You don’t need to travel to the Windy City to enjoy diverse, delicious meals. Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect have an impressive dining scene worth traveling to and only a 30-minute trip as nearby Chicago suburbs. Whether you want to escape the bustling city or a local, these communities neighbor each other for easy exploring for food enthusiasts.
Learn the best restaurants in Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect and why they’re the top dining destinations.
Best Restaurants in Arlington Heights: Where to Eat Locally
Below are the best restaurants in Arlington Heights to try with public transit directions.
Jameson’s Charhouse
Credit: Jameson’s Charhouse
Take your special someone out to date night at Jameson’s Charhouse. They’re a family-owned family-owned American chophouse with a full bar and upscale dining since 1990. From flaming Greek cheese appetizers to veal marsala and wild mushroom ravioli, you’re sure to impress your loved one here. They also have a Mount Prospect location if you live closer to that area.
The nearest public transit option is the Dundee/Wilke bus stop, a three-minute walk via Bus 604. If you prefer the train, the Arlington Park station is a seven-minute drive via the Union Pacific-Northwest (UP-NW) Line if you want to ride share to the restaurant.
Mago Grill & Cantina
Credit: Mago Grill & Cantina
You’ve likely had Mexican-American food before. But have you ever tried modern Aztec Mexican cuisine? At Mago Grill & Cantina, they’re a family-owned restaurant with award-winning chefs who bring unique, authentic Latin Mexican dishes right here in Arlington Heights.
Their skirt steak enchiladas are a secret recipe from their Granda Paula and a local favorite. The tequila shrimp empanadas and guacamole with roasted grasshoppers (chapulines) are a must-try—and are considered a delicacy in Mexican culture. Not to mention, they have an extensive tequila menu that’s perfect for happy hour lunch or dinner.
Mago Grill & Cantina is among the best restaurants in downtown Arlington Heights, with a convenient location for city travelers. The Arlington Heights train station is only a three-minute walk via the UP-NW Line.
altThai
Credit: altThai
Enjoy delicious dishes from all over Asia at altThai. They’re a casual-style restaurant serving Thai and Pan-Asian cuisine for lunch or dinner. From spicy duck rolls to crispy tilapia salad and shrimp pineapple curry, each meal is packed with flavor.
altThai is also a downtown Arlington Heights restaurant. The Arlington Height train station is a three-minute walk via the UP-NW Line.
Peggy Kinanne’s Irish Restaurant & Pub
Credit: Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Restaurant & Pub
Eat Irish food with live entertainment at Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Restaurant & Pub. They’re a casual pub-style restaurant serving Irish small plates and comfort food with live music. Their popular menu options include house specialty Reuben egg rolls, Wisconsin beer cheese soup, and beef sliders with Guiness-infused cheddar cheese. They also have outdoor seating to eat al fresco when the weather is nice.
Peggy’s is located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights. They’re also a three-minute walk to the Arlington Heights train station via the UP-NW Line.
Johnnie’s Beef
Credit: Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest
Locally known as the best Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches in Arlington Heights, Johnnie’s Beef is a staple in this neighborhood. In a casual setting with outdoor seating available, they also serve other food options like sausage sandwiches, hotdogs, and Italian ice.
Johnnie’s Beef is located in south Arlington Heights. The nearest public transit option is the 61 W Gold Rd bus stop via Bus 208. If you prefer the train, the Arlington Heights station is only a seven-minute drive via the UP-NW Line for ride-sharing.
Where to Eat the Best Food in Mount Prospect: A Local Dining Guide
Here’s where to get some of the best food in Mount Prospect and why they make the list with public transit directions.
A Thousand Tales Restaurant
Credit: A Thousand Tales Restaurant
At A Thousand Tales Restaurant, they’re a highly-rated Mediterranean restaurant that’s also a bakery and cafe. Their omelets with pastrami and sujuk, Turkish wedding soup with yogurt and beef, and sliced shawarma with tomato sauce and yogurt are sure to satisfy your tastebuds.
