Taste of Lebanon Restaurant
$$ | Andersonville
No-frills, counter-serve spot serving traditional Lebanese fare including falafel, kebabs + more.
Franco’s Ristorante
$$ | Armour Square
Quaint, comfy neighborhood staple serving traditional Italian pasta + meat entrees.
Zam Zam Middle Eastern Grill
$ | Boystown
Middle Eastern basics like falafel, shawarma + kebabs in a casual space decorated with photos.
Income Tax
$$$ | Edgewater
A mix of European cuisines is offered with wine + craft cocktails in casually stylish tavern digs.
Eduardo’s Enoteca
$$ | Gold Coast
Cozy restaurant and wine bar serving Italian favorites, including pizza + pasta.
Stiengold’s
$$ | Irving Park
Modern counter-serve option for Jewish deli classics with artisanal coffee + tea drinks.
Andy’s Thai Kitchen
$$ | Lakeview
Small BYOB restaurant serving Thai favorites as well as more exotic options.
Chilam Balam
$$ | Lakeview
Seasonal Mexican dishes for sharing in a cozy basement setting where patrons bring their own liquor.
Half Shell
$$ | Lakeview
No-frills neighborhood pub dishing up a seafood menu with plenty of raw bar selections. Cash only.
Burrito House
$ | Lakeview + Irving Park
Bright counter-service eatery with Mexican basics (burritos, tacos, tortas) + late-night hours.
The Lakefront Restaurant at Theater on the Lake
$$$ | Lincoln Park
Regional American cooking with craft beer + spirits, served in a snazzy tavern setting on the lake.
The Little Meatball Pizzeria
$$ | Lincoln Park
BYOB + homemade pizza, meatballs, and Italian fare. Family owned and operated.
Isla Pilipina Restaurant
$ | Lincoln Square
Casual BYOB eatery serving traditional Filipino cuisine with vegetarian options + lunch specials.
Chez Joel Bistro Francais
$$ | Little Italy
Quaint, family-owned bistro serving upscale Southern French cuisine + wine by the bottle or glass.
Pompei
$ | Little Italy
Casual, family-owned spot serving cafeteria-style Italian eats + desserts since 1909.
El Barco Mariscos
$$ | Noble Square
Seafood with a Mexican bent delivered in a bright, festive space inside a boat-shaped building.
The Bad Apple
$$ | North Center
Laid-back bar and restaurant with creative burgers, an extensive craft beer selection + a game room.
Twin Anchors Restaurant + Tavern
$$ | Old Town
Old-school tavern + barbecue restaurant founded in 1932 and once frequented by Frank Sinatra.
Coyotes
$ | Pilsen
24-hour outpost featuring tacos, burritos + other standard Mexican eats in an understated interior.
Birreria Reyes de Ocotlan
$ | Pilsen
Straightforward establishment offering Mexican food, including stew made with goat meat.
Taqueria El Asadero
$ | Ravenswood
Tacos, burritos + homemade chips with salsa draw crowds to this no-frills, cash-only Mexican staple.
Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe
$ | Ravenswood
Casual eatery serving New York-style pizza by the pie or slice plus beignets + coffee by morning.
Glenn’s Diner
$$ | Ravenswood
Fresh fish, American diner fare + weekend brunches in a no-frills, wood-accented space.
The Watershed
$$ | River North
This basement bar resembles a vintage living room and serves Midwestern beers, cocktails + snacks.
Bongiorno’s Cucina Italiana + Pizzeria
$ | River North
Italian staples like thin-crust pizzas served in a casual setting with seasonal outdoor seating.
Mojo
$ | River North + The Loop
New Zealand-style espresso, comfort dishes + pastries are the draw at this bright, stylish outpost.
Altiro Latin Fusion
$$ | Roscoe Village
Small plates featuring creative Latin flavors pair with craft cocktails in hip, intimate quarters.
Dip + Sip Donuts
$ | Roscoe Village
Funky shop for gourmet donuts + cakes with craft coffee drinks and fun ideas such as donut necklaces.
Heaven on Seven
$$ | The Loop
Cash-only Cajun-Creole breakfast and lunch spot for spicy grub + cocktails in the Garland Building.
Whimsical Candy
$$ | The Loop
Cheerful store offering a selection of caramels, chocolates + other small-batch sweets.
Bite Cafe
$$ | Ukrainian Village
Funky neighborhood BYOB featuring hearty American comfort food + vegetarian eats in a rustic room.
Eleven | Eleven
$$ | West Loop
High-style setting for New American fare with global flavors, wine pairings, cocktails + happy hour.
Macello Cucina di Puglia
$$ | West Loop
Rustic restaurant with 2 wood-burning ovens serving upscale Italian fare, thin-crust pizza + wine.
Dorian’s
$ | Wicker Park
Low-lit, cozy craft cocktail lounge tucked in a record store with a menu of global sharing plates.
Club Lucky
$$ | Wicker Park
Old-school Italian cooking and martinis in a mid-century-themed supper-club setting with a lounge.
Lucia’s
$$ | Wicker Park
Casual BYOB eatery featuring homestyle Italian favorites + a separate carry-out deli.