New Restaurants Coming to the Chicago Area in Summer 2026

Get more recipes, food news, and stories at wttw.com/food or by signing up for our Deep Dish newsletter.
Have a food story or recommendation? Email us at [email protected]. 

Restaurant opening timelines rarely go according to plan these days, but if you could choose a time to open an ice cream shop, a riverfront patio, or a Southeast Asian place, as several Chicago area chefs and entrepreneurs are doing right now, summer would be ideal. But you open when the construction finishes and the city inspection comes through, so your bakery or breakfast spot might open during the hottest days of July. There's a good chance people will still stand in line if there's enough hype. 

Here's a rundown of upcoming and recently opened restaurants in the Chicago area, now that the days have once again begun their inexorable shortening following the solstice. Don't worry; it's still a long time before those summer evenings perfect for a patio, cocktail, or sweet treat disappear. 

Midōsuji and The Ives

The eight-seat counter thiat is Midōsuji opened last fall in the Chicago Athletic Association building, where the Boka Restaurant Group recently took over the food. Chef Brian Lockwood originally served a set omakase menu of sushi, but Midōsuji is now reopening with an a la carte menu of handrolls and Japanese small plates like tots inspired by the savory Japanese pancake okonomiyaki. 

Lockwood and Boka opened Gingie in River North a few months ago but had to close it almost immediately following a kitchen fire. There’s no re-opening date yet – but Boka also just debuted The Ives in the classy Athletic Association space that used to house the Cherry Circle Room. Stalwart Chris Pandel of Boka’s Swift & Sons and Zarella did the menu, which takes some inspiration from Midwestern supper clubs, including a prime rib carved tableside and a flaming baked Alaska. 

Uyuhaus 

This isn’t your typical ice cream shop: opened June 22 at 110 S. Emerson St. in Mt. Prospect, Uyuhaus offers Korean- and Asian-inspired flavors such as perilla and pumpkin seed brittle, chocolate shoyu caramel, and labneh blackberry sumac. 

Good Ambler

The former Chicago Daily News building at 2 N. Riverside Plaza is an Art Deco stunner that got new owners last year. Among the investors in the ownership group is a company that also holds The Salt Shed, a music venue run by 16 on Center – which is also behind the quietly esteemed bakery Good Ambler in the West Loop. Now James Beard Award finalist Meg Galus’ seasonal pastries and chocolates will be closer to tourists and commuters in a new Good Ambler location at 2 N. Riverside that opened June 22. 

Tilly Bagel 

Chicago is in the midst of a bagel boom, with both homegrown spots and well-funded outside chains bubbling up like bagels boiling in a kettle. Tilly’s was an early progenitor, starting out as a pop-up during the pandemic and opening their first brick and mortar in the South Loop in 2023, adding another in the West Loop in 2025, and now expanding to Lakeview with a new shop at 3162 N. Broadway opening June 27. If it’s like the others, it will draw a line for inventive savory bagels like ones inspired by Chicago street food, chili crisp, and tomato grilled cheese – as well as classic sweet ones.

Piccolo Buco 

A more than century-old pizzeria in the heart of Rome, Piccolo Buco has been expanding to the U.S. with the help of Cooper’s Hawk, bringing cacio e pepe, meatballs, and pizzas with a life preserver of puffy crust around them to Chicago suburbs. Naperville and Oak Brook already have locations; Schaumburg joins them on June 29 with a location at 1340 E. Golf Rd. There’s a happy hour with Italian wine, lunch, and a patio. 

Chez Poulet 

Block Club Chicago reported that the brothers Oliver and Nicolas Poilevey were turning their former Taqueria Chingón at 2234 N. Western Ave. into Chez Poulet. Unlike Chingón and their Mariscos San Pedro, it is French, like their Le Bouchon and Obélix. But it’s more casual, focused on to-go rotisserie chicken with seasonal salads, soups, and vegetable sides, including potatoes roasted under the rotisserie in the chickens’ juices. There will also be a baguette from Mindy Segal of Mindy’s Bakery and a small wine shop in the back. Opening is imminent.

Soul & Smoke

It hasn’t been hard to find barbecue from Soul & Smoke over the past few years, with food trucks, plentiful catering at events, and locations in Avondale at Rockwell on the River and the West Loop in the Accenture building. But now D’Andre Carter and Heather Bublick are opening a sit-down, full service restaurant with expanded offerings at their production facility and flagship location at 1601 Payne St. in Evanston. In addition to brisket and pulled pork, there will be housemade pasta, barbecue shrimp, an oxtail “cigar” from Carter and Bublick’s days at Chicago’s groundbreaking Moto, and desserts like a sweet potato pie with meringue. You can also enjoy a full bar spotlighting producers of color in the art-filled space, which will be open for lunch and dinner and is due to debut in June.

