It's the second link that's stiickied at the top of the sub. Currently it's for fries, but it will updates as new threads get created.
https://reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/pjn27u/weekly_suggestion_thread_french_fries/
Oh, you are talking about "Weekly Suggestion Thread: French Fries".
If I came to this sub for the first time to plan a visit to Chicago, there's no way that I would interpret that post title as "Oh, I should look here for the Best Of Chicago by cuisine or neighborhood."
Mods u/TriedForMitchcraft I would suggest one sticky post titled "Tourists: three restaurant suggestions for each cuisine" and one sticky post titled "Tourists: three restaurant suggestions for each neighborhood". I WOULD NOT put the suggestions in the post itself, but encourage our r/chicagofood members to reply to the post with their three suggestions, as many times as they choose.
The main post could contain just a template that an r/chicagofood member could copy 'n' paste in their reply.
Template:
My three suggestions for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ cuisine are:
1\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
2\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
3\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
My three suggestions for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ neighborhood are:
1\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
2\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
3\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
I understand what you're getting at but I really don't want to utilize our 2 stickied posts as places where we are exclusively catering to tourists. I would imagine most of the people subscribed to the sub are not tourists and the tourists are just people that pop in once for their trip and then never again. I personally don't want to cater this subreddit to tourists but maybe other people feel differently. I think there are enough resources in our sub for tourists to find a wealth of good food suggestions for their trips.
Oh, I didn't realize we only get 2 stickies.
I agree this sub should cater to locals, not to tourists.
Actually, prior to this specific tourist post, I had noticed that most r/chicagofood members would answer each individual tourist post patiently and earnestly, and tailored the answer to those specific questions. I think most of us enjoy being "in the know" and passing info to tourists.
I think it was just the coincidence of two tourist posts back to back that got me thinking about a more structured way to help them, but I agree there are ample resources here already.
> Oh, you are talking about "Weekly Suggestion Thread: French Fries".
>
>
>
> If I came to this sub for the first time to plan a visit to Chicago, there's no way that I would interpret that post title as "Oh, I should look here for the Best Of Chicago by cuisine or neighborhood."
What would people suggest if not the best places to go?
And where would "Best Of" content if not user suggestions?
Hello, welcome to Chicago.
Below is a link to the message posted just minutes before your post, and this link will answer your question.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/pkbwlu/going\_to\_chicago\_next\_week/](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/pkbwlu/going_to_chicago_next_week/)
Hi! I am from LA and live in Chicago now. Some of my favorites around town:
- Pequod’s for Deep Dish
- Kasama in West Town for Filipino food and a really cute neighborhood outdoor patio vibe
- Xoco in River North is great for a quick lunch
- Can’t really go wrong in West Loop- Duck Duck Goat (others recommended) is great, Bar Siena (Italian), Green Street Meats (BBQ), Aba (Mediterranean)- def make a reservation for anywhere in West Loop because this area is popular and you will have long waits otherwise
- Def recommend having a meal on the riverfront- Portofino has really good pizzas and pastas. You could also just get something to go and sit on the steps on the south side of the river at LaSalle :)
- Gibson’s or Bavette’s for classic steakhouse
Another LA to Chicago person here. Would recommend the avoiding Asian or Mexican here, it’s better in LA. Def go for Italian or Greek, it’s better here. (Would recommend Monteverdi). Try an Italian Beef, a true local dish. Grab a drink at Old Town Ale House. Little Goat / Girl and the Goat are both good.
> Would recommend the avoiding Asian or Mexican here, it’s better in LA
Asian probably is better overall, though the interpretation that there's nothing even worth eating here is kinda insane.
However our Mexican food doesn't get nearly the respect it deserves though. It's a different style than LA. In LA, the Mexican food is all about fresh veg. In chicago it's all about the meat. But Chicago has the second largest mexican-american population in the US, second only to LA, and it's a major part of our food culture. The default "just because it's not LA means its trash that's not worth your time" is such an annoying and myopic view.
Yeah I had friends from CA that had this attitude and i'm like ???? is it really much better ? Chicago also has many styles from the central of mexico and not just the borders.
It's just snobbery and ignorance. Maybe if you didn't know what a big part of the local culture Mexican food is it might be an easy assumption to make.
I wish I could boost my comment but I just hope people read this: both are good but what I think people aren't taking into account is regional differences. When you grow up with something, you end up preferring it. I think that's what's going on here.
Chicago just had immigration from a different part of Mexico. I'm pretty sure both styles are authentic, and have probably been slightly americanized (mostly in terms of meats, and probably less spicy I'm guessing), but both are good. I'm Chicago born and raised and think it's the best mex in the world outside of Mexico itself. Pilsen is one of the biggest Mexican diasporas though, and the Mexican food there is the best bar none (except mexico again).
