La Michoacana Premium
Choose from dozens of paleta flavors like rice pudding and spicy mango or grab a snack like Cheetos with queso at this inviting ice cream shop.
223 Best Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois
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.
Laschet's Inn
One of the last remaining German restaurants in the Lincoln Square area, Laschet's Inn delivers on all your schnitzel desires. An amazing list of German pilsners, dunkels, and hefeweizens supports the full menu rich in traditional German fare. Sausages like bratwurst and thuringer are of course on hand, plus daily specials like chicken paprikash and jägerschnitzel, served alongside some of the best spaetzle and red cabbage you've ever had.
Leña Brava
This Baja-inspired spot first opened in 2016 as the latest venture in chef Rick Bayless's exploration of Mexican cuisine. Bayless has since divested, but Leña Brava's all-wood-fired menu abides. Sit downstairs by the hearth, or opt for a quieter table upstairs overlooking Randolph Street, but regardless of your seat, be sure to order a glass or bottle of hard-to-find Mexican wine, the perfect complement to the food.
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Leonidas Chocolate Cafe
This chocolate café just off Michigan Avenue is a chocolate lover's dream, where Belgian chocolate and hot chocolate are the stars. You can also order sandwiches, quiche, waffles, French pastries, and build-your-own crepes (sweet and savory).
Les Nomades
Intimate and elegant doesn't make headlines, but Les Nomades quietly serves some of Chicago’s best French food in the warm dining room of this Streeterville brownstone, which has wood-burning fireplaces and original art. The carefully composed menu includes the usual suspects along with more contemporary fare—you compose your own prix-fixe dinner from the menu.
The Lobby at the Peninsula
While many contemporary restaurants lean toward the avant-garde, The Lobby continues the tradition of classic upscale hotel dining with all the frills. During the day, sunlight pours through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the terrace while diners take in elevated breakfast staples; later, the space transforms into a romantic dinner spot with a menu of elegant seasonal takes on New American cuisine.
Longman & Eagle
Chef Brian Motyka’s menu favors locally sourced meats and produce, so expect the offerings at this hip gastropub to change with the seasons, with options ranging from bar snacks to substantial entrées, all with clever twists. Chase your meal with one of more than 100 whiskeys on offer (one of the thoughtfully curated flight options is a good way to sample a few), or swing around to the back bar for a nightcap; late night, it serves a small menu of elevated drinking food (wild boar sloppy joes, vegan “sour cream” and onion dip) that’s exactly perfect after an evening on the town.
Lou Mitchell's
Shelve your calorie and cholesterol concerns because Lou Mitchell's heeds no modern health warnings—the bustling old-school diner, a dining destination close to Union Station since 1923, specializes in filling breakfasts and comfort-food lunches. Though you’ll almost certainly have to deal with out-the-door waits, especially at breakfast, staffers dole out doughnut holes and Milk Duds to pacify hunger pangs.
MANA Food Bar
It's easy to miss this slim, stylish restaurant amid the clothing boutiques and bars along Division Street, but those in the know squeeze in for globally inspired vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free fare. The health-conscious dishes are small, so plan to order a few of the flavorful offerings to share; if you’re still hungry or want to add some seafood to your night, head to the Anaba Handroll Bar counter for sushi hand rolls.
Manny's Cafeteria and Delicatessen
Kibitzing counter cooks provide commentary as they sling soul-nurturing soups, sandwiches, and other deli favorites at this classic cafeteria that often attracts local and national politicians. Though those cooks occasionally bark at dawdlers, it's all in good fun—though finding a table in the two teeming, fluorescent-lit rooms is not, so your best bet is to visit during off hours.
Maple & Ash
This high-end, innovative take on the traditional steak house is a natural fit for the Gold Coast. Chef Danny Grant crafts decadent dishes that appeal to high rollers, groups of friends, and date nights. Select a cut of steak or seafood cooked in the wood-fired hearth, or try the $200 “I Don't Give a F*@k” menu for a tour of the restaurant’s top dishes without having to make any decisions.
Mario's Italian Lemonade
This seasonal stand is a big hit in Chicago's hot summers, with shaved ice served with chunks of fruit in flavors from lemon to cantaloupe. Mario's was started in 1954 by Mario DiPaolo and his son, also named Mario but known as "Skip," who still runs it, with his own family.
Marisol
After winding through the galleries at the Museum of Contemporary Art, head downstairs where the food is just as cutting-edge and beautiful as the art. The sleek restaurant has a coffee bar with quick snacks, as well as seasonally changing lunch and dinner menus that emphasize local vegetables and unexpected flavor profiles in salads, pasta, and meat and seafood main courses.
Maude's Liquor Bar
A classic French menu is the only thing traditional about this Randolph Street hot spot, where dim lighting, reclaimed vintage touches, and an indie soundtrack set a romantic mood. Snack on small plates and salads over affordable glasses of wine at the bar, or go all in with a bottle of champagne for the table and a tower brimming with pristine chilled seafood.
Meddle Coffee Bar
This small but stylish café operated by local roastery Dark Matter Coffee serves up all kinds of joe, from drip to draft to canned varieties, amid playfully psychedelic decor. On the food side, look for savory breakfast tacos and empanadas, Do-Rite Donuts, and pastries from West Town Bakery.
