You may find some of the best chefs in the world in Illinois and some of the best restaurants serving food with a wide variety of international cuisines. You may discover various dining options in Illinois, from quick bites to exquisite dinners with beautiful landscapes.
There is a wide variety of great restaurants in Illinois, from pizza to some of the city’s best affordable lunches. The food is just as diverse, with dishes from Mexico, Italy, the Mediterranean, and India, among many others. One of the most fantastic activities in Illinois, whether you’ve lived there your whole life or are just in town for the weekend, is to stuff your face at one of these restaurants. Without further hesitation, we present our detailed list of the best restaurants in Illinois.
1. Black Dog Smoke & Ale House
Located at North Chestnut Street Champaign, Black Dog Smoke & Ale House is an inventive combination of Latin and New American cuisine and serves some of the most delicious barbecues in the neighborhood. On the weekends, take advantage of the Taco Dinner Special and select one of the many beverages available on tap. At the down-to-earth Black Dog Smoke & Ale House, you may enjoy a good time with your friends while using your fingers to consume the food and having a terrific time overall.
2. 17th St Bar & Grill
The 17th St Bar & Grill is in 17yh Street Murphysboro, and conveniently located off Interstate 57, exit 54B. This barbecue joint is rated not just as one of the greatest in the state, but also as one of the top 33 in the entirety of the country. Mike Mills, a three-time winner of the Memphis BBQ competition, runs this barbecue mothership located five hours south of the city. Mills, who also owns restaurants in Las Vegas and has a stake in the renowned Blue Smoke in New York City, has won the Memphis BBQ competition three times.
3. Tzuco
Thanks mainly to Gaytán’s French-influenced Mexican cuisine, Tzuco has quickly become one of the city’s most excellent restaurants. The best goat in town can be found at this family-run Mexican restaurant in Archer Heights. For example, the steak salad is reimagined with pickled jalapenos, cilantro, and guacamole, while the French onion soup is filled with meaty poblano peppers. Thanks to the restaurant’s heated patio, you may enjoy your meal outside year-round, but don’t miss the unearthly inside! There’s no need to wait in the long weekend queue if you don’t have any unique plans for eating here; place your order online and pick it up when it’s ready.
Foods such as thick handmade tortillas, salsas prepared to order, and bright pink agua fresca is popular takeout options. However, they have no other purpose than to complement the signature plates of chopped goat meat served at the restaurant. The goat is cooked in a tomato-based broth and served without a consommé, which is unusual for birrierias. To finish the tastiest tacos in town, add some spicy sauce, lime juice, and onions.
4. Zhivago
At Zhivago, American and continental dishes are prepared with Russian influence and served in a setting reminiscent of Eastern Europe. The restaurant and banquet space has four separate rooms, a gorgeous terrace that is open during the warmer months, and a complete bar that serves a variety of Russian vodkas and wines from top-producing countries in Eastern Europe. Many traditional Italian and American dishes are on the menu, such as wild mushroom ravioli with Alfredo sauce and New York strip steak. However, if you want a taste of Zhivago, you should order one of the restaurant’s house specialties, such as St. Petersburg-style beef stroganoff or Moscow-style roasted duck with drunken sour cherry sauce.
5. Montarra Grill
The Montarra Grill may be found in Algonquin at the south end of Randall Road. This contemporary American restaurant looks and feels every bit the part of a chic hangout spot in Illinois, thanks to the simple Chihuly chandelier that hangs in the dining room. Executive Chef Joshua Lynn has crafted a menu of Contemporary American Cuisine with International influences that feature items like Black Angus Aged Steaks and fresh seafood delivered daily. More than ten nations are represented on the extensive cocktail menu, which features over 40 beverages by the glass and is sure to please even the most sophisticated customer by complementing Chef Lynn’s wonderful meal. Enjoy downtown Chicago without leaving Montarra, with its soothing “water wall” and two chandeliers inspired by the work of Dale Chihuly. Find out why the Chicago Tribune’s Phil Vettel rated Montarra five stars and raved.
6. Kasama
Kasama is a contemporary Filipino-American bakery and restaurant specializing in fine cuisine created by husband-and-wife team Tim Flores and Genie Kwon. Kasama boasts a tasting menu awarded a Michelin star and a selection of casual daytime dishes you will never forget.
