The top restaurants in downtown Chicago come in various shapes and sizes, from pizza places and Michelin-starred giants to some of the city’s best affordable lunches. The cuisines are as diverse, with Korean, Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, and Indian dishes from every corner of the world. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, filling your stomach at one of these restaurants is certainly one of the finest things to do in downtown Chicago.
Our editors comb the city for amazing food, fantastic prices, and insider information. They pay their way, and like the rest of us, their delivery guy occasionally gets lost (here’s how we eat in Chicago to make a list). We try to accurately represent Chicago’s ever-changing food scene: We keep it up to date with the greatest new restaurants in downtown Chicago and long-standing favorites that keep us coming back for more. Chicago downtown might be a well-publicized destination restaurants or fantastic food. If something is on the list, we think it’s great, and we’re sure you will, too.
Most Famous Restaurants in Downtown Chicago
Here we list amazing restaurants in downtown Chicago where you can eat your favorite meal.
#1. Oriole
Oriole restaurants, located in downtown Chicago’s Fulton Market, features American and Japanese cuisine and a combination of the two. However, it is not for the faint of heart, as the hefty fees reflect their high level of ability and care.
Their menu includes a 13-course lunch that is both excellent and simply prepared and presented. This is an excellent site to have on hand for those special times when you don’t mind spending a few hundred dollars on a dinner night out.
Checkout Website: https://www.oriolechicago.com/
#2. The Publican
The Publican is a raw bar in downtown Chicago’s Fulton Market. If you’re a vegetarian, you’ll probably be disappointed because meat is the main component on the menu. However, they do provide fish and vegetables, so there’s something for everyone. The Publican, which is designed and outfitted to seem like a beer hall, has u-shaped community tables that are ideal for mingling, energetic speaking, and having much too much fun while enjoying good meals.
Checkout Website: http://www.thepublicanrestaurant.com/
#3. Soju BBQ
Soju mixes the tastes of BBQ with Korean cuisine in the most delectable way. Their premium meat pieces are grilled to perfection and offered as bulgogi, brisket, short ribs, and other dishes. The restaurant provides pickup and delivery in the surrounding region, making it great if you prefer to stay in instead of heading out for the evening.
Checkout Website: https://sojubbq.com/
#4. Bonci Pizzeria
This restaurant, which serves Gabriele Bonci’s famous Taglio-style pizza, is possibly the best in downtown Chicago. The pizza is available in 20 different flavors and is sliced to order to meet your specific requirements.
The menu comprises sandwiches, pies, salads, and pizza and cheese- and meat-stuffed rice and pasta balls, a Bonci Pizzeria specialty.
fashionably late.
Checkout Website: https://bonciusa.com/
#5. Smyth & The Loyalist
Smyth is a Michelin-starred restaurant in downtown Chicago that is widely regarded as the best in the city. The BBQ menu choices are delicious, and you may order ahead of time to save wait time or phone in for takeout.
The fine dining restaurant also provides meal kits if you wish to create a nice dinner for yourself. Even better, it boasts a basement bar called The Loyalist. Their basement bar is also known for its delectable and mouthwatering burgers. You can’t really go wrong with this one!
Checkout Website: https://www.smythandtheloyalist.com/
#6. El Che Steakhouse and Bar
El Che Steakhouse perfectly captures the essence of the West Loop. This restaurant serves Argentine cuisine, with a live-fire barbecue to kick things up a notch. Their menu includes a range of meat meals as well as sides to balance things out. Because of the dynamic environment, it is great for group lunches and convivial meetings.
Checkout Website: https://elchechicago.com/
#7. Au Cheval
Au Cheval delivers a classic American dish: juicy, flavorful burgers! The restaurant is located in the West Loop, downtown Chicago, and there is nearly always a line out the door. However, the quality and flavour of those burgers make the wait worthwhile.
Checkout Website: http://auchevaldiner.com/chicago/
#8. Leña Brava
Lea Brava is a Mexican-themed restaurant in downtown Chicago. The restaurant takes a fresh approach to Mexican food, emphasizing the multi-cultural cuisine of Baja California Norte, which combines Mexican and American (Californian) ingredients. The restaurant is well-known for its wood-fired cooking, which adds a distinct taste to each meal.
Checkout Website: https://www.lenabrava.com/
#9. Formento’s
Formento’s is another Chicago dining hot spot that serves wonderful Italian cuisine in a large dining room with lots of space. Their menu includes all of the standard Italian dishes like pasta and chops, as well as a range of appetizers, including salads, fried calamari, meatballs, and more. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating for those who prefer to enjoy their dinner outside.
Checkout Website: http://www.formentos.com/
#10. High Five Ramen
High Five Ramen, which is owned and operated by the same individuals as Au Cheval, provides ramen and other comparable meals. A Tonkotsu-style broth, Japanese chilies, numbing pepper, miso, nori, and sesame provide fresh layers of flavour to each ramen bowl. This restaurant provides both delivery and pickup options, making it ideal for evenings when you want to stay in your pjs and watch Netflix.
Checkout Website: https://highfiveramen.com/
#11. Bandit
Bandit Bandit’s bar cuisine and informal environment are largely influenced by the 1990s. Kung Pao cauliflowers, a fresh twist on traditional Kung Pao, and pull-apart sliders that nearly melt in your mouth are two of the restaurant’s most popular meals.
