The Best Restaurants in Chicago

A guide to the best restaurants in Chicago, from fine dining to local hidden gems. I have lovingly poured my 15 years of experience writing about food in Chicago into this list featuring over 40 restaurants. I truly believe that these are essential Chicago restaurants where you can count on having a memorable meal.

My list of best restaurants in Chicago is organized from fine dining to fast casual. A meal for two at a fine dining restaurant could cost $1,000, while you could spend under $100 on dinner for two at one of the fast casual spots. I've made a point to include a variety of price points, neighborhoods, and types of cuisine.

The Best Restaurants in Chicago:

These fine dining restaurants in Chicago offer tasting menus and require advance reservations. In general, fine dining restaurants charge $200- $450 per person (before beverage pairings).

Fine Dining

Alinea
Contemporary
Lincoln Park

Chef Grant Achatz's two-star Michelin restaurant is known for pushing the boundaries of molecular gastronomy. It is a dining experience like no other - the meal ends with an edible helium balloon and a dessert that is painted onto the table.

Next
Rotating Theme
West Loop

A sister restaurant to Alinea, Next has themes that change throughout the year. The 2026 menus explore the themes of Grace, Greed, and Glam, and are: Japan, Wall Street 1987, and Fashion.

Smyth
Contemporary
West Loop

Currently, Chicago's only three-Michelin-star restaurant, and one of just thirteen restaurants in the nation with this distinction, Smyth pushes boundaries with its creative use of ingredients. For example: a crab tart with a pumpkin tartlet shell, pumpkin seed miso and finger limes, topped with Dungeness crab, hazelnut–crab emulsion, shell oil, fermented melon, and chestnuts. Smyth has a sister restaurant, a gastropub called The Loyalist, located below Smyth.

Topolobampo
Mexican
River North

Rick Bayless's Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant explores Mexico's regional cuisines through tasting menus that change every 6 to 8 weeks. Currently, the restaurant is offering a "Bienvenidos a Oaxaca" menu.

Oriole
Contemporary American
West Loop

A two-Michelin-star restaurant helmed by Chef Noah Sandoval, winner of the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef (Great Lakes). Oriole offers an extended tasting menu with items such as Rocky Mountain Lamb Belly with Lingonberry, Figwood-Smoked Beet, and Juniper.

Kasama
Filipino/Asian
West Town

Kasama went from very popular to wildly popular after being featured on The Bear. Kasama is one restaurant with two concepts: savory pastries are served during the day (including the wonderful breakfast sandwich that was on The Bear) and a modern Filipino tasting menu at night.

Schwa
Modern American
Wicker Park

Fine dining can feel pretentious, but not at Schwa. Dining at this 26-seat restaurant feels more like being invited to a friend's home. The quail egg raviolo with truffle and ricotta has been on the menu for years and is a treat. Schwa is BYOB and currently priced at $215 per person, making it one of the more affordable tasting menus in Chicago.

Ever
Contemporary
West Loop

Ever offers an 8 to 10-course tasting menu that combines meat and seafood with seasonal vegetables. Each course is creative and sophisticated, for example, chestnut, braised pork cheek, cipollini onion, and celery or osetra caviar with apple & dashi sorbet, celery root, toasted rice and nasturtium.

Kyōten Next Door
Logan Square
Japanese

A 10-seat omakase sushi restaurant where diners are able to watch the Chef create and explain each dish. Kyōten Next Door is the more affordable sister restaurant to Kyōten (which is next door).

Boka
American
Lincoln Park

Boka prides itself on working with local farms to source seasonal ingredients. Both an à la carte and an 8-course tasting menu are offered.

Upscale to Casual

A list of the best Chicago restaurants that fall in the middle between fine dining and fast casual. This includes the newest and hottest Chicago restaurants to classic spots that have been loved for generations.

Maxwells Trading
Global
West Loop

One of the best new restaurants in Chicago, Maxwells Trading has a creative menu that just doesn't miss. Some favorite menu items are the French onion dip that comes with the most delicious scallion griddle bread, the Japanese sweet potato, and the soup dumpling tortellini.

