Chicago restaurant rankings
Oldest Places
7,777 Chicago places are on the Oldest list in the web version of Chicago Restaurants: Ranked (not counting airports, stadiums, cafeterias and other non-restaurants). Here are the top 100, in the list’s own order.
How it’s ranked
Year opened at this address, from verified histories where we have them; otherwise the earliest City of Chicago license or inspection here. City records start in 2002, so older places without a history show “by 2002”. Records give only a year, so within a year the most iconic places come first.
Our 0–100 score and A–F grade, calculated from City of Chicago inspection records since January 2023. Not official City grades: the City reports Pass, Pass w/ Conditions or Fail. An inspection describes conditions on the day of the visit.
City records through . About once a week we rebuild the data from the City’s newest public records, and these pages with it. Source: City of Chicago Food Inspections on the Chicago Data Portal. Each place’s page in the web version links to its own City inspection records.
Top 100
Our grades from City inspection records, not official City grades.
Records give only the year; within a year, the most iconic come first.
- Rank 1Berghoff'sLoop · EuropeanAmerica's ClassicGrade C1898128 yrs
- Rank 2Margie's CandiesLogan Square · Bakery & SweetsIconGrade A1921105 yrs
- Rank 3The Green Door Tavern / the DrifterNear North Side · Bar & PubIconGrade B1921105 yrs
- Rank 4Home Run Inn PizzeriaSouth Lawndale · PizzaIconChain · 6Grade B1923103 yrs
- Rank 5Italian Village / VivereLoop · ItalianIconGrade B192799 yrs
- Rank 6Carm'sNear West Side · American & OtherIconGrade A192997 yrs
- Rank 7Tufano's/Vernon Park TapNear West Side · Bar & PubAmerica's ClassicGrade A193096 yrs
- Rank 8Rainbow ConeBeverly · Bakery & SweetsIconGrade B193096 yrs
- Rank 9Twin AnchorsLincoln Park · BBQIconGrade A193294 yrs
- Rank 10Bruna's CafeLower West Side · Coffee & CaféIconGrade C193393 yrs
- Rank 11White Palace GrillNear West Side · Breakfast & DinerIconGrade B193987 yrs
- Rank 12Club Gene & GeorgettiNear North Side · SteakhouseIconGrade C194185 yrs
- Rank 13Pizzeria Uno Chicago Bar & GrillNear North Side · PizzaIconGrade B194383 yrs
- Rank 14Calumet FisheriesSouth Deering · SeafoodAmerica's ClassicGrade C194878 yrs
- Rank 15SuperdawgNorwood Park · Hot Dogs & BeefIconGrade B194878 yrs
- Rank 16Lutz Continental Cafe & Pastry ShopLincoln Square · Bakery & SweetsIconGrade A194878 yrs
- Rank 17Lou Mitchell'sNear West Side · Breakfast & DinerIconGrade A194977 yrs
- Rank 18Jimmy's Sandwich ShopHumboldt Park · Sandwiches & DeliIconGrade B195472 yrs
- Rank 19Mario's Italian LemonadeNear West Side · ItalianIcon195472 yrs
- Rank 20Pizzeria DueNear North Side · PizzaIconGrade B195571 yrs
- Rank 21Moody's RestaurantEdgewater · BurgersIconGrade C195967 yrs
- Rank 22Janson's Drive inBeverly · American & OtherIconGrade A196066 yrs
- Rank 23Billy Goat Tavern & GrillNear North Side · BurgersIconGrade A196462 yrs
- Rank 24Manny's Cafeteria & DelicatessenNear West Side · Sandwiches & DeliIconGrade B196462 yrs
- Rank 25Vito & NicksAshburn · PizzaIconGrade A196561 yrs
- Rank 26Wolfy'sWest Ridge · Hot Dogs & BeefIconGrade A196759 yrs
- Rank 27Uncle RemusAustin · Chicken & WingsIconGrade C196957 yrs
- Rank 28Chicago Pizza & Oven GrinderLincoln Park · PizzaIconGrade A197254 yrs
- Rank 29Fat Johnnies Red HotsChicago Lawn · Hot Dogs & BeefIconGrade C197254 yrs
- Rank 30Old Fashioned DonutsRoseland · Bakery & SweetsIconGrade F197254 yrs
- Rank 31Mr. BeefNear North Side · Hot Dogs & BeefIconGrade A197947 yrs
- Rank 32The Chicago DinerLake View · Breakfast & DinerIconGrade B198343 yrs
- Rank 33Weiner CircleLincoln Park · Hot Dogs & BeefIconGrade B198343 yrs
- Rank 34Shaw's Crab HouseNear North Side · SeafoodIconGrade B198442 yrs
- Rank 35Cafe Ba Ba ReebaLincoln Park · Coffee & CaféIconGrade C198541 yrs
- Rank 36Lou Malnati's PizzeriaNear North Side · PizzaIconChain · 12Grade B198640 yrs
- Rank 37Josephine's Cookin'Greater Grand Crossing · Soul & SouthernIconGrade C198640 yrs
- Rank 38Frontera Grill/Topolobampo/Bar SotanoNear North Side · Mexican1 Michelin starBib GourmandJames BeardGrade C198739 yrs
- Rank 39Harry Caray's RestaurantNear North Side · ItalianIconGrade B198739 yrs
- Rank 40Gibsons Steak HouseNear North Side · SteakhouseIconGrade A198937 yrs
- Rank 41Miller's Pub & RestaurantLoop · Bar & PubIconGrade B198937 yrs
- Rank 42IrazuLogan Square · American & OtherIconGrade B199036 yrs
- Rank 43Hopleaf BarUptown · Bar & PubIconGrade A199234 yrs
- Rank 44Pequod's PizzaLincoln Park · PizzaIconGrade B199234 yrs
- Rank 45Tre Kronor RestaurantNorth Park · EuropeanIconGrade C199234 yrs
- Rank 46Russian Tea TimeLoop · Coffee & CaféIconGrade B199333 yrs
- Rank 47Dat DonutChatham · Bakery & SweetsIconGrade B199432 yrs
- Rank 48Portillo's Hot DogsNear North Side · Hot Dogs & BeefIconGrade C199432 yrs
- Rank 49Cardozo's PubLoop · Bar & PubGrade D≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 50Mac Arthur'sAustin · American & OtherIconGrade D199729 yrs
