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Eater

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Every Chicago 2026 Eater Award Winner, Mapped

The best restaurants, bars, and bakeries of 2026, according to Eater editors. The 2026 Eater Awards, presented by Capital One, brought some of the most memorable restaurants to the forefront. This year in Chicago, we honor the Best New Restaurant, Chef of the Year, Best New Bakery, Dish of the Year, and Best New Restaurant and Bar Combo. Here are the award recipients that made their mark on Chicago’s culinary scene in 2026.

Chicago, IL · 17h
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travelmag.com

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This Illinois Drive-In Is Topped With Giant Hot Dog Statues And Has Served Carhop Burgers And Dogs Since 1948

Two giant hot dogs are hanging out on an Illinois rooftop, and one is wearing a leopard-print leotard. The other rocks a blue skirt and a bow. Fashion week could never. Meet the rooftop duo named after the couple who started this quirky hot dog joint. And trust me, the experience only gets better at ground level.

Chicago, IL · 1d
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We Are Rockford

partner publisher · 45.6K followers
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Au Cheval In Chicago Ranks 35 Among The 50 Greatest Burgers On The Planet

A Chicago burger just made a worldwide top 50 list. Au Cheval came in at 35, one of only a handful of American spots to rank at all.

Chicago, IL · 5d

chicagofoodmagazine.com

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Avondale’s Moody’s Market Evolves Into a Neighborhood Gathering Spot For Cake & Wine

What began as a neighborhood specialty market is entering a new chapter. This November, Moody’s Market is evolving into Moody’s Cake & Wine, a refreshed concept from longtime friends and co-owners Mollie Mettelka and Melissa Korth, centered on house-made cakes, curated wines and community driven experiences. Situated at 2755 W. Belmont Ave. in Avondale, Moody’s expands on its original location by highlighting customer favorites including a larger focus on online ordering, curated private events, and custom cake and pastry production.

Chicago, IL · 1d
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WGN News

partner publisher · 99.3K followers

Kings Presents: Naughty List Lounge

This holiday season skip the ordinary happy hour and plan a festive night out. The Naughty List Lounge offers one-of-a-kind seasonal cocktails in a perfectly jolly atmosphere. Jason and Kayla join us with more. Rosemont & Lincoln Park playatkings.com

Chicago, IL · 1d

storiesfromthe78.com

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Goose Island Celebrates Bourbon County Stout With Prop Day 2026 in Chicago

Chicago knows a thing or two about beer, but few local brewing traditions have earned the kind of following that Goose Island’s Bourbon County Brand Stout has built over the past three decades. On Saturday, Nov. 7, Goose Island welcomed beer enthusiasts back to Fulton Street for Prop Day...

Chicago, IL · 1d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Old-Fashioned Illinois Candy Shop Still Makes Its Own Fudge And Caramel Apples In A Nostalgic Little Shop

Caramel apples come with a choice of fruit at one little Illinois candy counter: tart Granny Smith or sweet Honeycrisp. That decision alone could stall a family for ten minutes. Then you spot the bear claws, the cheese popcorn, and the chocolate-dipped apricots. The fudge is made in house, the...

Riverside, IL · 7d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This South Side Chicago Counter Has Been Dunking Breaded Steak Sandwiches In Red Gravy Since 1976, And Illinois Still Lines Up

A four-pound sandwich sits on the menu at one South Side counter, and it comes breaded, fried, and dunked in red gravy. Anthony Bourdain counted that sandwich among the best sandwiches in the world. The star is USDA Choice skirt steak, tenderized and hand-breaded with Italian seasonings. Then it gets...

Chicago, IL · 3d

unearththevoyage.com

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Mr. Beef in Chicago Keeps the Italian Beef Ritual Going at Its No-Frills Orleans Street Counter

Some of the best meals in Illinois hide behind plain walls and a simple sign you could easily walk past. I almost did, until I noticed the line of hungry people stretching down the sidewalk. One bite of a juicy, pepper-topped sandwich later, I understood why folks wait so patiently....

Chicago, IL · 1d

Q985

partner publisher · 3.8K followers

Illinois Joint Lands On Global List Of 50 Best Burgers On Earth

One Illinois joint made a list of the 50 best burgers on Earth, rubbing elbows with Tokyo and Dublin.

Illinois · 5d

nickscookingclub

user · 12.0K followers

Chicago Bakeries Knew Apple Pie Needed More Pieces

Chicago-style apple slices take everything comforting about apple pie and reshape it into soft, bakery-sized bars made for sharing. Tender apples flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg sit between pastry layers, creating fruit-filled squares with more convenient portions than a traditional round pie. Every piece offers soft apple filling, warm spice, and enough pastry to keep the dessert sturdy in one hand. The rectangular format also means more people receive those prized edge pieces where the crust becomes especially golden. It is a nostalgic Midwest bakery treat that feels familiar even to anyone who never stood before a Chicago display case. Simple ingredients and an old-fashioned presentation give these bars the character of something a neighborhood bakery might have been selling for generations.

