30 Best Restaurants For Brunch In Chicago

No one questions the peculiarities of brunch, a portmanteau of a meal where the rules of cooking (and eating) no longer apply. Drink booze before noon, enjoy pastries as an appetizer and order a stack of dessert-inspired pancakes alongside your artful French omelet. Brunch is the epitome of indulgence, where fried chicken isn't only acceptable but welcome alongside crispy buttermilk waffles and a hefty drizzle of maple syrup, and the decision of whether or not to go halfsies with your dining companion is the hardest you'll make all day. 

Chicagoans are especially familiar with the quandaries of brunch, as the City of Big Shoulders nabbed seven of the 100 most popular brunch spots in the country, according to a 2023 poll by OpenTable based on 13 million diner reviews. Coupled with the city's generous collection of comedy clubs and dive bars, a weekend in Chicago means that, come Saturday and Sunday morning, you'll be expectedly famished. Luckily, Chicago has no shortage of restaurants to satisfy both sweet and savory cravings. 

Whether you're looking for an unpretentious neighborhood joint or a higher-end feast, the city has you covered with classic brunch staples and unique twists on favorites alike. We rounded up our favorites, taking into consideration the atmosphere (luxe or cozy?), the variety of options on the menu (from eggs to pasta), and the quality of the food for the price. Time to sink into a comfortable booth and break yolks with a mimosa in hand.

Replacing the original restaurant concept at Lincoln Park's upscale wine shop, Verve Wine, Argot is a playful take on French bistro fare. Argot takes its inspiration from big-city brasseries, like New York's Balthazar. Expect French takes on brunch classics, like baguette french toast and buckwheat pancakes, plus a build-your-own spritz bar. The wine selection is, of course, impressive and sprawling; funky naturals are poured alongside the classics. Traditional dishes, like leeks vinaigrette with frisée and lardon salad, will have you thinking you're dining at the corner of Rue Fullerton and Avenue Lincoln.

argotchicago.com
(773) 770-3571
2349 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Make your way down a cobblestone courtyard in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood, and you'll find this New England-inspired establishment with a speakeasy feel. Here rye old fashioneds are considered brunch cocktails and it's perfectly acceptable to sip on a chocolate martini before noon. The dimly-lit tavern also offers an extensive list of spirit-free cocktails, like the Phony Negroni and Seedlip Sour. To eat, indulge in the smoked salmon tower served on a 3-tiered tea tray. There's an emphasis on seafood — fresh, chilled Hokkaido king crab, shrimp cocktail, and a selection of East Coast oysters, plus pike fish and chips and crab cake bennies. 

trivolitavern.com
(312) 366-2646
114 N Green St, Chicago, IL , 60607

At Obélix, enjoy an eclectic French-leaning menu from the owners of Chicago's celebrated Le Bouchon. The menu takes inspiration from chef Poilevey's extensive culinary background, somehow making bánh mì and duck pozole feel at home next to more classic French dishes like Delice de Bourgogne quiche and crêpes with lobster. If you're feeling exceptionally indulgent, try the staggering caviar brioche sandwich for $125, which features one ounce of golden kaluga and bowfin caviars, along with smoked trout roe. A selection of artful house-made patisserie rounds out this butter-heavy brunch.

obelixchicago.com
(312) 877-5348
700 N Sedgwick St, Chicago, IL 60654

There are few rules at South Loop's Apolonia. The restaurant describes itself as Mediterranean coastal fare, but the menu is more like a trip down the most delicious rabbit hole, where delights from every corner of the world play nicely together: On the brunch menu, softly scrambled eggs with boursin sit next to frittata Española and bucatini carbonara. Go for 2024's Jean Banchet Award-winning pastry chef Tatum Sinclair's shakshuka Danish and black truffle puff bread. 

apoloniachicago.com
(312) 363-2431
2201 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, 60616

