The 10 best restaurants in Elmhurst

This guide ranks the 10 best restaurants in Elmhurst for residents, DuPage County neighbors and Chicagoans who ride the Union Pacific West line out from Ogilvie. Every pick has an Elmhurst address. Eight sit in the City Centre blocks of York Street and Park Avenue around the Metra station, Golden Boy Barbecue is farther south on York Street, and Roberto’s Ristorante is on Spring Road.

The list favors places with years in town, then makes room for a few younger kitchens with steady press coverage. Most meals land in the casual range: a brisket plate with a side cost $20 at Golden Boy in October 2026, and Pints sells $15 burgers with fries at weekday lunch. At the top end, 100 South Chop House runs a steak-and-martini supper club across from the train.

How we chose

Rank weighs two things: years cooking in Elmhurst and the depth of independent coverage. A 1948 burger stand and a family pizzeria that turned 50 in 2026 take the top two spots on age. Reporting from the Daily Herald, Patch, Time Out, Shaw Local and Hinsdale Magazine lifts places such as Golden Boy Barbecue, open since 2024, above rooms whose public record rests mostly on their own sites and the city’s Explore Elmhurst office. Every pick was checked against a 2025 or 2026 source, and places known only through review apps were left off.

Hours and prices below come from each business and change without notice. Call ahead if you are making a special trip.

Hamburger Heaven

A walk-up counter on North York Street has sold the Original Double Decker since May 1948, when the opening of Hamburger Heaven was announced in the Elmhurst Leader, according to the restaurant. Order the double decker with a Richardson’s draft root beer, the pairing the stand’s own site recommends. The Daily Herald put Hamburger Heaven on a May 2025 list of 10 suburban burger stops and called the place an old-school walk-up diner. No other pick comes close to 78 years in town, which is why the stand ranks first. Check the calendar before a late visit, since closing time slides from 9 p.m. in summer to 7 p.m. in winter.

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. November through March; 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in April and October; 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. May through September. Closed December 29 through January 6, and hours can change with the weather.

Address: 281 N York Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Why they made the list

• Hamburger Heaven says the stand has been featured on WGN’s “Chicago’s Best” as well as in newspapers and magazines.
• The stand closes on July 4, Labor Day and Thanksgiving, and runs a half day, noon to 4 p.m., on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
• Pickup and delivery orders go through the restaurant’s own online ordering system as well as third-party delivery apps.
• Gift cards are sold only in person at the counter, and cash, PayPal and the major credit cards are all accepted.

See the full directory listing

Two Brothers Ristorante & Pizzeria

Angelo and Rosalia Battaglia opened Two Brothers Ristorante & Pizzeria in 1976, and their family still runs the restaurant across from the train station on West Park Avenue. The restaurant turned 50 in 2026 and still cooks from the founders’ original recipes, according to the family. Thin crust is the house pizza, sold in sizes from 10 to 20 inches, and the Angelo’s Special carries sausage, mushroom, onion and green pepper. Chicken Marsala and homemade tiramisu fill out a full dinner. Half a century of family ownership puts Two Brothers second. Commuters can phone in an order from the train and pick up on the walk home.

Hours: Check current hours before you go.

Address: 128 W Park Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Why they made the list

• The stadium-size pizza is sold for take-out only.
• Gluten-free thin crust is available, and gluten-free pasta costs extra.
• Entrees such as Pork Chop Vesuvio and Chicken Limone come with soup or salad and bread.
• The kitchen caters, and online orders run through the restaurant’s website.

See the full directory listing

100 South Chop House

Steaks, seafood and hand-shaken martinis anchor the menu at 100 South Chop House, across the street from the Metra station on South York. Time Out Chicago described the room as a swanky supper club in a 2016 listing, and in 2025 the city’s Explore Elmhurst office called the restaurant an Elmhurst staple that mixes an upscale steakhouse with an old-school supper club. A record that runs past a decade, with coverage from both, puts 100 South third. Book a table online in advance, and ask about the private events the restaurant hosts when the dining room is closed.

