Best Dinner Places to Eat in New Chicago

"This no-frills soul food diner is a South Side institution and the oldest restaurant in Chicago, opening in 1892 and becoming its current incarnation in 1918. Breakfast is served all day while the dinner menu includes fried chicken, jumbo shrimp, melt sandwiches, and burgers, all of which can be spiced up with the red pepper vinegar found on every table. Daley’s moved across the street in 2019."

"Restaurants American Woodlawn. Depending on how you look at it, Daley’s restaurant has been around since 1892 or 1937 (the first, the original opening date; the second, the current incarnation). Either way, it’s one of the oldest restaurants in the city."

"President Obama cites Valois, a cafeteria-style restaurant, as one of his favorite spots in the city. He likes their breakfast, specifically the eggs and turkey sausage. Open since 1921 (making its home in a few locations over the years), the open kitchen churns out daily specials like prime rib, corned beef and cabbage, patty melts, rice pudding, and peach cobbler."

"It's counter-service only but Hyde Park’s beloved institution has all the makings of a greasy spoon. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served cafeteria-style and customers should look forward to reliable omelets, a mean plate of steak and eggs, and daily specials like lamb shank spaghetti. Need more convincing?"

"This event space and community center—home to a tech incubator, podcast studio, art gallery, and more—now welcomes visitors to its new rooftop patio. Brothers’ on the Wall has taken up residence in the kitchen to whip up platters of rib tips, jerk chicken, catfish steaks and more. Share an order of fries with your friends and do a show-and-tell of what you’ve brought to drink at this BYOB-friendly spot."

"Enjoy a fresh selection of traditional and modern dishes at this South Side gem. The Woodlawn is a modern and upbeat Internet cafe with a patio and rooftop for a unique outdoor dining experience. They offer coffee from a local South Side roaster by day and a pop-up experience by night."

"Enjoy rooftop dining in your own enclosed igloo at The Woodlawn. The clear domes seat up to five people for two hours and includes a customized three course meal with beer or wine. Make the evening extra special with romantic add-ons like roses or a live musician."

"A family-owned Mexican spot in Archer Heights that's the G.O.A.T. when it comes to goat meat. Why we love it: Thick handmade tortillas, salsas made to order, bright-pink agua fresca—you can get all of that to go. Their only purpose, however, is to accompany the restaurant’s signature platters of chopped goat meat."

"After you find a seat in this Irish pub’s beer garden in Beverly, it’s decision time: Which of the 20 draft beers will you try first?. (To make your choice even harder, there are 40 varieties of bottled and canned suds to choose from, too.) If you visit on a Friday night, you can snag snacks from local food trucks; recent visitors have included Cheesie’s and Aztec Dave’s. 10614 S Western Ave.; 773-445-2675 or corkandkerry.com"

"Cork and Kerry is an award-winning Irish pub in the heart of Chicago. The tavern serves a classic pub-style menu that features favorite dishes such as burgers and fries, grilled cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, mac and cheese, and a variety of salads and sides. A full-service bar offers an excellent selection of beers and brews on tap and by the bottle."

"Its sprawling patio is a great place to spend a summertime afternoon—and if your stay extends into the evening, no one will judge you."

"One of the most unique coffeeshops in Chicago, owner Phil Sipka came over from Robust Coffee Lounge to give Englewood a coffeeshop and alternative to fast food. He uses beans from Bridgeport Coffee. There's a small but dedicated group of people who show up for these early Saturday morning hours for some tranquility..."

"Not only is the coffee amazing (their CBD lattes are quite popular) and their sandwiches scrumptious, but they have best-in-class tech support that will keep your remote work laptop running like a dream. They can fix smartphones, consoles, computers, and tablets — they can even help you set up your website!. The location is spacious and ideal at the beautiful Bridgeport Arts Center, with both indoor and outdoor seating and plenty of outlets available in “normal times.” As of my visit last week, they still hadn’t opened up the inside for work, but I know that there are plans for indoor seating to return in the near future."

"Weekly Gospel Brunch at Norman’s Bistro is a lively and fun Sunday brunch buffet. Weekly Gospel Brunch includes warm sweet potato pancakes, tasty barbecue spare ribs, extraordinary fried chicken, fresh house-made pastries, a fully loaded omelet station, a great carving station, and non-alcoholic beverages. Weekly Gospel Brunch offers the added pleasure of live music."

"The Parrot Cage, steps from the picturesque South Shore Beach, is run by one of the most highly acclaimed culinary schools in the country. Students from Chicago’s Washburne Culinary Institute use the restaurant to hone their skills in the kitchen, where they create highly rated modern American cuisine. The Parrot Cage is housed inside the landmark South Shore Cultural Center that provides a refined setting for your waterfront meal."

"Of the numerous buildings that Frank Lloyd Wright designed around Chicago, none is more famous or influential than Robie House. Because its horizontal lines resembled the flat landscape of the Midwestern prairie, the style became known as the Prairie style. Inside are 174 stained-glass windows and doors, which you'll see on the hour-long tours (frequency varies by season, but there's usually at least one tour per hour). Advance tickets are highly recommended."

"Named one of the 10 most significant buildings of the 20th century by the American Institute of Architects, the 9,000-square-foot Robie…"

"The Burnham Wildlife Corridor is a 100-acre area of urban wilderness running through Burnham Park. There is a bird sanctuary, a bioretention basin, nature paths, and a centennial prairie. Native prairie grasses, savanna, and woodland ecosystems create the largest natural area along the lakefront, according to the park district."