It's gotten very pricy over the years but totally worth it for a special occasion. I've been coming here since the 1990s and it's hard to believe it's still getting better! Officially 6 courses but it was actually 9 courses. It's gotten less spicy over the years (I liked it spicier) but service food and bev was what you would expect from James Beard award winning restaurant. read more

Chicago's true gem, especially since we no longer have Charlie Trotter's! We must cherish and support restaurants of this caliber that manage to stay open for 28 years and maintain completely booked on a cold and rainy October night! This is a beautiful space where the decor harmoniously represents their culinary style! In other worlds, the art on the walls, the unique interior perfectly compliment the art in your plates. The presentation of each dish is supported by beautiful and unique pottery plating! Handmade blue water glasses add a Mexican feel and and create an interesting contrast with their elegant stemware! Since we were here to celebrate my son's birthday, I was especially pleased with all the beauty around us! The staff signed his birthday card and did not just stick a candle into his desert, but provided an additional birthday treat - pink sorbet set on delicious cookie crumbs, generously decorated with adorable sprinkles! All dishes were unbelievably unique with absolutely unthinkable ingredients! I had a seven course menu that included the Duck and the Rabbit and my son (my 15 year old foodie in the making) picked a "seasonal menu" where they didn't mind swapping a fish item for a fillet. My favorites were the Shrimp and Butternut Squash Steak courses and his were Tongue Taco and Bread Pudding - all of which were incredibly creative and well balanced in terms of flavors and textures! And last, but NOT THE LEAST, was the wine! I loved the pairings! Truly unique few, I had to photograph, although they sent us home with our menus where the wines are listed and finding them later wouldn't have been an issue even if I didn't take any pictures. Perfect Birthday Dinner! Very quick, old school service of an upscale establishment! Outstanding waiter and great team work of the rest of the wait staff! Every dish is thoroughly explained... Bravo!!!!!! read more

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Been meaning to try Rick Bayless places, finally came for lunch. Drinks, food are very good but quite pricey. read more

"Mole with a side of BAEless" If one should ever speak of quality Mexican food in Chicago, there are two names that had better be thrown in at some point in that conversation: Pilsen and/or Bayless. The former being Chicago's most renowned neighborhood for serving inexpensive, extremely delicious, and authentic Mexican and other Latinx foods (due in large parts to the heavy Latinx population of this area). The latter being one of America's most talented and beloved chefs, restaurateurs, and personalities in the culinary world, who just so happens to specialize in refined Mexican cuisine: Rick Bayless. You will find this Michelin star rated restaurant located on the corner of Clark and Illinois - smack dab in the middle of River North surrounded by an array of bars/restaurants to spend your time imbibing and/or indulging in a nice meal. Considering Topolobampo has been at the top of its tier for nearly three decades (just recently receiving the James Beard Award for "Outstanding Restaurant" because of this and other factors), their operation is effortless, it is foolproof, it is concrete, and your stomach [and wallets] will appreciate this fact. Aesthetically, Topolobampo provides just the right mix of class and casual. Plush leather booth seating, stark white table cloths, fine glass and dinnerware are juxtaposed against playful pieces of artwork and a playlist serving up tunes to brighten the mood and set the tone of the meal. While the tasting menu would be the advised route to take when ordering (to receive the full extent and range of Chef Bayless' cuisine), do not hesitate to opt for a la carte options if you seek a budget friendly meal. I visited for lunch - opting for their prix fixe menu which includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert. I did add an additional appetizer - unsure if the lunch portion sizes would satiate my [greedy] appetite. I assure you, ordering the additional appetizer was not necessary (although I am still thankful I chose to do so). The guacamole and made-to-order tortilla chips were served first. Beautifully plated, this appetizer was just what I wanted and expected. The chips were still hot and definitely made in house (next door at Frontera - another Bayless restaurant) and the guacamole was smooth, zesty, thick, and had just the right amount of surprise bits of avocado. The radishes on top were a nice touch. Next came the classic ceviche. This is the best ceviche you will have in Chicago. The tuna was uber fresh, plump, not at all mushy and had the perfect amount of bite. FLAVOR! The ceviche was cirtrusy, zingy, even a tad sweet, and had a notable trace of spiciness in the afterthought of each bite. The tortilla chips holding the ceviche were super crunchy, crucial when needing to withstand the juices of the ceviche itself. My server Linda - who I commend for her excellent customer service and thorough [intellectual] descriptions of each item I inquired - recommended the carne asada served medium rare. I went with it. The mole sauce, she mentioned, is slowcooked for days before being plated. Understanding that steak is actually my favorite food item - choosing this dish was a no brainer. And, again, it also did not disappoint. The steak was cooked impeccably well (no juice bled when cut), and that mole sauce...divine. I mixed the greens accompanying the dish with the steak and created mini tacos thanks to the soft tortilla shells that also accompanied the dish. 5 stars. Finally, the brownie sundae. My only complaint is that there was simply not enough brownie - which saddened me because it was decadent beyond words. The ice cream component was bursting with real vanilla flavor and smoky chocolate accords due to the Mexican chocolate used for the cream. The fresh whipped cream mixed with the cajeta sauce and the sprinkles balanced the density of the brownie and ice cream. Somewhere in this dish there was a banana component, although its physical appearance was not present. Each bite made you feel like you were just whisked away on the beach in Playa del Carmen. Overall Topolobampo is an experience. One that you should not miss when visiting Chicago. Take advantage of this culinary art. Perhaps when you visit, you too will end up completely starstruck when you just so happen to be sitting next to an exit door in the hidden dining room and spontaneously, Rick Bayless himself decides to come strutting through it - looking as radiant and charming in person as he does on screen. For about 5 seconds I didn't know what just happened, if it was all a mirage, or if I was even alive. After looking to the couple sitting next to me, their confirmation that it really did just happen, reassured me that I truly do have some of the best luck. Mole...with a side of Baeless. read more

