A Historic Culinary Landmark in the Heart of Chicago
Nestled in the charming Old Town neighborhood of Chicago, Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern stands as a testament to the city's rich cultural and culinary history. Located at 1655 N Sedgwick St, this establishment has long served as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike, offering a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels like a step back in time. With its roots firmly planted in the mid-20th century, the tavern has maintained a reputation for authenticity, providing a dining experience that prioritizes comfort, community, and a genuine connection to the neighborhood it calls home.
Walking through the doors of Twin Anchors, guests are immediately greeted by an ambiance that is both nostalgic and lively. The interior reflects a classic tavern aesthetic, characterized by wood-paneled walls, vintage decor, and a layout that encourages conversation and camaraderie. It is the kind of place where history is etched into every corner, making it a significant landmark for those interested in the storied past of Chicago’s dining scene. Whether you are a long-time resident of Illinois or a traveler passing through the Windy City, the tavern offers a unique perspective on the local culture that is hard to replicate elsewhere.
The philosophy behind Twin Anchors is rooted in the belief that a great restaurant should be an extension of the community. By focusing on consistent quality and a welcoming environment, the establishment has managed to thrive through decades of change. It remains a staple for those seeking a relaxed setting to enjoy a meal, away from the frantic pace of modern city life. The dedication to preserving its original character while serving the needs of contemporary diners is what keeps the spirit of the tavern alive and thriving in the competitive landscape of Chicago’s restaurant industry.
What Makes Twin Anchors Unique
Deep Historical Roots: The tavern boasts a long-standing presence in the Old Town area, serving as a living piece of Chicago history that has hosted generations of families and notable figures throughout the decades.
Authentic Tavern Atmosphere: The interior design and layout capture the essence of a traditional neighborhood tavern, providing a cozy and unpretentious environment that is perfect for casual gatherings and meaningful social interactions.
Community-Centric Philosophy: Unlike many modern, high-concept eateries, Twin Anchors prides itself on being a neighborhood anchor, prioritizing a friendly, approachable service style that makes every guest feel like a regular.
Prime Location in Old Town: Situated on Sedgwick Street, the restaurant is perfectly positioned for those exploring the historic architecture and vibrant streets of one of Chicago’s most beloved residential districts.
A Timeless Experience in Chicago
Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern is more than just a place to eat; it is a destination that captures the heart of Chicago’s social fabric. Its enduring appeal lies in its simplicity and its refusal to chase fleeting trends, choosing instead to honor the traditions that have made it a local favorite for so many years. The combination of its historic setting, commitment to a welcoming environment, and its prime location in Old Town ensures that it remains a vital part of the city’s identity.
For those looking to experience the authentic side of Chicago, a visit to this iconic tavern is highly recommended. It offers a rare opportunity to enjoy a meal in a space that feels genuinely connected to the past while remaining relevant to the present. Whether you are drawn by the allure of its history or simply looking for a comfortable spot to spend an evening, Twin Anchors continues to be a shining example of what makes a neighborhood tavern truly special. We invite you to visit and discover the charm that has kept this Chicago institution a beloved part of the community for generations.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Assistive hearing loop
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Service options
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in
Highlights
Fast service
Great cocktails
Serves local specialty
Popular for
Solo dining
Offerings
Alcohol
Coffee
Dining options
Table service
Amenities
Restroom
Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy
Historic
Trendy
Crowd
Groups
Tourists
Planning
Usually a wait
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards
Parking
Free street parking
Paid parking lot
Paid street parking
Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
Valet parking
Pets
Dogs allowed outside
Menus
Food
Menu
Popular
Drinks
Menu
Popular
Photos
Reviews Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern
Mike Kruger
30-05-2026
Get the ribs and get a little zesty sauce on the side if you don’t like spicy. Just try a little bit and then mostly use the regular bbq they give you. Wow, this place is so good! I was pleasantly surprised. Love the old school vibes and the service is amazing. The workers are all so nice. Treat them well. More
Tim S
30-05-2026
The entire place was amazing. There are very few places where the ribs come out fast, tender, and delicious at the same time. the staff was also very nice and friendly. I recommend the ribs and I will also recommend to come here when visiting Chicago. More
Shena Mohan
30-05-2026
Very good experience. It is a small space. Even though it was busy and felt the crowd (because it is a small space) the Service was great. We shared a cup of chili which was probably the best part of the meal. Would definitely order the … More
matthew jerkovic
30-05-2026
What a way to start 2024 to go to Twin Anchors for dinner with my daughter and son-in-law!! They told me this was where we needed to go because they have awesome ribs. They were right. I hand the full slab of ribs with their baked beans. … More
Ricardo Mendez
30-05-2026
Nice place. Ribs are very tasty. Growing up in Chicago I would not say they are the best in town but are pretty good and enjoyed the architecture. Frank Sinatra's favorite rib spot back in the day. More
Alex Elliott
30-05-2026
Best ribs in the city! Must visit. I am a big rib guy as well, this is a really great place.
