223 Best Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois

This daytime-only spot from Charlie McKenna, who made his name on the local barbecue scene, packs in locals and students for Southern-accented brunch and lunch fare in a light-filled space with a modern farmhouse vibe. The dishes are hearty—think beignets and chicken fried steak—so a good plan is to dine with abandon and then walk it off on a stroll to Promontory Point.

As precious as a jewel box, this red, lacquer-trimmed 80-seat restaurant hidden away in the Peninsula Hotel reveals the hotelier's Asian roots. Come for stylishly presented upscale dim sum, stay for the outdoor terrace that seats up to 70 during warmer months and lets you revel in a relaxing Cantonese and Shanghainese meal four stories above the madding crowds of Michigan Avenue. 

The sweet, smoky aroma wafting out of this casual barbecue spot always attracts a crowd, and although the line to order at the counter extends out the door on weekends, it moves quickly. Smoque covers a range of barbecue styles, from St. Louis ribs to 14-hour-cooked Texas-style brisket. If you can't make up your mind between brisket or shredded pork shoulder, order the half-and-half—a sandwich with half of each. It's BYOB, so pick up a beer or two before arriving if desired.

Named 2020's Restaurant of the Year by Chicago's annual Jean Banchet Awards, Smyth features a 15-course tasting menu that's tweaked daily by husband-and-wife chefs John B. and Karen Urie Shields. The dishes are ever-changing and depend on what the kitchen can get from The Farm, just outside the city, which provides ingredients grown to the chefs’ specifications; for a more casual meal—including the Chicago Tribune's pick for the city's best burger—head downstairs to the Loyalist bar.

Morning or afternoon, there's a buzz in the air at the first U.S. outpost of a Ukraine-based third-wave roaster—and it's not just all the caffeine. Since debuting in 2024, the petite corner café has fast become a neighborhood favorite for its cool, minimalist vibe, an excellent selection of baked goodies like chocolate-dipped croissants, and potent brews made from beans roasted in the motherland.

Sleek and elegant, this all-day restaurant, with two bars and views of the open kitchen, is an ideal see-and-be-seen spot for Gold Coast drinks and sampling thoughtful new American cuisine. Featuring local ingredients, the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus are inspired by Lake Michigan and Midwest farms. For dessert, the cookie plate is always worth saving room for.

A 1920s-era marble bar salvaged from a Milwaukee drugstore anchors this darling dining room in Humboldt Park, where the young and young at heart flock for old-fashioned sodas and malts. No mere one-note, the shop also serves an all-day breakfast menu, warm and cold sandwiches, and tempting pastries.

The largest Starbucks in the world offers a 35,000-square-foot coffee wonderland across five floors. Smell coffee brewing in a Chemex or siphon while beans whoosh in overhead tubes in the multi-sensory experience. Watch live coffee roasting on the ground level, snag one of many sleek seats along floor-to-ceiling windows, or admire Michigan Avenue views from the roof terrace. Reserve ahead for tours or hands-on experiences like Art of the Espresso Martini or Coffee Lab: A Journey of the Senses to skip the line when it gets busy (especially on the weekends).

In your enthusiasm for exploring Avondale's bright young things, don't overlook this institution, which has been fortifying the neighborhood with heaping platters of traditional Polish fare since 1984. Starting off with pierogies (there are six varieties on offer) is a no-brainer. If you've brought a date, the special for two (which in truth could probably sate three or four) is a good way to sample the restaurant's greatest hits, like soul-warming stuffed cabbage and lacy potato pancakes.

Named for the Sunda Shelf, an ancient Southeast Asian landmass, this trendy spot scours Asia for riotously flavorful fare, including dim sum, rice and noodle dishes, and signature sushi offerings, while well-executed cocktails and Asian beer selections complement the sweet, sour, and spicy dishes. The buzzing and expansive space cobbles together communal and traditional tables and lounge seating alongside Asian antiques.

Indian flavors drive the menu at this merry all-day spot on the northern fringes of Logan Square, but this isn’t your grandma’s tikka masala (even though that might be her calico upholstery in the quirky industrial-meets-cottagecore dining room). Instead, Zeeshan Shah and Yoshi Yamada take a witty approach to familiar dishes, sealing butter chicken into calzones and dressing French toast in halvah and gulab jamun syrup.

