Private chef in Chicago
A private chef in Chicago brings local flavors to your table. Chat with one of our 362 chefs to customize your menu and fit your budget.





















Hire a personal chef in Chicago
Have a taste of Chicago's food scene with our passionate personal chefs. Bring the talent and service of the best restaurants to your table for your next special occasion!
Over 42,654 guests have enjoyed the private chef experience in Chicago since 2017. Take A Chef makes booking a personal chef easier than ever! We've got you covered for birthday celebrations, dinner parties, or even a special time with friends.
Find a home chef in Chicago, Illinois, to meet your tastes and your budget. Let them create a tailored experience for you and your guests, and be the best host you can be in the comfort of your own home.












How it works
Submit your request
Tell us the perfect meal for your celebration, the date, and your budget. No commitment.
Chat with chefs
Talk with private chefs until you find the right one, and get many proposals.
Craft your menu
Personalize everything from the number of courses to the ingredients in your meals.
Book your chef
Once you are happy with your choice, complete your booking and make your payment.
Live the experience
Welcome your chef, and let them do the rest! Enjoy the company or your guests and relax.
Find the right chef for you
Start meeting private chefs who can make your dream meal come true.
362 Private chefs in Chicago
In a few steps, you'll find the perfect home chef in Chicago, IL.












Over 42,600 guests have enjoyed the private chef experience in Chicago
4.61 Chef
Guests in Chicago have scored their private chef experience with a 4.61.
4.78 Food quality
Our private chef's menus in Chicago have gained a solid 4.78.
4.72 Presentation
More than tasty, the presentation of our chefs' dishes is gorgeous, earning a score of 4.72 in Chicago.
4.78 Cleanups
The cleanup of the kitchen and dining area in Chicago has been scored with a 4.78 on average.
View full review
View full review
View full review
View full review
More than 17,508 menus crafted by our private chefs in Chicago
Rent a home chef in Chicago, Illinois. You decide the menu.








