Who loves you, feminist foodies? We do! Enjoy this running and delish list of women-owned restaurants and bakeries in Chicago and women-powered kitchens in the Chicago area.
Got a women-owned favorite that we missed? Let us know!
Bagel Miller
Owners: Dave and Megan Miller
Cuisine: Baked goods & cafe fare
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, Uptown, Edgewater
Basu
Owners: Sisters Kim, Minah, and Tran Dao
Cuisine: Espresso drinks and fresh baked goods in the morning; Vietnamese (Banh Mi, bowls and more in afternoon and evenings)
Neighborhood: Northbrook
Bettie Lou’s
Owner: Chef Kelley Davison
Cuisine: Soul Food, “Home Of The Famous SoulRolls”
Neighborhood: Food truck as of Oct 31 — Follow Bettie Lou’s on IG for forthcoming details
Bianca’s Burgers
Owners: Siblings Elizabeth Royal and Rafael Royal
Cuisine: Burger shack
Neighborhood: Loop
Bittersweet Pastry Shop
Owners: Chef Mindy Gohr and Esther Griego
Cuisine: Cafe + European-style pastries & desserts
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Brindille
Owner and executive chef: Carrie Nahabedian
Cuisine: Classic French
Neighborhood: River North
Black Dog Gelato
Owner: Chef Jessica Oloroso
Cuisine: Gelato
Neighborhood: East Village
Check out Elisa Shoenberger’s review here.
Brown Bag Seafood Co.
Owner: Donna Lee
Cuisine: Seafood
Neighborhoods: Loop, Roscoe Village
Brown Sugar Bakery
And Cupid Candies
Owner: Stephanie Hart
Cuisine: Southern-style desserts, chocolates
Neighborhoods: Greater Grand Crossing, Navy Pier
Read Hilary Christian’s interview with Hart here.
Brü Chicago
Co-founder: Alyona Udartseva
Cuisine: Light food & coffee
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Cafe Selmarie
Owners: Birgit Kobayashi
Cuisine: Contemporary American
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Cesar’s Restaurant
Owners: Owners include sisters Sandra Sanchez and Lourdes Duran
Cuisine: Mexican (they’re the Home of the Killer Margaritas)
Neighborhood: Lakeview, two locations on Broadway & Clark
CheSa’s Bistro & Bar
Owner: Chef Chesareé Rollins, Ph.D.
Cuisine: Gluten-free Cajun and Soul Food
Neighborhoods: Avondale – Also see CheSa’s Gluten Free Food Trucks and CheSa’s Gourmet Foods Catering.
The Chicago Diner
Owners: Marshall “Mickey” Hornick & Chef Jo Kaucher
Cuisine: Vegetarian/Vegan
Neighborhoods: Lakeview, Logan Square
Check out Laurie Fanelli’s review here.
Chocolat Uzma Sharif
Owner and executive chef: Uzma Sharif
Cuisine: Exotic chocolates inspired by Sharif’s Pakistani heritage
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Cocoa Chili Restaurant & Catering
Owner and executive chef: Niquenya Collins
Cuisine: Afro-Caribbean-Soul fanfare with a sweet and spicy flair
Neighborhood: East Garfield Park
The Dandy Crown
Owners: Julia Shell and Jamie Hale
Cuisine: Cocktail-focused restaurant
Neighborhood: River West
Demera Ethiopian Restaurant
Owners: Tigist Reda
Cuisine: Traditional Ethiopian cuisine, vegan friendly, gluten-free available
Neighborhood: Uptown
Duck Duck Goat
Owners: Chef & Partner Stephanie Izard, Rob Katz & Kevin Boehm
Cuisine: Chinese
Neighborhood: Fulton Market
Check out Jera Brown’s roundup of Izard’s restaurants here.
