Restaurant

Zentli

Name: Zentli
Address: 1813 Dempster St, Evanston, IL, 60201, US
Telephone: (224) 999-7486
Price range: value

Mexican•Evanston•value

Zentli is one of the best mexican restaurants in Chicago for dinner, especially if you want a strong option in Evanston.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Zentli takes its name from the Nahuatl word for corn, and co-owners Marcos Rivera and Alfonso "Piloto" Nieves Ruiz mean that literally — corn is the organizing principle of the entire menu, not a talking point. Rivera runs Libertad over in Skokie; Piloto is on Evanston's Arts Council and built the restaurant's centerpiece himself: a giant skull assembled from recycled foam and decommissioned TVs that presides over a softly lit room where black-and-white Mexican films loop on a bar TV. The space took three years and pandemic-era money to finally open in 2023, and the result is a neighborhood restaurant with an actual thesis — the kind of place where the décor and the cooking are arguing the same point. The dish people keep coming back for is the Enchiladas de Mole, and the mole reportedly traces directly to Piloto's mother's recipe, rooted in years of street cooking in Querétaro and Guanajuato. That kind of provenance tends to show. The Quesabirrias are consistently flagged for their contrast — crackling exterior against braised, fatty filling — and diners describe the cheese pull as the defining move. The Mango-Shrimp Ceviche offers a lighter counterpoint, known for playing acid against sweetness without softening either edge. Blue corn tortillas run throughout the menu and are understood to be load-bearing, not decorative. The Flautas Zentli round out the corn-forward core. For a price-level-one kitchen, the menu is doing things that restaurants at two or three times the price rarely bother with. The Churro Sundae closes the meal; skipping it after the mole would be a mistake. Weeknights give you more room and a quieter table; weekends reportedly pack the space fast. Sit near the bar if you want a sightline to the film screen. Start with the Enchiladas de Mole — that's where the kitchen announces what it is.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Cheap Eatsneighborhooddinnerlocal

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Taste ID

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Start with one score. Add details or a review when you want to help other diners.

Taste Score 8.3/10

Rating (Google) 9.6

275 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.3/10

Taste Score

Google 9.6 from 275 reviews

Best for

dinner and Cheap Eats

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Evanston | 1813 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60201, USA

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.3/10

Phone

(224) 999-7486

Menu and ordering

Zentli menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Zentli is listed in the Good value price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Enchiladas de Mole

3 corn tortillas filled with choice of chicken or cheese. Smothered in rich homemade mole sauce crafted with a blend of chiles, spices, and a hint of chocolate. Topped with sour cream, queso fresco, red cabbage, and a side of rice.

Quesabirrias

3 handmade heirloom blue corn quesadillas, stuffed with angus short rib and chuck roll beef, onions and cilantro. Served with consume (beef stew), rice, lettuce, and pico de gallo.

Mango-Shrimp Ceviche

Fresh shrimp marinated in lime-pineapple juice, tossed with mango-cucumber pico de gallo, chipotle aioli and avocado. Served with homemade tortilla chips.

Churro Sundae

Flautas Zentli

Crispy taquitos stuffed with chicken tinga or smashed potatoes + poblano, tomatillo broth, shredded cabbage, queso fresco & crema

Check the current menu

Why go

What makes Zentli worth the move

Zentli is a reliable mexican choice in Evanston in Chicago when you want something that tends to land well. Mango-Shrimp Ceviche and Quesabirrias also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 275 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.6 from 275 Google reviews

Best for

dinner and Cheap Eats

Style

Mexican in Evanston

Spend

Good value

Best for

Cheap Eats neighborhood dinner local

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.6 from 275 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Mango-Shrimp Ceviche, Quesabirrias, Flautas Zentli

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Zentli

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Google snapshot

9.6 from 275 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Zentli yet.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 1813 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Phone: (224) 999-7486
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.3/10
Google rating: 9.6 (275 reviews)
Cuisine: Mexican
Neighborhood: Evanston

Read guide

Restaurants in Evanston

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Zentli serve?

Zentli is a Mexican restaurant located in Evanston, Chicago. Zentli takes its name from the Nahuatl word for corn, and co-owners Marcos Rivera and Alfonso "Piloto" Nieves Ruiz mean that literally — corn is the organizing principle of the entire menu, not a talking point.

What is Zentli best for?

Zentli is best for cheap eats, neighborhood, dinner, local. Zentli is a reliable mexican choice in Evanston in Chicago when you want something that tends to land well. Mango-Shrimp Ceviche and Quesabirrias also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 275 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Zentli?

Zentli is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.6 from 275 reviews

What should I order at Zentli?

Start with Enchiladas de Mole, Quesabirrias, Mango-Shrimp Ceviche and Churro Sundae. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Zentli worth visiting?

Zentli holds a 9.6 Google rating from 275 reviews. Zentli is a reliable mexican choice in Evanston in Chicago when you want something that tends to land well. Mango-Shrimp Ceviche and Quesabirrias also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 275 Google reviews.