clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

An Eater’s Guide to Chicago

Unofficial and highly opinionated information about the City of Broad Shoulders

Your guide to the best Chicago offers.
| Shutterstock

If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Welcome to Chicago: Where skyscrapers and Midwestern sensibilities mingle, an often misunderstood place by coastal elites where the summers are as hot as the winters are cold. This city desperately wants to prove misconceptions wrong, to show outsiders it is a place where culinary innovation and cheap eats thrive. Chicago is unexpected, where diners can find a foie gras taco at a fancy French restaurant or a wagyu hot dog inside a hardware store.

Though the city is diverse in a sense — the large Mexican population means its cooks run circles around New York. The Eastern European population allows for delicious encased meats. The large Black population means Southern cooking is not in short supply. Locals know how to navigate the city’s 77 neighborhoods, many with borders determined by immigrant enclaves. Tourists might have to be patient if they want to uncover the best bagel or the crispiest samosa. But Chicago is largely a come-as-you-are city. Unless you’ve got a fancy dress and want to wear it out at Alinea or at any of its fine dining masterpieces. That includes the world’s only Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant, Kasama.

While the city searches for some sense of normalcy, its chefs, cooks, bartenders, and servers continue to offer a level of sophistication seldom seen anywhere else in the country. This is your guide to the best the city offers.

A fine dining dish with fish from Duck Sel.
Duck Sel is an innovative fine dining pop-up in Uptown from chef Donald Young.
Chris Peters/Eater Chicago

Culinary innovation with a Midwestern heart

While Chicago is no longer the nation’s meatpacking capital — the famous (or infamous) Union Stockyards closed in 1971; Fulton Market’s slaughterhouses have been replaced by food halls, swanky cocktail bars, and gastropubs, the city’s steakhouses remain bustling, mostly due to tourists, as well as businesspeople and conventioneers armed with buoyant expense accounts. But let’s not forget street food: the city’s hot dogs stands have no match, with enough variety beyond Vienna Beef’s monopoly. Protip: Many local Home Depots have stands, operated by a third party, that have premium hot dogs, including wagyu wieners.

Tourists fixate on deep-dish pizza, a complicated topic for locals who tend to reserve the stuff for special occasions. Instead, most regularly consume the city’s signature square-cut thin-crust pizza, known as tavern style. But Chicago is more than a two-pie town. The city’s variety — from grandma slices, to Detroit squares, to Neapolitan — demonstrates that pizza is something Chicago excels at, no matter the form.

A Pequod’s pizza.
Pequod’s Pizza is still stellar.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Street food remains a vital part of the city’s dining culture, and visitors should spend time getting to know Italian beef sandwiches and tacos. Don’t forget to ask for extra mild sauce when stopping at a Harold’s Chicken Shack or any of the many fried chicken specialists on the South and West sides.

The Michelin-starred restaurants in America’s third-largest city offer top-notch fine-dining experiences, ranging from experimental tasting menus (Alinea, Esmé, Ever) to omakase (Mako, Omakase Yume) to foragers to the only starred Filipino restaurant in the world (Kasama).

Then there’s the storied beer scene. The eclectic community isn’t just made up of bearded dudes who like flannel, but women-owned breweries like Eris Brewery & Cidery, and Metropolitan Brewing. From dark and heavy stouts to all the hops an IPA fan could want, the city’s breweries from Revolution Brewing to Goose Island Beer Co. (inventors of barrel-aged beer, now a subsidiary of Budweiser) to Maplewood Brewing — are humming.

Of course, this is the city of Malört, the divisive bitter spirit born out of Chicago that’s available at dives and cocktail bars alike; get used to it, or just quietly sip a hard seltzer.

Chicago dog with fries.
Gene & Jude’s is known for its Depression Dog.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago
An Italian beef sandwich.
Forget the pretenders served elsewhere: this is a genuine Italian beef.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Where to Start with Eater Chicago's Top Maps

Eater publishes a massive number of maps to guide diners through all of Chicago's can't-miss foods, drinks, restaurants, and bars. From patios to takeout and dine-in, this is where to start when plotting out a visit.

Essential restaurants: To ensure an authentic Chicago experience, visitors should dive into Eater Chicago's Essential 38 Restaurants, which is updated quarterly. Can’t-miss spots include Diana Dávila’s genius Mi Tocaya Antojeria, Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark’s Korean-American stalwart Parachute (which recently unveiled a more traditional Korean menu), and Jason Hammel’s all-day masterpiece Lula Cafe. Virtue in Hyde Park is another splendid restaurant with its own spin on Southern food from James Beard winner chef Erick Williams. Chicago is also home to Paul Kahan’s Publican and other members of the One Off Hospitality family. On the Northwest Side, in Albany Park, check out the Korean-Chinese cuisine, particularly at Great Sea Restaurant, one of the originators of the unique lollipop chicken wing with sticky and spicy sauce.

For pastries, Lost Larson in Andersonville and Wicker Park, Aya Pastry in West Town, and James Beard award nominee Justice of the Pies, which finally has its own cafe. Pastry chef Mindy Segal, who worked with Williams at MK The Restaurant, is also back. The James Beard Award winner recently opened a bakery in Wicker Park. Those who watched FX’s The Bear might want to visit Avondale where Loaf Lounge serves the chocolate cake featured on the show. Co-owner Sarah Mispagel was a consultant on Season 1. Finally, Daisies, a Logan Square favorite, recently relocated for a larger space. During the day, it’s a great spot for an ace pastry and coffee or a sandwich.

New standouts: The Eater Chicago Heatmap, updated every month, showcases popular new restaurants. Recent additions include Loaf Lounge, where diners can try the chocolate cake made famous on The Bear. There’s also Obelix, a French restaurant with a Chicago heart — try the $23 foie gras taco. Bronzeville Winery, a new upscale restaurant on the South Side, is also a revelation.

An open-faced taco
Obelix’s famous foie gras taco.
Chris Peters/Eater Chicago

Chicago Cures Cravings

Burgers: Ten years after Bon Appetit anointed it the best burger in America, Au Cheval continues to draw long lines of visitors (Small Cheval, a spinoff, recently opened near Wrigley Field). But explore the essential burger map for more variety such as the East-meets-West-flavored burger at Mott St, Red Hot Ranch’s sublime burger for under $6, and the extra-thin, extra-caramelized cheeseburger at the Region. There’s also the Big Baby, a double cheeseburger that originated on the Southwest Side, and, for non-meat eaters, the burger at I Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat.

