The best restaurants in Logan Square

Chef Diana Davila’s extensive travels through Mexico with her family inspire the menu at Mi Tocaya Antojeria, which offers excellent versions of favorites like a grilled steak burrito plus more unusual dishes such as queso fundido with goat birria and nopales tacos made with chihuahua cheese-crusted corn tortillas. The drink menu spotlights organic and biodynamic wines alongside cocktails that highlight the flavors of Mexico, such as the Chicana, a mix of charred tortilla-infused sotol, herbal liqueur, Mexican oregano and lime juice.

Bold and ambitious chef Otto 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 this nondescript Logan Square restaurant, which is also one of the most expensive experiences in town. Those who dine at Kyoten are treated to a front-row view of Phan masterfully slicing fish and serving it on extra large rice grains that have been seasoned with aged red vinegar. You’ll pay a pretty penny but get to enjoy some of the finest bites money can buy, made with luxurious products flown in from Japan.

Jason Hammel's farm-to-table restaurant essentially kickstarted the culinary scene in Logan Square when it opened in 1999. Since then, it has continued to offer approachable, delectable dishes with an emphasis on seasonality. You'll find a mix of contemporary American fare and more experimental dishes on the menu, but the prices are reasonable and servers can always point you in the right direction.

Beyond a handful of day-one dishes, the menu at Daisies in Logan Square is constantly changing. That's mostly thanks to Frillman Farms, operated by chef and owner Joe Frillman's brother, Tim. The restaurant and farm work together to put the freshest produce in front of diners. Taste the difference in seasonal dishes like the winter squash with spiced ricotta, sage and maple brown butter. No trip to Daisies is complete without a bowl of handmade pasta: try agnolotti with beets and smoked trout roe or pappardelle with mushroom ragu, basil and Parmesan.

You'll need a reservation (well in advance) to grab one of the 44 seats at chef Jason Vincent's diminutive Logan Square restaurant. Though space is tight, Giant realizes its ambitions through shared plates of “simple, unpretentious Midwestern fare.” The menu is accessible yet adventurous, including saffron tagliatelle with dungeness crab and chili butter and sweet and spicy peppers with aged provolone and anchovy bread. Accompanied by a glass of wine, Giant offers the kind of meal that should live up to your huge expectations.

Le Bouchon owner Oliver Poilevey and chef Marcos Ascencio raised the bar for tacos in Chicago with the opening of Taqueria Chingon in 2020. The pair pay homage to Mexico City with incredible tacos al pastor—filled with either traditional marinated pork or portobello mushrooms and celery root. The restaurant often offers tantalizing specials, too, such as pulpo al pastor. And make sure to save room for the irresistible churros.

Truth is, you can't go wrong with Longman & Eagle. No matter the occasion or time of day, this Logan Square restaurant serves stellar fare and cocktails. If you're going for dinner, arrive ready to eat something adventurous (yes, this might involve organ meat). Whiskey lovers have one of the city's largest collections to try. If you really fall in love with the place, you can stay the night in one of the six rooms upstairs.

Owner Ethan Pikas changes the dinner menu at Cellar Door Provisions weekly, so you never know exactly what you’ll find. The focus is always on natural wine, complemented by many fermentation and preservation techniques, and plenty of fresh veggies. The restaurant makes its own fish sauce, miso and vinegar to use in dishes like marinated olives and bread with briny butter and fermented eggplant dip.

After eight years of contract brewing, Middle Brow Beer & Wine Co. landed a home of its own on a bustling stretch of Armitage Avenue in Logan Square. Sporting rustic brick walls, a trio of foeders (giant wooden barrels used for aging) looming over the dining area and a spacious bar, Bungalow tries to create a welcoming environment for guests to sample Middle Brow's lagers, wild beers and natural wine. Tavern-style pizzas fill tables on Tuesday nights, with the action spilling out onto the patio when the weather cooperates.

A special “noodle lab” machine produces the noodles at Monster Ramen, which are then carefully inspected and aged for 48 hours before being dropped into a bowl for your slurping pleasure. Grab a seat at the bar to watch the process and the rest of the action happening in the small kitchen while you wait for the house shoyu made with beef jam, katsuo soy tare and crushed garlic or their beef-based gyukotsu.

Imported from Brooklyn, Paulie Gee's boasts two massive Stefano Ferrara ovens from Napoli, Italy. That's where the magic happens. Choose from the restaurant's iconic bubbly, thin-crust pies or try one of the "Logan Squares," a Detroit-style pizza that has a caramelized crust. With creative ingredients like maple syrup, house-pickled pineapple, bacon jam and kimchi, these pies are some of the best in Chicago.

Regional Piedmontese cuisine is Osteria Langhe's specialty, and that means ingredients like truffles, cream and eggy pastas appear on this streamlined menu. The plin, miniature agnolotti filled with cheese, are beautiful and light; the carne cruda is impeccably seasoned; and a rotating selection of salads are fresh and well-dressed. On Wednesdays, you can experience a taste of Piedmont with four courses for $55.