- Rank 51Hugo's Frog BarNear North Side · SeafoodGrade B199729 yrs
- Rank 52The MediciHyde Park · American & OtherIconGrade A199828 yrs
- Rank 53Outdoor CafeNorth Park · Coffee & CaféGrade B≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 54Lula CafeLogan Square · Coffee & CaféBib GourmandJames BeardGrade B199927 yrs
- Rank 55Sweet Maple CafeNear West Side · Coffee & CaféIconGrade B199927 yrs
- Rank 56McDonald'sBelmont Cragin · BurgersChain · 101Grade B≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 57Joe's Seafood, Prime SteakNear North Side · SeafoodIconGrade A200026 yrs
- Rank 58Domino's PizzaHyde Park · PizzaChain · 34Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 59SubwayWest Lawn · Sandwiches & DeliChain · 157Grade B≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 60The Perfect CupLincoln Square · Coffee & CaféGrade B≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 61Lee's WokLake View · ChineseGrade B≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 62RLNear North Side · American & OtherGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 63Mom's Old Recipe Mexican RestaurantJefferson Park · MexicanGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 64Peet's Coffee & TeaLincoln Park · Coffee & CaféChain · 5Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 65Chicken InnEdison Park · Chicken & WingsGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 66Domino'sLake View · PizzaChain · 34Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 67Domino's PizzaLogan Square · PizzaChain · 34Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 68Jr Dessert BakeryWest Ridge · Bakery & SweetsGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 69SubwayForest Glen · Sandwiches & DeliChain · 157Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 70Taste of PeruRogers Park · Latin & CaribbeanGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 71Casa Central Community ServiceWest Town · American & OtherGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 72New Delta RestaurantPortage Park · Breakfast & DinerGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 73Pete's PlaceEast Garfield Park · Breakfast & DinerGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 74Dunkin DonutsRogers Park · Coffee & CaféChain · 202Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 75McDonald'sClearing · BurgersChain · 101Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 76Naty's PizzaWest Town · PizzaGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 77Taco BellAvalon Park · MexicanChain · 41Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 78Angelo's Stuffed PizzaArcher Heights · PizzaGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 79Artemio's BakeryWest Town · Bakery & SweetsGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 80Bob-O-Rino'sPortage Park · Sandwiches & DeliGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 81Cochiaros PizzaPortage Park · PizzaGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 82Eli's Cheesecake WorldDunning · American & OtherGrade B≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 83Gertie's Ice Cream/Lindy's ChiliWest Lawn · Bakery & SweetsGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 84J & J FishMorgan Park · SeafoodChain · 21Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 85Kikuya RestaurantHyde Park · Japanese & SushiGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 86McDonald'sSouth Lawndale · BurgersChain · 101Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 87McDonald'sGage Park · BurgersChain · 101Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 88McDonald'sGarfield Ridge · BurgersChain · 101Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 89Potbelly Sandwich WorksLoop · Sandwiches & DeliChain · 44Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 90SubwayRogers Park · Sandwiches & DeliChain · 157Grade B≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 91Coluta's PizzaDunning · PizzaGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 92Domino's PizzaEdgewater · PizzaChain · 34Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 93Duke'sJefferson Park · American & OtherGrade B≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 94Dunkin DonutsWest Ridge · Coffee & CaféChain · 202Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 95Dunkin DonutsNear West Side · Coffee & CaféChain · 202Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 96Dunkin Donuts/Baskin RobbinsNorwood Park · Coffee & CaféChain · 202Grade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 97Great Wall Chinese FoodRogers Park · ChineseGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 98Taqueria VallartaChicago Lawn · MexicanGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 99Taqueria el CharroRogers Park · MexicanGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
- Rank 100The Bean CaffeLincoln Park · Coffee & CaféGrade A≤2002licensed by 2002
See all 7,777 on this list, with filters, in the web version