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Upstairs space - Nellie's Restaurant, Chicago, IL

Nellie's Restaurant

4.8 (196)
$30 and under
Puerto Rican
2458 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Make a reservation

A photo of Nellie's Restaurant restaurant

Nellie's Restaurant

4.8
$30 and under
Puerto Rican
Bucktown / Wicker Park

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 7 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Great for brunch
  • Charming
  • Good for groups
Nellie’s Puerto Rican Restaurant is a family owned eatery nested in the heart of Chicago’s vibrant Puerto Rican community.

Since opening in March 2006, Nellie’s has become recognized as one of “Chicago’s Best”. Serving a unique blend of traditional Puerto Rican cuisine and American breakfast favorites. Including their famous 'avena de coco' (coconut oatmeal) and the ever popular weekend buffet.

Nellie's prepares every dish with the highest quality ingredients by a talented cooking staff and served with a warm smile.

Nellie’s is not a restaurant; it is an experience. Find out what the excitement is all about!

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Puerto Rican, Breakfast, All you can eat/Buffet
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 7:00 am–3:00 pm Sat, Sun 9:00 am–4:00 pm
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Pablo Espinosa
  • Catering
    Full Service Catering - https://www.nelliesrestaurant.com/catering/full-service<br />Carry Out Catering - https://www.nelliesrestaurant.com/catering/carry-out-catering
  • Private party facilities
    Second floor private space for parties, meetings, or any celebration!
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Bucktown / Wicker Park
  • Cross street
    Campbell and Division
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    There are two transit stops, one going west and another east located on Division and Campbell. Right in front of the restaurant.
  • Additional
    Banquet, BYO Liquor, BYO Wine, Cafe, Delivery, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch
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Experiences

  • Puerto Rican Weekend Buffet at Nellie’s 🇵🇷✨

    1 - 26 people

    Multiple dates available
    Start your weekend off right with Nellie’s famous Weekend Brunch Buffet — a soulful spread full of sabor, comfort, and Caribbean warmth! 🌞🥄 Join us every Saturday & Sunday from 9 AM – 2 PM and dig into all your Puerto Rican brunch favorites, made fresh and served with love. Available for one or for all no matter, full table does NOT need to participate. Here’s what’s on the buffet: 🥓 Bacon & Sausage, Season potatoes 🍖 Chicharrón de Pollo, Pastelón 🍳 Omelet Station 🍚 Arroz con Gandules, Maduros 🥞 French Toast, Waffles, Avena de Coco 🍰 Dessert Table & More! 📅 Reservations are recommended: 📞 (773) 252-5520 📍 2458 W Division St 🌐 nelliesrestaurant.com Buffet service ends at 2:00 PM. Guests seated prior may continue dining. Whether you’re bringing family, friends, or just your appetite — there’s a seat at our table waiting for you. 💛
    Puerto Rican Weekend Buffet at Nellie’s 🇵🇷✨ Photo

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What 196 people are saying

Nellie's Restaurant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.7Value

NoiseModerate

196 Reviews
  1. gladis

    Chicago2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on March 21, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    I love to eat at Puerto Rican restaurant and this one was one of my favorite but, the service and food are getting really crappie

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  2. Angelique Gold

    Chicago27 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The best jibaritos. Our food came out faster than previous visits, so that was a welcome improvement. Maduros and coconut oatmeal are also delicious. The service is always friendly. Such a great casual neighborhood gem with really good food.

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  3. Beth Gold

    Chicago5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on December 23, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was vey tasty and the service was quite good.

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  4. Pamela Gold

    Charlotte67 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 25, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Maybe I was expecting something more from word of mouth from other diners. I was a bit underwhelmed overall, but the food was really wonderful.

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  5. Angelique Gold

    Chicago27 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Nellie's has the best steak jibaritos! The coconut oatmeal is also delicious. The maduros are hit and miss - sometimes they're soft and sweet, other times they're dry. The service can be slow, but it is always friendly. Decor is easy-going and comfortable with fun art. The restaurant and bathrooms are clean. Nellie's is our favorite spot for Puerto Rican and worth the drive (about 35 minutes for us).

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  6. Marc Gold

    Chicago91 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great. Time the food was on par. Try the buffet. It’s worth the price. U must try the oatmeal. Great service. Very attentive. Ask for the omelet cook to tell u the story of the artwork

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  7. K Gold

    Chicago6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Food and service are top notch! The menu is extensive and the weekend breakfast buffet has the perfect amount of choices and diversity.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 1, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very homey, I love coming here for breakfast whenever I'm in the area. Never disappoints

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 12, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food as always is delicious ,servers and workers very polite and courteous

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago3 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on May 11, 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Unfortunately heard a lot of good things and made reservations but disappointed. Service was slow for not being super busy. They had a vendor show happening upstairs and wondering if that’s where servers kept going. Food was room temperature when it came, not much flavor. French toast was very dry. Steak had no seasoning on it. Coffee was good though. We were given the bill, paid cash and never received our change. Never got our dessert we ordered to go, and no receipt. The waitress never came back and couldn’t be found. We stopped at the vendor show and there she was shopping. So disappointed and won’t be returning.

