Aba ★9.7

Aba: Four Hummus Ways and a Skyline

Aba took the Mediterranean pantry — tahini, za’atar, olive oil, fire — and ran it through a California filter: lighter, greener, obsessed with vegetables and acid. The result made this Fulton Market rooftop one of the hardest tables to land in Chicago when it opened, and the kitchen has kept the bar high ever since.

The Concept

Chef partner CJ Jacobson — a Top Chef alum who won Top Chef Duels in 2014 — opened Aba in 2018 with Lettuce Entertain You, as the follow-up to his River North hit Ema. The names are a family: Ema means “mother” in Hebrew, Aba means “father.” The cooking draws from Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece, and the Chicago Tribune named it Best New Restaurant in its debut year.

What to Order

The hummus section is the anchor — four variations, from classic and smoky garlic to wild mushroom and a crispy short rib version — all scooped up with blistered fresh-baked pita. Add the whipped feta and sweet-hot muhammara, then move to hamachi crudo, green chili shrimp and the shawarma-spiced skirt steak. Char-grilled lamb chops headline the grill; the crème brûlée pie is the cult dessert.

The Space

The restaurant floats on a third-floor rooftop dressed like a greenhouse: potted olive trees, trailing vines, wicker and warm wood, with Fulton Market’s skyline framing every table on the terrace. Even the indoor room keeps the summer-in-the-Mediterranean illusion going year-round.

Who It’s For

Date nights that need a backdrop, visitors hunting Chicago’s best rooftop dinner, and groups of grazers who prefer six shared plates to one big entrée.

Good to Know

When can I sit on the rooftop terrace? Roughly late spring through early fall, weather permitting; indoor tables carry the same greenery-filled look all year.

How hard is a reservation? Prime-time terrace seats go quickly — book ahead, or aim for lunch and earlier weeknight slots.

Is there brunch or lunch? Both: weekday lunch and a weekend brunch running late morning to mid-afternoon.

Vegetarian-friendly? Extremely — spreads, salads and vegetable mezze can build a full meatless dinner.

What should I drink? The list leans into rare Mediterranean wines and spirits from lesser-known regions — ask for a coastal white to match the spreads.

Opening hours