Coffee: Chicago is home to an exciting and diverse local coffee scene that’s free of the pretentiousness too often associated with the industry. The city is packed with friendly, knowledgeable baristas and roasters eager to show novices that there’s more to coffee than Starbucks. For an essential coffee shop experience, visit specialty cafe and roaster Gaslight in Logan Square or Japanese-influenced Sawada in West Loop. There are also unique drinks at Oromo Cafe in both Bucktown and Lincoln Square.

Doughnuts: Get your fluffy, crunchy, sweet fried dough rings at Firecakes, Doughnut Vault, Brite Donuts, or any of the other spots featured on the essential doughnut map; there are even vegan options. For a classic experience, go to Old Fashioned Donuts in Roseland where owner Burritt Bulloch has been rolling and cutting doughnuts in the front window since 1972. He’s a master artist at work.

Fried Chicken: Fried chicken in this city is no joke, as evidenced by the selections on the essential fried chicken map. Head to one of the many original Harold Chicken Shacks or Avondale’s Honey Butter Fried Chicken. Don’t forget Cleo’s Southern Cuisine in Bronzeville or Big Jones in Andersonville, where the chicken is fried in leaf lard and bacon fat according to Edna Lewis’s original recipe. Chicago hasn’t fetishized spicy options like other cities, but there’s still plenty of Nashville hot chicken to be found. One newcomer, Hot Chi Chicken & Cones, fuses American, Middle Eastern, and Indian spices for a tasty bird with plenty of heat if that’s what’s craved.

Hot dogs: Anthony Bourdain begrudgingly admitted that Chicago bests his native New York when it comes to hot dogs. Lately, imitators are popping up across the country as Vienna Beef amps up its distribution. But don’t be intimidated by the Chicago-style hot dog, a Vienna Beef wiener “dragged through the garden” with mustard, neon green relish, raw or grilled onions, tomatoes, and celery salt with optional sport peppers. But never, ever order it with ketchup; it’s sacrilege here. Eater’s essential hot dog map includes icons like Superdawg Drive-In, and Wiener’s Circle (which in late 2021 added a bar). Red Hot Ranch and Gene & Jude’s serve a variation stuffed with fries called the “Depression Dog.” An exciting newcomer is the father-and-daughter-run operation of the Hot Dog Box which has relocated to downtown food hall Urbanspace. And don’t forget those Depot Dogs.

Bars

Beer: Chicago has the most breweries in America (101 in 2021 by one count), and many of them, including Maplewood, Goose Island, Half Acre, Dovetail, and Hopewell offer their beer to-go in cans, crowlers, and growlers. Some also have patios for those who are concerned about social distancing or want to bring their dogs or simply want to drink outside. Check out the essential brewery map. There’s also a strong scene in the suburbs.

A series of cocktails a bookshelf.
Meadowlark’s summer drink menu is a tribute to the World’s Fair.
Aliya Ikhumen/Eater Chicago
A bartender pours brown liquor into a fancy rocks glass
Nobody’s Darling is a breath of fresh air in Andersonville.
Garrett Sweet/Eater Chicago

Cocktails: Chicago’s mixologists and bartenders are as inventive as its chefs in settings as diverse as a gilded underground lounge, a rooftop with a view of the lights of downtown, or a corner neighborhood joint where everyone is treated like a regular. At bars like Estereo, Weegee’s Lounge, Osito’s Tap, Nine Bar, Moonflower, and 2022 James Beard finalist Nobody’s Darling (which just unveiled an expansion), enjoy cocktails mixed with high-quality spirits — or not; it’s now possible to enjoy a great non-alcoholic cocktail in Chicago — and creative ingredients from around the world, from fruit and herbs to Korean milk soda.

For fall 2022, the owners of Michelin-starred Ever opened a bar in the same building. Called After (get the joke?), it’s a hyper-futuristic space with creative drinks, vintage spirits... and even affordable (for the area) beer. There’s also caviar, skewers, and duck wings. Every seat in the bar can be reserved, so it’s easy to plan a night. Ever also was featured in Season 2 of The Bear.

A bar that looks futuristic.
Even though you might want to ask on this starship, don’t ask the bartender at After to “make it so.”
After/Michael Muser

Dive Bars: Grab a can of PBR (or better yet, a cheap local brew) and a shot of Jeppson’s Malört at one of Chicago’s great dives. Bars to know include Old Town Ale House, Woodlawn Tap, Delilah’s, Lange’s Lounge, and Rossi’s.

Essential bars: The beauty of Chicago’s bar scene is its variety. It’s possible, in a single session, to down a Guinness at an Irish pub, then wander into a brewery taproom, and finally cap things off at a cocktail lounge or a late-night dive — all without having to leave the immediate neighborhood or even the block.

Chicago has lifted all of its COVID restrictions, the regulations that devastated the bar industry by keeping patrons away. Mask-wearing is up to the discretion of the owners who hope customers are honest about their vaccination status.

For a fancy cocktail, Meadowlark in Logan Square has been turning heads. Kumiko on West Loop is a Japanese-inspired spot that bartender Julia Momosé (who recently won a James Beard award for her book The Art of the Cocktail) has built into a contender for best bar in the country. The Wicker Park speakeasy the Violet Hour remains one of the city’s most influential bars. These taverns and many others are featured on the Essential Bar Map.

Chicago’s skyline, one of the prettiest in the country, makes spending some time on a rooftop bar a priority during the warmer months. Many have long lines during peak weekend hours. Try BiXi Beer in Logan Square, Cabra in Fulton Market, or, for a spectacular view of the lakefront, Cindy’s inside the Chicago Athletic Association hotel on Michigan Avenue. Lettuce Entertain You recently opened Miru, a Japanese restaurant inside the St. Regis, at the end of Upper Wacker Drive and overlooking Navy Pier.

