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Where to Eat in Chicago: 49 Local Favorites

Published July 30, 2020•Updated March 30, 2024

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The famous Chicago dog and deep-dish pizza have earned their well-deserved spots in the Windy City’s culinary repertoire, but there’s much more to Chi-Town cuisine, from comforting soul food to mind-bending molecular gastronomy. We’ve rounded up some of the top spots for good eats in Chicago.

Note: Chicago has allowed restaurants to reopen to dine-in customers but at limited capacity due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some still may be closed or offering only takeout, delivery, or both. Be sure to contact the restaurant before visiting to confirm.

The Wieners Circle

This landmark in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood is as famous for its surly atmosphere as for its Char Dog, Char Cheddar Dog, and Char Polish. The rude, profane exchanges between patrons and employees are hilarious to the right kind of customer. The Wieners Circle has been featured on shows like “This American Life” and the Travel Channel’s “Extreme Fast Food.”

Spinning J

Located in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, Spinning J is a modern soda fountain and pie shop. The 1928 marble soda fountain, stools and brass foot rail were salvaged from a basement outside Milwaukee. Now customers can enjoy it once again in a cozy space with rich, warm brown and gold color scheme.

Rickettes World Famous Chicken, Fish and Barbecue

Despite the bold claim in the name, Rickettes is actually one of Chicago’s great hidden gems. Those in the know are so keen on learning the secrets of this barbecue joint that legend has it the owner hides the smoker so no one can see what kind he uses. The traditional barbecued meats can stack up against any in the Windy City, but if you can order only one thing, it absolutely must be the catfish.

Superdawg

It’s hard to miss Superdawg: If you don’t spot the smiling 12-foot anthropomorphic hot dogs on the roof, you’ll be drawn in by all the neon lights. This flashy old-school spot has been around since 1948. Order the namesake Superdawg, of course. It’s an all-beef hot dog on a poppy-seed bun, served with mustard, piccalilli, a dill pickle, chopped onions, and a hot pepper. It comes with crinkle-cut fries, served in a box to keep ’em hot and crispy.

The Bagelers Coffeehouse

Featuring kettle-boiled bagels, The Bagelers Coffeehouse is a smart combo of coffee and bagels. If you buy 11 bagels, the shop will throw in a 12th for free, and the cream cheese is homemade. The popular shop is a bit on the small side, so it’s no wonder reviewers recommend going during off-peak hours to get a table.

Mr. Beef on Orleans

The Italian beef sandwich is as important to Chicagoans as the Chicago hot dog. At Mr. Beef on Orleans, which has been around since 1979, they roast beef in Italian seasonings, slice it thinly, and let it get happy in its own juice while waiting to be eaten. Get your sandwich “dipped” if you want it completely soaked in delicious au jus, and opt for the spicy giardiniera peppers instead of the sweet roasted bell peppers. Check out the celebrity photos on the walls while you try not to drip on your shirt.

Portillo’s

Although Portillo’s has expanded into a chain, the original 1963 restaurant in Chicago’s Near North Side neighborhood is worth a pilgrimage for the atmosphere and the food, which devotees say is as good as ever. The Italian beef sandwich is beloved by almost everyone, and so are the Chicago-style hot dogs.

Lou Malnati’s

One of Zagat’s picks in a city packed with great pizzerias, Lou Malnati’s is among the best bets for an authentic Chicago deep-dish pizza. Homesick Chicagoans can get Lou’s pizzas shipped across the country. If you need something lighter to accompany the gut-busting pies, the Malnati salad is a hit too.

Manny’s

This family-run deli is a Chicago landmark that’s been in business more than 75 years. Favorites such as babka French toast and matzo brie rule the breakfast menu at Manny’s while lunch and dinner options range all the way from oxtail stew and fried smelts to tongue and mushrooms and baked whitefish, depending on the day.

Related: 30 Best Delis Across America

Bartoli’s Pizzeria

Regardless of the controversial origins of deep-dish pizza, and whether or not true Chicagoans enjoy it more than thin crust, it is a delicious regional meal that’s not to be missed. Choosing a place like Bartoli’s Pizzeria that offers the classic deep dish by the slice keeps the cost down.

Publican Quality Meats

Publican, chef Paul Kahan’s carnivore temple in the West Loop, is a fine stop in its own right, but this butcher-shop offshoot is a work of genius. The cafe at Publican Quality Meats serves sandwiches like Tom’s Silver Medal, which combines spicy capicola, lonza cotto, and ham with provolone, pickled peppers, piperade, and aioli on a hoagie roll. It doesn’t just aspire to be an Italian sub; it shows other subs how to be Italian.

