Topolobampo chef Rick Bayless Topolobampo

Topolobampo

445 N. Clark St. (Hubbard St.)
Chicago, IL 60610
312-661-1434
Map
Cuisine: Mexican
Rick Bayless’ upscale Mexican restaurant in River North is as exciting as ever.
Openings: Dinner Wed.-Sat.

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Topolobampo, Chicago, IL


Topolobampo Restaurant Review:



About the restaurant: Chef/restaurateur Rick Bayless has championed Mexican cuisine for decades with his stable of restaurants, several cookbooks and the PBS television series, "Mexico: One Plate at a Time." Frontera Grill was his first establishment in Chicago, followed soon after by the more upscale Topolobampo in the adjacent space. Vibrant, colorful art on the walls contrasts with the white tablecloths, while the undulating wood ceiling draws eyes upward.

Food & Drinks: Topolobampo's refined approach is cutting edge and avoids clichés, and the food is always exciting. The tasting menu explores themes such as "Gifts the World gave to Mexico" or "Where Corn is Life." Nutty red mole might accompany crispy roasted suckling pig, while black mole (made with more than 28 different ingredients) pairs with Wagyu beef rib-eye and slow-cooked short rib. For a sweet ending, “coconut pearls” are accented with citrus-jicama salsa, blood orange sorbet, grapefruit-habanero gelatinas and avocado. Sip a margarita or make selections from the wine list, which highlights small producers with biodynamic, organic or sustainable agricultural practices.