Zentli

The food here is very good. If you are looking for reasonably priced authentic Mexican food I can not recommend Zentli enough. I had fish tacos which were delicious. I did not order desert but all of my friends did and and they said it was delicious. They also have very good refried beans!

The vibe of this restaurant is so cool, with gorgeous artwork and ambient lighting. The staff were very friendly, our food came out so quickly, and the food was delicious! I got the alambre and al pastor tacos, and a margarita.

Came for dinner around 7:00 pm on a Wednesday evening. Had reservations and sat right down. Service was good and atmosphere very nice(slightly dark). Great menu, hand shaken drinks. Very simple chips and Salsa for $5 is my only complaint. All the food was good. Seasoning could be amped up a bit for my preference. Specifically, the Elote could have been amplified. Bit pricy for overall delivery. I would dine here again

Kicking myself for not getting over here sooner! Sat and the bar with my mom and had the chance to chat with the owner, Piloto. He’s a super talented artist and his mom’s mole straight up rules. Everything we ate was on point and the prices are right. A new go to for refined Mexican

Amazing tacos. Really amazing taste. A little small for the price though. I'm skinny and I could eat 10 of them and they are like 7 dollars a pop. But really really tasty. Def worth a try

Delicious!! The food was outstanding and so was the service. The best mole I’ve ever had! Everything inside is handmade by the owner. From the tables to the art. It’s truly incredible!

Amazing decor , even better food and amazing mixes drinks. Can't say anything bad about this place. It's top notch ! My good friend Ryan brought me over showing me this new spot in my old neighborhood and I couldn't be more delighted to enjoy the amazing food and service. Highly recommend it and will totally be back for more. Go try it !

Had a wonderful experience at Zentli! Our waitress Gabrielle was charming and helpful explaining the specials. The food was superb. We had enchiladas with mole - amazing! The short rib special was a winner. Fish tacos - to die for. The owner and artist - Piloto- came to our table and explained the symbolism in his murals and artwork. The whole restaurant is a piece of art! He also was featuring local artists and emerging artists featuring indigenous and cultural themes. Wonderful tequila selections and local Sketchbook beer - their Mexican Lager Amistosa. A jewel right in the heart of Evanston.

Zentli is an incredible place and Piloto, the owner, is a true artist. You'll have a great experience here!

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

Good service, delicious food. And now I have to ramble on about nothing in particular because reviews apparently need to be at least 85 characters. Ever hear the term "short and sweet," Yelp administrators?

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

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)!!!

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!!!

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!

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

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.

I have no clue what the excitement is about. Nice staff, though. Decor is nothing to scream about. Kind of low brow. The food was meh. Overpriced for what we got. Did I say nice staff?

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.

Wish I had taken pictures of the beautiful dishes we had. Everything looks as great as it tastes. It's hard to find vegan food done healthy and well. They have non-vegan choices as well which makes it a good spot for dinners with friends. Everything we've had is delicious 10/10. The flautas are amazing and my favorite (ask for mole on the side). Service is friendly and helpful. The interior was all designed and hand painted by the owner who comes around checking on folx. You really have to go and take in the whole experience for your senses. You won't be disappointed.

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

I went for dinner with a friend, made a reservation earlier in the day. We were seated promptly and our server was wonderful. As she was telling us the "specials" her eyes lit up when describing the special homemade mole- so of course, that is what we both chose. It did not disappoint! The chicken and cheese enchiladas were very, very good. I normally don't like black beans, but my side order of those were delicious, as well. I definitely will go back to try more....I had my eye on the flautas, so they are next on the list. Very nice experience. The restaurant decor was very cute-as the restaurant began to fill up, it did get loud. If you go during peak dining hours you might have trouble hearing your dining companions. There is a really nice parking lot right across the street, too. All in all, our evening at Zentli was lovely.

We had dinner for the first time at Zentli and it was so fabulous! The restaurant is charming. The food was delicious and service very friendly and attentive. We ordered fish tacos, Flautas Palmar and Tiacoyos, along with beans and rice and chips with guacamole. We can't wait to come back!

Great food at decent prices! Atmosphere is top-notch and staff is super friendly! Can't wait to visit again, but might order takeout from them in the meantime.

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!

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!

Great Mexican cuisine, a bit fancier than most other Mexican restaurants in the area, so it's slightly more expensive, but worth it! It also has a full bar, all entrees are very generous and service is very fast and friendly. The only slightly odd practice, is charging $3 for chips and salsa, something that's usually free at most other Mexican restaurants.

I recently went to Zentli for brunch. It was a wonderful surprise.....the food was great!! The place is relatively small, very clean and fun to look at, particularly the sculpture on the wall behind the bar. The place was surprisingly full for a Sunday morning. Therefore, the service was slow but very friendly. I did not know what Pambazo was but I ordered it anyway. OMG, was it ever good.....probably great. I'd be happy to describe the taste but I can't.....it was complex. The mole, which I don't usually like, was great. It's a creamy dish but, surprisingly, the shredded lettuce, onions and tomatoes blended right in. I'll order it again but I think they have so many other scrumptious dishes for me to try that it might be a while. If you like Mexican food or just want to try some wonderful Mexican food, you gotta go there!!

The food here is fantastic. You seriously cannot go wrong with ANY of the menu offerings. The interior has a lively vibe to it with colorful decorations. The staff is very friendly and the service is fast & efficient. The one thing I would ask of management is to PLEASE add signage to the outside of the building. It is impossible to know that the building houses this fabulous restaurant. Make it happen!

Food was excellent and creative. Service was great too. Pretty space and easy to get to and park

OMG! came back for dinner and Drinks were AMAZING!!! My local bartender mention the drinks were good at Zentli in Evanston, and she was right so much so I asked bartender what brand of tequila they used. Mole was so rich I am bring friends from out of town here to try it! PS the huge skull has TVs for Eyes so creative and fun place! I took pics!

Food was very average for Mexican food. The chips were super dry and hard. Liquor license was under review or not available so they could not serve alcohol. Won't be back.

Food was delicious. Ordered takeout but wish we had dined in because the interior space is stunning. Staff were very friendly. Will return every time I'm in town for sure!

Been to Zentli's twice and can't wait to go back!! Had the tacos both times and the homemade tortillas were great. Street corn side dish is amazing!! Good selection of drinks and beer, and the service is friendly!

This restaurant is amazing, It reminds me of a restaurant that would be in LA. Very chic , yet unassuming. The food is spectacular!

I love even just "ok" Mexican food. my food however was inedible. I never have had super bad Mexican but this was a first. it was mushy, parts were cold, it was covered in overwhelming mole sauce for simple enchiladas. I could not distinguish tortilla from filling from sauce. I ate two bites and paid and left. sorry but my husband something equally bad. won't go back

Zentli has fantastic and attentive service. The interior is well decorated and provides a nice ambiance. Once you try the food, you'll wish you had room to try more of the menu; definitely a must return spot. I recommend adding the quesataco option for all tacos you order.

An exciting menu and excellent service. But the flavors did not deliver. The fish taco special (cod: $9 for one taco) was filled with exciting ingredients, but I could not taste the cod. The mango and shrimp ceviche special was devoid of mango, and it was hard to taste the shrimp due to quantity of tomatoes and the spiciness. And the special mole with cheese enchilada ($2 extra for cheese?) was so spicy that my teenage son could not finish it. I suggest that the chef focus on the main ingredients, rather than the embellishments (as a side note, I like spicy food, but not when it overwhelms the other flavors in the dish).

I've eaten at Zentli for dinner and brunch, the drinks, food, and ambiance are amazing! They have some really unique dishes. Prices are also quite reasonable. Parking is available across the street for dinner - go today!

This is the definition of a neighborhood gem. As soon as you see this restaurant you'll know it's something special. Walking in you'll see the amazing murals and the overall artistic flair of the restaurant. The menu is small, but that means everything is going to be fresh and special. Our server gave us some great recommendations. We started with some amazing cocktails along with chips and salsa, had the esquites and the flautas stuffed with chicken. We had some tacos and finished with the chocolate tres leches cake. Everything was so delicious and made with love. The blue corn tortillas in the tacos gave such a unique taste and texture. Can't wait to go back!

Big fan of this place, especially in an area that's truly lacking restaurants. The staff is incredible and kind. The drinks were amazing, and they even made a special meal for my 4.5 year old who's a picky eater. I do understand the ambiance may not be for everyone, but I really enjoy the food, drinks and amazing service.

Ordered for a family get together of 12. Everyone raved. We ordered the salad and various flautas and tacos. Fresh ingredients in authentic Mexican flavors. One in our party is actually from Mexico and rarely likes anything and he wen back for thirds. I highly recommend.