by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Neighborhoods, Suburbs, Top 10 Restaurants
If you live in the city and love Japanese and Korean food, you may consider visiting the northwest suburbs. Many Japanese and Korean companies have made Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates their North American Headquarters. As a result, neighboring suburbs have a large...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
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....
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews, The Loop
Chicago’s the Fifty/50 Group has so far been known for their eclecticism with restaurants ranging from the namesake sports bar to Roots Handmade Pizza to craft cocktail lounges like the Berkshire Room. With the recent opening of Steadfast in the Loop’s business...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
Poutine Chicago options are beginning to expand, from the traditional ways that originated in Canada, to some of the most exquisite ways that you could ever imagine eating fries, cheese-curds, and gravy. When eggs, brisket, pulled pork, or even prime rib are added...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lakeview, Reviews, Uptown
You’ve been hitting up the bars for a bit and have a solid buzz going. You’re thinking about calling it a night, but ready for one last stop and there’s got to be food. Pulling up Yelp, there’s not a lot options other than super greasy, but you’re looking for...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
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...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, River North
The battle between deep dish and NY style pizza will likely rage on till the end of time, but there’s one thing you’ve got to give to New York City: you can grab a quality slice pretty much anywhere. In Chicago, it takes a little more effort to get an easy pizza fix....
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Logan Square, Reviews
Gentrification has drastically transformed Logan Square in the last few years from a primarily Latino neighborhood to hipster paradise with both positive and negative results. For all the cool bookstores like Uncharted and great restaurants like Lula Caf and Longman...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, River North
Since opening in March 2014, Ukrainian Village’s Leghorn Chicken has become a favorite of hipsters, neighborhood residents, and Chicago’s fried chicken enthusiasts. They boldly positioned themselves as the anti-Chik-fil-A with Sunday hours, branded condoms, and...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
When you think about Chicago food, it s typical for the mind to conjure images of deep-dish (and thin crust) pizzas, hotdogs, and all ranges of Italian fare probably not barbeque. But believe it or not Chicago is knee-deep in a full out Barbeque renaissance these...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Events
With our lives seamlessly integrating with technology, it comes to no surprise that there are apps tailored to all forms of lifestyles. With Chicago being so diverse, certain apps can give you valuable insight into the city. 312Go 312Go is your no-strings-attached...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lakeview, Restaurants, Reviews
Chicagoans love brunch so much that more and more restaurants decide to get into the brunch game. However, the results can often be kind of surreal when you wind up at the local dive that’s trying their hardest to deliver an extravagant Lobster Eggs Benedict in the...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lakeview, Reviews
Flagship, to many, may seem like just another typical sports bar. Upon first glance, I wouldn’t argue with you. However, being that sports games were flooding the copious amount of screens throughout the venue and my table didn’t pay attention to any of them one bit–...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews
I found myself wandering the streets of Chicago one evening. I was aimlessly walking around snapping photos when the slight growl of my stomach made me realize that I had yet to eat anything that day. I made a couple phone calls to get recommendations from friends,...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews, West Town
As if Restaurant Row wasn’t already a foodies dream come true, the West Loop’s dining scene continues to grow and expand beyond the confines of Randolph. Head just a little bit south of Randolph to 1045 W. Madison Street and you’ll find the Mad Boiler, a Cajun seafood...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lakeview, Reviews
Deli and sub sandwich fans are intensely passionate, even to the point where there are fierce rivalries around massive chains like Subway and Jimmy John’s. New York Delicatessen owner Isaac Work was once such a fan, driving regularly from Bridgeport to the...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
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...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews
While America may have exported the bulk of its manufacturing jobs overseas, more and more restaurants are adopting the assembly line model such as Chipotle. One of the more recent additions is Mixed Greens, fast food restaurant focusing on organic and healthy salads,...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Logan Square, Restaurants, Reviews
When I lived near the intersection of Armitage and California a few years ago, the food options were fairly limited and imbalanced. You could have a high-end foodie meal at Table, Donkey and Stick or grab a hot dog at the Tastee Freez. All of that has changed...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Drinks, Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
Some days nothing kickstarts you like a hearty meal accompanied by a little champagne and orange juice. That means that one of the bottomless mimosas Chicago brunches is literally calling your name! There are a handful of solid options that will help you get your fix...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Entertainment, Events
Humana to present healthy mocktail challenge featuring WXRT DJ Mary Dixon and ‘Check, Please!’ host Catherine De Orio on July 9 Health and well-being company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) will showcase its largest ever list of healthy food items through its signature Humana...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Entertainment
The search for the best chicken wing is a never ending journey for wing connoisseurs. Once you think, for that brief second, that you have found the best wings and your appetite is suddenly satisfied in each and every way you are wrong. With the sudden realization...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
There is just something about dining at the food trucks in Chicago that makes this sidewalk dining experience so enjoyable. Maybe it’s a sense of rebellion against sit-down restaurants, maybe it’s quality fast-food service, maybe it’s taking advantage of the...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews
Ravenswood’s Artango serves authentic South American cuisine, but it’s also a dance studio and something of an avant-garde art gallery– all packed in a hundred-year-old former factory. That certainly makes Artango one of the most unique dining experiences in the city....