A pizza with beer.
Middlebrow’s Logan Square brewpub is the cure for beer fans who are fed up with hops and on Tuesdays they bake a special Chicago thin-crust pie.
Chris Peters/Eater Chicago

Ice Cream: After surviving those long, cold winters, Chicagoans take their summers — and their ice cream shops — seriously. Peruse the essential ice cream map; throwback destinations Margie’s Candies (North Side) and Original Rainbow Cone (South Side) should not be missed. There are also plenty of playful new-school vendors like Pretty Cool Ice Cream in Logan Square and now Lincoln Park and Kurimu, a Japanese-style soft-serve shop with locations in Little Italy and Wicker Park. One of the country's finest vegan ice cream stands, Vaca’s Creamery, is in Lincoln Square and Noble Square. Also, Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream may provide the best ice cream experience in the city with flavor combos not seen anywhere else. Those seeking a classic Chicago dessert experience should also browse the essential Italian ice map.

Japanese: Chicago has seen an influx of elegant Japanese omakase meals and fine dining experiences, often housed in sleek, intimate spaces. Explore the essential sushi map and book a spot at the eight-seat sushi haunt Kyoten in Logan Square (or the less-fancy sibling, Kyoten Next Door) or find a pristine box of nigiri from Mako in West Loop. More casual sushi and izakaya-style spots are also popular, including TenGokyu Aburiya and recent entrant Sushi Hall. The city is also home to a bustling ramen scene: the essential ramen map lists some of the best destinations, including Chicago Ramen (which is actually in suburban Des Plaines).

Jewish Delis: Despite nervous rumblings to the contrary, the Jewish deli is alive and kicking in Chicago. Longtime favorites like Manny’s Deli in the South Loop, founded in 1942, and neighborhood stalwart the Bagel in Lakeview, is still slinging nostalgic Ashkenazi comfort food like matzo ball soup and massive corned beef sandwiches to hungry hoards. But that old-school approach isn’t the only game in town: Chicagoans can also find creative and heartwarming contemporary spins at spots like Schneider Deli (River North), Steingold’s (Lakeview), Zeitlin’s (Pilsen), and Sam & Gertie’s (Uptown), the latter of which bills itself as the world’s first vegan Jewish deli. Peruse the Jewish deli food map for more schmaltzy inspiration.

Michelin: Chicago has its share of world-renowned restaurants. Check out the map of Michelin-starred restaurants for fine dining, or the more affordable Bib Gourmand list, which recommends spots where diners can get a full meal, with wine or dessert, for $40 or less per person.

Pierogi: Chicago's Polish and Eastern European heritage plays a major part in the city's present. The number of Polish restaurants has dwindled some, but check out the pierogi map and head to Smak-Tak for more modern cuisine or the throwback time-capsule Podhalanka for some comforting dumplings straight out of a Polish grandmother's kitchen.

Steakhouses: Yes, every major city has many steakhouses, often for business travelers and the expense-account crowd. But Chicago’s steakhouses offer a variety of meats (grass- or corn-fed), aging (dry or wet), cuts, and price points. Gibsons is a true Chicago classic, but the city also boasts South American steakhouses (Tango Sur and El Che), Japanese tappanyaki (Ron of Japan), and an international steakhouse where diners cook their own meat (Holu).

Steak Hoagie: If one asks for a steak hoagie in Chicago, one is asking for a specific type of sandwich with thin-cut beef, green peppers, and a sweet sauce that turns the whole thing into a glorious mess. Home of the Hoagy in Morgan Park has one of the best.

Tacos: The tacos in Chicago, which has one of the country’s largest Mexican populations, are severely underrated on the national scene and often take a backseat to those in Southern California and Texas. Do yourself a favor and try as many on the essential taco map and hottest taco map as you can, particularly the goat birria specialist Birrieria Zaragoza in Archer Heights or one of the many carnitas specialists in the South Side neighborhood of Pilsen, notably Carnitas Uruapan. Also, run to La Chaparrita, a Mexican grocery store in Little Village, for some delicious Mexico City-style tacos de fritangas, or “fried tacos” (it’s the fillings that are fried, not the tortillas). A new contender recently arrived on the border of Bucktown and Logan Square: Taqueria Chingón, which serves a combination of the tried-and-true (a truly excellent al pastor), the more rare (squash blossom, duck carnitas, suadero), and the experimental (raclette cheese, bradade). Vegetarians have great options with Don Bucios and El Hongo Magico inside the XMarket vegan grocery store.

Vegetarian/Vegan: Amazingly, and contrary to the tired stereotype, there are vegetarians in the Midwest. The first vegetarian restaurant in Chicago opened at the turn of the 20th century, and now, with the advent of plant-based proteins, meat-free options are more abundant than before, thanks to vegetable-forward restaurants like Soul Veg City, Manjani, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat, and B’Gabs Goodies. There’s also Bloom Plant-Based Kitchen in Wicker Park from James Beard-nominee Rodolfo Cuadros.

Chicago Food Neighborhoods to Know

There’s a distinction between the areas that make up downtown (Loop, River North, Mag Mile, Gold Coast, Streeterville, the West Loop), and the rest of the city. Those areas are considered the city’s business district. But the soul of Chicago resides in the outlying neighborhoods, which have distinct identities and are sources of pride for their residents. Public transportation connects most places (though there’s an infamous coverage gap on the city’s South Side). Though only a portion of CTA trains ride on elevated tracks, locals have nicknamed the system “the El.” Buses are also mostly reliable, if not as speedy. There are also rideshares and a robust bike-share system called Divvy that’s linked via Lyft.

Jack X. Li/Eater Chicago
A plate of noodles.
XO Rolls from Chi Cafe.
Jack X. Li/Eater Chicago

Chinatown

Still home to a large percentage of Chicago’s Chinese immigrants, this Near South Side neighborhood is also home to the vast majority of the best Chinese restaurants in town. Get dim sum at MingHin Cuisine or Dolow, or hot pot at Mrs. Gu Skewers Hot Pot. Tony Hu, who brought Mrs. Gu to Chicago, is considered one of the city’s most successful restaurateurs. His first restaurant, Lao Sze Chuan, continues to thrive in Chinatown with locations off Michigan Avenue and in Uptown and the suburbs. Check out this map for more. There are also wonders inside the Richland Center Food Court, and don’t forget to grab a Portuguese egg tart from Chiu Quon, the city’s oldest Asian bakery, or make a late-night visit to Nine Bar, the neighborhood’s first cocktail bar, recently opened behind the takeout counter at Moon Palace Express.

