A true local's top 100 restaurant list, pt. 1

as chosen from 660+ actual visits

Hi, everyone!

Okay, I’m doing something different (and fun) for this week and next: I’m publishing a two-part top 100 restaurant list. Gasp, I know. A list.

First, though. This half is free, the second half will be for paid subscribers to The Party Cut.

But I didn’t write today’s list. My friend Young Choi, who’s an HR talent analytics manager by trade, wrote this list. And you might be wondering why I’m handing over the reins of the newsletter to someone who seemingly doesn’t have any connection to the food media world for the next two editions.

That’s because Young is a secret resource of mine when it comes to dining out. If I ever have a question about a place, he usually has an answer or an opinion about it because he’s gone to so many places. In fact, he’s probably been to more restaurants than some food writers I know. Young keeps an eye on Chicago’s food scene through active online discussion as well.

When he mentioned offhand he was compiling his favorite 100 restaurants for fun, I jumped right on this opportunity. I wasn’t about to let him not have an audience, so I’ll be paying him with funds for the newsletter in order to publish it here.

Young’s dining attitude is just like mine — if it sounds interesting, he just gives it a shot. He explains his casual methodology below for his 50-100 place picks below, and his top 50 will come to paid subscribers next week. Enjoy, and don’t forget to add your two cents in the comment section, because everyone loves fightin—er, uniting over lists like these.

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I’ll always peek through any restaurant rankings, regardless of the source. OAD (Opinionated About Dining), World’s 50 Best, New York Times, Eater, The Infatuation, Time Out, Michelin, etc. Even when they’re really bad, you can always glean something from any of them. I genuinely mean that.

I wanted to join in on the fun and partake in this ranking exercise. First things first: This isn’t a best of list. Instead, it’s a list of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Is that any different? Probably not. It’s more fun (okay, simpler) to create this without an objective criteria, but these factors generally served as my guide.

• Quality: It obviously has to taste good. You may not agree, but I can honestly say every place on this list serves great food.

• Service: Excellent service had a huge impact on how I felt about these restaurants.

• Cuisine: It’s my list and some cuisines I just like more than others. I knew I was partial to Korean food, but it turns out I really like pizza too.

• People: If I know good people are involved with a restaurant, I’m gonna like it more. Conversely, if you’re a shithead, it’s not a dealbreaker, but you better serve some good-ass food.

• Value: Food is expensive. Owning a restaurant is usually a labor of love and can cost a fortune. So if a restaurant is relatively pricey, I usually don’t care. But being a bargain helps.

• Location/Accessibility. I live in Albany Park, so proximity played a role here. If it’s a spot that’s far away and I still made my way over regularly, that was important to me.

As for the restaurant pool, I pulled together lists of restaurants I’ve visited since 2017 and I had over 660+ unique places. Apologies to some listicle mainstays (Calumet Fisheries, Bavette’s, Oriole, etc.) that I have yet to visit, but I obviously only included spots I’ve been to.

100. Gilt Bar
River North
Gilt Bar is a perfect River North spot. Great interior design, and thankfully the food matches. This place will always be a favorite thanks to the $8 happy hour old-fashioneds and $6.99 fries.

99. John’s Food and Wine
Lincoln Park
Order when you walk in and then grab a seat. I know it’s the fast casual way, which is unusual for such high quality food. Really liked everything I ate here, and perfect example of a neighborhood joint. Fun fact: its where Nookies Tree used to be.

98. Red Light Chicken
Lincoln Park
I'm always surprised at how much people rave about fried chicken sandwiches. They're generally very satisfying, but the ones people rave about aren't objectively good. Red Light Chicken is a huge outlier. The sandwiches are affordable, actually crispy, and a rare occasion when chicken breast is worth eating.

97. Monster Ramen
Logan Square
Love how simple the shio ramen is here in the best of ways. It lets the beef broth shine and do its thing.

96. The Leavitt St. Inn and Tavern
Bucktown
It’s gotten some well-deserved social media love and so it’s a little harder to sneak in for a smashburger, which is what the place does really well. But I'm also always a sucker for a good wedge salad, especially when it's not at a steakhouse.