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We had an incredible experience. I've been able to eat in some excellent restaurants around the world, and I'd put the Taste of Puebla dinner among the best. The cocktails were very good, well balanced, not too sweet and the right amount of tequila. Every course was beautifully presented. I appreciate a great mole sauce, knowing the time and number of ingredients that go into it.The only thing that was a bummer - one of the servers had limited English, to the point it was difficult to understand what the course was and appreciate it fully, and there was no written description. But he was kind, and in these times of staffing, I can't deduct a star for the communication barrier. I've already recommended this restaurant to friends and look forward to going back. read more

Topolobampo - Thoughtful gesture. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I made a weekday lunch reservation for two here and was seated immediately upon arriving. However, around 3/4 of the tables were occupied, so the place was quite busy at 12:30pm on this summer weekday. The "Topolobampo in 60" 3-course prix fixe tasting for $25 looked attractive so I went for that and overall was pleased about the food and experience. However, I liked some of the choices on the prix fixe menu significantly more than others, so do order wisely. More on that below! Starter Choices: - Classic salad: did not try, will perhaps next time. - Sopa Azteca: the quality was there, but the presentation and mainly the flavors were too ordinary. Thus the soup tasted good but soon became boring. I do appreciate that they waited to pour the broth until the plate was served at the table. In all, I wouldn't order this one again unless my soul was in need of some warming. 3/5 - Classic Ceviche: quality, presentation, and flavors all receive high marks. Few things can compare to starting a meal with the fresh, acidic taste of this ceviche while seated outside on a hot sunny day (I was seated indoors but still enjoyed this one very much!) 5/5 Main Choices: - Feature Fish Panucho, Escabeche: Though not the star of the dish, the soft-boiled quail egg was one of my favorite components of it. It wasn't so soft that the yolk was runny, but instead had the viscosity of a deviled egg yolk. Also, now although I don't eat escabeche much and I'm sure the cooks/chefs know what they're doing, I felt the dish was too heavy on the sauce because it dominated the flavors of everything else on the tortilla. 3/5 - Carne Asada: The steak was lean and smoky though without detectable seasoning. Most of the inner part of the meat was medium rare as ordered. The black mole was sweet with slight acidity, and the tamal was one of my favorite parts of this dish - though it was just a small cube on the plate, it was delicate and delicious. 4/5 - Chilaquiles Yucatecos: did not try. Dessert Choices: - Cajeta Brownie Sundae: This was a well-made sundae - it was an optimal balance of familiar and new. It's familiar because it contains typical sundae ingredients, but new because Mexican versions of those ingredients were used, and because of the couple additional components to the dish. 4/5 - Sopa de Frutas: Can't think of anything original to say about the taste because it tasted just as the menu had described it. Though it was good, I was expecting everything on the menu to be moderately elaborate at the least; this dessert fell short in that regard. 3/5 Last but not least, I could not ask for the service here to be any better (5/5). So in summary, order the "right" items and enjoy a 5/5 experience here, or order "incorrectly" and have a 3/5 experience instead. Miscellaneous notes: - A serving tray of tortillas was provided for the table during the main course. - I liked that individual silverware for each course was set prior to the respective course being served. - Topolobampo was ranked by the Chicago Tribune in Feb 2017 as the #3 best restaurant in the city, so I had high expectations for everything. I can't say with certainty that I agree or disagree with the ranking since I haven't had any of their three dinner tasting menu options let alone much of the remainder of the lunch menu, but based on the lunch prix fixe experience alone, my personal ranking would not be close to that high. read more

