“All I can say is WOW! This steakhouse was incredible! Cannot recommend enough. The meat paradise was truly an experience and a delicious one at that. Our server, Leo, was probably one of the best servers we’ve ever had anywhere with his charismatic personality and caring service. He truly made this restaurant a memorable time! Forget about Brazilian steak houses or what not, money was WAY better spent here! Photo is before the delicious steak was grilled to our liking in front of us.“
“Im usually very happy with their food but this time I was very disappointed and in disbelief how bad the experience was this time with food. I order the bbq char siu was very dry and honestly seemed old. I order two rice box half and half but both were 90% salt&pepper. Hardly any sweet and sour chicken.“
“I always love coming to this place when I am I the West Loop. The line is usually long, but it is well worth the wait. The menu is kind of limited but everything on it is amazing. I love the ambiance inside as it looks like the inside of meat packing plant with a hipster twist. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.“
“Great service, great atmosphere, great food and super expensive. I was aching for the 6 tiny skewers at $17.I know it's the price because of the manufacturing and all the know-how etc... but I was expecting a little more consistency all the same.Despite this, the ravioli are excellent and the service is perfect.I recommend !“
“Service is great! Food is delicious and love the late night availability. We came here after being turned away from another yakitori place, so it was generally great to be welcomed and fed so well and so quickly, especially since we were with a hungry kiddo! Thank you!“
“My wife and I have never been to a Michelin star restaurant and now that we live in Chicago, we had plenty of options. For our second baby moon we decided to treat ourselves to an experience at El Ideas. The whole experience was amazing! The location is really unassuming and not in some pretentious building or area. It was such a laid back yet exquisite experience. Guests were allowed to wonder the space and take in the food preparation. You could ask questions of the chefs. It was really neat and nothing like I've ever experienced. Since there are a limited number of reservations the entire staff is really attune to guests needs. I have no complaints about any of the dishes. Some of the standout dishes were the shrimp dish which was an ode to the history of Chicago fried shrimp. The Swedish style meatball cooked in smoked beef tallow with gnocchi was so well balanced. The smoked duck bahn mi and smoke duck pho was amazing . The Lamb dish was out of this world! I'm still in awe of the vanilla shake and fries dessert. It was truly a work of art. The vanilla with the crunchy potato bits and potato and leak soup just worked. I could take one of those every day. This experience is definitely worth it! I hope to be back in the future!“
“This is literally the coolest and chilliest restaurant. For any musicians out there, I highly recommend this. I love the bar! Try the beef brisket, it's incredible!! They play rock concert videos. The service is amazing and everyone who works there is very nice. It feels like home when I'm there! Thank you Offset for the great food and memories!“
“This BBQ place is a gem in Chicago, the brisket was tender, well sliced and neatly plated with the rest of the sides. The slaw was a nice free side that I need the recipe for, slaw gets a lot of hate but this was pretty good. Pleasantly surprised we found this place and will definitely go again.“
“The Peking duck three ways is the absolute move. The fried rice is good The egg rolls are excellent and the Chinese broccoli and bok choy are the bomb. They were low on beers as far as selection but everything else is always top notch here. Make sure you get a reservation because they can sell out of duck fairly quickly“
“I loved “Perilla” …Please do not think of this as your typical Korean BQ grill/Restaurant. This is the most excellent Korean BQ restaurant I have ever been in and I have been in quite few over the years both in Korea back in the day and in the USA…Tomba⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“
Steak House • $$
“Carson's was our first stop during a mini vacation and birthday celebration in Chicago and it did not disappoint! The portions are large enough to share and absolutely delicious! They surprised my aunt with a birthday treat, which simply made the experience even more amazing! We'll be back!“
