The Best Tapas/Small Plates in Chicago

The Purple Pig

★★★★☆ 4.3 (8610) • $$$

"What an absolutely delightful experience! So glad my cousins introduced us here and made a reservation two weeks in advance! It is definitely a popular spot, so it's recommended to make reservations if you intend to visit. Lines start to form throughout lunch and dinner service well into the lobby area. I ordered a non-alcoholic called the psych which was delicious. Bit of a fizzy and fruity drink, which was lovely to sip throughout the meal.We ordered a small chunk of cheese (humbolt fog) which I thought was quite nice. it reminds me a bit of the funk from blue cheese. They served it with a peach type marmalade and olives mix and some bread. Flavours complimented the cheese quite well and I enjoyed having a taster.We ordered grilled broccoli starter and the mushrooms 3 ways - highly recommend both. Lovely taste and texture. For mains we tried out the halibut, turkey leg, and lamb shank. We also tried a pasta which I believe was orecchetti. It was a cheesy one and it sort of reminded me of the thick nacho cheese you'd get at the theatre. Quite a comfort food. The halibut was very well cooked and I loved the sauce it was in. The lamb shank was very rich and heavy. Meat eaters at the table were huge fans. I loved the bed of sweet potatoes it sat in. The Turkey Leg was probably my favourite. Lovely caramelization on the leg and the bed of veggies soaked up the sauce. It was sweet and tangy from the vinegar used to create the sauce. Beautifully balanced. I wish I could eat it again!Definitely recommend checking this place out. And it's all meant to be shared which always makes for a lovely meal time with friends and family. Service was also quite fast!"

Aba

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1682) • $$$

"Everyone and their mothers were hyping up Aba being the best Mediterranean restaurant when I visited Chicago this time around. Even though it's been open for several years, getting a reservation at a reasonable time is still pretty difficult. I was here with five others last Sunday for dinner. Even though the reservation was made over a month in advance, we were only able to snag the 4:15 PM slot.Wanted to make the note -- the complementary pita bread was absolutely phenomenal. It was so soft and fluffy and well seasoned. Very yummy and definitely ask for more!CRISPY SHORT RIB HUMMUS - 18.95This came with a large pita that I thought was fluffier and tastier than the complementary pita bread. The hummus was super smooth and the beef jus on top gave it more of a "mashed potatoes" appearance. This hummus has got to be the best thing we got the entire dinner. It was so creamy and flavorful, and the shredded and tender beef mixed with sherry was a wonderful combination. I would highly recommend.MUHAMMARA - 15.95This dip was slightly spicy due to the roasted pepper and isot chili. The walnuts gave it a nutty and crunchy flavor that was great. The pomegranate molasses made it a bit sweet, so it was sweet and spicy. Delicious dip that all of us enjoyed, we'd definitely recommend.BRUSSELS SPROUTS - 14.95Crispy and crunchy without being too oily. These were topped with nuts and some harissa honey which added more to the flavor. They're not too crunchy on its own, but the nuts help. This was good but nothing mind-blowing.GREEN CHILI SHRIMP - 18.95Each order comes with 6 jumbo shrimps inside an escargot plate and topped with garlic, parmesan, and breadcrumbs. Pretty good toppings, and the shrimp was juicy. We liked it, but it's a bit pricy for sure.PORK BELLY - 24.95Each order comes with two small strips of pork belly and decorated with some nectarine and drizzled in vinaigrette. The nectarine was pretty sweet and enhanced the flavor of the pork. One of our pork belly was super fatty and the other was pretty lean. I ate a bite from the lean pork belly and it was OK. I want to bet that the fatty one was a lot tastier and denser in flavor.PRIME SHORT RIB KALBI - 33.95These were charred pretty well and had a sweet flavor, but expensive for one and half pieces of kalbi. I think we each got one small bite and tendon from the bone. Flavor was great, but I don't think it's worth the price point.The ambiance and interior is beautiful. The bathroom was fancy. Service was also speedy and helpful with recommendations. Aba was definitely the best meal I had during this trip! Their dips are a must and what they're known for. The pork belly and kalbi was good, too, but too expensive for the portion size. This 5/5 review is definitely for the dips."