Topolobampo - 3-course prix fixe lunch menu - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Honest review: one of my favorite restaurants. Ambiance: its really cute inside love all the paintings, just its tiny so it could be tight in here. Service: really attentive really nice n hospitable. Food: foods amazing. I like that things are actually spicy. I like how they make fresh tortillas. The food is authentic in its own unique way. Issues would be that the foods always lookwarm, n the tortillas are always cold. One issue is that all the sauces are moles. Feel instead of three menus it should be two that way things are more consistent. Desserts are good but this time only two were amazing. Alot of dishes need something crunchy. Wish there was more sweet wine. Wish the other add ons like ceviche were different then frontera grill. Ps the hot chocolate is amazing n u could ask for the pecan pie from frontera grill Best things: ceviche seco/mushroom custard/ tacos al pastor/carne en su hugo/rajas con crema/ end of meal masa/amuse buche/oysters/halibut with pineapple/ gordita/ suckling pig/ sopa azteca/salmon/ fideos/ crepas con cajeta Amuse buche: empanada was really flavorful n the dough was soft yet crunchy n was buttery. The sauce was really flavorful n acidic. The tomato cube was amazing was supper flavorful n spicy tasted like the best bloody marry i ever had. Oysters: amazing. Supper fresh, the flavors were so complex. I cant wait to order these again only issue was there was grit in one of them like a lot of shell Ceviche seco: ceviche was really fresh. The sauce was really flavorful loved the uni for saltines the aioli was really flavorful. Just wish it had some heat Sopa azteca: this was the best one I ever had. The broth was really complex. The components were flavorful n fresh just put more cheese. Love the crunch. Duck ham: i didnt like this the components didnt work together. Didnt like the duck ham n it needed texture wish there was sweetness. Mushroom custard: this was really flavorful. The custard was soft n tasty. The sauce was really complex.the mushrooms were amazing adding alot of richness just add more. It needed crunch would have liked more huitlacoche n more veggies. Salmon: salmon was cooked perfectly. Loved the salmon skin for crunch just put more cause not a sufficient amount. Loved the turnips n i hate them. Alpastor: best one i ever had. Meat was so flavorful n tender. The pineapple added a sweet tropical flavor. Loved the salsa it was really flavorful loved the smokey taste, only complaint would have loved some crunch Halibut with pineapple: this was amazing. Fish was tender flavorful. Perfect combination of sweet spicy n smokey loved the texture no complaints Tamal: the tamal was fresh really tender had a really good flavor. the sauce was really acidic was really good cute presentation just ass crunch Black cod: this was good not great. It was hard to eat cause it was in a banana leave n it made a mess. The components were good but there wasnt a sufficient amount to make a difference. Fidellos: this was amazing fish was tender n flavorful fidellos cooked perfectly. The sauce was so good loved the chicharron for crunch just add more Carne en su hugo: best one i ever had broth was so flavorful. The meat was so tender n flavorful. Loves the avocado n the radishes added freshness Carne asada black mole this was good but it tasted like any other mole dish ya know like the other moles were alot more flavorful. suckling pig: this was one of the best dishes of the nite it was so flavorful. The pork was so tender n flavorful loved the mole was the best one i ever had Gordita: one of the best things i ever ate the gordita was supper crunchy. The sauce was so flavorful loved the more mushrooms no complaints Rajas con crema: best dessert i ever had was the perfect combo of sweet n savory. Cake was really moist.no complaints. Crepas: amazing dessert. crepas were really crunchy wish there was more i loved everything no complaints Piñata: this was good not great all the flavors worked together it wasnt to sweet just it needed something it was just oranges m icecream n meringue would have loved cake would have loved more substance Myer lemon carlota: it was to acidic wasnt balanced didnt like Cajeta n figs: didnt like to many flavors going on n the dark chocolate was to overwhelming Pecan pie: love this pie so asked if i could order it off frontera menu :) delish read more