When you’re done eating, grab some delicious desserts to go, like salty cookies, cold milky baklava, and apricot danishes. If you enjoy savory more, they also have feta cheese and ground beef pastries or Turkish bagels for breakfast the next morning.
A Thousand Tales has a convenient location for public transit travelers, with three train stations less than a 15-minute walk away. The closest is the Mount Prospect station, a nine-minute walk via the UP-NW Line. The Oakton St & Wiler Rd bus stop takes you to the entrance via Bus 223 or 226.
Honey Biscuit
Credit: Honey Biscuit
Start your day with a hearty breakfast or lunch at the highly-rated Honey Biscuit. They’re a casual-style restaurant serving classic dishes with quality, like fresh berry pancakes with strawberry mascarpone drizzle, signature honey biscuits, and chipotle ranch black Angus burgers with applewood bacon.
Honey Biscuit is located in the heart of downtown Mount Prospect, offering easy public transit travel. The Mount Prospect train station is a four-minute walk via the UP-NW Line. If you prefer the bus, the Main/Busse stop is also a four-minute walk via Bus 234.
Quilinarnia
Credit: Quilinarnia
Looking for date night ideas in Mount Prospect? Eat at Quilinarnia. They’re a family-owned Polish restaurant with upscale dining, outdoor seating, and an indoor fireplace that’s the perfect romantic setting. From savory and sweet pierogis to classic breaded port schnitzel and oven-baked rainbow trout with parmesan, your loved one will love the food here.
The closest public transit option is the Golf Rd & Oakwood Dr bus stop, a four-minute walk via Bus 208. If you prefer traveling by train, the Mount Prospect is a seven-minute drive via the UP-NW Line with ride-sharing.
Ramen Misoya
Credit: Ramen Misoya
Ramen Misoya is a popular casual Japanese restaurant serving miso noodle soups packed with umami. In addition to traditional tonkatsu ramen, they serve other delicious menu items like kimchi ramen, fried squid, and taiyaki (fish-shaped grilled waffle).
The closest public transit option is the Algonquin Rd & Dempster St bus stop, a six-minute walk via Bus 606. For train travelers, you’ll need to book a ride share from the Mount Prospect station, which is an eight-minute drive.
Trezeros Kitchen + Tap
Credit: Trezeros Kitchen + Tap
Craving Italian cuisine? Then Trezeros Kitchen + Tap has you covered. They’re a family-friendly restaurant serving Italian-American dishes like Neopolitan-style pizza, scratch-made gnocchi with slow-braised pork ragu, and parmesan garlic-cruised salmon. They even have a special martini menu with happy hour specials to pair with your meal.
Trezeros is located in downtown Mount Prospect for easy public transit travel. The Mount Prospect train station is only an eight-minute walk via the UP-NW Line. The closest bus stop is Main/Central, a six-minute walk via Bus 234.
Your Perfect Chicago Suburb Apartment Awaits: Explore Arlington Heights or Mount Prospect Living
Discover the best of Arlington Heights or Mount Prospect apartment living with TLC Management Co. With over 30 properties around and within Chicago, we have the local expertise to find you the perfect place to live. We also take pride in being property managers, offering our residents the best renting experience—as it should be.
We have multiple properties in Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect, each with special amenities to suit your unique lifestyle:
•Arbor Lakes Apartments in Arlington Heights: Scenic waterfalls with private balconies or patios, award-winning floorplans, and vaulted ceilings.
•Dunton Tower Apartments in Arlington Heights: Newly renovated flooring, beautiful tree-top and cityscape views, oversized closets, and a luxurious clubroom with walk-out access to the pool, firepit, and sundeck.
•Forest Cove Apartments in Mount Prospect: Step-down living rooms, picturesque lagoon with walking paths, and resident-exclusive Bark Parks.
Browse our Chicago suburb listings or contact us at info@chicagorentals.com to start your apartment search today!
