I love the vibes here!! it's a beautiful grassroots ambiance and the food and drinks slap! kudos to artista piloto and the zentli crew, such a gem!! read more

This place is a gem. Parking was easy across the street, and walking to the restaurant you could already tell it was going to be a cozy spot. Got greeted by a friendly host and even friendlier waitress, both who were accommodating all night. The tacos are pricey, but two will fill you up (and im a big eater). I got the Al pastor and Alambre -- both nearly overflowing with meat, and just the right amount of toppings, with room for salsa. Salsa wasnt up to my spice level, but very tasty. Ate food with a Margarita, which was offered smoked with Mezcal or regular tequila, and that too was a bit pricey, but again, you savored every sip with that tajin covered rim. 10/10, and would recommend for date night. P.S. No pics because everything and smelled looked too good I was so busy eating! read more

All I can say is WOW. It is rare that I can go somewhere and can't find anything to even nitpick. Everything about this experience was fantastic. I took my family to celebrate the end of the school year and every dish was better than the last. We had the cheese enchiladas with mole. Super flavorful and not too spicy. The chile rellenos had a nice coating with another wonderful sauce. Best yet, they were gluten free so my wife and son could enjoy it which is usually not the case. The fish tacos were fried but also gluten free and amazing. Lastly the mushroom dish that was like a quesadilla was so flavorful, I don't remember what it was called. Even the simple things like the rice and beans were some of the best we have ever had. Every dish had garnishes that just worked so well adding acid and freshness to often heavy dishes. The service was fast and consistent. We had our food less than 10 minutes after ordering. The waiters were there refilling our water within moments of running empty. We are absolutely coming back. read more

1st time there and service was stellar. Our server was Ewelina and she was very quick to get us all the extras we requested. Majority of food was a 5/5, I really appreciated all the vegan choices. Three Sisters dish outstanding!!!! So were the mushroom tacos. Very good mocktails but the one with orange juice (the Cantarito) not as great as the N/A paloma. Best drink was the jengibre listed last in the specials. Too full for dessert but next time hope to try the plantains! read more

The ambience is inviting, the drinks creative and delicious. Apps of guac and salsa were beyond expected!! Mezcal drinks were delicious! Homemade blue corn tortillas were absolutely delicious! Flan dessert was incredible. This is a must stop in Evanston!! read more

Came here for lunch with my fiance, both of us are vegan. It was still brunch time, but they let us order off the dinner menu which has many more options for us. Our server was very accommodating and the food was authentic and delicious. It really reminded me of the food we had in Xochimilco, Mexico. We also ordered a tlacoyo. It was amazing with the mushroom asada, Nápoles, and vegan queso on top. The guajillo salsa that came with the entres was delicious. It was a little pricey, but we left full, and happy. Everything down to the rice and beans was delicious. Check this place out if you're looking for filling, healthier and authentic Mexican food with great vegan options . Order the Jamaica or the margarita- it's all great. 10/10 read more

Zentli - Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

I had high hopes for authentic Mexican tacos. We were seated right away with no reservations. It was after we were seated and given time to look at the menu that the hostess let us know they were not serving alcohol because their license expired. I was a little frustrated that we were not told before seating down. We decided to stay anyway. Started with Guac and chips. Unfortunately the guac lacked flavor. We asked for lime and salt to add to it. Then we ordered steak and lengua tacos. Not the best carne asada I've had. Maybe it was a bad day for the kitchen. We finished our night with a flan for dessert. It was ok. Definitely not original flan. Maybe I'll give this place another change the next time I am in town. The staff was nice and polite overall but the food has room for growth. Cute and cozy decor overall. read more

See all

First time I've ever eaten here and I'm looking forward to coming back. I had delicious vegan tacos with handmade blue corn tortillas, guacamole, and the black bean dip. I ordered to go because it was late and I had just gotten off of work but next time I will dine in. The ambiance is welcoming and the artwork all along the walls is beautiful. The menu has options for everyone's dietary needs. read more

