Best Open Kitchen Restaurants in Little Italy / University Village

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodIndianMexican

Regions

Chicago

Neighborhoods

Bucktown / Wicker ParkDowntown / LoopGold Coast / StreetervilleLincoln ParkRiver North (Chicago)Streeterville

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for happy hour

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Wheelchair access

40 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

1. Cira

4.6

Exceptional(2007)

$$$$

• Mediterranean • West Loop

Booked 55 times today

Cira is a modern, Mediterranean restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as weekend brunch. The menu is made up of shareable plates designed to fill your table and your stomach, inspired by the countries that make up the Mediterranean Basin. Set in the lobby of the Hoxton Hotel in Chicago’s Fulton Market District, the restaurant boasts a sun-soaked full-service lounge and coffee bar, and is transformed into an ambient, moody hub of dining and drinking as the sun sets.

2. Leña Brava

4.7

Exceptional(1117)

$$$$

• Mexican • West Loop

Booked 23 times today

Located in Chicago's West Loop, Leña Brava is a culinary gem celebrating the dynamic flavors of Baja California Norte. Our kitchen, devoted to the art of live-fire cooking, breathes life into dishes that embody the essence of Mexican culinary traditions and the diverse tastes of Baja. Influenced by a fusion of Mexican, Mediterranean, and Asian cuisines, our menu transcends conventional boundaries, offering an array of vibrant ceviche, tantalizing agua chiles, succulent flame-kissed Pacifico seabass, and hearty steaks.Under the skilled guidance of Chef Brian Enyart, with over two decades of innovation in Mexican cuisine, we showcase seasonal ingredients, capturing the essence of Mexico and Baja Norte's culinary landscape. Complemented by our open-plan kitchen and curated beverage program, spotlighting an immense mezcal collection and an array of Baja, New and Old World wines, Leña Brava invites guests on a culinary journey, where Mexican tradition harmonizes with innovation.

A photo of Cabra by Stephanie Izard restaurant

3. Cabra by Stephanie Izard

4.7

Exceptional(3529)

$$$$

• Peruvian • West Loop

Booked 102 times today

Perched atop the Hoxton Hotel in the heart of Chicago’s Fulton Market, Cabra Chicago is a lively rooftop escape, inspired by the bold and vibrant flavors of Peruvian cuisine. Led by James Beard Award and Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard (Girl & the Goat) alongside longtime partners Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm of Boka Restaurant Group, Cabra serves up crave-worthy dishes in a colorful and energetic setting. The restaurant’s airy, plant-filled ambiance, paired with its open kitchen and sweeping city views, creates a dynamic dining experience. Guests can savor a variety of shareable plates, from ceviche to savory meats, all bursting with the rich, fresh flavors inspired by Peru.

4. Gaijin

4.7

Exceptional(306)

$$$$

• Japanese • West Loop

Booked 46 times today

Gaijin by Chef Paul Virant is Chicago’s first okonomiyaki restaurant, offering both Hiroshima and Osaka styles of the savory Japanese pancake. A self-described gaijin, or “outsider” in Japanese, Virant playfully embraces this perspective and honors traditional preparations and techniques, as well as his well-known passion for pickling and preserving. Designed to deliver a lively and interactive culinary experience, the 60-seat space is anchored by a custom 12-foot griddle and chef’s counter and offers individual Hiroshima teppan griddles for table service.The dessert menu features kakigori, a shaved ice dessert, along with mochi donuts and other Japanese-inspired treats. The bar program showcases highballs and a focused selection of beer – including a Moody Tongue-Gaijin collaboration house lager, sake, Japanese whisky, and wine.We can’t wait to see you at Gaijin!

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5. Elske

4.6

Exceptional(1470)

$$$$

• American • West Loop

Booked 15 times today

DIETARY RESTRICTIONS: We can accommodate vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten, dairy, nut/peanut, & shellfish free diets. If any guests in your group have any dietary restrictions not listed above, or have multiple restrictions, email us at info@elskerestaurant.com before booking, as we may not be able to accommodate. ABOUT: Elske means love in Danish, a nod to both David Posey’s Danish mother and the fact that the couple got engaged in Copenhagen. “Our travels in Denmark have really influenced us,” Chef Posey said. “We like that clean, simple aesthetic.” The dining room, all crisp lines, minimalist décor & soft lighting, is anchored by a wide open kitchen on one side & a small patio with a working fireplace on the other. Combined with friendly service, it creates the impression that you’re eating in a tasteful Scandinavian friend’s weekend home.

6. Fioretta

4.6

Exceptional(1504)

$$$$

• Steakhouse • West Loop

Booked 83 times today

DineAmic Hospitality invites diners back in time with the latest addition to its growing portfolio of world-class restaurants, Fioretta, an Italian American Steakhouse. Located on the ground floor of global real estate developer and owner Tishman Speyer's new luxury office tower in Fulton Market District, the remarkable space is reminiscent of a new-age Copacabana, celebrating old-world Italian cuisine with an opulent twist, a steady flow of impressive cocktails and wine, world-class live entertainment, and a glamorous vibe cast over the entire experience.

