10 Best Chicago Restaurants

Chicago famous foods include Chicago-style hot dogs, deep dish pizza, Italian beef, and Chicken Vesuvio. Chicago dogs such as those available at the iconic Portillo's, are all-beef hot dogs covered in a colorful assortment of mandatory toppings: finely chopped white onions, yellow mustard, sliced tomatoes, neon green sweet relish, dill pickle spears, celery salt, and sports peppers. Deep dish pizza is an authentic Chicago pizza featuring a buttery crust and layers of cheese and tomato sauce. Another famous Chicago food is the Italian beef, made from thin cuts of roast beef simmered and served on French bread. Chicken Vesuvio is a classic Chicago specialty made with crispy pan-fried chicken and potatoes.

The average cost of a meal in Chicago in fast food restaurants range from $5.99 to $15.99. A meal for two persons in a mid-range restaurant cost an average of $100. The price of a meal at high end restaurants range from $85 to $495 per person. Some of the most popular fine dining restaurants in Chicago include Alinea, Oriole, Indienne, and Kyōten Next Door. According to BUdgetyourtrip.com, the average daily cost for food in Chicago is around $85 ($85) per person, with previous travelers spending between $32 to $233.

Famous Chicago fast food restaurants are listed below:

• Portillo's: Home to America's favorite Italian beef, burgers, and Chicago-style hot dogs.
• Shake Shack: Known for premium Angus beef burgers, fries and milkshakes.
• Velvet Taco: Features globally inspired tacos with bold flavors made in-house with fresh local ingredients.
• Johnnie's Beef: A Chicago institution, Johnnie's Beef is rated as one of the best beef in Chicagoland.
• The Hat Chicago: A cozy eatery known for Chicago-style street food including hot dogs, sausages and charburgers.
• Jimmy's Gyros & Grill: A popular fast food restaurant in Chicago famous for Gyros and hearty Chicago-style sandwiches.
• Maxwell Street Depot: A staple in Bridgeport, Maxwell Street Depot is a no-frills restaurant that serves Polish sausage, Chicago-style hot dogs & burgers 24/7.

The best bars in Chicago according to TripAdvisor are listed below:

• Guinness Open Gate Brewery: A beautiful pub and brewhouse featuring a Taproom, Restaurant, and the first ever Guinness Bakery.
• Fado Irish Pub: A very friendly and traditional Irish pub in Chicago known for pub food faves, whiskey, Guinness, and sports viewing on TV.
• Flight Club Chicago: An upscale entertainment venue that combines Social Darts with food and drinks
• Burger Bar Chicago: A casual restaurant in Chicago known for gourmet burgers and craft beer
• Big Bar: One of the cool bars in Chicago located at the Hyatt featuring pub grub & floor-to-ceiling windows for city views
• Billy Goat Tavern: A chain of taverns in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, D.C. that serves burgers, beer, and more

The must-try restaurants in Chicago according to Redditors are listed below:

• Giordano’s: Famous for its Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, known for its thick, buttery crust, layers of mozzarella cheese, and rich tomato sauce. A must-visit for pizza lovers.
• Luke’s Beef: Renowned for its Italian beef sandwiches, made with thinly sliced seasoned roast beef served on fresh Italian bread and often topped with giardiniera or sweet peppers.
• Johnnie’s Beef: Celebrated for its iconic Italian beef sandwiches and char-grilled Italian sausages. The smoky, savory flavors and traditional preparation make it a local favorite.
• Harry Caray’s Restaurant: Known for Chicken Vesuvio, a Chicago classic featuring roasted chicken with potatoes, garlic, and white wine sauce. Also offers a range of hearty Italian-American dishes.

Chicago must try foods include authentic Chicago style pizza, Chicago hot dogs, Italian Beef, and Chicken Vesuvio.

The best food spots in Chicago for authentic Chicago style hot dogs according to Yelp contributors are Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago, Al's Beef, Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast, Chicago's Dog House, and Fatso's Last Stand. Each of these Chicago food spots offers a true taste of Chicago's iconic hot dogs, characterized by an all-beef frankfurter nestled in a poppy seed bun and topped with yellow mustard, chopped onions, bright green relish, tomato wedges, a dill pickle spear, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt.

The new restaurants in Chicago that have quickly become popular are listed below:

• 3M Restaurant: Considered one of the best new restaurants Chicago has to offer, 3M Restaurant specializes in Balkan cuisine and showcases a lunch buffet daily.
• Brasero: Specializing in South American and Latin cooking, Brasero offers shareable bites, steaks, fresh seafood and hand-crafted cocktails.
• TAMA: This new bistro in Chicago is building a name for itself as one of the fast-rising restaurants specializing in Mediterranean and Asian cuisine.
• Dear Margaret: This restaurant combines Midwestern ingredients in French-Canadian cuisine, located in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.
• El Xangarrito: Chef Rogelio Benitez showcases Mexican staples such as tacos, enchiladas & meat plates in this newly opened Mexican restaurant.