Stop in the morning. for some of the most delicious brunch food in Chicago, such as a breakfast sandwich topped with longanisa, or a full Filipino breakfast, which includes longanisa or tocino, fried egg, garlic fried rice, and pickled papaya, as well as some of the city’s most incredible pastries. Book a coveted spot for the restaurant’s 13-course tasting menu. This Filipino-inspired trip ranges from delicacies such as nilaga with A5 wagyu to a beautiful tiny croissant topped with a sprinkle of freshly shaved black truffle7s. The tasting menu is only available in the evening.
7. Abreo Restaurant
Abreo, located in the middle of Rockford, is dedicated to creating an innovative dining experience. The restaurant’s menus are original and seasonal, and most ingredients come from regional farmers. In addition, a variety of premium import suppliers are also used.
In addition to a traditional dining room, a contemporary dining room, an outdoor garden patio, and a private wine cellar, Abreo features four distinct eating places. A fancy supper with close friends or loved ones goes just as well as a fast bite before or after a play when you dine at Abreo; the restaurant is versatile enough to accommodate either option.
8. Schmaltz Deli
Schmaltz Deli can be found at the Ogden Avenue location. It features a larger dining area, a larger deli retail store, a drive-through window, an outside patio dining area, and a private dining room. Traditional sandwiches, filling breakfasts, specialty sweets, crisp fresh salads, and another Jewish deli fare can be found at this Naperville establishment that has been around for decades. The Overstuffed Sandwich is a customer favorite at this location since it is loaded with flavorful meat. The journey to Schmaltz Deli is well worth it.
9. Bien Trucha
Bien Trucha’s ever-changing menu combines fresh, locally sourced ingredients with Mexican recipes and cooking skills to produce a menu inspired by the excellent and wildly diversified food our culinary team grew up experiencing at street kiosks and local markets around Mexico.
The bar program features one of the best collections of tequilas, mezcals, and agave-based spirits in the Midwest, as well as a rotating variety of local craft and Mexican beers, all of which are used in the restaurant’s trademark hand-shaken cocktails.
Everything at Bien Trucha, from the aesthetically pleasing decor and mesmerizing music to the world-famous cuisine and drinks, has been carefully chosen.
10. Charcoal Oven
The Charcoal Oven is one of the oldest restaurants in Skokie, having opened its doors in 1949. Even though the restaurant’s founder, Phillip Georgouses, passed away in 2010, the business continues to be run in the traditional manner of a family, with Maria Georgouses serving as the current owner. Its menu of conventional steakhouse fare, seafood specialties, and Greek cuisine perfectly complements its old-school atmosphere, which harkens back to the supper clubs of yesteryear and features black leather booths and white tablecloths, and chandeliers. Choose from various meals, such as baby lobster tails from New England, top bourbon steak, or chicken prepared in the Greek style, and then combine with one of the Charcoal Oven’s excellent wines from California.
11. Kuma’s Corner
Kuma’s first restaurant opened in 2005 in the Chicago neighborhood of Avondale. Kuma began as a neighborhood pub serving traditional American bistro fare. The restaurant has grown to five locations since then, and its burgers are currently unmatched anywhere in Illinois
Kuma is distinguished from other restaurants in that it can serve multiple sorts of beverages straight from the barrel, a wide range of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and an exceptional collection of small-label juices. The burgers at Kuma’s Corner are out of this world, and the heavy metal music played inside the restaurant takes the dining experience to an entirely new level.
12. One World Cafe
One World is a simple cafe that serves a broad selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals throughout the day. Since 1993, One World Cafe has been providing its services to Peoria and Central Illinois residents. Because of its diverse menu of delicious, handcrafted food (ranging from scrambled egg breakfast pizza to Havana fajitas) and its cozy, creative ambiance, we have established ourselves as a Peoria institution that is genuinely unique. Customers can stop by One World Cafe seven days a week to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner from their extensive menu. Its coffee bar and extensive liquor menu allow us the freedom to be creative in preparing some of the most refreshing beverages found anywhere.