7. NORIKO

4.9

Exceptional(342)

$$$$

• Japanese • West Town

Booked 31 times today

We are located in the Lower Level of Perilla Fare. Please enter through Perilla Fare Restaurant and check in with the host.NORIKO handroll bar is a new sushi restaurant concept specializing in handrolls which are prepared immediately in front of you. Each unique handroll is packed with flavor and carefully crafted with high quality ingredients in this intimate underground space.

A photo of Olio e Più - Chicago restaurant

8. Olio e Più - Chicago

4.5

Awesome(1595)

$$$$

• Italian • River North (Chicago)

Booked 83 times today

OLIO E PIÙ brings Italian tradition and true sense of Mediterranean liveliness to the vibrant neighborhood in Chicago.As an authentic trattoria, its cuisine is based on classic Italian dishes. As you dine at OLIO E PIÙ, you’ll be transported not just by the flavors of Italy but also by the authentic atmosphere that surrounds you. It’s a place where time slows down, and conversations flow freely, just as they do in a true Italian household. Here, the spirit of 1970s Italian elegance lives on, and every meal is a celebration of life, love, and the joy of shared moments, especially with the open kitchen concept.OLIO E PIÙ is more than just a restaurant; it’s a portal to a different time and place, where the essence of Italy’s rich culinary and cultural heritage is captured in every detail.*Please note that kitchen hours may differ.

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9. Rose Mary

4.8

Exceptional(4085)

$$$$

• Croatian • West Loop

Booked 61 times today

Visit us online for additional reservation availability - www.rosemarychicago.comLocated in the historic Fulton Market district of Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, Rose Mary is Chef/Owner Joe Flamm’s debut restaurant inspired by his Italian heritage and the bold, bright flavors of Croatian cuisine. The boisterous space—named for Flamm’s grandmothers, Mary and Mary Rose, and the herb rosemary, which grows natively along the Italian and Croatian coastlines—offers a seasonal menu of rustic yet refined dishes that encapsulate what Flamm has coined “Adriatic drinking food”.

10. Ox Bar & Hearth

4.8

Exceptional(182)

$$$$

• Contemporary American • Lincoln Park

Booked 15 times today

Ox Bar & Hearth™ by Chef John Asbaty and restaurateur Alain Uy...Delivering Midwestern hospitality in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. A warm, welcoming gathering spot for both residents and visitors to the city, Ox Bar & Hearth™ occupies a lovingly-renovated 125-year-old space that provides an inviting and intimate setting where guests can enjoy a dining experience rooted in community and comfort. The culinary program centers around the restaurant’s wood-burning hearth, where Chef Asbaty uses time-honored cooking traditions and hyper-local ingredients to create modern interpretations of classic comfort foods. The thoughtfully-curated beverage program perfectly complements the menu, featuring celebrated domestic wines, regional spirits and elevated nonalcoholic options.Our full service Bar & Lounge seating are on a first come-first served, walk-in basis only.For parties of 8 or more, please email ap@oxbarchicago.com

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

D
David
Atlanta •9 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Excellent staff excellent food. The DC location is also amazing.
More info
Olio e Più - Chicago$$$$• Italian• River North (Chicago)
•
4.5
E
Elizabeth
Chicago / Illinois •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
The service was amazing! Very great location, beautiful inside and patio area. Options were great!
More info
Leña Brava$$$$• Mexican• West Loop
•
4.7
L
Lisa
Chicago / Illinois •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
Our waiter was excellent with a lot of different dietary limitations! And everything was excellent especially the chummus and muhammarah!
More info
Cira$$$$• Mediterranean• West Loop
•
4.6
P
PatrickGold
St. Louis •6 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 23, 2026
Incredible space, great service and the food was amazing! Will absolutely return soon.
More info
Cabra by Stephanie Izard$$$$• Peruvian• West Loop
•
4.7
C
Christine
Chicago / Illinois •1 review
5.0
Dined on May 22, 2026
It was amazing to snag a 430 reservation on the day of got to get together with a couple girlfriends who like to make last-minute location decisions after booking a girls’ date months in advance! Had a lovely server in the food was excellent and I love all the plants hanging from the ceiling — high-quality food with lots of excellent flavors and fresh greens and herbs. While executed proteins! One of my friends is gluten-free and while the other two of us is not we all just shared plates from the gluten-free menu and it was awesome. I guess they technically ended up bringing us some bread on the side for the stratciaella but I otherwise wouldn’t have even noticed that it was gluten-free it was just so delicious! Definitely a ton of variety for gluten-free people and enjoyable for those of us who are not!
More info
Rose Mary$$$$• Croatian• West Loop
•
4.8

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