Mariscos San Pedro
Photograph: Courtesy Mariscos San Pedro | Mariscos San Pedro
Photograph: Courtesy Mariscos San Pedro

The 25 best restaurants in Chicago you have to try in 2025

There's no shortage of fantastic food in this city, but these Chicago restaurants make our list of top eats.

Jeffy Mai
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April 2025: On our latest roundup of the city's finest eateries, we've trimmed the list down to the top 25. These are the best of the best, from iconic institutions such as Johnnie's Beef and Calumet Fisheries to buzzy hotspots like Gavroche. Whether you're just visiting or a lifelong Chicagoan, there's something new and delicious to discover.

The best restaurants in Chicago come in all shapes and sizes, from pizza joints and Michelin-starred heavyweights to some of the best cheap eats Chicago has to offer. The cuisines are just as varied, with every corner of the globe represented through Korean, Mexican, Italiansushi and much more. Whether you're a lifelong resident or simply visiting for the weekend, stuffing your face at one of these restaurants is easily among the best things to do in Chicago. This belt-busting food scene shows no signs of slowing down, so we cut to the chase and ranked our essentials—the absolute best restaurants in town.

Our editors scour the city for great dishes, excellent value and insider info. We hope to provide an authentic snapshot of Chicago's ever-evolving dining experiences by updating this list constantly with the best new restaurants in the city as well as decades-old stalwarts that keep us coming back for more. It could be a mega-hyped destination restaurant or a remarkable hole in the wall: If it’s on the list, we think it’s terrific, and we bet you will, too.

Time Out Market Chicago

Best restaurants in Chicago

  • Contemporary American
  • West Loop
  • price 4 of 4

What is it? A two-Michelin-starred fine dining experience from chef-owner Noah Sandoval.

Why we love it: Chicago is home to a number of upscale tasting menus but few are able to match Oriole’s deft execution. Upon arrival, guests are escorted into a freight elevator and given a drink before the door opens to reveal the dining room. Though there’s no telling what Sandoval has in store each evening, you can look forward to a minimalist style of cooking that puts the spotlight squarely on the premium ingredients. And the room itself is a jaw-dropper—exposed brick gives a warm feeling, while tall wooden columns remind you that you’re in one of the trendiest neighborhoods in town. 

Time Out tip: Don't miss out on the beverage program — acclaimed mixologist Julia Momose and beverage director Emily Rosenfeld complement the food with inventive cocktails and an Old World-inspired wine list. And if you don't drink, don't fret: additionally, Mimose has also created a spirit-free pairing with creative, non-alcoholic beverages made to perfectly complement the menu.

Address: 661 West Walnut St

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 5-9:30pm

Expect to pay: $325-$350 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
  • Mexican
  • Archer Heights
  • price 1 of 4

What is it? A family-owned Mexican spot in Archer Heights that's the G.O.A.T. when it comes to goat meat. (Get it?)

Why we love it: Thick handmade tortillas, salsas made to order, bright-pink agua fresca, cinnamon-laced coffee—you can get all of that to go. Their only purpose, however, is to accompany the restaurant’s signature platters of chopped goat meat. Unlike other birrierias, this goat doesn’t touch a consommé until it’s plated, when some of the tomato-based broth is spooned over it. (That means no soggy tortillas here.) At that point, a good dousing of hot sauce, and maybe a squeeze of lime and some onions, is all you need for the city’s best tacos.

Time Out tip: A second location opened in Uptown in 2023, making it the the perfect spot to grab a pre- or post-event meal if you're headed to the Aragon Ballroom, Riviera Theatre or Green Mill.

Address: 4852 S Pulaski Rd

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat, Sun 8am-6pm

Expect to pay: $20-$30 per person

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  • Japanese
  • Logan Square
  • price 4 of 4

What is it? An eight-seat sushi counter run by bold and ambitious chef Otto Phan.

