Restaurants in Champaign

“Very kind staff. I wish that I could remember her name. Great service is definitely part of a "Best Around Me" experience!!! Dave's Hot Chicken is a Best Around Me, am I right?”

“Amazing food for a great price.”

“I cannot say enough good things about Smith Burgers. We have had over half the items on their menu and have never found something we didn't like. My favorite 2 items are the Swiss N Shroom and Bacon Mac Attack Ripper. If you haven't tried them yet, do it. You won't be disappointed.”

“Dinner was fantastic. Service was superior. Wonderful evening and can’t wait to eat here again!”

“Shoyu ramen= amazing. Comforting and delicious every time.”

“Although it’s been a while since I’ve been there I have to commend The Original Pancake House for their most recent post stating they were going to be closed on a upcoming day to install a new dishwasher. In this post they suggested other area restaurants for customers to visit for breakfast. There are not many places i know that would do this! Kudos to them! That speaks volumes to me on the type of people they are. Can’t wait to visit again!”

“food is always hot and fresh. always have to stop when I'm in town”

“I have eaten here several times. One of the best places in town for falafel. Their bowls are large and can easily be divided into two meals. Their pita bread is hot and delicious. The staff is friendly and fast.”

“Great food great service, authentic Asian food. Special drink selection :)”

“Such a nice place to visit! Staffs are very friendly and always has an energy. The foods were excellent as well. I had bunch of rolls and I love salmon and the quality of the fish were so good. Very fresh :) I would definitely come here again”

“I find the food items are honestly delicious, generous portions, prices are comparable to other establishments. The atmosphere is welcoming. I give Neil St. Blues a A+.”

“Erica is the best waitress!”

“It was soooo goooood

The crunchies of the fried red peppers the peanuts the green peppers

Then the salty egg tofu was so nice and salty but sweet and the temp is so warm it’s like eating yummy soup with no liquid

The fried sweet and sour pork was okay”

“Best taco truck in the CU! Radishes on the side with caramelized onions! 🤤 The food is always fresh and service is great!”

“Great food and great atmosphere”

“1st time visiting. Very nice, and clean restaurant. Staff was very nice but most of all the food was delicious! So many options to choose from made it hard to decide. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal. Definitely will be back. Instead of 5 stars, I'll give them 10!”

“The food was amazing. We had the gree thai curry with chicken which came with a side of rice and the basil fried rice. The wait time is longer (I guess because they make things fresh). Chef's kiss :)”

“The tarts were delicious and the service was a 10/10! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

“I think this is literally the best Indian food place in the Midwest! Please go here!l, you won’t be sorry.”

“The perfect local hole in the wall, locally owned place. Pho broth was exquisite, the seafood plentiful, fresh rolls perfect, chicken and broccoli sauce on point and pad Thai exemplary. The chili oil is really well done too. 10/10 Would recommend.”

“Awesome quick serve food! The mango lassis are yummy and the service was great!”

“I love the vegetable chow fun and I get it vegan! The noodles are cooked to the perfect crispiness in my opinion. The workers and owner have always been so kind and welcoming and when I was taking Chinese classes they loved teaching me.”

“July 2025
Tried couple other items… the stir fry fish was not great but …

Cabbage still awesome
Coconut curd super yum
Salted egg yolk tofu - proper
Mango sago ok

May 2025
Ok we are in love 😆
The matcha mousse 🌟
The 雙皮奶 💫
Crispy coconut milk curd 💎
Stir fry cabbage 🥬 😋

We WILL be back for fish 🐟 😂”

“It was great service!!! The guy who waited on us was wonderful!!!”

“The dining environment is good, and every food is very good! Parking is convenient and there is no charge.”

“Fantastic experience! Everyone was super friendly (special shout-out to our server, Bri, who made our experience amazing!) and the food was amazing! Would highly recommend, definitely worth an hour or upwards of a wait if it’s busy!”

“It's primarily a take-out-only place with a few seats available. The interior was clean, and the service was quick. It also offers self-ordering kiosks. The coconut latte tasted great, and their default sweetness level is definitely much more subdued than that of some other chains.”