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The food and drink is phenomenal. The service is impeccable. The experience is unforgettable. Topolobampo is one of the best restaurants in the U.S. Although that's my opinion, it's not only shared by me. Its numerous awards and Michelin stars drive the point home, and it's one of those places you owe it to yourself to try, whether you live in Chicago or are visiting. Topolobampo has been around for about 30 years, and I visited for the first time in 2005. I've probably been there 20 times -- it became a birthday tradition until I moved to NYC in 2016. Let me sum things up this way: If you came to me and said I could have a plane ticket to any city in the world to have a meal, I would pick Topolobampo -- and its sibling Frontera Grill -- every single time. And I'd drop everything I was doing to leave at that minute. read more

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It was a little over $1,300 for 6 people for our last meal at Topolobampo (after taxes and before tip). At that price-point, Topolobampo is not the most expensive restaurant in the city but it's also not an every-day sort of place for a bite. Guests go for an experience. Ordering was part of the experience because it took us forever to order! The menu is divided between a art-themed prix fixe and then a choose-your-own-adventure sort of deal. It was complicated because guests pay for either five courses ($90) or seven ($120) and they can choose whatever they want for each. Like, guests can choose a dish from the prixfixe and mix it up with dishes from the other part. Our server said that we could even do all desserts if we wanted! There was no à la carte and no sides. We each had a margarita and started on wine before we ordered any food. Even though my party took a long time to put in our order, I expected the courses to roll out quickly after that; however, we had leisurely pauses between each. Our whole dinner took over 3 hours. In regards to the food, I'm going to backtrack a little to my previous experience at Topolobampo during Restaurant Week 2017. That three course pre fixe lunch with wine pairings was exceptional. The dishes were inventive, interesting and delicious and the pairings were PERFECT. My dinner earlier this week pushed the envelope on inventive and interesting, sometimes missing the mark on delicious. There were several dishes where some party members passed theirs along to others who preferred them more. Our individual preferences guided our menu choices so I would have thought that everyone would at least eat their selections rather than passing them along to someone else. I thought that many dishes were too salty. The flavors were rich and explosive and further intensified by the salt. Oh my goodness - Betrayal was a perfect example of a dish that pushed the envelope. It was all about the idea that you think you're getting one thing and it's different. It came in two parts: a drink and a plated dish. Another was Euphoria which had distracting pepper forward flavors. I'm thankful to have experienced them but I wasn't sure that I really liked them. The dishes that hit the mark were absolutely golden. I absolutely LOVED Anticipation and Triumph. Triumph came with a squab leg, complete with a claw! read more

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2108 Restaurant week! We had the restaurant week $22 lunch set. I had the Ceviche as appetizer, trout as entree and crepes for dessert. Appetizer was OK, the ingredients were fresh but the taste was a bit simple: mainly salty and sour. The trout was good. Cranberry sauce was a bit too salty to have alone but when you wrap it into tortilla together with trout and crispy fried tortilla, it tastes just right. The dessert was great. The chocolate sorbet was not very sweet, which is such a pleasant surprise for me! Went well together with the banana crepe. Overall, I think the environment and service is good, food is OK. read more

