I’ve been living in Chicago for almost 5 years now and have fallen in love with it for so many reasons. One of the main reasons is food…and I’m not ashamed of it. The Chicago food options are so dang good. Plus, there’s always somewhere new to check out (I’m constantly posting new spots on my Instagram!)
I love traveling around to different parts of the city and checking out new restaurants. I also have a few tried-and-true spots that I keep going back to. Now, I’m sharing the top 50 places I think you need to try at least once in Chicago on the blog.
Let’s dive in!
Breakfast/Brunch
- Hutch American Bistro, 3301 N Clark St (I also love their happy hour!)
- Batter & Berries, 2748 N Lincoln Ave (Literally my most favorite breakfast spot for french toast. Always a long wait but so worth it!)
- Kanela Breakfast Club, 3231 N Clark St (Their mimosas are seriously bottomless and I love the energy here.)
- Ann Sather Restaurant, 3415 N Broadway St (They have lots of locations – this is a Chicago staple because of their amazing cinnamon rolls…to die for.)
- Chicago Bagel Authority, 955 W Belmont Ave (My favorite place to stop by for a quick breakfast sandwich in my neighborhood.)
- Nookies Too, 2114 N Halsted St (Great hangover food with a friendly staff.)
- Yolk, 501 W Diversey Pkwy (Lots of locations in Chicago and has a huge menu that never disappoints.)
- Summer House Santa Monica, 1954 N Halsted St (Such an awesome brunch spot with a great interior for photos/Instagrams. You’ve probably seen their neon sign on Instagram.)
- Maison Marcel, 3114 N Broadway St (Cute French-inspired interior with strong Wifi and good pastries. Love a good latte from here.
- Fremont, 15 W. Illinois St (My favorite place for dancing + bottomless mimosas. Their breakfast buffet package is INSANE.
Chicago Classics/Favorites
- Giordano’s, 730 N Rush St (My first favorite deep dish in the city. A must for any out-of-towners.)
- Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, 1235 W Randolph St (My second-favorite deep dish in Chicago…my girlfriends love it here.)
- Portillo’s Hot Dogs, 100 W Ontario (They have more than hot dogs…I like their chicken fingers, french fries, and CHOCOLATE CAKE!)
- Big Star, 1531 N. Damen Ave. (There’s nothing better than their tacos and margaritas in the summertime. The newer Wrigleyville location is fun, too, close to the stadium.)
- Billy Goat Tavern, 430 N Michigan Ave (Iconic location.)
Lunch/Dinner
- Roanoke Restaurant, 135 W Madison St (Beautiful interior and tons of amazing food.)
- Ramen-San, 59 W Hubbard St (My favorite ramen in the city…which is a bold statement.)
- Quartino Restaurante, 626 N State St (One of my favorite places in all of Chicago. I recommend getting a good bottle of wine, a cheese plate, and a few of their small pasta plates to share.)
- Barcocina, 2901 N Sheffield Ave (Great margaritas and I love the fun, young atmosphere. Their “feed me tacos and tell me I’m pretty” sign is everything.)
- DMK Burger Bar, 2954 N Sheffield Ave (Their burgers and milkshakes are bomb.)
- BIG & little’s Restaurant, 1034 W Belmont Ave (Cheap eats and BYOB.)
- Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen, 100 E Walton St (Their sweet potato fries are top-notch. And the chocolate cake is about a foot tall…)
- Taylor Gourmet, 1 N Dearborn St (Known for their hoagies but I actually like the burger!)
- Cafe Ba-ba-Reeba!, 2024 N Halsted St (Small tapas plates. Fun to go with a big group. I also recommend one of their fruit sangrias.)
- RPM Italian, 52 W Illinois St (Fancy but delicious Italian food. You might even spot Giuliana Rancic here 😉 )
- Francesca’s on Chestnut, 200 E Chestnut St (Their pasta is so good.)
- Luxbar, 18 E Bellevue (I love their outdoor seating and their happy hour for food + drinks.)
- The Late Bloomer, 1538 N Clybourn Ave (I take my mom here almost every time she visits. Their chicken and mashed potatoes melt in your mouth. And, the interior is so cool.)
- Tavern at the Park, 130 E Randolph St (Great menu with tons of seating. Fun to take tourists after seeing The Bean in Millennium Park.)
- The Warbler, 4535 N Lincoln Ave (Well decorated and unique. I love their cocktails and really anything on their menu.)
- Revival Food Hall, 125 S Clark St (Tons of different restaurants all in this hall. I love trying new places out when working off my laptop here.)
- Brown Bag Seafood, 340 E Randolph St (Great interior with amazing seafood. I love their truffle parm tater tots, too.)
- Homeslice, 938 W Webster (Some of my favorite thin crust pizza. So fun to come here in the summertime or around Christmas when all of the lights are up.)
Sweets/Dessert
- Stan’s Donuts & Coffee, 1560 N Damen Ave (Best donuts in Chicago in my opinion. My favorite is the Lemon Pistachio Old Fashioned.)
- Sweet Mandy B’s, 1208 W Webster Ave (So many cupcakes and treats to choose from. Also vegan options!)
- Bang Bang Pie, 2051 N California Ave (The line here goes out the door in the summertime. Awesome patio out back that you can’t beat.)
- Eataly, 43 E Ohio St (I fall for the cannoli’s every time.)
- Garrett’s Popcorn Shops, 625 N Michigan Ave (A Chicago staple – lots of flavors to choose from.)
- Firecakes, 104 N Maple Ave (Not as good as Stan’s in my opinion but still delicious!)
- Nutella Cafe, 189 N Michigan Ave (I mean…need I say more?!)
- Cone, 1047 W Madison St (Gourmet ice cream with fun toppings like Lucky Charms.)
Late Night Eats
- Golden Apple Grill, 2971 N Lincoln Ave (Open 24/7 and great for “breakfast for dinner”…or at 3 am 😂)
- Griddle 24, 334 W Chicago Ave (In the perfect location to stop at after a night of clubbing. Huge menu…I always get the chicken fingers.)
- Pick Me Up Cafe, 3408 N Clark St (Huge menu and always fun to go with a group of friends.)
- Cheesie’s, 958 W Belmont Ave (I have been here so many times late at night with friends. The Mac is my favorite. Their Caprese Salad is also really good but everyone will laugh at you for getting a salad…)
What is your favorite restaurant in Chicago? Let me know!
+ read about the best brunch spots in Chicago here
++ follow along on my Chicago food adventures on Instagram here
