Awards season is here for much of the entertainment industry, and the Tribune food team is getting in on the fun: Nominations are now open for the 2024 Readers’ Choice Food Awards, where we give you, the readers, the opportunity to weigh in on the best food from last year.
We have 10 categories highlighting your favorites from 2024, from pop-ups to neighborhood bars to new restaurants. Submit your nominations using the form below or at chicagotribune.com/FoodAwards2024.
After the nomination period ends Jan. 22, we’ll select five finalists in each category who will move forward to the final round, where readers can vote for their favorites. The voting period will run from Jan. 24 to Feb. 7, and we’ll announce the winners March 5.
While tallying the nominations, we will take a few things into consideration: If nominations come from the restaurants themselves, or if the same person seemed to submit multiple nominations through different emails.
— Kayla Samoy, food editor
This year’s categories are:
Coffee Shop of the Year: Your favorite spot to grab a cup of joe.
Bakery of the Year: The best place to indulge in a sweet treat.
Pop-up or Pop-up Series of the Year: Which limited-time events do you keep thinking about?
Family-run Restaurant of the Year: Those beloved spots that have been upholding family traditions for years.
Family-friendly Restaurant of the Year: Where to go when dining with little ones.
Neighborhood Bar of the Year: That go-to local haunt.
Late-night Spot of the Year: When it’s after midnight and you’re looking for more than a chain fast-food restaurant.
Suburban Restaurant of the Year: Delicious dining outside of city limits.
Inspiring Story of the Year: The places that had stories of perseverance and resilience that tugged on our heartstrings.
New Restaurant of the Year: Your favorite spot that opened in 2024.
