Zentli

5.0

78 Reviews

$30 and under

Mexican

Neighborhood gem
Charming
Good for special occasions

Hear the joyful music of Mexico with a mix of Latin American and world rhythms, enjoy the colorful art, and taste delicious tacos in a warm community space.

Zentli (indigenous Nahuatl Language for "corn" or "maize"), is a casual restaurant that serves the best locally sourced Mexican street food in Evanston, Illinois. With fresh, natural ingredients and vegan & vegetarian options in eclectic, artistic digs, we’re your new local favorite.

We built Zentli to honor the ingenuity and hard work of Mexican people by bringing you the genuine flavors of street vendors through tasty food and mouth-watering drinks.

Not bookable

This restaurant is temporarily offline. Please contact the restaurant directly or check back shortly for availability.

Order delivery or takeout

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican, Latin American, Regional Mexican
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(224) 999-7486
Website
https://www.eatzentli.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress

Location
1813 Dempster, Evanston, IL 60201
Neighborhood
Evanston
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 78 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

5.0

5 based on recent ratings

4.9Food
4.9Service
4.7Ambience
4.8Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Chicago / Illinois
Best Overall
Chicago / Illinois
Best Food
Chicago / Illinois
Best Value
Chicago / Illinois
Mexican
North Suburbs
Best Overall
North Suburbs
Best Food
North Suburbs
Best Service
North Suburbs
Best Value

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Zentli delights with "yummy and unique food," "great service," and "perfectly balanced cocktails." This Evanston gem shines with its "delicious" Mexican dishes like mole, flautas, and ceviche, alongside vibrant artwork by the owner. Guests rave about the "attentive," "friendly service" and "outstanding" dining experiences, making it a "favorite" spot in the area.

78 Reviews

k
karen
VIP
Chicago
35 reviews
5.0
35 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Yummy and unique food and cocktails and great service!!
Is this helpful?
J
Jamal
VIP
Chicago
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
As always, we had great food, drinks, & service. One of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicagoland, and certainly the best in Evanston. A treasure!
Is this helpful?
R
Raye
Chicago
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Server very good descriptions of the dishes, very helpful. Food is delicious. Guacamole and enchiladas mole excellent.
Is this helpful?
D
Daniel
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was great. Perfectly balanced cocktails and delicious meals.
Is this helpful?
m
mark
Chicago
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I came to Zentli when it first opened a couple of years ago, and while there were some growing pains, overall it was good. My experience this time was outstanding! The restaurant is beautiful with interesting artwork and comfortable seating. The server was kind, knowledgeable and did a great job of making sure we were enjoying the experience. Cocktails were delicious and the specials were all very tasty.
Is this helpful?
R
Robert
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Very good cocktails and food. Service excellent, staff friendly and helpful. Definitely will return.
Is this helpful?
M
Matt
VIP
Chicago
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great place. Hidden neighborhood gem with good food and service.
Is this helpful?
A
Anna
VIP
Chicago
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on January 30, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fantastic food, strong drinks, and attentive/thoughtful staff. My new favorite place.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was great, will be back! Service was outstanding
Is this helpful?
N
Nandita
VIP
Chicago
18 reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on January 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
6 of us went for brunch and loved all the appetizers and overall food choices!
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FAQs

Zentli offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (224) 999-7486.

Zentli is rated 5 stars by 78 OpenTable diners.

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

Not bookable

This restaurant is temporarily offline. Please contact the restaurant directly or check back shortly for availability.

Order delivery or takeout

1813 Dempster, Evanston, IL 60201

Additional information

Neighborhood
Evanston
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican, Latin American, Regional Mexican
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.eatzentli.com/
Phone number
(224) 999-7486

Zentli

Not bookable

Order delivery or takeout

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Menu

What 78 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Zentli offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Zentli restaurant rated?

Is Zentli currently accepting reservations?

Not bookable

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information