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The 50 Best Dishes in Chicago

Our critics scoured the city to find its most essential eats, from fried shrimp to tofu toast.

By Carly Boers, John Kessler, Jeff Ruby, Carrie Schedler, and Claire VoonPhotography by Jeff Marini
July 16, 2019, 7:45 am
 

Related:What’s Your Favorite Dish?
  • Fried Bologna Sandwich

    at Au Cheval

  • Bacon-Wrapped Dates

    at Avec

  • Bacon Biscuit

    at Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits

  • Oh My! Caramel Pie

    at Beatrix

  • Birria Platter

    at Birrieria Zaragoza

  • Short Rib Beignets

    at Boeufhaus

  • Beef Tartare

    at Boka

  • Fried Shrimp

    at Calumet Fisheries

  • Carnitas

    at Carnitas Don Pedro

  • Quiche

    at Cellar Door Provisions

  • Chocolate Cake

    at Dos Urban Cantina

  • Tofu Toast

    at Dove’s Luncheonette

  • Duck

    at Duck Inn

  • Cheeseburger

    at Edzo’s

  • Sunflower Seed Parfait

    at Elske

  • Arroz Gordo

    at Fat Rice

  • Shrimp and Grits

    at 5 Loaves Eatery

  • Crispy Little Bird

    at Funkenhausen

  • Uni Shooter

    at Giant

  • Country-Fried Portobello

    at Handlebar

  • Rib Tips

    at Honey 1 BBQ

  • Pan-Roasted Monkfish

    at Income Tax

  • Salmon Tartare

    at Jeong

  • Wang Mandoo

    at Joong Boo Market

  • Mr. G

    at JP Graziano

  • Fried Japanese Tilefish and Caviar

    at Kyoten

  • Lengua Taco

    at La Chaparrita

  • Sausage Deep Dish

    at Labriola

  • Spicy Chicken Wings

    at Landbirds

  • Fried Chicken

    at Luella’s Gospel Bird

  • Breakfast Burrito

    at Lula Cafe

  • Boquerónes

    at MFK

  • Ragu Alla Napoletana

    at Monteverde

  • A5 Miyazaki Wagyu

    at Oriole

  • Hummus with Octopus

    at Pacific Standard Time

  • Bing Bread

    at Parachute

  • Tteokbokki Lamb Ragu

    at Passerotto

  • Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

    at Pizzeria Bebu

  • Barbecued Carrots

    at the Publican

  • Pan-Fried Pork and Cabbage Dumplings

    at Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings

  • Pabellón Arepa

    at Rica Arepa

  • Whole Chicken

    at Roister

  • Cowboy Steak

    at RPM Steak

  • Foie Gras Bibimbap

    at S.K.Y.

