Chicago's Best New Restaurants Of 2023
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Chicago's Best New Restaurants Of 2023
Twitter changed its name, but the most important rebranding of 2023 was happening all over Chicago’s restaurant scene. Existing spots moved into bigger and better spaces. Pop-ups found forever homes. Food stall favorites said goodbye to their food court roommates and embarked on solo journeys.
Complete newcomers also had a good year—like a Venezuelan restaurant very invested in how leftovers are reheated, or a late-night spot with a penchant for fire. We ate (and overate) at all sorts of new places, but these 11 are Chicago’s best new restaurants of 2023. Looking for the best places to eat in Chicago, full stop? Check out our guide to the 25 highest-rated in town.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
We finished the burger and didn't even notice there was no cheese.
A Perfect Order For 1AM On A Monday
A vegetable, the burger (the only constant entree on the menu), and a Miller High Life.
The Best Time To Go
Unless you want to wait two hours, after 10pm or 30 minutes before they open at 6pm.
Collective team visits
8
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
We finished the burger and didn't even notice there was no cheese.
A Perfect Order For 1AM On A Monday
A vegetable, the burger (the only constant entree on the menu), and a Miller High Life.
The Best Time To Go
Unless you want to wait two hours, after 10pm or 30 minutes before they open at 6pm.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
The second we opened the door and were smacked by the smell of tamarind and burnt tomato broth.
A Perfect Order For A Throuple
Sisig, garlic rice, chicken inasal, paksiw, ice cream, whatever else is for dessert.
The Best Time To Go
Friday night at 7pm (after hitting up nearby Leland Liquors because Boonie’s is BYOB).
Collective Team Visits
10
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
The second we opened the door and were smacked by the smell of tamarind and burnt tomato broth.
A Perfect Order For A Throuple
Sisig, garlic rice, chicken inasal, paksiw, ice cream, whatever else is for dessert.
The Best Time To Go
Friday night at 7pm (after hitting up nearby Leland Liquors because Boonie’s is BYOB).
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Around course seven, when we realized that we had said “this one is my favorite” after every piece.
A Perfect Order For A Solo Celebration
One omakase, some sake, and an Uber ride home.
The Best Time To Go
A weeknight alone. Reservations are easier to get, and you can devote your undivided attention to the perfectly formed nigiri.
Collective Team Visits
2
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Around course seven, when we realized that we had said “this one is my favorite” after every piece.
A Perfect Order For A Solo Celebration
One omakase, some sake, and an Uber ride home.
The Best Time To Go
A weeknight alone. Reservations are easier to get, and you can devote your undivided attention to the perfectly formed nigiri.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Finding out the cow we were about to eat had a better childhood than we did.
A Perfect Order For Two
1.5 pounds of Galiciana ribeye, tortilla española with jamon, bone marrow mashed potatoes, chocolate hazelnut cake.
The Best Time To Go
Any time you want a celebratory Chicago steakhouse moment, but without the giant booths and giant baked potatoes.
Collective team visits
4
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Finding out the cow we were about to eat had a better childhood than we did.
A Perfect Order For Two
1.5 pounds of Galiciana ribeye, tortilla española with jamon, bone marrow mashed potatoes, chocolate hazelnut cake.
The Best Time To Go
Any time you want a celebratory Chicago steakhouse moment, but without the giant booths and giant baked potatoes.
photo credit: Jack Li
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
We felt betrayed when the server brought us our check because we forgot this was a restaurant and not a friend's party.
perfect order for a solo meal after you get fired (or promoted)
Fried lobster tails, creamy chicken parmesan, Magnificent Mile cocktail.
The Best Time To Go
8pm on a Friday or Saturday, when you can hit the downstairs speakeasy after dinner.
Collective Team Visits
4
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
We felt betrayed when the server brought us our check because we forgot this was a restaurant and not a friend's party.
perfect order for a solo meal after you get fired (or promoted)
Fried lobster tails, creamy chicken parmesan, Magnificent Mile cocktail.
The Best Time To Go
8pm on a Friday or Saturday, when you can hit the downstairs speakeasy after dinner.
photo credit: Derrick Koch
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
The very first bite of beet agnolotti, which converted the “beets taste like Lake Michigan water” diehards.
