Chicago Restaurant Week 2026 runs January 23 through February 8, featuring over 500 restaurants offering prix fixe menus. Here's how to follow the action on Bluesky, connect with Chicago foodies, and discover the best deals.
Chicago Restaurant Week 2026 Details
- Dates: January 23 – February 8, 2026 (17 days)
- Kickoff: First Bites Bash at the Field Museum, January 22, 2026
- Restaurants: 500+ participants (all-time record)
- Neighborhoods: 33 Chicago neighborhoods + 61 suburban eateries
- Reservations: chicagorestaurantweek.com
Prix Fixe Pricing
- Brunch/Lunch: $30
- Dinner: $45 or $60
Notable 2026 Participants
- Nadu – Region-spanning Indian from a Michelin-starred chef
- Cafe Yaya – Buzzy all-day cafe in Lincoln Park
- Mariscos San Pedro – Mexican seafood inside Thalia Hall
- Il Carciofo – Roman-inspired from Chef Joe Flamm
- 160 women/minority-owned restaurants
- 76 first-time participants
Chicago Food Hashtags on Bluesky
Pin these in Skyscraper for iOS to follow Restaurant Week:
- #ChicagoRestaurantWeek – Event-specific posts
- #ChicagoFood – Chicago dining discussion
- #Chicago – General Chicago content
- #foodie – Food enthusiast content
- #restaurantweek – Restaurant week discussions
- #ChicagoEats – Chicago restaurant reviews
For more on local food trends, see our guide to following local trends and restaurants on Bluesky.
Reddit to Bluesky: The Foodie Crossover
There's significant overlap between Reddit users and Bluesky users—both platforms attract people who prefer substantive discussion over viral content. If you're on Chicago food Reddit, you'll find familiar voices on Bluesky.
r/chicagofood
r/chicagofood is a subreddit with 115,000+ members dedicated to Chicago restaurants:
- Active reviews: Real opinions from local diners
- Hidden gems: Recommendations beyond the tourist spots
- Critical takes: Skepticism of "best of" lists from Eater and Infatuation
- Neighborhood focus: Discussions by area of the city
r/chicago
r/chicago has a Food/Drink category covering broader Chicago dining news and events.
Popular Restaurant Recommendations from Reddit
Viral Reddit threads have highlighted these Chicago favorites:
- Kabobi – Afghani cuisine
- Crisp – Korean fried chicken
- Noon o Kabab – Persian
- Manny's Deli – Classic deli
- Lula Cafe – Farm-to-table
- Spacca Napoli – Neapolitan pizza
- Monteverde – Italian
Find Chicago Food Accounts
While the Chicago food influencer community is still developing on Bluesky, here's how to find accounts:
Search Strategies
- Search "Chicago food" – Find accounts and posts
- Search restaurant names – See who's posting about them
- Check hashtags – Browse #ChicagoFood for active accounts
- Follow journalists – Chicago food writers from Tribune, Sun-Times
Chicago Food Media on Bluesky
Search for local food writers and critics. Major Chicago publications like the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times have reporters covering the dining scene.
Get Alerts for Chicago Restaurant Week
Use Skyscraper Tools to track Restaurant Week buzz:
Keywords to Track
- "Chicago Restaurant Week"
- "restaurant week" + "Chicago"
- Specific restaurant names you want to try
- Neighborhood names (West Loop, River North, etc.)
How to Set Up Alerts
- Visit api.getskyscraper.com/tools
- Create an account
- Add your keywords
- Choose hourly or daily alerts
- Get emailed when people post about your keywords
Tips for Restaurant Week
- Make reservations early: Popular spots book up fast
- Check the menu: Some prix fixe menus are better deals than others
- Try new cuisines: The set price encourages experimentation
- Post your experience: Share reviews and photos with hashtags
- Explore neighborhoods: Venture beyond your usual spots
For Food Content Creators
Chicago Restaurant Week is a great time to grow your food following:
- Post restaurant reviews: Share your prix fixe experiences
- Use hashtags: #ChicagoRestaurantWeek, #ChicagoFood
- Compare value: Which menus are worth it?
- Share photos: Food photography performs well
- Give honest takes: The r/chicagofood audience values authenticity
Learn more in our Bluesky influencer growth guide.
Follow Chicago Restaurant Week 2026
- Skyscraper for iOS – Pin food hashtags and search restaurants
- Skyscraper Tools – Set up Restaurant Week alerts
- Trending Hashtags – See what's trending
- Official Restaurant Week Site – Make reservations
- r/chicagofood – Reddit community for reviews
500+ restaurants. 17 days. Find your next favorite spot.