Reboot Illinois
Looking to enjoy a good meal in Illinois? There are a lot of options, from sushi to tacos to pizza to bratwurst. Here are some of the top-rated (moderately priced) restaurants in Peoria, Springfield, Rockford, Champaign, Chicago and the Chicago suburbs.
Yelp.com collects consumer reviews and ratings from business all over the world, including restaurants, based on a star-rating system and filtered by price. Since the reviews are hyperlocal, the restaurants are grouped by city. Here we have included only restaurants that have a designation of $$ (which means that most dishes cost between $11 and $30), the medium price-point in Yelp’s system.
Some restaurants have overall higher ratings, but have been rated by fewer people. Yelp puts an emphasis on a mix of average stars given and the absolute number of overall favorable reviews to rank the restraunts.
Peoria
One World Cafe
Type: American
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “The menu is extensive enough not to run out of options either – and the soups were so good (white bean tomato, asian mushroom, etc). Our first trip I had the southwest chicken wrap and the second the falafel. Both recommended”
Hokkaido
Type: Asian Fusion
Rating: four-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “Very enjoyable experience and food. Service was attentive, drinks always refilled and the menu has a very good set of choices, including great sushi in addition to the hibachi options.”
Peoria Hofbrau
Type: German Rating: four-and-a-half stars Sample review: “A wide variety of German beers I’d never heard of before and just a few regulars. The schnitzel is perfectly breaded and cooked.”
Sushi Gawa
Type: Sushi
Rating: four stars
Sample review: ” If you wanna get a quick, tasty, filling sushi fix for a good price, this is the place for you. I ordered the Spider Roll ($6.95) and the Fried California ($5.50). Both tasted very good though the Spider Roll was a little skimpy on spider.”
Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano
Type: Italian
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “I ordered chicken pasta that was served piping hot. All orders came at the same time and the entrées were all enjoyed! Portions varied in size but everyone was full after the meal and bread served. We split a dessert, which was small, but reasonably priced. ”
Springfield
Happy Sushi
Type: Sushi Rating: four-and-a-half stars Sample review: “The sushi are excellently prepared. Spicy Crunch is very special and as a sushi lover, it is the first time with this excellent taste with shrimp tempura in. The seaweed Salad is very crispy and nicely spiced. The yaki udon is very Korean style taste. The yellow tail with scallion sushi roll is not in the menu but the chef made it for us with fantasy satisfaction. The chef also ask us if we like to try kimchi soup and he treated us for free.”
Maldaner’s
Type: American Rating: four stars Sample Review: “Great old building and tables with cloth tablecloths. I had to get a horseshoe (with a burger). The meat was done very nicely, huge portion! One son had a penne pasta, which was also huge. Parents and my other son had personal pizzas, which they all raved about. Nice little homemade crust with fresh ingredients. ”
American Harvest Eatery
Type: Americna Rating: four stars Sample Review: “I wouldn’t as much call it ‘cooking’ as ‘culinary artistry.’ These chefs pour their hearts into every dish, take risks, and have a gift for combining flavors & textures. ”
Old Luxemburg Inn
Type: Steakhouse
Rating: four-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “The salad and bread was awesome. Get the garlic dressing with dry rogue fort (cheese). And the loaded baked potato with chive cheese sauce was the best potato I’ve ever had. Steaks and fried chicken were also excellent.”
Obed & Isaacs
Type: Brewery
Rating: three-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “The food here was excellent but their home crafted beers were outstanding. Liked the Strawberry Blonde Ale but absolutely loved the chocolate brownie stout.”
Rockford
Five Forks Market
Type: Tapas bar
Rating: four-and-half stars
Sample review: “Creamy dreamy awesome perfection. The variety offered during my visit had a tangy tomato topping that made my tummy happy.The beef medallion trio was also spectacular. Three different combinations, each delicious and perfectly cooked.The goat cheese with red pepper was pretty awful.”
Abrero Restaurant
Type: Tapas bar
Rating: four-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “A dining experience; not just dinner. Standouts: corvina with asparagus (perfectly prepared), beef tenderloin with fried goat cheese, and lamb with cabbage and apples. Raspberry crepes stole the show.”
Octane InterLounge
Type: Bar
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “To me, most of the menu is eclectic twists on traditional plates. Try one of their burgers! I’ve never had a bad meal here. Portion sizes are perfect; you leave having eaten enough.”
Hai Quynh
Type: Vietnamese
Rating: four-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “The pho tai was great – perfectly cooked meat, lots of noodles, fresh ingredients, all-around balanced flavor. The portion was massive so don’t be concerned about going hungry.”
Lino’s
Type: Italian
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “I recommend the “special salad” delicious! The half pasta pick & lasagna is amazing! So much sauce and cooked perfect! Large is enough to take home for some left overs! Also, service was great even when they were super busy!”