“Had early dinner at the Big Grove and was completely blown away. Food was excellent with a variety of menu items that had me wishing my stomach was a bit bigger. I sat at the bar as I was dining alone and the bartender did a great job of explaining the various items I inquired about as well as suggesting a perfect craft beer pairing. I only get to Champaign a couple of times a year, but this will be my go-to anytime in the area.”

“i thought that the food selections were great. the food was hot and displayed well. we will definitely go back again.”

“This is one of my go-to places to eat when I really don't feel like cooking. They have so many options available for tofu and vegetable dishes. You only need to specify vegan (no fish/oyster sauce) when ordering and everything should be good! It is pretty affordable for the portions, so I have ordered food from here on multiple occasions. My favorite dishes are the Kung pao tofu and the tofu with broccoli.”

“Excellent food and service!!! Tons of options. Can't wait to go back.”

“The daily specials are always delicious and affordable!”

“Had family lunch here & enjoyed the ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. Pit beans were a favorite. Wished we had got the cornbread. Overall a great experience”

“The absolute BEST!! Their vegan doughnuts are fabulous!!!”

“Consistently delicious and lightening fast.”

“Great food and wonderful atmosphere!”

“Great food served by wonderful people. The owners care so much about the quality of food and most often they are the ones cooking it. That’s why I recommend The Space! Swing by for lunch sometimes they get busy at dinner. Highly recommend!”

“I was there after what I assume is the busy time, so I had the dining room to myself. There was a steady stream of folks in the drive thru though. The "Deluxe Single Basket" was more than enough to fill me up. I had to buy a take-home pint, too full for dessert. The staff were friendly and at least one was always cleaning something.”

“Our meals were excellent. I had the chicken and shrimp pasta. he had the Tasmanian shrimp scallops and pasta. We had Abbi for our server. and Jon, the manager is terrific Definitely my favorite restaurant”

“I loved the cute anime things on the wall, after we got in there was minimal people, making find seating a whole lot easier. The person serving us was super nice and got us water even though u were supposed to get ur drink from the water dispenser. The food was ok, the chicken a bit hard to chew but the soup and ramen overall really good.”

“Great food and great beer! And our server Mesa was an absolute sweetheart! Thanks so much for the positive first experience! We will be back for sure.”

“Delicious treats! Great customer service! very friendly”

“Food is excellent especially the salsa and chips. The serve staff are friendly, professional, and respectful. It is a little dark at times as the lighting is turned down, but not in a bad way as it lets the wall lights shine and actually add to the atmosphere somewhat more. Overall, enjoyable experience every time.”

“Great Latte and Macha Latte! We love that you use organic milk and fresh ground Italian coffee! 😊❤️☕️”

“Joshua was a fantastic server. The double frozen strawberry margaritas with salt, truffle fries and cheese curds were terrific. It was my first visit there and I look forward to going back. Our party of 7 had a blast.”

“Wonderful service wonderful food made you feel welcome. Great little place third time we’ve been there we will go back.”

“My friend and I came in for dinner and had a fantastic time. The restaurant was beautiful, and we were seated as soon as we walked in. The menu was by QR code, which was convenient for a hot pot restaurant because you could order more food at any time. The menu also had suggested cook times for every ingredient which was helpful as this was our first time getting hot pot. We got the ribeye, a portion of noodles, a vegetable plate, and a tomato soup base. The soup base was delicious! The staff were super nice as well, they were very friendly and would frequently come over to check on us. Overall, it was a very good experience and I am very excited to return with more friends. We dined for approximately 2 hours.”

“Fast, friendly service and the snowstorms definitely were the move! Booger loved his pup cup of whipped cream too! 🐾”

“best sushi in town. they make it fresh and you don't have to wait forever for it. they have a huge team of sushi chefs behind the counter. The selection is vast and the staff is extremely accommodating and friendly.”

“Closest thing to Chicago wings down here! They had amazing mild sauce. The seasoning they put on everything was SOOOO good. My new go-to wing place for sure.”

“Stopped by the food truck for beef tacos and was pleasantly surprised. The meat was well-seasoned, the ingredients tasted fresh, and the service was efficient. A solid choice for a quick, satisfying meal. The owner was very polite as-well.”

