Rogers Park is one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods, home to more than 60 languages spoken across its blocks, more than any other part of the city. That diversity shows up in the restaurants here, and it’s part of why some of the best restaurants in Chicago are hiding just outside downtown.
4 Suns Kitchen: One of the Best Restaurants in Chicago Hiding Inside a Grocery Store (7007 N Clark St)
Inside Wild Onion Market, past the produce and canned goods, a husband and wife team is running a counter making some of the best Creole and Haitian food in Rogers Park. My favorites on the menu are Chef Byron’s famous Potato and Egg Salad, so creamy it blends perfectly with the eggs, the Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, the Turkey Meatballs in Haitian Sauce, the Roasted Creole Vegetables, and more. The potato salad runs $8.25 for 16 ounces or $10.75 for 32 ounces, and I usually grab it for breakfast or brunch since it’s filling enough to carry me for hours. Since the food comes premade, you can easily stock up for the whole week in one visit.
One afternoon Byron noticed me grabbing my usual and offered me a taste of the gumbo himself. Standing in the middle of the produce section, I took my first bite and understood why people keep coming back. It was warm without being heavy, seasoned without going overboard, everything balanced just right.
Mama's African Kitchen: Chicago's Only Congolese Restaurant (6606 N Sheridan Rd)
Order the Makayabu, salted fish served with Kwanga, fermented cassava. It’s the dish that makes this one of the best restaurants in Rogers Park Chicago. Forget the fork here, wash your hands and get comfortable, this is meant to be eaten with your hands. They also run a weekend buffet for $25, all you can eat.
I have ordered here more than I should. One evening after work, I walked in for a surprise midweek treat, and right off the bat, Congolese rumba, also called soukous, the kind Papa Wemba and Koffi Olomide made famous, brought me straight back to my childhood, part of which was spent in Togo. Speaking French, I asked the server what he would recommend, and even though I have Congolese friends, I wanted something new. He pointed me to the Makayabu, and I damn near had a food coma. It was that good.
Rice Thai Café: The Hidden Gem Among Chicago Restaurants (6744 N Sheridan Rd)
Order the Curry Fried Rice ($13.50) and add duck to it like I always do, it turns the dish into something completely different, in the best way. This is the hidden gem most people drive right past.
I come here when I need a cozy pick me up, or on days when I just want something easy and good. This place feels like it was made with love, and I have always enjoyed talking to the owner. Another favorite is the Basil Seafood ($16.50), stir fried basil leaves with shrimp, mussels, squid, bell pepper, mushroom, and carrot in their homemade sauce.
Badou Senegalese Cuisine: A Strong Contender for Best Restaurants in Chicago (1947 W Howard St)
Order the Thiebou Djen ($17.99), Senegal’s national dish, jollof rice with a tender fish fillet. The Yassa Chicken ($16.99) is another standout, caramelized onion with chicken, lime, and dijon mustard served over rice.
As a proud Togolese, I grew up eating Chiebou most holidays, made with fish and cabbage, so this menu feels like home before I even sit down. I also recommend the Attieke ($17.99+), fermented cassava cooked with sautéed onion and bell pepper, served with tilapia fillet or whole tilapia, your choice. And don’t stop there, add dègue, a creamy, milky dessert, to finish. Dishes like these cross so many borders, and that’s part of what makes West African food worth exploring one plate at a time.
Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining: One of Chicago's Most Underrated Restaurants (6580 N Sheridan Rd)
Order the beef skewers marinated in lemongrass, a favorite of mine whenever they’re on the menu, or ask about their current tasting journey, right now they’re exploring Ratanakiri Province, a region known for volcanic lakes and Indigenous cultures, through a seven course rotating menu.
I’ve eaten here more times than I can count, and the menu never fails to surprise me. Every visit means a different province, so the curries and seafood dishes change each time. I have never once been served something that felt like a repeat. Right next door at Kaun Khmai, their prahok dip served with fresh fruit and vegetables is another favorite.
Cafe Nova (6431 N Sheridan Rd)
Cafe Nova is still on my list, but if their dosa is anything like the ones I’ve had before, I’m already excited
Chicago has so many neighborhoods, and each one tells its own story. Rogers Park, home to so many immigrant communities, deserves a spot on your list too. Come eat where the locals eat, and enjoy a little more of our backyard. You might just end up loving it.
