Chef & Restaurateur Specializing in Mexican Cuisine; Owner of Mi Tocaya Antojería; Two-Time James Beard Award Finalist

Chicago, IL, USA
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000 Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Diana Dávila Biography

Diana Dávila is a chef and restaurateur known for her contributions to Mexican cuisine in Chicago. Raised in a family of restaurateurs, Dávila began working in her parents' taqueria at age 10 and later started her professional career at the family’s upscale dining concept, Hacienda Jalapeños. She received critical attention from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times for her work there. Dávila further developed her culinary skills under Chef Susana Trilling at the Seasons of the Heart culinary school in Oaxaca, Mexico, where she learned traditional techniques, including chocolate making from Zapotec women.

After her time in Oaxaca, Dávila worked in several Chicago restaurants, including Butter, which was named one of the Best New Restaurants by Esquire Magazine, and Boka, a Michelin-starred establishment. She also spent four years in Washington, D.C., working for restaurateur Jackie Greenbaum and earning recognition from Washingtonian and Washington Life. Dávila returned to Chicago to work at Cantina 1910 before opening her own restaurant, Mi Tocaya Antojería, in Logan Square.

Mi Tocaya Antojería features a menu inspired by Dávila’s travels and family experiences throughout Mexico, offering small, medium, and large plates that highlight both familiar Mexican dishes and lesser-known regional specialties. Her approach emphasizes regional diversity, Indigenous ingredients, and vegetable-forward cooking, challenging common perceptions of Mexican food. The restaurant’s name, Mi Tocaya, reflects Dávila’s personal connection to her heritage and her commitment to challenging gender stereotypes in the culinary industry. Dávila was featured in the cookbook "Today's Special: 20 Leading Chefs Choose 100 Emerging Chefs," with Marcus Samuelsson highlighting her fearless approach to flavor.

Dávila is a two-time James Beard Award finalist and five-time semifinalist, with recognition in categories such as Best Chef: Great Lakes, Outstanding Chef, and Best New Restaurant. She has been named a Food & Wine Best New Chef, and Mi Tocaya Antojería has received honors from Bon Appétit, the Chicago Michelin Guide, The New York Times, and Eater. Dávila also appeared as a contestant on the cooking competition show "America's Culinary Cup."

In addition to her culinary work, Dávila is active in community advocacy. She co-founded Todos Ponen, a grassroots initiative that brings together chefs, artists, and hospitality partners to provide financial relief and grocery support to undocumented workers and families. Todos Ponen has grown into an ongoing platform for cultural celebration and economic solidarity, organizing fundraisers and serving free meals to immigrants in Chicago. Dávila’s work, both in the kitchen and the community, centers on elevating Mexican cuisine and supporting the broader hospitality industry.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/27/2026.

Diana Dávila Videos

Cantina de la Granja | chef Diana Davila & Aaron Covert | Cocktails ...

Cantina de la Granja | chef Diana Davila & Aaron Covert | Cocktails ...

Cantina de la Granja Dia de los muertos | benefiting Green City market By chef Diana Davila and Aaron Covert Cocktails by Michael Fawthrop At Wooden...

Chef Diana Dávila pays edible tribute to her culinary mentor ...

Chef Diana Dávila pays edible tribute to her culinary mentor ...

For this year's Chicago Reader Key Ingredient Cook-Off, we asked some of Chicago's top chefs to create a dish to honor a person who influenced their...

Chef Diana Dávila is the Future of Mexican Food in Chicago – Open ...

Chef Diana Dávila is the Future of Mexican Food in Chicago – Open ...

We have arrived in Chicago for the next stop in our journey through the midwest - and Chef Diana Dávila is at the helms of Mi Tocaya Antojeria. Mi...

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    Speaking fees for Diana Dávila, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Diana Dávila are under $10,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Diana Dávila, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Diana Dávila speak about?

    Diana Dávila is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Celebrity Chef, Celebrity Chef, Diversity & Inclusion, Hispanic Heritage, Hospitality, Influential Women, Non-Fiction Authors
  • Where does Diana Dávila travel from?

    Diana Dávila generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Diana Dávila is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Diana Dávila for your event is available upon request. Diana Dávila generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Pati Jinich, Marcela Valladolid, Stephanie Izard, Jenny Levison and Nicole Ponseca. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Diana Dávila for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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