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ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine, Chicago, IL

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine

4.6
4.6
40 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican
A photo of ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine restaurant

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine

4.6
$30 and under
Mexican
Lake View

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 16 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Innovative
  • Great for brunch
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 40 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
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Chicago

    Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine brings authentic flavors with "extraordinary food" and exceptional service. Guests rave about the "amazing chef" and flavorful dishes like enchiladas and tlayuda. The cozy ambiance and friendly staff make it a neighborhood gem. While some aspects can improve, the anticipation for dinner service is high.

40 Reviews

  1. Michael

    Chicago

    20 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was excellent, the music a little loud, the service attentive.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Judy

    Chicago

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Great elevated food. Quality ingredients and beautiful presentation Service a little slow and close tables which create a noisy atmosphere

    Is this helpful?

  3. BLANCA

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very delicious food and mocktails! I was impressed with all the layers of flavor in the dishes we tried. I didn’t much like the dessert but everything else more than made up for that!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Silvia

    Chicago

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Not worth the hype! Bad service, like in a hurry , food was regular

    Is this helpful?

  5. Amanda

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    I mean…it wasn’t even fine. It was just a poor excuse for good food guys. Bummer central.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Karthik

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was great; chef spoke to us to for 20 mins about his influences. Awesome experience

    Is this helpful?

  7. Laly

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is fantastic and the service amazing as well.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Matthew

    Chicago

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, handsome and comfortable dining room, helpful and attentive staff. We went for breakfast, and will definitely go back for dinner some time soon.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Priya

    Chicago

    138 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    138 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Second time visiting. All the dishes we’ve tried have been tasty and service was friendly! The mocktails are really excellent and the tinga is delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  10. David

    Chicago

    76 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    76 reviews

    Dined on 25 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    after having great brunch here joined them for their 3rd night of dinner service. the food was amazing. my friend raved about his chicken with mole . still no liquor license but BYOB worked well . def worth a visit will be back
    ISTMO Oaxacan CuisineResponded on 3 December 2024
    Thank you for joining us for both brunch and one of our dinner services! We're so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the food, especially the chicken with mole—it's a favorite. We appreciate your understanding regarding the liquor license, and we're glad that BYOB worked well for you. Your support means a lot to us, and we’re excited to welcome you back again soon for another wonderful dining experience.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine is rated 4.6 stars by 40 OpenTable diners.

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

A photo of ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine restaurant

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine

4.6
$30 and under
Mexican
Lake View

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 16 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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