Best food in Chicago: 9 iconic Windy City dishes

Avecushered in the city’s small plate craze, and the restaurant’s bacon-wrapped dates have become one of Chicago’s most iconic small plates, right along with deep-dish pizza and hot dogs. Available at the River Northand the West Looplocations, this dish combines smoky bacon, sweet fruit, and a touch of spice that defines all of avec’s made-for-sharing Mediterranean fare. It’s a small plate that has earned its place among the best food in Chicago.

The digital salad bar at Lettuce Entertain You’s RJ Grunt’sin Lincoln Park reimagines the classic Chicago salad experience. Customize your salad with a choice of ten ingredients from an array of fresh greens, grains, proteins, and dressings, all served in a retro, 70s-style space with a soundtrack to match. This playful approach to DIY salads ranks among the best food in Chicago.

At Mariscos San Pedroin Pilsen, the octopus Sonoran hot dog turns a coastal Mexican classic into something distinctly Chicago. Grilled octopus is nestled in a bun and piled high with toppings that layer freshness, spice, and crunch. This playful take on the classic has earned its spot on several lists of the best food in Chicago.

Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish Housereimagines the classic Midwestern casserole with its fan-favorite Shrimp De Jonghe. In this dish, plump shrimp are baked under a rich topping of breadcrumbs and garlic, creating a fragrant, golden crust. The dish is rich yet balanced, highlighting both the quality of the seafood and the traditional flavors that make it a city favorite. Its enduring appeal secures Shrimp De Jonghe a place among the best dishes in Chicago.

Gene & Georgetti’sChicken Vesuvio has become one of Chicago’s signature dishes. At this red-sauce classic in River North, chicken is braised with white wine, garlic, and peas and served with roasted potatoes that soak up the sauce. The result is the ultimate Italian American comfort dish and some of the best food in Chicago, which has been a city favorite for generations.

Deep-dish pizza is one of Chicago’s most iconic dishes, and no one does it better than Lou Malnati’s, which has been whipping up this classic since the 1970s. The restaurant’s pies feature a buttery, golden crust layered with mozzarella, tangy tomato sauce, and selected toppings baked to bubbling perfection. With locations in Michigan Ave, River North, South Loop, Gold Coast, West Loop, Lincoln Park, and Lincoln Square, you’re never far from this city classic known for some of the best food in Chicago.

As one of the first restaurants on Chicago’s famed Restaurant Row, Girl & the Goathas been serving inventive, globally inspired dishes since 2010, including top-tier goat empanadas. Encased in flaky pastry, the goat filling is complemented by smoked tomato-corn salsa, queso fresco, and roasted poblano crema. This standout dish continues to define the best food in Chicago and remains a local favorite.

The Italian beef sandwich from Petterino’sin the Loop is definition Chicago. Here, thin-sliced roast beef is soaked in au jus, piled into a long roll, and often topped with sweet peppers or giardiniera. The result is a hearty, layered dish that’s become a must-try Chicago sensation. This sandwich holds its place among the best food in Chicago and carries on a proud local tradition.