This Tiny Hawaiian Spot Near Chicago Just Made the New York Times’ Chicago Dining Guide

If you’re currently watching season 4 of The Bear, you may feel inspired to explore the Chicago dining scene, and the New York Times shares that sentiment. The newspaper recently updated its list of the 25 best restaurants in Chicago , adding three new entries. Interestingly, the list includes more than just restaurants featured in “The Bear”, as the NYT even looked beyond the city for what may be one of the guide’s most surprising inclusions. Da Local Boy Cafe is the newest addition to the NYT Dining Guide -------------------------------------------------------------------- > New to our 2025 Chicago list, and the restaurant I’m most excited to shout from the mountaintops is Da Local Boy Cafe , a one-year-old Hawaiian restaurant in Highwood. Da Local Boy Cafe is celebrated for its elevated takes on Hawaiian classics, particularly a pork belly marinated in calamansi juice and ponzu, chargrilled, and served with rice and macaroni salad. > A poke bowl that achieved a Goldilocks-level balance of well-dressed and well-seasoned , perfectly grilled beef short ribs, and chicken fried in sweet rice flour, rendering the exterior crisp and chewy. Dear Margaret and Daisies also made the list, which can be found here. Da Local Boy is located in Highwood at 320 Green Bay Road. Source: https://secretchicago.com/tda-local-boy-cafe-new-york-times-best-restaurants-chicago/