{"id":103211,"date":"2025-07-29T22:36:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T22:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/103211\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T22:36:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T22:36:09","slug":"chicago-restaurant-and-bar-openings-to-know-july-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/103211\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Restaurant and Bar Openings to Know, July 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having a tough time keeping up with all the new dining options? Welcome to the Opening Report<\/a>, a curated roundup of recent restaurant openings big and small across Chicago.<\/p>\n

Did we miss a spot? Drop a note at the tipline or email chicago@eater.com<\/a>, and we\u2019ll consider it for the next update.<\/p>\n

AVONDALE \u2014 Popular Hyde Park Mediterranean spot Cedars<\/a> has made its way up north. Fans can now order<\/a> falafel, chicken shawarma, and hummus bowls for delivery or pickup from the restaurant\u2019s virtual kitchen operating out of Picnic<\/a> in Avondale. 3517 N. Spaulding Avenue.<\/p>\n

IRVING PARK \u2014 After closing its Irving Park location on Elston Avenue last year, local pizza chain Leona\u2019s<\/a> has found a new home<\/a> in the neighborhood. Housed inside the former Tahina Kitchen space, the restaurant offers thin-crust, deep-dish, Sicilian, and Detroit-style pies along with pastas, salads, sandwiches, and Italian ice. Leona\u2019s has additional outposts in West Loop and the suburbs. 4363 W. Irving Park Road.<\/p>\n

LINCOLN SQUARE \u2014 The old Gather<\/a> space is now home to a fast-casual dumpling restaurant<\/a>. Union Dumpling House specializes in Chinese-style dumplings filled with pork, beef, chicken, lamb, seafood, and veggies. It also sells frozen dumplings that customers can make at home. 4539 N. Lincoln Avenue.<\/p>\n

THE LOOP \u2014 There\u2019s a new all-day spot in the Loop for Downtown workers to grab a bite. Solette<\/a> offers an eclectic selection of sandwiches, salads, sushi, steaks, and dishes like Nashville hot chicken and rigatoni Bolognese. There\u2019s a coffee bar with pastries from Lost Larson<\/a> in the mornings, plus happy hour specials from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Solette is closed on weekends. 225 W Randolph Street.<\/p>\n

THE LOOP \u2014 Lyric Opera of Chicag<\/a>o and Toasted Hospitality<\/a> (Slightly Toasted<\/a>, Copper Club<\/a>) have announced that Eaves<\/a>, a Southern European-style bar and bistro at the historic Lyric Opera House, will open the week of August 11. Theatregoers will be able to grab a drink or bite inside the Pederson Room, a reimagined space with nods to cafes and libraries of 1920s\u201330s Southern France and Italy. The food menu features pastas, arrosticini skewers, sandwiches, and salads, while the beverage program focuses on riffs of classic cocktails and Old World wines. 20 N. Wacker Drive. Opens week of August 11.<\/p>\n

NOBLE SQUARE \u2014 One of the city\u2019s best deep-dish makers has relocated<\/a>. Milly\u2019s Pizza in the Pan<\/a> is now open<\/a> in Noble Square after closing its Uptown location in July. The move gives owner Robert Maleski a bigger kitchen and better oven, allowing him to double his pizza production each day. Seating is still limited so guests should plan on ordering the pies to go or for delivery. Milly\u2019s also has a second restaurant in suburban Berwyn. 925 N. Ashland Avenue.<\/p>\n

PILSEN \u2014 There\u2019s a new coffee shop in Pilsen<\/a> from one of the owners behind Mexican restaurant Peke\u2019s Pozole. Caf\u00e9 Carranza<\/a> serves items like horchata latte, iced espresso, and other caffeinated beverages made from Caf\u00e9 Aroma de Mexico beans, plus tortas and pastries. 1641 W. 18th Street.<\/p>\n

