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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.
Gaucho-clad servers parade through the dining room brandishing carved-to-order fire-roasted meats at this Brazilian churrascaria. Start at the lavish Market Table with an array of seasonal salads, antipasti, and charcuterie; then, using a plate-side disc, signal green for "go" to bring on the selection of meats.
This longtime destination serves up capable Chinese take-out from a sprawling second-story space overlooking Broadway Avenue, but when it comes to traditional dim sum service, Furama shines. Steam carts clatter around the floor offering shiu mai, shrimp toast, rice crepes, braised chicken feet, and lo mein to patrons one plate at a time, allowing diners to curate their perfect feast. Large groups will benefit from buying power, because you'll want to try a bunch of menu items.
Chef Zachary Engel has established himself as a critical favorite for his approach to Middle Eastern cuisine, which merges fine dining technique with big flavors and a disarming sense of humor that’s telegraphed through cheeky menu descriptions (e.g., tehina hummus with “way too much olive oil”).
Scads of neon signs and a pitch-black ceiling high overhead give a night market vibe to this full-service grocery store–meets–food hall, new to the neighborhood in 2024. The food court's the place for Korean tacos, bowls of steaming ramen, hojicha tea lattes, and char siu and egg sandwiches on freshly baked pineapple buns. On the grocery side, you'll find all the Pocky sticks and mochi you need to end your meal on a sweet note.
The popcorn here is so popular that there are several other Chicago outlets plus branches in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia. Lines form early and stay throughout the day.
Class meets comfort in this upscale Lincoln Square neighborhood eatery. Service here is top-notch and everything on your plate is made in-house from scratch, right down to the fresh breads and condiments. The seasonally driven dinner and brunch menus feature farm-fresh ingredients applied to inventive riffs on classic dishes, at incredibly fair prices.
Huge flavors come roaring out of the tiny kitchen at Giant, where chef Jason Vincent takes crowd-pleasers like pasta, vegetarian dishes, and American classics and cranks the umami up to an 11. Beverage director Josh Perlman pairs diners with interesting wines from small producers without an unwanted chaser of snootiness. No matter the evening, a festive air seems to prevail.
Chicago movers and shakers mingle with conventioneers at Gibsons, a lively, homegrown, Gold Coast steak house renowned for overwhelming portions, good service, and celebrity spotting. Generous prime steaks and chops are the focus of the menu, but there are plenty of fish options, too. Save room for the excellent desserts and be prepared to share, since the portions could feed a table of four.
Grab a seasonal brew and watch a game on the big screen, fill up on yummy Chicago deep-dish pizza, or catch a nightly stand-up comedy act at the graffiti-covered Gino's East.
Standout food and beverage options give the lively HaiSous a one-two punch of deliciousness—choose from the array of vegetable-forward, meat, or seafood specialties paired with any of the cocktails and you'll believe it. Chef Thai Dang's seasonal tasting menu explores the regions and history of Vietnam at an affordable price point.
Tasting menus tend to come with sky-high prices, but that's not the case at this welcoming spot where $39 gets you four courses served in a sleek, comfortable dining room. The menu is eclectic, and skews toward Chinese dishes and flavors, though there are other global influences as well among the creative offerings.
Back-to-basics soul food is what you’ll get at Harold’s, which has been serving made-to-order fried chicken since the 1950s and has locations all over the city. The chicken dinner is a half or a quarter chicken (white meat, dark meat, or “regular,” which is a mix), fries, two pieces of white bread, and a cup of coleslaw. With Chicago-styled fried chicken, the sauce is drizzled over the chicken and fries so that everything soaks up the sauce.
Famed Cubs announcer Harry Caray died in 1998, but his legend lives on as fans continue to pour into the namesake restaurant—where Harry frequently held court—for Italian-American specialties, prime steaks and chops, and ice-cold martinis. If you're looking for a classic Chicago spot to catch a game, the generally thronged bar serves items off the restaurant menu. You can also follow the summer crowds to Navy Pier and the Harry Caray's outpost there.
This Loop legend is famous for casual Cajun breakfasts and lunches that have area office workers gladly lining up to be served.