Tuna crudo with lemon olive oil topped with crispy onions
Lamb meatballs with roasted garlic sauce
Salumi arancini with sun dried tomato red pesto
Homemade italian bread with homemade ricotta topped with wildflower honey and tobiko
Roasted shitake, portobello and oyster mushrooms flatbread with truffles and alfredo sauce
Charred octopus carpaccio with burnt onion aioli, fennel and nduja butter
Shrimp cocktail
Burrata, homemade focaccia, peach jam, prosciutto di parma, aged balsamic glaze
Lobster bisque with sourdough croutons
Panzella salad - garden cherry tomatoes, bread, shallots, garlic, peaches, shaved parmesan with honey lemon vinaigrette
Garden summer salad- mixed greens, tomatoes, watermelon, aged parmesan, cucumber, sunflower seeds, balsamic dressing
Burrata salad, heirloom tomatoes, smoked maldon salt, black pepper and basil oil topped with mint
Mixed greens, mandarins, red onions and balsamic vinaigrette topped with pumpkin seeds and goat cheese
Radicchio with oranges, cucumber, fennel, dill, parmesan and champagne vinaigrette
Lobster pasta of the day with chili crisp and garlic breadcrumbs
Scallop pesto risotto with grilled green beans
Chefs special
Ribeye steak with truffled butter and creamy potatoes topped with asparagus
Shrimp scampi with spaghetti
Roasted garlic lamb and italian sausage meat sauce with pasta of the day
Lemon vanilla creme brulee topped with candied hazelnuts
Chocolate cake with gelato
Pistachio nutella cannoli
Strawberry and burnt banana tiramisu
Limoncello sorbet with calabrian chili spice
Flourless lava cake with gelato and cinnamon spice
Summer rolls with pad thai tofu (vegetarian)
Salmon carpaccio with parmesan
Caponata antipasto (vegetarian)
Tuna, mango, avocado timbale
Sicilian arancini
Causa peruvian shrimp
Winter squash soup with pumpkin seeds (vegetarian)
Mediterranean plate (vegetarian)
Cannelloni scampi di mare with creamy lobster sauce
Roasted tenderloin with cauliflower puree & garlicky broccoli
Vegetable napoleon (vegetarian)
Risotto di mare with lobster, shrimp, calamari & mussels
Vanilla crème brulee
Spice pear tart with ice cream
Sicilian canoli
Classic tiramisu
Caponata antipasto (vegetarian)
Mediterranean plate (vegetarian)
Eggplant rollatini parmigiana
Roasted carrot & ginger soup (vegetarian)
Lasagna alla bolognese
Penne with chicken in vodka tomato sauce
Eggplant lasagna with bolognese (impossible meat) (vegetarian)
Classic risotto & asparagus (vegetarian)
Sicilian canoli with pistachio cream filling
Panna cotta with berries
Cheesecake with berries
Classic tiramisu
Grilled italian bread with ricotta and tomato jam
Spinach and mushroom flatbread
Fried eggplant with basil pesto aioli
Tuscan garlic white bean dip with crostini
Tomato bruschetta on italian bread topped with aged balsamic glaze
Broccolini with parmesan and crispy garlic chips topped with extra virgin olive oil
Garlic cheese bread topped with sundried tomato
Meatless meatballs with roasted garlic sauce
Antipasto skewers- olives, artichokes, tomatoes, cheese
Caprese salad- fresh mozzarella, basil, cherry tomatoes
Classic caesar salad- romaine lettuce, parmesan, croutons
Summer farro salad- farro, mint, cucumber, strawberry , citrus vinaigrette
Mixed greens, pickled beets, red onions, ricotta, sunflower seeds
Chicken marsala
Chef's special of the day
Pan seared cod with salsa verde served with grilled peppers and asparagus
Fresh pasta of the day with vodka creamy sauce
Grilled skirt steak with polenta and green beans topped with italian chimichurri
Green pea and mushroom risotto
Vanilla gelato with chocolate syrup and chocolate chips
Chocolate mousse with pistachios
Zabaglione with berries
Italian lemon cheesecake
Fruit sorbet of the day
Zeppole with powdered sugar
Antipasto italiano (chacuterie, imported cheeses & olives)
Handmade gnocchi with sunday ragu
Homemade meatballs
Homemade beef braciole
Eggplant parmigiana
Homemade tiramisu
Butternut squash soup | toasted pumpkin seed | crema | togarashi spice
Fig chopped salad | aged parmesean | fig balsamic | toasted sunflower seed
Maple & black pepper carrots | crushed peanuts & goat cheese
Charred flank steak | chimichurri | cilantro rice & peppers
Pan roasted salmon | creamy polenta | charred broccolini
Thyme roasted chicken | slow-roasted root vegetables | pommés & dijon jus
Imported sea scallops | creamy polenta & confit tomatoes
Basque cheesecake | salted caramel | fresh berries
Flourless chocolate torte | raspberry coulis | pistachio crumble
Warm apple crisp | brown sugar crumble | vanilla bean cream
Golden seared scallops with osetra caviar & truffled cauliflower cream
Golden beetroot carpaccio with goat cheese & candied pecans
Mini pomegranate beef short rib bites
French onion soup bun-less burger
Prosciutto wraped shrimp
Lobster bisque with cognac & saffron cream
Roasted butternut squash soup (vegetarian)
Pan-seared filet mignon with red wine reduction
Maple-glazed salmon fillet
Roasted chicken supreme with wild mushroom sauce
Butternut squash and sage risotto (vegetarian)
Bbq korean short ribs, fingerling potatoes & roasted green beans, grape tomatoes, shallots caramelized butter
Filet mignon & seared jumbo shrimp duo – with garlic potato purée, charred asparagus, and red wine demi-glace
Belgian chocolate & hazelnut bûche de noël or christmas tree croquenbouche
Vanilla crème brûlée with berries
Hokkaido scallop crudo with charred blood orange, creole xo sauce and crispy leeks
Lump crab cake with passionfruit beurre blanc and frisée salad
Sazerac or french 75 cocktail
Enoki mushroom and ricotta agnolotti pasta with miso mushroom ragu, and truffle butter sauce
Caramelle pasta stuffed with roasted winter squash, fried sage, and brown butter sherry
Pan seared ribeye with lobster mardi gras butter, potato fondant and sauce gratin
Black pepper crusted filet mignon with foie gras, huntsman sauce an herb roasted heirloom carrots
Andouille sausage stuffed squid with tomato and red bell pepper coulis, grandma a lot of breadcrumbs
Half roasted hand stuff with grandma‘s sage dressing, black garlic and jus
King cake, truffles with orange gelato and a white chocolate rum sauce
Chocolate & banana foster bonbon
Your own menu
Who could be better to guide you in creating the perfect menu for your special occasion than your private chef? Our home chefs in Chicago can help you craft it from cost to ingredients and restrictions!








