Neighborhood: Pilsen
Price range: $$
Dish to order: Tuna tostada
Located in Chicago’s historic Thalia Hall community hub and now concert hall, this bright, airy restaurant serves as a neighborhood gathering place throughout the week. Inspired to bring a piece of coastal Mexico to Chicago, the team—guided by chefs-owners Marcos Ascencio, Oliver Poilevey, and Antonio Incandela—offers refined, thoughtfully sourced takes on Mexican marisquería cuisine. The chefs bring a multi-faceted vision to the menu, melding their respective backgrounds in Mexican, French, and Italian cuisines while honoring colorful mariscos culture. During brunch hours, try the tuna tostada, with black garlic aioli, salsa macha, citrus, and avocado, or the breakfast empanada, with egg souffle, chorizo, and oaxaca cheese. Come evening, don’t miss the brandade dorados tacos. Poilevey called upon one of his father’s recipes to bridge his French heritage with Mexican flavors, melding salt cod and potato brandade with pico de gallo, avocado, and aleppo pepper. Complete the meal with Incandela’s desserts—namely the flan, creamy and tropical, with vanilla, caramel, and guava passionfruit sauce.
Address: 1227 W. 18th St., Chicago, IL 60608