“We discovered this authentic Japanese style Korean BBQ restaurant over 30 years ago. The husband wife team make sure you enjoy your food. The chef is a highly trained Japanese chef and his skills are reflected in the exceptional quality meat choices, appetizers and soups. You could just order appetizers and be delighted but the meats are the highlight for their delicious marinades and seasonings. Real charcoal made of specialty hardwoods give the meats that unique smoky flavor. The prices will reflect the careful attention to quality and is well worth it in my opinion of 30 years of enjoying my favorite BBQ place. This is a one of a kind experience. The reason there are so many baseball photos and memorabilia in the restaurant is because this restaurant has been a favorite of every Japanese baseball player in Chicago and around the country and the owners are huge fans of baseball. This restaurant is famous in Japan when visiting Chicago.Parking: Easy street parkingKid-friendliness: Family friendly restaurant. I've been bringing my kids since they were babies“
“Tonight was our best visit yet! We’ve been here several times over the years, and it’s always awesome, so the bar was already high. The quality of the meat has improved, and as always, the service was wonderful. Shoutout to Kyra! You made our experience a 10/10“
“Stopped in for carryout. Ordering was a bit confusing. We did try the brisket, and it was delicious. The sides were just OK (lots of rice, a few potatoes, garlic, some type of tomato salad, corn, and Cole slaw). They also give you lots of sauces. I would go back and dine in.“
“I tried the Fire & Grill yesterday for take out order. I ordered 6-piece wings and fries in both Grilled and fried. I can say they were equally very good. Nice size and done just right. Juicy and good flavor with plenty of tasty fries. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They informed me that the grilled wings only 4 were ready and I could wait a few minutes for the other two but offered to give me a leg and thigh in its place if I did not want to wait. I took them up on the offer and the grilled leg and thigh was also very good. I will be ordering from here again. The only thing I would say is that I did not see a bathroom available for those that want to dine in and wash your hands afterwards.“
“OH MY GOD THIS PLACE MAKES HEAVEN. My favorites: - any of the savory meat croissants - egg sandwich - any of the meat strombolis - salted caramel donut - gingersnap molasses cookie - twice-baked almond croissant - vegan dark chocolate banana bread with pecans - Two falls ago there was this amazing apple cider bearclaw donut thing. I haven't seen it since in the pastry case, but I can still taste its awesomeness in my mouth and hope it will one day return. Everything here is so moist and magical. For me, what sets Mindy's Bakery apart from other bakeries, and makes it clear why Mindy won the Beard award for Outstanding Chef in the US, is that Mindy and crew are always working to improve their craft, always using quality ingredients and making better versions of things all the time and I respect this so much. Also, when you come in through the door, you can see everyone behind the counter, working hard, baking during open hours, and helping you pick things out of the big case in front. They are awesome. If you're from out of town, know there's rarely a line out the door on Wed, Thurs or Fri, but Sat and Sun are busy, so do what I do and bring your kindle or paper to read while you wait in line. It is always worth the wait.“
“It's the highest rated bbq restaurant in the area and there's definitely a reason for it. The food was cooked to absolute perfection and the service was great. I definitely want to come back soon and not continue driving past it all the time“
“First time visiting. Both had the filet, mid-rare. Came out perfect topped with a delicious butter. Creamy and lumpy smashed potatoes were the perfect compliment, included with the meal unlike the other similar steakhouses. Skillet cornbread starter with molasses butter was a winner to. 10/10 will come back.“
“BEST fall off bone ribs. I've been going with zesty sauce & onion rings since I could speak my own order as a kid (Love this place but the fries have always been unimpressive) . Prohibition sauce is delicious but a deep burn you might not expect (id go zesty & get some on side to try if curious). Dining room is small, but a nice bar to wait at (also small, so plan ahead). Its got a very cool historic Chicago vibe, has been in movies etc. Definitely try this place out for dine in or take out.“
