Chilam Balam

It was an amazing experience!! They have traditional Mexican dishes, but with an elegant and creative twist. You can't go wrong with the food here. The attention and service is very good, Luis, the waiter who attended us, was very attentive to us. I love the BYOB option! Highly recommended.

Our group came in to celebrate our friend’s birthday and we had an incredible time! We chose to do the chef special where the chef prepares the restaurant’s best dishes on the menu and serves them to share. The food was INCREDIBLE! The cherry on top is how amazing the staff is. They shared a story about a few of the dishes and about the the restaurant overall. Completely recommend this place!

The food is incredible, the staff are incredible, the setting and ambience are perfection—our first time in was Valentine's Day 2019 and it was such a cozy, warm, happy place to spend the evening. We continued to get carryout throughout covid and love returning now that it's back open for dine-in. But it's also perfect during any season and it's become our go-to spot to take visitors, celebrate special occasions, or when we want to enjoy amazing food any day of the week. Support this small, local restaurant, you won't regret it. It's full of talent, heart, hard work, and is a very special gem in the neighborhood and city. Some tips: Don't sleep on the desert! You think you don't like mousse? You haven't tried theirs. Think the desert empanadas sound too heavy? You're wrong! For what it's worth it's a Bib Gourmand restaurant aka Michelin recommends it and so does Mr. Fieri himself. You can bring tequila to have margs, or wine and beer read the website for limits. It took us way too long to come here so stop what you're doing and don't waste time like we did. We've lived in the neighborhood for 6+ years and at first glance, the mixed reviews kept us from popping in. Well if you do your research, you'll see it mostly seems to be people who are angry they don't allow you to get obliterated via the BYOB policy.

Absolutely unreal. What a true hidden gem! I was here on a busy Saturday evening, the place was packed and they handled my large party with such care and excellence. We did the tasting menu and there wasn’t a single detail I didn’t love. I was introduced to the owner, Sariah and she was such a sweetheart who truly cares about every detail of the food and service. You can taste every ounce of passion she exudes into her little cafe! I am so excited to go back soon. Truly a meal I will never forget

Really enjoyed this place. The entrance is down a flight of stairs and you walk into a cozy little colorful restaurant with great music. There was one guy running the show the entire night and he was super on it; food came out timely and hot, dishes were unique and flavorful. Some I thought could’ve used more salt but the other flavors and ingredients made up for it. Brussels sprouts and cheesecake were my favorite!

I’ve been eyeing this place for a while because of all the good reviews, but honestly the food wasn’t as good as I expected. I ordered the root vegetables, grilled pork ribs, and strawberry shortcake. The vegetables were the only dish I recommend, they were flavorful and filling. However, the grilled pork ribs were almost tasteless; they had weak flavor and I would absolutely not recommend these. The strawberry shortcake was very dry, crumbly, and flavorless. The frosting on top made it a little better, but overall a very forgettable dish. I’m open to trying this place again, and ordering new things as the service was great and other people seem to like it. But this time around I was very disappointed in the dishes i ordered.

Best Mexican restaurant in Chicago that serves up very regional dishes! My favorite was the chiles en nogada Mexican national dish and the pulled pork platter with string cheese. Everything else was phenomenal - you can go wrong with any of their dishes! For dessert, I highly recommend their flan and peanut butter empanadas. Perfect endings to an incredible meal! For drinks, Chilam Balam is byob! Ambience is a super fun vibe - great for hanging out with friends or family! Service is very efficient as well!

Went for my birthday as a group of 10 this week. I had to put down a $10/pp deposit when I called in the reservation. This went towards our final bill. Just let them bring out whatever they want. All the courses were amazing! Venmo and Cash onlyDine in: YesOutdoor seating: NoTakeout: NoDelivery: NoCurbside pickup: No

Guy Fieri knows good food and boy was he right about Chilam Balam! No idea what these yuppies are complaining about in the reviews, if you want amazing, unique, delicious food, in Chicago, give Chilam a try, you will NOT be disappointed! The service was on point!! The Brussels sprouts app is a MUST, absolutely amazing and you know how most of the time you don't get dessert at a restaurant because you're too full? Yeah, no...the sweet empanadas are to die for...do your tastebuds a favor, and visit Chilam Balam at your earliest convenience!!!

Chilam Balam was recommended to me by a coworker and it might just be my new favorite restaurant in Chicago. My sister and I came here on a Tuesday night for dinner and it had a very cozy yet lively vibe. The dinner itself was incredible - we ordered the roasted brussels sprouts, flautas, and the plato placero. All of the dishes were incredible but the brussels sprouts are a must-order! For dessert, we had the chocolate chile mousse and the sweet empanadas. Both were delicious – the sweet empanadas came with oaxacan chocolate and dolce de leche sauce on the side which added the perfect touch to an already delicious dessert. The place is also BYOB for wine, beer, and tequila which is unbeatable. Overall we will definitely be coming back and I look forward to trying new additions to their rotating menu!