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    Expat Chicago

    4.4 (31 reviews)
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    Vanilla latte
    Kenna G.

    Checked out Expat for some happy hour cocktails and I was truly impressed. Keke was a fantastic bartender and made us outstanding drinks. Very unique menu of cocktails. Great happy hour deal, $10 cocktails and a couple of discounted bites. Very gorgeous bar and space! Doors open up for a fun vibe in the warm weather.

    Breve Latte
    Johnny R.

    Came in for a post workout meal and coffee and was very pleased with what I got. Service was friendly, coffee was great quality and taste wise, and the burrito packed a lot of flavor especially in the golden raisin hot sauce. (Sauce is sweet yet spicy) West coast egg burrito: 4 of 5 Perfectly cooked egg, bacon was a little fatty, and combined with the golden raisin sauce is a must try. Breve latte: 5 of 5 Coffee quality is great and the flavor stands on its on for espresso lovers. They don't carry half and half, so to get the breve ask to mix milk with heavy cream.

    Gnocchi
    Hannah C.

    Came here for a bday celebration. We had a big party and made a reservation in advance. Unfortunately, they were unprepared and none of these seats were set up which was not a great look for our birthday guest of honor. We were expecting to eat dinner with drinks but it seems like it's more of a self service type of situation? We were told to go up to the bar and order ourselves and we were also getting up to get our water glasses. Would not recommend for a big party. Food was also overpriced and not great. The only thing that was good was the decor and drinks. However, I personally did not get a drink so who knows. They were also trying to rush us to leave after the 2 hr mark which I get but we had a big party so I would except them take that into account in their planning of reservations...

    House salad
    Andrea Z.

    Visited on a Thursday around 1pm, cafe had several other guest but plenty of open space. You seat yourself and servers come by with a menu and water. Drink: Drip Coffee - solid dark roast Food: House Salad - simple but good, mixed greens with cherry tomatoes, cucumber and onion, in a light citrus dressing, good portion size, wasn't overly dressed balanced flavors Service was good, friendly and relaxed, food and drink arrived pretty quick, sever checked in occasionally. Great cafe/bar to get work done, feels like a bohemian loft with lots of comfy seating that's well spaced out and a nice playlist. Free WiFi was great, lots of others were using the space to work as well. Would love to come back to try more of the food menu which looked great!

    Angelica S.

    I've been to Expat a couple of times now and it's always a good experience. The staff is attentive and welcoming, and the drinks are consistently good. I really appreciate that happy hour goes until 7 pm -- makes it easy to stop in after work. Definitely a spot I'll keep coming back to.

    Small sign, easy to miss. That's okay, this will be our secret.
    Erika G.

    I LOVE THIS BAR. Recently opened off to the side in the Coquette space - almost a secret little entrance to a hideaway, IYKYK. "Cafe by Day, Bar by Night" PERFECT. So European. Cocktail menu: famous drinks from famous bars, imagined right here in Chicago! I had a Porn Star Martini, made famous by the LAB bar in London. A delicious concoction (it tasted spicy, mellow, umami delicious) that comes with a little sidecar of champagne. PERFECT. I also sampled the Singapore Sling, and that was also really tasty. Food. We two got the fish tacos and the pastrami sandwich to share - was a perfect amount of food for a light dinner, and the taste was just incredible. Craveworthy. The fish tacos were plump, with a light, crunchy breading. The Pastrami - really a Reuben sandwich - my favorite was all delicious. I'll be back here again and again. Gotta try that Wisconsin Old Fashioned, since I am a Wisconsin expatriat! Bartenders were good looking, friendly and charming. I love this place!!

    Sandalwood and Tahitian Vanilla Old Fashioned
    Jason W.

    Cafe by day, bar by night. I stopped in to enjoy their bar at night. Perfect setting for a drink. Sat at the front bar where they had it open air for a perfect fall evening in Chicago. Good bartenders and I really enjoyed the sandalwood and vanilla old fashioned. In the higher end of cocktail prices, but worth it to enjoy the atmosphere for a round.

    Lisa S.

    I had brunch at Expat and was thoroughly impressed. The atmosphere combines exotic and bohemian elements beautifully. With both indoor and outdoor seating, I opted to enjoy the sunny outdoor space. The food was amazing and very reasonably priced. I tried the BLT, which is served on a pizza crust and includes bacon, lettuce, tomato, ricotta mayo, and sundried tomato pesto. I also indulged in a xuxo chocolate and sea salt caramel mini croissant, which was both adorable and delicious. My friends ordered the West Coast burrito and the egg sandwich, both of which were generously portioned and reportedly delicious. The service was friendly and provided excellent recommendations. I will definitely be returning and will have to try the late night feel the next time!

    Street sign
    Daniela N.

    Had dinner with a girlfriend last night and I have to say this place is quite unique all day and night coffee bar. The theme of the decor and book menu centered around expat / travels marry well together. We ordered the frozen porn star martini and an espresso martini for drinks. Both were excellent choices and I loved our fresh my frozen drink was on this hot day. For our entrees we had the cheeseburger and Pasta Al Simone. Once both dishes were served - our food was fresh and tasty. The burger meat was rich and the secret sauce brought all the flavors together. Upon our server suggestion, we also had the espresso creme brûlée - oh my! If you have a sweet tooth you cannot leave without trying it. We really enjoyed our time there. Looking forward to visiting over the weekend when Djs are playing on the patio or having dinner at the two other connected restaurants - Coquette and Bambola. Thanks to our bartender Daniel for taking care of us.

