10 Mouth-Watering Gift Cards for Restaurants in Chicago
Next time gift season rolls around, a gift card for a restaurant could be exactly what your friend needs! Given that you are here, we will assume that you are looking for gift cards for restaurants in Chicago, and in this article we aim to deliver. This list will contain a couple choices of chain places that are sure to give them a great meal as well as some Chicago-specific restaurants where they can enjoy a local meal. Gift cards for restaurants in Chicago are the perfect gift for just about every occasion, and with Gift Card Granny, they are super simple to procure, gift, and spend.
Getting someone a gift card is a great way to show your appreciation, and restaurant gift cards will never go out of style. Getting a gift card to a restaurant is the first step, but you still have to figure out what that restaurant will be. That’s where we come in. We will provide you with a list of potentially excellent locations to spark your imagination. Perhaps one of these items will be the one for you but perhaps nothing really catches your eye. If that’s the case, we hope this list is the inspiration you need for that lightbulb moment where you know exactly what gift card to get for your friend!
Before we jump into our list, we want to give an honorable mention to food delivery services like Uber Eats and Door Dash. They grant your friend access to countless restaurants for takeout and delivery that they can pick out at any moment. They are not gift cards for restaurants per se, but they are amazing gift cards and provide excellent value to food-loving friends. You can buy an Uber Eats gift card here and buy a Door Dash gift card right here. Without further ado, in this article, we are covering the top 12 gift cards for restaurants in Chicago.
Earn Cash Back On Gift Cards for Restaurants in Chicago with Gift Card Granny
As a quick reminder, we’ve pointed out all of the retailers on this list that you can find on Gift Card Granny as of this writing. Gift Card Granny makes it easy to buy and send customized gift cards online and earn cash back while you do. Gift Card Granny carries thousands of local and national brands including Visa gift cards, Mastercard gift cards, and gift cards for many of the awesome spots on this list.
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s jump right into our list!
1. Subway
A classic stop for Chicagoans on the move
Subway, with its quick sandwiches, is a great gift card for just about anyone. There is nothing exceptional about Subway, but they do what they’ve set out to do really well. Their subs are great for picking up on a lunch break or on the way to somewhere without a dinner feature. We’d wager that most people have a go-to sandwich at Subway, and a gift card is a great way to ensure they can enjoy their favorite.
2. Burger King
Fast food is always a hit
Sometimes people have a serious craving for fast food. Going out and getting a big burger or a side of fries is exactly what the doctor ordered every now and again. We are a big fan of the Burger Kings, Mcdonalds, Wendys, and Chick-Fil-As gift cards anywhere in the States, and Chicago is no exception. These are great stops any day with family and with friends. With fast food, it is almost a guarantee that there will be a Burger King or other restaurant within a few blocks.
Gift cards always run the risk of going unspent, and a fast food gift card is a great way to ensure that it gets spent quickly. It is easy to hop into a Burger King and get a quick meal without waiting for the right time, and your gift card may be the perfect incentive for them to get a few meals there.
3. Tastes of Chicago
Good, old-fashioned Chicago-style pizza
Can anyone go wrong with a delicious Chicago-style pizza? We think not. A place like Tastes of Chicago will consistently create and serve mouth-watering pizza to all of its lucky customers. The only thing better than a steaming-hot pizza pie? A free steaming-hot pizza pie. You can be the deliverer of a free pie or two that is bound to bring a huge smile to your friend’s face.
We recommend this gift cards for friends who enjoy a meal out or delivered to their door. Pizza is a staple all over the country, and we would be astonished if your friend does not enjoy a few slices every now and again.
4. A Brewery or Winery
A gift card to bring them out on the town
Local breweries and wineries are absolutely fantastic places to visit. They come in a lot of different shapes and sizes and have an ambiance to suit everyone. One question to answer before embarking further on this journey: do they enjoy drinking fun beers and sipping wine? If your friend is not much of a drinker then this gift card is not for them. If, on the other hand, they are, this gift card is great! You are certainly welcome to do your own research on the breweries and wineries in the area, but here is a bit of a list to get yourself started!
Crushed by Giants Brewing Company
The Crushed by Giants Brewing Company is a great place to go for a cold, craft beer. They have a fantastic selection of beers and serve pub-style food, making it a perfect place for a sit-down and hangout excursion with some fellow beer-loving friends. Craft breweries are a tremendously fun place to go for a night out, and a gift card to Crushed by Giants Brewing Company, while not technically a restaurant, is still high on our list.
