CHICAGO HAS A LOT OF GREAT FOOD!
Because nobody asked, here my 20 BEST THINGS I ATE IN CHICAGO 2025 WRAPPED (and sandwiched, and grilled, and raw, and fried… You get it…)
And no, this isn’t a ranking or “best of” list - not sure how anyone eats at every restaurant in the whole city or gets important enough to make a list like that - just some really memorable bites that made me smile.
It isn’t in any particular order and it doesn’t include any dishes I made or worked on. Also nothing I ate in other cities and states.
Some of these things are old favorites I eat pretty frequently, a couple were just pop ups or on special, some are throwbacks I hadn’t had in years, and a bunch I tried for the first time.
TBH, I was eating out and exploring a lot less in Chicago this year, but even still, It wasn’t easy to get to just 20… and I probably forgot a couple two, tree bangers!
Oh, and according to my Wrapped, my eating age was 12.
•Cheese Burger Deluxe / Charlie Beinlichs’s
Sweetbreads / @elchechicago
• Aloha Mix Plate (garlic shrimp instead of fish) / @dalocalboy
• Roast Chicken and Yaya fries / @cafeyaya_chi
• Greek Fries (Extra Crispy) / Athenian Room
• Pastrami Sandwich / @katzsdeli (Pop Up at @bubcity )
• Vegan BBQ Bahn Mi (Add Mayo) / Nhu Lan
• Hatch Chili Chicken Wings (on special) / @greenstreetsmokedmeats
• Taco de Cabeza / Tripe / La Chaparrita
• Tavern Style Pizza (Tuesdays) - @middle__brow
• House Burger / @cellardoorprovisions
• Sesame Bagel / @deckerssourdoughbagels
• Noriko Oyster and Toro Hand Roll / @norikochicago
• Catfish Plate / @omarcitos_chicago
• Chicago style Hoagie / Hoagie Hut
•Veal Chop A La Gabe / @lascarolchicago
• Roasted Black Cod and Prawn Toast / @cryingtigerchicago
• Prawns Milagu / @restaurantnadu
• Pollo con Tajadas / @xocome_antojeria
• Grilled Calamari / @ejsplaceskokie
🔥 The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Experience
If you’re joining us at the Celebrity Chef Ball this Friday, you’ll have the chance to bid and win this exclusive experience, and host the ultimate Chicago BBQ party right in your own backyard.
Your backyard, transformed into a world-class smokehouse. Chicago’s top pitmasters, led by Chef Max Robbins, will bring the fire, flavor, and stories behind the smoke for an unforgettable night.
👨🍳 Featuring:
Max Robbins (@dead.flours ) • Barry Sorkin (@smoquebbqchicago ) • Dominique Leach (@chefdominiqueleach ) • D’Andre Carter (@chefdandrecarter ) • Dave Bonner (@thebutcher_and_bbq )
🍖 What’s Included:
• Custom BBQ feast for 20
• Goose Island beer pairings
• Full-service, in-home experience
#CelebrityChefBall #MealsOnWheelsChicago #ChicagoBBQ #MaxRobbins #SoulAndSmoke #LexingtonBetty #SmoqueBBQ #GreenStreetSmokedMeats #WindyCitySmokeout #DoGoodFeelGood
A whole new menu, a whole new vibe.
Chefs Max Robbins and Thai Dang have taken over and revamped our food menu! Stop by to try your new favorites like the Firecracker Popcorn Chicken, Tuna Ceviche, and the Cripsy Pork Bites!
Day #1 was EPIC - You still have time! 🎸
Let's GO Entertainment Fans 🎶 🎵 🙌 😋
Saturday and Sunday, who's going to meet us for TEXAS BIGGEST PARTY? 🥳 The Lone Star Smokeout kicks off this weekend and has something for everyone! 🎵🍗🏌️🍻 May 2nd-4th outside of AT&T stadium. We have 2 days left and lots of snacks and eats.
🙏 Special thanks to the Culinary Director Max @dead.flours for our detailed behind the BBQ sences food tour.
🎸 @lonestarsmokeout
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🎟 Grab your tickets here! /
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#texasbbq #bbq #reddirt #texascountry #festival #festivalseason
After a career spent honing his skills around food, across many of Chicago’s best restaurant groups including One Off Hospitality, Hogsalt, and Land & Sea Dept, Max Robbins now serves as Culinary Director at Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, where he leads menu development and chef training with a hands-on, collaborative approach. Known for his creativity, dedication, and intrepid leadership, Max brings a deep respect for the craft, drawing on his diverse experiences to inspire innovation in the kitchen while maintaining a humble, team-oriented mentality. He joins us this week to discuss Chicago’s renegade kitchen culture (of yesteryear), being spit in the mouth during a tense shift on the line, how to get the most out of your time at culinary school, and so much more.
Such an honor to contribute a recipe to @chicagomag
This dish is very special to me - it’s the kind of classic ingredient driven cooking that took me years as a chef to be able to showcase, and the kind of intentful cooking that defines @theoakvillechicago and @lettuceentertainyou - timeless, delicious, and soulful. Just real honest food.
I have received so many emails from @chicagomag highlighting recipes from chefs and restaurants that I looked up to - so to be included among them really validates the hard work and vision of our team and project.
🤙🤙🤙