Why we love it: Phan left Austin, Texas to come to Chicago with the goal of offering the city’s best sushi. He fulfills those aspirations every night at his nondescript Logan Square restaurant, which is also one of the most expensive experiences in town. Those who are able to secure a seat are treated to a front-row view of the chef slicing raw fish and serving it on extra large rice grains that have been seasoned with aged red vinegar. You’ll pay a pretty penny but Kyoten’s omakase provides some of the finest bites money can buy, made with luxurious ingredients flown in from Japan.

Time Out tip: You have to be quick on your feet to snag one of those coveted counter seats — reservations for  Kyōten open four weeks in advance, with the 4th week's reservations opening up weekly on Saturdays at 10pm. Set that reminder!

Address: Mode Logan Square, 2507 W Armitage Ave

Opening hours: Wed-Sun 6:30pm-9pm

Expect to pay: $440-$490 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
  • Italian
  • West Loop
  • price 3 of 4

What is it? Top Chef alum Sarah Grueneberg's pasta playground in the West Loop.

Why we love it: Italian food is meant to be shared, and at Monteverde, that's never an issue. Fill your table with a smogasboard of small plates, handmade pastas and shareable mains (read: they're freakin' huge). You absolutely mustn't skip the burrata e ham starter—which comes with warm English muffin-like rounds called tigelle—nor the spaghetti al pomodoro, a simple but soul-affirming dish that stars Grueneberg's spot-on roasted tomato sauce. And if you're a gluten-free eater, good news: the restaurant has an entire flourless "Senza" menu, swapping in Caponi rigatoni (made with corn and brown rice flour) for the menu's usual pastas. 

Time Out tip: Monteverde remains one of the hottest reservations in town, but if you can't snag a dinner table, try going for lunch. The menus are almost identical, minus a few dishes.

Address: Loft Lucia, 1020 W Madison St

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 11am-9:30pml Fri, Sat 11am-10:30pm

Expect to pay: $50-100 per person

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  • Hot dogs
  • Suburbs
  • price 1 of 4

What is it? An old-school Italian beef and ice stand over in Elmwood Park.

Why we love it: Just like with deep dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs, locals will never agree on the best Italian beef maker. The closest to a consensus is Johnnie’s, a legendary spot that necessitates a pilgrimage to the suburbs. You’ll have plenty of time to decide on what to order as you wait in line behind regularswith sandwich-filling options ranging from classic beef to Italian sausage, double hot dogs to pepper and eggsbut we suggest getting the beef, doused in a generous helping of jus and served with hot peppers. Order a lemon Italian ice to cool your mouth off afterwards, the perfect refresher after an artery-clogging sandwich. Make sure to order your ice “no cover” to have the cup piled high with a precarious mountain of sweet and tangy goodness.

Time Out tip: It's cash only, so don't forget to stop at an ATM beforehand.

Address: 7500 W North Ave

Opening hours: Daily 11am-midnight

Expect to pay: $10-$20 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
  • Korean
  • River West/West Town
  • price 4 of 4
  • Recommended

What is it? An upscale Korean restaurant from talented chef Dave Park and his partner Jennifer Tran.

Why we love it: Jeong is the fanciest Korean experience in Chicago, bar none. Park, who previously ran celebrated food court stall Hanbun in the suburbs, uses modern preparations to elevate traditional flavors. At the roomier, full-service Jeong (pronounced “chung”) Tran oversees front of house as GM while Park helms both the focused tasting menu (eight courses) and a la carte dishes, suffusing childhood taste memories with joyful modernity. His tasting menu showcases gorgeous and inventive plates, like a disc of salmon tartare topped with doenjang yuzu gastrique, crunchy rice pearls and dollops of crème fraiche, and slices of succulent Australian Wagyu with carrot velouté, cabbage and makgeolli (Korean's milky, lightly sparkling rice wine).

Time Out tip: If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, note that the kitchen can only accommodate pescatarians as well as certain modifications for expecting mothers.