Ema

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1730) • $$

"Ema's ambience embodies a luminous and airy aesthetic, imbued with a touch of Californian nonchalance. This bright and breezy atmosphere sets the stage for a delightful exploration of the Mediterranean.My initial foray was the "spicy toothpick lamb" ($19). This dish featured tender morsels of lamb redolent with cumin, artfully presented alongside a house yogurt. The lamb itself was commendably supple, boasting a subtle yet piquant kick that awakened the palate.Next, I ventured towards the house-made labneh ($15). This creation showcased spring peas in their verdant glory, complemented by diminutive thumbelina carrots and a bed of lentils. The labneh, a delightful yogurt cheese, served as the foundation for this symphony of textures and flavors. A lemon vinaigrette added a touch of refreshing acidity, further elevating the dish. The accompanying fresh-baked pita bread deserves its own accolades - it was demonstrably some of the most delectable bread I have ever encountered, boasting a perfect balance of texture and flavor.My final course was the grilled chicken ($20). Succulent segments of chicken, marinated in a yogurt concoction, emerged from the grill imbued with a smoky essence. A vibrant condiment of sweet peppers and zhoug, a Yemeni hot sauce, provided a delightful counterpoint. The basmati rice, infused with a pronounced lemon essence, served as an excellent textural and flavorful accompaniment.Overall, Ema offers a vibrant and flavorful exploration of Mediterranean cuisine presented in a stylish and contemporary setting. The quality of the ingredients and the culinary finesse are undeniable. While some may find the portion sizes a touch wanting given the price, the overall experience remains highly commendable."

Le Colonial Chicago

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1631) • $$$

"Absolutely fantastic! Whether sitting at the terrace section or inside. The service is superb. Professional and friendly staff. Prices are good and portions, too. Flavors are amazing.Make a reservation, this place can get busy.Good location, easy paid parking nearby. Food and drinks are phenomenal. Hostesses were extremely helpful too."

Mercat a la Planxa

★★★★☆ 3.8 (1582) • $$$

"This place was delicious.It was located in our hotel and the food was delectable. I loved my Serrano Benedict. It was savory and creamy with its hollandaise sauce that glazed over the benedict. The Gambas Ajillo (garlic shrimp) did not disappoint either.We also got their Escalivada Omelet were not too shabby."

Tapas Valencia

★★★★☆ 4 (754) • $$

"Came here for a Sunday solo brunch. I sat at the bar and the service was great. I was surprised how empty the bar was during brunch time. I ordered the Huevos Estilo Valencia that was tasty. The reason for 4 stars is that the mimosas were super heavy on the orange juice and not worth the price. I would return for dinner sometime."

Park & Field

★★★★☆ 3.9 (696) • $$

"Cute sportsbar. We did the $30 burger and all you can do special on a Friday night. Burger was good. Drinks were decent. Felt the first drink was good and then became weaker and weaker. So we switched to beer. All-in-all a good time out. Several board games to choose from and the TVs played a variety of shows."

Avli River North

★★★★☆ 4 (390)

"I finally had the opportunity to try Avli last night. It was Monday night and walking up you could see that there wasn't an empty table or bar seat to be found. Upon entry I was immediately greeted by two Greek Hostesses. While awaiting my guest I was also able to meet The GM Stefano who gave me a brief rundown on their brand. We had an assortment of drinks, enjoyed all four of their homemade spreads, the Pork Gyro and The Braised Lamb Shank. All were delish!The patio, which is West of Wells is nice and fairly tranquil given its location away from heavy traffic. The Greek Hospitality was omnipresent. I know I'll be back again soon."

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba

★★★★☆ 4.4 (266) • $$$

"Every dish was delicious. My favorites were the hanger steak and potatoes bravas. Gluten free dishes were done well for our coworker with Celiacs. Friendly and helpful service. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive, and knew how to pace our dishes. Ambience was dark and intimate but very lively with the buzz of conversation. They also were able to accommodate our large group of 10 on a week day evening."

VU

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (363) • $$

"Good service and great views! Located on the 22nd floor of the Hilton it has two outdoor terraces with city sweeping views and a main dining room with a bar and tons of tv's to catch a game. Service was good and attentive Jacques was my server and made recommendations I had the mix green salad with had a corn bread crouton with fresno peppers and cherry tomatoes. For my main I tried the bucatini pasta which had muscles, shrimp and white fish in a green sauce. I paired that with a glass of albarino white wine. Overall great service and food with city views from the south loop!"

Tapas Gitana

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (313) • $$

"As always Tapas Gitana continues to be my favorite tapas restaurant. A lil bit of everything. Scallops with Israeli couscous, Garlic shrimp, meat balls, queso de cabra, charcuterie board with THE MOST AMAZING OLIVES, lamb chops, chicken skewers, banana chocolate bread pudding with Dos Nueces. I honestly go there when I crave their olives. Bonus is the amazing things that come after.Saving the best for last. Alberto the server has been there since I've been going. Sigh... aging myself.... Probably about 20yrs now. He stays on top of it all, remembers minute details from the last dinner conversation and your orders. Fun and a jokester, takes his time to converse while not taking too much time. Just pleasant conversation while still making sure you and his customers are well taken care of. This is probably the longest review I've posted, but it had to be said.Thank you Tapas Gitana staff!"

