This is one that is worth the hype. Well loved for good reason. There were no misses! We tried the crab tartlet, French onion soup, mussels, rabbit pot pie, duck l'orange for two, and the delicious maple crème brûlée. Every bite was scrumptious and we absolutely will be back! And the staff were all lovely. It is a really small space but that's part of the charm of being a traditional little French restaurant! read more

Le Bouchon is an excellent example of the idea one *can* have too much of a good thing. Alas, there were more things that went a little south with the experience. I ordered the Escargot and the French Onion Soup. There was also free baguette included at the start of the meal. I loved that the baguette had a substantial crust, for it was an absolute delight to butter it up (though not the best butter in the world), and dip it into the herbaceous escargot butter. However, the inside, despite its temperature, was still gooey/doughy. Too much crust or some other technical issue? I'll let those with baking experience sound off. Whatever the case, the last thing I want to do with fresh baguette is ripping out the innards and rolling it into a ball of silly putty. Now, for the escargot... ah snails, an old favorite, for I don't really love fast food (ha!) These were mostly good, save for two things: First, the texture was still just a little slimy, reminiscent of an oyster. 30 seconds more cook time is all they needed, a minute would be too much! Second, the sauce didn't do them any favors. I've had escargot in a rich, buttery, garlicky, slightly herbed sauce that was beyond divine. This dish went triple-overboard, if not more, on the greens - making it resemble a chimichurri rather than something turning snails into decadence. Now, we arrive at the French Onion Soup. The sheer amount of cheese was so excessive that I recoiled even though I have a line item in my budget for cheese. I fished what remained out, and consumed it only out of spite. Now, while I appreciate the use of crusty bread that didn't turn into soggy croutons, the size of the pieces was too large. I'm one who orders prepared food with the understanding that it is prepared and should require minimal additional work. Steaks that need slicing are exempt, soup is not. Unfortunately, there was one more undoing: while I can understand a less sweet soup may be normal variation in the recipe, one of the spoonfuls had something very sour, as if it was a large wad of sour cream (though none was present). This made were otherwise rich and flavorful broth less than enjoyable. When it comes to the service, this had some good and bad. It was friendly, attentive, and the food came out fast. However, an item of note is that finished plates were not cleared in due course. This applies not only to myself but also the stranger sitting next to me. Final verdict: I wanted to love Le Bouchon, really I did. I was even hoping, at first, to try more of the menu on a return visit. However, the poor execution across the board does not provide the confidence needed for a return visit. read more

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Ughhh it pains me to write this review. I went back to Le Bouchon for the second time to celebrate my birthday and I was extremely disappointed. I'll start with the good: The ambiance was the same- crowded and lively as usual. The service was good, and our server was trying to be accommodating. I don't know what happened between my last visit in December to now but the food was not good. I ordered a lot of the same things I got last time, sans the mussels because they weren't properly cleaned last time and had hella grit and crap in them that made eating them a nightmare. Steak tartare: Seriously look at my last picture uploaded of the steak tartare compared to this time. This time the meat wasn't chopped finely enough- the pieces were too big. The look isn't uniform. There's a layer of like cheese or whatever totally missing, and instead of serving it with bread it was served with salt and vinegar chips (which wtf? I actually hated it. The chips flavor were overpowering any flavor of the steak tartare.) The whole thing was entirely too salty. Again- look at my old picture compared to the new one. It's obviously not the same, and the flavor and texture were also vastly different. Escargot: Now after powering through the not good steak tartare, which was too salty all around, I just could not eat the escargot. It was WAYYY salty as well. At this point I told the server that everything has been too salty, she offered to take the escargot back and replace it with something else. We chose the baked oysters or whatever to replace it. Baked oysters: Yeah these were good. It's ironic that they were served on a bed of salt though. lol. French onion soup: This was as good as I remembered it. Thank god. The soup actually saved the dinner- I would've been genuinely upset if this wasn't good. Steak frites Manion style: At this point I was about to crash out. I just wanted to leave. I got a super burnt and nasty end of the steak as my first bite, and I literally had to spit it out. Why the fuck would you even include that in the dish? Just take it out before serving. And the fries had such a bad texture, they tasted stale. Really bad job. At the end, they brought out a complimentary sorbet for my birthday. They did the same for my friend last time I went, so funnily enough I even have that to compare. The sorbet was whack, couldn't even eat it. Last time I don't remember it being so bad, but this time it legit didn't even taste cold. It was like thick and lowkey... too salty. Lmao. And warm. Idk. Guys, I legitimately started to wonder if something was wrong with my taste buds. Really disappointed, and it was my birthday dinner which makes this experience even more depressing. If the last time I was here it was so good it made me come back, this time was so bad that I doubt I'll ever want to give it another chance, unless I really want french onion soup. read more