“Absolutely love this place! Naf Naf never disappoints. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. Their chicken shawarma and steak are tender and juicy, and I’m obsessed with the fluffy pita and creamy garlic sauce. The falafel is crispy on the outside and soft inside—one of the best I’ve had.

The staff is super friendly and patient, always happy to help customize my bowl just the way I like it. The restaurant is clean, bright, and comfortable, making it a great spot for a quick lunch or casual dinner.”

“Bobos is the place we go when we want that blue collar environment while eating amazing food!”

“MUST TRY WHEN VISITING UIUC
Pho Noodle Station tastes great with many combination of meat. The pork chop rice also tasty. But skip the banh mi, preferably baquette instead of regular roll/bread

Vegetarian options: only one menu

Dietary restrictions: non halal

Parking: looking for street parking

Kid-friendliness: yes

Wheelchair accessibility: yes”

“Very good I will come black”

“Drinks were delicious. The waiters/ waitresses were very friendly and nice. This place has great cocktails and the appetizers were amazing.”

“Love playing at Huber’s! Where else can you see great, local live music in such cool climes???”

“The food is delicious and the atmosphere is nice 😍”

“Good Drinks and Friendly People !”

“We shared the breakfast burrito and chips with chorizo and queso. Absolutely delicious. The chips were light and crisp. We happened upon the truck when we stopped at Triptych Brewing on a road trip. Perfect dinner and beer stop!”

“Delicious food with reasonable price!”

“Great calzones in a timely fashion! Never disappointed by these guys. Definitely recommend!”

“Hi...My hubby-Bryan & I have gone here recently & its the Best Breakfast Restaurant in Champaign Illinois & we will be trying their lunch meal next time!! The Waitress- Olga is always the Best, the Owner is Always Friendly!! The Food is Fast & Delicious!!”

“I’ve been coming to the Italian Patio since I was a kid. I loved it when Frank would give me a balloon on my birthday! I love the atmosphere, the staff is always friendly, and most importantly the food is delicious!”

“great customer service 10/10 very friendly guys at the food truck and very good food. I recommend you stop if you see the truck 🔥🔥🔥”

“Need to check your food orders. I ordered a cup of clam chowder and the container it came in was half full. Good thing I'm not starving.”

“Amazing! Best coffee we have ever had!”

“Great food and great vibes!”

“Absolutely awesome food you can find around here. It's like homemade cuisine—fresh, well-seasoned, juicy, tender, and served with delicious sides and stews. Words can't describe how good the hummus is: creamy, fresh, and of high quality. You have to try this place. You may have to stand in a long queue between 10:30 am and 2 pm since only one unique man does all the work. His face is serious, but he is kind and generously offers extra food and fruit on the side. The portions are even enough for two people, and the sandwiches are a specialty here. I've never had such amazing sandwiches anywhere else. Give it a try, and you will be addicted to food.”

“The burgers and cocktails are amazing! The staff was super friendly!”

“I’ve been eating at this place since I was 7, the flavors haven’t changed and I’m glad. It’s absolutely delicous in my opinion, it’s also not that expensive so it’s a good option if you are on a budget.”

“Just a great experience. We will be returning!”

“Employees are very friendly. Always get the pineapple fried rice, always delicious

Vegetarian options: Good vegetarian options. Tofu as a substitute for meat.”

“Amazing food for a great price.”

“this is my favorite coffee shop on campus!! lots of variety of drinks. i love their oatmeal cookie latte. the service is wonderful and they are very willing to replace a drink if it needs milk substitutions. their pastries are also very yummy!! great pairing with a drink. great place to bring a friend, and very cute atmosphere that is wonderful for studying. the workers have a great attitude and the general manager is sooo friendly <3

Dietary restrictions: very flexible with milk substitutions!”

“This isn’t a five star restaurant, it is an Arby’s. I eat here often since it close to work. It is, however, one of the best Arby’s I have visited. The main reason is the crew. The food is fresh and tasty, and the crew is really friendly. Like all restaurants, they have staffing issues, but the ones they have do an excellent job.”

“Had early dinner at the Big Grove and was completely blown away. Food was excellent with a variety of menu items that had me wishing my stomach was a bit bigger. I sat at the bar as I was dining alone and the bartender did a great job of explaining the various items I inquired about as well as suggesting a perfect craft beer pairing. I only get to Champaign a couple of times a year, but this will be my go-to anytime in the area.”

