45 Best Restaurants in Lincoln Park and Wicker Park, with Bucktown and Logan Square, Chicago

Believe the hype and secure tickets—yes, tickets—well in advance, since Chicago's most exciting restaurant demands an adventurous spirit and a serious commitment of time and money. If you have three hours and $295 to $435 to spare, the 10- to 18-course tasting menu that showcases Grant Achatz's stunning, cutting-edge food is a fantastic journey through intriguing aromas, visuals, flavors, and textures.

The second the sun peeks out each spring, locals make a beeline for the 250-seat patio at Big Star because the tacos and margaritas are some of the best in the city. Most of this honky-tonk taqueria's star power comes from executive chef/partner Paul Kahan and chef de cuisine Chris Miller, who serve a small menu of tasty Mexican classics—if it's a taco emergency, skip the wait for a table and head to the take-out window or try the larger Wrigleyville location.

If you're looking for a Steppenwolf pretheater dinner on North Halsted Street, this upscale spot gets the foodie stamp of approval. The seasonally driven menu is constantly changing, showcasing elegant fare like slow-cooked Arctic char or an elevated presentation of roasted chicken, and the slick bar and outdoor patio both serve food, so this is a big draw even for those not watching curtain time.

Huge flavors come roaring out of the tiny kitchen at Giant, where chef Jason Vincent takes crowd-pleasers like pasta, vegetarian dishes, and American classics and cranks the umami up to an 11. Beverage director Josh Perlman seeks to pair diners with interesting wines from small producers without an unwanted chaser of snootiness. No matter the evening, a festive air seems to prevail.

Locals worship Lula Café, a neighborhood favorite that has been serving modern, seasonal dishes (and a cult-favorite brunch menu) in a spacious location with counter seating and an intimate dining room since 1999. The food is stellar, with menus that change frequently and champion farm sources.

A former Arts and Crafts–style warming house for ice-skaters at Lincoln Park’s North Pond, this romantic gem in the woods fittingly champions an uncluttered culinary style amid scenic views. Organic ingredients, wild-caught fish, and artisanal farm products appear on the seasonally changing menus. A four-course tasting menu is $98; for a less formal meal, diners can order à la carte.

The mood is easy-breezy but the food and beverage offerings are seriously good at this snug Ukrainian Village all-day café/bottle shop/grocery. Nibble on artisan charcuterie, low-intervention wine at hand, or feast on seasonally changing mains. While you digest, browse the shelves for tinned conservas and natural wines from the Loire and Beaujolais.

If you thought sausage gravy was as creative as biscuit toppings get, you obviously haven’t been to Bang Bang. The buttery, fluffy specimens here serve as a base for an assortment of tasty accompaniments, like herbed ricotta with roasted seasonal veggies. Cap it off with a slice of pie from the rotating selection. On fine days the large, tree-fringed yard is the place to be.

Bright yellow walls and a soundtrack of classic house music make for a convivial atmosphere at this daytime spot, a favorite with students from nearby DePaul University for its menu of carb-y breakfast dishes hearty enough to fuel diners till dinner.

Things can get weird on the flavor front at this cheerful Ukrainian Village scoop shop---goat cheese, moscato, and even basil have been known to make appearances. Suspend disbelief and give it a go; flavors rotate throughout the year, but you’d be hard pressed to find a dud in the mix.

The name is so cute, you might not think the food is a selling point—but you'd be wrong: expat Spaniards swear this is one of the best Spanish restaurants in town, and the colorful Mediterranean-style interiors encourage the Spanish feel. There’s a large assortment of cold and warm tapas, as well as four varieties of paella.

Seasonality is the watchword at this modern spot, where the menu changes constantly but the dishes are always executed with the utmost care. Filled with blonde wood and lovely light, the dining room makes a fine place to unwind with wine and snacks in the afternoon, or tuck into heartier plates at dinnertime.

Neighborhood foodies flock to this minimalist dining room for handmade pastas dressed in the season’s best produce and kooky but quaffable cocktails like a margarita infused with fermented mushrooms. At lunchtime there’s an excellent roster of rustic sandwiches.

A wood-fired hearth comprises the primary cooking equipment here, and many of chef Danny Grant’s dishes, from pizza to pork collar, take their turn getting kissed by the flames. Brunch adds another layer of deliciousness with flaky, gooey treats from locally revered pastry chef Aya Fukai.

