Top 20 Food & Drink from Chicago on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth

Last updated: October 02, 2026

Total Food & Drink Influencers in Chicago, United States of America

2,194

Expected Reach

17.5M

Total Followers

76.9M

Avg Engagement

3.73%

Audience Analysis

Gender Distribution

Female64%
Male36%

Age Distribution

25-3443.6%
18-2426.1%
35-4418.3%
45-545.3%

Top Countries

United States of America68.3%
Canada3.1%
United Kingdom2.5%
Brazil1.6%
Mexico1.3%

Top Languages

en85.6%
es7.0%
pt2.3%

Top Cities

Chicago11.9%
Los Angeles2.5%
New York City2.2%
Atlanta0.8%
New York0.6%

Top 20 Creators

RankInfluencerLocationFollowersEngagementMonthly GrowthScore
1
Emma Bice
@ourcountertop
@emmabice and husband/sous-chef @seanlitza Easy recipes + Chicago living + travel @food52 award winning bloggers 💌 emma@ourcountertop.com
Chicago, United States of America
522.5K
Followers
0.14%
Engagement
+15.1%(+68.5K)
6.7
2
Nemanja Golubovic
@kalemyname
Vegan Entrepreneur, CEO and Founder of Award Winning @kalemynamerestaurant 🥬 Creative director at @koreanveganbeauty 🌸 🎙️ Podcasts and TV Shows ⬇️
Chicago, United States of America
697.3K
Followers
1.25%
Engagement
+8.2%(+52.8K)
6.6
3
Grace Fahey
@betterbakeskitchen
baking & doing things i’ll remember!🥞🤸🌞🍇 baker x fitness instructor @gracemauree 📍Chicago 💌: lisa@thelgpr.com
Chicago, United States of America
361.4K
Followers
1.10%
Engagement
+8.9%(+29.4K)
7.9
4
Maddie Goetz
@madzgoetz
CHICAGO!!! Good eats and good laughs Email - maddie@zerogravitymanagement.com
Chicago, United States of America
601.1K
Followers
1.32%
Engagement
+4.6%(+26.4K)
8.4
5
LARRY
@larrynem_
BUSINESS 💌: larrynempr@gmail.com @larsbruv @oatismeal4real
Chicago, United States of America
131.0K
Followers
7.50%
Engagement
+15.5%(+17.6K)
9.1
6
Darren Cooper | Home Chef
@cookingwithmrcooper
🥘 Lover of Food 👨🏾‍🍳 Bringing You Easy Dinner Ideas 🙋🏾‍♂️ Hey Dad, What’s for dinner❓ 🌃 🚇Chicago Raised
Chicago, United States of America
887.2K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+2.0%(+17.3K)
8.4
7
Tricia Danieli💃🏻🎙️🎶🎹
@triciadanieli
“MIRAGE” out on all major digital music platforms 🎧 👽 Singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist, recording artist 🌟
Chicago, United States of America
116.4K
Followers
2.10%
Engagement
+14.0%(+14.3K)
6.8
8
ᴊᴏsɪᴀʜ vᴀʀɢʜᴇsᴇ ™
@itsjoboi
☦︎ |YouTuber|Musician|Dancer Starbucks Global Coffee Creator •ICU Nurse, BSN, B.Sc(Psychology)🩺 •FOUNDER: @chaiwalaco •TIKTOK: @itsjoboi (1,800,000)
Chicago, United States of America
697.2K
Followers
0.12%
Engagement
+2.0%(+13.8K)
6.5
9
William Patrick Corgan
@billycorgan
New episodes of TMO - Wednesday NWA POWERRR on Comet Saturday at 4 PM ET @smashingpumpkins @madamezuzus @nwa
Chicago, United States of America
643.3K
Followers
2.38%
Engagement
+1.9%(+11.9K)
7.5
10
Saloni Mehta | Vegan & Eggless Baking
@pastrybysaloni
✨Eggless - Dairy-free, & Vegan friendly Recipes 📕Cookbook author 📍Chicago 💌Recipes: www.Pastrybysaloni.com
Chicago, United States of America
727.5K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+1.6%(+11.1K)
8.5
11
Emine Akgul
@nakkash_kitchen
📍Adana - Chicago 🇹🇷-🇺🇸 Amerika’da otantik Türk lezzetleri Reklam&işbirliği 👉 WP 0 541 768 48 91 📷Yemek stilistliği ve fotoğrafçılığı 👩🏻‍🏫 Öğretmen
Chicago, United States of America
154.0K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+7.4%(+10.6K)
8.4
12
Oscar Yaquian
@oscaryaquian
Chicago Based Sculptor I sculpt with my hands. No AI, no 3D printing DM me your email for shop updates oscarysculptor@gmail.com
Chicago, United States of America
526.3K
Followers
0.55%
Engagement
+2.0%(+10.4K)
6.9
13
Lele🍒
@shaleaa._
Chicago, United States of America
88.2K
Followers
20.46%
Engagement
+13.0%(+10.1K)
5.3
14
Becca | TeacherTastes
@teachertastes
Hi! I’m Becca Special Ed Teacher | Mom🩵 Meal Prep | Everyday Life 🥑✏️🛒🍎
Chicago, United States of America
391.0K
Followers
0.35%
Engagement
+2.6%(+9.9K)
7.0
15
Darryl Postelnick
@cookingwith_darryl
Darryl Postelnick Dad who loves to cook, drink and have fun! 3M on TikTok Darryl@underscoretalent.com. @rhoback
Chicago, United States of America
621.4K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+1.5%(+9.3K)
8.5
16
Gwen Korach Graff
@thegreatgwenofficial
TikTok -3M thegreatgwen thegreatgwen1@gmail.com
Chicago, United States of America
72.6K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+14.4%(+9.1K)
6.0
17
Cook Up Ki
@cookupki
Private Chef | Chicago | Columbus OH 🍽️ Luxury Dining • Meal Prep • Events 📩 Bookings: www.UniqueEats.net
Chicago, United States of America
590.6K
Followers
0.79%
Engagement
+1.5%(+8.9K)
6.9
18
Kai | Cozy Games & Lifestyle
@cozycornerkai
🧸why go big when you can just go home? 🌱living softly ☁️ cozy routines • games • little things |📍Chicago ✉️ kai@hermanaagency.com
Chicago, United States of America
345.1K
Followers
11.18%
Engagement
+2.5%(+8.4K)
8.3
19
JONATHAN ZARAGOZA
@goatboyintl
📍Chicago 🇲🇽 Editor in residence @testkitchen 📸 @jonathanzaragozafoto 🥘 my recipes + tools 👇🏽
Chicago, United States of America
390.6K
Followers
0.40%
Engagement
+2.1%(+8.0K)
6.9
20
Lauren Nagel
@bonappeteach
🍽️ Deliciously crafted recipes for every occasion 🎓Certified Culinary Arts Educator 👇 Grab my latest recipes
Chicago, United States of America
246.8K
Followers
0.07%
Engagement
+3.1%(+7.5K)
6.9

