I like to consider myself a connoisseur of the late night bite. I spent a lot of years working in restaurants—my shifts ending after midnight, my hunger eminent, and my options limited. You can imagine my appreciation when I would stumble across a place that was not only open late, but that also had a variety of options—that’s to say options that go far beyond some soggy chicken fingers or anything that can be ordered super-sized. Below is a list of restaurants that offer amazing late night eats for all you night owls out there.
Au Cheval {800 West Randolph Street, Chicago; 312.929.4580}
There is a reason for the line out the door and the long wait times—Au Cheval is one of the city’s most exciting restaurants, and their cheeseburger is the one that ends all other cheeseburgers. The restaurant takes a culinary approach to diner fare by featuring a cocktail program to rival any other in the city and an extensive beer and wine list. If you can get in late-night (yes, it’s that good), don’t leave without at least a taste of the cheeseburger.
Standout offerings: Chilaquiles; Double Cheeseburger with egg
When To Get Your Late Night Eats: Monday-Saturday until 1am; Sunday until midnight
Jake Melnick’s {41 East Superior Street, Chicago; 312.266.0400}
Jake Melnick’s is a cornerstone of the late night scene in the Gold Coast neighborhood with an incredibly extensive menu that includes seven wing varieties, on top of the burgers, sandwiches, nachos, and an entire section devoted solely to potatoes of the tot and fry variety. There are things available on this nightly menu that you can’t even get during the day, so it’s probably best if you wait it out to get the full experience.
Standout offerings: Jake Jr.: diner-style beef patty, American cheese, shredded lettuce, and special sauce; Loaded Stadium Nachos: house cheese sauce, chili, salsa, guacamole, tomatoes, and sour cream
When To Get Your Late Night Eats: Monday-Thursday until midnight; Friday and Saturday until 2am
Ronero {738 West Randolph Street, Chicago; 312.600.6105}
Ronero (translation: someone who distills rum) departs from Randolph Street traveling to the Caribbean and Central and South America. The full menu is served until 11pm, but the lounge upstairs will keep you going well beyond dinner service. Go here for a late night empanada, and dance it off upstairs at the rum-centric Esco Bar. Make a night of it…just a little bit later than usual.
Standout offerings: Picadillo Empanadas: chimichurri rojo, Gordal olive, parsley, and red onion; Crispy Plantains: tostones, huancaina, criolla, bacon, and herbs
When To Get Your Late Night Eats: Sunday-Friday until 2am; Saturday until 3am
Joy District Chicago {112 West Hubbard Street, Chicago; 312.955.0339}
River North is home to plenty of hip places to dine, and Joy District fits right in among its peers. The hybrid restaurant-lounge-nightclub is spacious and elegant, featuring a new American menu with Asian influence and high-end craft cocktails. Happy hour lasts until 1:30am, making it the ideal place to make a pitstop on your way from the lounge to the dance floor and refuel with a slider or four.
Standout offerings: Cheeseburger Sliders; McChicken Sandwich; Filet o’ Fish; Mini Tacos
When To Get Your Late Night Eats: Monday-Thursday until 1am; Friday and Saturday until 2am; Sunday until midnight
La Josie {740 West Randolph Street, Chicago; 312.929.2900}
This is a gem of the late night scene. Located on Restaurant Row, La Josie’s Mexican-inspired menu is available from open until close—the whole menu, all day, every day. The restaurant is also home to more tequilas and mezcals than you ever knew existed. But wait, it gets better. Late night dining is welcomed and encouraged with specials on mezcal cocktails, Tecate, and tacos. Fellow night owls, I’m sure we’ll run into each other here … eventually.
Standout offerings: Seasonal Guacamole; Rajas Poblanas Queso Fundido; Chicharrón Tacos: crispy pork skin, poblano pepper rajas, black beans, and serrano chile-avocado salsa
When To Get Your Late Night Eats: Monday-Thursday until 1am; Friday and Saturday until 2am; Sunday until midnight
Izakaya at Momotaro {820 West Lake Street, Chicago; 312.733.4818}
Located below Momotaro, the Izakaya has an atmosphere and a menu modeled after the Tokyo street scene. An extensive selection of Japanese plates is available during dinner service, but the late night Sunday special is one of the best on the block. For $25, guests can choose between a cocktail or a beer and a shot to pair with one small plate, one large plate, and a matcha or Okinawa black sugar ice cream sandwich to finish out the meal. On Wednesday-Friday nights, the same special is offered from 6-8pm, but fear not, creatures of the night—a smaller selection of Tokyo-inspired street fare is still in place for you.
Standout offerings: Chicken Thigh Skewers; King Crab Deviled Eggs
When To Get Your Late Night Eats: Wednesday-Thursday until 1am; Friday and Saturday until 2am; Sunday until 1am
BITES {3313 North Clark Street, Chicago; 773.270.5972}
Bites feeds the late night diners of Lakeview/Wrigleyville something other than Chicago dogs (not that there’s anything wrong with that), with things like ramen, fried silkworms, and Fried Lane Snapper with mango slaw, to name a few. The Asian-comfort menu is influenced by foods from Thailand, Japan, China, and Vietnam, served in a tapas-style setting, and complemented by specialty cocktails and plenty of sake. The garden patio is a perfect oasis during the city’s warmer months.
Standout offerings: General’s Chicken Sandwich; Spicy Crab Rangoon
When To Get Your Late Night Eats: Friday and Saturday until 1:30am
The Beer Bistro {1061 West Madison Street, Chicago; 312.433.0013}
Since 2005, The Beer Bistro’s kitchen has been open until 1am, every single night. This is the kind of place that you’ll go to for the food, but you’ll stick around for the sauce—and you can order the full menu late into the night. High-end beers are poured by the pint in an unpretentious setting with a classic bistro-style menu, and after midnight you’ll mostly find appetizers and pizzas hitting the tables. Plus, their mac and cheese is some of the best in the area. Order it—you won’t regret it.
Standout offerings: Wisconsin-style Cheese Curds with ranch; Mac and Cheese
When To Get Your Late Night Eats: Sunday-Friday until 2am; Saturday until 3am
The Fifty/50 {2047 West Division Street, Chicago; 773.489.5050}
Sports bars are notorious for serving nondescript bar bites. Not at The Fifty/50. Wicker Park’s dining and nightlife pioneer has taken an elevated approach to bar classics. The food philosophy is simple: high-quality bar food made completely from scratch—that’s right, precooked frozen foods don’t exist here. The team provides stellar service by having fun with guests, especially the late night crowds. The Fifty/50 is idyllic for starting or ending your night on a good note. The vibes are right and the wings are coined as “Chicago’s Best.” And, indeed, they are.
Standout offerings: Chicken Wings (regular breaded, boneless breaded, or applewood-smoked); Buffalo Calamari with The Fifty/50’s signature Buffalo Sauce; Housemade Pork Belly Bites with honey mustard dipping sauce
When To Get Your Late Night Eats: Sunday-Thursday until midnight; Friday until 2am; Saturday until 3am
By Lisa Elbert
The post The Best Late Night Eats appeared first on DiningOut Chicago.