Chicago's Hottest Tables: From Bear Alums to Bagel Drama Plus the Croissants Breaking the Internet

Food Scene Chicago

Chicago's Culinary Scene Sizzles into 2026: A Byte-Sized Feast for the Senses

Listeners, buckle up for Chicago's food frontier, where the Windy City's grit meets gourmet innovation. Time Out spotlights Gingie, the February 2026 debut in River North from chef Brian Lockwood, a Bear alum with pedigree from Eleven Madison Park and El Celler de Can Roca. Backed by James Beard winners Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz, this à la carte gem fuses European precision with Japanese flair—think shareable plates of silken sashimi and charred meats that dance on the tongue, evoking smoky izakaya vibes in a buzzing, unpretentious space.

Meanwhile, Next Restaurant unveils its 2026 menus, honoring Japanese culture through avant-garde twists: dishes like market-fresh weaves of texture and emotion, blending Chicago's bold spirit with global artistry. The Infatuation's Hit List crowns Dēliz as the freshest buzz, while Chicago Magazine charts trends like Holey Dough's Instagram-famous bagels, Rosca's mango-pepita stunners from Pilsen, and Del Sur's toasted rice croissants that shatter into buttery bliss. Tavern-style pizza surges too—Giordano's and Pequod's neighbor Zeitlin's tap into thin, crispy nostalgia amid steakhouse revivals at Trino in the West Loop.

Local roots shine through: all-day cafes like Cafe Yaya from Galit’s Zach Engel and Bar Tutto from Joe Flamm offer seamless shifts from coffee to wine-paired bites, fueled by Midwest grains and Great Lakes fish. Chicago Restaurant Week in January packs over 500 spots, including 28 newcomers, celebrating fixed-price feasts that honor immigrant traditions from Puerto Rican rods to red-sauce havens like Dimmi Dimmi.

What sets Chicago apart? It's the unyielding fusion of heartland bounty—corn masa echoes, Lake Michigan perch—with fearless chefs reimagining classics. Food lovers, this scene demands your fork: raw ambition, communal warmth, and flavors that linger like a Loop skyline at dusk. Dive in before the lines form..


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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI