Restaurants and bars in Cook County, IL: how many are there?
Cook County, Illinois had 11,184 restaurants and bars with paid employees in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's County Business Patterns. Cook County ranks 2nd among the 3,019 US counties with data for this category, and 1st of 102 in Illinois.
Establishments by number of employees
| Employees | Establishments | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 employees | 3,628 | 32.4% |
| 5 to 9 | 2,103 | 18.8% |
| 10 to 19 | 2,395 | 21.4% |
| 20 to 49 | 2,305 | 20.6% |
| 50 to 99 | 608 | 5.4% |
| 100 or more | 144 | 1.3% |
Employment is approximate: the Census Bureau adds statistical noise to protect confidentiality. Establishment counts are not noised.
Where Cook County fits in Illinois
Illinois has 26,251 restaurants and bars with paid employees across 102 counties; Cook County has 42.6% of them. Nationally, the total is 650,365.
Other counties in Illinois
- DuPage County2,035
- Lake County1,374
- Will County1,218
- Kane County963
- McHenry County604
- Winnebago County583
- Madison County574
- Champaign County501
Other categories in Cook County
- Medical and dental offices6,134
- Other health practitioner offices4,034
- Auto repair shops2,694
- Hair, nail and barber shops2,218
- Supermarkets and grocery stores1,345
- Gyms and fitness centers632
- Pharmacies and drug stores576
- Hotels, motels and lodging489
Frequently asked questions
How many restaurants and bars are there in Cook County, IL?
11,184 establishments with paid employees in 2023, according to Census Bureau County Business Patterns. Businesses with no employees, such as many owner-operated shops, are not counted.
How does Cook County compare with other counties?
Cook County ranks 2nd among the 3,019 US counties with data for this category, and 1st of 102 in Illinois.
How big are restaurants and bars in Cook County?
32% of them have fewer than 5 employees and 27% have 20 or more, based on the number of employees per establishment.
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau, 2023. Only establishments with paid employees are counted (NAICS 7225, 7224). Methodology and limits.