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20 Reviews
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Love this joint!
I don't write many reviews, but really felt it important to write one here. This is one of my very favorite restaurants in Chicago. I've been coming here for years and I've enjoyed it every time. The food is always delicious and interesting. Yes, it's small. I think it's cozy. Yes, it's cash only, but I already know that going in, so no big deal. And I don't find it expensive at all. In fact, I think it's one of the best bangs for your buck in the city. So, yeah. Go to Chilam Balam.
Be the first to ReplyDisappointing NightโฆDisappointing Service
I wanted to give it more starts but the more the night progressed, the worse things got. Iโve been here before and I think the food is unique and delicious so I wanted to show my out of town friends some modern elevated Mexican cuisine. As soon as we got there I asked if I could modify my reservation from 3 to 4 and very coldly the owner said she could not make any changes. I get it, Iโve worked in the industry before. Itโs not about the answer itโs about the delivery. She could have said I apologize we are completely booked but next time Iโm more than happy to attend your party of four. You could tell the owner was annoyed that I asked. Next was our bottle of wine, cants open it until we order food. Fine, weird but fine. Then we had to pay with Venmo or cash appโฆok whatever we will pay with Venmo, but the owner comes to our table very rudely says to us how she is trying to help us find the Venmo account and that we are being rude to her. She told us that we were just mad because she didnโt allow the 4th person( not true btw). I was disappointed, I love supporting small Latino business but the service was honestly lacking big time. I recommend the owner take some classes on how to provide above and beyond service, because when you want to run an above and beyond restaurant you have to provide service that reflects it.
Be the first to ReplyOwner needs hospitality training
This was my first visit to Chicago for the Chicago Marathon and we decided to eat at this restaurant. Unfortunately, It was the worst experience I have ever had. They let you bring your own wine but the server MADE SURE that you do not open the wine until you order the food, he also stated that he โ recommendsโ to order two plates per person. The food was ok , nothing special. ( the ribs were dry). When we were ready to pay The server stated that they only takes cash, venmo or zelle, really? I just came back from Scandinavia which is a cashless society and even they take cards. The hostess brought the โownerโ and thatโs when everything went from bad to worst. Her demeanor and tone of voice was completely rude and uncomfortable. We paid through venmo and of course left no tips and at that point she told us to get out. By the way, read the response of the owner and youโll see that even whe she responded to the reviews she is rude and always blames the customers. Donโt waste your time here, with so many places to eat in Chicago and so much competition youโll have plenty places to go for better food and better service.
Be the first to ReplyReally? Venmo, Zelle?
Very disappointed and overall bad experience! We had made reservations for three people but when a local friend wanted to join us we were told at the door that they could not accommodate that request. Our server than mentioned that we order 2 dinner menu items EACH ( all shareable) at a price tag that was crazy to think I would spend or eat that much food personally. He also refused to open our bottle of wine until we ordered! Food was mediocre. The rib entree was tough and dry. What was the kicker to the whole evening is when the bill came and we were told they only accept cash, Venmo or Zelle! Really? What food establishment takes cash only? And why? Needless to say we wished we were informed of that prior to our meal. When we asked how we pay through Venmo, the owner came to our table with her Venmo page opened to scan and said " I am here to help you" with such a genuflection in her voice that sounded condescending and annoyed. Needless to say the evening ended badly with the owner accusing us of having attitude from the moment we walked in the door because she could not accommodate us. She also than threw her hands up and told us " to leave now". We were shocked! We did not have attitude and actually were enjoying each others company throughout evening, not even thinking twice about not having our friend joining us. The owner of this establishment was totally unprofessional and needs to rethink her customer service skills. Her behavior was embarrassing. Definitely would not recommend at all! Better choices in Chicago!
Be the first to ReplyA local GEM, one of the best restaurants in Chicago!
This is the BEST Mexican restaurant in Chicago, hands down! We have been going here for years and it is consistently a great experience. Incredible and authentic flavors, very reasonable prices for the amount of food, and the BYOB policy is an added bonus. The short rib and flank steak are especially good, as is the "elotes style" brussel sprouts. A neighborhood gem that you must try!
Be the first to ReplyAn unpleasant experience.
