This Tiny Hidden Gem Restaurant Is Making Some Of The Best Latin-Fusion Food In Illinois
By Linze Rice|Published August 17, 2023
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Linze Rice
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Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
When it comes to exceptional food in Illinois, I hate to have to choose. Which will satisfy more — house-made Italian or classic American brisket? In a perfect world, a bit of both would be ideal. Even within the same genre of food, the array of techniques and nuances that exist between cultures, regions, and styles means there are endless dining possibilities that are limited only to a chef’s imagination. So when a new concept opened in my neighborhood in 2021 that melded a mix of Latin flavors, I wasn’t surprised when it gained a reputation for being the best Latin-fusion restaurant in Berwyn, Illinois.
La Malquerida Latin Fusion, 6906 Windsor Ave., is a top-rated local restaurant nestled along train tracks between Chicago and the western suburbs. Though its outside may be unassuming, this hidden gem packs a flavorful punch.
The spacious, well-stocked bar is also an option for those looking to dine or drink — and I highly recommend ordering one of the incredible, creative cocktails on the menu.
Of course, the drink menu is designed to pair perfectly with the main attraction: the award-winning food. The hidden gem specializes in dishes with a variety of Latin roots and cooking techniques.
Starters like fresh ceviche and sopesitos are two favorite dishes to kick things off.
One of the most decadent, yet simplistic comfort dishes is the Pollo Relleno, which sees half an organic Amish chicken stuffed with spinach manchego cheese resting in a piquillo sauce with roasted potatoes.
One of the most popular dishes is the Costilla de Cordero — a plate of succulent grilled lamb chops with a fig demi-glaze surrounded by serrano peppers, mint yogurt, roasted potatoes, poblano peppers, sweet corn, and habanero.
The food is a treat for the eyes as well as the stomach.
And if it's true that a well-cooked steak is a test of a restaurant's abilities, then La Malquerida has passed with flying colors. Its Bistek Alteño is another go-to entree — with tender grilled skirt steak coupled with chorizo, pico de gallo, chihuahua cheese, roasted potatoes, onions, and poblano peppers.
I also highly recommend the Flautas de Pescado if you're looking for something on the lighter side.
So, would you stop by to experience the best Latin-fusion restaurant in Berwyn, Illinois? Have another beloved hole-in-the-wall diner you’d recommend? Tell us in the comments! Start planning your visit by checking out the La Malquerida website. And, with the restaurant’s ideal location next to the Metra train, it’s easy to turn a delicious food destination into a fun day trip! Just hop on an under-30-minute train ride into the city and check out the best-selling Gangsters and Ghosts Tour — an incredible look at some of Chicago’s most notorious gangster hangouts, many of which are thought to be haunted.
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