The 25 best restaurants near Wrigley Field

Nestled inside the 173-room Hotel Zachary, Mordecai exemplifies the North Side neighborhood’s new direction, one that veers sharply away from its blue-collar roots and rundown bro bars. Here, guests can splurge on limited-edition pours and rare spirits while noshing on miso roasted cauliflower, wagyu tartare and lobster tagliolini. For the discerning but casual palate, there's ballpark-inspired eats like crackerjack beignets and a meatball sub for lunch.

Pizza aficionados go nuts for Coalfire's blistered thin-crust pies, which are topped with everything from bacon jam and soppressata to pistachio pesto and honey. The joint's most famous (and Instagrammable) pie is the pepperoni and whipped ricotta, which is dotted with thick-cut rounds of meat and dollops of herb-speckled cheese. Coalfire doesn't accept reservations, so plan accordingly on game days.

Locals may never see eye to eye with New Yorkers when it comes to pizza, but Zaza’s is certainly doing its best to be the great unifier. The Lakeview pizzeria makes remarkable New York-style pies that will impress even the most diehard supporters of deep dish and tavern style. The crust is brushed with herb-infused olive oil and stands up to the toppings—which range from charred shallots and roasted Yukon Gold potatoes to hot soppressata—so you won’t be getting any floppy slices. Build your own pizza or go with one of the original creations like the Truffle Mushroom Pie (garlic cream, mozzarella, cremini mushrooms, goat cheese, truffle oil, chives).

Husband-and-wife team Chinh Pham and Son Do say they crafted the menu for their Lakeview Vietnamese restaurant Sochi Saigonese based on memories from growing up in Saigon (present-day Ho Chi Minh City), a fact reflected in the stunning attention to detail in each dish. You can't go wrong with the Slap Yo Mama crab fried rice, but we’re arguably most smitten with the restaurant’s small-batch, ultra-fragrant pho—simmered for 10 hours and loaded with rosy slivers of brisket, flank steak, rice noodles and herbs, it’s a marvel from the first slurp to the very last. 

Things to know when planning a trip to this Argentine grill: You will wait for a table, and when it’s time to order, it’s best to keep it simple. Start with a plate of empanadas to share, then order a perfectly seared steak to dunk in the house chimichurri sauce and finish with the flan. Bring along that bottle of big red wine you’ve been holding on to, drink it with your slab of beef, sit outside on the sidewalk and enjoy the live Latin guitar—is life really always this sweet in Buenos Aires?

Even non-vegetarians know the Chicago Diner, a local, meat-free institution that's been around since 1983. Though the wait for weekend brunch can be painful, guests are rewarded with dense soy margarine biscuits with seitan gravy, vegan cinnamon rolls and a Monte Cristo made with melted cheese and seitan bacon. No matter what time of day it is, consider ordering one of the restaurant's award-winning vegan milkshakes in flavors like chocolate chip cookie dough and matcha.

This cozy, upscale-feeling Lakeview restaurant highlights Southern Italian fare on its lengthy menu, with dishes like wood-grilled octopus, Neapolitan wood–fired pizzas and house-made pastas. Unlike some of its kid-friendly neighbors, this spot feels very sophisticated, making it an ideal destination for date night or catching up with a few close friends.

Big Star's second location brings queso fundido, tacos and margaritas to Wrigleyville. The 9,000-square-foot space, which is situated just across the street from Wrigley Field, offers several ways to enjoy your tortilla-wrapped goods: Grab takeout from the walk-up window, snag a seat inside or, if the sun is shining, request a table on the sprawling outdoor patio.

From the mind of Momotaro executive chef Gene Kato comes this Lakeview robata restaurant. Itoko specializes in meats grilled over Japanese charcoal and family-style dishes like whole branzino, ramen and chicken katsu. For sushi lovers, there are temaki hand rolls and house specialty maki rolls.

The basic menu appeases the masses that flood the simple, minimalist room of this top-notch Thai joint. But the true standouts can be found on the translated Thai-language menu, with never-fail flavor explosions such as tart and smoky pork-and-rice sausage; ground chicken with crispy basil and preserved eggs; and warm sweet-and-sour beef jerky. Don’t disregard the specials board; promising rotations have included basil duck stir-fried with garlic and mushrooms, and lettuce wrap–ready deep-fried mackerel with apples, cucumbers, fish sauce and chilies.

No matter what type of handheld you're craving, this tiny Wrigleyville stand is bound to have it. There are hot dogs, chili dogs, corn dogs, bratwursts, burgers, Italian beefs and gyros—and that's just scratching the surface. Byron's opens at 10:30am daily and closes at 9pm, making it all too easy to get your fix morning or night.

Grab a bench at the bar (that’s right, there are tall, two-seat benches practically made for couples) and order a round of cocktails before digging into thoughtfully composed dishes like the frisee and radicchio salad with feta and fig vinaigrette. The charcuterie/brunch menu is enticing enough to lure you back the following day to sample French onion or creamy mushroom toast dishes. 

Like many other Wrigleyville outposts of Chicago staples, Swift and Sons Tavern brings the same quality as its steakhouse sibling, but with a more neighborhood-y twist. Oysters are a specialty of this Boka Restaurant Group concept so be sure to slurp a few (or half dozen) during lunch or dinner. The tavern burger and the ribeye Italian beef sandwich are also approachable crowd-pleasers.

