Your Guide to Oak Park Lake Street Restaurants
Just outside Downtown Chicago lies another hub waiting to be explored—Downtown Oak Park, Illinois. Along historic Lake Street, this walker’s paradise offers a dining scene that’s as diverse as it is delicious. From charming cafes to upscale eateries, the restaurants along Lake Street make this bustling downtown a must-visit destination for food lovers.
Whether you’re a local or just passing through, prepare to savor incredible flavors while soaking in the charm of Oak Park’s historic streetscape.
Restaurants
Amerikas | 734 Lake Street, Oak Park
A unique fusion of American and Latin-American cuisines, Amerikas offers creative dishes in a stylish setting. Tasty benedicts, huevos con chorizo, and a braised pork sandwich with black beans and guacamole are the savory highlights of the breakfast/lunch menu. Don’t skip the sweet dulce de leche French toast and homemade churros. Our go-to for dinner is the 16 oz. Black Angus New York strip steak served with chard tomatoes, chipotle goat cheese, yuca, chimichurri, and chile toreado. An extensive selection of mezcal and tequila and creative house cocktails complement Amerikas’ bold flavors.
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant | 950 Lake Street, Oak Park
This upscale dining destination offers a Napa Valley winery experience. Although the wine comes first, Cooper’s Hawk’s modern menu of American favorites is equally impressive. Each scratch-made dish incorporates peak-of-season ingredients, and the menu includes a bin number for your meal’s perfect wine match. The Wine Club offers wine aficionados the opportunity to discover a new wine every month, plus dining rewards, discounts, and invitations to special events.
Hecho en Oak Park | 1053 Lake Street, Oak Park
Owner-Chef Saul Garcia proudly shares some of the most traditional dishes of Mexico, created with fresh and flavorful ingredients that are “Hecho en Mexico” (made in Mexico), at this authentic taqueria and cantina. Mexico's bright cuisine and vibrant culture inspire the menu of antojitos (little cravings). Share the warm, gooey queso fundido dip served with your choice of meat filling—we love the carne asada!—or the elotes. Authentic tacos, burritos, and tortas are delivered with a fresh and flavorful twist, and the margaritas are unbeatable.
Jerusalem Cafe | 1030 Lake Street, Oak Park
West Suburban Magazine readers have voted Jerusalem Cafe the best Middle Eastern restaurant in the Western suburbs three years in a row. The restaurant offers fresh salads, falafel, hummus, baba ghannough, tabouleh, shawerma, fire-grilled kabobs, pita sandwiches, and authentic Mediterranean entrees with rice and sauteed vegetables in a friendly atmosphere. The menu also includes fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies, traditional baklava for dessert, and many vegetarian and vegan options, including the falafel that brings people back again and again.
Katy’s Dumplings | 113 Lake Street, Oak Park
A casual spot specializing in Chinese comfort food that warms your heart and soul, Katy’s is revered for its made-daily hand-pulled noodles, fresh dumplings, and pan-fried potstickers. Other menu favorites include scallion pancakes stuffed with meat and vegetables and a spicy beef soup loaded with thick noodles, hunks of meat, and chopped cilantro, all swimming in a rich broth. The soup dumplings, known as “little pockets of comfort,” and the potstickers filled with pork and chives are a delicious start to any meal. The extensive offerings of noodle soups, chow meins, fried rice dishes, and stir-fries make Katy’s Dumplings our go-to for Pan-Asian dishes made with fresh, natural ingredients.
Khyber Pass |1031 Lake Street, Oak Park
The menu at Khyber Pass reflects the traditions of the invaders, traders, and nomads who left their cultural and culinary influences in the mountainous region of the restaurant’s namesake, an ancient passageway connecting Pakistan to Afghanistan and Central Asia where nomadic Pathans created simple meals with fresh meat, vegetables, and spices cooked in a clay tandoor oven. Khyber Pass serves authentic Indian favorites—flavorful curries, tandoori dishes, and biryanis—in a relaxed setting.
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria | 1038 Lake Street, Oak Park
This iconic pizzeria is a must-visit thanks to its famous Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. It is a scratch-made pie made using hand-selected vine-ripened tomatoes from California and a secret family recipe for the famed buttery crust. Try the Malnati Salad with bruschetta tomatoes and sweet vinaigrette, along with a deep dish “Lou,” with spinach, mushrooms, and a mix of cheddar and romano cheeses on Lou’s famous garlic buttercrust. Lou Malnati’s also offers one of the area’s most popular gluten-free crusts so everybody can enjoy pizza night with Lou!
One Lake Brewing | 1 Lake Street, Oak Park
This casual brewery, located in a rehabbed 1920s bank building with a rooftop terrace and a stunning two-story chandelier, offers craft beers brewed on-site. Their elevated pub fare includes baked artichoke dip, tempura pickles served with creole mayo, beer-battered walleye fish and chips, and a double-patty Slagel Farms blackened beef burger with blue cheese and bacon. A menu of house-made beers and brews from local favorites like Oak Park Brewing pairs perfectly with the chef’s creations.