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20% Service Charge - FOR TAKE OUT?!? - then lied to. I was blatantly lied to when I picked up my Order and asked about the 20% Service Charge (again - for Take Out). See the attached receipt. $295 Order with $114.78 in Taxes and Service Charges. C'MON MAN!!! I was told the 20% is a new Service Charge to help pay for "a living wage". The staff pulls the tips and then shares (so I guess it's not a Service Charge but an extorted "tip"). When I questioned further she said many restaurants in Chicago are doing this and I asked - "who"? She replied "like....um...RPM and Lettuce Entertain You". I had RPM recently and they do have a "Covid Surcharge" which is 4% and you can have it removed. I'm not a jerk and appreciated being told upfront by RPM so of course I gladly paid it. I also called RPM just now to confirm that they don't have a 20% Service Charge - whether dining in a tent or Take Out - guess what....they don't. Here are non food charges: $11.80 4% Processing Fee $59.00 20% Service Fee * * This is a charge asked for and collected by the business, not a Tock fee $42.98 11.75% Tax $1 Order Fee Note: I have no idea what the Processing Fee is and my Order via Tock states this about fees: Tock will charge Topolobampo - Topolo at Home a commission of 2% of the total amount charged for this order. Another nugget I didn't know....Tax is 10.25%. BUT....it's actually 11.75% for restaurants in the city of Chicago. Starting January 1, 2020, the total sales tax for restaurants in the city of Chicago will be 10.75% (inclusive of the city of Chicago's 0.50% restaurant tax). For restaurants located within the MPEA Food and Beverage Tax zone, the total sales tax will be 11.75% (inclusive of the city of Chicago's 0.50% restaurant tax and the 1.00% MPEA food and beverage tax). Also I am curious if non take out customers are told about this new %20 Service Charge and if they are expected to tip on top of that? I have made that mistake when gratuity is already included but didn't catch it and added a tip. I bet few people catch it at Topo because it is unethically listed as "Service Charge" on the bill, not "Gratuity". And for you Rick... I APPLAUD your desire for a living wage. Might I suggest you simply increase your food prices, lower your personal salary and cut, be transparent about your fees, teach your employees to be upfront and honest and not lie or make things up. So while I applaud your intent.....I'm APPALLED at the dishonest and just flat out shady way you are going about it. Rick, I don't know you but like to think you to be of high character and a genuinely good person. So maybe this is a one of or something that slipped through the cracks. I honestly hope you address this issue and in short order. If you are the person I believe you to be, you're probably ticked off reading this review and will take immediate action to correct it. FG Chicago read more

Topolobampo - Topolobampo receipt - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great presentation and service. Everything was solid, but nothing wowed me. My friend who took me said that she heard it's an expensive Frontera, I think that's accurate. I got five out of the seven courses of the pre fixe art menu: anticipation (tortilla pillow, spring vegetables, roasted poblano-ramp crema, farm egg), euphoria (tilefish, salsa macha, onion, mushrooms), nostalgia (short rib, red chili sauce, potato), triumph (squab, mole, foie gras), wonder (mole, ice cream, chocolate, crema). I was surprised at how noisy the restaurant was, it was very loud for a fine dining experience. read more

Topolobampo - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Seriously, I've never had a meal like this. We had the Pre-Columbian menu which consisted of food that Mexico had before Columbus showed up. Take a second and let that sink in. And, it was delish. It was not traditional Mexican; it wasn't supposed to be either. This is a special event place where the meal is long and luxurious. read more

Topolobampo took Mexican food to a whole other level for me. Every dish we had was bold in flavor but completely balanced. The succession of each course throughout the chef menu was smart, leaving you completely satisfied! The wait staff were super friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. Definitely a worthy experience. read more

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Meagan and her team provided outstanding, personalized service from start to finish. The tasting menu was full of flavor and presented perfectly. Due to COVID, the setting was in The Library, an intimate space upstairs with an open kitchen. The overall experience was excellent. read more

Learn from my mistakes and have a 4-5 star experience instead! I went with a group so I tried every thing on their menu, so this is a pretty complete review. First, reservations don't mean that a table will be ready for you at your time of reservation. Unlike other restaurants, it doesn't appear they give a cushion between seatings, so we had to wait an additional 30 minutes to get our table, so don't come crazy hungry like we did. Second, be very picky about your dishes as it all ends up costing the same, so don't waste an order on the Classic Topolo Salad, which is just a handful of lettuce seeped in lime juice. Our party tried every item on their menu (including the Art Menu), so we have a good point of comparison. Here is what I would choose if I had to do a 5-7 course menu (in order of best to least best): (1) Lobster, Clams, Garlic Mojo - OMG! The best flavor and texture of lobster ever. If possible, I'd just have 5-7 courses of this dish. It's a small portion, but stood out immediately. (2) Triumph/The Odyssey - if you love duck, you will love this dish! (3) Euphoria/Bliss of the Inner Fire - a nice warm kick with a delicious flavorful fish (4) Sopa Azteca - savory, rich broth that was like a chicken tortilla soup but with fish (5) Carne Asada - tender, juicy cuts of beef (6) Hiramasa, Coconut, Lime - the yellow tail is a great cut of fish and tasted fresh and flavorful Dishes to avoid: Cochinita Pibil (sauce tasted like cleaning solution); Classic Topolo Salad (just why?); Sweet Corn Tamal (a tamale should never be served this way); Fideos Secos (vermicelli is never a good base for a pasta dish); Green Garlic Crema (unless you just like peas); Wonder/Unexpected Surprises (just a salty stick, not a dessert). All of the desserts were fine, but if you can get dessert elsewhere, I'd grab one of the other main dishes and get dessert afterward so as not to waste a course. If you must taste one, I loved the Rhubarb, Jamaica, which with the meringues was such a good combo of textures and sweet and sour flavors. The Buca Oaxaqueno was also a good one if you like carrot cake. If there is a dish I did not cover it is because it was not memorable enough to mention so take that as you will. If you can, get the Horchata (smooth subtle refreshing version of this drink) which is sometimes a daily drink. If not, get the Scarlet Wave which gives you a balance of the hibiscus and the limeade. Just a beautiful drink. read more

