A tall, buttery crust baked in a pan, with the cheese under the sauce. Pizzeria Uno says it served the first one in 1943.
Where to goPizzeria UnoRiver North. The original, at Ohio and Wabash. It bakes for about 45 minutes.
Go there →Thin-sliced roast beef soaked in its own juices on a French roll, with sweet peppers or hot giardiniera. Ask for it dipped and the whole sandwich goes back in the jus.
Where to goMr. Beef on OrleansRiver North. The counter that inspired The Bear.
Go there →Marshall Field's started selling its Frango mint chocolates in 1929, and they are still sold in the old Field's building on State Street.
Where to goMacy's on State StreetState Street. Look up at the Tiffany dome while you are there.
Go there →Chicago · 87 places to eat
Where to eat between shops.
Deep dish, Italian beef, MICHELIN rooms and the panaderías on 18th Street, each one close to the shopping. Every pick links straight to the restaurant.
An all-beef frank on a poppy-seed bun, "dragged through the garden": mustard, relish, onion, tomato, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt. No ketchup.
Where to goPortillo'sRiver North. The busy one on Ontario Street.
Go there →Cheddar popcorn and caramel corn, mixed in one bag. Garrett Popcorn made the mix famous.
Where to goGarrett Popcorn ShopsMagnificent Mile. It has been popping in Chicago for more than 75 years.
Go there →Mexican sweet breads, chosen with tongs and a tray: conchas scored like a shell, orejas, cuernos and pink-frosted polvorones.
Where to goPanadería Nuevo LeónPilsen. On 18th Street for almost 50 years.
Go there →Iconic Chicago
Deep Dish, Beef & Institutions
Chicago's own food is the stuff of counters and long lines: deep dish, Italian beef, the dragged-through-the-garden hot dog and cheese-and-caramel popcorn.
- Seafood / American
Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House
Busy Rush Street fish house; order stone crab claws, oysters or sautéed frog's legs, with creamed spinach and a slice of Muddy Bottom Pie.
$$$ · Oak Street - Italian
Carmine's
Rush Street red-sauce Italian reopened upstairs in January 2026; order the square noodles, eight-finger cavatelli, meatball salad or a parmesan.
Oak Street - American
The Walnut Room
Dining room inside Macy's on State Street; the Infatuation review suggests the walnut-bitters Old Fashioned and the chicken pot pie.
State Street - German
The Berghoff Restaurant
German restaurant half a block off State for wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten or a reuben; the bar has an express sandwich stand for a quick lunch.
State Street - Italian beef sandwiches
Mr. Beef
Cash-only counter serving Italian beef sandwiches since 1963, open until 4pm, so plan it as a lunch stop.
River North - Mexican
Frontera Grill
Rick Bayless's Mexican restaurant, open since 1987; order the enchiladas, tacos, carne asada or one of the moles.
River North - Chicago deep-dish pizza
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (River North)
Deep-dish pizza with a buttery crust, tangy tomatoes, mozzarella and seasoned sausage, from a family the listing calls the oldest name in Chicago pizza.
River North - Mexican bakery
Panadería Nuevo Leon
Bakery on 18th St for pan dulce, conchas, fruit-filled empanadas and homemade tortillas to take home.
Pilsen - Mexican (carnitas)
Carnitas Uruapan
Busy carnitas specialist on 18th St; order a plate of carnitas, but expect it to slow down the rest of your afternoon.
Pilsen - Café
Cafe Jumping Bean
Neighbourhood café on 18th St, called a neighbourhood institution by the source; order the mollete with a Mexican hot chocolate.
Pilsen - Hong Kong cafe
Ken Kee Restaurant
Hong Kong-style cafe in Chinatown Square for cart noodles, salt and pepper pork chop, Ovaltine toast and a pineapple bun with butter.
Chinatown - Mexican
Nuevo Leon Restaurant
Family-owned 26th Street restaurant with a mural outside; order old-school plates of carne asada, bistec or chile relleno with rice and beans.
Little Village - Belgian / beer bar
Hopleaf
Belgian-leaning beer bar and gastropub with a long draft list; order the mussels and frites and the cashew butter and fig jam sandwich.
