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SEE ALSO: Best New Restaurants 2013 »
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1 / 10
JUNO Smoked sashimi is delivered under a glass dome that’s removed tableside to reveal billows of smoke. Everyone: Stop gaping and eat. 2638 N. Lincoln Ave., 872-206-8662
Photo: Courtesy of Juno -
2 / 10
MOTT ST. Only Edward Kim (Ruxbin)—a chef who says he would rather eat a dog than a turtle—would dare put “funky” miso on the menu. 1401 N. Ashland Ave., 773-687-9977
Photo: Courtesy of Mott St. -
3 / 10
PARSON’S CHICKEN & FISH If you have your heart set on dinner at Parson’s, better get in line right after lunch. 2952 W. Armitage Ave., 773-384-3333
RELATED: Find out why Parson’s Chicken & Fish was chosen as the best new fried chicken in this year’s “Best of Chicago” list
Photo: Clayton Hauck -
4 / 10
ENDGRAIN Enoch Simpson insists it’s about much more than the doughnuts. Good thing, since those sell out by 10 a.m. 1851 W. Addison St., 773-689-8191
Photo: Courtesy of Endgrain -
5 / 10
LAO 18 Even the empire builder Tony Hu has succumbed: The first menu category of his newest Lao is “Small Eat.” 18 W. Hubbard St., 312-955-8018
Photo: Courtesy of Lao 18 -
6 / 10
J. ROCCO ITALIAN TABLE & BAR River North restaurant that takes reservations, serves warm, crusty bread gratis, and keeps its entrée prices under $25 exists. Can it succeed? 749 N. Clark St., 312-475-0271
Photo: Courtesy of J. Rocco Italian Table & Bar -
7 / 10
SIENA TAVERN Fabio and partners fell in love with a hole-in-the-wall trattoria in Siena, so naturally they built a gigunda watering hole with piatti abbondanti in Chicago. 51 W. Kinzie St., 312-595-1322
Photo: Anthony Tahlier -
8 / 10
TRE SOLDI In English, its name means “three coins”—for good luck. If the uber-fresh pea risotto is any indication, no luck is needed for this place to succeed. 212 E. Ohio St., 312-664-0212
Photo: Junru Huang/ Chicago Tribune -
9 / 10
BRINDILLE “This is not a special occasion restaurant,” says the chef/owner Carrie Nahabedian. She must spend a lot of money on casual dining. 534 N. Clark St., 312-595-1616
RELATED: Read more about Brindille in our review
Photo: Courtesy of Brindille -
10 / 10
DIA DE LOS TAMALES Reni Wahl’s Cuban grandmother taught her how to make tamales—well, maybe not the coconut curry chicken ones. 939 W. 18th St., 312-496-3057
Photo: Courtesy of Dia De Los Tamales