Chicago's Best Restaurants Restaurants near Laugh Factory

Soupbox - River North

Choose from a dozen daily soups, such as beef stew, lobster bisque and New England clam chowder, as well as salads like Caesar, apple berry and Greek, and, in summer, gelato. Check the website for the day's offerings.

Pingpong

Asian fusion food & cocktails in a stylishly minimal space with clubby music & an outdoor patio.

Wake n' Bacon

One of the newest restaurants in Chicago’s growing CBD-forward dining community, Wake n’ Bacon serves a breakfast, lunch and dinner (provided you eat early) of novel sweet and savory dishes.

Flub a Dub Chub's Hot Dog Emporium

Named for their signature "Chubby" 1/4-pound wieners, Flub a Dub Chub's gets quite a bit of attention for burgers, as well.

Wakamono

A casual neighborhood sushi and Japanese restaurant by Kai Togami-san.

Stella's Diner

Family-owned American diner with breakfast fare, milkshakes and more.

Fancy Plants Cafe

Fancy Plants Café is living proof that vegetarian restaurants have come a long way in the past few years; from drab restaurants serving brown rice with everything, they’ve become worthy destinations, offering finessed, finely tuned veg-forward offerings, many times with a fine-dining attention to detail.

Wang's

Intimate, gay-friendly cocktail lounge with vintage China-inspired decor, low lighting & DJs.

Roebuck

TimeLine Theatre Company

TimeLine Theatre Company presents stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues. Our collaborative artistic team produces provocative theatre and educational programs that engage, entertain and enlighten.

2d Restaurant

2d restaurant transports people into their own comic universe using monochrome illusions.

The Closet

Opened in 1978, this tiny, unpretentious lesbian & gay bar features dancing, games & karaoke.

Crisp

Counter-service Korean restaurant specializing in fried chicken. Also serving burritos, steak and vegetable bowls, kimchee and much more (delivery available).

Briar Street Theater | Blue Man Group

The one-time stable for Marshall Field's horses, built in 1901, this building was turned into a theater with excellent sight lines and fine acoustics in 1985. It has been home to the long-running "Blue Man Group" comedy/performance-art show since 1997. There is limited parking in an adjoining lot.

Milt's Barbecue for the Perplexed

The only kosher restaurant in Lakeview, Milt’s, opened in January 2013, nourishes the body and the mind with house-smoked beef and chicken and regular speakers on politics, history, spirituality, humor and more. There's a full bar, too. Kosher supervision by cRc.

Wilde Bar & Restaurant

Literary-themed upscale Irish pub with leather banquettes, extensive beer list & American bar fare.

Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea - Broadway

Doug Zell and his wife, Emily Mange, started Intelligentsia Coffee at this site in 1995, originally roasting and serving coffee on the premises. Today, the carefully selected Direct Trade coffee, widely regarded as the best of the local brews, is roasted in the company's vintage German roasters at their works in the Fulton Market district and delivered fresh daily.

Bagel Restaurant & Deli - Chicago

Jewish deli/diner with an extensive menu that includes faves like bagels, blintzes & matzo balls.

DryHop Brewers

DryHop Brewers is a brewery and eatery in Lakeview East with a special knack for hop-centric brews and beer-friendly American cuisine.

Ceres' Table

Giuseppe Scurato moves his authentic Italian-focused eatery to Lakeview from Uptown.

Soupbox / Icebox - Lakeview

Small storefront with few tables offering a rotating selection of a dozen homemade soups every day.

Chilam Balam Cocina Mexicana

Opened in August 2009, this cozy restaurant concentrates on Mexican small plates and seasonal entrees made from sustainable ingredients. Look for dishes like roasted leg of lamb in a rustic sauce of mulato chiles, bitter chocolate and sesame seeds, and grilled, herb-marinated whole game hen with charred tomato molcajete salsa, blackened knob onions and pot beans.

Maison Marcel

Maison Marcel is a French bakery located in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, offering a healthy menu with the freshest ingredients, in addition to the signature artisanal pastries by our Maître Boulanger from France.