Chicago suburbs have so much to offer. About 41 miles northwest of Chicago, Woodstock is one of the city’s outermost suburbs. Whether you’re local to the area or traveling for apple picking, Christmas tree shopping, or hiking in one of the nature preserves or conservation areas, you’ll work up an appetite. Therefore, we’ve rounded up some of the best restaurants in Woodstock, IL for you to check out.
The Double Yolk Cafe
117 E Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098
The Double Yolk Cafe is located in the Woodstock Square Historic District, a Victorian town square with unique shops, galleries, and eateries. You might also recognize the square as the filming location for “Groundhog Day.”
Your brunch and lunch cravings will be satisfied with the cafe’s robust menu. The menu at this restaurant in Woodstock, IL features popular options such as the Potato Pancakes, served with sour cream and applesauce, or the Smoked Salmon Sandwich, served on a toasted onion bagel with red onion, tomato, capers, and cream cheese with a side of fruit.
Public House of Woodstock
101 N Johnson St, Woodstock, IL 60098
Enjoy classic American pub fare and some seasonal specialties from the Public House of Woodstock. Stick with classics like the PHW Burger or Tomato Basil Pizza, or try featured items like the Deconstructed Chicken Wellington.
For dog parents, the restaurant also has a special Canine Cuisine Menu for your fur babies. Paws on the Patio takes place every Thursday and a portion of proceeds benefits their partner organizations like True Blue Dogs.
The food and drinks aren’t all you get when you visit this eatery. Public House is located in the Old McHenry County Courthouse, one of the big attractions in the Woodstock Square Historic District.
BBQ King Smokehouse
125 E Calhoun St, Woodstock, IL 60098
Light it up at BBQ King Smokehouse, a cozy smoke shack with national award-winning ribs and competitive roots. The meats at this restaurant in Woodstock, IL are slow-smoked daily for 4-16 hours for a melt-in-your-mouth experience in every juicy bite.
Choose from ribs, brisket, chicken, pork, and sausage, and enjoy delicious sides like fries, cornbread, BBQ baked beans, mac n’ cheese, fried potato salad, and coleslaw. Round it out with daily beer specials and Southern-style cocktails to complete your meal.
Mixteca Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar
1390 S Eastwood Dr, Woodstock, IL 60098
Mixteca brings to Woodstock fresh and authentic Mexican fare, from tacos and tortas to fajitas and burritos. Enjoy classic flavors and meats like asada, pastor, pollo, chorizo, carnitas, and barbacoa.
Start with quesadillas, tamales, sopes, or huaraches. Sink your teeth into a mix of crunchy and savory with different nacho options to share! Don’t forget to pair your meal with an authentic horchata or freshly squeezed margarita.
Expressly Leslie Vegetarian Specialties
110 S Johnson St, Woodstock, IL 60098
Expressly Leslie specializes in Middle Eastern-style vegetarian and vegan dishes. Salads are prepared fresh daily and pair well on a plate or in a pita.
There are over a dozen salads to choose from, like the Moroccan Beets Salad, which has cooked beets coated with lemon juice, cilantro, red onion, and Moroccan seasoning.
All the plates can be filling, but don’t skip out on the soup! This restaurant in Woodstock, IL offers two daily soups (Red Lentil and Veggie Chili), a Soup of the Day, and a Daily Special made with seasonal local produce.
Cesaroni’s Cafe and Deli
236 Main St, Woodstock, IL 60098
When you’re looking for a quick and easy lunch, nothing’s better than a sandwich. Cesaroni’s features coffee from Two Brothers Coffee Roasters, fresh veggies from Klein’s Farm & Garden Market, Turano baguettes, and the finest meats and cheeses from Boar’s Head.
Choose from six sandwiches, like the Momma Ces (tavern ham, lacey swiss cheese, honey mustard mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion), with 6- or 9-inch options. Cesaroni’s also has paninis and salads.
Your Sister’s Tomato
110 Irving Ave, Woodstock, IL 60098
Your Sister’s Tomato started as a food truck and opened a brick-and-mortar in December 2019. The pizzeria specializes in Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas, using fresh homemade dough and hand-crushed San Marzano tomato sauce.
Chow down on pizza classics like buffalo chicken, pepperoni, and Margherita. Sandwiches, salads, and desserts are also on the menu.
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Chop Suey Hut
218 N Throop St, Woodstock, IL 60098
Chop Suey Hut is a family-owned and operated restaurant that has served the Woodstock community for 50 years. It has been awarded as One of the Best Chinese Restaurants in McHenry County by Northwest Herald readers in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2021.
Enjoy classic chow mein varieties, fried rice, and more, or try the specials like Drunken Spaghetti, a Thai fusion dish with spicy noodles and fresh vegetables. Furthermore, they have an arcade area where you can enjoy tropical cocktails while you play, which certainly sets them apart from most other Chinese restaurants!
Featured Image Credit: Cesaroni’s Cafe and Deli