Chicago Magazine lists 10 hottest restaurants

Chicago Magazine has published its latest “10 Hottest Restaurants in Chicago Right Now” list, a June-July 2026 roundup of what it called the city’s “most buzzed-about restaurants this summer.” The list was posted on May 21 and ranks 10 spots “in order of heat,” with short descriptions of each concept, why it stands out and where to find it. The ranking mixes bars, sandwich shops, a doughnut store, a deli expansion and a pizza reopening, with entries spread across River North, Logan Square, the Loop, Roscoe Village, Lincoln Park, Edgewater, Wicker Park and Lake View East. Chicago Magazine’s top pick was Kitty’s Cosmopolitan Club at 51 W. Hubbard St. in River North. (chicagomag.com) ### Which restaurant landed at No. 1? Kitty’s Cosmopolitan Club took the top spot on the list. Chicago Magazine described it as a “glam bar” from the Gus’ Sip & Dip team located under Crying Tiger, and said tableside martinis and chilled seafood made it a new date-night destination. The address listed was 51 W. Hubbard St., River North. (chicagomag.com) Txa Txa Club ranked second. Chicago Magazine said the pop-up supper club had added an all-day café at 3268 W. Fullerton Ave. in Logan Square, serving coffee and breakfast sandwiches in the morning before shifting to snacks and aperitivos later in the day. ### What rounded out the top five? Fatback Butcher was ranked No. 3. (chicagomag.com) Chicago Magazine said Charlie McKenna’s new sandwich shop at 176 W. Wacker Dr. in the Loop offered items including an ’nduja grilled cheese and a meatball sub with vodka sauce, calling it a boost for Loop workers. Fathom came in at No. 4. The magazine described it as a casual neighborhood queer bar from the Dorothy team at 1622 W. (chicagomag.com) Belmont Ave. in Roscoe Village, with classic cocktails including frozen Irish coffees and food pop-ups from groups such as Logan Oyster Socials. Daly’s Donuts ranked fifth. Chicago Magazine said the farmers’ market baked-doughnut seller had opened a shop at 659 W. (chicagomag.com) Armitage Ave. in Lincoln Park, highlighting seasonal specials such as blueberry streusel. ### Which neighborhoods and formats showed up further down the list? Zenwich placed sixth with its Edgewater opening at 1124 W. (chicagomag.com) Thorndale Ave. Chicago Magazine said the Elmhurst sandwich shop’s fillings included basil crab cakes, Taiwanese braised pork and spicy garlic shrimp. Port Union ranked seventh. The magazine said chef Rodolfo Cuadros had turned Bloom Plant Based Kitchen into a New American restaurant at 1559 N. (chicagomag.com) Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park, adding dishes such as larb-inspired beef tartare. Da Local Boy, a downtown outpost of the Highwood Hawaiian restaurant, was eighth at 335 S. Franklin St. in the Loop. (chicagomag.com) Schneider Deli was ninth with its expansion to 1733 N. Halsted St. in Lincoln Park. Milly’s Pizza In The Pan was 10th after closing its Berwyn outpost and returning to the North Side at 3409 N. Broadway in Lake View East, according to Chicago Magazine. ### What does the list say about Chicago dining right now? Chicago Magazine’s selections leaned heavily toward new openings, expansions and format shifts rather than formal fine dining. The 10 entries included bars, cafés, sandwich shops, a deli and pizza, with only one list item described as a New American restaurant. (chicagomag.com) The list also spread attention beyond one corridor. Two entries were in the Loop, two in Lincoln Park, and the rest were distributed across North and Northwest Side neighborhoods including River North, Logan Square, Roscoe Village, Edgewater, Wicker Park and Lake View East. ### Where can readers find the full list? Chicago Magazine published the full ranking on its website as part of its June-July 2026 issue package. (chicagomag.com) The article includes each restaurant’s rank, a short “What” and “Why” description, and the address for all 10 spots.