  • Egg Yolk Dessert

    at Smyth

  • French Toast

    at Somerset

  • Duck Liver Mousse

    at Table, Donkey and Stick

  • B. Franklin Sandwich

    at Tempesta Market

  • Rigatoni Con Anatra E Funghi

    at Vivere

  • Chawanmushi

    at Yugen

BREAKFAST

  • Bacon Biscuit

    at Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits

  • Quiche

    at Cellar Door Provisions

  • Breakfast Burrito

    at Lula Cafe

  • French Toast

    at Somerset

APPETIZER

  • Short Rib Beignets

    at Boeufhaus

  • Beef Tartare

    at Boka

  • Uni Shooter

    at Giant

  • Boquerónes

    at MFK

  • Bing Bread

    at Parachute

  • Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

    at Pizzeria Bebu

SMALL PLATE

  • Bacon-Wrapped Dates

    at Avec

  • Crispy Little Bird

    at Funkenhausen

  • Salmon Tartare

    at Jeong

  • Fried Japanese Tilefish and Caviar

    at Kyoten

  • Lengua Taco

    at La Chaparrita

  • A5 Miyazaki Wagyu

    at Oriole

  • Hummus with Octopus

    at Pacific Standard Time

  • Tteokbokki Lamb Ragu

    at Passerotto

  • Barbecued Carrots

    at the Publican

  • Duck Liver Mousse

    at Table, Donkey and Stick

  • Chawanmushi

    at Yugen

ENTRÉE

  • Fried Bologna Sandwich

    at Au Cheval

  • Birria Platter

    at Birrieria Zaragoza

  • Fried Shrimp

    at Calumet Fisheries

  • Carnitas

    at Carnitas Don Pedro

  • Tofu Toast

    at Dove’s Luncheonette

  • Duck

    at Duck Inn

  • Cheeseburger

    at Edzo’s

  • Arroz Gordo

    at Fat Rice

  • Shrimp and Grits

    at 5 Loaves Eatery

  • Country-Fried Portobello

    at Handlebar

  • Rib Tips

    at Honey 1 BBQ

  • Pan-Roasted Monkfish

    at Income Tax

  • Wang Mandoo

    at Joong Boo Market

  • Mr. G

    at JP Graziano

  • Sausage Deep Dish

    at Labriola

  • Spicy Chicken Wings

    at Landbirds

  • Ragu Alla Napoletana

    at Monteverde

  • Pan-Fried Pork and Cabbage Dumplings

    at Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings

  • Pabellón Arepa

    at Rica Arepa

  • Whole Chicken

    at Roister

  • Cowboy Steak

    at RPM Steak

  • Foie Gras Bibimbap

    at S.K.Y.

  • B. Franklin Sandwich

    at Tempesta Market

  • Rigatoni Con Anatra E Funghi

    at Vivere

DESSERT

  • Oh My! Caramel Pie

    at Beatrix

  • Chocolate Cake

    at Dos Urban Cantina

  • Sunflower Seed Parfait

    at Elske

  • Egg Yolk Dessert

    at Smyth

ANDERSONVILLE

  • Tteokbokki Lamb Ragu

    at Passerotto

ARCHER HEIGHTS

  • Birria Platter

    at Birrieria Zaragoza

AVONDALE

  • Wang Mandoo

    at Joong Boo Market

  • Bing Bread

    at Parachute

BRIDGEPORT

  • Duck

    at Duck Inn

BRONZEVILLE

  • Rib Tips

    at Honey 1 BBQ

BUCKTOWN

  • Fried Chicken

    at Luella’s Gospel Bird

CHATHAM

  • Shrimp and Grits

    at 5 Loaves Eatery

CHINATOWN

  • Pan-Fried Pork and Cabbage Dumplings

    at Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings

EDGEWATER

  • Pan-Roasted Monkfish

    at Income Tax

EVANSTON

  • Cheeseburger

    at Edzo’s

GOLD COAST

  • French Toast

    at Somerset

GOOSE ISLAND

  • Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

    at Pizzeria Bebu

HERMOSA

  • Pabellón Arepa

    at Rica Arepa

HUMBOLDT PARK

  • Short Rib Beignets

    at Boeufhaus

LAKE VIEW

  • Boquerónes

    at MFK

LINCOLN PARK

  • Beef Tartare

    at Boka

LITTLE VILLAGE

  • Lengua Taco

    at La Chaparrita

LOGAN SQUARE

  • Bacon Biscuit

    at Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits

  • Quiche

    at Cellar Door Provisions

  • Chocolate Cake

    at Dos Urban Cantina

  • Arroz Gordo

    at Fat Rice

  • Uni Shooter

    at Giant

  • Fried Japanese Tilefish and Caviar

    at Kyoten

  • Spicy Chicken Wings

    at Landbirds

  • Breakfast Burrito

    at Lula Cafe

  • Duck Liver Mousse

    at Table, Donkey and Stick

LOOP

  • Oh My! Caramel Pie

    at Beatrix

  • Rigatoni Con Anatra E Funghi

    at Vivere

OAK BROOK

  • Oh My! Caramel Pie

    at Beatrix

PILSEN

  • Carnitas

    at Carnitas Don Pedro

  • Foie Gras Bibimbap

    at S.K.Y.