Address: 1460 W Chicago Ave

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 5-9:30pm

Expect to pay: $150-$225 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
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  • Latin American
  • Uptown
  • price 4 of 4

What is it? An elevated Latin concept in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood

Why we love it: Chef Norman Fenton has reinvigorated fine dining in Chicago, allowing modern technique and whimsy to mingle with ancient Latin American ingredients and manipulations with invigorating and delicious results.  The dishes are captivating, like a ravioli stuffed with puréed huitlacoche laze in truffle beurre blanc and garnished with fried corn silk or a blue corn tetela (masa pocket) stuffed with rich, gamey duck confit and the caramelized sweetness of roasted sweet potato. The late-night taco omakase centers on Fenton’s skill and shines most in his street food preparation: airy chicharrones with foamy esquites, buttery masa pockets stuffed with duck, crisp-edged confited suadero tacos. The restaurant earned its first Michelin star in 2024.

Time Out tip: For a more laid-back experience, book a seat at the late-night chef's counter for the eight-course taco omakase, featuring offerings like Alaskan king crab and wagyu tacos.

Address: 4662 N Broadway

Opening hours: Wed-Sun 6pm-midnight

Expect to pay: $190-$210 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
  • Seafood
  • South Deering
  • price 1 of 4

What is it? Chicago’s quintessential cash-only seafood smokehouse, located just north of the Indiana border.

Why we love it: Remember the bridge-jumping scene in Blues Brothers? It happened right next to Calumet Fisheries. The best way to get there is to drive—mostly because your car will double as your table when you leave with your bounty. One of the state's few remaining smokehouses, Calumet smokes all of its own seafood in-house using only natural wood. You can taste the difference when you sample the salmon, catfish and sturgeon—all of which are available by the pound. That shouldn't stop you from tacking on an order of crispy shrimp and cocktail sauce, the perfect grab-and-dunk appetizer for eating on the go.

Time Out tip: There's no seating inside so plan to eat your smoked chubs, battered-and-fried shrimp and garlic-smoked salmon on the curb or in your vehicle.

Address: 3259 E 95th St

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 10am-8pm; Fri, Sat 10am-9pm

Expect to pay: $10-$20 per person

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  • Pizza
  • Ashburn
  • price 1 of 4

What is it? The king of thin-crust pizza done Chicago-style.

Why we love it: Serving pies since 1949 (although this location opened in ’65), Vito and Nick’s is a Chicago tradition. The cracker-thin, tavern-style crust is loaded up with rich red sauce, gooey mozzarella and fennel-flecked sausage chunks; test the limits with a few more toppings—we like mushroom, pepper, onion and black olives on ours. For the complete experience, stop by to sip an ice-cold Old Style in the dining room while catching a glimpse of the Bears or Sox game on TV. 

Time Out tip: The wait times for pie can run a little long on weekends, so order your drinks by the pitcher, and enjoy a true Chicago scene. (Or, thanks to a glut of national attention after the Food Network blew through town, scan the walls for plenty of reading material.)

Address: 8433 S Pulaski Rd

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11am-8:30pm; Fri, Sat 11am-9:30pm; Sun noon-8pm

Expect to pay: $10-$20 per person

  • Filipino
  • East Village
  • price 2 of 4

What is it? A modern Filipino-American bakery and fine dining restaurant from husband-and-wife team Tim Flores and Genie Kwon (Oriole), Kasama boasts both a Michelin-starred tasting menu and a selection of casual daytime dishes that'll have you saying, “I'll take one of each.”

Why we love it: Believe any and all of the hype on this one: Kasama really is as good as they say it is. Come by in the morning for brunch fare like a longanisa-topped breakfast sandwich or a full Filipino breakfast (longanisa/tocino, fried egg, garlic fried rice and pickled papaya) and some of Chicago's best pastries. At night, book a coveted seating for the restaurant's tasting menu, a Filipino-inspired journey that swings from dishes like nilaga with A5 wagyu to a perfect little croissant served with a sprinkling of freshly shaved black truffles.

Time Out tip: If you don't have your heart set on dining indoors, skip the inevitable line during the daytime and order online for pickup—we promise your meal will taste just as good. 

Address: 1001 N Winchester Ave

Opening hours: Wed 9am-3pm; Thu-Sun 9am-3pm, 5:30-9pm

Expect to pay: $285-$350 per person

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  • Indian
  • River North
  • price 3 of 4

What is it? An upscale, modern Indian experience led by chef Sujan Sarkar.

