There are so many reasons to visit Chicago, but if you only need one; go for the food! Chicago is a foodie paradise and has so many different foods to offer. Whether you’re looking for gourmet restaurants, BBQ joints, gourmet donuts, cupcake shops, or anything else; Chicago has it! Chicago offers something for everyone. I put together a list of fun foods to try when you’re in Chicago for the first time. Notice how I said “fun” foods! This list is composed of fun, cheap, and casual places to try! Read until the end to find out my favorite bar in Chicago, and possibly even the whole world!
Lou Malnati’s, Giordani’s, Gino’s East
You simply can’t visit Chicago and not try deep-dish pizza. Deep-dish is like no pizza you’ve had before, if anything it’s more like a pie than a pizza! There are three main deep-dish restaurants that battle over having the BEST deep-dish pizza. This includes Lou Malnati’s, Giordani’s, and Gino’s East. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try Gino’s East during my visit, but that just gives me an excuse to visit Chicago again!
After trying both Lou Malnati’s and Giordani’s, Lou Malnati’s stole my heart. Both were absolutely delicious, but I preferred Lou Malnati’s. The pizza was cooked to perfection and the crust was a beautiful golden color. You should try as many deep-dish pizza places as you can and decide for yourself which is the best! Make sure to comment which deep-dish is your favorite. The top photo below is my pizza from Lou Malnati’s, and the bottom photo is my pizza from Giordani’s.
Portillo’s
Portillo’s is an absolute must try when visiting Chicago. They are known for having some of the best Italian beef and hot dogs in Chicago. You need to go try their hot dogs and their infamous chocolate cake shake! I’m not even a fan of hot dogs and the one I had was to die for. Seriously give them a try even if you don’t like hot dogs. You’ll thank me for it later!
They also have a really fun and laid-back atmosphere at Portillo’s. You get in line, wait for your food, and grab a table. It’s nothing fancy, which is perfect when you just want a quick, inexpensive, and good meal.
Wao Bao
If you want a different and futuristic eating experience, check out Wao Bao! This small futuristic hole in the wall allows you to order your food through a screen. You can watch your food go through the minute process of being made and it will be delivered in one of the twelve cubbies. They have all different kinds of bao buns and a few other Asian dishes.
I recommend the 4-pack bao, mine included BBQ Berkshire Pork, Spicy Kung Pao, Spicy Mongolian Beef, and of course the Chocolate one! They have other flavors like Thai Curry Chicken, Whole Wheat Vegetable, Coconut Custard, and etc. Check out Wao Bao to have a fun and cheap experience in Chicago!
Garrett’s Popcorn
A must try for your visit to Chicago is Garrett’s Popcorn. They are located all throughout Chicago, so odds are you’ll see one during your travels. Make sure to stop and try it out. They have all different kinds of gourmet popcorn, but you have to try the Chicago Mix Popcorn! This mix consists of caramel popcorn and cheesy cheddar popcorn. The sweet and salty combination is heavenly, a staple in Chicago! They also have the cutest decorative tins filled with their infamous popcorn, perfect for souvenirs! You will definitely want to take some home!
Nutella Café
The first ever Nutella Cafe opened in Chicago on May 31st, 2017. Although it sounds like dessert heaven, they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu consists of croissants, baguettes, hand pies, paninis, waffles, and more! The cafe smells heavenly and has a really beautiful modern style to it. I couldn’t resist getting something sweet (I have a huge sweet tooth). So, I got the waffles with strawberries and Nutella of course! This is a quick, easy, and yummy meal. According to my research there are only two Nutella cafes currently, the one in Chicago and one in New York. You should check this out while you’re in Chicago!
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee
There are so many yummy donut shops to choose from in Chicago. I tried Stan’s Donuts and they were SO good. They offer a huge variety of flavors ranging from glazed, pistachio, maple nut, coconut cream, salted caramel and so many more! What’s so great about Stan’s is that they also sell gelato, shakes, coffee, and other sweets.
If you go to Stan’s, you have to get yourself one of their specialty donuts. When I visited in June of 2019, they had a limited time lemon raspberry old fashioned donut (pictured below). Apparently, this is a flavor that is only available in the summertime, but don’t worry they have so many flavors to choose from. I know you’ll find something you love! They have so many unique flavors and they have locations throughout Illinois! If you’ve been to Stan’s Donuts comment below your favorite flavor.
Molly’s Cupcakes
I LOVE cupcakes! Before visiting Chicago, I read a blog that mentioned this place called Molly’s Cupcakes. I specifically hunted this place down because their cupcakes looked so good. Let me tell you, they did not disappoint. Definitely go check out the one in River East because the interior is adorable, and they have swings! My sister and I decided to splurge and get four different flavored cupcakes. We got cake batter, blueberry cheesecake, chocolate raspberry, and tiramisu. They were all amazing, but I’m a sucker for anything cake batter. You need to check out Molly’s Cupcakes for a sweet treat when you’re in Chicago!
Three Dots & a Dash
This last place is actually a tiki bar, but it NEEDS to be mentioned. If you’re 21+ you need to go to Three Dots & a Dash. Visiting this tiki themed bar is a MUST when in Chicago! Although they do have food, which I’m sure is good we just didn’t try any, you need to go for the drinks. The drinks are a bit pricy, but they definitely don’t cheap out on the alcohol. They have so many creative cocktails to choose from and they are presented beautifully. From the garnishes to even the cups they are displayed in, they drinks are gorgeous.
This place was packed when we went, so if you decide to visit definitely make a reservation if you want to be able to sit at a table. The more friends you go with the better! They have a whole section of their menu dedicated to group drinks. Although I didn’t get one of these, they look extremely impressive. One specifically called the “shotstapus” is a giant octopus that has a shot on each one of its tentacles and it comes out smoking! They have a lot of really cool drinks to choose from and the atmosphere itself is so fun! I couldn’t recommend this place enough, if you visit one place on this list make it this one!
Did I miss anything? Comment below any other fun places to check out when in Chicago for the first time! I only visited Chicago for a few days, and I am dying to go back to try out more food. Make sure to share this with someone you want to visit Chicago with!
Did you like this post? Check out a similar food post here!
If you’re interested in visiting and want some more tips, please feel free to leave a comment below or direct message me on Instagram @smilesmilesaway . Also check out my Amazon Storefront where I share all of my Amazon favorites: My Amazon Storefront . If you’ve already Chicago, please comment below one of your favorite memories. Can’t wait to read your comments!
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