For over 90 years, the humble Svea, a Swedish version of an American diner, has carried the torch for Andersonville Swedes with hearty breakfast and lunch options. The daytime-only menu is packed with omelets, pancakes, and other Swedish classics; while the digs are no-frills, the service is invariably friendly. Woke up feeling especially hungry? The "Viking breakfast" beckons: eggs, Swedish sausage, Swedish-style fried potatoes, and pancakes with lingonberry. 

This cozy spot is influenced by the Alpine cuisine of France, Germany, Italy, and Austria, and takes an old-world approach to local ingredients, baking, butchering, curing, pickling, and smoking everything in-house. The same region informs the beverage program, translating to an interesting selection of wine, amari, and liqueurs.

World-renowned Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio makes his foray into the Chicago dining scene with this sleek homage to the cuisine of his homeland. Small-format dishes make it easy to try everything, and the pisco-based cocktails are unmatched; just be wary of your wallet, as prices tend to add up quickly.

Since making its Avondale debut in 2023, this spot—which began life as a West Loop food hall vendor—has won raves from high places (The New York Times, for one) for chef Margaret Pak's soulful take on the cuisine of her husband's native Kerala. The lightness of Pak's fare, punctuated by coconut, yucca, and bracing chutneys, might surprise diners accustomed to the hearty Mughlai curries of northern India. Whatever your order, get a side of appam, tender rice crepes perfect for sopping stray sauce. 

Formerly known as Honky Tonk BBQ, the twang of country meets the tang of barbecue sauce at this lively spot that’s decked out in vintage Americana. The environment sets the scene for a down-home meal of award-winning, Memphis-style barbecued meats, either on a platter or stuffed into sandwiches, along with classic sides.

A selection of fresh handmade pasta produced with top-quality Italian flour anchors the menu at this counter service spot, where checkered linoleum flooring and a Vespa suspended from the ceiling give the snug, always-packed dining room a cheery retro vibe. Popular group classes let pasta novices try their hand at forming gnocchi and lumache. Friday through Sunday, doors open at 8 am for stiff espressos and Italian breakfast pastries like bomboloni.  

The luxurious Langham Hotel doesn’t disappoint with this elegant American restaurant located on the second floor, where cushy, white-leather seats pamper guests gaping at the glittering city lights through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu offers an array of shareable snacks along with entrées and salads; the dishes have global touches that keep them interesting while still remaining approachable.

The bitterest Chicago gale is no match for the varenyky and other rib-sticking Ukrainian fare at this Chicago Avenue spot, named for the trident that features on the Ukrainian coat of arms. National pride comes through loud and clear here, from the traditional costumes and instruments on display to the menu prices, which sync up to notable years in Ukrainian history. A house specialty is over two dozen vodkas infused with everything from sour cherry to horseradish. 

For a taste of classic Chicago, stop into Twin Anchors, which has been dishing out baby-back ribs since 1932—the nautically themed brick tavern was a favorite of Frank Sinatra, who still croons regularly over the speakers. You’re partly visiting for the scene, as local and touring celebs often visit, but lovers of barrooms with personality don't mind the typically long waits during prime time. Vegetarians will find the pickings slim (though the freshly fried kettle chips with buttermilk dip may lessen the sting somewhat).

The original location of Uncommon Ground is roomy and inviting, with a hand-carved bar and large street-facing windows offering views of passersby; patrons brave the wait for bowls of coffee and hot chocolate. There's also a full bar, a hearty menu with plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free items, and even an organic brewery (Greenstar Brewing) on-site. Perks include two fireplaces, sidewalk tables, and a steady lineup of acoustic musical acts. A second location in the Edgewater neighborhood ( 1401 West Devon Avenue) gets bonus points for eco-friendliness, with a garden on the roof, solar panels, and tables made from reclaimed wood.

This cash-only Hyde Park institution serves big portions of no-frills diner classics cafeteria-style. President Obama ate here often during his University of Chicago days, and the restaurant still posts a “President Obama’s Favorites” menu.

Vermilion's focus on creative, high-end Latin–Indian fusion fare sets it apart on a busy stretch in River North, and lots of small-plate options, including takes on classic Indian street food for both brunch and dinner, encourage sampling. Despite cool fashion photography on the walls and techno music in the air, the vibe is warm and welcoming.