Why we love it: No restaurant in Chicago presents Indian flavors quite like Indienne. Sarkar blends refined techniques with South Asian recipes to create memorable plates, such as a poached egg bathed in curry studded with peas, sweet corn and crispy onions; chicken terrine draped with slices of truffle and sauced in a salty Amul cheese emulsion alongside a piece of leek; and succulent lamb chop plated with four colored sauces (inspired by different Indian regions) as well as garlic naan and black dairy dal. 

Time Out tip: If you're navigating specific dietary restrictions, there are, handily, separate vegan, vegetarian, non-vegetarian and pescatarian tasting menus all available—and all of which are reasonably priced! Set menu options are priced between $125 and $135, a relative bargain considering the River North location, adding to the restaurant concept's whole elegant but unstuffy vibe.

Address: 217 W Huron St

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5-10pm; Fri, Sat 5-11pm

Expect to pay: $150-200 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
  • Soul and southern American
  • Hyde Park
  • price 2 of 4

What is it? Chef Erick Williams's love letter to the Southern experience of cooking through passed-down recipes and reimagined expressions.

Why we love it: You can practically feel the soul oozing from the menu at this Hyde Park restaurant. It's because Williams cooks with his heart, whether he's plating fried green tomatoes with tender shrimp and creamy rémoulade or fixing his famous collards, which arrive studded with hunks of smoked turkey meat. The menu’s boiled-down dish descriptions (pork chop, salmon, shrimp) all but hide the intense attention to detail that he devotes to techniques and sourcing methods. It's a reminder that we're here to be fed, first and foremost. Second only to the food is the ambiance, which is sexy without trying too hard—perfect for a cozy date night.

Time Out tip: Leave room for desserts, like a rich round of chocolate cake dressed with coconut cream, a snowing of sliced almonds and a quenelle of salted chocolate sorbet.

Address: Polsky Exchange North, 1462 E 53rd St

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 4-9pm; Fri, Sat 4-10pm

Expect to pay: $50-$100 per person

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  • American
  • Lincoln Park
  • price 2 of 4

What is it? A modern American bistro with scaled-down service.

Why we love it: Housed in the former Nookies space on a boutiquey stretch of Halsted, John’s exudes timeless magnetism—narrow and warmly lit with cream and whitewashed brick walls, wood floors and soft banquettes the color of wheat. But from the minute you walk in, John's deviates from the norm. Orders are taken at the host stand, so guests must decide what they want in one go before they're seated. Fortunately, the menu is concise, featuring seasonal dishes executed with deft precision. You'll probably encounter something new each time, but on one of our visits we enjoyed beef tartare with smoked onion aioli; mafalde with Manila clams and smoked butter; and cherry-glazed ribeye with garlic scapes.

Time Out tip: This is the one time you're gonna want to fill up on the fries—Kennebec potatoes cooked in beef fat, to be specific. 

Address: 2114 N Halsted St

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5-9:30pm; Fri, Sat noon-10pm; Sun noon-9pm

Expect to pay: $50-$100 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
  • Japanese
  • River North
  • price 4 of 4

What is it? An intimate 10-seat omakase restaurant tucked away inside Sushi-san.

Why we love it: Omakase-centric restaurants are so en vogue right now, but few match up to Lettuce Entertain You’s impressive 10-seat sushi counter. Led by chef Kaze Chan, The Omakase Room is a dazzling experience that’s both elegant and unstuffy. Diners are seated at a sushi counter, where they have a close-up view of the action. The convivial atmosphere encourages chit-chatting with the staff as they slice pristine pieces of raw fish to create 18 memorable courses, which include creations like caviar-topped otoro tartare and king crab handroll.

Time Out tip: Chicago isn't near an ocean but that doesn't stop this resto from sourcing the freshest fish possible, so no sushi ick here! The Omakase Room has a direct partnership with the Yamasaki family at the Toyosu Fish Market and Martinez Produce and Seafood, ensuring deliveries of hyper-fresh seafood every single day.