About This Instagram Influencer Ranking

Discover the most influential creators in Chicago with our comprehensive ranking of the top 20 influencers on Instagram who post Food & Drink content. This data‑driven analysis identifies the content creators who are shaping conversations, driving trends, and commanding the highest engagement rates in 2026.

Key Insights & Metrics

  • Combined Reach: 17.5M potential impressions across all ranked influencers
  • Total Audience: 76.9M followers collectively following these creators
  • Average Engagement Rate: 3.73% - above industry average
  • Market Coverage: 2,194 total influencers analyzed in this category

Audience Demographics & Reach

The influencers in this ranking reach a diverse, global audience with primary concentrations in:

  • Top Markets: United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom
  • Gender Distribution: 64% Female, 36% Male
  • Primary Age Group: 25-34 years (43.6% of audience)
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese

Why This Ranking Matters

For brands and marketers, this ranking provides essential intelligence for:

  • Identifying high-performing influencers for partnership opportunities
  • Understanding audience demographics for targeted campaigns
  • Benchmarking engagement rates and growth metrics
  • Discovering emerging talent with strong growth trajectories
  • Analyzing competitive landscape in Food & Drink niche

For content creators, these insights help with:

  • Understanding industry benchmarks and performance standards
  • Identifying successful content strategies from top performers
  • Network building and collaboration opportunities
  • Setting realistic growth targets based on peer performance

Methodology & Data Freshness

Our rankings are generated using advanced algorithms that analyze multiple performance indicators:

  • Profile Score: Proprietary metric combining reach, engagement, and growth
  • Engagement Rate: Average interaction rate across recent content
  • Growth Velocity: Month-over-month follower growth and momentum
  • Content Consistency: Posting frequency and audience retention
  • Audience Quality: Authenticity scores and demographic relevance

Data is refreshed weekly to ensure you're always working with the most current information. Last update includes performance data through October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the fastest‑growing Food & Drink creator in Chicago on Instagram?