“Such a nice place to visit! Staffs are very friendly and always has an energy. The foods were excellent as well. I had bunch of rolls and I love salmon and the quality of the fish were so good. Very fresh :) I would definitely come here again”

“Bobos is the place we go when we want that blue collar environment while eating amazing food!”

“To all of you complaining about the drive-thru wait times, I have an idea: get out of your car and order INSIDE! Oftentimes, you can find 2-3 employees taking orders at the same time. You can see how many cars are in the drive-thru and figure that it's going to take a while to take each car's order, payment, make your drink &/or food, package your food, hand you your food, and then wait for the car to pull out! For those of you stewing at the drive-thru wait times, you may wish to think about just how unreasonable your expectations and demands are and make some changes to your thinking patterns & life! You CAN become a more patient and better person. I agree with the man who posted that this is the busiest Starbucks - both inside & the drive-thru! I also agree with him that it is the best-managed Starbucks (that I have ever been to) and that their employees are second to none in the industry! They work extremely hard & put in long hours, put up with rude people, have to make ridiculously complicated drinks for some people, and then if they have to close the store at night, have to thoroughly clean everything and vacuum & mop the floors before leaving! How many of you seemingly over-indulged & privileged people could do ALL THAT for the (most likely) $13-14/hour they earn??? I'm 65 years old and have been going to this Starbucks since they opened. I have been to Starbucks all over the U.S. and can state, without a doubt, that THIS Starbucks makes their drinks EXACTLY as Corporate requires! That is not true of every Starbucks I've ever visited. In closing, if you don't want to wait your turn, may I suggest you go to the Starbucks in Campustown.”

“Our favorite breakfast spot in Champaign or Urbana. Our waitress, Lacy, was first-rate. Love this place.”

“As a long time lover of Mex cuisine, I'm very impressed by Black Bull. Owner is very sweet, friendly, accommodating. My meal was PERFECT. ENCHILADAS VERDES. I will return”

“I cannot say enough good things about Smith Burgers. We have had over half the items on their menu and have never found something we didn't like. My favorite 2 items are the Swiss N Shroom and Bacon Mac Attack Ripper. If you haven't tried them yet, do it. You won't be disappointed.”

“Very kind staff. I wish that I could remember her name. Great service is definitely part of a "Best Around Me" experience!!! Dave's Hot Chicken is a Best Around Me, am I right?”

“As you may or may not know.. me and Tha' Thunder Chicken travel tha' country in search of Denny's that we've never been to and also to reconnect with our Denny's friends we've met along the way... Today I found tha' Mothership !! This place is huge and tha' food and service was outstanding as always !! We will Definitely Be Back and hope ta' meet more of tha' great folks that go above and beyond to keep our bellies full...”

“Fantastic experience! Everyone was super friendly (special shout-out to our server, Bri, who made our experience amazing!) and the food was amazing! Would highly recommend, definitely worth an hour or upwards of a wait if it’s busy!”

“Had family lunch here & enjoyed the ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. Pit beans were a favorite. Wished we had got the cornbread. Overall a great experience”

“Great food and great beer! And our server Mesa was an absolute sweetheart! Thanks so much for the positive first experience! We will be back for sure.”

“Food is excellent especially the salsa and chips. The serve staff are friendly, professional, and respectful. It is a little dark at times as the lighting is turned down, but not in a bad way as it lets the wall lights shine and actually add to the atmosphere somewhat more. Overall, enjoyable experience every time.”

“Do not go through the drive through here! It's horrible! We eat here a lot inside but the drive through is horrible. Ex: today attempted it and there was only 1 car in line ordering. I guess they didn't know what they wanted at first so they took a really long time to figure out what they wanted. Then they pulled up and we are right behind them. I kid you not we waited about 20 minutes behind this 1 car! so I called the store letting them know they need to get this drive through going cuz there's a huge line behind us now. They could have easily had this car pull to the side in order to service the other vehicles. Well some one eventually came out to put up the other cars orders. It's just ridiculous really. Please get a better system going for the drive through. Food and inside service is great!”

