Best Diners in Chicago

"The Chicago Diner offers an atmosphere as American as mini-malls by decorating the place with vintage ads and neon lights and serving up heaping helpings of comfort food, but without the meat. “Instead of burgers, we have veggie burgers,” “instead of french fries we serve home fries.” They also offer vegan milkshakes, a Radical Reuben with homemade seitan in place of corned beef, biscuits & vegetarian gravy, and Chick’n Fingers for the kids. And guys, you really need to try their vegan milkshakes, not only are they delicious, but they are vegan, and some even Gluten Free!"

"Ask any vegetarian or vegan in the city of their top restaurant choices and it’s likely Chicago Diner will be one of the first names on their lips. Whilst a motto boasts that The Chicago Diner has been “Meat free since ’83” its reputation is such that The Chicago Diner is loved by meat-eaters and vegans all over the city. A large menu offers anything ranging from pancakes to black bean veggie burgers but it’s what they can do with seitan and tofu that will really blow your mind, and your taste buds."

"All options at The Chicago Diner are meat-free|© Chicago Diner. The slogan at this diner – “Meat Free Since ’83” – certainly rings true. Everything on the large menu is vegetarian and vegan or can be made vegan."

"Stephanie Izard’scontemporary West Loop diner’s open all day, and most kids will be thrilled that they can order breakfast at any time. The dark chocolate chip crunch pancakes with chocolate malt butter, Fat Elvis waffles with bananas, peanut butter-butter and bacon maple syrup or gooey, house-made Cinnabons should put them on happy street."

"Little Goat Diner is known affectionately for serving breakfast all day (aka the American dream), but their menu also expands into essentially everything you've ever hoped and dreamed of. Little Goat also has a one-of-a-kind bakery attached to it where you can order a goat-milk latte."

"Following the wild success of her flagship restaurant, the Girl & the Goat, Top Chef alum Stephanie Izard switches gears with this all...Read More"

"One of Chicago’s oldest restaurants, Lou Mitchell’s offers a traditional old-school dining experience. Based on Jackson Boulevard, Lou Mitchell’s has been serving hungry diners for more than a century and continues to operate like a well-oiled machine. Following the ancient Greek tradition of offering a sweet treat to visitors in your home, guests are welcomed with complimentary Milk Duds and donut holes on arrival before sitting down to delicious dishes of freshly prepared food for breakfast, such as jumbo omelets, fluffy pancakes, fresh eggs, and homemade pastries along with a range of daily specials and “the world’s finest coffee.” 565 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60661, Phone: 312-939-3111"

"The iconic Lou Mitchell's sign has drawn patrons into the historic diner near Union Station since 1923. Come for hearty, classic diner fare at breakfast and lunchtime, alongside baked goods and complimentary Milk Duds. View this post on Instagram"

"A giant fist clenching eating utensils invites guests into this popular Lakeview eatery. Inside, they’ll find a warm dining room and items ranging from stuffed French toast and marvelous milkshakes to giant quesadillas and zucchini parmigiana. Go during off-peak hours or be prepared to wait since there’s usually a line."

"Stella’s has a pretty eye-catching exterior, and pretty hunger-smashing food. This place has been in Lakeview for around 50 years and despite many changes over the decades, it’s still around. Boasting classic diner breakfast favorites and delicious shakes at low prices, Stella’s has no trouble bringing in the crowd."

"Old School Breakfast Favorites: Coffee Simple Shake (Coffee + Milkshake!) ($5.50) or 2 Eggs with a Side and Toast ($6.95). Chicagoians have loved Stella’s Diner since the 1960s. This Lakeview institution offers the kind of breakfast your parents and grandparents probably love."

"Hollywood Grill offers up sweet treats like waffles or savory dishes like paninis 24 hours a day.|© Parkerman & Christie / WikiCommons. Since 1995, this Wicker Park staple at the corner of Ashland and North Avenue has perfected the art of the all-American diner. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert are served here 24 hours a day, every day of the week, 365 days of the year."

