Time Out Market Chicago is getting a splashy new addition this fall from a celebrated Chicago chef. In November, Christian Hunter will debut Hooligan, a 50-seat seafood and wine bar on the food hall’s second floor, transforming the space into a sit-down dining experience.
The menu will showcase an array of seafood with a few twists, designed to be shared over wine in a polished but high-energy setting. Guests can expect dressed oysters topped with potato, soy, and hen of the woods-XO sauce; peel-and-eat shrimp paired with mild sauce mayo; crudo in a squash aguachile with pepita oil; roasted turnips over trout tonnato; and even a chicken and smoked whitefish gumbo.
It’s a new chapter for Hunter, who rose to prominence after taking the helm at Atelier in Lincoln Square. He helped guide the restaurant to a Michelin star in 2023 and 2024 before departing in March. Atelier temporarily closed in July but is set to reopen soon in a bigger space just a few blocks from its original location.
Unlike the Time Out Market Chicago’s other vendors, which all operate in a bustling, open space with communal seating on the building’s first floor, Hooligan will function as a standalone, full-service restaurant upstairs. It takes over the kitchen and dining area that was once home to Valhalla, Stephen Gillanders’ fine dining project that relocated to Lincoln Park in 2024. While guests may still feel the buzz of the food hall below, they’ll be able to enjoy a more traditional meal at Hooligan.
Now in its sixth year, Time Out Market Chicago has brought together some of the city’s top chefs under one roof since it opened in 2019, including notables like HaiSous’s Thai Dang, Urbanbelly’s Bill Kim, and El Che’s John Manion, along with restaurants such as Mini Mott, Band of Bohemia, and Lost Larson. But food halls have struggled to regain their pre-pandemic momentum, with several in Chicago closing in recent years. Hunter’s arrival will give the Market’s current lineup, featuring QXY Dumplings, Lil Amaru, and Art Smith’s Sporty Bird, a welcome boost.
Ahead of Hooligan’s official opening, diners eager for a first taste can snag tickets to a Summer’s Over Social preview party on Friday, October 10, at the Market’s rooftop. General admission ($50) includes a selection of oysters, small bites, and wine pairings, while VIP tickets ($75) add early access, Champagne, and caviar bumps with Hunter. More preview events are planned in the lead-up to opening.
Hooligan, 916 W. Fulton Market. Opens November.
Jeffy Mai
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