Best Hidden Gems Restaurants in Bucktown & Logan Square (60647)
5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Jibaritos y Más
Chicago jibarito HQ where fried plantain “bread” meets big-portioned Puerto Rican plates.
Notable Picks
8.9
Jibaritos y Más is a bustling Logan Square Puerto Rican spot that’s become one of Chicago’s definitive jibarito destinations, with plantain-pressed sandwiches and hearty plates drawing locals and visitors alike. The room is casual and a bit chaotic at peak hours, but huge portions, bold flavors, and thousands of reviews across platforms prove how reliably it delivers.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bistec Jibarito, Lechón Jibarito with arroz con gandules, Alcapurria with house hot sauce
What makes it special: Chicago jibarito HQ where fried plantain “bread” meets big-portioned Puerto Rican plates.
Penumbra is a Latin-influenced steak and seafood restaurant engineered almost entirely around romance, with curtain-draped booths, low lighting, and surf-and-turf plates built for celebrations. Steaks, jalapeño shrimp, and a deep wine list keep it in steady rotation for anniversaries and milestone dates in Logan Square.
Must-Try Dishes:
Flat Iron Steak & Lobster combo, Shadow Shrimp, Penumbra Ice Cream
What makes it special: A Latin-influenced steakhouse designed specifically for romantic, curtain-draped dinners.
8.7
Open since 1911, Roeser’s is Chicago’s oldest family-owned bakery, still operating from its original Humboldt Park storefront on North Avenue. Custom cakes, paczki, and old-school doughnuts anchor a huge pastry case, and more than a century of birthday orders and recent TV cameos make it a quietly essential stop for classic sweets.
Must-Try Dishes:
Paczki, Strawberry shortcake, Sugar pecan cookies
What makes it special: A century-old, family-run bakery that still anchors neighborhood celebrations.
8.4
Red Hot Ranch’s Bucktown/Logan outpost is a cash-only stand known for double cheeseburgers, Depression dogs, and fresh-cut fries served from a tiny counter with a few picnic tables. It’s been repeatedly highlighted by local and national writers as one of Chicago’s best cheap burgers, and high-volume reviews back up its reputation as a late-night and lunch staple.
Must-Try Dishes:
Red Hot Double cheeseburger with fries, Depression Dog with fresh-cut fries, Fried Shrimp by the half-pound
What makes it special: No-frills stand where a sub-$10 smashburger-and-fries combo still feels like a steal.
Yaba’s is a tiny shawarma and kebab counter tucked inside a modest Armitage convenience store, often described by regulars as a true neighborhood hidden gem. Freshly grilled meats, generous platters, and housemade hummus punch well above the space’s humble look, with steady recent reviews praising both flavor and value.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Plate, Chicken Shawarma Wrap, Lentil Soup
What makes it special: A tiny grocery-counter hybrid where hand-made falafel, shawarma, and lentil soup anchor some of the neighborhood’s most affordable Middle Eastern plates.