Word Of Mouth: City Girl Chicago's Best Of Chicago

Cara, also known as City Girl Chicago, has been born and bred in Chicago. She lives, breathes, and eats Chicago. Any time she's not scoping out a new or different Chicago restaurant, she can be found exploring the culinary world in other ways. Be it absorbing information from world-class chefs, attending cooking classes, farm-to-table events, or test-running a recipe in her kitchen, she blogs about it all at City Girl Chicago.

Brunch: Southport Grocery

Fancy: Graham Elliot

Best Value: Mon Ami Gabi

Bar Scene/Drinks: Maude's Liquor Bar

Business Lunch: NoMI

Burger: Terzo Piano (lamb burger)

Pizza: La Madia

Sandwich: Hannah's Bretzel

Food Truck: Taquero Fusion

Regional: Wishbone

Hidden Gem: Pars Cove

Mexican/Latin American: XOCO

Japanese: Wakamono

Spanish/Tapas: Twist

Thai/Southeast Asian: Butterfly

Wine List: The Tasting Room

Chinese: Lao Sze Chuan

Seafood: Hopleaf – go for the mussels, stay for the beer

Steak: Tango Sur

Italian: Spiaggia

Desserts: Sarah's Pastries

Indian: Veerasway

Wild Card: Bonsoiree