{"id":964638,"date":"2026-07-28T13:26:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T13:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/964638\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T13:26:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T13:26:25","slug":"the-10-hottest-restaurants-in-chicago-august-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/964638\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 hottest restaurants in Chicago: August 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>1. All Well<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> Oriole\u2019s Noah Sandoval and Larry Feldmeier introduce this more relaxed spot, with prix fixe and \u00e0 la carte menus.<br \/><strong>WHY:<\/strong> We\u2019ll eat anywhere these two are cooking.<br \/><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> 111 N. Carpenter St., West Loop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allwellchicago.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Pastries at Bad Butter\" width=\"427\" height=\"98\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/CMG-L-202608-hot-list-bad-butter.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"39226102\" \/>(Bad Butter)<br \/>\n2. Bad Butter<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> The pastry pop-up lands a brick-and-mortar caf\u00e9.<br \/><strong>WHY:<\/strong> You may know Dan Koester, the baker behind Bad Butter, for such viral treats as the Chicago croissant dog.<br \/><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> 1655 W. Cortland St., Bucktown <a href=\"https:\/\/badbutterchicago.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"The red chilaquiles at Mariela\" width=\"1500\" height=\"388\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/CMG-L-202608-hot-list-Mariela.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"39226129\" \/>(Mariela)<br \/>\n3. Mariela<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> The latest from the Mirra crew, Mariela serves an all-day coastal seafood menu.<br \/><strong>WHY:<\/strong> Rishi Kumar and Zubair Mohajir bring their signature style to dishes like laksa oysters.<br \/><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> 1 W. Washington St., Loop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marielachicago.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"A plate of pasta from Labriola Italian Specialities\" width=\"1500\" height=\"388\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/CMG-L-202608-hot-list-labriola.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"39226125\" \/>(Labriola Italian Specialities)<br \/>\n4. Labriola Italian Specialties<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> Rich Labriola leans into housemade pastas and pizza.<br \/><strong>WHY:<\/strong> With a sleek yet comfortable vibe, this works equally well for date nights and group dinners.<br \/><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> 852 W. Fulton Market, West Loop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.labriolaitalian.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>5. Beaumont\u2019s<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> Remember the 4 a.m. bar of the same name? It\u2019s now an American eatery.<br \/><strong>WHY:<\/strong> Johnny Besch serves upscale bites like shrimp cocktail with michelada cocktail sauce.<br \/><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> 2020 N. Halsted St., Lincoln Park <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beaumontschicago.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Three cocktails available at Alley Cat\" width=\"1500\" height=\"388\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/CMG-L-202608-hot-list-Alley-Cat.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"39226128\" \/>(Melanie Ahn\/The Alley Cat)<br \/>\n6. The Alley Cat<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> The Paulie Gee\u2019s team goes beyond pizza with a neighborhood bar.<br \/><strong>WHY:<\/strong> The $12 cocktails and fun snacks like brandade fish sticks make it an easy pick.<br \/><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> 2013 W. Division St., Ukrainian Village <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thealleycatchicago.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"A tostada from Mazor, one of Chicago magazine's 10 hottest restaurants in August 2026. (Marzor)\" width=\"1078\" height=\"302\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/CMG-L-202608-hot-list-mazor.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"39226100\" \/>(Marzor)<br \/>\n7. Mazor<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> Fresh masa dishes like blue-corn steak quesadillas from Cristian Orozco.<br \/><strong>WHY:<\/strong> Get to know the up-and-comer, who made his name at Glen Ellyn\u2019s Five O Four Kitchen.<br \/><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> 485 N. Milwaukee Ave., Fulton River District <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mazorchicago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"A spread of food at The Ives\" width=\"1500\" height=\"388\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/CMG-L-202608-hot-list-the-ives.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"39226130\" \/>(Nick Podraza\/The Ives)<br \/>\n8. The Ives<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> A Boka revamp of Cherry Circle Room.<br \/><strong>WHY:<\/strong> Tableside prime rib and other retro touches entice.<br \/><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> 12 S. Michigan Ave., Loop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theiveschicago.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Mediterranean dishes at Naia\" width=\"1024\" height=\"273\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/CMG-L-202608-hot-list-Naia.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"39226127\" \/>(Keni Rosales\/Naia)<br \/>\n9. Naia<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> A slick Mediterranean place from DineAmic.<br \/><strong>WHY:<\/strong> The bilevel riverside patio is summer\u2019s hot spot.<br \/><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> 300 N. La Salle Dr., River North <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naiarestaurant.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>10. Discourse Coffee<\/p>\n<p><strong>WHAT:<\/strong> A permanent location for the former caf\u00e9 pop-up.<br \/><strong>WHY:<\/strong> Expand your definition of coffee with out-there drinks like the Motorhead, with pork fat and apple caramel.<br \/><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> 952 W. Fulton Market, West Loop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discourse.coffee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"1. All Well WHAT: Oriole\u2019s Noah Sandoval and Larry Feldmeier introduce this more relaxed spot, with prix fixe&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":964639,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5124],"tags":[323766,387653,115651,175285,960,94905,15767,365499,387654,387664,95835,94904,5386,1818,387660,387658,323769,29411,9814,387655,387662,46021,323767,8463,988,387659,387656,29230,387661,387663,254294,94902,94906,387657],"class_list":["post-964638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-chicago","tag-all-well","tag-bad-butter","tag-beaumonts","tag-bucktown","tag-chicago","tag-chicago-restaurant","tag-chicago-restaurants","tag-cristian-orozco","tag-dan-koester","tag-discourse-coffee","tag-fulton-river-district","tag-hot-list","tag-il","tag-illinois","tag-johnny-besch","tag-labriola-italian-specialties","tag-larry-feldmeier","tag-lincoln-park","tag-loop","tag-mariela","tag-mazor","tag-naia","tag-noah-sandoval","tag-restaurant","tag-restaurants","tag-rich-labriola","tag-rishi-kumar","tag-river-north","tag-the-alley-cat","tag-the-ives","tag-ukrainian-village","tag-west-loop","tag-where-to-eat-in-chicago","tag-zubair-mohajir"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/964638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=964638"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/964638\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/964639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=964638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=964638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=964638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}