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Where and What to Eat During Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week 2025

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With 60 Options, Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week is Bigger Than Ever

Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week is the area’s best celebration of food and drink across the community. Restaurants opt in to participate to this special event, which is organized each year by our friends at Experience Champaign-Urbana.

This year, Restaurant Week extends over a nine-day period, starting on Friday, Jan. 24 and going through Saturday, Feb. 1.

Since we have to pack in SO MUCH EATING in such a short order of time, we figured we might do our research in advance and plan out how we want to attack. And we did some work to help you make the most of this special foodie fun.

What to eat during Restaurant Week champaign urbana restaurant week

Before we give out this year’s picks … here’s some tips and tricks to getting the most out of Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week:

  • One of the highlights of restaurant week is the special deals and menu items at each participating establishment.(All menu offerings are located on the Restaurant Week website). Of course, you don’t have to order these items when you go out during Restaurant Week … but the special deals are part of the main draw.
  • Restaurant Week is for everyone — and has something for almost every budget. And you don’t have to commit to a full meal, there’s plenty of savory treats and special drinks.
    • Donuts? Check out Industrial Donuts in Savoy or Ye Olde Donuts in Champaign — specials for half a dozen or dozen donuts.
    • Ice cream? The Main Scoop (all locations: Urbana, Rantoul, Monticello and Mahomet) has a special perfect for a family (or other) foursome.
    • Baked goods? BakeLab (Urbana and Champaign) and Hopscotch have your cravings covered.
  • Somehow this event continues its exponential growth, with 10 MORE restaurants participating this year for a total of 60.
    • They are spread across eight cities/villages:  Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, Rantoul, Paxton, Monticello, Mahomet and Tuscola.
  • What’s new: Several new restaurants that have opened in the past year have joined the fun. Restaurant Week is always a great opportunity to try something new, whether it’s new in town or just new-to-you.
    • Restaurants that opened in 2024 that are participating include: Burrito Lab, Champaign; Briks Pizzeria, Mahomet; Oskee’s Sports Pub, Urbana; Caprae at Prairie Fruits Farm, Champaign; and Good Judys Espresso and Bagels, Urbana.
  • Wishing you were on an exotic vacation? Quell your travel bug by eating “around the world” right here in Champaign-Urbana. Congolese, Indian, Thai, Laotian, Mexican, Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian, and Zambian fare populate the menu options; there’s also farm-to-table food, soul food, barbecue, and many more variations of American food.
  • Vegan? Vegetarian? They have it all.
  • If you want to go out on a Friday or a Saturday night, we recommend snagging reservations when available.
  • Love to Instagram your food? Share your pictures and experience with the hashtag #CURestaurantWeek for a chance to win a $100 gift card to a participating restaurant of your choice.

Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week Picks

Below we’ve highlighted 15 options for restaurant week. There are so many delicious items to choose from, but these were ones that stood out to us for a variety of reasons — value; ingenuity; or both!

(DISCLAIMER: Of course our taste buds may be limited. And while we wish we could give love to all 60 restaurants, we just don’t have enough room in our tummies. Don’t forget to look at the broader list of Restaurant Week options for more ideas).

TASTING and PRIX FIXE MENUS: Call it a tasting menu, a three course meal, or a prix fixe meal —  we aren’t picky, we just know that they feel fancy. And they are really delicious treats — isn’t that exactly why we indulge our tastebuds? We couldn’t pick just one, so we’re highlighting a few. Literally, we are salivating over here just thinking about all these flavors.

$23 Tasting Menu, Houlihan’s: Where can you get a three-course meal for $23 per person during Restaurant Week? No, this isn’t a trick question. Thank you Houlihan’s for showing us how it’s done. Choose a soup or salad; an entree; and a dessert. Options include the famous Houlihan’s fish tacos. (Houlihan’s also offers a $43 menu option.) See the full options here.

$33 Three-Course Meal, Big Grove Tavern: Three courses include a choice of salad, entree and dessert. They had me at Marry Me Chicken, a dish with grilled chicken and pasta that sounds absolutely perfect for a winter night. Vegan and gluten free options are offered. And those Big Grove Tavern desserts are always divine. See the full Big Grove Restaurant Week menu here. 

$43 Tasting Menu, Nando Milano Trattoria: Nando offers some of the most unique dishes on the Restaurant Week docket. The tasting menu features multiple options for the appetizer and entree, with seafood, beef, and chicken among them. Our picks: Carpaccio di Manzo for antipasti, Pollo alla Parmigiana as entree, completed by a classic — tiramisu. Don’t forget the wine (extra). See the full Nando Milano Trattoria Restaurant Week menu here. 

$43 Dinner, The Wheelhouse: Sometimes, when you look at these multiple course options, you have to look at dessert first. And who isn’t intrigued by fruity pebble crusted cheesecake, blueberry sauce and whip cream. Entree options include beef, fish and vegetarian choices. Make the trip to St. Joseph, you won’t regret it. See the full  Wheelhouse Restaurant Week menu here. 