Zentli has been on my list for awhile and i finally got the chance to check it out a few weeks ago. Parking was difficult at first, but then we were told you could park in the parking lot across the street and there was plenty of parking there. They weren't too full for a Thursday evening, but the atmosphere is festive and our waitress was very sweet and helpful. My sister in law even said she wanted to give her a hug she was so sweet! We started with chips and guac, which is always my food downfall. These chips/guac were no exception. For our entrees we all ordered tacos and split an order of Quesabirria, which was the highlight of the evening. No one felt like drinking, but we left full and amazed by how affordable our meal was...under $25 a person! it may have taken me awhile to get there, but I plan on going back soon! read more

Zentli is a hidden gem. Fabulous ambiance, wonderful service, and authentic, unforgettable Mexican food. Be sure to check out the art and the amazing bar. Great place for a quick bite or a special occasion! read more

Zentli is so much more than a restaurant. It is a community space that sparks creativity, curiosity and connection through its exceptional food and vibrant art. Many don't have visibility to Zentli's quiet generosity; they consistently show up for neighbors needing support. Follow them on Instagram to be alerted to the diverse offerings they host including live music, art exhibitions, poetry readings, artmaking and more. I feel so blessed to be able to walk to a gathering place that also serves great tacos and margaritas! read more

Zentli - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

We made a reservation for a Friday but we probably could've walked in without one. There's street parking and they have a parking lot across the street. The inside is very colorful and has a lot of corn decor and art (Zentli means corn). The waitress told us almost the entire menu is gluten free. For food we had the esquites and mango shrimp ceviche to share. They came out almost immediately after we ordered! Given the heavy appetizer, I only ordered 2 tacos for my meal, an alambre taco and the fish taco off the specials menu. The tacos were good. The food is a bit pricier than I thought it would be, but it's worth the value, and the drinks were strong too. read more

See all

Date night with the wife. Food was really good. We got 2 appetizers esquites and mango shrimp ceviche. Both were awesome. I don't drink so I had a tamarindo agua fresca. Also very good. For my main dish I got chicken enchiladas with mole. I enjoyed it but it was not as good as the appetizers. For dessert I had a flan. Flan was creamy and very good. The restaurant it self is clean and the service was on top of things. I would go back. read more

See all

I came here with some friends to try their tacos since they had high ratings on Google and Yelp. I found the food to be a bit overpriced and lacking in flavor. We started off with some chips and salsa, which were fine but the salsa was a bit spicier than anticipated. I ordered the asada and al pastor tacos. The asada had no flavor and my friend commented that it looked like ground beef. The Al pastor stood out more with its flavor and I'm glad we could order it, even though it wasn't on the lunch menu. Esquires were also lacking in flavor, just tasted like canned corn. Surprisingly the rice and beans side was probably my favorite part of the meal. For the price, I thought it was a sub par meal. Tacos were around $6-7 each and the chips and salsa was $5. Service was friendly and efficient. You can reservations here. Parking is located on the other side of the street, not the Burger King parking lot. read more

So delicious, great service, great tacos, amazing enchiladas. I can't wait to come back soon. By the way the desserts were fantastic : tres leches cake and churros sundae were tried by our group. Libertad is amazing so I knew this would be just as good. read more

See all

Absolutely love Zentli! The tacos are always amazing, especially the zetas. Enchiladas Plazeras are also a wonderful blend of flavors and textures. Love their chips and red salsa. read more

Great food, awesome flavors. The fish tacos are a must. The enchiladas were tasty but even better the next day. You wil easily forget you are in store front space because of the warmth and hospitality of the staff you feel like you're visiting a family friend for dinner. read more

In a nutshell: Great service, good food, easy parking, and very cool artwork throughout. The owner is a very special, community-minded person who supports artists and has a gift for connecting with customers and making everyone feel welcome. Definitely give Zentli a try! read more