Craft and Carvery

When Time Out Market suddenly shuttered at the beginning of this year, Craft and Carvery had only been there for a few months. Now it makes an independent return at 2101 W. North Ave. in Wicker Park as an all-day cafe offering sandwiches made from meats roasted and sliced in-house, brick-oven pizzas, and an extensive non-alcoholic drink menu alongside BYOB status. It’s from Richard Vallejo and chef Yanni Sanchez, the team behind Wicker Park’s Botanero, and will open in June or early July. 

Muhājir and Bobo

Zubair Mohajir has been on a hot streak, with an appearance on Top Chef last year, national acclaim for his Indian-Mexican restaurant Mirra, and a new downton spot, Mariela. He continues with two concepts in one space at 2630 N. Clark St. Muhājir will draw on global wood-fired influences, per its name, which not only is adjacent to Mohajir's own but also reflects his family's migratory history: it means "immigrant." It opens in July; reservations are available.

Bobo is a cocktail bar inside Muhājir inspired by rowdy nights at Filipino markets. Jacob Dela Cruz (who's also a partner in Muhājir) leads the food, while Mohajir's partners David Mor and Richard Beltzer are responsible for the beverage menu. Bobo opens July 8.

Sanders BBQ Prime

It’s been a big year for James Sanders, whose Sanders BBQ Supply Co. in Beverly won Best Counter Service restaurant at Chicago’s local Banchet Awards, was named best new restaurant by the New York Times, and got a James Beard Award semifinalist nod for Sanders and his pitmaster Nick Kleutsch. Now Sanders is expanding to Hyde Park at 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. with a sit-down restaurant that throws together barbecue and steak. It should open in July.

Ann Sather 

The breakfast spot known for gargantuan cinnamon rolls has left the 900 block of W. Belmont Ave. after 80 years as its building is demolished for new construction, but it’s opening a new location in Wicker Park at 1819 W. Division St. in a former Yolk restaurant. The new location is slated for July, while two other locations remain open, at 3415 N. Broadway and 1147 W. Granville Ave.

Fork and Coin

A pub with Asian influences, Fork and Coin will also host supper clubs with pre-planned menus at 3938 N. Central Ave. in Portage Park. Chef and co-owner Drake Mandrell, a cooking instructor at The Chopping Block in Lincoln Square, also wants to have a membership system with discounts and event access. Expect burgers, fried pork belly, and banh mi sandwiches along Korean makgeolli, cocktails, and beer when Fork and Coin opens in July.

JOMON Sushi & Izakaya

A casual neighborhood spot with a wide variety of Japanese offerings, from sushi to ramen to yakitori, JOMON is the latest offering from the people behind Mammoth Poke, which has three locations in Chicago. Located at 1858 N. Western Avenue, JOMON is just up the street from the Bucktown Mammoth Poke and is slated to open in July.

Del Sur Bakery & Cafe

When Justin Lerias opened his Filipino-flavors-in-classic-pastries spot in Ravenswood last year, he maintained an option to lease the space next door if business went well. He’s had lines out the door ever since and won a local Jean Banchet Award, so it’s safe to say he was successful. Del Sur is now closed to expand into that extra space, which will add a temperature-controlled lamination room and seating where customers can enjoy their pastries on pottery made by Lerias himself. Del Sur hopes to reopen with its expansion in late July. 

Tarra and Sura

Last fall, Lettuce Entertain You opened Crying Tiger, bringing Southeast Asian food to River North – and reservations have been endlessly booked. Now another restaurant is bringing Thai food to the neighborhood in a trendy setting, a block away from Crying Tiger at 121 W. Hubbard St. Tarra is a Thai restaurant; the downstairs Sura is a cocktail lounge that uses Thai ingredients.

The Carlyle Club 

The north bank of the Chicago River continues a refresh as the team behind Dēliz Italian Steakhouse takes over the enviable riverfront patio (and indoor restaurant) of the Reid, Murdoch & Co. Building, a stately brick warehouse from 1914 that’s bisected by a clocktower. Located at 316 N. Clark St., The Carlyle Club replaces Kimbal Musk’s The Kitchen American Bistro to bring steaks, sushi, and cocktails to River North. It’s due to open August 28. It follows the recent opening of NAIA on the river and an announcement of a tenant for the long-vacant riverfront restaurant space in Trump Tower, Prasino – the latter, a suburban import, not coming until next spring. 

TAAN 

Chanita Chayaluk left a professional career behind to study Thai cuisine in Bangkok so that she could bring it back to her hometown of Chicago and expose this Midwestern city to the depth and technique of Thai cooking. TAAN, which is slated to open in Humboldt Park in August, is her vehicle for that. Coal fire will be at the heart(h) of the restaurant, which will also feature seasonal local produce and wine – but not pad thai. Chayaluk has already previewed her food in a monthlong residence at TXA TXA Club.

Christophe’s Fine Foods

Located at 2264 N. Clark St., this deli-like neighborhood market will offer prepared meals meant to be reheated at home to Lincoln Park, along with cheese, charcuterie, wine, and some pantry staples. It should open in August. 

