Maxwells Trading

"In Chicago, known for 'city food by city kids,' the menu includes 'Beginnings,' 'Starch,' 'Griddle Breads and Dunks,' 'Substance, Grilled,' and 'In Conclusion.'" - Jaya Saxena

"Maxwells Trading sounds like Mad Libs: Chicago Restaurant Edition—you can eat clay pot rice alongside french onion dip and drink from a curated wine list while listening to "Smooth Operator" on vinyl in a chic warehouse space. Overambitious? Maybe at any other place. But this West Loop spot delivers on every fill-in-the-blank aspect of a great meal, especially the food. Much like Sade's catalog, each seemingly straightforward dish contains multitudes. And while plenty of Chicago spots serve fantastic food in brick buildings that look like failed startup headquarters, the best thing about Maxwells Trading is that it doesn’t really feel like anything else. While reservations don’t immediately disappear when they're released a month out, it’s best to be watchful. Prime weekend time slots are pretty nonexistent, so plan to book about two or three weeks before your dinner unless you don’t mind eating at 5 or 9pm. It's always easier to get a table for a weekday. Or you can roll the dice and walk in day-of—the bar is first come, first served." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"A contemporary restaurant in West Town, combining Japanese, Chinese, and Thai flavors." - Kevin Chau

"Where Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower, nominees for Best Chef: Great Lakes, work." - Emily Venezky

"Eater’s 2024 Restaurant of the Year is great for groups thanks to its family-style menus that give folks with a variety of dietary concerns — meat eaters, vegetarians, Keto folks, etc. — something to devour. From brilliant scallion flatbreads to delectable dumplings, Maxwells Trading is a spacious restaurant with different configurations (and a second floor for parties)." - Samantha Nelson, Eater Staff