Address: Sushi-san, 63 W Grand Ave

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 5:30-11:30pm

Expect to pay: $250-$300 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
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  • Mexican
  • Lower West Side
  • price 2 of 4
What is it? A Mexican seafood spot from the team behind Obelix, Taqueria Chingon and Le Bouchon.

Why we love it: Thalia Hall restaurant Dusek’s shuttered in 2024, but its replacement has more than stepped up to fill the void. Fish and shellfish are the focus, appearing in dishes such as ceviche, aguachile, tacos, tostadas and more. Order individual cod or shrimp tacos or build your own from a whole fish—a wood-burning oven cranks out wondrous bites like an entire crispy snapper or dorade— served with tortillas and salsas. Dessert stars paletas and well-executed flan. Though Marsicos San Pedro may be a convenient place for a pre- or post-concert meal, it’s actually a dining destination all its own.

Time Out tip: You can certainly pop in for a solo meal but this is the kind of restaurant where you're gonna want to bring a hungry gaggle of pals and order a bunch of wood-fired goodies to share. 

Address: 1227 W 18th St

Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Thu 5-9pm; Fri 5-10pm; Sat 11am-3pm, 5-10pm; Sun 11am-3pm, 5-9pm

Expect to pay: $50-$100 per person

  • Contemporary American
  • West Loop
  • price 2 of 4

What is it? A vaguely “contemporary American” restaurant from acclaimed chef Erling Wu-Bower.

Why we love it: In many ways, this singular menu synopsizes what it’s like to live and eat through major American cities right now—where cuisines, heritages and identities cram together and intermingle. The menu draws on all sorts of influences, making it tough to categorize the cuisine at Maxwells Trading: Chinese soup dumplings collide with pasta traditions of Bologna, Italy; Thai chili sauce dances with bitter greens and rare steak; and edible kelp whisks beurre blanc to the foamy seashore. What’s easy to understand, though, is why we’re smitten with it—suzuki tartare announces its arrival with intoxicating aromas; brûléed sweet potato bathes in a northern Thai-style curry; and the clay pot mushroom rice is simply a must-order. 

Time Out tip: You may have to plan ahead to snag a table, but it’s well worth the effort. Reservations operate on a 28-day window and they go online at midnight. 

Address: 1516 W Carroll Ave

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 4:30-9pm; Fri, Sat 4:30-10pm

Expect to pay: $50-$100 per person

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  • Mexican
  • South Lawndale
  • price 1 of 4

What is it? A taqueria attached to a corner store.

Why we love it: Chicago’s best all-around taqueria specializes in tacos de fritangas, or fried meaty things cooked on a wide metal stovetop called a charola. You seriously can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, from the extra beefy suadero to the intricately spiced longaniza sausage. But the showstopper—and perhaps the best taco in the city—is the tripa. Order it crispy, and these little hunks from the cow’s intestine (not, as you would assume, the stomach) arrive as golden-hued and glistening crunchy nuggets. The super tender meat is a flavor conduit, so keep it simple with a sprinkle of diced raw onions and cilantro, a squeeze of lime and a spoonful of salsa. There's also a wide range of refreshing house-made beverages, including fresh-pressed juices, aguas frescas and blended licuadas (papaya, walnut).

Time Out tip: The best way to wash down that must-try crispy tripe taco is with a cup of cold, creamy horchata.

Address: 2500 S Whipple St

Opening hours: Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun 11am-9pm

Expect to pay: $10-$20 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
  • American creative
  • West Loop
  • price 4 of 4

What is it? John Shields and Karen Urie Shields’s two-for-one special in the West Loop: A fine-dining destination upstairs and the city's best burger in the sultry basement.

Why we love it: You can choose your own adventure at this double feature—and neither option will lead you astray. John Shields and Karen Urie Shields’s two-for-one special in the West Loop offers elevated tasting menus upstairs and the city’s best burger (yeah, we said it) in the dark, sultry basement. Cozy up on the couch with the Loyalist's messy medley of cheesy, oniony goodness and chuck-short rib-bacon blend patty. Or splurge for Smyth's multi-course tasting menu, a three Michelin-starred exploration of Smyth County, Virginia. The offerings change daily based on the couples' trips to a 20-acre farm located south of the city. The stunning and delicate dishes on offer incorporate fresh, seasonal produce, making every experience feel very, very special.

