The 12 Best Steakhouses in Chicago, Ranked
Because sometimes a girl needs her meat and potatoes
As Midwesterners, we typically aren’t ones to brag, but we’ve got to give ourselves props where props are due: No city does the steakhouse quite like Chicago. Here, 12 temples to beef that will get your mouth watering faster than you can say "filet."
12. Chicago Chop House
It’s all about the classic American steakhouse inside this 19th-century brownstone. You can’t go wrong with the long-boned tomahawk steak, dry aged to perfection.
60 W. Ontario St.; 312-787-7100 or chicagochophouse.com
11. Mastro’s Steakhouse
Hailing from Scottsdale, this elegant steakhouse has earned its national chops thanks to impeccable service and even more impeccable steaks. Surf and turf it up with a starter of sushi followed by a helping of bone-in Kansas City strip.
520 N. Dearborn St.; 312-521-5100 or mastrosrestaurants.com
10. Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse
Big game on tonight? His Airness has got you covered. With several big-screen TVs dotted across his eponymous steakhouse, you can cut through a 45-day dry-aged Delmonico without ever taking your eye off the ball.
505 N. Michigan Ave.; 312-321-8823 or mjshchicago.com
9. Chicago Cut Steakhouse
This is your go-to place for high-stakes (sorry, not sorry) business dinners and general feeling-fancy occasions. With a killer view of the Chicago River, Chicago Cut Steakhouse takes everything great about fine dining and kicks it up a notch.
300 N LaSalle St.; 312-329-1800 or chicagocutsteakhouse.com
8. Rural Society
Former Iron Chef Jose Garces adds an Argentine twist to the classic Chicago steakhouse, loading up his menu with grilled meats, seafood (think lobster doused in butter) and plenty of empanadas. Trust us, you will not leave hungry.
455 N. Park Dr.; 312-840-6605 or chicago.ruralsocietyrestaurant.com
7. Benny’s Chop house
You know what goes great with a delicious slab of meat? A helping of live jazz, courtesy of internationally acclaimed artists. Stop in Wednesday through Friday to take in some soulful tunes as you slice your way through Benny’s iconic NY strip steak.
444 N. Wabash Ave.; 312-626-2444 or bennyschophouse.com
6. Gene & Georgetti Restaurant
The ultimate in old school, Gene & Georgetti is a certified Chicago institution. Sidle up to a bar stool and feast your eyes (and mouth, duh) on rare-as-they-come steaks and original side orders like the New York Times-approved “garbage” salad.
500 N. Franklin St.; 312-527-3718 or geneandgeorgetti.com
5. Morton’s The Steakhouse
The smell of warm onion bread permeates through Morton’s 4,800-square-foot restaurant, every inch of which is a shrine to all things meat. Here the crab cakes arrive heavy on the crab, light on the filler and the steak is seared by the flame of a preposterously hot broiler.
65 E. Wacker Pl.; 312-201-0410 or mortons.com/wacker
4. RPM Steak
Let’s give a big round of applause to Giuliana Rancic, because the girl knows her steak. The servers here go above and beyond to make you feel pampered; consider them the tour guides of your epic culinary adventure. P.S. Don’t miss the lighter-than-air Parker House rolls.
66 W. Kinzie St.; 312-284-4990 or rpmrestaurants.com
3. Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab
Surf meets turf in the most delicious way at Joe’s, and there’s a loyal fan base of discerning Chicagoans to prove it. Pro tip: Save room for dessert. You do not--we repeat, do not--want to miss out on the signature key lime pie.
60 E. Grand Ave.; 312-379-5637 or joes.net/chicago
2. David Burke’s Primehouse
The chefs at David Burke’s embrace aging with a gusto: They leave their rib eyes in their in-house, salt-tiled aging room for anywhere from 28 to 75 days, which imbues their cuts with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Oh, and if you ask nicely, you can get a tour of the aging room.
616 N. Rush St.; 312-680-6000 or davidburkesprimehouse.com
Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf
As far as we’re concerned, restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff can do no wrong. He already knocked it out of the park with Au Cheval and Gilt Bar, and now he’s here to change the steak game with unbelievable cuts of meat, flavorful cocktails and a killer fried chicken.
218 W. Kinzie St.; 312-624-8154 or bavetteschicago.com