Tapas Restaurants in Chicago, IL

“Wow. The most incredible squid ink chitarra!! Such a great atmosphere with super friendly staff. Highly recommend. Our plates were empty without a morsel left. Also recommend the Penicillin mixed drink. Definitely put this on your Chicago bingo card.“

“Fabulous food and service! Andrii was a fantastic server! Recommend the Pan Con Tomate and Croquettas!“

“Fantastic effort to clearly mark gluten free and vegan dishes. Bravo!“

“Food is delisiooosaaaa, they have the best shrimps with cream and pan calientito Chairs are too high I'm short, but any way i like the place“

“Love this place! Every time we go is such a great romantic experience. You can never go wrong with tapas specially at this restaurant!“

“Love this place! Every time we go is such a great romantic experience. You can never go wrong with tapas specially at this restaurant!“

“I had an amazing time at the bar thanks to Priya! She was not only friendly but also incredibly skilled at crafting drinks. Every cocktail she made was spot on, and she took the time to recommend drinks based on our preferences. Her service was fast, attentive, and added so much to the overall experience. Highly recommend stopping by and having Priya mix up something special for you!“

“We have enjoyed several special occasion meals at Mercat and always enjoy our experience. The dinner we just had for my husband's birthday was an excellent. We were greeted with glasses of Cava in celebration for his birthday, and concluded our meal with an outstanding Basque Cheesecake for dessert, all compliments of the house. The food was great, with the exception of the patatas bravas, which were just nothing special. Our server was so kind and helpful, and kept checking in with us to make sure everything was ok. Pulpo was perfectly grilled. Lamb chops arrived properly cooked rare as requested. This has become one of our favorite restaurants.“

“Brenna was amazing. The food was the second best part to her service“

“Saturday afternoon stop for a brew and snack. Wings were on the Smokey side.“

“Simply put the best Ramen I have ever had. So flavorful and rich. If you don’t come here you are missing out on a oral orgasm lol. Highly recommend and Christine the bartender makes one mean spicy margarita ….🤤🤤🤤🤤“

“Cosmic and Carnal Cocktails, Phenomenal Food and Stupendous Staff Members! 10’s Across The Board! Oh, the sound system and curated DJ Sets will have even the deceased DANCING 🕺“

“All around excellent experience“

“Fantastic food, wide assortment of drinks, friendly and knowledgeable staff, excellent ambience. One of my favorite places in the city.“

“Im embarrassed it took us a couple of years to finally dine here but I'm SO grateful we FINALLY arrived and assure you we will be back again soon. Fun cocktail menu, great wine list and an impeccably delivered menu and great service! Thank you for the perfect date night!“

“I love this place so much. Everything about it is just perfect.“

“The Food and service was great!“

“The crispy potatoes are phenomenal, their sides are great. First time trying their Greek yogurt ice cream and it was awesome. What made it one of the best experiences though was the service, people came to check on us, they asked how our experience was, and the birthday dessert was perfect.“

“Great food and service. We love the patio and fire pits.“

“Staff friendly. Food was very good. Will go again.“

“Hands down, the best bar food in the neighborhood! Pretzel-crusted walleye is ridiculous along with the olive-sized steamed mussels. But as good as the food, the bartenders crush it even more. Responsive, accommodating and authentically friendly.“

“YOOOO the gilty pig is insane! They have "popped up" at my farm a few times now, and each time I am amazed by the flavors and complexity they bring to "simple dishes". They take a brat and turn it into a full asian inspired meal. Now if the food wasnt enough, this truck could not be run by two better people. They deserve all of the awesome things that are coming their way. Keep killin it, guys!“

“We attended a Thanksgiving wine tasting event on 11/20/2025. The staff could not be more accommodating. Emily does an excellent job with these kinds of events. We had baked brie and tasted 15 wines! All were better than the next. We left with 8 bottles and some ideas for future purchases. Great experience. Check them out!“

“Im embarrassed it took us a couple of years to finally dine here but I'm SO grateful we FINALLY arrived and assure you we will be back again soon. Fun cocktail menu, great wine list and an impeccably delivered menu and great service! Thank you for the perfect date night!“

“This hotel is so beautiful and I love the experience. I booked May 17th during Cowboy Carter Beyonce weekend concert and was supposed to stay at JW Marriott which I had reserved and planned for however the rooms were overbooked and there was no space for me. Management did speak with me and informed me not to worry and that they can accommodate me 4-5 minutes away at The Gwen Luxury hotel which was gorgeous. I was on the run the entire time so I did not get to enjoy everything there but I would love to come back to experience this hotel and the brunch event. I highly recommend this hotel for a birthday, anniversary, wedding or special occasion it is top tier and outstanding.“

“Lovely atmosphere and great service. Unique dishes, vegan and vegetarian options in shareable portions that are delicious! Can’t wait to go back and try some more!“

“It was good food to enjoy with family.“

“Keralan Rice Bowl was excellent. Cumin rice is very tasty and gives you a craving to have more. Chilli Chicken 🍗 has a nice spicy flavor. Masala fries 🍟 is a must have.

Above all the service was excellent. The hostess explained the menu and gave recommendations based on what I was looking for.“

“Ok wait, this place is actually the best. I came in in the afternoon and was impressed with how warmly I was greeted. The steak salad was dynamite, a great recommendation from my server. The space is cute, and I had no problem pulling out my laptop and getting some work done. Definitely I’ll be back!“

“First time in Chicago and first meal was at Ema’s. The staff were the most amazing and generous to us. I highly recommend Ema’s for your Mediterranean cravings.“

“It has quickly become one of my favorite spots! Been here three times, and the food is consistently delicious, and I especially appreciate that the ambiance is perfect for conversation. My first visit was at the bar with my manager, and we really enjoyed the tapas-style dinner, sharing different plates. My second visit was with a good friend, and I had your signature red snapper dish. As someone who is Cambodian, it immediately reminded me of how my dad used to cook our catfish... it was absolutely delicious! Most recently, I tried the sea bass, and as expected, it was very delectable. This is definitely a spot I plan to keep visiting!“

“Came here to satisfy my craving for Thai food, and thankfully I wasn’t disappointed. I ordered the Thai larb, which I would recommend! Spicy, savory, and hefty portion sizes - what’s not to love? Don’t let the unassuming exterior of the restaurant fool you - it packs a pretty solid meal if you decide to venture in. Our food did come somewhat slowly, but I don’t fault them for that in the slightest since they were short staffed and were very communicative of this circumstance.“

“Also great atmosphere..awesome unlimited brunch drinks.. good food!“

“Great bar service and friendly people“

“As someone born and raised in the Deep South, this soul food is some of the best I’ve ever had. They hit all the marks for me to give a 5 out of 5 , bringing a perfect balance of quantity, quality, and price. You get what you pay for, you’ll love what you’re eating, and you won’t leave hungry.

PS: Make sure to order the banana pudding. You won’t be disappointed, and I’ll vouch for it by saying it’s even better than my grandma’s family recipe (which means it’s damn good)!“

“Beautiful place, perfectly cooked food and knowledgeable service, a welcoming atmosphere, unique dishes that leave a lasting impression.🥰“

“Food! Ambiance! Customer Service 10/10“

“Great view if you sit facing East!! Nice vibe.“

“I liked the food, drinks, and the ambiance. It's nicely decorated, cozy, and nice. I think, service can be significantly improved. Our server didn't know anything about any dishes. She couldn't answer any of the questions. Our facial expressions showed she is least interested in serving or working. I really want to go back because of the food, drinks and ambiance, but it makes me give a 2nd thought because of the server's behavior“