This article contains a complete list of Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago.
The Michelin Guides have been published by the French tire company Michelin since 1900. They were designed as a guide to tell drivers about eateries they recommended to visit and to subtly sponsor their tires, by encouraging drivers to use their cars more and therefore need to replace the tires as they wore out. Over time, the stars that were given out started to become more valuable. [1]
Multiple anonymous Michelin inspectors visit the restaurants several times. They rate the restaurants on five criteria: "quality of products", "mastery of flavor and cooking techniques", "the personality of the chef represented in the dining experience", "value for money", and "consistency between inspectors' visits". [1] [2] Inspectors have at least ten years of expertise and create a list of popular restaurants supported by media reports, reviews, and diner popularity. If they reach a consensus, Michelin awards restaurants from one to three stars based on its evaluation methodology: One star means "high-quality cooking, worth a stop", two stars signify "excellent cooking, worth a detour", and three stars denote "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey". [3] The stars are not permanent and restaurants are constantly being re-evaluated. If the criteria are not met, the restaurant will lose its stars. [1]
Chicago was the fifth US city to be chosen to have a dedicated Michelin Guide in 2011, after New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, although the Las Vegas guide was later discontinued. [4] Although earlier editions included restaurants from the suburbs, since 2013, all the restaurants have been located within the city proper. [5]
As of the 2023 guide, there are 21 restaurants in Chicago with a Michelin-star rating.
Indicates a restaurant with one Michelin star | |
Indicates a restaurant with two Michelin stars | |
Indicates a restaurant with three Michelin stars |
Indicates a restaurant with one Michelin star | |
Indicates a restaurant with two Michelin stars | |
Indicates a restaurant with three Michelin stars |
Charlie Trotter was an American chef and restaurateur. His best-known restaurant, Charlie Trotter's, was open in Chicago from 1987 to 2012.
The Michelin Guides are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The Guide awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few restaurants in certain geographic areas. Michelin also publishes the Green Guides, a series of general guides to cities, regions, and countries.
Alinea is a restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, United States. In 2010, Alinea was awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide. Since the closing on December 20, 2017, of Grace, Alinea remains one of only two Chicago restaurants, with the other one being Smyth, added in 2023, with three Michelin stars. Alinea charges $175–225 for its second-floor salon menu, and $285–345 for its first floor gallery menu.
Sixteen was an American restaurant on the sixteenth floor of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in the Near North Side community area of Chicago. It was one of three food and dining options in the hotel's room service offering. Sixteen opened in early February 2008, and an adjoining outdoor patio terrace, named The Terrace at T, opened on June 25, 2009 following the completion of the hotel's construction.
Tru was a French restaurant located in the Streeterville neighborhood in Chicago. Tru was opened in 1999 by Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand with the backing of Rich Melman's Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. It was a Michelin one-star restaurant since the Chicago guidebook's inception in 2011; in 2017 the restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars. Since 2008, the Executive Chef was Anthony Martin. The restaurant closed on October 7, 2017.
RIA was an American restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. Located in the Waldorf Astoria Chicago, it originally opened in 2009, serving upscale French cuisine. RIA was popular with critics, earning many awards, including two Michelin stars. After losing executive chef Jason McLeod in 2011, RIA closed on July 27, 2012, after replacement Danny Grant left his restaurant position.
Daniel Humm is a Swiss plant-based chef and owner of Daniel Humm Hospitality, the New York-based hospitality group behind the highly acclaimed Eleven Madison Park, Clemente Bar, and direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand Eleven Madison Home. In September 2024, he was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for food education due to his advocacy for sustainable food systems.
Smyth is a restaurant located in Chicago. Alongside Alinea, Smyth is one of two restaurants in Chicago with three Michelin stars.
Ever is a restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. Established in July 2020, the restaurant earned two Michelin stars in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Michelin Guides. The restaurant is co-owned by chef Curtis Duffy and his business partner Michael Muser, respectively former head chef and general manager at Grace, a 3-star Michelin restaurant that was abruptly closed in December 2017 after the duo's offer to buy the restaurant was rejected by its investor-owner.
Curtis Duffy is an American chef and restaurateur known for the Chicago-based restaurants Ever and Grace. Among his various accolades are Michelin stars and a James Beard Award.
Yūgen was a restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. The restaurant served traditional Japanese cuisines and seas foods. The restaurant has also received two Michelin stars. Yūgen operates in the United States, Philippines and Australia.