15 Most Expensive Restaurants In Chicago, IL in 2024
America’s Second City is a certified foodie heaven, with hundreds of high-end eateries, but which of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago is the perfect backdrop for your next special celebration? If you’re looking to splurge, our carefully curated list is here to help you find the perfect place to dine.
Whether you’re seeking a venue for a special dinner with friends, a romantic date night meal, a birthday dinner or any other occasion, these are the 15 most expensive restaurants in Chicago that are worth the splurge.
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The 15 Most Expensive Restaurants In Chicago, Illinois
1. Alinea
It would be hard to make a list of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago without placing Alinea firmly in the number one position. It holds three Michelin stars and is one of, if not the, most famous fine dining restaurants in Chi-Town.
The Vibe
Alinea is refined and upscale with a minimal and comfortably simple décor. Seating is spread over several rooms and includes seats with views of the kitchen, allowing you to watch the chefs work their magic.
What to Order
Alinea's menu is very creative, as you’d expect from the most expensive restaurant in Chicago. Opting for the tasting menu is a must and hope that the imaginative Paint the Desert — a sprawling Pollock-esque masterpiece of dark chocolate and butter pecan — is on the menu when you visit.
Alinea | 1723 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614 | $$$
2. Oriole
Ask any Chicagoan: "What are the most expensive restaurants in Chicago?" and chances are Oriole will be one of their answers. This two Michelin star venue, found in the West Loop neighborhood, specializes in new American cooking served in a sleek interior.
The Vibe
Dining at Oriole is a one-off experience. Step through a freight elevator door and you’ll enter an intimate space full of soft lighting and thoughtful touches.
What to Order
The food at Oriole is a feast for all of the senses. Chef Noah Sandoval oversees an extensive tasting menu that includes imaginative delights like spiny lobster with honeydew and coconut and Miyazaki beef served with lettuce.
Oriole | 661 W. Walnut St., Chicago, IL 60661 | $$$
3. Sepia
For a truly unforgettable culinary experience, Sepia deserves its place on any list as one of the best expensive restaurants in Chicago.
The Vibe
Sepia is housed in a former print shop which has been updated with gleaming tableware and warm natural wood to create a perfect venue for a romantic dinner.
What to Order
Popular options on the menu include the Rohan duck breast, served with a harissa duck doughnut, and the panna cotta, which is a masterpiece of form and flavor.
Sepia | 123 N. Jefferson St., Chicago, IL 60661 | $$$
4. Moody Tongue
The humble beer is transformed at Moody Tongue into the basis and inspiration of a menu that has seen this eatery become one of the highest-rated most expensive restaurants in Chicago.
The Vibe
Helmed by Chef Jared Wentworth, Moody Tongue is the world’s only two Michelin Star brewery. The inside is stylish but not formal with plenty of comfortable seats to remind you to sit back and enjoy life.
What to Order
The refined tasting menu focuses on fresh ingredients that have been carefully prepared. Expect dishes such as Millionaire’s Rice with lobster and sea urchin and pork ballotine with sauerkraut. Every dish has an expert beer pairing available as well.
Moody Tongue | 2515 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60616 | $$$
5. North Pond
If you’re looking for a Windy City dining experience with a little less city bustle, North Pond is the most expensive restaurant in Chicago for you. Set in a former boat house in Lincoln Park, the surroundings are as beautiful as the food is delicious.
The Vibe
Spectacular views across the water, birdsong in the trees and a roaring fire combine to make North Pond one of the more relaxed spots among the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.
What to Order
Prepare to have difficulties finding a favorite dish at North Pond. Excellent dishes to sample include the maple-braised pork belly and buttermilk biscuits with duck mushroom gravy. The desserts are also incredible, so don't leave without trying a few.
North Pond | 2610 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 | $$$
6. Boka
One of the best-known among the most expensive restaurants in Chicago, Boka has held a Michelin Star for more than 10 years.
The Vibe
Boka is a stunning backdrop for a fine dining meal, with an elegant geometric-inspired design. Dining in the candlelit back garden is especially romantic if you’re looking for date ideas in Chicago.
What to Order
Boka focuses on locally sourced ingredients that are treated respectfully to create American-inspired dishes. Standout menu choices include the duck leg ravioli and the roasted pork collar.
Boka | 1729 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614 | $$$
7. EL Ideas
Expect the unexpected at EL Ideas, the leader of creative cookery among the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.
The Vibe
EL Ideas flips the fine dining experience on its head. Guests at this restaurant in Chicago sit in the kitchen area and are actively encouraged to interact with the staff.
What to Order
The menu at EL Ideas is constantly changing and endlessly inventive. You might find yourself drinking raw milk served in a baby’s bottle or licking a shrimp cocktail from a glass dish — either way, you won’t forget your meal in a hurry!
EL Ideas | 2419 W. 14th St., Chicago, IL 60608 | $$$
8. Smyth
Helmed by husband and wife team John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, Smyth holds three Michelin Stars and is one of the finest eateries on our list of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.
The Vibe
Smyth has a calm and cozy vibe that is inviting and far less formal than some of the other most expensive restaurants in Chicago, making it a relaxed spot where you can focus on the food.