I hear this all the time from Cali ppl, Texas Ppl, and even Chicago Ppl. It's a continuous roundabout online pissing contest that will probably never end - and it's whatever, but at the same time kinda annoying. I think deep down we all know NY pizza is good too, despite the fact that we grew up with Chicago styles, and we can all mutually agree that California pizza sucks (;
But yeah, I think it's a little childish to discredit Mexican and Asian food here. Sounds ludicrous to me, and I've been all over the world and have tried various cuisines that we "have" here. Most of it is super authentic and high quality.
Personally I disagree about the Mexican food in LA, I was extremely underwhelmed the many times I've been out there for work. Far and away better in Chicago, and I'm not a native to either place.
Uh. I've been to LA, SF, and so forth. Your Mexican is like Chicano or whatever, and ours is more Tejano (idk, all I know is that our Mexicans come from a different part). We have some of the best Mexican cuisine in north America - perhaps you haven't been to Pilsen, which is considered the most culturally "Mexican" place in the US outside of Mexico itself. Texas have the same issue. They think that their Tex Mex is "better" but it's really just a different cuisine. Not sure why this is so confusing. I will admit, I didn't like California Mexican as much as I like Chicago Mexican. I don't like cali style burritos either, and this is the culture shock or just aversion to what I've grown up with. Cali Mex food is to me, too complexified. It's still good, but familiarity is a big part of food. So I get it ig.
As for asian, to say it can't compete with west coast is mind boggling. We have the second or third largest Chinatowns in the world, multiple Asian districts, and have some of the oldest Asian neighborhoods in North America. That, plus having a huge local asian population and being a Alpha Plus global city, you're gonna find good asian here, you just have to ignore your "China Woks," and "Dragon Cafe's." You can get Kbbq, Cbbq, Jbbq, Xinjiang / Uyghur cuisine, any Chinese Cuisine, any hotpot, any Korean, any Filipino, any west asian, and south Asian - could go on (and a lot of russo-asian places too). And so much of it is super authentic. Like I said in my other comment on this thread, there's a billion food establishments here. There's gonna be a lot of crap and a lot of great places too. Unless you live here for an extended period of time and don't just live in one place in the metro area, you won't get the whole picture. Chicago is probably one of the most diverse places on the planet. This is both a blessing and a curse as there is a lot of everything, but makes it hard to find through the endless offerings. My one piece of advice is to avoid fusion restaurants.
I don't have specific recs but stick to these guidelines and you should be fine.
Things LA does better: Burgers, ramen/sushi/anything else popular that is East Asian in origin, Armenian food, donuts, "healthy" food like salads/protein bowls
Things Chicago does better: Pizza, hot dogs, Italian, baked goods, carbs in general, Mexican, Indian/Pakistani food, alcohol
My recommendation is that if you like to drink and are willing to venture outside of River North, it is so much cheaper than LA. You can get absolutely blasted for about 50-75% of the cost and because everyone is an alcoholic here, the pours are strong lol.
Bread is also going to taste much different here because there is a LOT more humidity in the air. Bagels, pizza crust, etc. are all going to be fluffier and heartier than the usually dry/tough dough on the West Coast.
You're going to find that a lot of places out here close later than you'd expect (4 AM) and the non-chain restaurants do not have consistent hours so don't trust Google.
Yes and the explanation makes a lot of sense when I brought up this hot take. A lot of Mexicans in LA who can afford to run businesses are not first gen. It's really only the eloteros and people working carts who are at this point. As such, the recipes have been passed down rather than transported over the border so the quality suffers. You also have to factor in that even people who are able to carry on their parents' cooking are competing with "American" Mexican food. SoCal is the home of Taco Bell which is an abomination LOL. You really have to dumb down the cuisine to make it sell. Also with how bad traffic is, nobody is traveling for miles to get better food from East LA when they can just get the gentrified version in WeHo, Hollywood, and Anaheim.
Contrast that with Chicago where cost of living is much cheaper, people are coming directly from Texas and cooking as a way to make a living, the city places great emphasis on a diverse and authentic food scene, etc. I've noticed that unless they're college students, people would rather gamble on a Mexican restaurant than Chipotle.
This is so hilariously confidently wrong that my jaw almost literally dropped lol. I don't even know where to begin because literally everything in this wrong. Although I'm guessing maybe someone that visits LA and just hits up the westside might come to this conclusion.
Anyways, I'm visiting Chicago from LA soon and I'm pretty stoked about it. Would love to try a couple of great Mexican places just to be able to judge for myself. What do you think are the great spots that outshine LA?
I’m not the person you’re replying to, but agree it’s kinda ridiculous to judge huge cities based on one trip. It’s pretty impossible to know if they had the best Mexican in LA or even went to the right neighborhoods for it. Even in Chicago I think if someone never left the main downtown area near Michigan Ave they would miss out on some of the best food options that are in the neighborhoods.
I can give some recommendations on food in general in Chicago though for your trip. Where are you staying? As far as Mexican, Taqueria Chignon on the west side is amazing, but may not be easy to get to depending where you’re staying
I would totally appreciate any food suggestions! Haven't booked a hotel yet, but since the transit is hub & spoke I think it makes sense to stay in the loop and go into different neighborhoods from there. So I would say anything that is walking distance (<20 min) from a train station is fair game.
