Survivability Rankings for South African Restaurant in Chicago
StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Chicago to open a South African Restaurant, from Kenwood (80% survival) to Boulev...
By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: September 2026 | Methodology
Quick Summary
- Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
- #1 Neighborhood: Kenwood: 80% average survivability for South African Restaurant
- Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 99 of 99 analyzed
- City-wide average: 77% for South African Restaurants
- Most challenging area: Boulevard District at 74%
- Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~8.6% more expected revenue in Kenwood
- Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →
Table of Contents
- Summary
- 10 Best Neighborhoods
- Where Would a South African Restaurant Make the Most Money?
- What Should I Consider?
- Where Should I Start?
- FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
- FAQ: Can a South African Restaurant Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
- FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
- FAQ: Is a South African Restaurant a Good Tenant?
- Landlord Survivability Data
- Best Neighborhoods for Any Business
Summary
Opening a South African Restaurant in Chicago? Our 2026 analysis identifies Kenwood as the top location with 80% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 82% and the most challenging locations in Kenwood at 77%. The worst neighborhoods include Boulevard District with 74% average chance. For the most current predictions, visit StreetSpring to analyze your specific location in real-time.
What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Chicago to Open a South African Restaurant?
Kenwood ranks #1 of 99 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Chicago for South African Restaurant survivability, with a 80% chance of lasting two or more years as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:
| Rank | Neighborhood | At a good address | Average Locations | Best Locations | Challenging Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenwood | 80.9% | 78.0% to 82.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 77.0% to 79.0% |
| 2 | Hyde Park | 80.9% | 78.0% to 82.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 78.0% to 80.0% |
| 3 | West Woodlawn | 80.9% | 78.0% to 82.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 78.0% to 80.0% |
| 4 | Gage Park | 80.9% | 77.0% to 81.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 77.0% to 79.0% |
| 5 | Little Village | 80.9% | 77.0% to 81.0% | 83.0% to 84.0% | 74.0% to 75.0% |
| 6 | Big Woods Marmion | 80.9% | 75.0% to 79.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 71.0% to 73.0% |
| 7 | East Hyde Park | 80.4% | 77.0% to 81.0% | 81.0% to 83.0% | 78.0% to 80.0% |
| 8 | Archer Heights | 80.4% | 77.0% to 81.0% | 83.0% to 84.0% | 74.0% to 76.0% |
| 9 | Streeterville | 80.4% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 76.0% to 78.0% |
| 10 | Chicago Lawn | 80.0% | 77.0% to 81.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 77.0% to 79.0% |
However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. New competitor openings and closures happen weekly: the live tool ensures you see the latest picture.
Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. See our full methodology →
Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.
Where in or Around Chicago Would a South African Restaurant Make the Most Money?
In Kenwood, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~8.6% more than the average location in or around Chicago.
On the other hand, in Boulevard District, the worst possible location could result in making ~8.9% less than the average location in the city.
The right location can make a business; the wrong one can break it. Opening a South African Restaurant in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across 99 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new South African Restaurant is 77% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. The interplay between location characteristics and business type produces unique survivability scores for every combination.
What Should I Consider When Opening a South African Restaurant in or Around Chicago?
When selecting a location for a South African Restaurant in or around Chicago, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. Revenue Capture Score captures the interplay between market share and consumer spending: the two biggest drivers of success. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. Our models draw from one of the most comprehensive commercial real estate datasets ever assembled. Neighborhoods with a mix of similar businesses frequently outperform isolated locations. StreetSpring uses its own proprietary forecasting tools to make these predictions. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.
This can be summarized as:
Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business
Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. However, market conditions change daily, and it's best to use StreetSpring's live data to check the Survivability Score for a specific address.
Where in or Around Chicago Should I Start a South African Restaurant?
Based on our analysis, the leading neighborhoods are Kenwood, Hyde Park, and West Woodlawn, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Boulevard District, Dunning, and Belmont Heights. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool. Static rankings provide a useful baseline, but the live tool captures changes that have occurred since publication.
Related Articles:
- Business Survivability Rankings: Chicago
- Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Chicago
- National City Survivability: South African Restaurant
- National Neighborhood Survivability: South African Restaurant
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open a South African Restaurant?
Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a South African Restaurant in Chicago is Kenwood with 80% average survivability, followed by Hyde Park and West Woodlawn. 99 of 99 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.
Neighborhood rankings are useful, but the exact odds for your location can only be seen by running a current survivability check in StreetSpring.
Can a South African Restaurant Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in Chicago?
Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Location-level factors like visibility and adjacent tenants can override neighborhood-level trends. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.
How Often Are South African Restaurant Rankings in Chicago Updated?
StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Chicago.
Is a South African Restaurant a Good Tenant for Chicago Landlords?
In Kenwood, StreetSpring forecasts a 78.0% to 82.0% average chance for a new South African Restaurant to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.
Landlord Survivability Data for South African Restaurant in Chicago
The data tells a clear story for South African Restaurant tenants across Chicago's top neighborhoods. Kenwood leads with 78.0% to 82.0% average survivability, with best-case storefronts reaching 80.0% to 82.0%. Hyde Park averages 78.0% to 82.0%, and West Woodlawn comes in at 78.0% to 82.0%. See which business types are most likely to succeed at your property address right now.
StreetSpring can give you the precise likelihood that hundreds of different businesses will last at an exact address.
Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around Chicago for My Business Overall?
You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Chicago to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Chicago.
Related Resources
- Business Survivability Rankings: Chicago: See how South African Restaurant compares to all other business types in Chicago
- Best Cities to Open a South African Restaurant in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for South African Restaurant
- Business Survivability in Kenwood, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Hyde Park, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in West Woodlawn, Chicago: All business types ranked in the #3 neighborhood
Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Chicago are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.
View technical data for Chicago
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.