Even though this is a chain, they have an awesome quesadilla and a terrific selection of beer! The interior of the place is typical Irish pub-esque with several nooks and crannies that offer some privacy or a view of the TV screens. The Fado in Atlanta has not been the same since it moved, so I was glad to find this unpretentious version in Chicago! read more

Went to Fado on a weeknight... Wednesday I think. It was quiet, got a table easily and the food was decent. We mainly stuck to snacks. The fish and chips was pretty good too. Definitely try it with a Kilkenny. I think the drinks that I had... Kilkenny's, Guinness, some whisky, Fado Irish Coffee and a Car Bomb were absolutely great. The Kilkenny's Cream Beer is a definite must if you haven't tried it before. The Guinness could have been fresher but I think it's pretty good given that you're in the Midwest. Finally, thumbs up for the IRISH COFFEE. I got three of those and they were fabulous. They show football games (yes, soccer) and I am definitely looking forward to going back there on the weekend for their brunch. read more

Fado's has a nice atmosphere, good food, fairly good drink selection and it is reasonably priced. The atmosphere is nice -- I prefer it when it is less busy so I can enjoy my beer and conversation versus. At times it can become just like any other meat market/pick-up bar...not that there's anything wrong with that but it's not the atmosphere I'm typically looking for when I go into an Irish Pub. My dishes of choice -- the Irish Breakfast and Pretzel app. DELICIOUS. read more

Prototype dive bar with great service ! Great choice for a late night out . Drinks are also quite good for a great price !

I love Irish Pubs and was happy to see one close to my hotel. I have been in Chicago for 2 weeks and I have been here about 5 times so far. The staff is friendly and welcoming with a handshake when you sit down at the bar. The fish & chips are really good. I had the lamb dip which I wasn't crazy about. But still a good place to go for dinner and a drink. read more

Outstanding Irish grub you'd think your in Ireland if you stay for the music! Great hangout joint! The bartenders here are awesome!!

HAPPY HOUR Great bar with excellent Pub Grub. We enjoyed Bangers and Mash and Shepherd's Pie along with some Black & Tans. This place has a great layout for a pub with the bar in the middle and plenty of dark corners for conversation and privacy. A real Irish bar that Chicago can be proud of. read more

This has always been my favorite Irish pub in Chicago, but I was reminded why a few months ago right before I left for Ireland to study abroad (yes, I know this review is way overdue). We went here with about ten of my friends for a going-away party, and I was actually a little nervous to bring all my friends because of how much I had always raved about Fado: I wanted it to live up to their expectations. My fiance and I often come to Fado on Sundays after church, because there's usually live music and their brunch and lunch menu is extremely affordable and filling. It was a little rough at first because although we had made reservations for 7:30, the group in front of us ran long and we didn't get to sit down until almost 8:30. The staff was so polite and helpful the entire time though, letting us know why it was running long and keeping us informed the whole time. When they did seat us, they provided several kinds of free appetizers for the whole table of 12, just because they felt bad it took so long. My friends were already won over at that point, and then the menu options blew them away too: I promise, the food here is to die for. Get the boxty, you won't regret it. At the end of the night we were talking with our server and since I was leaving for Ireland the next day they brought me behind the bar to show me how to pour a proper Guinness. It made for an incredible memory before I left, and after having been to many pubs here in Ireland, I have to say that Fado is still one of my favorites around the world--very welcoming and very authentic! read more

One of my favorite bars in the city to sit back and relax with a Guinness. This place is huge and never a problem to find a place. Their curry sauce is too good and has an Indian touch to it. Over all a fun place to hang out after office and sip couple of Guinness. read more