Popular vegan restaurants in Chicago include Alice & Friends' Vegan Kitchen, PLANTA Queen, and Bloom Plant Based Kitchen. Alice & Friends' Vegan Kitchen, located at 5812 N Broadway, is renowned for its creative and flavorful vegan dishes inspired by global cuisines. PLANTA Queen, at 413 Clark St, specializes in Asian-inspired vegan fare, offering an upscale dining experience with innovative plant-based creations. Bloom Plant Based Kitchen, situated at 1559 N Milwaukee Ave, focuses on fresh, seasonal ingredients and serves a menu that highlights the best of plant-based culinary artistry.

The best restaurants in Chicago that serve gluten-free food according to Eater are Arya Bhavan, Defloured, and Spacca Napoli. Arya Bhavan is an all-vegan Indian restaurant that has an entire menu of gluten-free dishes. Defloured is a gluten-free bakery known for cakes, bars, cookies, and whoopie pies. Spacca Napoli is known for their Neapolitan pizzas which can be made gluten-free on request.

Yes, many restaurants in Chicago offer healthy dining options, with establishments like True Food Kitchen, LYFE Kitchen, and Chicago Raw. True Food Kitchen focuses on nutrient-rich, seasonal ingredients. LYFE Kitchen, known for organic, low-calorie meals, caters to various diets. Vegan-focused spots like Chicago Raw emphasize unprocessed, plant-based meals packed with nutrients. Numerous restaurants provide gluten-free, keto-friendly, and low-sodium dishes, ensuring health-conscious diners have ample choices across Chicago.

Yes, Chicago is a great destination for food with a wide range of food options from famous restaurants from iconic pizzerias like Giordano's and Lou Malnati's, to Michelin-starred restaurants offering one-of-a-kind dining experiences like Alinea. Chicagoans highly recommend food tours like the Best in Chow Chicago Food Planet Tour for out of town guests. There are more than 25 food festivals in Chicago every year including the Windy City Hot Dog Fest, Lincoln Park Greek Fest, and Taste of Chicago.

The famous cuisines in Chicago include:

• Chicago Cuisine: Known for its deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, and Italian beef sandwiches. 
• Polish Cuisine: Reflecting the city’s large Polish-American community, favorites include pierogi (dumplings filled with potatoes, cheese, or meat), kielbasa (Polish sausage), and paczki (Polish doughnuts).
• Italian Cuisine: Chicago is home to iconic Italian eateries specializing in dishes like chicken Vesuvio, ricotta-filled cannoli, and house-made pasta. Italian influences are also seen in pizzas, with thin-crust tavern-style being a popular alternative to deep dish.
• Greek Cuisine: Chicago is home to dozens of Greek restaurants offering an array of delicious foods like Flaming Saganaki, Moussaka and kebabs.
• Mexican Cuisine: Chicago has a strong Mexican culinary influence, offering everything from street-style tacos to mole dishes. Authentic taquerias like Carnitas Uruapan and high-end spots like Frontera Grill by Rick Bayless showcase the diversity of Mexican flavors.
• Indian Cuisine: The city’s Devon Avenue, also known as "Little India," features a wide range of Indian restaurants serving staples like butter chicken, samosas, biryani, and dosa.

The type of food Chicago offers reflects the city's cultural heritage and innovative food styles. Commonly served food in Chicago are the iconic deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, Polish pierogi, Mexican tacos, and Indian curries. Restaurants in the city cater to a variety of tastes, featuring American comfort food, global cuisines, and fusion dishes.

Deep-dish pizza is baked in a round steel pan to achieve its signature thick crust, while Italian beef is slow-cooked and thinly sliced before being dipped in flavorful jus. Chicago-style hot dogs rely on the art of layering fresh, locally sourced ingredients without ketchup. The city also excels in barbecue, with meats slow-smoked for hours to achieve tenderness and flavor.

Yes, there are unique dishes invented in Chicago including the Chicago-style deep dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, and Jibarito sandwich. Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, layered with rich ingredients and baked in a thick crust, can be enjoyed at Lou Malnati's or Giordano’s. Chicago-style hot dogs, featuring Vienna Beef on a poppy seed bun with mustard, onions, bright green relish, tomato wedges, a dill pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt, are best tried at Portillo’s or The Wiener’s Circle. Italian beef sandwiches, served on an Italian roll with thinly sliced beef and optional giardiniera, are specialties of Al’s Beef and Johnnie’s Beef. The Jibarito sandwich, crafted with fried plantains instead of bread and filled with steak, garlic oil, onions, and cheese, originated at Borinquen Lounge in Humboldt Park and is available in several other unique Chicago restaurants.