Lula Cafe
Modern American
Logan Square

This laid-back spot is one of the most well-respected restaurants in Chicago. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Wednesday to Monday. The pasta yiayia made with bucatini, feta, garlic, brown butter, and cinnamon is a must-try.

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf
French-inspired Steakhouse
River North

This stunning steakhouse is a fixture on lists of the best restaurants in Chicago. Bavette's has it all: exceptional food, stunning design, and wonderful hospitality. The steak is phenomenal, but I also love the burger and the shortrib stroganoff. For dessert, order the chocolate cream pie.

Obelix
French
River North

Obelix offers weekend brunch in addition to weekday lunch and dinner. The $145 caviar sandwich, made with 2 ounces of caviar, 1 ounce of roe, cured egg yolk, and salt & vinegar chips, is currently a viral sensation. The dinner menu includes escargots, several preparations of duck, foie gras, and larger "pour la table" offerings such as beef wellington.

Le Colonial
French-Vietnamese
Gold Coast

Le Colonial is truly unique. It's one of Chicago's prettiest restaurants and the menu is unlike anything else in Chicago. This is a restaurant where you can't go wrong, I love the shaking beef.

Fioretta
Italian Steakhouse
West Loop

A grand steakhouse where Caesar salads are prepared table-side and large-format steaks are flaméed, Fioretta is perfect for a big night out with friends.

Ciccio Mio
Italian
River North

Hogsalt Hospitality's red-sauce Italian spot is a notoriously challenging reservation to score, but it's worth the effort. Feast on chicken parmesan, ricotta gnocchi, and braised short rib. This is an ideal restaurant for a romantic date night.

Nic & Junior's
Italian/Brazilian
River North

A newer addition to Chicago's restaurant scene, it's a 2026 semi-finalist for James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant. Nic & Juniors offers both a tasting menu and a more casual à la carte menu in the bar. The rigatoni vodka topped with stracciatella is something special.

Girl & the Goat
Globally-Inspired
West Loop

One could argue that this restaurant turned the West Loop in the culinary destination that it is today. A chef-selected prix fixe menu is available at the bar (reservations need to be made in advance). Highlights from the main menu include sautéed green beans, roast pig face, and sticky-glazed pork shank.

Mott St
Asian-American
Wicker Park

Mott St is one of my local favorites. The burger topped with shoestring sweet potatoes and contrasting sweet and spicy flavors is outstanding. I also love the fire chicken and the steak kalbi. For sides, order the oyster mushrooms with miso butter and the garlic rice, then mix the two together. Note: the burger is available at the bar all night and in the dining room until 7 pm. Mott St is also a great option for brunch.

Monteverde
Italian
West Loop

A warm, welcoming Italian restaurant where pasta is made in front of you. Monteverde can be a tough reservation at dinnertime, so you might want to go for lunch.

Armitage Alehouse
British/Tavern
Lincoln Park

A sister restaurant to Bavette's and Ciccio Mio, Armitage Alehouse is a swanky British pub serving curries, pot pies, and fish & chips. Make sure you save room for the sticky date cake.

Mirra
Mexican/Indian
Bucktown

Mirra offers a 7-course tasting menu at the chefs' counter and an à la carte menu that expertly blends Mexican and Indian flavors. Try menu items like quesadillas filled with roasted mushrooms and chettinad masala or lamb barbocoa biryani.

Perilla Steak
Korean Steakhouse
the Loop

While grilling meat and vegetables at your table is a big reason to visit this Korean steakhouse, make sure you explore the rest of the menu. I cannot stop thinking about the rice cake cacio e pepe. The Korean fried chicken, garlic chive pancake, and kimchi pork dumplings shouldn't be overlooked.

5 Rabanitos
Mexican
Pilsen and Hyde Park

5 Rabanitos specializes in authentic Mexican classics like pozole, carne asada, and enchiladas with mole, plus tacos, tortas, and sope.

Daisies
Midwest Italian
Logan Square

Daisies is known for serving pastas that combine Italian tradition and seasonal Midwest ingredients. The agnolotti with beets, smoked trout roe, and dill is a show-stopping, vibrant fuchsia. The fun menu and consistently great food make Daisies a date night go-to for Chicagoans.

