Every year, millions of people visit Chicago for its iconic architecture, scenic lakefront, and rich food scene. As someone who was born and raised here, I’ve had the privilege to eat at countless restaurants across the city — from well-known staples to tucked-away neighborhood spots, and plenty that fall somewhere in between. Unfortunately, along with the hits are some misses.
To help those less experienced with Chicago, this list focuses on the spots that get a lot of buzz through guidebooks, social media, or word of mouth, but often fail to live up to the hype, especially in the eyes of locals. These restaurants aren’t necessarily “bad,” but they tend to be overhyped, overpriced, or outshone by better alternatives nearby. This selection combines my own experiences with what I’ve seen and heard across the broader Windy City food community. More details on how I chose the restaurants are included in the methodology at the end.
1. Lou Malnati’s
When most out-of-towners think of food in Chicago, deep-dish pizza is usually at the top of the list. In fact, most Chicagoans don’t actually eat deep dish all that often, and when they do, it’s rarely from the places tourists flock to. Lou Malnati’s is one of the most well-known names associated with Chicago-style deep dish, but among locals, its reputation doesn’t quite live up to the hype. Despite being widely promoted in travel guides and food shows, Chicagoans tend to skip it in favor of lesser-known spots with more balanced flavors and better execution.
Critics often point to the bland, overly sweet tomato sauce and a crust that can feel more like a dense pie shell than a satisfying base for pizza. On Yelp, many customers write about having an underwhelming experience upon visiting the renowned establishment, with long wait times and disappointing food…