Haz clic aquí para leer esto en español
It isn’t easy to stand out in a restaurant town like Chicago. But two new Mexican spots on the Windy City’s restaurant scene have managed to do just that.
Costera Cocina Tulum in the West Loop’s Fulton Market district and Manchamanteles in Bucktown were among “the city’s most buzzed-about restaurants” on Chicago Magazine’s “10 Hottest Restaurants” list for December 2023.
Yucatán-inspired Costera Cocina Tulum’s urban jungle theme creates what the restaurant calls “the feeling of wonder and wander in the jungles of Tulum,” which by day transports diners “to the zen sunlight on the coast” and by night to “a vibrant bohemian nightlife.” The menu features seasonal coastal ingredients prepared in traditional methods and an eclectic array of craft cocktails. Chicago Magazine says the restaurant is “the antidote to a cold Chicago night: snacking on Key lime shrimp aguachile and fish carnitas tacos in lush surroundings.”
Manchamanteles in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago
Mole-focused Manchamanteles, named after one of Mexico’s national dishes, is the city’s latest entry from Chef Geno Bahena, who’s made a name for himself throughout Chicago and beyond for his embrace of regional Mexican cuisine and his exquisite recipes for mole (hence his nickname: The King of Mole). Moles, wood-fired meats, and regional dishes from across Mexico star on the menu. Oaxacan black mole with lamb and a green mole with sea bass are among the offerings Chicago Magazine recommends.
Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to el Restaurante's digital publications for free by clicking here.