Much to my initial surprise when I moved here, Chicago’s nightlife is rather lackluster. Very few things are open late, with many businesses closing near seven, and restaurants closing near nine. However, there is still nightlife in Chicago, you just need to know where to find it. Here are my reviews of five of the places I have been to since moving to Chicago. My criteria include variety, quality of drink, quality of food, quality of entertainment, and price.
Bar Louie (Halsted, UIC Campus)
Alright, so this place is fairly close by, and it was a quick trip on the 8 Bus to get there. The vibes were nice, the service was good, and my friends and I had a good time.
In terms of variety, Bar Louie has a good-sized menu with a nice mix of American fare. It is both a restaurant and a bar, so the variety is 4/5.
The drinks my roommates and I had when we went there were really good. There was something for all of us, as we all have different tolerances and preferences with alcohol. Drink quality gets 4/5.
The food was delicious, and we all shared nibbles with each other. However, nothing really was a standout, so 3/5.
Quality of entertainment is N/A, as entertainment is not provided.
The place where Bar Louie falls short is price. My friends and I each had a plain vodka shot, only to find that the shots were $10.25 each. The drink menu didn’t have prices listed on it (which we didn’t know was a red flag, as it was our first time out drinking), so we had no idea drinks were about $20+ each. The drinks were not large enough to warrant such prices. In the end, we spent over $110 each, which is ridiculous. Price is 1/5.
My friends and I will not be returning to Bar Louie.
Roscoe’s (Boystown)
Roscoe’s is a gay bar in Boystown, famous for its “RuPaul’s Drag Race” viewing parties with commentary and interviews with local drag queens and drag queens who were on the show.
Roscoe’s has good variety, with a full-page menu of food items. Again, standard American fare. The drinks menu is several pages long, with good variety and a well-sized selection of non-alcoholic options. 4/5 for variety.
Food quality was mediocre, overall, except for the Mac ‘N Gouda Bites. Those were exceptional and I could’ve kept eating them all night long. I wouldn’t say no to eating there again. 3/5.
Drink quality was good. I enjoyed every drink I had, and found the balance between alcohol and mixers was nice. 5/5.
Quality of entertainment? Well, the “Drag Race” viewing was fun, but outside of that, the music was not good. It was mediocre remixes and random dance music (but not the good stuff). There was a Taylor Swift song played every few songs, which really is not danceable and definitely takes away from the vibe. The fact that I did not hear a single Rihanna, Beyoncé, or Lady Gaga song the entire night is crazy for a gay bar. Still, I drank and danced. 1.5/5.
The pricing for Roscoe’s is great! The most expensive food item is $17, and the most expensive cocktail is $15. The best part is that if you arrive before 9:30 p.m., there is no cover fee to get in. 5/5 for price.
Overall, it was a decent experience. The annoying music was enough to discourage me and my friends from returning, though. I hope that they’ve started playing other music since we went there.
Ramen-San Whisky Bar (Fulton Market)
Ramen-San is a joint in Fulton Market that mixes authentic flavors and fusion. It’s one of my favorite places in the city to get ramen.
In terms of variety, the menu is a bit limited, but the place specializes in ramen with some appetizers. The mixed drink selection is very limited, but, as the name of the place suggests, the whisky and other liquor options are expansive. If you like whisky, scotch, or sake, this place is for you. Of the mixed drinks they do have, though, the Japanese Old Fashioned and Yuzu Margarita are my favorites. Even though I’m giving variety 2/5, I don’t think this should be weighted heavily, considering the quality of the food being a 4.5/5. The pork belly bun is fantastic, the 10-hour tonkotsu ramen is mouthwatering, and I love their dumplings.
Quality of entertainment is N/A. There is no entertainment provided, but the music they play is really cool.
The pricing isn’t bad. I think the costs are reasonable, but the add-ons to the ramen bowls can stack up faster than you might expect. 3.5/5.
Ramen-San is a place that I order from and go to frequently, and I definitely recommend it.
Shinya Ramen House (Halsted, Bridgeport)
Shinya is located just under a mile away from campus and was a frequent destination for me when I lived on or near campus. It was the first ramen place I ordered from when I first moved to Chicago, so it also has sentimental meaning to me. It is a late-night dinner joint that focuses on the food and drink in equal measure.
The variety in the menu is great. There is a wide range of Japanese and Japanese-adjacent dishes on their menu. They also have a good collection of mixed drinks and liquor available, along with Ramune. 5/5.
Drink quality at Shinya is fantastic! I love their mixed drinks, especially their frozen ones like a piña colada. Aside from mixed drinks, they also have make yummy fruit smoothies. 4/5.
Food quality is really good. I especially love the black garlic tonkotsu ramen, crab rangoon, chicken karaage, and katsudon. I can’t speak to the authenticity of the various dishes, but I do find them delicious. 4/5.
Quality of entertainment is N/A. The music quality depends on the night, as it seems like the employees take turns controlling the playlist.
Pricing at Shinya is reasonable, a bit lower than Ramen-San. I’m comfortable ordering myself an alcoholic drink, an appetizer, and an entrée. Nothing really sneaks up on you with Shinya’s prices. 4/5.
Especially for folks on Illinois Tech’s campus, I definitely recommend Shinya Ramen House for dinner. They have indoor and outdoor seating, making them a good destination all year around.
Charlie’s (Boystown)
Charlie’s is another gay bar in Boystown. Their overall theme is “wild west,” with the dance floor set up a bit like a rodeo stage. I’ve been here a few times and have always had a blast. They are currently under renovations until spring this year, so there is a chance that some of the comments I make below will be inaccurate about them when they reopen.
The variety is very limited here, as they only do drinks. The variety of drinks is good, but there are no food options, except for a cash-only vending machine. They also didn’t have issues with me bringing outside food into the club. 2/5.
Drink quality is 4/5. The sizes of the drinks are fairly large, and the bartenders know what they are doing! I love their cocktails. Their Sex on the Beach is my favorite.
Food quality is N/A.
Entertainment quality at Charlie’s is a solid 5/5. There are performers every night doing dance, drag, lip sync, and more! Folks of all genders take the stage being openly and authentically themselves. It felt like a genuinely safe and welcoming space as a queer person, and the diversity of the performers and audience was also a plus. Even better, the music at Charlie’s is always fun to dance to. 5/5.
Pricing at Charlie’s is also great! Mixed drinks are about $15 or less, and my favorite is $12, so I can have several of them without my wallet getting too angry with me. Even better, Charlies doesn’t have a cover fee! Use the money you’re saving there on tips for the performers! 5/5. If you want to drink, dance, and be entertained, Charlie’s is the place to be! I’ve been there before and will be going there again.
