Line Cook

El Che Steakhouse & Bar is Executive Chef/Partner John Manion’s homage to Argentina's beloved asados, those traditional backyard barbecues featuring platters of rustic flame-finished grilled beef. This Argentinian-influenced steakhouse, located just beyond the West Loop’s famed “restaurant row,” has built a reputation as Chicago's go-to destination for beef, wine and live-fire cooking. A 12-foot custom-built grill serves as the inspiration for El Che’s menu, which includes South American-tinged meats, seasonal vegetables, seafood and novel barrio-inflected snacks. Its heat — both figuratively and literally — can be felt throughout the restaurant, especially at the Chef’s Counter and Hearth Table located directly in front of it. Chef Manion’s passion for Latin America, where he lived as a child, imbues the deeply flavorful dishes and dramatic setting of the charming 100-seat restaurant.