Very nice place! My wife and I went in for lunch last weekend and the service at the bar was quick n friendly. They had a pretty decent beer selection, good enough for a meal and appetizers for sure. We shared the lamb sliders which were cooked awesomely and tasted delicious. Also the porkbelly tacos and the thick cut fries. Everything was delicious and were hoping to go back and try some of the other bigger items on the menu. Super nice looking place also and it was cool ta watch a Bears game and some soccer at the same time. My wife had their Ginger Beer with a shot of Jameson either and highly recommends it. Oh and speaking of Jameson, the shots were very cheap compared to an average $9 a shot down the street anywhere. Highly recommend this place, very close to Union Station, $5 cab ride from there or 10min walk on a nice day. Cant wait to go back. read more

Busy bar but the Irish coffee was well worth the wait! Multiple people referred this place for an Irish tavern and it didn't disappoint. read more

Fado Irish Pub - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here to watch the Mcgregor-Khabib fight, and it's a very cool place! They got a good selection of beers and lots of TVs to watch games/fights on. I believe they show European football (Premier League etc.) on weekends, so that's pretty cool as well. Overall a very nice Irish bar that has everything you need! read more

It's a great Irish pub. The bar staff are extremely nice and great people. Good typical Irish food, pies etc. But it was around the corner from my hotel when I was in town and up going there a few times and was happy every time read more

I came here Friday night for a quick drink while we were waiting on our reservation nearby. We just sat at the bar and had a quick glass of wine. It's certainly more of a pub than a place for wine but it was a perfect place to kill 15 minutes in River North. I'm sure I'll be back at some point! read more

We wish we could give this 10 stars. The food was awesome (fish and chips, Irish Breakfast and Corned Beef with potato dumplings were all fantastic). Megan our waitress couldn't have been better. The highlight of our entire 3 days on Chicago was the 45 minute masters class in Irish Whiskey the the Executive GM Tom gave us. We have been on numerous distillery tours in Ireland and nothing we have done held a candle to the experience he gave us. It was was off the charts. True Irish hospitality in the US. read more

Having read some of the reviews for Fado, I was wondering what their service would be like on a Saturday morning before noon. That's right, my husband and I were at Fado's this morning before 11am to watch a Six Nations Rugby game; not any game actually but England v France. The place was packed, the atmosphere was great and so was the service. The staff was very attentive and quick considering how crowded the place was and the Breakfast Salmon Bagel my husband had ordered was delicious as far as pub food goes. Last but by no means least, I was glad to see that the restroom had also been cleaned from the night before! There is nothing worse than to still see or smell the Friday night party with your first coffee on Saturday morning. So, Fado's turned out to be a great place to watch the game, which was sweetened by the fact that England beat France. read more

Foods good and the people are friendly but when I ordered a whiskey and soda I could not believe how crystal clear that drink was. If they put any whiskey in it at all, I couldn't tell. I thought it was a mistake so after re-hydrating myself with the first, I ordered a second. Same exact thing! I couldn't believe they were going to make me ask them to actually put some alcohol in my 5 dollar drink. Pitiful. Nice trivia night though. read more

Best Irish coffee ever Yummy food Absolutely loved the hummus,feta pita appetizer. Really good food, service and atmosphere read more

"Always seem to get more for my money at Fado" There's great flow at Fado: the balance between the people, prices and music create a pleasant experience. Staff works hard to keep the place clean during times of crazy busy, which is a great sign and makes tipping easy because you are able to see the results right away. I'm comfortable bringing friends as well as business associates here because its close to the hotels. read more

In town on business. Had a Saturday free. Being Irish, I seeked out a pint of Guinness :) Been to other Fado's around the country and, while they're pretty generic, they're quite consistent. Enter Fado's in Downtown Chicago. Walked into a nice looking, relatively empty bar. Spent over 10 minutes at the bar - moving to three different parts - trying to get the attention of any of the two women 'working' the bar. I might as well have been invisible. One spent around 6-7 minutes (long time when you're waiting to get a drink) serving two gentlemen, who felt like shooting the breeze with her and she duly obliged by chit-chatting with them. The other one was too busy counting tips to care about anything else. I eventually walked out and went to The Kerryman, two minutes up the street and had a great night and some quality pints of Guinness. Go to The Kerryman instead. read more

