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Chicago’s Restaurant Experts Name Their Top Restaurant Newcomers of 2019

Shockingly, Time Out Chicago’s editor really likes Time Out Market

A bright sashimi dish that’s shaped like a disc.
Jeong’s Korean fare added another heavy hitter to West Town.
Jeong/Hahm Visuals

To continue the tradition of asking Chicago’s food writers and critics to sum up their year in dining, they named their favorite new restaurants in 2019.

Chandra Ram, Plate: Thattu, Galit, Jeong, Kikko, Superkhana and Wherewithall shook the dust off of Chicago’s restaurant scene. Kostali has enough of the great Naha flavors and vibe. And I want to add an honorable mention to Virtue, which opened in late 2018 but rightfully dominated my dining recommendations to visiting chefs and food writers.

Titus Ruscitti, ChiBBQKing: Gaijin, Jeong, Tzuco, Tortello, Politan Row, Ali Baba Doner, Barbaro Taqueria, Torchio Pasta Bar, Lola’s Coney Island, Middlebrow Bungalow, Carnitas Uruapan Restaurant, Tacos de Canasta Don Rossy.

Ji Suk Yi, WGN Radio, Sun-Times: Galit, Wherewithall.

Michael Nagrant, michaelnagrant.com: Funkenhausen, Bar Kumiko/Kikko, Bayan Ko, Jeong, Galit, Cafe Cancale

Ariel Cheung, Plate, Chicago, Time Out Chicago, Block Club: My personal favorites — the food that really excited me — were Wherewithall, Jeong and Kumiko.

Morgan Olsen, Time Out Chicago: I’m admittedly quite proud of Time Out Market Chicago — where else can you find eats from Abe Conlon (Fat Rice), Thai Dang (Hai Sous), John Manion (El Che Steakhouse and Bar) and Lost Larson under one roof? I also loved Kumiko, Wherewithall, Tzuco and Thattu.

Jeff Ruby, Chicago: Wherewithall, Jeong, Tzuco, Claudia.

Bayan Ko

1810 West Montrose Avenue, , IL 60613 (773) 698-6373 Visit Website

Virtue

1462 E. 53rd Street, Chicago, IL

Lola's Coney Island

2858 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 773-687-9459 Visit Website

Superkhana International

3059 West Diversey Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 661-9028 Visit Website

Carnitas Uruapan Restaurant

1725 West 18th Street, , IL 60608 (312) 226-2654 Visit Website

Galit

2429 North Lincoln Avenue, , IL 60614 (773) 360-8755 Visit Website

Lola’s Coney Island

2858 West Chicago Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 687-9459 Visit Website

Politan Row

2445 Times Boulevard, , TX 77005 (713) 489-2546 Visit Website

Tzuco

720 North State Street, , IL 60654 (312) 374-8995 Visit Website

Barbaro Taqueria y Cantina

2525 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 Visit Website

Tortello

1746 West Division Street, , IL 60622 (773) 360-1293 Visit Website

Thattu

2601 West Fletcher Street, , IL 60618 (773) 754-0199 Visit Website

Fat Rice

2957 West Diversey Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 661-9170 Visit Website

Funkenhausen

1709 West Chicago Avenue, , IL 60622 (312) 929-4727 Visit Website

Ali Baba Doner

, Chicago, IL 60614

Cafe Cancale

1576 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 Visit Website

Time Out Market Chicago

916 West Fulton Market, , IL 60607 (312) 637-3888 Visit Website

Middle Brow Bungalow

2840 W. Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 Visit Website

Jeong

1460 West Chicago Avenue, , IL 60642 (312) 877-5016 Visit Website

Wherewithall

3472 North Elston Avenue, , IL 60618 (773) 692-2192 Visit Website

CLAUDIA

1952 North Damen Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 697-9486 Visit Website

Kostali

521 North Rush Street, , IL 60611 (312) 645-1500 Visit Website

NAHA

500 North Clark Street, , IL 60654 (312) 321-6242 Visit Website

Carnitas Uruapan

1725 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608 (312) 226-2654 Visit Website

Tradition

160 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 263-0260 Visit Website

Kumiko

630 West Lake Street, , IL 60661 (312) 285-2912 Visit Website

Lost Larson

2140 West Division Street, , IL 60622 (773) 770-9015 Visit Website

Gaijin

950 West Lake Street, , IL 60607 (312) 265-1348 Visit Website

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