We visited a magical place, Zentli, which means "corn" or "maize" in the indigenous Nahuatl language. This Evanston spot is a casual place with bright, colorful murals and decorative touches. Corn is treated with respect, from the motifs on the wall to the abuela's special recipes with the lovely blue corn, to the corn "shrine" in the restaurant. There are also vegan and vegetarian options. Park in the lot across the street (not by Burger King). We made early reservations and the restaurant was fairly empty, but it filled up quickly. We had a nice view of the amazing skull sculpture by the bar, and throughout the restaurant is whimsically and vividly decorated. We started with chips, guac and salsa. I found the salsa a little spicy to my taste, but the guacamole was tasty. I enjoyed a glass of tamarindo agua fresca. I ordered a special mushroom and pastor taco which was nicely flavored and topped with onions, cilantro and guac with blue corn tortillas. The pastor taco with achiote-pineapple marinated pork was also delicious. My companion had the enchiladas plazeras (vegetarian) which were cheese, onion, potatoes, carrots and salsa guajillo and topped with lettuce and crema. We finished with the luscious caramel tres leches cake and some cinnamon-scented coffee. The ingredients and fresh and locally sourced. The art installations are by local residents with materials that are locally sourced and recycled. The owners show a concern for the planet and this is reflected by their responsible practices and respect for the environment. Overall, you will have a visit that is more than Mexican street food, but flavors and an ambience to expand your outlook. read more

See all

Food great Drinks great Service Love the decor, love the tacos... Hubby and I will be back soon. read more

I went here for dinner with friends recently, and we all had a wonderful experience! I love all of the art inside, it's such a cool spot. The waitress was so friendly and helpful with suggestions. The menu was reasonably priced and everything we got tasted and looked amazing, I got the potato taquitos and they were so flavorful and filling. The margaritas were also great! I recommend this for a date night or girls night out. read more

Zentli - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

Great food great service colorful room. And we love the owners. Small but cozy neighborhood place read more

Zentli - Zitli! - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The atmosphere is adorable. Great food and excellent service. And the street parking is good. Even on a weekend night.

You might miss this place just driving by but it's not to be missed! After a very warm welcome my friend and I had a most splendid meal. We sat at the bar which was cozy and entertaining and bartender Kristian was super friendly and accommodating. The mezcal margaritas are fantastic. We enjoyed immensely the flautas (part of the regular menu) and the quesabierrias (from the specials), both of which were delicious and full of flavor. For his birthday my friend was treated to the tres leches cake and I tried the fried plantains. Both were exceptional! Then there is the ambience! I was told the chef and owner is also an artist and that is truly evident in the decor, Mexican style and colors and the charming lighting. This was truly a delightful evening/experience and my congratulations/compliments to the owner/chef and team who made it so! I highly recommend Zentli to anyone interested in more authentic Mexican cuisine and ambience and can't wait to share this place with my all my friends! read more

My wife and I made a reservation for 5:00 on Saturday night. We got three texts of confirmation and reminders to confirm exactly when we were expected to be dining. We arrived a few minutes before we had specified, so we waited in the car until a minute before 5:00. We crossed the street and entered at exactly 5:00, somewhat surprised as we noticed a table of four already seated, in spite of the 5:00 open. We checked-in with the host and were seated on the opposite side of the room from the other group. After no one approached our table for nearly ten minutes we considered leaving. In sight, on the floor, there were at least seven employees, bartenders, hosts, etc. But eventually someone DID come to our table. Another woman who seemed to be a host walked over to tell us that they had a lot of reservations and we would have to be gone by 6:00. This would've never been an issue, but we did have a reservation and they had just let almost 20 percent of our allotted time elapse. A few minutes after this a guy came to serve us water. We asked him if we had to request someone come to take our order. He said no. He walked back to the group of employees beside the bar and told them that we were ready to order. About a minute later a woman came and said she was not our server, the woman who was attending the table across the room was. This woman took our order. Our waitress was the same as on our first visit and my wife and I agreed that we had liked her and had had a nice chat previously. This time the vibe was always off. Bottom line for me is that the management at this restaurant is awful and the staff has no sense of how to make it work. The food was great, margaritas were better last year. Not going back. read more

Zentli was good! I got flautas. they reminded me of basically larger taquitos i used to get from mexican restaurants growing up, except are larger, and better seasoning on the chicken, if dry a little. The Salsa and queso fresco were tasty. And while i don't really know what flan should taste like, mine was good. I think i'll go back and try the tacos some other time. I recommend you give this place a shot. Only caveat, is that from the outside it looks closed or shut down, so call ahead or just try the front door, and don't get discouraged if from 50 ft away it looks closed. read more