Scratch on Lake | 733 Lake Street, Oak Park
Scratch on Lake is an American gastropub known for its scratch-made comfort food, burgers, and creative cocktails served in a friendly pub-like atmosphere. Patrick O’Brien’s second restaurant in the area, Scratch on Lake follows the same model as the original, Scratch Kitchen and Lounge in Forest Park. All burgers are house-ground using prime cuts of brisket and chuck and served on locally sourced rolls. We also love the Three Little Pigs, a pork patty sandwich topped with bacon jam, thick-cut bacon, cheese sauce, and tangy sriracha ranch sauce served on a potato bun. Don’t skip the Fire Mac or Buffalo Chicken Mac!
Sushi House | 1107 Lake Street, Oak Park
A popular sushi spot offering traditional dishes, including classic sushi rolls, sashimi, bento boxes, and cooked Japanese dishes, updated with a modern twist. We love the classic fire dragon sushi roll, the pretty cherry blossom rolls, and the pork ramen noodle soup. Try the vegan mayo tofu dragon rolls and enjoy a lychee or Asian pear martini with your meal, or visit the underground Dragon Bar Lounge—a nightspot that hosts live jazz.
Tre Sorelle Ristorante | 1111 Lake Street, Oak Park
Tre Sorelle is a charming Italian restaurant serving traditional pasta, fabulous pizza, and seafood dishes. Friendly, knowledgeable servers will help you select your meal from the extensive menu of Italian favorites. Try the braised beef ravioli or their hand-rolled pizza with various creative topping combinations—we like the quatro stagioni with mushrooms, black olives, artichoke hearts, and prosciutto. Eat in, takeout, or delivery, no matter how you choose to dine, you won’t be disappointed.
Cafes & Bakeries
Courageous Bakery | 736 Lake Street, Oak Park
A charming bakery and cafe known for its gourmet cupcakes, fresh pastries, and delicious breakfast options, Courageous Bakery is an Oak Park favorite for morning and midday breaks. Everything is made from scratch using all-natural ingredients, and all packaging is recyclable, unbleached, and plant-based to reduce the cafe’s environmental impact. They also serve excellent coffee.
Crepas Culichi | 1101 Lake Street, Oak Park
A unique eatery with vintage aesthetics, gleaming chandeliers, and charming accents, Crepas Culichi specializes in sweet and savory Mexican-style crepes served alongside fresh juices, creative coffee drinks, and mimosas. Stop by for lunch to make any day a celebration, or join them for dinner and enjoy pizza, pasta, or grilled panini. Many gluten-free and vegan options are available; ask your server for assistance!
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea | 702 Lake Street, Oak Park
Try unique handcrafted drinks at this modern cafe that offers a variety of coffee and tea options from different roasters and tea houses. Cafe classics (latte, mocha, cappuccino, and americano) are served along with matcha and chai lattes, cold brews, and blended smoothies. Breakfast is served all day at Fairgrounds. The bacon breakfast tacos and the tuna avocado melt are favorites, and nothing says loving like the grilled cheese and tomato soup combo.
Sweet Dim Sum | 1100 Lake Street, Oak Park
A recent addition to the Lake Street dining scene, Sweet Dim Sum opened in October 2024 with a tempting selection of bite-sized treats, including traditional dim sum, like fluffy bao buns, crispy spring rolls, steamed dumplings, and Asian fusion desserts. You’ll find mochi donuts, crepe cakes, Japanese dango, which are similar to mochi balls but eaten on a stick, and several flavors of taiyaki ice cream, plus sweet dim sum, including coconut cake, egg tarts, and custard buns, along with fruit smoothies, bubble teas, and floats.
Wise Cup | 1018 Lake Street, Oak Park
A favorite for locals seeking a cozy spot to work or relax, Wise Cup is a laid-back coffee shop where American cafe favorites are infused with Indian flavors. It offers expertly brewed coffee and tea, innovative coffee drinks, pastries, light bites, Indian treats, and samosas. On Saturdays, Wise Cup hosts an Indian street food pop-up experience with a menu of seasonal favorites, like Dal Makhani (black-bean lentil soup) in the fall or Roti Tacos in the summer.
Getting Here
There’s plenty of ways to get to Lake St. in Downtown Oak Park, no matter where you’re coming from. Conveniently located near several major transit routes, Oak Park is accessible by car, train, or public transportation. If you’re flying into O’Hare, it’s just a short drive or an easy connection via the CTA Green Line, which brings you directly into the heart of the community. For drivers, Harlem Avenue provides a direct route into the area, making the trip smooth and straightforward.
Neighboring communities, like River Forest, Forest Park and Riverside are just minutes away, and the Metra train is another excellent option for quick and reliable access. Once you’re here, you’ll love how easy it is to explore—Lake Street boasts a great walk score, making it a true walker’s paradise. Whether you’re visiting for a day or planning a longer stay, getting here is easy, and exploring Downtown Oak Park is even easier!
While You're In Town
Outside of Lake Street Oak Park offers so much more to explore. Oak Park is rich with culture, history, and unique attractions that make it a destination worth savoring.
Dive into the local theater scene with a visit to the iconic Lake Theater, where you can catch the latest films in a charming, historic setting. For those with an appreciation for architecture and history, Oak Park offers tours of renowned landmarks, including the stunning homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Literary enthusiasts can take a step back in time and visit the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway, a true treasure for fans of the celebrated author.
Looking for more inspiration? Be sure to check out our blog on the Top Things to Do in Oak Park and uncover even more hidden gems to round out your visit. Whether you’re here for the food, the culture, or the history, Oak Park has something for everyone.