Never taking itself too seriously, this neighborhood gastro-tavern that borders Pilsen and Bridgeport neighborhoods is seriously obsessed with duck, even in the morning. On the menu, playfully punny dishes abound, like the Egg McDuckin and Duck Duck Sope, plus the Decent Beef, the restaurant's version of an Italian beef sandwich. Try the iconic Duck Inn Dog, a Chicago-style hot dog with a signature firmness stuffed with beef and duck fat, or hanger steak frites with a fried duck egg. Much of the menu is cooked in duck fat, including the breakfast potatoes. Brunch is served on Sundays only.

theduckinnchicago.com
(312) 724-8811
2701 S Eleanor St, Chicago, IL, 60608

DIEGO's coastal vibe is an homage to the street food culture of northern Baja. The produce stalls inspired chef Sandoval in surfer towns like Tijuana, Puerto Nuevo, and Rosarito. Expect laidback Mexican dishes, like chilaquiles and breakfast burritos, plus a trendy octopus and chorizo taco served on weekends only. Ogle the original art while you eat, some of which is produced by the staff themselves. A large outdoor patio and garage door slides open up in the warmer months for a breezy feel. For agave fans, DIEGO offers an extensive selection of mezcal, sotol, and tequila. Sleep in, as brunch is served until 3 PM.

diegochicago.com
(312) 291-8449
459 N Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Chicago's first botanic brewery and gastropub is inspired by the brewer's endless quest for flavor. Expect an eclectic brunch that mimics the city's cultural diversity. Savory pancakes are made with kimchi and served with cheese curds, while a redeye mushroom gravy and a sprinkling of sumac top flaky biscuits. Add a Forbidden Root beer back to any brunch cocktail — a blend of herbs, spices, and flowers infuse the mystical brews of rootmaster Randy Finkel and alchemist Randy Mosher.

forbiddenroot.com
(312) 929-2202
1746 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

A classic neighborhood joint tucked inside an art deco building, Tweet is from the woman behind the iconic queer-friendly Uptown bar Big Chick's. Like Big Chicks, Tweet offers unpretentious brunch fare, a welcoming atmosphere, and lots of heart. The generously sized benedicts are described as beautiful, and the sandwiches come, nostalgically, with your choice of a fruit cup or cottage cheese. Enjoy the restaurant's extensive art collection while you sip your coffee and look over the large burrito menu, which includes skirt steak or vegan options.

bigchicks.squarespace.com
(773) 728-5576
5020 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL, 60640

Nestled inside chic retail outpost SPACE 519, this veggie-forward cafe serves up light and modern California cuisine. The space feels like an extension of the boutique, with stylish cane-backed cantilever chairs and ample natural light. Let brunch be a calculated indulgence: A mimosa plus a kale salad au cheval (with an egg) or multigrain pancakes with farm butter. And, of course, there is avocado toast with feta spread, chia seeds, and two poached eggs. Head here after you've worked up an appetite shopping along Chicago's Gold Coast.

space519thelunchroom.com
(312) 751-1519
200 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL, 48030

This family-run destination is Chicago's first-ever Kurdish restaurant. The cooking takes inspiration from Anatolia, a region situated between the Mediterranean and Black Seas that includes parts of Asia and Europe. Expect Turkish, as well as Armenian and Greek, influences. Bring a friend or two and split a traditional Kurdish breakfast, which includes fried cheese rolls, fresh mozzarella and feta, house-made jam and Kurdish sesame butter, and more: bottomless Kurdish tea. Or try the gundî omelet, made with soujouk, a dry, spiced, and fermented sausage.

thegundis.com
(773) 904 8120
2909-11 North Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657

A successor of the now-shuttered Café Marie Jeanne, Segnatore serves regional Italian food in an aesthetic inspired by folk healers of Italy. Dried bunches of herbs hang against deep blue walls, creating an old-world atmosphere. Taste smoked salmon smoked in amaro or lasagna made with a mushroom bolognese, both of which are available for brunch. For more standard breakfast fare, chef Matt Troost prepares his breakfast sandwich on tigelle, a hockey-puck-sized flatbread traditional of Emilia Romagna that's split open and topped with egg, melty butterkase, and tomato aioli. If you're still not full, this unconventional Humboldt Park trattoria smothers its brunch fries in bolognese. 

segnatore.com
(773) 697-9687
1001 North California Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

