Restaurants In Rogers Park: An Unexpected Food Mecca On Chicago’s North Side
Published October 21, 2022
Have you ever been up to Chicago’s northernmost neighborhood? It’s called Rogers Park, and it’s a low-key, quirky part of town that I really love. One of the best things about Rogers Park is its incredible food scene! Even though this isn’t a touristy area, restaurants here represent a wide range of authentic international cuisines.
This guide features over a dozen different restaurants to try throughout Rogers Park. To skip down to any particular place or type of cuisine, click or tap the corresponding link below!
Mexican Cuisine
Rogers Park’s most prominent cuisine is Mexican. There are so many delicious, authentic dishes to try! These restaurants are generally clustered on Clark Street. Below are a half dozen or so of my favorite Mexican eateries in the neighborhood.
Restaurante Cuetzala
Address: 7360 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: http://www.restaurantcuetzala.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100053175235564
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restaurant.cuetzala/
One of Rogers Park’s coziest Mexican restaurants is Cuetzala on the neighborhood’s north side. They serve delicious food for relatively low prices. The first time I went, I got their enchiladas in mole sauce. It was rich and complex, just like good mole should be! I’ve also eaten burritos here, and I love that their salsas are legitimately spicy.
Taquería Restaurant Cd. Hidalgo
Address: 7104 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: http://www.hidalgotogo.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaqueriaCdHidalgo/
This is another one of my favorite Mexican places on Clark Street. The chiles rellenos combo plate is excellent, with perfectly soft yet flaky batter on the outside of the peppers smothered in a tasty tomato sauce. The service is quick and friendly, and the food is authentic at Taquería Ciudad Hidalgo!
El Pulpo Loco
Address: 6619 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://el-pulpo-loco-restaurant.business.site/
I normally don’t go for seafood whenever I’m at a Mexican restaurant. It tends to be more expensive and is usually served family-style. Even for single servings, I worry that it might not be as filling. But at El Pulpo Loco (“The Crazy Octopus”), I simply had to try one of their seafood platters. And I have to say, their camarones a la veracruzana really impressed me!
Not only was the shrimp delicious in a red sauce with green olives, but the dish also came with coleslaw, fresh crispy rice, fries, and salad. It was quite a feast; definitely not a small meal! I saw other folks there who had ordered fish, and I’d really like to go back soon to try that at El Pulpo Loco!
Taquería El Charro
Address: 6661 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charrotacos/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taqueriaelcharro1/
El Charro is another great place to get authentic Mexican food. I’ve tried their house special pictured below: carne asada with nopales, a type of edible cactus (the green pieces are mostly hiding under that generous portion of beef). Their house salsas are deliciously spicy, and the food I got was perfect with the fresh, warm tortillas it was served with.
El Sabor Poblano
Address: 7027 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://www.saborpoblano.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/El-Sabor-Poblano/100063255456871/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elsaborpoblanochi/
This cozy Mexican restaurant is an interesting one because they specialize in regional dishes that come from Puebla. When I went, I ordered an itacate for an appetizer, which is a dense, triangle-shaped masa (corn-based) treat topped with cheese, sour cream, and red or green sauce.
For my main meal, I tried their barbacoa, which came with rice and beans. The meat was very tender and full of flavor. El Sabor Poblano serves lots of other traditional food from Puebla that I’d really like to try!
Taqueria Hernandez
Address: 6983 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Taqueria-Hernandez/116178398405792
This taco restaurant on the corner of Clark and Lunt may look like a hole-in-the-wall, but if anything, that’s all the more reason to try it! Their tacos were so good that I had to get an extra one after ordering their taco dinner combo. They charge a little extra for cheese, but it is absolutely worth it, and the overall meal isn’t too expensive.
I’ve tried their steak and lengua tacos, and both are excellent. Even their rice and beans, which come topped with Mexican cheese, are really good!
African Cuisine
Rogers Park is home to a large African community. As such, the area is home to a few excellent African dining options you won’t want to miss!
Badou Senegalese Cuisine
Address: 2049 W Howard St, Chicago, IL 60645
Website: https://badousenegalesecuisine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/badousenegalesecuisine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badou_cuisine/
I don’t think I had ever tried Senegalese cuisine before going to Badou, and this was a great place to get acquainted with it. Senegal is a country on Africa’s Atlantic coast, so typical cuisine features a lot of seafood.
With that in mind, I couldn’t resist their “thiebou djen jolof” (sometimes spelled Thieboudienne). This is labeled on the menu as the national dish of Senegal, and it’s basically fish with veggies and a side of jolof rice. The fish was satisfying but the jolof rice was really the highlight of the meal. It has a tomato flavor to it, and the grains of rice are smaller than what I’m used to. It’s also not very sticky, but it can still hold its shape. The entire plate was rich in flavors and textures, and I highly recommend trying this lovely little spot on Howard Street!
Denden Eritrean Restaurant
Address: 6635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DenDenRestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dendenrestaurant/
Have you ever had Eritrean food before? This was another new culinary experience for me, and I absolutely loved it! The plates were set up similarly to Ethiopian meals I’ve had, with an injera base on a large metal plate. I ordered their spicy lamb, which came with some veggie-based sides. Everything was phenomenal! Denden really feels like a local secret hiding in plain sight.
