Brian Nagele
Embark on a Hellenic culinary odyssey in the heart of Chicago as we unveil the city’s Best Greek Restaurants, where each plate is a passport to the vibrant flavors of Greece. From traditional tavernas serving time-honored recipes to modern establishments infusing innovation into classic dishes, Chicago’s Greek dining scene is a celebration of authenticity and culinary artistry. Each restaurant on our curated list promises a gastronomic journey, transporting diners to the sun-drenched landscapes of Greece through savory bites and delightful Mediterranean ambiance. Whether you’re a seasoned philhellene or a newcomer eager to explore, join us in savoring the diverse and exquisite offerings that make Chicago a haven for lovers of Greek cuisine.
Greek Islands
200 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60661
312-782-9855
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The Greek Islands restaurant sits a few blocks away from Heritage Green Park and Old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. This impressive and traditional Greek restaurant is right on the corner of West Adams Street and South Halsted Street. The Greek Islands restaurant first opened in 1971 and has served quality and affordable Greek food ever since. My favorite dishes here were their lamb and beef gyros appetizer as well as their melt-in-the-mouth moussaka. Exquisitely tasty meats fill the gyro pita. The mousaka includes a combination of creamy baked eggplants, ground meat, and fresh potatoes.
Athena Greek Restaurant
212 S Halsted St #1, Chicago, IL 60661
312-655-0000
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You can find the Athena Greek Restaurant right next door to the Greek Islands eatery. Bartelme (Mary) Park stands a few blocks away from the Athena Greek Restaurant, which serves Mediterranean-inspired food and provides both indoor and outdoor seating in a friendly environment. At this fine dining and rather upscale Greek restaurant, I ordered Tzatziki sauce for my bread and pita, an appetizer of zucchini chips, and a main meal of seafood kabobs. The kabobs were the best, and I loved the flaky salmon, tasty swordfish, and shrimp. It came with a side of seasoned rice and potatoes that I couldn’t resist.
Athenian Room
807 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
773-348-5155
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The Athenian Room restaurant sits only a block away from Oz Park. You can find this trendy and comfy Greek restaurant on the corner of Webster Avenue and North Halsted Street. This family-owned restaurant has been around since 1972, serving delicious Greek food. I loved the brick walls and portraits decorating the building. You can also dine outdoors under an umbrella on a sunny day if you prefer. I ordered the jumbo shrimp as an appetizer and the tasty king-sized gyro with french fries for lunch. My friends and I also had some iced tea with sweet baklava for dessert.
Taxim
1558 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
773-252-1558
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The Taxim restaurant stands near an athletic club and Wicker Park. You can find this restaurant right off Milwaukee Avenue and near The Flatiron Arts Building. Urban Outfitters is also right down the street. I loved trying out the rooftop dining available at this trendy restaurant. Here, I ordered a fire-roasted eggplant salad with pita as well as the wood-grilled lamb chops for my main meal. The flavorful lamb chops came with a savory pepper salad, wheat pilaf, and fresh grilled lemons. For dessert, I truly enjoyed the sweet chocolate semolina halva, which included a candied mandarin.
Avli On The Park
Multiple locations
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While there are multiple locations for this restaurant, I found the Avli eatery in the Lincoln Park region next door to several bars, a spa, and a running track. I came upon this restaurant on the corner of West Wrightwood Avenue and North Wayne Avenue. This fine-dining restaurant offers exquisite Greek-inspired food. The foods are based on the Mediterranean diet, and you can also order Greek wines here. When I visited this restaurant, I ordered the meatballs as my hors d’oeuvre and the Ouzo Salmon as my main course. I loved the flaky and delicious fish as well as the mouthwatering meatballs.
Artopolis Bakery, Cafe & Agora
306 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60661
312-559-9000
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You can find the Artopolis Bakery, Cafe & Agora a few blocks away from the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. After a delicious meal, you can enjoy visiting the National Hellenic Museum down the street from this cafe. This cafe was a perfect place to grab some lunch. I enjoyed looking at the indoor stone wall and large Greek flag in this bakery. Here, I ordered the pita gyro with mouthwatering lamb and beef with a side of french fries. I tried the sweet and creamy chocolate raspberry truffle for a tasty treat. After a day out in the Windy City, it was a perfect meal to enjoy.
Cross-Rhodes Restaurant
913 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202
847-475-4475
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If you’re planning on visiting the American Toby Jug Museum, you need to stop by Cross-Rhodes Restaurant right off Chicago Avenue. This restaurant is only a few blocks away from Fitzsimons Park. It first opened in 1984 in a beautiful brick building and has a very laidback, relaxing atmosphere. My friends and I enjoyed our time at this restaurant. I ordered the fried shrimp as an appetizer for the table and then the cucumber and tzatziki salad for myself. For my main course, I picked the half-chicken cooked in a white wine sauce with a taste of lemons and herbs. It was all decidedly delicious.
Psistaria Greek Taverna
4711 W Touhy Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847-676-9400
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After strolling through Kenneth Park, take a quick drive to the Psistaria Greek Taverna. You won’t regret it! This restaurant sits in a more suburban neighborhood, right off of Touhy Avenue. This incredible and upscale family-owned restaurant opened in 2005 and has been serving authentic Greek food with fresh ingredients ever since. I chose the mini pork kabobs for my appetizer and the chicken breast pasta as my main meal. I loved the tasty meats with tzatziki sauce and the perfect encasing of pita bread. The spaghetti was cooked in wonderfully creamy garlic and tomato sauce, and the chicken strips were sauteed with fresh vegetables.