Medici on 57th
Opened in 1962, Medici has served generations of University of Chicago students and faculty, many of whom carved their names on the tables and walls. If you're looking for a grab-and-go option, the on-site bakery (which makes the restaurant's breads) sells premade sandwiches as well as breakfast pastries and cookies.
Mercat a la Planxa
Catalan-inspired restaurant Mercat offers a stylish respite from Michigan Avenue with a view of Grant Park and a menu of small to midsize plates, all of which are great for sharing. To get more bang for your buck, try the chef's tasting menu, with prices starting at $65.
Mi Tocaya Antojeria
Chef Diana Dávila offers a deeply personal, richly flavored take on Mexican cuisine at this colorful restaurant, which serves everything from snacks and tacos to heartier plates. Grab a patio seat in warm weather for people-watching along Logan Boulevard, or hang out at the bar for cocktails built around Mexican spirits like sotol served alongside food that’s wildly creative but endlessly satisfying.
Mia Francesca
For over three decades, fans of northern Italian dining have praised this unassuming Lakeview storefront for their approachable menu of Roman and Tuscan-style pasta, pizza, and antipasti made with fresh ingredients. Have a glass of wine from the fairly priced list at the bar while you wait for your table in the recently refreshed dining room. There are also nearly a dozen other Chicagoland locations under the Francesca name from the Gold Coast to Naperville and beyond.
Milk & Honey Café
Division Street has long been a prowl of night owls but with the growing number of spas and boutiques in the area, not to mention the many work-from-home locals, this neighborhood needed a good breakfast and lunch spot. Milk & Honey exceeds expectations with hearty, healthful breakfasts and creative sandwiches at lunch—grab a seat on the sidewalk café in warm weather or in near the fireplace in cooler temperatures.
Millennium Hall
Tucked underneath Cloud Gate in Millennium Park is this multi-concept dining experience. Napolita Pizzeria and Wine Bar is open year-round in the indoor space, but if you're visiting between May and October, grab a seat on the expansive patio to people-watch with beers from Double Clutch Brewing and Mexican fare from Casa Bonita.
Modern Grill
Despite the "Modern" in its name, this lunch counter and short-order diner is about as old-school as they come. Belly up to the counter for breakfast all day; burgers, patty melts, Reubens, and club sandwiches midday; or snag a booth to tuck into a dinner plate of chopped steak, pork chops, or even liver and onions.
Moody's Pub
If you find yourself in far-north Edgewater with a craving for a burger, head to Moody's. Decades before the crazy toppings of Kuma's Corner and the world-heralded Au Cheval burger, Moody's was serving hefty pub-style burgers in an almost medieval space, dark and woodsy with two crackling fireplaces in winter. Warm-weather travelers should make a beeline for their sprawling multilevel enclosed patio comfortably covered by shade trees.
Morton's, The Steakhouse
The specialty at the Loop location of Morton's, one of Chicago's premiere steak houses, is a 14-ounce (or more) taste of heaven for meat lovers. Excellent service and a solid wine list add to the principal attraction: beautiful, hefty steaks cooked to perfection. Non–meat eaters aren’t left out of the fun, thanks to notable seafood offerings and plenty of salads.
Mott Street
Everything is big and bold at this perennial neighborhood favorite, from the Asian flavors that infuse chef Edward Kim’s dishes to the colorful graffiti-esque art that adorns the exterior to the high-energy tunes that bop all night. The legendary house burger is only served until 7 pm (but it's an open secret that it's available all night to diners sitting at the bar). The fun vibe extends to the weekend brunch here too.
Mr. Beef
A Chicago institution long before it inspired The Bear, Mr. Beef's two-fisted Italian beef sandwiches piled with green peppers and provolone cheese are iconic. It garners citywide fans from area hard hats to restaurateurs and TV personalities. Service and setting—two indoor picnic tables and a dining rail—are fast-food no-nonsense, and the fare is inexpensive; it's a workingman's favorite, though located near River North's art galleries.
Nacional 27
Named after the 27 nations south of the U.S. border, this Pan-Latin restaurant serves a smattering of cross-cultural dishes from the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina on a menu of very shareable bites. The circular bar has its own following if you're looking for innovative cocktails and creative tacos, and after 11 pm on weekends, the floor in the middle of the dining room is cleared for salsa and merengue dancing.
Nellcôte
Inspired by the French Riviera mansion where the Rolling Stones recorded Exile on Main Street, Nellcôte blends European opulence with raw bohemian chic. Much of the menu is driven by the restaurant's in-house flour mill, which is used to make everything from an array of pizzas to pastas, while lots of local veggies and wood-grilled meats and seafood round out the offerings.
Nellie's
A long-running fixture on Division Street in Humboldt Park---also known as the Paseo Boricua---family-owned Nellie’s is especially popular on weekends, when locals come out in droves for the generously sized breakfast and brunch dishes. It’s a good place to sample a jibarito, the Puerto Rican contribution to Chicago’s sandwich pantheon: it’s an assemblage of grilled meat and toppings surrounded by flattened, fried plantains.
Next Restaurant
Grant Achatz's buzzworthy sophomore effort is big on concept: the restaurant completely transforms its menu, tableware, decor, and beverage program every three months to focus on a unique theme, whether that’s an homage to famed chef Auguste Escoffier's tenure at the Ritz Paris or to Ancient Rome. Tickets for the one-of-a-kind meal from executive chef Alan Mileykovsky are paid for in advance, nonrefundable, and only available online.