What to Order
The innovative tasting menu at Smyth changes daily but sample dishes could include innovative creations like lobster coral custard and new potato and pecan ice cream.
Smyth | 177 N. Ada St., Chicago, IL 60607 | $$$
9. Galit
Combining Middle Eastern and Israeli cuisines, Galit has a unique place among the most expensive restaurants in Chicago, offering a diverse array of flavors and culinary skills.
The Vibe
Galit has a modern, minimalist vibe with bare bricks, blonde woods and a generally pared-down color palette.
What to Order
The mezze section of the Galit menu makes for ideal sharing dishes. Start with hummus and then grab Balkan stuffed cabbage and lobster with harissa and navy beans. Save room for baklava as well.
Galit | 2429 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60614 | $$$
10. Jeong
Jeong is also unique among our list of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago due to its interesting origin story. Originally operating out of a mall food truck, Jeong has since become one of the choicest restaurants in trendy West Town.
The Vibe
This high-end eatery has a sophisticated and modern look with a striking black-and-white color palette, stoneware crockery and soft lighting.
What to Order
Having earned its place as one of the finest Korean-inspired most expensive restaurants in Chicago, Jeong has an excellent tasting menu that builds on Korean roots. Example dishes include duck confit with five-spice granola, seared scallops with trout roe and salmon tartare with yuzu.
Jeong | 1460 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60642 | $$$
11. Ever
The recipient of two Michelin stars, Ever is a sophisticated dining spot and a favorite among the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.
The Vibe
Stepping over the threshold at Ever feels like entering a dream world of gastronomic fancy. The interiors are sleek, sophisticated and entirely elegant.
What to Order
As with the other choices on our list of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago, the eight to 10-course tasting menu at Ever changes seasonally but always centers on fresh ingredients, such as scallops with caviar and maitake mushroom with barley.
Ever | 1340 W. Fulton St., Chicago, IL 60607 | $$$
12. Topolobampo
Regularly claiming a place on lists of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago, Topolobampo is an upmarket eatery that serves interesting twists on Mexican cooking.
The Vibe
Elegant and effortlessly chic, Topolobampo is an immediately inviting space. The walls are full of fabulous artwork to accompany the masterpieces on the plates.
What to Order
In common with the other most expensive restaurants in Chicago on our list, Topolobampo has a changing tasting menu. Currently, it features dishes such as local pheasant with mole poblano and fresh corn cake, a specialty of Puebla.
Topolobampo | 445 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654 | $$$
13. Geja’s Café
For those seeking the most expensive restaurants in Chicago that offer a completely one-off experience, look no further than Geja’s Café, a fondue restaurant close to Lincoln Park.
The Vibe
Infused with old-world, European charm, Geja has a simple but elegant interior that acts as a perfect backdrop for a celebratory meal like a birthday dinner in Chicago.
What to Order
The menu here differs slightly from the fare at the other most expensive restaurants in Chicago because it’s entirely based around fondue. The Swiss Gruyère fondue is popular and comes with a choice of meat, fish and vegetables to dip. Try and save room for chocolate fondue for dessert as well.
Geja’s Café | 340 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614 | $$$
14. Roka Akor
The only Japanese eatery on our list of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago, Roka Akor is a contemporary venue in the city’s River North district.
The Vibe
Roka Akor is an upscale and refined restaurant with clean wooden furniture and an uncluttered, modern feel.
What to Order
Try the grilled pork belly with miso mustard and pickled vegetables or let the chef take the lead with the daily sushi and sashimi selection.
Roka Akor | 456 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654 | $$$
15. Gibsons Italia
Soak in breathtaking views of the city skyline at Gibsons Italia, another choice among our list of most expensive restaurants in Chicago that is perfect for celebrations.
The Vibe
Sophisticated and smart, Gibsons Italia has an open feel and stunning views across the river, making it one of the most romantic Italian restaurants in Chicago, especially at sunset.
What to Order
Gibsons may well be the most expensive Italian restaurant in Chicago but it still has a menu featuring plenty of classics. Favorites among locals include the house-made spaghetti and meatballs and the prime Angus Chicago Cut steak.
Gibsons Italia | 233 N. Canal St., Chicago, IL 60606 | $$$
Other Foodie Experiences in Chicago
Chicago is famous for inventive and innovative restaurants. However, if you're looking for something a little different and more intimate, booking a private chef in Chicago provides a luxurious dining experience in the comfort of your own home. You can choose the menu and the professional chef will handle shopping, cooking and clean up.
Alternatively, if you fancy heading out to learn more about the heart and soul of Chi-Town cuisine, you can’t beat expert-led food tours in Chicago. From deep-dish pizza to technicolor rainbow cones, a food tour will showcase both iconic local foods and hidden gems.
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If anyone asks you: “What are the most expensive restaurants in Chicago?” you will now have 15 answers! It’s clear that there’s no shortage of top Chicago restaurants that are perfect for special occasions, intimate dinners or when you just want to try something completely new. Each entry on our list of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago has something unique to offer but they’re all united in providing a lavish menu that has to be measured in the tingle of your tastebuds rather than dollars.
For even more ways to explore Chicago and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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