The 29 best restaurants in Pilsen

The letters S.K.Y. stand for Seon Kyung Yuk, the wife of chef-owner Stephen Gillanders. At the couple's stunning Pilsen restaurant, the husband-and-wife duo presents classic dishes from their travels that have been livened up with unexpected ingredients and cooking techniques. Start with an order of the cornbread Madeleines, which are simultaneously crisp and buttery, before digging into supple Maine lobster dumplings, addicting fried chicken with habanero butter and deeply satisfying foie gras bibimbap.

We find ourselves coming back to the same two words to describe chef Thai Dang’s cooking: unapologetically authentic. Dang and his wife, Danielle, are the masterminds behind the Vietnamese kitchens HaiSous. where they present recipes that are deeply rooted in family tradition. Using fresh herbs, pristine seafood and of-the-moment produce, the Dangs invite you to join them on a sensory journey through Vietnam.

For more than 40 years, this family-owned, no frill spot has been bringing in crowds hungry for its enormous chicharrones and carnitas. Choose how fatty you want the meat, which is served by the pound with tortillas, lime, onion and cilantro so you can make tacos at your table, adding a few squeezes from their bottles of red and green salsa. The flavor and great value often leads to long lines, but it’s worth the wait.

XOCO alum chef Alfonso Sotelo's dishes are delightfully comforting with just the right amount of personality. Whether you order a big plate of tacos (which won’t break the bank at $3.75 a piece) or our favorite, the warm and hearty green chicken tamal, you’ll feel welcome at 5 Rabanitos. Expect thoughtful plating (with slivers of radishes on every dish—hence the name) and potentially a visit from Sotelo himself. This is his restaurant, and he’s happy to serve you.

As much as we’d like to think we can eat a whole pie ourselves, individual hand-pies are much easier to eat when you’re dining solo. Pleasant House Pub specializes in savory handmade pies, filled with fragrant chicken balti or mushroom and kale. Order your pie with a side of fluffy mashed potatoes and vegan gravy, which can also crown your pie. This British pub also has rotating savory and vegan pies, ensuring that all diners have options. Pro-tip: Start your meal with the Welsh Rarebit, a scrumptious sourdough toast topped with their creamy beer cheese.

Longtime Maxwell Street Market vendor Rubi's moved into a brick and mortar space in Pilsen, serving a menu of tacos and quesadillas featuring charcoal-grilled asada and pastor. Hours are limited and you'll probably want to order head to avoid waiting in line, but the generously-stuffed tacos and quesadillas are well worth the trouble—especially if you've missed digging into Rubi's signature dishes every Sunday on Desplaines Street.

Expect to be presented with a big hunk of carnitas as soon as you enter this tiny, takeout-only Pilsen storefront. Ordered by the pound, the juicy pork is served to you on a platter with nothing but a side of corn tortillas and a spicy salsa verde so you can concoct your own tacos. Not leaving any part of the pig to waste, the limited menu also includes fresh, warm, delicious chicharrones.

This old-school favorite opened its doors in the Heart of Italy neighborhood in 1933, which almost explains the faded travel posters and weary saloon decor. But the kitchen is far from tired, going beyond typical pastas and parmigianas to specialize in rustic dishes from Siena. Listed between the Chicken Vesuvio and the stuffed shells are a rich ravioli filled with porcini mushrooms and a spirited rendition of penne alla puttanesca. Stop at the bar for a digestif with the locals on your way out.

Watch the action in the open kitchen at La Luna while you wait to try their seasonal menu of Mexican fare including chicken thighs smothered in mole negro and beef soup with dried chiles. Split a pitcher of margaritas that can be spiced to your liking or get your tequila straight with a flight of premium pours. Happy hour is a great deal and the kitchen is open until midnight on the weekend to satisfy late night taco cravings.