Hubbard Inn

★★★★☆ 3.5 (236)

"The staff was super nice and people seemed to enjoy the drinks. The food was just meh. Most concerning to me was their cleanliness or lack thereof. See photos. Not sure what that is on one of the swinging seats upstairs but it looks like old dried vomit that has been there for a while which causes me to question how well (or often) the place is cleaned. It was gross and I was genuinely reluctant to eat because of it. Made me wonder if this is what the dining and bar area looks like...what's happening in the kitchen?"

Da Mao Jia

★★★★☆ 4.1 (106) • $$

"Chinese doesn't get any more authentic. Da Mao Jia is a place that is what you think of when you go to a restaurant in Chinatown. It's actually in Bridgeport, but that's just about close enough for those around it. How about some of the craziest things you have ever eaten, as in brains and gizzards. There's luckily also things for vegetarians. A lot of Chinese restaurants have Americanized menus so it's less daunting. It's not like this here. They have a ton of authentic stuff. Forget about dumplings. It has way beyond that. Holy cow, literally, as you can eat cow brain. Of course I haven't, so when we went here I got something from the slim but good vegetarian friendly options. It's not cheap. This place is costly but it's so good though. Both of us got the Cheng Du Veggies In Hot Pot. It's $18, so it's pricy. This has glass noodles, mushrooms, seaweed knots, and tofu skin. It actually was a lot of food. The broth was thick, and it was more like a stew. Go for some authentic Chinese. It's the place to go for Chengdu dishes. The food is on the expensive side but this is one of the rare times it's worth all that."

Upstairs at the Gwen

★★★★☆ 3.5 (137) • $$

"What a beautiful cocktail bar. On a bright, sunny spring afternoon, it was so perfect. The Gwen hotel has always been a special hotel to me, but I'd never spent time on the terrace. With a friend in town, I decided to finally go there. It would have been too cold for me, but there were fire pits, heating lamps, and tables with fire to keep you warm. Because of these warming features, it's open yr around. I need to come back during the winter and go curling up here. A winter date night idea. The drinks were quite good. Pretty in Pink had pink grapefruit and pomegranate and I could have ordered several more of those. Especially because my friend liked my drink so much, he kept taking sips of it. Hey, order your own. He ordered the Last Thyme. His was good and I don't even love gin, but I wanted to order more Pretty in Pinks. Calories be damned. It was early and we had 3 more bars to go to though. I need to come back when I can order freely off the menu The tuna tartare was good but very small. Not a great choice before a night of drinking and on a previously empty stomach. To be fair, it *was* listed on the "small plates" section of the menu. They weren't kidding. It was small. And $22. But it was good. Loved the caviar on top. He had the good sense to order fried chicken before our night of fun. -the Chicken Milanese. Dressed generously in arugula and manchego and fried to a beautiful golden brown, my only complaint is that it was a just a tad bit dry. Still good though. I had reservations here a few weeks ago, but canceled because it was pouring rain. I'm so glad I experienced it first on a perfect spring afternoon instead."

Royal Highness Zhu

★★★★★ 4.5 (75) • $$

"Authentic. Chinese. Street. Food!!! Here you can indulge in the flavors of food from ChenDu, which is the capital of Sichuan, in China! The spices and flavors in the dishes are so tasty. Here's what I tried:Tempting Bon Bon ChickenFiery Spicy Fries DelightsHot & Sour Fern Root NoodlesWholesome Wonton Chicken SoupSingle Choice Hot Pot w/imitation crab meatThree CannonsChengDu Osmanthus CakeMango Soda Drink 芒果少女心The Bon Bon Chicken was my favorite! It was so many flavors at once with the chili oil, soy sauce, slight sweetness and sesame oil. The Wonton chicken soup is so warm and comforting and the dumplings are made in house. I love how airy and modern the space is; there is room for big groups - which I really like. Put them on your list to visit and tell em that Bri from Planes and Plates sent you!"

