The Resy Hit List: Where In Chicago You’ll Want to Eat in July 2025

It is no wonder that Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower are in the running for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes this year. They’re cooking up magic at their restaurant, which serves beautiful, deeply comforting dishes inspired by the chefs’ multicultural upbringings. The space itself is modern and airy — intimate enough for date night, yet convivial enough for a celebration. Getting some whipped ricotta with hot honey and lemon? Perhaps the Japanese sweet potato with green curry, or the heritage pork katsu with Steen’s mustard vinaigrette? Pair them all with a bright white Negroni from the equally inventive bar, made with honey-infused gin, Apologue liqueur, celery root, Suze, and vermouth.

This new stunner (the name stands for “Life Imitates Art”) from chef Justin Vaiciunas and partner Michael Mauro (who have a restaurant, Jackson, as in Pollock, outside of Detroit) blurs the line between restaurant and gallery, complete with a rotating selection of artwork on the walls that inspires the menu of the moment. On the current tasting menu, expect cheeky dishes like “Are you going to eat that pickle?” which consists of beef tartare with black garlic and a housemade five-spice pickle, and “Like how spicy can I get it? Like lite spice:” lemongrass chicken dumplings in a Thai coconut curry broth. From the ever-changing servingware to the vibrant decor and the colorful cocktails, everything at LIA encourages play, and an appreciation for aesthetics writ large.

Andrew Zimmerman and Jennifer Kim recently refreshed the menu at Proxi, and the reinvention of the Restaurant Row standby is being met with great acclaim. Now you’ll find a vibrant mix of Southeast Asian flavors gracing the menu, from a chilled seafood tower with gochujang cocktail sauce and a crunchy fennel apple chaat to panang curry with succulent wagyu beef cheeks. The cocktail program is equally inventive — try the Kyuri Kakigori, with cucumber shaved ice, Roku gin, ginger, honey, and lime, or the Tea Service, which comes in a coconut fat–washed glass with a coconut matcha foam. Does it sound a little fanciful? Sure, but in the bright and airy space with tall tiled columns and modern pendant lights, surrounded by the bustle of big groups and couples, it all just works. If you haven’t been in a while, consider this your sign to revisit ASAP.

In the oppressive heat of summer, sometimes the best thing you can do is lean in and eat something really, really spicy. And when that time comes, there may be no better option than Sichuan cuisine, with its fiery whole chilis and mouth-numbing peppercorns. Our advice is to head to YooYee, a buzzy new spot near Asia on Argyle. While some dishes are better suited for dining in, like a bowl of hand-pulled noodle soup and a whole crispy fried fish — and indeed, there is often a wait — others are excellent to grab and go, like the double-cooked pork with fermented black beans, the cumin-laced Xinjiang-style beef, and the tingly mapo tofu.

No reservations; more info here. 

In November, Monteverde will be turning 10. And in all that time, Top Chef alum and James Beard Award winner Sarah Grueneberg has never come close to complacency, preferring instead to push the needle of Italian food forward in one of the most consistently sought-after tables in Chicago. Rustic snacks and pasta preparations are given a fine gloss here (think wok-fried arrabbiata with ground shrimp and puttanesca breadcrumbs), with seasonal specials keeping things fresh (i.e. sweet pea and sausage gramigna garnished with orange blossom honey and orange zest). While any seat is a good one here — the patio especially on nice days — try to grab one at the bar to see the handmade pasta station in action.

While the menu is inspired by Alpine cuisine, don’t mistake Table, Donkey, and Stick for a winter-only dining spot. No, this Palmer Square hideaway is just as lovely in the spring and summer thanks to a back patio (and a roaring fire pit, if it’s chilly). Curious about the name? It comes from a Brothers Grimm tale. Owner Matt Sussman loves the idea of the story’s enchanted table, which sets itself with a rustic feast. While your table here won’t do that, you can order yourself a feast that’s nearly as magical — from homey housemade bread and charcuterie to spring pea risotto with crispy beets, and pork schnitzel with utterly creamy beurre blanc. To drink, the bar focuses on brandies, amari, and regional Alpine beers and wine, not to mention house-made tonics and shrubs. Pro tip: Don’t miss happy hour, where the burger is just $11 and a rotating mix of beers and cocktails are discounted, too.

If you’ve never been to a Detroit-style pizza place whose mascot is a three-eyed alien dog, now is the time.  Just go with us on this — at Sharpies, all the elements work. Perhaps it’s the vintage video games you can play upon arrival; maybe it’s the space-y theme that invites a sense of childlike wonder; or maybe it’s just that this pizza is the real deal:  the crispiest Detroit-style pies, with caramelized edges on every side. Try it plain or topped with good stuff, like fennel sausage, Calabrian peppers, and ricotta (in the Sausage Singularity). There are a handful of apps like crispy cheese curds and a fried onion blossom. And to accompany, cocktails designed for “slurpability,” all of which are brightly colored, served with crushed ice, and made with their zingy citrus mix, Atomic Juice.

No reservations, more info here.

Deadheads now have the ultimate gathering space. At Garcia’s, a new restaurant and music venue dedicated to legendary musician Jerry Garcia, you can eat, drink, and take in performances from artists like Grace Potter, Leo Kottke, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The space itself is inspired by Jerry’s life: the design brings together the mid-century modern style of his California youth with a decidedly on-brand psychedelic touch. There are family photos, vintage movie posters, records, and books galore. After you looking around the venue, tuck in for your meal — might we recommend Jerry’s Roast Beef Sandwich (thin-sliced prime rib, provolone, onion rings, and horseradish cream sauce on Dutch crunch roll with jus)? As for drinks, there are plenty of cocktails and N/A options available, too.

