It's been a minute since I've written a blog post! Time feels like it has been moving faster than ever lately, but I finally carved out time to come back to one of the things I love most: writing about the food and incredible food community in the city. Chicago summer is in full swing, and I can feel it everywhere I go. I've fallen behind on trying new spots recently, so researching this round had me very excited to actually book reservations. This list is also special because it features new places by teams from recent stand out restaurants I've tried. Here are a few restaurants opening this Summer worth getting on your list:
JOMON - Bucktown: The team behind Mammoth Poke is opening JOMON on July 13, 2026, just up the street from their Bucktown location. Rather than chasing the omakase route I have seen many new Japanese spots in Chicago recently lean into, JOMON is positioned as a casual neighborhood place that pulls from different parts of Japanese cuisine. JOMON will offer sushi, yakitori, and ramen all under one roof. Chicago has incredible high-end sushi restaurants, but I have recently thought there's a big opportunity for more casual neighborhood sushi spots, done well. I'm especially excited to see how the yakitori shapes up on the menu, since it's still one of the more under-represented Japanese foods in the city.
Muhājir - Lincoln Park: I'm going to first highlight Zubair Mohajir's restaurant Mirra in Bucktown and say that if you haven't been to Mirra, you should certainly add it to your list as well. Mirra focuses on combining Indian and Mexican cuisine, and does an excellent job highlighting parts of both cuisines. I was very excited see he is opening a new restaurant, Muhājir, that will draw on wood-fired influences from around the world. I especially loved the preview of the restaurant and their description on the website: "... the dining experience will honor both heritage and innovation, where South Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, North African, and Filipino influences come together through a shared language of food." Muhājir is opening July 1, 2026.
The Carlyle Club - River North: Another highlight to pair with this is Dēliz Italian Steakhouse. You're going to want to pull out your notes app again and add this one as well. Dēliz was a recent standout restaurant for me, so when I saw their team was opening a new riverfront restaurant with a patio, I was instantly excited. The Carlyle Club appears to be different from a standard restaurant, positioned more as a social house, highlighting 3 things front and center on their website: steaks, sushi, and cocktails. I'm not sure it gets much better than that. The vibe of the restaurant reads warm rather than stuffy and exclusive, and one that they want to foster connections with people over long dinners, sharing drinks, and enjoying. The Carlyle Club is set to open August 28, 2026.
Ann Sather - Wicker Park: Ann Sather has been a Chicago breakfast staple since 1945. The restaurant became well known for their legendary cinnamon rolls, and has long been the kind of family-oriented spot where people gather over breakfast together. It seems like that is the major driving theme of their restaurant and that's something I really love and appreciate. Nothing over the top fancy, all you need is good people and good food. Ann Sather is set to open a new location in Wicker Park this July, marking a return to a neighborhood it once called home.
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