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Small plates

Small plates in Chicago

Shareable, family-style, grazing pace.

Plan a small plates night →

Example nights

Real Chicago venues, put together by our planner. Refreshed Jul 20.

Dinner at Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba! in River North, then Kitchen Karaoke.

  • 01Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba!River North · $$
  • 02Kitchen KaraokeRiver North · $$
Plan your own →

Dinner at The Purple Pig Restaurant in River North, then Friends Ramen in Rush & Division.

  • 01The Purple Pig RestaurantRiver North · $$
  • 02Friends RamenRush & Division · $
Plan your own →

Dinner at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! in Lincoln Park, then Del Seoul.

  • 01Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!Lincoln Park · $$
  • 02Del SeoulLincoln Park · $
Plan your own →

Top 12 venues

  1. 01

    Girl & The Goat

    Fulton Market District · $$$

    Small plates, big flavors — crispy pork shank, chickpea fritters, a goat fashioned. Reservation essential, portions require strategy.

  2. 02

    avec Restaurant

    West Loop · $$$

    Inventive small & large plates served in a cozy, minimalist space with communal seating.

  3. 03

    Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba!

    River North · $$

    Warm restaurant with a striking bar & a terrace offering Spanish tapas & sangria.

  4. 04

    AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago

    River North · $$$

    Balkan small plates, regional spirits — $55 unlimited deal lets you eat through two dozen dishes and actually try everything.

  5. 05

    Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

    Lincoln Park · $$

    Paella, patatas bravas, sangria pitchers. Saturday crowds at the bar; happy hour daily 4–7.

  6. 06

    Bulerias Tapas Humboldt Park WOW District

    West Town · $$

    Grilled octopus, patatas bravas, bacon-wrapped dates, sangria — Spanish tapas that lands. Flamenco some weekends, service like family.

  7. 07

    Mercat a la Planxa

    Chicago Loop · $$$

    Creative Catalan-inspired tapas & inventive cocktails in a swanky setting overlooking Grant Park.

  8. 08

    Quartino Ristorante

    River North · $$

    Bustling, bi-level space where groups go for small & large plates plus cocktails & carafes of wine.

  9. 09

    Cabra

    Fulton Market District · $$$

    Chic hotel rooftop for chef-driven Peruvian sharing plates & ceviche with craft cocktails & views.

  10. 10

    Figo Wine Bar

    Lake View East · $$

  11. 11

    The Purple Pig Restaurant

    River North · $$

    Pork, bone marrow, aged chops — Mediterranean by way of an open kitchen. Michelin stars, no reservation needed, nights at the counter beat the dining room.

  12. 12

    Boqueria Fulton Market

    Fulton Market District · $$

    Spanish small plates, seafood paella, attentive staff — feels like you're eating in Barcelona, not the West Loop.