A conceptual project in hyper-locality, almost all the ingredients on the bungalow by middle brow menu — including the drink list — are sourced from producers within 150 miles. This is a post-modern pizza joint, where cash is not accepted and a service fee is added to your bill for labor equity. Eating here feels like having a porch party with friends: Mismatched shabby chic tables sprawl out on the large outdoor patio, which, in the evenings, has a fire pit going. For brunch, snack on homemade sourdough while your bacon omelet pizza is fired.This neighborhood pizza den warns it could take up to 45 minutes, but it's well worth the wait. In fact, you can have a sourdough donut while you wait.

middlebrowbeer.com
(773) 687-9076
2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647

This "finer" North Center diner brings fresh energy to an old-school atmosphere, with cornflower blue vinyl booths, sunny yellow walls, and a modern menu. Irene's is the kind of space you can settle into and nurse bottomless coffee while enjoying creative flourishes, like family heirlooms that line floating shelves. 

This is not a traditional diner menu, and no detail is spared: The poached eggs are cooked to a perfect 63 degrees, and the meats are sourced from local Slagel Farms. Try the eggs scrambled with fresh ricotta cheese and spicy garlic — a nod to chef Zamler's Italian heritage — or skillet plates served with potatoes and onions. Irene's is open only for breakfast and lunch.

ireneschicago.com
(872) 272-0303
2012 Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL, 60618

Superkhana International is a playful take on modern Indian-American fare, executed well enough to make it to the Michelin Bib Gourmand list for the second year in a row. Keep things spicy with the breakfast dosa hash with curry leaves, plus contemporary takes on traditional Indian dishes, like poha, a toasted flattened rice dish cooked with seasonal vegetables and topped with house-made yogurt and uttapam. Superkhana's savory griddle cakes with Thai chili and coconut chutney are another hit. Keep an eye out for the niche food pop-ups hosted amongst the neighborhood's burgeoning culinary community, posted on Instagram. 

superkhanachicago.com
(773) 661-9028
3059 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647

For the past eight years, this small paradise in Avondale has been nurturing the soil in its on-site greenhouse to produce fresh produce year-round for its restaurant. Inside Eden, you'll find an atmosphere that's casual yet refined, with deep gray walls and black varnished chairs tucked into a rustic farmhouse table. Start with a market fruit bowl topped with herbs from Eden's greenhouse and follow it up with sweet potato hash or khachapuri, a Georgian cheese bread filled with scrambled eggs, fontina, mozzarella, and feta. This restaurant's culinary ethos is one of restraint and minimalism.

edeninchicago.com
(312) 366-2294
2734 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618

Eight-time James Beard Award semifinalist Paul Fehribach has been serving coastal Southern cuisine to Chicago since 2008. Big windows give Big Jones an open, inviting feel. Many of the ingredients featured on the menu, like the Hazzard Free Farm heirloom corn, are sourced from producers in the American South. Whipped sorghum butter complements heritage favorites, like the Sally Lunn toast, an airy, light English bread similar to brioche, and skillet cornbread cooked in bacon fat. Savory brunch plates such as crispy catfish and char-grilled andouille and eggs are served alongside creamy grits. 

bigjoneschicago.com
(773) 275-5725
5347 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640

At Beatnik, a concept from the hospitality group behind the Michelin-starred Porto, feast on Middle Eastern dishes inspired by Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel in an exotic bazaar-like atmosphere. Interiors are inspired by Morocco and the Mediterranean countryside, featuring curated antiques collected for over two years from across the globe, like a 40-foot-wide carved teak facade imported from Bali, crystal chandeliers from the Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, and carved wood doors from Egypt circa 1900. Go for the mezze board, with pistachio tzatziki and za'atar manakeesh, or the egg sandwich made with pork and beef kofta and harissa aioli. The simple brunch favorite shakshuka, with fire-roasted peppers, spiced tomatoes, feta cheese, and naan, is at home here.

beatnikchicago.com
(312) 929-4945
1604 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

'Attagirl!'s gluttonous continental fare lacks the restraints of refined French food in the best way possible: The cheese is sliced thick, the bread heavily buttered, and the frites piled high. As with its restaurant predecessors (Table, Donkey, Stick, and Café Marie-Jeanne), the team behind this restaurant heavily features old-world techniques. Unsure where to start? Go for the chalkboard specials to share amongst the table. For service industry folks, brunch is also served on Mondays.