Asian Cuisine
In all honesty, Rogers Park doesn’t have as many Asian dining options as other parts of Chicago. However, there are a few noteworthy options worth considering. Check them out in this section below!
Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining
Address: 2043 W Howard St, Chicago, IL 60645
Website: https://khmai-fine-dining.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monabellacatering
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khmai_fine_dining
This beautiful Cambodian restaurant really puts Howard Street on the map in terms of its culinary offerings. If you have never had Cambodian food, you’ll be in for quite the experience at Khmai. Pictured below is their Kuy Teav Kok, egg noodles tossed in garlic oil topped with ground pork, meatballs, shrimp, crispy garlic, and cilantro. This was served alongside a delicious savory broth. It was listed as one serving but easily could’ve fed two people.
The Kuy Teav Kok had a full range of flavors and textures, with perfect hints of sweet and spicy aftertastes, and just enough garlic to pull everything together without being overpowering. The cilantro went very well with the ground pork, and the broth was just as interesting and complex as the rest of the meal. The staff are really helpful as well, and mentioned that the noodles and the soup could be eaten separately or together. I tried both ways, and the food was amazing regardless.
This feast took a little while to come out, but when I saw how intricate the meal was, I completely understood why. It was well worth the wait! Just know that this is a place where you’ll want to really savor your food and give yourself time to enjoy the meal.
It seems like Khmai has been noticed by lots of prominent people in Chicago’s food sphere, and the restaurant has quickly gained recognition as one of the city’s most popular new places. As such, it appears that they have moved towards requiring reservations (this was not the case when I went back in August 2022). They also post updates including rotating menus on their Instagram, so that’s the first place to check for up-to-date info.
Asahi Roll
Address: 6803 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: http://asahirollsushi.com/
Asahi Roll feels like a pretty traditional sushi house not too far from Loyola University. Order one of their combos to try a few different rolls they offer. I still need to go back to try some of their tempura rolls!
Other Great Options
Beyond Mexican, African, and Asian restaurants, Rogers Park is home to lots of other unique places to grab a meal. The last section of this post features a wide variety of Latin, classic American, and other delectable options.
Taste of Peru
Address: 6545 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://tasteofperu.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOPChicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasteofperu.chicago/
My first real exposure to Peruvian food was during my 2018 trip to Lima, and I’ve loved it ever since! It is complex and subtle. I also appreciate that it draws influence from the many groups of people who’ve immigrated to Peru over the centuries, including from China and Japan. And Taste of Peru on Clark Street is the real deal! I had their lomo saltado, a steak stir fry with onions, tomatoes, and potatoes mixed in, plus white rice on the side. It’s a great meal to try if you’re having a hard time choosing a dish from their extensive menu!
Burger Bite
Address: 1500 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://burgerbite.dine.online/locations/821551?fulfillment=pickup
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/8burgerbite/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/8burgerbite/
This little diner with only a few tables is interesting because it’s located inside of a Shell gas station convenience store on Rogers Park’s south edge. I get it, gas station food doesn’t always have the best reputation. But don’t judge a book by its cover! The burgers, shakes, and fries at Burger Bite are all top notch. This place has even had articles written about it for its unique location and the fact that locals seem to love their take on American classics.
Anto Pizza Chicago
Address: 1547 W Jarvis Ave, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://antopizza.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/antopizzachicago
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antopizzachicago/
You’ll find this cute little pizza and pasta place right off of the Jarvis Red Line stop (walk west for about thirty seconds or a minute). They have all the bases covered: thin crust Napolitan pizza, thick crust Roman pizza, and a variety of pastas, which they serve in an iconic cone. Pictured below is their Italian sausage and pepper thick crust pie, which I thought was really good! It was filling but still had a crispy bottom side, and it wasn’t overwhelmingly heavy.
Semilla's Latin Kitchen & Wine Bar
Address: 6764 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://www.semillaslatinkitchenwinebar.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/semillaslatinkitchen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/semillas.chicago/
Semilla’s is a cozy bar and grill on Sheridan that serves food with Mexican and Peruvian influences. When I went, I ordered their burger, a mezcal cocktail, and yuca fries. Everything was delicious, and I’ll definitely be back soon to try their pork belly chicharrón sandwich or their hanger steak sandwich!
Bon Appétit in Rogers Park!
Chicago’s far north side is one of my favorite parts of the city, in no small part because of its stunning international food scene. Incredible flavors from around the world are always within walking distance no matter where you are in Rogers Park!
Have you been to any of the places on this list? Are there any restaurants you think I should include? Leave a comment below and let me know! I will definitely update this post if I find any more restaurants nearby that really stand out. Thanks for reading!
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This post was published on Oct 21, 2022
The Caffeinated Man Behind The Blog
Where I’ve Been
Cannot believe you’ve tried all of these, but glad you did! Great review!
High Noon Grill on Glenwood, between Morse & Rogers Park Social. Simple set up run by an amazing older Asian woman who does it all (literally). Must have patience, but sooo worth the wait..
Bulgogi & Kimchee Omelet for breakfast! So good..😋