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ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine, Chicago, IL

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine

4.6
4.6
57 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 27 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Innovative
  • Vegetarian-friendly
We celebrate the culinary connections between the Oaxacan region in Mexico and a neighboring international cuisine. It highlights the vibrant flavors, traditional techniques, and unique ingredients of Oaxaca, while also incorporating elements and influences from a neighboring culinary tradition.

Meet Carlos Lopez Muñoz, a culinary virtuoso hailing from the vibrant tapestry of Oaxaca, Mexico. His gastronomic odyssey began in the heart of his family's kitchen, weaving a narrative steeped in the rich culinary tradition of "El Istmo."

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Regional Mexican
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Fri–Sun 09:00–14:00 Dinner Thu–Sun 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (872) 315-2034
  • Website
    https://www.istmochicago.com/
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Carlos Lopez Muñoz
  • Catering
    contact@istmochicago.com
  • Private party facilities
    Join us for an unforgettable experience celebrating the vibrant spirit of Oaxaca! Immerse yourself in an exquisite culinary experience featuring authentic Oaxacan cuisine, known for its rich and diverse flavors. Our skilled chef will delight your palate with traditional dishes, crafted with the freshest local ingredients and time-honored recipes.

Experiences

  • ISTMO NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER

    US$95.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Join Istmo for an enchanting New Year's Eve celebration! This experience is $95 per person and includes a 5-course tasting menu and a bubbly toast of Monte Xanic Rose with an option to enhance your experience with a wine pairing or cocktails for $45. We look forward to toasting to 2025 with you as we reflect on the past year. We can't wait to share this special evening with you!
    ISTMO NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER photo

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 57 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Chicago

    Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine delights with its "amazing chef" and authentic flavors that transport you to Oaxaca. Guests rave about the "delicious food," "thoughtful" presentation, and "friendly staff." While some find the service inconsistent, the vibrant ambiance and "exquisite" dishes make it a neighborhood gem worth visiting.

57 Reviews

  1. Rajeev

    VIP

    Chicago

    27 reviews

    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best oaxacn food ever had Flavors and texture par excellence Excellent service

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  2. Ava

    Indiana

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Absolutely delicious food and drinks. A very memorable and enjoyable meal!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Jazmine

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful restaurant. Authentic Mexican cuisine. Brunch was delicious, looking forward to their dinner menu.

    Is this helpful?

  4. David

    VIP

    Chicago

    10 reviews

    4.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Still some kinks to work out but foid is great. Only one beer selection? Need to install cold weather entryway to keep diners near doir from freezing.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Chicagofireball

    VIP

    Chicago

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 2 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our dinner at Istmo was such a pleasant surprise. The staff was kind and knowledgeable. We received a history about the dishes from the owner. The restaurant was beautiful and the food was superb. A complete gem!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Valentina

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 1 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our dinner was absolutely amazing! We had the best experience. Food was delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Jay

    Chicago

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on 1 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Every time we dine here, we have an amazing time. The food is excellent, the service is friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend this place for authentic Oaxacan food!

    Is this helpful?

  8. sam

    VIP

    Chicago

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 29 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    ImFun and Delicious! I’ve had Sunday brunch and more recently my special birthday meal. The service and food have been great both times. Glad they’ve been able to extend their hours for an evening meal. The beverage program is on point and even better ( for me) they now have their liquor license. The chef really brings the flavors of the isthmus region of Oaxaca to the table in an inventive manner. Very thoughtful.

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  9. Tomasa

    Chicago

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 29 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Every thing was delicious , definitely going back!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Karen

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 29 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food, chef came out, great staff. Will have to come back to try their breakfast menu.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine is rated 4.6 stars by 57 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 27 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine

3231 N Clark St ste 4, Chicago, IL 60657-2172

Additional information

  • Area
    Lake View
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Fri–Sun 09:00–14:00 Dinner Thu–Sun 17:00–22:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Regional Mexican
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Executive Chef
    Carlos Lopez Muñoz
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Private Room, Vegan, Weekend Brunch
  • Website
    https://www.istmochicago.com/
  • Phone number
    (872) 315-2034
  • Catering
    contact@istmochicago.com
  • Private party facilities
    Join us for an unforgettable experience celebrating the vibrant spirit of Oaxaca! Immerse yourself in an exquisite culinary experience featuring authentic Oaxacan cuisine, known for its rich and diverse flavors. Our skilled chef will delight your palate with traditional dishes, crafted with the freshest local ingredients and time-honored recipes.
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