My husband and I go here once probably every other month. The food is always amazing and the service is impeccable. For a seat-yourself place, we have never waited for more than 5 minutes before a server or the bartender comes to us with menus. All of the staff is extremely nice - we have never had a bad experience. We always get Guinness - our favorite place to get a well poured glass! For the non-guinness drinkers they have a full bar as well. It does get pretty busy if there is a soccer match on during the day, and they are usually pretty busy in the evenings and on weekends. But again, food, drinks and service are always outstanding! read more

Nice place I had the boxty for the first time it was very flavorful, I also had the cheeseballs for appetizer they were very good also. read more

Fado Irish Pub - Boxty - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great, friendly bar with live music upstairs. Security and waitstaff were very kind. Aaron Wilhoft (aaronwilhoft.com) plays here every Friday night starting at 9pm, and he's absolutely incredible - talented singer, so passionate, and entertaining. He really made our night out. Thank you! read more

Came here for the Women's World Cup Final and it was packed. We had a table and the server was very attentive throughout the entire game. There was a reasonable breakfast menu and mimosas are only $4. Every weekend they have a great brunch and the atmosphere is really nice. Well done! read more

I was apart of a wedding party that had our rehearsal dinner there and I MUST SAY The food was awesome, drinks were lit and the fish and chips read more

Came in around 1am with a very large party. Kenneth did us a real solid and got us all situated. Great atmosphere, real Guinness, and a healthy selection of whisky. Servers/waitstaff were all courteous and accommodating. Overall an excellent establishment. read more

I stopped by with a hankering for some shepherds pie. The first thing I noticed was the excellent decor. For the food... The dish was very good, as was the service. However, I do have two minor complaints. The shepherds pie came with a funky walnut/cranberry salad. It tasted okay, but it's not something I'd expect to be served with an Irish dish. My other minor complaint was the price. For $16, I would have expected larger portions. read more

Easy 5 stars. First, the bartenders are great! So friendly and always introduce themselves when you sit down. The food, amazingly well done. Corned Beef and Cabbage is the best I've ever had. Ambiance is top tier if you're looking for an Irish Pub. read more

The happy hour is great. The fish tacos are excellent as are the salmon bites. Outstanding. The ambiance is casual, and their happy hour menu is top notch. read more

Absolutely fantastic, authentic Irish pub. The GM, Tom, was great and I would highly recommend this pub to anyone who comes to Chicago and is looking for great food, drink and atmosphere. read more

Found this place a couple years ago when I was looking for somewhere to watch the World Cup. Great atmosphere, nice beer selection, and a fun time. Took my English father and he approved. I've been back several times since to watch football matches and drink Strongbow (on tap but expensive!), to grab a bite to eat, or to just drink late into the night with friends. Always a good time. Live music on the weekends upstairs, and it can get very crowded up there, but it's a big place and you can usually find a dark table somewhere or other. read more

No my rating is not going down, I wish I could add 1 more star actually! I was looking through some old photos and stumbled on a bunch of my friends and I at Fado. I then remembered something I forgot all about that I thought was so important to share. When at Fado we were so lucky to be drinking with The Tossers. If you are not familiar with them, go get their CD and keep reading. Well to make a possible long post a little shorter, we ended up all sitting around the bar and signing Irish Folk Songs all night long. For a moment I really felt like I was in Ireland. This was truly one of the best nights I have ever had in a Irish Pub. Fado is where its at for good Irish Fun!!! read more

While visiting Chicago from Canada this past weekend, we wanted to make sure we visited an authentic Irish Pub. We entered the bar and were immediately impressed by the cool decorum, it looked very authentic, but that's were the authenticity stopped there. We had called ahead to see if there was an live music, and to our luck yes there was. Great we thought, let's go get some Irish beer and listen to some great Irish pub music. Wrong! This one man band Morgan (I think that was his name), and yeah he was from Ireland) but that's about as Irish as it got. He played crappy 80's music , but I felt sorry for the guy, because in this crowd of university students, we were the oldest ones there, 40 somethings, no one was listening. I don't think any of the people in the pub were born when most of this music came out. Actually he wasn't a bad singer, but really this was the wrong place for his music. When he wasn't playing, music was blasting, not Irish music either, and you couldn't hear what it was, because the sound system was so bad. Unfortunately we couldn't wait to finish our beer and leave. I would not recommend this place as an Irish pub and would definitely not go back again. In fact as we were leaving, some of the customers were yelling at the guy to play some Irish music. read more

