Now on Resy: Community Tavern, Monster Ramen, and More Local Favorites

Because Dolce is rustic and cozy, with live piano tunes and warm hospitality to set the mood. The seasonal menu leans into Italian staples, with dishes like pizza and meatballs, scallops with risotto, and grilled mahi-mahi with caper sauce. Pro tip: Grab a seat on the patio between 4 and 6 p.m. on weeknights for happy hour-exclusive arancini.

Know that you’re in good hands: Turquoise has been serving Mediterranean fare in Chicago for over two decades. Their expertise shines in crispy zucchini fritters, imam bayildi (stuffed eggplant), and tender braised lamb, alongside a cherished all-you-can-eat brunch. Step inside for the charm, stay for the sun-drenched patio and perfectly grilled kebabs.

Cozy like a Tokyo ramen den and with quality eats that might just make you think you’re in Japan, Monster is a must for noodle and broth lovers. Chef Katie Dong’s housemade noodles are chewy, springy, and just the right thickness to soak up the richly flavored gyukotsu-style bone broth (a southern Japanese specialty), among others.

The modern Filipino-American menu — born from the Boonie Foods pop-up — shines with dishes like liempo (grilled pork belly skewers), grilled whole fish of the day, and sisig. Start with the ube colada and end with an ube semifreddo ice cream sandwich (or the banana turon, which gets big raves).

This South Loop treasure evokes the spirit of the Riviera Maya with its stylish beachy vibe — you’ll sip margaritas and cocktails served in coconuts beneath glowing fish lamps. You can’t go wrong ordering from the seafood-forward menu, with highlights like barrio tacos and whole fried red snapper. You’ll want to save room for the show-stopping dessert: a molten lava cake in the form of a chocolate skull, served with ice cream and dubbed the Flame of Tulum.

This follow-up to Siam Thai’s original New York City locations brings contemporary takes on Thai favorites to the South Loop, in an elegant setting defined by graceful arches and greenery cascading from the ceiling. Larb tartare made with filet mignon and topped with an (optional) egg yolk, is an essential, or snack on a Siam platter with dumplings, chive cakes, and chicken satay.

The team behind the buzzy Thai restaurant The Oliang turns to Japan with this West Loop spot, offering a flexible menu of sushi choices, including special chef-chosen selections, plus Tokyo-style ramen and brothless mazemen-style noodle dishes. It’s a great stop for Thai tea and specialty coffee drinks, too.

All of the classics are here (flavorful pozole, tacos, ceviche, queso) but the molcajetes are the real showstoppers. There’s a surf-and-turf option filled with grilled meat and shrimp, and another filled with vegetables — each is topped with melting panela cheese and accompanied by a side of warm, housemade corn tortillas. Then it’s all DIY from there. Margaritas are a must.

Oliang (or savory, spiced Thai iced coffee) is the specialty here, along with an assortment of tea-based beverages with optional boba. But, it’s the array of perfectly prepared Thai classics like khao soi, assorted curries, and krapow kai that will keep you coming back. Check out their sister spot, Ryota, too.

You can’t go wrong at this friendly, longtime Roscoe Village favorite. The menu runs deep on comfort food favorites (think beef chili, chicken parm, mac & cheese), and the burgers — among them a build-your-own option with a dozen possible add-ons — always satisfy.

This dazzling space channels Moorish palaces of Spain, decked out with a museum’s worth of intricate mosaics and woodwork to set the scene. Whether for an intimate meal or a grand event, enjoy some of the city’s best Middle Eastern food, from dips to kebabs, plus family platters heaped with menu highlights.

You can’t go wrong with a bowl of guacamole and chips, tacos (fish, barbacoa, and more) with housemade corn tortillas, and a few salt-rimmed margaritas. Elotitos — street corn, just cute and small — go with everything. Bonus: The friendly servers, who treat everyone like their regulars.

Come hungry to this Hyde Park pizzeria (and more) from Naples-born pizzaiola Nella Grassano. The perfect charred Neapolitan-style pies are just the beginning of a menu that ranges from a bountiful mixed antipasto plate to a treasury of pastas (many of them involving seafood), to grilled lamb chops with pancetta potatoes.

Everything is fresh and bright and full of flavor at this modern Lincoln Park Thai restaurant. Signature dishes include grilled chicken with herbs and stir-fried noodles with river prawns and tamarind sauce — and definitely try the smoky Bangkok old fashioned with coconut sugar and cardamom bitters.

The chefs behind Indienne properly dazzle at Sifr, where the irresistible mezze platters are so generous, you’ll need to be careful in order to save room for what comes next … Think grilled specialties (like lamb kebab with Aleppo pepper) and large-scale shareables (like branzino with tahini) that’d be a shame to miss.

Transplanted from West Town to Wicker Park, Vajra is where chef Min Thapa reimagines Nepalese and Indian classics with a luxe touch — think dishes like lobster momo and Gruyère-and-chile kulcha with truffle butter. Pro tip: Watch out for special events, like a multi-course Nepalese feast. 

You’ll find all the Italian dishes you know and love at this family-friendly neighborhood gem in West Lakeview, courtesy of the team behind Butcher & the Burger. Think meatballs marinara, fettuccine carbonara, chicken parmesan, tiramisù — and don’t leave without a sip of the housemade limoncello.