Corridor Beers and Provisions
Corridor Beers and Provisions is a high-scale brewery with a premium selection of beers on tap, perfect for people who love trying different kinds of beer and are willing to pay a little extra for it. Pay a little extra, of course, after going through your gift card! A gift card to a brewery like this makes visiting it so much easier on the wallet, and we recommend it for friends who enjoy the finer beers.
City Winery
The City Winery is a great place to go with fine wine, Mediterranean food, and a lot of local live music. We love places with live music on their docket, and we think it oftentimes can turn a normal night into a spectacular one. Wineries are a fantastic place for a relaxing night with fun, locally-made wines that oftentimes have a great variety of whites and reds with sweet wines, dry wines, and everything in between!
Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery
This final winery is a bit outside of the city, but certainly close enough for a fun excursion! Since it is outside of the city, Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery have a ton of land upon which their winery sits. This allows them to open up the spot for a beautiful outdoor area as well as a spacious interior, making for a fantastic place to go.
These are some of our picks, but we recommend asking for their favorite place to go! A lot of these breweries and wineries are pretty small places that have their own stuff available and your friend might have something in particular that they are partial to. If that’s the case you should get them a gift card to that one!
There are a lot of businesses available at Gift Card Granny where you can earn cash back on every purchase. Check it out to see if your local place is one of them!
5. Bavette's
A gift card for carnivores and pursuers of fine foods
Bavette's is a phenomenal steakhouse that is a fusion between the fine French dining menu with a casual environment. Their food will leave you speechless, but you don’t have to worry about sitting in the right posture and dressing in a new suit in order to fit in! The decor throughout the restaurant is a stellar companion to enjoying a meal to celebrate a special occasion.
6. Elske
A gift card for an exciting tasting menu
This fantastic restaurant has a tasting menu that will knock your socks off. Their food is inspired and delicious, creating a fantastic combination of textures and flavors that will leave you satisfied with every course. It is a pricey place, and will likely bring on a bill that your gift card will not cover. If that’s the case, make sure your friend loves going out to nice restaurants and having a fine meal before ending them with an Elske gift card!
7. HaiSous
A trip to a romantic Vietnamese restaurant
This soulful Vietnamese place is perfect for couples looking for a date night. It has upscale street food, an amazing interior design, and a spectacular cocktail list. While it is the perfect destination for a romantic night out, HaiSous has an atmosphere that is perfect for a friendly get-together. Its food is lovely and priced well, and we guarantee that your friend will have a spectacular night out with your gift card to HaiSous.
8. Lula Cafe
A gift card for restauranteurs all over Chicago
Lula Cafe is the best of both worlds. It is a market-driven casual space that creates a fine list of menu items with a regularity that keeps even their most regular customers satisfied with new menu items. They are most famous for their brunch, and if you know that your friend loves to go out for a casual weekend brunch, Lula Cafe is the gift card for you. In terms of gift cards for Chicago, this one should be high on your list!
9. Mi Tocaya Antojería
A gift card for unforgettable tapas
This neighborhood Mexican restaurant brings upscale food to a casual, affordable environment. They are a small-plate restaurant, perfect for groups to go and enjoy all its menu has to offer. There is no end to the amazing items available at Mi Tocaya Antojería, and we recommend this place to anyone who is interested in trying out some delicious eats with friends and family.
10. Monteverde
A gift card for delicious and comforting Italian fare
A delicious Italian restaurant awaits the recipient of a Monteverde gift card. Their fare is phenomenal and has a great mixture of comfort dishes and more interesting flavor combinations to satisfy every customer who walks through their doors. We cannot recommend a trip to Monteverde enough.
And those are our best gift cards for restaurants in Chicago!
Gift cards are phenomenal gifts for any occasion. We hope that you are set on the perfect card for your friend, but if you are still uncertain about where to go, feel free to ask! Friends and family may have the insight you need to figure out which gift card is best for your friend. Food gift cards never disappoint, and we hope that this list has sparked some interest in you to either check out the Chicago restaurant scene or your town’s restaurants. There are gems all over the country, and the feeling of finding a restaurant that absolutely blows your mind is second to none.
Remember: many of the retailers on this list are available at Gift Card Granny, where you can earn cashback and rewards on all of your gift card purchases.
From all of us here at Gift Card Granny, happy shopping!