223 Best Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois

A Spanish expat from Galicia runs this tapas restaurant beloved by visiting Spaniards, local families, dating couples, and bargain chowhounds for the selection of shareable classic and creative small plates, most for under $10 and featuring a range of meat, seafood, and veggie options. This is a loud and boisterous spot, so be prepared for conviviality—but sometimes on weekends waits can stretch to hours.

You'll find Mexican hot chocolate, focaccia pizzas, and fresh sandwiches at this cozy neighborhood coffee shop.

At this local chain of Cuban coffeehouses, you can get the eponymous espresso drink or a café con leche, as well as a variety of pressed sandwiches including what might be the city's best Cubano. The South Loop location, attached to a hostel popular with young international travelers, makes for a lively atmosphere.

For breakfast, lunch, or a quick snack, this is a great find. Try a "Jojo," the bistro's signature sandwich—it's a filone (an Italian baguette) stuffed with prosciutto, mozzarella, artichoke hearts, basil, and plum tomatoes.

Locals line up to order slow-cooked pork carnitas by the taco or by the pound at this takeout-only restaurant. This neighborhood staple has been serving juicy, rich carnitas inspired by Michoacán, Mexico, since 1975. The pork is served with corn tortillas, onions, cilantro, lime, and spicy salsa to create your own tacos. 

French cuisine sometimes gets knocked for being too rich, too heavy, and too expensive, but that's an image that this stylish restaurant on the ground floor of the Sofitel is doing its best to prove wrong. The menu features Le Burger, seasonal salads, and a decadent banana bread French toast.

"Seasonality" is the watchword at this modern spot filled with blonde wood and lovely light, where the menu changes constantly but the dishes are always executed with the utmost care. Collaborative dinners and wine events happen occasionally, so check the restaurant's social media account ( instagram.com/cellardoorprovisions) to see what's on the calendar.

Asian fusion is the name of the game at this lively spot where Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese, and other influences mingle on a menu that ranges from classic to creative and even includes some American staples for tamer diners. With an energetic atmosphere, plenty of dishes for sharing, and a menu that takes dietary restrictions into account, Chant is an easy spot for groups to gather.

Mid-century style reigns at this wood-paneled clublike restaurant, where the menu draws inspiration from the landmark space's previous incarnation as a tony men's club. The sweeping bar is perfect for sipping historic and house cocktails over bar snacks or raw seafood, or you can settle into a comfortable leather booth for private conversations and all manner of meat perfectly prepared.

Unlike the rest of Taylor Street, which is predominantly Italian in allegiance, Chez Joël waves the flag for France, and it’s a favorite with the locals thanks to its authentic bistro feel. The sunny, cozy bistro serves well-prepared classics along with a reasonably priced wine list favoring French and Californian selections.

Better known as the CBA (and just steps from the CTA itself), Chicago Bagel Authority is the home of steamed bagel sandwiches, aka steamwiches. Dozens of cleverly named steamwiches, like the Kool Julez, the Jane Train, and the Brennaissance come stuffed with roast beef, turkey, ham, and plenty of other toppings, then served on soft, warm bagels. It all comes together in a properly satisfying yet messy combination, especially at breakfast where their menu serves as a reliable hangover cure for many nearby Depaul and Loyola undergrad students. 

The street-food-style offerings at this indoor market go well beyond French fare. Find pizza, sushi, banh mi, Korean corn dogs, and more among the French Market's 20-plus vendors.

Every Chicago neighborhood needs a solid destination for a dragged-through-the-garden Chicago-style hot dog, and Lakeview is lucky to have this decades-old grill to call their own. Serving a premium all-beef dog is only the start; you can also get burgers, chicken sandwiches, gyros, Polish sausage, and (the hallmark of a truly "Chicago" place) a deep-fried pizza puff. Unlike most hot dog stands, there's also a full bar, plus a patio that gets quite busy before and after Cubs games. 

There are a lot of good things to come when you enter this Tuscan-inspired restaurant, namely richly flavored pastas, an antipasto table, impeccable seafood, and meats from the wood-fired oven. The discreet, professional service softens the rustic, open-loft setting of exposed-brick walls and wood floors, while the seasonal menus keep customers coming back again and again.

