Chicago's Best Restaurants Restaurants near EL Ideas restaurant

Stax Cafe

This restaurant's name refers to the 10 types of pancake "stax" they serve, with flavors like pineapple upside down, white chocolate raspberry and ricotta with strawberry rhubarb. Other breakfast fare includes blue corn and bacon waffles, egg and cheese sliders, and hot ham and cheese crepes. Stax also serves sandwiches like egg BLTs and falafel sliders.

Canton Regio

The people of Mexico eat a fair amount of meat, so it’s rather surprising that it’s not easier to find a Mexican steakhouse in Chicago; however, if you’ve been looking for steak with south-of-the-border flavors, you can end your search at Canton Regio.

Sinha Elegant Cuisine

Bruna's Ristorante

Bruna's has served great Italian meals since 1933. At the turn of the century, emigrants from the region of Tuscany took over this area. Luciano Silvestri, the owner of Bruna's, is from this region of Italy. He proudly displays posters and pictures of Siena.

Il Vicinato Ristorante

The Il Vincinato Located in Pilsen, one of the oldest Italian restaurants on Chicago’s lower west side. IL Vicinato is immersed in the Heart of Chicago’s Little Italy Neighborhood. This authentic piece of Italy is a hidden gem that has passionately created dishes from old world recipes for 42 years.

Bacci Pizzeria

Home of the "original jumbo slice," this Chicago institution is renowned for its gigantic slices of thin-crust pies. With locations all around Chicagoland, the Taylor Street location in Little Italy is among the fan favorites.

Fig Catering

Small event catering services for groups from 2-150, in your home, a recommended venue or their Pilsen headquarters, plus cooking classes and special events.

Bacchanalia

Welcome to Bacchanalia Italian Restaurant in Chicago! Located just minutes away from downtown Chicago, experience authentic Italian Cuisine. Named after the Roman God Bacchus, Bacchanalia has been a well-known Chicago Institution for over 37 years.

Peanut Park Trattoria

For well over a century, Chicago has been a center of Italian-American culture; Peanut Trattoria serves the classic foods of that culture.

EL Ideas

Former MeatyBalls food truck owner Phillip Foss opened a ballsy, six-seater in the heart of Pilsen to explore the food he really wants to cook. To snag a hard-to-get reservation, email reservations@ELideas.com.

Park Tavern

This sports bar wants to elevate typical pub grub with offbeat offerings like Animal Tots (pulled pork, cheese curds, grain mustard, fried egg, and Bell’s Kalamazoo gravy over tater tots),

El Milagro Store & Taqueria - Little Village

El Milagro's tacos, burritos and more are all made on their own fresh tortillas, which start with whole corn, stone-ground at the factory. This taqueria is housed at the tortilla factory and store in Little Village.

Vintage Lounge

During the week, this Little Italy lounge serves specialty burgers, salads, sliders, sandwiches, pizzas and small plates. On the weekends, it become a dance party with DJs and bottle service.

The Rosebud

Established by Alex Dana in 1977, the Rosebud has grown from this single Little Italy restaurant to a restaurant empire popular for generously portioned, home-style Italian food.

La Chaparrita Taqueria #1

Chicago is full of unassuming little eateries like La Chaparrita, unpretentious taquerias attached to grocery stores. This Mexico City-inspired one is based in Little Village, and it's been a staple in the neighborhood for more than six years.

Hawkeye's Bar & Grill

Hawkeye's Bar & Grill is located in the heart of the historic Little Italy district in Chicago, we offer food, fun, drink and an exciting party atmosphere.

Leona's - Taylor Street

Pl-zen

Former Kuma's Corner chef Albert Benitez is behind the menu at this offbeat American eatery in Pilsen. Burgers, of course, are one of the highlights with such offerings as an eight-ounce, grass-fed beef burger with grilled pineapple; lamb with mint and fresh oregano; and crab with sweet corn citrus relish.

Cafe Jumping Bean

Old-timers, artists and students populate this Pilsen coffeehouse known for sandwiches and bottomless cups of coffee.

Sweet Maple Cafe

Comforting Southern cuisine is the bill of fare at this longstanding Taylor Street destination. The no-frills restaurant feels like dining in someone's home, complete with a charming waitstaff that makes each customer feel like family. The breakfast-heavy menu features decadent renditions of biscuits, pancakes, scrambles, omelettes, and more.

Casa del Pueblo

Their name says it all; we are your neighborhood grocer with a large selection of ethnic products at a friendly price. We strive to carry brand name product you grew up with and still love. The established relationships with significant manufactures allow us to purchase in large quantities so we can pass on our savings to our customers.

La Fontanella

Welcome to La Fontanella Ristorante! Our journey began in 2000 when chef and owner Sal Stillo turned his dreams of owning a restaurant into reality. He came to America at 8 years old with hopes of living the “American dream”. Sal was born in Sant’Andrea, Calabria and has had a passion for the culinary art since a young boy.

Original Ferrara Bakery

Italian pastries, wedding cakes, cookies and pizzas feature at this historic Italian bakery. They also offer soup and sandwiches at lunchtime.

Salvatore Ferrara emigrated from Nola, Italy, to Chicago in 1900. Eight years later, he opened this pastry shop.

El Milagro Store and Taqueria - Pilsen

El Milagro's tacos, burritos and more are all made on their own fresh tortillas, which start with whole corn, stone-ground at the factory.

Davanti Enoteca - Little Italy