The city of Chicago has long boasted about its thriving food industry, but only in recent years has the rest of the United States paid attention. Since the 2000s, the city has frequently scooped up MICHELIN stars, established the careers of star chefs like Stephanie Izard and Rick Bayless, and brought attention to the James Beard Awards for the previous five years and counting. Chicago received a huge boost in the restaurant industry in 2017 after being named the best restaurant city in America by Bon Appétit and Condé Nast Traveler magazines, respectively. Coming off a devastating period for the restaurant industry, there is no better time to honor the landmark establishments that helped build the city’s restaurant scene into the powerhouse it is today. These seven restaurants represent the best of Chicago’s acclaimed dining scene.
Parachute (Avondale)
A Michelin star, inclusion on Bon Appetit’s list of Great New Restaurants, and a James Beard Award all went to this tiny restaurant because of its creative blend of Korean and American food. Closed for renovations, but its sibling restaurant Wherewithall is thriving with a weekly-rotating four-course menu, including drinks and bar snacks. Parachute will return later this year, and when it does, you should go there to try chef Beverly Kim’s specialty dish, baked potato bing bread with sour cream butter (a buttery baguette stuffed with bacon, potato, and cheese), vegan mayo tofu, and ten pieces of Korean fried chicken with spicy gochujang sauces.
Boka (Lincoln Park)
Because of its approachable, seasonally driven modern American menu, Boka has been recognized as one of Chicago’s most intriguing restaurants, receiving a MICHELIN star and nominations for the James Beard Awards. Celebrity chef Lee Wolen is known for taking fairly simple dishes and making them look more complex by adding layers of texture and flavor. Smoked cauliflower, hazelnuts, and crisp cucumber accompany the Spanish octopus, and sunchoke, maitake mushrooms, and black garlic elevate Wolen’s famous roasted chicken to gourmet status. Boka’s dining rooms are works of art, with lush green walls and enormous circular banquettes creating an ambiance perfect for enjoying these delicacies.
Superdawg Drive-In
Life-size statues of its founders, Maurie and Flaurie Berman, whose likenesses can be seen from streets away, guard legendary Chicago drive-in Superdawg. Superdawg is a nostalgic restaurant where patrons order meals from carhops and interact with the staff via crackling drive-in speakers. The hot dog sold at Superdawg doesn’t follow the classic Chicago recipe. Superdawg employs a thick, unique all-beef sausage served on a bun with pickled green tomato, mustard, and chopped Spanish onions in place of the traditional Vienna Beef frank. All of this is cushioned in a bag of crinkle fries. Wheeling is home to a second conveniently located suburbia office.
Southern Luella’s Kitchen
Darnell Reed worked as a chef in downtown Chicago hotels with the goal of one day building a place dedicated to his great-grandmother Luella, who moved to the city from Mississippi in 1943. Now, diners can taste the South at his quaint Lincoln Square eatery, where he prepares a mean plate of waffles and fried chicken alongside dishes like cream shrimp, grits, and chicken gumbo. This North Side eatery, founded by Black people, is a hotspot for weekend brunch. The restaurant has a casual atmosphere with counter service but a substantial menu from which diners of all tastes can select something satisfying.
City Winery (Chicago)
Located in the quiet and peaceful portion of Chicago’s “restaurant row,” City Winery’s Restaurant and Wine is an ideal place to unwind in the bustling west loop restaurants. City Winery’s menu is curated to complement the restaurant’s wide wine list, craft beer selection, cocktail list, and more, with dishes that range from familiar favorites to experimental new takes on old favorites, all of which are inspired by wine and drawn from across the world and the best of what’s available in our region.
Bayan Ko
Lumpia, empanadas, fried rice with shrimp, and pork cooked in the Cuban-style mojo sauce can only be found at Bayan Ko in Chicago. The proprietors are Cuban and Filipino; thus, the food is an interesting blend of cultures. The emphasis isn’t on fusion but on recipes that work well together from both cultures. The sandwiches are excellent, especially the Pinoy burger, which combines beef and longanisa. It’s worth going out of your way for the Adobo wings and the pancit. Weekend reservations are highly suggested, and the restaurant is BYO.
The Community Tavern
Community Tavern, a Portage Park establishment previously known as a local steakhouse, has undergone a menu expansion since Brenna Beato and Joey took over management. The sense of community is still there, which is great news. There is a plentiful selection at the bar, and children under 12 dine for free on certain days. The variety of items on the menu may be off-putting to people who prefer menus with a consistent theme, but it makes perfect sense to those who want to eat tasty cuisine. Dumplings in the Asian style, including a mushroom butter dumpling, are available.
Conclusion
When looking for out-of-this-world dining in Chicago, it can be not easy to narrow down your list of favorite restaurants to just one. There is too much variety among the city’s greatest eateries to choose just one. The best Chicago meal is, of course, subjective. With so many options available, it won’t be long before you’ve compiled your favorite list.