Hey there, fellow foodie travelers! Today, we’re in Chicago Illinois, talking about food! There are so many cool things to do in Chicago, and all that sightseeing will definitely help you work up an appetite. There are so many great Chicago food spots that it would take ages to try them all. So we’re going to tell you the top five things to eat in Chicago.
Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
Chicago Deep Dish is not like the “pan pizza” you’ve had from Pizza Hut or Domino’s. Chicago Deep Dish is on a whole other level. My Italian friends thought it looked more like a cake than a pizza. The crust is super thick and then filled with toppings. It is more like a pie than a pizza! Pizza this thick takes a long time to cook, so don’t wait until you’re hungry. In fact, at places like Giordano’s in Chicago, they’ll have you put in your order and then go walk around town a bit while your pizza cooks. Be warned that you will be lucky to finish two pieces of pizza; this stuff is super heavy and filling!
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting Chicago
Some of the best places for Chicago deep dish include:
- Giordano’s
- Pizzeria Uno (and their 2nd location, Pizzeria Due)
- Lou Malnati’s
- Gino’s East
- Pizano’s (local’s favorite alternative to Lou Malnati’s)
- Pequod’s (a local favorite on the north side!)
Chicago Hot Dog
Hot dogs are a favorite of Chicagoans. A Chicago dog, usually Vienna Beef, is a beef hot dog. A “Chicago dog” comes with tomatoes, pickle, mustard, pepperoncini, and celery salt on a poppyseed bun. That’s right, no ketchup on a Chicago dog! It’s considered a sacrilege to put ketchup on a Chicago dog, and you might be ridiculed for it. Try it Chicago-style, you just might love it!
What Not to Do When You Visit Chicago
Some of the best places to try a Chicago hot dog include:
- Wrigley Field
- Wiener Circle (open until 4 am!)
- Superdawg Drive-In
- Portillo’s
- Any Vienna Beef hot dog cart along the lakefront path
Italian Beef Sandwich
Another popular Chicago food is the Italian beef sandwich. The sandwich is made of a hoagie roll filled with shaved beef and green peppers on top. Then you’ll get a side of “au jus” to dip your sandwich; it’s like a taste of heaven. This isn’t a sandwich to eat with your hands; you’ll need a fork and knife to take down an Italian beef in Chicago.
Some of the best places in Chicago to try an Italian Beef include:
- Portillo’s
- Luke’s Italian Beef
- Al’s Italian Beef
- Tony’s Italian Beef
- Mr. Beef
Garrett Popcorn
Another famous Chicago food is Garrett’s popcorn. There are several Garrett’s locations in Chicago, including the sports arenas and airports, but you will typically see a line down the block at the Michigan Avenue and State Street locations where most tourists are. (Hint: the location in Ogilvy train station is usually quick!) Garrett has several flavors of popcorn, but you really need to try the Chicago Mix. It’s caramel popcorn and cheese popcorn blended together. The combination of sweet and salty makes this some of the best popcorn you will ever have! With their decorative tins, Garrett popcorn makes the perfect Chicago souvenir if you’re looking to take something home!
Ethnic Restaurants Around the City
Now that we’ve mentioned the popular “Chicago-style” foods, we have to mention all of the ethnic enclaves around the city. There are huge populations of immigrants throughout Chicago which means you can get some amazing food from all over the world, right here in the Midwest. Each ethnicity in Chicago has an area where the restaurants and businesses are concentrated. This is also a great way to see some other parts of Chicago that aren’t the downtown tourist area. A food tour is a great way to explore some of these areas. Some of the best Chicago neighborhoods for ethnic food include:
- Greektown – just west of the loop, tons of great Greek restaurants
- Little Italy – just south of Greektown, near the UIC campus
- Chinatown – south of the loop, several spots for weekend dim sum
- Pilsen – Mexican neighborhood on the west side
- Little India – along Devon Avenue on the north side near Rogers Park
- Portage Park – traditionally Polish neighborhood on the north side
Chicago Beer
While you’re filling up on Chicago style food, don’t forget to try some local Chicago brews. Goose Island is probably the most famous as it’s nationally distributed. I like Half Acre, Two Brothers Brewery, and Revolution Brewing. You’ll see these beers all over town, from the grocery store to the ballpark.
Chicago has so much to offer as a Midwest travel destination! You won’t be bored, and you definitely won’t go hungry with all of the tasty Chicago food. If you’re traveling with a family or a group, there are several food halls popping up in Chicago where you can each order from a different food stand so everyone gets their favorite Chicago food! Check out the French Market, Eataly, FoodLife, or the Revival Food Hall.
Looking for more tips on travel in the Midwest United States? Check out some of these other blog posts!