The best restaurants Chicago

A cosy little café that opened its doors almost 25 years ago and offers very good sandwiches and breakfast dishes. The place is very popular with local residents, who come alone or with their families. From the outside, you might think you're going to enter a private house, small but warm, a feeling that increases tenfold once you discover the inside: parquet flooring, brick wall, carpets... A place where you feel good, to prefer when you have time because the dishes are a little long to come out.

If you feel nostalgic for France, Mon Ami Gabi will remind you of its flavours. Once inside, you will have the impression of being in a slightly stilted Parisian brasserie, white tablecloths and boys in a suit! For a more relaxed atmosphere, ask for a table on the terrace. On the menu, you will find all the classics of French cuisine: Burgundy snails, homemade pâté, fried steak or salmon in white butter. Feel free to ask about the daily special, which changes daily.

This local coffee chain has ten addresses throughout Chicago and is frequented by a young and trendy clientele, most often with a laptop. We naturally drink good coffee, with some options particularly popular with the local hipsters: cinnamon and honey latte, chai latte, mocha with Nutella... This is a far cry from the good old "cup of Joe" served black and sugar-free! We appreciate the modern and rather refined decoration. We can spend hours here, chatting or working all fuel at the café.

Another Andersonville brunch spot! Eggs Benedict, French toast, fresh orange juice, salmon bagels... the list goes on and on. This tempting menu is sure to get your day off to a good start. If you're more into sweet things, the choice is just as wide: Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake, Peach & Sour Cherry Pie, Peach Rhubarb Pie, Cinnamon Roll French Toast... The simplicity of the place, the smell of pancake and its relaxed atmosphere make it one of the neighborhood's excellent spots, and a must-try.

This Mexican establishment is a family business. Parents and children work together, creating a very friendly atmosphere. Here, the grilled meat is cut into small pieces called carnitas (the best in Chicago, it seems!) and served with corn cakes. The whole thing is delightfully seductive for the convinced carnivores. In addition, the staff is very welcoming and helpful. If the smell comes to you as you walk down the street, you won't be able to stop yourself from pushing the door!

According to the general consensus, one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city, and not only in Pilsen. We would tend to agree! We tried tacos, divine, as well as multiple sauces, spicy or name. It is a real fiesta that is prepared in the plates, in a friendly atmosphere - the restaurant is run by a Mexican family. Also worth tasting are burritos with grilled meat (asada), a pure delight for carnivores. In short, an excellent address, on the border between Pilsen and Little Italy.

This restaurant offers an American cuisine enhanced with small Scandinavian and Danish touches. The menu, which changes with the seasons, alternates generous pieces of meat, such as pork shoulder with spices, fish dishes, such as smoked trout from the Fjords, and vegetarian dishes, such as risotto with celery and roasted hazelnuts. The framework, like the food, is minimalist and successful. We appreciate the kitchen that opens onto the room and the very pleasant fireplace that warms the small outdoor courtyard on autumn evenings, when it is a little cool.

To get in touch with the people of Hyde Park, there's nothing like eating a bite in this delicious Jamaican restaurant, which is mainly frequented by local residents. If the entire menu is tempting, let yourself be tempted by one of the emblematic dishes: Jerk Chicken (in this preparation from Jamaica, chicken is spiced with spices), Jerk Catfish (we are talking about catfish, which is edible despite its bad reputation!) or Curry Goat, made from goat meat. Unexpected.

A fish and seafood restaurant that offers, among other things, nearly ten varieties of oysters. During thehappy hour, on weekdays from 5 to 6 pm (on Fridays from 3 pm) oysters are half price. Note that in the basement, a second restaurant of the same name, the Crab Cellar, offers a special menu. TheEndless King Crab & Prime Burgers will allow you to eat as many crabs and burgers as you want (or rather, can!) for a fixed price.

At Chipotle, we don't quibble over the quantities of rice, meat or hot sauce when preparing tacos or burritos, nor over guacamole and Mexican chips. Rations are prepared to order with the ingredients you choose. Although the atmosphere remains that of a fast-food restaurant, a special effort has been made to the design of the place and the background music played.

Walk on Michigan Avenue, this is the only way to locate this restaurant, perched above the shops. The entrance is done by Ontario Street. Take the escalator leading you to a superb dining room, with a Las Vegas style - at the edge of the kitsch. Under the dome, fleece benches await guests, guided by a white and white staff. In this more than rich decor, you can eat dishes of little sophisticated but carefully prepared dishes. Burgers, salads, big classics are on the menu. Don't be surprised by gargantuan portions, better be two per dish… After this feast, take a moment to leave your eyes drifting through the immense windows that illuminate the room.

Papaspiros is a meeting place, it is a whole atmosphere that welcomes us. On the terrace, the regulars, who with a small glass smoke their cigarette (which is unusual in the United States), welcome you. One can easily imagine the same scene at the edge of a Greek port... For lack of a postcard, the flavors are there: lemony cuisine, fresh salads, grilled kefta and pieces of lamb, between two anecdotes and jokes of the owner. It's also an opportunity to discover good Greek wines for cheap, the bottle being 30 US$.