This all-day counter service spot crosses Lebanese and Mexican flavors with some kooky notions (halloumi tacos, baklava blended into a milk shake), to fun and tasty results. It’s situated in cheerful digs a stone’s throw from Lincoln Park Zoo--a good place to walk off overindulgence guilt.

Chef Zachary Engel has established himself as a critical favorite for his approach to Middle Eastern cuisine, which merges fine dining technique with big flavors and a disarming sense of humor that’s telegraphed through cheeky menu descriptions (e.g., tehina hummus with “way too much olive oil”).

Tasty sandwiches and salads that please vegans and carnivores alike are served at Goddess and Grocer.

Power up after a brisk walk on the adjacent 606 trail with nitro drafts and lattes brewed with the shop's own range of beans. There are sandwiches and mini donuts to snack on during the day, and a curated selection of local beers to lubricate customers come happy hour.

This BYOB Costa Rican spot has been going strong since 1990, thanks to its range of empanadas, mixed grill platters, and sandwiches that offer good value but don’t skimp on flavor. The casual, brightly colored dining room and patio call to mind a laid-back beach shack--a welcome vision during Chicago’s rough winters.

It seems like there's a sushi spot on practically every corner in Chicago, but when Kamehachi opened in Old Town in 1967 it was the first, though the restaurant has since moved to a loftier space complete with sushi bar, upstairs lounge, and flowering garden (in season). Excellent quality fish, updated decor, and eager-to-please hospitality keep fans returning, and the combination sushi meals are a relative bargain, running from $19 to $38. Reservations are recommended.

Homey Filipino dishes executed with upscale flair are the order of the day at this Ukrainian Village charmer. Don’t overlook the pastry case, stocked by co-owner and baking vet Genie Kwon; treats like purple potato Basque cake and ham and raclette danish are absolutely worth the calories.

Hand-rolled truffles are the signature item here; some flavor combinations are staples while others change with the seasons, but all are highly inventive. (Goat cheese walnut or peanut butter coconut curry anyone?) For many, the real star of the show is the absurdly thick hot chocolate topped with house-made marshmallows.

The Lyonnais comfort food at this charming, cozy bistro in Bucktown is in a league of its own thanks to pitch-perfect classics along with some light twists on favorite dishes. Evenings can get busy so reservations are recommended; note that Mondays mean half-price bottles of wine, while the royale burger is only served at lunch.

Chef Maxwell Robbins’ menu adheres to a farm-to-table aesthetic, so expect the offerings at this hip gastropub to change often, with options ranging from bar snacks to substantial entrées, all with clever twists. Chase your meal with one of more than 100 whiskeys on offer (one of the thoughtfully curated flight options is a good way to sample a few), or swing around to the back bar for a nightcap; late night, it serves a small menu of elevated drinking food (wild boar sloppy joes, vegan “sour cream” and onion dip) that’s exactly perfect after a evening on the town.

Chef Diana Dávila offers a deeply personal, richly flavored take on Mexican cuisine at this colorful restaurant, which serves everything from snacks and tacos to heartier plates. Grab a patio seat in warm weather for people-watching along Logan Boulevard, or hang out at the bar for smoky mezcal cocktails or Mexican beers served alongside food that’s wildly creative but endlessly satisfying.

Although there are now satellite restaurants in the Chicago suburbs and across the country, the original Mon Ami Gabi has not lost its charm. This little piece of Paris re-creates a classic bistro with views of Lincoln Park that could pass—with the help of a couple of glasses of vin from the wine cart—for the Tuileries. Park-front windows let in ample natural light, warming the wood-trimmed interior. Best bites include several versions of steak frites, as well as bistro essentials such as steamed mussels and skate with crispy garlic chips. The menu features a rotating list of specials, such as cassoulet and pan-seared sea bass.

Everything is big and bold at this perennial neighborhood favorite, from the Asian flavors that infuse chef Edward Kim’s dishes to the colorful graffiti-esque art that adorns the exterior to the high-energy tunes that bop all night. The legendary house burger is only served until 7 pm, but its fans are so legion that ownership finally caved and launched Mini Mott, a casual burger and shake spot, in nearby Logan Square.