Andersonville - French
Bistro Campagne
French bistro with a garden dining room; order the onion soup, mussels steamed in Belgian ale, roast chicken or hanger steak with frites.
Lincoln Square - American / cafeteria
Valois Restaurant
Cafeteria-style breakfast spot on 53rd known as one of Barack Obama's favorites; order pancakes, an omelet, or biscuits and gravy.
Hyde Park - American
Medici on 57th
University of Chicago hangout serving handmade burgers, milkshakes, wood-fired pizzas and egg scrambles, with a bakery next door.
Hyde Park
MICHELIN stars
Chicago's Starred Tables
The starred restaurants closest to the shopping.
- American
Boka
Sit-down dinner on Halsted with creative dishes such as grilled and glazed beets and a $195 tasting menu.
Lincoln Park
Bib Gourmand
Great Food, Fair Prices
The MICHELIN inspectors' picks for very good cooking at a moderate price.
- Mexican
Frontera Grill
Rick Bayless's Mexican restaurant, open since 1987; order the enchiladas, tacos, carne asada or one of the moles.
River North - American
Lula Cafe
Long-running neighbourhood restaurant on Kedzie at the square, good for brunch or outdoor seating; order the roasted chicken or pasta yiayia.
- American
Daisies
Vegetable- and pasta-focused restaurant on Milwaukee Ave where the handmade pasta is the main reason to book a table.
- Southern
Virtue
Erick Williams's MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Southern restaurant; order the skillet cornbread with honey butter, dirty rice with gizzards and the grits.
$$ · Hyde Park
Pilsen & Little Village
Taquerías & Panaderías
The Mexican kitchens and bakeries of 18th and 26th Streets.
- Mexican
Momento Cantina
Mexican restaurant on Monroe with house corn tortillas; order the loaded tuna tostadas, birria tacos or whole fish zarandeado.
State Street - Mexican
Frontera Grill
Rick Bayless's Mexican restaurant, open since 1987; order the enchiladas, tacos, carne asada or one of the moles.
River North - Mexican
Xoco
Casual Rick Bayless counter next to Frontera for a torta, tortilla soup, or churros with hot chocolate.
River North - Bakery/Cafe
Mindy's Bakery
Takeout bakery for breads and pastries from the Mindy's Hot Chocolate team; the mortadella and giardiniera turnover is a good pick.
Wicker Park & Bucktown - Mexican
La Victoria
Mexican spot for brunch or a loud dinner, with lamb birria quesadillas made on handmade tortillas.
- Korean bakery
Daeji Dough Company
Korean bakery that grew out of a farmers' market stand; get the tteokbokki croissant, bulgogi focaccia or a brisket pastry pocket.
Southport Corridor - Mexican bakery
Panadería Nuevo Leon
Bakery on 18th St for pan dulce, conchas, fruit-filled empanadas and homemade tortillas to take home.
Pilsen - Mexican (carnitas)
Carnitas Uruapan
Busy carnitas specialist on 18th St; order a plate of carnitas, but expect it to slow down the rest of your afternoon.
Pilsen - Mexican
5 Rabanitos
Mexican restaurant on 18th St with tacos, vegetarian dishes, torta ahogada and short ribs in mole manchamanteles.
Pilsen - Mexican brunch
Pochos
Mexican brunch spot on 18th St that closes at 3pm on weekdays; expect long waits for weekend brunch.
Pilsen - Mexican seafood
Mariscos San Pedro
Sit-down Mexican seafood next to Thalia Hall, with dishes from a wood-fired oven and squid-ink soft-shell crab tacos; book ahead.
Pilsen - Mexican / tacos
La Chaparrita Taqueria
Taqueria counter at the front of a corner grocery; tortillas are dipped in broth before grilling, so order a spread of longaniza, carne asada and tripe tacos.
Little Village - Mexican / tacos
Asian Cuisine Express
Despite the name, go for the al pastor tacos, which The Infatuation calls the best in Chicago; you can also buy the al pastor by the pound.
