What to Eat and Drink in Chicago- Today I will share some of our favorite places to eat and drink in Chicago! We had some seriously good eats while we were there and I highly recommend every single one of these. Here you will find some unusual stops to Chicago classics, such as deep dish pizza, Chicago style hot dogs and more!
HeadQuarters Beercade
We made this our first stop in Chicago! After arriving late at night at our swanky FieldHouse Jones hotel we walked just a block over to find this gem. This bar serves up lots of craft beers along with numerous arcade games to play. And the best part is all the games are free! The games range from classics, to pinball, to skee-ball and more! The arcade bar has two locations in Chicago and has expanded to Nashville as well! If going on a Thursday they have a $10 burger + beer special We just missed it!
Duck Duck Goat
If looking for a more of a splurge than a quick bite you should definitely check out Duck Duck Goat or any of Chef Stephanie Izard’s restaurants. After watching too many Food Network shows I couldn’t wait to try one of her restaurants. This has to be up there in the top three meals of my life! Duck Duck Goat serves small plate Asian food, order multiples for share! All her restaurants are within a block of each other but make sure you make reservations as they fill up fast! Some how we got lucky at was able to swipe a 9:30pm cancelled reservation the day of! Late dinner but worth the wait for sure! My favorites were the Soup Dumplings and my Open Sesame cocktail made with coconut sesame rum and egg whites!
Haymarket Pub & Brewery
While waiting for our reservation at Duck Duck Goat we stopped at Haymarket Pub and Brewery to try a flight. This brew pub has over 40 rotating taps! Most of their own beers but also plenty of guest taps from the Chicago area as well! We didn’t try any food here but it all looked good around us! We enjoyed sharing a flight so much that we ended up getting more samples as we were liking everything we tried!
Centennial Crafted Beer & Eatery
We fell in love with this find while in Chicago! While heading in for the night we stopped in here for one last drink. Centennial’s ground level was bustling with dinner guests but we were directed upstairs for a quieter experience. We snagged the chairs around the brick fireplace and easily made ourselves cozy. After passing all the amazing looking plates we opted for the House Charcuterie. After loving all on the charcuterie board we asked about some cuts and found that all meats and spreads were all cured and made in house! The owner even chatted with us for awhile, and when finding out it was our first visit to Chicago as adults came back with a shot of Jeppson’s Malört. Supposedly an old Chicago classic liquor.
Stan’s Donuts
Being that my family used to own a doughnut shop, I never turn down a good doughnut! So when Stan’s Donuts was recommended to us by several people I knew I had to check it out! We have pretty amazing donuts shops in Cincinnati but this one might have some well known ones beat! First, their shop is absolutely adorable! They have options for everyone, from classics to interesting flavor combinations. We got a box as it was our last day, and saved some for on he road home. Definitely a must while in Chicago!
Revolution Brewing
Centered a little more out of the city we made this our last stop before heading home. Revolution Brewing is one of the biggest craft breweries in Chicago. We opted out for a tour but they had many delicious options to choose from to make your own flight. They have a huge space and I love that you ca see straight into the warehouse.
FieldHouse Jones
Sorry, but besides donuts we at everyday at our hotel lobby so I don’t have many options for breakfast foods. We staying in not your typical hotel, Fieldhouse Jones had a bustling coffee shop on the main floor. Locals were moving in and out of the shop getting coffees and breakfast to go and they even had dishes to sit down and enjoy. I would definitely check out this place if looking for a place to stay in Chicago! We loved it!
The Chicago Classics
Portillo’s
I will admit I didn’t have high hopes for a hot dog, but we left quiet pleased with the classic Chicago style hot dog at Portillo’s. And judging by the line we obviously weren’t the only that enjoyed our dogs at the restaurant, their was quite a line and even en entire wedding party! The line went quick though. We got some Chicago style dogs, which includes mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, pickle and sport peppers piled onto a poppy seed bun. Shared some onion rings and a drink. We loved these dogs so much we have tried recreating them a couple times at home!
Lou Malnati’s Pizza
It’s hard to choose a Deep Dish pizzeria when in Chicago, there is one on every corner. Having already tried Gino’s East I was happy when a friend suggested Lou Malnati’s. Their oozing with cheese pizzas will leave to satisfied and more than full. I would recommend splitting with a friend!
Luke’s Italian Beef
Luke’s Italian Beef joint was packed with both locals and tourist on their lunch breaks. This charmingly decorated location had many options of quick bites, from pizza to pasta and sandwiches. But in Chicago get the Italian beef sandwich! Not the prettiest sandwich I have eaten but the beef was tender, juicy and packed full of flavor. We split a sandwich since there was lots more food we wanted to sample throughout the city!
For More on Chicago Check Out My Other Posts:
Where to Stay in Chicago: FieldHouse Jones
Thank you so much!