Ronny’s Original Chicago Steak House

Ronny’s has been dishing out steaks at bargain prices since 1963. Monday through Friday the lunch special is an 8 oz. steak served with a baked potato, garlic bread, and a salad for $10. Dinner deals including a 10 oz. New York steak with sides for $15.

Del Seoul

Korean restaurant Del Seoul has a fusion menu of Korean barbecue tacos, sandwiches, and bento boxes, so it might be surprising to hear that you have to try the french fries. Big enough for sharing, the kimchi fries come with sautéed onions, pork belly, and kimchi, along with melted cheddar and jack cheese, scallions, and sour cream.

Gene’s Sausage Shop and Delicatessen

Gene’s Sausage Shop is a specialty market with cured and fresh meats, pickled products, and all sorts of other goodies. Head to the rooftop patio to enjoy a freshly grilled brat and a cold beer on one of the many picnic benches. Entrees cost about $8, a 16-ounce draft beer is about $6, and a 24-ounce canned beer (aka a “tall boy”) is about $4.

Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse

In the crowded Chicago steakhouse scene, Food & Wine singles out Gibson’s for its locally sourced cuts, aged for 40 days. The restaurant says it’s also the first group in the country with its very own USDA Prime certification. Diners also recommend the double-baked potato.

Chicago Waffles

At Chicago Waffles, you can order a cheddar waffle served with braised short ribs and topped with two eggs, cheddar cheese, and chives. Or try a take on the soul food classic, chicken and waffles — except this version features bacon, chicken tenders, and spicy syrup. Waffle lovers can also enjoy a “flight” of waffles, which includes red velvet, chocolate, liege, and green tea mini waffles topped with blackberries, strawberries, bananas, and hazelnut chocolate.

Giordano’s

Some people claim that Chicago deep-dish pizza isn’t really pizza at all; more like a casserole. But the thick layers of mozzarella, Italian sausage, and chunky tomato sauce are just plain delicious. The stuffed version from Giordano’s has a buttery, thick outer crust that’s chewier than other iterations. They’ll ship you a frozen 2-pack for $75.

Pequod’s

If you’re going to get deep dish pizza in Chicago, make sure you try Pequod’s, where the edges of the pies are crispy, caramelized cheese and toppings. The waits can be long and the ordering system a little confusing, but that’s just part of the experience.

Carnivale

Since 2005, Carnivale has built a reputation for serving delicious dishes that fuse flavors native to Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Chile. You might try the rum-cured salmon, Peruvian chicken, and Yucca gnocchi (each of which costs upward of $20). But Carnivale, located in Chicago’s West Loop, is perhaps better known for its festive atmosphere.

Alinea

Alinea is not a restaurant — “at least, not in a conventional sense,” according to its website. That didn’t stop it from making the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2019, or becoming the first Chicago restaurant to get three Michelin stars, in 2017. If you ask those who’ve paid $385 for a 12- to 16-course meal (the most expensive option), they might say dinner here is something like an interactive magic show. Decorative objects around the room turn out to be edible, waiters inflate taffy candy with helium, and diners are asked to tour the kitchen, only to find the dining room has transformed when they return.

Al’s Italian Beef

Al’s claims to have invented the Italian beef sandwich in 1938 at a little stand in the Little Italy neighborhood as a way to stretch expensive meat into a filling meal. The recipe hasn’t changed at all since then, and it’s still one of the best you can get. The giardiniera here has more red peppers in it than most, making the color distinct from other spots. Order a combo sandwich to add a grilled Italian sausage link to your beef.

Au Cheval

Bon Appétit calls everything on the menu “ridiculously delicious” but declares the burger the “holy grail.” Reviewers say it truly lives up to the hype, with juicy meat and a buttery bun that’s beyond reproach. Au Cheval also has other classics on its menu like a prime rib sandwich and fried chicken. Its crispy fries with mornay sauce, garlic aioli, and a fried farm egg are a reason to stop in too.

Aster Hall

Located on the fifth and sixth floors above a Michigan Avenue shopping mall, you may feel underdressed when you walk into the elegant Aster Hall. But don’t worry, as it’s a favorite spot to take a load off and relax. There are 16 vendors and a full bar that serves everything from sushi to Italian sub sandwiches. You can also grab a famed Au Cheval cheeseburger from Small Cheval without waiting in line for hours.