This was an unpleasant experience. As soon as we asked if we could get light sauce, or a non-spicy sauce, the waiter was unfriendly - after telling us there are no modifications allowed. The food was reasonably good - hence the two stars (though the skirt steak was tough and chewy). Expensive though, for small dishes. When I handed the waiter my credit card to pay, he said they only took cash or Venmo. I told him I had a credit card or could Zelle the restaurant the money. He said "no," after checking with the owner or manager. When I asked why he didn't mention this at the outset of dinner, since most places take credit cards, he told me it was my problem and that it was noted on the door. See the photos of the entry door and window, where it's nowhere to be found. It is noted on an inside door in small letters - along with other things - but it's not likely people read all the posted material before dining. He refused to let me come back tomorrow to pay so I had to walk almost 45 minutes to a place I could get cash and come back, since I did not have an ATM card with me. The owner is entitled to decide how they want to accept payment, but let people know in advance if you don't take a credit card given that it is the primary method of payment used. Over all, it was a pretty miserable experience.
Be the first to ReplyDid not dine here because owner was SUPER RUDE
Called to reserve table for 4 for a birthday celebration. Owner explained BYOB POLICY and it was fine with us. Called back to increase to 6, she said ok but now added $10 per person deposit and $40 per person minimum order. When I politely asked if these were different rules because a larger table, she got very angry. Told me โyou must not know about COVIDโ! Having a restaurant is expensive and these are always my rules. She said, โbetter you not come to my restaurantโ. We went in and read the reviews. It is sad to read how often people have documented rude treatment by the owner and other staff. We had a great celebration at a DIFFERENT RESTAURANT!!
Be the first to ReplyHidden gem with the best Mexican food I have ever had!
I have never had such delicious and authentic Mexican food in my life. We asked our server to just feed us and bring out what they love, and it did not disappoint! Everything was incredible and the staff was so kind and helpful. Don't forget to order the pork belly salad!
Be the first to ReplyWorld Class Food. Best Mexican I have ever eaten
We went with a party of 6 to celebrate a birthday. Everything on the menu sounded great so we said โjust feed usโ. Dish after dish came out and every single one was absolutely spectacular. Fresh, creative, unexpected. This is the best Mexican food I have ever had in my life.
Be the first to ReplyRUDE OWNERS - Good and pricey food
This is a popular BYOB restaurant that changes its BYOB policies on a whim. We (4 adults) were rudely told last night we could only have one bottle of wine for the amount of food we ordered (1 appetizer, 1 side dish and 3 main courses). In order for the four of us to have an additional bottle of wine, we needed to order more food - even if we weren't going to eat it. They were extremely rude in telling us this policy since we have dined here many times and have never had this issue. Since when does a BYOB restaurant limit the amount of wine by the price of the meal? They should either get a liquor license or if they are in need of $$ - have a corkage fee. We were not there to drink but to enjoy a meal enhanced by wine. Wonder if just two people go, they will only let you drink half of your bottle of wine and have to take the rest home? The customer service was horrific. Not the way to treat frequent diners at your restaurant. They should publish their rules as they change. They were very argumentative about their policy. The dude with the orange glasses needs to take a chill pill. He took away our appetizer and said we didn't have to eat there. Too bad as we have enjoyed many fun and delicious meals here - never again!! PS - owner said I was threatening her as I told her I would be publishing a review on Trip Adviser and Yelp.
Be the first to ReplyHidden gem!
So mad we only found this place a few months before we moved from Chicago! The food is amazing. Staff is great. Cute space as well.
Be the first to ReplyAwesome Mexican small plates experience!
In Chicago for the weekend and wanted to meet up with friends at a COVID-safe place for dinner in their neighborhood. Outdoor seating available, but it was a rainy evening so we opted for indoors, which was distanced and not very many people in the late afternoon. Lovely decor too!! For the four of us, we ordered 6 dishes...starting with the guacamole, we also had the young greens salad, roasted brussel sprouts, chile en nogada, chicken flautas, and pork belly. All of them were really delicious!! and enough for the four of us. Topped off the meal with the hibiscus flan. Yummy!!
This is a BYOB (wine, beer, tequila only) place,and they regulate how much you can drink based on what you order. Service was great. Waitstaff attentive.
Great dinner with friends
Visiting friends took us here for dinner. They said anything on the menu was great. This was true for the four dishes we ordered. There is a nice neighborhood feel and the owner knew our friends by name. Bring your own wine.