Emma Bice (@ourcountertop) is, as of October 2026, the fastest‑growing Food & Drink creator in Chicago on Instagram, with +15.1% monthly growth (+68.5K followers).

How many followers did Emma Bice (@ourcountertop) gain last month?

Emma Bice (@ourcountertop) gained about 68.5K followers last month (+15.1%).

Who grew more: Emma Bice (@ourcountertop) or Nemanja Golubovic (@kalemyname)?

Emma Bice (@ourcountertop) grew more than Nemanja Golubovic (@kalemyname) (68.5K vs 52.8K).

How is Nemanja Golubovic (@kalemyname) performing right now?

Nemanja Golubovic (@kalemyname) is growing at +8.2% (+52.8K) per month, with a Profile Score of 6.6 and average engagement of 1.25%.

How is Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen) performing right now?

Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen) is growing at +8.9% (+29.4K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.9 and average engagement of 1.10%.

How is Maddie Goetz (@madzgoetz) performing right now?

Maddie Goetz (@madzgoetz) is growing at +4.6% (+26.4K) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.4 and average engagement of 1.32%.

How is LARRY (@larrynem_) performing right now?

LARRY (@larrynem_) is growing at +15.5% (+17.6K) per month, with a Profile Score of 9.1 and average engagement of 7.50%.

Who had the higher percentage growth: Nemanja Golubovic (@kalemyname) or Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen)?

Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen) leads (8.9% vs Nemanja Golubovic (@kalemyname) 8.2%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Emma Bice (@ourcountertop)?

Emma Bice (@ourcountertop) gained about 68.5K followers last month (+15.1%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Nemanja Golubovic (@kalemyname)?

Nemanja Golubovic (@kalemyname) gained about 52.8K followers last month (+8.2%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen)?

Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen) gained about 29.4K followers last month (+8.9%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Maddie Goetz (@madzgoetz)?

Maddie Goetz (@madzgoetz) gained about 26.4K followers last month (+4.6%).

What is the absolute follower gain of LARRY (@larrynem_)?

LARRY (@larrynem_) gained about 17.6K followers last month (+15.5%).

Is Emma Bice (@ourcountertop) still a relevant creator?

Yes — Emma Bice (@ourcountertop) has a Profile Score of 6.7, average engagement of 0.14%, and +15.1% (+68.5K) monthly follower growth, indicating high relevance.

What is a good engagement rate for Food & Drink in United States of America?

The average engagement rate for this category is 3.73%. Generally, rates above 4.5% are considered excellent, while rates above 3.0% are good. Engagement rates vary by platform, niche, and follower count - micro-influencers often have higher rates than mega-influencers.

How is the Profile Score calculated?

The Profile Score (0-10 scale) is a composite metric that weighs several factors: 40% engagement quality, 25% audience reach, 20% growth momentum, 10% content consistency, and 5% audience authenticity. A score above 7.0 indicates a high-performing influencer, while scores above 8.5 represent elite-tier creators.

Can I use this data for influencer marketing campaigns?

Yes! This ranking is designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers identify potential partnership opportunities. The data provides a starting point for campaign planning, competitor analysis, and market research. For detailed campaign analytics and contact information, consider upgrading to our professional tools.

What does monthly growth percentage mean?

Monthly growth shows the percentage change in followers over the past 30 days. Positive growth (green) indicates gaining followers, while negative growth (red) means losing followers. The number in parentheses shows the absolute follower change. High growth rates often indicate viral content or successful campaigns.

Why should I track influencers in Chicago?

Location-specific influencer tracking is crucial for targeted marketing campaigns. Local influencers often have higher engagement rates within their geographic area, understand cultural nuances, and can drive better ROI for region-specific products or services. They're particularly valuable for retail, hospitality, and location-based businesses.

How can I improve my ranking as an influencer?

Focus on these key areas: (1) Increase engagement by creating content that encourages comments and shares, (2) Post consistently to maintain audience interest, (3) Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, (4) Collaborate with other creators in your niche, (5) Respond to comments to build community, and (6) Analyze your best-performing content and create similar pieces.

Note: This ranking represents a snapshot of current instagram influence based on publicly available data. Rankings can fluctuate based on content performance, platform algorithm changes, and audience behavior. Use this data as one of several factors in your decision-making process.