There aren’t many bars in Chicago that can hold a candle to the stellar and expansive beer selection atHopleaf, and to top it off the food menu is also worth bragging about. Among the more popular options are the mussels and frites (offered Belgian-style, cooked in beer) and the CB+J (cashew butter, fig jam, and raclette cheese sandwich), but pretty much everything is solid.

Locals in the know visit this small and unassuming Korean bar for some of the most delectable late-night eats. The food menu is the main attraction atDancenand consists of soups, stews, grilled bites, and other favorites like fried chicken and seafood pancake. The must-try dish though is the buldak, also known as “fire chicken.” Hunks of spicy marinated chicken are cooked over open fire until perfectly charred. An optional, but highly recommended, layer of melted cheeses can be added on top of it.

While sipping cocktails by the ounce (or two), enjoy comforting bites as well at thisAvondale bar．Currently, the menu is stocked with a killer burger, buffalo wings, and a ratatouille Parm sandwich.

Inspired by the pubs found across the pond, Heisler Hospitality’sWest Town destinationoffers a modern take on Anglo-Indian classics. The beverage program offers craft beers on tap plus Pimm’s Cups while the food section complements the drinking with samosas, butter chicken, chicken tikka kati roll, a first-rate burger, and more. Online ordering is availablehere．

Essential wine barRootstockis where Humboldt Park residents and oenophiles love to gather to share a bottle and some bites. The plates rotate regularly but one can always expect to find cheeses, charcuterie, and a fantastic burger made with dry-aged Slagel Farm beef, bacon aioli, red onion, and cheddar. Online ordering is availablehere．

Folks can watch their favorite teams in action and, more importantly, munch on terrific wings at this River North sports pub. The menu features standard bar fare like burgers, sandwiches, and salads, but the chicken wings are the true stars of the show. They’re meaty, crispy, and coated in a variety of sauces. Those who love spice and manage to finish an entire order of the XXXX wings — made with habanero, ghost, scorpion, and reaper peppers — are immortalized onJake Melnick’sWall of Flame. Carryout and delivery ordering is availablehere．

For classic cocktails and appetizers,Gilt Barin River North is an excellent choice. But it also fits the bill for those looking to grab dinner in a cozy, sophisticated atmosphere with comforting dishes. Appetizers like steak tartare and roasted bone marrow make for elegant light bites. A lineup of salads and pastas start the larger plates, followed by meat and seafood entrees and family-style sides to share. Online ordering is availablehere．

Finding oneself atthe Aviaryis far from an accident and almost certainly planned for ahead of time. That being said, and with the Alinea Group at the helm, the food is obviously a main draw. Best bets are to eat a fuller meal before or after, but leave room for smaller dishes such as the truffle explosion (first featured at Alinea) and over-the-top snacks like beautifully presented crispy pork skin. And if a trip tothe Office— an intimate speakeasy located beneath the Aviary — is in order, get the enormous sundae, a dessert that will leave anyone feeling luxurious.

Good ambiance and quality cocktails makeMONEYGUNone of the most popular watering holes in the West Loop. The intimate and understated bar recently reopened with more space as it took over the dining room next door that belonged to sibling restaurant St. Lou’s Assembly. New chef Stephen Finney has added some fresh bar snacks to the fun menu so guests can now look forward to waffle fries, wings, ribs, chilled seafood, and more.

Tucked away in the basement underneath Thalia Hall, this‘70s-themed baris dripping with nostalgia. Punches — available by the cup, carafe, or bowl — are the focus and to help soap up all that alcohol, the kitchen offers delicious items such as raw oysters, barbecue pork rinds, beer pretzels, wings, sandwiches, and a Slagel Farm cheeseburger.

Beloved Bridgeport barMaria’sgot a major upgrade when ownership added a Korean-Polish restaurant right next door. Smoked-then-fried chicken wings and a Polish sausage with soju mustard and kraut-chi are headliners on the creative fusion menu, and everything can be enjoyed atKimskior taken over to Maria’s. There’s also a lovely back patio when weather permits.

There’s some creative bar food at this tavern in the south suburbs. Rock Island Public House provides delicious hot chicken sandwiches, oddly-named-yet-addictive Korean BBQ Balls, and gourmet hot dogs with toppings like duck confit, elotes, and fried pickles. The bar boasts 12 taps and was recently renovated.