Restaurant Review – Brazilian Bowl

I’m always looking for healthy food on the go! And it’s always a bonus when it’s something different and unique. This week took me to Brazilian Bowl. Brazilian Bowl is a fast casual, counter service restaurant with two locations: one in Lakeview and one in Albany Park. We went to the location in Lakeview. The restaurant is small, with a limited number of tables. We came in on a Saturday afternoon around 1 o’clock and it was packed! Since we planned to take our lunch to go, we knew we wouldn’t need a table and hopped in line. It only took about ten minutes for us to get up to the counter- not bad considering how many people were in the place! The menu is large with a number of categories including bowls, burritos, salads, empanadas, sides, juices and smoothies, desserts, and more. My friend decided to order a Steak Bowl. The bowl is packed with seasoned rice, grilled vegetables, Brazilian pico de gallo, cheese, sautéed kale, lettuce, corn, Brazilian sauce, and a choice of beans. He chose black beans and added hot sauce. You can also add guacamole or extra meat, for $2.25 and $2.95 respectively. The bowl is gigantic- for just $8.95, I was super impressed with the portion size. He said it was delicious! The meat was perfectly spiced and grilled and the numerous veggies were tasty and very filing. I ordered the Turkey and Pineapple Salad: a huge bed of romaine lettuce topped with roasted turkey, Brazilian pico de gallo, corn, and grilled pineapple, topped with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. I’m not normally a big fan of turkey, but this was very very good. I really enjoyed the corn and pineapple, they added sweetness and depth to the salad. I will most definitely be back! There were so many other items on the menu that caught my eye, I’ve got to go back and try them.

The Lakeview location is at 3204 N Broadway and the Albany Park location is at 3200 W Lawrence. Lakeview hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 11 am to 10 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 9 pm. Albany Park is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. Brazilian Bowl is also available for takeout and delivery. Find more information on their website.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO