Queer-Owned Restaurants in Chicago
Queer-Owned Restaurants in the Windy City
EAT, GAY, LOVE!
With Chicago Restaurant Week underway, make sure that you are spending money and time with the queer businesses that make Chicago just as tasty and saucy as the rest of them! We are highlighting 5 beloved queer-owned spots in the Chicagoland area. We implore you to check them out! Your stomach will thank you!
Photo: The Culinary Cellar
909 W Belmont Avenue - Lakeview
3415 N Broadway - Lakeview East
1147 W Granville Ave - Edgewater
Known for their cinnamon rolls, Ann Sather’s strong association to the queer community is due to being owned by Alderman Tom Tunney. Tunney was one of Chicago’s very first openly-gay aldermen. The place, due to history and location, has always been an inclusive breakfast spot in Chicagoland.
Photo: drewsonhalsted.com
3201 N Halsted Street - Northalsted
Drew’s has been in the Northalsted area since it was called Boystown. The doors have always swung open and closed for members of the LGBTQ+ community since its inception. Their American food, craft cocktails, and Cabaret Nights remain a staple in the area.
Photo: sferachicago.com
5759 N Broadway - Edgewater
Known for their authentic, high-quality Sicilian cuisine, Sfera is led under the ownership of Steven Jarczyk and Daniela Vitale. Blending traditional recipes with local ingredients, this restaurant has become a beacon of inclusivity and community in the Edgewater area.
Photo: bigchicks.squarespace.com
5024 N Sheridan Road - Uptown
Opened by Michelle Fire in 1986, Big Chicks started as a simple, stylish fried chicken joint and turned into an informal gay community center in the Uptown borough. Dykes, daddies, and everyone else can grab a bite from the kitchen they share with their sister storefront, Tweet. $1 burgers on Mondays and free BBQ on Sunday afternoons.
Photo: eatwillies.com
3706 N Halsted Street - Northalsted
Popularized for its vulgar and humorous menu items that pack a big flavor punch, Willies: Dick N’ Chicken rounds out our list. This Northalsted staple is as sex-positive as a restaurant can get, with phallic and vaginal food designs. Here, a side of ranch is called “Jalapenis Raunch.”
Updated January 2026
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