Chicago Restaurant Week 2027

Chicago Restaurant Week is one of the longest-running culinary events in the US, bringing special prix-fixe menus to hundreds of restaurants across the city each January and early February. The format gives diners access to restaurants that might otherwise be hard to book on short notice, at fixed price points that make the economics of a splurge more predictable.

How it works

Participating restaurants offer set menus at fixed price tiers — typically in the range of $30 for lunch and $45 or $60 for dinner, though the exact amounts are confirmed each year by Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism bureau. The menus change from the regular offering, sometimes showcasing seasonal ingredients or a chef’s personal favourites. Reservations fill quickly; book as soon as the restaurant list goes live, usually around the time the event is announced in early January.

What to expect

The event spans both weekdays and weekends across the two-week window, with no single central venue. Participating restaurants are spread across Chicago’s 77 neighbourhoods — from the River North dining corridor and the West Loop’s restaurant-dense Fulton Market district to neighbourhood spots in Andersonville, Logan Square, and Pilsen. The Choose Chicago website maintains the full searchable list with menus and booking links.

Cuisines covered run the full range of the city’s dining scene: deep-dish pizza institutions, modern American tasting menus, steakhouses, Thai, Ethiopian, Korean, and everything in between. A handful of Michelin-starred restaurants typically participate, making the week a genuine opportunity to try kitchens that book out months in advance on a normal night.

Tips for visitors

Book as early as possible once the list drops — the most popular restaurants sell out within days. Lunch menus tend to offer better value and are easier to secure last-minute. If you are visiting Chicago specifically for Restaurant Week, try to stay in the West Loop or River North to maximise access to the highest concentration of participating restaurants.

Restaurant Week runs in one of Chicago’s coldest stretches of winter, so pack accordingly. The L train connects virtually all neighbourhoods and avoids parking headaches. Read our full guide to Chicago for accommodation picks and neighbourhood overviews.