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Cruisin' Canines

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We all know the feeling of never wanting to leave your dog’s side. If you have ever been out and about with your pooch and wanted to grab a quick bite to eat, you know the dread of wondering if a place allows dogs. With so many dog-friendly restaurants in Chicago, though, you don’t have to worry about ever leaving your dog’s side! Here are some well-known dog-friendly restaurants right around your neighborhood:

Bucktown

Bucktown Pub

Address: 1658 W Cortland St. Chicago, IL 60622

Price range: $

With an outdoor patio in the back, Bucktown Pub is a homey, vintage Bucktown bar that is very dog-friendly. Bucktown Pub offers a wide selection of microbrews, spirits, pizza, and night’s full of karaoke MCs singing away. Your dog can relax while you soak in this impressive restaurant.

Edgewater

Mas Alla Del Sol

Address: 5848 N. Broadway St. Chicago, IL 60640

Price range: $$

A more upscale Mexican restaurant, Mas Alla Del Sol offers fresh, traditional dishes, as well as unusual, tasty options. You can choose from fajitas, ­enchiladas, carne ascada and much more. Mas Alla Del Sol even offers an appetizing brunch menu items, like omeleta del rancho, crepas de platano and even Mickey Mouse Pancakes. If your dog eats human food occasionally, this will make for a great stop for you two.

Humboldt Park

Parson’s Chicken & Fish

Address: 2952 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Price range: $$

Parson’s Chicken & Fish celebrates fried chicken and fish eateries found in cities, coasts, and regions across the country. The popular Chicago dining spot has a gorgeous patio and is perfect to bring your dog to after a long dog walk. Come for a quick bite or boozy drinks on a hot summer day. You can’t go wrong with the fried Amish chicken, pimento toast, or the bang bang pie.

Irving Park

Little Bucharest Bistro

Address: 3661 N Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618

Price range: $$

Have a fancy, high-class dog? It will love Little Bucharest Bistro. This elegant restaurant has a little bit of everything, like a roasted red pepper salad, pan-seared salmon and sausage-stuffed chicken. Feeling a little on the adventurous side? Try out Little Bucharest Bistro’s signature flaming kasseri cheese (yes, it’s actually flaming, but don’t worry —it’s totally safe!).

Lizards Liquid Lounge

Address: 3058 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60618

Price range: $

Lizards Liquid Lounge is a funky Irving Park bar with live karaoke, trivia, and amazing artwork by local artists happening every week. You’ll find generously poured mixed drinks that are inexpensive and you can bring your alternative food if you’d like. It’s one of the top dog-friendly bars in Chicago and even has tasty treats for them. Hit up this Chicago spot after a day of walking and playing with your dog.

Lakeview

Cody’s Public House

Address: 1658 W Barry Ave. Chicago, IL 60657

Price range: $

Cody’s Public House is the place for the relaxed, dog-loving crowd. It’s a neighborhood hotspot for those who want to enjoy a casual meal (and a few beers) and then play a game of pool or darts. Most popular on the weekends, Cody’s has the inviting atmosphere of a dive bar while being so much more than that. Dogs are more than welcome here, too—your pup may even make a few new friends!

Golden Apple Grill & Breakfast House

Address: 2971 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60657

Price range: $

Golden Apple Grill & Breakfast House is great for those who don’t live by a schedule. This diner is open 24 hours a day, so you can get your grub on any time of the day. When you dig in, you can eat breakfast, lunch or dinner foods, including Belgium waffles with various fruit toppings, omelettes, pastas, burgers, breaded fantail jumbo shrimp and skirt steak. Want carry out so you can enjoy the food from the comfort of your home? It’ll be ready in about15 minutes.

Rockit Burger Bar

Address: 3700 N Clark St. Chicago, IL 60613

Price range: $$

Located in the heart of Wrigleyville, this eatery specializes in, you guessed it, burgers. Choose from traditionals like the double “Rockit Cheeseburger” (quarter pound angus patties with all the fixings) or unusual options like the “Truffle Mushroom Burger” (an angus patty topped with gruyere cheese and truffle crème fraiche) or “The MacDaddy” (an angus patty and braised beef short rib and mac ‘n’ cheese). The restaurant also thrives with its other menu options, including their BBQ pork pizza and their southwestern chopped salad. The fun atmosphere, combined with the indulgent food, will have both you and your dog feeling like you’re in heaven!

