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Playlist Restaurants

Restaurants

Discover Chicago’s restaurant and dining scene with WTTW Food. Explore neighborhood favorites, hidden gems, chef-driven dining spots, and behind-the-scenes stories from across Chicago's vibrant culinary landscape. From iconic institutions to new openings, our weekly restaurant coverage brings you closer to the people, flavors, and communities shaping dining in Chicago.

Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe Isn't Your Typical Suburban Barbecue Joint

Daniel Hautzinger

Chuck Pine serves not just Chicago-style and Texan barbecue but also Cajun and Mexican regional dishes with produce grown on a farm at one of his two locations in the southwest suburbs. 

A New Logan Square Spot Wants to Be a Neighborhood Restaurant with Hand Rolls and an Approachable Omakase

Daniel Hautzinger

“Having done this for a while and seeing what people respond to, I feel that we can give people what they want at a little bit more of a price point that makes sense,” says Andrew Choi, formerly of Jinsei Motto, of his new Omakase Box. 

Avli's Eleftheria Sioulas on Her Favorite Spots in the City

Lisa Futterman

Eleftheria Sioulas was born in Chicago, raised in Athens, and now shares the cuisine of Greece in Chicago at Avli. She recommends restaurants and more in Chicago.

Grant Achatz Pays Tribute to Another Legendary Chef, and Reflects on the Future and His Own Legacy

Maggie Hennessy

Next puts a Midwestern twist on the legendary Italian restaurant Osteria Francescana, while Alinea celebrates 20 years and Grant Achatz tries out generative AI.

Lao Der Is Chicago's First Sit-Down Lao Restaurant in Over a Decade

Daniel Hautzinger

Two lifelong friends from Southeast Asia have opened Chicago's only sit-down Lao restaurant in Irving Park in order to share the food they grew up with and learned from their families. 

The Tropical Food of Southern India Finds Its Way to Wintry Chicago as a Number of Restaurants Spotlight Kerala

Daniel Hautzinger

A wave of restaurants is helping showcase the diversity of Indian cuisine in Chicago, particularly spotlighting the coconut-based, seafood- and beef-heavy cuisine of the southern state of Kerala.

Chicago's 2025 James Beard Award Winners

Daniel Hautzinger

In a ceremony held in Chicago for the national food and hospitality awards, Chicago notched two wins, one more than last year.

A Chicago 'Top Chef' Finalist Talks About Competing on the Popular Show

Lisa Futterman

Bailey Sullivan, executive chef at Monteverde, was one of three Chicago chefs on this season of Top Chef and fought her way all the way to the final. 

Jen Vailoces of Jennivee's Bakery on Her Favorite Spots in the City

Lisa Futterman

Jennivee's Bakery offers cakes and cupcakes in a rainbow of colors, including specials for Pride Month. Owner Jen Vailoces shares some of her favorite Chicago food places.

Born in Greece, the Gyros’ Spinning American Soul Belongs to Chicago

David Hammond

Gyros may have traveled from Istanbul to Athens, but its American soul belongs to Chicago. And it’s much more than just a sandwich. 

Four Patio Series Serving Special Menus from Some of Chicago's Buzziest Restaurants All Summer Long

Daniel Hautzinger

A few Chicago establishments make full use of their patios by inviting other restaurants to serve meals at a deal weekly – including a competition for the best hot dog. 

What Is 'Family Meal?' New Show Gives an Inside Look at Restaurant Life

Daniel Hautzinger

Restaurants' family meal or staff meal has been brought into the mainstream by The Bear. A new show uses it to allow the staff of a restaurant to share stories, advice, and an inside look. 

The Team Behind Carpenter Street on Their Favorite Spots in the City

Lisa Futterman

The owner and executive chef of the newly opened cozy neighborhood spot Carpenter Street in the West Loop share places to shop, eat, and drink in and around Chicago. 

A Cherished Hot Dog Stand Celebrates 50 Years of Business, with an Owner and Employees Who Have Been There for Decades

Daniel Hautzinger

Mike Payne opened the original Byron's Hot Dogs as a manager and soon hired an employee who still works there today, before eventually taking over as owner. Fifty years and a White House visit later, the stand continues on.

The Destination-Worthy Restaurants Hiding Just Over the Border in Northwest Indiana

Kim Kovacik

Northwest Indiana, known as "The Region," could almost be suburban Chicago, and offers plenty of unique restaurants in driving distance. A Hoosier chef and photographer now in Chicago recommend some of them.
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