Meal typ…
More
Matt Barber
30-05-2026
Stumbled upon Twin Anchors on my first trip to Chicago and honestly, what a find. It’s got real charm, wholesome, unpretentious and the vibe felt honest - like the place has stories to tell. … More
Rey Colón
30-05-2026
We googled places to eat near me and this place popped up. As a lifelong, Chicagoan, I didn't realize that this place was a destination. As soon as we walked in, I loved the vibe. The woodwork and paneled walls gave it a great appeal. It … More
S Flavin
30-05-2026
Their ribs are so tender. Definitely will go back next time I'm in Chicago visiting my son. Husband had the grilled chicken sandwich & it was excellent too. Sides are delicious. Fun atmosphere & friendly service. More
Christy ML
30-05-2026
Great restaurant serving locals and celebrities since 1932 in a building that dates back to 1881. They are very popular and do not accept reservations so expect to wait if you come at a prime dining time. The menu is limited but all you … More
Nidhi Johnson
30-05-2026
An iconic place you MUST visit when in Chicago. They have the BEST ribs ever!!! get it with the prohibition sauce. The sides are amazing too. The wait can be a tad long especially on weekends but you can hang by the bar and it’s totally worth the wait.
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Loud, but you can still talk
Group size
Suitable for all group sizes
Wait time
30-60 min
Mary Hershey
30-05-2026
Legendary ribs we keep coming back for! They fall off the bone, have amazing sauce options, and are reasonably priced. Love the warm atmosphere, with booths in the cozy bar area and space for groups. The friendliest, fast service. Come … More
Jennifer Winthurst
30-05-2026
Fantastic place! The vibe is very chill and old school Chicago. Has some of the very best service here. Our waitress was amazing! We started with a bowl of chili. It came with a side of onions sour cream and cheese. It was very good but … More
Mary Stuber
30-05-2026
This rib joint ribs are always fall off the bone delicious. I like both the zesty and prohibition sauces. The beans with pulled pork in them so good.
Service is on a different level these servers have been here over 30 years and are great!
Atmosphere is amazing Old
School Chicago Tavern. Small and crowded. Because when you know you know.
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Group size
3-4 people
Wait time
No wait
Seating type
Indoor dining area
Parking space
Somewhat difficult to find parking
Parking options
Valet
Parking
Valet $15 well worth the price. In a neighborhood with a lot of parking restrictions
Hagz
30-05-2026
Twin Anchor is one of the oldest original restaurant in the city of Chicago. Since its founding in 1932, Twin Anchors has always been known for great, tender, barbequed baby-back ribs that can be enjoyed in a quaint neighborhood tavern. Twin Anchors is a 100 % Chicago legend! Some of the best BBQ in the country. Their Prohibition sauce might be my favorite BBQ sauce. There's a short list of places that are a must eat in the city these days and Twin Anchors is at the top of that list. Have you ever had BBQ ribs or chicken that you can eat with a spoon because they're so tender? I have, at Twin Anchors. 100% recommend!
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Group size
2 people
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free street parking
David Dykes
30-05-2026
What can I add to what has already been said? I went here with high expectations, and they were met and surpassed. Some of the best baby back ribs I’ve ever tasted. I was unsure of which of the 3 sauces they offer to get, and they suggested getting all 3 on the side. Perfect idea. Thrilled with my option of going right near opening time on a Monday night. Mostly had the place to myself so never felt rushed or crowded. Had a wonderful conversation with the bartender and a wonderful local couple from the neighborhood. All in all, just a perfect dinner.
