Best of Chicago Restaurants: 2023 Top 6
In my three years at Northwestern, some of my favorite memories are the meals I enjoyed in Chicago — which is still the city where I’ve ranked the most spots on Beli (80, at the time of writing). I couldn’t pick a top five, so here are my top six recommendations:
#1: Kyoten Next Door
For omakase lovers who aren’t interested in forking over the $450+ per person required to experience the regular Kyoten menu, check out their sibling restaurant, Kyoten Next Door, which costs a less-painful $159 per person (excluding tax, an 18% service charge, and any beverages). Given limited seating, reservations are a must.
This remains my favorite omakase experience ever: they are generous with the fish portions and every single piece was deliciously indulgent. The standouts for me were the black cod, madai with lemon zest, fatty toro, torched wagyu with truffle butter, and their unique tamago. As you dine, you can chat about the fish you’re eating and learn about the makings of everything from the wasabi to the sushi rice.
Beli Score: 9.9/10 (Restaurant)
Address: 2513 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
#2: Elske
If someone asks me what my favorite Chicago restaurant is, this is my pick. Elske is Danish for “to love,” and love I did. As someone who admittedly needs to up her veggie intake… if vegetables always tasted like they do at Elske, I’d go vegetarian. In Elske’s airy, almost greenhouse-esque abode in West Loop, you can enjoy a light, seasonal Scandinavian-inspired menu. Their aged gouda paired with strawberry jam and honeycomb makes a refreshing appetizer. One of my all-time favorite veggie dishes is their charred leeks topped with foamy cheddar and crunchy toasted oats, an absolute smorgasbord of textures and savory goodness. Also not to be missed are their desserts, particularly a rare permanent item on their menu: sunflower seed parfait with sour honey, licorice, and bee pollen.
For a Michelin-starred restaurant, their a la carte options are fairly priced; they also offer a $125 USD tasting menu with items not on the regular menu. Whichever you choose, Elske won’t disappoint.
Beli Score: 9.8/10 (Restaurant)
Address: 1350 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
#3: Kumiko
Kumiko may have been the my most anticipated Chicago foodie spot, and it did not disappoint. My friend and I walked-in on a Sunday night and waited about an hour to be seated — their online waitlist opens at 6pm Wednesday through Sunday, so I would try there first if you can’t snag a reservation. While Kumiko is right by Fulton Market and its many restaurants and bars, there’s not much else to do if you have to wait.
Some restaurants just have an ambience and flavor profile that meshes with your tastes. Kumiko does it for me: an intimate Japanese dining bar with a quiet, well-controlled atmosphere — they restrict reservations to parties of five — and a delicious food menu alongside their cocktails. The Cloud Hopper (chiyonosono rice shochu, fidencio mezcal, passionfruit, green cardamom, oat milk, yakult, lemon) is, to this date, one of my favorite cocktails I’ve ever tried. It’s smooth, fruity, and achieves a light creaminess without using egg whites like I’ve had in other cocktails.
If you want a full meal, the maitakedon was pricey but filling. If you like sweets, you can’t miss the milk toast with fermented honey ice cream and Périgord truffle.
Beli Score: 10/10 (Bar)
Address: 630 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60661
#4: Tanta Chicago
I’ve been a fan of Peruvian food since a life-changing experience at London’s COYA, and was lucky enough to enjoy Tanta as a corporate happy hour during my sophomore year internship. Of course, their ceviche and tiradito is unmissable, but my favorite dish was actually the Criollo nigiri (sushi rice topped with torched wagyu skirt steak, avocado mousse, quail egg, and an amazing smoky lomito sauce).
Beli Score: 8.8/10 (Restaurant)
Address: 118 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
#5: Lula Cafe
Not a fan of pretentious food? Lula Cafe is a homey Logan Square staple, serving an affordable and fairly-portioned seasonally-changing menu.
You’ll find classics like Caesar salad and spaghetti alongside more ‘New American’ dishes like smoked sweet potato with king trumpet mushrooms, apple, taleggio, and chamomile (this was my favorite dish). While their permanent pasta ‘yiayia’ (a garlicky bucatini with cinnamon) is worth a try, it wasn’t a must-order for me; the floppy bucatini doesn’t make for graceful eating, but more importantly, the flavors in their veggie-forward dishes were much more memorable and interesting. Don’t forget to save room for dessert; they always have unique ice cream flavors on rotation.
Beli Score: 8.6/10 (Restaurant)
Address: 2537 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647
#6: Ciccio Mio & Gilt Bar
Surprise! I actually have seven recommendations. Ciccio Mio and Gilt Bar are right next to each other, feature similar menus, and are quite similar atmospherically as members of the same restaurant group (Hogsalt), so I figured I’d highlight both.
Ciccio Mio describes itself as ‘A nice Italian restaurant.’ Indeed! If you’re lucky enough to get a reservation, you’ll find yourself seated in one of their six banquette-style booths (or one of two tables for parties of two). The whole restaurant is contained within one cozy, velvety room. Their menu is not innovative, but nostalgic and well-executed. Be sure to get their hearty spicy vodka rigatoni and our sleeper hits: the burrata, which was so fresh and paired amazingly with the bread, and grilled asparagus.
Next door, Gilt Bar is a larger — meaning, easier to book! — restaurant, but for a more intimate experience, head downstairs. Their ‘speakeasy,’ The Library, is almost identical to Ciccio Mio in appearance and set-up, with the same vintage red wallpaper and candlelit booths. Pick a martini and be sure to order the truffle bucatini (Gilt’s was less salty than Ciccio Mio’s, so I enjoyed it even more). Before you leave, stop by their free photobooth for a souvenir of your lovely evening.
Beli Score: 8.2/10 (Ciccio Mio, Restaurant); 9.7 (Gilt Bar, Bar)
Address: 226 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