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The atmosphere is cozy and romantic -- perfect for a date night. The place was already packed early in the evening, so I definitely recommend getting a reservation for dinner. It's a cute French bistro, and the food overall was pretty solid. We got the Petit Lapin en Croute (think chicken pot pie but with rabbit), Fjord Trout en Croute, Soupe à l'Oignon Gratinee (French Onion Soup), and Maple Crème Brûlée. The French Onion Soup was on the saltier side, but I'd definitely recommend the Petit Lapin en Croute and the Fjord Trout en Croute -- both were delicious and beautifully presented. read more

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I'm 64 and I just ate the best scallops ever, they were perfect. And 20 minutes earlier I ate the best octopus I've ever tried! Lovely atmosphere, friendly service, French home cooking. We love this place! read more

When my boyfriend told me he made a surprise dinner reservation I didn't know what to expect, but Le Bouchon was better than anything I could've expected. The ambience was amazing, the seating was tight but felt so cozy. The dishes were made with lots of thought and care and you could taste it in every bite. I got the Sunchoke Agnolotti and I don't know if was a mistake or the best decision of my life, now that I'll crave it forever. For dessert we had the Maple Crème Brûlée and it was so delightful. Our server was very caring, knew the menu well, and had amazing recommendations. As a server myself I have high standards for service and they did not disappoint, I felt like I was at my grandmas house. If you're in chicago visiting or live here wanting to try a new place do not look past Le Bouchon. read more

Le Bouchon - Manion Style Steak Frites (Top) Sunchoke Agnolotti (bottom) - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super neighborhood gem. It's small but it adds to the atmosphere. Started with the best French 75 cocktail I've ever had. We also got the escargot which were garlicky, buttery perfection. We had the scallops which were good, but the escargot is what I'd go back for. read more

2025 Chicago. Lunch review. Escargots à la Bourguignonne 15 Snails, Garlic & Parsley Butter French Dip 23 Roast Wagyu Beef, Raclette Cheese, Cornichon Aioli, Onion Dip Overall, "A-OK." read more

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Steak tartare - my first time having raw beef, let alone steak tartare. A great experience though. The flavors were really good, there was a citrusy flavor that brought everything together Trout - pretty good but the dish felt a bit one dimensional. There didn't seem to be too much going on, just super creamy. Rabbit pot pie - this was amazing. Also my first time having rabbit. Ignoring the rabbit, this was an excellent pot pie. Great gravy, fresh veggies, and the rabbit brought an interesting side to the dish. Maple crème brûlée - super creamy and not too sweet. It definitely had a good maple flavor and the caramelized sugar was nice and crunchy The service was also amazing. They were super attentive - fresh plates and silverware when needed, and the water was never empty. They were also super nice. The restaurant vibe was also nice and cozy read more

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The restaurant was beautifully decorated and the theming was perfectly representative of a Lyonnaise bouchon- style restaurant. The food tasted very fresh and flavorful. It was also very filling. I had a French 75 and the Steak Frites in the Manion style and my partner had the Negroni and trout pastry. Both dishes were to die for! The steak was perfectly done and the fries were thin and still crisp even with the sauce on top. These might be some of my favorite fries I've had. My partner's trout was delicious as well and I was totally enamored with the Sorrel sauce. We got the escargots as an appetizer and it was delicious. The garlicky olive oil sauce it sat in was perfect for dipping the complimentary bread into. The bread itself was pretty standard baguette-like. It was in a beautiful shape, which I loved. They also did not skimp on the butter and as a butter-lover, I really appreciated that! The only small issue for me was it took a while for the main dishes to arrive and so we sat waiting for a bit of time. It was longer than an average sit down restaurant waiting time but not anything to truly complain about. read more

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Omg I mean this place is small but mighty The inside is tiny and a bit cozy / cramped but very French style and French food was so good and worth it. This might be one of the best French onion soups I've had in my life The butter was so good I took it home and have been using on my breakfast toasts lol I want to come back and try dinner! So much fun and such good food and great service read more

This place has been around for a long time and I've been coming here for a number of years. Always consistently good food. We shared a number of appetizers to start, the François was excellent and I was very happy with the white truffle beignets. My chief complaint would be that the place is very noisy and they had music playing in addition to all the people talking in a very small space. Otherwise the ambience is what you would expect in a French restaurant. Our server was very nice and we were very happy with our dinner. read more

Waiter threw away our soups when we asked to have them wrapped up. There was so much soup left I don't understand why you would do that. Ambiance sucks we were next to an extremely loud couple and it feels like you're in a sports bar. read more

The octopus carpaccio was SO delicious. Tender and almost lacy it was so thinly cut. The squash blossoms were light. The duck had crispy skin and was delicious with the sweet and sour of the cabbage and the rich fattiness of the spatzel. The wait service was excellent. My only complaint was the stark bright lighting. Will go back! read more

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The inside of this place is so cute! I ordered the agnolotti pasta. It was sweet and savory. I really enjoyed it. Then we got the squash blossoms and artichoke. Both were also delicious. I would definitely come back. read more

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Reminds me of actually being in France. Very cute and quaint bistro vibes. Highly recommend the trout but all the food was great!

I haven't had French food this good since I was in France! Very much a classic French bistro with just great food. The space of the restaurant is teeny tiny but service is very fast and the food is delicious. Cocktails looked great although we opted for wine. I had onion soup of course, and the trout. We also had muscles and brandade for the table. My husband had steak frites "manion" style with poivre sauce and was in heaven. I would definitely come back to try more! read more

Le Bouchon - Trout (truite des fjords en croûte) - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My favorite French bistro in Chicago! Love their trout dish! Snatch a reservation during Monday and you'll get HALF off on bottled wines. Can't wait to come back and experience the charm of unique decoration and amazing French cuisine. read more

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Managed to get a reservation. Place is small but, cute. I feel like it's over hyped for everything else, the steak Frites is delicious. Had the Foie Gras, it was a little gamey for my taste. The croquettes were good as well. I really enjoyed the crème brûlée. Staff was friendly but, it takes them time to get to you because of how small and busy it is. read more

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Amazing lunch at le bouchon - everything was great. small cozy place, great wine list, awesome food. bread and baguette are a great way to start, the lyonnaise salad was perfect, the trout en croute was delicious and the sauce was addicting. one of the better meals I've had in chicago in recent years read more

Best French food in Chicago. Hands down. Food is incredible, staff are amazing, and the ambiance is enjoyable.

My wife and I came here for lunch the other week because reservations were a little easier to get. We were transported directly in our own little Parisian getaway right here in Chicago. The interior gave a cozy, quaint, authentically French bistro vibes. Seating was limited and every table was filled, even the seats at the bar...for lunch on a weekday. That should be all you need to know about the food and the service. We ordered the steak frites and the mussels. These classic dishes were absolutely exquisite. They were prepared perfectly and packed with rich flavors. Also the bread and butter provided with the meal was *chefs kiss*. Everything about out experience was absolutely amazing. Le Bouchon had loyal customers for life. Dare I say this is in competition for my favorite restaurant in Chicago?! Definitely add this to your list if you haven't already. read more

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Finally a great dish. This is one of 2 epic Benedicts in the city of Chicago & there is no 3rd. Every aspect of this dish was perfect to say the least. Perfectly balanced to where the duck wasn't overbearing nor the hollandaise. Eggs Benedict's is by far my favorite breakfast dishes & this rendition is a must try. I've been frequenting their sister restaurant for years &I remember stating this twas the only brunch is the city worth your time unbeknownst that this place has excited for 30 years & they're putting out this type of product. The maple crème brulle was good not great but the bread although free & substantial in size was tasteless as was the butter however they still doesn't change my option of this place. read more

