A guide to Italian food in Chicago, according to the city’s best chefs

With its deep Italian roots and sizable Italian-American population, Chicago is home to some of the country’s best Italian restaurants. Whether it's handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, traditional baked goods or gelato, there's no shortage of Italian specialties to enjoy across the city. To help you navigate the scene, we asked six local chefs to share their favorite spots for red-sauce classics, Italian markets, Italian beef and plenty more. The picks span everything from swanky, white-tablecloth restaurants to no-fuss institutions that have been serving the community for decades. Together, they offer taste of the flavors and traditions that make Chicago's Italian scene so special.

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Soo Ahn - Adalina Italian, Adalina Prime, Arla

A former professional golfer turned chef, Soo Ahn leads Chicago hospitality group Hospitality Included, the team behind glitzy Italian restaurant Adalina, globally-inspired steakhouse Adalina Prime and Mediterranean-Japanese rooftop restaurant Arla. After serving as executive chef at Michelin-starred Band of Bohemia, Ahn stepped into the national spotlight as a contestant on season 21 of Bravo’s Top Chef. His cooking style draws on his Korean heritage, childhood cravings, fast-food nostalgia and classical technique.

Best pizza

• Spacca Napoli
• Vito & Nick's
• Pequod's

Red-sauce joints

• La Scarola
• Club Lucky
• Elina's

Elevated Italian

• Tre Dita
• Monteverde
• Alla Vita

Italian bakeries

• D'Amato's Bakery
• Ferrara Bakery

Italian markets or delis

• J.P. Graziano Grocery
• Tempesta Market
• Bari Foods

Italian beef

• Mr. Beef
• Johnnie's Beef 

Saul Ramos - Sapori Trattoria

Born in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, and raised in Chicago, Saul Ramos found his calling in the restaurant industry at age 13, bussing tables and lending a hand in the kitchen. He went on to help launch River North’s modern Italian spot, Siena Tavern. where he fell in love with the art of Italian cooking. Ramos now serves as executive chef at Sapori Trattoria, a Lincoln Park favorite for red-sauce Italian cuisine that he took over in 2020 with restaurateur Kosti Demos. He has preserved the original owner's family recipes from Italy while breathing new life into the menu with a rotating selection of housemade pastas.

Best pizza

• Spacca Napoli
• Phil's Pizza
• Prince Street Pizza

Red-sauce joints

• Ciccio Mio
• Topo Gigio Ristorante

Elevated Italian

• Tre Dita

Italian bakeries or gelaterias

• D'Amato's
• Palermo Bakery
• Annette's Italian Ice

Italian markets or delis

• D'Amato's Bakery
• J.P. Graziano Grocery

Italian beef

• Clark Street Dog
• Johnnie's Beef 

Joe Frillman - Daisies, The Radicle

Joe Frillman grew up in suburban Chicago in a family where food and gathering around the dinner table were central to daily life. After honing his skills at acclaimed restaurants including The Bristol, Perennial Virant and Balena, he opened Daisies in 2017. His vegetable-forward, seasonally driven cooking celebrates local farms, sustainable sourcing and housemade pastas.

Best pizza

• Vito & Nick's
• Joe's Pizzeria
• Bungalow by Middle Brow (Tavern Tuesday)

Red-sauce joints

• Bruna's Ristorante
• Club Lucky
• Ignotz Ristorante

Elevated Italian

• Monteverde
• Alla Vita

Italian bakeries or gelaterias

• Artemio's Bakery
• D'Amato's Bakery
• Black Dog Gelato

Italian markets or delis

• Tony's Italian Deli & Subs
• Bari Foods
• Riviera Foods Chicago
• Minelli Italian Meats and Deli
• Rex Italian Foods

Italian beef

• Johnnie's Beef
• Jay's Beef
• Buona 

Giuseppe Tentori

Giuseppe Tentori spent nine years at Charlie Trotter’s, including two as chef de cuisine, before joining Boka as executive chef in 2007. He went on to open GT Fish & Oyster in 2011 and GT Prime Steakhouse in 2016, establishing himself as a fixture in Chicago’s dining scene.

Best pizza

• Robert's Pizza & Dough Company
• Spacca Napoli
• Pizza Matta

Red-sauce joints

• Dimmi Dimmi Corner Italian
• La Scarola
• Il Milanese Ristorante

Elevated Italian

• Piccolo Sogno
• Monteverde

Italian bakeries

• D'Amato's Bakery
• Scafuri Bakery
• Ferrara Bakery

Italian markets

• Angelo Caputo's Fresh Markets

Jakob Peterson - Dēliz Italian Steakhouse, Carlyle Club

With more than 17 years of professional cooking experience, Jakob Peterson is chef-partner at Dēliz Italian Steakhouse. A Culinary Institute of America graduate, he built his career in Chicago kitchens, including Michelin-starred Acadia and Etta. His cooking combines modern Italian flavors and classic French technique, with an emphasis on seasonality and a less-is-more approach.

Best pizza

• Pizz'amici
• Coalfire
• Piece
• Pequod's

Red-sauce joints

• La Scarola
• Tortello

Elevated Italian

• Tre Dita
• Monteverde

Italian bakeries

• D'Amato's Bakery

Italian markets or delis

• Bari Food

Italian beef

• Johnnie's Beef
• Buona

John Asbaty - Ox Bar & Hearth

Growing up in a family with Polish and Syrian influences, John Asbaty was inspired by his grandfather’s bakery and his mother’s strong work ethic. After transitioning from finance to the culinary world, he earned a degree from Le Cordon Bleu and honed his skills at acclaimed restaurants, including Trio, where he met Alain Uy, and Alinea, working under mentors Grant Achatz and Curtis Duffy. As the Culinary Director of R&D for RH Hospitality, he played a pivotal role in the success of the 3 Arts Club Cafe and greater RH Hospitality brand expansion. In 2025, he reunited with Uy to open Ox Bar & Hearth, a seasonally-driven restaurant centered on live-fire cooking.

Best pizza

• Spacca Napoli

Red-sauce joints

• La Scarola

Elevated Italian

• Tre Dita

Italian bakeries

• Bar Tutto

Italian delis

• J.P. Graziano Grocery

Italian beef

• Johnnie's Beef