Chicago is a food town. Whether it's deep-dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, or tamales, Chi-town is serious about their grub. That's why when our Inspectors headed to the Windy City this year for this year's Chicago selection, we couldn't wait to share their new additions to the Bib Gourmands.
If you've forgotten what the Bib Gourmand distinction means, it offers good food at incredible value. And for this latest group, our Inspectors traveled all over the city to uncover the fabulous flavors (and cultures) that make up Chicago's diverse culinary landscape.
Expect unfussy cooking at Cellar Door Provision (promoted from recommended to Bib) with flavors ranging from the homey to haute; innovative and impressive Filipino dishes at Boonie's (another promotion); and crave-worthy Chinese at Yao Yao (also promoted) all highlighting the many faces and flavors behind Chicago's gastronomic scene.
So whether you're looking for a casual neighborhood gem with a seasonal menu, a gastropub filled with creativity and comfort, or fiery plates of Chinese food, the Windy City's latest Bib Gourmands satisfy both stomach and wallet with verve. Bon appétit!
Boonie's
Cuisine: Filipino
The intoxicating, unmistakable aroma of garlic fills the narrow room every time someone opens the rice cooker. This rice is the foundation of all things that are good at this homey Filipino restaurant that started out as a food stall. To begin, the crispy pork belly hash is an impressive starter that could very well double as an entrée. Pork, in fact, is all over this small menu, arriving as crispy belly or marinated with herbs and spices or presented as sausage. Tender filets of steelhead trout swimming in a burnt tomato and tamarind broth offer a delicate reprieve from the meat. Dessert is a must: A creamy plantain comes wrapped as a spring roll, dusted in brown sugar and deep fried. It’s as close as you’ll ever get to a handheld crème brûlée.
Cellar Door Provisions
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Some restaurants try very hard to impress and dazzle their customers. This sunny corner of Logan Square is not one of those places. In a recently refreshed, breezy dining room, Cellar Door Provisions is perfectly content with itself. And why shouldn’t it be? This is an honest restaurant with unfussy, no-nonsense cooking where the seasoning is spot on and the flavors are clear. No tweezers, no fancy wine glasses, no military-grade kitchen brigade— just good eats, found in a plate of tender runner beans with garlic confit or a smooth scoop of duck liver mousse paired with just-warmed country bread. You could come here on a quiet date or wander in off the street and snag a counter seat. You’ll be happily greeted either way.
Pompette
Cuisine: Contemporary
The team may have spent time in some of Chicago's heavy-hitting restaurants, but Pompette is decidedly more casual; more neighborhood regular than special occasion Saturday. It's the kind of place you could come all day, every day, and never tire of the selection. Why? The menu, for starters. It's seasonal with an ever-changing rotation of signature dishes. Come early for some of the flakiest and buttery croissants around, then return at lunch for a slice of quiche. Feeling peckish? Snack on a satisfying charcuterie board with meats, such as feather-thin, 18-month prosciutto di Parma, and a variety of cheeses and house-made pickles. Of course, nothing completes the picture quite like a chocolate pot de crème with whipped coconut cream and a shortbread cookie.
Union
Cuisine: American
Building on the success of next-door Lardon, the same team now aims to capture the dinner crowd with this handsome gastropub. Edison bulbs cast a warm glow across the dark wood, long high tops and cozy booths, and regulars are likely to hold court at the bar. The menu, meanwhile, balances comfort with creativity. The spicy baby gem is peak salad satisfaction, built on a creamy tarragon dressing and finished with buttery breadcrumbs. Fried cheese curds and lamb meatballs are easy crowd-pleasers, and every table has at least one cheeseburger. More substantial appetites should swing for the shawarma spiced chicken served with grilled flatbread. There’s plenty to drink, and craft beer fiends will dig the thoughtful, locally sourced selection.
Yao Yao
Cuisine: Chinese
The aquamarine tones create a light and airy setting, but don't mistake the pastel tones for something less than serious. Score one of the front tables for a view of the glass-enclosed kitchen, though the wood-crafted banquette is ideal for settling in. Yao Yao pickled fish is the signature dish here, and it comes in three sizes (extra-large feeds up to six people!). Fiery and potent, this plate delivers a one-two punch with a funky seafood quality and the sharp tang of sour greens. Choose the "two flavored pickled" for a taste of Yao Yao pickled fish and boiled beef in a spicy Szechuan sauce. There are also a slew of sides, ranging from celtuce and dry bean curd skin to seaweed knot and konjac noodles to round out the meal.
Hero image: Clayton Hauck/Union
