Best road-trip restaurants in Illinois

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Cozy West Loop wine bar serving Mediterranean-leaning small plates at communal seating, an enduring Chicago dining pioneer.

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Andersonville restaurant devoted to heirloom Southern and Creole cooking with a deep focus on historic recipes and provenance.

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Family smokehouse near the East Side smoking all its own seafood over natural wood, a James Beard America's Classic with no seating.

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Longstanding Lincoln Square Korean spot delivering Seoul-style tabletop barbecue and bubbling stews in a no-frills setting.

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Chicago's top-rated Ethiopian, communal platters and honey wine. (Uptown)

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A white-tablecloth Greektown staple since 1971.

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Intimate subterranean ramen counter beneath Green Street Smoked Meats with just fifteen seats and a fiery signature bowl.

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Andersonville contemporary Korean restaurant and lounge serving refined traditional dishes alongside soju cocktails in a stylish room.

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The world's first Michelin-two-star Filipino restaurant. (Ukrainian Village)

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The classic Chicago Route 66 breakfast sendoff — old-school diner energy before the first highway miles.

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Sarah Grueneberg's West Loop pastificio makes handmade pasta all day, giving classic Italian dishes a modern, deeply satisfying twist.

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Pilsen pub earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its handmade British-style savory royal pies and comforting pub fare.

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Michelin Bib Gourmand Pakistani spot on Devon, famous for nihari. (West Ridge)

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Anchor of Argyle Street's Asia on Argyle, a casual pho favorite. (Uptown)

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A convivial beer-hall temple to pork, oysters, and craft brews. (Fulton Market)

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Cheese, swine, and wine small plates a block off Michigan Ave. (Magnificent Mile)

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West Town longtime Filipino-American diner serving hearty breakfasts of longanisa, tocino, and garlic rice in a homey space.

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Devon Avenue vegetarian standout in Little India known for its enormous two-foot paper masala dosa and Gujarati thalis.

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Hyde Park cash-only cafeteria since 1921, an unpretentious neighborhood fixture and a favorite of President Obama.

$$$ · Great River Road

Seasonal modern Italian-American cuisine served in a cozy exposed-brick-and-stone setting with locally sourced ingredients, ideal for a special river-town occasion.