Chicago has plenty of places that promise big flavor, but few deliver it with the swagger of Girl & the Goat on West Randolph Street.
Chef Stephanie Izard built this West Loop favorite around bold, family-style plates that mix global influence with local flavors, and the city has been hooked ever since.
Come hungry, bring friends, and get ready for a polite fight over the very last bite of roasted pig face.
How Girl & The Goat won locals’ hearts
A lot of the magic starts with Chef Stephanie Izard, who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes and was named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs.
Soon after it opened, Girl & the Goat became a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant, which put this Randolph Street spot on the national map.
Izard later won the Iron Chef title in 2017, adding even more star power to a kitchen Chicagoans already loved.
The menu turned into an instant conversation starter because it’s split into vegetable, fish, and meat categories, with plenty of crossover between them.
Goat also gets its own spotlight, with empanadas, confit belly, and liver mousse that have turned plenty of skeptics into believers.
Everything is served family style, and plates come out as soon as the kitchen finishes them, so the table stays lively and the forks stay busy.
That sharing format makes it an easy choice for date nights, birthday dinners, and friends who can never settle on just one entrée.
The 122-seat restaurant has the energy of a party while still feeling warm and welcoming.
A dramatic open kitchen lets guests watch the team at work, which adds a little theater to every visit.
Critics noticed too, with praise from major publications such as Saveur, The New York Times, and Food & Wine.
Its success helped launch sister restaurants including Little Goat, Duck Duck Goat, and Cabra, which proved that Chicago simply wanted more.
The brand even crossed the country with a Girl & the Goat in Los Angeles, but the Randolph Street original is where the story began.
The menu keeps changing with creative new twists, so regulars always have a fresh reason to come back.
Food Highlights
- Sticky Glazed Pork Shank: The pork is slow-cooked until tender and finished with a rich, sticky glaze, then served with butternut squash, chili-lime crunch, pickled vegetables, and hot mustard and hoisin mayo. It’s a showpiece made for sharing, with sweet heat in every bite. 🍖
-
Roasted Pig Face: This famous dish comes with a sunny-side-up egg, tamarind, cilantro, red wine-maple, and potato stix. It’s the dish diners dare each other to order, and one bite usually turns it into their favorite. 🐷🍳
-
Goat Empanadas: These are served with tomatillo romesco, queso fresco, and pickled shallots. They’re a great first taste of goat for curious newcomers. 🥟
-
Confit Goat Belly: This rich, tender cut is paired with bright seasonal partners such as pickled fruit and a sweet glaze. It shows how far the kitchen can push the restaurant’s namesake ingredient. 🐐
-
Goat Liver Mousse: The silky mousse comes with crumpets, B&B pickles, blueberry mostarda, and golden beet giardiniera. It’s creamy and tangy, and it’s perfect for spreading around the table.
-
Chickpea Fritters: These arrive with goat yogurt, green chutney, sev spice crunch, and pickled rhubarb. They’re proof that the vegetable section can hold its own against the meat. 🧆
-
Wood-Fired Broccoli: It’s finished with a harissa dill vinaigrette and moody blue labneh. The smoky char and tangy creaminess make this humble vegetable surprisingly hard to forget. 🥦
-
Beer Brioche: This warm, tender bread comes with smoked cheddar pimento cheese and pickle relish. It’s a comforting start that disappears fast. 🍞🍺
Atmosphere
The dining room buzzes with energy, and the open kitchen puts the cooks right at the center of the action.
It feels lively and social without feeling stuffy, which makes it great for celebrations and group dinners.
Picture clinking glasses, shared plates moving across the table, and a crowd that clearly came to have fun.
Bottom Line
Visit for Stephanie Izard’s award-winning cooking, creative goat dishes, and family-style plates made for sharing.
The lively open kitchen and energetic West Loop setting make every meal feel like a celebration.
Address: 809 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
📞 (312) 492-6262
🕔 Open Mon–Thu, 4:30 PM–10 PM | Fri–Sat, 4:30 PM–11 PM | Sun, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM & 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM