Chicago‘s West Loop is known for its pioneering and acclaimed restaurants, ranging from MICHELIN-Starred destinations to beloved neighborhood favorites.
Dig into Mediterranean-inspired small plates at a Restaurant Row trendsetter. Enjoy coastal vibes and modern Mexican dishes at Tulum-inspired Fulton Market escape. Get rooftop views and family-style Peruvian fare at a celebrated chef’s chic hotel restaurant.
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Read on for a guide to the top West Loop Chicago restaurants.
For Mediterranean vibes at one of the best West Loop Chicago restaurants: Aba (West Loop)
One of Chicago’s most beautiful restaurants, Aba brings Mediterranean vibes to the West Loop. The interior dining room is dressed with lush plants and towering indoor trees, while the expansive rooftop patio offers some of the city’s best views. Those sunny coastal vibes also apply to chef CJ Jacobson’s Mediterranean-Californian dishes—think charred avocado hummus and grilled cauliflower kebabs. The playful drinks menu includes a build-your-own-spritz tower and stellar zero-proof cocktails.
For a pioneering West Loop Chicago restaurant from a Top Chef alum: Girl & the Goat (West Loop)
When it opened in 2010, Girl & the Goat launched a new era of casual fine dining in the West Loop. In a cozy, rustic-chic space, feast on mega-award-winning (James Beard, Top Chef, Iron Chef) Stephanie Izard’s bold, globally influenced dishes like sweet and sour wood-fired whole branzino and goat empanadas that make this MICHELIN-Starred restaurant remains as hot and relevant as ever. Don’t miss the clever cocktails, like a twist on the classic old fashioned made with goat fat-washed bourbon.
For relaxed Italian fare from an acclaimed restaurant group in West Loop Chicago: Alla Vita (West Loop)
Alla Vita is where you go for approachable Italian dishes from chef Lee Wolen of MICHELIN-Starred Boka. With a plant-draped arched wooden pergola and elegant fabric drapery, the stylish space is a destination for wood-fired meats and pizzas as well as refined pastas like standout pillowy ricotta dumplings. An Italian-forward wine list and charming sidewalk patio add to the relaxed, neighborhood vibe.
For an acclaimed chef’s Midwest-meets-Mediterranean cuisine in a stylish space: Rose Mary (West Loop)
Top Chef winner Joe Flamm’s Midwest-meets-Mediterranean restaurant is a love letter to Adriatic soul food, like tortellini djuvec (ratatouille) and cevapi (lamb and beef sausage) grilled over a centerpiece charcoal hearth—and it’s these hearty but unique flavors that spawned shoutouts from the Chicago Tribune, Eater, and more. The lively, industrial-chic space is full of lush hanging plants, azure-colored tiles, and red clay accents that complete the coastal Adriatic vibe.
For modern Mexican dishes at a beach-inspired Fulton Market escape: Costera Cocina Tulum (West Loop)
Costera Cocina Tulum is a coastal Mexican-inspired escape inside Fulton Market. Expect a menu of shareable, seafood-forward small plates like prawns and fish carnitas tacos, along with fancy steaks and tropical drinks galore—get the spicy margarita. The decor also channels the beaches of Tulum, with palm trees, custom rope work, and stone walkways. Bonus points for a year-round heated patio.
For a Mediterranean-inspired small plates at a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand favorite: avec (West Loop Chicago)
This West Loop spot sparked Chicago’s small-plates craze in 2003 and now has MICHELIN Bib Gourmand status. Expect soulful Midwestern riffs on Mediterranean small plates and an excellent wine list that leans southern European. Don’t miss avec’s bacon-wrapped chorizo-stuffed dates, which are right up there with hot dogs and deep dish as classic Chicago fare. The warm and inviting atmosphere is complemented by rustic wooden accents and communal seating—ideal for group outings and celebrations.
For a Top Chef’s family-style Peruvian cuisine with panoramic views: Cabra (West Loop)
Located inside the chic Hoxton hotel, Cabra is one of Chicago’s best rooftop restaurants. Expect peak skyline views and family-style, Peruvian dishes developed by Chicago chef legend Stephanie Izard of Girl & the Goat. Sit in the sunny dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows and hanging greenery to feast on shareable snacks like shrimp ceviche, yucca fries, and Izard’s signature goat empanadas. Don’t miss the restaurant’s rotating selection of frozen pisco.
For stellar sushi and Japanese dishes at one of the best West Loop Chicago restaurants: Momotaro (West Loop)
Momotaro is a renowned Japanese restaurant known for its exquisite sushi and Izakaya-style dining. The restaurant’s lively, wood-lined dining room is the perfect setting for digging into fresh sushi, sashimi, and standout dishes like chicken dumplings. Add in an extensive sake selection and a creative cocktail list, and every meal here feels like a special occasion.
For a wood-fired Argentine meat extravaganza in the West Loop: El Che Steakhouse & Bar (West Loop)
El Che Steakhouse & Bar is a celebration of all things meat, Argentine style. In a stylish dining room with dark walls and a 12-foot custom-built grill, dig into stellar Argentine-American feasts prepared on a traditional parrilla. Add in a deep wine list and rum-forward cocktails, and it’s easy to see why El Che is a West Loop date-night favorite.
For a elegant Indian dining the the West Loop: ROOH Chicago (West Loop)
ROOH Chicago is a swanky Indian restaurant that blends traditional Southern Asian flavors with contemporary culinary techniques. The interior is modern and inviting, with a colorful mural, deep-blue velvet booths, and pink and gold accents—making it a great choice for special occasions. The menu includes small plates like sweet potato chaat plus signature dishes like butter chicken, along with craft cocktails to pair with the date-night atmosphere.
From swanky Indian spots to award-winning Mediterranean favorites, you don’t want to miss these fantastic restaurants in West Loop Chicago. Dine on everything from bold, globally inspired dishes at Top Chef alum’s MICHELIN-Starred destination to premium Argetine meats at stylish steakhouses in these West Loop Chicago restaurants.
