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A Chicago Food Crawl: Your Local Dining Guide

A photo of Red logo
by The OpenTable team
Updated 10 March 2019

You’re in Chicago for 48 hours, and you’re hungry. What’s the plan? We’ve rounded up the best spots to hit on your first trip to town: the breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and everything-in-between that will give you a definitive sampling of what the city has to offer. Let’s get to it.

A photo of Parachute restaurant
4.6
4.6 (1716)
$31 to $50
Korean
Avondale
About the restaurant
Parachute is one of Chicago’s most-talked-about restaurants, and it’s not hard to see why. Chefs Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark’s take on Korean-American food is singular and unique, with takes on classic dishes like bibimbap, mandu, and dukbukki that at once thoughtful, exciting, and new.
Top review
Anne
Dined on 22 Mar 2024
We LOVED everything we ate at Parachute. We shared the Korean fried chicken, haemul pajeon, 30 day dry aged bulgogi, yukgaejang, and s'mores patbingsu. The vibe ws really fun and our service was great. When they open again, I'm certain they will bring the same care and expertise to another excellent experience.
A photo of Girl & the Goat restaurant
4.8
4.8 (15017)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
West Loop
About the restaurant
Chef Stephanie Izard isn’t just the first female Top Chef winner—she’s also the lady behind one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants. Cuisine-wise, Girl and the Goat is probably best described as “global”—but labels don’t matter here. This is delicious, exciting food, the kind of stuff you’ll be thinking about the rest of the weekend.
Top review
Jonathan
Dined 1 day ago
The food was as fabulous as I expected the cuisine to be. All the flavors were complex and on point. We will definitely be back the next time we are visiting Chicago! P.S. Our server Gary was fantastic, and thanks to Greta for allowing us to change our arrival time from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.!
A photo of avec West Loop restaurant
4.8
4.8 (891)
$30 and under
Mediterranean
West Loop
About the restaurant
Chef Paul Kahan has some of the best restaurants in Chicago, and Avec is a shining example. You’re here for the chorizo-stuffed dates, the cheese-stuffed “deluxe” focaccia, and anything coming out of the wood-fired oven.
Top review
felipeVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Every time I visit avec I feel at home. Everyone is very synchronize very friendly and the food is always spot on. Also, congratulations on the recent award very very well deserved
A photo of Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Chicago restaurant
4.8
4.8 (9013)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Gold Coast / Streeterville
About the restaurant
We’re in the Midwest, after all—and if you’re eating steak in this town, you want to be eating it at Gibson’s. They even have a USDA grade named for them: USDA Gibsons Prime Angus. This is a steakhouse in every sense of the word, and it’s glorious.
Top review
Craig
Dined 4 days ago
A festive chance to celebrate friendships. Just enough buzz to set the tone for delicious fun . Outstanding cocktails and delicious bone in filets ! It is wonderful to have this Chicago treasure just a few blocks from home , but also a great destination for global guests to Chicago .
A photo of The Publican restaurant
4.6
4.6 (5927)
$31 to $50
American
West Loop
About the restaurant
Since it opened in 2009, The Publican has been one of the most fun, boisterous spots in the city to eat pig, drink beer, and be merry. The food, to this day, is deliciously craveable, and the plentiful beer selection will ensure you’re drinking happily all night long.
Top review
Wendy KayVIP
Dined 6 days ago
Our favorite Chicago Restaurant Week experience. Everything was delicious from start to finish. Our server, was super knowledgeable. The food and wine pairing was perfectly crafted.
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