“I just love this restaurant - the look and feel of it is classic Italian steakhouse with a baseball theme, the menu is almost perfect and the service is fast (even too fast?). The dining rooms are truly beautiful, with exposed brick and oozing history, and really set the tone for the meal. The menu, with its classical Italian steakhouse fare of steaks and pasta, has so many enticing offerings and the servers, in their white coats, have a perfect look to match the setting. The only reason that this is not a five star review is that the food is good, not great. If you want top steaks, then there are many other Chicago steakhouses that might be considered (Gibson's for example) - if you want top Italian, then there are also many excellent options (Volare nearby is a good one). The food is good, just not the reason one comes here.“
“To start I’m Korean, my family is in Korea, and I love food. To the ones who said the food was bad or mediocre, stay in the HMart food court or whatever tiktok ramen yall wanna make. The obvious hate is so undeserved.This place always delicious. Brought a big group of coworkers here to try kbbq for the first time. The aunties were super helpful and let us individually box things up to go when we couldn’t finish.They were so polite and patient with us because we didn’t know what we wanted.Dietary restrictions: There’s no cheese, dairy and meatless optionsParking: There’s a parking lot but it’s not very big because you’re in a busy area. There’s plenty of side and street parking.Wheelchair accessibility: Front door entrance is ground level“
“I normally don’t like writing reviews, but I had to come here and say this. I’ve lived here my whole life, and this is some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had in the city. The beef brisket was utterly perfect. And I’m happy to say that I found my new favorite mac & cheese in the city, with the pulled pork. When I tell you every bite left me in disbelief… wow. I’ll be back and I’m telling my people. 10/10.“
“Food and desserts were great BUT they take FOREVER to bring out the meats. No problem timely bringing out anything else we ordered though. Sus. Our waiter was very friendly when we were seated and when she came with items but didn’t check on us outside of just dropping off. Funny thing though, she asked if we needed change on our payment that would’ve been a tip equating more than 50% of the total bill. I was shocked she even asked. She also didn’t tell us that she needed a manager for the change so we sat there for a while wondering if she misheard and kept the change until finally we got tired of waiting, we wanted to leave! We had spent 2+ hours there and probably more than half that time waiting for meats so we asked and thats when she told us why. Food was bomb though LOL.“
“As a threshold, the menu is good. Good mix of crowd. Service is as fast or slow as you want. Happy Hour is fun. Very family-friendly but not to the point one without children would want to avoid. Kids eat free 4-6 every day. They have step stools in the bathroom for kids to reach a sink. Skillet cookie dessert is a hit with wife and daughter.“
“My best, all-time favorite and go-to Korean BBQ ever throughout many years!! Could never express how much I love the food and the service here. Up until now, no place can match the marinated galbi they have here, as long as their kimchi soup. Highly recommended!!“
“Union sushi and barbeque never misses. Went there for my girlfriends birthday dinner and everything we got was amazing. We started with the house salad which was amazing. The dressing has a great zest to it and the fried shallots on top adds that needed crunch! They were out of the miso salmon skewers which are our favorite, but the we directed ourselves toward the lamb chops which were melt in your mouth. So juicy and so tender, A++. From there we went on yo have the crispy spicy tuna rice and a rainbow roll, the fish is high quality and just has the freshness that is was caught that day. We ended dinner with the cookie skillet which was warm and gooey in the center and nice an crispy on the edges.“
“Hidden gem of Old Town!! I drive by this spot on the way to/from work and always see cars out front - finally stopped in last night and can see why. First of all, the place was filled at midnight with repeat customers which was a great sign. I was a little skeptical when I saw the prices on the menu as it was much more expensive than I expect from a counter serve restaurant, but when I tasted the food, I completely understood why. We had the daily special, the goat biryani, which was loaded with fall off the bone tender meat, flavorful sauce, and rice that was perfectly cooked. Our take out box was packed to the brim and we were easily able to split that meal into multiple leftover meals. I thought I may have just been extremely hungry the night before but even eating the leftovers today, I was blown away by the flavor. One of the best dishes that I've had. Not a fancy place at all, but everyone was friendly and they do have seating available if you want to eat in. Would highly recommend!“
