From Brianna Wellen’s introduction, “Losses and gains: Best of Chicago 2020”:
Some business to get out of the way: the reader poll results were determined by you, the readers! If you’re angry about the results, you only have yourselves to blame! Let this be a reminder to keep a close eye on when voting begins next year so you can campaign for your favorites to get the top spot. Or better yet, share your own losses and gains on social media and tag us @Chicago_Reader with the hashtags #bestofchi and #BoC2020. Tell us what made your year worthwhile, shine a light on the people, places, and things that helped you survive, and we’ll share with our followers. I should also acknowledge that a lot of writers’ picks skew to the north side, in part because we weren’t leaving our homes and that’s where many of us live. It’s something we recognize and are always working on changing—I hope this encourages all folks reading this to look beyond those borders.
Review the closed ballot to see all the finalists.
Best alfresco dining
Eris Brewery and Cider House
Runner-up: Beatnik
Best bagels
New York Bagel & Bialy
Runner-up: Chicago Bagel Authority
Best bakery
Dinkel’s
Runner-up: Lost Larson
Best bang for your buck
Sultan’s Market
Runner-up: Redhot Ranch
Best banh mi
Nhu Lan Bakery
Runner-up: Ba Le Sandwiches
Best bar
Lost Lake
Runner-up: Liar’s Club
Best barbecue
Smoque BBQ
Runner-up: Green Street Smoked Meats
Best barista
Haley Amicon
Runner-up: Tyrone Banks
Best beer shop
The Beer Temple
Runner-up: Andersonville Wine & Spirits
Best bread
Bungalow by Middle Brow
Runner-up: Publican Quality Bread
Best burger
Au Cheval
Runner-up: Kuma’s Corner
Best butcher shop
Paulina Market
Runner-up: Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen
Best Caribbean restaurant
90 Miles Cuban Cafe
Runner-up: Casa Yari
Best carryout/delivery cocktails
Lost Lake
Runner-up: Scofflaw
Best cheesemonger
Cheeze & Thank You
Runner-up: Stamper Cheese Company
Best chef
Stephanie Izard
Runner-up: Yari Vargas
Best Chinese restaurant
Sun Wah BBQ
Runner-up: Lao Sze Chuan
Best Chinese takeout/delivery
Sun Wah BBQ
Runner-up: House of Wah Sun
Best cocktail
Lost Lake
Runner-up: Scofflaw
Best coffee roaster
Dark Matter
Runner-up: Intelligentsia
Best desserts
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
Runner-up: Hoosier Mama Pie Company
Best doughnuts
Do-Rite Donuts
Runner-up: Stan’s Donuts
Best falafel
Sultan’s Market
Runner-up: Taste of Lebanon
Best farmers’ market
Logan Square Farmers Market
Runner-up: Green City Market
Best food relief effort
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Runner-up: The Love Fridge
Best food truck
DönerMen
Runner-up: The Fat Shallot
Best fried chicken shack
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Runner-up: Harold’s Chicken (no franchise specified)
Best gluten-free pizza
Paulie Gee’s
Runner-up: Spacca Napoli
Best gourmet market
Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen
Runner-up: Eataly
Best Greek restaurant
Greek Islands
Runner-up: Athenian Room
Best hot dog
Superdawg
Runner-up: The Wiener’s Circle
Best ice cream
Jeni’s
Runner-up: Margie’s Candies
Best Indian restaurant
The Spice Room
Runner-up: Ghareeb Nawaz
Best Italian beef sandwich
Portillo’s
Runner-up: Al’s #1 Italian Beef
Best Italian restaurant
Monteverde
Runner-up: Piccolo Sogno
Best Korean restaurant
San Soo Gab San Korean BBQ
Runner-up: Cho Sun Ok
Best liquor store
Binny’s Beverage Depot
Runner-up: Andersonville Wine & Spirits
Best local beer
Revolution Brewing
Runner-up: Half Acre Beer Company
Best local brewery
Revolution Brewing
Runner-up: Half Acre Beer Company
Best local distillery
Koval Distillery
Runner-up: CH Distillery
Best local farmer
Mick Klug Farm
Runner-up: Urban Growers Collective
Best local food product
Upton’s Naturals
Runner-up: Phoenix Bean tofu
Best local grocer
The Dill Pickle Food Co-op
Runner-up: HarvesTime Foods
Best local spirit
Jeppson’s Malört
Runner-up: Koval Bourbon
Best meal kits
Logan Oyster Socials
Runner-up: Alinea
Best Mexican restaurant
Mi Tocaya Antojería
Runner-up: 5 Rabanitos
Best Middle Eastern restaurant
Sultan’s Market
Runner-up: Reza’s
Best new food trend
Takeout
Runner-up: Quesabirria
Best new pop-up
Chicago Vegan Test Kitchen
Runner-up: Birria Ta-Ta-Tacos
Best online cooking instruction
The Chopping Block
Runner-up: The Wooden Spoon
Best overall restaurant
Lula Cafe
Runner-up: Girl & the Goat
Best paleteria
La Michoacana
Runner-up: D’Fruta la Vida
Best pandemic pivot from a restaurant
Alinea
Runner-up: Bungalow by Middle Brow
Best pierogi
Kasia’s
Runner-up: Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen
Best pizza
Pequod’s
Runner-up: Spacca Napoli
Best pizza by the slice
The Boiler Room
Runner-up: Dante’s Pizzeria
Best pizza delivery
Lou Malnati’s
Runner-up: Dante’s Pizzeria
Best place worth a wait
Lula Cafe
Runner-up: Au Cheval
Best Polish restaurant
Staropolska
Runner-up: Red Apple
Best preserves
Rare Bird Preserves
Runner-up: Spoken: A Cafe
Best quesabirria/birria de res tacos
Birrieria Zaragoza
Runner-up: Tacotlan
Best ramen
Wasabi
Runner-up: Furious Spoon
Best restaurant group
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Runner-up: The Alinea Group
Best sandwich
J.P. Graziano
Runner-up: Bari
Best seafood restaurant
Calumet Fisheries
Runner-up: Lowcountry
Best socially distanced dining
Eris Brewery and Cider House
Runner-up: The Warbler
Best soul food restaurant
Luella’s Southern Kitchen
Runner-up: Soul Vegetarian
Best soup
Taste of Lebanon
Runner-up: Soupbox
Best sourdough
Bungalow by Middle Brow
Runner-up: Publican Quality Bread
Best steak house
Bavette’s
Runner-up: Tango Sur
Best sushi
Lawrence Fish Market
Runner-up: Kai Zan
Best taqueria
El Milagro
Runner-up: L’Patron
Best Thai restaurant
Opart Thai House
Runner-up: Sticky Rice
Best up-and-coming chef
Kelly Ijichi
Runner-up: Halee Raff
Best urban farm
Urban Growers Collective
Runner-up: Urban Canopy
Best vegan restaurant
Chicago Diner
Runner-up: Ground Control
Best vegetarian restaurant
Handlebar
Runner-up: Chicago Diner
Best Vietnamese restaurant
Pho 888
Runner-up: HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen
Best wine shop
Binny’s Beverage Depot
Runner-up: All Together Now
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