312 Chicago

For one of the best dog-friendly patios in Chicago, head to 312 Chicago. Leashed dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio of this Italian restaurant during the summer months, and those in the know head out midday on Saturdays and Sundays for “Waggin Weekends,” complete with a special “K9” menu. If your pup isn’t particularly hungry then he or she can skip the “mains” and head right for the “treats” such as a peanut-butter biscuit.

Juno

This celebrated sushi restaurant takes sliced raw fish to a new level, crafting mouthwatering bites of fresh fish that resemble works of art. Juno‘s signature smoked hamachi, which arrives under a glass dome filled with smoke, is an essential order, as is the Juno King with two bites of tuna wrapped around spicy King crab. For a full Omakase experience, check out partner restaurant Mako.

Taco & Burrito Express #3

A family-run business known for its fresh ingredients and friendly service, Taco & Burrito Express #3 is “possibly the best Mexican food in Chicago,” according to one Yelp reviewer. The masses seem to concur. A few naysayers judge every burrito they eat by the standard of the burrito mecca of the San Francisco Mission District, but even the burrito snobs gave the place 4 stars because Taco & Burrito Express is so superior to the regional options. Takeout is available too.

Big & Little’s

Forget ketchup and mustard — at Big & Little’s, try spicy Thai sauce, Samurai sauce, chili aoli, or sweet and spicy chili sauce. But you can still order a classic burger with the usual condiments if you prefer.

Gene and Jude’s

In this Windy City suburb, Gene and Jude’s makes the bare essentials — hot dogs and fries — and makes them well. A dog with fries costs less than $3 while a double dog with fries is less than $4, and comes with a choice of mustard, relish, onions, and sport peppers. But don’t bother looking for ketchup. As is Chicago’s tradition when it comes to hot dogs, Gene and Jude’s doesn’t offer it — and hasn’t since opening more than 60 years ago.

3 Arts Club Cafe

It’s inside a massive, museum-like Restoration Hardware store, but don’t let that dissuade you: 3 Arts Club Café is a stunner. A dazzling chandelier, soaring glass ceiling, interior fountain and brick arches make for a grand place to snack on a doughnut, chow down on a sandwich, or grab a glass of wine.

Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits

All you need to know is in the name: Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits in Chicago makes pie and biscuits that’ll make your head explode (in a good way). A line of patrons out front is almost a guarantee, but it’ll move quickly so you can load up with a biscuit sandwich with candied bacon, a side of cheesy grits, iced coffee on tap, and, naturally, a perfectly crusted piece of pie such as chocolate pecan. If the weather permits, snag a spot on the outdoor patio to dig in.

Birria Zaragoza

Andrew Zimmern of the Travel Channel said that the locally raised goat meat he ate at Birria Zaragoza is “one of the best pieces of goat I’ve eaten domestically.” This tiny family-run Mexican spot specializes in oven-roasted goat in tacos, quesadillas, and its house-made tomato and garlic broth.

Branko’s Sandwich Shop

Yelp reviewers praise Branko’s Sandwich Shop for great food and even better service. Customers like the tiny shop’s “family feel,” and DePaul University students who forget their wallets say the cash-only establishment has let them pay the next time they drop in. Most sandwiches are under $8.

Bruna’s Ristorante

Stepping into Bruna’s Ristorante, the third-oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago, is like an enchanting — and hunger-inducing — time warp: The place is known for its stuffed shells (with extra sauce), cheesy lasagna, and a Sunday Supper during which the legendary roast chicken is on the menu.

Daley’s Restaurant

One of Chicago’s best greasy spoons, according to Eater Chicago, Daley’s serves old-school favorites like patty melts, steer’s liver, and roast turkey breast, plus a dizzying list of daily specials. The famed eatery moved to a new location across the street from its previous site this year. Reviewers recommend starting (or ending) your day with the can’t-miss chicken and waffles.

Geja’s Café

Here’s the ultimate place to hole up with someone special and forget the rest of the world. Geja’s Café offers drapery-framed booths, exquisite hanging lanterns, an outdoor fire pit, and rows of wine bottles framing the windows. Classical guitarists put the ambience over the top as you dig into an indulgent menu of fondue that’s all about retro romance.

Half Shell

In the same location since 1968, this neighborhood haunt is known for its king crab legs, jumbo shrimp, and fried catfish. Don’t be scared off by the landlocked location — some reviewers call the king crab the best they’ve had anywhere.

