Favorite Local Restaurants in Chicago

Chicago has always been one of the country’s most celebrated culinary destinations—and with the always-getting-better classics mixing with a wave of new, boundary-breaking restaurants, the food scene is only getting better. But where are the smartest, savviest diners eating out? We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among OpenTable's most expert, seasoned diners. You’ll find cavernous sushi restaurants and neighborhood gems, glamorous Italian spots and new-age steakhouses—all vetted by the types of tastemakers who know the best spots around the city. You'll want to follow their lead.

The OpenTable team

12 Restaurants

Updated February 25, 2020

Restaurants:	SUSHI-SAN, Momotaro, Proxi…
Price Range:	$$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	Japanese, Global, International…
Neighborhoods:	Chicago, West Loop…

SUSHI-SAN

$$$$

Japanese

Chicago

4.7

794 reviews

Sushi San might be wacky and irreverent—they have a section of their menu labeled “nigiri bombs”—but the food is consistently some of the best Japanese in town. You’ll find excellent specimens of classic sushi and nigiri—the San-Sets, in particular, are great for sharing—as well as Japanese-fusion dishes, like octopus tacos and ceviche-topped shrimp chips, that actually work.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Momotaro

$$$$

Japanese

West Loop

4.7

3137 reviews

It’s hard to have a bad time at Momotaro: the vibe is animated and lively, space is soaring, and the food—which, at a lesser place, might be an afterthought—is excellent. Don’t be intimidated by the menu, which is long and diverse; the friendly staff will help guide you through it, giving smart suggestions along the way.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Proxi

$$$$

Global, International

West Loop

4.6

1874 reviews

Duck dumplings, or baby-potato carbonara? Burrata with sourdough, or Indonesian pork curry? These are the choices you’ll face at Proxi, a restaurant in the West Loop devoted to international street food. This is global cuisine in every sense of the word, and it works: the kitchen has mastered the diverse menu, and the staff is eager to help you navigate it.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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Swift & Sons

$$$$

Steakhouse

West Loop

4.8

3821 reviews

We’re in the Midwest, after all, and there are few places in Chicago to get a steak as good as the ones at Swift & Sons. Chef Chris Pandel knows how to cook a piece of beef, and his seafood dishes—like the hamachi crudo—should not be missed, either.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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RPM Italian

$$$$

Italian

Chicago

4.6

10958 reviews

There’s no shortage of great Italian restaurants in this town, but RPM Italian shines as one of the brightest. The space is handsome and sleek; the vibe glamorous and sophisticated; and the food—which is classic Italian with a modern twist—is excellent. You can’t go wrong with any of the pastas.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Ema

$$$$

Mediterranean

River North (Chicago)

4.8

3675 reviews

Walking into Ema, on the ground floor of the Hyatt Place Hotel in River North, feels like a breath of fresh air: the tables and counters sparkle, the ceiling is hung with tangles of ivy, and sunlight filters in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Dip some fresh flatbread into some honey-drizzled labneh, order a round of kebabs or a plate of lamb meatballs, and enjoy.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Summer House Santa Monica

$$$$

American

Lincoln Park

4.7

6457 reviews

It’s always summer at Summer House Santa Monica, even when the wind is whipping off Lake Michigan, even when snow batters its windows and its glass roof. Sip on a watermelon smash or a glass of rose; nibble on tuna nigiri or guacamole or a platter of fish tacos; and soak up the sun.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Boka

$$$$

Contemporary American

Lincoln Park

4.8

6142 reviews

Boka is the flagship restaurant of the Chicago empire Boka Restaurant Group, the place that launched no less than a dining revolution. The contemporary-American menu still feels contemporary—we love the vegetable-heavy dishes in particular—and the space is both upscale and cool. The excellent service doesn’t hurt, either.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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Duck Duck Goat

$$$$

Chinese

West Loop

4.8

4548 reviews

What happens when Chicago icon Stephanie Izard opens an homage to American Chinatown restaurants? She nails it. Everything at Duck Duck Goat, from the wood-paneled decor to the lazy Susans to the pitch-perfect Peking duck, is thoughtful and spot-on, and while this isn’t authentic Chinese cooking—crab rangoon, anyone?—it’s great cooking, period.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Takeout available

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Beatrix - Fulton Market

$$$$

American

West Loop

4.7

2047 reviews

With its breezy vibe and unpretentious menu, Beatrix has hit on a concept that truly works—and at their third and most-recent location in Fulton Market, they’ve dialed it in even more. This is a place that lends itself as much to daytime coffee-swigging to evening cocktail-sipping, and the food—like the local burrata and “enlightened Caesar”—never disappoints.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

True Food Kitchen - Chicago

$$$$

American

River North (Chicago)

4.6

2301 reviews

In a city with no shortage of gluttonous establishments, it’s important to have a reliable healthy option to turn to. Enter True Food Kitchen, the Chicago outpost of the national chain, a place where you can dine amongst rows of plants and other healthy-looking people and leave happy, full, and virtuous.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

GT Prime Steakhouse

$$$$

Steakhouse

River North (Chicago)

4.7

1698 reviews

Up until the launch of GT Prime Steakhouse, we didn’t realize that the steakhouse model—the huge cuts of meats, the rainbow of sides—needed to be disrupted. But GT Prime Steakhouse proves otherwise. Instead of hulking slabs of meat, you get carefully portioned slices, served with salts and sauces to be sprinkled with. The effect is modern and elegant—and with a kitchen this thoughtful, it’s easy to be delighted.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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