September 2020: Some of the best restaurants in Chicago right now are dishing out cheap eats that are deliciously simple and easy on our wallets—from pizza and fried chicken to goat-stuffed tacos. Over the past few months, this list has undergone a massive shift too, from a fine-dining–packed roundup to a more approachable and affordable guide to tasting the best of Chicago. (Don't worry, there are still opportunities here to ball out.) New to the list this month are two longtime favorites that do cheap eats extraordinarily well: sushi haven Lawrence Fish Market and burger and dog joint Red Hot Ranch. Plus, back this month is Giant, where you can order carryout or stop by for patio dining. Let's dig in—we hope you're hungry!

The best restaurants in Chicago come in all shapes and sizes, from pizza joints and Michelin-starred heavyweights to some of the best cheap eats Chicago has to offer. The cuisines are just as varied, with every corner of the globe represented through Korean, Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean and Indian fare. Whether you're a lifelong resident or simply visiting for the weekend, stuffing your face at one of these restaurants is easily among the best things to do in Chicago. This belt-busting food scene shows no signs of slowing down, so we cut to the chase and ranked our essentials—the absolute best restaurants in Chicago. We call it the Time Out EAT List.

Our editors scour the city for great dishes, excellent value and insider info. They pay their way and sometimes, like the rest of us, their delivery driver gets lost. The EAT List is a unique, authentic snapshot of Chicago's ever-evolving dining experience right now: We update it constantly with the best new restaurants in Chicago as well as decades-old stalwarts that keep us coming back for more. It could be a mega-hyped destination restaurant or a remarkable food truck: If it’s on the list, we think it’s terrific, and we bet you will too.

We should also note that a number of the best chefs, restaurants and concepts in the city have been welcomed into the Time Out Market Chicago. Because that is the highest honor we can award, and we now have a tighter relationship with them, establishments related to market vendors have all been included in the EAT List but not ranked alongside other great establishments in the city. You can find those amazing places below.

If you've tried something you love on this list, share it under the hashtag #TimeOutEatList to show your appreciation. Plus, find out more about how we eat through Chicago to make the list.