Checkout Website: https://www.banditliquors.com/
#12. Birrieria Zaragoza
Thick homemade tortillas, made-to-order salsas, and bright-pink agua fresca are also available to go. However, their sole purpose is to complement the restaurant’s trademark plates of chopped goat flesh. Unlike other birrierias, this goat does not come into contact with a consommé until it is served and some of the tomato-based broth is spooned over it. At that time, a nice dousing of spicy sauce, a squeeze of lime, and some onions are all you need for the tastiest tacos in town.
Checkout Website: https://www.birrieriazaragoza.com/
#13. Johnnie’s Beef
Locals will never agree on the finest Italian beef maker, just as they will never agree on the best deep-dish pizza or Chicago-style hot dogs. The closest to agreement is Johnnie’s, a famed eatery that requires a trip to the suburbs. While you wait in line behind regulars, you’ll have plenty of time to decide what to get, but we recommend the beef—dipped and topped with fiery peppers. After that, have a lemon Italian ice to refresh your palate.
Checkout Website: https://www.johnnys-beef.com/
#14. Kyōten
Phan moved to Chicago from Austin, Texas, with the intention of establishing the greatest sushi in the city. Every night, he fulfils their dreams at his unassuming Logan Square restaurant, which also happens to be one of the most costly in town. Those who are lucky enough to get a seat get a front-row seat to the chef slicing fresh fish and putting it over exceptionally big rice grains seasoned with old red vinegar. You’ll have to pay a premium, but Kyoten’s omakase offers some of the best flavours money can buy, prepared with high-end ingredients flown in from Japan.
Checkout Website: https://kyotenchicago.com/
#15. Kasama
Believe all of the hype: Kasama is just as fantastic as everyone says it is. In the morning, stop by for a longanisa-topped breakfast sandwich or a complete Filipino breakfast (longanisa or , fried egg, tocino, pickled papaya and garlic fried rice, ) and some of Chicago’s greatest pastries. At night, reserve a table for the restaurant’s 13-course tasting menu, a Filipino-inspired trip that includes dishes like nilaga with A5 wagyu and a beautiful tiny croissant topped with freshly shaved black truffles.
Checkout Website: https://www.kasamachicago.com/about-2
#16. Mi Tocaya Antojería
Dávila recreates childhood memories via her cooking, serving customers hearty meals like fish in mole rojo and duck carnitas . The guac with chile ash remains on the menu, and a selection of beverages fills out the offering.
Checkout Website: https://www.mitocaya.com/
#17. Jeong
Jeong is the most opulent Korean experience in Chicago. Park, who formerly owned the popular food court booth Hanbun in the suburbs, elevates traditional flavours with contemporary techniques. His tasting menu features stunning and imaginative dishes like a disc of salmon doenjang yuzu gastrique with tartare topped, dollops of crème fraiche and crispy rice pearls.
Checkout Website: https://jeongchicago.com/
#18. Virtue
At this Hyde Park eatery, you can almost feel the spirit oozing from the food. It’s because Williams cooks from the heart, whether it’s fried green tomatoes with soft shrimp and creamy rémoulade or his famed collards loaded with hunks of smoked turkey flesh. The ambiance is sensual without being overly so, making it ideal for a romantic date night.
Checkout Website: https://www.virtuerestaurant.com/
#19. Parachute
Because the husband-and-wife team values quality over quantity, the menu will be limited. You can relax, though, since every meal is outstanding. To begin, the seafood pancake (shrimp, calamari, garlic chives, and spring onions) is amazingly crisp and served with an onion-chili dipping sauce, while the yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) may be elevated with the addition of caviar. The main draw is the bossam plate, which includes pork collar, pork belly, cabbage to make wraps and kimchi, as well as oysters on the half shell.
Checkout Website: https://www.parachuterestaurant.com/
#20. Owen & Engine
Whether you’re a regular or visiting for the first time, entering this welcoming bar feels like reconciling with an old friend. Traditional English dishes like , Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, fish and chips dominate the menu, but the burger is not to be missed. It’s one of the best in town, with caramelised onions stacked over a patty prepared from Slagel Farm chuck, short rib, and brisket. You’ll want to wash it down with a craft beer, which is plentiful. A fireplace flanked by leather seats and a Chesterfield sofa on the second level encourages guests to remain a while.
Checkout Website: https://www.owenandengine.com/
FAQs
What meal is renowned in Chicago?
Chicago is famous for numerous things, including Chicago-style hot dogs, Chicago-style (deep dish) pizza, Maxwell Street Polish Sausage, jazz music, and 1920s criminals such as Al Capone. Chicago is also well-known for its architecture, such as the Sears Tower and museums. It is also well-known for its devoted sports supporters.
What kind of food can only be found in Chicago?
When it comes to distinctive meals, Chicago is in a class by itself. Try to think of another city that has even one classic dish. Deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, popcorn, and the Italian beef sandwich are all available in Chicago.
What is Chicago’s most well-known street?
Some of Chicago’s most renowned street names are generally recognized—Michigan Avenue and its Magnificent Mile; Lake Shore Drive’s panoramic lake and city views—while others are only known to locals.
What kind of meat is famous in Chicago?
The city of Chicago has long had ties to the meat processing sector. The city was originally renowned as the “World’s Hog Butcher.” But the cattle sector did more than help Chicago grow. According to historian Joshua Specht’s latest book, the cattle business aided contemporary America.
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