Excellent! All too often vegetarian versions of Mexican foods are just the same minus meat, in other words, lettuce, beans and cheese. These folks go out of the way to make yummy veggie fillings. Have tried a couple, the Pastor mushroom is the best. It was a special both times I had it. Hoping they move it to the regular menu as I'll be bummed if I show up and can't order it. Also very good virgin margs. My meat eating friend ordered the pork belly birria and loved it. Everything with guac! read more

Went on a whim and really enjoyed my time. Friendly staff, yummy food, gorgeous art Great presentation, tasty drinks read more

Zentli - Flautas Palmar with chicken Yummy especially if you like citrus flavors - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

What a spectacular experience with a Chef-Artist (Piloto). The place is superbly decorated (even the bathrooms). The team is super nice and efficient. The Brunch food was probably on of the top 3 best breakfasts ever. Our whole group delighted on; Enfrijoladas, Pambazo and Sopes con Huevo. The local non-alcoholic drinks and the coffee were also delicious and refreshing. Hope we had a place like this in Orlando. Thanks Alfonso (Piloto)!!! read more

See all

Great food, great atmosphere and amazing service. The margaritas are a hit!!!! Definitely would recommend.

Great tacos. Even better service. they were very attentive and friendly. was a nice find after a Northwestern game.

Tasty tacos with good service. Nice beer selection and bar service. Street parking was not an issue.

This is the spot for BRUNCH! Their dinner food is also delicious, but the brunch is amazing! I got the breakfast burrito and my husband got the chilaquiles. The breakfast burrito had the crispy outside and lots of good stuff inside, including nopales. Lots of great vegetarian options. The coffee also has a little cinnamon and is extra good. Highly recommend!!! read more

Superb vegan options alongside of creative and wholesome meat and seafood fare. Real. Good. Food. I had four different vegan tacos on purple masa tortillas and every one of them was awesome. But this is the kind of place that makes you want to come back and try the other stuff on the menu that you didn't get to yet. Not to mention super friendly and responsive service! The environment was energizing. Very cool bar, and the background music was on point! read more

Outstanding food and margaritas. Cool vibe and the service was amazing!!! Highly recommend you give it a try. read more

See all

I'm so glad I discovered this hidden gem! We decided to go for brunch. First, my mom and I were warmly greeted when we entered the restaurant. The artwork in the restaurant is gorgeous and unique. I'm really big on art, so I'm grateful we were in a position to learn more about the artwork and culture. We ordered the Chilaquiles verdes. This dish was incredibly flavorful. It was sooooo good! It was just the right amount of food that allowed us to have room for dessert. We ordered the tres leches, and that was amazing as well. The service, food, and ambiance were definitely on point. I highly recommend this restaurant and can't wait to go again! read more

See all

Yummy food. Casual vibe. Try this one out, folks, you won't be sorry. I was there for brunch a few weeks back and the service was welcoming, efficient, and fun. read more

Delicious food! They had a special ceviche tonight that was really good and refreshing. We all got a variety of tacos that were yummy. Our waitress was super friendly and they gave us free guacamole because we had to wait (which we were not even mad about - we waited maybe a few minutes after sitting down!). Ambiance is 10/10, great lighting. read more

Best meal I've had in a while! We were a table of four, and between us we got about 75% of the taco menu, plus the esquites, molotes, and chips and guac. The chicken tinga taco was my stand out fav, but I also loved how pineapple-forward the al pastor was. None of the tacos were spicy at all, but they came with salsa with a nice bite to it. We all shared the flan and tres leches cake for dessert, and those were fantastic as well! The flan in particular was truly the pinnacle of flan. Beyond the food, the art and ambiance were gorgeous, and our server was very friendly and welcoming. We can't wait to return for brunch, and to try everything else on the menu! read more

Zentli - Art installation behind the bar - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

aprobado!! very autentico drinks food for sure i gone comeback today especia ocasión this place has. Evanston read more

See all