Mentioned by Spoon University
The 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago, According to a Local
"End your evening with dinner at Avec, an adorable, modern and warm spot where you can dine tapas-style. You absolutely must order the chorizo-stuffed dates. Holy moly, they are incredible!!!. You can thank me later."
"Even in the depths of winter this Lincoln Park restaurant is full of sunshine and joy. Channeling its inner Cali, the food here is light and bright – ahi tuna and watermelon tostadas, handmade local burrata and fresh salads. The kids’ menu mirrors that with fresh berries accompanying most dishes."
"Normally this place will make you feel like you’re in California, but now they are only offering breakfast delivery options near you on the weekends. You can get drink kits to make Bloody Marys and also their silver dollar pancake party, which is basically a charcuterie board for pancakes."
"I’ll admit, the decor of this place is what initially sucked me in – but I kept going back because off their Breakfast Tostadas. I’ve tried a few other things there, but nothing beats those tostadas!. Crunchy and a little spicy and a yolk that spills everywhere?"
"Restaurants Bakeries Albany Park. Upon entering this small but mighty Latin bakery, you'll grab a basket and a pair of tongs from the folks working the counter. Do a lap and plot out your order before opening the pastry cases and helping yourself to pillowy conchas, stuffed churros and colorful, candy-studded cookies—all made fresh daily."
"Markello's Baking Company produces tons of fresh Mexican, Guatemalan and Greek pastries every day.|© EvelynGiggles / Flickr. This bakery has been family-owned and operated since 1982 when Markellos Res decided to start making and selling Greek pastries. By 1991, Markellos was able to expand his namesake Baking Company to its current spot in Albany Park."
"Great service and an excellent environment; Logan square is a nice slice of heaven on earth. The employees and staff are always friendly and attentive, a..."
"The early bird not only gets the worm, it also gets the breakfast deal at Cozy Corner. Stop in between 6 a.m."
"Count on all of the Kanela locations, Andersonville, Lakeview, Old Town, Wicker Park and Streeterville, to be just as impressive as the next. All Kanela locations feature a warm and cozy ambiance amid the zeal of the kitchen and waitstaff turning out indulgent as well as healthy meals made from scratch in-house with lots of local and organic ingredients.. Luscious sweet options include lemon blueberry pancakes; red velvet French toast, monkey bread and Greek doughnuts with honey and toasted walnuts."
"With locations all around the city, Kanela is a fan favorite for brunch. The location in Streeterville not only boasts a beautiful interior, but an exquisite exterior. The patio space, while small, gives its patrons the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors downtown."
"Description: Kanela Breakfast Club has the yummiest and most satisfying French toast. Perfect for a ~hungover~ brunch. Location: 502 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL 6061"
"Washington Blvd., Chicago (312) 563-9990www.lepeepchicago.com. Le Peep specializes in down home breakfast comfort food. Their pancakes are fresh and made from scratch."
"P.F. Chang’s is one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in Northbrook thanks to its from-scratch pan-Asian-influenced cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients. Signature dishes ..."
"But this is America, and if a Chinese restaurant wants to have sushi and kalbi, and it’s good, who are you to stop them?. Besides that mix, follow’s owner Dee Kang’s journey from a Chinese-Korean family to Japan and then Chicago. Dee’s is no secret to Lincoln Park locals, who have kept the place open since 1983."
"This market opened its doors in Arlington Heights in 1991, and since then, it’s been serving as one of the largest Japanese grocery stores and food courts in all of the Midwest (quickly gaining the reputation as “The Mall of Japan”). Come 365 days a year for favorites like tonkatsu, ramen, and Japanese-style burgers, along with a series of other Asian eats — dim sum, bibimbap, and kalbi have also been spotted at stands."
"Just 30 minutes from Chicago, this large, popular Japanese grocery superstore boasts an impressive food court with a huge variety of choices of Asian delicacies. If you want authentic Japanese, you'll find udon, teriyaki, sushi and bento boxes aplenty. There are tables and chairs to dine at the food court but weekends get slammed with shoppers so you may have to stalk tables to get a seat."
"With three locations, Coast is known for its high quality sushi coupled with outstanding service. Weekends can get loud and very busy, especially at its city locations. The Bucktown hotspot (BYOB) features a warm and sexy interior while its South Loop locale is a bit more stark and modern in ambiance."
"Inspired by Hong Kong street food, the egg waffle can be topped with ice cream, fruit and, of course, chocolate sauce."
"This Euro-inspired cafe features a full assortment of coffee drinks. It's a collaboration between Kevin Heisner (Heisler Hospitality) and former Little Branch partner Soo Choi. There's also a great outdoor space next to the Robie House."