The best restaurants in Chicago that don't accept reservations

Lines have been stretching for nearly two hours since Warlord opened last year, but those who are willing to brave the wait are rewarded with a remarkable ever-changing menu from chef/partners Trevor Fleming, Emily Kraszyk and John Lupton, who place an emphasis on dry aging and live-fire cooking. Once you’ve reached the host stand and put your name in, you can find another local spot for a drink, but if you’re lucky there will be room for snacks and a cocktail on Warlord’s patio before you head into the candlelit space for the main event.

Bars near Au Cheval are used to serving diners waiting for their chance to bite into one of the city’s most celebrated cheeseburgers. Outfitted with leather booths and candlelit tables, the space exudes nostalgic charm that complements a menu of diner favorites like thick cut peppered bacon, crispy potato hash with duck heart gravy and root beer floats. Those items are also part of the late night menu, so don’t be deterred if you can’t get a seat for a while.

Hidden beneath Green Street Smoked Meats, High Five Ramen offers just a tiny menu of signature bowls including tonkatsu, mushroom miso and shoyu that can be spiced to your liking, along with a rotating selection of mochi for dessert. Between slurps, cool your mouth with a bit of sake or painkiller slushie served in a skull mug. The small, dimly lit space’s walls are decorated with stickers and you’re welcome to add to the collection. With just 16 seats, you'll want to arrive before the restaurant opens to get a spot right away.

Farm-to-table pioneer Lula Cafe accepts reservations for dinner, but not for its highly popular brunch and lunch, when waits can stretch to 90 minutes. You’ll have more luck if you’re willing to eat at the bar or—when the weather’s nice enough—the patio. Indulge with cannoli French toast topped with cherry orange marmalade or biscuits and gravy; there are also plenty of vegan options like the tofu and vegetable scramble and nut and date granola.

Little Bad Wolf isn’t actually that little, which is a good thing since it’s usually packed with locals enjoying lunch, happy hour, dates or late night eats. Burgers are the biggest draw, stacked with housemade pickles, American cheese and red onion mayo, but the “substantial salads” live up to their name and the tacos and bao provide a wide variety of flavorful fillings. Linger at the bar and enjoy a perfectly balanced and beautifully presented cocktail.

James Beard-nominated chef/partner Zubair Mohajir is still booking tables for tasting menus at The Coach House, but it’s walk-ins only at Lilac Tiger, his tribute to South Asian street food. The former Wazwan space doles out beef momo, duck fried rice and tandoori chicken sandwiches and you’ll find plenty of people grabbing them for takeout rather than wait for a spot to open up. Those who do linger can enjoy an exclusive beer from Marz Brewing or a mango margarita spiced with ginger and serrano peppers. 

The pizza at Paulie Gee’s is at its absolute best right after it comes out of the wood-burning oven, when the cheese is still bubbling and the crust is perfectly crisp, so it’s worth a bit of a wait to be able to dig in on the spot. Meat lovers may gravitate to the signature Hellboy topped with soppressata picante and Mike’s Hot Honey, but there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, too.

The intoxicating aromas of soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar and garlic tell you this place is good before you walk in the door. And if you're lucky, there won't be a line down the block. Once seated, you'll definitely want an order of chadol-gui—thinly sliced beef cooked in a stone pan at the table. Of the giant wave of little side dishes that accompany the barbecue, don’t pass up the moist fish cake, perfect with a bottle of Korean beer (it's BYOB).

Open since 2005, Kuma’s Corner is fully devoted to its heavy metal theme, from the soundtrack to the band memorabilia on display to the names of its juicy burgers. Try the Iron Maiden spiced with chipotle mayo, cherry peppers and pepper jack or the Led Zeppelin loaded with bacon, pulled pork and cheddar with a pile of fries or housemade chips and a pint of local beer. Kuma’s also has locations in the West Loop and Schaumburg.

Piece Brewery and Pizzeria only takes reservations for groups of six or more, but smaller parties are unlikely to have to wait long for the chance to have a barleywine or pale ale and share a New Haven-style pizza. The crust is crispy and a bit asymmetrical and the large pies feature eclectic toppings including clams, housemade meatballs and mashed potatoes. Stick around to watch the game and order another round or a dessert pizza topped with chocolate hazelnut sauce and mascarpone cheese.

Although reservations aren't accepted, you can use NoWait to grab a spot in line so you can do some shopping around Chinatown until there’s space for you to enjoy boiled, steamed or fried dumplings filled with wagyu beef, lamb, lobster or chicken. Once you’re seated, you won’t have to wait long for food to arrive and can watch the action in the kitchen while nibbling kimchi and grilled chicken wings. BYOB or choose from the excellent selection of tea.

M. Henry only takes reservations for parties of 10 or more, but you usually won’t have too long of a wait for a table at the perpetually bustling cafe, either indoors or on the dog-friendly patio. BYOB to enjoy along with creative spins on brunch classics like the dandelion greens, shallot and leek omelet; and the peach rhubarb brioche French toast. While the space can be quite noisy, the service is great and the portions are huge.

By day, Reno provides a chill place to get some work done and enjoy a wood-fired bagel with some schmeer or as a sandwich loaded with lox or housemade chorizo. Come noon (or 11am on weekends), the oven starts turning out pizzas with wild toppings including pork carnitas and cheese curds. In the evening, relax with a brandy old fashioned or local beer and see which movie in the collection of VHS tapes is playing.