Unearth The Voyage
Chicago’s food scene just scored big on the global stage! La Liste, the prestigious international restaurant ranking system, has recognized six Chicago culinary gems among the world’s finest for 2025. These restaurants showcase the city’s incredible range of dining experiences, from theatrical presentations to farm-fresh seasonal menus. Let’s explore these award-winning Chicago restaurants that are putting the Windy City on the world culinary map.
1. Smyth — La Liste score: 95.5
Hidden in the bustling West Loop, Smyth delivers an unforgettable farm-to-table experience crafted by the husband-wife team of John Shields and Karen Urie Shields. Their close partnership with The Farm in Bourbonnais, Illinois provides ingredients so fresh you can taste the sunshine that grew them.
Each plate arrives like a miniature work of art – visually stunning but never sacrificing flavor for appearance. The tasting menu evolves with the seasons, ensuring no two visits are identical.
What sets Smyth apart is its unpretentious atmosphere paired with world-class cuisine. Despite its high-end offerings, the restaurant maintains a warm, almost homey vibe where culinary magic happens without stuffiness.
2. Alinea — La Liste score: 95
Molecular gastronomy meets theatrical performance at Grant Achatz’s legendary Lincoln Park establishment. Since 2005, Alinea has redefined what dining can be – not just a meal, but a multi-sensory journey that plays with perception and expectation.
Famous for signature creations like edible balloons and desserts painted directly onto the table, the restaurant constantly pushes culinary boundaries. Dishes might arrive suspended from custom metal structures or engulfed in aromatic smoke that enhances flavors.
Reservations remain among the most coveted in America, often requiring planning months in advance. The investment pays off with an evening that blurs the line between dining and performance art, creating memories that last far longer than the taste of the final bite.
3. Ever — La Liste score: 92.5
Chef Curtis Duffy’s culinary sanctuary creates an atmosphere of serene luxury where food becomes meditation. The minimalist space with its soothing gray tones allows nothing to distract from the precision of each meticulously crafted plate.
Seafood and meat preparations showcase Duffy’s remarkable technical skills – a scallop might be transformed through multiple cooking methods, each bringing out different flavor nuances. The kitchen operates with watchmaker precision, with every herb leaf and sauce droplet placed deliberately.
Ever opened during the challenging pandemic era yet quickly established itself among Chicago’s elite restaurants. The name itself hints at the timeless quality Duffy aims for – creating flavors and experiences that linger in memory, seemingly forever.
4. Oriole — La Liste score: 92.5
Stepping through Oriole’s unassuming entrance feels like discovering a secret culinary society. Chef Noah Sandoval orchestrates intimate dining experiences where each course tells a story through flavor, texture, and aroma.
The beverage program deserves special mention – wine pairings are thoughtfully curated, but the non-alcoholic options shine equally bright with complex house-made elixirs. This attention to detail extends throughout the entire experience, from the handmade ceramics to the perfectly timed service.
Located in a converted loading dock in the West Loop, Oriole embraces its industrial roots while creating a warm, golden-hued haven. The open kitchen design allows diners to witness the ballet-like precision of the culinary team as they craft each memorable bite.
5. Boka — La Liste score: 81
For nearly two decades, Boka has defined accessible luxury in Chicago’s dining scene. Unlike its more experimental counterparts on this list, Boka strikes a perfect balance between innovation and comfort – creating special occasion-worthy food that doesn’t require a culinary dictionary to appreciate.
The restaurant’s living green wall creates a stunning backdrop for the contemporary American menu. Signature dishes might include perfectly seared scallops with seasonal accompaniments or heritage pork preparations that showcase respect for quality ingredients.
Service staff move with practiced grace, anticipating needs without hovering. This Lincoln Park mainstay has launched numerous culinary careers and remains a beloved institution where Chicagoans celebrate milestones without the intimidation factor sometimes found in fine dining.
6. The Dining Room at Moody Tongue — La Liste score: 75.5
Beer and fine dining find their perfect union at this groundbreaking South Loop destination. Housed within Moody Tongue’s working brewery, the intimate 28-seat dining room offers a revolutionary concept: tasting menus specifically designed to pair with craft beer rather than wine.
Executive Chef Jared Wentworth creates sophisticated seasonal dishes that complement brewmaster Jared Rouben’s exceptional beers. Think butter-poached lobster alongside a delicate pilsner or chocolate desserts paired with rich imperial stouts brewed just steps away.
The space itself reflects this marriage of refinement and craft – white tablecloths and elegant place settings contrast with glimpses of stainless steel brewing equipment. This unique approach has earned The Dining Room recognition as the world’s premier beer-focused fine dining experience.
