Bavette’s might not be the most classic, but it is our favorite steakhouse in Chicago. First, because the actual steak here is the best in the city. Second, because the speakeasy atmosphere and 1920s jazz music make it feel different from a traditional Chicago steakhouse, as does the fact that you can come here, not order a steak (entrees like the fried chicken and the lamb chops are outstanding), and still have a fantastic meal.

Gibsons is the most iconic place of the bunch, and it’s perfect for experiencing all the things people love about Chicago steakhouses: great steaks, sides, and attentive, friendly service. It feels a little dated, but in a charming way, and despite the fact that it’s in the Gold Coast, it isn’t fancy or stuffy. The crowd’s a mixed bag of regulars, tourists, and locals celebrating birthdays or anniversaries with (literally) six-pound desserts, so no matter your occasion, this is a good choice.

This Spanish spot is in a 19th-century River North townhouse, with an intimate dining room on the second floor. Asador Bastian's menu doesn’t have the standard cuts of beef, here there are six varieties served per pound, and a server who must have a PhD in Boeuf-ology will walk you through everything—like how long the Galincia was aged on the hoof, why, and its hopes and dreams before ending up on your plate. This place is elegantly low-key (but not at all stuffy) and very expensive.

Nothing says “going out to dinner in Chicago” like a River North steakhouse with giant booths that’s owned by a former reality show star. And RPM Steak checks all those boxes. It also has really good food, including some very expensive cuts of steak - there’s a whole section of wagyu and kobe on the menu, if that’s what you’re looking for. This would be the place to wear your extra tight tuxedo T-shirt.

There are so many steakhouses in the Gold Coast, and most have them have been there for a while. So Maple & Ash said f*ck it, let’s open another one and put giant candelabras on the tables and cover our big booths in velvet. Can’t blame them, though, because they did a good job. Come here to celebrate any special occasion—like your friend’s lucrative divorce—over a 40oz dry-aged tomahawk steak.

Inspired by Korean BBQ, each table at Holu has a grill where the server (or you, if you like throwing caution to the wind and/or are a control freak) cooks your steak. And what we really appreciate about Holu is the quality of the meat. Most of it is aged in-house, with everything from ribeye and zabuton to wagyu tongue and A5 Japanese Kobe. It’s ordered by the ounce, and we suggest the $78 meat paradise, which includes banchan-style sides like rice topped with nori and a quail egg.

This steakhouse is at the bottom of an office building, and full of successful-looking people in power suits who may or may not have an Alderman on the payroll. But the food (especially the bone-in prime rib) is excellent, and the space has an impressive view of the Chicago River. It’s also a great place for a general celebratory meal—because you might not be a fancy business person, but you’re a celebrity in your own right (at least to all 312 of your Instagram followers).

Great steaks alone are good, but great steaks with a side of stone crab are even better. Yes, the original Joe’s is in Miami, but Joe’s Chicago has been around long enough that it’s turned into a Chicago classic on its own. You’ll find all the steakhouse sides you’d expect (there’s a whole menu section devoted to potatoes, and plenty of creamed spinach), along with seasonal fish and shellfish.

This Argentinian steakhouse in the West Loop is a good place to go with a group of people who like to party. It’s fun and a little loud, with an open kitchen and a live-fire grill. Everything that grill touches is worth ordering—including, of course, the delicious steaks. They’re all served with a tasty chimichurri, and our favorite thing to get (and share with other people) is the 32oz bone-in ribeye. Make sure to order some garlic fries to go with it.

Tango Sur is an Argentinian steakhouse in Lakeview that’s different from all the other spots on this list, because it’s much more affordable, casual, and upbeat (not to mention BYOB). This is a place you come with your friends and your own wine, and plan on staying for as long as possible. The steaks are fantastic, but the environment is even better—it’s dimly-lit, and full of enough candles that you might start thinking it’s a grill-your-own-meat operation (it’s not).