I had one mission when it came to the food in Chicago: to eat everything but the pizza. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE pizza but I am not a fan of the Chicago deep-dish slice. Compared to the New York slice… well, let’s just say there is no comparison at all.
Since Chicago is known for being a city of neighborhoods representing different foods and people from around the world, I was eager to taste not only traditional ‘American’ foods, but multiple kinds of international foods as well. I decided to travel around the world in a city while eating my way through Chicago.
Yolk
Several breakfast restaurants were suggested to me during my stay however I was only able to visit two of them. The first one was a Chicago chain restaurant called Yolk, which reminded me of an upscale IHOP. Yolk had a wide variety of foods and turkey sausage (for all my non-pork eating people out there).
Where can you find this delicious food?
♥ Yolk: Multiple locations – check out eatyolk.com for a location near you
Nookies Too
Nookies Too, was recommended to me by the manager of the Villa d’Citta where I stayed during BlogHouse. Located in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood, the Chicago-based restaurant is a pretty popular place to go for breakfast or brunch. One thing that I loved about this restaurant outside of their food was how affordable it was.
Where can you find this delicious food?
♥ Nookies Too: 2114 N Halsted Street (Lincoln Park neighborhood)
Tacos Palas
One thing that I really love is a good Mexican dish and I was informed that the best Mexican food in Chicago could be found in the neighborhood of Pilsen. Originally settled by Irish and German immigrants, Pilsen is now a community primarily composed of people of Mexican descent.
Relying on my my Pilsen WikiTravel guide, I searched for a budget option that was highly rated, which led me to Tacos Palas. Although Tacos Palos is known for their tacos, I ordered and shared three different menu items to get a taste of all they had to offer: a burrito, a taco, and a torta (a food that I really enjoyed when I visited Mexico). The burrito was definitely my favorite part of the meal; the tender steak, vegetables, and sour cream created an explosion of flavor in my mouth that had me craving more.
Where can you find this delicious food?
♥ Tacos Palas: 1700 South Halsted Street (Pilsen neighborhood)
Mercadito
I also had the opportunity to have a Mexican-style dinner at Mercadito in downtown Chicago thanks to the generosity of Gogo. In addition to their heavenly margaritas, Mercadito brought us plate after their large selection of savory tacos and guacamole that made my knees weak.
Where can you find this delicious food?
♥ Mercadito: 108 W. Kinzie Street
Greek Islands Restaurant
I am a HUGE lover of Greek food and when I found out that Chicago had a Greektown, I immediately knew that I would have to make a trip to the area to try some Greek food.
Conveniently located in downtown Chicago near the Loop, Chicago’s Greektown is famous for introducing gyros and saganaki to the United States, and is now host to many different traditional Greek activities and home to a lot of delicious Greek food.
With a number of different restaurants in Greektown, I wanted to make sure that I located and ate at one of the best. Turning to Yelp, I chose the most highly rated and reviewed restaurant on the list: Greek Islands Restaurant. I ordered Dolmades, Keftedes, Mousaka, and Chicken Riganati and I was extremely satisfied with the meal.
Where can you find this delicious food?
♥ Greek Islands Restaurant: 200 S. Halstead Street
Nine Classic Thai Cuisine
A friend of mine suggested meeting up for dinner at a new Thai restaurant in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago.
When I walked in I was shocked that all of the tables were empty and I feared that something might be wrong with the food. I was pleasantly surprised however to find that both the food and service were excellent. I ordered the Massaman curry, a dish that I unfortunately did not get a chance to try when I visited Thailand.
Where can you find this delicious food?
♥ Nine Classic Thai Cuisine: 2349 N. Clark Street
Chicago Bagel Authority
The Chicago Bagel Authority is the home of the Chicago steamed bagel sandwiches and is a Lincoln Park neighborhood favorite.
I ate the “Dank N’ Eggs”, an everything bagel containing scrambled eggs, roast beef, smoked cheddar cheese, American cheese, honey mustard, and salt & pepper. This delectable bagel melted on my tongue as I slid it into my mouth. In one word: it was divine.
Where can you find this delicious food?
♥ Chicago Bagel Authority: Multiple locations – check out eatcba.com for a location near you
There were a lot of other food options on my list that I was unable to try due to timing, such as Vietnamese food on Argyle Street, Indian & Pakistani food on Devon Avenue, Ethiopian food on Broadway, Chinese food in Chinatown, and Italian food in Little Italy.
I know that I will definitely have to return to Chicago in the near future to try out all of the foods that I missed this time around!
what a fun foodie tour, such variety I could go for all those fun places to eat, how do i get a cyber sample?
Hi Noel, there is such a large variety of foods and many that I wish I could try. I too wish I could have a cyber sample of some of the foods again, especially that guacamole!
I’m finally ready to announce to the Internet…I’m a Chicagoan who prefers thin crust! Haven’t been home in two years and am very much looking forward to eating my way around my favorite city in the world. Thanks for sharing!
There is something great about thin crust isn’t there? Looking forward to reading about what you’re eating!
I’m right there with you Cat! I also prefer thin crust. After being away for two years, it was nice to return home for two weeks. I hope you enjoy your time back as well! 🙂
Chicago is a great place to eat as we have pretty much anything! Not sure if you made it north, but did you get out to Andersonville while there?
Hey Beth! I made it up north to Wrigley but unfortunately I did not get to go to Andersonville due to timing 🙁
I’ll have to check out Mercadito, looks and sounds delicious.
If you’re still in Chicago or can go back, Girl and The Goat is amazing as well as Little Goat, Chef Stephanie Izard’s more casual place. I also love Big Star tacos in Wicker Park. I’m a fan of Lula’s in Logan Square, still after all these years. There is so much great food in Chicago. I always gain 10 pounds every visit!
Hello Arnette! So many wonderful suggestions of places to eat! I will definitely have to check some of those out on my next visit! There is so much food, I cannot wait to go back and eat more 😀
it seems ridiculous, but we STILL have yet to visit chicago. you’re making us seriously hungry. great guide! x
Thank you! Chicago has so much great food it was hard not to eat more 🙂