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Chicago - the ‘Windy City’ is a place that thrums with energy. With a beautiful skyline, a vast expanse of Lake Michigan, grand museums, and the future of budding tech hubs, Chicago’s got it all! But that’s not all! The city is also alive with a passionate love affair with food!
Chicago’s culinary scene is undoubtedly a smorgasbord of sizzling flavors, innovative twists, and a canvas of culinary art waiting to be devoured. From Michelin-starred restaurants to hole-in-the-wall havens, this city never fails to pack a punch to please your plate!
However, with so many available options, which should you visit first? Tough right? But worry not! This article will narrow down the top 8 restaurants in Chicago that you wouldn’t want to miss.
This list of the 8 best restaurants in Chicago will make you drool and surely sort your dining options!
East Village | Filipino
Directions: 1001 N Winchester Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Contact Number: (773) 697-3790
2020 was a challenging time for starting any business. However, it couldn’t stop the husband and wife team of Genie Kwon and Timothy Flores. Ms. Kwon. They successfully opened a fine dining restaurant, one of the year's bright spots.
The restaurant’s specialty is a modern American-Filipino bakery and a fine dining experience. It boasts a Michelin-star tasting menu and an exquisite selection of daytime casual dishes.
The fine dining place is best known for its praiseworthy longanisa sausage breakfast sandwich, mushroom adobo (with soy braised mushrooms and garlic rice), and unrivaled pastries. Mouth-watering, right? But that’s not even the best part. The team’s 13-course dinner service, which books at least 45 days out, is the real highlight! No wonder the husband and wife won a James Beard Award in 2023 for best chef: Great Lakes.
Logal Sqaure | American
Directions: 2537 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647
Contact Number: (773) 489-9554
Lulu Cafe is where you’ll always find the best fresh food! They’ve been serving farm-fresh since long before farm-to-table was even a concept, let one on the menu. Owned by Chef Jasson Hammel, Lulu Cafe has been a go-to for the population of Chicago for the better part of more than two decades now!
From roast chicken to turkey sandwiches and even pastries, all they serve is very well throughout, with exquisite presentation and a blast of fresh!
Lakeview | Hot dogs
Directions: 2449 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Contact Number: (773) 772-6020
If you’re a hot dog lover, you’d agree that Chicago hot dog stands are variations on the same theme: Vienna Beef! But somehow, Red Hot Ranch has successfully made their hot dogs a differentiator easily. How? Well, the secret lies in the sausage they use with natural casings. That makes their hot dogs unique and snappier than other hot dogs Americans grew up eating.
Let’s not forget their depression dogs, a special variation with fries in the bun. That’s not just it! You would not stop if you tried their cheeseburgers (the best in the city) and thick-cut fries!
Lincoln Park | Modern American
Directions: 1729 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
Contact Number: +1 312-337-6070
Boka is one of Chicago's finest restaurants to relish modern American cuisine. Ever since 20+ years on Halsted Street, Boka is not just any other fine dining restaurant. It has bagged various awards, including Michelin Star and a handful of Jean Banchet Awards.
Another thing that people always gush about is Chef-partner Lee Wolen’s impeccable cooking techniques. From roast chicken to dry-aged duck to ricotta gnudi, every dish on the menu is a burst of flavors! It is all you need for a memorable fine dining experience when paired with a cozy social setting.
Boka caters to different preferences and offers two dining options:
A La Carte: individual dishes for a customized dining experience
Ever-Changing Tasting Menu: A pre-fixed menu with the best of Chef Wolen’s creativity
Logan Square | Mexican
Directions: 2800 West Logan Boulevard, Chicago
Contact Number: 872-315-947
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Do you want to relive your childhood memories through food? Then Mi Tocaya is the best place to be! Owned by chef Diana Dávila, Mi Tocaya is a family-owned gem known for its rich Mexican culinary heritage.
The name translates to ‘My Namesake’ in English, a term used out of fondness when someone shares your name. This restaurant embodies Chef Diana’s most cherished memories with her family in Mexico. And that is visible through the narrative context she adds for each dish on the menu.
The restaurant is famous for its modern take on traditional Oaxacan cuisine, showcasing how the Chef’s creativity is still rooted in Mexico. Also, the place is known for its special steak burrito, which is a tribute to various burritos she used to make at her parents’ restaurant.
Bridge Port | Modern American
Directions: 2701 S Eleanor St, Chicago, IL 60608
Contact Number: (312) 724-8811
Looking for the best family-friendly place to fine dine in Chicago? Then look no further than The Duck Inn. This restaurant is a regular place for the Bridgeport locals.
The restaurant's specialties are Italian beef and duck-fat-infused hot dogs. The locals usually enjoy these with a cold brew on the side. Speaking of which, the wine and cocktail list of the restaurant is not your general drinks list but one of the best for fine drinks on the South Side.
West Loop | Brasserie
Directions: 177 North Ada Street, Chicago
Contact Number: 773-913-3773
Chicago’s one of the finest, Symth, bagged its third Michelin star last year. The Loyalist, its sibling restaurant, operates under its umbrella. It’s Chicago’s best - John and Karen Urie Shields’s two-for-one special in the West Loop!
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If you’re looking for a place to have the best burgers in the city, cozy up on the couch and savor The Loyalist’s famous and city’s most acclaimed - Dirty Burger! It’s a messy munchy with double cheese, charred onions, griddled patties, and Martin’s sesame seed bun.
West Loop | Italian
Directions: 1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607
Contact Number: (312) 888-3041
It’s remarkable how quickly this first restaurant by former Top Chef and Spiaggia chef Sarah Grueneberg has become the center of the culinary conversations in Chicago. Today, when you think Italian in Chicago, only one name pops right after - Monteverde.
The place is well cherished for its delicious, unique, and innovative pastas. What’s interesting is that you can view two people kneading the dough and shaping out the pasta you will be having. Next, it’s then handed to the chef Sarah Grueneberg, who sprinkles her magic to prepare the most delicious and grandly tasting pasta in the entire Chicago!
From the Michelin Star gems to unique hot dog stands, you’ll find the best of Chicago’s restaurants on this list! Armed with the list of the 8 best restaurants in Chicago, we’re sure you can now explore your favorite picks or maybe all of them!?
Diksha, a seasoned content marketer, brings hands-on experience in website management, social media marketing, and branding. Her expertise drives efffective and results-driven digital strategies.