Time Out tip: If you just want the Loyalist's burger, it's also available for pickup and delivery.

Address: 177 N Ada St #101

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 5-9pm

Expect to pay: $420-$550 per person

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  • American creative
  • Lincoln Park
  • price 3 of 4

What is it? The fine-dining beacon that started Boka Restaurant Group, one of Chicago's finest culinary collectives.

Why we love it: In its 20-plus years on Halsted Street, Boka has racked up a trophy case worth of awards, including one long-standing Michelin star and a handful of Jean Banchet Awards. But we prefer to let chef-partner Lee Wolen’s impeccable techniques—on everything from dry-aged duck and roasted chicken to ricotta gnudi—do the talking. It'd be a shame to skip dessert, which stars dreamy, sugar-filled confections with serious range—from peanut torte to dark chocolate with honey, miso and buckwheat.

Time Out tip: Avoid sitting at a table in the bar area if possible, since it’s so loud that we couldn’t hear our servers on a recent visit, and the elaborate garden wall in the other dining room is something to behold. But if you can’t, don’t worry—it’s worth sitting anywhere you can just to try that chicken. 

Address: 1729 N Halsted St

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 5-9pm; Fri, Sat 5-10pm

Expect to pay: $100-$150 per person

  • River West/West Town
  • price 2 of 4

What is it? An all-day restaurant, bar and boutique market in West Town.

Why we love it: Despite the airy, plant-filled environs, Nettare’s food—punchy, rich and brackish on a recent April evening—recalls the embrace of a neighborhood joint with knotty-wood walls. Drop by during the day for a selection of wine, beer and spirits, as well as coffee and pastries. When dinnertime rolls around, grab a seat in the 45-seat dining room, which was once a courtyard and is equipped with three large skylights, or the five-seat chef’s counter. The shareable plates take inspiration from Italian and Mediterranean flavors, with an emphasis on Midwestern ingredients. That means creative, ever-changing offerings like pierogies with giardiniera; beef belly with charred kohlrabi; and rhubarb tres leches cake.

Time Out tip: Nettare offers one of the most decidedly affordable tasting menus in town: Get five courses for $68; splash out an additional forty bucks for wine pairings. 

Address: 1953 W Chicago Ave

Opening hours: Wed, Thu 10am-2pm, 5-9:30pm; Fri, Sat 10am-2pm, 5-10:30pm; Sun 10am-3pm, 5-9pm

Expect to pay: $50-$100 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
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  • French
  • Old Town
  • price 2 of 4

What is it? A contemporary French eatery from local restaurant vet Jason Chan.

Why we love it: While the menu at this 32-seat boutique restaurant is filled with familiar offerings, such as beef tartare and escargots, little is confined to tradition. Koji dry-aged poussin rouge is draped in lavender honey and served with chanterelles, baby turnips, potato pavé and black truffle jus; hamachi is prepared “niçoise-style”; and the oeuf Arpège is an ode to chef Alain Passard's legendary egg dish. Even the decadent King Louis Royale burger defies expectations—a brisket short rib patty comes topped with raclette, seared foie gras, black truffle and caviar.

Time Out tip: Tap into your bougie side during the Gavroche's weekend "Bourgeois Brunch", full of French fanciness like farm eggs crowned with Polano caviar, foie gras two ways and fat lobes of escargot in garlic parsley butter. 

Address: 1529 N Wells St

Opening hours: Mon 4:30-10pm; Wed-Fri 4:30-11pm; Sat 11am-2pm, 4:30-11pm; Sun 11am-2pm, 4:30-10pm

Expect to pay: $50-100 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
  • Japanese
  • Logan Square
  • price 2 of 4

What is it? A dream realized for home-cook-turned-chef Mike Satinover.

