Photo by Kristin Mendiola, courtesy of Kasama

Best of The Hit ListChicago

The 10 Restaurants That Defined Chicago Dining in 2022

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In a strong year for dining, what were the absolute standouts?  We asked our contributors to the Resy Hit List to share their top 10 dining experiences from this year in their city — restaurants and meals that left an impression, and helped to define the state of American dining right now. Please welcome back our Best of The Hit List for 2022. (You can find other cities’ top picks here.)

In 2022, Chicago’s restaurants crept out of hiding. After years of pandemic closures and financial battles, we’re beginning once again to revel in the breadth and beauty of our city’s rich culinary landscape. Chefs are, accordingly, making up for lost time. We’re seeing tasting menus that are accessible and, in a word, fun; we’re seeing places that focus on doing the classics (rigatoni alla vodka, fried catfish po’boys) very well. And now that people are out and about again, we’re also noticing more casual grab-and-go offerings that are just as carefully thought out as their sit-down counterparts, warranting their own spot on this list.

Here you’ll find our Best of the Hit List: the restaurants that made 2022 delicious and joyful — and have us excited for what’s still to come.