Stopped in for a quick happy hour at the bar. The restaurant is huge! There is plenty of outdoor covered patio seating and indoor seating as well. The bar had ~16ish seats I think?  I got the carajillo. It was a great cocktail - a little sweet at times but also nicely balanced with the tequila.  The roasted Hamachi collars were so yummy! What a steal for happy hour - I felt like there was so much delicious fish. The lime/honey BBQ sauce the fish came with was nice and tarte and flavorful.  The server was nice and great about reading the room and my vibe of not wanting to be bothered at the time.  It'd love to come back here for  a full dinner or brunch based on what I tried at happy hour! read more

Tzuco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Probably wouldn't come back. Our table was not ready on time and we had to wait a little before we got sat. It wasn't super busy and got busier towards the end of our meal. Moody lighting but seemed like it was popular for family dinners. Service was okay. But he should have told us before we ordered that a couple of things were out. Not something we expected on a not very busy Thursday night. I ordered the dragones margarita which is $25 and was supposed to come with a caramel used roasted pineapple. Well he brought it out and decided to tell me then that they were out of the pineapple. If I had known, I would have ordered something else. For food we got a few things. The Tlacoyo and Teresa were so good. Definitely recommend these. Unfortunately, I can't recommend anything else. We got the tuna ceviche because they were out of the hamachi. Definitely would have preferred hamachi. The tuna was ok/kinda meh. Tried the lobster tostada and it was just a tad too heavy on mayonnaise or whatever aioli it was mixed in. The mussels were good, but I did not care for the chorizo in the mix and the huge slice of toast it was served with was IMPOSSIBLE to cut or tear apart. For dessert we got Maíz. It was TINY and just did not have enough flavor. If we were to come back, would only get the Tlacoyo and Tetela. Otherwise, skip. read more

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You should definitely come here with a large group, so you can try a variety of dishes. There were so many flavor and texture combinations. Our group liked everything we ordered: * Heirloom tomato and pickled peach salad with huitlacoche fondue and basil oil * Steak tartare, Melipona honey, chipotle aioli, dill, chives, crispy rice, and black brioche bread * Tlacoyo: Thick blue corn masa, black bean purée, haricots verts, salsa cruda, sour cream, and queso fresco * Mejillones: mussels, saffron beurre blanc, dried chorizo, pickled jalapeños, and masa madre bread * Tetela: Stuffed triangle-shaped corn masa, chicken tinga, sour cream, creamy chipotle, and queso fresco * Pulpo Enamorado: Guajillo roasted octopus, salsa macha, pickled carrots, peas, potatoes, and tonnato aioli * Carne asada with oven-roasted tomatoes and roasted fingerling potatoes * Charred corn ice cream, caramel, toffee, orange purée, honey gelée, and caramelized popcorn For drinks, I had the non-alcoholic cosmo, and liked the prickly pear syrup addition. The atmosphere is casual enough without feeling pretentious. The space is large for big tables and there is even a private room. For those who like modern Mexican cuisine with interesting ingredients and new flavor combinations, this is the place. read more

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This is for your happy hour list. While it only goes til 5:30, this HH menu is more than enough to satisfy (and it's a totally original menu--only the guacamole and esquittes are on the main menu as sides). We tried the margarita and the carajillo (this one's for the espresso martini lovers) off the cocktail offerings and both were excellent. The chicharron de pulpo is not to miss and perfect for sharing, the tuna tostada has a kick and is a small bite. The hamachi collar is the real star, fresh and light but packed with flavor. I wish I had corn tortillas to roll it up in *chefs kiss. This is available in the bar area only and the servers were some of the best in the city--prompt and kind and gave great recs. We will definitely be back to sample the main menu. read more

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Cute little area downtown. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The food was good but wouldn't say spectacular. They ran out of a dish and drink we wanted. They did give us a bday dessert. Service was a little slow but overall glad I tried it. read more

