Rockford Restaurant Week Returns with a Record 80 Participating Restaurants

Rockford Restaurant Week, presented by GoRockford, returns for its sixth year from Thursday, January 29 to Sunday, February 8, celebrating and showcasing the region’s diverse and growing culinary scene. Featuring a record number of participating restaurants, the event highlights both new and returning local favorites and continues to rank among the largest restaurant weeks in Illinois.

Since its inaugural year with 38 participating restaurants, Rockford Restaurant Week has more than doubled in size, growing to a record 80 locations in 2026, up from 65 in 2025. The event delivers measurable economic impact, with most participating restaurants reporting a 20–30% increase in revenue during Restaurant Week. A full list of participating restaurants is available at GoRockford.com and on page three of this news release.

“Rockford Restaurant Week celebrates the creativity and variety of our local culinary scene while encouraging residents and visitors to support the restaurants that are such an integral part of our community,” said John Groh, President/CEO of GoRockford. “Taking place during a traditionally slower time of year, this event helps drive business to local restaurants and showcases why Rockford continues to grow as a foodie destination.”

What to Expect:
Rockford Restaurant Week celebrates local cuisine by offering special prix fixe menus and bundled meal deals at participating restaurants. Prix fixe menus feature three to four courses, with pricing ranging from $15–$25 for brunch or lunch and $25–$50 for dinner. Additionally, bundled meal deals, typically including an entrée, side, and drink or dessert, allow casual dining establishments to participate and offer accessible options for diners.

Chefs are encouraged to showcase creativity by featuring dishes and experiences that are not typically available year-round. From tableside pasta prepared in a cheese wheel to curated wine tastings and specialty add-ons, Rockford Restaurant Week goes beyond dining out; it delivers a memorable culinary experience.

"I’m excited to represent four unique dining destinations in an ever-growing culinary landscape that is highlighted by restaurant week,” said Paul Sletten, owner of Abreo, Social Urban Bar & Restaurant, Disco Chicken, and Harvey Wallbangers. “This celebration allows us to offer special dishes that we don’t normally offer, and we look forward to having new and returning guests have an amazing experience."

Contests/Giveaways:
Seventeen participating restaurants have contributed prizes for GoRockford’s daily social media giveaways, which help market Rockford Restaurant Week. Followers are encouraged to check GoRockford’s social media channels for daily prize opportunities leading up to and during Rockford Restaurant Week. Winners will be drawn at random on February 3.

Voting:

Restaurants will have the opportunity to win an award in one of five categories as voted on by the community. Winning businesses will receive an award at a post Rockford Restaurant Week news conference in March at Franchesco’s Ristorante.

Voting will be open at GoRockford.com from January 29 to February 9. Voters may wait to cast their votes until they are ready to vote in all five categories, as they can vote only once. Voters who provide an email address will automatically be entered to win a $100 gift card to a participating Rockford Restaurant Week restaurant of their choice.

Winners will be included in promotional announcements leading up to Rockford Restaurant Week 2027. 

Award Categories:

Best Main Course: The Best Main Course award recognizes the restaurant offering the most outstanding main course.
Best Cocktail or Brew: The Best Cocktail or Brew award recognizes the restaurant or bar that served the most outstanding and innovative cocktail or brew.
Best Dessert: The Best Dessert award recognizes the restaurant that served the most exceptional and delectable dessert.
Best Deal: The Best Deal award recognizes the restaurant that offers the best discounted special.
Best Experience: The Best Experience award is the top honor and recognizes the restaurant that delivered an exceptional overall dining experience, including ambiance, food, and customer service.

This year, 26 new restaurants have joined and 54 have returned, proving that Rockford Restaurant Week is a strong initiative for both the community and visitors to experience the region’s dining scene.

Rockford Restaurant Week Participating Locations (at time of release)

27 Aluna
640 Meats
8th Ward Pub
Aero Ale House
Abreo
Alchemy at Aldeen
Ambiance Cuisine Cocktails & Catering
Baker Street Burgers
Bop Bop Korean & Rice Bowl
Brick’d Italian Kitchen
Cantina Taco
Casa Amigos Mexican Grill
Chavez Mexican Restaurant
Cheezy's Grilled Cheeses
Chick-fil-A Rockford
Chulo’s Tacos
Cold Stone Creamery Rockford
Council Oak Steak & Seafood at Hard Rock
Countryside Meats & Deli
Crave Kitchen & Cocktails
Crust & Crumbles
Culinary Underground
Dairyhäus
Disco Chicken 
District Bar and Grill
Ditullio’s Italian Market & Cafe 
Forest City Pub
Franchesco’s Ristorante
Garrett's Restaurant and Bar
Golden Fusion Eggrolls
Greenfire Restaurant
Halo Bakeshop
Hangry Joe’s
Hard Rock Cafe
Harvey Wallbangers
HearthRock Cafe
Hidden Creek Estates
I Luv K-Eats
Jammin’ Jerk Grill
Johnny Pamcakes
KBQ-Korean BBQ and Chicken
Koo’s Bento & Bowl
Lino's
​Lucha Cantina
Mark’s Fusion Cafe
Marrufo’s Tacos
Mary's Market
Mercato By Lino’s
Mi Placita Mexican Restaurant
Murphy's Pub & Grill
Oak & Embers Bistro
Olympic Tavern
Panino’s
Pig Minds Brewing Company
Plume Rockford
Prairie Street Brewing Co.
Ramen & Tea
Salamone's Cherry Valley
Salamone's North
SALT.
Sams Ristorante & Pizzeria
Sassy Mac Boys
Shogun Japanese Restaurant
Sisters Thai Café
Sizz N’ Fizz at Prairie Street Brewing Co.
Spider Sushi Bar on Perryville
Social Urban Bar & Restaurant
Street Tacos at Hard Rock
Sticky Rice Bites
Swedish Pancake House Rockford
Thai Jasmine Rice & Noodles
The GOAT Pub & Grill
The Norwegian
The Parks – Cimino’s Kitchen
Tortacos Soto
Tortilla Express
Wired Café
Woodfire Brick Oven Pizza
Victory Pickleball Pub
Yugen Authentic Japanese Restaurant