Be the first to ReplySurprisingly good Mexican restaurant
We had tickets for the Timeline Theater and went online to find a nearby restaurant. We liked the online menu for Chilam Balam, so we made pre-theater reservations for 6:00 pm. It turned out to be a moderately small basement space, but it was cozy, clean and nicely decorated -- more like an upscale restaurant than what we expected. It totally exceeded our expectations. The food was outstanding: gourmet small plates, creatively conceived and beautifully prepared, not your usual Mexican fare at all. The service was great: the owner of the restaurant is one of the waitresses, and she just brought us the eight best dishes that they made (she had recommended two small plates per person). The chef served some of them to us. They have a bar but no liquor license. It is BYOB with no corkage fee -- which is great for us because we brought a nice bottle of wine that would have cost two to three times as much as we had paid for it on a typical restaurant's menu. Unlike a couple of the other reviews, we thought that the pricing was very fair. Although each plate was a little more expensive than Spanish tapas, the food was much more elaborate and finely prepared than typical tapas. And with no markup on the liquor because of the BYOB policy, the overall check, including what we had paid for the wine, was substantially less than what we would have paid in a tapas restaurant with sangria or wine on the check.
Be the first to ReplyOur new Chicago Favorite
Cozy, down a few stairs, they say Mexican but really more creative and well prepared. Ceviche was a great start. No hassle BYOB, but they do serve wine and beer. A family operation with attentive friendly service. Had the ribs, slightly overdone but tasty. Had a lobster tamale which was good, but the lobster meat in served on top and tamale consisted of a too thick filling of a I surmise corn something that was a little dry with a little vegetable in center. It was crying out for some sort of lite sauce or a modified filling. Had Flan better than the hundreds of flan ordered elsewhere. In spite of these few critiques I gave 5 stars and intend to go back ASAP. Several plates going to other tables looked so good we need to get back to sample them. In this area it was the best restaurant we have been to.
Be the first to ReplyCozy with one small window, overpriced
The food is fresh but the portions are small, comparable to Spanish tapas elsewhere but priced like an entree. A single tamale costs more than $21 with tax and tip! The waiter wisely warned us upfront that for a real dinner we'd better order more than one main dish each. Fortunately, we had neither the appetite nor the time for a full meal.
One the plus side, if you desire wine or beer you save $$ with b.y.o.b. They serve no alcohol. P.s. Only cash is accepted at this restaurant.
Lakeview gem
We went on a Friday night on the earlyside since they only take reservations for 6 or more. Small plate format. BYOB The special brussel sprout tacos were yummy. Short ribs were great. The marshmallow passion fruit brownie dessert was out of this world. Donโt forget to bring cash. One of my favorite restaurants in Lakeview.
Be the first to ReplyA Modest Treasure
This BYOB is no ordinary Mexican restaurant โ it's always inventive, new menu every quarter exploring a range of unusual ingredients and combinations (and often trial dishes in addition). Most recently we were there for New Year's eve, a brilliant menu for $60 that even managed to do wonders with brussels sprouts. The staff and proprietors managed to radiate calm and good humor in a packed basement restaurant, and the cook came to every table to greet the diners. If you don't mind the BYOB and charmingly bohemian surroundings, and are willing to let yourself try something new (we always ask the proprietor to select what's best), you will enjoy food much superior to the overpraised Frontera Grill.
Be the first to ReplyNeighborhood gem
We dropped in around 6:30 pm without a reservation and were seated. The place filled up within a few minutes more, so we were glad we went early. Since the sophisticated menu changes monthly, most of the items we ate are likely to rotate off in a few days' time. The tortilla soup was a perfect dish for a chilly, wet night: almost like a thin chili with flecks of red chili powder, gooey cheese, and the other traditional garnishes. The standout, though, was the chile en nogado, a blistered chile releno filled with ground meat with a creamy walnut sauce; our waitress said the dish contained 32 ingredients. It was a superb dish that makes an annual appearance on the menu around Mexican Independence Day. It is worth visiting for that dish alone.
Altho they now accept reservations, it's still BYOB and cash is the only form of payment accepted. We shared 4 dishes plus one dessert and one limonada. Dinner for 2 with tax but before tip was $73. Service is prompt and they need to turn the tables to make a profit, so you are not allowed to linger. We were in and out in about an hour.
Authentic Mexican Food
First visit as recommended by our kids whoโve eaten here before. Small plates but fun to order several things and share (as recommended by waiter). Food was delicious-didnโt realize it was Mexican as several menu options were so different. Flavors were unique and satisfying to our not so experienced taste buds!
Reservations required and everyone must be present to be seated. Bring your own wine (or check with them first about what you can bring). They offer a virgin sangria to mix with wine you bring. Cash only so be prepared. Small venue but still felt like we have space even though very cozy with our neighboring tables. Canโt wait to return!