Greek Corner Restaurant
958 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
773-252-8010
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The Greek Corner Restaurant stands in a typical suburban neighborhood with The Boulevard Condominium Homes nearby and the Dollop Bakeshop across the street. This locale is a very laid-back and casual restaurant that serves traditional Greek food. I asked for the Mediterranean salad and the souvlaki on pita bread. The chicken souvlaki is a charbroiled and tasty piece of meat. It comes with romaine lettuce, onions, and tomatoes on top of pita bread smeared with tzatziki sauce. I also tried the dolmades. They are delicious, greasy vegetarian grape leaves that my friends and I could not stop eating. For a simple and tasty meal, I suggest trying the Greek Corner Restaurant.
Salonica Restaurant
1440 E 57th St, Chicago, IL 60637
773-752-3899
After spending a day walking around the Museum of Science and Industry, you can enjoy a great meal at the Salonica Restaurant. This eatery is on the corner of South Blackstone Avenue and East 57th Street. The food here is fresh and of high quality. I picked the souvlaki sandwich deluxe, served with lettuce, onions, pickles, and tomatoes, as well as a side of fries. I enjoyed drinking the sweet iced tea with my mouthwatering souvlaki sandwich. Check out the Salonica restaurant if you’re looking for a quick yet delicious lunch.
It’s Greek 2 U Grill
5449 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
872-806-2293
If you’re looking for the perfect place for your group of foodies, then check out Greek 2 U Grill. You can find the Greek 2 U Grill near the corner of West Catalpa Avenue and North Clark Street. The T-Mobile store and a Walgreens pharmacy stand right across the street. At this eatery, I ordered the egg-lemon soup and the flavorful chicken yeero wrap with a side of savory rice pilaf. To end my meal, I asked for the sweet baklava. It was the perfect dessert to conclude my day. So if you’re looking for fresh and delicious food, this is the place to see!
9 Muses Bar & Grill
315 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60661
312-902-9922
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After strolling through the Bartelme Park, you can walk a few blocks toward the 9 Muses Bar & Grill. This restaurant sits in front of the National Hellenic Museum as well. Furthermore, the trendy restaurant serves high-quality Greek food with finely crafted cocktails and wines. In addition, the upscale 9 Muses Bar & Grill holds events where you can spend the night dancing to incredible music played by popular DJs. At this restaurant, I picked the charred zucchini for my appetizer and the Meditteranean pasta. I loved the creamy pasta with its mix of tomatoes, green bell peppers, garlic, and fresh basil.
Zeus Restaurant
806 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
312-258-8789
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Zeus Restaurant, which revolves around the ancient Greek Gods, sits near the Sonnets Academy. You can find the restaurant right on the corner of West Jackson Boulevard and South Green Street, which is in a suburban neighborhood. Bartelme Park is right up the street and a few blocks west. This small and casual restaurant serves tasty Greek food like gyros and shishkabobs. For a quick lunch, I picked the mixed salad along with the barbecue half-chicken. The chefs served this delicious roasted chicken with garlic bread, salad, and french fries. My dining party ordered sweet raspberry iced tea with this savory meal, which was the perfect touch.
Barba Yianni Grecian Taverna
4761 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
773-878-6400
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The Barba Yianni Grecian Taverna sits several blocks away from the Davis Theater. You can enjoy a delicious dinner at this restaurant and then walk to the theater to watch a great movie. Further North, you can roam to the Ainslie Arts Plaza, a gorgeous and colorful walkway. This restaurant opened up in 1989 and has been serving authentic Greek cuisine ever since. At the trendy Barba Yianni Grecian Taverna, I ordered the souvlakia as an appetizer and the pork chops as my main meal, which the chefs served with savory rice and Greek potatoes.
Mr. Greek Gyros
234 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607
312-906-8731
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The Mr. Greek Gyros restaurant is also right by Bartelme Park. With restaurants specializing in Greek cuisine nearby (Zeus Restaurant, Athena Greek Restaurant, and more), I started to think of this neighborhood as Little Greece. This laidback and casual Greek restaurant serves gyros, cheesesteaks, sandwiches, and subs. I arrived for lunch and picked the popular Gyro plate, which came with a pile of crunchy french fries. The gyro was quite savory and flavorful. I enjoyed a nice and hefty portion of delicious pound cake for dessert. I loved the huge portions at an affordable price.
Why Trust Us?
When it comes to local restaurant recommendations, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and trustworthy resource. Our suggestions are not just based on our personal experiences, ensuring a more authentic and well-rounded perspective, but also on extensive online research. We diligently searched the internet and reviewed 5 credible sites and blogs, including Tripadvisor.com and Chicago.eater.com.
We compiled all the findings in one location and sorted them by the frequency of mentions to ensure you receive top-notch recommendations. We strive to present you with a curated list of establishments that truly stand out, allowing you to enjoy the best dining experiences possible.
Interested in the sources we consulted? Check out the list of all 5 sites we referenced below this paragraph, offering transparency and an opportunity for our readers to explore further. Our commitment is to deliver trustworthy and unparalleled recommendations, helping you make informed decisions on your culinary journeys.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g35805-c23-Chicago_Illinois.html
https://chicago.eater.com/maps/best-greek-food-restaurants-chicago
https://mlchicagosocial.com/best-greek-restaurants-chicago
https://www.caitkontalis.com/blog/chicagos-best-greek-restaurants
https://foursquare.com/top-places/chicago/best-places-greek-food