My Personal Best-Of Chicago Restaurant List
I will start by admitting my bias towards Chicago - I grew up in the suburbs and have spent most of my young adult life (20s & early 30s) living downtown for the last decade. However, I have read and heard other concurring opinions that Chicago is a ‘foodie’ heaven with many delicious restaurants covering a plethora of ethnic cuisines. The quality of the food you can find at (mostly) reasonable prices is unmatched by other major cities in the US in my opinion.
The following list is my collection of top restaurants in Chicago that I have eaten at. It is not meant to be THE definitive list of restaurants, but places that I am very happy going back to again and again. These are also the places that I take my out-of-town friends to because I want to show them some of the best-of Chicago.
Please consider giving these restaurants your business if you are in the city and enjoy the wonderful food of the city. Pass me any recommendations you have where I should expand the list!
Lakeview / Lincoln Park
3 Arts Club at Restoration Hardware
Located in a beautiful atrium and historic building, 3 Arts Club is a wonderful “catch-up with friends” spot that is simultaneously relaxed while feeling upscale. The food menu is pretty straightforward and nothing complex, but a very solid burger, salads, fries, and other staples. You can also find very decent wines by the glass and good cocktails.
The Bagelers Coffeehouse
This coffee shop has my favorite bagel + lox sandwich. The everything bagel is the right amount of chewiness and the lox is of good quality. They get all the right toppings, especially pickled red onion which take it the last mile.
Crisp
One of my local favorites near my house, so I am often ordering weekly take-out from here. Their vibrant local character shines through every bite — generous portions on the orders, house sauces that earn their hype, and a friendly vibe that keeps you coming back.
Galit
Proving that you don’t need to be located in the West Loop to have high-quality dining, Galit brings highly-rated and Michelin star food to Lincoln Park (not the only Michelin-starred restaurant in LP either). The Israeli cuisine is done really well here, and I almost always start the meal off with their warmed, freshly-baked pita and dips (hummus and baba ghanoush are my go-tos). The dishes are very shareable and the meal works really well around seatings of 4 people.
John’s Food & Wine
Their menu is very solid and the wine selection has both great breadth and depth, but what draws me to this restaurant each time is the atmosphere - especially sitting at the bar. This is a great place to do the Chicago-style “first-come” bar seating at hard-to-get reservation spots. You can have a good glass of wine or cocktail while waiting.
Sochi Saigonese
A great bowl of pho located in the popular Southport neighborhood. The bright, inviting atmosphere and warm, attentive service make it a perfect spot for casual dinners or celebratory nights out. The spicy margarita is also quite good and I recommend!
Yellowtail Sushi
Chicago has had a surge in omakase-style sushi spots that are great, but if you want something more low-key then Yellowtail is a great choice. Their prices have risen fast recently, but they do have good quality fish and creative rolls. It’s BYOB with a liquor store nearby for easy pick-ups of Sapporo or Sake to enjoy with dinner.
West Loop / West Town
Duck Duck Goat
It has been a long while since I last ate at Duck Duck, but that is not for want of their delicious food. They take many Chinese and Chinese-American dishes and take them up to the next level - anything on the menu with ‘duck’ in it will be a 10/10. I have yet to do their weekend dim sum menu, but it is high on my list of place to try next.
Gaijin
I have immense respect for the chefs who took Okonomiyaki, Japanese street food, and brought it successfully to the Chicago neighborhood full of high-end, fancy restaurants. This place is especially great in the winter because you can be seated in front of the grill where they cook the Okonomiyaki and have a great show and warmth. The drinks menu also pulls in the vibe from casual Japanese eateries, with many highball variations, sake, and a lemon seltzer.
HaiSous
TBD
Lao Peng You
Is happiness just a bowl of noodles and dumplings? Usually I believe there are complex or layered answers to happiness, but when I eat at Lao Peng You the answer becomes yes. The warm broth, just-right level of spiciness, and delicious pork dumplings always leave me feeling better. It can fill up quickly inside, but they also do very easy take-out.
