Oasis Opens On Plainfield Road: 'We Focused On Being Different'

JOLIET, IL — Whenever there's a new Mexican restaurant opening near Joliet, you often see a flood of sarcastic comments posted on social media such as, "Great, just what we need, another Mexican restaurant."

Adrian and Christian Avila are aware of that sentiment. On Sept. 20, these brothers in their 20s opened Oasis Mexican Restaurant behind the Speedway gas station along Plainfield Road.

Oasis, the brothers insist, is truly a first-of-its kind restaurant for Joliet area residents.

What makes Oasis stand out from the dozens of other Mexican restaurants across the entire Joliet region?

"I think it's the birria," Adrian Avila replied. "We focused on being different and soon we'll be doing catering. Our menu is pretty simple. Everything is good, and it catches your attention because it's small."

Avila said the loaded nachos and Corn in the Cup are two of his other menu favorites.

Joliet Patch's editor asked Adrian Avila whether there are too many Mexican restaurants in the Joliet area, as some people suggest.

"Too many Mexican restaurants that are too familiar," Adrian Avila replied. "I would say this is not your typical Mexican restaurant. For the first month, it's been really good. We've got the DJ music, we're getting some palm trees, and we've got the future Tiki bar for the evening."

Unlike most Joliet area Mexican restaurants, Oasis focuses on Birria. Avila described it as a very fresh and juicy pulled beef. Oasis makes it traditionally with a combination of "our Birria soup or stew, also known as consome on the side used for dipping anhy Birria options."

Oasis also makes what known as The Bizza — it's a Birria pizza made with big flour tortilla, dipped in consume, and filled with cheese, onion, cilantro and birria.

The Bizza comes with one 12 oz consome.

But if you're not in the mood for a Bizza or birria tacos, Oasis has birria ramen, birria burrito, birria nachos, birria fries, birria chillaquiles and birria flautas.

One of the unique items on the Oasis menu is the Oasis Hot Cheeto Burger. It comes with fries.

"The Hot Cheeto Burger, it is exactly the way you think it is," Adrian Avila told Patch.

For appetizers, Corn In the Cup has become one of the top sellers, Avila said. Other menu items include: cheese fries, fries, onion rings, Jalapeno poppers and Mozzarella sticks.

Horchata is one of their featured beverages. They also sell bottled Coke.

The Avila brothers worked together when they were teenagers, a short distance from their new restaurant, at the Lucano's Pizza on Caton Farm Road.

Christian Avila is 27. Adrian is 24. Many of their new customers often assume they are twins, Adrian joked.

The motto for Oasis is "Tacos All Day" and "Eat Tacos Be Happy."

"There's a younger feel," Adrian Avila explained. "We're getting palm trees, there's the future Tiki bar coming. This is family owned. It's new. It's fresh, and it's me and my brother. We live like five minutes away."

The Avila brothers spent three months remodeling their new property at 2424 Plainfield Road before opening in late September. They are in the same Plainfield Road plaza as Urban Kitchen, which opened in April and now shows 86 Google Reviews, averaging 4.8 stars out of 5 stars.

As for Oasis, there's currently 48 Google Reviews posted, averaging 4.7 stars out of 5.

Joliet Patch article: Urban Kitchen Restaurant Off To Good Start

One potential drawback is that Oasis is in a hidden location. Unlike Urban Kitchen, Oasis is not visible from the busy Plainfield Road.

Oasis is right next to the Meineke Car Care Center, closer to Caton Farm Road. To get to Oasis from Caton Farm Road, you turn onto Plum Street.

"It's a good hideaway spot," Adrian Avila remarked. "We're all about social media. We pull in social media. People don't mind coming in."

Oasis has a strong presence on Instagram and Tiktok and the brothers have been promoting their new restaurant in Brian Bessler's Joliet Area Bar and Restaurant Guide, the Facebook group with more than 36,000 followers.

On Thursday evening, Joliet Patch interviewed Oasis customer Hattie Washington, a retired Cook County Sheriff's corrections deputy who now lives in Joliet.

Thursday marked the second time she has ordered her dinner here.

Washington said she first learned about Oasis Mexican Restaurant from somebody's social media post on Brian Bessler's Facebook group.

One of the best items on the Oasis menu, Washington said, is the rice. "The rice is excellent, and I'm not a rice person," Washington remarked.

Patch asked if she had a specific menu item she would recommend to first-time customers.

"So far everything," she said.

Both times she's eaten here, Washington said she ordered the birria tacos.

"They're really good," she said. "It has flavor and the seasoning is really good."

Located at 2424 Plainfield Road, Oasis is closed Mondays and open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Oasis also works with Door Dash and Grubhub for deliveries. Otherwise, there's indoor dining and takeout. To call ahead, the number for Oasis Mexican Restaurant is 815-733-5769.