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Estacion, Evanston, IL

Estacion

4.9
4.9
122 Reviews
$30 and under
Caribbean

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 1 time today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Charming
Discover a culinary voyage to the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean at Estacion, where every bite brings the soulful essence of Puerto Rico to your plate. Led by acclaimed head chef Mark Mendez, our passionate team takes pride in presenting authentic Puerto Rican cuisine in its purest form, offering a dining experience that pays homage to the rich culinary heritage.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Caribbean, Puerto Rican, Latin American
  • Hours of Operation
    Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (224) 714-2196
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Mark Mendez
  • Area
    Evanston
  • Cross Street
    Damen
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Bus stop is in front of the restaurant. Red Line station is 3 blocks east. Some parking spaces available across the street at Popeye's per private arrangement.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 122 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.7Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Best Overall

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Best Food

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Best Service

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Best Value

  • North Suburbs

    Best Overall

  • North Suburbs

    Best Food

  • North Suburbs

    Best Service

  • North Suburbs

    Best Value

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Estacion is a "hidden gem" with "amazing food and cocktails," offering "unique takes" on Puerto Rican and Caribbean dishes. Guests rave about the "fantastic" service and "delicious" menu items like the crab tostones and Pernil. Though some mention noise levels, the "friendly staff" and "charming atmosphere" make it a must-visit.

122 Reviews
  1. Britt

    Austin2 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    We really wanted to like Estacion. We had read rave reviews thinking we had found a gem. But when we received our food, it felt like it had been sitting all week and was just reheated in a microwave. The textures were strange and felt dried out. The drinks were lacking too. The service was kind and helpful. But what was strange about it was the server mentioned multiple times that if we liked it to post a review. The restaurant was pretty empty for a Saturday night and so we felt like maybe the business is struggling in some ways and maybe that’s why they were open about asking for a review. We’re sad this wasn’t what we had hoped for and wish them well.

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  2. Kay VIP

    Chicago98 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have enjoyed Estacion a few times and plan to return. The servers and staff are very attentive and easily welcomes you. The menu has a unique selection. All in our party enjoyed their choices. The restaurant is conveniently located close to the THEO theater. A wise choice for a dinner/theater evening. Highly recommend.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very good food and super nice staff! Highly recommend!

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  4. David

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 2 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We've been to Estasion twice now, and both times it was FANTASTIC. The best Ropa Vieja I have ever had, by a large margin. We have had the octopus and the ribs appetizers, and both were great. The margarita was also very good. The staff is incredibly nice and helpful. They were bringing out flan to everyone as a free desert, and when they found found my wife couldn't have dairy, they made carmelized plantains. The ambience is also excellent with fun, upbeat music that was low enough that we could still hear and talk. Do yourself a favor and go!

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  5. Sarah

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 28 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great restaurant. You can tell a lot of thought goes into everthing from the decor to the drink selection to the food itself. This is a great stop on Howard St.

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  6. Nancy VIP

    Chicago110 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 23 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I hosted my birthday brunch at Estacion, and it was a blast! Great craft cocktails got us started, followed by an exceptional brunch menu. My guests were delighted by the selection of both traditional brunch treats along with dishes with a more ethnic theme. What a great place for a party!

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  7. Vincent

    New Orleans15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 16 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I can't overstate how impressed I am with this hidden gem. The food was outstanding. I had the camarones for an app and it was delicious. For my main I had the ropa viejas. It was fantastic. The service was equally good. I will definitely be going back.

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  8. Patrick VIP

    Chicago16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 16 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This restaurant is a hidden gem. The food is excellent and the service extraordinary. I hope that more people find out about it so that it thrives. It is rare to find authentic Puerto Rican food this good.

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  9. Curt VIP

    Chicago28 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 15 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We went on Valentine's Day. Thought it was great. First time there, so relied somewhat on Open Table, website to assess. The website is beautiful. Very upscale. The actual restaurant is not that upscale. The over-all decor needs work. Very sparse. I'm sure they will improve with time. We were immediately greeted by Arturo, who was our gracious and enthusiastic server for the evening. He seemed to be involved in the evening to the extent we think he may have been the owner or manager. The cocktails seemed to be a focal point. One thing I actually liked was a much simplifoed wine list. Like there was 0ne Cabernet, one Chardonnay, one Pinot Noir. A total of approx. 6 - 8 options. All were $15 for a glass. My Cabernet was really good. So, the food was outstanding. We had the crab & avocado on tostones, and the camarones with tostones also. Then split the Pernil (pork shoulder). Everything was excellent. Looking forward to returning and trying the Jibarito, Bistec and Arroz con Pollo.

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  10. Rachel

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 14 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A delicious dining experience with a delightful staff at the ready to make sure that everything was perfect. We will be back!

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FAQs

Estacion offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (224) 714-2196.

Estacion is rated 4.9 stars by 122 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 1 time today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Estacion

633 W Howard St, Evanston, IL 60202-3941

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Damen
  • Area
    Evanston
  • Hours of Operation
    Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Caribbean, Puerto Rican, Latin American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Bus stop is in front of the restaurant. Red Line station is 3 blocks east. Some parking spaces available across the street at Popeye's per private arrangement.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Mark Mendez
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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  • Terms of Use
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