Along with restaurant recommendations.
Looking for the best Chicago foods that truly set a Windy City experience apart?
Our city is a foodies’ Mecca, reflecting the many cultures that have settled here over the years.
Here are some of the most distinctive dishes to try…
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Key points
We’ll take you through three kinds of Chicago foods -
Signature ones like deep dish pizza and Chicago-style hotdogs.
Unique foods to try from certain local spots and celebrity restaurants, like Ann Sather’s cinnamon rolls and Tamales from The Tamale Guy.
Lesser-known options like mother-in-law sandwiches and shrimp de jonghe.
Along with where to find them.
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Iconic Chicago foods
We start off with stereotypically Chicagoan dishes…call them Windy City staples if you will.
Like deep-dish pizza and Italian beef sandwiches.
Deep dish pizza
Jon Stewart may have dismissed it as a “f***ing casserole” but wait till you sink your teeth into one.
Giant servings of mozzarella cheese, tangy tomato sauce, and customized toppings in a thick buttery crust.
Just one bite, and you’ll see why deep dish pizza is considered Chicago’s most famous food!
Best deep dish pizza places in Chicago: Pizzeria Uno is the OG having invented the dish. Gino’s East, Giordano’s, and Lou Malnati’s are well-known for their deep-dish prowess too.
Chicago-style hot dog a.k.a Red Hot, and Chicago Dog.
Ask any Chicagoan, and they’ll tell you exactly what goes into a Chicago-style hot dog -
The basics: An all-beef frank (preferably Vienna Beef) in a steamed poppy seed bun.
Seasoning: Celery salt, chopped onions, sweet pickle relish, sliced tomatoes, and peppers.
Sauce: Top it off with a slather of yellow mustard.
Warning: And keep any ketchup miles away!
Where in Chicago you should get your Red Hots from: Portillo’s is the best (Try the one in the South Loop). If you prefer street food stands, go for Dave's Red Hots.
Italian beef
We Chicagoans consider the Italian beef our gift to the sandwich world.
Thinly sliced, perfectly seasoned roast beef stacked in a crusty Italian roll dripping with au jus gravy.
And to think that this was created by accident—A street peddler called Anthony Ferrari made sandwiches out of thinly sliced beef stewed in its own juices as an affordable food for large wedding crowds.
Where to grab Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago: Numero uno is Big Al’s. Other places are Mr. Beef on Orleans and Johnnie's Beef. But for a real medley of Chicago flavors, try ‘em from the numerous hot dog stands dotting our city!
Chicken Vesuvio
Chicken Vesuvio is as Chicagoan a food as it gets and a must-taste for Windy City beginners.
A bone-in chicken is roasted with potato wedges, peas & garlic and sautéed in white wine.
It was first made in the 1930s in a now-shuttered joint called…wait for it…Vesuvio.
Chicago’s go-to spots for Chicken Vesuvio: Look around the Italian Village and Little Italy. We particularly like Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, La Scarola, and Gene & Georgetti.
Popcorn at Garrett
Garrett’s popcorn may not be 50 cents a bag anymore, but they’ve maintained the prep that made them Chicago’s bestselling snack food.
Handcrafted to perfection in copper kettles, and backed up with in-house recipes.
Pro tip for tourists: Make sure you try the Garrett Mix, a combo of caramel and cheddar cheese—their best.
Flaming saganaki with “OPA!”
Flaming saganaki is one of Greektown’s best-known additions to the classic Chicago foods lineup.
The basic dish is cheese pan-fried till golden and crispy.
Here’s the catch—A professional serving sees saganaki being flambéed tableside with a splash of brandy, accompanied by “Opa!” (Cheers!).
Chicago’s top spots to savor saganaki with a side of “Opa!”: Greek Islands, where it’s served with fresh lemon and pita.
Jibaritos
Think of jibaritos as sandwiches with a twist...or rather, a crunch!
Bread is swapped with plantains fried till crispy-golden and flattened.
The traditional filling is beef, but you can go for seafood or veggies for a lighter bite.