ERIS Brewery & Cider House
Owner: Katy Pizza and Michelle Foik
Cuisine: Pub fare
Neighborhoods/Locations: Irving Park
First Slice Pie Cafe
Owner: Chef Mary Ellen Diaz
Cuisine: Salads, sandwiches, soups & desserts
Neighborhoods/Locations: Andersonville, Ravenswood & Evanston
Girl and the Goat
Owners: Executive Chef Stephanie Izard, Rob Katz & Kevin Boehm
Cuisine: Dramatic small plates
Neighborhood: West Loop (Randolph Restaurant Row)
Goddess and The Baker
Owners: Debbie Sharpe & Tamar Mizrahi
Cuisine: Cafe fare & desserts
Neighborhoods: The Loop (two locations)
HaiSous
Owners: Chef Thai and Danielle Dang
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Hema’s Kitchen
Owner: Hema Potla
Cuisine: Indian
Neighborhoods: Little India
Update: The Lincoln Park location has closed
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Owners: Joshua Kulp & Christine Cikowski
Cuisine: Fried chicken & the amazingness that accompanies it
Neighborhood: Avondale
Hoosier Mama Pie Company
Owners: Chef Paula Haney and Craig Siegelin
Cuisine: Sweet & savory pies
Neighborhood & locations: West Town and Evanston
Janik’s Cafe
Owners: Felippa and Wayne Janik
Cuisine: All-day All-American breakfast and lunch with Latin American and Polish influences
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Jennivee’s Bakery
Owner: Jenne Vailoces
Cuisine: Filipino-American bakery
Neighborhood: Lakeview
The Jibarito Stop
Owners: Cely Rodriguez and Moraima Fuentes
Cuisine: Puerto Rican favorites
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Junebug Café
Owners: Jacqueline Mancias and Chris Murphy
Cuisine: French Creole — handmade beignets, tasty gumbo, savory meat pies, dark matter coffee
Neighborhood: Portage Park’s Six Corners, West Town
Justice of the Pies
Owner: Chef Maya-Camille Broussard
Cuisine: Bakery
Neighborhood: Avalon Park
Kasama
Owners: Chefs Genie Kwon and Timothy Flores
Cuisine: Bakery and modern Filipino restaurant
Neighborhood: East Ukrainian Village
Kinzie Chophouse
Owner: Susan Frasca
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Neighborhood: River North
Read vegan Lisa Marie Farver’s restaurant review & interview with Frasca.
Klein’s Bakery & Cafe
Owners: Sergio Barbone and Jessica Klein
Cuisine: Desserts & cafe fare
Neighborhood: Buena Park
Kostali by Naha — Closed?
Owner and executive chef: Carrie Nahabedian
Cuisine: Coasts of the Mediterranean, including Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Tunisia, Lebanon, Israel, and Morocco
Neighborhood: Downtown (The Gwen Hotel)
Lil Baby Sister’s, LLC – Closed?
Owner: Niecy
Cuisine: Bakery
Neighborhood: Contact Lil Baby Sister’s for the products that can be shipped to anywhere in the continental US
Little Goat Diner
Owners: Chef Stephanie Izard; Rob Katz & Kevin Boehm
Cuisine: Classic comfort food
Neighborhood: Southport Corridor
Lotus Café & Banh Mi Sandwiches (719 W Maxwell), Lotus Vietnamese Kitchen (166 W Washington), Lotus Banh Mi (818 S Wolcott)
Owners: Kim Dao and Dao Nguyen
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: University Village (exact addresses above)
Lucy’s
Owners: Damian and Jessica Warzecha
Cuisine: Quick casual comfort food, burgers and fries — and an award-winning spicy fried chicken sandwich
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park and Uptown locations
La Malinche Coffee & Tea House
Owner: Hector and Yvette (Original owner Marlene Torres passed away in 2022)
Cuisine: Coffees, pastries, paninis
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Masa Madre
Owners: Elena Vázquez Felgueres and Tamar Fasja Unikel
Cuisine: Mexican Jewish Artisanal Bakery
Neighborhoods: Pilsen
Mindy’s Bakery
Owner: Mindy Segal
Cuisine: Sourdough bagels and bialys, babka, za’atar challah, and seasonal pastries
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
Owners: Chef Sarah Grueneberg & Meg Sahs
Cuisine: Modern Italian
Neighborhood: West Loop
Nohea Cafe
Owner: Michelle Mochoruk Gorman
Cuisine: Deli fare, sandwiches, salads
Neighborhood: West Loop
Parachute
Owners: Chef Beverly Kim & Johnny Clark
Cuisine: Korean-American
Neighborhood: Avondale
Ponce Restaurant
Owners: Ponce family; Latina owned family business
Cuisine: Authentic Puerto Rican dishes
Neighborhood: Hermosa
Prairie Grass Cafe
Owners: Chef/Owner Sarah Stegner and Chef George Bumbaris
Cuisine: Farm to table (Stegner is a co-founder of the Green City Market)
Neighborhood: Northbrook
Pretty Cool Ice Cream
Owners: Pastry chef Dana Cree and Michael Ciapciak
Cuisine: Hand-crafted artisan ice cream on a stick along with a full line of frozen novelties
Neighborhood: Logan Square, Lincoln Park
Saigon Sisters
Owners: Sisters Mary Nguyen Aregoni and Theresa Nguyen, along with their mother, Mama Suu
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Neighborhoods: West Loop (Lake Street, French Market); Downtown (Northwestern Memorial)
Saucy Porka
Owner: Amy Le
Cuisine: Asian-Latin fusion
Neighborhoods: South Loop, Hyde Park
Smack Dab Chicago on IG
Owners: Christine Forster & Axel Erkenswick
Cuisine: Bakery; comfort food breakfast & brunch
Neighborhood: Rogers Park
Southport Grocery and Cafe
Owner: Lisa Santos
Cuisine: Breakfast/lunch cafe
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Split-Rail
Owner: Executive Chef Zoe Schor
Cuisine: New Americana
Neighborhood: West Town
Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique
Owner: Teresa Ging
Cuisine: Bakery, especially cupcakes, cake pops, French macarons
Neighborhood: Downtown (The Palmer House Hotel)
Sugar Fixé Patisserie
Owner: Chef Cindy Summers
Cuisine: Classic French and modern American pastries, custom designed cakes.