SOUTH LOOP \u2014 Chengdu Bistro<\/a>, a sister restaurant of Chengdu Impression<\/a>, has opened a second spot in South Loop. Enjoy spicy Sichuan specialties like dan dan noodles, dry chili chicken, mapo tofu, Zhong dumplings, and ye\u2019er ba \u2014 sticky rice cakes filled with ground pork. Chengdu Bistro\u2019s original location is in West Town. 733 S. Dearborn Street.<\/p>\n

WEST TOWN \u2014 Semicolon<\/a>, the beloved Black women-owned bookstore in West Town, will reopen<\/a> on Wednesday, July 30 with a new cafe attached. Owner Danielle Moore temporarily closed the shop in April after she raised $30,000 to add a cafe to the space. It will feature rotating Black-owned coffee shops, with Muse Coffee Studio being the first resident. 1355 W. Chicago Avenue. Opens July 30.<\/p>\n

PLAINFIELD \u2014 Fast-food chain Jack in the Box<\/a> has returned to the Chicago area with a new restaurant in Plainfield. The company left the region in the 1980s, but plans on opening several locations<\/a> in the city and surrounding suburbs in the coming months. Jack in the Box serves burgers, chicken sandwiches, tacos, milkshakes, and all-day breakfast offerings. The Chicago location is expected to open in Ashburn in September; there are nine restaurants in downstate Illinois. 2101 Illinois Route 59.<\/p>\n

IRVING PARK \u2014 There\u2019s a new spot in town for cheesesteaks. Philly Bros<\/a> features the Philadelphia sandwich as well as gyros, chicken shawarma, burgers, and wings. The restaurant previously had a location in Lincoln Park near DePaul. 3558 N. Pulaski Road.<\/p>\n

RIVER NORTH \u2014 A new Mexican-Peruvian restaurant has arrived in River North. Matilda<\/a> blends the flavors of both countries to create a menu featuring ceviches, tacos, braised meats, and Baja-style seafood. Weekend brunch is also served. Below Matilda sits Clandestino<\/a>, an intimate basement lounge offering a selection of classic cocktails, including the Old Fashioned, pisco sour, and Last Word. Both projects are from \u00c9xodo Hospitality Group, which is behind Chicago restaurants Kayao and Ayayay. 535 N. Wells Street.<\/p>\n

SOUTH LOOP \u2014 Breakfast and brunch favorite Batter & Berries<\/a> is now open in South Loop<\/a>. The restaurant is best known for French toast, which is offered in a variety of flavors and flights. The menu also offers waffles, omelets, pancakes, and traditional morning plates. Batter & Berries has additional locations in Lincoln Park and Olympia Fields. 2318 S. State Street.<\/p>\n

UPTOWN \u2014 The owners of Ragadan<\/a>, the falafel and burger restaurant that won a Jean Banchet Award in 2025<\/a>, have opened a pizza shop<\/a> just a few doors down on Broadway. A Pizza Pie<\/a> is a new neighborhood spot for medium-crust pizzas, with classic topping combinations like Hawaiian, margherita, and supreme. Diners can also customize their own pie or get it with gluten-free crust. The menu offers wings, salads, and fries, too. There\u2019s limited seating so A Pizza Pie is primarily a carryout and delivery operation. 4449 N. Broadway.<\/p>\n

WEST TOWN \u2014 Celeste Group has introduced the latest restaurant in its lineup, Hiro Bar + Izakaya<\/a>. Bringing the spirit of Tokyo izakayas to West Town, Hiro features live-fire robata dishes, hand rolls, sandos, okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes), and noodles from chef Luis Carlos Hern\u00e1ndez (Nobu). The beverage program highlights sakes, highballs, and cocktails like a sesame ginger martini. Hiro replaces Porto<\/a>, Celeste Group\u2019s Michelin-starred Portuguese and Spanish restaurant that closed in 2023<\/a>. 1600 W. Chicago Avenue.<\/p>\n