‹ Classic restaurants › Chicago
Chicago · checked November 14, 2026
Nine classic restaurants in Chicago that still hit the spot
The oldest has been open since 1927; the youngest, 1954. Every one is still getting the praise today, and each card says what to order and how to get in. Oldest first.
1Since 1927A photo like it · Roberto Tomasone, CC BY-SA 4.0
Italian Village
Order: Red-sauce pasta and veal in the old upstairs room, called The Village, with a glass from the big wine list
Why it still hits the spot: Chicago's oldest Italian restaurant, opened by Alfredo Capitanini in 1927 and still run by his family, now in its fourth generation. The family has been refreshing the building with Bar Sotto and a ground-floor espresso bar while keeping the old dining room.
Good to know: Reserve on Resy. The upstairs Village room is the original; Sotto is the newer take in the same building.
Where we found it: Chicago Magazine: Italian Village's Glow-Up (2025-04) · Preservation Chicago: Italian Village adds Cafe Pisolino espresso bar (2026) · Tasting Table: Why Chicago's oldest Italian restaurant is a rare gem
2Since 1930A photo like it · Rocky Masum
This work was made by Masum-al-Hasan Rock, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tufano's Vernon Park Tap
Order: The chalkboard red-sauce classics: a plate of pasta, an iceberg salad, and whatever the family is serving that night
Why it still hits the spot: A checkered-tablecloth Italian room on Vernon Park Place that began as a bakery around 1930, with the founding family's grandson still running it. It won a James Beard America's Classics award in 2008, and 2025 diners still describe big portions and no-nonsense family service.
Good to know: Check whether it takes cards before you go; it has long been cash only.
Where we found it: Wikipedia: America's Classics (Chicago winners, 2008 Tufano's Vernon Park Tap) · Time Out Chicago: Tufano's Vernon Park Tap · The Infatuation: Tufano's Vernon Park Tap
3Since 1941A photo like it · William Cho, CC BY-SA 2.0
Gene & Georgetti
Order: The porterhouse or the Florentine steak, with house-made spaghetti
Why it still hits the spot: Chicago's original steakhouse, opened in 1941, still family-owned, and the booth Frank Sinatra liked is still the one people ask for. In 2026 it marked 85 years with a menu that brought back dishes from 1941, and OpenTable diners rate it about 4.8 from thousands of reviews.
Good to know: Smart-casual dress code; book on OpenTable.
Where we found it: Tasting Table: Gene & Georgetti brings back 1941 menu items (2026) · Secret Chicago: Gene & Georgetti · OpenTable: Gene & Georgetti (2026)
4Since 1942A photo like it · SKY Le Magnifique, CC BY-SA 4.0
Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen
Order: A towering corned beef or pastrami sandwich, with a potato pancake from the cafeteria line
Why it still hits the spot: A cafeteria-line deli run by the same Raskin family since 1942, where you slide your tray past the carvers just as customers did in the 1940s. In September 2026 it earned top honors among the 2027 Jean Banchet Awards, the city's own food awards.
Good to know: It keeps cafeteria hours, so go for breakfast or lunch. Grab a tray and order at the line.
Where we found it: Chicago Sun-Times: Paul Kahan, Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen garner top 2027 Banchet honors (2026-09) · The Infatuation: Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen · My Jewish Learning: This Chicago Jewish deli marks 80 years (2022)
5Since 1943A photo like it · PastaFazzulla, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pizzeria Uno
Order: The original deep dish with sausage, baked to order, with a salad while you wait
Why it still hits the spot: The 1943 pizzeria credited with starting Chicago deep dish, and our Chicago guide's pick for the original. Newer rankings often put Lou Malnati's ahead on flavor, so come here for the history first.
Where we found it: Chef Amazing: Where to eat in Chicago (deep dish) (2026-11) · Chicago Food Planet: Chicago pizza ratings, deep dish and thin crust · Axios Chicago: Food Fight, who makes Chicago's best deep dish pizza? (2026-07)
6Since 1946
Gene & Jude's
Order: A Chicago-style red hot with fries piled on top, no ketchup
Why it still hits the spot: A standing-room-only hot dog stand that opened in 1946 and has stayed on River Road since 1950, with nothing on the menu but dogs, fries and tamales. Rachael Ray picked it as America's best hot dog in 2011, and chef Matty Matheson called it his favorite in 2024.
Good to know: There are no seats and no ketchup. Order at the counter and eat standing or in the car.
Where we found it: Chef Amazing: Where to eat in Chicago (Chicago dog) (2026-11) · Tasting Table: The best rated hot dogs in Illinois come from a 'no seats, no ketchup' joint · Chowhound: Best places to order Chicago-style hot dogs
7Since 1948A photo like it · Geoffreyrabbit, CC BY-SA 4.0
Calumet Fisheries
Order: Smoked shrimp, plus fried smelt or fried shrimp with the tartar sauce
Why it still hits the spot: A tiny smokehouse by the 95th Street bridge, run by the Kotlick and Toll families since 1948, and a 2010 James Beard America's Classics winner. It reopened in June 2024 after a fire shut it for about six months, and 2025 reviewers still point to the smoked shrimp as the thing to get.
Good to know: Cash only and take-out only. Eat at the picnic tables out front or by the river.
Where we found it: James Beard Foundation: 2010 America's Classics, Calumet Fisheries (2010) · Time Out Chicago: Calumet Fisheries reopens on Saturday (2024-06) · 312eats: Calumet Fisheries reviews (2025)
8Since 1948A photo like it · mariela morales, CC0
Superdawg Drive-In
Order: The Superdawg, a Chicago-style dog with the works, with fries and a malt
Why it still hits the spot: A 1948 drive-in where carhop-style servers still bring the tray to your car window. The owner's family says very little has changed since 1948, and it is in our Chicago guide for exactly that reason.
Where we found it: Chef Amazing: Where to eat in Chicago (carhop hot dogs) (2026-11) · ABC7 Chicago: Superdawg drive-in is a time capsule in Chicago (2023) · Time Out Chicago: Superdawg Drive-In
9Since 1954A photo like it · stu_spivack, CC BY-SA 2.0
Lem's Bar-B-Q
Order: Ribs and rib tips with the house sauce
Why it still hits the spot: The South Side barbecue the Lemons brothers opened in 1954, run today by Carmen Lemons at its Chatham location on 75th Street. It was one of six James Beard America's Classics winners in 2025, an award for restaurants with timeless appeal.
Where we found it: Time Out Chicago: James Beard Foundation names Lem's an American classic (2025-02) · ABC7 Chicago: Chatham restaurant Lem's Bar-B-Q receives prestigious James Beard Award (2025-02) · Fox 32: Chicago BBQ restaurant named James Beard Award winner (2025)
More in Chicago
Classics in other cities
How we pick: open 40+ years and still praised now; our own stories and guides first, then this year's critics and best-of lists; every place checked open. Photos marked "a photo like it" show that kind of food, not that place's. Chef Amazing is not paid by any place on this page.
Chef Amazing remembers every place you ate, keeps the lists friends send you, and helps you cook it at home.
Researched and published by Chef Amazing, from our own stories, this year’s critics and food press, and a check that each place is open. Nobody pays to be on our lists: how we pick. Spot something wrong? Tell us and we fix it.