Best Restaurants in Chicago (2025)

Chicago’s three-star standard-bearer pairs Midwestern terroir with audacious tasting menus from John and Karen Urie Shields. Consistently lauded by the Michelin Guide and national critics, Smyth feels intimate, personal, and relentlessly inventive without losing warmth.

By day, a beloved bakery-café; by night, a refined Filipino tasting menu that earned a Michelin star. Tim Flores and Genie Kwon’s Ukrainian Village destination has drawn raves from the Michelin Guide, the Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times.

Zachary Engel’s modern Middle Eastern spot blends wood-fired pita, salatim, and a choose-your-own prix fixe in a lively room. A Michelin-starred essential that also turns up on Eater Chicago shortlists for its generous hospitality and soulful flavors.

Sujan Sarkar’s sleek River North restaurant reframes Indian flavors through elegant tasting menus, earning a Michelin star and frequent national press. Multiple menu paths—vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and omnivore—make the experience both polished and welcoming.

In Hyde Park, Erick Williams’s Southern cooking—gumbo, biscuits, and thoughtful seasonal plates—anchors a restaurant rooted in mentorship and community. Recognized by the James Beard Awards and praised by Food & Wine, it’s soulful dining with purpose.

Joe Frillman’s Midwestern-Italian pastas meet serious sustainability, from in-house fermentation to produce from his family farm. Awarded a Michelin Green Star and named a must-visit by The New York Times and Eater Chicago, the vibe stays neighborly.

A vivacious French bistro where pâté en croûte, seafood towers, and foie gras splendor meet sunny brunches and late-night energy. Featured in the Michelin Guide and embraced by local critics, it channels classic technique with Chicago swagger.

Anna and David Posey’s Danish-tinged dining room balances tasting-menu finesse with à la carte freedom. A Michelin-starred favorite with a courtyard hearth, it’s known for delicate, seasonal plates and the signature sunflower seed parfait.

Joe Flamm’s spirited blend of Croatian and Italian cooking—grilled meats, hand-rolled pastas, seafood—captures the West Loop’s energy. Frequently cited by the Chicago Tribune, Eater Chicago, and national publications, it remains one of the city’s hardest tables.

From the team behind Parachute, this Avondale ode to Ukrainian cooking offers zakusky carts, borsch, and Eastern European wines. Celebrated by Chicago Magazine, Time Out, and added to the Michelin Guide, it’s distinctive, heartfelt, and delicious.