Tortello is a pricey Italian counter-service spot in Wicker Park with perfectly fine pasta.

Qing Xiang Yuan is a restaurant in Chinatown that specializes in broth-filled dumplings.

Garifuna Flava is a casual Belizean restaurant with great lunch specials and excellent stewed meats.

Doggone’s is a hot dog stand in Logan Square with specialty dogs.

Ghin Khao Eat Rice is a casual Northern Thai restaurant in Pilsen that’s great for BYOB and eating crispy pork belly.

Momo World is a fantastic counter-service restaurant in University Village specializing in Nepali dumplings.

Kumiko is an upscale cocktail bar in the West Loop with high-end bar snacks and a tasting menu in the basement.

Au Cheval in the West Loop has our favorite Chicago burger, but that’s not the only great thing on the menu.

Bad Hunter is an excellent vegetable-focused restaurant in the West Loop.

Cafe Cancale is a seafood-focused French restaurant in Wicker Park.

Blackbird is an upscale restaurant in the West Loop with tasting menu options and a great weekday lunch.

Cabra is a great Peruvian-inspired small plates restaurant in the West Loop.

The Smith is a chain restaurant from New York. It’s a good place to get together when food isn’t the most important aspect of the night.

Cebu is a Filipino restaurant in Wicker Park.

Mako is a fancy omakase-only restaurant in the West Loop.

Galit is a Middle Eastern restaurant in Lincoln Park with great food.