Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Chicago / Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

AJI

4.9

4.9 (78)

$50 and over

Japanese Speciality

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Discover an unforgettable dining experience at one of OpenTable's top restaurant destinations for ambiance, led by the talented Chef Kristian Cho. Recently named a 2024 Diner's Choice winner, our restaurant offers a 15-course omakase menu that pairs perfectly with our intimate, cozy setting—ideal for anniversaries, special occasions, or a memorable date night out. With over 30 years of collective expertise, our team is passionate about delivering exceptional service and a warm, inviting atmosphere, complete with a charming backyard for a unique evening. Join us and create lasting memories with those you love.

Top review

Chris

Dined 4 days ago

Immediately Yes ……………………………………………………………………………………..

NaKorn

4.9

4.9 (347)

$30 and under

Thai

Evanston

About the restaurant

NaKorn started with our belief that authentic Thai food should be found not only in Thailand—but here, as well.

Our menu offers a perfect blend of bold flavors with traditional, old-world recipes in a modern presentation. Using only the finest ingredients, we created unique dishes layered with flavors.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 2 days ago

A special, friendly place that makes everything work together seamlessly. And the food is also superb with unique flavors, beautiful presentation and all the details transporting. My favorite restaurant in Evanston.

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Experience

Eat, Explore and Give

Capri by Gigi Zitt e Zitt/Are We Live

4.8

4.8 (28)

$31 to $50

Italian

Burr Ridge

About the restaurant

Family owned, providing the best homemade Italian food with recipes by Mama Capri. The dining experience is warm and enhanced by the charming personality of Gigi Capri, son of Mama Capri. The restaurant caters and has private dining space for up to 100 guests. Our guests are family!
As well as creative craft cocktails. Feel embraced with the Italian Culture not only with the food but with the ambiance & same hospitality found in Italy
Featuring entertainment & dancing Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights.

Top review

Paulvip

Dined on Oct 5, 2024

Excellent service great food good vibes, friendly staff highly recommend this place

La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant - North Lawndale

4.9

4.9 (8)

$30 and under

Mexican

North Lawndale

About the restaurant

An award-winning, Mexican café serving up a Guadalajara-inspired, extensive menu

Top review

Sonia

Dined on Sep 22, 2024

I love the catedral’s new location. So much closer to me!

Waterleaf Restaurant - Glen Ellyn

4.9

4.9 (321)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Glen Ellyn

About the restaurant

Welcome to our classroom! Waterleaf, located in College of DuPage’s Culinary & Hospitality Center, is a dining experience that offers real-life training to Culinary, Baking & Pastry Arts, and Hospitality students. Patrons will enjoy menus utilizing fresh regional and seasonal ingredients prepared by Culinary & Pastry students as well as attentive service from our student servers.
Limited seating is available at each event and reservations are required. Reservations may be made until an event is sold out. For parties of 6 or more, please call us directly at 630-942-2284.

Top review

Andrea

Dined 6 days ago

Where else can one dine on a multi-course meal for such a reasonable price? The student waitstaff was very professional and attentive. The food choices were excellent. Keep in mind that the menu is limited to 2 choices per course, but choosing wasn't easy because every offering sounded appealing. We had pork chops today, but the salmon main course looked appetizing as well. It isn't easy to get a reservation since service is scheduled around the culinary arts school timetable, but I am definitely going to try to eat here again.

La Parra Restaurant and Bar

5.0

5 (510)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Berwyn

About the restaurant

La Parra Restaurant & Bar, in Berwyn, IL, is a premier dining establishment serving the Chicago, Cicero and Oak Park areas. We specialize in home made pastas, tapas and the best cocktails you'll ever try. We offer a Mediterranean style menu, a full bar, and dine in or carry out options.

For your next night out, visit La Parra Restaurant & Bar in Berwyn. The best Mediterranean around!

Top review

William

Dined 2 days ago

Always a great meal, friendly attentive service, thoughtfully prepared dishes, great bar tender, well managed venue.

Rollapalooza

4.9

4.9 (359)

$30 and under

Sushi

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

COZY AND WARM RESTAURANT. FRESH AND DELICIOUS RESTAURANT. WE ARE NOT NO.1 RESTAURANT. HOWEVER WE DO OUR BEST TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS.

Top review

Violet

Dined on Oct 3, 2024

Always amazing food and service. Favorite sushi place in the city for sure.

Komorebi

4.9

4.9 (239)

$30 and under

Sushi

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

Japanese restaurant with elegantly plated sushi, rolls & cooked fare in a rustic-chic storefront.

Top review

Brad

Dined on Oct 4, 2024

Great food, great service. Ambience not top notch but overlooking based on everything else.

The Alderman

4.9

4.9 (202)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Pilsen

About the restaurant

Winner of the 2022 Jean Banchet Award for Best Bar, THE ALDERMAN is an intimate, 16-seat cocktail bar tucked away, behind closed doors, within Pilsen Yards. The cocktail list rotates some of its original cocktail features, while the twists on American classics are staples of the cocktail list.

With a plush velvet banquette and a 4-seat counter, it’s the perfect room for a night cap, a date, or a casual evening of one to several astonishingly good cocktails.

Top review

miryam

Dined 3 days ago

This place is truly a gem! The service from our bartender was outstanding and the ambiance is cozy and the smell of palo santo is amazing. The 2 drinks I had were created with different but fantastic quality. Love this place!

Nancy's Pizza - West Loop

4.9

4.9 (60)

$30 and under

Pizza Bar

West Loop

About the restaurant

Nancy's Pizza, the iconic Chicago brand that invented the stuffed pizza, has finally arrived in the heart of Chicago's restaurant district at 1000 West Washington in the West Loop. We have a story to tell, and we're telling it in a swanky spot that pays homage to its 1971 roots. While the menu is dominated by the brand's famous stuffed pizza, Nancy's offers a variety of pizza styles, including thin crust and "rustic" pizza, along with chef-created salads, pastas, sandwiches, appetizers and desserts. Most importantly, every item on the menu is made with only the freshest ingredients, and the comfortable bar features a selection of craft, imported and domestic beer (rotated seasonally) on draft and in bottles, signature cocktails and a nice selection of wine. The restaurant's design evokes the 1970s in tasteful surroundings with winks at retro design including lots of wood veneer, wallpaper that varies from flocked and geometrically patterned to an homage to Andy Warhol in the men's roo

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 7 days ago

Buffalo chicken fries and Brussel sprouts with bacon were so good!

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