The Best Pop-Up Dinners Coming Up in Chicago
If you're one to be on the vanguard of new culinary trends and local chef stylings, then the "test kitchen" nature of a pop-up dinner is right up your alley (the venue for the pop-up, coincidentally also hidden up an alley). Reserve a seat at any of these upcoming Chicago pop-ups for a one-time only communal meal that'll challenge your taste buds, but in a good way. You know about the Saved by the Bell-themed dinner coming up in June, right?
Spring Tasting at Claudia
Helmed by Chef Trevor Teich, this BYOB underground pop-up restaurant is easily one of Chicago’s best-kept fine dining secrets. The March installment, which still has tickets for 8:30pm seatings, will showcase an eight-course spring-inspired tasting menu ($155 per person) flush with uni bon bons, snails with truffle and fines herbs, spring lamb pot-au-feu, and more. Buy tickets online.
Taste of Iceland prix-fixe pop-up
If you’ve ever wanted to experience real-deal Icelandic fare without having to hop a plane, here’s your chance: Icelandic Chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfússon of Blue Lagoon’s LAVA Restaurant and Chicago’s own Cité Restaurant join forces for an exclusive four-course prix-fixe dinner pop-up during the Taste of Iceland festival presented by Iceland Naturally. The menu ($70 per person) will be available all four evenings of the festival, and features traditional Icelandic ingredients and imported Icelandic proteins for an authentic taste of what the cuisine is all about. Call Cité to make a reservation.
Session two: “Nu-zakaya”
The second installment of LURE Izakaya’s monthly "Pop Life" pop-up dinner series, features reinterpreted Izakaya fare created by Chef Christian John Sia (Moto, Jaan par Andre).
Pop-up Omakase with The Salsa Truck
The Garage and The Salsa truck are popping up for one night only at Ramen-san with an Omakase-style meal packed with regional Mexican specialties. The eats ($35 per person; extra for drink pairings) span from chicharrón, pork carnitas pozole, and Mexico City hot wings to dishes from The Garage's forthcoming concept slated to open this summer. Call to reserve.
Smoque BBQ pop-up at Begyle Brewing
One of Chicago’s best barbecue joints teams with local brewery Begyle Brewing for an evening of great barbecue and Begyle hits like Imperial Pajamas. The event begins at 5pm, and is the brewing company’s first ever pop-up. Buy tickets ($20 per person) online.
Pho Cue
Logan Square’s Analogue hosts chef Freddy Noinaj (formerly of Avec) for a Vietnamese-inspired pop-up event at 6:30p. Freddy will collaborate with executive chef Alfredo Nogueira and sous chef Dani Kaplan to create a feast flush with smoked meats dishes sourced from Slagel Farms, a Texas Toast ice cream sandwich, and more. Buy tickets ($40 per person) online.
MFK pop-up with Community Tavern Chef Joey Beato
During the first of this two-part pop-up collaboration, coast Spanish resto MFK invites chef Joey Beato of Portage Park’s Community Tavern in to put his own spin on MFK’s signature cuisine. The three-course prix-fixe menu will be available for one night only, and will include an optional wine-pairing package curated by MFK’s general manager Roger Landes. Call to reserve.
Community Tavern pop-up with MFK Chef Danny Mejia
The second part of the MFK/Community Tavern collaboration takes place at Community Tavern, where MFK chef Danny Mejia will create a three-course meal that emulates the tavern’s French-leaning steakhouse style -- with a twist. Community Tavern’s wine director, Jamie McNee, will select three wines to pair with each course. Call to reserve.
Saved by the Max
Relive the '80s and '90s at this Saved by the Bell-inspired pop-up diner, where scoring themed eats like AC sliders and Preppy BLTs, and Lisa Turtle milkshakes, and Bayside-inspired cocktails is only the beginning. The nostalgic homage to the hit TV show also promises daily costume contests, themed karaoke and trivia, meet and greets with yet-to-be-announced cast members. Check the Facebook event page for updates on reservations and tickets.