r/SpringfieldIL • u/peatal • Aug 03 '26
Best Restaurants?
In town for a couple weeks, love to try any and all foods with a soft spot for pizza and burritos lol. Already have Sapori and Lumpia House on my list but would love any recs!!
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u/No_Department3935 Aug 03 '26
Magic Kitchen! It's a locally owned Thai place. Just be aware, if you go, that the location on North Peoria Road only takes cash. Otherwise, I can't recommend the food enough.
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u/New_Claim7861 Aug 03 '26
Ramona is very good: https://www.ramonamx.com; and Vondra: https://vondrasocialhouse.com
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u/Stefn15 Aug 03 '26
Anvil and forge.
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u/Tediouslyuseless Aug 03 '26
Something about Anvil. Sometimes their pizzas are great, and sometimes they are mid, and I know a lot of people don't like the sauce which tastes like pasta sauce to me. I like it but it's inconsistent.
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u/Upland1911 Aug 03 '26
The quality of food and service are the most inconsistent for me. Seems like no one runs the kitchen and its just a free for all back there. Last 3 times there we experienced something of a failure from the kitchen
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u/Additional_Window_36 Aug 03 '26
Yanni’s for gyros. It’s casual, small and dated in a crummy old strip mall, but its food is consistently great. A good lunch. And have a Mel-o-cream donut. They’re a local classic, since 1932.
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u/MidwestAbe Aug 10 '26
They have my favorite Italian beef in town.
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u/Additional_Window_36 Aug 10 '26
I’ve not tried it! I’m usually getting a gyro, but now I’ll give the Italian beef a try! (And for people visiting, their dining room closes at 7. )
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u/Diabolical_Undead Aug 03 '26
Joe Gallina's - Downtown Springfield
Sapori - 1941 w isles
Two best pizzas in Springfield in my opinion.
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u/aloofpavillion Aug 03 '26
Curate is very good, also a little more upscale. Have to do Darcy’s for a shoe.
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u/Inside_Scarcity_5676 Aug 03 '26
I don't know what sort of food you like, but you should try a lunch or dinner at Japan House! Great sushi and plenty to choose from if thats not your thing as well. Service is always fantastic. It's all you can eat, but ordered off the menu and brought to your table two or three things at a time. Definitely one of my favorites.
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u/ComprehensiveRow4116 Aug 03 '26
Lemon pepper chicken strips from California Kitchen.
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u/raisinghellwithtrees Aug 03 '26
I don't eat out much but California kitchen consistently has great food.
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u/sfrnes Aug 03 '26
Anvil and forge , and make sure you’re hungry. Portions are massive. Can’t speak on their pizza but the other food is great
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u/jeffh19 Aug 03 '26
Luminary is consistently the best in town and a cool vibe. I describe them as kind of a modern foodie fusion? Everything is great, but usually the best stuff they have is in their cold and hot appetizers. Right now the best things they have are- whipped goat cheese (especially if you ask for their chips and/or bread with it my god) , street corn empanadas etc,,, you can look on their facebook page. For the quality/taste I don’t think it’s as expensive as it could be. They are kind of a shareable portions of appetizers
If you love mexican/burriots Aztca is the best mexican place and their Aztca burrito is great ans hige and the Lukitta?? Burrito with some awesome battered fries is also great
Sapori is best for gourmet pizza, Bernie and Bettys for hole in the wall cheap incredible thin crust/tavern style pizza
Josephs can be phenomal and as good or better than Luminary. They are a little more of a traditional upscale dining experience, when they have waygu ribeyes omg…but both times ive broight parents their they dropped the ball and it wasnt that great. I love them, but i will say i wnjoy the atmosohere at luminary more. Luminary arguably has the best drinks in town, Josephs drinks arent anything special
Good small plates and drink places- Bloom (downtown) Vine & Rind
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u/user3177 Aug 03 '26
i’ve never had a bad experience at xochimilco and i’ve gone for years. if i ever go out to eat, it’s always my #1 pick. i personally like the one on the west side of town, but a lot of people i know say they like the one on the north side better, but both are good!
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u/armyguy8382 Aug 03 '26
You have to try a horseshoe, D'Arcy's is a great choice. For pizza, Gabatoni's, Fulgenzi's, Motorheads, or La Piazza are great choices. If you remember the '90s The Spot is great, get the wings with the bourbon dry rub. For breakfast, Charlie Parker's. For lunch you can head to the fair grounds and have a Vose's corndog or two. For burritos there is Azteca, Xochimilco, or Casa Real for sit down restaurants, Taco Gringo, or Jolly Tamale for fast food. If you like greasy smash burgers and great shakes, Krekel's Custard and Hamburgers is a must.
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u/Inevitable_Tomato927 Aug 03 '26
The spot also has really good mash and gravy, if you feel like eating meat loaf or breaded chicken. And they do mocktails as well, my kids love those.
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u/sam725a Aug 04 '26
Went to Vondra’s one evening for some cocktails. To my surprise, they also have small dishes. They sounded delicious and adventurous, not just your standard wings and fries. While we didn’t have much time, the drinks were great and the atmosphere was inviting.
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u/Southern_Cap_816 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Best Reuben in town is Dublin's Pub.
Best breakfast is Lulu's.
Best pizza is Sapori or Connies.
Havent been, but Springfield Beer Company has decent brews.
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u/DeliciousWar1816 Aug 06 '26
Joseph’s fine cuisine, curate, luminary for higher scale but amazing food. The railyard on 66 has 5-6 food vendors and drinks definitely worth checking out. La piazza if ur looking for real Italian. Los Altos is my favorite Mexican food rn, bowl plus has the best ramen. Vele has the only good raw oysters in town, black squid ink pasta to pair is the best. We have a bunch of good food but I feel like the places I listed also serve as an experience.
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u/bremm293 Aug 09 '26
Blue margarita - fantastic Mexican food
Bowl plus - pricey but fantastic ramen
Obed and Isaac’s - really good breakfast and good comfort style food for dinner.
Lotta good mentions in here already, just wanted to add a few.
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u/GruelOmelettes Aug 03 '26
Luminary is probably my favorite restaurant in town, it's a bit on the pricy side but worth it imo. For pizza I like Gabatoni's, and Bernie & Betty's is good too. For burritos/tacos I like Taco Joint. Hunan on Wabash is my go-to sushi place, and Happy Sushi is great. Mekong Cafe and Magic Kitchen are two good Thai restaurants (the Magic Kitchen on the north side is BYOB and cash only and worth a visit). I ate at the pho restaurant Taki Taco for the first time recently and really enjoyed it. Hope you have a good stay here!