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My Chicago list

A comprehensive list that isn't nearly comprehensive enough. If it made the list - it's good and/or famous.

Kristen Lobo

Tags

Neighborhood

MUST go

Lardon

Awesome (in-house!) charcuterie & aperitifs

Pequod’s Pizza

THE place for deep dish in Chicago. Hands down. Alternately you can go to

@Burt’s Place

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in Morton Grove if you’re in the burbs, which has similar origins (sort of the same place).

Lou Malnati’s

If you’re in a pinch & can’t get to Pequod’s. In no circumstances should it be necessary to go to the other chain that starts with “G” and ends with “don’t go there”.

Jibaritos y mas

Jibaritos are a classicly Chicago (but Puerto Rican-inspired) sandwich with plantains instead of bread.

Article for reference

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if you don’t believe me.

Lula Cafe

Very popular brunch spot in Logan Square

Serai

Pretty good Malaysian spot (has Thai, etc. as well)

Small Cheval

Easier way to get one of Chicago’s best burgers — and while you’re at it, take a stroll on

@The 606

⁠

Dove’s luncheonette

Can’t remember if I’ve been here but it’s supposed to be good and a Wicker Park classic

Wormhole Coffee

I’ll ruin the surprise — it’s famous because there’s a Dolorean on the ceiling. Good coffee, very hipster despite Wicker being gentrified away from the hipsters.

Paulie Gee’s

LOVE their Detroit-style pizza. Do not get any other style of pizza here because that is sooooo good. There’s a comparable place in DC called Red Light. You should try their pizza too.

The Whale

Could be lit for brunch, fun to watch big groups who are all dressed up for brunch but you don’t need to be.

Emporium

In Fulton Market, this is a cool spot. The one in Logan is 🤷 — there are a lot cooler spots around. I do have coins though 👀

Chicago Distilling Company

I’m really into their gin & they have great gin cocktails

Cafe con Leche

My sister likes this place

Beatnik

I’ve only been to the West Town location, so only going to add that to the list for now, but LOVE the vibes at this place. Really cool and interesting and makes for a very fun chill with friends to eat slowly and take in the atmosphere (pricey-ish).

Hoosier Mama Pie Company

Incredible pies — plan in advance so they aren’t sold out of what you want

Soulé

Awesome soul food — get shrimp and grits, jerk chicken wings, blackened catfish, etc

Kasama

Really excellent food & coffee & pastries — REALLY long line even if you come right at the opening, might not be worth the super long wait

Jeni’s

The OG. Any location is good.

En Hakkore Sushi Burrito & Poke Bowl

LOVE their sushi tacos 😍

Crumbl

I hate myself for putting this on here because it’s a huge national chain & a huge personal addiction.

The Delta

Pretty delish southern dishes

Crossroads

Some nice vintage pieces to be found, but not cheap for thrifting. But it’s fun to hit up all the thrift stores in Wicker Park! (there are a couple on the same block)

The Budlong Hot Chicken

Good spot for Nashville hot chicken

Jim’s Original

Classic Chicago polish. Polish = Polish sausage. The correct thing to do here is grab one & eat it in your car.

White Palace Grill

Only go here at 3-4am if everything else is closed. It’s great cheap simple diner food with INCREDIBLE people-watching, any time of day. You can get a great feel for Chicago in there.

Qiao Lin Hotpot

Hot pot & it’s sooo gooooood — expensive but worth it

Cà Phê Dá - Dang Good Wings

They have the fun Vietnamese coffee, including the egg custard one. Apparently the adjoining restaurant is good too.

Tahoora Sweets & Bakery

Devon Ave is “Little India” and there is no mistaking it. Sights smells & sounds of the real India here. This is one place on Devon where you can get snacks, but there are many and you can definitely enjoy an afternoon going into different stores and having different snacks etc.

Ghareeb Nawaz Restaurant

Known Devon spot that’s 24/7

Bingo Tea

Personally think it’s one of the best milk teas in Chicago, but milk tea is all about one’s own preference. Either way, it’s fun to walk around this Chinatown plaza & go into all the shops etc. — I used to come here all the time when I was in high school, taking the water taxi from the Loop.

Summer House Santa Monica

Good place to pretend you’re not in Chicago & also good place to watch large flocks of white ladies brunching

Burt’s Place

Great option for deep dish if you’re in these parts. Excellent cheese curds.

Butcher & The Burger

Great Lincoln Park burger spot — BYOB which is pretty common in Chicago.

Dog Haus

Fun & tasty hot dogs — not necessarily Chicago style so maybe skip this if you’re trying to really experience Chicago

Johnnie’s Beef

Johnny’s Beef is my Italian beef of choice — there’s one out in the suburbs by me that’s a bi-weekly guilty pleasure. The proper order is dipped, with sweet & hot peppers on the side (so you can add them at your own pace).

Gene & Jude's

Very classic Chicago hot dog. Can’t go wrong.

Portillo’s

Classic Chicago chain for Italian beef, Polish sausages & hot dogs. If you don’t have time to go out to the serious spots for these things, Portillos is the place to try em. And you must try a chocolate cake shake while you’re at it.

Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits

Amazing biscuits!! Big line, though. Haven’t tried the pie but I’m sure it’s fantastic. Quality spot.

Split-Rail

Haven’t been but heard good things!

