What are the best restaurants in Chicago?

I'm headed to Chicago and I need some restaurants that tourists usually don't go to. Thanks!What are the best restaurants in Chicago?
I'll tell you this. Chicago has lots of expensive restaurants, but your average local doesn't eat at Alinea or Charlie Trotter's...or Ed Debevics, the Rainforest Cafe or Cheese Cake Factory for that matter(though Cheese Cake Factory is kind of good sometimes). You can get good %26amp; authentic food in Chicago for cheap. Or just take a bus a mile up Lincoln and stop at any bar and grab a bite to eat.

Here's a few places I go:



Chinese - Ed's Potsticker House - http://centerstagechicago.com/restaurant鈥?/a> - Located at the edge of Chinatown, this is where the real Chinese immigrants who live %26amp; work in Chinatown go for dinner. I can almost guarantee you'll be one of the only patrons who doesn't speak Chinese (like me).



Italian - Cafe Bionda - http://cafebionda.com/ - This is about as old school Italian as you can get in Chicago right now. No, it's not a stereotypical fake gangster style Italian restaurant like on the Sopranos (if you want that, go to Club Lago - http://www.clublago.com/ because they have good food). This is a nice place that serves food you would find in a typical poor Italian household in the 50s-60s Chicago...just fancied up a little bit, but still served in a bowl.



American/Southern - The Dixie Kitchen in Hyde Park has some of the best Southern food in town http://www.dixiekitchenchicago.com/ but I also have a soft spot for Stanley's on Lincoln http://www.stanleyskitchenandtap.com/



BBQ - Twin Anchors is one of those places that tourists SHOULD visit but don't. The bar scene from the Dark Knight (with Two Face) was filmed inside Twin Anchors, as was most of Return to Me so it's worth a visit. Plus you can get excellent BBQ and beer there, so why not? http://www.twinanchorsribs.com/



Burgers %26amp; Beer - If you have the time check out Moody's http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clu鈥?/a> their burgers are pretty excellent %26amp; they have a decent beer selection, and a huge fireplace which is nice when it's super cold outside. If you're stuck downtown, maybe Hackney's in Printer's Row - http://hackneysprintersrow.com/ in the South Loop.


I like Burghoff's

the Golden Ox

House of HunanWhat are the best restaurants in Chicago?
For Italian on the northwest side Sabitinos is great and not touristy. Around 4500 west on Irving Park.

My favorite Chinese barbecue is on Argyle in Chinatown north, Sun Wah (Wa?) on the north side of Argyle just east of Broadway. Across Argyle there is a great Vietnamese PHO place to warm you up. Both non touristy. There is a good Chinese bakery under the L tracks there also.

North side Italian beef is good at Romas on Cicero one block south of Montrose. You sit at a counter. Mr. Beef on Orleans Street is great but because of Leno etc. is a bit touristy. On Clark just north of Foster there area couple of good Persian restaurants, Rezas is the most famous. South of Foster is a pretty good Turkish but north on Clark at Bryn Mawr is an excellent Turkish place called Turkish Bakery.

Some of the best falafel in Chicago is in a Palestinian greasy spoon on Kedzie by Leland in the strip mall next to the L.

Great Swedish food On Foster and Sawyer at Tres Kroner. The local alderman owns a decent Swedish place on Belmont Just west of Clark by the L (their cinnamon buns are the finest, the food is just good)

Some of the best southern barbecue is on Lake St, just west of Central Ave. You can't dine in and you really need to be armed if you go there, food is served via a thick bullet proof plastic.

Just a very very few on the north side
If you want to try some really authentic mexican food, check out neuvo leon:



http://www.menuism.com/restaurants/ck3Bb鈥?/a>



it's definitely in my top 3 favorite restaurants in the city, and this girl's been to a lot of restaurants. the service is always spot-on, friendly and efficient, and it's very reasonably price - two people can get huge plates of food and some horchata for less than $25.



i recommend the nachos, and don't leave without trying their incredible beans.



and if you'll be using public transportation, it's a 5 minute walk from the 18th street stop on the El's Pink Line.



enjoy chicago!

What are the best restaurants in Chicago?
Alinea

L20

Avec

Blackbird

Carnivale

Red Light


Its not actually in Chicago its in a suburb of Chicago Wheeling Bob Chins Crab house!!! It is absolutely wonderful get there right when they open or you will be waiting for ever
I lived in Chicago for a few years and everytime I had a visitor from out of town I took them to Geja's and they LOVED it! I've moved back to the west coast and can't find a fondue place that comes anywhere near it. Amazing!!!! http://www.gejascafe.com/
If you want an amazing experience, look into Moto [they have a website]. It's in a warehouse area, is VERY expensive but is amazing. The menus are very tasty! [Yes, you can eat them!!]