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Quiet, easy to talk
Group size
1 person, 2 people, 3-4 people
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Bar area, Booth seating
Joseph Croke
30-05-2026
Many who served us was brilliant. Fierce attentive and honest. Said tip already in so no need to give to him, I wouldn't have known so I'll remember him and the restaurant in a great way for it. Best ribs I've had in a long time. Food out within 5 minutes of ordering. Atmosphere brilliant and authentic place with real people and great food.
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Group size
3-4 people, Suitable for all group sizes
Wait time
No wait
Carl Graddy
30-05-2026
Every time I head to Chicago, whether it’s with family, friends, or for a Cubs game, or even on a solo trip, I always take time for my favorite tradition.
Thursday night dinner at Twin Anchors Restaurant and Tavern
From the name, you might think Twin Anchors is a seafood spot. And yes, you’ll find fish on the menu, but that’s not why people (including me) keep coming back. We all go for the same thing: the world-famous baby back ribs.
The building has been around since the days of Prohibition, and if you look closely, you can still see that history in the building. It was once a speakeasy and even has an escape door from the days when raids were common. The walls themselves tell stories: photos of movie stars, signed memorabilia, and legends of who’s dined here. Frank Sinatra loved the place so much he had a wall phone installed by his favorite booth. Hollywood productions have filmed here, including the movie Return to Me (2000) with Minnie Driver and David Duchovny. Even Conan O’Brien dropped by with his late-night TV crew and filmed segments here.
But let’s get to what really matters: the ribs. Slow-cooked, tender, meaty and served with sauces that make'em even more mouthwatering. For me, those ribs strike a personal chord. My grandfather, nicknamed “The Rib Man,” worked as a food wholesaler all across Illinois. He was known for his ribs and his sauce, and every time I dig into Twin Anchors’ slabs, I’m reminded of him. Their original Zesty Sauce just tastes like home. These days, they’ve added a Prohibition Sauce (a Kansas City-style recipe introduced in 2010) and a 1930s Mild Sauce all worth trying. When you go, order a half or whole slab and sample every sauce. You just can't go wrong with any of them.
Inside, Twin Anchors is old-school in the best way. A small tavern vibe, a no-frills bar pouring stiff drinks, and that famous sign that hangs in the middle of the restaurant that reads: “Positively No Dancing.” (You’ll get the joke once you’re there.)
It’s almost always busy, they don’t take reservations, so expect a wait and tight seating. But that’s part of the experience. Chicago is a city full of flashy, high-end restaurants, Twin Anchors is a slice of that city's history that keeps things simple, hearty, and nostalgic.
This time around, my cousin went for his very first trip to Chicago. His verdict? The ribs were exactly how he likes them...tender, and full of flavor, and the atmosphere was exactly what he pictured from an established rib joint.
As for me, I always make it a point to eat here, because no trip for me to Chicago ever feels complete without Twin Anchors.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Group size
5-8 people
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Vegetarian options
You go for the RIBS!
Parking space
Somewhat difficult to find parking
Kid-friendliness
If kids love RIBS this is the place to go!
James Segil
30-05-2026
This is hands down my favorite ribs place in Chicago. We come here every time we are in town and they never disappoint. Prepare yourself for a wait for your table especially if you have a larger group as they don’t take reservations but trust me it’s worth it. I love to have a drink at the bar and people watch. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. I recommend the ribs, coleslaw, beans, green beans, baked potatoe and fries. Also their cakes make for an amazing dessert so save room for them.
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Rib & Chicken Combo, Our Acclaimed Homemade Chili, Full Rack of Ribs, Prohibition Sauce, Carrot Cake, Baked Potato, Chocolate Cake, Cole Slaw, Ribs Full Slab
Group size
3-4 people
Special events
No special event
Casey C
30-05-2026
Went for a walk and passed by Twin Anchors. Smelled something so good. Walked inside and realized it’s the bar from the movie I loved growing up “Return to Me” ordered the ribs at the bar from the nicest bartender. Blown away by the flavor and tenderness. Meat falls right off the bone. Might be my favorite ribs in the city.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Reviews Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern