The Chicago Traveler Articles

Chicago vegetarian restaurants offer many forms of cuisine– from takes on meat dishes to full blown Mexican food and so much more in-between. Being a vegetarian doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor and only eating celery– which seems to be a common misconception. In fact,...

Spending an evening dining out is an enjoyable way to pass the time – especially when in good company. On top of food prices, alcohol can quickly make the bill escalate. Fortunately there are numerous BYOB Chicago restaurants to choose from. Being able to indulge in...

This strip of North Avenue Chicago, between Oak Park Avenue and Thatcher Avenue, is a vibrant strip of fantastic dining. Lined with some of area’s best restaurants– the dining scene in this part of Chicago and the Western Suburbs is diverse as well as delicious....

This is a sign– a sign of everything great to come the next handful of months. Sitting outside on a patio just makes food taste better and beer more refreshing. While a few locations are still a few weeks out from opening, others have embraced the weather and opened...

Grilled Cheese has come a long way since I was flipping them in a pan, or even worse, a microwave in my younger years. The big question may be, is grilled cheese really grilled cheese once you add vegetables and meat to it? The answer to that is yes, yes it is. The...

Sometimes being unrestricted is much needed. The buffets in Chicago aim to lift limitations and let you choose your own boundaries. Buffets do not always have to be traditional style, as you will see, some of the buffets in Chicago are quite exquisite with their...

Orson Welles once drunkenly stumbled through a television commercial extolling the virtues of Paul Masson's California champagne inspired by the same excellence that goes into crafting French champagne. Likewise, Chicago may not be Paris, but there are still many...

Airports can sometimes feel more like a prison than a gateway to the world. Time spent between flights should be well used rather than abused. This list compiles some of the best O’Hare restaurants to spend your time, indulge in some food, and refresh with a drink....

Good ole’ Southern cooking has blessed our palates with many unique and favorite dishes? but one of the very most cherished dishes is the simple Chicken and Waffles combination. There is just something about the soft, yet crunchy experience of a waffle matched up with...

Chicago was once known as one of the bacon capitals of the world. Back in the day, much of the pork in the U.S. of A. came from Chicago. Maybe that is one of the reasons that bacon bars exist in this land– a homage to the yesteryears. Or, maybe I need to stop being...

Chicago is known for its incredible food, but that recognition doesn’t just come from the Windy City’s many fine dining establishments. In fact, some of Chicago’s most memorable food can be found at locally owned and operated hot dog stands. For the perfect lunch or...

It seems like, more often than not, when I go out for the night with a group, we end up starting dinner with a heaping plate of nachos. They really are the perfect way to feed a small army if you aren’t counting your calories. That is why we set out to find the best...

*This list appears to be a constant work in progress, which is actually perfect! We have been contacted a couple times to have places added to this list. It is great to see that people are passionate about these types of restaurants and will take the time to make sure...

Sandwiches are the quintessential lunch food. They were designed to be eaten on the go, and while that still may be the case, there are some sandwich shoppes in Chicago’s Loop that will make you want to sit down and indulge in each and every bite. There are varieties...

Chinese restaurants are gems hidden in plain view. Every once in awhile I get a craving so hard that I must go find some fluffy steamed rice, chicken, and soy sauce. When that utter desire hits you next, and only Chinese food can suppress the feeling, these ten...

Juicing is a great and easy way to obtain your daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Avoid the shops that load their drinks with sugar – the best juice bar Chicago offers can be found at any one of these locations.   Juice Bar Chicago Guide:   Vegetarian Express – $...

Some of Chicago’s best food can be found in ‘ma & pa’ restaurants and even on the sidewalk. To make your evening of dining out a true experience, a magnificent view of Chicago’s skyline is almost a must. These Chicago restaurants should be on everyone’s bucket-list....