When it comes to food, Chicago is so much more than just deep-dish pizza and Italian beef sandwiches. Don’t get me wrong; if you’re visiting Chicago for the first time, trying these dishes is a rite of passage. It’s like getting a dollar slice in New York or a cheesesteak in Philly.

Once you’ve gotten your fill of Chicago’s signature dishes though, the last thing you’ll want is for me to tell you to go get a deep-dish pie at Pizzeria Uno or a hot dipped Italian beef at Al’s #1 Italian Beef. While these Chi-Town classics are no doubt delicious, this foodie-friendly city has so much more to offer.

With a food scene that’s got everything from Mexican cuisine to Macanese, burgers to barbecue, fine dining to street food, and so much more, eating your way around Chicago is like taking your taste buds on a tour of their own. When you do, let this list of some of the best local restaurants in Chicago be your gastronomical guide.

 

Lula Cafe

What could be a better start to your tour of the Chicago food scene than with the most important meal of the day? Nothing, that’s what! For a breakfast considered by many to be the best in the city, pull up a chair at Lula Cafe.

This darling restaurant has been dedicated to using seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients since it opened in 1999, way before farm-to-table was a thing. These fresh ingredients make appearances in breakfast staples like buttermilk pancakes and a hearty breakfast burrito packed full of avocados, green chilies, organic eggs, and a bunch of other good stuff. 2537 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647

 

Girl & the Goat

After enjoying what is considered to be one of the best breakfasts in Chicago, it only makes sense for you to have a dinner that’s just as outstanding. For that you’ll have to go to Girl & the Goat. Helmed by former Top Chef winner and current Iron Chef Stephanie Izard, Girl & the Goat is a fine dining establishment with a menu that incorporates flavors from all corners of the globe.

Adventurous eaters can expand their palates with imaginative dishes like escargot ravioli and wood oven roasted pig face. For those in the mood for something a little more familiar, share a plate of roasted cauliflower to start, followed by an entrée of ramp marinated grilled chicken or crisp braised pork shank. 809 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

 

The Dining Room at Kendall College

Because of its popularity, getting a table at Girl & the Goat can be tricky without a reservation. For fine dining with less fuss, you’re going to have to go to college; Kendall College, that is. There you’ll find The Dining Room at Kendall College, a restaurant that also serves as both a classroom and showcase for the talented students enrolled in the college’s culinary arts  program.

The Dining Room offers fixed price lunch and dinner services, as well as a lavish five-course banquet on Monday nights, all reasonably priced. Considering what you get for the money, how The Dining Room has remained one of Chicago’s best-kept culinary secrets is a mystery. 900 N North Branch St, Chicago, IL 60642

 

McDonald’s Global Menu Restaurant

Fine dining isn’t for everybody. If you’re someone who’d rather sink their teeth into a Big Mac than mustard-crusted salmon over saffron rice, you’ll be happy to hear that Chicago is now home to McDonald’s newest corporate headquarters.

Why? Because the ground floor of this brand new HQ features a McDonald’s restaurant that’s truly one of a kind. What makes this particular McDonald’s so unique is that it features selections from the menus of Golden Arches all over the world. These international eats include the McSpicy Chicken Sandwich from Hong Kong, Cheese & Bacon Loaded Fries from Australia, a vanilla McFlurry blended with strawberry sauce and chocolate covered coconut bites from Brazil, and more. 110 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60607

 

Kuma’s Corner

At the intersection of meat and heavy metal you’ll find Kuma’s Corner. Featured on an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Kuma’s Corner is renowned for their big, juicy burgers topped with flavorful ingredients as well as their taste in music.

If you’re a metalhead, you’ll feel right at home at Kuma’s Corner. In addition to blasting hard rock and heavy metal classics in the dining room, most of the burgers at Kuma’s Corner are named after iconic bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Metallica. Also on the menu are appetizers, sandwiches, and if you can believe it, salads. 2900 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

 

Au Cheval

For an even more epic burger experience, head to Au Cheval. This trendy eatery aims to elevate traditional diner fare with offerings like foie gras served with a side of scrambled eggs and toast and General Jane’s Honey-Fried Chicken, topped with chili, sesame seeds, and cilantro.

Au Cheval’s true claim to fame however is their much-lauded cheeseburger. You can order a single, which comes with two patties, or a double, which comes with three. Top it with fried egg or thick-cut peppered bacon for just a few bucks extra. If you’re really looking to gild the lily, skip the bacon and eggs and instead crown your bodacious burger with a three-ounce slab of foie gras. After just one delicious bite you’ll understand why Bon Appétit named this burger one of the best in America back in 2012. Just don’t be surprised if there’s a line out the door when you arrive. 800 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

 

Smoque BBQ

Enjoy a taste of the American South while in Chicago at Smoque BBQ. Since being started by five self-proclaimed “regular guys” in the mid-Aughts, Smoque has gone on to garner national acclaim and, like Au Cheval, lines out the door.

Sure, some purists might be put off by the fact that Smoque is located in Chicago and not a hotspot like Kansas City, Nashville, or Memphis. What they don’t know is that the barbecue at Smoque is as real deal as it gets. So real, in fact, that they’ve even wrote their own four-page manifesto on the subject. Must-try meats include their tender, juicy pulled pork drizzled with a bold, peppery sauce and brisket that’s been smoked low and slow for no less than 14 hours. 3800 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60641

 

Mi Tocaya Antojeria

Mi Tocaya Antojeria is the place to eat if you’re in the mood for Mexican. Acclaimed chef Diana Davila evokes memories of the time she spent in Mexico through an imaginative range of dishes and drinks.

If you think you know what to expect to find on the menu at a Mexican restaurant, you’ll think again after dining at Mi Tocaya. Everything that comes out of the kitchen has got its own fun, unique twist, whether its guacamole dusted with dried chile seed ash or tacos filled with ingredients like beer can chicken and charred butternut squash. 2800 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647

 

Fat Rice

Fat Rice is a unique place to eat that gives adventurous diners the chance to explore the largely undiscovered world of Macanese cuisine. Often described as Chinese-Portuguese fusion, Macanese food is bold, rich, and delicious.

One of the best ways to get acquainted with the flavors of Macau is by ordering Fat Rice’s namesake dish, Arroz Gordo. Akin to paella, Arroz Gordo is a savory combination of fragrant jasmine rice, sofrito, chorizo, salted duck, and a bounty of other ingredients piled high in a bowl that can just barely contain its heaping mass. If you plan to order the Arroz Gordo and aren’t starving or dining with a group of friends, you might as well ask for a to-go box right off the bat. 2957 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

 

Mindy’s HotChocolate

The final stop on our tour of Chicago’s thriving food scene is one that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Named after and started by James Beard Award-winning pastry chef extraordinaire Mindy Segal, Mindy’s HotChocolate features a dazzling array of decadent desserts and baked goods.

The real claim to fame at HotChocolate however is right in the name. Their signature hot chocolate is available in a number of different varieties including Dark, made with 72 percent French chocolate, and Mexican, which includes hints of warm cinnamon and spicy cayenne. Of course, no mug of hot chocolate is complete without marshmallows and at HotChocolate they’re making them in-house. Unlike the ones in a bag, these marshmallows are fluffy, not gummy. There are plenty of savory offerings on the menu at HotChocolate as well but if you want to have dinner before dessert, go right ahead; we won’t tell. 1747 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647