“The best sushi in Champaign-Urnana!”

“Shoyu ramen= amazing. Comforting and delicious every time.”

“Although it’s been a while since I’ve been there I have to commend The Original Pancake House for their most recent post stating they were going to be closed on a upcoming day to install a new dishwasher. In this post they suggested other area restaurants for customers to visit for breakfast. There are not many places i know that would do this! Kudos to them! That speaks volumes to me on the type of people they are. Can’t wait to visit again!”

“Joshua was a fantastic server. The double frozen strawberry margaritas with salt, truffle fries and cheese curds were terrific. It was my first visit there and I look forward to going back. Our party of 7 had a blast.”

“Erica is the best waitress!”

“Amazing food for a great price.”

“Chicago got nothin on y'all. Best pizza I have ever had in my life.”

“Amazing service! We had a group of 6 with 2 small children. Were met at the end of a long line and led to a table where are order was taken. Quickly got our food and were often asked if we needed anything.”

“my new favorite place to eat in champaign”

“Got the beef bone broth, and it was delicious. Wide variety of fresh options to choose from, and they cook it for you very fast. However some of the meats and veg needed to be restocked which took more time than I wanted.”

“A very nice ramen place. They have quite a variety of dishes to choose from. Their appetizers are also good. I ordered deep fried oysters. It was delicious!! Their Tonkotsu ramen is very flavorful. The staff here are very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is very nice. This is a good ramen place!!!”

“Kimbap is great! Lots of filling and I heard that the other flavors are really good too. Only thing was that the chicken inside the Kimbap was cold. I was also a little disappointed with the fish cake soup as the fish cake was pretty bland. The broth itself was alright but I wouldn’t buy it again. Would definitely come back to try the other Kimbap though!

Teriyaki Chicken Mayo Kimbap - $7.50
Fish cake soup - $4.50”

“Mad Goat Coffee is a really nice spot! There are plenty of tables, which makes it great for studying, working, or catching up with friends. The drinks are a bit on the higher side price-wise, but the quality definitely matches — everything I tried was excellent. The only thing that felt a little off was the lack of music; it was surprisingly quiet inside. A little background music would make the atmosphere even better, but overall, it’s a great coffee shop worth visiting!”

“I went there for karaoke on a Friday, had a blast.”

“The hounds rest used to be the blind pig. The new ownership has done a fantastic job keeping the local charm while making tasteful updates. The aesthetic is old English and it's on point.

I can't say it enough. I love their support of local breweries and the community. They participate in so many events and even host events. I consider this bar whenever I want a night out or just a quick drink with friends.”

“One of the chillest spots in town!
Fantastic beer selection, amazing food and super friendly staff. This spot is perfect for post work chats, after class snacks and game day drinks and food that’ll please everyone! A staple in the community and a definite place to bring anyone! The Pretzels are soo good as well as the Patty melt!”

“UPDATE: we had a rough time going the first time after making my review the manager and owner made it right. The wings were better. The wings were good. I do recommend this place because the customer service was corrected. Thank you so much.”

“One of my absolute favorite spots in town! This restaurant offers an incredible selection of flavors for Malatang and Malaxiangguo. All the ingredients are laid out beautifully, allowing you to pick exactly what you want – from meats to fresh vegetables and noodles. The ingredients are always super fresh and the broths are rich and flavorful. Whether you're craving something spicy or mild, there's something to choose from.”

“Great atmosphere. I love sitting out in the patio area on summer evenings. The expanded cocktail menu really works well for non-been drinkers like myself but there are still plenty of beer options for others”

“I saw this place while walking around campus and decided to come because my brother had never tried duck before. You order at a kiosk and then wait for your food. The staff was really friendly and happy to answer all our questions. I got the rice porridge soup with shrimp and it was 10/10. The duck was also amazing, they chop it up right in front of you so you can watch and it was so flavorful and chewy. The cucumber salad was fresh and spicy to help balance the richness of the duck. My brother got chicken wings which were simple but still good for anyone who is not into duck. Seating is limited, about 20 spots inside but I would definitely come back.”

“Employees here are consistently great. John was fast, friendly, and knowledgeable. He clearly cared about the store and wanted to give the best service possible. I will certainly be back.”