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ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine, Chicago, IL

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine

4.6
4.6
42 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 20 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 9:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Thu–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • 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 42 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.

42 Reviews

  1. donald

    VIP

    Chicago

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    Wonderful food - we had the Scallops for an appetizer- Sea bass for the entry- Potatoes as a side Great tasting cocktails Carlos the owner was great to talk too about his restaurant

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  2. David

    VIP

    Chicago

    78 reviews

    4.0

    78 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Hosted my birthday dinner here for a group of 8 and it was a super use hit. the space is chic and welcoming. The food was on point. Appetizers - the cabbage and salad! Entrees - mole chicken and the shrimp dish -- great reviews. The mushroom dish for veg was perfect. Highly rec

    Is this helpful?

  3. Michael

    VIP

    Chicago

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    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?

  4. Judy

    VIP

    Chicago

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 7 days 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

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  5. BLANCA

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days 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?

  6. Silvia

    Chicago

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    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?

  7. Amanda

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    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.

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  8. Karthik

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    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?

  9. Laly

    VIP

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 9, 2024

    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?

  10. Matthew

    VIP

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 7, 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?

FAQs

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine is rated 4.6 stars by 42 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 20 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine

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

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood
    Lake View
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Fri–Sun 9:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Thu–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • 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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