95. Honey 1 BBQ
Bronzeville
You might be able to tell from this list, but I'm not really big on BBQ. What does interest me is a flimsy paper tray of rib tips and sausage links sitting on top of white bread and a mix of hot and mild sauce, however, which is what Honey 1 does best.

94. Munno
Ravenswood
Munno is a often overlooked spot that serves Roman-style pizza (pinsa) and some pastas. The pizzas are good but I really like the different pasta options that are available.

93. Zazas Pizzeria
Lakeview
Tavern style and NY slices are my go-to. And Zaza's does some really good slices.

92. Kai Zan
Humboldt Park
It’s crazy to think now since every block seems to have an omakase joint, but there was a point where there were only a handful. I believe Katsu [Dennis’ note: now closed] was the OG, but then there was Kai Zan. It was in Humboldt Park before it was cool, and they had a very reasonable 10 course omakase. It’s still a great value and I love stopping in on occasion to see how it holds up.

91. Vito and Nick’s
Ashburn
Universally beloved and I loved it the times I've been. Sadly, I haven't been in a few years, so my absence has me conservative with my ranking.

90. Daisies
Logan Square
My first real meal post vaccine in 2021 was at the OG Daisies location. The pastas are superb, drinks are always funky, and holy shit, do the pastries rule.

89. Perilla Fare
West Town
Korean BBQ is ripe for the steakhouse treatment and the folks at Perilla make sure to do it right. I have yet to eat at the new spot, Perilla Steakhouse, but I'm sure it’s as good, if not better, than Perilla Fare.

88. Mi Tocaya Antojeria
Logan Square
Every time I have a meal here, I always think, “Why don't I come here more often?” The ceviches and aguachiles are always excellent, as is the refined steak burrito. And there’s an ever-changing list of other dishes that always sound interesting.

87. Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (inside Mitsuwa Marketplace)
Arlington Heights
Ever since my Tokyo trip 9 years ago, I've become pretty snobby about ramen. While mediocre versions of certain dishes are fine, I detest an average bowl of ramen. And even after all these years, the bowls here still hold up. On the rare occasion when I have a hankering for tonkotsu, I’ll make the trek out to Mitsuwa for a bowl.

86. Bari
West Town
The Italian beef sandwich here is unique in that it’s a much thicker cut than every other place that serves it. But it’s great, and so is the meatball sub.

85. Jim's Original
Near West Side
The Maxwell Polish and bone-in pork chop sandwiches. What more needs to be said? It’s a perfect combo. More proof that grilled onions make everything better.

84. Gopchang Story
Glenview
Gopchang Story is a Korean chain and they specialize in grilled intestines. It may sound offal to you (shoot puns, not guns), but if you're adventurous, you'll absolutely love it.

83. Joong Boo Market (Snack Corner, inside the market)
Avondale
When you go to large department stores and grocery stores in Korea, a lot of them will have food courts with fantastic food. Joong Boo's is way smaller and more cramped, but it always reminds me of that. Also, the kimchi wang mandus (dumplings) that they sell outside are fantastic and huge.

82. Half Shell
Lincoln Park
This is the type of place I expect when I walk into a seafood joint in Boston or Cape Cod, and it doesn't disappoint. Cash only, so bring your Red Hot Ranch money! [Dennis’ note: RHR is cash only too, in case you’re not in on the joke.]

81. Le Bouchon
Bucktown
Le Bouchon is an institution that continues to fire on all cylinders. It’s cramped in there and there's nothing but rich food, but so what? It’s fanfuckingtastic. So order a salad for the table to make yourself feel better, and have a wonderful time.

80. Halal Inn
Albany Park
This pizza joint has some of the best grilled chicken in the city. But don’t order the pizza here. It’s, uh, well. But if you want grilled chicken, this is the place to get it.

79. Jimmy's Pizza Café
Lincoln Square
There's quality slice shops all around NYC but unfortunately we don't have that luxury here. Jimmy’s continues to be an exception. Also, if you ever want to see a comically large pie, order the 24" one and take it home one day.