Lincoln Park

Pizzeria da Nella

Address: 1443 W Fullerton Ave. Chicago, IL 60614

Price range: $$

For thin crust pizza of all kinds in Lincoln Park, Pizzeria da Nella has the selection you need. This restaurant has red and white pizzas topped with numerous toppings, like mozzarella, gorgonzola, salami, prosciutto cotto, basil, mushroom and more. Thin crust not your thing? Pizzeria da Nella offers three stuffed pizza options, too. You and your dog will love the atmosphere at this Italian favorite.

Basil Leaf Cafe

Address: 2465 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60614

Price range: $$

Basil Leaf Cafe is an Italian eatery that both carnivores and herbivores (and dogs!) will love.  Try the savory gorgonzola gnocchi, the creamy tortellini prosciutto or any of the other satisfying dishes. Basil Leaf Cafe also has a gluten-free menu with six different pasta options, too.

Lincoln Square

Libero Café

Address: 5074 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60625

Price range: $$

If you’re done with a great dog walking session in Chicago’s Lincoln Square and want to refuel, Libero Café could be your next spot. This Lincoln Square spot is ideal when you want to grab some Mediterranean food and bring your dog along. Libero Café isn’t just a restaurant, though; they regularly have drink specials and even special musical performers. Want to stay out late? They’re open until 3 a.m. on Saturdays and 2 a.m. for the rest of the week.

Rockwell’s Neighborhood Grill

Address: 4632 N Rockwell St. Chicago, IL 60625

Price range: $$

When you want casual bar food that’s out of the ordinary, Rockwell’s Neighborhood Grill has a menu that satisfies. The restaurant offers typical grill food, like burgers (BBQ bacon, black-n-bleu and more) and sandwiches (the hot turkey or the skirt steak), but the menu also has a bit of a Mexican kick, too. Try their fajitas or blackened fish tacos for a change of pace. Want to swing by here on a weekend morning after taking your dog on a walk around Chicago? Rockwell’s opens at 10 a.m. and has an appetizing breakfast menu, too, including items like breakfast burritos and tacos, chorizo hash skillets, and French toast.

Near North Side

Calumet Fisheries

Address: 909 N Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611

Price range: $/$$

When you and your dog feel like taking a trip under the sea, Calumet Fisheries fits the bill. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients and fish to craft their delectable entrees. A popular menu item? The fried shrimp, coated in a secret family recipe, and fries. Don’t forget to partake in their savory sides, like the breaded pickle spears or the sweet potato tots. You’ll be asking for seconds!

Clark Street Ale House

Address: 742 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Prices range: $$

A casual pub serving an extensive craft beer and whiskey list, Clark Street Ale House has a history as a favorite sports bar for local and visiting beer lovers. Clark Street Ale House is a very dog-friendly spot with an old-school ambiance and a spacious outdoor patio.

The Grill on the Alley

Address: 909 N Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611

Price range: $$$

This restaurant is great for a more upscale experience, but you’ll only be able to bring your pooch if you’re sitting on the patio. Still, once summer rolls around, this will be the perfect dining option. They’ve filled the menu with classy options like cedar plank salmon and broiled Lake Superior whitefish—seafood is their specialty—as well as dishes like chicken piccata and filet mignon. As for your pooch? They’ll bring a dish of biscuits for it to enjoy, too. Bon appétit!

Hub 51

Address: 51 W Hubbard St. Chicago, IL 60654

Price range: $$$

Craving a certain food? Hub 51 probably has you covered. From their Chinese-infused selections, like miso soup and chicken egg rolls, to Mexican items, like filet mignon steak tacos and chicken enchilada stacks, to all-American eats, like big city cornbread, braised beef short ribs and their “first-rate” cheeseburger with hand-cut hub fries. If your dog can handle some human food, it may love Hub 51’s platter of housemade turkey jerky, beef jerky and thick bacon.

Near West Side

Palace Grill

Address: 1408 W Madison St. Chicago, IL 6060

Price range: $

This place knows that sometimes there’s just no leaving your pup at home, so they welcome you to bring it along. They even have a special dog-friendly area on the patio complete with water bowls, so your dog can enjoy itself as you enjoy something from their wide menu selection. From breakfast to burgers, this eatery is a place your dog and you will both love.