Chicago, IL · 1d

whatnow.com

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Mendocino Farms Submits Application for Possible Fourth Location in Lincoln Park

A storefront that was once Cilantro Taco Grill looks to be hosting a new tenant in the future. The team at Mendocino Farms recently submitted a liquor license application for 2256-2258 N Orchard Street in the neighborhood. This would be the fourth Chicago location from the California-based company. As of now, no public announcement has been made.

Chicago, IL · 1d

chicagofoodmagazine.com

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Torali Italian Steak Unveils New Fall/Winter Menu at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago

Torali Italian-Steak has unveiled its fall and winter menus under Executive Chef Damion Henry, bringing a seasonal perspective to the restaurant’s signature blend of contemporary steakhouse dining and coastal Italian influences. Spanning breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails, the refreshed menus showcase seasonal produce, ingredients from regional producers and Italian-inspired preparations suited to Chicago’s colder months. Among the highlights are slow-braised meats, dry-aged specialties designed for sharing and a beverage program featuring cocktails named for the city’s streets and neighborhoods.

Chicago, IL · 1d

Austin Weekly News

partner publisher · 395 followers

Food brings Austin community together for conversation on culture and food access

Food brought Austin residents together Thursday evening at Bethel New Life for a conversation about the history of Black food traditions, the importance of food access and the role community plays in shaping the neighborhood's culinary future. The post Food brings Austin community together for conversation on culture and food access appeared first on Austin Weekly News .

Chicago, IL · 1d

southportcorridorchicago.com

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Remember Chinalite? Before Crosby’s Kitchen at Southport and Cornelia

Before Crosby’s Kitchen became a Southport Corridor staple, the corner of Southport and Cornelia had a very different look. Longtime Lakeview residents may remember Chinalite, the neighborhood Chinese restaurant that once occupied the space. First, Chinalite. Chinalite operated at 3457 N. Southport Avenue, at the corner now associated with...

Chicago, IL · 4d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Illinois Farmers Market Moves Indoors For Winter, So Your Sunday Produce Run Never Stops

Snow on the boulevard doesn’t cancel this Sunday market. When winter hits, the whole thing simply heads indoors and keeps going. I love that idea. Your weekly bread, eggs, and cheese haul doesn’t have to pause just because Illinois decided to freeze solid for a few months. In...

Chicago, IL · 5d

thebloomingtonstar.com

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6 Chicago beef stands where the Italian beef comes dipped, juicy and topped with giardiniera

Chicago, Illinois – There is a particular way to eat an Italian beef sandwich in Chicago. You lean forward, keep a few napkins close, and accept that the bread may have absorbed enough rich meat juice to make your usual sandwich technique completely useless. The beef is thin, the...

Chicago, IL · 7d

Secret Chicago

publisher · 7.1K followers

Chicago’s crown jewel of pan pizza just earned another national nod—thanks to its legendary caramelized crust

Chicago hardly needs another reason to defend its pizza credentials. But we’ll happily take this one. Pequod’s Pizza—the local favorite known for that exquisite ring of caramelized cheese —has been named Illinois’ pick in Food & Wine’s “50 States of Award-Winning Pizza.” And while the national recognition is nice, the real draw is waiting around the edge of the pan. What makes Pequod’s crust so special? At Pequod’s, you don’t leave the crust behind. As Food & Wine explains, t he pizzeria places a ring of mozzarella around the inside edge of the pan. As the pizza bakes, that cheese caramelizes, creating the signature rim that sets these pies apart . A deeply browned cheese surrounds a generously topped Chicago-style pizza. The menu starts with a cheese pizza, with toppings available so you can build your own order. Sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, giardiniera, and more are among the options—but that caramelized edge is something you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished the meal. Why Food & Wine picked Pequod’s Food & Wine assembled its state-by-state guide using existing accolades, including international pizza competitions, restaurant rankings, local journalism, and readers’ choice awards. For Pequod’s, the magazine points to two major wins:

Chicago, IL · 3d

NBC Chicago

publisher · 127.4K followers

These twelve Chicago restaurants made OpenTable's 2026 list of top 100 in the US

Twelve Chicago restaurants made a new list of the top 100 spots to dine in the country. The list, created by restaurant reservation platform OpenTable, was "generated from over 11 million reviews from verified OpenTable diners and dining metrics," its introduction states. Only restaurants in "good standing" with OpenTable and...

Chicago, IL · 4d