Barcocina West Town

★★★★☆ 3.9 (89)

"A few girl friends and I came to for dinner Barcocina during our recent trip. We had an absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. We booked an outdoor igloo for $75 per person (+tax & tip) which included huge portions of food & unlimited drinks for two hours. This was an incredible price in my opinion. First off the igloo was super cute, kept us very warm and the highlight was the speaker inside for us to connect and play our own music. This would be so perfect for a birthday, bachelorette party or any special occasion.The food was so so good! My favorites were the steak quesadilla and shrimp tacos. Those were must orders for sure! The cheeseburger was probably my least favorite but I loved the unique option. The spicy marg is a must if you like spicy. It had the perfect amount of heat. To top off this experience our server, Abby, was the best. She consistently made sure to check in on us and ensure the heat, food & drinks were all great. She also helped us take the best group photos. We also met the GM, Cisco. He made sure we were well taken care of too. Super awesome all around!"

Bulerias Tapas Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (66)

"For my last review of 2022, I have to say I do love this location. I believed a second location was opened, I had visited the original location on Ashland. It turns out that location had closed. Which was told by our server, which was phenomenal he made our experience amazing. Hats off to him.Very clean and spacious location, plenty of space. With seating at the bar. Friendly staff as I mentioned. Our server went above and behind. The food was top notch, the sangria was amazing. The taste is one of a kind. The pitcher is the best option, perfect for two people or more. I am thankful for the new location, about an 8 to 10 minute walk from the western blue line stop. I am thankful for the experience, I will be back soon. They will open a Rooftop section over the summer. Something to look forward to. I can't wait."

90th Meridian Kitchen & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (29)

"Had pretty great drinks and food at this upscale place in the Loop. It's actually not that expensive when considering quality. 90th Meridian is located in the historic Central Standard Building at Jackson and LaSalle and is popular for lunch weekdays. Maybe the hours could be better, but it's good for downtown workers of course. There's a good variety to choose from including Italian and Mediterranean. A bad thing about it is the hours. It's only open Tuesdays to Thursdays for lunch into the evening and closes pretty early too. The restaurants in The Loop cater to downtown workers. Even so, the hours still are pretty limited. Last time around here it was open though. It's about $15 for a cocktail. Kind of a lot it seems, but not for around here. Since this is by the old Stock Exchange, the menu has a theme. I got the Closing Bell. This was made with Aperol, lime juice, luxardo maraschino, and Mezcal. Citrusy and sweet is a good way to describe it. The food was good too. It's about $15 for an entree. There's meats such as fish, and sandwiches. A lot to choose from. I got the Falafel Wrap. Big one. This had arugula, avocado, cucumbers, harissa hummus, and radish. Good place if around here during the week at lunch. It's just limited for when it's open. There's meaty items as well as ones for vegans and vegetarians."

Muan Jai Thai Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.8 (17)

"opened last week : SUPER authentic & now my favorite in Chicago. I swear , Chicago has almost zero authentic Thai restaurants. Every Thai person I meet (you know who you are!) doesn't eat out because they get disappointed.I've been on the longest journey trying to find the best authentic Thai restaurant in Chicago and I might've found mine! HIGHLIGHTS 100% Thai chef, owner, & waiters. Please say hi to Eicq and welcome him to Chicago! He just moved here 5 months ago and the day we met him was the first day he was on the job!authentic ingredients, spices & herbs . Exactly how it tastes in Thailand, even the thai tea (less sweet), and mango sticky rice Thai spicy available! The owner made the Pad Cha for me, at 70% spicy SO GOOD and the papaya salad at 100% Thai spicy. Absolutely perfect. Crying like I did in Krabi note; EICQ orders his 200%-300% spicy , so if you're Thai this is an option!If you can't eat spicy, you should get 30-50% Absolutely PHENOMENAL grilled items. Im already craving the Moo Ping & grilled Steak. Seriously charcoal grilled to perfection with super tender meats + amazing flavor Super cute Thai dishes & cups, traditional & so pretty! With big portions Amazing seafood , especially if you love it the Pad Cha Cha Cha had tender octopus, scallop, mussels, shrimp, fish, and 2x mushrooms + all the peppercorns, chilli's, and basil I could dream of They have DURIAN Or MANGO STICKY RICE YESSSWhat we got:Nam tok $12.99 Grill beef +$4Tom Tard big app with Som Tum papaya salad $45.99Side sticky rice $3 x2Moo ping grilled pork $12.99 Pad Cha Cha Cha $28.99 Mango Sticky Rice $9.99Thai iced tea less sweet $6 x2Chang beer $5.95"

La Perla

★★★★☆ 4.3 (13)

"Ahh! This used to be Cesar's, remember that? This is the same size as Cesar's but a whole new look. They have drag shows every weekend. The staff and service is fantastic."