The best restaurants Chicago

One of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago. Riccardo Trattoria sets our plates on fire with his polpettine arrabiate (meatballs), carpaccio, minestrone, tortelloni, gnocchi, ravioli... The list is extensive and mouth-watering. The cuisine served in this restaurant is authentically Italian, like the man who founded it, so you won't find carbonara pasta with cream or any other hybrid on the menu. The waiters know the menu inside out and will be able to advise you on how to choose the wine. An excellent address.

Set in the heart of Lincoln Park (the park along the lake), in an Art Deco building, this restaurant cultivates a rather bourgeois atmosphere. We go there to celebrate a special occasion, in an almost bucolic atmosphere. The menu is undeniably American, in the best sense of the word: ingredients. Every piece of meat, every ear of corn or potato comes from a nearby farm in Wisconsin, Minnesota or Illinois. Discover rabbit with rhubarb and halibut with cucumber.

The ideal break for a fresh and organic sandwich, with the best local ingredients. The pretzel bread is prepared on the spot and garnished with all kinds of sauces and cheeses (including goat's cheese with truffle). Turkey, cranberry jam and brie are among the house specialities. There are a total of eight addresses in Chicago, all of which are taken over by business people at lunchtime during the week. And to accompany your coffee or tea, you'll have a choice of excellent cookies, brownies or apple bread.

An excellent Japanese restaurant, which serves ultra-fresh sushi and maki - the rainbow roll is magical - but also a wide variety of hot dishes, such as curries, noodles and especially teppanyaki - assortments of Japanese specialities that are cooked on the hot plate facing the guests. Carried out by the chef, this stone baking is deliberately spectacular. The restaurant's decoration is rather modern and lounge, and you can sit in front of the cooks in action. Too bad the service is a little cold.

A fun Tex-Mex restaurant serving burgers and tacos in a fiery atmosphere. We like this establishment for its crazy atmosphere and its cool terrace. Weekdays through Thursdays, you can enjoy Happy Hours from 4pm to 6pm. But it's particularly in the evenings that the place really comes into its own and becomes a meeting place. Spirits run high, buoyed by the famous DS tequila that should have you rolling under the table. What's more, each day has its own theme. On Tuesday, for example, it's $0.75 a chicken wing.

Located in a historic building designed by architect Daniel Burnham in 1907 and recently restored, Revival Food Hall is ideal for a lunch break between two visits to the Loop. This space of more than 200 ^m2 includes about fifteen stands of varied food (Mexican, Hawaiian, Italian, Asian) from the city's most popular restaurants. Smoked meat sandwich with barbecue sauce at BBQ Smoque, tasty tacos at Antique Taco, cookies at Mindy's Hot Chocolate Bakery... Fast and cheap, food is worth a visit.

Macau and Asian fusion cuisine with Portuguese and African influences. This trendy eatery is always full, so reservations are recommended. The clientele, like the staff, is young and arty. The cuisine is original, often spicy, with unexpected but always delicious blends of flavors, such as the live-fire charcoal grilled chicken, the restaurant's signature dish. Fat Rice is the English translation of the Portuguese Arroz Gordo, a festive Macau dish, a sort of Asian version of paella. Most dishes are cooked in peanut oil.

If you feel a little hungry at night, stop by Wiener Circle! Ask for the Charred Chicago Hot Dog that is not on the map. The sausage in its roll is covered with green peppers, peppered tomatoes, mustard, pickle and onion. It is a specialty that can only be found in Chicago. This small fast food is a real institution in Chicago, known for its kitschy atmosphere. If you go late at night, ask the waitress for the chocolate milkshake and a surprise will be waiting for you. We don't tell you any more....

Vincent is first and foremost a restaurant with an excellent wine list and serves platters of local cheeses for aperitifs. It is also the favourite place for young couples from the neighbourhood to dine. This charming neighbourhood bistro is located in a small, discreet street perpendicular to North Clark Street. Its cuisine is American with European influences. We like the simplicity of the dishes and the generous cuisine. Cheese platters are a must but also try duck confit or steak with shallots and mushrooms for example.

Chicago's golden youth is found at Sunda, a restaurant whose Asian fusion cuisine is attracting attention. Japanese (sushi), Chinese (dim sum), Thai (pad thai) are the influences of this long card proposed by Sunda. Although a little noisy, we love the atmosphere and the original and tasty cuisine. Enjoy the happy hours from Monday to Friday from 4pm to 6pm for delicious dim sum and cocktails at unbeatable prices. It should be noted that the restaurant offers gluten-free and vegan menus.

