The Complete Guide to BYOB Restaurants in Chicago

Eating out in Chicago isn't cheap, and the drinks are what push the bill over the edge. That's why so many Chicagoans love a BYOB. Liquor licenses are hard to get here, so plenty of restaurants just let you bring your own beer or wine. You pay store prices for the bottle, and at the best of these places you still get cooking good enough for a Michelin star. It's a great way to save money on an evening out. Plus, it's just kind of fun.

How BYOB works in Chicago

The city keeps it simple. According to the city's consumer guidelines (PDF), Chicago doesn't regulate BYOB in restaurants at all, except at sidewalk cafes. The city's advice is that you buy your own alcohol, serve yourself, keep it with you, and leave with the empty bottle. Restaurants are told to limit how much they handle your booze. They can give you glasses and ice, and they're allowed to charge a corkage fee.

In practice, that means every restaurant sets its own rules. Some open your bottle and keep your glass filled. Others hand you an opener (In-On Thai has them mounted on the walls) and let you get on with it. A few cap how much you can bring, and some now sell their own beer and wine but still welcome your bottle. Check the restaurant's website or call before you go, and ask separately if you want to drink on the patio.

BYOB etiquette

What kinds of restaurants are BYOB?
Mostly small, independent places: Thai, Korean, Chinese, Mexican, Peruvian, sushi, barbecue. But BYOB goes all the way up to Schwa, which has a Michelin star. Brunch counts too. Plenty of people bring a bottle of sparkling wine and order orange juice at the table.

How much can I bring?
Use common sense. If you'd be embarrassed carrying it in front of your boss, it's too much. Four bottles of wine or a 12-pack for two people is pushing it, and some places set a limit.

What should I bring?
Something that goes with the food. Riesling and beer are safe with Thai and Korean heat, and red wine is the obvious call for an Argentine steak. Most wine shops will help if you tell them where you're eating. If it's a date, spend a bit more on the bottle.

What does it cost?
Many places charge nothing. Others add a few dollars a bottle or a person. M. Henry, the Andersonville brunch spot, charges $5. If a restaurant doesn't post its fee, call and ask.

Should I tip extra?
If the staff open your bottle, bring glasses, keep them filled or put your wine on ice, yes. Tip as if a little of that wine had been on the bill, especially if your group goes through several bottles.

Anything else?
Don't overdo it just because the drinks are cheap. And don't camp at the table after you've paid. The good BYOBs are small and there's usually someone waiting.

Where to BYOB

These were all BYOB as of September 2026, but policies change, so call ahead. Policies change, so confirm before you carry a bottle across town.

Schwa
Michael Carlson's Schwa (1466 N. Ashland Ave., Wicker Park) is a tasting menu with no pretense, where the chefs bring the courses out themselves. It's BYOB, reservation only, and open Wednesday to Saturday. Bring enough wine for a long meal, and regulars bring something for the kitchen too. It's a few blocks from the Division Blue Line stop. We wrote about its quail egg ravioli years ago.

Tango Sur
Tango Sur (3763 N. Southport Ave., Lakeview) is an Argentine steakhouse that has been BYOB for as long as we've been writing about it. Share a parrillada, the Argentine mixed grill, or order the filet we wrote about. According to The Infatuation, it only takes reservations for groups of six or more, so smaller groups should arrive early. Call (773) 477-5466 with questions. The Southport Brown Line stop is a short walk south.

Smoque BBQ
Smoque (3800 N. Pulaski Rd., Irving Park) doesn't hedge: it's BYOB, "so feel free to bring a cold one (or two)." Get the brisket. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am and closed Mondays, and the Irving Park stop on the Blue Line's O'Hare branch is about a 10-minute walk. It's also on our cheap eats list.

Cho Sun Ok
Cho Sun Ok (4200 N. Lincoln Ave.) has been cooking Korean food since 1980. It's BYOB and walk-in only. Order the chadol gui, thin-sliced brisket you cook at the table. The Irving Park and Montrose stops on the Brown Line are both close.

In-On Thai
In-On Thai (4641 N. Broadway, Uptown) is the one with bottle openers on the walls. The curries are hot, so bring plenty to drink. It's open for dinner Tuesday to Sunday, next to the Wilson Red Line stop.

Flour Power
Flour Power (1642 W. Chicago Ave., West Town) is a small fresh-pasta shop with a few first-come tables. It's BYOB. The menu changes daily and goes up on Tock and Instagram, and if nothing is posted, assume it's closed. The #66 Chicago Avenue bus stops outside.

Lao Der
Lao Der (3922 N. Elston Ave., Irving Park) serves Lao food, and The Infatuation calls it the city's only sit-down Lao restaurant in over a decade. The jerky and sausages are made for drinking. It's closed Tuesdays.

Taste of Peru
Taste of Peru (6545 N. Clark St., Rogers Park) has been open since 1998. Start with ceviche and get the lomo saltado. It's open daily from 11:30am.

Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings
At Qing Xiang Yuan (2002 S. Wentworth Ave., Chinatown) you can watch the dumplings being made through the kitchen window, then eat them with a tallboy you brought along. It's a short walk from the Cermak-Chinatown Red Line stop.

Bob's Pizza
The Pilsen Bob's Pizza (1659 W. 21st St.) looks like a bar but doesn't sell alcohol, so bring your own. Its beer-based dough makes what it calls "Pilsen-style" pizza. For the rest of the city's pizza, see our pizza guide.

For brunch
Batter & Berries in Lincoln Park is BYOB, so bring sparkling wine for its French toast flight. M. Henry now has its own drinks but still takes your bottle for $5. More in our brunch guide.

What happened to the old list
Bonsoirée, one of the upscale BYOBs we pointed to when this guide first ran, has closed (our Michelin page mourns it too). Toro Sushi is still in Lincoln Park, but we'd call before you bring a bottle. See our cheap eats page for details.

For more ways to keep the bill down, see dining on a budget and how to budget for a trip to Chicago. Our food and drink guide has the rest.

Photo by theonetruedevo