All eyes are on Chicago’s Northwest Side neighborhood Avondale, as the lively locale was recently named the fifth coolest neighborhood in the world, preceded only by towns in Japan, Belgium, Brazil and the UK. In honor of the distinction, our team at Time Out has revisited our ranking of the best restaurants in Avondale—and a new entry has claimed the top spot.
Anelya is an exceptional Ukrainian restaurant from chefs Johnny Clark and Beverly Kim of Parachute HiFi, which happens to be our second-favorite restaurant in Avondale. The 50-seat spot is cozier than its bright predecessor, Wherewithall, Clark and Kim’s now-shuttered concept, and serves modern-meets-traditional Ukrainian fare—fulfilling, heavy on root veggies, oily fish and grains, and often slightly sour bites from naturally fermented ingredients.
Since its debut in late 2023, Anelya has garnered plenty of buzz, and unlike many restaurants in Chicago, it’s managed to live up to the hype. Clark draws on his Ukrainian roots for what is a poignant translation of old-world cooking. Fish and meat, dumplings and noodles and zakusky (small plates) complement spirit-forward cocktails with house-fermented kefir, an all-Eastern European wine list and spirit-free kvass (a traditional house-fermented beverage resembling kombucha).
A range of factors go into determining the rankings, and if you’d like to know more about that process, check out how we review at Time Out. But one thing is crystal clear: Clark and Kim’s love letter to Ukrainian cooking is operating at the highest level in Avondale.
All that being said, it’s a very popular spot right now, so be sure to make a reservation well in advance. Pro tip: Your best bet for snagging a walk-in table is on Saturdays, when Anelya sees the most cancellations.
RECOMMENDED: The 39 coolest neighborhoods in the world in 2025