Frequently asked questions
Below, you can find the most common questions about private chefs in Chicago.
What's included in a private chef service in Chicago?
Everything from designing your menu, grocery shopping, cooking in your kitchen, serving the meals, and cleaning up the cooking space afterward is included in the private chef experience in Chicago. Tableware and glassware are not included in the service. Tipping is up to you.
How much does a private chef cost in Chicago, IL?
The cost of a personal chef in Chicago varies with group size.
Groups of 13 or more have an average rate of 100 USD per person. For 7 to 10 people, the average is 111 USD per person; for 3 to 6 people, it's 113 USD per person. Couples pay an average of 134 USD per person.
Remember that prices vary based on the season, location, or last-minute bookings.
How to book a personal chef in Chicago, IL?
To book a private chef in Chicago, select your date and guest count and share your food preferences, intolerances, and kitchen details. You'll quickly get four customized menus to check, along with chefs' profiles, reviews, and dish photos.
Chat directly with the chefs for any menu adjustments or questions. Choose your chef and menu, finalize the booking online, and receive the chef's contact details to discuss final arrangements.
How can I find a personal chef in Chicago?
There are 362 available chefs in Chicago. If you want to try the personal chef service in Chicago, simply fill out a form, and you'll receive menu proposals from the top 3 chefs for your selected date. You can then review their profiles and choose your favorite.
Is there a maximum number of guests for a private chef service in Chicago?
There's no set limit on the number of people. Personal chef services are usually for smaller gatherings with friends or family, often in cozy homes. While there's no hard and fast rule, groups typically don't exceed 15 people.
Does the personal chef in Chicago cook at my house?
Yes, a private chef always prepares the menu at the guest's house, which is the cornerstone of the experience. However, depending on the complexity or equipment demands of the menu, the home chef in Chicago may prepare a mise en place before going to the client's home.
Can I cook along with the private chef?
You absolutely should! At every table, there is always someone who loves food and wants to spend time with the chef, learn some cooking tricks, and even hear insider tips from the chefs themselves while they prepare your food.
Are the ingredients for a private chef service fresh?
Fresh ingredients are a priority of professional cooking. Every one of our personal chefs in Chicago aims to bring the same service standards as a restaurant to your home. After customizing your menu, the chef purchases what they need to make it come to life on the scheduled date.
Are drinks included in the service of a home chef in Chicago, Illinois?
By default, drinks do not count as part of your booking. However, you can talk with your private chef and fit the cost as an "extra" on the menu proposals they create for your event.
How much should I tip a home chef in Chicago, IL?
You are free to decide the tip appropriate for your personal chef and their service. But if you would like to know, based on the tips of 42,654 guests in Chicago, IL, tips are 14.72% of the total bill, on average.
Key information about personal chefs in Chicago
Learn more about our personal chefs in Chicago and their services.
With an average age of 39, our private chefs in Chicago, IL, offer extensive culinary knowledge.
61% of our chefs are women
Just 4 hours from request to menu
Our first private chef service in Chicago was in 2017-03-18.
22.1% of our private chef services in Chicago include kids.
A single client has booked the same home chef in Chicago 17 times.
41% increase in the number of private chef bookings in Chicago in the last year
Our personal chefs can communicate with you in up to 5 languages
More than 58.9% of guests hire a private chef in Chicago more than once
On average, multiple services hire a chef for 4 days.
We uploaded over 2,711 pictures of our Chicago personal chef experience.
On average, it takes 2 days from requesting to booking a personal chef.
How much does a personal chef cost in Chicago, IL?
The number of guests participating in the private chef experience in Chicago determines the specifics.
Prices range from 100 USD to 134 USD per person.
For 13 people or more: 100 USD. For 7 to 12 people: 111 USD. For 3 to 6 people: 113 USD. For 2 people: 134 USD.
Remember, every destination is different, and prices fluctuate with the seasons. The following chart shows the typical prices our private chefs in Chicago charge each month.
How many private chef services are booked in Chicago each month?
Private chef reservations may vary seasonally depending on the destination. To view monthly fluctuations of personal chefs in Chicago, Illinois, check this table.
Hiring a private chef in Chicago is ideal at any time, but prices can change due to demand. If you're looking for a private chef for a night in Chicago, we recommend you book early to secure your reservation. Rent a chef for your home in Chicago, IL now!
How many personal chefs sign up in Chicago each month?
We've been in the private chef scene in Chicago for many years and have gained the trust of many local chefs who have and continue to join us every month.
To bring the best experience to your home in Chicago, IL, we add 3 new personal chefs each month as ambassadors. Our team reviews and classifies their profiles daily to ensure you can always find new and exciting chefs.
What is the most frequent type of food booked in Chicago?
Our six main types of cuisine in Chicago are Mediterranean, Italian, French, Japanese, Mexican, and Latin American.
However, the most requested cuisine in Chicago, IL, is Chef's special. Our chefs design exciting menus based on your preferences.
Our private chefs create personalized menus for each request, considering dietary restrictions and proposing fusion options. Submit your request to explore thrilling culinary possibilities crafted by our personal chefs.

