Chef's Special, Logan Square
16 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/chicagofood19 comments cited below
What people say, in short
Chef's Special draws praise for cocktails and bourbon, with one patron appreciating the balance of drinks, food, atmosphere and service. Food opinions differ: some enjoy the noodles and dumplings, two found certain dishes too salty, and another thought the chicken overly vinegary. One visitor found both food and cocktails mediocre. Another was disappointed by the service. A separate patron recommends it for groups.
Address
Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar, 2165 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
At a glance
- Best for
- Groups, Food, Budget
- Opinions divided
- Yes
- Known for
- Cocktails, Bourbon
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/ray_web in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024
Says the place hits a sweet spot across drinks, food, atmosphere and service, though it may not suit everyone.
- Recommendsu/doryphorus99 in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024ambience
Says it leans into a kitschy style well and is not stuffy; suggests going to Bucktown.
- Recommendsu/optiplex9000 in r/chicagofood · Jul 2025taste
Suggests sitting at the bar and trying its cocktails or bourbons.
- Recommendsu/soyfauce in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024ambience
Agrees the place balances food, creativity and service with an unpretentious, cool feel, and says they love it.
- Mixedu/maliit__naisa in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024taste
After repeated visits found the food too salty, but praises the cute interior and good cocktails.
- Recommendsu/yodamiles in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024taste
Says the cocktails are good and praises the vibe, though the food was only decent and the chicken tasted vinegary.
- Recommendsu/xelanart in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024taste
Relays that many people call the cocktails really good; says they rarely drink alcohol themselves.
- Recommendsu/Da_Stallion-JCI_7 in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024value
Enjoyed a rice-noodle dish and appreciated the value of the happy hour.
Show all 19 cited comments
- Caveatu/JGFromTheD5 in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024taste
Found the cocktails and food mediocre and calls it their one bad meal since moving; service was fine.
- Recommendsu/cheesychopstix in r/chicagofood · Feb 2024
Names it alongside another bar as doing a great job.
- Recommendsu/EntertainmentHappy91 in r/chicagofood · Aug 2025ambience
Says it's an enjoyable pick for a bigger party.
- Caveatu/livinlrginchitwn in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024service
Was disappointed by the customer service.
- Recommendsu/saturnsqsoul in r/chicagofood · Aug 2025
Describes it as a modern Chinese restaurant with a strong cocktail program and excellent food.
- Recommendsu/lickmypussy888 in r/chicagofood · Mar 2024
Agrees with the pick and calls the place very good.
- Recommendsu/jpcitybit in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024value
Says they went recently, highly recommend it, and find it good value.
- Recommendsu/Fishare in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024taste
Enjoyed the food, cocktails and service during a visit.
- Recommendsu/Human_Influence7506 in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024
Loves the vibe, food, drinks and happy hour overall, though some dishes were too salty to reorder.
- Recommendsu/DJRoombaLives in r/chicagofood · Jun 2024taste
Praises the cocktails too; also names a few favorite dishes.
- Recommendsu/yramt in r/chicagofood · Mar 2024
Lists it among cocktail spots, adding that it's worth staying for the food.
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Freshness
Details last checked 11 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.