Located below a hotel, this good neighborhood bar is a bit of a UFO. Inside, it's 100% pub, with hunters' artefacts and scarves and other fabrics bearing the effigy of various teams. You'll appreciate the airy terrace, the conviviality and the service. The menu is very confusing - too offbeat in its originality. Otherwise, almost everything is fried, even the sandwiches, and many dishes are seafood dishes: the influence of New Orleans cuisine.

With its disco-era logo and fake fast-food look, you could be fooled. But no, Tacos '76 offers very authentic Mexican cuisine, despite the absence of the colorful, flashy frills usually found in this type of restaurant. Tacos with golden tortillas, finely chopped onions and cilantro can be accompanied by a cold draught or a thirst-quenching agua de Jamaica. A terrace away from the main street is available, all to the sound of an eclectic playlist.

This French-style sandwich and pastry shop is the perfect place to stop off for a bite to eat in the Loop. The menu includes muffins, croissant sandwiches and hearty pizza breads. The decor is packed with references to French culture, including a poster... Orangina! It's a tad expensive, but not necessarily more so than a Starbucks, and it's a good alternative to fast food in terms of quality, for the same price range. Another branch is located in Oak Park.

A very convivial place, where time seems to have stood still. While we wait to be served, we revisit the history of fishing and its techniques on walls worthy of a museum. Fish and seafood in a variety of forms: platters, soups, sushi. Spicy Louisiana specialties! The small white wine suggested by the house goes perfectly with the dishes. Between jambalaya, oysters, lobster... And if you're coming alone, the central zinc bar will put you right in the mood! As for dessert, mmhhh this rhubarb-raspberry tart...

Opened in 2017, it's one of the Loop's latest attractions, and it's hard to miss! With its long line outside, what's more in the heart of the Windy City, Nutella Café attracts the curious whether they're Americans or visiting foreigners. Grilled banana bread, fruit platter, crêpe, waffle, raspberry croissant or filled croissant, all with Nutella. You'll be spoilt for choice with Ferrero's flagship product in every sauce. In winter, with the cold, you may find it hard to resist this stopover... You've been warned!

This fairly new establishment offers pretty much everything you'd expect from a Lebanese restaurant, except that this restaurant is, as its name doesn't suggest, Syrian! Opened in 2018, this place with an oriental feel offers falafel, reasonably priced meat dishes or sandwiches, fresh salads or soups, with drinks at US$2. Portions are a little lighter at lunchtime, due to the reduced - not to say rushed - American lunchtime. A small shaded patio is also available in summer.

Already present in Las Vegas, Gordon Ramsay Burger has just opened its^2nd restaurant in Chicago. It was up to us to be the testers, no easy task under his demanding and intimidating eye... The gourmet, well-balanced and original burgers, with their refined presentation, lived up to our expectations. The downside is that the fries are not included, which quickly brings the bill to $25. Sweet potato fries dusted with powdered sugar can be enjoyed as a dessert. All accompanied by a sweet and surprising honey-mustard jalapeño sauce. A successful bet for the Brit!

North of Maggie Daley Park, cut yourself off from the city while in the Loop. Below the buildings, sip your cold michelada while watching the dogs play in the adjoining Lakeshore East Park. The "Tiny Fat Taco Bar" offers all kinds of tasty Mexican specialties. Among other promotions, a taco night for US$3. Quesabirrias, burritos, succulent meats, the range of choices is wide. All week long, from 11am to 2:30pm, there is even a brunch. A charming address that stands out.

A haven for hipsters, who have been flocking to the area in increasing numbers in recent years. They come here to drink coffee, chat or work while listening to good music. We love the retro diner atmosphere, with its skai stools, multicolored checkerboard tiles and mismatched furniture. The sandwiches are pretty good, and the cakes, from muffins to croissants and chocolate cakes, will leave you wanting more.

Here, coffee is an art, and the baristas take it very seriously! Whether you prefer cappuccino, mocha, cortado or matcha latte, you won't be disappointed. The hot drinks, always embellished with a milk foam design, are not just aesthetically pleasing: they're delicious. Enthusiasts will be delighted. And the more adventurous will be tempted by the " boozy steamers ", made with sake, bourbon or, even more original, Bénédictine, a French digestif made from plants.

It's a very cool sign behind which lies a local start-up that's looking to reinvent the way Chicagoans do their shopping. Because in addition to being a cozy café where you can eat great salads while sipping a frothy cappuccino, Foxtrot is also a convenience store selling quality products. If you're in the mood for a little shopping, you'll find delicatessen products (charcuterie, cheese, salmon, etc.) and ready-to-eat meals.

On this busy pedestrian street with its many restaurants, Havana Grill doesn't fall on deaf ears. Because before it tickles your taste buds, it's the Latino music that gets it noticed. Start by savouring the cocktails, while ordering something to nibble on: ceviche, for example, accompanied by banana chips. Then you'll be tempted by the meat, and what a meat it is! Tender, tasty and served with a few plantains (the famous platanos machos). You'll also find rum, pisco...

Just a stone's throw from the subway exit, here is a warm enclave where you stop to recharge your batteries before starting your visit to the neighbourhood. The owner started baking after learning that she had cancer, when just baking cupcakes changed her mind! Cupcakes are a natural part of this bright coffee menu, along with a host of other sweet treats, such as cookies and donuts, and savoury dishes that are perfect for breakfast.