Best Chefs Table Restaurants in Wicker Park & West Town (60622)
5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Kasama
Two-Michelin-starred Filipino bakery-café and tasting menu under chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon.
Essential Picks
#1
Kasama
9.0
Kasama is a Michelin-starred bakery and modern Filipino restaurant from chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, pairing daytime pastries and counter service with a reservation-only tasting menu at night. Locals line up for carefully made breakfast plates and pastries, then treat the evening menu as a special-occasion splurge that has reshaped how Filipino food is perceived in Chicago.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mushroom adobo, Longanisa breakfast sandwich, House croissants
What makes it special: Two-Michelin-starred Filipino bakery-café and tasting menu under chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon.
Notable Picks
#2
Schwa
8.9
Schwa is a tiny, chef-driven tasting room where Michael Carlson’s boundary-pushing, Michelin-starred menu plays out in a loud, dim Wicker Park space. Couples book it for blowout dinners that feel more like an underground dinner party than formal fine dining, with intricate plates, bold flavors, and a bring-your-own-bottle policy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quail egg ravioli with brown butter and sage, Seasonal multi-course tasting menu, Chestnut soup and other rotating signatures
What makes it special: BYOB tasting menu where Michelin-level cooking meets punk rock energy.
#3
KAI ZAN
8.7
Kai Zan is a small West Town Japanese restaurant known for its omakase-style tasting menus, creative sushi, and intimate counter that has earned long-running local acclaim plus a Michelin Bib Gourmand nod. Couples and small groups book it when they want polished, technique-driven Japanese plates without the stiffness of fine-dining temples.
Must-Try Dishes:
10-course omakase tasting, Escolar Pearl, Polenta Bites
What makes it special: Intimate West Town counter where omakase and creative sushi lead.
#4
Valhalla
8.5
Valhalla is a chef’s-counter tasting menu where a small number of seats look directly into an open kitchen turning out Nordic-leaning, seafood-forward plates. Dishes like crab arroz caldo and a scotch egg-inspired lamb course make it a destination within Wicker Park’s dining scene.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crab arroz caldo–inspired course, Scotch egg–inspired lamb dish, Seasonal composed dessert from the tasting progression
What makes it special: High-energy chef-driven tasting menu with creative, globally influenced plates.
8.5
Omakase Shoji is an intimate omakase counter in Ukrainian Village where a small number of seats gather around the chef for a focused, seasonal progression of nigiri and composed bites. It’s a special-occasion destination for diners who want a slower, more deliberate sushi experience than neighborhood AYCE and roll-heavy spots.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal Omakase Nigiri Flight, Toro and Uni Course, Chef’s Daily Appetizer Trio
What makes it special: Tiny omakase counter focused on seasonal fish and a tightly choreographed tasting menu.