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
Known for some of the finest establishments when it comes to dining out, Chicago is one of the best restaurant cities in the world. Some may say Chicago’s claim to fame is the deep-dish pizza, but make no mistake, when it comes to steak, the Windy City knows how...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Drinks, Chicago Eats, Entertainment, Reviews
Wandering through the boutiques that make up LuxeHome (website), on the first floor of Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, you didn’t know what you’d find. Tucked away in model bathrooms, kitchens with Wi-Fi ready refrigerators, and next to paint...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
Sometimes in the morning nothing is more satisfying than a simple, quintessential breakfast. Nothing tends to fit the bill more perfectly than a plate of some of the best pancakes in Chicago– especially after an aggressive night. Yes– French toast is bomb and it...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
Seeking out the best burger in Chicago can be an overwhelming task. You can scrounge through Yelp, ask your neighborhood shop keeper or start with these recommendations and see if you learn of anywhere else on your travels. The neighborhoods of Chicago that have the...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
Wings are a sacred meal. They are messy, delicious, mainly eaten with friends and beer, and taste even better when sports are streaming across the screen. If you are going to support your favorite teams, then also support your tastebuds by letting them indulge in the...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, The Loop
Our recent list of the best Chicago burgers was not without its share of controversy. After its publication, I was told I had to go over immediately to Cochon Volant and try their Le Cheeseburger Royale. Translated as “Flying Pig,” Cochon Volant recently opened in the...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
Not much is more satisfying than indulging in the best ice cream in Chicago on a hot, muggy day. From traditional ice cream, to thick custard, frozen yogurt, sherbet, and even Italian ice.. Chicago provides it all. Best Ice Cream In Chicago Jeni s Splendid Ice...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Bars, Top 10 Restaurants
Perhaps one of the only things that competes with ice cream on a hot summer day is a large glass, or pitcher, of margaritas! For exquisite margaritas Chicago offers a great variety of quality options. Best Margaritas Chicago Provides: Las Palmas – Mexican / Latin...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Entertainment, Top 10 Restaurants
These Chicago food challenges are pretty intense. They evoke the feelings of excitement, jealousy, anxiousness, confidence, doubt, competitiveness. There is something uniquely satisfying about being able to finish a dish that was created with the notion in mind that...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, Wicker Park
Chicago is a lot more than hot dogs and deep dish pizza, proof of which is the city’s growing love for Southern cooking and barbecue. Evidence of this is Carriage House, which serves modern low country Southern food to Wicker Park at 1700 W. Division Street. We...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Drinks, Chicago Eats, Near West Side, Reviews, West Loop
Up a secretive set of stairs at Little Goat, the casual sibling restaurant of Girl & the Goat, lies a gorgeous private dining space featuring a sleek, modern kitchen, a homey and bright dining area, accompanied by a rooftop area with a gorgeous view of the...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lakeview, Reviews
Located in Lakeview’s Southport Corridor, Southport & Irving (SIP) is a classy yet relaxed cocktail bar and restaurant taking inspiration from the days of speakeasies and jazz clubs giving it the feeling it’s been around since the days of Capone and Machine Gun...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Gold Coast, Reviews
As I’m sitting here reminiscing about my last visit to L’Appetito, which a friend of mine highly recommended, I find myself mowing down a sandwich that I just just whipped together in my kitchen. I’ve always had a deep appreciation for a simple, yet satisfying...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
This is a city of fierce competition. For a Chicago new restaurant to stand out above other new venues, as well as match or surpass well-established names, is a feat of its own. There were many openings last year, but these 15 restaurants have broken through the mold...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
Let’s face it, whether it’s an early morning breakfast, or brunch after an evening out, there’s nothing more fun than hitting a great spot in Chicago for breakfast or brunch. With lots of great places to chose from, we compiled a list that we know...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, South Loop
Chop Steakhouse is the First Restaurant at the South Loop’s Roosevelt Collection •Chop Steakhouse Opened July 15, 2015• The Roosevelt Collection is a combination of newer high-end apartments in the South Loop, along with a large shopping area. Despite the gorgeous...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, Wicker Park
A few years ago, most Chicagoans probably thought of ramen as the cheap microwave noodles they ate in college, but now the city is obsessed with the Japanese noodle-soup dish. The latest contender for best ramen bowl in the city is Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya in...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
*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...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
Eating breakfast pizza in Chicago does not have to mean cold deep dish from the night before or even ordering a deep dish before noon. Eating pizza for breakfast means that you’ll be taking in a deliciousness of ingredients that are reminiscent of a hearty,...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, General Information, Top 10 Shopping
I hate the feeling of being absolutely clueless when it comes to gift shopping for someone. Whether the person has everything, or nothing– finding gifts is not always an easy task. Judging from personal experience, receiving amazing food- especially sweets- or some...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Top 10 Restaurants
There are a lot of secrets in the dining world, but one of the most well-kept secrets are culinary school restaurants. Since Chicago is a big dining town, there are many. If you are looking to have a Chicago fine dining experience on a budget, these places would fit...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Holiday Specials, Top 10 Restaurants
The holidays are meant to bring everyone together– but not everyone fancies meeting in the kitchen. There are many choices for Christmas restaurants around Chicago, along with Christmas Eve choices. There is a chance that your favorite venue may be open, but here are...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews, South Loop
Walking into Belly Up, you’ll be astounded by how surprisingly huge it is. The restaurant is very long and has these really high ceilings. The vibe is Chicago warehouse industrial with lots of brick, exposed fixtures, and wood ceiling beams with some subtle cowboy...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, The Loop
Caffè RoM is an Italian-style coffee shop with three locations in downtown Chicago: Prudential Plaza, the Hyatt Center, and River East. They specialize in Fair Trade coffee creations, gourmet Panini sandwiches, and freshly made gelato. The River East location is the...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Holiday Specials
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Chicago typically brings thoughts of satisfying tacos and gulping down margaritas, which is a great start. In addition to the traditional celebration dishes that many of us are accustom to, you can also indulge in American cuisine that has...
by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, West Loop
Forno Rosso owner, Nick Nitti spent a large part of his childhood in Italy where he fell in love with the simplistic pizza in Naples. That led him to attend culinary school in Italy, study Neapolitan pizza in Naples, and open Forno Rosso back near his home in...
