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The Hottest Restaurants in Chicago Right Now, January 2015

by Daniel Gerzina
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by Daniel Gerzina

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort.

And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change on a regular basis to always highlight where the foodie crowds are flocking to at the moment.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Bohemian House

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Downtown now has a beautiful and creative Eastern European restaurant with no TVs amidst the River North nightlife.

11 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 955-0439
(312) 955-0439

Momotaro

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The latest project from the Boka Group may just be their crown jewel. Three floors beckon in the West Loop, full of different styles of Japanese cuisine, bars, and an eye-popping design.

820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-4818
(312) 733-4818

Also featured in:

Dove's Luncheonette

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The latest from Paul Kahan and One Off Hospitality is predictably drawing eaters from around the city. Head to the Tex-Mex diner next to Big Star for interesting twists on Mexican and Texan classics and a wide selection of tequila and mezcal.

1545 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 645-4060
(773) 645-4060

Also featured in:

RPM Steak

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A glitzy see-and-be-seen spot with some culinary cred, RPM Steak looks like an exclusive 50's steakhouse but has a diverse and current menu.

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 284-4990
(312) 284-4990

Also featured in:

Salero

Copy Link

The team behind Lakeview's Wood have brought cuisine from the Basque region of Spain to a minimalist candlelit space on Randolph Row.

621 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 466-1000
(312) 466-1000

Also featured in:

Baker Miller

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The new bakery and cafe from the former Bang Bang Pie Shop owners was so busy in the early going that they had to cut back on hours. Try sweet and savory baked goods made with flours milled in-house and composed dishes at all three meals.

4610 Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 654-3610
(773) 654-3610

Also featured in:

Umami Burger

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Diners are flocking to Wicker Park to taste the forward-thinking burgers, cocktails, and sides at Umami Burger's first location off the coasts.

1480 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 423-2005
(773) 423-2005

Also featured in:

Shake Shack

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Years in the making, Chicago finally has a location of Danny Meyer's worldwide burger sensation. Be prepared for lines and delicious, affordable food.

66 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611
312.667.1701
312.667.1701

Also featured in:

Charlatan

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The new restaurant from the Three Aces guys brings an edgy vibe, an array of pastas, and creative dishes like the pig's head for two to the former West Town Tavern space.

1329 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 818-2073
(312) 818-2073

Also featured in:

The Kitchen

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The Colorado philanthropic import brought former Telegraph chef Johnny Anderes into a gorgeous buildout overlooking the Chicago River.

316 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 836-1300
(312) 836-1300

Also featured in:

Oak + Char

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There's plenty of heat at Oak + Char, the former Untitled guys' new restaurant with wood-burning cuisine and chic wood-themed remodeling of Graham Elliot's former stomping grounds.

217 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 643-2427
(312) 643-2427

Also featured in:

The Duck Inn

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Former Allium chef Kevin Hickey's homecoming brings cheffy takes on Chicago street food, a more elaborate dining room menu, and a fun-yet-thoughtful beverage program to working class Bridgeport.

2701 S Eleanor St, Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 724-8811
(312) 724-8811

Also featured in:

Berrista

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Molecular maestro Homaro Cantu's dream of making healthy sugar-free doughnuts, sweets, and drinks is now a reality at this modernist and playful coffee shop.

4219 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641
(312) 491-3366
(312) 491-3366

Also featured in:

White Oak Tavern & Inn

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After a remodeling and reconcepting, John's Place Lincoln Park is now White Oak Tavern & Inn, with Alinea vet John Asbaty, most recently of the closed and lamented Panozzo's, cooking American farm-to-table fare.

1200 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-0200
(773) 248-0200

Also featured in:

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Bohemian House

11 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654

Downtown now has a beautiful and creative Eastern European restaurant with no TVs amidst the River North nightlife.

11 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 955-0439
(312) 955-0439

Momotaro

820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607

The latest project from the Boka Group may just be their crown jewel. Three floors beckon in the West Loop, full of different styles of Japanese cuisine, bars, and an eye-popping design.

820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-4818
(312) 733-4818

Dove's Luncheonette

1545 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

The latest from Paul Kahan and One Off Hospitality is predictably drawing eaters from around the city. Head to the Tex-Mex diner next to Big Star for interesting twists on Mexican and Texan classics and a wide selection of tequila and mezcal.

1545 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 645-4060
(773) 645-4060

RPM Steak

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

A glitzy see-and-be-seen spot with some culinary cred, RPM Steak looks like an exclusive 50's steakhouse but has a diverse and current menu.

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 284-4990
(312) 284-4990

Salero

621 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661

The team behind Lakeview's Wood have brought cuisine from the Basque region of Spain to a minimalist candlelit space on Randolph Row.

621 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 466-1000
(312) 466-1000

Baker Miller

4610 Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60625

The new bakery and cafe from the former Bang Bang Pie Shop owners was so busy in the early going that they had to cut back on hours. Try sweet and savory baked goods made with flours milled in-house and composed dishes at all three meals.

4610 Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 654-3610
(773) 654-3610

Umami Burger

1480 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Diners are flocking to Wicker Park to taste the forward-thinking burgers, cocktails, and sides at Umami Burger's first location off the coasts.

1480 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 423-2005
(773) 423-2005

Shake Shack

66 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Years in the making, Chicago finally has a location of Danny Meyer's worldwide burger sensation. Be prepared for lines and delicious, affordable food.

66 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611
312.667.1701
312.667.1701

Charlatan

1329 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

The new restaurant from the Three Aces guys brings an edgy vibe, an array of pastas, and creative dishes like the pig's head for two to the former West Town Tavern space.

1329 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 818-2073
(312) 818-2073

The Kitchen

316 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

The Colorado philanthropic import brought former Telegraph chef Johnny Anderes into a gorgeous buildout overlooking the Chicago River.

316 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 836-1300
(312) 836-1300

Oak + Char

217 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654

There's plenty of heat at Oak + Char, the former Untitled guys' new restaurant with wood-burning cuisine and chic wood-themed remodeling of Graham Elliot's former stomping grounds.

217 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 643-2427
(312) 643-2427

The Duck Inn

2701 S Eleanor St, Chicago, IL 60608

Former Allium chef Kevin Hickey's homecoming brings cheffy takes on Chicago street food, a more elaborate dining room menu, and a fun-yet-thoughtful beverage program to working class Bridgeport.

2701 S Eleanor St, Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 724-8811
(312) 724-8811

Berrista

4219 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641

Molecular maestro Homaro Cantu's dream of making healthy sugar-free doughnuts, sweets, and drinks is now a reality at this modernist and playful coffee shop.

4219 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641
(312) 491-3366
(312) 491-3366

White Oak Tavern & Inn

1200 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

After a remodeling and reconcepting, John's Place Lincoln Park is now White Oak Tavern & Inn, with Alinea vet John Asbaty, most recently of the closed and lamented Panozzo's, cooking American farm-to-table fare.

1200 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-0200
(773) 248-0200

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