Champaign
Golden Harbour Authentic Chinese Cuisine
Type: Chinese
Rating: four-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “The food here is pretty excellent – lots and lots of choices, and nothing I have had here has ever been bad. The ordering process is a bit goofy at first, but you get used to it.”
Papa Del’s Pizza
Type: Pizza
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “The thick crust takes about 40 minutes to bake and if there’s a line already, expect your order to take about an hour and quarter. The dough is fantastic and the cheese is melted perfectly. They have a great selection of toppings to build your own pie and it’s not too pricy.”
Thara Thai
Type: Thai
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “The pad thai is the best I have had and the soups are always good but I think my favorite is the Tilapia in a chili lime sauce. Don’t miss the crab rangoon!”
Sakanaya Restaurant
Type: Sushi
Rating: four-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “Though it’s a little pricy, the quality of the fish is very good. Suggest try gold rush, alligator, spider, and sakanaya. Ramen is no that great.”
Escobar’s
Type: Mexican
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “Good food — a bit pricey for the portion sizes but all prepared well. Meat dishes like the Hanger Steak Asada and osso bucco contained tasty prepared meat that was very tender to the fork and deliciously prepared vegetables and potato on the side.”
Suburbs
Sushi by Chef Soon Type: Sushi
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “The spicy tuna roll is always something that is very consistent across all sushi restaurants, but Chef Soons spicy tuna rolls are delicious and super fresh! I also enjoyed the jalapeno bomb and the stuffed mushrooms. Although this place is a bit pricey, the quality is outstanding.”
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
Type: Italian
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “The ingredients are a notch above. The sauce, cheese, and meat is all amazing. And the crust…don’t get me started on the crust. So buttery and delicious. It has an amazing flavor!”
Naf Naf Grill
Type: Middle Eastern
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “The Chicken Shawarma pita sandwich is a pocket full of goodness. Add the hot sauce to complete the package. The pita is heavenly soft, and I don’t know why more mediterranean places can’t serve such a soft, fresh pita like this. Get a side of Lentil soup. It’s a nice hearty texture without all the chunkiness. Smooth and great in the winter.”
Bavarian Lodge
Type: German
Rating: four stars
Sample Review: “I love the Jaeger (Hunter’s) Schnitzel and this time loved the Tiroler Schnitzel… with the Spaetzel! And all the great beers to wash it down!”
Two Brothers Tap House
Type: Brewery
Rating: four stars
Sample review: “A couple examples of what I’ve had: Pineapple Infused Prairie Path and Fig and Vanilla Infused Cane and Ebel. Yum. I haven’t even gotten to the food! Nachos: don’t ask just order. Chicken Brat: delicious and you wouldn’t know it was chicken. Pizza: limitless possibilities all served on a perfectly doughy crust. ”
Chicago
Birrieria Zaragoza
Type: Mexican
Rating: four-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “They basically only serve goat, which can be really good when cooked the right way. These guys know what they’re doing – everything I had here was awesome and the tortillas were some of the best I’ve ever had in Chicago. The homemade fire roasted salsa is awesome too.”
Staropolska Restaurant
Type: Polish
Rating: four-and-half-stars
Sample review: “For $18 we had delicious potato pancakes, an amazing chicken dish called devolay, and pierogi that I can’t wait to go back to have again. Not to mention the mushroom soup, three salads, caesar salad, sausage with sauerkraut, beef stroganoff, mashed potatoes, blintzes, coffee and soda.”
Native Foods Cafe
Type: Vegan
Rating: four-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “I had the Bombastic tofu wrap and loved it. The mango in it was very nice. The staff was very friendly explaining my options.”
HB Restaurant
Type: American
Rating: four-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “We decided to share the artichoke edam fritters and almond-stuffed dates as appetizers and they were really tasty! The fritters were nice and crispy and the almond stuffed dates were wrapped in bacon and covered in brown sugar so they salty yet sweet and really hit the spot.”
Laschet’s Inn
Type: German
Rating: four-and-a-half stars
Sample review: “They start you out with warm pumpernickel bread and soup. I had a potato soup which was very good. I wish I tried the goulash. I also started out with a 1/2 pint of Maibock (German spring bier). I had the Chicken Paprikash with spätzle and red cabbage. Fanfrickentastic!”
Did we miss your favorite restaurant in Illinois? Let us know the best restaurants are in your area or if you’ve tried any of the ones listed here.
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Caitlin Wilson is a staff writer for Reboot Illinois. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago, where she studied journalism and political science. Caitlin has become both endeared to and frustrated with her adopted home state and wants to bring Illinoisans the information they need to actively participate in the politics that directly affect them. You can find Reboot on Facebook here and on Twitter at @rebootillinois.