Must-see restaurants in Illinois

  • Furious Spoon

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Perch yourself at the long, high wooden tables and delve into a giant bowl of ramen, made with vegetable, chicken, pork or spicy beef broth and stuffed…

  • Big Star

    Chicago

    Wicker Park favorite Big Star branched out into the Wrigleyville madness with this two-story restaurant across from the ballpark. While it's not quite on…

  • Beatrix

    Chicago

    Beatrix buzzes with business types, ladies who lunch and tourists staying at the attached hotel. Light-wood tables and mason jars full of seeds form the…

  • Upton's Breakroom

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    This spartan cafe attached to the headquarters of mock-meat magicians Upton's Naturals offers sandwiches, salads, sides and more that feature the company…

  • Taco Diablo

    Illinois

    This gourmet taqueria is part of a three-for-one project that includes Lulu's (Asian fusion) and Five & Dime (pub grub and a wildly popular rooftop bar in…

  • Spacca Napoli

    Chicago

    You might walk by this plain-looking restaurant and wonder why so many families, older couples and millennials are thronging it. The answer: Neapolitan…

  • Kitchen Chicago

    Chicago

    This space right on the river is a knockout: an airy room of exposed concrete, glittery chandeliers and chunky wood tables with water views. The motto is …

  • Eleven City Diner

    Chicago

    Plates groan under massive portions of Jewish-diner meals while subway tiles and giant menu signs evoke the spirit of a classic New York deli. There's all…

  • Carver 47 Juice & Experiment Bar

    Chicago

    Located in the Little Black Pearl arts center, this plant-adorned, farmhouse-chic cafe nourishes the spirit with buttermilk biscuits for breakfast and…

  • Yvolina's Tamales

    Chicago

    This small storefront makes more than 30 types of tamales, including many in atypical, vegetarian flavors such as quinoa and lentil, eggplant and cheese,…

  • Roots

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    This purveyor of Quad Cities–style pizza (distinguished by a malty-crust pie snipped into thin strips) encourages guests of all ages to let their hair…

  • Milk & Honey

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    A bright, stylish cafe, Milk & Honey has become the hangout du jour for discerning neighborhood socialites. Waffles and pancakes in different flavors …

  • Chilam Balam

    Chicago

    The chef is only in her 20s, but she has already apprenticed under Rick Bayless and brought his ‘farm to table’ philosophy to this vibrant brick-and…

  • French Market

    Chicago

    Located in the Ogilvie train station just west of the Loop, this sprawling Euro-style food hall has stalls offering Belgian fries, Montreal-style smoked…

  • Mike Ditka’s Restaurant

    Chicago

    When it’s too cold for a tailgate party, come to this spot in the Tremont Hotel owned by the famously cantankerous former coach of the Chicago Bears (who…

  • Veggie Grill

    Chicago

    Vegheads don't have to miss out on the Chicago food experience – this 100%-plant-based fast-casual restaurant rocks the mock meat with a wide-ranging menu…

  • Tango Sur

    Chicago

    This candlelit BYOB Argentine steakhouse makes an idyllic date location, serving classic skirt steaks and other tender grass-fed options. In addition to…

  • Chubby Wieners

    Chicago

    This hot-dog joint beside the L track has a sign that's launched a thousand Instagram posts. Take the requisite photos while you wait for your Chubby Dog,…

  • Bourgeois Pig

    Chicago

    An old-style cafe, with creaking wooden tables and chairs set throughout several rambling rooms of a large old house; antique cameras and kitchen…

  • Cafe Iberico

    Chicago

    Iberico’s creative tapas burst with flavor. Among the standouts: salpicon de marisco (seafood salad with shrimp, octopus and squid), croquetas de pollo …

  • Gene & Georgetti

    Chicago

    For once, a place touting itself as one of Frank Sinatra’s favorite restaurants can back it up – a fact evidenced in the framed pic of Ol’ Blue Eyes by…

  • Wheat’s End

    Chicago

    The entire menu at this sunny, modern space is 100% gluten-free. Breakfast dishes are the specialty, including thick stacks of pancakes, honey-butter…

  • Wieners Circle

    Chicago

    As famous for its unruly, foul-mouthed ambience as for its charred hot dogs and cheddar fries, the Wieners Circle is a normal hot-dog stand – with damn…

  • Dimo's Pizza

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    This late-night Wicker Park standby serves up slices and pies of thin-crust pizza with both standard and inventive toppings: macaroni and cheese, chicken…

  • Chez Joel

    Chicago

    Whether you’re dining outside under the oak tree or tucked in a cozy corner inside, the atmosphere and exceptional French fare make Chez Joel a romantic…

  • Green Door Tavern

    Chicago

    The Green Door, tucked in an 1872 building, is your place to mingle with locals over a beer and well-made burger amid old photos and memorabilia. During…

  • Trattoria No 10

    Chicago

    This clubby bistro is just steps from the Loop theater district and fills up fast with ticket-holders. The seasonal menu provides exceptionally flavorful…

  • Hai Yen

    Chicago

    Many dishes at this warm Argyle St eatery require some assembly, pairing shrimp, beef or squid with rice crepes, mint, Thai basil and lettuce. For an…

  • Chicago Chop House

    Chicago

    This comfortable, upscale steakhouse does Chicago proud. Expect perfectly cured meats hand-cut on-site and an atmosphere befitting the city’s famous…

  • Chiu Quon Bakery & Dim Sum

    Chicago

    For a cheap à la carte lunch in Chinatown, this bright bakery has fluffy BBQ pork buns, bite-sized egg custard tarts, coconut and winter melon pastries…

  • Andy's Thai Kitchen

    Chicago

    Little Andy's earns big praise from foodies who swoon over the authentic Thai menu. Andy's not afraid to use organ parts in his dishes, or to atomically…

  • Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

    Chicago

    At this long-standing, delightfully ersatz tapas joint, the garlic-laced menu changes often but always includes hot or cold small plates of vegetables and…

  • Twin Anchors

    Chicago

    Twin Anchors is synonymous with ribs – smoky, tangy-sauced baby backs in this case. The meat drops from the ribs as soon as you lift them. The restaurant…

  • Yoshi’s Cafe

    Chicago

    Yoshi's is one of the most innovative casual places in town, known for its changing Japanese- and French-flared menu and gracious standards during the…

  • Artopolis Bakery & Cafe

    Chicago

    Artopolis is one of the city’s top bakeries – many of the nearby Randolph St restaurants get their bread here, and locals often pop in to ogle the…

  • Al’s #1 Italian Beef

    Chicago

    Piled high with savory beef that soaks through the thick bun, Al's sandwich is one of Chicago's culinary hallmarks. This is the original location of the…

  • Takito Kitchen

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Found along the hip run of bars and restaurants on Division St, Takito Kitchen has a menu of tasty new twists on Mexican food that's 100% gluten-free…

  • Sabri Nihari

    Chicago

    Fresh, fresh meat and vegetable dishes, distinctly seasoned, set this Pakistani place apart from its competitors on Devon. Try the ‘frontier’ chicken,…

  • Alliance Bakery

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Pick from assorted flavors of macaroons, red velvet cupcakes and other creamy-frosted goodies in the bakery, then take them to the ‘lounge’ next door (or…

  • 3 Greens Market

    Chicago

    Neighborbood professionals swarm this place to refuel while typing away on their laptops. The big tables and comfy chairs are part of the appeal. So are…

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