Restaurants in Illinois
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Xoco
Next door to Frontera Grill, crunch into warm churros (spiraled dough fritters) for breakfast, meaty tortas (sandwiches) for lunch and rich caldos (soups) for dinner at Rick Bayless' Mexican street-food joint.
reviewed
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Kaze Sushi
The most refined option on the Roscoe St strip, Kaze’s Tuesday night tasting menu features their signature specialties: inventive sushi and Japanese dishes with a French inflection. The seasonal menu has much to offer in the way of large plates, though sushi aficionados will delight in the creative rolls – like the Blue Fin tuna dressed with pickled onions, burdock root, chives and truffle oil – and simple nigiri cuts, ideal to accent with the house-made soy sauce.
reviewed
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Wan Shi Da Bakery
Offering the best, and cheapest à la carte lunch in Chinatown, this bright little bakery has fluffy barbecue pork buns, hot-dog buns (a Chinese variation on the pig in a blanket), bite-sized egg custards, coconut and winter-melon pastries and some dim sum fare. It’s available to go, or to scarf down by the handful at the no-frills tables in the back. The more weather-beaten sister bakery across the street, Chiu Quon Bakery, has a nearly identical menu and more tourist foot traffic. Cash only.
reviewed
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Hai Yen
Many of the dishes at this warm Argyle St eatery require some assembly, pairing shrimp, beef or squid with rice crepes, mint, Thai basil and lettuce. For an appetizer, try the goi cuon, fresh rolls of vermicelli rice noodles along with shrimp, pork and carrots. The bo bay mon consists of seven (yes, seven) different kinds of beef. Order sparingly, or ask for some help from your server – like the bo bay mon, many of the dishes are large enough to feed an army.
reviewed
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Hoosier Mama Pie Company
There’s a statistic out there saying one out of five people have eaten an entire pie solo. Hoosier Mama is your place to do it. Pastry chef Paula Haney hand rolls and crimps her dough, then plumps it with fruit or creamy fillings. Favorites include the fat banana cream, chocolate chess (nicknamed the ‘brownie pie’) and classic apple (flavored with Chinese five-spice powder). Fridays she offers a pie ‘flight’ (three small slices for $8). Seating is limited in the itty-bitty storefront.
reviewed
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Village Tap
Even though it can get overly packed on the weekends, this neighborhood tavern does everything well: food, drink and atmosphere. The friendly bartenders give out free samples of the ever-changing and carefully chosen lineup of Midwestern microbrews. The kitchen turns out some great burgers, veggie burgers and chicken sandwiches, served with a side of hummus and grilled pita. Out back the beer garden contains a fountain; inside, the tables enjoy good views of the TVs for ball games.
reviewed
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Morton’s
Morton’s is a chain now, but Chicago is where it all began. The meat here is aged to perfection and displayed tableside before cooking. See that half a cow? It’s the 48oz double porterhouse. Smaller – but still quite dangerous if dropped on your toe – are the fillets, strip steaks and other cuts. The immense baked potatoes could prop up church foundations. Or you could try the hash browns, a superb version of a side dish all too often ignored. Expensive reds anchor the wine list.
reviewed
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Nightwood
Staff members handwrite the menu each day based on what local farmers have provided to the chefs: maybe chicken with grits and red kale, or thick-cut hand-made pasta with Hungarian wax peppers. It has the same owners as Lula Cafe in Logan Square – so there’s a hint of a hipper-than-thou vibe – but they’ve intensified their commitment to sustainably produced foods here at Nightwood. The warm, wood-toned room sports an open kitchen, and there’s a big patio for al fresco dining.
reviewed
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Tsuki
This large urbane sushi destination is beloved for its fresh sashimi and playful approach to traditional rolls. Top picks include the smoked duck nigiri (served on top of the rice instead of rolled like maki) and the intriguing pistachio-salmon teriyaki. Soba and udon noodles and tempura round out the menu, which also includes some vegetarian selections. Most items on the simplified lounge menu are $5 or less, making them some of the best nighttime eats around.
reviewed
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Merlo Restaurante
Bolognese regional fare is the forte of this cozy family-operated slow-food bistro and wine bar, where hand-rolled pastas and steaming dishes of risotto of the day dominate the menu, offering particular comfort when the weather turns cold. This is one place where an otherwise conservative choice of the tagliatelle bolognese brings a plate of perfectly sweet and savory meat sauce and ribbons of homemade pasta that would delight any Italian grandmother.
reviewed
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Army & Lou’s
If you’ve never had soul food before, you’ve got to start at this warm and welcoming Chicago classic. It rises above the crowd of similar local establishments with its fried chicken, catfish, collard greens, sweet-potato pie and other classics at prices that are good for your soul. Don’t be surprised if you see a few famous black politicians, led by Jesse Jackson. And don’t be surprised if some white politicians show up for a photo op. You’ll need a car to get here.
reviewed
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Bistro Campagne
True, Chicago has a lot of French bistros sprinkled around, but not many perfect the balance of fine but unfussy dining in a sophisticated but welcoming ambience the way Campagne does. The stained-glass-filled Lincoln Square favorite plates such classics as beef bourguignonne, chocolate soufflé and mussels (all you can eat on Tuesdays) alongside fat wines. Reservations are useful, especially if there’s a concert at the nearby Old Town School of Folk Music.