A Perfect Order For Impressing The Hard To Impress
Onion dip, fritto misto, no less than three pastas (including the pierogi), and dessert (preferably the crostata).
The Best Time To Go
Any morning when coffee and pastries are on your mind, any afternoon when you just want a sandwich, or any night the heart desires pasta.
Collective Team Visits
10
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
The very first bite of beet agnolotti, which converted the “beets taste like Lake Michigan water” diehards.
A Perfect Order For Impressing The Hard To Impress
Onion dip, fritto misto, no less than three pastas (including the pierogi), and dessert (preferably the crostata).
The Best Time To Go
Any morning when coffee and pastries are on your mind, any afternoon when you just want a sandwich, or any night the heart desires pasta.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
The first bite of saucy pad kee mao that sent us melting into our seat from the sheer perfection of flavors.
A Perfect Order For Convincing Someone To Move To Lakeview
Tiger cry, any of the curries, pad see ew with chicken, ka prow moo krob (optional egg is not optional).
The Best Time To Go
Anytime you need a BYOB spot to show off your DIY beer.
Collective Team Visits
7
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
The first bite of saucy pad kee mao that sent us melting into our seat from the sheer perfection of flavors.
A Perfect Order For Convincing Someone To Move To Lakeview
Tiger cry, any of the curries, pad see ew with chicken, ka prow moo krob (optional egg is not optional).
The Best Time To Go
Anytime you need a BYOB spot to show off your DIY beer.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
During the first course, when we considered stealing the cute plates and utensils.
A Perfect Order For Two
Two tasting menus, a couple drinks each, and coffee to pair with dessert.
The Best Time To Go
Anniversaries, birthdays, or if you get a check from a class action settlement because you Facetuned yourself in 2016.
Collective Team Visits
2
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
During the first course, when we considered stealing the cute plates and utensils.
A Perfect Order For Two
Two tasting menus, a couple drinks each, and coffee to pair with dessert.
The Best Time To Go
Anniversaries, birthdays, or if you get a check from a class action settlement because you Facetuned yourself in 2016.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Our table let out a chorus of “wows” when the giant lamb shank arrived.
A Perfect Order For A Thrifty-But-Hearty Lunch
$10.95 beef koubideh lunch special.
The Best Time To Go
Are they open? Are you free? Are you hungry? If you answered yes to all of the above, then right now.
Collective Team Visits
5
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Our table let out a chorus of “wows” when the giant lamb shank arrived.
A Perfect Order For A Thrifty-But-Hearty Lunch
$10.95 beef koubideh lunch special.
The Best Time To Go
Are they open? Are you free? Are you hungry? If you answered yes to all of the above, then right now.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Walking in and seeing steel glasses filled with South Indian filter coffee on most tables, served just like in India.
A Perfect Order For Three
Kallumakaya to go with drinks, followed by meen pollichathu, pork chop peralan, kadala curry, and a side of coconutty appam.
The Best Time To Go
Weekend lunch, the only time you can get a Kerala fried chicken sandwich.
Collective Team Visits
4
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Walking in and seeing steel glasses filled with South Indian filter coffee on most tables, served just like in India.
A Perfect Order For Three
Kallumakaya to go with drinks, followed by meen pollichathu, pork chop peralan, kadala curry, and a side of coconutty appam.
The Best Time To Go
Weekend lunch, the only time you can get a Kerala fried chicken sandwich.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Being told that we ordered way too much, and then getting detailed tips on the best way to reheat everything.
A Perfect Order For Dinner After A Bad Week
Fried, breaded cheese in the form of tequeños, and a fluffy cachapa you’ll want to climb into alongside the pork.
The Best Time To Go
Any time it’s warm enough for the patio to be open.
Collective Team Visits
5
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Being told that we ordered way too much, and then getting detailed tips on the best way to reheat everything.
A Perfect Order For Dinner After A Bad Week
Fried, breaded cheese in the form of tequeños, and a fluffy cachapa you’ll want to climb into alongside the pork.
The Best Time To Go
Any time it’s warm enough for the patio to be open.