Chef Sujan Sarkar offers Chicago's only Indian tasting menu, blending French cooking techniques with the bold, beautiful flavors of India. Expect a fresh menu of playful, flavor-packed interpretations every few months challenging the way people think about Indian cuisine in America. Welcoming all appetites, the prix fixe is available in non-vegetarian, vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian menus. The sophisticated setting features pink velvet banquette and colorful artwork, while pours from around the world showcase how Indian food can be perfectly paired with a variety of wines.
This place was named to invoke the pre-chain days when coffeehouses were forums for discussion, but the long, broad farmer's tables and handsome couches are usually occupied by students and other serious types who treat the café like their office. Intelligentsia does all of its own coffee roasting and sells its house blends to local restaurants. The North Broadway branch is the original location that spawned two additional Chicago spaces as well as cafés in New York, Los Angeles, and beyond.
Power up after a brisk walk on the adjacent 606 trail with nitro drafts and lattes brewed with the shop's own range of beans. There are sandwiches and mini donuts to snack on during the day, and a curated selection of local beers to lubricate customers come happy hour.
This Costa Rican spot has been going strong since 1990, thanks to its range of empanadas, mixed grill platters, and sandwiches that offer good value but don’t skimp on flavor. The casual, brightly colored dining room and patio call to mind a laid-back beach shack—a welcome vision during Chicago’s rough winters.
Believe it or not, you can get a quality slice of New York-style pizza in the land of deep-dish and tavern-style, but only if you pay a visit to Jimmy's. A nicely curated list of craft beers are also available, and you should also save space for their other specialty: beignets, laden with powdered sugar. The dining room is surprisingly spacious, and even though Jimmy's is mostly slice-focused, whole pies are also available.
A counter-service model helps keep costs down at this lovely, light-filled all-day spot, enabling the kitchen—helmed by two vets of New York's Gramercy Tavern—to turn out unfussy but high-quality American fare, accompanied by generous wine pours. Bargain hunters and good-time Charlies, take note: a daily happy-hour session with cheffy snacks and reasonably priced cocktails takes place every afternoon, and again before closing time.
The menu at this fast-casual spot is massive and spans a variety of Asian cuisines. The mouthwatering portions are large, but the prices aren't.
It seems as if there's now a sushi spot on practically every corner in Chicago, but when Kamehachi opened in Old Town in 1967 it was the first, though the restaurant has since moved to a loftier space complete with sushi bar, upstairs lounge, and flowering garden (in season). Excellent quality fish, updated decor, and eager-to-please hospitality keep fans returning, and the lunchtime maki combo meals are a relative bargain.
The secret's way out on this creative Filipino spot from culinary power couple Genie Kwon and Timothy Flores ever since it won a 2022 Michelin star and cameoed on essential foodie binge-watch The Bear. Brave the long (like, down the block and around the corner long) daytime queue to the counter for homey brunch dishes like chicken adobo, not to mention ham and raclette danish, among Kwon's other fantastic pastry offerings; at night, there's a major tone shift to an elegant tasting menu with a $275 price tag.
Hand-rolled truffles are the signature item here; some flavor combinations are staples while others change with the seasons, but all are highly inventive. (Goat cheese walnut or peanut butter coconut curry anyone?) For many, the real star of the show is the absurdly thick hot chocolate topped with homemade marshmallows.
If you love all things retro, you’ll love Kitsch’n as much as the regulars—it’s a diner in vintage garb, with lava lamps and old appliances that have been turned into table lamps, along with clever takes on old-school favorites. Featuring dishes like Green Eggs n' Ham, the menu is great for kids of all ages, with plenty of comfort-food options for everyone. The menu also hosts international flavors (think breakfast quesadillas and burritos) and a drinks menu for turning any breakfast into a boozy brunch.
This casual, bohemian café serves healthy vegetarian and pescatarian fare as well as decadent desserts. In addition to a full menu of coffee drinks from around the world, Kopi offers beer, wine, and a full bar, too. While here, you can browse through their boutique offerings of jewelry and global gifts.
Massive hamburgers named for heavy metal bands are served alongside craft beer and a pounding heavy metal soundtrack at this famous bar and grill. Creative, uniquely topped burgers fill the menu, though their decadent mac 'n' cheese is also worth sampling. The original Avondale location retains the tavern vibe, but there's a larger location in the West Loop as well.
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