20 Recommended Restaurants in Chicago for Places to Eat

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Plenty of places in the Chicagoland area offer enjoyable, delicious meals. We didn’t list every one of them here, but these are recommended by fellow steppers as top picks of good eats in the Chicago streets! Life happens to businesses too, so be sure to call before you go to any of these restaurants listed to know if they are open. Here are some ideas from steppers of where to eat in Chicago.

Chicago Must-Haves

When you visit Chicago, you must have a taste of the infamous popcorn that everyone craves after the first time they try it. And, of course, then there is the Chicago hotdog.

1. Garrett Popcorn. 26 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601. Menu.

P: (888) 476-7267

2. Portillo’s Hotdogs. 520 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607. Menu.

P: 630-628-0358. The hot dog king!

Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch in Chicago

Many of these restaurants for breakfast, brunch, and lunch close between 2 and 4 p.m. The best part of Chicago eating is that there are so many cultural flavors to enjoy even for breakfast! Let’s eat!

3. Eppel’s Restaurant. 554 Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60607. Menu.

P: 312-922-2206. The menu includes seafood and steak options.

4. Thomas Restaurant. 1657 E 87th Street, Chicago, IL 60617. Menu.

P: 773-731-8227. Spacious seating and wonderful service.

5. Dat Donut. 8251 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago, IL 60619. Menu.

P: 773-723-1002. Huge hand-cut donuts, sandwiches, smoothies, coffee.

6. Butterfield Pancake House and Restaurant. 1S616 Midwest Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60181 Menu

P: 630-495-2291. Exceptional customer service.

7. Batter and Berries. 2784 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614. P: 773-248-7710 AND 2537 S Wabash Ave, Chicago IL 60616. P: 312-593-3126

Menu. Make your reservation ahead of time. Long wait on weekends.

8. Breakfast House. 1800 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60622. P: 312-997-2400. Menu. Breakfast and brunch with a Mexican flair. Wi-Fi cafe.

9. Golden Griddle Pancake House. 3030 W 95th Street, Evergreen Park, IL 60805. P: 708-6636-5656. Menu. I love the French Toast and OJ.

10. Peaches on 47th. 4652 S Kings Dr, Chicago, IL 60653. P: 773-966-5801. Menu.

Dinner Restaurants in Chicago

From vegetarian, pescatarian, Jamaican, Italian and more cuisines, dinner in Chicago can be an international adventure. Try some of these special places.

11. Creed on Lake. 4328 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641. P: 773-475-6283. Menu. Only does takeout.

12. Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat. 1368 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615. P: 773-675-8208. Menu.

13. Lucy’s Cafe. 2100 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618. P: 773-665-0227

14. Uncle Joe’s Jerk Chicken. 1461 E Hyde Park Blvd, Chicago, IL 60615. P: 773-241-5127. Serves very large portions. Only does takeout due to COVID.

15. Chef Luciano Kitchen & Chicken. 49 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616. P: 312-326-0062. Menu

16. Toby’s Tavern and Grill. 1930 Green Bay Rd North Chicago, IL 60064. P: 847-689-4742. Menu

17. Daley’s Restaurant. 6257 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
Chicago, IL. P: 773-643-6670. Menu

18. Pete’s Fresh Market. 2333 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60612. P: 312-888-4600. Menu. The most impressive market deli I have experienced with many cuisines to choose from – cold and hot food options.

19. Rubino Italian Import. 16635 Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park, IL 60477. P: 708-614-0755. Menu. A variety of Italian cuisine from sandwiches, pizza, pasta

20. Pearl’s Place. 3901 S Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL . P: 773-285-1700. Menu. Soul food.

Recommended for Steppers by Steppers

Thank you to the steppers who have helped me navigate Chicago and introduced me to some good places to eat and to the steppers who post the places they enjoy to Facebook. Credits: Donna Peek, Tonya Foreman, Dasen Moore, Jamil Bey, Keisha Reese, LC Henderson, Willie Bell, Andre Johnson, Greg Richardson

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