Former RPM chef Doug Psaltis and his wife pastry chef Hsing Chen are behind this popular Greek restaurant that emphasizes traditional dishes made with sustainably sourced meat and seafood. Start with a selection of mezze, such as roasted calamari or a charred eggplant spread, then feast on tender grilled octopus. Dine inside to watch your meal being cooked in the open kitchen or take advantage of the enclosed outdoor patio that stays open throughout the winter.

The brainchild of chefs Zeeshan Shah and Yoshi Yamada, Superkhana International presents unique spins on classic Indian flavors. That means calzones stuffed with butter chicken, palak paneer-inspired pizza, breakfast dosa hash and saffron cardamom ice cream sandwiches. The cocktails are similarly interesting and include an old fashioned mixed with ghee-washed bourbon.

The menu is brief at this greasy late-night favorite but regulars don’t mind a bit. Not when they can have snappy Depression Dogs, delectable fried shrimp and one of the city’s best burgers for just $6. Smashed on the grill and dressed with special sauce and LTO, the burger is an unbeatable deal. And it comes with a side of fries.

Ramen is a labor of love and at this popular Logan Square joint, you can truly taste the kitchen’s dedication to the craft. You’ll want to first start with an order of pork belly buns or chicken karaage before moving onto the main event—the tonkotsu ramen. Made from boiling pork bones for days, the rich and creamy broth is teeming with springy noodles, a soft-boiled egg and Berkshire pork belly. It’s a hearty and comforting meal in a bowl.

Veterans of the Whistler and Boiler Room joined together to open this bar, which focuses on gin-based cocktails. One of the two rooms here (the one filled with couches and curtains) looks a lot like the Violet Hour, which makes sense since cocktails are the main draw. The other room is less loungey, boasts a long bar and is truer to what Scofflaw is—a top-notch, friendly neighborhood joint.

Sibling to Andersonville’s Little Bad Wolf, Gretel offers a deeply eclectic menu including tonkatsu ramen, pork belly nachos smothered in Carolina barbecue sauce and steak frites. But its real claim to fame is one of the best burgers in the city—two griddled patties topped with white and yellow American cheese, red onion, garlic aioli and pickles. Ask the bartender  to suggest something from the massive whiskey selection so you can watch them pull a bottle down with the help of a sliding ladder.

Tasty tacos, burritos and tortas draw Chicagoans to this popular taqueria in Logan Square. Though you can get everything from al pastor and chorizo to pescado and camarones, our go-to is the carne asada. The marinated chunks of steak are always juicy and tender, and require only a splash of salsa to reach perfection. It’s best to order ahead to avoid a lengthy wait.

Chef Justin Kaialoa sources whole animals from Midwestern farmers for his charcuterie-focused menu, making gourmet sandwiches like the Finocchiona & Butter with fennel seed salami, Wisconsin farm butter, arugula and sea salt. You can build your own meat and cheese plate or just opt for recommended pairings. The spot also offers deli sandwiches for lunch and a case of baked-in-house pastries.

The trifecta of carbohydrates that is the base of Reno—bagels, pasta and pizza—commands fanaticism on its own. It's the execution of each dish that makes this a place worth coming back to (perhaps multiple times a day, if you can stomach all that gluten — though they also have gluten-free pizza crusts if you can’t). The vegan Montreal-style bagels are chewy and savory, and can be topped with housemade jam or a variety of schmears including whipped feta and garlic hummus. Wood-fired pizzas arrive covered with fresh toppings on a thin, not-too-hearty crust—and you can score quarter pie slices for $5 from 4-6pm Monday through Thurssday . Leave room for some house-made pasta such as cavatelli topped with truffle oil, gouda, cream and bagel crumbs.

Delivering meat-free delights since 1983, Chicago Diner is a beacon for veggie-forward dining. Expect classics with a twist, such as a Reuben loaded with corned beef-style seitan and truffle mushroom lentil loaf served with roasted potatoes. The vegan milkshakes are not to be missed, either.

Established in 1921, Margie’s is an old school institution that’s part candy shop and part ice cream parlor. No matter your age, stepping into this time warp and ordering a banana split or sundae will have you feeling like a kid again. Large groups can attempt to tackle a massive 25-scoop sundae packed with a variety of flavors and toppings if they’re up for a challenge.

Season two of The Bear showed off the giant slices of New York-style pizza you can grab from the takeout window of Pizza Lobo’s Logan Square restaurant, but if you have time you should linger on the massive patio and play a round of bocce or warm up around a fire pit. Inside you’ll find a 360-degree bar pouring draft beer by the pint or pitcher along with frozen pina coladas and margaritas to cool off your mouth after a bite of the Borgata, pepperoni pizza drizzled with calabrian chile honey.

The jibarito is an iconic Chicago sandwich that was first invented in the ‘90s by local restaurateur Juan Figueroa. Though it’s widely available at most Puerto Rican spots these days, Jibaritos Y Mas offers arguably the finest version. Following the original recipe, slices of steak, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and garlic aioli are tucked between two planks of fried plantain. You can also get it with other proteins like chicken, roasted pork and shrimp.

