CHIGuide
A Guide To Chicago’s Secret Restaurants
From a password-protected spot to a place hiding in a basement office, these are the best secret restaurants in Chicago.
People love restaurants. People love secrets. So it’s logical that people love secret restaurants.
But what makes a restaurant secret?
Is it a hidden entrance? Needing a password to book a reservation? A not-so-obvious location that takes forever to find? For the purposes of this guide, it’s all of the above—every spot on it requires some level of sleuthing in order to visit. Here’s everything you need to know about Chicago’s best secret restaurants.
THE SPOTS
A password-protected website. A private Instagram. Suspiciously absent from Google Maps. Saint Emeric is shrouded in mystery. Only after bypassing these security measures can you book a reservation and find out this place’s address—which we’ve been asked not to post. This is understandable since it’s less a restaurant and more a dinner party in a couple’s home, which happens to be a renovated, 150-year-old church. So to honor their privacy, we’ll only give a few details: the six-course meal is $145, it’s a communal experience with about 20 seats (be prepared to make friends), and it’s BYOB.
How can a Best New Restaurant Of 2022 be a secret? Because you could walk down every sidewalk in Wicker Park and never find Coach House. That’s because this BYOB tasting menu spot is completely secluded, hiding in the courtyard behind their not-very-secret sister restaurant, Wazwan. It’s one of the only South Asian tasting menu spots in the city, serving a $175 eight-course meal in an informal atmosphere. Expect vivid stories about each dish from the chef, with a few stop-and-chats sprinkled in between bites of pani puri or momos, and (possibly), a complimentary round or two of shots.
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A Tavola in Ukrainian Village isn’t secretive because it’s lurking in a basement or moonlighting as a barbershop, but because it looks like a regular ol’ brick house. But just past the foyer (it literally is in an old house) is this Italian restaurant’s intimate dining room with thick window curtains and black and white photos. Don’t be surprised if you run into regulars who’ve been eating there for decades or a 10-year old blowing out birthday candles. And when it’s nice out, you can enjoy pillowy housemade gnocchi or short rib risotto on their secluded back patio.
Korean food and karaoke—in the basement of an office building. The location is unconventional (buzzing to be let in feels like meeting an accountant to discuss taxes), but Tak in South Loop is a one-stop-shop for eating seafood pajeon, drinking soju, and singing your ass off. And with plenty of space for groups and five karaoke rooms (one can fit 18 people), this is the party spot that dreams are made of.
The sworn enemy of GPS and cell service, Lower Wacker has given us the cool chase scene from the Dark Knight—and, more importantly, the original Billy Goat Tavern. This subterranean spot is their oldest location, serving cheap beer and “cheezborgers” since 1964. And eating here still feels like 1964—with old-school bar stools and tables, wood paneling, and vintage photos. The burgers are unique—served on a thick Kaiser roll with super thin patties, so get a double or triple.
We wouldn’t normally use the phrase “hidden gem”, but considering that Oasis is literally located in the back of a jewelry mall in the Loop, this Mediterranean spot is the exception. After walking past cases of diamonds and gold necklaces, the mall opens up into an ordering counter and a two-floor, food court-esque dining area where you can lose yourself in pita stuffed with hummus and crispy falafel, or a large rice platter topped with smoky pieces of chicken, lamb, beef, or, all of the above. Make sure to get their housemade hot sauce involved, too.
Talard Thai in Edgewater is the perfect solution to never shopping on an empty stomach. In the back of this grocery store, past bunches of basil, jars of spices, and the freezer aisle, lies a fantastic cash-only food stall. Served cafeteria style, metal trays of dishes like pad prik king, massaman curry, or stewed sweet pork, stay nice and toasty in a steam bath. Options rotate regularly, and it’s all incredibly affordable: three dishes and a side of rice only costs $8.75.
Ok, this Chinatown speakeasy hidden behind Moon Palace Express’ “kitchen door'' is technically a cocktail bar. But considering you can actually have a whole meal here, (and the food is great) it qualifies. Their spicy sesame noodles are light and refreshing and we daydream about their mapo hot fries a few times a week. Throw in some well-made cocktails like an Old Fashioned with Chinese five spice, comfy couches, and a fun neon-lit space, and it’s easy to see why this is one of the best bars in the city.
