Savor the best: Chicago's 5 Michelin Star restaurants, USA

Alinea is the most awarded restaurant in the city of Chicago. With three Michelin stars and six James Beard nods for its chef, Grant Achatz, Alinea in the Lincoln Park district is one of the top recognized establishments in the world. The fine dining haven has been regarded as a temple of sorts that showcases cutting-edge molecular gastronomy technology in avant-garde dishes. Many foodies consider the ever-changing multi-course tasting menu the experience of a lifetime. The dining space is divided into two sections, The Gallery – a first-floor main seating area that is meant for guests opting for the 16–18 tasting courses, while The Salon offers a slightly abbreviated 10-course selection.

For the full culinary experience, you can go for the private kitchen table, which provides a glimpse into the mad genius of Chef Grant Achatz. No two meals at the Alinea will ever be the same, but you can hope to sample gastronomic delights, such as cured Arctic char crowned with crispy skin glazed in maple syrup, a wobbly ball of thin ice containing spot prawn, coconut, and banana; maitake mushrooms with roe in smoke gel drizzled with blueberry sauce, and salt-baked kohlrabi with yuzu vapor shaved tableside. The meal ends with a “Paint” dessert – think of a Pollockesque creation with blueberries and liquid N2 of chocolate mousse.

The Gallery – $415-$485
The Salon – $305-$385

Smyth is a two Michelin-starred bi-level dining establishment that offers innovative farm-to-table cuisine. It is divided into two eateries: Smyth and The Loyalist. The former is an elegant and inviting restaurant that features a tasting menu, and the latter is a dark rustic basement bar that arguably serves the best burger in town. The fine dining establishment and chic bar is the brainchild of talented duo chefs, John Shields and Karen Urie Shields. The interiors of Smyth are spacious and contemporary in design with an open-air kitchen, modern furnishings made of oak wood, bright yellow windows, and a small lounge area resembling a living room. The Loyalist, on the other hand, is a moody bar with concrete floors, dark walls, and amber-hued lighting.

The open-air kitchen creates a seasonal tasting menu, and the offerings change daily based on the culinary duos’ visit to a 20-acre farm located south of the city. Some of the stunning and delicate dishes that you can relish at Smyth are wild Maine mussels in a savory licorice cream, tender pieces of Dungeness crab covered with rich foie gras served with kani miso (crab innards), caramelized lobster with chilled avocado, grilled lamb with Bangkok guava paste, and venison served with truffle liver ragout. In drinks, you can choose an optional wine pairing or sample exquisite cocktails and other craft beverages at The Loyalist.

Tasting Menu – $285
Chef’s Table – $345
Wine Pairing – $245

Nestled in the West Loop district of Chicago, Mako is one of four omakase-style restaurants in the city. With just 22 covers, it boasts the longest meal in the metropolis with around 25 courses of small plates and sushi. Eating at Mako can feel like a marathon, as the whole gastronomic experience takes around 3 to 4 hours to complete. But this long dining delight is worth every minute you spend there. The exterior is marked with a lone plaque at its entrance. But once you step inside this Japanese wonderland, the dining space lights up in a contemporary fashion. The interiors are minimalistic and elegant, consisting of 12 seats at the graphite-and-walnut sushi bar, where you can witness the making of your meal, five two-seaters tables, walls decorated in soft grays and graphite, abstract artworks, bronzed sculptures, and indirect chandelier lights.

The long-tasting menu is created by veteran Chef B.K Park and his team. Diners can find exquisite dishes like rich monkfish liver with smoked abalone, sashimi of smoked salmon and tuna, an array of nigiri sushi made of eel, scallop, prawn, and horse mackerel, and chawanmushi (savory Japanese custard) stocked with mushroom and crab. The restaurant team also suggests a beverage pairing which consists of sake and wines to complement your meal in the most balanced way.

Tasting Menu – $195
Beverage Pairing – $95

Located in the heart of the Lincoln Park district in Chicago, Galit is a Michelin-starred restaurant that is the benchmark of Middle Eastern cuisine in the state. You have probably eaten hummus, falafel, shakshuka, and pita many times, but Galit is where you go to revise the standard for how they should taste. The exterior is unassuming, but once you step inside the rustic hotspot, you are hit by the lively vibe, warm hospitality, and seductive aromas. The design reminds you of a Mediterranean beachside corner complete with an open kitchen, low bar seats, wooden cage light fixtures, and pops of blue color tones.

The kitchen is run under the guidance of Chef Zachary Engel, who creates a prix fixe menu that allows diners to make their own selections from a range of options. The meal starts off with house-made salatims (an array of dips and pickles) accompanied by flame-kissed pita bread. This avant-garde amuse-bouche is followed by other specialty items like creamy hummus with olive oil, spicy ezme (meat paste) with tomatoes and peppers accompanied by labneh (strained yogurt), fried redfish and catfish in tomato sauce, croquettes of lamb ragout encased in saffron rice shell, and lamb stuffed cabbage served with smoked harissa. End the meal on a sweet note with their heavenly baklava in white chocolate and raspberry.

Prix Fixe Menu – $84

Kasama, meaning “together” in Tagalog, is a fine dining venture by husband-and-wife chefs, Tim Flores and Genie Kwon. It is located in the former Winchester space and serves traditional Filipino cuisine with a modern twist. Popularizing his native food in America is an important part of the owner’s vision and the result is an ambitious and clever Michelin-starred restaurant. Kasama serves pastries, such as chicken adobo and hearty breakfast meat sandwiches in the daytime, but at night transforms into a 13-course fine dining establishment full of bold and exciting flavors. The interiors of the front of the house feature a long dining room with plush banquette seating, an impressively equipped glass window kitchen, a dozen bar seats, and a neutral color palette complementing the lush greenery and hanging plants.

The kitchen serves a tasting menu full of scrumptious dishes, including salmon dressed in tamarind beurre blanc topped with roe, sinigang (sour soup with tofu), fried pork kare kare with a peanut dip, braised lamb belly with coconut curry, and mushroom adobo (soy braised mushrooms) with garlic rice. The tasting menu is paired with cocktails and mocktails, such as Calamansi Mimosa and Pandan, to name a few, which incorporate Filipino flavors and ingredients.

Tasting Menu – $235
Beverage Pairing – $125
Non-Alcoholic Pairing – $75

Chicago has made a huge impact on American culture with its signature Art Deco architecture and world-class cuisine. The largest city in the Midwest has been hailed as a top culinary destination thanks to its array of fine dining restaurants and Michelin-starred establishments. Chicago’s top eateries are said to be some of the most exciting foodie destinations, owing to their use of farm-fresh ingredients and diverse culinary variations. If you are looking for an exceptional gastronomic experience, then Chicago is the city for you.

Which of these innovative Michelin-starred restaurants did you find the most alluring and would like to visit? Share your thoughts with other foodies in the comment section below. And don’t forget to check our top recipes and articles.