Where and What to Eat During Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week 2026

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 57 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.

$35 Three-Course Meal, Punch: They had us at liquid dessert. Punch, the craft cocktail lounge in downtown Champaign, doesn’t always get the credit it is due for its delicious food. While the menu is set, it won’t disappoint with bountiful flavors of butter chicken skewers and coconut-curry soup with shrimp. The Chai-Infused Spirit is available with alcohol or as a mocktail. See the menu here. 

$35 (Italian) or $45 (French) Tasting Menu, Houlihan’s: Italian or French-themed options frame the Houlihan’s menu this year, with both being three-course meals. We are especially intrigued by the French menu: savory cheese puffs with Gruyère, 8oz Ribeye with creamy peppercorn sauce and an inverted apple tarte. See the full options here.

$35 Dinner for Two, Three-Course Meal, Mo’s Burritos:  No, that is NOT a misprint. A prix fix dinner for two for $35 that is three courses at Mo’s, one of the best Mexican restaurants in town? SIGN ME UP. Includes choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert. The dessert options alone have me excited – flan, tres leches or churros.  See the full Mo’s Burritos Restaurant Week menu here. 

$35 Three-course dinner, Hamilton Walker’s: 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 $35, 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 green beans and smashed potatoes. For dessert, bread pudding or flourless chocolate torte.

$45 Dinner, The Wheelhouse: Sometimes, when you look at these multiple course options, you have to look at dessert first. We are intrigued by the Wheelhouse’s modern interpretation of Baked Alaska with a waffle, strawberries and more. Entree options include beef, seafood 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 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.

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 $12.50. Another option is a pint of ice cream and four waffle bowls for $13. 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 $26; non-vegetarian for $31.  See the full Kohinoor Restaurant Week menu here.

GET LUNCH ON CAMPUS: Perhaps you’ve made a pledge to eat healthier in 2026. Or maybe you want to get more vegetables into your diet. Or you just want a great meal. Head to Forage Kitchen in Campustown and you won’t be disappointed. For Restaurant Week, get a regular Fiesta or Thai Bowl with protein plus any Forage Kombucha for $15. If it’s comfort food you are seeking, a no-regret move is to head over to Cafe Sababa and get the Summer Camp combo – Margherita Grilled Cheese, a cup of tomato soup, fries, pickle, cookie and drink – for $15. Since it’s been so frigid, enjoy some warm soup in your belly. Head to Susuru Ramen for a $16.50 lunch special – Tonkosu or veggie, plus an appetizer and drink.

WE LOVE A GOOD COLLAB: Our hearts are exploding over the amazing Restaurant Week collaboration between Wood N’ Hog Barbecue and Stango Cuisine.  Create your own soul food experience on the Wood N’ Hog menu, mix and match proteins (options such as smothered pork chop, salisbury steak or BBQ Chicken Neck Bones) and sides plus cornbread. On the Stango menu, a three-course meal option has various main course — who knew you could get pompano in Champaign? — with beignets for dessert. ( see the Stango Cuisine restaurant week menu here.

SENSATIONAL SAMMIES: Head over to Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage in Urbana for some of the most unique sandwiches in the area. Restaurant Week specials include Pampanella (Artichoke spread, chianti braised spicy pork shoulder, Calabrian slaw, Calabrian honey sauce) or the Beef Braciole (Prosciutto & flank steak roulade, Sunday sauce, sharp provolone, rapini, salsa verde). Not interested in sandwiches? Stop by for a key lime cannoli, one of the more distinctive dessert offerings (and easy on the budget at $5 for a large or $2.75 for a mini).

ASIAN FUSION AT WATSON’S SHACK AND RAIL: Sign us up for the Asian fusion edition of Watson’s for Restaurant Week, featuring dishes with Vietnamese, Japanese and Thai influences. The Crabby Crunch Lettuce Wraps appetizer — build-your-own lettuce wrap plate with creamy herb crab salad, pickled carrot, buttered panko crunch, Thai vinaigrette and served with lettuce wraps for $18 (makes six wraps) — has our name written on it. Downtown Champaign. See all the specials here.

PHO-EVER PHO: Chambanamoms readers have vocalized their love for 83 Vietnamese Cuisine for years. IF you haven’t been, there’s no time like the present to try out Mama Lam’s amazing Pho. We’re also plenty intrigued by the Banh Mi Board, a charcuterie board with select cuts of pork meats along with pickled veggies, garlic aioli, and sliced baguette for $20. Located in southwest Champaign.  See the full options online here for Restaurant Week.

WHO SAYS JUPITER’S AT THE CROSSING IS JUST FOR KIDS? Have an early Valentine’s Day night out with your sweetheart (or just grab a bestie) and head over to Jupiter’s for its $48 four-course meal for two.  Complete the night with video games and/or pool. See the options here. 

Looking for more on what to eat and drink in Champaign-Urbana, all year long? Check out our favorite foods here.