Named a James Beard America's Classic in 2018, this family-run Hong Kong-style barbecue house has been in Uptown since 1986.

Named a James Beard America's Classic in 2008, this family-run Little Italy tap has served the neighborhood since 1930.

Named a James Beard America's Classic in 1999 — the first Chicago restaurant to receive the honor — after a century of German cooking in the Loop.

Chef Jacob Potashnick won Best Chef: Great Lakes at the 2026 James Beard Awards — Chicago's only winner that year — for this 20-seat Ukrainian Village room built on Midwestern farm sourcing.

Chef Noah Sandoval won Best Chef: Great Lakes at the 2025 James Beard Awards for his tasting-menu restaurant in the Fulton River District.

Won Outstanding Hospitality at the 2024 James Beard Awards — Chicago's only winner that year — for Jason Hammel and Amalea Tshilds's Logan Square farm-to-table mainstay.

Chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon won Best Chef: Great Lakes at the 2023 James Beard Awards for their modern Filipino bakery and restaurant.

Twice honored: chef Erick Williams won Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2022, and chef de cuisine Damarr Brown won Emerging Chef in 2023, both James Beard Awards for this Hyde Park restaurant.

Chef Sarah Grueneberg won Best Chef: Great Lakes at the 2017 James Beard Awards for her handmade-pasta restaurant in the West Loop.

Won Outstanding Restaurant at the 2016 James Beard Awards; chef Grant Achatz had already won Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2007 and Outstanding Chef in 2008.

Chef Jimmy Bannos Jr. won Rising Star Chef of the Year at the 2014 James Beard Awards for this Michigan Avenue Mediterranean spot.

Won Best New Restaurant at the 2012 James Beard Awards for its rotating themed menus; chef Dave Beran then won Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2014.

Chef Stephanie Izard won Best Chef: Great Lakes at the 2013 James Beard Awards for her Randolph Street restaurant.

Won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program in 2013 — the cocktail room from the Alinea Group next door to Next.

Chef Bruce Sherman won Best Chef: Great Lakes at the 2012 James Beard Awards for this Arts and Crafts pavilion in Lincoln Park.

Chef Koren Grieveson won Best Chef: Great Lakes at the 2010 James Beard Awards while cooking at this Randolph Street wine bar.

Won Outstanding Restaurant at the 2017 James Beard Awards; chef Rick Bayless had earlier taken Outstanding Chef in 1995 for Topolobampo and Frontera Grill.