A-MAIZE-ING: With breakfast, lunch and dinner options, Maize is a great option for any meal due to its fresh, unique flavors, generous portions, and friendly environment. For dinner, guests are invited to have two courses — Sopa Tarasca (bean and tortilla soup) with a choice of entrees. For the vegetarians, we were excited to see Mega Tlacoyo with Nopales featured — a stuffed blue corn tortilla topped with tender grilled nopales, melted cheese, onion, cilantro, sour cream, and añjeo cheese.  See the whole special Restaurant Week menu here.

Maize Restaurant Week 2024
We visited Maize during Restaurant Week in 2024, and weren’t disappointed. chambanamoms.com photo

HAVE A DATE NIGHT/FAMILY NIGHT OF ICE CREAM: We agree with the Main Scoop, ice cream knows no season in our house. And what’s more fun than getting the gang together for a family or date night out for our favorite frozen treat? We love these budget-friendly options: Get a soda float for two for $13, or an ice cream sampler for two for $11. Another option is a pint of ice cream and four waffle bowls plus gourmet popcorn for $19.50. Flavor pick: Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel with Chocolate Covered Pretzels. Lovely melding of sweet and savory. See the full menu for the Main Scoop (Restaurant Week menu available at all four  locations).

INDIAN FEAST: Chambanamoms.com readers consistently rank Kohinoor among their favorite local Indian restaurants. What we like about the Kohinoor Restaurant Week lineup is the sheer number of options that diners can select. And we promise, no one is going home hungry after this feast. Meals include an entree, samosa appetizer, mango shake and homemade green salad, as well as rice and naan. Vegetarian option is $25; non-vegetarian for $30.  See the full Kohinoor Restaurant Week menu here.

Kohinoor Restaurant Week 2020
We visited Kohinoor for Restaurant Week in 2020. Chambanamoms.com photo

GET LUNCH ON CAMPUS: Perhaps you’ve made a pledge to eat healthier in 2025. Or maybe you want to get more vegetables into your diet. Or maybe you just want a great bowl. Head to Forage Kitchen in Campustown and you won’t be disappointed. For Restaurant Week, get a regular Fiesta Bowl with protein plus any Forage Kombucha for $13. If it’s comfort food you are seeking, a no-regret move is to head over to Cafe Sababa and get Aaron’s famous tuna melt with a side of quinoa salad for $10.50.

SAMPLE STANGO: We may sound like a broken record but Restaurant Week is a great way to sample new or new-to-us places and spaces. We were delighted to see the addition of Emma’s Platter to the offerings from Stango Cuisine, the Zambian restaurant that has become an Urbana staple. Emma’s Platter includes a sample of beef stew, chicken curry, Stango rice, Nshima, sweet potatoes, green beans and Hungarian sausage (and includes an appetizer and beignets). There are plenty more options, so see the Stango Cuisine restaurant week menu here.

TOP NOTCH DINNER VALUE: Hamilton Walker’s, Champaign: Every year we RAVE about the Hamilton Walker’s Restaurant Week experience, and this year doesn’t disappoint, either. Downtown Champaign’s steakhouse is offering $33, three-course meals, which is a price point hard to beat for the value. The first course is choice of soup or salad (three different salad options). There are three entree options: grilled beef tenderloin tails, grilled salmon or grilled chicken; all served with roasted garlic sautéed green beans and smashed potatoes. For dessert, cookies or flourless chocolate torte.

Main Scoop restaurant week 2023
It’s never too cold for ice cream, especially during Restaurant Week (Main Scoop, 2023) chambanamoms photo

FEED YOUR BODY AND SOUL: The delicious food and warm environment keep us coming back to Neil Street Blues, which offers several different price points for its Restaurant Week dinner offerings — $23 to $43 per entree. Options include Garlic & Herb Grill Lamb Chops; Shrimp & Crawfish Etoufée; or pan-seared chicken dish. Portions are generous! See the Neil Street Blues Restaurant Week specials here.

TACO NIGHT CAN BE ANY NIGHT: Our version of meal planning during Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week is grabbing the Family Pack from La Paloma Food Truck, one of the friendliest trucks in town. This includes 10 regular tacos along with chips and guacamole, for $43. Have a smaller crew or appetite? There are options for them too. See the full options online here for Restaurant Week.

DATE NIGHT AT A CLASSIC: While we love to try new restaurants, we also enjoy revisiting old favorites. There are few local restaurants that scream “CHAMPAIGN” more than The Ribeye. Whether you bring a friend, a loved one, a partner, or your family, The Ribeye has two options for a special “all-in” meal for a pair of diners — which includes entrees, bread, the much beloved salad bar, and more. Be sure to take a look at the full Ribeye Restaurant Week menu.

Jupiter's At the crossing
We love the creativity of Jupiter’s at the Crossing. Why not have a game night during Restaurant Week? (chambanamoms.com photo)

HAVE A FAMILY NIGHT WITH JUPITER’S AT THE CROSSING: This one wins for the most creative Restaurant Week offering — the inclusion of family-friendly entertainment. The Jupiter’s at the Crossing $43 family special includes a large two-topping pizza, an order of breadsticks, a pitcher of soda, and two $10 game cards. Jupiter’s at the Crossing features its famous basement arcade which keeps kids occupied — oops did I say that out loud? — while their parents can have a conversation. There are other options too.

Looking for more food options around Champaign-Urbana?