Best restaurants in Illinois? BBQ joint and Mexican eatery recognized nationally
Four top-tier restaurants in Illinois have garnered national recognition this year.
Food & Wine recognized Virtue Restaurant & Bar in Chicago for its Southern American cuisine and community impact. Chef Erick Williams and his team earned praise for innovative dishes like fish and grits with blackened red drum and crab étouffée.
Food Network applauded Campeche Restaurant in Galena as a charming small-town spot with authentic Mexican food, highlighting homemade margaritas and pico de gallo.
The New York Times mentioned Sanders BBQ Supply Co. in Chicago for its Southern dishes, particularly oxtail gumbo, and Cariño in Chicago for its Michelin-starred Latin American offerings such as chicken liver taco dorado.
Read more in the stories below:
NO. 1: FOOD NETWORK PICKS FAMILY OWNED MEXICAN SPOT AS TOP ‘CHARMING SMALL-TOWN’ RESTAURANT IN IL
If you’re hungry for “authentic Mexican,” you might be in luck. | Published February 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jackie Starkey
NO. 2: SOUTHERN AMERICAN SPOT IN ILLINOIS NAMED TO FOOD & WINE’S 15 BEST US RESTAURANTS
You don’t need a reservation, but they are encouraged. | Published April 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Meredith Howard
NO. 3: 2 IL RESTAURANTS AND 1 IN ST. LOUIS ARE AMONG 50 BEST IN US, NEW YORK TIMES SAYS
Two Illinois restaurants recently made The New York Times’ Restaurant List 2025, including a barbecue joint and a Latin American restaurant that’s earned a Michelin star. | Published September 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Meredith Howard
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.