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This is exactly my type of Mexican spot. Elevated without feeling too stiff and every dish had amazing flavor and presentation. Chef Carlos Gaytán was the first Mexican-born chef to earn a Michelin star and you can really tell there's so much technique behind everything. The vibes were super nice too. Dim lighting, warm wood interior, and one of the prettiest bathrooms I've seen in Chicago It starts off loud but calms down throughout the night. 8.5/10. Service was really good. Our server Leslie was sweet and gave solid recommendations. The check-ins slowed down later in the meal, but people were constantly refilling our waters which I appreciated. The steak tartare was delicious. Loved the flavor and the seed texture throughout it. Only thing I'd change is softer toast. 9/10. The tetela was INSANE. Perfect crunch on the shell and all the flavors worked together perfectly with the chicken. 9.5/10. For mains we got the barbacoa and costillas de res (we ignored the recommendation of getting only one main haha). Both were super tender with amazing texture and came with great garnishes, sauce, and tortillas. The short rib was my favorite. 9-9.5/10. Now the Maiz dessert... WOWWWW. One of my favorite desserts ever. Hard white chocolate shell on the outside with so many different textures going on. Ice cream, toffee sauce, brownie bits, flaky corn wrapper, caramel popcorn... every bite was perfect. 9.9/10. Overall this spot was chef's kiss Amazing food, beautiful space, and one of the best Mexican meals I've had in Chicago. read more

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Food: overall good and flavorful! We ordered: - guacamole - papas zamoranas - mayan ceviche - tlacoyo - pollo con mole - barbacoa - Drinks I got the ultimo palabra . I was nervous I'd be disappointed because I had recently visited CDMX but everything was good. The maya ceviche was a red sauce and not what I was expecting, was hoping it'd be a bit more refreshing. Service: no complaints Ambiance: we sat in their covered patio area and it was pretty loud read more

Tzuco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Items ordered: Tetela (stuffed triangle-shaped corn masa, chicken tinga, sour cream, creamy chipotle, queso fresco) Costillas De Res (braised short ribs, tomato, onion, charred avocado, brussels sprouts, blend of guajillo & ancho chiles) I was in Chicago on a work trip, and had a rare off night with no plans. I decided to check out Tzuco, one of the restaurants of chef Carlos Gaytán, who competed on Top Chef. The style of cuisine here could probably best be described as contemporary Mexican. It was incredible, and I only wish I got to try a few more of the dishes. I booked a spot at the Kitchen counter. This is already a unique experience, as it's right next to the kitchen, and I had a view directly into seeing the preparation of all the food. I could clearly see the various stations, with one chef focusing on salads and ceviche, another two just focused on cooking proteins, and the one right in front of me finished and plated all the dishes. Because the plater was so close, I got a firsthand view of pretty much every single dish that the restaurant serves. The chefs were incredible, working at a breakneck pace. Every dish looked absolutely perfect heading out to the tables. The one dish that looked absolutely stunning, but I didn't order, was the mussels. It had a beautiful looking saffron-based broth, and all these little accoutrements like sautéed onions and pickled jalapeños. I was wearing slightly fancier clothing, and I didn't want to get that broth all over my shirt. The server was very friendly, and gave me a rundown of the menu. She politely tried to dissuade me from ordering both an appetizer and a large main, but I told her I had been fasting all day, and I was ready to take in some calories. She ended up talking me into the Tetela, a stuffed corn masa, and the Short Rib. Apparently the other proteins that the restaurant is really known for are the Cochinita Pibil (pork shank) and Barbacoa (lamb neck). My second choice was the pork shank, but ultimately I decided I'd rather have a beef main than a pork. Also, I regularly make slow cooked short rib, so I was curious how an elite restaurant would treat it. The Tetela was served first, and, oh my, it was just a total flavor bomb. I normally don't like queso fresco and sour cream, but I decided to just eat everything, including the sauces, the corn shell, and the chicken filling, in one bite, and it was heaven. I completely cleaned the plate. The red chipotle sauce was probably the best part of the plate for me, although the masa itself was really good too. The main was the short rib, which was absolutely stunning. First of all, I got to see the protein by itself resting in the kitchen prior to them plating it. It is a HUGE piece of meat. It was accompanied by some flour tortillas, charred avocado, a tomatillo-based salsa, some pickles, fresh herbs, and a pinto bean puree. I wanted to get everything into one bite, so I made tacos for everything. It was some of the best tasting food I've had, but with more acidity and more spiciness than I'm used to (in a good way!). The short rib was so tender and unctuous, the best kind of fatty. And every little thing served its purpose. The green salsa was really good, and the charred avocado in particular just added another layer of richness and fattiness to the short rib. I cleaned the whole plate for the short rib also, and at that point, I was probably pushing 3,000 calories. I didn't even look at the dessert menu, although I'm sure it would've been good also. If given the chance, I'd love to come back and try a few other dishes, especially the mussels and the lamb neck barbacoa. read more

