Best Casual Restaurants in South Loop

261 restaurants available nearby

1. TAK Korean Bistro

4.4

Awesome(39)

Price: Moderate

• Korean • South Loop

Booked 5 times today

A Korean pocha restaurant in South Loop Chicago is a lively and casual eatery that serves up traditional Korean street food dishes and drinks. Pocha, which translates to "street food tent," refers to the popular outdoor food stalls found in South Korea, and this type of restaurant aims to recreate that experience in an indoor setting.At a Korean pocha restaurant, you can expect to find a variety of small plates, or "anju," that are meant to be shared among friends while drinking soju or beer. These dishes can include popular Korean bar snacks like fried chicken, spicy rice cakes, and seafood pancakes.The atmosphere at a Korean pocha restaurant is usually laid-back and social, with a focus on hanging out with friends and enjoying good food and drinks.Overall, if you're looking for a fun and flavorful dining experience in South Loop Chicago, a Korean pocha restaurant is a great choice. With its vibrant atmosphere and delicious street food, it's sure to be a memorable meal.

A photo of Burger Bar Chicago restaurant

2. Burger Bar Chicago

4.6

Exceptional(643)

Price: Moderate

• Burgers • South Loop

Booked 4 times today

American Ranchers know a thing or two about beef. When they tell us that Prime is the best, we just go with the flow and serve up the biggest, baddest Prime burgers around.

3. Rose Mary

4.8

Exceptional(3299)

Price: Expensive

• Croatian • West Loop

Booked 121 times today

Located in the historic Fulton Market district of Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, Rose Mary is Chef/Owner Joe Flamm’s debut restaurant inspired by his Italian heritage and the bold, bright flavors of Croatian cuisine. The boisterous space—named for Flamm’s grandmothers, Mary and Mary Rose, and the herb rosemary, which grows natively along the Italian and Croatian coastlines—offers a seasonal menu of rustic yet refined dishes that encapsulate what Flamm has coined “Adriatic drinking food”.

A photo of Pizzeria Portofino restaurant

4. Pizzeria Portofino

4.8

Exceptional(1545)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • River North (Chicago)

Booked 231 times today

Pizzeria Portofino is a sun-drenched casual restaurant located directly on the Chicago riverfront offering hand-stretched pizzas, coastal wines, an expansive patio and breezy decor that will instantly transport you to the Italian Riviera.

5. Alla Vita

4.8

Exceptional(2300)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary Italian • West Loop

Booked 136 times today

Serving a casual, family-style menu, Alla Vita is a place to gather and enjoy comfortable Italian cuisine. Alla Vita means “to life” in Italian which recognizes overcoming life's challenges and creating a space for shared meals and memorable experiences. Executive Chef Lee Wolen shares his passion for fresh, delicious Italian food made simply with the best ingredients. Follow @allavitachicago to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings.

A photo of Club Lago Restaurant restaurant

6. Club Lago Restaurant

4.9

Exceptional(492)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • River North (Chicago)

Booked 3 times today

Opening its doors in 1952, Club Lago has anchored the corner of Superior and Orleans since before the neighborhood River North grew up around it. Serving classic Northern Italian specialties from the Garfagnana Valley in Tuscany to steaks, chops and signature sandwiches too, the Lago's staff will recommend the perfect entree for whatever mood you're in. Third generation owners GianCarlo and Guido are pouring the wine or serving the veal--it's a family affair. Time warp back to the fifties with a glass of chianti in a plush booth in the bar or hold court at one of the tables in the back; Club Lago's ideal for the first date, a meal before the theater or a game, or whenever you're looking to relax to great food and be a regular in a family joint. Some call it "retro," we call it home. Benvenuti, come on in!

7. Elina's

4.8

Exceptional(159)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • West Town

Booked 31 times today

Fine Italian cooking served by two chefs in an intimate space.Reservations are released 30 days in advance at midnight. Parties of 7 or more must contact Reservations@elinaschicago.com to book. Parties of this size are required to participate in a $75 per person family style prix fixe menu, drinks are charged based on consumption and a 20% gratuity will be added to the final bill. If you cancel within 24 hours of your reservation time you will incur a $30 per person cancelation fee.

