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Sure, this city has great architecture, museums, and sports venues. But at its heart, Chicago is really a food town. This is evident in the priority that good eating takes, no matter the occasion. Rain or shine, locals will wait in a line that snakes around the corner for dolled-up doughnuts at Doughnut Vault. They’ll reserve part of their paychecks to dine at inventive Alinea. And they love to talk about their most recent meal—just ask.
It's no wonder that outdoor festivals are often centered on food, from Taste of Chicago in summer, which packs the grounds at Grant Park, to smaller celebrations, like the German-American fest in Lincoln Square, a mini-Oktoberfest in fall.
Although the city has always had options on the extreme ends of the spectrum—from the hole-in-the wall Italian beef sandwich shops to the special-occasion spots—it's now easier to find eateries in the middle that serve seasonal menus with a farm-to-table mantra. For the budget conscious, it's also a great time to dine: some talented chefs aren't bothering to wait for a liquor license, opening BYOB spots turning out polished fare (just try Ruxbin in West Town).
Expect to see more Chicago chefs open casual concepts—Rick Bayless, Paul Kahan, and Michael Kornick have a head start with their respective sandwich, taco, and burger spots. Yet the goal remains the same: to feed a populace that knows good food and isn't willing to accept anything less than the best. In the following pages, you'll find our top picks, from quick bites to multicourse meals, in the city's best dining neighborhoods.
Chef-owner Rick Bayless wrote the book on regional Mexican cuisine—several books, actually—and here he takes his faithfully prepared regional food upscale. Next door to the more casual Frontera Grill, Topolobampo shares Frontera's address, phone, and dedication to quality, though it’s a higher-end room, with a more subdued mood and a menu of tasting options.
Hyde Park has never been much of a destination dining neighborhood, but when fine-dining vet Erick Williams launched Virtue in 2018, food critics across the country took notice of his elegant and soulful exploration of Southern cuisine as shaped by the Great Migration. Come for dishes like gizzards with dirty rice and walleye with pickled okra and country ham crumbs in a space that feels stylish but welcoming. James Beard awards soon followed for both Williams and chef de cuisine Damarr Brown (who also competed on Top Chef). Reservations go fast, so don't wait to book your table.
Be prepared to stand in line for the mouthwatering apple cinnamon pancakes, a massive disk loaded with apples, or the German pancake, a puffy oven-baked circle topped with powdered sugar. There are several branches, but the original Wilmette restaurant is where scenes from the 1980 movie Ordinary People were shot.
Be prepared to stand in line for the mouthwatering apple cinnamon pancakes, a massive disk loaded with apples, or the German pancake, a puffy oven-baked circle topped with powdered sugar. There are several branches, but the original Wilmette restaurant is where scenes from the 1980 movie Ordinary People were shot.
The oldest coffeehouse in the Gold Coast pleases just about everyone with breakfast all day and nightly dinner specials.
The seafood-focused sibling of DMK Burger Bar next door, Fish Bar celebrates the pescatarian-focused dishes of New England and New Orleans. Whether it's raw preparations (fresh oysters, ceviche, or tartare), fried (shrimp po'boys and crab cakes) or somewhere in between (grilled salmon, lobster rolls), Fish Bar delivers. Pair your catch with hush puppies or tater tots for some extra carbs.
Chef Richie Farina explores ingredients from close to home while preparing global cuisine at this sleek restaurant on the seventh floor of the Four Seasons Chicago. A six-course tasting menu is available Thursday through Saturday, and diners may choose to include a wine pairing or zero-proof pairing at an additional charge.
The mood is easy-breezy but the food and beverage offerings are seriously good at this snug Ukrainian Village all-day café/bottle shop/grocery. Nibble on artisan charcuterie, low-intervention wine at hand, or feast on seasonally changing mains. While you digest, browse the shelves for tinned conserves and natural wines from the Loire and Beaujolais.
This destination for Swedish cuisine, open since 1945, is a Chicago institution for a good reason: the legendarily sweet, gooey cinnamon rolls that come alongside every breakfast entrée they serve. It still has lines out the door—at this original location and a handful of other spots on the city's North Side—where hungry diners line up along the block for weekend breakfasts as well as Scandinavian specialties (Swedish pancakes and Swedish meatballs), sandwiches, and salads at lunch.
The dining room is a no-frills space, but when you've got pizza like this, who needs cloth napkins? From deep-dish to pan to stuffed, this is where the neighborhood knows to go for a satisfying Chicago-style pizza. In a hurry? Swing by for a slice, or grab a reasonably priced pasta, chicken, or barbecued-rib dinner to go.
One of the finest Thai restaurants in Chicago—some say in the country—offers a culinary tour through Thailand via a nine-course tasting menu (an à la carte menu is also available). The elegant dining room is in an out-of-the-way location, but that doesn't discourage a strong following among locals and visiting foodies.
