A guide to Chicago’s best restaurants, from refined tasting-menu experiences to beloved neighborhood counters. After 15 years of writing about Chicago food, I’ve curated over 40 essential spots where you’re likely to have a memorable meal.
This guide is organized from fine dining to fast casual. Prices range widely: a tasting-menu evening for two at a top restaurant can approach $1,000, while many counter-service spots provide dinner for two under $100. I’ve highlighted a variety of neighborhoods, cuisines, and price points so you can find the right meal for any occasion.
The Best Restaurants in Chicago:
Fine dining establishments listed below typically offer tasting menus and require reservations. Expect prices in the $200–$450 per person range before beverages.
Fine Dining
Alinea
Contemporary
Lincoln Park
Grant Achatz’s two-Michelin-star restaurant is a landmark of modern American cuisine. Alinea is theatrical and inventive—dishes can be interactive or surprising, such as edible helium balloons and desserts presented directly on the table.
Next
Rotating Theme
West Loop
Next rotates themes and menus throughout the year, offering immersive tasting experiences tied to a chosen concept. Recent themes explore cultural and historical touches with menus that change seasonally.
Smyth
Contemporary
West Loop
Smyth holds three Michelin stars and is known for precise, ingredient-driven dishes. The tasting menu blends local and seasonal elements into complex plates that reward attentive diners.
Topolobampo
Mexican
River North
Rick Bayless’s fine-dining restaurant explores Mexico’s regional cuisines through evolving tasting menus. Expect carefully sourced ingredients and menus that rotate every several weeks.
Oriole
Contemporary American
West Loop
Oriole is a multi-course tasting-menu restaurant with refined techniques and seasonal produce. Dishes often pair unexpected flavors for a thoughtful and polished dining experience.
Kasama
Filipino/Asian
West Town
Kasama combines a daytime bakery and casual savory pastries with an evening modern Filipino tasting menu. The cozy, family-style approach and memorable breakfast sandwiches helped boost its popularity.
Schwa
Modern American
Wicker Park
Schwa is an intimate 26-seat restaurant with approachable, inventive tasting menus. The atmosphere is unpretentious and the food—like the quail egg raviolo with truffle and ricotta—is consistently memorable. Schwa is BYOB and offers one of the more affordable tasting experiences in the city.
Ever
Contemporary
West Loop
Ever serves an 8–10 course tasting menu that balances meat, seafood, and seasonal vegetables. Dishes showcase refined technique and layered flavors across each course.
Kyōten Next Door
Logan Square
Japanese
A small omakase counter where chefs prepare and explain each course. With limited seating, this is an intimate way to enjoy precise sushi and seasonal seafood preparations.
Boka
American
Lincoln Park
Boka emphasizes local farms and seasonal ingredients, offering both an à la carte menu and a tasting option. The service and carefully composed plates make it a reliable choice for a special night out.
Upscale to Casual
This section highlights restaurants that fall between formal tasting menus and casual counters—new arrivals, neighborhood favorites, and established classics.
Maxwells Trading
Global
West Loop
One of the most exciting recent openings, Maxwells Trading offers a creative global menu with highlights like scallion griddle bread with French onion dip, soup dumpling tortellini, and inventive vegetable dishes.
Lula Cafe
Modern American
Logan Square
Lula is a warm, laid-back neighborhood institution open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The pasta yiayia—bucatini with feta, garlic, brown butter, and cinnamon—is a standout that often draws locals back.
Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf
French-inspired Steakhouse
River North
Bavette’s combines classic steakhouse cooking with elegant design and attentive service. The steaks are exceptional; other favorites include the burger, short rib stroganoff, and a rich chocolate cream pie for dessert.
Obelix
French
River North
Obelix offers traditional French fare and weekend brunch. The restaurant gained buzz with a lavish caviar sandwich, and its dinner menu features escargot, duck, foie gras, and larger shareable entrees like beef Wellington.
Le Colonial
French-Vietnamese
Gold Coast
Le Colonial pairs elegant decor with a unique Franco-Vietnamese menu. Dishes like shaking beef stand out, and the dining room’s atmosphere makes it a classic spot for celebrations.
Fioretta
Italian Steakhouse
West Loop
Fioretta is a grand steakhouse with tableside Caesar preparation and dramatic flame-presented steaks—ideal for a lively group dinner or a celebratory night.
Ciccio Mio
Italian
River North
Hogsalt Hospitality’s red-sauce Italian spot is popular for good reason. Classics like chicken parmesan, ricotta gnocchi, and braised short rib make it a romantic go-to when you want comforting, well-executed Italian food.
Nic & Junior’s
Italian/Brazilian
River North
A notable new entry recognized by the James Beard Awards, Nic & Junior’s offers both a tasting menu and casual bar options. The rigatoni vodka with stracciatella is especially memorable.
Girl & the Goat
Globally-Inspired
West Loop
This influential restaurant helped put the West Loop on the culinary map. The menu features bold shared plates—favorites include sautéed green beans, pig face, and sticky-glazed pork shank—plus a prix fixe option at the bar.