    Rhonda F.

    I LOVE this place!!! Tucked away in an unassuming spot, around the corner from Randolf Street Restaurant Row and the Fulton Market District. It is a true hidden gem. Expect offers so much. Coffee Shop, Study Spot, Friends Lunch and even dinner & cocktails. The American cuisine is fantastic. We had a burger, salad and french toast. Everything was perfect. The decor is incredible - airy and charming with a twist. Travel vibes, furry pillows, colorful tile and various seating options. Service matched all the other great elements. The positivity was in full force. Attentive and friendly service made our experience better. I can't wait to return at night for cocktails.

    Carajilllo & Spanish Coffee cocktails
    Michelle L.

    Enjoyed the dark European ambiance with travel motifs, the coffee cocktails are delicious. Carajillo is an amazing espresso cocktail (and very easy to drink). The hot Spanish coffee would be so enjoyable on a cold morning; it has fruity notes to the flavor. Their fish and chips dish was a great platter to eat alongside drinking and came with vinegar aeoli and tartar sauce with capers, which were so delicious. There was a brand rep for a vodka seltzer company that gave us free seltzers which tasted amazing & their bathroom is very aesthetic for taking photos in.

    Egg Sandwich
    Ashley C.

    I had a so-so experience to be honest, BUT I'm very willing to give them another shot. They had an event happening with a liquor brand when we visited, so they could only serve an altered cocktail menu. That being said - - It's tucked away at the end of Randolph Street and around the corner. So many interesting spots in the vicinity! - The space is really nice. Well decorated. Variety of tables, lounge areas, and a generous patio! - It's not obvious when you first arrive if its seat yourself, table service, or bar service. We initially felt awkward, but my kind bartender eventually came over to tell us it was bar-service only. - My cocktail was meh, but I wish I could have tried their not my Al cocktail menu instead of the partnership drinks. - The food was fine, and I would order something else next time.

    Chicken parm
    Tessa H.

    Such an amazing place. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere had a great relaxed vibe and the food and drinks were good as well.

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    2 years ago

    Good food and an interactive place. Nice casual ambiance. Service was a bit distracted and slow.

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    2 years ago

    Amazing' like this place! Good atmosphere and very tasty food! Service it's interesting too. Guys have a lot of places

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    Ghost Donkey

    Ghost Donkey

    4.0
    (70 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    We originally came to Ghost Donkey as paranormal investigators, after being hired to locate the…read moremissing ghost donkey belonging to a local agave farmer. The case had gone cold--or perhaps mezcal-hot--until we received a clue pointing us toward River North. Ghost Donkey is spacious, colorful, and full of energy, with plenty of bar seating and tables. The music can get loud, but it fits the atmosphere perfectly. The bartenders were constantly interacting with guests, swinging the lights, encouraging the crowd, and turning the entire room into a neon-lit fiesta. They do have a food menu featuring items such as tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and guacamole, but we mostly came for the drinks. Many of the cocktails are tequila- or mezcal-based, which is exactly what we enjoy. The menu is creative, the drinks are strong, and the bar does an excellent job making agave spirits approachable--even for guests who may not consider themselves mezcal experts. After two drinks and an argument with a decorative donkey, we finally found the missing spirit hiding behind the bar. He was translucent, smelled faintly of roasted agave, and appeared to be carrying a tiny map. We followed him through a glowing hallway, down a staircase, and into a secret chamber where he revealed the legendary piñata of Quetzalcoatl, the ancient feathered serpent god. Naturally, we attempted to break it open. Instead of candy, it released a cloud of mystical dust, three lime wedges, and a receipt for nachos. The ghost donkey brayed with laughter, the lights began swinging, and the entire bar erupted in applause. The bartender handed us another drink and told us this happened all the time. Ghost Donkey is a fantastic place to hang out, pregame, and enjoy inventive tequila and mezcal cocktails in a lively setting. Just be warned: you may arrive looking for a ghost donkey and leave having helped recover an ancient Mexican god's piñata. That's simply the sort of evening this place encourages.

    What a cute little "find" we were totally NOT going here until a simple "A" frame sidewalk sign…read morepiqued our curiosity.. and boy I'm glad it did. What a great vibe & ambiance . Great cocktails (I love mezcal) and great food! And to top everything off..WONDERFUL HAPPY HOUR Specials. Definitely a must visit spot.

