ChicagoFirst, thank you. Every person who's ever tried a spot we recommended, shared a tip about a hidden gem, or claimed their business listing — you're the reason this exists. This city gave us so much, and this is our way of giving a little back.
Why we do this
Chicago is a genuinely special place to eat and drink. Not just the deep dish and Italian beef everyone already knows about — the $5 Bloody Mary at a bar in Wrigleyville, the family-run Filipino spot in Ukrainian Village that's been slinging the city's original Filipino breakfast since 2008, the taco stand with a line out the door on a Tuesday. This city is stacked with people pouring their hearts into what they make, and most of them never get the spotlight they deserve. We wanted to help change that.
A father-son project, twenty years in the making
This started long before it was a website. A single dad, raising his son in Uptown, spent weekends exploring Chicago together — chasing down the next great deal, the next hole-in-the-wall worth trying, just the two of them getting to know their city one neighborhood at a time. That habit never really stopped.
This past year, we finally turned it into something real — and it became about more than just the food. It was a chance to work side by side, to teach my son what I've learned over a career in advertising, and to bring him into the world of AI and building things from scratch. Mostly, though, it was time together. A reason to keep showing up for each other, the same way we always have.
What we're building toward
ChicagoSpecials.com tracks happy hours, fish fry nights, brunch deals, and daily specials across the city — organized by what's actually running right now, not a stale "best of" list from three years ago. But the bigger goal is community: helping Chicago's independent restaurants, bars, and family-run spots get discovered by the people who'd love them, and turning "finding a deal" into something genuinely fun. Think badges for trying new neighborhoods, a leaderboard for the most Dish Gems tried, weekly challenges — we're just getting started, and we'd love your ideas.
How listings work
Listings come from two sources: businesses that have claimed and verified their own listing (marked "Verified by owner"), and community-sourced leads we're still confirming (marked "Community-sourced"). We're upfront about which is which — see something wrong? Let us know.
For business owners
Want your specials featured at the top of your category and neighborhood? See sponsored listing options.