attagirlchicago.com
(914) 629-6944
2829 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647

You'll be able to easily identify this Roscoe Village sidewalk cafe by its sunny turquoise trim. Owner Sandy Chen was inspired to build Le Sud by her childhood spent cooking and the similarities she found between southern France and her native Zhe Jiang Province, China. This cute corner joint features tinned ceilings and a French countryside aesthetic. Uncomplicated dishes reinforce Le Sud's commitment to simplicity and tradition: A rustic quiche crust is perfectly imperfect, while the croque monsieur drips with a heavy-handed dose of mornay sauce. The four-season patio will have you believing you're dining at a bistro in Provenance.

lesudchicago.com
(773) 857-1985
2301 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL, 60618

Itoko means cousin, and the name is an homage to the relationship between this Japanese robata grill and its chef Gene Kato's three-Michelin-starred Momotaro. Itoko serves up Japanese twists on breakfast classics, like steamed buns and lox and kabocha pancakes. The clean, wood-paneled walls and minimalist aesthetic mirror the refinement of chef Kato's food. Itoko offers a traditional Japanese breakfast, or teishoku served with an assortment of cold and hot dishes. Hand rolls and maki mono, sashimi, and nigiri are also available if you're in the mood for a sushi brunch. 

itokochicago.com
(773) 819-7672
3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL, 60657

Vegetarian and vegan comfort food is on offer at this dive bar turned edgy brunch hangout that caters to all diets. Handlebar serves seitan sausage gravy, vegan chimichangas, and many vegan options of classic Mexican brunch fare, like breakfast burritos and huevos diablos made with tofu instead of egg, are available. Handlebar even has a dedicated gluten-free menu. This neighborhood mainstay has been serving hungry locals for over 20 years, and because of its popularity has had to implement House Rules (no pulling up chairs, all parties must be seated). However, within these parameters, the atmosphere is remains laid back and irreverent.

handlebarchicago.com
(773) 384-9546
2311 W North Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647

If you can't get in to try the 13-course tasting menu for dinner, this celebrated East Ukrainian Village restaurant offers modern adaptations of classic French patisserie and a traditional Filipino breakfast that, even in its brevity, demonstrates the talent of its two James Beard Award-winning chefs, Genie Kwon and Timothy Flores. Kwon's pastries are exacting: Nibble on a cardamom kougn amann or a perfectly laminated foie gras danish, topped with sour cherry jam and pistachios. Then, tuck into Flores' Filipino breakfast with your choice of longanisa sausage or tocino and garlic rice and marvel at how the addition of toasted allium can transform a simple starch side into something utterly savory and crave-worthy. In the summer months, the large outdoor patio has plenty of space for large, last-minute parties.

kasamachicago.com
(773) 697-3790
1001 N Winchester Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

Since 1999, Flo, a Southwest American brunch spot, has imported its hatch chiles from a farmer in New Mexico. They feature heavily throughout the New Mexican-inspired menu. Come here for every variation on eggs and tortillas you can imagine: Red and green chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, huevos verdes, and smothered ranchero burritos. The restaurant doubles as a gallery space of folk art, too. Open up your palate with one of the smoothies (kale smoothies are the perfect hangover cure). Lunch options are also available.

flochicago.com
(312) 243-0477
1434 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60642

Longman & Eagle is perfect for a staycation. Book a room above the restaurant and saunter down in your slippers for the PBR breakfast the following morning, which, along with a beer, includes house potatoes, eggs, and Slagel sausage. The mission of this modern take on a historic inn is to sleep, drink, and eat your way through the days. A corned duck hash with a sunny side duck egg and gruyère fonduta helps. Walk-ins are welcome here: Head to the offsite bar (the OSB), which opens on weekends at 9 AM, to enjoy a brunch cocktail while you wait for a table.

longmanandeagle.com
2657 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 276-7110

