Skip to main content

editorial list heading

Chicago's Most Iconic Restaurants

by The OpenTable team

Updated 15 December 2023

Seasons change, trends come and go, but these restaurants have withstood the test of time—and have become integral parts of the Chicago dining scene. Here are Chicago’s OpenTable Classics: the places that continue to excel after 10+ years. There’s a reason they’re still around: they keep giving us a reason to come back.

A photo of Boka restaurant

4.8

4.8 (7202)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Lincoln Park

About the restaurant

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.

Top review

L

Leland

Dined 3 days ago

Absolutely amazing on all accounts - food, service and ambiance!

Discover more

A photo of Roasted Chicken of a restaurant

Roasted Chicken

A photo of Black Truffle Roasted Chicken of a restaurant

Black Truffle Roasted Chicken

A photo of Dark Chocolate of a restaurant

A photo of Sepia restaurant

4.8

4.8 (5400)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

West Loop

About the restaurant

Upon walking into Sepia, it’s clear that this is a special restaurant; the exposed-brick walls and crystal-dripping chandeliers make this one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city. The food is just as wonderful as the ambiance, with a modern American menu that incorporates touches of Southeast Asian, Korean, and Mediterranean cuisines. It’s no wonder Michelle Obama called it one of her favorite restaurants.

Top review

M

MichelleVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Sepia is a great place for dinner with your significant other or catching up with friends. We loved each of our dishes, all were so artfully presented - a true feast for the eyes. But the flavors…. Perfect bites on each forkful! Our group decided to do the wine pairing which was very reasonably priced. I chose to go with the zero proof pairing and it was divine! Each wine and libation perfectly complemented the food. It was hard to pick favorites but the carpaccio, crudo, trout, gnudi, short ribs and the duck were fabulous!!! Highly attentive waitstaff, the service was on pace. Our server knew everything about our food and the wines paired with the each dish. Truly a great dining experience.

A photo of Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab restaurant

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

4.9

4.9 (17659)

$50 and over

Seafood

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

Joe’s Stone Crab is a Miami institution, and when it opened in Chicago, it became an instant institution of its own. You’re here, of course, for stone crab, platters of it that you’ll crack open and devour—but don’t sleep on the steaks, too, which are some of the best in the city.

Top review

M

Maggy

Dined 1 day ago

Food and service were fantastic. Can't wait to go back! Thank you!!

Discover more

A photo of Key Lime Pie of a restaurant

A photo of Filet Mignon of a restaurant

A photo of Seafood Pasta of a restaurant

A photo of The Gage restaurant

4.7

4.7 (12050)

$30 and under

American

Downtown / Loop

About the restaurant

The menu at The Gage, a handsome, elegant gastropub in Millennium Park, spans the globe, with dishes like crispy harissa drumsticks, poutine, Thai coconut curry, and a perfect rendition of fish and chips. And if you’re game for game, The Gage has some of the city’s best examples of it, with an excellent bison tartare, venison burger, and roasted New Zealand rack of elk.

Top review

M

Maggie

Dined 5 days ago

The Gage is always a great choice. The food is great and the service is exceptional. There’s a lively vibe that makes the experience very fun.

Discover more

A photo of Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée of a restaurant

Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée

A photo of Steak & Eggs of a restaurant

A photo of Thai Coconut Curry of a restaurant

Thai Coconut Curry

A photo of Le Colonial - Chicago restaurant

Le Colonial - Chicago

4.8

4.8 (7947)

$50 and over

Vietnamese

Gold Coast / Streeterville

About the restaurant

For a quiet, lovely, and delicious dinner, head to Le Colonial, a French-Vietnamese restaurant in Gold Coast that’s been serving top-notch dishes like spring rolls, banana-leaf-steamed trout, and lemongrass chicken since 1996. The service is friendly and attentive—and if you’d like, they’re more than happy to help you navigate the expansive menu.

Top review

J

JulieVIP

Dined on 14 Jan 2025

Outstanding dinner! We had a variety of small bites to start, entrees, and desserts. The cocktails and wine were also delightful. This is one of my favorite restaurants.