Tzuco - Tetela - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It was so lovely to make it back to Tzuco! The last time I ate here was in 2022 so when I was back in Chicago for work this month, I knew I had to make a reservation. I sat at the chef's counter (one of my favorite things to do especially if I'm dining solo) and took in the sights, sounds, and smells of the kitchen. I started with a ÚLTIMA PALABRA and it was fantastic! Honestly this should have been my drink of choice all night. For food I ordered the tuna ceviche and pulpo enamorado. Tuna Ceviche: incredibly delicious and fresh with a smoky kick. The yuzu cut through the fattiness of the tuna so well and it was my favorite dish of the night Pulpo Enamorado: I wasn't sure about it after my first bite as I thought the octopus had too much of a char. After sharing this thought with the manager when he checked in on my meal he let me know that taste was due to the salsa macha. HOWEVER, once I pairs the octopus with the pickled carrots, peas, potato tonnato aioli it was a match made in heaven. The octopus was cooked well and was super tender I ended with the Maiz for dessert which was such a delight to eat! The charred corn ice cream was encased in a candied (?) corn mold, caramel, toffee, orange purée, honey gelée with caramelized popcorn. I also had a Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán sighting! This trip solidified Tzuco as one of my favorite Chicago restaurants. read more

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This is a fun, upscale Mexican restaurant. I made a rez a week prior. We were in Chicago for a business trip and a friend/fellow diner had been here for a business /group dinner and recommended we try it. Again (for her). The restaurant was accommodating when i called earlier in the day if we could push the rez back. They were so friendly about it. Three of us diners shared: MEJILLONES mussels,seffron beuro blanc. driad choriao, pickled jalepeton, house mada masa TETELA Stuffed triangle-shapad com masa chicken tinga. Sour cream, creamy chipotle, queso fresco BARBACOA with tortillas. We let them know that I am not able to handle spicy food. They were happy to place such sauces and salsas on the side. I was so grateful. The server was always helpful and eager to make our meal pleasant. Mission accomplished. The barbacoa lamb shank was very tender and the spices used were amazing. Wrapping a piece of fresh tortillas around a lamb bite was a tasty experience. My Hubby and friend both ordered cocktails and the second round came with instructions to taste one item first? The other was on fire. It resembled an old fashion? I wish I had tried the sangria. Next time. The desserts!! When a restaurant follows through with elevated desserts, it says a lot about the chefs and pride of the restaurant. We shared: MAÍZ Charred corn ice cream, caramel, toffee, orange purée, honey gelée with caramelized popcorn. It looks like a corn on the cob! But it is NOT! What a fun dish. So yummy! LIMON Lemon mousse, coconut crumble, lemongrass ice-cream, yuzu jelly. It was shaped and looked exactly like a lemon. It was refreshing and fun to eat. I love yuzu anything. Highly recommend! read more

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Usually enjoy this place. I absolutely love their Horchata Latte Martini! I ordered both their specials, the lobster tostada and their drink special both of which I enjoyed. I only really came for a couple drinks and maybe something light. Unfortunately our server seemed extremely pushy and made us feel like we needed to hurry up. Even when paying for the bill he stood over me while I was getting the cash in order instead of waiting for me to leave the check on the table which made it extremely awkward. Ended up leaving and going to Z Bar down the street to finish up the night. Drinks food and atmosphere are great but service pretty much ruined everything else. read more

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Always love tzuco! The mussels and the tzuco marg are my favorite part by far. The mahi mahi was delicious with the herby sauce, would definitely get that again!! First time sitting on the patio and it was a great vibe. read more