Pilsen has no shortage of restaurants with tasty bites paired with cocktails and a lively atmosphere—and Pilsen Yards fully embodies this trend. The menu of Latin street food with a global twist features imaginative starters like fire-roasted shishito peppers with Oaxaca cheese and carrots al pastor served with a cilantro pesto and a lime crema. Maybe you’re not into sharing? Get a crispy tempura fish taco or a decadent lamb shank with guajillo braise and parsnip puree. While you’re waiting for a table, order the smoky mezcal margarita or a boozy old fashioned.

A seasoned veteran of the sushi world, Ismael Lucero Lopez has spent decades meticulously refining his skills in slicing pristine fish. At Madai, the menu honors traditional Japanese flavors while weaving in elements of Latin and Pan-Asian influences. Satisfy your cravings for raw seafood by indulging in inventive maki rolls like the La Baja—panko shrimp, akami and avocado, crowned with marinated jalapeños—or put your trust in Lopez and opt for the luxurious 13-course omakase experience at the sushi counter. Whichever you choose, you’ll savor the essence of fresh, open waters through Lopez’s impeccable creations. You can also check out Madai at Time Out Market Chicago, the food and cultural hub in Fulton Market.

Grab a pair of tongs and pile your tray with treats from the display cases at Panaderia Nuevo Leon, which has been baking colorful conchas, flan, churros and other Mexican-style pastries since 1973. The vegan-friendly sweets and small-batch flour tortillas are also a favorite, the latter offered in flavors including black bean and habanero. Prices are cheap so try a few to find your favorite.

If you’re looking for a hearty lunch or early dinner option, Yvolina’s Tamales is the place to be. Yvolina’s takes a distinctive approach to tamales by serving them in banana leaves instead of corn husks making the tamales extra-moist. Tamale enthusiasts have a choice of red or green mole sauce (both can be made vegan) accompanied by innovative filings like kale, eggplant or quinoa, as well as more traditional fillings such as pork, steak and chicken. Each tamale is large and stuffed generously for less than $8—and you can snag one with rice and beans for just $12.

While it’s grown to four locations in the Chicago area, Bob’s Pizza started here with executive chef Matt Wilde inventing a “Pilsen-style pizza” that adds a puffy Neapolitan crust onto the base of a New York-style pie with Old Style beer mixed into the dough. Bring a friend or two to the BYOB spot to split a pie loaded with sausage and pickled onions or get a little weird with the pickle pizza topped with thin slices of housemade dill pickles and garlic cream sauce.

The dozens of paletas available at La Michoacana Premium are among the city's best, with rich flavors like blackberry or fruity kiwi frozen with strawberries plus creamy coconut and caramel bars. For something really decadent, go for a chocolate-covered esquimal sprinkled with nuts. Rounding out the menu are snacks like elotes, nachos, and sliced open bags of Cheetos, Takis or Tostitos smothered in toppings like nacho cheese, chili powder, jicama and jalapenos.

Honky Tonk BBQ rebranded as The Tonk last year, but it hasn’t changed its focus on dry-rubbed smoked meats served with housemade Chicago sweet, tangy Memphis and Carolina butter garlic sauces on the side. Find your favorite by ordering a personal platter with pulled pork and brisket served with Hawaiian bread and a side of candied yams or mac & cheese. The spot also regularly hosts live music—not just the country you might expect but R&B, jazz and new wave.

This bustling sit-down Mexican spot serves excellent tacos on fresh tortillas piled with fillings like spicy chorizo and tender steak, topped with onions and cilantro. Dress them with salsa served from squeeze bottles and spicy pickled veggies, including carrots and jalapeños, which can be fished out of a jar that sits on each table. Just try not fill up on the complimentary chips and salsa.

When it comes to truth in advertising, this 18th Street counter-service spot is 50 percent on target. Pollo: check. Express: well, that’s debatable. However lackadaisical the service, it’s serious about the first part. Order a whole or half roasted bird plain or adobado (the latter, spiced version is the way to go). Legs and thighs are moist, and the drier rest is easily spruced up with fresh, warm tortillas, fluffy rice, porky beans and pickled onions.

