Chilam Balam on North Broadway in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood has been one of the city’s most celebrated Mexican restaurants since chef Rodrigo Monterrey opened it, building a menu around authentic regional Mexican cooking that goes well beyond the Tex-Mex and generic Mexican-American cuisine that most Chicago neighborhoods had access to. It appeared in Season 12, Episode 7 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Homemade and Homebrewed,” which aired October 3, 2011. Guy Fieri found a Chicago kitchen doing authentic interior Mexican cooking with the skill and regional specificity that makes Chilam Balam one of the most important Mexican restaurants in the city.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Chilam Balam
City: Chicago, Illinois
Cuisine: Authentic Mexican
DDD Season: 12
DDD Episode: 7
Episode Title: Homemade and Homebrewed
Original Air Date: October 3, 2011
Address: 3023 N. Broadway St., Chicago, IL 60657
Phone: 773-296-6901
Website: https://chilambalamchicago.com
Status: Open
What to Eat
The Rotating Tasting Menu built around regional Mexican ingredients and preparations is the signature experience — the kitchen changes its menu regularly to reflect different Mexican states and culinary traditions that most Chicago diners have never encountered. The Mole Dishes, rotating in variety from negro to coloradito, are the preparations that demonstrate the depth of the kitchen’s commitment to authentic technique. The House-Made Tortillas for tableside tacos are the interactive element that brings the Mexican street food tradition into the restaurant setting. The Seasonal Ceviche variations reflect whatever citrus and seafood the kitchen is working with. Find a Chicago hotel on Trivago.
Plan Your Visit
Check the website for current hours and current menu — Chilam Balam’s rotating menu means every visit is different from the last.
Address: 3023 N. Broadway St., Chicago, IL 60657
Phone: 773-296-6901
Website: https://chilambalamchicago.com
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the Homemade and Homebrewed episode on Amazon. Chicago has one of the deepest Triple D maps in the country — More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives maps out the full run.
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Chilam Balam appeared in Season 12, Episode 7 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Homemade and Homebrewed,” originally aired October 3, 2011.