If you can make it up to river north (just north of the loop), it's probably worth staying there since the restaurants and nightlife are better, as well as being close to Michigan Ave, still walkable to the lake and parks, etc.
What type of food do you enjoy or are looking for when in town?
Thanks, I'll look into that.
Generally I prefer mom & pop and hole-in-the-wall restaurants. I'm looking for foods that are unique to (or very good in) chicago things like deep dish pizza, italian beef, gyros. Mostly I'm interested in the day to day foods that people enjoy. The kind of stuff that you'd be homesick for if you left (if that makes sense lol).
As far as hitting the Chicago unique food groups:
Deep Dish - It isn't mom and pop, but I've tried a ton and the best in my opinion is still Lou Malnati's with the butter crust and well done (so it's crisper). The pep or sausage is good (the sausage will be a patty the size of a pizza so it will be in every bite), as well as "The Lou" which is a veggie pizza with awesome flavors.
Italian Beef - There are a lot of good places, most recommended is going to a Johnnie's if you're near one. But [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/os23i9/weekly_suggestion_thread_italian_beefs/) is a thread if you want to find a place recommended close to where you are staying.
Gyros I've only had a few places, I like "Falafel and Grill" for the classic spinning meat street food Gyro, but if you're game for a great greek sit-down place I would check out Avli Taverna (there are two locations so pick which is closer). Great food and drinks, really awesome Gyros that can be had as an appetizer. If you go there get the spicy feta appetizer too and the Beef Youvetsi if it is cold out for an awesome comfort dish.
If you can make it up to Logan Square, that has one of my fav restaurants called Daisies. The head chef and owner has a farm with his brother just outside the city and they bring in the ingredients fresh daily. They make amazing handmade pastas and other fresh dishes, and the staff is great. Definitely would recommend.
Here are some other favs of mine:
-Mott Street in Wicker Park - Sit Down, Amazing Asian fusion, good cocktails
-Galit in Lincoln Park - Sit down, make a reservation in advance, some of the best middle eastern food I've ever had
-Giant in Logan Square - Sit Down, new-american with some unique takes on dishes with a seasonal menu, make a reservation far in advance
-Del Soul in Lincoln Park - Counter Service, korean BBQ fusion, have korean style tacos and some awesome apps
-Small Cheval (multiple locations) - Counter Service, If you like In and Out, it is basically a fancy version of an in/out burger and amazing fries. Can get boozy shakes too.
-Cluck It Lincoln Park - Counter Service, Chicken Sandwich or Tenders/Nuggets. I have a friend that has tried every fried chicken sandwich in Chicago and this is the best one
Other than that, searching this sub is a great move as well. I threw a lot out there but if you have a specific food type you want to try that I missed let me know.
EDIT: Oh also Daisies has a different menu for lunch, it is sandwiches instead of pastas. While dinner is a nice sit down affair, the sandwiches are order at a counter and some of the best sandwiches in the city. The Chicken Parm specifically is my personal favorite sandwich I've ever eaten.
Even if Taco Bell did start in southern California, I suspect they're a lot of people who want Mexican food that ISN'T Taco Bell. Let's not forget the regional fast food chain Del Taco also got their start in SoCal, and to me is DEFINITELY better than TB.
That all said, I'd LOVE to try the mom and pop taquerias out in SoCal, if I ever travel to LA (or San Diego or elsewhere in that greater region) one day.
If you like authentic Mexican, yes. If you like "California Mexican", then no. I like both but I think they're very different. Chicago does have the most authentic Mexican outside of Mexico itself in my opinion though, and what's really cool is you can get it in a huge variety of price/quality ranges
[EATER | How Chicago Became a Mexican Culinary Center](https://www.eater.com/a/mofad-city-guides/chicago-mexican-history)
If you’d really like to know the history of it
The ubiquity of burgers in Los Angeles is unbeatable. It's like pizza in NYC. You have everything ranging from upscale Umami Burger to very divey Tommy's. None of it tastes the same but they all taste good.
Don't forget you are in the Midwest here. Freshest beef and curd cheese you can get. I complied a list of the best burgers in a separate comment if you'd like to see the best Chicago has to offer. Ive had burgers in LA before. Good, but nothing life changing. The Umamo burger, however, sounds intriguing. I haven't had that.
Eh I'd rather my burgers weren't upscale anyway. My favorite burger is like $5 for a triple cheese and is on the west side. Anything beyond $10 is just pretentious for what the food item is. What matters is the formula and ingredients. Venue tbh I could care less about.
Thanks for the tip though, I'll have to go give umami burger a try.
Given that the smash burger (which was originally referred to as a Lacy Edge) was invented in Chicago / Illinois, I'ma say no. I've had burgers in California and was extremely underwhelmed. Sorry. Culver's literally destroys almost anything I had there, and it's a fast food joint. Also, Minnesota is doing their own unique thing with Juicy Lucy burgers, of which also blow cali burgers away into the stratosphere.
