It’s only April, and 2023 has already proved to be a banger of a year for restaurant openings in Chicago. The warming springtime weather makes it an especially exciting time to check out some of the hottest places to eat at right now.
Two local barbecue legends have debuted their first sit-down restaurant serving top-notch appetizers in addition to their beloved smoked meats. A lively, neon-lit sports bar is dishing out Chinese American fare, a reflection of the owner’s hangover cravings from his 20s. And the chef from Japanese favorite Momotaro has a sleek, new restaurant spotlighting skewers prepared on a robata grill in a historic Lakeview building.
Read on for five hot new restaurants to check out in Chicago right now.
Firewood BBQ (Wicker Park)
Barbecue mavens Gosia Pieniazek and Artur Wnorowski debuted their third Chicago barbecue restaurant in March. Firewood BBQ is the couple’s first sit-down establishment and allows them to serve dishes beyond the beloved smoked meats they’ve come to be known for at Ella’s BBQ and Earl’s BBQ. Yes, pulled pork and brisket remain, but there’s also a selection of appetizers including torched burrata, sandwiches such as shrimp po’ boy, and brunch options including brioche French toast. The rustic spot features a spacious wooden bar and several wooden booths throughout the space. Come summer, expect outdoor seating, community events such as karaoke nights, and brunch cocktails.
The M Room (River North)
Popular Japanese steakhouse and seafood chain Roka Akor teamed up with whiskey brand The Macallan to open this tasting menu restaurant earlier this year. This one-of-a-kind spot showcases dishes that complement the various whiskies and whiskey-based cocktails served during the ten-course meal. Chef Ce Bian’s seasonal menu is currently spotlighting Wagyu tartare with hazelnut aioli, roasted sea bass with Sichuan peppercorns and crispy eggplant, and king trumpet mushrooms with crispy barley, among other dishes. The restaurant has an elegant bar showcasing dozens of Macallan whiskies, velvet booths, and bright-red neon lights all along the ceiling that bring the party to River North.
Itoko (Lakeview)
Famed Momotaro chef Gene Kato has once again teamed up with prolific Chicago restaurant group Boka to open Itoko. Skewers cooked on a robata grill are among the highlights at this sleek Japanese restaurant, which debuted at the end of February. A host of sashimi and temaki rolls that Kato is best known for are on the menu, as are some newer dishes including whole roasted branzino with pickled bamboo shoot salad and spicy pork ramen. A sake program and highballs complement the food. Catch the action at the stylish chef’s counter or get cozy in one of the minimalist booths.
Roundhouse (Logan Square)
This stellar sports bar, which opened at the end of January, takes the genre up a notch with dishes unlikely to be found at other sports bars in the city. Chef Ariel Bagadiong’s menu is inspired by hangover foods that co-owner Scott Horwitch turned to in his 20s. Expect Mongolian beef nachos, cheeseburger egg rolls, Italian beef fried rice, and other Chinese American food-inspired fare that pairs with the dozen beers on tap. Neon lights, walls plastered with sports memorabilia, and TV screens throughout the space await diners looking for a fun night out in Chicago.
GG’s Chicken shop (Lakeview)
Another Boka Group creation, this casual chicken restaurant opened in the same building as Itoko in February. The two restaurants are part of Boka’s revamp of a 120-year-old building that once housed a brothel and brewpubs. Girl and the Goat star Stephanie Izard’s Little Goat Diner will follow later this year. As the name suggests, it’s all about chicken at GG’s. Chef Lee Wolen, who has consistently earned Boka Restaurant a MICHELIN star for more than a decade, created the menu here. Expect sandwiches, salads, and rotisserie chicken with sauces including garlic ranch, honey mustard, and chimichurri. Pair the mains with a host of sides such as waffle fries, crispy Brussels sprouts, and broccoli slaw.
Tanay Warerkar is a content marketing manager at OpenTable.