RAVENSWOOD

  • Bacon Biscuit

    at Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits

RIVER NORTH

  • Hummus with Octopus

    at Pacific Standard Time

  • Cowboy Steak

    at RPM Steak

SOUTH DEERING

  • Fried Shrimp

    at Calumet Fisheries

STREETERVILLE

  • Oh My! Caramel Pie

    at Beatrix

  • Sausage Deep Dish

    at Labriola

WEST LOOP

  • Fried Bologna Sandwich

    at Au Cheval

  • Bacon-Wrapped Dates

    at Avec

  • Oh My! Caramel Pie

    at Beatrix

  • Sunflower Seed Parfait

    at Elske

  • Mr. G

    at JP Graziano

  • Ragu Alla Napoletana

    at Monteverde

  • A5 Miyazaki Wagyu

    at Oriole

  • Barbecued Carrots

    at the Publican

  • Whole Chicken

    at Roister

  • Egg Yolk Dessert

    at Smyth

  • Chawanmushi

    at Yugen

WEST TOWN

  • Crispy Little Bird

    at Funkenhausen

  • Salmon Tartare

    at Jeong

  • B. Franklin Sandwich

    at Tempesta Market

WICKER PARK

  • Tofu Toast

    at Dove’s Luncheonette

  • Country-Fried Portobello

    at Handlebar

Less than $10

  • Bacon Biscuit

    at Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits

  • Oh My! Caramel Pie

    at Beatrix

  • Uni Shooter

    at Giant

  • Wang Mandoo

    at Joong Boo Market

  • Lengua Taco

    at La Chaparrita

  • Pabellón Arepa

    at Rica Arepa

  • Duck Liver Mousse

    at Table, Donkey and Stick

$10-19

  • Fried Bologna Sandwich

    at Au Cheval

  • Bacon-Wrapped Dates

    at Avec

  • Birria Platter

    at Birrieria Zaragoza

  • Short Rib Beignets

    at Boeufhaus

  • Beef Tartare

    at Boka

  • Fried Shrimp

    at Calumet Fisheries

  • Carnitas

    at Carnitas Don Pedro

  • Quiche

    at Cellar Door Provisions

  • Chocolate Cake

    at Dos Urban Cantina

  • Tofu Toast

    at Dove’s Luncheonette

  • Cheeseburger

    at Edzo’s

  • Sunflower Seed Parfait

    at Elske

  • Shrimp and Grits

    at 5 Loaves Eatery

  • Crispy Little Bird

    at Funkenhausen

  • Country-Fried Portobello

    at Handlebar

  • Rib Tips

    at Honey 1 BBQ

  • Mr. G

    at JP Graziano

  • Fried Chicken

    at Luella’s Gospel Bird

  • Breakfast Burrito

    at Lula Cafe

  • Boquerónes

    at MFK

  • Hummus with Octopus

    at Pacific Standard Time

  • Bing Bread

    at Parachute

  • Tteokbokki Lamb Ragu

    at Passerotto

  • Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

    at Pizzeria Bebu

  • Barbecued Carrots

    at the Publican

  • Pan-Fried Pork and Cabbage Dumplings

    at Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings

  • French Toast

    at Somerset

  • B. Franklin Sandwich

    at Tempesta Market

$20-39

  • Pan-Roasted Monkfish

    at Income Tax

  • Sausage Deep Dish

    at Labriola

  • Spicy Chicken Wings

    at Landbirds

  • Foie Gras Bibimbap

    at S.K.Y.

  • Rigatoni Con Anatra E Funghi

    at Vivere

$40 and up

  • Duck

    at Duck Inn

  • Arroz Gordo

    at Fat Rice

  • Ragu Alla Napoletana

    at Monteverde

  • Whole Chicken

    at Roister

  • Cowboy Steak

    at RPM Steak

Part of a Tasting Menu

  • Salmon Tartare

    at Jeong

  • Fried Japanese Tilefish and Caviar

    at Kyoten

  • A5 Miyazaki Wagyu

    at Oriole

  • Egg Yolk Dessert

    at Smyth

  • Chawanmushi

    at Yugen

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