Fatso’s Last Stand

Don’t know if I’ve actually been here but it’s a thing

Big Jones

Andersonville is the neighborhood of middle aged gay men. You’ll see them out in droves & you may fee a little young. But there’s lots of cool stuff in that neighborhood that anyone can enjoy — including a DELICIOUS brunch at Big Jones.

Hopleaf

Good Belgian food & beer — would recommend if you’re in the neighborhood and enjoy Belgian beer

Tank Noodles

Don’t think I’ve been here but this area has a lot of good Vietnamese

Sprinkles

They’re legit & one of many Chicago cupcake spots — ask for more recs if you want em

Mercadito

Pretty good, bougie Mexican food

Firecakes Donuts

Incredible donuts & coffee

The Game Room at Chicago Athletic Association

If you’re at Millennium Park which you will inevitably be, this is a great place to stop by and maybe get a drink. Even if you don’t want anything, I’d still stop in, it’s really nice in there & there’s often some wedding photoshoot you can crash.

Bonci Pizzeria

SO GOOD — and you can get as much or as little as you want as they sell it by weight. The other weekend I treated myself to octopus & basil, blueberry sausage and also potato pizza.

McDonald’s Global Menu Restaurant

McDonalds is headquartered in the Chicago area, so there are a few fun Mickey D’s, including a huge one and this one which serves a rotating menu pulled from stores around the world.

Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio

Fresh pasta, made directly in front of you when you sit at the bar. Need I say more? 🧑‍🍳👌

Au Cheval

Awesome burger but definitely find other stuff to do in Fulton Market while you’re waiting for a table — there will be a wait.

Girl & the Goat

Little Goat Diner

From celeb chef Stephanie Izard

Sawada Coffee

Hip coffee spot that’s big & good for groups

TimeOut Market

Great way to try different stuff out. Same concept as the Timeout markets in other cities like New York.

Kurumi

Earl grey tea soft serve is great. If you want, try the gold or silver leaf topping. All pretty pricey but good quality.

Xi’an cuisine

Pretty good Xi’an food

Elitea

I think it's pretty great but then again there's a location near me, and I go all the time.

Dolo

Apparently good for dim sum (made to order, no carts) — haven't been but seems really good

Lao Sze Chuan

Pretty good Sichuan in Chinatown

Greek Islands

Haven’t been here but it’s supposed to be a good spot in Greektown. At any Greektown restaurant definitely try the flaming Saganaki — I thought this was a thing everywhere but apparently it was invented in Chicago.

Athena Greek Restaurant

Nice patio in Greektown

Athenian Room

Uncle Mike's Place

Gaijin

Fun okonomiyaki restaurant

The 606

If you’re in the area for a stroll and it’s a nice day, it’s a great place to walk

Greetings from Chicago mural

Honestly never been here but might be a nice tourist pic if you’re in the neighborhood

Lincoln Park Zoo

One of the oldest in the country I think. I like to go

this spot

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and take pics & maybe stop by the ape house if I’m near Lincoln Park & down for a long walk.

Chicago Riverwalk

Beautiful place to walk on a sunny day — you can see all the different architecture & enjoy being in the city

Buckingham Fountain

This was the Grant Park structure to go take pics by until the Bean was built and everyone started ogling & taking selfies there instead

Millennium Park

Overrated but whatever it’s still nice. Walking around Lurie Gardens can be nice & maybe picnicking or hanging around in the grass in front of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion is also nice.

Architecture tour

Myopic Books

Has the classic Wicker hipster bookstore vibe — nice to pop in if you’re strolling down Milwaukee to get a sense of what the neighborhood is all about

Subterranean

Used to go to this music venue all the time in high school <3 nice smaller place for music

The Metro

Where I went to my first concert — great place with notable artists that play here

Smartbar

Underneath Metro — many of my friends enjoy going here for house / electronic music. House music is from Chicago — this could be a good place to go enjoy it.

Green Mill

A big part of Chicago history is the blues! Green Mill is a great example — probably better to go earlier when there’s no cover & soak up the vibes, then leave before you get too sleepy

Buddy Guys Legends

Chicago blues classic place.

Second City

This is where Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, Amy Poehler, Jordan Peele, Stephen Colbert, etc. etc. etc. got famous. Definitely fun to go to a show — check website for tickets & times.

Estereo

People really like to go here — I think it’s nice & great (pricey) drinks, but not worth a long wait it

The Whistler

On my friends’ list of their favorite bars. There’s always dancing but at the same time you can order fancy cocktails. That’s a fun night out. Hipsters & normal people alike, mostly all young, having a good time. This is Chicago.

Cafe Mustache

Now this is that Chicago hipster you’re lookin for — weird place with interesting characters. Might be a good place to try Malort. Could be empty, could be full, who could know.

Beauty Bar

Fun dancing, nice clubby night out without the fancy-ness of a club. I feel like there’s one in New York, not sure.

Sidetrack

Boystown is fun! This is one of the dance bars where you can go to have fun

Progress Bar Chicago

Boystown is fun! This is one of the dance bars where you can go to have fun

Roscoe’s Tavern

Boystown is fun! This is one of the dance bars where you can go to have fun

Berlin

Fun & casual place to end the night (closes around 4-5am)

Three Dots and a Dash

Pricey but really cool tiki bar — hot spot so come at an odd hour or make a reservation. The entrance is in an alleyway.

Celeste

One of my favorite clubs in Chicago — there are different floors with different kinds of music on each floor. The disco floor is always fun!

Blind Barber

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