Feld Earns Michelin Star as Chicago Dining Scene Shifts
Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood is celebrating a new culinary milestone. Feld, a farm-to-table restaurant that opened in 2024, earned its first Michelin star in November, along with a Green Star recognizing its commitment to sustainability. According to CBS Chicago, Feld sources ingredients from within a four-hour radius, with dishes prepared and plated directly in front of diners.
Chef Jacob Potashnick, a Chicago native, focuses on seasonal products and inventive presentations. A single meal might showcase asparagus in three forms: sliced raw with a cured lemon emulsion, tempura fried, and juiced alongside fresh cheese. His approach highlights how one ingredient can be transformed through technique and perspective.
For Chicago’s dining community, Feld’s recognition signals encouraging momentum. It demonstrates that emerging restaurants can earn early acclaim by pairing creativity with sustainability. The star adds depth to Chicago’s Michelin landscape and reflects the city’s growing interest in eco-conscious dining.
Nearby Kasama, also in Ukrainian Village, continues to expand its own legacy. The Filipino bakery and restaurant became the world’s first Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant in 2022, and in 2025, it was elevated to two stars. Husband-and-wife team Tim Flores and Genie Kwon have drawn long lines for their inventive dishes, helping bring Filipino cuisine to the forefront of fine dining. Kwon accepted the award emotionally during the ceremony, while Flores was represented by a cutout of his head.
The 2025 Michelin Guide brought significant shifts to Chicago’s fine-dining hierarchy. While Feld and Kasama rose, Alinea — long viewed as the city’s flagship — was downgraded from three stars to two, a decision that surprised many but underscored Michelin’s ongoing reassessment of restaurants based on current performance.
Chicago now boasts 20 Michelin-starred restaurants, with Smyth holding the city’s only three-star designation. The mix of established leaders and rising newcomers reflects a dynamic food culture that continues to evolve. As the Michelin Guide noted, Feld’s debut and Kasama’s promotion demonstrate “bold creativity and commitment to excellence.”
For diners, the changes reaffirm Chicago’s position as a premier destination for diverse culinary experiences — from avant-garde tasting menus to Filipino comfort cooking — showcasing a broad spectrum of traditions and innovation.