Juniper

Todd Stein has been a quiet but important figure in Chicago’s food scene for decades, opening MK and later Cibo Matto before joining the ever-growing Ballyhoo Hospitality (which just opened the izakaya Zenzi Den in Glenview) . He first ventured into restaurant ownership with Deere Park at 200 Green Bay Rd. in Highwood, which opened last year, taking over the space from another restaurant he had worked on. Now he’s revamping it as Juniper, offering sushi with sake and American-ish dishes like smoked salmon lavash with wine and cocktails, as well as a patio. It adds to a burgeoning restaurant scene in the northern suburbs – including an upcoming Highwood outpost of One Off Hospitality’s avec, due in September. Pelago Cafe also just opened at 325 Waukegan Ave. in Highwood, bringing casual northern Italian fare there. 

Friends & Neighbors 

Bucktown residents lamented the closure of the wine shop Red & White last year, but a new wine bar is replacing it. Two friends who also live in the neighborhood decided to take over the space at 1861 N. Milwaukee Ave. and open Friends & Neighbors to continue to offer bottles to go, wine to drink at the bar, education, and more. Arin Butzon and Joy Johns work outside the hospitality industry and hope to offer a welcoming, non-intimidating environment. They’re crowdfunding via a Founders Club with perks, and are aiming for an opening around Labor Day.

Zimi’s Pizza & Grill

When 016 closed in Lincoln Square, Chicago lost one of the more prominent Balkan restaurants, though there are still plenty of hidden gems. Now it’s being replaced by a pizzeria – but one that still offers Balkan food such as the savory pastry burek and plenty of grilled and minced meats. Zimi’s is moving south to 5077 N. Lincoln Ave. from West Ridge. 

Pub Sumo 

A pub that looks to combine the American diner with Japanese drinking snacks but be open from brunch through happy hour and dinner, Pub Sumo is the latest project from Salud Hospitality and Macku Chan, the latter having served sushi and Japanese food in Chicago for years. Located at 601 N. Wells St. in River North, it follows the closure of Salud and Chan’s Komo to make way for Salud’s Latin steakhouse Trino in that space.

New Cafes

The caffeine has been flowing as a raft of new coffee shops has opened over the past couple months. Queen Yemeni Coffee (4753 N. Broadway) is the latest in a trend of Yemeni coffee shops. Cafe Pisolino (71 W. Monroe St.) inside Italian Village is now open with, yes, Italian-inspired pastries and espresso. Monarch Community Market and Cafe (7010 N. Clark St.) wants to be a neighborhood gathering place in Rogers Park. Milwaukee’s Discourse Coffee had been serving mind-bending drinks like a ramen coffee out of Urbanbelly in Wicker Park; now it has followed Urbanbelly to 952 W. Fulton Market. Dots Cafe (2000 W Addison) is named after the owners’ centenarian grandma. And Caña (1406 W. Grand Ave.) is a Latin coffee shop by day and cocktail bar by night. 

New Places to Watch the World Cup

Barra Ñ reopened at 2977 N. Elston Ave. the same day the World Cup started; the Argentinean spot couldn’t miss hosting a crowd to cheer on the last World Cup winners as well as games not involving Argentina. Soccer House, which took over the Twisted Spoke space at 501 N. Ogden Ave., is living up to its name and showing World Cup matches, along with having pop-ups and cocktail specials from other Chicago restaurants. The Ivy Bar & Kitchen replaced The Piggery at 1625 W. Irving Park but still has plenty of TVs and lots of space (including outdoor) to watch sports, not just the World Cup. 

Some Recent Openings We Missed

Halal Southern-meets-Mexican Migos Fine Foods has opened a second location at 4822 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Latin speakeasy Culebra is open at 2101 N. California Ave., underneath Lonesome Rose. Labriola expanded to the West Loop with Labriola Italian Specialties at 852 W. Fulton Market. Chicago’s scant number of Indonesian spots expanded with Garuda at 1046 W. Argyle St. Brazilian is also rare in Chicago; Chef Thiago at 3307 N. Clark St. helps change that. Kin Yum Tum Zaab Real Thai Street Food brings more Thai to Edgewater, at 1123 W. Granville Ave. XOtikka has Indian street food at 4749 N. Pulaski Rd, while Desi Boys Pizza demonstrates the trend of Indian-style pizza at 6147 N. Broadway and Madurai Kitchen & Bar brings southern Indian food from Tamil Nadu to the North Shore at 1831 Tower Dr. in Glenview. Brennan’s Burger Shack now serves smash burgers out of The Emerald Isle, 6686 N. Northwest Hwy. The 2020 N. Halsted St. former bar Beaumont’s is now an American restaurant. Fathom is a new queer bar at 1622 W. Belmont Ave. And Irene’s Finer Diner reopened after a fire at 2012 W. Irving Park Rd.

Get more recipes, food news, and stories at wttw.com/food or by signing up for our Deep Dish newsletter.
Have a food story or recommendation? Email us at [email protected].