First time in Chicago, found this place on yelp. The ambience is very casual, nice Latin music. Not to spicy. They do not have martinis just fyi. The food was delicious and a lot we made a mistake ordering appetizer of guacamole and after ordering our entrees they came with some guacamole lol the trio of meats could be shared the steak entree my husband had doesn't not come with rice, but the steak was amazing. The espresso shot is a bit pricy $4. Over all we loved it. read more

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This is my favorite spot ofall time. Rick Bayless does it right. Although pricy, you can tell it is authentic Mexican food and there is much prep work that goes into the food. I recommend doing the tasting menu, as you will not be disappointed. Also get the wine pairings deom Jill, the sommelier. Buen provecho! read more

What can I say that hasn't been said ... I kinda liked the bathroom was downstairs and had to walk thru the side kitchen .... loved hearing "on it chef" "30 seconds chef" I loved getting a taste of the sounds of the kitchen ... it was great hearing a few sound bites .. felt like a fly on the wall... Overall, I felt the ship was very tight and you can tell the management runs it tight. Everything was purposeful and thought out. No complaints .... it was priced fairly and the staff was welcoming ... for us newbees , they were very welcoming and unopposing , so that put me at easy while I tried to understand the menu !! :) read more

Came here for lunch to take advantage of their 3-course special, and left satisfied but not particularly impressed. Started with the classic ceviche (8/10), which was the highlight of the meal. Citrusy and sweet, with tons of fresh fish on a crunchy tortilla and a subtle spicy heat, it was a refreshing way to kick things off. Next up was the Carne Asada (6/10) with their famous mole sauce. Steak was cooked to a nice medium rare but man was it chewy! Despite being cooked exactly how I wanted it, I was surprised how much I struggled to get through the meat. I think it was cut with the grain, which may have been the problem. The mole sauce was earthy, chocolatey and seemed designed to appeal to the masses, there just wasn't anything memorable about it. For dessert I had the brownie sundae (5/10), which was kinda a let down as I was hoping to get more than two small chunks of brownie. The ice cream is definitely the star here, and it's pretty standard. read more

Topolobampo - Carne asada topped with a good helping of mole sauce - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I can only say FOOD Porn!!! Every course was pure ecstasy. This is worth the splurge. Make a reservation well in advance, there is only about 25 tables. The service staff is impeccable. Best mole I have every had . read more

Topolobampo - Filet with and unbelievably yummy mole - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing. Don't hate me but we had Alinea and the night before and thought we his was better

I thought this was marvelous. Hidden behind a secret door you are escorted into the back room of the restaurant. I never knew Mexican food could be so decadent! Everything is very well thought out. Each food item has been carefully crafted to sit well each other. They are then paired with a wine. You can choose to order an entree or try the sample menu (which i highly recommend). I was out of town visiting, and so glad we were able to get a reservation at this place. Definitely one of the best places I've tried to date. Yes, it is expensive, and the experience was worth every penny. read more

Very disappointing. I went 2 years ago and was impressed. Dinner tonight was in an outdated Mexican restaurant with mediocre food. I would not recommend dinner here. read more

I have been coming here once a year for 20 years. While the decor and the chef de cuisine has changed over this time, the food has always managed to amaze us. Comparing this to other high end tasting menu restaurants, I think it's actually a good price point for everything you get. I have left other such restaurants hungry, but never Topolo. The combination of Mexican flavors re-imagined elevates every dish to something more than you can experience anywhere else. We had the seasonal Baja tasting menu. Take something as mundane as eggplant and combine it with macha, black garlic and rancho crema and wow. I was scraping the plate. I hope that they can keep this wonderful restaurant going for another 20 years. read more

