With a thriving culinary scene like Chicago’s, it doesn’t come as a huge surprise when our prized establishments make it into lists of the very best in the country, or in some cases, the world.
Only last week one Chicago restaurant was named in the World’s 100 Best Restaurants and going back to last year a Chicago pizzeria ranked among the best pizzerias in the world and a Chicago diner was deemed home of the fourth best burger on the planet.
While all those mentions were for singular shoutouts with Chicago appearing just once in each ranking, when it comes to steaks it seems Chicago has outdone itself.
In a recent ranking of the best steakhouses in the world, Chicago establishments appeared not once, not twice, but 6 times in the top 101.
The Chicago steakhouse highest up the list in 14th place of the 2024 World’s Best Steak Restaurants is River North’s Asador Bastian. Only a few months on from being named in Esquire’s list of The Best New Restaurants in America, the Basque-inspired steakhouse from Chefs Doug Psaltis & Christian Eckmann is a new entry this year and shot straight into the top 20.
“Asador Bastian in Chicago offers a delightful culinary journey into the world of Spanish Asador-style cooking, set within a chic and vibrant atmosphere in the bustling River North neighborhood,” wrote worldbeststeaks.com.
“This restaurant masterfully combines traditional Basque grilling techniques with a modern aesthetic, creating a warm and inviting space that’s perfect for both casual gatherings and special occasions.”
The chuletón from the Holstein or Galician Rubia breed, which comes paired with roasted piquillo peppers and a sprinkle of sea salt, received a shoutout as the star of the menu and for encapsulating “the essence of Spanish culinary simplicity and excellence.”
A little further down the list at 39th was José Andrés’s Bazaar Meat, another River North spot. According to worldbeststeaks.com, “the menu at Bazaar Meat is a tribute to all things carnivorous, with a wide range of meats prepared through innovative techniques.”
“Highlights include the suckling pig with a crisp, caramelised exterior and tender interior, and the Wagyu beef sliders, which are small in size but huge in flavour.”
Some way further down the other four fantastic Chicago steakhouses made the list between 60th and 80th. Swift & Sons in the Fulton Market District was the third Chicago mention and placed at 62nd best steakhouse in the world.
“This stylish restaurant pays homage to Chicago’s meatpacking heritage with its chic, industrial decor that features dark woods, leather booths, and vintage accents” reads the commendation. “The atmosphere is at once both grand and inviting, ideal for both business dinners and special nights out.”
Following Swift & Sons was Bavette’s at 67th, GT Prime at 75th, and Gibsons Italia as the last Chicago mention in the 2024 World’s Best Steak Restaurants ranking at 80th.
In case you’re wondering it was Parilla Don Julio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that was crowned with the coveted title of the top steakhouse in the world while Cote in New York was named best steakhouse in the United States.
Here are the 6 Chicago steakhouses to make the list:
#14 – Asador Bastian (Located at 214 W Erie Street)
#39 – Bazaar Meat (Located at 120 N Wacker Drive)
#62 – Swift & Sons (Located at 1000 W Fulton Market)
#67 – Bavette’s (Located at 218 W Kinzie Street)
#75 – GT Prime (Located at 707 N Well Street)
#80 – Gibsons Italia (Located at 233 N Canal Street)
View the full list at worldbeststeaks.com.