“A really great little place. My go-to for grilled burgers. If I had to say anything negative, maybe the sides of feta are a little small for the price. But I can always get that at the grocery store.It's somewhat greasy, good food when you have a taste for it.Dietary restrictions: I have a fish allergy, and I've never had a reaction from any of the food. So they do a good job keeping the fish/shrimp separate.“
“We came for a Cubs game and Ben was our bartender. He was busy, but still so attentive and had fantastic recommendations on food! I couldn’t decide between the brisket or burnt ends, but Ben recommended I get the “Taste Of The Daddy” so I could have both. I’m so happy that he recommended the cornbread as a side as it was the best cornbread I’ve ever had. A lot of places on Clark are too busy to give great service on Cubs gamedays, but Ben definitely defied that. My friends and I found a new pre & post game spot! ?“
“All you can eat BBQ is always lovely. This place was very clean and well lite but what I love the most about it is there's a tablet to order food and it really streamlines the process of not having to wait to flag someone down. On top of that the meat and seafood was absolutely delicious!“
“Attended BBQ 101 presentation at Beach Ave. Juan and Chris, the owners, are very knowledgeable, and they both shared the style in which they prepare and cook for the restaurant. The conversation and interaction with all of us was informative and funny throughout. We were also served to sample the finished foods they were demonstrated. Along with the food, several beers and soft drinks were also available to sample. If you enjoy BBQ and smoking meats and poultry, I would highly recommend attending this event. You will come away with added knowledge of the art of preparation and smoking items for you and your family and friends to enjoy.“
“Great spot for in and out service! They offer fast service while still maintaining high quality eats. Burger stand ambiance with top quality food. I've ordered from here many times, and haven't found anything I didn't like. Some of my favorites are Philly cheesesteak and Philly chicken. Both are super yummy! Gyros, burgers, Italian beef, bbq beef, all delicious. Oh, don't forget the fries. I order mine well done and they nail it spot on every time. The pizza puffs RULE! That's it dear diners, check them out and enjoy.“
“I never order brisket anywhere else because I know it won't be as good as Heffer BBQ's.I dream of their crunch wrap, burger, and smoked cheesecake. Don't skip the Kale salad... yes, I said the Kale salad. It's garlicky and delicious.Order anything. You won't be disappointed.They are located inside of The Plant, in the brewery. You order at the kiosk and find a seat/get a pager to grab the food when your order is up.There weren't any high chairs or booster seats, probably because it's in a brewery. I brought my own, and it was fine. It didn't feel inappropriate to have a kid (11 months old) there. He enjoyed the food, too!Wheelchair accessibility: There's an accessible ramp to get upstairs/ to the brewery.“
“Bub city is your friendly neighborhood sports bar. They have tons of seating so you always end up finding a table. The service is great! Servers are nice and friendly, always mention the specials to you and take your feedback into consideration. They also have live performances. One time we had a band that covered Def Leppard and we had a great time ! Loved hearing by then play my favorite Def Leppard song 'pour some sugar on me'. One time they also had a limited edition pistachio beer which I really loved. Such a chill fun bar to go to when you don't want to dress up too much and have a good time.“
“The food is great the menu is small but quality over quantity is a good thing. All servers and tender have been awesome every time. Love the vibe it covers the neighborhood well and the premade old fashion hits the spot after several homemade brews fill you up! Price is the only reason the last star is missing.“
“The food was amazing! I live in the suburbs and wouldn’t definitely make the trip to them. I’ve tried different places with the same menu and none of them come close! Definitely going back and recommending it to anyone looking for a really good boil.“
“Bub City ORDOne of my go to places when flying in and out of Chicago.I usually get the grilled cheese and haven’t been disappointed yet.If you luck out and go on Friday and Saturday they have live bands.Make sure you try the house honey whisky it will make you wanting to keep coming back.We stopped in on a Thursday afternoon and it wasn’t too busy, server was friendly and the food was quick.Looking forward to my next visit next time I’m back in the Chicago area.Vegetarian options: It’s a BbQ place maybe the coleslaw ?Parking: Parking garage“