Mott St
Asian-American
Wicker Park
Mott St blends bold flavors and comforting dishes. Try the burger topped with shoestring sweet potatoes, fire chicken, steak kalbi, and the oyster mushrooms with miso butter served alongside garlic rice for a balanced, satisfying meal.
Monteverde
Italian
West Loop
Monteverde is known for hand-made pasta and a welcoming dining room. Reservations can be competitive, so consider lunch if dinner is fully booked.
Armitage Alehouse
British/Tavern
Lincoln Park
A cozy British-style pub from the Hogsalt family, Armitage Alehouse serves hearty dishes like curries, pot pies, and fish & chips. The sticky date cake is a must for dessert.
Mirra
Mexican/Indian
Bucktown
Mirra’s inventive menu blends Mexican and Indian flavors across both a chef’s tasting counter and an à la carte menu. Standouts include mushroom quesadillas with chettinad masala and lamb barbacoa biryani.
Perilla Steak
Korean Steakhouse
The Loop
Perilla offers tabletop grilling along with standout dishes like rice cake cacio e pepe, Korean fried chicken, garlic chive pancakes, and kimchi pork dumplings—each showing thoughtful technique and bold flavors.
5 Rabanitos
Mexican
Pilsen & Hyde Park
5 Rabanitos focuses on authentic Mexican home-cooked dishes: pozole, carne asada, enchiladas with mole, plus a strong selection of tacos, tortas, and sopes.
Daisies
Midwest Italian
Logan Square
Daisies highlights seasonal Midwest ingredients in handmade pasta preparations. The agnolotti with beets, smoked trout roe, and dill is vibrant and visually striking—perfect for a date night.
Tre Dita
Italian Steakhouse
Lakeshore East
Located inside the St. Regis with views of Lake Michigan, Tre Dita offers Tuscan-focused cuisine, handmade pastas, and high-quality steaks—an excellent choice to impress guests.
void
Italian
Avondale
void is a playful neighborhood trattoria where creativity and comfort meet. Dishes like Spaghetti Uh-O’s—served from a can—capture the restaurant’s lighthearted approach without compromising on flavor.
Le Bouchon
French
Bucktown
Le Bouchon evokes a Parisian bistro with classic dishes like steak frites and one of the city’s best French onion soups—ideal for a romantic dinner.
Athenian Room
Greek
Lincoln Park
A long-running, family-owned spot that still operates cash-only with no reservations. The Kalamata Chicken over thick Greek fries in a tangy sauce is a beloved signature dish.
Lao Peng You
Chinese
West Town
Lao Peng You focuses on handmade noodles and dumplings. Favorites include beef and green onion dumplings, dan dan noodles, and flavorful noodle soups.
Oiistar
Ramen
Wicker Park
Oiistar serves house-made ramen noodles and classic Korean noodle and rice dishes in a rich, dairy-free broth. The Kimchi Chow rice and other comforting bowls make it a solid casual choice.
Fast Casual
Counter-service and quick-serve spots where flavor, authenticity, and value come first—some of the best inexpensive meals in the city.
Birrieria Zaragoza
Mexican
Uptown
Known for rich goat birria, Birrieria Zaragoza is a family-run favorite and earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. The Uptown location remains a reliable spot for deep, comforting flavors.
J.P. Graziano
Italian Sandwiches
West Loop
A Chicago classic since 1937, J.P. Graziano is best at lunchtime with hearty subs made from quality cold cuts. Look for occasional Italian beef specials and a late-night window on select nights.
Tortello
Italian
Wicker Park
Tortello is a counter-service pasta shop known for fresh-made pasta and specialties like tortelli filled with burrata, served with butter, sage, and hazelnuts. They also sell sauces and pantry items to cook at home.
D’Amatos
Italian Deli
West Town
The vodka chicken parm gets attention, but the chicken Caesar cutlet sandwich is a favorite. You can also order large subs in advance—an easy party catering option—and don’t skip the cannoli.
Omarcito’s Latin Cafe
Latin American
Logan Square
Omarcito’s operates a walk-up counter with outdoor seating and a menu focused on sandwiches and plates with rice, beans, fried plantains, and meats. Their jibarito is among the city’s best.
Tortazo/Xoco
Mexican
River North
Rick Bayless’s Tortazo and Xoco focus on approachable Mexican street food. Try the crispy chicken milanesa or corn poblano chowder for satisfying, flavorful counter meals.
Manny’s Deli
Jewish Deli
University Village
An institution since 1942, Manny’s serves classic deli fare including house-made bagels and the iconic corned beef sandwich. It’s open most days for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Phodega
Vietnamese
Wicker Park
Phodega’s Viet Dip, a Vietnamese take on Italian beef, is widely praised. The chicken and rice and pho are also reliable choices for a satisfying, well-executed meal.
Mindy’s Bakery
Pastries
Wicker Park
Helmed by James Beard winner Mindy Segal, this bakery offers a morning bake focused on bagels and breakfast pastries and an afternoon bake with cakes, cookies, and bars. The quiche is excellent, and the hot chocolate earned national praise.
Want to chat about the best restaurants in Chicago?
If you’d like personalized recommendations—neighborhood-specific suggestions, date-night picks, or budget-friendly options—send a message via Instagram and I’ll help you plan a great meal in Chicago.