Discover more

A photo of SU I CAO CH IEN - Pan-Seared Chicken Dumplings of a restaurant

SU I CAO CH IEN - Pan-Seared Chicken Dumplings

A photo of CHA GIO - Crispy Shrimp & Pork Rolls of a restaurant

CHA GIO - Crispy Shrimp & Pork Rolls

A photo of CARI GA Chicken Curry GF N of a restaurant

CARI GA Chicken Curry GF N

A photo of RL Restaurant restaurant

4.8

4.8 (7360)

$31 to $50

American

Gold Coast / Streeterville

About the restaurant

Right next to the world’s largest Polo store you’ll find RL Restaurant, Ralph Lauren’s first foray into the dining sphere. You’re here for American classics like shrimp cocktail, pigs in a blanket, dover sole, and crab cakes, all served in a handsome room that is both clubby and chic.

Top review

T

Tea

Dined 5 days ago

Our time at Ralph’s was perfect as always. There is truly no place I would rather spend my birthday. The staff always go above and beyond and are so welcoming.

Discover more

A photo of RL Burger of a restaurant

A photo of Veggie Burger of a restaurant

A photo of Prime Filet Mignon of a restaurant

Prime Filet Mignon

A photo of Shaw's Crab House & Oyster Bar - Chicago restaurant

Shaw's Crab House & Oyster Bar - Chicago

4.8

4.8 (14350)

$50 and over

Seafood

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

There are few better places to dine on gorgeous seafood than Shaw’s Crab House, a Chicago institution in River North. Choose between the 1940s-style dining room or the more-casual Oyster Bar, and get to work; we particularly recommend the stone crab claws, the chilled shellfish platters, and whatever oysters are on the menu that day.

Top review

J

JoanneVIP

Dined 2 days ago

We had a great bday celebration! Aldo is an awesome server & took ever precaution for a gluten free meal! The vibe in the bar is casual yet cozy! It’s one of my favs! Thank you Aldo for taking such good care of us!

Discover more

A photo of West Coast Oysters of a restaurant

West Coast Oysters

A photo of Seafood Gumbo of a restaurant

A photo of Seafood Fettuccine of a restaurant

Seafood Fettuccine

A photo of Mon Ami Gabi restaurant

4.8

4.8 (8142)

$30 and under

French

Lincoln Park

About the restaurant

Mon Ami Gabi has been serving French bistro classics—think escargots, chicken-liver mousse, steak au poivre, and trout almondine—for twenty years. The plant-filled space is also a lovely place to spend a lunch or dinner, with tiled floors, mirror-lined walls, and tons of natural light.

Top review

DG

DebG

Dined 2 days ago

Exceptional as always! French onion soup was perfect on a frigid night.

Discover more

A photo of Hanger Steak of a restaurant

A photo of Filet Mignon Au Poivre of a restaurant

Filet Mignon Au Poivre

A photo of Filet Mignon Bordeaux of a restaurant

Filet Mignon Bordeaux

A photo of Shanghai Terrace restaurant

Shanghai Terrace

4.8

4.8 (2326)

$31 to $50

Chinese

Gold Coast / Streeterville

About the restaurant

On the seventh floor of the Peninsula Hotel you’ll find Shanghai Terrace, a gorgeous jewel box of a restaurant serving upscale Cantonese food. The dim sum in particular is not to be missed—especially the pork buns and peekytoe-crab dumplings—and the views are not to be missed.

Top review

E

ericaVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Just go, it's a lovely place with fabulous food, I was blown away by my lobster, the fried noodles and rice, the kung pao chicken, the shrimp spring roles the crab wontons, it was all so delicious, the cookies and sorbet were fabulous as well,I will be back and will be getting it to go!!!

Discover more

A photo of peking duck salad of a restaurant

peking duck salad

A photo of Traditional Peking Duck of a restaurant

Traditional Peking Duck

A photo of Golden Shrimps of a restaurant

Explore other cities and regions

A photo of County Durham

A photo of North Wales

A photo of West Lothian

A photo of Angus

A photo of Edinburgh

A photo of Oxford

A photo of Aberdeen

A photo of Hampshire

A photo of Berkshire

A photo of Kent

A photo of Brighton

A photo of Dorset

Other ways to experience the world through dining

Must Try Korean Dishes The Greats Explore Asian-Owned and -Operated Restaurants Explore Award-Winning Restaurants on OpenTable The Best Bars on OpenTable TKTK The Best Restaurants for Breakfast on OpenTable The Best Brunch Restaurants The Best Burgers best cafe in town

Discover

OpenTable

About Us
Blog
Careers
Press

More

OpenTable for iOS
OpenTable for Android
Affiliate Programme
Contact Us

Our sites

Businesses

Delight more diners
Restaurant Blog

Join us on

Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Impressum
Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
Cookie Preferences

Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.

OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.