Perilla

The Verdict

Opinionated About Dining's Leading Restaurants in Europe list; ranked #377 in 2024 and climbing to #421 in 2025; combined with a Star Wine List #1 ranking in 2025 and Pearl Recommended status. For a $$ restaurant in Chicago's Loop, that combination of recognition at an accessible price point is unusual. If you've already been once, the question isn't whether to return, it's whether you've explored enough of the menu to justify the trip back.

What Perilla Is

The format is chef-driven, the price tier is mid-range, the cuisine sits at an intersection that remains relatively uncommon in the American Midwest: Korean technique and flavour logic applied within a contemporary British sensibility. This is not Korean-American fusion in the casual sense. Think more structured, more deliberate, more wine-forward than the average Korean spot in the city.

The awards data hints at a kitchen operating with a level of precision that overdelivers at the $$ price point. The Star Wine List leading ranking for 2025 signals that the beverage program is a serious part of the offering, not an afterthought. If you visited primarily for food last time, the wine list is the most obvious area to push further on a return visit.

The Food: What to Expect

Modern British cooking at its finest is restrained, ingredient-led, structured around a clear sequence. Korean flavour profiles layer fermentation, heat, umami in ways that add depth without heaviness. Together, the combination tends to produce dishes that reward attention rather than speed. This is not a venue where you rush through courses.

The $$ pricing means you are not paying for theatre or ceremony, but the OAD ranking and Pearl Recommended status suggest the kitchen has earned its recognition on the plate. For a returning guest, the practical move is to push beyond your first-visit comfort choices and let the kitchen make more decisions for you, whether that means the tasting format if offered, or asking for the team's current recommendations at the time of booking.

Editorial Angle: Does This Travel Well?

The Pearl editorial angle for Perilla is worth addressing directly: does the food hold up off-premise? The honest answer, given the cuisine type, is that Modern British and Korean cooking at this level is best eaten in the room. Fermented elements, carefully plated components, wine-program pairings don't translate cleanly to a takeout container. If your primary goal is convenience, this is not the right venue. Perilla is worth booking for the sit-down experience. The Star Wine List ranking alone argues against ordering delivery when the point of the beverage program is pairing and sequence. Come in, sit down, take your time.

Timing and Access

Perilla is closed Mondays. Dinner runs Tuesday through Sunday, 6 to 10 pm. Lunch service operates Friday and Saturday from 12:30 to 2:30 pm, Sunday runs an extended session from 12:30 to 8:30 pm. The Sunday window is the most flexible entry point for a return visit, particularly if you want a lower-pressure service and a longer afternoon format rather than a conventional dinner booking. Friday and Saturday lunch are worth considering if the Loop works for your schedule; midday at a $$ restaurant with this level of recognition is a better value proposition than the same meal at dinner in many comparable cities. Booking difficulty is rated Easy, which means you do not need to plan weeks ahead, but the weekend services fill faster than weekday slots.

Practical Details

Reservations: Easy to book; weekday dinner slots are most available, weekend lunch and Sunday sessions fill sooner. Budget: $$, mid-range; expect to spend more if you lean into the wine program, which is the Star Wine List #1-ranked offering for 2025. Dress: The urbane downtown setting and mid-range price tier suggest smart casual is appropriate. Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 6–10 pm; Friday–Saturday 12:30–2:30 pm and 6–10 pm; Sunday 12:30–8:30 pm; Monday closed. Address: 225 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601.

How Pearl Rates It

Pearl Recommended (2025). Star Wine List #1 (2025). Opinionated About Dining Leading Restaurants in Europe #421 (2025). The trajectory here is consistent: this is a kitchen and beverage program that has earned external validation at a price point where overdelivering is the whole point.

Other Chicago Restaurants Worth Considering

For context across the broader Chicago dining scene, Pearl's full guides cover Chicago restaurants, Chicago hotels, Chicago bars, Chicago wineries, and Chicago experiences. If Korean-inflected cooking is a priority, Atomix in New York City is the national reference point for the format at the highest level. For Modern British cooking with comparable ambition in a different context, Lazy Bear in San Francisco and Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg show what the format can do with different regional ingredients.