This Italian restaurant has as its first strong point its decoration which is very chic. Then, its dishes, although basic, are tasty, and you can enjoy very good pasta and risottos in particular. For large appetites, it is preferable to start your meal with an antipasti. The bruschetta tomatoes/ricotta are worth a visit, for example. Note that this restaurant belongs to the same owner as Francesca's On Taylor, on the Near West Side, and Mia Francesca in Lakeview, the first address of the franchise that opened in 2009.

Pasta Bowl has 3 restaurants in Chicago, including the one in Wicker Park. With no pretensions to being a gourmet place, you come here to eat a good plate of pasta, quite simply. Big eaters beware: the dishes are served in gigantic portions. It's served in a very Italian-American style, with a very good tomato sauce with a hint of ketchup! The pasta dishes are up to the task, albeit quickly filling. The decor is nothing extraordinary, but the friendliness of the staff and the good-natured atmosphere do the rest.

In the Lake View district, this restaurant, with its pub atmosphere, good-natured atmosphere and dimmed lights, hides its game well because it is also a good gastro table that has even been rewarded with a gourmet Bib from the Michelin guide. You can enjoy small dishes that come in the form of elaborate but consistent tapas. Everything is based on seasonal, organic and fresh ingredients. The menu changes regularly but when we were here, the pork shoulder and mushroom pasta were a delight. A sure bet for your taste buds!

The poke bowl (pronounced "poké") is a culinary specialty that comes straight from Hawaii and has conquered the rest of the United States, including Chicago. The principle: a bowl, rice, ultra fresh raw fish and a few ingredients to suit everyone's taste. Traditionally, poke is made from raw tuna, green onion, soy sauce and sesame seeds. Here you can choose the specialities of the house or compose your own poke. It's excellent and it's a little different from the usual American food!

Here, the seasons dictate the menu and the ingredients are of local origin. The dishes highlight the product that is sublimated, whether it is a beautiful piece of meat or a simple vegetable. As a starter, the mimosa eggs, which are revisited almost every day, are to be enjoyed. Behind the stove is Chief Art Smith, well known in Chicago for his many television appearances. Her culinary talents were honoured by Oprah Winfrey, who offered herself as a private chef for about ten years.

This Italian restaurant, opened in 2010, brings a family and tasty cuisine up to date. Seafood, pasta, polenta are simply but carefully served with a wide choice of Italian wines. Far from the cliché of the Italian gargot with red and white checkered tablecloths, Due Lire offers its customers a more trendy setting, with its dark and glossy wooden tables, its shiny zinc and its works of art hanging on the wall. The terrace, decorated with pretty round tables and plants, is appreciable. Not bad at all.

Emperor's Choice is an institution in Chinatown that has been operating in the area for twenty years. It is particularly popular for its seafood products, such as fish of the day, sautéed shrimp, prawns simply salted and peppered, or lobster (rather cheap). We're going in with our eyes closed. The dishes are copious, you will leave with a full stomach. The vast room is quite impersonal, but very quickly, the large round tables are filled with plates full of food and the place immediately becomes much warmer!

It's a temple to French gastronomy in the heart of Chicago. Given the name, it's hard to go wrong, although we regret the absence of wild boar on the menu! The choice of products from all over France is meticulous: a centuries-old cider from Normandy, a sweet Catalan wine - Banyuls. The dishes are equally delightful: snails in sauce, an exquisite duck salad... and the many varieties of oysters on the menu! Founded by the owners of Le Bouchon, this address aims to experiment and break out of traditional moulds.

In an elegantly decorated room with beautiful hanging chandeliers, you can enjoy good French cuisine prepared by an experienced French chef. Among the classic dishes: duck confit, mussels and French fries, scallops, foie gras, filet mignon, snails... In short, the dishes are varied and typically French. Here is something to delight the amateurs even if it is a little more expensive than in France. Little surprise: at the end of the week, in the basement, a hidden bar with a baroque look awaits those who are in a festive mood after the meal.

A restaurant chain that we like very much because it offers good Italian dishes at reasonable prices. Equipped with a magnetic card that records your order and allows you to pay when you leave, all you have to do is choose what you like from the different stations (pizzas, pasta, salads). The concept, quite original, will allow you to make a complete meal without spending an hour at the table. Another advantage is that the dishes are much cheaper than in most Italian restaurants. Good, fast and pleasant

Greek Islands is one of the most popular restaurants around the Greek Quarter thanks to its light cuisine, served in seven large rooms with white walls and the scent of the Mediterranean. All the traditional Greek dishes are on the menu, including moussaka, lamb and beef gyro, dolmades (vine leaves filled with rice, minced meat and herbs). The olive oil, present on every table, has been specially imported from Greece. For dessert, you will not be disappointed by the baklava. It is a very pleasant place with a family atmosphere.