Corridor has a different and well-defined focus and feel. The DryHop Brewery project hones in on farmhouse ales and hop-forward beers on its continually changing beer list. Wizard Fight is the only constant offering, and the citrus-y Cosmic Juicebox IPA is a nice choice as a staple beer. Food ranges from traditional bar snacks (cauliflower cheese curds and pesto fries) to artisanal pizza. The rustic interior and outdoor patio make it a sight to see along the Southport Corridor. 

The Jewish deli puts unique twists on old-time classics—from Reubens to hotdogs, expect high-quality meats, locally-sourced produce, exceptional bagels and freshly-baked breads to constitute your breakfast, lunch or brunch. Perusing the signature sandwiches menu feels like a family reunion—the pastrami spiced turkey Grandma Rachel and Uncle Paul BLT feel like warm, inviting hugs wrapped in grilled challah and rye, respectively. 

Formerly a West Loop staple, Little Goat Diner has been revived on the Southport Corridor. Chef Stephanie Izard delivers classic diner fare with twists, including a Little Goat Reuben, Fat Elvis pancakes with bacan maple syrup and a French onion omlette. It's the perfect place to start the day off before a Wrigleyville bar crawl or Cubs game, or if you're just looking for an elevated weekend brunch.

This Southport Corridor spot bends over backward for area families. There's a stroller valet and stools in the bathroom for wee ones, and kids eat free every day from 4–6pm. For adults, there's a bar slinging craft beers, a rotisserie putting out crispy-skinned chicken and a menu of sandiwches, salads, warm corn bread and crab cakes (more crab than cake). At weekend brunch, the straightforward menu is perfectly executed, with buttery biscuits served with seasonal fruit jam, thick chocolate chip pancakes with espresso chocolate sauce, and fat links of sausage.

Hogsalt’s popular burger offshoot Small Cheval has an outpost in Wrigleyville. Though this isn’t the exact same burger as West Loop flagship Au Cheval (it’s a little smaller and cheaper), you won’t have to wait two hours in line. You can add bacon (it’s thinner than at Au Cheval), and lettuce and tomato, even though the burger doesn’t need them. The super-thin patties themselves don’t add much flavor, but the perfectly melted cheese, Dijon, onion, pickles and puffy bun add up to a delicious combination.

You can't go wrong with barbecue on game day. In the shadows of Wrigley Field, Smoke Daddy's newer location puts you right in the middle of the action while still serving better-than-concessions offerings. Try a little of everything with the "Taste of the Daddy"—brisket, pulled pork, full rack of ribs, half chicken, hot links, mac and cheese, pit beans, slaw and pickles. Revisit your plans after chowing down because you may need a nap.

If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, grab a seat at Lowcountry, located just south of the Wrigleyville border. The lively restaurant specializes in seafood boils, with options like shrimp, snow crab legs, mussels and lobster tail. Simply choose a sauce, select a heat level and opt to add in corn on the cob, potatoes and sausage (all of the above). While you wait for the main event, snack on deep-fried oreos and beignets. Fear not, first-timers: The staff here is happy to help you figure out how to get into your crustaceans.

You might expect a place that has a 70% vegetarian menu to serve boring dishes made with soy milk and flaxseeds. But this coffee shop/bar/restaurant/performance space will surprise you. During brunch, the winners keep coming: The uncommon huevos are gooey, cheesy and substitute black-bean cakes for tortillas; and the savory French toast is stuffed with ham and rosemary Neufchâtel cheese. Nightly dinner specials (think: maple butter pork belly) and shareables (think: Korean calamari, cheese curds, etc.) come with curated beer pairing recommendations.

With hundreds of tin robots, wind-up toys and other kitschy gewgaws covering every inch of wall space, your short wait for lunch here will be spent giggling about Pez dispensers you had as a kid. Entrées typically zoom out of the kitchen, especially on busy weekend nights. Start with the egg rolls, which are light and crisp enough that you’ll have plenty of room for a heaping plate of rama, with its rich peanut sauce, crunchy steamed broccoli and perfectly fried cubes of firm tofu.

Those who enjoy eating dinner by the light of a flickering television will appreciate the numerous flatscreen wall ornaments at this Southport Corridor sports bar. As its name suggests, the menu is all about the meats, which come on bread and buns. The sandwiches and burgers at the Butcher's Tap are standard bar fare, but the portions are large and the expansive beer menu offers numerous ways to wash down all of that protein.

The Lakeview barbecue joint offers Southern-style 'cue like burnt ends, baby back ribs and pulled pork. The good times roll onto the brunch menu with an Elvis French toast stuffed with peanut butter and bacon or a crispy chicken and waffle sandwich. For those committed to the full Southern experience, there's a number of blackberry, peach and apple pie moonshine-based cocktails. Enjoy the limited number of sliders on the late-night menu to keep the rodeo going until closing.

If you thought all a donut shop could churn out was, well, donuts, you'd be wrong. The Wrigleyville location of this donut shop serves hearty breakfast sandwiches on brioche buns, chicken sandwiches worth lining up for and donuts, of course. Seasonal favorites include pistachio-meyer lemon and candied maple bacon.