With the Southside Parade no longer an option, I had to find another way to celebrate the weekend before St. Patty's Day. We opted to go to Fados for rugby and music. Our friend's band Napper Tandy was playing (a Fado regular). After the wait to get into the lower level, and than the wait to get upstairs, we were more than hungry. I ordered the Irish Breakfast. I was a little shocked by David R's review to hear that his black and white pudding was sub par. After many breakfasts in Ireland, and than visiting numerous Irish pubs in the states, I felt that Fados meat selections were excellent. The potato bread was indeed amazing as were the eggs! The bar was packed and full of a lot of wannabe Irish. It was expected being the weekend before St. Patty's Day. Regardless, it was still a good time. The music was great. The service excellent; the waitresses worked their tails off all day and smiled the whole time. The ambiance in this pub is great. It is one of our favorite spots to watch Seven Nations Rugby. I highly recommend that your 1st visit not be on one of the craziest days of the year so you can truly experience the bar and the people. .....For all you post 30 people, don't be scared off by Chris C's review. There is usually a very diverse crowd ranging in age from 22- 50. read more

This is my favorite pub in Chicago. We've been here many, many times and when friends come from out of state it's always on the list of places to take them. My favorite area is the 3rd floor bar where there is usually some sort of band on the weekends. The atmosphere is relaxed and the people are very friendly. The bar staff are actually from Ireland as is the 3rd floor bar itself - imported from a turn of the century bar in ireland- its hard to get more authentic than that.. The food is typical bar food but it's possibly the best bar food I've ever had. Great selection of Irish beers and whiskeys read more

GREAT FOOD! Highly recommend: Lamb french dip sandwich Fish and Chips and whatever soup they have! Decent beer selection: Try the organic strawberry ale (~$9) but my new FAV! Beautiful decor and there is two floors of awesome pubness! and last time was there I actually had an irish waiter....though I have to admit I had trouble understanding his accent. pretty crowded though we got seats at the bar. read more

I came last year for a friend's farewell party and have been hooked ever since. The jalapeño - jack stuffed cheese puffs make my whole day better. And the Harp battered fish tacos are so full of flavor yet light and somehow filling. I feel so comfortable when I'm here, even when it's packed. They also have some awesome cubby seats upstairs where you expect a character from Diagon Alley to sit next to you at any moment. Go for happy hour and get these tasty morsels for $5! read more

Fado Irish Pub - Harp battered fish tacos and jalapeño-jack cheese puffs. - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great pub, crowded as all heck, really loud, fun, great food, awesome Mimosas....tons of beers being poured....just go! If you're in to Premier League, there are plenty of screens. read more

Very warm and cozy place. I didn't know it was a chain until i went to the one in Philly. The staff is friendly and attentive. They serve a really nice pint of Guinness and excellent Irish Coffee read more

Traditional Irish pub with limited modern Irish pub grub appetizers and meals. Nice friendly atmosphere and excellent service. we started off with a pint of Guinness which was poured perfectly and a glass of wine. I had the corned beef and potato dumplings which was mixed with cook cabbage in a non traditional sauce which tasted amazing. My wife decided to make a meal out of appetizers and had the marinated chicken wings and smoked salmon. For dessert we shared an amazing bread pudding which was covered with vanilla ice cream. Although we arrived late afternoon, the pub quickly filled with festive guests and turned into a casual party. Nicole, our waitress, was very friendly and outgoing as far as service and ensured that our food came quickly and that our glasses were never empty. Prices were competitive and the location was a few blocks from the Miracle read more