Oprah, Not Michelle, Helps Obama Celebrate Birthday

Talk show queen joins President fpr dinner while the First Lady is in away Spain with daughter Sasha

If your significant other can't be there to celebrate your birthday, Oprah Winfrey is pretty good substitute.

President Obama turned 49 yesterday and chose to celebrate his special day in Chicago with Oprah, Gayle King and other longtime friends and advisors.

While FLOTUS Michelle is on a Spanish holiday with youngest daughter Sasha, Obama's party at the Graham Elliot restaurant caused chaos in Chi town.

Even the head chef nearly missed the bash due to the presidential pandemonium...

"My flight from L.A. was actually held up due to Air Force One landing at O'Hare, so we were racing to the restaurant to head him off," Chef Graham Elliot tells E! News. "Got there in time to cook for the party. We were super pysched."

A big crowd gathered outside the restaurant to catch a glimpse of the Commander in Chief, and earlier, well-wishers were waiting outside his Hyde Park home with signs saying "Happy Birthday Mr. President."

Seems like the politician had his pick of people to help him celebrate.