Chilam Balam
Bill · 849 Google reviewsChilam Balam — a Lakeview mexican mainstay. The kitchen isn't playing it safe. The welcome here is real. BYOB, cash only. Maggie Delaney: "The duck carnitas were so fatty and delicious way to end the savory part of the meal" [$$]
What 770 diners keep saying
What 770 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“We emailed to make a reservation the day of without a problem. Chef Natalie knows what she’s doing!! Soraya and Eddie make you feel like you’re part of the family! BYO- 2 dishes per person, which is easy since everything is tapas style with big portions. We took home leftovers and fought over them 😂 Great atmosphere- Food is outstanding. Favorite dishes: beef short rib and bacon empañadas but you can’t go wrong”
“This is a really special neighborhood spot. There’s so much passion & authenticity, I love how they are truly a down-to-earth restaurant. It’s really quality shareable fun Mexican food - every sauce is homemade - every bite super gourmet and interesting! Wonderful neighborhood spot wonderful service.”
“So happy I came here! The food was incredible. Soriya attended us and we are so pleased. She asked if we wanted us to have her choose for us. We took the risk and it was SOOOO worth it. Everything was exceptional. The fact that they switch their menus often, makes me want to come back ASAP!”
“By far my absolute favorite restaurant in Chicago! The owner, Eddie is so hospitable and is incredibly kind! We have the best time here and I cannot wait to come back so many more times!”
“10/10 - everything about this place is amazing. Eddie is one of the owners and he treated us like queens 🥰 food is the best I’ve had in chicago. This is a must stop and one of Chicago’s best kept secrets”
“Wonderful food, great for a group of 5-6 to do the chef’s selection where they select dishes for the table. They were able to accommodate vegetarian dishes and the service was great. I’ve walked past this restaurant so many times and I wish I had gone sooner!”
“Delicious! Amazing! No notes. Had the best Friday. BYOB and definitely make a reservation in advance.”
“This restaurant is truly exceptional. The food was unique and delicious and authentic. And the service was excellent. Our server told us a story of his childhood, and the owner stopped by our table and chatted with us about the food and our experience. We had the ceviche, guacamole, Brussel sprouts, potatoes, pork, and chicken flautus. Everything was amazing but the potatoes and the pork in a poblano pepper were particularly special. The menu changes often and they only serve the pork on a year — it requires 32 ingredients.”
“We decided to try Chilam Balam after encountering them at a food festival! And so glad we went because the experience was amazing. We were greeted by the owner herself and her brother ended up being our server. Loved the family vibe. We told them we would eat wherever they served us! So they brought out 2 plates per person and dessert for us. There was not one plate we didn’t throughly love! The ceviche and watermelon salad were a nice light and refreshing way to start the meal. I would order both again especially the ceviche is a must. So fresh and flavorful! Next we tried the seared wahoo fish which was so fresh and juicy and covered in amazing sauce and greens with olives which added a lovely flavor profile. The Plato placero we made ourselves little tostadas or lettuce wraps with perfectly cooked beef and I can’t resist oaxacan cheese. So good! The beef short rib was the standout of the night and completely fell off the bone. The sauce was so unique unlike anything I’ve tried on beef short rib before, don’t skip this! The duck carnitas were so fatty and delicious way to end the savory part of the meal! With fresh tortillas on the side. Most fun part of the meal were the sweet empanadas which were full of peanut butter. We split them in half and poured the sauces inside to enjoy! Lovely experience, great, friendly owner, her brother really took care of us too! This would be a great spot for friends to go out or to bring your parents but I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time as they were packed!!”
“Incredible food made from scratch. Kind and welcoming service, and BYOB is fun too! Highly recommend.”
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