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Late review from restaurant week back in early February! I've been to Tzuco a few years ago, but haven't gone back and thought this would be a good excuse to go since the restaurant week deal seemed worth it. We did the wine pairing too, and it was amazing! We were obsessed with the dessert pairing the most -- it worked so perfectly. I still think about it. We had a choice of an appetizer, entree, and dessert. For my appetizer, I got the tetela, which looked so beautiful on the plate, and it was even more tasty than it looked. For my entree, I got the pollo con mole, and the flavors all worked perfectly together. And for dessert, I got the cacao. read more

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I went to Tzuco last night (Wednesday) without a reservation. It was still pretty busy, but we were seated right away -- no wait, which was a pleasant surprise. The drinks were solid. The Rosé Margarita was really good -- refreshing and well-balanced. The sangria was described by our server as "balanced," and while it was smooth, I could definitely taste the brandy more than I prefer. We ordered two appetizers and one main entrée, and it was more than enough food for two people. My only hesitation is that some of the dishes looked more substantial in the online photos and descriptions. The fried plantains and Brussels sprouts were more of a shaving or garnish than a true side. They were flavorful, just very minimal in portion -- especially on the Short Rib and the Mayan Ceviche. That said, the overall vibe was beautiful. The space truly felt like you were transported to Mexico City. read more

Tzuco - Mayan Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went here for brunch during the weekend and got a table with no reservation no problem. We were seated quickly a service was great. The ambiance was a bit strange. It was very industrial looking and I believe they were going for a desert look with minimalism but it just lacked character and vibe. It was almost cold and empty looking. Just not what I was expecting. The food was good. The tacos were my favorite part and very flavorful and juicy. The other dish was interesting and something out of our comfort zone and it was good but the prices were a bit extreme. I'll probably be coming back for happy hour to taste other things for a more reasonable price. read more

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We do not have enough words to say how much we enjoyed our dinner at Tzuco! We ate at the bar since we were headed to a concert and David was our bartender/server. He took the time to get to know us and recommend several things on the menu! We had the ribeye tacos, mole, and chicharron de pulpo. Mole was my favorite and the tacos were my husband's favorite. It was all delish. The experience, hospitality from David and food left us talking about it still the next day after! We cannot wait to be back! David - Fuiste tan atento e hiciste que nos sintiéramos increíblemente bienvenidos esta noche! Muchas Gracias! Nos veremos cuando regresemos a Chicago! read more

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With stunning decor inside and out and a unique menu, this is the kind of place that quickly gets and stays on the radar. We stopped by for happy hour, which has a great selection of drinks and appetizers for a relatively good value during the weekdays. For drinks, I opted for the classic margarita, which was tangy with the perfect amount of sweetness. We split the guacamole and cochinita tostada for the light bites. Generally, I tend to opt for more unusual menu items, but I was super impressed by the guacamole's delicious smokey and zesty flavor. The cochinita tostada was delicious and comforting- I absolutely loved the perfectly moist and thick tortilla topped with a very generous serving of black beans. Would order this again in a heartbeat. Throughout the meal, the staff was attentive and friendly. All around, the experience was great. I will absolutely return soon to try more of the delicious-looking menus! read more

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Bold flavors, stunning dishes -- Tzuco delivers! I visited Tzuco and tried the Mayan Ceviche and the Baja Tostada, and both dishes were absolutely phenomenal. The Mayan ceviche was bright, fresh, and layered with flavor -- the kind of dish that wakes up your palate in the best way. The Baja tostada was just as impressive: perfectly crisp, beautifully composed, and packed with bold, vibrant taste. The restaurant itself has such an artistic, elevated vibe, and the service was polished and friendly. Every detail felt intentional. If you love creative, high-quality Mexican cuisine, Tzuco is a must. I'll definitely be returning to explore more of the menu! read more

Tzuco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Brunch was fine minus the food poisoning after. I also can't give more than two stars to anywhere that doesn't have ANY vegetarian dishes as mains (and as a Mexican restaurant, this is doubly shameful and embarrassing). read more

Make the reservation! Get the pork. You won't be disappointed! Service was incredible.