Tre Dita
Italian Steakhouse
Lakeshore East

One of the hottest Chicago restaurants at the moment, Tre Dita is located inside the St. Regis with incredible views of Lake Michigan. The restaurant specializes in Tuscan cuisine, including handmade pastas and a variety of steaks. This is a place to go when you want to impress someone.

void
Italian
Avondale

void is the polar opposite to Tre Dita, and that is ok! I enjoy both! While Tre Dita is chic and trendy, a place to see and be seen, void is a charming neighborhood spot where the servers treat you like an old friend. I love void's playful menu. The Spaghetti Uh-O's, a gourmet take on the Spaghetti O's from childhood, are served straight out of a can. At void, seriously good food doesn't have to be serious.

Le Bouchon
French
Bucktown

A charming restaurant that makes diners feel like they have been transported to France. This is the spot for a romantic date night and a great steak frites. The French onion soup is one of Chicago's best.

Athenian Room
Greek
Lincoln Park

A family-owned restaurant that is still cash-only and doesn't take reservations. The Kalamata Chicken, served over thick Greek fries and drenched in a delicious, vinegary sauce, is incredible.

Lao Peng You
Chinese
West Town

The menu at Lao Peng You focuses on noodles and dumplings. Try beef and green onion dumplings, dan dan noodles, or a noodle soup.

Oiistar
Ramen
Wicker Park

A ramen spot on Milwaukee Avenue that serves classic Korean noodle and rice dishes, too. The ramen noodles are freshly made in-house and served in a rich creamy (dairy-free) broth. I also love the Kimchi Chow, a Korean beef and rice dish.

Fast Casual

These fast-casual counter-service restaurants prove that great food doesn't have to be fancy. These are some of the best Chicago restaurants for an affordable meal.

Birrieria Zaragoza
Mexican
Uptown

The original Archer Heights location is temporarily closed, but the Uptown location, next to the Green Mill, remains open. Birrieria Zaragoza is a family-owned Mexican restaurant specializing in goat birria. It is exceptional, and a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick.

J.P. Graziano
Italian Sandwiches
West Loop

Perhaps the most iconic sandwich shop in Chicago, J.P. Graziano opened in 1937. This is primarily a lunchtime spot, it is open from 11 am until 4pm, but a "late night" window is open on Thursday - Saturday nights. The menu focuses on subs made with cold cuts, but they periodically have an Italian beef special.

Tortello
Italian
Wicker Park

A counter service spot serving up some of the freshest and best pastas in Chicago. The restaurant's signature dish, tortelli, is filled with burrata and topped with butter, sage, and hazelnuts. Pasta, sauce, and pantry items are available if you want to cook at home.

D'Amatos
Italian Deli
West Town

The vodka chicken parm might get all the hype, but I love the chicken caesar cutlet sandwich. Want an insider's tip? You can order 3-foot-long subs in advance; it is one of my favorite ways to cater a party. Make sure to order some cannoli, too.

Omarcito's Latin Cafe
Latin American
Logan Square

Omarcito's is a counter-service walk-up window that offers outdoor seating. The menu focuses on sandwiches and plates with meats, rice, beans, and fried plantains. The jibarito is one of the best in Chicago.

Tortazo/Xoco
Mexican
River North

This pair of Rick Bayless restaurants, Tortazo in the Sears Tower and Xoco in River North, has very similar menus focused on Mexican street food. The crispy chicken milanesa and the corn poblano chowder are my go-to menu items.

Manny's Deli
Jewish Deli
University Village

A Chicago institution that opened in 1942, Manny's serves sandwiches and freshly-made bagels. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily (except Mondays). The most iconic menu item is the massive corned beef sandwich.

Phodega
Vietnamese
Wicker Park

The Viet Dip, Phodega's version of a Chicago-style Italian beef is considered one of Chicago's best sandwiches. You can't go wrong with the chicken and rice or the pho either.

Mindy's Bakery
Pastries
Wicker Park

Helmed by Mindy Segal, a James Beard winner for Outstanding Pastry Chef, this bakery is truly exceptional. Two bakes are offered: a morning bake focused on bagels and breakfast pastries, and a second bake with cakes, cookies, and bars. The quiche is fantastic, but I have always loved everything I have tried from Mindy's. The hot chocolate was recently named the best in the country.

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