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Le Bouchon is one of those places that wraps you up and makes you want to stay for hours. First, the staff is incredible. The host the evening of February 13th was an absolute doll; she truly made our night! Our server was also perfectly attentive. If you want excellent service, look no further. We were seated in a booth near the kitchen and wine bar. Seating is limited and a bit camped, but it made for friendly interactions with other diners and it in no way hindered our experience. I will mention that I saw other diners towards the front of the restaurant wearing their coats as the draft from the door is difficult to avoid, just as a warning! After taking a suggestion from another reviewer, we ordered a bottle of LES ROUILLERES FRÉDÉRIC MABILEAU. Yes, it is the cheapest red on the menu, but it was delightful. This wine is perfectly bright and jammy; I highly recommend it. We also ordered the French Onion soup, Steak Frites Manion style, and the Truite Des Fjords en Croûte. The french onion soup deserves every bit of hype it receives and is a must try. The steak was great, but not amazing. However, the sauce more than made up for what the steak lacked. I thoroughly enjoyed the Truite Des Fjords en Croûte , but my partner found it to be a bit too "fishy" for their liking. Overall, Le Bouchon absolutely delivers on its promises and I will be happy to return! read more

Le Bouchon - LES ROUILLERES FRÉDÉRIC MABILEAU - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The restaurant smells amazing, and the Canard Roti is sooo good. When you order it, they bring it out to show you before they take it back to cut it up before formally serving it to your table. The sauce that comes with it taste excellent. The Truffle Profiteroles are also delicious. I docked a star because my Steak Frites was underwhelming. I was expecting more flavor in the meat, and it was difficult to cut. Lastly the Espoisse Gougeres will have me coming back. read more

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Came here because the French onion soup had so much hype and left here feeling like they over delivered on the hype! This might be top 5 meals since Moving to Chicago. The French onion soup. Don't even think about it. Just get this. Even if you're just going to share it. The broth is the most flavorful and delicious broth I've ever had. It has a ton of cheese. And it's just perfect Casoulette - this bean dish is another home run. With a duck thigh and ripped rabbit, the flavors in this are excellent and it's a hearty dish. Apple tart - get this for dessert! Wowza. I have no idea how they do it but it's amazing. They also had a prickly pear and hibiscus sorbet. So glad we got it even though we could barely breathe. It's refreshing, light and perfect and to the meal. Although I save a bite of the tart as my last bite since that was my fav haha Service was impeccable. How do you hire so many nice people? Water was always refilled, they swapped out plates and napkins, super attentive. The place is small so make a reservation. It's cozy and great for an intimate date or could just as well serve as a casual lunch. read more

Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Literally obsessed. The food is impeccable, the vibes are immaculate, and the wine flows like water. This place feels exactly like the Parisian bodegas and cafes I frequented while traveling in my 20's, only the food is even better! Staff was friendly and helpful Food: Salade Lyonaise: 5/5, salty, creamy, fatty. This is the salad with the most indulgence on the block. The lardons add a great texture and fattiness to the greens Agnolotti: 5/5, leave it to the French to make a dish so heavy and rich with butter that somehow isn't overwhelming thanks to a perfect balance with salt and acid. Nuff said, this was delicious Beef tartare: 5/5, nothing outside the realm of a good kitchen but when done right it's just sublime. A great tartare Wine: We tried the beaujolais and it was incredible. My new favorite. Smooth, fruity, lightly jammy without being overpowering. It went perfectly with each dish and a bottle goes down oh so easily read more

Le Bouchon - Le beaujolais - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really loved the giant flower arrangement next to our cute little table. Some people would call this place small but I thought it just added to the character. All of our food was just excellent and beautifully presented. This was the first time I've tried escargots, had to make sure I soaked up every little bit with bread. I had the trout and it was cooked perfectly. I've never had anything like it. My husband got the rabbit and in both the puff pastry was on point. Definitely a place I'll be dreaming about going back to. We also got a unique cocktail & dessert. Good thing we don't live close, might go broke trying to eat here too much! read more

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This was our third visit to Le Bouchon. In short, we love this restaurant for several reasons. Bouchon is really like bistros we've been to in Paris. It's small, a little old, small kitchen, and fun. It's unlike typical sterile restaurants, many suburban, that have no traditional class or warmth. Our apps and entrees were great. Onion soup, beet salad, escargot , mussels, trout in pastry, and French dip. All superb and served with friendly professionalism and on time. Tasty desserts of apple tart, crème brûlée, and raspberry cake were fab the cake being our least favorite. We evaluated the value of our lunch and rated it very high given the quality of the food. Go there and enjoy. We will again and again. read more

