ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine

4.6

48 Reviews

$30 and under

Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 29, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 27 times today

Experiences are available.

Neighborhood 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.

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 48 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
4.3Value

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.

48 Reviews

K
Karen
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined today
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.
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S
Seth
VIP
Chicago
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is a serious restaurant serving serious food. Incredible dinner that exceeded my expectations and then some.
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T
Thomas
Cincinnati
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Very good and innovative food! Save room for dessert and a drink or two! Very loud in the narrow back half of the restaurant.
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A
Ashley
VIP
Chicago
14 reviews
4.0
14 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Overall good experience, strong drinks, and solid service. Each dish overpriced by like $5 for what we got. Would go back but wouldn’t rush with the price point
ISTMO Oaxacan CuisineResponded 3 days ago
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the experience, drinks, and service. We appreciate your input on our pricing, as it helps us continually assess and improve our offerings. We hope to strike a balance that represents good value while maintaining the quality you expect. We look forward to welcoming you back at your own pace. If there's anything else you'd like to share or discuss, please feel free to reach out.
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M
Maria
Chicago
24 reviews
2.0
24 reviews
Dined on December 21, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
Our server was not as professional as we anticipated. All the drinks were served except for mine. And when a person from my party asked the waitress why I hadn’t gotten my drink. She goes. Oh, we ran out of the ingredients. It’ll be a few more minutes. The food was OK. Having been to Oaxaca and eaten the wonderful food in Oaxaca. I was expecting the same, especially from the chef who is a Rick Bayless Protoje. I will not go back again.
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d
donald
VIP
Chicago
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on December 20, 2024
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
ISTMO Oaxacan CuisineResponded 3 days ago
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the scallops, sea bass, and potatoes, and that our cocktails hit the mark. It's always great to hear positive feedback about our menu. Chef Carlos loves connecting with our guests, and I'll be sure to pass along your compliments to him as well. We hope to see you again soon for another wonderful dining experience!
Is this helpful?
D
David
VIP
Chicago
78 reviews
4.0
78 reviews
Dined on December 20, 2024
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
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M
Michael
VIP
Chicago
20 reviews
4.0
20 reviews
Dined on December 16, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
The food was excellent, the music a little loud, the service attentive.
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J
Judy
VIP
Chicago
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2024
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
ISTMO Oaxacan CuisineResponded 3 days ago
Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed our quality ingredients and presentation. Our team takes great pride in delivering elevated culinary experiences. We apologize for the slower service and the noise level due to close tables. Your feedback is invaluable, and we are actively working to improve service efficiency and create a more comfortable dining environment. We appreciate your insights and hope to welcome you back soon for an even better experience.
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B
BLANCA
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 15, 2024
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!
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FAQs

ISTMO Oaxacan Cuisine is rated 4.6 stars by 48 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 29, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 27 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 48 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