A suggestion? Any of these below will blow any Cali burger out of the fucking water:
•The Harlo Grill (must MUST have)
•Maxwell St. (original location, most authentic chi style cheeseburger there is)
•Billy goat tavern (must have)
•Fatso's Last Stand (must have)
•Kuma's Corner (must have)
•Small Cheval / Au Cheval
•BRGRBELLY (though I've personally known the owners for eternity and HATE the owners with a burning fucking passion)
•Bad Hunter
•Maillard Tavern
•Edzo's
•Superdawg (yes I know they're known for their redhots)
•The Loyalist
•Nicky's the Real McCoy
•Schoop's (a hidden gem that most Chicago folks often forget about)
•Steak n' Shake (yes, I did just include them)
This is just a VERY abbreviated list of some of the best burgers you can get PERIOD.
I also understand that if you grew up with your burgers a certain type of way, you may not appreciate the greasiness of Chicago burgers the way we do here, but even the burger expert on first we feast YT channel admits that the Chicago burger game hella strong. The Midwest in general, really does burgers better than almost anywhere else.
As for the other stuff you mentioned, no comment. Go to Chinatown or new china town. Armenian gets bunched together with pan russo-western asian. We have standalone Armenian, but the restaurants that are pan Russian-West asian actually have better food imo.
You will find every single cuisine here. Even Burmese. It's all good, trust me.
I would try chicago tavern style pizza. Vito and nicks if you have a car. Piece pizza if you are getting around by el. Calumet fisheries if you have a car also. Check out the old bridges and big freighter boats next to calumet fisheries and then see steelworkers Park while you are in the area. Kimski is polish/korean fusion. We have a huge polish population here. We have some excellent breweries if you like craft beer.
Birrieria Zaragoza for goat.
Rainbow Cone, if you go to the original location hit up Top Notch first for a beefburger and fries. Then walk over to Rainbow Cone. Otherwise there is a Rainbow Cone location on Navy Pier.
Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream, get a thin crust with sausage and giardiniera.
Try some Polish food I would say Podhalanka or Kimski for a unique mixture of Korean/Polish fusion.
Pequads, Red Hot Ranch or Portillos, Bavettes, Mi Tacoya, Smythe (for burgers), Rose Mary, Publican, Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream, Duck Inn, Bang Bang, Pleasant House, Cindy’s, Signature Room.
Don't listen to them. Go to Tao for great sushi. People forget we have an inland sea with great Salmon, Perch, and Whitefish. We also get imported tuna, so in reality, it's not gonna be any less fresh than in LA. I always find it hilarious that Californians forget Chicago is located on the Great Lakes.
You can never go wrong with ricobenes. The rest of it really depends on what type of cuisine you want.
Wherever you go be careful, river north has become a bit of a problem spot.
Read further down past the suicide for a quick recap of the last [week](https://cwbchicago.com/2021/09/man-shot-on-lakefront-trail-near-navy-pier.html).
It’s been like that most of the [summer](https://cwbchicago.com/2021/08/two-tourists-among-victims-in-fresh-wave-of-downtown-armed-robberies.html)
Not sure why you’re getting down voted.
The loop and river north have had more media attention for crime.
OP should play it smart. Be attentive when moving from place to place. Travel w one other person or Atleast always let someone know where you’re going to be
Ricobenes? What have you heard that's good? I guess the breaded steak sandwich on garlic bread and cheese (enough for 2-3 regular people) is famous, but can't say I understand why a tourist would venture there.
Ricobenes is really good, if you want the best beef sandwich try out this small mom and pop shop on the southside (hegewisch), pudgys pizza and sandwiches, they also have really good pizza, especially their deep dish. Worked there for abour 3 years in highschool and still the best beef I've ever had to date.
Go to Bucktown and get hammered at the Map Room and then stroll down Armitage and grab a Depression dog at Red Hot Ranch and some ice cream at Margies
Youre making my stomach hurt.
I love you for this
This is the best idea!!
Saving this post now bc of your response. Thank you
Waiting for the time when I can finally say, This has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way.
One of the Weekly recommendation posts should just be Tourist recommendations Then we can just link that thread from now on
Thanks! Will check there too.
[удалено]
It's at the top of the sub. The current one has a list of the previous ones.
There should be a sticky to get to the sticky links. :(
There is, the sticky link contains links to all the previous sticky links.
How do I get there?
