoned, flavorful, juicy meat. My favorite thing to get is the roasted chicken with the steamed yucca topped with grilled onions...tastes like my mom or grandma made it! Yum... Looking forward to trying a couple more of their dishes! Also the cost is very low for all they give you and the staff/owner is nice. I am giving this place 5 stars because it is good, authentic food - so if that's what you want, come here! But don't come for the atmosphere. Also, I agree with the reviewer that said the food will be fresher when you go during peak times- lunch I assume would be the busiest...
(5)