The city of Chicago is made up of dozens of vibrant neighborhoods, each home to its own unique dining scene. And the diverse communities on the historic South Side of Chicago are no exception, blending history, international cultures, and local flavors into one-of-a-kind culinary experiences.
From vegan soul food to mouthwatering barbecue, cozy diners to elegant wine bars, you could spend weeks exploring all the different restaurants and recipes these neighborhoods have to offer.
Here are just a few of the can’t-miss restaurants that you’ll find throughout Chicago’s culturally rich South Side neighborhoods.
Hyde Park restaurants
Hyde Park is a bustling neighborhood full of history, from the renowned University of Chicago (where Barack Obama once taught) to the site of Chicago’s World Fair of 1893.
The food scene in Hyde Park has exploded over the past few years, with new chef-driven bars and restaurants adding their culinary stamp on the area.
Chef Erick Williams heads up Virtue, an iconic Southern American restaurant known for their inventive and comforting cuisine. The neighborhood is also home to his latest ventures, Daisy’s Po’Boy & Tavern and Mexican cocktail bar Cantina Rosa.
Ja’Grill brings authentic Jamaican cuisine to the neighborhood, including jerk shrimp, curry goat, oxtail, and delectable rum cake.
More standout spots include Mesler Kitchen inside the Sophy Hotel, Roux Diner, Ascione Bistro, and Valois, one of the oldest Cafeteria-style restaurants in the country.
Bronzeville restaurants
Rich with history, culture, and art, Bronzeville is lovingly known as the city’s “Black Metropolis” and offers a diverse range of cuisines as more restaurants and bars continue to open across the area.
For Southern soul food and barbecue, head to neighborhood favorites like Honey 1 BBQ, Cleo’s Southern Cuisine, Pearl’s Place, and Peach’s Restaurant.
Bronzeville Winery boasts an incredible wine list with an emphasis on minority-owned producers, alongside refined dinner and brunch menus and an artistic ambiance.
And make a pit stop at Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream to enjoy the most delectable homemade ice cream (with vegan options) in a wide variety of flavors.
South Shore restaurants
The South Shore neighborhood stretches across the shorelines of Lake Michigan and is home to one of the city’s largest beaches. This lakefront neighborhood is also full of historic architecture and vibrant new restaurants that are putting a stamp on the culinary scene.
Slab BBQ is a family-owned barbecue restaurant specializing in Chicago-style barbecue and ribs. And don’t miss the traditional sides like fresh mixed greens, oven-baked mac and cheese, and candied yams
Nafsi South Shore brings elevated cuisine to the South Shore Cultural Center, offering happy hour, brunch, and dinner menus. For a homey and comforting breakfast or brunch, Grand Rising Cafe is a can’t-miss.
And plant-based eaters will want to check out Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine, a fast-casual, plant-based restaurant that focuses on Southern flavors and the chefs’ African heritage.
Pullman and Roseland restaurants
The Pullman and Roseland areas are known for their proximity to the Pullman National Historical Park, Chicago’s first National Monument.
There’s no better start to your food adventure in these nearby neighborhoods than with Old Fashioned Donuts, a neighborhood institution that’s been dishing out delectable donuts for more than 40 years.
Ware Ranch Steakhouse offers both a vast brunch and steakhouse dinner menu for guests, and Lexington Betty Smokehouse, run by acclaimed Chef Dominique Leach, is a local favorite known for its homemade barbecue dishes.
Pullman Club Coffee offers snacks and drinks right across the street from the National Historical Park. And sandwich lovers can’t miss Home of the Hoagy for their signature item, a steak sandwich with onions and sweet sauce.
Washington Park and Woodlawn restaurants
The neighboring communities of Washington Park and Woodlawn, home to attractions like the DuSable Black History Museum, offer plenty of delicious places to eat.
Start your trip at Build Coffee, a coffee shop and performance gallery next to the 61st Street Farmers Market. You can also enjoy a hearty breakfast and coffee drinks at Robust Coffee Lounge.
The Park Lounge offers specialty cocktails and comfort food in a large space that also acts as an event venue in Washington Park.
The Woodlawn community adores Daley’s Restaurant, which has been family-owned and operated for more than 100 years. Daley’s, which originally opened to feed the 1893 World’s Fair workers, is renowned as Chicago’s oldest restaurant.
Chatham restaurants
Full of historic homes, landmarks, and districts that commemorate African American history, Chatham also serves up some of the city’s best bites.
Head to 75th Street for Chatham’s very own restaurant row featuring Lem’s Bar-B-Q, the oldest Black-owned barbecue restaurant in Chicago and a recent winner of the James Beard Award’s America’s Classics designation.
Nearby, hungry visitors will also find Soul Veg City, an all-vegan restaurant, local favorite Brown Sugar Bakery, and Mabe’s Deli, a casual diner that’s a favorite amongst locals.
Dessert lovers won’t want to skip Justice of the Pies, an incredible bakery specializing in sweet and savory pies, quiches, and more or Dat Donut, a donut shop famous for its massive homemade apple fritters.
Bridgeport restaurants
White Sox fans may flock to Bridgeport to watch their team play on home turf, but there’s so much more to the neighborhood, including a vibrant food scene.
Foodies from across the city head to Maria’s Packaged Goods and Community Bar to enjoy a fusion of Korean and Polish flavors from Chef Won Kim of Kimski.
You can’t go wrong with anything from Chef Kevin Hickey’s The Duck Inn, whether you’re feasting on their signature rotisserie duck or the award-winning Duck Inn Dog, an ode to the classic Chicago-style hot dog. Chef Hickey also heads up the menu at the brewery and grill inside the neighborhood’s newly renovated Ramova Theatre.
Finally, a trip to Bridgeport wouldn’t be complete without the gloriously messy breaded steak sandwich at Ricobene’s.
Englewood restaurants
One of the largest residential neighborhoods on the South Side, Englewood is also a major hub for jazz music, hosting the annual Englewood Jazz Festival each September.
The food culture continues to grow, especially as new urban farming opens up in the neighborhood, like the Growing Home Farm Stand that offers cooking demos, samples, healthy recipes, and free farm tours to residents.
Kusanya Cafe is a nonprofit coffee shop, specializing in all-day breakfast and lunch. Locals love the sweet treats at Peace of Mine Dessert and Specialty Shop, the barbecue at Taylormade Que, and specialty coffee from Momentum Coffee.
One of the most unique dining experiences comes at Sikia, a fine-dining restaurant inside Kennedy-King College, where the multi-course meals are made by culinary students.
More South Side standouts
- Calumet Fisheries: Perched right on the Indiana border, locals and out-of-towners both line up for this cash-only seafood shack serving up the best smoked fish in the city.
- Birrieria Zaragoza: Archer Heights is home to this iconic restaurant specializing in one thing: birrieria. Tender, stewed goat is served alongside handmade tortillas and a tomato consommé. It’s a Chicago institution with a new location in Uptown, although Archer Heights is the original.
- Vito & Nick’s: Chicagoans know pizza, and thin crust has reigned supreme in Ashburn at Vito & Nick’s for over eighty years. Cracker thin crust supports the most delectable toppings, and the old-school vibes can’t be replicated.