With Vera Pizza Napoletana-certified pizza (that means these are legit Neapolitan-style pies), an airy dining room, a lively bar, and a drinks list stacked with Italian wines, Coda di Volpe expertly channels a Southern Italian feel. Use scissors to cut through blistered, chewy-crust pies, or opt for the excellent homemade pastas—but save room for the updated takes on Italian sweets on the dessert menu.

The C&TE dates back to 1974, when cappuccino was still exotic and Starbucks was just a small coffee upstart. Today the Exchange retains the bohemian vibe of 70's Lakeview with dozens of flavored syrup bottles and jars of tea and spices lining the walls while shelves are full of filters, French presses, pour-over coffeemakers, and coffee-themed gifts. Huge barrels of coffee beans form the queue to get to the register, where you can grab lattes, cold brews, and bulk coffee to go in house-roasted blends like Java Blue Batavia and Tasmanian Peaberry.

Whether you couldn't snag a reservation at Virtue or you just want another taste of chef Erick Williams' food, Daisy's is a good choice. The location of this New Orleans--inspired counter-service spot, on the ground floor of a mixed-use commercial building, feels a little generic, but the dishes, like fried green tomato po' boys and debris fries, are full of boisterous personality. There's a full bar with sazeracs and frozen hurricanes, too.

Chef and co-owner Michael Kornick knows fine dining, but he's also a longtime fan of the simple burger, and the two worlds mingle at DMK Burger Bar. This is a place where grass-fed beef patties can come topped with green chiles or chipotle ketchup, and fries are often adorned with truffle aioli. If you're not in the mood for beef, there are also options like chicken tenders or salmon bowls. Sweet tooths are satiated by one of their rich (sometimes boozy) milkshakes. 

Strap on your tartan; Duke of Perth is Chicago's only Scottish restaurant and bar in a sea of Irish and English pubs. Known for their shepherd's pie and all-you-can-eat fish-and-chips on Wednesdays and Fridays, they also offer a vast selection of Scotch whisky and a good list of Scottish ales. 

Northwestern students and suits line up here for burgers (ground in-house), nine kinds of french fries (try the ones with truffle salt and Parmesan), and spicy Mexican-chocolate shakes.

Northwestern students and suits line up at this casual counter service joint for burgers ground daily in-house. Beyond the griddled burger patties that you can order stacked two or three high, Edzo’s slings Chicago classics like the Maxwell Street Polish and Chicago-style hot dog. Top off your order with hand-cut french fries available in 12 varieties and a hand-dipped milkshake.

This cafeteria-style, counter-serve spot is a local favorite, serving tacos topped with slaw and a variety of tortilla-based favorites. There are a few tables to enjoy your meal next to murals depicting life in Mexico.

After walking through exhibits at the Art Institute, follow the local college crowd to this order-at-the-counter eatery, where the ambience is kitschy but the food is “more mindful." Epic Burger serves hand-shaped, natural beef burgers, as well as a plant-based Beyond Burger, all served atop a soft bun with add-ons like Wisconsin cheese, nitrate-free bacon, or an organic fried egg.

The art that hangs in this Michelin-starred spot's dining room isn't decoration, but inspiration: four times each year, the restaurant mounts a new show by a local artist, and chef Jenner Tomaska composes a multicourse tasting menu in response. Appropriately, the plates are highly visual, often featuring vivid color palettes, sculptural elements, and trompe l'oeil twists. If it all sounds a bit toney, be assured the kitchen has a sense of humor, which comes across in bites like fiery homemade Cheetos. To sample Tomaska's technique without the steep tasting menu price tag, book a seat at the elegant adjoining bar, which offers a three-course dinner for $68.   

You might not expect romance at the top of the Chicago Stock Exchange, but at Everest, there are sweeping westward views of the city's sprawl, the service is impeccable, and the prix fixe menu is French with an Alsatian bent. The space, where modern sculpture melds with art nouveau, is an elegant place to settle in for a luxurious meal.

This all-day counter service spot crosses Lebanese and Mexican flavors with some kooky notions (halloumi tacos, baklava crumbled over an ice cream sundae), to fun and tasty results. It’s situated in cheerful digs a stone’s throw from Lincoln Park Zoo—a good place to walk off overindulgence guilt.