The Chicago Restaurants We Loved in 2024
It’s that most wonderful time of year where Team Resy (and our new friends at Tock!) have scrolled through our respective camera rolls to pin down the meals that’ve stood out to us the most. Whether it be for the hospitality, the food, the vibe (or, in a lot of cases, a magic combination of all three), our 2024 picks have proven yet again what we know and hold dear to our hearts: Restaurants are our homes away from home, acting as the perfect backdrop for all of life’s moments, both big and small.
From the neighborhood spots we love to the viral sandwich shops, omakase experiences, and everything in between, here are Team Resy’s favorite restaurant meals of 2024.
I followed Resy Editorial’s advice…
… for a perfect 72 hours in the city when I was in Chicago for a quick trip this fall, and took the Blue Line from O’Hare straight to Lula Café. It was a chilly, rainy night, and the restaurant felt especially warm and inviting.
I sat at the bar with my book and had a glass of red wine, a half-portion of their house salad, and their signature pasta yiayia. For those unfamiliar, the pasta yiayia is a heavenly combination of bucatini, feta, garlic, brown butter, and cinnamon. (Petition for more pasta dishes with cinnamon in 2025, please!) If I lived in Chicago, I’d love to be a regular at Lula Café — that cozy solo meal was one of my favorite restaurant memories of the year.
— Alex Johnson, Senior Marketing Manager
This place always has me coming back for more…
…. and that’s because Giant offers both a revolving door of incredible and unique dishes (including lots of pastas), and a host of mainstays. Their Japanese eggplant is an incredible combination of sweet, savory, and sour — and with the fresh, herby flatbread it’s served with, it sends me to another plane of reality.
Every time I go, I have to start my meal with the trout roe — a perfect bite of crème fraîche and salty roe, wrapped up in a savory donut hole. Their pastas change frequently, but honestly, try as many as you can — so far, they haven’t missed. Combine all that with excellent hospitality, an extensive wine list, creative cocktails, and a lively space, and you’ll quickly find yourself wishing you lived as close to Giant as I do.
— Mishka Mishkin, Senior Software Engineer at Tock
It might be known for its rotisserie duck…
… but The Duck Inn makes the snappiest, most savory hot dog I’ve ever eaten in a sit-down restaurant. For their duck fat hot dog, the sausage is grilled and topped with homemade mustard, relish, pickled hot peppers, pickles, tomatoes, onions, and celery salt, all on a brioche poppy seed bun. Every bite is like a mouthful of Chicago, in a friendly (but more formal) setting. Just writing about it is reminding me that it’s about time for another visit to The Duck Inn soon.
— Angela L. Pagán, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial
Understated and sublime…
… Omakase Yume nails the nuances that sophisticated sushi connoisseurs will appreciate. There may be flashier sushi counters in town, but you know chef Sangtae Park is there, preparing each piece of perfectly cut and scored nigiri without any assembly line assistance. Park’s wife, Kate, is so warm and gracious, too, like she’s welcoming you into their home. She even opened a half bottle of Champagne for me when I inquired if they had Champagne by the glass (they didn’t). Even though there are three seatings a night and the pace moves quickly, diners will feel more than well cared for. And there’s always time to order extra pieces at the end if you wish …
— Amber Gibson, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial
It’s not every night …
… that dinner comes with an adventure, but you can count on it with Duck Sel, a fine dining experience full of surprises (including the location, disclosed 24 hours in advance).
Once my friend and I found the venue, we settled into communal seating for the menu — upwards of 15 courses, all rooted in the playful, colorful cooking chef Donald Young does best (a ham bomboloni with egg yolk and citrus; Young’s signature duck paired with maple and waffles). Warm, celebratory hospitality connected each course — as did conversation with our fellow diners, new friends by night’s close.
— Nicole Schnitzler, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial
They’ve already been added to the Michelin guide…
… even though Beity opened just two months ago. And I can see why: this Lebanese restaurant’s got a great ambiance and really friendly staff — but not just.
We had the tasting menu with one of the wine pairings (the dining room is tasting menu only with optional wine pairings, and the bar is à la carte). The menu was inspired by the chef’s Lebanese grandmother’s cooking, and everything from the sourdough pita to the branzino to the lemon frozen yogurt was delicious.
— Adam Roman, Account Executive at Tock
After seeing them all over my social feeds…
… I knew I had to try D’Amato’s Bakery’s chicken Caesar and vodka chicken parm subs (be strategic and go with someone else — my boyfriend and I ordered one of each to split). I’m happy to report that neither sandwich disappointed: The chicken Caesar sub had juicy, breaded chicken and wasn’t soggy at all despite being drenched in homemade Caesar dressing (the cutlets, bread, and romaine lettuce all remained perfectly crisp). And the vodka chicken parm sandwich was a twin flame, offering up so much cheesy goodness (and one flavor-packed vodka sauce) to complement those perfectly fried cutlets.
— Angela L. Pagán, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial
Some of my favorite bites of the year…
… have been had at Lonesome Rose’s Andersonville location, whose big, airy dining room and attentive service are perfect complements to its Tex-Mex-inspired menu.
Starting with a margarita and the truck stop nachos is a lesson in how the restaurant gets the details right: The drink is the perfect middle ground between sweet and tart, and the nachos are topped with an ideal ratio of cheese, beans, crema, pickled jalapeño, and banana pepper. Yet it’s the meat that’s the true standout of the menu: Both the carne asada and Rodrigo’s al pastor (whether ordered as a taco or a bowl) have a deep and concentrated flavor that stands apart from the accompanying onion, cilantro, and assertive salsa (avocado for the beef, pineapple for the pork). Each of these meats could be served entirely plain and still be the best part of the meal — it’s no wonder there’s always such a crowd in here.
— Marnie Shure, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial
Bonkers in the best way…
… Bar Parisette’s wine selection pairs beautifully with its uncomplicated bistro fare. The by-the-glass list is fairly priced with great picks, but bottles are where you’ll find some real steals. Come here to drink, but stay for a whole meal — think steak tartare, juicy roast chicken, and great vegetarian options, like a sleeper hit carrot salad and a hearty house veggie burger.
— Amber Gibson, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial
I was excited to learn…
… that chef Ismael Lucero Lopez was offering an amplified omakase experience at Casa Madai, his Pilsen restaurant. Melding his Mexican heritage with a passion for Japanese cuisine, chef Lucero Lopez prepares thoughtful, updated takes on nigiri, all while honoring high-quality products. Highlights included akami (lean tuna) with shiitake butter and roasted almond; Scottish salmon with sweet miso and sesame; and Japanese red snapper (the house specialty) with Japanese plum and shiso. Sit at the sushi counter and take in the team’s showmanship and storytelling.
— Nicole Schnitzler, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial
How lucky are we…
… that Miru finally launched brunch this year? Leading the menu is a standout okonomiyaki, a thick and savory pancake cooked with cabbage, scallions, shrimp, and tonkatsu. The crispy, golden result is topped with generous zigzags of Kewpie mayo and housemade katsu sauce, plus pickled ginger and bonito flakes. Pair it with Miru’s “Tokyo Brunch” set (your choice of salmon, steak, or eggplant alongside ginger rice, miso soup, and pickles) and Miru’s okonomiyaki is well worth the elevator ride to the 11th floor of the St. Regis hotel. Warm and attentive service (and great views) make for an even more memorable meal.
— Marnie Shure, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial
