ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine

4.6

67 Reviews

$30 and under

Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 25, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 38 times today

Experiences are available.

Neighborhood gem
Innovative
Charming

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.

Location
3231 N Clark St ste 4, Chicago, IL 60657-2172
Neighborhood
Lake View
Parking details
None
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Private Room, Vegan, Weekend Brunch

Experiences

ISTMO NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER
$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!

What 67 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 offers an authentic and delightful dining experience, celebrated for its "absolutely delicious" food and drinks. The attentive service and warm ambiance create memorable visits. Standout dishes like mole chicken and "amazing" brunch options highlight the chef's expertise. Although some mention minor service issues, the culinary excellence shines through.

67 Reviews

L
Lorraine
Chicago
19 reviews
4.0
19 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Delicious brunch. Nice selection. Lovely dessert. Great cafe au lait
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M
Marjorie
VIP
Chicago
36 reviews
5.0
36 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fabulous new restaurant w/ tasty dishes and wonderful service.
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C
Curtis
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great place. Food was wonderful and very creative. Great vibe. Really unique and special place, I'm glad Chicago has it.
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j
jordan
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great flavors, the appetizers were the highlight of the meal.
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M
Marti
VIP
Chicago
39 reviews
5.0
39 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was our first time here and we really enjoyed the food! It was delicious. My only recommendation is for one of the deserts that was described as a custard but it was definitely not. The consistency was liquidy. It was tasty but not custard consistency at all. This is more of an energetic communal restaurant as the tables are very close together.
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O
Osvaldo
Chicago
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 4
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 4
Our hostess was very dismissive of us. I reserved a table over a week in advance and we were placed right next to the door when it was 1 degree out. I asked if we could be moved and her response was like I was crazy for thinking there’d be another table. Was quite interesting since we heard/saw walk-ins being seated in the back of the restaurant. I would have been happy with “we’ll see what we can do” but not even entertaining our request was rude. We didn’t bother ordering an entree and left to grab a burger.
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T
Tan
Chicago
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
food and drinks were wonderful, service was great too.
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M
Maria
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 13, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
What an amazing dinning experience. Since you walk in you are greeted with a smile and a wonderful atmosphere. Tables well spaced so you can talk without hearing the conversation from your dinning neighbors. Amazing drinks well served delicious appetizers and food to share. Don’t skip the corn cake it was a truly wonderful. We will be back!
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b
barbara
VIP
Chicago
78 reviews
5.0
78 reviews
Dined on January 13, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wow! Everything we ate and drank was incredibly flavorful and beautifully prepared--with terrific service to match. We sat at the bar, and Judy took great care of us with recommendations on food and beverages. I wasn't sure about the spicy cilantro margarita since I'm not a huge cilantro fan, but it was delicious, as was an horchata cocktail with a hint of almond. The food, in a word: amazing. We ordered a chickpea dip with blistered cherry tomatoes that was excellent. Tasty, with a hint of heat. We also ordered the cabbage appetizer, at Judy's urging. I'm not sure I've ever said this about cabbage, but we loved it and devoured every bite. And the pork and chicken mole entrees were perfectly prepared and spectacular. Thrilled to have this new restaurant and talented chef and team in our neighborhood. We will definitely be back!
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M
Michelle
Austin
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Very impressive for a new restaurant. The sauces on the dishes were the highlight. They had so much depth and complexity, especially the pineapple aguachile. The cocktail list is also great. We tried 4 of them and enjoyed them all!
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FAQs

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine is rated 4.6 stars by 67 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 25, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 38 times today

Experiences are available.

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

Additional information

Neighborhood
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.

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine

Make a reservation

Additional information

Experiences

ISTMO NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER

Menu

What 67 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine restaurant rated?

Is ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information