Jibaritos are a recent addition to Chicago cuisine, first made in 1996, by Juan "Peter" Figueroa, a Puerto Rican restaurant owner.
Best places to get it: Borinquen on N Western Ave and Jibaritos y Mas in Logan Square.
Malört
Time to explore Chicago’s most famous beverage—Malört!
This wormwood liqueur is known for its lingering and sharp flavor.
Consider it a rite of passage for locals and a dare for brave-hearted visitors.
Where to get your Malört fix in Chicago: The Violet Hour, Reggie’s, and Mother Hubbard’s.
Other foods you should try while in Chicago
More goodies for foodies in Chicago…apart from the signature dishes we saw above.
Like Ann Sather’s cinnamon rolls or tamales from The Tamale Guy.
Ann Sather’s cinnamon rolls
Think you know cinnamon rolls?
Think again…You don’t, till you have them at Ann Sather, a Chicago favorite.
This cozy Swedish diner has been delighting locals and tourists alike with its take on the classic cinnamon rolls for decades.
Layers of cinnamon swirled into a buttery & chewy dough, dripping with a sweet vanilla glaze.
Tamales from The Tamale Guy
Tamales are ubiquitous across the States, but when in Chicago, you gotta have ‘em from Claudio Velez, a.k.a. the “Tamale Guy.”
He’s been on the beat for over 20 years, with his signature red cooler full of pork, chicken, and cheese tamales. With salsas to match.
Follow his tracker on X (formerly Twitter) to know where to catch him!
Harold’s fried chicken
Colonel Sanders may have conquered most of America, but out here in Chicago, fried chicken means Harold's.
What makes Harold’s fried chicken a standout?
First of all is the chicken itself—Cooked in a mix of vegetable oil and beef tallow, giving it a distinctive flavor.
Then there’s the mandatory sauce…sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy all at once.
For a full meal, add fries, coleslaw, and a couple of slices of white bread to soak in the sauce.
All thanks to Harold Pierce, an African American entrepreneur from the 1950’s.
The original rainbow cones
Head to The Original Rainbow Cone for a taste of Chicago’s most popular dessert!
Expect a bevy of delish layers: chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (a cherry walnut vanilla), pistachio, and orange sherbet.
You can grab yours at the original Beverly location. Or head for the new Navy Pier one, if you’re looking for food options in downtown Chicago.
The perfect treat for crazy hot days!
Cheeseburgers at Au Cheval
Cheeseburgers at Au Cheval may not be the fine dining that West Loop’s Restaurant Row is known for…
But bite into one of them and you’ll get why people keep making a beeline for more.
Every bit is made to perfection—Whether it’s the perfectly griddled beef, the double-toasted buns, or the in-house Dijonnaise spread & pickles.
Pro tip: Ask for both bacon and egg toppings and thank us later!
Buttermilk donuts at Do-Rite Donut
Have one, and you’ll find out that Do-Rite Donut’s Buttermilk Old-Fashioned isn’t just another doughnut.
The crispy & golden exterior pairs handsomely with the soft, melt-in-your-mouth center. And the vanilla bean coating is the final coup de grâce.
Dunking in coffee and having more than one are totally encouraged!
Lesser-known Chicago foods you should try
And now we come to some under-the-radar Windy City eats.
Cult favorite dishes you won’t find in 99% of “must-try Chicago foods” blogs.
Some might just be underrated; Others may truly be very niche.
But hey, you never know till you grab a bite.
Right?
Mother-in-law (Nope, not kidding!)
Anthony Bourdain described it as ‘the greatest, most uniquely Chicago food invention”.
The Mother-in-law is a true Windy City original—a hot tamale topped with chili, all snugly nestled inside a hot dog bun.
Have one and see if you think it’s Chicago’s best comfort food!
Chicago joints to grab a Mother-in-law sandwich: Fat Johnnie's on South Western Ave. However, you should really try them from different hot dog stands, just like the Italian beef sandwich.
Atomic cake
Atomic cakes are one of Chicago’s South Side’s most famous dishes.
You can think of it as the confectionary version of a deep dish pizza.