We wanted to try a Michelin restaurant while in Chicago, since Chicago is kind of known for that. This one seemed more unique being that it's Mexican and not some take on French (and also had last minute seats available). Very nice decor and mood. Very friendly service. But, I wasn't super impressed by the food. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was good. But, for the price especially, it didn't do it for me. Maybe that's just me, maybe my expectations were different. But we both kind of left regretting our choices. :( read more

Outstanding meal. There are no words which can describe how truly amazing the food was. This is by far my favourite meal ever. When we arrived to the restaurant we were greeted and taken into Topolobampo through frontera grill, another of Bayless' restaurants. Once seated, a menu of three tasting options are presented. When the food arrives, it is truly an experience. Each dish is perfectly cooked, flavoured and authentically Mexican. After finishing the mains, dessert arrives. I was blown away by the flavour combination and Textures. The service is unprecedented. New utensils are brought along with each new dish and the servers never miss a beat when something is needed. After the meal, you are given a goodie bag of homemade hot cocoa mix that can be used the next morning. It was creamy and rich and made the experience continue through to the next day. I would eat here every day if I could and I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. read more

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Had a wonderful dinner here last night with a dear friend. I enjoyed the Yucatán Sample menu with the wine pairing, it was delicious. 7 courses of surprises and tastiness, loved it! The restaurant itself is cute and cozy and the staff was nice and prompt, informing us of every plate and glass of wine. Definitely enjoyed my dinner there and will make plans to return. read more

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My brother and I went here after saving up money from our summer jobs. We saved up, took a trip downtown, and were eager to eat at Bayless' restaurant. We got there, and Patricia was our waitress. She could not of been any nicer or more accommodating. She had excellent knowledge of everything and even gave me an extra dessert after a mixup over which dessert I chose. She was amazing. The food: incredible. Unique flavors, excellent spices, and overall just great, fresh ingredients that made your mouth water for more. I would recommend this place to Mexican food-lovers like my brother and I or anyone seeking an adventure for their mouth that will be unforgettable. read more

Topolobampo - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We love the seasonally changing menu. This season is "Regional Mexican Icons". Our favorites on this menu were: Mexico City - Tacos al pastor, thin cut, charcoal seared pork (red chile achiote marinade), charred pineapple, smokey salsa. To die for! Guadalajara - Carne en su jugo. Wagyu short rib, Gunthorp bacon, tangy ancho broth, Santa Maria pequeña beans, charred avocado, pulla chile salsa. One reason we keep returning is the team. They are passionate and focused. read more

Came here for lunch. Nothing spectacular and the carne asada was cold which was very odd for a Michelin star restaurant. They had some kind of raw seafood dish with uni that was pretty good, but it looks like it's not on the lunch menu anymore. read more

Wow! We went here recently and were certainly impressed. They have three menus to choose from but recommend that the entire table order the same menu for their sake but also so you can discuss the dishes with each other. We went for the ceviche appetizer and classic menu. The ceviche was really solid, fresh and a great way to start. My favorite dish from the menu was the soap Azteca. The king crab Fidel is was a close second. The portion sizes are tiny but that was the most perfectly cooked piece of crab I've ever had. The swordfish is definitely the most generous serving but that's not saying a whole lot. Most of the dishes came with corn tortillas for the table which was great for sopping up some of the delicious sauces. There are two options for dessert and everyone went for the crepas. I was really underwhelmed by this. It is basically a scoop of tahini-sesame ice cream with a side of crisps covered in a Carmel sauce. It turned into a soggy mess and I didn't feel like it was as strong as the other dishes. While we were finishing up they brought out this chocolate covered pineapple pieces which kind of helped things end on a better note. It's definitely pricey but definitely worth it for a special occasion or date you are trying to impress. Just a heads up. If you sit near any of the tables next to the kitchen you might end up with your clothes and hair with a rich Smokey smell. read more

