The Ultimate Resy Guide to Chicago Brunch

This Asian-inspired brewpub combines Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Midwestern culinary traditions to delicious effect. Their dim sum brunch includes standouts like the pork and shrimp potstickers and spicy peanut Sichuan chicken baked buns. But they also have mochi pancakes and Japanese milk buns stuffed with Thai sausage and American cheese for good measure. The sun-drenched rooftop is as good a place as any to do some day drinking—try their house draft, dubbed Quick Fix, a mango and cherry sour made in collaboration with Pipeworks Brewing.

A quintessential neighborhood spot on Chicago’s Northside, Honeybear Cafe holds little back when it comes to brunch. Their hearty menu includes fresh challah French toast layered with bananas, blueberries, and homemade whipped cream; chilaquiles smothered with queso fresco and pico de gallo; and biscuits and chorizo gravy served atop a bed of crispy hash browns. (There’s also vegan and vegetarian options on the lighter side, too.) Drink-wise, it’s BYOB, but do try a s’more or cookie butter latte for dessert in coffee form. 

Craftsmanship is serious business at Middle Brow, where everything on the menu is made in-house, locally grown, and/or sustainably sourced. This fermentation-loving brewpub is perfect for an afternoon brunch, offering sweet treats like the cinnamon, orange, and cardamom morning bun, and savory pizzas topped with fermented hot honey and soppressata. Their wines are crafted in Michigan, and their beers are made with grains from Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. It doesn’t get much more local than that.

Smack in the middle of West Town, Diego goes for a colorful Baja vibe, with blue-tiled floors and a bright, sunny dining room. Stephen Sandoval and Oscar Sotel’s menu, served on a breezy art-adorned patio, includes mascarpone and roasted plantain pancakes; a chorizo, egg, and potato burrito with salsa de arbol; and bacon and egg tacos drenched in salsa macha. Cocktails are one of their strong suits, with lots of agave spirits, herbs like lemongrass and mint, and spices like cinnamon and chile. 

Argot is a lively Lincoln Park newcomer from sommelier Dustin Wilson and chef and Wisconsin native Lucas DePerry that melds French bistro cookery with a flair for Midwestern ingredients. In addition to the (unsurprisingly) well-curated wine menu, their brunch boasts plenty of French classics, like a savory whipped herb chevre and pepper tart, steak and eggs with an aromatic persillade, and a Croque Madame with Parisian ham, Grand Cru cheese, and truffled mornay sauce.

A pioneer in Logan Square, Lula Cafe is likely to grace the city’s “best brunch” lists in perpetuity. And for good reason: Standouts at this new-wave American classic include braised rutabaga and parmesan pasta, mortadella hand pies, ricotta cream French toast, and a cheesy savory butternut squash omelet. The bright, cozy space and warm service have enticed many brunchers back for dinner — which is equally delicious.

Critically acclaimed chef Stephen Gillard of S.K.Y. opened Apolonia in 2021, and not only is the food impressive, so is the sizable restaurant, with its 18-foot ceilings and bright, airy feel. The contemporary menu is a blend of Mediterranean and European favorites, including Boursin-laced soft scrambled eggs, handmade pastas, and steak and eggs in purgatory with Calabrian chiles. An extensive selection of wines and vermouth by the glass make this one of the more refined brunch options in town. Vermouth by the glass makes this one of the more refined brunch options in town. 

Perched atop the swank Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, Cindy’s Rooftop features sprawling views of downtown’s Millennium Park and Lake Michigan. The New American menu is versatile, serving hearty seasonal options like spicy chorizo chilaquiles, decadent buttermilk pancakes, and a juicy butterkase cheeseburger. Choose your own adventure and order a round of juice-packed DIY mimosas for the table.

Look for traditional French fare with a few tasty twists in this endearingly casual, but white-tablecloth, modern French bistro from brothers Nicolas and Oliver Poilevey of Le Bouchon fame. The brunch menu boasts pâtisserie items like a foie gras danish and a dark chocolate and vanilla brioche, plus a hearty quiche with optional black truffles and a butter-poached crepe with lobster and trout roe. 

When you’re in the mood for pancakes, but you want them savory and with a Japanese flavor profile, head to Gaijin, chef Paul Virant’s okonomiyaki restaurant and a beautiful tribute to Japan’s singular pancakes. You can add pork sausage, bacon, and egg to Osaka or Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki options, with coffee or strawberry mochi doughnut holes for dessert.

The Superkhana International brunch menu skews a little more playful than most, with Indian ingredients popping up in diner-style classics like the tamarind chutney and pulled pork sandwich; or the breakfast dosa hash. The colorful atmosphere is equal parts cute and chic, which fits right in in Logan Square. Save room for the saffron cardamom ice cream sandwich and a Nocino chai cocktail with cold oat chai, walnut liqueur, and cinnamon tequila.

The only thing better than Italian food for dinner is Italian food for brunch, and Segnatore’s weekend daytime menu checks all the boxes. Both the dining room and cuisine are elegant and charming, nodding stylistically to Old World Italy. Try their whipped mascarpone cannoli crepe, the mushroom bolognese lasagna, hashbrowns with foie gras and smoked trout roe, and get your coffee and cocktail together with the Little Italy — a heady mix of coffee, whiskey, sweet vermouth, and amaro.

For brunch, this no-frills Kurdish kitchen offers a sprawling multi-person spread loaded with feta, fresh mozzarella, kashar cheese, fried cheese rolls, fries, cucumbers, jams, and more, with a bottomless pour of Kurdish tea. Omelets filled with herbs and soujouk (beef sausage) and baklawa crêpes round out the daytime offerings at Chicago’s first Kurdish restaurant.

Get all things duck at this inviting gastro-tavern steered by chef Kevin Hickey. The rotisserie duck hash is a beloved brunch staple, while other poultry-heavy options like chili-braised duck, fried duck eggs with duck fat potatoes, and duck fat dogs are also superb (there are also non-duck options like shrimp and grits and French toast, too). Grab a seat outside in the lush garden patio during warmer months.

The dinner menu at Bar Goa is served all day long, but the Sunday brunch menu is a streamlined affair, featuring spiced potatoes with pomegranate, mint, and a tamarind chutney, and a crispy rice and lentil crepe with potato mash and a peanut and tomato spread. The food is an effortless blend of Portuguese and Indian cuisines, as is the decor, which projects a beachy bohemian paradise.

A gastropub stalwart in Logan Square, Longman and Eagle serves brunch all week, with hearty fare like a wild boar sloppy joe, Slagel Farm double-patty cheeseburger, and buttermilk fried chicken and waffles with hot honey bourbon butter. Book a room at the old-school inn upstairs if you need a place to sleep off the heavy meal afterwards.

When you want brunch to feel like a party, Beatnik is the answer. The menu transcends genres, featuring a citrus-cured tuna crudo, a pork and grilled beef egg sandwich, a goat cheese and green salsa avocado toast, and more. The music and decor are just as loud, with glittering chandeliers, funky patterned tiles, and enormous fig trees throughout. Go with a group and prepare to cut loose.