How many Michelin star restaurants does Illinois have, and how much do tastings cost?
If you’re looking for fine dining in Illinois, Chicago is home to several restaurants with coveted Michelin stars, with options including American food, Mexican cuisine, Japanese dishes and more.
There are 20 restaurants with at least one Michelin star in the Land of Lincoln. The Michelin rating system considers five criteria when awarding stars, according to the guide. These include “quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, harmony of flavors, and consistency between visits.”
A one-star rating denotes “high quality cooking,” two stars indicate “excellent cooking” and a three-star restaurant has “exceptional cuisine.”
In addition to the 20 Chicago restaurants with one to three Michelin stars, many others are listed in the guide under other distinctions, such as Bib Gourmand (good quality, good value cooking) and Selected Restaurants (good cooking).
Three Chicago establishments, Anelya, Bayan Ko and Beity, were recently added to the Michelin guide of recommended restaurants, ABC 7 Chicago reported Sept. 11. They do not have Michelin star or Bib Gourmand designations yet, but could receive awards later this year.
Illinois’ Michelin star restaurants are located in Chicago. Here’s where they’re located, pricing for tasting menus and how to make reservations.
Michelin star restaurants in Illinois
Chicago restaurants with one Michelin star:
Indienne features Indian cuisine, with vegetarian and vegan tasting menus. The tasting menus include seven courses, at $125 for vegetarian and $135 for vegan and non-vegetarian.
EL Ideas features contemporary food. The chef, Phillip Foss, lives upstairs, and Michelin mentions the establishment’s shrimp cocktail croquette and nitro-poached vanilla ice cream as noteworthy dishes to try. The chef tasting meal goes for $185, and reservations can be made online for parties of up to eight guests.
Elske features contemporary food. Michelin describes the restaurant as a “Danish oasis” and lauds its lamb tartare on rye and yeasted chickpea pancakes with smoked trout, among other dishes. Elske offers set tastings and a la carte options. The set menu is priced at $125, with an optional $60 wine pairing or $30 juice pairing.
Topolobampo features Mexican food. The Michelin guide highlights Topolobampo’s memela divorciada, tamal colado and accompanying agave spirits. Prepaid reservations can be made online for parties of one to eight guests at $165 per person. Additional costs may apply for beverage pairings.
Esme features contemporary dishes. Michelin favorites include Dover sole along with a sweet and savory goat cheese ice cream. Tasting menus change two to three times each year, but the restaurant’s prices posted on reservation website Tock range from $165 to $295 per person.
Next features contemporary dining described by Michelin as “pure dinner theater.” Popular offerings include lamb and crispy sweetbreads and a bombe Ceylan, which has ice cream, rum, coffee and chocolate. The current tasting menu is a tribute to Chicago chef Charlie Trotter, and standard seatings range from $175 to $235 per person.
Mako features Japanese fare. Michelin calls the restaurant a “hot ticket” as it only has 22 seats. Notable dishes include braised abalone, black cod and sweet potato with whiskey caramel. The Omakase menu is $215 per person.
Galit features Middle Eastern cuisine. The menu is a four-course “choose your own adventure,” and Michelin recommends the hummus with brisket and salatim and falafel with mango labneh. Seatings are $98 per person before tax and tip, and a service charge of 20% applies.
Temporis features contemporary dishes. Michelin favorites include butter-brushed corn, vanilla pasta with lobster, seared Wagyu and cherry blossom mousse. According to the restaurant’s website, Temporis is closed for renovations due to a nearby fire.
Atelier features American fare, and the staff cooks in view of the dining room. The Michelin guide lauds Atelier’s marinated beets, caesar salad and warm clam chowder. Guests looking for a vegetarian or pescatarian option need to contact the restaurant at least 48 hours in advance to make the request. Reservations are available online for $170 to $190 per person.
Schwa features contemporary cuisine. Michelin describes the restaurant as “a punky teenager who refuses to grow up.” Schwa does not have servers, according to Michelin, and the menu varies widely. Reservations are available online for $185 to $245 per person. Schwa requests people with dietary restrictions contact them in advance.
Omakase Yume serves Japanese dishes. Michelin touts the establishment’s quality fish, especially the grilled miso-marinated black cod. The 16-course tasting menu changes daily. Reservations can be made online, and the tasting costs $225 per person, plus a 20% service charge.
Sepia offers American fare along with Southeast Asian, Korean and Mediterranean flavors. The Michelin guide recommends Sepia’s gnocchi, crisp-skinned chicken and toffee-coconut cake. The four-course menu goes for $110 per person, and you can make reservations online.
Kasama features Filipino cuisine. Michelin recommends the sinigang and dressed salmon over leeks. The restaurant offers a daytime counter service menu with breakfast and bakery options, as well as a tasting menu dinner service for $285 per person.
Boka features contemporary dishes, and the tasting menu changes daily. Michelin advises trying the braised turnips, ricotta ravioli and cocktails. The eight-course tasting menu will run you $185, and you can book your seat online.
These Chicago establishments have two Michelin stars:
Moody Tongue serves American contemporary cuisine. Michelin applauds its black cod with makhani curry paired with an orange blossom Belgian blonde ale and lamb borek with a cassis lambic. The tasting menu is priced at $285 per person, and reservations can be made online. An a la carte menu is also available.
Oriole features contemporary fare, and Michelin recommends its raw hiramasa in apple broth. The extended tasting menu is $375 per person, and reservations can be made online.
Ever offers creative cuisine, and notable dishes include the chilled English pea puree, Alaskan halibut and seared Hokkaido scallop. The $325 tasting menu includes eight to 10 courses, and people with dietary restrictions should contact the restaurant at least 72 hours in advance. Reservations are available online.
Two Chicago restaurants boast three Michelin stars, the highest designation:
Smyth features contemporary dishes, including gently smoked quail egg, a Dungeness crab dish and potato ice cream. The tasting menu is $325 per person, and the experience takes 2.5 to 3 hours. Reservations are made online.
Alinea offers creative cuisine such as cured Arctic char and salt-baked kohlrabi. The tasting menu runs from $325 to $495 per person, depending on whether you dine in The Kitchen Table, The Gallery or The Salon.
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