8. il Porcellino

4.7

Exceptional(4227)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • River North (Chicago)

Booked 82 times today

Il Porcellino, located in the heart of River North in downtown Chicago, is a neighborhood restaurant offering classic Italian-American comfort food in a casual setting. Our seasonal menu focuses on housemate pastas, vegetable antipasti and daily specials, all crafted with ingredients sourced from quality artisans, purveyors, and local farmers. The fun and approachable wine program encourages sharing with selections primarily from Italy. As a way to offset rising costs associated with the restaurant (food, beverage, labor, benefits, supplies), we have added a 3% surcharge to all checks. We do this in lieu of increased menu prices. You may request to have this taken off your check, should you choose.

9. Siena Tavern

4.7

Exceptional(6036)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • River North (Chicago)

Booked 129 times today

Entirely Rooted In A "From Scratch" Approach, We Present Upscale, Classic Italian Fares, Straight From Top Chef Alum, Fabio Viviani. Siena Tavern'S Extensive Wine List And Our Highly Contemporary Design, Interspersed With Rustic Details, Elevates The Genuine Italian Dining Experience While Simultaneously Maintaining Authenticity. Farm To Fork, Refined And Redefined.

10. Roanoke

4.3

Awesome(1448)

Price: Moderate

• American • Downtown / Loop

Booked 75 times today

Roanoke Restaurant, located in the Loop, is a local favorite known for its excellent service and top-tier culinary offerings. The menu highlights artisan comfort food, signature rotisserie dishes, and hand-crafted cocktails. The restaurant's design features luxurious finishes, copper accents, and warm lighting inspired by the rotisserie and brick oven in the open kitchen. Whether you're enjoying happy hour at the bar, dining by the fireplace for a more intimate experience, or joining the vibrant lunch crowd, Roanoke is an ideal spot to gather with colleagues, friends, or family. The restaurant also offers large event spaces that can accommodate up to 250 people.Guests can enjoy parking validation at the 172 W Madison Self-Park Garage. After 4 p.m. on weekends and weeknights, park for free with a $25 meal purchase. Be sure to bring your parking slip for validation. Not valid for valet parking.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

A
adrienneVIP
Chicago / Illinois •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Great food, good service and nice location!! Highly recommend the rigatoni, pepperoni hot pizza and Cesar salad with chicken!
More info
Pizzeria PortofinoPrice: Expensive• Italian• River North (Chicago)
•
4.8
SB
SandyB
Chicago / Illinois •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Everything was wonderful Food, cocktails Recommendations service … The ONLY thing to improve upon and it’s small.. is the restroom experience Pathway to restrooms is downstairs … and Smelled like mildew and felt like a dungeon They Obviously cared enough to make the actual restroom nice and updated, but the hallway is unfinished and needs to be basement proofed and finished to match the level that the restaurant deserves
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Rose MaryPrice: Expensive• Croatian• West Loop
•
4.8
S
SonyaVIP
Chicago / Illinois •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Always great food and service at the burger bar in Chicago. We find ourselves making the 1.5hr drive more and more for their food and amazing staff
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Burger Bar ChicagoPrice: Moderate• Burgers• South Loop
•
4.6
C
Christine
Seattle / Eastern Washington •1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
The table bread is a must. The Cacio e Pepe pillows (so fluffy) and Rigatoni (just a little spicy in a good way) were delicious! Fried potatoes and delicate squash were excellent. Roasted chicken was just a little crispy and so flavorful. Soppressata pizza was sweet and salty. So good. Can’t wait for leftovers. Tossed salad was just ok IMO.
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Alla VitaPrice: Expensive• Contemporary Italian• West Loop
•
4.8
H
Hyeongdong
Chicago / Illinois •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
A great spot to spend time with a friend or host visitors from out of town. They provide tasty dishes and exceptional service. Additionally, the open mic event that takes place every Thursday is quite impressive. I will definitely be sure to visit again in the future.
More info
TAK Korean BistroPrice: Moderate• Korean• South Loop
•
4.4

Best Casual Restaurants in South Loop

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261 restaurants available nearby

1. TAK Korean Bistro

2. Burger Bar Chicago

3. Rose Mary

4. Pizzeria Portofino

5. Alla Vita

6. Club Lago Restaurant

7. Elina's

8. il Porcellino

9. Siena Tavern

10. Roanoke

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