reviewed
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Feed
With red-checked tablecloths, a free-play jukebox piled with classic rock and country, and a menu of southern home cookin’, Feed has the chipper feel of a lost Hee Haw set. All the framed portraits of poultry allude to the house specialty – juicy, tender rotisserie chicken – but the sides, including hand-cut fries, corn pudding and mac ‘n’ cheese, are equally stellar. Bulging fruit pie and vanilla-wafer banana pudding follow for dessert. Cash only; BYOB.
reviewed
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Terragusto
Steps from the Brown Line, Terragusto makes its organic gnocchi, ravioli and other pastas daily (watch ’em in the front window; if you’re inspired, you can learn how to do it yourself via their classes). Sturdy wooden tables prop up the heaping rustic dishes that arrive fragrant from the kitchen. If there are fewer than six in your party, you choose from the small, changing list of menu options; if more, the chef chooses. It’s BYOB, and you’ll need reservations.
reviewed
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Kendall College Dining Room
The School of Culinary Arts at Kendall College has turned out a host of local cooking luminaries, and this classy space with river and skyline views is where they honed their chops. Students prepare and serve inventive contemporary American dishes, with forays into French and international fusion styles, all of which come with white-glove service at fantastic value. Call ahead for reservations (and note the hours can vary depending on the school term schedule).
reviewed
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Yolk
Slinking into one of the custom booths at this cheerful diner is worth the long wait – you’ll dig into the best traditional breakfast in the South Loop. The omelets include lots of healthy options (the Iron Man is made from egg whites and comes loaded with veggies and avocado), and sweets lovers have stacks of cinnamon-roll French toast and peach-cobbler crepes to drench in syrup. Scores of big salads and burgers are on hand for those inclined to order lunch.
reviewed
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Taza
The tiled floor and undressed tables don’t overwhelm with ambience, but when it comes to the holy trinity of cheapie Mediterranean pita-wrapped staples – falafel (spiced chickpea patties), shawarma (marinated meat with tomatoes and garnish) and gyro (spit-roasted lamb) – this humble lunch joint is awe-inspiring. The balance of lip-warming spice and cool cucumber, lettuce and tomato make the crispy falafel a particular triumph.
reviewed
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Karyn’s on Green
Karyn Calabrese, who owns a handful of restaurants around town, is Chicago’s queen of raw foods, but this stylish place is her first foray into cooked fare. Her mission: to make vegan dining sexy. And she does a heckuva job in the loungey, low-lit room. Menu items include chicken legs, meatloaf, crab and salmon – but of course, they’re vegan reinterpretations of the classics. The full bar pours more than 30 organic and sustainable wines and cocktails.
reviewed
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Mundial Cocina Mestiza
With a menu that blends Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine, Mundial is a good escape from the traditional staples of Pilsen. Goat-cheese ravioli and roasted corn risotto represent the Mediterranean influence and the excellent mojarra empapelada – a whole baked tilapia, wrapped in foil, stuffed with chorizo, pungent epazote and jalapeño-mayo – is an example of their broad-minded approach to traditional Mexican flavors.
reviewed
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Manny’s Deli
Chicago’s politicos and seen-it-all senior citizens get in the cafeteria-style line at Manny’s for the towering pastrami and corned-beef sandwiches, matzo ball soup, potato pancakes and other deli staples. Know what you want before you join the fast-moving queue. The newspaper clippings on the wall provide a dose of city history – or you could just eavesdrop on the table next to you to hear deals being brokered that’ll be tomorrow’s front-page story.
reviewed
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Crust
Mind your semantics when you step into the first certified organic restaurant in the Midwest: that’s no pizza, it’s flatbread! The seemingly minor distinction allows for more sophisticated, global flavors (including many vegetarian options), with tender wood-fired crust. If you choose your patio seat wisely, you can even pick your own fresh herbs for garnish. For those more thirsty than hungry, explore the excellent selection of house-infused vodka.
reviewed
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Pie Hole Pizza
Closing when the sun comes up, the yummy gourmet slices and cheeky humor (‘Point of reference, ’ reads a note on the menu, ‘This menu is fourteen inches long.’) make Pie Hole Pizza the final chance to troll for phone numbers and soak up the booze after a night of Boystown clubbing. A playful staff and laid-back atmosphere accompany the evening hours, giving way to an affably rowdy all male pick-up scene after last call.
reviewed
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Mia Francesca
Local chain Mia's buzzes with regulars who come for the trattoria's Italian standards, such as seafood linguine, spinach ravioli and mushroom-sauced veal medallions, all prepared with simple flair.
reviewed
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Mirai Sushi
This high-energy restaurant has an even higher-energy lounge upstairs; both are packed with happy, shiny Wicker Park residents enjoying some of the freshest sushi in the area. From the trance-hop electronic music to the young, black-clad staff, Mirai is where true connoisseurs of sashimi and maki (rolled sushi) gather to throw back a few cocktails between savory morsels of yellowtail and shiitake tempura lightly fried to perfection.
reviewed
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Irazu
Chicago’s unassuming lone Costa Rican eatery turns out burritos bursting with chicken, black beans and fresh avocado, and sandwiches dressed in a heavenly ‘mystery sauce.’ Wash them down with an avena (a slurpable oatmeal milkshake). For breakfast, the arroz con huevos (peppery eggs scrambled into rice) relieves hangovers. The small interior gets crowded; outdoor tables provide some relief when the weather warms. Cash only.
reviewed