The service here was terrible. I would give it a 1-star, but the dish I had was delicious so I'm going to settle at a 3-star. Went in for a Galentine's Day brunch with a large group of ladies. Our server was so rude. I don't know if she thought she was already getting her 20% gratuity that comes from a large table that she didn't have to try... Let's start with the fact that the server got one of the girls orders wrong and instead of apologizing and bringing out what my friend actually ordered, she proceeded to argue with my friend trying to tell her what she ordered. What? How would the server that's taking 12+ orders know better than the person who ordered the food what they ordered. Unacceptable. Just own your mistake and bring out the right food. Don't argue with your customers about what they ordered. Next we waited for 30 minutes to order something and she was no where to be found. When she finally did come back around, she told us the kitchen was closed. Isn't that something you should have let us know right before it happened? In my experience, a good server usually will notify you right before the kitchen closes and ask if you want to get anything else in. The final straw for me was when another one of my friends asked if she could have an extra postcard they were giving out to each table. When the server came back she basically slammed it on the table. "O I'm sorry was the $180 tip you earned from serving our table not enough for you to respectfully give us that extra postcard?" I had enough with her so I complained to the manager because what we received was not a 20% gratuity service. The manager was kind enough to comp a couple meals. It still makes me a little angry that she got to keep the full 20% tip. After talking with some of my other friends that had been there, they agreed service has always been something that lacked here. Adding back points because the mushroom cheese fondue thing we had was REALLY good. Overall I wouldn't return because service matters and I don't want to leave a restaurant feeling angry that we got treated so disrespectfully. read more

Came for brunch and it was honestly very solid flavorful food with massive portions. The vibe inside is also beautiful. Would definitely come back to try their dinner, but highly recommend the chorizo crepe and chilaquiles! read more

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Tzuco is led by a Michelin starred chef blending traditional Mexican dishes with French techniques. The dining space was beautiful and vey tropical and it reminds of Mexico City and I really felt like I was transported there. The drinks were delicious and well balanced. They have a good assortment of different cocktails for you to choose from. The food was also really delicious. We got a ceviche as our appetizer, octopus, and the braised pork shank. The octopus was cooked perfectly, it was served in a delicious aoli which it gave it excellent flavor. The pork shank came with black beans, salsa, and tortillas which allowed you to make tacos. This was a great place to get dinner and really enjoyed the traditional Mexican dishes served. read more

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We decided to stop by for lunch and it was a great experience. The inside has a very cool atmosphere, like you're in the Mexican desert. The food is great as well, we tried: - Steak Tartare - Torta Ahogada - Quesabirria - Horchata Latte The food was all very flavorful. I really enjoyed the steak tartare and appreciated the guacamole it came with. Although I wouldn't order the horchata latte again for $10. I don't think it was worth it. Also note the bathroom has a communal hand wash station. Just an FYI. read more

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Absolutely fantastic restaurant! We were visiting here from Portland, Oregon, and came with a group of six. They seated us out on the patio - the weather was absolutely lovely and our server was amazing! We ate family style and shared the lamb, pork, and beef as well as three separate appetizers. The votes over which was best were all over the board because they were all amazing! You definitely can't go wrong here, and if you do go in order the mushroom appetizer! read more

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Nice upscale Mexican style restaurant with a nice range of dishes. It can get quite busy even on a weekday so try to make a reservation. Cool decor and nice vibe inside, not too loud. Food is very solid overall - especially liked the pulpo, steak tartare, rib eye steak, and corn ice cream. read more

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We were in town and had brunch here. We were surprised that we didn't have to wait at all to get seated. Service is awesome as it should be in a restaurant like this. The menu options were great. We had a tostada which was huge, but delicious. We had a couple of mimosas which were exquisite. I loved the decorations and specially the restroom. It was very nicely done with remembrances of small town bathrooms. We really enjoyed this place. We will definitely try dining in our next visit. read more