Since 1992, Lula has been the spot for Logan Square's bohemian class to celebrate birthdays, date nights, and family get-togethers or to simply sit at the bar with a paperback and a stiff drink. The ambiance is exceptional for it: the artwork on the walls is available for purchase and always changing. Brunch is bound to be busy: Snack on an assortment of inventive baked goods made by the pastry staff, — orange, marigold, and chocolate babka, or mortadella, fennel & gruyere hand pies. Then, tuck into Lula's thoughtful, savory options. Simple preparations with sophisticated ingredients, like French omelets with pear mostarda and butternut squash, are sure to please all palates.

lulacafe.com
(773) 489-9554
2537 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647

Before getting into the restaurant business, m.henry's co-owner Michael Moorman spent much of his life making soy milk and tofu. M.henry's motto, "chow for now," is a nod to the progressive ideals of sourcing organic and local ingredients, which Moorman held long before those were buzzwords. The menu regularly changes and is widely influenced, from drunken poblano pepper topped with chorizo (soy or not) to potato knish benedicts. These come from a special brunch selection, but other varied options are available for weekly breakfast.

mhenry.net
(773) 561-1600
5707 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660

Don't expect an intimate two-top at the Publican's bustling weekend brunch: The seating here is mostly communal, and the busy room buzzes with the energy of a German beer hall. This is the West Loop's king of meats (Publican Quality Meats, an associated butcher shop, is a stone's throw away). As such, a killer butcher brunch board features country pate, boquerones, rillette, and jammy eggs. The breakfast sausage and maple-braised bacon are also made in-house. Don't sleep on the aged cheddar biscuits either, which come with a side of ricotta & jam. 

thepublicanrestaurant.com
(312) 445-8977
825 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607

The panoramic downtown views of Chicago, as seen from the Chicago Athletic Center at Cindy's Rooftop, are some of the best to see.An atrium gives access to revel in natural light streaming through the glass atrium as you sip on a matcha latte or shoot back Island Creek oysters on the half shell. The menu mixes elevated comfort food with brunch staples, like chicken and waffles with bourbon butter and carrot cake pancakes under pecans and maple syrup. The all-season terrace is also an excellent place for DIY mimosas built from three different sparkling options. 

cindysrooftop.com
(312) 792-3502
12 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Like his family, chef Anthony Reyes believes in the power of food to connect and heal. That's why many of the recipes at this residential Bucktown neighborhood joint are inspired by Reyes' other, Mable, and her mother, Adele's cooking. There is a staple plate named after the matriarch, cinnamon roll pancakes, and contemporary dishes like breakfast risotto (smoked bacon, aged cheddar, and a sunny-side-up egg). Modern mainstays like avocado toast on multigrain toast and vanilla crunch French toast look like the backbone of the menu, but there are also raw oysters and fresh shrimp cocktail at the ready.

mablestable.com
(773)-904-7433
1655 W Cortland St, Chicago, IL 60622

This sister restaurant to the three Michelin-starred. The Loyalist considers itself a casual neighborhood restaurant, relatively speaking, but the brunch offerings are expectedly upscale: Camembert omelet and a one-egg benedict made with foie gras sausage show off executive chef John B. Shield's skill. A lunch and dinner favorite, the Loyalist Cheeseburger, is also available. A full kids menu is sure not to exclude little ones from partaking in the weekend brunch ritual.

smythandtheloyalist.com
(773) 913-3774
177 N Ada St #001, Chicago, IL 60607

I've lived in Chicago for nearly a decade, and in that time, I've grown accustomed to my fair share of neighborhood dives and upscale downtown spots alike for brunch. The best meals promise an atmosphere that's not too harsh — no club music or strange lighting — but lively enough to wake you up out of last night's stupor. Great service is a must — and difficult to accomplish amidst the hangry weekend rush. And the meal should feel special enough to qualify as that day's primary activity, even if that simply means packing away two meals in one sitting. 

Consideration was also given to restaurants with acclaimed chefs or recent accolades. And, of course, the food needs to be tasty: creative offerings or well-executed classics, plus great brunch cocktails, should you choose to go that route. Google reviews, social media comments, and the restaurant's standing on reservation platforms like Resy, Tock, and OpenTable were also considered.