The Loyalist
I’ll be honest, I have yet to come here and not order the burger. But it’s a fantastic burger. 10/10. Maybe the best in the city, but I’ll let everyone decide the final top 3 for their own personal preferences. I hear their French food is also great and maybe one day I’ll try out the rest of their menu. It’s a cozy basement and has highly skilled bartenders that are way above what a typical gastropub has.
Maxwell’s trading
I’m not sure there is a simple term that can capture what type of cuisine Maxwell’s serves. It is part contemporary American, part Asian-fusion, part Mediterranean influenced, and more. They use ingredients and produce grown on-site at the roof and the chef’s team does a great job bringing out the best flavors in their ingredients. I am also a sucker for the long bar set-up and easy walk-in date-night.
Momotaro & The Izakaya
You will pay an arm and a leg for a meal at Momotaro, but they do some of the best work at sourcing high-quality, fresh fish and preparing it excellently. The Izakaya is downstairs and more laid back with a Japanese pub-style menu. Try the burger - it is a fun take on the classic double patty with a bao bun. The decoration is also retro with neon lights, street signs, and a large central bar that has plenty of seating for walk-ins.
Monteverdi
The hardest reservation to get in Chicago. No joke - it is nearly impossible to get a reservation, but that is for a good reason. It is the best Italian food in Chicago, hands down. The interior atmosphere is also very very charming with a full balsamic batteria of seven barrels. I highly recommend the gnocci con pesto or the cacio whey pepe pastas.
Smyth
I ate at the Smyth back in 2018 when it only had 2 Michelin stars. I am not surprised they crossed the threshold to 3-stars because the quality of their food, quality of their service, and the atmosphere of the interior was very high. They had a great course of food and each plate was delivered with immense creativity, but I didn’t feel like it was trying to be more than it was. No unnecessary foams or scientific experiments, just really really well prepared food done in creative and artistic styles.
Rose Mary
As soon as it launched, Rose Mary became very well known and accoladed. Their Croatian-Italian menu is very enjoyable to explore and I have yet to have a bad dish there. The restaurant also has plenty of outdoor seating for those amazing Chicago summers and a vibrant interior with a clear view of the chefs in an open hearth kitchen that makes you feel close to the action.
Logan Square / Wicker Park
Akahoshi Ramen
This has taken my top spot for best ramen in the city. I’m astonished by the complexity and depth of flavors they are able to achieve. I’ve had well over a dozen different ramen shops in Japan, including a couple of the Michelin starred ones, and Akahoshi reaches those same heights. Bring a friend or many friends, but plan further out in advance to get reservations. Word has definitely spread about this spot.
Cellar Door Provisions
There is a great vibe to CDP. It has creative food with great presentation but without being pretentious. If you are curious to hear more about their menu or natural wines, the wait staff and kitchen staff (if you are at the bar near the chefs) will be more than glad to chat with you because they clearly have a passion for food and hospitality. If I lived in the neighborhood, I could see how being a regular would be really exciting; however, best for my wallet that I am not.
Daisies
There are two sides of Daisies I have come to really appreciate. First, the dinner has a great menu with really good pastas and a lot of great cocktails. Second, and more surprising, the lunchtime cafe is a wonderful place to drop by and work - they have a great Caesar wrap, coffee, and lots of tables with outlets where I can enjoy working on my laptop. All around a great neighborhood spot to have.
Le Bouchon
Generally, when I think of French food I think of white table cloths and high-brow service; however, what I love most about Le Bouchon is its down-to-earth feel. You walk in and it feels like a local bistrot in France. The tables are small and close to each other, the wait staff and constantly hustling by, and there is a persistent murmur of pleased conversation and music. The food is reliably fantastic and I must order the steamed mussels every time so that I can ladle up the sauce.
Leavitt St Inn & Tavern
At the end of a very residential street sits an unassuming corner tavern. Lights and noise will emanate from the evening as it always seems quite full of people. In the summer and winter, patrons can enjoy sitting outside on the patio or open-air with fire pits. They are known for a great burger and fries, and they deliver very well not that promise. The beer menu is deep and has a good variety for most anyone to find something they like. A great post-work on Friday kind of spot.