Handlebar

This vegetarian restaurant’s veggie burger, the Handlesmash, is so special it’s only available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The burger features two homemade black bean patties with cheddar or vegan cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, pickles, and special sauce on a brioche bun.

Hollywood Grill

Like many iconic diners, Chicago’s Hollywood Grill, “born in 1995,” slings classic breakfast foods — from buttermilk pancakes, extra-thick French toast, and sizzling bacon right off the griddle to corned beef hash skillets and Southern smothered biscuit platters — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The retro spot also dishes up anything else you might be craving that morning.

Illinois Bar & Grill

At Illinois Bar & Grill, they don’t fool around: The Famous Chicago burger weighs in at 13 ounces of beef, and the patty goes on a scale each time. It comes with two slices of cheese and condiments, but you might as well gild the lily and get the blanket of bacon as well.

Lem’s Bar-B-Q

Head to the south side of Chicago for a regional classic. Lem’s has been fueling the area’s love of rib tips and hot links since it opened in 1954. Buy the tips by the bucket to feed a crowd and order extra bright red barbecue sauce on the side. Both the tips and links are so popular you can order them in a combo and satisfy both cravings at once.

Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant & Bakery

More a diner than restaurant or bakery, Lou Mitchell’s will make just about anything you order (there are three Benedicts and six breakfast meats on the menu), but the pecan and bacon waffle hits the right balance of sweet and savory. Also, if you ever find yourself waiting in line for brunch here, you’ll do so with a complimentary cup of coffee and some free doughnut bites.

Related: Best Brunch in Every State

Nookies

Nookies started out in 1973 as “Nookies Snack Shop” in Chicago’s Old Town. Now there are four locations. Still family-owned, Nookies is known for its old-school diner vibe and breakfast standbys. Reviewers appreciate that it’s BYOB and wax poetic about having visited decades ago with family members. The portions are also “crazy big” and the crepes, with your choice of cinnamon apple or berry filling plus sweet cream cheese, are a house specialty.

Punch House

Punch House specializes in creative renditions of its namesake fruit-based party drink, but the food is a big part of the appeal as well. A $25 pot of fondue, a boudin sausage sandwich, and smoked lamb ribs are just a few of the notable items on the limited menu. Unsurprisingly, nobody in the neighborhood wants the word out on this gem.

Red Apple Buffet

This Chicago mainstay features traditional Polish foods done mouth-wateringly well, and in massive quantities. You’ll find schnitzel, kielbasa, tons of pierogi, potato pancakes, cheese blintzes, sauerkraut, potato dumplings, traditional salads, and so much more. You can make reservations — rare at a buffet — and they also do carryout and catering.

Tavern on Rush

Tavern on Rush boasts an eclectic farm-to-table steakhouse menu and is a hotspot where A-Rod and J-Lo have been known to eat. So have sports stars like Ric Flair, Cincinnati Reds baseball star Billy Hamilton, ESPN star Michael Wilbon, and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Pro tip: While pricey, it’s slightly cheaper during brunch or at the bar.

The Fifty/50

Any sports bar in Chicago can get people in to stare at a Blackhawks or Bulls game, drink Goose Island, and stick around for the DJ set. The Fifty/50 built a 13-restaurant group on the belief that better food leads to a better time for everybody. This three-story sports bar boasts some of the best wings in Chicago. The Buffalo sauce ages three months and takes on a hint of honey, while the hormone-free wings’ breading is composed of whole-wheat flour, cracker meal, and a custom spice mix. The Applewood Smoked wings are brined in maple and cinnamon and served with maple-bourbon barbecue glaze or sweet chili cilantro.

Topolobampo

Celebrity chef Rick Bayless’ high-end Topolobampo has been singled out for a James Beard Foundation award and a Michelin star. Zagat says the dishes are “wildly inventive,” and the service is top-notch. Diners recommend the carne asada with Oaxacan black mole, a lunch-menu staple.

Vinnie’s Sub Shop

Nothing fancy, Vinnie’s is a landmark with low prices. Order the Vinnie’s Special sandwich, which is just over $8 and filled with fresh shaved ham, hard salami, provolone, and Vinnie’s in-house special oil dressing on a 9-inch sesame bun. A footlong version is less than $10.

Antique Taco

Antique Taco has plenty to offer Chicago-area taco aficionados. Their menu is short, but unique ingredients include curry, pickled jalapeños, and sriracha tartar sauce. While the prices may seem steep — starting at $4.25 — fans say the flavor is worth the price.