Loop Lunch — Food Critic | FoodMedals

Loop Lunch

Grand Curator

Chicago, IL

Cheeseburgers ExpertTacos ExpertPizza ExpertWings ExpertSteak ExpertBrisket ExpertBBQ Ribs ExpertDonuts ExpertPho ExpertRamen ExpertSushi ExpertDim Sum ExpertDumplings ExpertHot Pot Expert

90 pts42 medals14 categoriesSince 2026

Crown Jewel

Au Cheval

🍔Cheeseburgers · Chicago, IL

#1 Pick

Your Crown Jewel pick earns this restaurant a bonus point on the leaderboard.

2026 Trophy Case

🍔Cheeseburgers

Au Cheval

Chicago, IL

Winner

Best burger I've ever eaten. The wait on Randolph is brutal but nothing else compares.

Little Bad Wolf

Chicago

The Loyalist

Chicago

🌮Tacos

Mi Tocaya

Chicago, IL

Winner

Antique Taco

Chicago

Tacotlan

Chicago

🍕Pizza

Pequods Pizza

Chicago, IL

Winner

Pequod's on Clybourn is my deep dish go-to. The pepperoni with that caramelized cheese crust is worth every calorie. Order ahead, the wait is real.

Spacca Napoli

Chicago

Vito and Nicks

Chicago

Wings

Crisp

Chicago, IL

Winner

best Korean fried chicken wings in Chicago. period.

Dak

Chicago

Mott St

Chicago

Steak

Bavettes Bar and Boeuf

Chicago, IL

Winner

Gene and Georgetti

Chicago

Asador Bastian

Chicago

Brisket

Smoque BBQ

Chicago, IL

Winner

Smoque is the reason Chicago has a BBQ reputation worth talking about. The brisket is legit Texas-quality.

Green Street Smoked Meats

Chicago

County BBQ

Chicago

BBQ Ribs

Smoque BBQ

Chicago, IL

Winner

baby back ribs at Smoque. that tangy semi-sweet sauce finish is perfect

Green Street Smoked Meats

Chicago

Lexington Betty Smokehouse

Chicago

🍩Donuts

Doughnut Vault

Chicago, IL

Winner

Friday whiskey caramel day at the Vault. set your alarm

Firecakes Donuts

Chicago

Old Fashioned Donuts

Chicago

Pho

Nha Hang Viet Nam

Chicago, IL

Winner

Pho 777

Chicago

Nha Hang Viet Nam

Chicago

Ramen

High Five Ramen

Chicago, IL

Winner

Akahoshi Ramen

Chicago

Strings Ramen

Chicago

🍣Sushi

Kai Zan

Chicago, IL

Winner

Omakase Takeya

Chicago

Kai Zan

Chicago

Dim Sum

MingHin Cuisine

Chicago, IL

Winner

Dolo Restaurant and Bar

Chicago

Duck Duck Goat

Chicago

Dumplings

Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings

Chicago, IL

Winner

Duck Duck Goat

Chicago

Dolo Restaurant and Bar

Chicago

Hot Pot

Haidilao Hot Pot Chicago

Chicago, IL

Winner

Qiao Lin Hotpot

Chicago

Happy Lamb Hot Pot

Chicago