The city’s Chinese community has expanded to Bridgeport, the neighborhood immediately west of Chinatown. There, visitors will find the exciting new 88 Marketplace, a Pan Asian grocery stuffed with restaurants including Qiao Lin Hotpot and Holu, a fancy Asian steakhouse.

A dark basement bar with a neon sign.
Nine Bar may be the hottest bar in Chicago.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

There are plenty of regional Chinese restaurants outside Chinatown, too, such as Lao Peng You in West Town and Chengdu Impression in Lincoln Park and Wicker Park.

Devon and Indian food

The city’s South Asian hub is located on Devon Avenue in West Ridge, about 10 miles north of downtown, and the pandemic hit it hard. While fine dining options are in short supply here, South Indian vegetarian cuisine shines at Uru-Swati, and Udupi Palace, Other standouts include Sukhadia’s, Annapurna, and Sabri Nihari. Many South Asian restaurants have a complicated relationship with serving meat, but one spot that has no such qualms is Khan B.B.Q., a spicy casual spot that’s carnivore-friendly. And FYI: Locals and their immigrant families simply call this area Devon, so don’t try to call it Little India. Many locals are also partial to Pakistani spot Ghareeb Nawaz and rave about the value for the money.

Elsewhere in the city, visitors can find stellar South Asian eats at a variety of places including Rooh Chicago in Fulton Market, Lilac Tiger and the Coach House by Wazwan in Wicker Park, and Superkhana International in Logan Square. Newcomer Indienne offers an elegant tasting menu with French influence. Thattu in Avondale offers a take on South Indian food from the state of Kerala with fried chicken sandwiches and rotating vegetarian specialties. There’s even a roasted pork chop.

A duck dish on rice.
This Wazwan duck dish comes from a centuries’-old recipe.
Chris Peters/Eater Chicago
A lamb chop with a bottle of opened wine and some red wine in a glass.
Indienne is Chicago’s second Indian tasting menu.
Chris Peters/Eater Chicago

Greater Grand Crossing

The area around 75th Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway has long been full of wonderful restaurants that go toe-to-toe with any area in the city. It’s hard to dismiss Lem’s Bar-B-Q’s rib tips, ribs, and hot links underneath that retro sign. But for vegans, Soul Veg City (formerly Soul Vegetarian) has delivered meat-free gyros, chicken nugget substitutes called protein tidbits, and more for decades. The quality at Harold’s Chicken Shack locations vary, but one of the city’s best locations sits on 75th, right near Brown Sugar Bakery, where turtle cakes and more sweet treats are available.

Logan Square/Avondale

These adjacent neighborhoods continue to draw top talent, starting with Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Korean-American Parachute, which recently returned from a pandemic hiatus.

Lula Cafe has been a neighborhood anchor for more than 20 years and paved the way for some of the city’s most exciting restaurants, including Big Kids; Andros Taverna, a lively Greek spot; Bixi Beer, Chicago’s only Asian-inspired brewpub; and Mi Tocaya Antojeria where chef Diana Dávila dazzles customers with deliciousness while managing to teach them a thing or two about Mexican cuisine. Also, don’t forget about Lardon and Union, a charcuterie and beer one-two punch, soon to be joined by a cocktail bar, Meadowlark.

Hermosa/Belmont Cragin

Hermosa and Belmont Cragin, west of Logan Square and not directly on any El lines, don’t get the attention they deserve, even from locals, but these two neighborhoods are home to some of the tastiest fare in the city. Meanwhile, one taste of the arepas at Rica Arepa will make you dream of returning. The new kid on the block is Hermosa Restaurant, by day a sandwich shop that serves a mind-blowing Cambodian-style chicken sandwich, and by night a multi-course Cambodian tasting menu.

A Cambodian fried chicken sandwich on a plate beside bottles of wine.
Hermosa’s chicken sandwich is attention grabbing.
Jack X. Li/Eater Chicago

Hyde Park

Hyde Park will always be shaped by the University of Chicago, but restaurateurs have never felt the need to cater to the academic community alone. While local residents who love the insular nature of their community may cringe that the neighborhood is listed on a city dining guide, it’s hard to ignore the draw. The aforementioned Virtue is a revelation — a celebration of Black culture with a unique approach to southern cuisine that pushes boundaries. Erick Williams also recently opened a sports bar, Daisy’s. Don’t forget one of the most iconic restaurants in the city, Valois Cafeteria, where customers can find an honest meal for an honest price. (It remains Barack Obama’s go-to when he comes back to town.) There’s also Medici on 57th, home to one of the city’s best burgers, and Caribbean standouts Ja’ Grill and 14 Parish.

Pilsen

Mexican culture is prevalent in Pilsen, where standout selections include Carnitas Uruapan, Don Pedro Carnitas, and 5 Rabanitos. But longtime residents worry that recent changes will lead to gentrification and higher rents that will force them to move elsewhere. Thalia Hall, a building originally built in 1892, was a harbinger of change when it reopened a decade ago with a live music venue and a popular restaurant, Dusek’s, that brought new visitors to the neighborhood. Now there’s an abundance of non-Mexican spots: S.K.Y. brings fun Asian-inspired fare, including memorable dumplings stuffed with Maine lobster, Hai Sous has a memorable Vietnamese tasting menu, Honky Tonk BBQ serves great barbecue with a background of live music, Skylark has standout burgers and tater tots, and Pleasant House Pub sells delicious savory pies and other British pub fare.

People dancing
As shown after the James Beard Awards in June, the South Side of Chicago isn’t what outsiders describe it as.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
Kasama’s Tim Flores (left) celebrates with Virtue’s Damarr Brown and Flores’ wife, Genie Kwon, after the trio won James Beard awards.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

River North

Not everything downtown is an office, government building, hotel, chain restaurant, or tourist trap. And not everything shuts down after happy hour. This neighborhood across the Chicago River from the Loop is now home to many of the trendiest nightlife and see-and-be-seen spots in Chicago. Some acclaimed restaurants are holding it down — including Rick Bayless’s Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, and Bar Sotano, and Carlos Gaytan’s revelatory Tzuco — as well as Lettuce Entertain You’s RPM Seafood, RPM Steak, and RPM Italian. Or keep it simple with a hot dog, Italian beef, or milkshake at Portillo’s or deep-dish pizza at Uno’s or Due’s.

