Monteverde is an Italian restaurant in the West Loop. It sounds boring on paper, but there’s so much more to it than that. Excellent food all around.

Huaraches Dona Chio is an excellent cash-only Mexican spot in Edgewater.

5 Rabanitos is a casual BYOB restaurant in Pilsen serving seriously great Mexican food.

Pequod’s is a Chicago staple when it comes to deep dish pizza, and it’s awesome.

Lou Malnati’s is a classic Chicago deep-dish pizza spot, and the one we rely on.

Bebu in Lincoln Park is turning into one of our favorite pizza spots in the city.

Excellent sushi in an unlikely spot. This tiny restaurant at the bottom of the Hilton hotel on Mies van der Rohe Way street is worth a trip for any real sushi fan.

We wanted to hate it, but we can’t. RPM Steak can hang with the Chicago steakhouse classics any day.

A rooster thunderdome full of hot dogs, Italian beefs, and chocolate cake shakes.

The Beanie Baby effect, plus delicious ramen at Furious Spoon.

Etta is a big restaurant in Wicker Park serving great wood-fired food.

The Spice Room is an excellent BYOB Indian restaurant in Logan Square.

Tempesta Market is a fantastic deli and sandwich shop in West Town.

Sushi-san is an upbeat restaurant in River North with high-quality sushi and tasty small plates.

Homestyle Taste is a Chinese restaurant in Bridgeport serving fantastic noodles dishes and soup dumplings.

Duck Duck Goat is a high-end Chinese restaurants that’s always fun with excellent and interesting food.