Bring a private chef to your home in Chicago
Are you looking to try out exciting flavors? You can enjoy a chef at your home in any Chicago location.
Take a Chef offers a unique dining experience for a romantic dinner, birthday celebration, or family gathering. Whether you need a vegan chef in Chicago or a personal chef with healthy options, we've got you covered!
On the day of the service, your chosen chef will buy the freshest ingredients, cook, and serve the meal at your Chicago home in Illinois. Plus, our private chefs will leave your kitchen cleaner than when they arrived!

Chicago's best private chefs in your kitchen
Every one of our private chefs has been trained in leading culinary schools and has years of experience in Chicago's best restaurants, hotels, and resorts in the North, West, and South sides. Explore our more than 362 personal chefs available in Chicago; we are confident that we can connect you with the perfect chef for you.
Any chef you select can make your menu work, considering food allergies, vegan options, and even healthy but tasty alternatives for those who want to keep taking care of themselves.

Your house, the city's best restaurant
With Michelin-starred restaurants, Chicago has a proud mixture of local and international cuisines that is celebrated every year. But why wait to have a taste of Chicago? Create a unique and intimate dining experience with Take a Chef. More than just a private chef agency, we specialize in sharing our passion for food and giving our guests the freedom to connect with their loved ones.






Hear from our personal chefs in Chicago
Find what each of our private chefs brings to the table and what sets them apart. Enjoy the culinary skills of a talented chef right in your Chicago home! Let them approach your event and ideal meal with their particular taste and personalize every detail you want.