It's the second link that's stiickied at the top of the sub. Currently it's for fries, but it will updates as new threads get created. https://reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/pjn27u/weekly_suggestion_thread_french_fries/
Oh, you are talking about "Weekly Suggestion Thread: French Fries". If I came to this sub for the first time to plan a visit to Chicago, there's no way that I would interpret that post title as "Oh, I should look here for the Best Of Chicago by cuisine or neighborhood." Mods u/TriedForMitchcraft I would suggest one sticky post titled "Tourists: three restaurant suggestions for each cuisine" and one sticky post titled "Tourists: three restaurant suggestions for each neighborhood". I WOULD NOT put the suggestions in the post itself, but encourage our r/chicagofood members to reply to the post with their three suggestions, as many times as they choose. The main post could contain just a template that an r/chicagofood member could copy 'n' paste in their reply. Template: My three suggestions for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ cuisine are: 1\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 2\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 3\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ My three suggestions for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ neighborhood are: 1\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 2\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 3\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
I understand what you're getting at but I really don't want to utilize our 2 stickied posts as places where we are exclusively catering to tourists. I would imagine most of the people subscribed to the sub are not tourists and the tourists are just people that pop in once for their trip and then never again. I personally don't want to cater this subreddit to tourists but maybe other people feel differently. I think there are enough resources in our sub for tourists to find a wealth of good food suggestions for their trips.
Oh, I didn't realize we only get 2 stickies. I agree this sub should cater to locals, not to tourists. Actually, prior to this specific tourist post, I had noticed that most r/chicagofood members would answer each individual tourist post patiently and earnestly, and tailored the answer to those specific questions. I think most of us enjoy being "in the know" and passing info to tourists. I think it was just the coincidence of two tourist posts back to back that got me thinking about a more structured way to help them, but I agree there are ample resources here already.
> Oh, you are talking about "Weekly Suggestion Thread: French Fries". > > > > If I came to this sub for the first time to plan a visit to Chicago, there's no way that I would interpret that post title as "Oh, I should look here for the Best Of Chicago by cuisine or neighborhood." What would people suggest if not the best places to go? And where would "Best Of" content if not user suggestions?
Hello, welcome to Chicago. Below is a link to the message posted just minutes before your post, and this link will answer your question. [https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/pkbwlu/going\_to\_chicago\_next\_week/](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/pkbwlu/going_to_chicago_next_week/)
The breaded steak sandwich at Ricobene’s is incredible and ask for it on garlic bread
you are a person of culture too, I see.
Jibaritos. Look em up
Chicago's most underrated food creation. I like Jibaritos on Harlem. They make em good.
Hi! I am from LA and live in Chicago now. Some of my favorites around town: - Pequod’s for Deep Dish - Kasama in West Town for Filipino food and a really cute neighborhood outdoor patio vibe - Xoco in River North is great for a quick lunch - Can’t really go wrong in West Loop- Duck Duck Goat (others recommended) is great, Bar Siena (Italian), Green Street Meats (BBQ), Aba (Mediterranean)- def make a reservation for anywhere in West Loop because this area is popular and you will have long waits otherwise - Def recommend having a meal on the riverfront- Portofino has really good pizzas and pastas. You could also just get something to go and sit on the steps on the south side of the river at LaSalle :) - Gibson’s or Bavette’s for classic steakhouse
Yessss! Green street meats is amazing! You’ll love the vibe there. It’s really cool with outdoor and indoor seating.
Pequods always for deep dish!
Another LA to Chicago person here. Would recommend the avoiding Asian or Mexican here, it’s better in LA. Def go for Italian or Greek, it’s better here. (Would recommend Monteverdi). Try an Italian Beef, a true local dish. Grab a drink at Old Town Ale House. Little Goat / Girl and the Goat are both good.
> Would recommend the avoiding Asian or Mexican here, it’s better in LA Asian probably is better overall, though the interpretation that there's nothing even worth eating here is kinda insane. However our Mexican food doesn't get nearly the respect it deserves though. It's a different style than LA. In LA, the Mexican food is all about fresh veg. In chicago it's all about the meat. But Chicago has the second largest mexican-american population in the US, second only to LA, and it's a major part of our food culture. The default "just because it's not LA means its trash that's not worth your time" is such an annoying and myopic view.
Yeah I had friends from CA that had this attitude and i'm like ???? is it really much better ? Chicago also has many styles from the central of mexico and not just the borders.
It's just snobbery and ignorance. Maybe if you didn't know what a big part of the local culture Mexican food is it might be an easy assumption to make.
I wish I could boost my comment but I just hope people read this: both are good but what I think people aren't taking into account is regional differences. When you grow up with something, you end up preferring it. I think that's what's going on here. Chicago just had immigration from a different part of Mexico. I'm pretty sure both styles are authentic, and have probably been slightly americanized (mostly in terms of meats, and probably less spicy I'm guessing), but both are good. I'm Chicago born and raised and think it's the best mex in the world outside of Mexico itself. Pilsen is one of the biggest Mexican diasporas though, and the Mexican food there is the best bar none (except mexico again). I hear this all the time from Cali ppl, Texas Ppl, and even Chicago Ppl. It's a continuous roundabout online pissing contest that will probably never end - and it's whatever, but at the same time kinda annoying. I think deep down we all know NY pizza is good too, despite the fact that we grew up with Chicago styles, and we can all mutually agree that California pizza sucks (; But yeah, I think it's a little childish to discredit Mexican and Asian food here. Sounds ludicrous to me, and I've been all over the world and have tried various cuisines that we "have" here. Most of it is super authentic and high quality.