Lula Cafe
In all honesty, I have only done breakfast and brunch at Lula cafe. Both of those were highlights to me and it remains a top spot I will direct people to go to for a good brunch. However, I have also come to hear great things about their dinner service and now have it on my list to go back and try out the rest of the experience. A staple of the Logan Square scene since 1999, Lula Cafe is well-known and a prized institution of the neighborhood.
Ramen Wasabi
This was my OG favorite ramen spot in Chicago for many years. Their ramen was deeply flavorful and they made the breadth of varieties you could find across regions in Japan. I love the classic Tonnkotsu, but many friends of mine say the Hakata Red is a highlight. Additionally, if you were feeling very hungry you could add some great bao buns and/or crispy Brussels sprouts at the start of the meal to share.
Uptown / Lincoln Square
Cho Sun Ok
My go-to Korean BBQ spot in the city. It’s high quality meat, good service, and very enjoyable with medium sized groups of 4-6. Whenever I eat here, I always go well past harahachibu (eating to 80% full). The kimchi fried rice in the pot after all the meat has cooked and left their juices is a must.
Del Sur
This bakery sprung up in 2025 and immediately after opening had long lines out of its door every morning. Its fast fame was well deserved because the team has true creative genius in pastry design - making bold fusion of Filipino flavors and French pastries. Their marketing and social media is also top-notch with their instagram highlighting the story behind the cafe and the thoughtful designs and processes that went into the business. I highly recommend tackling the line (which moves quickly) and enjoying as many of the pastries as you can eat!
Lost Larson (Andersonville)
Another addition to the list of great bakeries in Chicago. Every time I am at their display case I want to order 6-7 items, but have to force myself down to only a couple. A lot of their pastries have a gentle amount of cardamom added to them, which I love. If you are trying to find a bakery that splits as a co-working space, this is not a great choice. They have very limited seating/outlets, and lack WiFi. Best as a grab-and-go spot or to hang in their back patio with friends on a warm, sunny day.
Sun Wah
Great spot for large groups and last-minute reservations. I’m a sucker for any family-style dinner meal, so the communal lazy-Susan tables make for a great vibe. The Peking Duck is their most well-known and my recommended dish to get every time. Add a fried rice, noodle, or something else on the side, but everyone will leave happy having the full duck meal - it’s crispy, perfectly cooked, comes with super soft bao and wonderful fillings, and at the end you get a great soup made from the bones.
Chinatown / South Side
Chiu Quon Bakery
There are two locations with the primary, larger one being in Chinatown; however, the second one is at the Argyle red line stop and I’ll sometimes go there for convenience. This is a wonderful no-fuss, classic Chinese bakery. It reminds me of the ones I used to frequent in Hong Kong, and every time I eat their melon pan bun I am transported back there.
MingHin
Dim Sum is one of my favorite types of meals. I could eat this every morning for breakfast and never get sick of the dishes. MingHin has one of the best dim sum meals in Chicago. It does the classics very well and adds in a few of their own.
Qing Xiang Yuan (aka. QXY) Dumplings
I lived in Taiwan for a time and for one dinner at Din Tai Fung, the chain now world-famous for their soup dumpling, I ordered 40-50 soup dumplings. The wait staff looks concerned and switched to English to ask me if I was sure I wanted that many dumplings. I said yes and had a great meal and ate every one. I would gladly repeat that meal at QXY in Chicago because their soup dumplings were equally as delicious and also deserve to be world-famous.
LiuYiShou Hot Pot
Chicago and hot pot are a combination that just makes good sense. Warm, flavorful, and spicy broths with tons of meat and veggies to dip in paired with cold, snowy, and harsh winds of the Chicago city. I’ll gladly take that! Liuyishou is also one of the better hot pot locations in the city. They have great breadth on the menu, the quality of the meat is good, and the staff keep the place looking clean and organized (my biggest hot pot complaint is when the communal sauce area is a mess). The presentation of everything brought to the table is fun and it is great for groups celebrating a birthday or event.