Number Of Restaurants In Chicago: Statistics and Insights

Chicago is home to almost 12k restaurants, according to the latest data from Brizo FoodMetrics.

In the foodservice industry, knowing the types and number of restaurants in a city is important. Detailed foodservice insights can help you identify and qualify potential partners, understand market demand, and tailor your offerings to fit localized needs.

Let us walk you through key food and beverage insights on Chicago’s restaurant industry and demonstrate how market intelligence from Brizo FoodMetrics can help you tap into this market.

Insights into Chicago Restaurants

With 11,524 restaurants, Chicago, Illinois offers a wide variety of cuisines and dining experiences.

Here are some key insights about Chicago’s restaurant industry according to Brizo FoodMetrics:

Independent vs. Chain Locations

Where chains are considered establishments with five or more locations, Chicago’s restaurants are broken down as follows:

• Independents: 9,087 locations
• Chains: 2,437 locations

Top Chains

Here are the top restaurant chains in Chicago: 

1. Dunkin Donuts (180 locations)
2. Subway (176 locations)
3. Starbucks (147 locations)
4. McDonald’s (96 locations)
5. Baskin-Robbins (60 locations)

Top Cuisines

While American cuisine leads with 3,736 locations, Chicago’s diverse food scene also includes the following top cuisine types:

• Mexican (1,448 locations)
• Italian (755 locations)
• Chinese (409 locations)
• Japanese (363 locations)

Popular Menu Items

Every city has its own speciality dishes and local favorites. In Chicago, some of those are menu items are:

• Chicago is famous for its deep dish pizza. According to Brizo FoodMetrics, 241 establishments offer this iconic dish on their menus.
• The classic Chicago dog, known for its unique toppings, can be found at numerous hot dog stands and restaurants across the city.
• 1.8K establishments offer tacos, with 1,486 being independent locations and 294 being chains.
• Italian Beef Sandwiches are italian-American classics and another local favorite, reflecting Chicago’s rich culinary heritage.

Amenities and Ambiance

Various services and amenities are offered across the restaurant industry to improve the customer experience, and every restaurant has its own unique ambiance, from casual and family-friendly to upscale and intimate. In Chicago, some interesting insights include:

• Sports Ambiance: 267 establishments cater to sports enthusiasts with a dedicated sports ambiance.

• Outdoor Seating: 2,892 establishments offer outdoor seating, providing an enjoyable dining experience during the warmer months.

Top Marketplaces

Tracking restaurant technology usage, from online ordering to reservation systems to loyalty platforms, is also key to understanding the restaurant landscape of a city. Here are the top marketplaces in Chicago:

1. Uber Eats (5,530 locations)
2. DoorDash (5,195 locations)
3. Grubhub (3,931 locations)
4. Seamless (3,280 locations)
5. Caviar (1,767 locations)

How Does Brizo Provide Insights into Restaurants in Chicago?

Using Brizo FoodMetrics, you can unlock data-driven insights on 2.1M+ restaurants and other foodservice establishments. 

Advanced Filtering Options

Brizo allows you to analyze  both chain and independent restaurants by location, cuisine, business type, web footprint, and more. Apply detailed filters and visualize results through dynamic map and chart views to help improve market clarity and increase sales productivity.

Comprehensive Data

Our foodservice market intelligence platform provides detailed business profiles of each restaurant, including menu items, pricing, operating hours, contact information, and in-use restaurant technologies. This data helps foodservice suppliers and vendors tailor their sales and marketing strategies to better align with the needs of their current and potential customers. 

If you’re an F&B manufacturer or distributor, granular data on restaurant price points and menu offerings can help prequalify prospects and develop targeted sales and marketing messaging.

Restaurant Technology Usage

Brizo also tracks the use of 1.1K+ restaurant technologies, allowing users to filter and target restaurants by the tech they are (or aren’t) currently using. 

For restaurant technology companies, these insights are a powerful look into the competitive landscape and enable precise targeting of ideal prospects for your business. 

Regular Updates

Accurate, current data helps you stay ahead of trends and make timely, well-informed business decisions.

Brizo ensures its data is always up-to-date, with weekly updates and a full refresh every 30 days. This means you can trust the information you are basing your decisions on is current and accurate.

User-Friendly Interface

Brizo’s interface is intuitive and easy to use, making it accessible even for non-tech-savvy users. You can quickly search for specific restaurants, apply filters to a dedicated segment of establishments, and access detailed reports and insights. 

Brizo FoodMetrics helps you gain a competitive edge, optimize operations, and increase sales productivity.

We’re more than just a restaurant database. With our market intelligence platform, you can remove risky blind spots, make smarter strategic decisions, and grow your business to the next level.

Ready to access the full potential of Chicago restaurant market intelligence? Sign up for Brizo FoodMetrics with a free trial today.