Tzuco - Mimosa- empezando bien el día! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been to Tzuco several times over the years and have always enjoyed the experience, which is why this visit was especially disappointing. I ordered the fish dish, something I had previously enjoyed at the restaurant, but was surprised to find that it had been completely changed. The server never mentioned that the preparation was now different or that the fish was served fried. Had we known, we likely would have ordered something else. To make matters worse, we were charged market price for what was described as an entire fish, yet it arrived as small breaded pieces coated in corn flour, more like fish nuggets than a thoughtfully prepared fish entrée. Unfortunately, the flavors also fell flat. The dish lacked the quality and flavor profile we had come to expect from Tzuco and felt surprisingly underwhelming for the price point. Between the unexpected preparation, lack of communication, and disappointing execution, the meal felt misleading and simply not worth the cost. Sadly, after several prior visits, this experience makes it hard to justify returning. read more

We left the restaurant over an hour ago and I'm still thinking about how delicious the food was. My husband and I shared a perfectly cooked steak and a chicken tinga tetapa--both were fantastic. I didn't feel like drinking alcohol, but the tamarindo drink was refreshing and flavorful. The service was good; our waiter seemed a bit rushed, which was completely understandable for a busy Friday night. The decor and ambiance were beautiful, and I especially loved the bathrooms--such a thoughtful, stylish touch. Overall, a beautiful place with great food and a wonderful atmosphere. I'm already thinking of when I'm Coming back! Chefs kiss read more

Tzuco - Happy Birthday to me - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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2 friends and I came here for dinner on Thursday, April 9th, to celebrate the birthday of 1 of those friends! She and I had never been to Tzuco before, so our other friend who was with us that night, highly recommended coming here, since he had been here many times before and loved his experience here every time! He was so very right! The food, service and ambience here are top notch! For appetizers, we had the Roasted Beets and the Tetela (our FAVORITE appetizer)! For entrees, I had the Cochinita Pibil and side of elote; my friends had the Mahi Mahi and Chile Relleno!! All our food was spectacularly fresh, flavorful and beautifully presented! Our server Mario (alias Super Mario Wario!) was incredibly knowledgeable, efficient and a ton of fun to talk to the whole night (we were the last party to leave)!! We will definitely be back!! read more

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Tzuco was a 5-out-of-5 experience for both food and vibe. We came here for happy hour, and everything exceeded expectations. The setting is unique and beautifully designed. Coming from the SF Bay Area, I was truly impressed by Chicago's food scene and interior design. The slow-baked hamachi jaws with lime-honey BBQ sauce, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and creamy coleslaw were outstanding--easily a highlight. The elegant atmosphere, creative plating, and refined flavors made each dish feel like a piece of art. The food was delicious, the service was awesome, and the overall experience was very relaxing. Definitely recommended. I'll be back to try their dinner menu next time I'm in town. read more

Tzuco - Hamachi jaw - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A little disappointed that this dinner experience was very underwhelming. Sadly this place is overhyped. The food is good, don't get me wrong, but there wasn't anything that stood out. Everything kind of lacked flavor. The desserts were honestly so fun and my favorite part of the meal. Our favorite apps were the octopus and the mussels. We ate alot of bread as part of the apps. The queso was good but it was like 80% mushrooms and barely any actual queso. Most of the entrees are served with tortillas to make tacos. The entrees themselves just felt lacking. To drink, I ordered an horchata which was interesting. It was very thick compared to others I've had. Also very grainy. Felt like I was drinking heavy cream so I added water to help it go down. Also not very sweet. The desserts are so cute and come in unique shapes and flavors! I recommend the maiz dessert - comes with caramel popcorn accent! Overall the vibes inside are nice and are good for hanging out with friends or date night. read more

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Tzuco is an upscale Mexican place with a beautiful interior including a beautiful bathroom with a large rectangular communal sink and a well heated outside for outdoor dining. We were only able to get seating for two for outdoor dining, but it looked like the inside wasn't too full. The service was attentive. We shared the queso fundido which was a lot more mushroom than cheese than we expected for a queso dip. The accompanied masa madre bread was thickly sliced and nicely toasted. The tetela was very solid as well. We shared the Costilas de res as our final course. By now, we were already so full from sharing the 2 apps. The only thing we would recommend is to provide a bit more of the tomatoes, and avocado for a more balanced taco experience. Could've totally skipped the side order of fries. The fries really lacked crispiness. Lastly, we had the limon y miel which tasted as good as it looked. We would definitely recommend coming here. read more