What was once a popular stop at Revival Food Hall from James Beard-nominated chef and owner Joseph Fontelera is now a beloved brick-and-mortar in North Center with some of the best Filipino food in the city. From the family photos hanging on the wall to the hand-drawn artwork, simple pendant lighting, and abundant foliage, it feels more like you’re eating in a friend’s living room than a restaurant. Dig into the sizzling pork sissig topped with a runny egg yolk, or go big with the kare kare, a braised short rib with marinated eggplant, sunflower butter sauce, and a spicy bagoong jam. Smart diners will get extra garlic rice, and the smartest will save room for the roasted banana turon, sticky with caramelized sugar.

There’s a reason why The Duck Inn made it into our list of the best restaurants of 2024. The cozy spot has everything we want out of a  neighborhood standby, starting with its warm, welcoming dining room. Then there’s chef Kevin Hickey’s menu — duck is the star, in rotisserie form served with duck fat fries, in a Chicago-style beef and duck dog, and in chile-braised duck sopes. But it’s not all duck, all the time: butternut squash agnolotti, monkfish with soft shell crab XO sauce, and barbecue braised short rib make The Duck Inn a perfect spot for all.

When the craving for Thai food hits, here’s the place to be. This import from New York’s Flushing neighborhood opened in February and offers homestyle Thai dishes in a celebratory setting. Greenery abounds (there are ferns hanging from the ceiling lights)— and that extends to the food, where fresh ingredients take center stage, from crunchy papaya salad to the spicy larb tartare (made with filet mignon). Craving something fried and crispy? Go for dumplings and the spicy zabb wings, or a woven platter of starters to share with your group. Then move on to the short rib massaman curry and the pineapple fried rice that’s served in a halved fruit. Pair it all with a refreshing Thai iced tea, a cooling counterpoint to a spicy meal on a hot day.

While North Shore denizens might be familiar with Ballyhoo Hospitality’s Sophia Steak from its outposts in Wilmette and Lake Forest, River North locals are just now getting a taste of the goods. Typical of Ballyhoo restaurants, Sophia may be billed as a steakhouse, but it’s unfussy and welcoming, and while steak is indeed the main event, there are plenty of specialties if you’re not into red meat, like a fiery angry lobster spaghetti and the Sunday fried chicken special. Along with the food, the team takes their cocktails seriously … but not too much: Try the What, Like It’s Hard? (vodka, olive bitters, sturgeon caviar, and a housemade potato chip.), or spirit-free options with ingredients like lime and ginger beer that balance heavier menu items with ease.

Now in its 13th year, Scofflaw continues to delight regulars and new guests alike with its gin-focused cocktails, and now a new food menu, too. If you’re visiting during the day, relax on the covered patio for brunch. There’s creamy burrata with confit tomatoes and crispy sage that pairs well with a classic gin and tonic — yes, that tonic is housemade — or a Red Snapper, with gin, the house snapper mix, and a little skewer snack of pickled bites. In the evening, come for a cozy, candlelit hang. If you’re hungry, dig into the burger, with American cheese and griddled onions, and perhaps sip a Swizzle #50 (Plymouth gin, blue curacao, fino sherry, lemon, and miso orgeat). Pro tip: If you stay until midnight, they serve complimentary warm cookies – so you might want to get that nightcap, after all.

From the Tiffany-inspired pendants hanging from the ceiling to the long wooden bar, and antique-style gilded frames throughout, Void exudes an effortlessly cozy feel, with an Italian-American menu to match the mood. Dishes nod to childhood favorites while showcasing real culinary finesse (like the playfully named “Spaghetti Uh-Ohs,” made here with the ring-shaped Sicilian pasta anelli, mini meatballs, and a vodka sauce that’s poured from a can tableside). The cocktails are playful, too – do try the “Giardtini,” with both vodka and gin, vermouth, and what they call “Giardiniera-fied olive brine,” a singularly Chicago invention we have no choice but to applaud.

Even with a James Beard Award and a Michelin star, Kasama is far from resting on its laurels, continuing to wow diners with its Filipino-style tasting menu in a casual yet energetic setting. For those lucky enough to get a coveted reservation expect a colorful and intriguing multi-course meal that changes with the seasons: there might be a buttery croissant laden with truffles, a mushroom adobo with mussel foam, and lamb belly kare-kare with peanut puree. Can’t wait for dinner? Pop in for brunch at the cafe, which is first-come, first-served. The buzzy little space brighten your day with chicken adobo over garlic rice, and a breakfast sandwich that takes your classic egg and cheese up a notch with the addition of salty longanisa.

Sal’s Trattoria has been a neighborhood standby for comforting Italian food since the team behind Butcher in the Burger opened it in 2017. At the corner of Southport and Wolfram, Sal’s beckons diners with friendly service, simple yet refined decor (you’ll find white tablecloths and olive oil cruets on every table), and boatloads of charm. On the menu, chef Dakota Neckvatal focuses on antipasti — think marinara meatballs and grilled octopus — and pasta, including rigatoni Bolognese and fettucini carbonara.  (Don’t skip the housemade gelato for dessert.) Before Sal’s, there was a fair amount of turnover in this location, but since its debut, this comforting spot has been reliably full — take this as your sign to find out why.