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Zentli, Evanston, IL

Zentli

4.8
4.8
87 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican
1813 Dempster, Evanston, IL 60201

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Vegetarian-friendly
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.

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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
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • 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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 87 people are saying

Zentli reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Neighborhood gem

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Mexican

  • North Suburbs

    Best Overall

  • North Suburbs

    Best Value

  • North Suburbs

    Neighborhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Zentli delights with "authentic-tasting food from Oaxaca," a "casual, friendly" ambiance, and "outstanding" service. A hidden gem, it boasts "amazing art" and "superb mole." The "reasonable prices" and "fantastic cocktails" make it a "treasure" in Evanston. Ideal for gluten-free diners, it's a "fabulous spot" for delicious meals.

87 Reviews

  1. Edo VIP

    San Francisco19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Friendly faces, great service, lovely decor and great food. What's not to like?

    Is this helpful?

  2. Bob

    Chicago13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Comfortable atmosphere. Great food. Good service. Fun artwork. Definitely making it a regular place to dine.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Aviva VIP

    Chicago19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    This place is exactly what Evanston needed: authentic-tasting food from Oaxaca, Mexico in a casual, friendly, colorful, and artistic atmosphere. Service and food is outstanding and it’s priced appropriately. I love Zentli.

    Is this helpful?

  4. William

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 29, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This “secret” won’t be kept for long. Hands down one of the best dining experiences around.

    Is this helpful?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Amazing authentic meal. Highly recommend! The mole was superb.

    Is this helpful?

  6. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love this spot! The service is so friendly, and the food is amazing. I love mole sauce, and this is one of the best I have ever had. I have also had brunch here — very good.

    Is this helpful?

  7. annc

    Chicago3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our table was ready when we arrived. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and made great recommendations. The food is really amazing and the prices are very reasonable!!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Maureen

    Chicago6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful dinner this evening at Zentli. We like to eat early so the restaurant was quiet. The food was delicious and the service friendly and attentive. The tres leche cake is not to be missed! I highly recommend this restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Gregory

    Chicago8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Distinctively high quality especially considering the price point - excellent value. Definitely plan to return soon.

    Is this helpful?

  10. karen VIP

    Chicago35 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Yummy and unique food and cocktails and great service!!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

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

Zentli is rated 4.8 stars by 87 OpenTable diners.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. North Suburbs
  5. Evanston

Not bookable

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

Google Map for Zentli

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
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
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