Tzuco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I read about the hype and couldn't wait to try it myself and it did not disappoint! Very excited by this authentic and beautiful restaurant. Lots to try and you can't go wrong. read more

Tzuco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This restaurant deserves a higher rating than it has. Absolutely beautiful design and comfy interior. Really large seating area. Food was superb. Staff was incredibly polite and highly attentive. All the flavors were so good. Even the chips and guacamole were so delicious. Would highly recommend and return if we were in the area. read more

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Tzuco in Chicago is a must visit for bold authentic Mexican cuisine. Delicious drinks and food were served with polite waitstaff and good service. I ordered a few drinks throughout my meal starting with a horchata and it was amazing, I tried a few appetizers to play with the flavors and experience more of the menu for myself and ordered their mussels and grilled octopus which were both very pleasing, the richness and boldness of the sauce in the mussels was strong but delicious. The tenderness of the Pulpo Enamorado paired perfectly with my other mocktail. For my entree I decided to try the Cochinita Pibil which tasted very delicious and almost gave a Pozole Rojo feeling as it was pork anyways. My dining experience was very good at Tzuco and I would definitely recommend visiting. read more

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Interesting and innovative dishes from Carlos Gaytán and his team, housed in a spacious high ceilinged restaurant. There was a bit of a mix up at first because I thought I booked general seating online, so I was confused why they sat me at the kitchen counter top, but then the host explained that my reservation was for the kitchen counter and they had no other seating in the main dining room. My bad. Tzuco serves traditional Mexican food made with care and technique. The Mayan ceviche was really great, with sweet and sour citrus flavors that are balanced nicely with the crisp crunch of the plantains. The mahi mahi was perfectly cooked, but the fish was under seasoned and the sauce lacked flavor. The Maíz dessert from pastry chef Ana Paola Fernández, who trained under Jesus Escalera Ciscares (former head pastry chef at the legendary el Bulli and 2018 Latin America Best Pastry Chef by The World's Fifty Best Restaurants) at Postreria in Guadalajara, was innovative and delicious. Molecular gastronomy for dessert. Overall, a worthwhile restaurant experience. There is a 3.5% fee embedded within the final tally of the receipt, but they had no problem removing it when I asked nicely. A lot of Chicago restaurants do this now. So after they remove it, I will tip a little more than I would normally. Our server Lauren was very friendly and knowledgeable. read more

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Amazing place with amazing food! Love the decor and ambiance from the cozy dining room to the unique bathrooms! Got the NY Strip and Tetela. Definitely recommend both of those if you want something familiar with a unique twist! Service was on point too! read more

Tzuco - Tetela - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had high expectations coming here and I was a little disappointed. First the chair that we had was uncomfortable to sit on. It had the wicker type material that dipped down in the center and offered no butt support. Maybe it is suitable for bigger persons but I did not like it. I likes the craft cocktail. The ceviche appetizer we had was good but I thought the fish was swimming in the soup (sauce). The bread/ toast that was supposedly made on site was too dry for the tartare. The mahi-mahi was over done. We had 2 plates on the table and it's such a shame they were very dry. The only dish I really enjoyed was the one with the bone marrow. Other than that I'm really sad that I couldn't recommend the place. read more

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Have been wanting to try Tzuco (& their showstopping desserts) for a while now, and the experience and meal didn't disappoint! Came for an early dinner on a Monday. They asked us if we wanted to enjoy the happy hour deals, which are only offered at the bar (M-F from 4-5:30 pm). We chose to be seated at a table and order from the regular menu but I would come back to check out their popular happy hour. For the food - we ordered the pulpo (octopus), steak taco special, tetela (fantastic), the corn dessert and the lemon dessert (both amazing). They were so kind to bring me a tres leches cake for my birthday, which was so good as well! Our server was very kind, helpful and chill, and I wish I got his name. He said his favorite dessert was the peach one they do in the summer. Based on how delicious the two works of art we ordered were, I need to try the peach one now. Other guests were ordering such fun cocktails, so I'll have to come back to try those. Great night out spot for really any group! read more

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