Why we love it: After years of doing pop-ups, Satinover (famously known as ramen_lord on Reddit) took the plunge and opened his own noodle shop in Logan Square. Armed with knowledge and experience gained from time spent studying abroad in Japan, he presents a tight menu of ramen and sides. We slurped the namesake Akahoshi Miso ramen—a soulful bowl of rich broth teeming with homemade Sapporo-style noodles, bean sprouts, green onions, bamboo shoots and chashu—until there was nothing left, but Monthly specials inspired by Satinover's extensive knowledge of ramen styles from around the world (we enjoyed a bowl of spicy miso on a recent visit) deserve a spot at your table, too.

Time Out tip: The restaurant accepts walk-ins each night starting at 5pm. But if you don’t feel like waiting an hour (or more), reservations go live at noon on Mondays.

Address: Noca Blu Apartment Homes, 2340 N California Ave

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 5-9pm

Expect to pay: $20-$30 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
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  • Brazilian
  • River West/West Town
  • price 2 of 4

What is it? Chef John Manion’s sultry ode to Brazil, serving flame-roasted Latin American dishes, caipirinhas, and wine in West Town

Why we love it: The latest opening from Manion blends South American culinary traditions with Midwestern sensibility. Similar to sister concept El Che Steakhouse & Bar, Brasero places a focus on live-fire cooking, offering dishes like charcoal-kissed seafood, slow-grilled young chicken and juicy wagyu picanha. But the rest of the menu is also filled with surefire hits, from moqueca-style noodles to scallop aguachile that’s as delicious as it is beautiful. The cocktail list complements the food with refreshing sippers like the classic caipirinha.

Time Out tip: The wine list features an impressive 100 South American bottles under $100, but if that's not enough for you, you can BYOB. Expect a corkage fee of $60 per bottle with a limit of two bottles per table.

Address: 1709 W Chicago Ave

Opening hours: Tue, Wed 5-9pm; Thu-Sat 5-10pm; Sun 10am-3pm, 5-9pm

Expect to pay: $50-$100 per person

Jeffy Mai
Jeffy Mai
Editor, Time Out Chicago
  • Chinese
  • Armour Square
  • price 1 of 4

What is it? Known to many as QXY, this Chinatown mainstay is the dumpling authority of Chicago.

Why we love it: When it comes to dumplings, we're of the mindset that more is always better. It's why we flock to QXY for the seemingly endless menu that details dozens of fillings that are sorted by protein—from pork and pickled cabbage to scallop and lotus root. If you can dream it, they probably have it. (Seriously, if you want dumplings stuffed with sea whelk, leeks and eggs, you can find it here.) Place your order with the whole household in mind—that way, you can try a few different flavors in one sitting. And beyond the dumpling wrapper, you can pad out your feast with side dishes like lamb kebabs, crisp cucumber salad and potato salad.

Time Out tip: QXY also has a location at Time Out Market Chicago, the culinary and cultural hub in Fulton Market.

Address: HeungSeng Square, 2002 S Wentworth Ave #103

Opening hours: Daily 11:30am-9pm

Expect to pay: $20-$30 per person

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  • Logan Square

What is it? A Midwestern pasta palace from Joe Frillman in Logan Square.

Why we love it: There's something about tucking into a bowl of handmade pasta that feels like a big, warm hug. That's why we ring Daisies when we've had a long day. The menu is built around a roster of rotating pasta dishes that change with the season to highlight super-fresh ingredients like lentils, stinging nettle and green garlic. Each bite tastes a bit more special when you hear about Frillman Farms, which is owned and operated by Frillman's younger brother, Tim, and provides produce to the kitchen (as well as many other top eateries across the country). The space is also open during the day, when you can grab coffee and delightful pastries (hot dog croissant, anyone?) from Leigh Omilinsky.

Time Out tip: Don't forget, the space is also open during the day, when you can grab coffee and delightful pastries (hot dog croissant, anyone?) from Leigh Omilinsky.

Address: 2523 N Milwaukee Ave

Opening hours: Mon 7am-3pm; Tue-Thu, Sun 7am-10pm; Fri, Sat 7am-11pm

Expect to pay: $50 to $100 per person

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