Port Union
welcome to Port Union
About us
Port Union is a modern American restaurant and cocktail house in Wicker Park, shaped by the immigrant traditions that define American cooking. Led by James Beard Award-nominated Chef Rodolfo Cuadros - also the chef behind Amaru visit amaruchicago website and the Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized Bloom - the menu moves from shareable plates to composed entrees, built with intention and a focus on flavor.
The kitchen reads American cooking as a conversation between the cultures that built it. Snacks include crackling shrimp with scotch bonnet and pickled jalapeno, besito de atun with Calabrian leche de tigre and avocado, and pan de ajo built on milk bread with garlic preserve and ricotta. Pasta and rice bring elote lasagnetta with brown butter, lime and cotija, and pegado de pato - crispy duck rice with confit duck and sofrito.
From the fire: arrachera with bone marrow chimichurri and aji verde, shio koji picanha steak frites with au poivre, half roasted Slagel Farms chicken, and the PU Burger with bacon-mushroom duxelles and mornay. Seafood runs from Black Bear Bay mussels to branzino en papillote and berbere-glazed Scottish salmon.
Vegetables remain central to the menu in recognition of Bloom's legacy. Turnip causa, oyster mushroom with romesco, roasted beets with coconut, and Cajun summer squash are all plant-based, as are several desserts.
The bar is a cornerstone of Port Union. Rather than novelty-driven drinks, the beverage program focuses on timeless cocktails executed with precision: a concise list of martinis, Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, Sazeracs and classic highballs, alongside a curated wine list and an approachable beer selection.
Happy hour runs Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 5:00 to 6:30 PM, with $1 oysters, $11 cocktails and bar snacks. Weekend brunch is served Saturday and Sunday with $25 bottomless mimosas. A private dining room is available for parties and events.
The dining room - warm woods, brass accents, upholstered banquettes, soft lighting and a prominent central bar - was designed to feel like an established neighborhood restaurant rather than a newly built concept. Port Union sits at 1559 N Milwaukee Ave, at the crossroads of Wicker Park and Bucktown, a two-minute walk from the Damen Blue Line stop.