Melrose Park might not be on your foodie radar now—but it should be. Just due west of Chicago, Melrose Park is packed with unpretentious, flavor-first spots that locals swear by. From family-run Italian joints dishing out generations-old recipes to hidden gems serving up bold Mexican flavors, Melrose Park’s dining scene is all about comfort, authenticity, and serious portions. Whether you’re craving steak, tacos, or something sweet, these ten spots are worth the trip and then some.
Here's an overview of our top ten restaurants in Melrose Park worth driving for.
From thin crust to deep-pan, Anthony B’s offers a wide selection of delicious pizzas topped with authentic, fresh ingredients of your choice. Locals also enjoy classic chicken wings, pasta dishes, and tasty sides, such as garlic bread with cheese, breaded mushrooms, pizza bread, breaded onion rings, fries, and jalapeno poppers.
Go For: Great pizza with authentic toppings on fresh, hand-tossed dough baked to perfection.
Why We Love It: This cozy neighborhood favorite, located in the same spot since it opened in September 1991, offers regular specials and coupons that make family pizza night easy on the budget.
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Established in 1982 as the dream of a young couple, Aracely’s Bakery has grown and flourished and remains a family-owned business. Pastries, cakes, and breads are baked daily with the same love and care since that first day they turned on the mixers.
Go For: Freshly baked goods or homemade tamales—featuring chicken, pork, or poblano peppers and cheese. No matter which you choose, you’ll savor every juicy bite.
Why We Love It: Comfort and flavor come together here. Stop by to pick up a fresh Danish or pan dulce for breakfast or a merienda (afternoon snack), and grab a sandwich layered with meat and cheese on fresh-baked bread for lunch.
Once a master chef in Mexico, Don Alfredo’s “American Dream” was a restaurant where he and his family could share the vibrant flavors, time-honored traditions, and warmth of Mexico through tried-and-true family recipes, using the freshest ingredients available to create a joyful dining experience.
Go For: Carnitas! Heavenly homemade tortillas filled with tender, juicy pork, slow-roasted and perfectly seasoned. You can also pick up a pound to level up your next party.
Why We Love It: Try one of the traditional Mexican house-made soups, such as Pozole, a hearty soup with hominy and tender pork in a mild red chile sauce, or Menudo, a rich and delicious slow-roasted stew with a generous squeeze of lime. Menudo is a popular hangover remedy in Mexico—don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
A Cajun-inspired eatery known for its fresh seafood boils, Crab Du Jour offers a variety of dishes, from delicious starters like wings and po-boys to seafood favorites including fried fish, shrimp, crab, and oysters, all accompanied by an array of signature house-blended sauces in a fun, lively atmosphere that's perfect for friends, family, and date nights.
Go For: Cajun seafood boil, a customizable variety of seafood and vegetables cooked with your choice of sauce and spice level.
Why We Love It: Plastic aprons and gloves are available for everyone, and buckets for shells, as well as rolls of paper towels, are on each table, encouraging diners to get messy. We love seeing the intense faces of kids learning to use the crab cracker with buttery fingers, dates sharing a laugh as they try on bibs, and families digging in with their hands.
When Harlo Grill closed its original location at North and 25th Avenue, where it had been for decades, there was some concern that a change in scenery would cause a seismic shift. Yet, nearly ten years after they moved the classic marquee sign and reopened in a bright, cozy new venue, regulars are still happy to report that the menu, atmosphere, and attitude remain the same. Count on diner classics like stand-out burgers, sloppy joes, club sandwiches, handmade milkshakes, and breakfast served all day.
Go For: What else? Malt and a melt.
Why We Love It: Breakfast done right, just how you like it, served with buttered toast and jelly and a bottomless cup of great diner coffee.
Owners Sergio and Mary Suarez expertly blend American and Mexican influences at Los Comales, a casual gathering place for friends and family, where generations enjoy delicious tacos and other traditional favorites, including tortas, burritos, and combos served with rice and beans.
Go For: Fresh and flavorful Mexican fare at affordable prices.
Why We Love It: Taco Tuesdays. Your choice of meat—al pastor, marinated chicken, huevo con chorizo, chorizo, huevo con jamon, milanesa, carnitas, higado encebollado, buche, or jamon—on top of a corn tortilla for just $1.39. All day, every Tuesday.
Experience the vibrant and traditional flavors of authentic Nayarit-style seafood at Playas Nayaritas. Every carefully prepared dish captures the essence of the region, and the lively atmosphere, complete with live entertainment and a bar that serves handcrafted cocktails to complement your meal, brings Mexico’s seaside lifestyle to you.
Go For: Molcajete de Mariscos, a visually stunning and delicious mix of grilled seafood, including prawns, mussels, crab legs, shrimp, and octopus, cooked in a spicy tomato sauce and served in a sizzling stone mortar.
Why We Love It: The vibe is fantastic. You’ll feel like you’re on vacation, sipping a piña colada and digging into some seriously fresh seafood without a care.
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Whether grabbing a sub and a made-to-order cannoli for home or sitting down to enjoy a meal in their bright, friendly dining room, you always feel like you’re eating at the Scudiero family’s kitchen table. From freshly baked bread, biscotti, and out-of-this-world cannoli to bakery-style pizza, classic subs, deli sandwiches, and fresh-made salads, this family-owned gem has been welcoming diners for generations.
Go For: The pepper and egg sandwich. Perfectly seasoned scrambled eggs and sautéed peppers nestled within Scudiero’s standout—crusty, homemade Italian bread.
Why We Love It: Where to start? The family-run atmosphere, high-quality ingredients, friendly service, and traditional recipes? We just love spending time here, where five generations later, neighbors still greet each other warmly when they pick up a loaf of bread and their family’s favorites.
Combining traditional recipes with exceptional service in a welcoming atmosphere, Taverna on Division delivers an authentic Italian dining experience. It offers high-quality cuisine, warm hospitality, and a commitment to preserving Italy's flavors and culture, with a menu that appeals to everyone.
Go For: Old-school Italian dishes, prime steaks, and fresh seafood. The specials menu changes daily and is always based on what's fresh and available that day.
Why We Love It: The outdoor patio and live entertainment make this a reliable spot for date night.
A classic American restaurant, Tom's Steakhouse is known for its generous cuts of expertly cooked steaks. Since opening its doors in 1952, it has been a local staple, consistently delivering a high-quality dining experience. Best known for its steaks offering prime cuts like filet mignon, bone-in ribeye, prime rib, New York strip, and T-Bone, the menu also extends beyond steak to include Athenian Chicken, grilled lamb chops, fresh Alaskan salmon, and steamed crab legs.
Go For: A nostalgic, old-school steakhouse experience. Outstanding prime cuts are prepared to perfection over an open flame and served by friendly and attentive waitstaff.
Why We Love It: While Tom's old-school method of serving steaks is both nostalgic and legendary, the special salad dressing and the way it is served here may be just as famous! It’s a spinning carousel with three housemade salad dressings: French, Russian, and Creamy Garlic.