Little Village - Mexican
Nuevo Leon Restaurant
Family-owned 26th Street restaurant with a mural outside; order old-school plates of carne asada, bistec or chile relleno with rice and beans.
Little Village - Mexican
Mi Tierra Mexican Restaurant
Large Mexican restaurant just off 26th Street with mariachi on busy nights; Choose Chicago points to it for margaritas.
Little Village - Bakery / cafe
Lost Larson
Scandinavian-leaning bakery and coffee shop; get the breakfast sandwich, a cinnamon roll or croissant, or a slice of the marzipan Princess cake.
Andersonville
Browse by cuisine
Every restaurant, A to Z.
- 14 Parish Restaurant & Rhum BarCaribbean · Hyde Park · Caribbean restaurant and rum bar on 53rd; order the jerk chicken or jerk catfish, oxtails, and a rum cocktail from the bar.
- 5 RabanitosMexican · Pilsen · Mexican restaurant on 18th St with tacos, vegetarian dishes, torta ahogada and short ribs in mole manchamanteles.
- Andros TavernaMichelin pickGreek · Greek taverna with a big patio that suits groups; start with the kataifi cheese pie and prawn saganaki.
- Ardor by ChanceAmerican · Lincoln Square · Sit-down American restaurant next to the Davis Theater, handy before a movie; the menu runs from steak tartare and ribeye to sea bass and pizzas.
- ARLARestaurant · Oak Street · New sixth-floor restaurant opened June 18, 2026 in the former Barneys New York building on Oak Street, the space once home to Fred's.
- Armitage AlehouseAmerican · Lincoln Park · Pub on Armitage serving rotating pot pies with a marrow bone and a wagyu cheeseburger; reservations open 21 days out.
- Artango Bar & SteakhouseSteakhouse · Lincoln Square · Steakhouse and bar on the north end of the Lincoln Ave strip; Choose Chicago lists it among the neighborhood's main dinner spots.
- Asian Cuisine ExpressMexican / tacos · Little Village · Despite the name, go for the al pastor tacos, which The Infatuation calls the best in Chicago; you can also buy the al pastor by the pound.
- Aster HallFood hall · The Magnificent Mile · Food hall on the upper floors of 900 North Michigan Shops with a dozen-plus counters, including Small Cheval burgers, rotisserie chicken, dumplings and sushi.
- Athenian RoomGreek · Lincoln Park · Casual, low-priced Greek spot just off Halsted for the chicken kalamata dinner, gyros or skirt steak.
- Bar TuttoCafé / Italian · West Loop & Fulton Market · All-day café from the Rose Mary team with morning pastries and al dente bucatini or fusilli later in the day.$$
- Beaumont'sAmerican · Lincoln Park · Halsted St restaurant for mussels in white wine or trout in absinthe cream, with a walk-in bar serving burgers.
- Big JonesSouthern · Andersonville · Southern restaurant with Louisiana influences; order the house pimento cheese with tasso ham and the crawfish étouffée, or come for brunch beignets.$$
- Bistro CampagneFrench · Lincoln Square · French bistro with a garden dining room; order the onion soup, mussels steamed in Belgian ale, roast chicken or hanger steak with frites.
- Bodega SurArgentine · Southport Corridor · Casual Argentine restaurant a few doors south of Tango Sur on Southport; order the Argentinian steak with honey chimichurri.
- Boka★ Michelin starAmerican · Lincoln Park · Sit-down dinner on Halsted with creative dishes such as grilled and glazed beets and a $195 tasting menu.
- Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!Spanish · Lincoln Park · Spanish tapas bar on Halsted for sangria, shareable small plates and paella, with weekend brunch.
- Cafe Jumping BeanCafé · Pilsen · Neighbourhood café on 18th St, called a neighbourhood institution by the source; order the mollete with a Mexican hot chocolate.
- Carmine'sItalian · Oak Street · Rush Street red-sauce Italian reopened upstairs in January 2026; order the square noodles, eight-finger cavatelli, meatball salad or a parmesan.
- Carnitas UruapanMexican (carnitas) · Pilsen · Busy carnitas specialist on 18th St; order a plate of carnitas, but expect it to slow down the rest of your afternoon.