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    Ghost Donkey
    Ghost Donkey
    Ghost Donkey

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    Rossi's Liquors

    Rossi's Liquors

    4.2
    (433 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $

    Friendly and lively dive bar (4/5 Green Stars) Waiting for…read moretake-out from nearby Lou Malnati's, we wandered into Rossi's for a quick drink. It's a reasonably-priced busy dive bar in the heart of Chicago. I asked the bartender if she had a beer + shot deal and she said "no, but you can order a beer and shot." And so we did! Noise level is fairly high, thanks to a lively crowd plus a jukebox. They don't normally serve food but I think are fine with customers bringing in your own food, and you can also place an order from a nearby restaurant (I don't recall which one). And yes, it's cash only so bring some money if you don't want to pay ATM fees! 4 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. I like bars that allow customers to bring (or order) their own food - it allows for all diets! The one thing I'd like to see is more beer on tap - even just one good rotating local beer (e.g., Goose Island). Draft beer has smaller environmental footprints compared to bottled or canned.

    Recently stopped by Rossi's Liquors and this place is the definition of a dive bar, in the most…read moreauthentic way possible. After a quick ID check at the door, the bouncer let us know it's cash only (thankfully we came prepared). From the moment we walked in, dim lighting, loud music, and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds gave the vibe of a full-on frat party, but not in a bad way. It's chaotic, energetic, and unapologetically no-frills. There's even a self-serve cooler with drink prices clearly listed underneath. I grabbed a Sapporo Premium, brought it to the counter, and our friendly bartender broke our change and offered a chilled glass to pour it into. Simple and efficient. That said, it was loud, so loud that even whispering-distance conversations were a struggle. The space is small, seating is limited, and since we couldn't snag a spot, we ended up leaving shortly after finishing our drinks. This feels like a better weekday hang than a packed weekend night. Still, if you're looking for a classic, gritty, no-frills dive experience, Rossi's delivers exactly that.

    Photos
    Nightcap
    Nightcap
    Rossi's Liquors
    Rossi's Liquors

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    Gus' Sip & Dip

    Gus' Sip & Dip

    4.5
    (180 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    We were seated quickly, attended to quickly, and it has a great ambiance - it almost feels like a…read morespeakeasy. We got two appetizers, and were extremely impressed by both - they came within 5 minutes. We each ordered a cocktail and they were fantastic as well. We will 100% be coming back.

    This might've been one of the best experiences my friends had on their trip to Chicago. We came…read morehere on a whim based off of convenience. My friend got really hangry at a certain moment while we were walking so we came here since it was open, had great reviews, and appeared to have a happy hour going on. We had to wait a little more than 5 minutes outside for a table, but the host was nice and got us accommodated. We were surprised by the inside and the amount of people dining in. From the outside it looks very basic and nothing too fancy. Our server was great and took care of us well the entire time. We ordered some Long Islands because they had a $6 happy hour up until 5pm and I have to say it's probably one of the best long islands I've ever had. All of my friends agreed as well. We were doing some appetizers so we got their style of cheese curds order, some crab rangoons, and pretzel with sauce/cheese to share. Those cheese curds were insanely good. Everyone at our table LOVED them. We wouldn't stop talking about them and had wished there were more. The ranch was excellent as well. We didn't like their marinara though - a bit too watered down. These curds were shaped more like cubes which isn't the traditional way they look, but unique and SO delicious. We also really liked the crab rangoon here. Pretzel was ok, but nothing crazy. They cheese that came with it was excellent though.

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    Pinky Gonzales
    Pinky Gonzales
    Gus' The Original Wagyu Beef Dip
    Gus' The Original Wagyu Beef Dip
    Gus' Proper Burger

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    Gus' Proper Burger
    Ila's

    Ila's

    4.8
    (71 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Ila's is a lovely, hospitable restaurant with delicious food. it was a great experience and I will…read morereturn.

    When I was planning my sister's bachelorette party, I wanted to find a restaurant near our hotel…read morethat could accommodate different dietary preferences (i.e. no pork, vegetarian/halal, etc.). I found Ila's on Google and liked the variety of menu items. The food appeared to elevate comfort food from multiple cuisines, such as American, Italian, South American, Asian, and Southeast Asian. I reached out to the restaurant and was assisted with a reservation for 14 people. Our table was set and ready to go as soon as we arrived at 8:30pm on a Saturday. Overall customer was excellent. Thank you to the hostess for making my sister, the bride, feel special. She complimented her and hyped her up for the night, which was really sweet. Our server was awesome too. He was friendly and highly attentive. Loved that our food and drinks also came out in a timely manner. I enjoyed everything I ate. I had a few bites of the appetizers including the scallops, fried paneer, and 2 kinds of empanadas (corn and chicken). We also got lumpia and a mixed bread platter for the table. Though I didn't have any of the latter, they were a hit at our table. I got the burger as my entree, and it was such a redemption from a crappy burger I got elsewhere earlier in my trip. The double smashed patties were juicy and flavorful. I devoured the burger and loved the thin cut fries. All-in-all, we had a lovely dinner at Ila's for my sister's bachelorette party.

    Photos
    Nico collin's & hugo spritz
    Nico collin's & hugo spritz
    Assorted Savory Kabobs: Paneer, Chicken & Leek, Pork Belly
    Assorted Savory Kabobs: Paneer, Chicken & Leek, Pork Belly
    Happy hour $10 sparking rose. fantastic!

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    Happy hour $10 sparking rose. fantastic!

    Expat Chicago - bars - Updated August 2026

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