66 Best Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois

The latest spot from creative chef couple Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark probes the latter's Ukrainian heritage. The approach isn't academic, but rather inventive and full of fun. The highlight of a meal here is flagging down the Zakusky Tower, a kooky-looking cart that plys the dining room, for delicious little bites like fried olives stuffed with lamb sausage and delicate cream cheese tartlets topped with trout roe. The cocktail presentations add to the festive air; a brandy, chamomile, and washed kefir concoction, for instance, arrives in a vintage teacup.

Head to this Euro-style wine bar when you're feeling gregarious; the warm, intimate space has seating for only 55 people, and the results are loud and lively, with shareable fare—a mix of small and large Mediterranean plates—that's reasonably priced.

When chef Joe Frillman moved his popular handcrafted-pasta spot down the street in 2023, he picked up more than triple the square footage of the original. More important, he gained the partnership of talented pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky, whose flaky kouign amann and bostock fuel the remote-work types that flock here daily. At dinner, Frillman's elegant, hyperseasonal pastas meet their match in Omilinsky's composed desserts, many of which play with savory elements in unexpected ways.

If the name sets expectations high, Eden does its best to deliver. Tucked like a pleasant little surprise amid an industrial park, the elegant yet easy-going spot grows much of its own produce in a large on-site greenhouse. On the plate, seasonality takes center stage; the dishes are faintly rustic, but the flavors are big and sophisticated. For parents, the restaurant's child-friendly attitude makes this place a paradise. 

Top Chef Season 4 champion Stephanie Izard's always-packed restaurant lives up to the hype, serving her personal brand of sharable, eclectic plates with seasonal flair amid rustic decor with communal butcher tables and an open kitchen. Dishes are grouped into straightforward categories, like vegetable, fish, and meat—with an array of offerings made with goat, naturally.

Locals worship Lula Cafe, a neighborhood favorite that has been serving modern, seasonal dishes (and a cult-favorite brunch menu) in a spacious location with counter seating and an intimate dining room since 1999. The food is stellar, with menus that change frequently and champion farm sources. If you want to take home a memento of this special space, grab a copy of chef/owner Jason Hammel's Lula Cafe Cookbook on your way out.

The corned-beef sandwich here is the one that other local delis aim to beat. Manny's has always been popular with Chicago politicians—as the saying goes, so if these walls could talk, they'd spill a lot of secrets.

Classic meets innovative at chef Sarah Grueneberg’s forward-thinking Italian restaurant, where a strategically placed mirror grants diners a view of pasta makers rolling and filling select pastas to order. The West Loop location means the restaurant gets busy before Blackhawks games, but Top Chef finalist Grueneberg’s dishes, designed for sharing, are always a game changer.

Don't call this beer-focused hot spot a gastropub—chef Paul Kahan prefers "beer hall" (though wine is available, too) and with the long communal tables, at which beer connoisseurs sample from a selection hovering above 50 brews, the bustling space has the air of an Oktoberfest celebration. The seafood- and pork-focused menu gives an elevated nod to pub fare, though there are plenty of veggie-friendly dishes as well.

The Magnificent Mile isn’t usually known for dining, but locals and tourists alike love the Purple Pig, a Mediterranean wine bar with an extensive wine list and many affordable wines by the glass. Adventurous eaters will revel in chef Jimmy Bannos Jr.’s offal-centric dishes, though there’s plenty for tamer palates and vegetarians here as well, along with an array of notable Mediterranean-styled desserts.

Despite Chicago's renown for deep-dish pizza, locals are swept away by the thin-crust Neapolitan pies at this bright Ravenswood gem, where finely ground Italian flour, imported buffalo mozzarella, hand-stretched dough, and a brick, wood-fired oven built by Italian craftsmen produce the bubbling, chewy crusts of these pies. Antipasti, a well-priced selection of Italian wines and beers, and desserts like tiramisu round out the menu.

The oldest coffeehouse in the Gold Coast pleases just about everyone with breakfast all day and nightly dinner specials.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.