"This colorful diner is open around the clock, 365 days a year, making it an excellent choice for early-rising kiddos ready to munch. With fun decor and famously friendly servers, the whole family will feel at home here. They offer a kid’s menu with classic American comfort food, as well as breakfast options all day."

"Although it’s missing the glitz and glam of Beverly Hills, this Hollywood-themed diner is the late-night star of Wicker Park. Sure, eating jumbo fried shrimp, nachos supreme, or a pulled pork sandwich at 1 a.m. isn’t the healthiest choice, but damn if it isn't difficult to resist."

"This Evanston hole-in-the-wall has earned a devoted cult following among North Shore denizens. They flock here for Loretta—a sandwich, not a woman. A feast for $7, the Loretta layers white cheese, mayo, peppers, tomatoes, onions and your choice of bacon, ham, turkey or chorizo on a six-inch French roll."

"Nestled inside two converted streetcars, this 24-hour gem will satisfy your cravings for both retro kitsch and greasy food. (It’s a favorite among Lakeview’s late-night bar crowd.) The specialty is the “slinger,” a plate piled with two burger patties, hash browns, two eggs, and chili, but you can also get a simpler meal of buttered toast and eggs any way."

"Restaurants American Lake View. There are no seats here—just stools. There’s barely a menu, either."

"A National Historic Landmark, this South Loop church suffered a devastating fire in 1900, so the congregation hired architects Howard Van Doren Shaw and Frederic Clay Bartlett to rebuild the building in the then-popular Arts and Crafts style. Over the years, the church welcomed many famous Chicago families including the Pullmans, Blackstones, and Armours. Open Saturday, October, 19, from 10 a.m."

"Holy Trinity is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Chicago Landmark and is the oldest Orthodox parish in Chicago. Its unique style is typical of Slavic provincial architecture. Designed by Louis Sullivan, it is the famous architect’s only remaining church in Chicago and one of just two in the world."

"Helmed by pastry great Mindy Segal (Mindy's Hot Chocolate), this cozy oasis within the buzzy Revival Food Hall, this part-cafe, part-bar offers all things caffeinated, boozy, and baked. Stop by the one-stop shop for brioche donuts and nitro draft lattes during the day, and stiff (and coffee-infused, if you wish) cocktails in the evening."

"Revival does food and ambiance equally well, so it’s no surprise customers voted it the best food hall in Chicago. Try to get here during off-hours so you don’t end up spending hours at home cropping the crowds out of your photos."

"The Loop’s bustling dining hall has nearly all the bases covered. Several of the city’s most popular bites are found here, such as the Budlong’s Nashville hot chicken, Smoque’s barbecue, tacos from Antique Taco, and more."

"Fans of Iliana Regan’s cooking will know they’re in the right place upon entering this cozy corner spot, which is brimming with some of the chef’s signature animal-inspired quirks including chopsticks that rest on a porcelain rabbit and red fox pitchers to hold broth and guard the kitchen pass. Kick things off with one of the team’s house made sodas (make it the Galangal ginger beer) before delving into texture-driven starters like green garlic chawanmushi and steamed scallop gyoza with charred turnips. A donabe hot pot is packed with mackerel and serves as the perfect accompaniment to an umami-rich bowl of ramp ramen noodles."

"Kitsune Restaurant and Pub is unpretentious by design, focusing in on Japanese flavors with touches of Midwestern. Pulling local ingredients, the restaurant aspires to not be a “fusion” of some sort but to just, well… be. Located within a quaint and modern haunt, Kitsune features Sake cocktails, Omakase dining, and a rotating menu of delicious eats that change along with the season."

"It’s only fitting that one of gay culture’s leading figures, Oscar Wilde, be given a restaurant in his honor in Boystown, Chicago. The Wilde Bar & Restaurant channels Wilde’s Irish homeland with an extensive beer selection and many traditional Irish dishes. For brunch, the restaurant offers a wide variety of breakfast specials along with a host of fruity breakfast drinks, from morning mojitos to blueberry açai with Chambord liquor."