Hours: Mon 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Tue-Wed 3 p.m. to close; Thu-Fri 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sat 3 p.m. to close; Sun noon to 9 p.m.

Address: 100 S York Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Why they made the list

• Bottles of wine are half price every Monday and Wednesday, including on pickup and delivery orders.
• A burst pipe closed the restaurant for about eight days in fall 2024, and the kitchen and basement were renovated before the November reopening, Patch reported.
• The dinner menu also covers chicken and pasta, and separate family-style and catering menus are posted.
• Time Out’s 2016 listing called the steaks prime and the martinis tall.

See the full directory listing

Golden Boy Barbecue

Joey Calcagno got into barbecue at Elmhurst’s Cue for a Cause rib competition in 2016, tested Central Texas-style recipes in his college apartment and after graduating traveled to Texas to study barbecue culture, Patch reported. He and longtime restaurateur Tony Gambino opened Golden Boy Barbecue in spring 2024 in a former burger restaurant on South York Street. Brisket is $18.50 a half pound, and a brisket plate with pickles, bread and a side is $20. Golden Boy is the youngest kitchen in the top half and ranks fourth on the strength of the coverage since opening. Order ahead online for pickup on busy nights.

Hours: Check current hours before you go.

Address: 551 S York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Why they made the list

• A cheddar jalapeno sausage plate is $12, a half-slab rib plate is $24 and banana pudding is $5.
• Golden Boy was among the restaurants at the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation’s 25th Chef Fest in March 2025, which raised more than $100,000, the Daily Herald reported.
• An Axios Chicago reader roundup of barbecue picks in June 2024 included Golden Boy, with one reader praising the brisket and the cheddar jalapeno sausages.
• The outdoor setup often has live music, the city’s Explore Elmhurst office noted in July 2025.

See the full directory listing

Sushi Nest

Fresh sushi and sashimi have been the focus at Sushi Nest since the restaurant opened in downtown Elmhurst in 2004, according to the restaurant. The chef’s choice sushi follows whatever seafood and fish are in season, and the restaurant describes the room as elegant. Twenty-two years on North York Street put Sushi Nest fifth, ahead of younger kitchens with more press. The sushi bar keeps split hours, so plan around the afternoon break: lunch ends at 2:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 4:30 p.m. every day of the week.

Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sat noon to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sun noon to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Address: 142 N York Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Why they made the list

• The owner works in the daily operation of the restaurant, according to the Sushi Nest site.
• Noodles, beer, wine and ice cream are on the menu alongside the sushi, the Elmhurst City Centre directory notes.
• Gluten-free options and catering are both listed on the restaurant’s site.

See the full directory listing

Pazzi di Pizza

A group of friends from different regions of Italy opened Pazzi di Pizza on South York Street in 2011, Shaw Local’s Mystery Diner reported in a 2020 review. The name translates to crazy for pizza. That reviewer ordered bruschetta, a Margherita and the Funghi e Salsiccia, topped with mozzarella, sausage and mushrooms on a thin, crunchy crust. Fifteen years downtown and a newspaper review put Pazzi sixth. Come on a weekend for live music, and skip Sundays, when the restaurant is open only for private events.

Hours: Mon-Tue 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Wed-Thu 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun private events only.

Address: 105 S York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Why they made the list

• The Four Season Patio can be booked for private events.
• A second Pazzi di Pizza operates in Park Ridge, the 2020 Shaw Local review noted.
• The city’s Explore Elmhurst office included Pazzi in a July 2025 outdoor dining roundup that cited traditional Italian recipes, pasta and sauces.

See the full directory listing

Pints

Locally owned since 2010, Pints is a burger-and-beer bar on South York Street with what the bar calls one of the largest beer gardens in town. The city’s Explore Elmhurst office pointed to a retractable roof that keeps the garden covered in rain or shine, along with burgers, wings and craft beer. The menu also lists a Frontier Bison Burger, a Ribeye Melt and a Bang Bang Shrimp Roll. Sixteen years downtown and a beer garden that works in bad weather put Pints seventh. Tuesday is trivia night, with games at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Hours: Check current hours before you go.

