The Top 15 Restaurants by Cuisine in Chicago
Where’s the best Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, or Indian food in town? Where’s the best steak, the best pizza, the best plate of oysters? We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among Chicago’s most expert, seasoned diners, broken down by each type of cuisine.
| Restaurants: | Blackbird, Nico Osteria, The Publican… |
|---|---|
| Price Range: | $$ - $$$$ |
| Cuisines: | Contemporary American, Italian, American… |
| Neighborhoods: | West Loop, Gold Coast / Streeterville… |
For 2 people today
Blackbird
$$$$·Contemporary American·
West Loop
- Fit for Foodies
- Special Occasion
- Hot Spot
AMERICAN: Chef Paul Kahan is a Chicago legend, and Blackbird is where he first made his mark. It’s still just as relevant as it was in 1997, serving elegant, refined versions of Mi…Read more
Not available on OpenTable
View More InfoNico Osteria
$$$$·Italian·
Gold Coast / Streeterville
- Good for a Date
- Fit for Foodies
- Notable Wine List
ITALIAN: With its elegant decor, friendly staff, and open kitchen, Nico Osteria is a truly lovely place to spend a meal—and the menu, which features seafood-forward Italian cuisine…Read more
The Publican
$$$$·American·
West Loop
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for Groups
- Hot Spot
GASTRO PUB: Since it opened in 2009, The Publican has been one of the most fun, boisterous spots in the city to eat pig, drink beer, and be merry. The food, to this day, is delicio…Read more
Not available on OpenTable
View More InfoSwift & Sons
$$$$·Steakhouse·
West Loop
- Special Occasion
- Good for Anniversaries
- Good for a Date
STEAKHOUSE: We’re in the Midwest, after all, and there are few places in Chicago to get a steak as good as the ones at Swift & Sons. Chef Chris Pandel knows how to cook a piece of …Read more
SUSHI-SAN
$$$$·Japanese·
River North (Chicago)
- Fun
- Good for a Date
- Fit for Foodies
JAPANESE: Sushi San might be wacky and irreverent—they have a section of their menu labeled “nigiri bombs”—but the food is consistently some of the best Japanese in town. You’ll fi…Read more
GT Fish and Oyster
$$$$·Seafood·
River North (Chicago)
- Good for a Date
- Special Occasion
- Fit for Foodies
SEAFOOD: You’re at GT Fish and Oyster for, well, fish and oysters: this is the best seafood spot in town. Ask your server for the best raw stuff they have that day, and then order …Read more
Dos Urban Cantina
$$$$·Mexican·
Logan Square
- Fit for Foodies
- Neighborhood Gem
- Good for Groups
MEXICAN: Dos Urban Cantina, a Mexican restaurant in Logan Square, is at once casual and cool, trendy but lowkey—and the perfect spot to dine on dishes like street-style corn, queso…Read more
Not available on OpenTable
View More InfoMargeaux Brasserie - Waldorf Astoria
$$$$·French·
Gold Coast / Streeterville
- Special Occasion
- Good for a Date
- Romantic
FRENCH: Walking into Margeaux Brasserie, a French restaurant helmed by world-renowned chef Michael Mina, feels like walking into the Paris of another era: the booths are handsome a…Read more
Duck Duck Goat
$$$$·Chinese·
West Loop
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for a Date
- Creative Cuisine
CHINESE: What happens when Chicago icon Stephanie Izard opens an homage to American Chinatown restaurants? She nails it. Everything at Duck Duck Goat, from the wood-paneled decor t…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityEma
$$$$·Mediterranean·
River North (Chicago)
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for a Date
- Good Vegetarian Options
MEDITERRANEAN: Walking into Ema, the Mediterranean restaurant on the ground floor of the Hyatt Place Hotel, feels like a breath of fresh air: the tables and counters sparkle, the c…Read more
There aren’t any available tables for 2 today at 7:00 pm
View AvailabilityProxi
$$$$·Global, International·
West Loop
- Good for a Date
- Fit for Foodies
- Creative Cuisine
INTERNATIONAL: Duck dumplings, or baby-potato carbonara? Burrata with sourdough, or Indonesian pork curry? These are the choices you’ll face at Proxi, a restaurant in the West Loop…Read more
Parachute
$$$$·Korean·
Avondale / Irving Park
- Creative Cuisine
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for a Date
KOREAN: Parachute is one of Chicago’s most-talked-about restaurants, and it’s not hard to see why. Chefs Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark’s take on Korean-American food is singular and…Read more
Table for 2 today
Bar Biscay
$$$$·Seafood·
West Town
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for a Date
- Handcrafted Cocktails
SPANISH: A Basque restaurant with trippy-nightclub lighting? You’re at Bar Biscay, one of Chicago’s newest and hottest restaurants. Snack on platters of cured meats and cheeses whi…Read more
Not available on OpenTable
View More InfoHerb
$$$$·Thai·
Uptown
- Fit for Foodies
- Good for a Date
- Neighborhood Gem
THAI: With its three- and five-course prix-fixe menus, Herb is one of the best values in town; you’ll find thoughtful, elegant, and straight-up delicious Thai food, for a fraction …Read more
Jaipur - Permanently Closed
$$$$·Indian·
West Loop
- Casual
- Neighborhood Gem
- Spicy
INDIAN: Chicagoans go to Jaipur for some of the city’s very best—and authentic—Indian food: samosas stuffed with spiced lamb, scarlet-red tandoori chicken, and platters and platter…Read more
Not available on OpenTable
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