You'll find lines of people in front of this popular Logan Square shop waiting for two things: pie and biscuits. While the pie list is streamlined (around six slices a day, that's it), the biscuit menu features biscuit sandwiches, biscuits drowning in gravy and biscuits piled with eggs and candied bacon, among other iterations. Enjoy a biscuit (and some dessert, naturally) on the outdoor patio if the weather is decent—and if you need caffeinating you can pair it with a cup of coffee or tea.

The gastropub next door to sibling spot Lardon received a Michelin Bib Gourmand nod in 2023 for its creative comfort food. The seasonal menu focuses on sustainable Midwestern ingredients with dishes including smoked trout spread accompanied by Old Bay potato chips, and a wood-grilled pork chop served with bacon lardons, sauerkraut and beer mustard. The list of 24 drafts from around the Great Lakes changes daily, and there are more than 200 whiskeys to sip.

With some three dozen rotating custard and plant-based ice cream novelties, this colorful Logan Square shop deliciously melds imagination and nostalgia on a stick. Starring cream from dairy farms in Ilinois and an ever-shifting cast of fruits sourced via Local Foods, the pops stand out most for their beautiful density and texture. Our go-to favorites are the tangy, chewy buttermilk bars and the Smurf-hued Blue Moon, a vegan homage to the Midwestern ice cream flavor.

The trompo turning in Don Bucio’s Taqueria isn’t actually pork—it’s a mix of legumes and root vegetables cleverly molded to provide the char of tacos al pastor without the meat. It’s just one of the plant-based spins on Mexican favorites offered at the new spot from James Beard Award-nominated chef Rodolfo Cuadros of Bloom Plant Based Kitchen and Amaru, with other juicy options including marinated soy-based flank steak fajitas and forest mushroom asada.

This sibling location of Roscoe Village's popular Cuban carryout joint is nearly a spitting image of the original—same toasted Cuban sandwiches, same flaky empanadas, same garlicky yuca chips, same potent café con leche. But even if the tiny interior, with its newspaper-covered walls, elicits the same claustrophobia, the big draws here are the spacious front and back patios, tropical ambience and mixers to turn BYO liquor into mojitos.

From the folks who brought us Parson's Chicken & Fish and Longman & Eagle comes this bubbly, light-filled café that specializes in Tex-Mex fare. Offering margaritas by the pitcher, Baja fish tacos, burritos, big bowls of queso and horchata soft serve, Lonesome Rose is an easy-to-love spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Oh, and don't forget about the killer weekend brunch!

The sibling spot to Osteria Langhe serves a mix of Italian staples, such as bucatini carbonara and bigoli cacio e pepe, plus traditional Roman dishes like porchetta cooked in a wood-burning oven. Owner Aldo Zaninotto designs the rotating list of wines from throughout Italy, though you can also opt for a cocktail like the Honey Refresher, a blend of bourbon, grapefruit juice and black pepper honey.

A rotating cast of chefs test new concepts at The Duplex, which launched with a pair of ghost kitchens, so you might find barbecue and burgers one month and empanadas and meatballs the next. It’s a great place for adventurous eaters who want to be in the know about up-and-coming culinary stars and you can always rely on an excellent classic cocktail. Visit during brunch for DJ beats, fried chicken and waffles with hot honey, and bottomless mimosas.

Housed in a space that formerly hosted a dry cleaner (hence the name), the centerpiece of Same Day Cafe’s menu is the grilled cheese, served on thick rosemary bread—make sure it's accompanied by a cup of rich tomato soup. A soda fountain offers a variety of sodas concoctions, like a lemon lavender phosphate and On the Beach, a blend of grapefruit, jalapeno and lime. For something even more decadent, opt for a shake, malt or ice cream sundae.

This cafe offers a huge selection of chai ranging from traditional masala chai to ginger cardamom and caramel sea salt. Enjoy your tea with a curried kale and potato hand pie, curry bowl, momo dumplings, naan or other Indian and Nepalese dishes that will leave you feeling equally warm. If you’re not a fan of chai, there are a variety of other teas available as well as espresso drinks—and if you prefer something boozy, you can also enjoy the Indian spices in a bourbon ginger masala cocktail. Chiya Chai also boasts locations in the Loop and Chicago Riverwalk, serving many of the same drinks and dishes.

Get a taste of the Caribbean at this small, family-owned brunch spot, where the specialty is coquito French toast topped with toasted coconut and housemade rum vanilla syrup, ideally paired with a coquito latte infused with coconut, vanilla and cinnamon. If that’s too sweet, there’s also plenty of savory fare like a jerk chicken and plantain skillet, jibaritos and guava barbecue chicken wings. Bring the kids for pint-sized portions of breakfast favorites.

A casual, affordable spot in west Logan Square, Wyler Road is a sandwich place/bar from the team behind nearby bar The Burlington. This place is adorable, with tall mint green bar stools, lots of wood and windows for light, plus dishes served on mismatched china that you can’t help but photograph before diving in. Opt for deli staples like a turketta club with red miso mayo or a reuben made with corned beef or seitan, adding on a side like cheese curds with housemade ranch. A weekend brunch menu features hearty eats like a reuben benedict and croque madame.