A Chicago Food Crawl: Your Local Dining Guide

by The OpenTable team

Updated March 10, 2019

You’re in Chicago for 48 hours, and you’re hungry. What’s the plan? We’ve rounded up the best spots to hit on your first trip to town: the breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and everything-in-between that will give you a definitive sampling of what the city has to offer. Let’s get to it.

Parachute

4.6

4.6 (1716)

$31 to $50

Korean

Avondale

About the restaurant

Parachute is one of Chicago’s most-talked-about restaurants, and it’s not hard to see why. Chefs Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark’s take on Korean-American food is singular and unique, with takes on classic dishes like bibimbap, mandu, and dukbukki that at once thoughtful, exciting, and new.

Top review

Anne

Dined on Mar 22, 2024

We LOVED everything we ate at Parachute. We shared the Korean fried chicken, haemul pajeon, 30 day dry aged bulgogi, yukgaejang, and s'mores patbingsu. The vibe ws really fun and our service was great. When they open again, I'm certain they will bring the same care and expertise to another excellent experience.

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Experience

Private Dinner Nook for up to 9 People!

Girl & the Goat

4.8

4.8 (14710)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

West Loop

About the restaurant

Chef Stephanie Izard isn’t just the first female Top Chef winner—she’s also the lady behind one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants. Cuisine-wise, Girl and the Goat is probably best described as “global”—but labels don’t matter here. This is delicious, exciting food, the kind of stuff you’ll be thinking about the rest of the weekend.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

really wonderful experience!! Every dish was incredible and the service was fantastic. 10/10, absolutely recommend. We’ll be back!

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4.8

4.8 (780)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

West Loop

About the restaurant

Chef Paul Kahan has some of the best restaurants in Chicago, and Avec is a shining example. You’re here for the chorizo-stuffed dates, the cheese-stuffed “deluxe” focaccia, and anything coming out of the wood-fired oven.

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Isabelvip

Dined 2 days ago

This was some of the best food I’ve ever had in my life! The sweet potato dish and branzino were my favorites.

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Chicago

4.8

4.8 (8695)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Gold Coast / Streeterville

About the restaurant

We’re in the Midwest, after all—and if you’re eating steak in this town, you want to be eating it at Gibson’s. They even have a USDA grade named for them: USDA Gibsons Prime Angus. This is a steakhouse in every sense of the word, and it’s glorious.

Top review

Shelleyvip

Dined 7 days ago

As usual, Gibson's is the spot to be. It was filled to the brim with happy customers. I had the sea bass which was delicious. And my martini was perfect.

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4.5

4.5 (5872)

$31 to $50

American

West Loop

About the restaurant

Since it opened in 2009, The Publican has been one of the most fun, boisterous spots in the city to eat pig, drink beer, and be merry. The food, to this day, is deliciously craveable, and the plentiful beer selection will ensure you’re drinking happily all night long.

Top review

Stevenvip

Dined 1 day ago

We really enjoy a Publican brunch and this morning was no exception. Thanks.

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