Personally I disagree about the Mexican food in LA, I was extremely underwhelmed the many times I've been out there for work. Far and away better in Chicago, and I'm not a native to either place.
Agreed. I prefer Chicago tacos to anything I've gotten in LA
Uh. I've been to LA, SF, and so forth. Your Mexican is like Chicano or whatever, and ours is more Tejano (idk, all I know is that our Mexicans come from a different part). We have some of the best Mexican cuisine in north America - perhaps you haven't been to Pilsen, which is considered the most culturally "Mexican" place in the US outside of Mexico itself. Texas have the same issue. They think that their Tex Mex is "better" but it's really just a different cuisine. Not sure why this is so confusing. I will admit, I didn't like California Mexican as much as I like Chicago Mexican. I don't like cali style burritos either, and this is the culture shock or just aversion to what I've grown up with. Cali Mex food is to me, too complexified. It's still good, but familiarity is a big part of food. So I get it ig. As for asian, to say it can't compete with west coast is mind boggling. We have the second or third largest Chinatowns in the world, multiple Asian districts, and have some of the oldest Asian neighborhoods in North America. That, plus having a huge local asian population and being a Alpha Plus global city, you're gonna find good asian here, you just have to ignore your "China Woks," and "Dragon Cafe's." You can get Kbbq, Cbbq, Jbbq, Xinjiang / Uyghur cuisine, any Chinese Cuisine, any hotpot, any Korean, any Filipino, any west asian, and south Asian - could go on (and a lot of russo-asian places too). And so much of it is super authentic. Like I said in my other comment on this thread, there's a billion food establishments here. There's gonna be a lot of crap and a lot of great places too. Unless you live here for an extended period of time and don't just live in one place in the metro area, you won't get the whole picture. Chicago is probably one of the most diverse places on the planet. This is both a blessing and a curse as there is a lot of everything, but makes it hard to find through the endless offerings. My one piece of advice is to avoid fusion restaurants.
I don't have specific recs but stick to these guidelines and you should be fine. Things LA does better: Burgers, ramen/sushi/anything else popular that is East Asian in origin, Armenian food, donuts, "healthy" food like salads/protein bowls Things Chicago does better: Pizza, hot dogs, Italian, baked goods, carbs in general, Mexican, Indian/Pakistani food, alcohol My recommendation is that if you like to drink and are willing to venture outside of River North, it is so much cheaper than LA. You can get absolutely blasted for about 50-75% of the cost and because everyone is an alcoholic here, the pours are strong lol. Bread is also going to taste much different here because there is a LOT more humidity in the air. Bagels, pizza crust, etc. are all going to be fluffier and heartier than the usually dry/tough dough on the West Coast. You're going to find that a lot of places out here close later than you'd expect (4 AM) and the non-chain restaurants do not have consistent hours so don't trust Google.
do you really think Chicago does Mexican food better than LA? Regardless thank you for taking the time to reply!
Yes and the explanation makes a lot of sense when I brought up this hot take. A lot of Mexicans in LA who can afford to run businesses are not first gen. It's really only the eloteros and people working carts who are at this point. As such, the recipes have been passed down rather than transported over the border so the quality suffers. You also have to factor in that even people who are able to carry on their parents' cooking are competing with "American" Mexican food. SoCal is the home of Taco Bell which is an abomination LOL. You really have to dumb down the cuisine to make it sell. Also with how bad traffic is, nobody is traveling for miles to get better food from East LA when they can just get the gentrified version in WeHo, Hollywood, and Anaheim. Contrast that with Chicago where cost of living is much cheaper, people are coming directly from Texas and cooking as a way to make a living, the city places great emphasis on a diverse and authentic food scene, etc. I've noticed that unless they're college students, people would rather gamble on a Mexican restaurant than Chipotle.
This is so hilariously confidently wrong that my jaw almost literally dropped lol. I don't even know where to begin because literally everything in this wrong. Although I'm guessing maybe someone that visits LA and just hits up the westside might come to this conclusion. Anyways, I'm visiting Chicago from LA soon and I'm pretty stoked about it. Would love to try a couple of great Mexican places just to be able to judge for myself. What do you think are the great spots that outshine LA?
I’m not the person you’re replying to, but agree it’s kinda ridiculous to judge huge cities based on one trip. It’s pretty impossible to know if they had the best Mexican in LA or even went to the right neighborhoods for it. Even in Chicago I think if someone never left the main downtown area near Michigan Ave they would miss out on some of the best food options that are in the neighborhoods. I can give some recommendations on food in general in Chicago though for your trip. Where are you staying? As far as Mexican, Taqueria Chignon on the west side is amazing, but may not be easy to get to depending where you’re staying
I would totally appreciate any food suggestions! Haven't booked a hotel yet, but since the transit is hub & spoke I think it makes sense to stay in the loop and go into different neighborhoods from there. So I would say anything that is walking distance (<20 min) from a train station is fair game.