Big Delicious Planet Canteen

Address: 412 North Wolcott Ave. Chicago, IL 60622

Price range: $$

Big Delicious Planet Canteen is for the dog-lover and the earth-lover in you. This eatery is a four-star certified “green” restaurant, locally growing more than 80 types of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers on its urban farm. Big Delicious Planet Canteen offers daily specials, like four-cheese ravioli, apricot-glazed chicken kebabs and five-space flank steak. Don’t forget to pick up one of the restaurant’s many desserts of the day, like the apple-raspberry tartlettes, Italian cream puffs or flourless chocolate red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese ganache.

Noble Square

Big Star Chicago

Address: 1531 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Price range: $

Big Star is a beer and bourbon-focused, late-night honky-tonk inspired by authentic Mexican street food. It’s a lively and hip hangout with a party atmosphere and popular outdoor patio vibes. Bring your dog if you’d like! They don’t take reservations so it can be hard to find a table, but the killer beverages and loud vinyl make the wait worth it.

Norwood Park

Superdawg Drive-In

Address: 6363 N Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60646

Price Range: $

How could you not make a stop at this one—it even has dog (or, OK, “dawg”) in the name! Superdawg offers, you guessed it, hot dogs. Here, they serve their classic spin on the Chicago-style dog, as well as an array of burgers and other sandwiches. This classic restaurant also has the old-school drive-in diner vibe that will make you nostalgic. And if your dog is one that has a stomach of steel, maybe it could even partake in a few bites of a hot dog. Hey, walking around Chicago can require a little refueling for a dog, too!

Pilsen

Dusek’s

Address: 1227 W 18th St. Chicago, IL 60608

Price range: $$

Dusek’s is all about the interesting (and awesome) dishes with fun names. Try the “crispy pig tails” (a wilted frisée salad with bacon lardoons and a gribiche sauce) or the “grilled juicy Lucy” (a farm-raised patty of ground beef, topped with bacon marmalade and served on a pretzel bun with duck fat fries on the side). This Pilsen stop also has an extensive draft beer list from which you can choose a frothy drink to wash down the filling food. The atmosphere is inviting, which is exactly what you and your dog need.

Doña Torta

Address: 3331 W 26th St. Chicago, IL 60623

Price range: $

There are sandwich lovers, and then there are tortas lovers. Restaurants create tortas, the oversized, possibly even more delicious cousin of the sandwich, by using circular bread made without yeast. At Doña Tortas, you’ll be able to choose from more than 20 torta options. They even have a breaded chicken, hot dog and bacon torta for the crowd that craves American food. The sandwiches are on the large size, so you may even have leftovers to take home (or, if you’ve spent all day walking your dog around Chicago, you may need the extra fuel!). Doña Torta offers non-sandwich Mexican foods, too. When you’re going to hit up this restaurant, be sure to stop by the ATM first—they don’t take debit.

Portage Park

Portage Grounds Coffee & Tea

Address: 5501 W. Irving Park Chicago, IL 60641

Price range: $

This coffee shop has become a local favorite, no matter what time of the year. In the summer months, you can cool off with their cold-brewed iced coffee or a frappe. In the winter, warm up with a soy hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. Portage Grounds Coffee & Tea brews up Intelligentsia Coffee, a Chicago original with a huge following. Dog walkers will love this spot after a day of strolling through the city.

South Loop

Kasey’s Tavern

Address: 701 S. Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605

Price range: $

Kasey’s Tavern combines that rustic and old-fashioned aesthetic with the feel of a modern bar. Come enjoy a few drinks or an inexpensive downtown meal and watch your favorite games on the bar’s many televisions. This location is a great way to take a break while taking a walk downtown.

Sociale Chicago

Address: 800 South Clark St, Chicago, IL 60605

Price range: $$$

Grab some delicious tapas at Sociale Chicago, which offers a wide range of small dishes to try out. Stop in for brunch, lunch, or dinner, and enjoy the weekly specials they offer. While not necessarily the least expensive place to visit in the South Loop, many of their offers can allow you to enjoy some food and drink at a reasonable price.

Ukrainian Village

Takito Kitchen

Address: 2013 W Division St. Chicago, IL 60622

Price range: $$

Takito specializes in tacos that will satisfy whatever your taste buds are craving, including beef barbacoa, maple creek pork belly or lamb chorizo. They also have a vegan taco option for the meat-free crowd. Your dog can take in the scenery while you eat. Wash down the meal with one of Takito’s many tequila options for a pleasurable dining experience.