Inspired by the famous Flash Gordon comic strip, the place delivers on its promise to let you eat in a flash! Exiting the "L" on the left, this tiny Mexican fast-food joint serves tacos and tostadas at unbeatable prices, until 2am! We love its colorful decor and paintings: those behind the counter depict Chicago and Mexico City at night, and another, the great figures of the 2 countries. A great idea for a quick lunch or dinner after visiting the bars and concert halls of Wicker Park.

Located on the ninety-fifth floor of the Hancock Center, the Signature Room is the highest restaurant in Chicago. It prides itself on its splendid view, through the bay windows that extend the entire height of the floor. The menu is very varied: salads, grills, fish, sandwiches, desserts... Be careful, the setting is sublime - and romantic - but it costs. Fortunately, everything is fine, and with the view of the city, you quickly forget the rather salty bill. On Sunday mornings, the place offers an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet!

Margie's has been a family affair for over 90 years. Peter, the current owner of the store, is the ^3rd generation to take over the business! Here, everything is homemade - the creams, candies and chocolates are sweet, dripping and creamy to perfection. The place hasn't changed much since 1921, with its antique furniture, retro heart-shaped candy boxes and small individual jukeboxes that stand on every table. If it's your birthday, you'll receive a surprise. We regret the rough service of some waiters..

If you like Mediterranean, Greek and Lebanese cuisine, Andies is for you. Everything is homemade: hummus, falafels and excellent lamb couscous. To keep guests waiting, the house serves hot pitas. The good news is that part of the menu is strictly vegetarian. The three large rooms are well ventilated and sunny, and the shaded terrace overlooks Berwyn Street, a little off the main North Clark Street artery. A slightly different address in the heart of Andersonville.

This tapas bar is very popular in Lincoln Park. Pintxos, tapas, more substantial dishes, Spain is in the plates. With a few vegetarian variations on the menu. Fans will also be able to try eight types of paellas. As in a real Spanish bar, the atmosphere is lively and the room is quickly packed. The large outdoor terrace allows you to get some fresh air. During the week, from 4 to 6 pm, all the tapas are 3 US$, the pintxos are 1 US$ : so, a festive crowd invades the place. Their fruity sangria is also a factor!

The décor propels you into the nostalgic Saigon of the 1920s with its ceiling fans, banana trees and photographs of the time that cover the unbleached walls of the room. The staircase at the entrance leads to the mahogany bar where it is nice to lean down to drink a cocktail. Customers can also choose to sit in one of the intimate lounges, with rattan benches. At the back of the room, the terrace is open in both summer and winter. To avoid ruining anything, Vietnamese cuisine is exquisite and subtle.

Located on a street less than the Rush Street neighbor, Jake Melnick's is the typical, popular, popular district bar and restaurant with two large dark rooms illuminated by the only TV screens. The crowd that flows after 17 h is noisy, not always refined. On the restaurant, they have excellent hamburgers that they serve in a plastic basket with a red and white carreaux towel. Fries are crispy but always tender inside. And for the brave, the house serves a giant hamburger made with a little more than one kilo, the "Bet ya can't! " Burger ("I bet you can not! ), which is roughly 40 cm in diameter. If you can finish it, it's offered by the house. Otherwise, it is $ 35,95. Beware, you must also finish French fries! The speed record to get to the end of this monster is twenty-one small minutes…

Mustard and ketchup on wooden tables, Tempo is a classic spot, open 24 hours a day! The revellers side in the morning in a simple atmosphere. Take a look at the extensive menu, offering generous omelettes, pancakes and other delicacies for the breakfast. Big appetites will choose for a steak, and they will desensitized on the many salads, soups and sandwiches. In the summer Tempo is a nice terrace in the corner, ideal for rest while leaving club. An excellent address, not expensive and always reliable!

Whether you stop by for a quick bite to eat or come to shop for delicatessen items, Galleria Market does not disappoint. In the café part - connected to the wifi - you can eat a salad or a wrap on small tables, in a very calm atmosphere. On the grocery side, those nostalgic for Europe will find their happiness among the various Italian pastas, bottles of wine, olive oil, cheeses, cold cuts and other exotic flavors on American soil. It is also possible to have the products of the Galleria Market delivered.

Topolobampo - Topolo for intimates - is the upscale version of the Frontera Grill. We meet a clientele at its best, dining in a formal atmosphere. The menu, always Mexican, is excellent and remarkably diverse. Each month, fish and seafood specialties vary. At the bar, Frontera's customers mingle with those of Topolo. We like the unique atmosphere of this restaurant whose warm and neat decoration adds to its charm. A downside, however, is that you sometimes have to book months in advance to be sure you have a table..