Neighborhoods: Oak Park
Sweet Maple Cafe
Owner: Laurene Hynson
Cuisine: Country-style breakfast & lunch
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Taylor’s Tacos
Owners: Taylor and Maya Mason
Cuisine: Authentic street tacos with a whole lot of soul!
Neighborhood: Little Italy — plus see Taylor’s Tacos on IG for catering details
Tweet Let’s Eat (9am-3pm) & Big Chicks (5pm-11pm)
Owner: Michelle Fire
Cuisine: Brunch & dinner
Neighborhood: Uptown
Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar
Owners: Lindsey Anderson-Perez and Chef Sweet Charity Smith
Cuisine: New American
Neighborhood: Andersonville
Vanille
Owner: Chef Sophie Evanoff
Cuisine: French pastries, desserts
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, Downtown (Chicago French Market), Lakeview, Hyde Park
Check out Janet Arvia’s review here.
Vermilion
Owner: Rohini Dey
Cuisine: Indian & Latin fusion
Neighborhood: River North
Vivere
Owner: Gina Capitanini represents the third generation of the family to take the reins
Cuisine: Contemporary Italian
Neighborhood: Downtown (located on the main floor of Italian Village)
Vosges Haut-Chocolat
Owner: Katrina Markoff
Cuisine: Truffles and luxury chocolates
Neighborhoods: Loop, Lincoln Park, O’Hare
Wheat’s End Cafe
Owners: Susan McMillan and Amelia Fonti
Cuisine: Gluten-free breakfast & bakery
Neighborhood: Lakeview
XO Marshmallow
Owners: Kat Connor & Lindzi Shanks
Cuisine: Gourmet marshmallows & related treats
Neighborhood: Rogers Park
Photos from women-owned restaurants in Chicago, from left: Mouth-watering macarons from Vanille, a “killer margarita” from Cesar’s, Black Dog gelato goodness, courtesy of Instagram.
Chicago Restaurant Week came out of the gate early, starting at the top of the year for the first time, Chicago Restaurant Week: January 20 – February 5, 2023.
Chicago BLACK Restaurant Week 2023 was February 12-26, 2023 — and again was two weeks! Follow the event on Twitter, @chicagobrw and on Instagram, Chicago BLACK Restaurant Wk®️.
Closings
Kal’ish
Owners: Andy Kalish & Gina Marino-Kalish
Cuisine: Vegan diner fare
Neighborhood: Uptown
Update: Closed January 2023
Sugargoat
Owner and executive chef: Chef Stephanie Izard and pastry chef Faith Taheny
Cuisine: Bakery
Neighborhood: West Loop, inside Little Goat Diner
Update: Closed December 2022
Elizabeth
Owner: Chef Iliana Regan
Cuisine: American
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Update: Closed December 2022
‘Laine’s Bake Shop
Owner: Rachel Elaine Bernier-Green
Cuisine: Bakery
Neighborhood: See ‘Laine’s Shipping Menu for the products that can be shipped to anywhere in the continental US
Update: Closed in July 2022
Jeff & Judes
Owner and executive chef: Chef Ursula Siker
Cuisine: “Jew-ish” deli
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park
Update: Closed in June 2022
Ms. T’s Southern Fried Chicken on IG
Owner: Angenita Tanner
Cuisine: Southern fried chicken, catfish
Neighborhood: Lakeview East
Update: Closed in April 2022
Yūgen
Executive Chef: Mari Katsumura
Cuisine: Contemporary Japanese cuisine
Neighborhood: West Loop
Update: Closed in Spring 2021
My Chocolate Soul
Owner: Ramona Thomas
Cuisine: Artisan chocolate
Neighborhood: Uptown
Update: Now in NYC!
Anaba Handroll Bar
Owners: Chef Jill Barron and Susan Thompson
Cuisine: Anaba Sushi Handrolls, Anaba Sweets, Matcha Dessert Crepes, Mochi Ka-bobs
Neighborhood: South Loop (Hayden Hall, 333 South Wabash/CNA Center)
Update: Closed in 2019