- Club LuckyItalian · Wicker Park & Bucktown · 1940s-style supper club suited to groups, known for handmade cavatelli in vodka sauce and fried calamari.
- Coda Di VolpeItalian / pizza · Southport Corridor · Large, family-friendly Italian restaurant on Southport where pizzas are cut with scissors at the table.
- Daeji Dough CompanyKorean bakery · Southport Corridor · Korean bakery that grew out of a farmers' market stand; get the tteokbokki croissant, bulgogi focaccia or a brisket pastry pocket.
- DaisiesBib GourmandAmerican · Vegetable- and pasta-focused restaurant on Milwaukee Ave where the handmade pasta is the main reason to book a table.
- Daisy's Po-Boy and TavernSouthern / New Orleans · Hyde Park · Po'boy tavern half a block off 53rd; order the shrimp or fried green tomato po'boy, boudin balls and a bowl of seafood gumbo.
- Dimmi Dimmi Corner ItalianItalian · Lincoln Park · Corner Italian spot on Armitage known for tavern-style pizzas; the bar and patio take walk-ins if reservations are gone.
- Dolo Restaurant & BarCantonese / dim sum · Chinatown · Dim sum restaurant on Archer Ave; order the clam shells stuffed with shrimp and pork and the crispy shrimp and leek dumplings.
- Doma CafeCroatian café · River North · Quiet Croatian café where you can sit and work; order the ćevapi or the breakfast sandwich.
- Don Pedro CarnitasTacos · Pilsen · Carnitas counter with few seats and a regular line; order the mixed plate of carnitas, chicharrón and brain tacos.
- Dove's LuncheonetteTex-Mex · Wicker Park & Bucktown · Counter-seat Tex-Mex diner that suits a solo lunch; order the chicken fried steak or the brisket taco.
- Duck Duck GoatChinese · West Loop & Fulton Market · Chinese restaurant on Fulton Market with dishes like glass noodles with blueberries and duck and goat spring rolls; takeout is solid too.
- FIYAMiddle Eastern · Andersonville · Levantine restaurant cooking from a wood-fired oven; order pitas, the whole roasted chicken, or the shakshuka khachapuri at weekend brunch.
- Frontera GrillBib GourmandMexican · River North · Rick Bayless's Mexican restaurant, open since 1987; order the enchiladas, tacos, carne asada or one of the moles.
- Golden Bull RestaurantCantonese · Chinatown · Small Cantonese spot on Cermak known for claypot rice; get the version with Chinese sausage and add the farmer's chicken.
- HopleafBelgian / beer bar · Andersonville · Belgian-leaning beer bar and gastropub with a long draft list; order the mussels and frites and the cashew butter and fig jam sandwich.
- Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish HouseMichelin pickSeafood / American · Oak Street · Busy Rush Street fish house; order stone crab claws, oysters or sautéed frog's legs, with creamed spinach and a slice of Muddy Bottom Pie.$$$
- Italian Homemade CompanyItalian · West Loop & Fulton Market · Counter-service shop for made-from-scratch pasta at around $15 a dish from 11am; the gnocchi with pesto travels well for takeout.
- Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone CrabSeafood / steakhouse · The Magnificent Mile · Steak and seafood house just off Michigan Ave, originally from Miami; order the stone crab and a steak with creamed spinach.
- John's Food And WineMichelin pickAmerican · Lincoln Park · Partly counter-service spot on Halsted; try the fried branzino with kimchi ketchup and the butterscotch pudding.
- Ken Kee RestaurantHong Kong cafe · Chinatown · Hong Kong-style cafe in Chinatown Square for cart noodles, salt and pepper pork chop, Ovaltine toast and a pineapple bun with butter.
- La Chaparrita TaqueriaMexican / tacos · Little Village · Taqueria counter at the front of a corner grocery; tortillas are dipped in broth before grilling, so order a spread of longaniza, carne asada and tripe tacos.
- La VictoriaMexican · Mexican spot for brunch or a loud dinner, with lamb birria quesadillas made on handmade tortillas.