Celebrity chef José Andrés partnered with Gibsons Restaurant Group on a trio of restaurants inside Bank of America’s pristine new Chicago headquarters right on the river. Bar Mar and Bazaar Meat, which specialize in seafood and steak respectively, while Cafe by the River is a cute spot for coffee or a casual lunch.

West Loop/Fulton Market

Developers have feasted upon real estate in West Loop and Fulton Market. There’s no doubt the feel of the neighborhood has changed now that companies like McDonald’s and Google have set up corporate offices. The area immediately west of the Loop and the Chicago River remains home to Restaurant Row, lined with spots like Stephanie Izard’s Girl and the Goat, Little Goat, and Duck Duck Goat; Paul Kahan’s The Publican and Avec; and the Alinea Group’s Next, the Aviary, and Roister. Time Out Market is a giant food hall filled with local restaurants that attempt to give tourists a curated one-stop shop for Chicago eats. It’s worth a trip if your visit is short.

There’s also a bounty of upscale Japanese restaurants such as Mako, Kumiko, and Omakase Yume. Other highlights include Boka Restaurant Group’s Momotaro and Swift & Sons, and Monteverde from Sarah Grueneberg of Top Chef fame.

A chef wearing an apron and white shirt, and a black face mask, is plating three ice-filled shallow dishes on a kitchen.
Kasama was Eater Chicago’s Restaurant of the Year in 2021.
Daija Guy/Eater Chicago

Wicker Park and the Surrounding Area

In the ’90s, this area west of the Kennedy Expressway was the center of the city’s counterculture, with its nexus at the Milwaukee/Damen/North intersection. Since then, it’s been thoroughly gentrified. One-Off Hospitality’s anchors, honky tonk taqueria Big Star and cocktail spot the Violet Hour, which opened in the aughts, remain neighborhood standbys. Other bright spots include Mott St which fuses Korean and other Asian flavors into a uniquely American experience. Then there’s Kasama in West Town, recently awarded its first Michelin star, where French pastries and sandwiches feed customers during the day, followed by lumpia and Filipino smoked meats in the afternoon, and a fantastic tasting menu for dinner (for that, you’ll need to book months in advance). Frontier in Noble Square specializes in full-animal service that’s great for groups. For great bagels and pastry, head north to Bucktown, where James Beard Award winner Mindy Segal has reopened Mindy’s Bakery.

Uptown/Argyle Street

Argyle Street, which runs through the neighborhood of Uptown, is home to one of Chicago’s most destination-worthy dining strips of Vietnamese restaurants, where every chef has their own specialty. Pho shops like Pho Viet and Hai Yen are impressive. But also don’t forget Immm Rice & Beyond, which offers an abundance of hawker center-style Thai food, and Sun Wah Bar-B-Que, honored as one of America’s Classics by the James Beard Foundation, for Peking duck (be sure to order in advance). The best Thai in Chicago might be at the unassuming In-On Thai.

Fixin’ Franks inside Home Depot sells top rate dogs.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Chicago food personalities and groups to know

Grant Achatz

Grant Achatz and the Alinea Group preside over some of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants, including namesake Alinea, a pioneer in molecular gastronomy and the city’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant. A visit to the Lincoln Park restaurant is a theatrical experience, worthy of a bucket list. Achatz’s fingerprints are also on Next, where the menu and scenery rotate every year, and Aviary, the avant-garde cocktail bar. Alinea co-founder, Nick Kokonas is also the co-founder of the popular reservation and ordering platform Tock.

Rick Bayless

Perhaps Chicago’s most famous chef and television personality, Rick Bayless is known for popularizing regional Mexican cuisine in America, beginning with the arrival of his Frontera Grill restaurant in 1987. Bayless went on to open the Michelin-starred tasting-menu restaurant Topolobampo next door a few years later, followed by street food haven XOCO and super-casual Tortazo. Frontera later expanded into packaged food, and its chips and salsa and frozen meals can be found in supermarkets. Bayless, who is white and from Oklahoma, has raised concerns about appropriation within Chicago’s Mexican community. He’s been more open to dialog in recent years and has been a proponent of raising wages to make restaurant work a viable career to properly raise a family.

Boka Restaurant Group

Another highly acclaimed and extremely successful Chicago restaurant group is Boka, named for its founders Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz, who won a James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur in 2019. Boka owns or is a partner in GT Prime, Boka (their original Chicago restaurant), Momotaro, Swift & Sons, Alla Vita, as well as all of Stephanie Izard’s restaurants.

Curtis Duffy

Chef Curtis Duffy is internationally known as the chef behind Grace, which earned three Michelin stars before its closure. Duffy’s follow-up, Ever, has already earned Michelin honors, and the heavy metal-loving Duffy is once again delivering a pristine fine dining experience inside one of the most luxurious spaces in the country. Duffy and collaborator Michael Muser have opened a cocktail bar, After (get it?).

Tony Hu

Tony Hu is one of Chicago’s most prominent cultural ambassadors and the unofficial “Mayor of Chinatown.” Chinese cuisine in Chicago was at a crossroads before Hu opened his Lao chain of restaurants, including Lao Sze Chuan in Chinatown, which introduced many Chicagoans to Sichuan food. Hu’s subsequent projects, including an upcoming outpost of the international Xiaolongkan Hot Pot chain, demonstrated how varied Chinese cuisine actually is.

Stephanie Izard

This Top Chef and Iron Chef champion runs three of the most successful (and hardest to get into) restaurants in Chicago — Girl & the Goat, Duck Duck Goat, and Cabra — as well as the Little Goat Diner and Sugargoat, a bakery. Izard is poised to follow Bayless’s steps in growing her brand: a branch of Cabra and Girl & the Goat recently opened in LA band her This Little Goat sauces and rubs are now found at stores across the country as Izard splits here time between Chicago and the left coast.

Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark

Folks outside of Chicago will know Kim from her Top Chef appearance. Chicagoans know her from Parachute, the Korean-American restaurant she and her husband Johnny Clark have pushed to new heights. Kim has also taken a leadership role with the Abundance Setting, a nonprofit that helps working mothers in the culinary industry, while Clark took an active role in the Chicago Chefs Cook for Ukraine benefit which begot a second restaurant. Anelya is a tribute to Clark’s grandmother, presenting Ukrainian food in an upscale manner.

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

Chicago’s most successful and widespread restaurant group, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE), founded by patriarch Rich Melman, has opened more than 130 restaurants since it was founded in 1971. Known for extremely well-run spots that run the gamut from fast food to fine dining, its most noteworthy concepts include R.J. Grunts (the original LEYE restaurant), Aba, Joe’s Seafood Prime Steak and Stone Crab, Three Dots and a Dash, RPM Italian and RPM Steak, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, and Bub City. There’s also new entries like Oakville Grill and Cellar in West Loop and Miru in Lake Shore East.

One Off Hospitality Group

A Chicagoan through and through (he was raised in his family’s fish market in Rogers Park) and the James Beard Award co-winner for Outstanding Chef in 2013, Paul Kahan, along with primary partner Donnie Madia, runs One Off Hospitality Group. The group’s known for Avec, the Publican, Big Star, the Violet Hour, Publican Quality Meats, Dove's Luncheonette, and Publican Quality Bread.

Brendan Sodikoff

Sodikoff and his Hogsalt Hospitality group operate a dizzying array of very successful Chicago spots, including Armitage Alehouse, Au Cheval, the Doughnut Vault, Bavette’s Bar and Boeuf, Gilt Bar, Green Street Smoked Meats, Small Cheval, and High Five Ramen. Hogsalt’s newest restaurant is Armitage Alehouse, an opulently decorated British-Indian pub in Lincoln Park.

Erick Williams

Erick Williams is the first Black person to win a James Beard Award while representing Chicago. He’s the owner of three restaurants, Virtue, Daisy’s, and Mustard Seed Kitchen — all on Chicago’s South Side. He taps into a variety of Balck and Southern traditions in his cooking providing unique experiences diners won’t find anywhere else. He’s also a mentor and leader in his communities, opening opportunities to folks who would normally be ignored.

A Black man poses, smiling, and touching his award medal, inside the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Chef Erick Williams with his James Beard Award.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Follow the News

Eater Chicago is updated multiple times every weekday with breaking news stories (restaurant openings, closings, etc.), features, guides, and more. Here are a few ways to stay in the loop:

  • Keep an eye on the Eater Chicago homepage. New stories will always show up near the top and flow down toward the bottom of the page as they get older, while important recent stories will stay pinned right at the top. Also, check out our big sister, Eater.com, for national and international food news.
  • Subscribe to our newsletter, which goes out every weekday evening and includes links to the day's top stories.
  • Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates on new stories and more throughout the day, and follow us on Instagram for some of the best food photos in Chicago.

Get in Touch

Have questions not answered here? Want to send in a tip or a complaint or just say hello? Here are some ways to get in touch with the Eater Chicago staff:

Maude's Liquor Bar

840 W Randolph St, , IL 60607 (312) 243-9712 Visit Website

Chicago Cut Steakhouse

300 North LaSalle Drive, , IL 60654 (312) 329-1800 Visit Website

Goose Island Beer Co.

1800 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60612 (312) 226-1119 Visit Website

Lena Brava

900 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 733-1975

urban belly

1542 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL (773) 904-8606 Visit Website

GT Prime

707 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654 (312) 600-6305 Visit Website

Tradition

160 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 263-0260 Visit Website

Thalia Hall

1807 South Allport Street, , IL 60608 (312) 526-3851 Visit Website

GT Fish & Oyster

531 North Wells Street, , IL 60654 (312) 929-3501 Visit Website

Smak-Tak

5961 N Elston Avenue, Chicago, IL 60646 773 763 1123 Visit Website

Scofflaw

3201 West Armitage Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 252-9700 Visit Website

Fat Rice

2957 West Diversey Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 661-9170 Visit Website

Celeste

111 West Hubbard Street, , IL 60654 (312) 828-9000 Visit Website

RPM Steak

66 West Kinzie Street, , IL 60654 (312) 284-4990 Visit Website

California Clipper

1002 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 (773) 384-2547 Visit Website

Johnnie's Beef

7500 West North Avenue, , IL 60707 (708) 452-6000 Visit Website

Firecakes

2453 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614 (773) 666-5277

Immm Rice & Beyond

4949 North Broadway, , IL 60640 (773) 293-7378 Visit Website

C.C. Ferns

2806 West Augusta Boulevard, , IL 60622 (773) 384-2547 Visit Website

Avec

615 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661 (312) 377-2002 Visit Website

Annapurna

2608 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659 (773) 764-1858 Visit Website

5 Rabanitos

1758 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608 (312) 285-2710 Visit Website

Tack Room

1807 South Allport Street, , IL 60608 (312) 526-3851 Visit Website

Sukhadia's

2559 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659 (773) 338-5400 Visit Website

Al's Beef

1079 West Taylor Street, , IL 60607 (312) 226-4017 Visit Website

Pretty Cool Ice Cream

709 West Belden Avenue, , IL 60614 (773) 697-4140 Visit Website

Maxwell Street Market

800 South Desplaines Street, , IL 60607 (312) 745-4676 Visit Website

Pizza Friendly Pizza

1039 North Western Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 395-2483 Visit Website

Kasama

1001 North Winchester Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 697-3790 Visit Website

Dusek's

1227 W 18th Street, Chicago, IL

Boka

1729 North Halsted Street, , IL 60614 (312) 337-6070 Visit Website

Cai

2100 South Archer Avenue, , IL 60616 (312) 326-6888 Visit Website

Sun Wah Bar-B-Que

5039 North Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640 Visit Website

Bar Sotano

445 North Clark Street, , IL 60610 (312) 391-5857 Visit Website

Billy Goat Tavern

1535 West Madison Street, , IL 60607 (312) 733-9132 Visit Website

Green Street Smoked Meats

112 North Green Street, , IL 60607 (312) 754-0431 Visit Website

Piece Brewery and Pizzeria

1927 West North Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 772-4422 Visit Website

Green Door Tavern

678 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60654 (312) 664-5496 Visit Website