If you thought sausage gravy was as creative as biscuit toppings get, you obviously haven’t been to Bang Bang. The buttery, fluffy specimens here serve as a base for an assortment of tasty accompaniments, like herbed ricotta with roasted seasonal veggies. Cap it off with a slice of pie from the rotating selection. On fine days the large, tree-fringed yard is the place to be.
Bright-yellow walls and a soundtrack of classic house music make for a convivial atmosphere at this daytime spot, a favorite with students from nearby DePaul University for its menu of carb-y breakfast dishes hearty enough to fuel diners till dinner.
If you’re finding it difficult to accommodate everyone’s cravings, Beatrix is the ultimate crowd pleaser. The restaurant offers comfort food with a healthy twist for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch; options include salads and burgers as well as larger entrées. Open early until late, the bakery churns out fresh pastries and specialty coffees in the morning before the bar crowd swings in around happy hour to sip on fresh-squeezed-juice cocktails, wines, and craft beers.
Even if you weren't raised by a Southern grandmother, the cooking at this bright, comfortable Andersonville restaurant will make you feel right at home, but the Southern heirloom cooking has more depth than you might expect. The brunch, lunch, and dinner menus revive century-old recipes scrupulously sourced out of historical cookbooks from New Orleans to Appalachia and re-create them with high-quality, sustainable ingredients. The drinks menu skews toward bourbon and classic cocktails, but don't miss the Bloody Mary with made-in-house pickles.
The second the sun peeks out each spring, locals make a beeline for the massive patio at Big Star because the tacos and margaritas are some of the best in the city. Most of this honky-tonk taqueria's star power comes from chefs Paul Kahan and Chris Miller, who serve a small menu of tasty Mexican classics—if it's a taco emergency, skip the wait for a table and head to the take-out window or try the larger Wrigleyville location.
The late comedian John Belushi immortalized the Goat's short-order cooks on Saturday Night Live, barking their signature, "No Pepsi, Coke!" and "No fries, chips!" at customers, and you can still hear the shtick at this subterranean spot. The diner food is cheap and tasty, the staff is super friendly, and people-watching is a favorite sport—pop by during a break in sight-seeing or head by late-night to check out the bar.
Behind and a level down from the Wrigley Building is the inspiration for Saturday Night Live's classic "cheezborger, cheezborger, cheezborger, cheeps, no fries, no Pepsi, Coke" skit. Grab a greasy burger at this no-frills grill, or just have a beer and absorb the comic undertones.
For charmingly rustic farm-to-table French fare on the North Side, this is the place to be. The classic, seasonally changing bistro entrées are top-notch (the roast chicken is among the best in the city), while the lovely, wood-trimmed Arts and Crafts interior is the perfect complement to a relaxing meal. In warmer weather, ask for a table on the fenced-in patio and a bottle off the French-centric wine list to be transported to a garden in Lyon.
Classic French dishes using local and sustainable ingredients have been the ethos of Bistronomic (Bistro-Economic) since it opened in 2011. Escargots, onion soup, and mains like a coq au vin served with organic Amish chicken are highlights at this cozy but elegant neighborhood favorite.
Things can get weird on the flavor front at this cheerful Ukrainian Village scoop shop---goat cheese, moscato, and even basil have been known to make appearances. Suspend disbelief and give it a go; flavors rotate throughout the year, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a dud in the mix.
Here to shatter the myth that Chicago is strictly a meat-and-potatoes kinda town is this greenery-filled, boho space from chef Rodolfo Cuadros, who classifies his global fare as plant-based rather than vegan to communicate that diners of all stripes will find something to love. For the record, the menu's gluten free too, but when you're digging into elegantly plated turnip causa and savory jackfruit short rib, it's likely the food's big flavor alone that will consume your attention.
Brett's Kitchen is an excellent spot for a quick pastry, sandwich, or omelet. It's super casual: order at the counter and grab a seat.
The name is so cute, you might not think the food is a selling point—but you'd be wrong: expat Spaniards swear this sprawling spot is one of the best Spanish restaurants in town, and the colorful Mediterranean-style interiors encourage the Spanish feel. There’s a large assortment of cold and warm tapas, as well as four varieties of paella.
The buzz and glow of Cafe El Tapatio's neon sign immediately signals a dining destination that's been delivering great Mexican flavor (and more than a few pitchers of margaritas) for decades. Customer faves like their Azteca chicken tortilla soup and beer-battered shrimp sit alongside tacos, burritos, and classics like pollo en mole (chicken in mole sauce) in a lively brick-and-tile-clad dining room. In warmer weather, their patio makes you feel miles away from Ashland Avenue traffic.
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