- Lost LarsonBakery / cafe · Andersonville · Scandinavian-leaning bakery and coffee shop; get the breakfast sandwich, a cinnamon roll or croissant, or a slice of the marzipan Princess cake.
- Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (River North)Chicago deep-dish pizza · River North · Deep-dish pizza with a buttery crust, tangy tomatoes, mozzarella and seasoned sausage, from a family the listing calls the oldest name in Chicago pizza.
- Lula CafeBib GourmandAmerican · Long-running neighbourhood restaurant on Kedzie at the square, good for brunch or outdoor seating; order the roasted chicken or pasta yiayia.
- Maple & AshMichelin pickSteakhouse · Oak Street · Steakhouse cooking over a wood-fired hearth; order dry-aged steaks and the fire-roasted seafood tower brought to the table with house pasta.$$$$
- Mariscos San PedroMexican seafood · Pilsen · Sit-down Mexican seafood next to Thalia Hall, with dishes from a wood-fired oven and squid-ink soft-shell crab tacos; book ahead.
- Medici on 57thAmerican · Hyde Park · University of Chicago hangout serving handmade burgers, milkshakes, wood-fired pizzas and egg scrambles, with a bakery next door.
- Mi Tierra Mexican RestaurantMexican · Little Village · Large Mexican restaurant just off 26th Street with mariachi on busy nights; Choose Chicago points to it for margaritas.
- Mindy's BakeryBakery/Cafe · Wicker Park & Bucktown · Takeout bakery for breads and pastries from the Mindy's Hot Chocolate team; the mortadella and giardiniera turnover is a good pick.
- MingHin CuisineCantonese / dim sum · Chinatown · Large Cantonese dining room on Archer for dim sum; order the fried taro puffs, har gow and custard-filled sweet buns.
- Momento CantinaMexican · State Street · Mexican restaurant on Monroe with house corn tortillas; order the loaded tuna tostadas, birria tacos or whole fish zarandeado.
- Mr. BeefItalian beef sandwiches · River North · Cash-only counter serving Italian beef sandwiches since 1963, open until 4pm, so plan it as a lunch stop.
- Nuevo Leon RestaurantMexican · Little Village · Family-owned 26th Street restaurant with a mural outside; order old-school plates of carne asada, bistec or chile relleno with rice and beans.
- Oasis CafeMediterranean · State Street · Counter at the back of the Wabash Jewelers Mall serving falafel pitas and rice platters with lamb or beef kefta.
- Panadería Nuevo LeonMexican bakery · Pilsen · Bakery on 18th St for pan dulce, conchas, fruit-filled empanadas and homemade tortillas to take home.
- Paulie Gee'sPizza · Neapolitan-style pies with vegan options; the guide suggests anything topped with the house spicy honey.
- Paulie Gee's Wicker ParkPizza · Wicker Park & Bucktown · New York-style pizza sold as whole pies or foldable slices; try the roasted pork pie with pineapple habanero salsa.
- Perilla Korean American SteakhouseKorean · State Street · Korean American steakhouse in the L7 Hotel; try the monkey bread with gochujang honey butter and the kalguksu bolognese.
- Petite EdithFrench · River North · French restaurant on Wells with a strong wine list; order the pain au fromage, curried shrimp and off-menu raclette burger.
- PochosMexican brunch · Pilsen · Mexican brunch spot on 18th St that closes at 3pm on weekdays; expect long waits for weekend brunch.
- Publican Quality MeatsButcher shop / sandwiches · West Loop & Fulton Market · Butcher shop, café and bakery on Fulton Market for a lunch sandwich such as the chicken parm or falafel, plus cheese and bread to go.
- Qing Xiang Yuan DumplingsChinese / dumplings · Chinatown · Dumpling house in Chinatown Square; order a mix of boiled dumplings such as beef and onion, lamb and coriander, and tomato and egg.
- Roka AkorJapanese steak / sushi · Oakbrook Center · Japanese-inspired restaurant for prime steak, Wagyu, robata-grilled seafood and sushi, with a patio and private dining rooms.
- Rose MaryMichelin pickCroatian / Italian · West Loop & Fulton Market · Croatian-Italian dinner spot where the crni rižot and pastas are the orders; the bar is kept for walk-ins.
