Chicago has its fair share of icons: Willis Tower, the Bean, and the Field Museum to name just a few. But, if you ask people—residents or visitors—what makes the city stand out, prepare yourself to hear about the food. Chicagoans love their deep dish pizza and hot dogs, but the city has plenty to offer foodies looking for something new to rave about.

Twenty-two Windy City restaurants snagged 2019 Michelin stars, and Chicago neighborhoods are peppered with restaurants that help give the city a well-earned reputation as a foodie magnet.

Downtown neighborhoods like River North and the Loop are jam-packed with restaurants, but the true foodie ventures further out into the city’s neighborhoods to discover why Chicago has such a delicious reputation.

Avondale

Kuma's in Avondale

Let’s start up north. Avondale is fairly unassuming on first glance. It’s crisscrossed with largely residential streets, and it doesn’t have the nightlife reputation of neighboring Logan Square. Mixed in among the single-family homes and low-slung apartment buildings—don’t expect to see towering residential spots here—you’ll find an eclectic blend of restaurants that command a loyal following of diners from within and outside of the neighborhood.

If you’re the mood for a greasy, belly-bursting meal, Avondale has Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Kuma’s on tap. Eager diners pack the small restaurant to get some of Honey Butter’s fried chicken and biscuits with the titular honey butter. During the summer, the outdoor patio makes it a little easier to grab a table. Kuma’s is a heavy metal-themed burger bar that has since spread to multiple locations in the city and the suburbs, but Avondale is home to the original.

As a smaller neighborhood with more of a casual outlook on dining, Avondale is a somewhat unlikely spot for a Michelin-starred restaurant. Yet, there’s Parachute, the brainchild of a husband and wife who serves a frequently changing menu of Korean-American cuisine. 

Not everything delicious in Avondale can be found with a quick Google search. Two local favorites don’t even have official websites. Belmont Snack Shop sits right across the street from the Belmont Blue Line, and it looks like your average greasy spoon. Rest assured, it’s a greasy spoon, but its food is anything but average. And then, there’s La Nonna. Tucked away in a thoroughly residential area, this small BYOB restaurant does Argentine food and coffee.

Chinatown

Chinatown neighborhood of Chicago

Chicago’s Chinatown, located on the Near South Side of the city, is a hub of Chinese heritage—and a foodie’s dream. The neighborhood is packed with authentic Chinese cuisine, and it’s one the best spots to find late-night food in the city.

Michelin has given a nod in this neighborhood too. MingHin on Archer Avenue has expansive dinner, dim sum, and cocktail menus. Sit down and enjoy Cantonese cuisine at Cai Restaurant, and indulge in all of the handmade dumplings you could possibly eat at Qing Xiang Yuan.

Fulton Market

Fulton Market neighborhood photo by Shutterstock

Fulton Market can likely claim the coveted if ephemeral title of “trendiest” neighborhood. Corporations, like Google, are staking their flags here, and residential developers are snapping up property and pushing for higher heights. Amid the rapid rebirth of this formerly industrial pocket of the city, the strip of Randolph Street running through the neighborhood has become known as Restaurant Row.

The brightly lit Restaurant Row has a slightly different feel thanks to the style of Randolph boulevard, originally designed for horse-drawn deliveries. Along both sides of the boulevard, you can find spots like Italian restaurant Bar Siena, chic diner Little Goat, and tapas place Nia Mediterranean.

Lakeview

Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago

Lakeview is difficult to sum up in just a few words. The sprawling neighborhood, one of the city’s largest, contains smaller communities like Boystown and Wrigleyville, both known as late-night party destinations. It also has, as the name suggests, ready access to Lake Michigan and quieter areas with stately condo towers and single-family homes. 

When it comes to food, the neighborhood is so big you can take your pick of nearly any kind of dish you could want. The neighborhood even has a row of empanada restaurants on Southport Avenue. This group of restaurants, all within walking distance of one another, beckons to both the casual and dedicated foodie. Tango Sur, El Mercado, 5411 Empanadas, and Cafe Tola each have their own take on this savory pastry. Plus, Empanada Row is right near the Music Box Theatre in case you want to pair dinner with a movie.