We had a reservation, they did not check it off their list and later when we got home there was an email saying we did not show up! Plus it was a birthday celebration and no recognition from them. Even after it was mentioned in the reservation request. It was good ambiance. We spent three hours at the restaurant and were very relaxed. Service was a bit spotty, not dead on. We were handled by two different servers, and it seemed as if one started with us and the second finished us off. I had the steak au pouve. It was a bit difficult to cut. The sauce was also a bit off. So close, but some sweetness was noticed. It is not an inexpensive restaurant. We would go back to Le Buchon. read more

Came on a Monday night for a special birthday dinner! (They have 1/2 off bottles of wine on Mondays): Seared Foie Gras: 9/10; seared duck liver, panisse (chickpea fries), maple agrodolce, macerated blueberries, brown butter hazelnuts. Buttery and tangy with some crunchy bits. Truite Des Fjords en Croute: 9.5/10; Ocean trout wrapped in puff pastry, english pea mousse, sauce sorrel, smoked trout roe. INSANE. Crispy on the outside with a gooey center (almost like lox) Bone Marrow: 8.5/10; Roasted bone marrow with soppressata jam, parsley salad and brioche. Escargots a la Bourguignonne: 8/10; Snails, garlic and Parsley butter. Tarte Aux Pommes: 8/10; warm apple tart with caramel sauce. Wish it was a bit more tart (pun intended) read more

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Amazingly attentive, accommodating and talented staff; so so ambiance; okay, even a bit underwhelming food. Honestly don't get the hype. ~$400 for 3 people pricetag felt like it should have been closer to $200 based on food selection. No kid friendly dishes although they tried making modifications. read more

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My absolute favorite French restaurant, outside of France. Escargot, Foie gras , steak frites. Met my husband here 16years ago, it's been a hot spot for me ever since. Thank you for sharing Traditional French Dishes in Chicagoland for so many years now. read more

Ok, I finally tried it and Ioved it! My bf and I each had the French onion soup (best I've ever had), escargot (so buttery), and the mussels (entree sized)! Everything was delicious. The place does have a very French vibe though it's kinda small/cramped. read more

Le Bouchon - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This intimate French restaurant served us the best meal yet. We shared some Onion soup and calamari salad for appetizers. Trout in a pastry shell and Steak Frites for the entrees The trout delicately flavored-the steak on fries boldly flavored in a peppercorn sauce. We finished our meal with apple tart and coffee. Exceptional food! read more

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I finally made my way here for dinner and loved it! The French Onion Soup is really one of the best in the city and the steak frites manion style was tasty! Loved the take on the prep. The space is cozy and you feel like you're in someone's home, service makes you feel like that too! Love it and can't wait to go back read more

Great experience sitting at the bar. French Onion Soup and Salad Lyonnaise were amazing. Bartender was lovely. read more

Le Bouchon - Salad lyonnaise - French Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place has got a good reputation and is still always busy after 3 decades of service, clearly a very good place and enjoyed by many. The place is deafening though - had to check the dB's on my watch and it got into the 90's. I've lived and worked in France so have some knowledge - but I have to say the food was just ok. Not even a good baguette. If I went back we'd have the duck - that looked incredible! read more

We had an excellent meal here about a week ago. Nice "tight" table for four. Our server was polite and efficient. My meal consisted of the Salad Lynoisse and the Rabbit Pot Pie. Both dishes were good but VERY salty, which overpowered the balanced flavors of each dish. read more

Heavy handed and trying too hard. Instead of allowing the ingredients to speak for themselves, this chef feels the need to drown them in cloying disguises. The onion soup is sour and vinegary, more closely resembling a Chinese menu selection than the classic French flavor profile. The octopus appetizer tastes fishy to the point where you almost welcome the slathering of creamy sauce that is seriously over-salted. Could not finish. Cloying. Brandade is among my favorite dishes. How could I resist their fish sandwich made with brandade? Well, as it turns out, I should have found a way. It is a small serving of fried and greasy brandade (made with bacalao that wasn't desalinated enough) completely drowned in pickles, "special sauce", American cheese (!!!), on a heavy bun. It was truly the worst pile of unnecessary ingredients that I have ever been served. The fries weren't bad. The lardon salad was very good. The staff could not be more attentive and charming. Come in for a visit. Don't order food. read more