Chicago’s restaurant scene is one of admiration in the culinary world. It’s home to some of the best new restaurants—with many recently award-winning. Between esteemed Chefs and groundbreaking dishes, it’s no wonder Chicago is attaining new Michelin Stars annually. With over 65 restaurants earning at least some form of merit, from a Michelin Bib to the highest regard of the coveted 3-star honor. So to narrow it down, here are the 10 best Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago to make a reservation at!
1. Smyth
First on our list is Smyth, one of two restaurants to have acquired 3 Michelin Stars in Chicago. The story of the Smyth dates back to 2008 when Chefs John and Karen moved to Smyth, Virginia, to reimagine the unsung Town House and Rvierstead Inn restaurant.
They were given a blank slate to craft their culinary vision of the place. Five years later, the restaurant was hailed for its modern flavors and visual compositions utilizing various seasonal, locally grown, and foraged ingredients.
They would later open the Smyth in Chicago—a rustic-chic venue offering an inventive, high-end American tasting menu. At Smyth, creativity stems from the ocean; its abundance is featured prominently and delicately throughout the menu. These offerings are served in harmonization with the finest produce nature has to offer. The menu will leave you with a balance and warmth that provides something new while bringing a sense of the familiar.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 Michelin Stars
🍽️ Service options: Dine-in · Takeout · Delivery
📍Address: 177 N Ada St #101, Chicago, IL 60607
2. Alinea
Alinea is the only other restaurant to have earned the coveted Michelin 3-Star rating. You may have heard of Chef Grant Achatz, who has been universally praised for his innovative approach to modernist cuisine—he is often recognized for his contributions to molecular gastronomy or progressive cuisine. When dining at Alinea, you can choose from three distinct, unique, multi-course tasting menu experiences: the Kitchen Table, The Gallery, and The Salon.
The kitchen table offers our most intimate, immersive, and cutting-edge experience. Completely private, the Alinea KT is their highest dining expression with only parties of 6. The first-floor gallery provides a multi-sensory menu that combines fine dining with experimental moments. Last, the three second-floor salons offer a multi-course tasting menu that is the most affordable of the three.
⭐ ⭐⭐3 Michelin Stars
🍽️Service options: Dine-in · No takeout · No delivery
📍Address: 1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
3. Indienne (Newcomer)
Receiving its first Michelin Star this year, Indienne is an extraordinary Indian restaurant in Chicago. Resides in a 19th-century printing warehouse, Chef Sujan Sakar conceptualized the converted timber loft and his determination to redefine traditional Indian cuisine.
Indienne celebrates the joy of dining, harmoniously offering guests a path to experience progressive Indian fine dining in a convivial setting to the utmost. Patrons may consume their provocative yet refreshingly accessible tasting menu or order from the seasonal a la carte fare.
⭐ 1 Michelin Star
🍽️ Service options: Dine-in · Delivery
📍Address: 217 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
4. Moody Tongue
With all the Michelin Star restaurants on the list, Moody Tongue catches us by a delighted surprise as the world’s first two Michelin star-brewery. While Moody Tongue has two distinct sections—The Bar and Dining Room—the Dining Room is where guests are treated to a hyper-seasonal and refined-tasting menu.
The intimate space has 28 seats in the polished yet warm, minimalist setting. With Executive Chef Jared Wentworth curating the menu, guests are also served specialty beer pairings curated by Brewmaster Jared Rouben. Wentworth’s signature fare intersects with Rouben’s innovative pairings by manipulating temperature, quantity, verticals, tinctures, and more—it’s no wonder they were awarded two Michelin Stars.
⭐⭐ 2 Michelin Star
🍽️ Service options: Dine-in · Delivery
📍Address: 217 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
5. Oriole
Oriole is a contemporary American restaurant located in Chicago’s Fulton Market, West Loop neighborhood featuring Executive Chef and Owner Noah Sandoval’s award-winning tasting menu. One of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago, this intimate, high-end kitchen serves an extended New American tasting menu with bespoke elegance.
Since Oriole’s opening in 2016, it has repeatedly earned two Michelin stars and recently received the Jean Banchet Award for Restaurant of the Year.
⭐ ⭐ 2 Michelin Star
🍽️ Service options: Dine-in · Takeout · No delivery
📍Address: 661 W Walnut St, Chicago, IL 60661
6. EVER
Chef Curtis Duffy is behind the sesenation that is EVER. A creative obsession, Duffy collaborated with his longtime business partner Michael Muser to open a spot that is as palatable as it’s everlasting.
Ever is for those seeking an epic dining experience. With an 8-to-10-course tasting menu created by one of the country’s most celebrated and artistic chefs. You will surely be in for an exquisite night filled with a vibrant atmosphere paired with extraordinary service.
⭐⭐ 2 Michelin Star
🍽️ Service options: Dine-in · No takeout · No delivery
📍Address: 1340 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607
7. Atelier (Newcomer)
Conceptualized by the culinary genius of Christian Hunter. The origin of Atelier goes back to Hunter’s Southern heritage and interest in global flavors, sustainable food production, and nutritional anthropology.
Coming from a humble background, he strives to get the most out of everything he brings into the kitchen. The dishes at Atelier reflect his signature style—infusing New American fare with unexpected global flavors. He adds zing to locally sourced products with chermoula, freekeh, berbere, house-made garam masala, salsa macha, locally made miso, and many more.
⭐ ⭐ 2 Michelin Star
🍽️Service options: Dine-in · No delivery
📍Address: 4835 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
8. Esmé
You may have seen Esmé featured in an episode of The Bear, and let us tell you, the show captures that elegance and attentiveness that is Esmé. In 2021, Chef Jenner Tomaska, his wife, and partner Katrina Bravo opened the fine-dining restaurant in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
French for “beloved,” Esmé reimagines the beauty of food. With philanthropy and art integrated into the foundation of the experience, the tasting menu expresses Tomaska and Bravo’s shared vision for the community-focused restaurant. It why it made our list as one of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago.
⭐ 1 Michelin Star
🍽️Service options: Dine-in · No takeout · No delivery
📍Address: 2200 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
9. Galit
Owned and operated by Andrés Clavero and James Beard Award-winning chef Zachary Engel, Galit is a Middle Eastern restaurant focusing on community dining experience. The restaurant is a space for everyone to come together and celebrate food. The menu focuses on a seasonal and localized approach to dishes of the Middle East alongside a unique and forward-thinking beverage program.
⭐ 1 Michelin Star
🍽️Service options: Dine-in · Takeout · No-contact delivery
📍Address: 2429 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
10. Kasma
This James Beard award-winning bakery and modern Filipino restaurant was conceptualized by chefs Genie Kwon and Timothy Flores—and a fine-dining, 13-course tasting menu of Filipino-inspired food that will delight your taste buds.
However, if the tasting menu is out of your price range, you can stop by first thing in the morning and try some of the most palatable sweet and savory pastries. This renowned restaurant has a counter-service breakfast menu, so make sure to get here early because it’s first come, first serve. And sometimes, a line trails for blocks—which is why it’s one of the most coveted Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago.
⭐ 1 Michelin Star
🍽️Service options: Dine-in · Takeout · Delivery
📍Address: 1001 N Winchester Ave, Chicago, IL 60622