This Virginia-based chain has been around since 1986. It has gradually spread throughout the country. You'll appreciate the super-fresh ground meat and the fact that nothing is frozen, not even the fries, which are double-cooked in peanut oil. On the menu, hand-prepared burgers and hot dogs. With over 250,000 ways to customize your burger and over 1,000 milkshake combinations, your perfect meal is just a click away for home delivery! Perfect for a quick break.

A dinner like no other, since this one doesn't offer the slightest bit of meat! Since 1983, the Chicago Diner has been making vegetarian meals without complex. Vegan options are also in the majority, you will notice for example that the menu does not offer any egg-based dishes. Instead, you'll find a tofu burger, quinoa poutine, eggplant polenta, corn tacos... And the result is rather successful! Gluten-free options - dear to the hearts of dieting Americans - are also legion. A place to eat healthy and on the go.

Opened in 2013, this address is a good symbol of the gentrification that is affecting the neighbourhood. The building has been classified as a historic monument and its managers have done their best to preserve the bohemian spirit of the place. We swoon over the saffron tagliatelle and come back for "Juicy Lucy", a marmalade and bacon burger. The place is also known for its brunch and regional beers. In the basement, there is a bar, the Punch House, specialized in punch (as its name suggests) and in the background, a concert hall, the Thalia Hall.

Here, we come mainly for the pies that are to be damned: try the coconut pie or, for a typical American tasting, let yourself be tempted by the pecan and chocolate pie or the apple and cranberry pie. There are also versions never available, if you ever come at lunchtime. The biscuits, a kind of scones typical of southern cuisine, are not bad either. They are covered with cheddar, bacon or goat cheese. In short, it's not the lightest lunch, but we enjoy it and go back!

With Roister, Grant Achatz, the chef who has been awarded several times with Alinea, offers a more affordable but equally remarkable cuisine. Like the district, the restaurant has a dark industrial and minimalist style decoration. The walls are black and the servers tattooed. The menu is limited but each dish is delicious. The cuisine inspired by the South is refined. Try "Hush puppies", a kind of small fried potatoes covered with corn and Asiago cheese, shrimp and grits (shrimps with corn-based purée) or fried chicken sandwich.

Located across the street from Gibson's, Maple & Ash is a trendy alternative to the traditional American steakhouse. The clientele is younger and the décor is much more modern. Slightly less expensive than Gibson's, the cuisine is also more inventive and the seafood and fish menu is as important as the meat menu. It's up to you to see which atmosphere suits you best: noisy, trendy, with an original and tasty cuisine, or quiet, traditional, around a simple but equally tasty cuisine.

An excellent place for breakfast before starting the Loop tours. Enjoy custom pancakes, from the simplest to the most elaborate. Also on the menu are good eggs Bénédicte or French toast with fruit. For lunch, a wide choice of sandwiches is also available. A good place in a neighborhood where there is a desperate need, where you can eat fresh produce in a family atmosphere and at a low cost.

Chicken, chicken and more chicken, served fried of course! Harold's restaurants first met with great success in Chicago's South End, then others began to open throughout the city, and even beyond the borders of Illinois. In other words, it's a must in Chicago if you want to taste the real American fried chicken. Chicken can be replaced by shrimp or even catfish. It's so greasy, but it's so good! To be consumed in moderation....

This tex-mex restaurant is literally stormed every evening, and the wait can be quite long, especially on weekends. But it's worth it. Tacos are to fall, especially the one with fish you can't resist. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, a large terrace allows you to relax in summer in the sun, and the menu of tequilas and mezcals very well provided allows you to warm up even in winter! Possibility to take your tacos with you if the wait for a table is too long.

Jason Hammel, the chef of the immensely popular Lula Cafe in Logan Square, opened this restaurant in late 2017 within the Museum of Contemporary Art. The menu, creative and varied, evolves according to the seasons and highlights products from the Midwest. The dishes (plancha trout, honey quail, fish tartar, mixed salad, etc.) are served in a setting that reflects the spirit of the museum, refined with artistic touches, including the large fresco on the back wall. The long bar is ideal for sipping a cocktail.

Behind this pastel blue door is a beautiful address. It has long seduced the inhabitants of the district, who were delighted when Blue Door Farm Stand reopened in the summer of 2017, after a two-year closure. Now on two floors, the restaurant offers a healthy and tasty cuisine, with many vegetarian dishes - moreover, the place is known for its delicious kale and Brussels sprouts salad (with or without bacon). No kidding, it's really very good! We like the rustic-chic decoration, in very good taste.