Came here for lunch and absolutely LOVED all 3 courses I had! (I ordered the 3-course prix-fixe) Appetizer: classic ceviche (5/5): I love the flavor/ sauce of this ceviche. It was slightly sweet, which complemented the sourness very well. It came on 3 tortilla chips and there was A LOT of meat! (they did not skimp on the seafood!) Main Course: walleye (5/5): Sometimes I'm hesitant to order fish at these type of restaurants because the flavors are sometimes "weird", or sometimes flavorless. This was not the case. Loved the green mole sauce and the crab tostadas that came as garnishes. Dessert: Sopa de frutas (5/5): This is a light dessert, which is just the way I like it. It did not feel too heavy and I was able to finish it. I love the butternut-vanilla sorbet and especially the ginger broth at the bottom. YUM! very unique and loved it! Service was great as well. Ambiance wonderful. It shares the same entrance as Frontera Grill (which was significantly more crowded and louder). Would love to come back again some time! read more

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Absolutely amazing. Great food and great service. If you like mezcal I highly recommend getting the agave pairing, I came out with several new mezcal recommendations. read more

I ordered the Topolo 60 lunch which consists of 3 courses. The food was amazing and such a great deal for $28. For first course I chose classic ceviche, second course was carne asada and dessert was Cajeta brownie sundae. The ceviche was made with fresh albacore and was perfectly seasoned. Carne asada was perfectly cooked to medium rare as I requested and served with a delicious mole sauce. The brownie sundae was delicious however I wish it had more brownie pieces instead of mainly ice cream. I can understand why this restaurant received a Michelin star. The service was very attentive without being intrusive. Although the waitress seemed a bit flustered when I initially asked about the Topolo 60 menu. Great food and service. It didn't feel rushed and I did finish in about an hour, which allowed me plenty of time to get to my meeting afterwards. Will definitely return to try their dinner tasting menu when I have more time to enjoy it. read more

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It says something to me that a Michelin starred restaurant helmed by a celebrity chef has less than 4 stars. Methinks that some yelpers are being a bit ridiculous with their expectations walking in. Topolobampo is a Chicago icon, always setting the trend for creative and excellent Mexican food in the city. Rick Bayless is fantastic, as he has been for years. That's just all there is. read more

Worst experience especially given the cost. They wanted us to order the same tasting menu when they have three. Among the four of us we ordered three of the tasting menus. They said pick one of the three. Said we accepted their challenge. They didn't like our response and commented that they needed to better express their desire. Wow. They said maybe they needed to word it better. Or wait, no, i guess it doesn't matter. We ordered the mixed seafood appetizer before the tasting menu but the first course (of the three tasting menus) came first. We said it was wrong and they obliged but we never saw our our main staff again. Wow. And the main server never came back again. Not our mistake (as we debated which oysters with that staff). I expect more from the Bayless franchise. But I guess they only want a lot of money. read more

Came here for restaurant week. The ceviche was great - refreshing and tasty. The carne asada with mole was a solid 3.5/5, nothing too special about it but the desert was good. Overall 4/5 for me. read more

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Bursting flavors! Came here for Chicago Restaurant week, and it was such a pleasant experience. The Topolobampo area of the restaurant had such a fun ambiance with great music and cheerful waiters. I ordered the ceviche to start and it was filled with lots of fresh fish and lime. A little on the spicier side but I couldn't stop! For my main course, I had the pork quesedillas! DELICIOUS! So much bursting flavor. The pork was marinated perfectly stuffed inside the crispy tortillas with melted cheese. Seriously mouthwatering. I couldn't stop bit after bite. However, I do take one star off for the tortilla being a little too burnt on the outside. Having a huge sweet tooth, i was really looking forward to the Crepas con chocolate for dessert. It certainly did not disappoint The chocolate ice cream was so creamy and rich. Exactly what I was hoping for. It paired perfectly with the crispy yet soft crepes and bananas. Overall, such a great experience! Definitely recommend for a fun dinner date spot! You won't be disappointed. read more

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We came here last weekend for the tasting menu (Rivera Maya). It was easy to make reservations. We were a few minutes late but still got seated quickly and easily. The ambiance was very relaxed but quiet and formal. My husband and I were able to hear each other talk. The waitstaff were fantastic. We started with the oysters which were very refreshing though the taste of the oyster was a bit over powered by the toppings. The string cheese crisp was savory, crispy and light. The tortilla soup (vegetarian version) was complex and rich with mushroom flavors. We then moved on to the table where we enjoyed the mushroom and potato appetizers which was exploding with flavor from the peppers. The quail egg I thought mine veggie version was best with a nutty flavor of the purée and refreshing veggies. Next we had the octopus which my husband is a huge snob for and he loved. I had a mushroom in mole which was the most delicious mole I have had in years. Overall great experience. read more