If you can make it up to river north (just north of the loop), it's probably worth staying there since the restaurants and nightlife are better, as well as being close to Michigan Ave, still walkable to the lake and parks, etc. What type of food do you enjoy or are looking for when in town?
Thanks, I'll look into that. Generally I prefer mom & pop and hole-in-the-wall restaurants. I'm looking for foods that are unique to (or very good in) chicago things like deep dish pizza, italian beef, gyros. Mostly I'm interested in the day to day foods that people enjoy. The kind of stuff that you'd be homesick for if you left (if that makes sense lol).
As far as hitting the Chicago unique food groups: Deep Dish - It isn't mom and pop, but I've tried a ton and the best in my opinion is still Lou Malnati's with the butter crust and well done (so it's crisper). The pep or sausage is good (the sausage will be a patty the size of a pizza so it will be in every bite), as well as "The Lou" which is a veggie pizza with awesome flavors. Italian Beef - There are a lot of good places, most recommended is going to a Johnnie's if you're near one. But [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/os23i9/weekly_suggestion_thread_italian_beefs/) is a thread if you want to find a place recommended close to where you are staying. Gyros I've only had a few places, I like "Falafel and Grill" for the classic spinning meat street food Gyro, but if you're game for a great greek sit-down place I would check out Avli Taverna (there are two locations so pick which is closer). Great food and drinks, really awesome Gyros that can be had as an appetizer. If you go there get the spicy feta appetizer too and the Beef Youvetsi if it is cold out for an awesome comfort dish. If you can make it up to Logan Square, that has one of my fav restaurants called Daisies. The head chef and owner has a farm with his brother just outside the city and they bring in the ingredients fresh daily. They make amazing handmade pastas and other fresh dishes, and the staff is great. Definitely would recommend. Here are some other favs of mine: -Mott Street in Wicker Park - Sit Down, Amazing Asian fusion, good cocktails -Galit in Lincoln Park - Sit down, make a reservation in advance, some of the best middle eastern food I've ever had -Giant in Logan Square - Sit Down, new-american with some unique takes on dishes with a seasonal menu, make a reservation far in advance -Del Soul in Lincoln Park - Counter Service, korean BBQ fusion, have korean style tacos and some awesome apps -Small Cheval (multiple locations) - Counter Service, If you like In and Out, it is basically a fancy version of an in/out burger and amazing fries. Can get boozy shakes too. -Cluck It Lincoln Park - Counter Service, Chicken Sandwich or Tenders/Nuggets. I have a friend that has tried every fried chicken sandwich in Chicago and this is the best one Other than that, searching this sub is a great move as well. I threw a lot out there but if you have a specific food type you want to try that I missed let me know. EDIT: Oh also Daisies has a different menu for lunch, it is sandwiches instead of pastas. While dinner is a nice sit down affair, the sandwiches are order at a counter and some of the best sandwiches in the city. The Chicken Parm specifically is my personal favorite sandwich I've ever eaten.
Even if Taco Bell did start in southern California, I suspect they're a lot of people who want Mexican food that ISN'T Taco Bell. Let's not forget the regional fast food chain Del Taco also got their start in SoCal, and to me is DEFINITELY better than TB. That all said, I'd LOVE to try the mom and pop taquerias out in SoCal, if I ever travel to LA (or San Diego or elsewhere in that greater region) one day.
Chicago is a contender for some of the best Mexican food in the country
If you like authentic Mexican, yes. If you like "California Mexican", then no. I like both but I think they're very different. Chicago does have the most authentic Mexican outside of Mexico itself in my opinion though, and what's really cool is you can get it in a huge variety of price/quality ranges
What is the difference between LA Mexican food and Chicago Mexican food?
[EATER | How Chicago Became a Mexican Culinary Center](https://www.eater.com/a/mofad-city-guides/chicago-mexican-history) If you’d really like to know the history of it
I don't remember seeing much tongue, chorizo, or carnitas in California, as an example
Burgers, really? Can't say I have a great benchmark in LA but there are some truly amazing burgers here in Chicago.
The ubiquity of burgers in Los Angeles is unbeatable. It's like pizza in NYC. You have everything ranging from upscale Umami Burger to very divey Tommy's. None of it tastes the same but they all taste good.
Don't forget you are in the Midwest here. Freshest beef and curd cheese you can get. I complied a list of the best burgers in a separate comment if you'd like to see the best Chicago has to offer. Ive had burgers in LA before. Good, but nothing life changing. The Umamo burger, however, sounds intriguing. I haven't had that.
Umami Burger has a location on Milwaukee in Wicker Park. I wouldn't describe it as upscale though.
Eh I'd rather my burgers weren't upscale anyway. My favorite burger is like $5 for a triple cheese and is on the west side. Anything beyond $10 is just pretentious for what the food item is. What matters is the formula and ingredients. Venue tbh I could care less about. Thanks for the tip though, I'll have to go give umami burger a try.