    1 person found this helpful

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Puerto Rican, Breakfast, All you can eat/Buffet
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 7:00 am–3:00 pm Sat, Sun 9:00 am–4:00 pm
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Pablo Espinosa
  • Catering
    Full Service Catering - https://www.nelliesrestaurant.com/catering/full-service<br />Carry Out Catering - https://www.nelliesrestaurant.com/catering/carry-out-catering
  • Private party facilities
    Second floor private space for parties, meetings, or any celebration!
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Bucktown / Wicker Park
  • Cross street
    Campbell and Division
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    There are two transit stops, one going west and another east located on Division and Campbell. Right in front of the restaurant.
  • Additional
    Banquet, BYO Liquor, BYO Wine, Cafe, Delivery, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

FAQs

Yes, Nellie’s is kid-friendly. Guests commonly bring families, celebrate birthdays with children, and enjoy weekend breakfasts together. The buffet is especially convenient for kids because it offers a variety of choices. While there’s no menu provided here to confirm a specific kids’ menu, the casual atmosphere and family-focused reviews make Nellie’s a comfortable option for children. For large family groups or specific needs, call ahead to confirm seating.

Nellie’s is a family-owned restaurant. The owner’s description emphasizes family ownership since opening in March 2006, serving traditional Puerto Rican cuisine and American breakfast favorites with a focus on warm, friendly service and high-quality ingredients.

Portions at Nellie’s tend to match casual-dining expectations and the weekend buffet is a good option if you want to try several items. Guests often mention hearty breakfast plates and the buffet lets you sample multiple dishes. A few guests felt certain plated items were pricey for the portion, while others praised the value of the buffet. If you’re particularly hungry, the buffet or ordering a couple of shareable items (maduros, jibaritos, coconut oatmeal) is a reliable choice.

Family-friendly: yes, guests commonly bring families, celebrate birthdays, and enjoy breakfast together, and the weekend buffet is especially family-friendly. Accessibility: there isn’t clear public information about wheelchair access or other specific accessible seating features. If accessibility is essential, call ahead to confirm entries, restroom access, and seating options so the staff can help accommodate your visit.

Busiest: weekend mornings and brunch hours, especially when the popular breakfast buffet is running, guests often recommend the buffet but note it can bring crowds. Vendor events have also increased traffic at times. Quietest: weekday mornings and early afternoons outside of the buffet window are typically more relaxed, with faster service and fewer crowds. If you prefer a calm visit, aim for midweek or earlier weekday service.

The best day depends on what you want: go on a weekend for the signature breakfast buffet and classic café-style offerings, which many guests recommend for tasting a variety of Puerto Rican favorites. If you prefer a quieter, more leisurely meal with quicker service, pick a weekday, especially midweek mornings or early afternoons. Either way, call ahead during peak times to secure a smooth visit.

Yes, Nellie’s can be a charming choice for a casual, cozy date night. The restaurant has a homey, comfortable vibe with colorful art and friendly staff, making it ideal for relaxed conversations over Puerto Rican classics or the popular weekend breakfast buffet. If you’re after a formal, upscale experience, this isn’t that spot; for a warm, neighborhood date with great coffee and standout dishes like the coconut oatmeal and jibaritos, Nellie’s is a solid pick. Consider a weekday or an early weekend seating to avoid the busiest times.

Nellie’s hours are weekday mornings through mid-afternoon and a later weekend breakfast service. Specifically: Monday–Friday 7:00 am–3:00 pm, and Saturday–Sunday 9:00 am–4:00 pm. The weekend schedule supports their popular breakfast buffet, so expect busier service during those times. If you need a particular seating time or are planning to visit for the buffet, calling ahead is a good idea.

The dress code is smart casual. Nellie’s is a relaxed, family-owned spot where most guests wear casual or smart-casual attire, think neat jeans, casual dresses, or button-down shirts. The emphasis is on comfort and a welcoming atmosphere rather than formal dressing. If you’re planning a special occasion, dressing a bit nicer is perfectly fine, but there’s no need for formal wear.

For the classic Nellie’s experience, go for weekend breakfast when the popular buffet and café-style offerings are running, guests often recommend that. If you prefer a quieter visit, choose a weekday morning or early afternoon outside of the buffet window. Be aware that occasional vendor events or busy weekend crowds can slow service, so early seating or calling ahead helps if you want faster service or a more relaxed meal.

Yes, it’s a good idea to call ahead with special requests. Guests praise the staff’s friendliness, and while the restaurant doesn’t list formal private-dining services, the team has handled accommodations for families and events. Whether you need a seating preference, have dietary questions, or want guidance about the weekend buffet, a quick phone call before your visit will help the staff prepare and ensure a smoother experience.

Nellie’s offers casual indoor seating in a comfortable, neighborhood-style dining room with bright, fun artwork. Guests have noted an upstairs vendor event space on occasion, but the restaurant does not advertise private-dining rooms for reservations. The vibe is relaxed, seating is suited to small groups and families. For large parties or specific seating needs, call ahead so staff can advise on availability and the best time for your group.

Nellie’s atmosphere is warm and homey, a comfortable neighborhood spot with colorful, fun artwork and friendly staff. Guests frequently praise the inviting, casual vibe that suits breakfast dates, family meals, and relaxed gatherings. The space is described as clean and easy-going; service is typically friendly, though some guests have experienced slower service during busy periods or events. Overall it feels like a welcoming local gem for Puerto Rican comfort food and coffee.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. Chicago
  5. Bucktown / Wicker Park

Make a reservation

A photo of Nellie's Restaurant restaurant

Nellie's Restaurant

4.8
$30 and under
Puerto Rican
Bucktown / Wicker Park

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 7 times today
Experiences are available.
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