78. Bayan Ko
Lincoln Square
Bayan Ko serves a blend of Filipino and Cuban food. I’m always impressed with the quality that they put out, and it’s definitely one of the best restaurants in Lincoln Square. Bonus points for serving half portions.

77. Virtue
Hyde Park
Southern comfort food is a pretty big hole in Chicago. I know there's some spots, but none of them hit the same way as Virtue does. I don't get here as often as I'd like but Virtue gives me a reason to hit up Hyde Park.

76. Torteria San Lenchito
Albany Park
This place does a great job fulfilling my torta needs. The milanesa is my go-to filling, but San Lenchito has dozens and dozens of options to choose from on their wall.

75. Pho Nam Lua [Dennis’ note: I’m seeing that this place is temporarily closed right now.]
West Ridge
Pho Nam Lua has my favorite bowl in Chicago and it’s wonderful. Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that they might have one of my top 5 best wings in the city here too. They’re perfectly crispy with just the right amount of heat in their sauce.

74. Nhu Lan
Lincoln Square, Uptown
Nhu Lan still has the best banh mi in town and their bread is phenomenal. Life tip: Buy these loaves if you ever want to make po’ boys or any other wonderful sandwich.

73. Ghareeb Nawaz
West Ridge
It’s the best food bargain in Chicago and I don't think it’s all that close. The food punches well above its weight. Since it’s a bargain, use it as an opportunity to try a bunch of different dishes that you would normally wouldn't.

72. Chicago Kalbi
Albany Park
This place is fantastic. I've stopped caring about the quantity of banchan over quality, which is where Chicago Kalbi shines brightly. Great, friendly service and the food is very good.

71. Bob Chinn’s
Wheeling
Until I was 23, I thought Bob Chinn’s was the greatest restaurant in the country. There’s nothing earth shattering about the place, but they have a gigantic menu that meets the needs for all diners. And the garlic bread is far superior to the Cheddar Bay biscuits at you-know-where.

70. Great Seas Restaurant
Albany Park
The lollipop wings are where it’s at. Everything else is at the level of your neighborhood Chinese joint, which isn't a bad thing. But the wings are on another level compared to the rest of the menu. [Dennis’ note: Great Seas also serves Korean-Chinese specialty dishes like jjajangmyeon and jjamppong, which are only found at a handful of restaurants around Chicago.]

69. Omarcito’s
Logan Square
Omar is on the short list of my favorite people in the service industry. I've only met him a handful of times, and every single time, he’s been so hospitable and makes you feel like you've been friends for years. Everything I’ve had has been good, but that fish sandwich is a superstar.

68. Elske
West Loop
Elske (which has one Michelin star) makes amazing-tasting food in nice digs, but isn't stuffy whatsoever. The last time I was there, I sat at the bar by myself and had the best time. If someone is looking to dip their toes into fine dining, this would be a perfect starting point.

67. Evanston Chicken Shack
Evanston
I don't care that it was a transplant, Gus's was the best fried chicken in Chicago. That's not an opinion, it’s cold hard fact. Now, I love Harold’s, but the OG is way a little too far away so I don't get there as much as I would like. But I do absolutely love Evanston Chicken Shack. The chicken here is fantastic and they also sell fried gizzards and livers.

66. Jeon Ju Restaurant
Morton Grove
Is goat stew a common dish in Korea? I should probably know this, but I have no idea. But I do recall growing up and eating this quite a bit. Jeon Ju in Morton Grove has the best version of this dish in town. It’s served tableside over a portable flame in a casserole dish and once you're done, they make a fried rice in it with all the leftovers.

65. Wolfy's
West Ridge
Growing up in this hood, the few times when we'd eat out, Fluky’s was a favorite of mine. But now that I'm older and wiser, I know Wolfy's is superior. It’s got all the standbys that a reliable hot dog joint should have, and everything is good. And I feel like the beef is better than it needs to be.

64. Taqueria El Asadero
Lincoln Square
When it hits, this place can rival any place for best tacos and burritos in town. But even on a regular day, the carne asada taco with a side of rice and beans is a favorite meal of mine.