Barbecue • $$
“I almost don't want to write a review because it's my hidden, cool spot! This is an amazing location, especially when it's warm and you can sit outside, to get some incredible food (this is some of the best barbeque you've ever had - no exaggeration, and I'm notoriously critical about food things) and enjoy feeling like you're in nature without having to leave the city.Give Soul and Smoke some love and all the dollars. But make sure Rockwell on the River doesn't get too crowded now that I've shared my secret. Deal?* Also I totally crave their BBQ enough that I'll trek over here just for takeout too.Parking: You can usually park really close by on the street. At most I've parked about half a block away.“
“Loved the atmosphere so big & spacious. The restaurant was decorated nice and very clean. The service from the waiters were 10/10. Food was absolutely delicious the chicken & bruleed Mac cheese was really good. Also recommend the fried green tomatoes, short ribs, salmon, and shrimp/grits. They season all their food which I love. Drinks were good as well they have $5 shots. I LOVE THIS PLACE. They also give you a 10 minute grace period if you’re running behind for your reservation. They made me feel great on my birthday. Thank you so much I will be back.“
“Smitty's ale house is at the location of the old stores, the spirits bar not the strip club. They really did not change much from the outside. The new owners updated the bathrooms, looks like they expanded the kitchen and removed the dj booth. All probably good moves, based off of the history. The aaa staff was nice and engaging. The crowd for a bears Sunday was a lot lighter than the places previously iteration . That may be due to the bears sucking this year though. There was also less staff but enough for the limited crowd. For an ale works they had pretty standard beers on tap. Looked like only one rotating tap out of the 10 on the taps. Not a very deep option for beer needs. I do think any bar named Smitty's should have guineas on tap . I had the steak quesadillas. They were solid bar food. Overall thisplace is worth the stop but needs a bit more to stand out.“
“This is by far my girlfriends favorite restaurant in Chicago. Nothing compares to the food here. It is phenomenal. This is the type of restaurant you need to design a trip around. Yes it is that good. The chicken katsu is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted and their macaroni salad, oh lord, amazing. As someone who has lived in Chicago, you must go here.“
“Had lunch here with some friends last week! Lots of space, clean, and the staff is nice efficient. I ordered the bento box with bulgogi. It's A LOT of food! It's pricey but I think it worth it! I loved the banchan. Lots of options. You order on the iPad and don't forget to check in on Yelp for a free soda! I can't wait to go back!“
“Ive been here a couple times with friends and with my girlfriend. Overall everything here is very good. The drinks and apps really stand out in my opinion and I wouldn't mind just stopping in here for the drinks alone. Here's my break down.Drinks:•Thai Iced Tea- hands down best Thai iced tea I have ever had. Easily a 10/10. My gf and I loved it.•Vietnamese iced coffee- reminds me of those Starbucks drinks you buy in glass bottles at gas stations but much better. It's a great pick-me-up•Cherry pomenade- both my gf and my friend really enjoyed this drink and I thought it tasted great too. Another solid choice.Apps:•egg rolls- amazing, I could eat a hundred of those things. Definitely can tell they're made fresh. The sauce it comes with is great too.•spring rolls- great and very fresh. The sauce it comes with is very good too.Wings- very good as well. I prefer the honey soy sauce.Main:•again everything here has been good. I havent had nearly as much if this menu yet though.•Bun Bo Hue - is a definite highlight and my personal favorite. It has a little bit of kick and great flavor.•Short Ribs - my friend had these and he gave them a 8/10• Vegetarian Pho- my gf had this and gave it an 8/10•pho tai- solid choice as well but I much prefer the Bun Bo Hue.Service:I've read a few comments about service being slow but it's never felt that way to me. They're always super nice. Last time I was there it was Jeremy serving our food and he's amazing.“