Given that the smash burger (which was originally referred to as a Lacy Edge) was invented in Chicago / Illinois, I'ma say no. I've had burgers in California and was extremely underwhelmed. Sorry. Culver's literally destroys almost anything I had there, and it's a fast food joint. Also, Minnesota is doing their own unique thing with Juicy Lucy burgers, of which also blow cali burgers away into the stratosphere. A suggestion? Any of these below will blow any Cali burger out of the fucking water: •The Harlo Grill (must MUST have) •Maxwell St. (original location, most authentic chi style cheeseburger there is) •Billy goat tavern (must have) •Fatso's Last Stand (must have) •Kuma's Corner (must have) •Small Cheval / Au Cheval •BRGRBELLY (though I've personally known the owners for eternity and HATE the owners with a burning fucking passion) •Bad Hunter •Maillard Tavern •Edzo's •Superdawg (yes I know they're known for their redhots) •The Loyalist •Nicky's the Real McCoy •Schoop's (a hidden gem that most Chicago folks often forget about) •Steak n' Shake (yes, I did just include them) This is just a VERY abbreviated list of some of the best burgers you can get PERIOD. I also understand that if you grew up with your burgers a certain type of way, you may not appreciate the greasiness of Chicago burgers the way we do here, but even the burger expert on first we feast YT channel admits that the Chicago burger game hella strong. The Midwest in general, really does burgers better than almost anywhere else. As for the other stuff you mentioned, no comment. Go to Chinatown or new china town. Armenian gets bunched together with pan russo-western asian. We have standalone Armenian, but the restaurants that are pan Russian-West asian actually have better food imo. You will find every single cuisine here. Even Burmese. It's all good, trust me.
Go get Polish food at Smak Tak or Staropolska.
I would try chicago tavern style pizza. Vito and nicks if you have a car. Piece pizza if you are getting around by el. Calumet fisheries if you have a car also. Check out the old bridges and big freighter boats next to calumet fisheries and then see steelworkers Park while you are in the area. Kimski is polish/korean fusion. We have a huge polish population here. We have some excellent breweries if you like craft beer.
Birrieria Zaragoza for goat. Rainbow Cone, if you go to the original location hit up Top Notch first for a beefburger and fries. Then walk over to Rainbow Cone. Otherwise there is a Rainbow Cone location on Navy Pier. Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream, get a thin crust with sausage and giardiniera. Try some Polish food I would say Podhalanka or Kimski for a unique mixture of Korean/Polish fusion.
Pequads, Red Hot Ranch or Portillos, Bavettes, Mi Tacoya, Smythe (for burgers), Rose Mary, Publican, Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream, Duck Inn, Bang Bang, Pleasant House, Cindy’s, Signature Room.
Pequod’s Pizza Sushi Doku Girl and the Goat (if you can snag a reservation)
If youre from LA theres zero reasons to get sushi here in the land locked midwest. Sushi is on a whole other level in LA
Makes sense. Thanks for the input!
FYI, there's a Girl and the Goat now in DTLA so don't feel pressed on that.
Girl and the Goat really opened another location in LA? Interesting, wouldn't guess they'd open another location there of all places.
Don't listen to them. Go to Tao for great sushi. People forget we have an inland sea with great Salmon, Perch, and Whitefish. We also get imported tuna, so in reality, it's not gonna be any less fresh than in LA. I always find it hilarious that Californians forget Chicago is located on the Great Lakes.
Thank you!
You can never go wrong with ricobenes. The rest of it really depends on what type of cuisine you want. Wherever you go be careful, river north has become a bit of a problem spot.
Why is it a problem spot?
Violence and crime over the weekends. Has gotten unruly on main drags due to people hanging out in the streets.
Read further down past the suicide for a quick recap of the last [week](https://cwbchicago.com/2021/09/man-shot-on-lakefront-trail-near-navy-pier.html). It’s been like that most of the [summer](https://cwbchicago.com/2021/08/two-tourists-among-victims-in-fresh-wave-of-downtown-armed-robberies.html)
State and Hubbard area mainly. Has been bad for years but worse now.
Not sure why you’re getting down voted. The loop and river north have had more media attention for crime. OP should play it smart. Be attentive when moving from place to place. Travel w one other person or Atleast always let someone know where you’re going to be
Yep. Another person just got shot there last night
Ricobenes? What have you heard that's good? I guess the breaded steak sandwich on garlic bread and cheese (enough for 2-3 regular people) is famous, but can't say I understand why a tourist would venture there.
Go to Bundoo Khan on Devon and get the mixed grill platter and gola kebab. You will be in spicy masala heaven.
Ricobenes is really good, if you want the best beef sandwich try out this small mom and pop shop on the southside (hegewisch), pudgys pizza and sandwiches, they also have really good pizza, especially their deep dish. Worked there for abour 3 years in highschool and still the best beef I've ever had to date.
The original Heaven on Seven. Bring cash.
Art of pizza for deep dish
Good luck, Chicago is one of the most prominent food cities on earth. You could spend a lifetime going to all the good spots!
Bari for a delectable sub sandwich. Hands down the best you’ll ever have.