Emporium Arcade Bar

2363 North Milwaukee Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 697-7922 Visit Website

Gene & Jude's

2720 North River Road, , IL 60171 (708) 452-7634 Visit Website

Birrieria Zaragoza

4852 South Pulaski Road, , IL 60632 (773) 523-3700 Visit Website

Burt's Place

8541 Ferris Avenue, , IL 60053 (847) 965-7997 Visit Website

Podhalanka

1549 West Division Street, , IL 60642 (773) 486-6655 Visit Website

Daley's Restaurant

6257 South Cottage Grove Avenue, , IL 60637 (773) 643-6670 Visit Website

Portillo's

520 West Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 667-4560 Visit Website

Don Pedro Carnitas

1113 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608 (312) 829-4757

Small Cheval

1732 North Milwaukee Avenue, , IL 60647 Visit Website

Somerset

200 West Superior Street, , IL 60654 (312) 280-1000 Visit Website

Valois Restaurant

1518 East 53rd Street, , IL 60615 (773) 667-0647 Visit Website

Gilt Bar

230 West Kinzie Street, , IL 60654 (312) 464-9544 Visit Website

Au Cheval

800 West Randolph Street, , IL 60607 (312) 929-4580 Visit Website

EL ideas

2419 West 14th Street, , IL 60608 (312) 226-8144 Visit Website

Pub Royale

2049 West Division Street, , IL 60622 (773) 661-6874 Visit Website

Kuma's Corner

2900 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 (773) 604-8769 Visit Website

Big Star

1531 North Damen Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 235-4039 Visit Website

Frontera Grill

445 North Clark Street, , IL 60654 (312) 661-1434 Visit Website

Kyoten

2507 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (312) 678-0800 Visit Website

Estate

1177 North Elston Avenue, , IL 60642 (312) 523-4296 Visit Website

Fancy Plants Cafe

613 West Briar Place, , IL 60657 (773) 857-1588 Visit Website

Mako

731 West Lake Street, , IL 60661 (312) 988-0687 Visit Website

Cabra

200 North Green Street, , IL 60607 (312) 761-1717 Visit Website

Wherewithall

3472 North Elston Avenue, , IL 60618 (773) 692-2192 Visit Website

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba

2024 N Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60614 773 935 5000

Calumet Fisheries

3259 E 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60617 773 933 9855

Everest

425 South Financial Place, , IL 60605 (312) 663-8920 Visit Website

Three Dots and a Dash

435 North Clark Street, , IL 60654 (312) 610-4220 Visit Website

Little Goat

820 W Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60607 312 888 3455

Parachute

3500 North Elston Avenue, , IL 60618 (872) 204-7138 Visit Website

Nico Osteria

1015 North Rush Street, , IL 60611 (312) 994-7100 Visit Website

The Wormhole Coffee

1462 North Milwaukee Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 661-2468 Visit Website

Oiistar

1385 North Milwaukee Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 360-8791 Visit Website

La Colombe Torrefaction

1552 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 (872) 829-3681 Visit Website

R.J. Grunts

2056 North Lincoln Park West, , IL 60614 (773) 929-5363 Visit Website

Dia De Los Tamales

939 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608 (312) 496-3057 Visit Website

Clark Street Ale House

742 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654 (312) 642-9253 Visit Website

Udupi Palace

18635 Pioneer Boulevard, , CA 90701 (562) 860-1950 Visit Website

Uru-Swati

2629 West Devon Avenue, , IL 60659 (773) 381-1010 Visit Website

Green Mill Cocktail Lounge

4802 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL 60640 (773) 878-5552 Visit Website

Santouka

100 E Algonquin Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005 (847) 357-0286

Red Hot Ranch

2540 W. Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 772-6020

Lettuce Entertain You

5419 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60640 (773) 878-7340

Jim's Original

1250 South Union Avenue, , IL 60607 (312) 733-7820 Visit Website

Rainbow Cone

9233 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60643 (773) 238-7075 Visit Website

Thank You

3152 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 961-7475 Visit Website

Punch House

1227 West 18th Street, , IL 60608 (312) 526-3851 Visit Website

Chicago's Gene & Jude's Hot Dogs Since 1946

2720 River Rd, River Grove, IL 60171 (708) 452-7634 Visit Website

Swift & Sons

1000 West Fulton Market, , IL 60607 (312) 733-9420 Visit Website

The Aviary

955 West Fulton Market, , IL 60607 Visit Website

Maple & Ash

8 West Maple Street, , IL 60610 (312) 944-8888 Visit Website

Oriole

661 West Walnut Street, , IL 60661 (312) 877-5899 Visit Website

Chicken Shack

1925 Ridge Ave, Evanston, IL 60201 (847) 328-9360 Visit Website

OMAKASE YUME

651 West Washington Boulevard, , IL 60661 (312) 265-1610 Visit Website

Boka Restaurant Group

820 West Lake Street, , IL 60607 (312) 238-9896 Visit Website

The Kennedy

221 East Kennedy Street, , SC 29306 (864) 586-5554 Visit Website

KURIMU

1159 West Taylor Street, , IL 60607 (312) 877-5227 Visit Website

Menya Goku

2207 West Montrose Avenue, , IL 60618 (773) 942-6701 Visit Website

mini mott

3057 West Logan Boulevard, , IL 60647 (773) 904-7620 Visit Website

Balena

1633 North Halsted Street, , IL 60614 (312) 867-3888 Visit Website

Acadia

1639 South Wabash Avenue, , IL 60616 (312) 360-9500 Visit Website

Margie's Candies

1960 North Western Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 384-1035

Superdawg Drive-In

333 S Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling, IL 60090 (847) 459-1900 Visit Website

Honky Tonk BBQ

1213 West 18th Street, , IL 60608 (312) 226-7427 Visit Website

La Chaparrita

2500 South Whipple Street, , IL 60623 (773) 254-0975 Visit Website

Home of the Hoagy

1316 West 111th Street, , IL 60643 (773) 238-7171 Visit Website

Monteverde

1020 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 888-3041

Dark Matter Coffee

738 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60612 (773) 697-8472 Visit Website

Sabri Nihari

2502 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659 (773) 465-3272 Visit Website

Roister

951 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 789-4896

Elske

1350 West Randolph Street, , IL 60607 (312) 733-1314 Visit Website

5 Loaves Eatery

405 East 75th Street, , IL 60619 (773) 891-2889 Visit Website

The Publican

837 West Fulton Market, , IL 60607 (312) 733-9555 Visit Website

Bub City

435 North Clark Street, , IL 60654 (312) 610-4200 Visit Website

Topolobampo

445 North Clark Street, , IL 60654 (312) 661-1434 Visit Website

XOCO

1471 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 (872) 829-3821 Visit Website

The Doughnut Vault

401 1/2 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654 (312) 464-9544 Visit Website

Rossi's Liquors

412 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654 (312) 644-5775 Visit Website

The Underground

56 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654 (312) 943-7600 Visit Website

Khan B.B.Q.