Three cake bases—banana, chocolate, and yellow—are stacked and packed with fillings
It’s even got its own atlas obscura page LOL.
Where to get your fill of atomic cake in Chicago: Start with Weber’s. They even have their own style called the banana split torte. Two other places are Orland Park Bakery and Creative Cakes in Tinley Park.
Chicago-style egg rolls
A great example of fusion food in Chicago.
African American restaurateurs have innovated on the traditional Chinese dish…retaining the egg-dough wrap but changing the filling to jerk chicken, cheesesteaks, rib tips…depending on local demand.
Most popular in South and West Chicago.
Big Baby
A Big Baby is two beef patties with cheese squished between, pickles and condiments underneath, and onions on top. All crammed into a sesame seed bun.
Mostly available at small Greek eateries on the Southwest Side.
Breaded steak sandwich
Thin slices of beef, breaded and fried to crispy perfection, are loaded into a long roll with rich red sauce and a blanket of melted mozzarella.
And like any good Chicago sandwich, it comes with the option of sweet peppers or a generous scoop of hot, tangy giardiniera.
One bite, and you'll see why this hearty classic has stood the test of time in the city’s food scene!
Best place to get it: Ricobene’s.
Gravy bread
Gravy bread is exactly what it sounds like—Sandwich bread soaked in beef gravy.
It might sound like a stripped-down Italian beef sandwich, but it’s got plenty of takers. Especially with the right kind of prep.
Also called “soaker” and “potato sandwich”.
Best place to get it: Most joints have dropped it from the menu, but ask for a gravy bread or a dipped sandwich and they might make it for you!
Shrimp DeJonghe
Over a hundred years old, Shrimp DeJonghe is one of Chicago’s oldest delicacies.
Whole-peeled shrimp is smothered in a rich layer of buttery, garlicky breadcrumbs and casseroled with a hint of sherry.
Just like Chicken Vesuvio, it was invented in at a namesake establishment—DeJonghe's Hotel and Restaurant.
Chicago’s top spots to enjoy steaming Shrimp DeJonghe: Bavette's Bar & Boeuf and Hugo's Frog Bar.
FAQ time!
Is Chicago really a good food city?
Yes! Here are 4 reasons why…
You’ll find dishes from around the world, courtesy of our diverse population. Think Little Italy’s Italian cuisine, Mexican fare in Pilsen, and Polish items in Avondale.
Surrounded by the fertile farmland of the Midwest, we can get fresh ingredients pretty easily.
We take pride in our local, independent cafes and eateries, where you’ll always find something unique and far from the usual.
And finally, just like NYC, there’s a certain energy and joie de vivre. Out at 2 in the morning craving a taco or a pierogi? Chances are there’s a late-night spot serving those near you!
But hey, don’t take it from us. Take it from Food & Wine Magazine—They ranked us among the top 10 cities for food & drinks!
Any celebrity-favorite restaurants worth checking out in Chicago?
You bet!
Valois in Hyde Park is one of our 44th President (Obama)‘s favorites.
Lionel Richie and Jennifer Lopez have been known to visit Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse.
Are pizza puffs really a Chicago thing?
Not in the way that deep-dish pizza or Chicago dogs are.
But these fried pastries stuffed with pizza essentials (tomato sauce, cheese & toppings) WERE first made by Iltaco Foods on N Tripp Ave.
Is street food legal in Chicago?
For a long time, it wasn’t.
As of 2024, however, street food IS legal in Chicago, although getting permits can be tough.
Is it expensive to eat out in Chicago?
Depends on the restaurant, really.
West Loop dining will set you back by a pretty penny.
To keep within a budget, look for affordable restaurants in Chicago and ones that offer tasting menus.
Ready to eat your way through Chicago?
With over 8,000 restaurants across 77 neighborhoods, Chicago offers a dining experience like no other.
Use our list to discover the most iconic dishes, and where to have them.
And yes, with a little planning, you CAN savor WIndy City cuisine without breaking the bank.
So, what Chicago foods will make it to your must-try list?
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