- Southport Grocery and CafeAmerican brunch · Southport Corridor · Brunch café and grocery on Southport; order the bread pudding pancakes, which the guide singles out.
- Sultan's MarketMiddle Eastern · Wicker Park & Bucktown · Inexpensive falafel and shawarma sandwiches and platters, with BYOB and a small patio in summer.
- SveaSwedish · Andersonville · Small Swedish breakfast and lunch room on Clark; order the Swedish pancakes with lingonberry jam, falukorv sausage or meatballs with gravy.
- Tango SurArgentine steakhouse · Southport Corridor · Argentine steakhouse near the north end of Southport; order the steaks, which The Infatuation rates steakhouse quality at a lower price.
- Tavern on RushAmerican · Oak Street · Longtime Rush Street tavern, now reopened inside the Thompson Chicago hotel after 25 years at its old corner space a few doors north at 1031 N Rush.
- TaximGreek · Wicker Park & Bucktown · Upscale Greek dinner on Milwaukee Ave; order a lamb dish and a phyllo starter like the leek and goat cheese pie.
- The Berghoff RestaurantGerman · State Street · German restaurant half a block off State for wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten or a reuben; the bar has an express sandwich stand for a quick lunch.
- The PublicanAmerican · West Loop & Fulton Market · Beer-hall-style dining room with oysters, meat dishes and a vegetable section; order several plates to share at the communal tables.
- The Purple PigMediterranean · The Magnificent Mile · Mediterranean small-plates restaurant built around cheese, pork and wine; order the grilled broccoli with anchovy vinaigrette and the smoked pork tongue.$$
- The Purple Pig (Oakbrook Center)Mediterranean · Oakbrook Center · Second location of the Mag Mile small-plates restaurant, with a patio and market; order the crispy pig ears, whipped feta or gnocchi with wild boar ragu.
- The RadicleBar / Pizza · Bar on Milwaukee Ave serving mushroom pizzas and low-ABV cocktails, suited to a casual dinner after shopping.
- The Walnut RoomAmerican · State Street · Dining room inside Macy's on State Street; the Infatuation review suggests the walnut-bitters Old Fashioned and the chicken pot pie.
- The WarblerAmerican · Lincoln Square · Neighborhood American restaurant with a broad menu built around pastas, a few doors from Bistro Campagne on Lincoln Ave; takes reservations.
- TortelloPasta · Wicker Park & Bucktown · Counter-service spot for handmade pasta such as burrata-filled tortelli, plus focaccia with ricotta and honey.
- Union Dumpling HouseChinese / dumplings · Lincoln Square · Inexpensive dumpling spot on Lincoln Ave; its 2026 restaurant-week menu was $16.88, the lowest-priced on the Lincoln Square list.
- Uvae Kitchen & Wine BarAmerican / wine bar · Andersonville · Wine bar with a long bottle list and a full kitchen; pair a glass with the short rib wellington or the mushroom maltagliati.
- Valois RestaurantAmerican / cafeteria · Hyde Park · Cafeteria-style breakfast spot on 53rd known as one of Barack Obama's favorites; order pancakes, an omelet, or biscuits and gravy.
- VirtueBib GourmandSouthern · Hyde Park · Erick Williams's MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Southern restaurant; order the skillet cornbread with honey butter, dirty rice with gizzards and the grits.$$
- Washington HallFood hall · State Street · Food hall a few steps from State with several counters, including Chicago's Dog House, Happy Lobster and Stan's Donuts.
- Xi'an CuisineNorthwestern Chinese · Chinatown · Casual counter on Cermak for hand-pulled noodles; get the cumin biang biang noodles, lamb skewers and a rou jia mo sandwich.
- XocoMexican · River North · Casual Rick Bayless counter next to Frontera for a torta, tortilla soup, or churros with hot chocolate.
- ZarellaPizza · River North · Pizza restaurant on Wells St serving both tavern-style thin pies and its larger artisan-style pizzas.
Ratings are the scores saved in our directory and are not live. Check the listing for the current score.
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