FatPour Tap Works

Address: 2013 W Division St. Chicago, IL 60622

Price range: $$

The restaurant’s options are hot items, and they are all given entertaining names, like “The Hipster” (a balsamic-infused burger topped with bleu cheese, mushrooms, onions, red wine reduction, roasted tomatoes and arugula) or “Pineapple Express” ( teriyaki-infused burger complete with stout caramelized pineapple, sriracha, chipotle plum jam, bacon and avocado). For all their menu options, FatPour suggests a type of beer, like IPAs or amber ales, that would pair well with your dish. While your dog can’t enjoy the brews, it can still enjoy itself at this lighthearted bar and grill.

Archie’s Iowa & Rockwell Tavern

Address: 2600 W. Iowa St. Chicago, IL 60622

Price range: $

After a long week, you want to unwind. That’s where Archie’s Iowa & Rockwell Tavern comes in. This dive bar attracts regulars and newcomers alike for the inexpensive drinks and their signature bar snack: cheese balls. The owners even allow dogs to come up to the bar—just make sure yours doesn’t order a beer!

West Loop

Nellcôte

Address: 833 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

Price range: $$$

Right in the heart of Chicago’s West Loop, Nellcôte is a famous neighborhood restaurant wrapped in high-energy elegance. It’s the perfect place for friends to convene over drinks during a Sunday brunch. Not to mention, Nellcôte serves food such as margherita pizza, pumpkin ravioli, or wood-roasted cauliflower prepared with fresh, seasonal, house-made ingredients. The interior is luxurious and is a great space for weddings, showers, and parties. It’s also great dog-friendly place and even provides complimentary dog treats.

Wishbone

Address: 1001 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60607

Price range: $$

Whether you’re a vegetarian or meat lover, Wishbone has what you need. Try the N.C.-style pulled pork sandwich, the catfish po’boy or the veggie hoecakes for a refreshing, down-home meal. When you bring your dog here, the artwork hanging on the walls might mesmerize it.

Wicker Park

Hash

Address: 1357 N Western Ave. Chicago, IL 60622

Price range: $

Only opened from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hash is designed for brunching. When you go, you can try their namesake hashes, like the corned beef, the Humboldt (black beans and hominy topped with chihuahua cheese and either chorizo or soyrizo. You can also try any of their sandwiches, like their Greek chicken or “pig roast” (a pork shoulder topped with back, swiss cheese and apple). The relaxed atmosphere is perfect for dogs.

The Boundary

Address: 1932 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Price range: $$

dog friendly restaurants in Chicago

The Boundary is a favorite Wicker Park bar for watching all sports. They serve over 120 craft beers and modern American food to keep you satisfied during a big game. It’s a fun atmosphere for late night drinks, an outdoor patio to bring your dog for brunch, or shuffleboard games with friends. The menu has a nice variety, from a monstrous 1.5lb bavarian pretzel to delicious chicken pot pie. It’s a neighborhood bar you’ll grow to love, and your dog will, too.

Nando Milano Trattoria

Address: 2114 W Division St. Chicago, IL 60622

Cuisine: Italian

Price range: $$

Want some amazing Italian food after a brisk stroll? Chicago dog walkers, rejoice: Nando Milano Trattoria is a pet place. Complete with an outdoor patio, your pooch can relax while you enjoy some gnocchi or fettuccine. The owners even have a dachshund named Nando—the restaurant’s namesake—so you know this is a dog-loving establishment.

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5 Responses

  1. A dog-friendly restaurant and sports bar that is a personal favorite of mine is the restaurant called Benchmark. Located in the Old Town/Lincoln Park area, their outdoor patio and the lively atmosphere is perfect for dogs on a warm day. They even have a dog menu that has mini burgers and carrots to feed your dog. My dog, Zoe, loves the burgers! The menu for humans is actually really good too and they make amazing bloody marys, perfect for a Sunday brunch. I haven’t been there at night but I’ve heard the entertainment is great, although it can get packed. Definitely one of the better Chicago dog friendly restaurants I’ve been to!

  2. These restaurants are perfect for me and my pet dog. I’m happy that they have thought of putting up a restaurant like this. I’m sure they are also animal/dog lover.

  3. I wish more people would post valuable content like this. This is the first time I’ve been on your website, but after this, I doubt it will be the last time.

  4. It is interesting that this post mentioned that when choosing a dog welcoming bar, it is important for us to ensure that it is indeed pet friendly and suitable for our pets. The other day my friend was asking for recommendations. I will pass this information to him when I speak with him later.

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