The most critically acclaimed restaurants in Chicago
Alinea, Au Cheval and Kasama are the most critically recognised restaurants in Chicago, based on how often professional critics write about them. This ranking covers 97 restaurants carrying 211 critics between them. Crowd star-ratings play no part in the order.
Updated September 2026
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Where do critics actually eat in Chicago?
Ranked by how many independent critics, guides and shows recommend each restaurant.
What's the best affordable restaurant critics rate in Chicago?
Au Cheval is the most critically recognised restaurant in Chicago at the lower end of the price range, with 6 critics.
Where do critics recommend for a special occasion in Chicago?
Alinea is the highest-ranked fine-dining option, with 6 critics.
How this ranking works
Restaurants are ordered by how many professional critic publications have written about them — not by user reviews, star averages or popularity. This page is built from 211 critics across 97 restaurants in Chicago.
A restaurant with no critic coverage does not appear here at all, and cities with fewer than 10 critically recognised restaurants get no page — a ranking built from a handful of entries would imply more authority than the data supports.