Photographing in some of Chicago’s finest dining establishments can be quite a contradiction to the normal day for Chicago Tribune photojournalists. In the course of a day, our photographers might start at an overnight crime scene, maybe a building fire, could go to City Hall or a school event. But when we walk into restaurants that feature Michelin-starred menus or Beard Award-winning chefs, our photojournalists really have to change gears. Food photography is an art unto itself. The quality of the light and final photographs needs to match the level of amazing dishes, drinks and servers that will be featured in Tribune dining reviews. Here’s just a sample of the food pictures our photographers produced, along with the hundreds of other daily assignments this year. For more top photographs from 2025 go to chicagotribune.com.

The Summer in Seoul martini is offered at Perilla Steakhouse on Sept. 24, 2025, in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Owner Justin Lerias makes an ube oatmeal cream pie at Del Sur Bakery & Cafe on Oct. 16, 2025, in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood. The modern Filipino bakery opened earlier this year. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The staff goes over the evening’s details before dinner service on Nov. 20, 2025, at Feld in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood, which earned its first Michelin star this year. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The s’mores croissant is served at Bad Butter Cafe in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood on Nov. 22. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
Patrick Rauber samples wine over dinner at Table, Donkey and Stick in Chicago on May 1, 2025, as he and Adam Caldwell prepare for their upcoming Silvaner Summit event. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/30/best-food-photos-2025-tribune-photographers/