There are a few birrierias (spots that specialize in Mexican goat stew) sprinkled throughout the city, but all it takes is one visit to this one before you stop caring about the rest. There's just over half a dozen items here, but after trying the delectable tongue tacos, the cabeza tacos full of luscious beef cheeks, the simple yet rich goat consommé or the goat tacos bursting with sumptuous meat, you’ll find you won’t want for anything else.

We could tell you the tres leches cake is moist, rich and milky. But it’s enough to say that Rick Bayless name-checked Kristoffer's as his favorite, and it’s the best reason to visit this dim, quiet Pilsen café. Pair a slice of the caramel version with a cup of Intelligentsia coffee for a one-two sugar-caffeine punch.

This colorful Pilsen stalwart, open since 1994, is both a quick spot to grab coffee en route to the train and a neighborhood gathering place for low-key breakfasts or pounding away on laptops. The espresso bar serves the basics, as well as a terrific sweet Thai iced coffee, while the simple food menu includes bagels for breakfast and soups and sandwiches for lunch.

A good brewpub is equal parts stellar beer and filling bites to keep your stomach padded while you drink. Alulu checks both boxes with intriguing suds (like a blonde infused with earl grey tea and Citra hops) and delicious shareable plates, such as beer bread and a vegan jackfruit pizza. Stick around for the various sandwiches and burgers, including plant-based options that are made in-house.

The only decision you’ll need to make at this casual counter-service joint is how many of the signature tacos you want and if you’d like to opt for chicken, shrimp or veggies instead of the traditional birria. Made with cheese quesadillas and corn tortilla soaked in fatty broth, the gooey tacos are served with a side of rice and beans plus onion, cilantro, green salsa and bussin sauce. They regularly sell out, so be sure to get your fix early.

The low-key café cranks out hot, crispy, cinnamony tube treats. The churros are solid as is, but you can crank it up a notch with fillings—vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, cream cheese or the flavor of the day, which can range from guave to the eggnog-like Rompope. Pair the sweet with coffee, or go all in with milkshake.

Chef Carlos Garcia offers a taste of Mexico City at El Taco Azteca, where the long tables and large booths make a great place to gather with friends and share plates of guacamole topped with pork belly and cheese fondue with chorizo. The tacos are the real star, with creative fillings including michelada-marinated ribeye, salmon with fried leeks and a vegan spin on a Philly cheesesteak. A pitcher of margaritas or palomas complete the experience, and the restaurant also offers ponche to warm you up during the winter.

This South Asian-inspired chocolate cafe is a one-stop shop for all your dreamy dessert needs. While stopping in to buy tantalizing truffles for your loved ones (or yourself), treat yourself to decadent sipping chocolate, available in alluring flavors like Kashmiri Chili and Original Sin. Maybe you’re more of a pastry enthusiast? Try Uzma's freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, salted caramel date cake or a flourless orange chocolate cake if you’re gluten free.

The bright colored walls, vibrant mural and local artwork at La Malinche Coffee & Tea House will help get you in a good mood in the morning, though the rest of the work will be done by a cafe de olla or one of their artisanal fruit teas. The blends of dehydrated fruits and flowers like strawberry & mango or the ponche-inspired guava punch are delicious hot or cold and you can even grab a bag to take home.

This restaurant—adjacent to La Casa Del Pueblo grocery store—looks less like a restaurant than a cafeteria. But you’re not here for the atmosphere—you’re here for the incredible, tender tamales. While you’re at it, check out some other dishes, like the tortas de camaron (fried shrimp patties) or chicharrones en salsa verde (pork rinds soaked in a green chile sauce). But beware the pico de gallo—it’s green not from cilantro, but from jalapeño.

The cozy taqueria piles corn tortillas, rice and beans with flavorful fillings, with options including the guisado de puerco taco featuring pork stewed in chile guajillo, the equally juicy tacos de costillas made from beef ribs, and skirt steak grilled with jalapenos. They also offer giant quesadillas, spicy pozole and a great cheeseburger with fries.