Address: 112 S York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Why they made the list

• Weekday lunch runs 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with $16 salads alongside the $15 burger-and-fries deal.
• Checks carry a 3% card processing fee and a 3% market sustainability fee that staff will remove on request.
• Parties of six or more, and split checks, get a 20% gratuity added.

See the full directory listing

Ella’s Italian Pub

Roman-style pizza is the specialty at Ella’s Italian Pub, which BG Hospitality Group opened on North York Street in 2023. The crust ferments for 72 hours and is baked twice, coming out light and crisp under toppings made with house-made cheeses, Hinsdale Magazine reported in 2025. Owner Brian Goewey described the style to Shaw Local in 2023 as a cross between Sicilian, Roman and Detroit-style pizza. Three years in town is a short run, and that keeps the pub eighth despite steady coverage. Ask for an outdoor table, which the city’s Explore Elmhurst office recommends for families and date nights.

Hours: Check current hours before you go.

Address: 100 N York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Why they made the list

• Goewey runs BG Hospitality Group with culinary partner Chef Mike Bomberger.
• An Ella’s Italian Pub in Geneva launched in April 2023, Shaw Local reported.
• Ella’s was among the restaurants at the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation’s 25th Chef Fest in March 2025, the Daily Herald reported.
• An extensive wine list backs up the pub-style Italian menu, according to Explore Elmhurst.

See the full directory listing

Roberto’s Ristorante

Tuscan murals and warm earth tones fill the dining rooms at Roberto’s Ristorante on Spring Road. The dinner menu sticks to classic Italian, with homemade pastas, chicken parmesan, fresh fish, veal and steaks, plus gourmet pizzas and a wine list. In July 2025 the city’s Explore Elmhurst office suggested the restaurant for special occasions and pointed to an outdoor dining area. A thinner public record than the picks above keeps Roberto’s ninth. For a shower, rehearsal dinner or holiday party, call to book one of the private rooms, which hold 50 to 150 guests.

Hours: Mon-Thu 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sat noon to 11 p.m.; Sun noon to 10 p.m.

Address: 483 Spring Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Why they made the list

• Tables can be reserved online or by phone at (630) 279-8486, but private dining rooms are booked by phone only.
• A separate pizza menu covers delivery and takeout.
• Roberto’s also handles catering and banquets and runs a loyalty rewards program.

See the full directory listing

Primos Locos

The city’s Explore Elmhurst office pointed in 2025 to the brunch, lunch and dinner service at Primos Locos, a Mexican restaurant on South York Street, and recommended the outdoor garden bar for happy hour. Tacos, tortas, fajitas and enchiladas fill the menu, along with a taco salad in a fried tortilla shell and a coconut shrimp salad with mango cilantro dressing. At the bar, the list runs to a smoked cocktail called the Angel Fresh and a Cantarito. A short public record keeps Primos Locos tenth, though the restaurant is the only Mexican kitchen on the list. Get there early on warm evenings, since the patio fills up.

Hours: Tue-Thu and Sun 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday hours are not posted.

Address: 122 S York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Why they made the list

• Reservations and online orders both go through the restaurant’s website.
• Catering packages and private event spaces are available.
• Fried roasted corn with queso fresco sits on the menu next to guacamole and sopa.

See the full directory listing

Also worth knowing

For dessert after dinner on Spring Road, Lezza Spumoni & Desserts at 544 Spring Rd fills cannoli to order and sells spumoni, gelato and Italian pastries from a family that has made spumoni since 1905. The shop is closed Mondays and opens at 7 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Also on Spring Road, at No. 542, Bottle Theory is a bottle shop and taproom with craft beer, wine and cocktails, plus a kitchen that turns out shareables, rotating specials and a brunch menu, according to Explore Elmhurst. Trivia starts at 7 p.m. every Monday.

See a place we missed or a detail that has changed? Send us a correction.