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Zentli, Evanston, IL

Zentli

4.9
4.9
85 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican
1813 Dempster, Evanston, IL 60201

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 2 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
Hear the joyful music of Mexico with a mix of Latin American and world rhythms, enjoy the colorful art, and taste delicious tacos in a warm community space.

Zentli (indigenous Nahuatl Language for "corn" or "maize"), is a casual restaurant that serves the best locally sourced Mexican street food in Evanston, Illinois. With fresh, natural ingredients and vegan & vegetarian options in eclectic, artistic digs, we’re your new local favorite.

We built Zentli to honor the ingenuity and hard work of Mexican people by bringing you the genuine flavors of street vendors through tasty food and mouth-watering drinks.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin American, Regional Mexican
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighbourhood
    Evanston
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 85 people are saying

Zentli reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.7Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Mexican

  • North Suburbs

    Best Overall

  • North Suburbs

    Best Value

  • North Suburbs

    Neighbourhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Zentli impresses with its "amazing authentic meal" and "delicious, affordable dinner." Known for "incredible" and "next level Mexican food," it offers a "comfortable atmosphere" with "fun artwork." The "mole was superb" and the "service is so friendly." A "hidden neighborhood gem" with "fantastic staff," Zentli is a must-visit.
85 Reviews
  1. Bob

    Chicago13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Comfortable atmosphere. Great food. Good service. Fun artwork. Definitely making it a regular place to dine.

    Is this helpful?

  2. William

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 29, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This “secret” won’t be kept for long. Hands down one of the best dining experiences around.

    Is this helpful?

  3. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Amazing authentic meal. Highly recommend! The mole was superb.

    Is this helpful?

  4. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love this spot! The service is so friendly, and the food is amazing. I love mole sauce, and this is one of the best I have ever had. I have also had brunch here — very good.

    Is this helpful?

  5. annc

    Chicago3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our table was ready when we arrived. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and made great recommendations. The food is really amazing and the prices are very reasonable!!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Maureen

    Chicago6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful dinner this evening at Zentli. We like to eat early so the restaurant was quiet. The food was delicious and the service friendly and attentive. The tres leche cake is not to be missed! I highly recommend this restaurant.

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  7. Gregory

    Chicago8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Distinctively high quality especially considering the price point - excellent value. Definitely plan to return soon.

    Is this helpful?

  8. karen VIP

    Chicago35 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Yummy and unique food and cocktails and great service!!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Jamal

    Chicago4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As always, we had great food, drinks, & service. One of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicagoland, and certainly the best in Evanston. A treasure!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Raye

    Chicago3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Server very good descriptions of the dishes, very helpful. Food is delicious. Guacamole and enchiladas mole excellent.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Zentli offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (224) 999-7486.

Zentli is rated 4.9 stars by 85 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. North Suburbs
  5. Evanston

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 2 times today
Google Map for Zentli

1813 Dempster, Evanston, IL 60201

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood
    Evanston
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin American, Regional Mexican
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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