Brunch
Pancakes, chilaquiles, benedicts and the weekend spots worth the wait.
Venteux Brasserie
A French brasserie in the Art Deco Carbide & Carbon Building on Michigan Avenue, with a cafe counter for pastries and coffee.
Nookies on Wells
A no-frills neighborhood diner from a Chicago brunch family going back to 1973. Big plates, a long menu and a line of locals.
The Original Pancake House (Gold Coast)
A diner-style Gold Coast standby on a quiet side street off Rush. People come back for the baked apple pancake and Dutch babies.
Beatrix (Streeterville)
A bright, easygoing all-day spot and the dependable brunch pick for Streeterville residents and the Northwestern med crowd.
Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe (Prudential Plaza)
One of the most-reviewed breakfast spots in the city, with huge plates and pancakes piled with berries. The line is part of the experience.
Lula Cafe
The restaurant that made Logan Square a food neighborhood, and still the brunch locals recommend.
Lou Mitchell's
The diner at the start of Route 66, open since 1923.
The Publican
Fulton Market's anchor beer hall, with a pork-lover's weekend brunch.
Uncle Mike's Place
A no-frills diner serving classic Filipino breakfast.
Roux
A New Orleans-style Southern brunch near UChicago.
m. henry
The North Side's go-to weekend brunch for over 20 years.
Batter & Berries
A Black-owned brunch spot famous for its flavored French toast.
Brunch, Chicago style
Chicago takes weekend brunch seriously: long lines, big plates and pancakes you'll talk about later. The city's range runs from old-school diners that have been open for 100 years to chef-driven cafés, Southern kitchens and Filipino breakfast spots.
Chicago brunch staples:
- Pancakes and French toast in giant portions
- Chilaquiles and breakfast tacos
- Southern plates like shrimp and grits, biscuits and beignets
- Filipino breakfast with garlic rice and longganisa
Good to know: weekend waits are real at the popular places. Go early, go on a weekday, or put your name in and take a walk around the neighborhood.