After living in Chicago for eight years, I’ve decided that it is about high time that I share my favorite places to brunch in the city. This list features restaurants that have been the most memorable dining experiences for me, from the consistency of the food and flavor pallet to the wait time(crucial) to the service, atmosphere, and more.
The Brunch List Criteria
I have a straightforward criteria when choosing my favorite brunch spots. I always consider the following:
- The food
- The atmosphere
- Why it was so memorable
I brunch. You brunch. We all brunch! Enjoy your brunch even more by contacting the restaurant or visiting their website for additional details before heading out to your choosing’s bottomless brunch. Keep in mind that menus and operational hours are subject to change. Better to be safe than not to have a bomb brunch at all!
pILSEN – lA luna, 1726 S Racine Ave.
Heritage meets hip at La Luna, a rustic and art-filled restaurant located in the heart of Pilsen. La Luna’s brunch options are out of this world. It is a small menu filled with radiant and colorful dishes that are just as warm and inviting as the atmosphere itself. Start your meal off with a You can’t go wrong with any of the cocktails, a selection of classic and signature drinks that are mostly tequila or mezcal based. For brunch, do not skip out on any of the dishes. So you get the most out of your dine-in experience, visit La Luna with another person or as an intimate group of 4 to 5 people and share dishes like the Chilaquiles (Christmas style), Quesabirria, and Avocado Scramble. Breakfast is only available on Saturdays and Sundays—best to book your spot early by visiting the website here.
West Town – Uncle Mike’s Place, 1700 W Grand Ave
Savory and straightforward go a long way at this classic breakfast spot in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. While fellow West Town restaurants coax their customers with fancy cocktails, Uncle Mikes keeps its brunch offerings clean and classic. Uncle Mike’s Place is a no-frills Filipino restaurant that specializes in all-day breakfast options. The cozy breakfast spot is a favorite among locals who vouch for dishes like the Filipino breakfast combos or ‘Famous Marinated Skirt Steak.’ Each dish is served with garlic rice, sawsawan, champurrado, and lugaw.
West Loop – Cabra, 200 N Green St
If you are looking for a brunch with beautiful rooftop vibes and a sensational tropical atmosphere, look no further than Cabra Cevicheria. Cabra, located on top of the Hoxton hotel, is a chic, rooftop Peruvian-inspired restaurant by Chef Stephanie Izard. Start your experience off with a refreshing cocktail like the Malambo No. 5. There, dine on savory, shareable dishes like the Crab Causa, Salchipapas, and the Goat Empanadas evoke bold flavor in the bright and airy atmosphere. This restaurant is reservation only, be sure to book your spot on the vibrant rooftop here.
East Lakeview – Ann Sather, Various Locations
The key to dining at Ann Sather is to come hungry. Believe me, you will leave happy and full. Since 1945, the originally Swedish restaurant has remained wholesome, made-from-scratch food, low prices, friendly service. Don’t let the economic prices fool you. The well-known restaurant holds top rank for locals looking for a good brunch, with significant portions, that they can enjoy with many family or friends. While visiting Ann Sather, ppt for a savory dish such as an omelet, which automatically comes with two sides’ choice. Do yourself a favor and just get the Cinnamon Rolls. You’ll thank me later.
tRI-tAYLOR – SWEET MAPLE CAFE, 1339 W Taylor St
The charming black-owned breakfast spot is the definition of “good ol’ home cooking.” Sweet Maple Cafe is my go-to spot when family and friends come to visit me in Chicago. You can never go wrong with a scramble or omelet with hand-cut diced potatoes and the best homemade biscuits you could ask for. Indulge with your family or friends by splitting a sweet dish from the menu. I highly recommend that pancakes. Now that I have your mouth watering visit the website for more details on pick-up or dine-in options at Sweet Maple Cafe.
Andersonville – The Bongo Room, Various Locations
The Bongo Room has a rhythm of its own in the brunch world. Several locations across the city With various locations throughout the city, Bongo manages to keep all sites on the same tempo through their fresh assortment of breakfast and brunch options. While visiting the Bongo Room, do yourself a favor and order the Chocolate Tower French Toast and the Deconstructed Lobster Roll Benedict. It may seem like you are doing a lot, and you are, but trust me, you will not be doing the most until you have tried them all on the lush outdoor patio at the Andersonville location. The Bongo room has some long waits on the weekends. Because of this, I highly recommend visiting the popular lunch spot for a solo dining experience or order the delicious brunch to go.
West Town – Flo Chicago, 1434 W Chicago Ave.
Flo brings authentic and traditional New Mexican-inspired breakfast eats to the Westside streets of Chicago. The cute and quaint eatery provides a vibrant and lively atmosphere that is the perfect backdrop to their Southwestern dishes. The restaurant specializes in a range of egg dishes and early morning sweets that are perfect for sharing. On your visit to Flo, be sure to grab fan favorites such as the Fruity Pebble French Toast, Flo’s Original Burrito, or my personal favorite, the Chorizo Scramble.
Lincoln Park – Batter & Berries, 2748 N Lincoln Ave.
I am a die-hard French Toast fan. And while I often try to perfect the breakfast treat myself, I always fail at making this seemingly simple dish. Lucky for me, there are spots such as Batter & Berries that know how to get it right. Batter & Berries is a well-known black-owned establishment that puts a unique spin on all of its breakfast dishes. For French toast lovers like myself, I highly recommend partaking in the ‘world-famous French Toast flight,’ a sample of their strawberry, blueberry, lemon, and Carmel French toasts. The Lincoln Park restaurant is often packed on the weekends. Best to opt to dine in on a weekday or grab brunch for delivery or pick-up through a food delivery service.
LINCOLN Park – Beatrix, Various Locations
When locals think about brunch, only one restaurant automatically comes to mind, Beatrix. Ask any Chicago native, and they will proclaim this message to be true. Beatrix has several locations throughout Chicago’s city and suburbs, making it an established and well-loved brunch spot in Chicago. The menu of light, healthy, and delicious brunch options is why diners frequently patron the restaurant. For brunch, enjoy something savory like the Spicy Chicken Tinga and treat (because they are an absolute treat) yourself to the Lemon Pancakes. Light and fluffy are in the name, but the description does not do them enough justice. They are divine, and I am not exaggerating. Grab your brunch to-go for delivery, or book a reservation to dine in at one of their locations by visiting the website here.
need more brunch options around town? cHECK OUT THE GUIDE TO BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH IN CHICAGO.
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