Chicago’s food scene is legendary—deep-dish pizza, fine dining, neighborhood staples, and bold new concepts. But which restaurants are going viral on social media? Mustard tracked the top posts across the city to reveal the spots driving views, likes, and diner intent.
🍴 Beatnik on the River— Lincoln Park (@beatnikrestaurants)
- 432,386 Views
- 15,711 Likes
- 190 Comments
- 91 Purchase Interest
(Beatnik on the River) has to be the most beautiful restaurant in Chicago! Not only is the decor stunning, but the food is beautifully plated, the drinks are vibrant, and you can soak up all the gorgeous river views!!
🍺 Chief O’Neill’s Irish Pub — Avondale (@chiefoneillspub)
- 274,207 Views
- 8,414 Likes
- 131 Comments
- 8 Purchase Interest
Known for hearty Irish fare and live music, this pub showed it can also light up the algorithm.
🥪 The Jibarito Stop — Pilsen (@thejibaritostop)
- 213,031 Views
- 7,792 Likes
- 200 Comments
- 142 Purchase Interest
Serving Chicago’s iconic plantain sandwich, this Pilsen staple turned cultural pride into viral power.
🍔 Firefly Burger — Lincoln Park (@fireflyburgerchicago)
- 131,230 Views
- 1,539 Likes
- 21 Comments
- 15 Purchase Interest
This Jordanian-born burger brand made noise in Chicago with bold stacks and global flavor.
🍵 Top Tao Tea — Wicker Park (@toptaotea)
- 90,181 Views
- 3,391 Likes
- 88 Comments
- 69 Purchase Interest
Bubble tea meets viral aesthetics—Top Tao Tea turned a sweet sip into strong social proof.
🧇 Royalberry Waffle House & Restaurant — Palos Heights (@royalberryrestaurant)
- 32,659 Views
- 50 Likes
- 8 Comments
- 7 Purchase Interest
Classic breakfast plates and diner energy made this suburban spot a small but mighty viral hit.
🌱 Majani Vegan — South Shore (@majanivegancuisine)
- 29,001 Views
- 458 Likes
- 17 Comments
- 3 Purchase Interest
Community-driven and plant-based, Majani proved vegan comfort food has a strong story to tell.
🍗 Big Jones — Andersonville (@bigjoneschicago)
- 26,408 Views
- 45 Likes
- 42 Comments
- 33 Purchase Interest
Known for Southern cooking and gumbo, Big Jones’ post had modest reach but strong purchase intent.
🥩 Aussie Select at Brookhaven Market — Arlington Heights (@aussieselect)
- 23,465 Views
- 18 Likes
- 0 Comments
- 0 Purchase Interest
A fresh bowl with island vibes brought healthy energy to Chicago’s feeds.
🐟 Aloha Poke — Loop (@alohapokeco)
- 20,352 Views
- 462 Likes
- 27 Comments
- 18 Purchase Interest
A fresh bowl with island vibes brought healthy energy to Chicago’s feeds.
Why These Chicago Spots Went Viral
Patterns across these viral posts:
- Diversity rules — fine dining (Alinea), casual bites (Aloha Poke), and cultural staples (The Jibarito Stop) all earned their moment.
- Strong narratives — food rooted in heritage or creativity sparked higher purchase intent.
- Engagement over vanity — while Alinea dominated views, The Jibarito Stop and Big Jones showed the strongest conversion signals.
Want to Go Viral Next Month?
Mustard makes influencer marketing simple, trackable, and ROI-driven. We connect your restaurant with the right local influencers, manage campaigns end-to-end, and deliver real sales results.
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