“I lived in Chicago for 20 years, starting in December of 2000. My friend lived nearby, on Clark and Byron which was two blocks away. This was the first bar I went to when I arrived. Neighborhood joint, but also good enough for people to make it a destination spot to visit. The Southport corridor has changed so much over the past two decades...bars and restaurants coming and going, upscale retail buildings replacing old one story strip malls. But Toons has endured and also thrived. I never lived in a big city before, and it was a crazy experience. I first lived near Lake Michigan on Sheridan- but still came up to Lakeview to play pool and for the first time I saw an indoor shuffle puck game in a bar. The freezer where they keep the popular liquors cold for shots is the same. Reminds me of my childhood and now is covered in stickers and decorations where you cannot find one open millimeter. It felt like nothing has changed since that night just under 23 years ago. My friend Sean now has worked here for almost 3 years now, and I disclose that while stating that he didn't when I first visited so that this is a genuine review of this place. Ally was also friendly, professional and easy to chat with. The entire team looked out for me, Tyler asking if I needed any utensils, extra items, refills- I never needed to ask for anything whatsoever. Laney was also super friendly, turns out we have a couple mutual friends. I'm in town visiting as many friends as I can, while helping my good buddy promote his new tequila line by making introductions- and decided to come by here and get something to eat before going back to my hotel for the night. It's 8 PM and the bar is busy but I was told "it's a slow night" I miss Chicago. Tonight on special was Annie's famous Wisconsin beer cheese soup. Sold! Got a bowl and it came piping hot, hearty with veggies and potatoes and a hot roll that I broke up like mini croutons and devoured it. By the time I remembered to take a photo it was almost gone so I am sorry for that photo heh heh. The food coming out of the kitchen is flying out at an incredible pace. I could watch this all evening. I ordered the popcorn shrimp and asked to sub out the fries with tater tots. Look at the photo below! These are not your ordinary popcorn shrimp. These are essentially actual shrimp (tail free!) and comes with Buffalo sauce and homemade Blue cheese dressing and some truly tasty pickle chips for a relief from all the fried items. I'm really happy to take a trip down memory lane and had an amazing meal while catching up with a friend I haven't seen in a while. Also bumped into some folks I knew from when I lived here- just another part of the amazing place and experience that is Toons. Support small owned businesses! Come on by, eat some great food, and have a few drinks and make some lifelong friends. Thanks to the team here at Toons for making a guy who came alone to eat feel like a part of the family/team dynamic. I gotta give my bud Sean a shout out for introducing me to everyone. Now I'm feeling the food coma coming on so I'm off to my hotel for some much needed sleep!“
“I have eaten in at the Logan Square location and have gotten delivery from the River North location. This is my go-to Asian restaurant and the food is delicious. The kalbi is savory, tender, and sweet. Tastes as fresh as off the bbq. You can’t go wrong with the spicy pork belly or the bulgogi, either! Delivery is amazing, and eating in is equally amazing. Incredible food at reasonable prices. Huge fan—highly recommend!“
“I love their Gyros. I just wanted to say that I think it is insane that they have no menus at their place to take home with you. That is a great way to get continued customers. Also they only stay open until 9 pm. Many people get hungry for fast food later than that. Oh well, I think they lose business by doing those 2 things.“
“I ordered the Brisket Pizza and it was amazing, down to the drizzle of BBQ sauce on top! It was cheesy and the brisket was perfectly seasoned. The portion size was so generous that my family and I were able to have leftovers. The Service was excellent; the staff was very friendly and made sure my order was hot even though I was late picking it up. I can't wait to go back and try the other menu items!“
“Very delicious barbecue. I like the cold side dishes here. They are purely for our Northeastern taste. The boss is very nice and the waiters are warm and thoughtful. I will come here to have a meal every time I go back to Chicago. I highly recommend it. Thank you!“
“If you love cookin/eating bbq this is the perfect place for you. Prices are fair and service is always top notch. Parking can be a little tricky because its mostly limited street parking. Great atmosphere for family dinner, a date or just for a night out.“
“I ordered mini gorditas of rajas with cheese and another of meat with green chili, and to drink I ordered a chocolate ☕️? that arrived accompanied by a delicious mini shell. (Sweet bread) The service was very good and fast, very friendly everyone in the place I highly recommend it???“