63. Monti’s
Lincoln Square
First things first: The Italian beef is a superior sandwich to the cheesesteak. That's just a fact. But that's not to say that this Philly import isn't good. In fact, they're delicious. Especially when they're done well like at Monti’s.

62. Hagen's Fish Market
Portage Park
Fried fish is so damn wonderful and Hagen's excels at it. The fish sandwich is perfect and everything else that comes out of the fryer is equally excellent.

61. SGD (aka So Gong Dong Tofu & Korean BBQ)
Glenview, Vernon Hills
Sundubu (spicy tofu stew) might be my favorite Korean dish. It’s so satisfying and you'll likely come away with a burnt mouth. SGD is a chain with a few different locations, but the locations that serve you stew with the stone bowls of rice on the side are best, like the ones in Glenview and Vernon Hills.

60. Bon Yeon
West Loop
Bon Yeon is a Korean-influenced beef omakase joint with a high entry point. This place is crazy expensive, but if you're looking for a special occasion joint for someone that is a fussy-ish eater, this would be a perfect spot.

59. Kabobi
Albany Park
There's an embarrassment of riches as far as Middle Eastern food goes within a couple blocks of me. But even though I have choices, I usually select Kabobi. I think they do a better job with the grilled meats, and that’s what it’s about.

58. Cross Rhodes
Evanston
I lived in Evanston for almost two years in my twenties. Back then I was a lazy pud (RIP Tommy Nevins). Thankfully Cross Rhodes happened to be right across the street from me. The gyros plate was my sustenance on many nights, and that order would make about three meals.

57. Brasero
West Town
I haven't yet been to El Che. But even if I had, I think I would prefer the dishes at Brasero. Almost everything I've had here has been fantastic. When they first opened, they had an amazing collards dish. I wish they would bring it back!

56. Sun Wah BBQ
Uptown
The famous Peking duck meal is such a treat. It’s great for a group of folks and it’s ridiculously affordable. Also, can't skip the beef chow fun. When it’s done just right, it’s the best version in the city.

55. Andy's Thai Kitchen
Lakeview
20 years ago, a real estate agent took me to Tac Quick and my mind was blown. I didn’t know Thai food could be this good. Chef Andy left and opened his own spot, Andy’s Thai Kitchen, and he still kicks ass. Crispy onchoy, Chinese broccoli, and Issan sausage are my go-tos. Cash only.

54. JT's Genuine Sandwich Shop
Irving Park
Imagine if a restaurant existed that served all of your favorite sandwiches and did them all well. That's JT’s. Yet as great as those sandwiches are, I think my favorite thing here is the fried pickles.

53. Han Bat
Lincoln Square
The seolleongtang at Han Bat is so comforting, and the kkakdugi here rules.

52. Happy Lamb Hot Pot
Bridgeport
I'm no hot pot expert, but what is there to know? There’s a giant cauldron of broth and you throw a boatload of meat, veggies and carbs into it.

51. Superkhana International
Logan Square
I've always said that I hate fusion food, but what I'm realizing is I hate bad food and food that doesn't make sense. Superkhana bucks all these trends because their food is fucking delicious. The butter chicken calzone is fantastic and the Maggi noodles are one of my favorite things to eat in the city.

50. Nine Bar
Chinatown
As you might gather, I love cocktail bars that serve good food. I'm generally more comfortable in divey spots, and while Nine Bar is much more classy, that's not a bad thing. You walk through a Chinese takeout space to walk in, and then you get to enjoy great cocktails and great food.

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Everyone, please thank Young for his work today. I have written many during my time as a food writer, and I can tell you they are my least favorite type of assignment. That’s because they take an immense amount of effort and time to compile. Don’t forget to support his documentation by sharing this free edition of The Party Cut (and by giving it a like):

And only paid subscribers get the remainder of the list.

Young’s got some interesting picks, and I’m curious as to what you all think. Remember, this list is based off of all the places he’s been to, but as he’s recounted, it’s over 660 of them.

Paid subscribers get double the newsletter and access to all the archives, so please upgrade today — I don’t actually make any money from this work; you guys just help me shoulder the expenses.

This was a long one, next week’s will be too, so stay tuned. Love you guys.