2401 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659 (773) 274-8600 Visit Website

Smyth

177 North Ada Street, , IL 60607 (773) 913-3773 Visit Website

Edzo's Burger Shop

1571 Sherman Avenue, , IL 60201 (847) 864-3396 Visit Website

Bangers & Lace

1851 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613 (773) 697-8667

S.K.Y.

1239 West 18th Street, , IL 60608 (312) 846-1077 Visit Website

The Promontory

5311 South Lake Park Avenue West, , IL 60615 (312) 801-2100 Visit Website

Yugen

652 W. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL Visit Website

Tzuco

720 North State Street, , IL 60654 (312) 374-8995 Visit Website

RPM Seafood

317 North Clark Street, , IL 60654 (312) 900-9035 Visit Website

Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream

964 West 31st Street, , IL 60608 (773) 565-4192 Visit Website

Big Kids

2545 North Kedzie Boulevard, , IL 60647 (773) 687-8385 Visit Website

Skylark

3089 16th Street, , CA 94103 (415) 621-9294 Visit Website

Billy Sunday

1115 North Brevard Street, , NC 28206 Visit Website

Kumiko

630 West Lake Street, , IL 60661 (312) 285-2912 Visit Website

Aba

1011 South Congress Avenue, , TX 78704 (737) 273-0199 Visit Website

Big Star

, , IL 60613 (773) 857-7120 Visit Website

Next

953 West Fulton Market, , IL 60607 Visit Website

Lula Cafe

2537 North Kedzie Boulevard, , IL 60647 (773) 489-9554 Visit Website

Sixteen

401 North Wabash Avenue, , IL 60611 (312) 588-8030 Visit Website

Mott St

1401 North Ashland Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 687-9977 Visit Website

Lao Sze Chuan

304 Southeast Oak Street, , MN 55414 (612) 886-3906 Visit Website

Starbucks

4365 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641 (773) 736-5226 Visit Website

Little Lamb

2201 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616 (312) 225-0600

High Five Ramen

112 North Green Street, , IL 60607 (312) 344-1749 Visit Website

Mi Tocaya Antojeria

2800 W Logan blvd, Chicago, IL 60647 (872) 315-3947 Visit Website

Kizuki

23220 Grand Circle Boulevard, , TX 77450 (281) 783-9800 Visit Website

Ramen Misoya

213 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611 (847) 437-4590 Visit Website

Caffe Streets

1750 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622 (773) 278-2739 Visit Website

Pleasant House Pub

2119 South Halsted Street, , IL 60608 (773) 523-7437 Visit Website

Giant

3209 West Armitage Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 252-0997 Visit Website

Tortilleria El Milagro

1927 S Blue Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60608 (312) 421-7443

HaiSous

1800 S. Carpenter St., Chicago, IL Visit Website

Revolution Brewing

3340 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 (773) 588-2267 Visit Website

Goosefoot

2656 West Lawrence Avenue, , IL 60625 (773) 942-7547 Visit Website

Sunda

110 West Illinois Street, , IL 60654 (312) 644-0500 Visit Website

Alinea

1723 North Halsted Street, , IL 60614 Visit Website

Dove's Luncheonette

1545 North Damen Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 645-4060 Visit Website

Carnitas Uruapan

1725 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608 (312) 226-2654 Visit Website

Chop Shop

2033 West North Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 537-4440 Visit Website

Brown Sugar Bakery

328 East 75th Street, , IL 60619 (773) 224-6262 Visit Website

Mysore Woodlands

2548 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659 (773) 338-8160 Visit Website

Cruz Blanca

904 West Randolph Street, , IL 60607 (312) 733-1975 Visit Website

Furious Spoon

2410 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 770-3559 Visit Website

MingHin Cuisine

1633 North Naper Boulevard, , IL 60563 (630) 799-3899 Visit Website

Stan's Donuts

181 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601 Visit Website

Virtue

1462 E. 53rd Street, Chicago, IL

Ever

1330 W. Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607 Visit Website

sugargoat

820 West Randolph Street, , IL 60607 (312) 667-0108 Visit Website

ALTHEA

700 North Michigan Avenue, , IL 60611 (312) 525-3400 Visit Website

Duck Duck Goat

857 West Fulton Market, , IL 60607 (312) 902-3825 Visit Website

Momotaro

820 West Lake Street, , IL 60607 (312) 733-4818 Visit Website

The Violet Hour

1520 North Damen Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 252-1500 Visit Website

Daisies

2375 North Milwaukee Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 697-9443 Visit Website

Honey Butter Fried Chicken

3361 North Elston Avenue, , IL 60618 (773) 478-4000 Visit Website

Tank Noodle

4953 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL 60640 (773) 878-2253 Visit Website

Publican Quality Meats

825 West Fulton Market, , IL 60607 (312) 445-8977 Visit Website

RPM Italian

52 West Illinois Street, , IL 60654 (312) 222-1888 Visit Website

Pequod's Pizza

2207 North Clybourn Avenue, , IL 60614 (773) 327-1512 Visit Website

Half Acre Beer Company

4257 North Lincoln Avenue, , IL 60618 (773) 754-8488 Visit Website

Medici On 57th

East 57th Street, , IL 60637 (773) 667-7394 Visit Website

Owen & Engine

2700 North Western Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 235-2930 Visit Website
Pop-Ups

Chef Erick Williams’ All-Star Gumbo Fundraiser and Four More Chicago Pop-ups

Chicago Restaurant Openings

Tour Maxwells Trading, Now Open in the West Loop

Coming Attractions

A Fabled Bucktown Fine Dining Space Goes Casual Thanks to a Greek Chef