Chicago Food Guide: Deep Dish Pizza, Street Tacos and Fine Dining

Chicago: A City That Takes Food Seriously

Chicago is not just a great American city. It is one of the greatest food cities in the world. With a culinary scene shaped by waves of immigration, a proud blue-collar heritage, and a thriving fine dining culture, Chicago offers an extraordinary range of eating experiences. From the legendary deep dish pizza to innovative Michelin-starred tasting menus, and from hole-in-the-wall taco joints to classic steakhouses, this city will leave you gloriously full and planning your next meal before you have finished your current one.

The Iconic Chicago Foods You Must Try

Deep Dish Pizza

No food is more synonymous with Chicago than deep dish pizza. This thick, buttery-crusted pie is loaded with mozzarella cheese and chunky tomato sauce layered on top (the reverse of a traditional pizza). The result is a rich, hearty, almost casserole-like experience that divides pizza lovers but is absolutely essential eating in Chicago.

The best places to try deep dish include:

• Lou Malnati Pizzeria: A Chicago institution since 1971, known for its buttery crust and sausage patty layer. The "Malnati Chicago Classic" is the go-to order.
• Giordano Stuffed Pizza: Their stuffed deep dish has an extra layer of dough on top, creating an even more decadent experience.
• Pequod Pizza: Famous for its caramelized cheese crust that creates a crispy, almost burnt-cheese edge that is absolutely addictive.

Pro tip: deep dish takes 30 to 45 minutes to bake. Order an appetizer or salad to tide you over, and consider sharing because one pizza can easily feed two to three people.

Chicago-Style Hot Dogs

A Chicago-style hot dog is a work of art. It starts with an all-beef frankfurter in a poppy seed bun and is topped with yellow mustard, bright green relish, chopped onion, tomato slices, a dill pickle spear, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt. The one cardinal rule? Never put ketchup on a Chicago hot dog. Locals take this very seriously.

Great spots for Chicago dogs include Portillo, Gene and Jude, and Jim Original (which has been serving dogs from the same Maxwell Street location since 1939).

Italian Beef Sandwiches

The Italian beef sandwich is Chicago other great contribution to American fast food. Thinly sliced, slow-roasted beef is piled onto a long Italian roll and topped with giardiniera (a spicy pickled vegetable mix) or sweet peppers. Order it "dipped" for the full experience, where the entire sandwich is dunked into the beef cooking juices, making the bread wonderfully soggy and flavorful.

Al Italian Beef and Johnnie Beef in Elmwood Park are the classic spots, but nearly every neighborhood has its own beloved Italian beef joint.

Neighborhood Food Scenes

Pilsen: Mexican Food Paradise

Pilsen is Chicago vibrant Mexican-American neighborhood, and the food here is outstanding. Walk along 18th Street and you will find taquerias, panaderias (bakeries), and fruit stands at every turn. Do not miss Birrieria Zaragoza for goat birria, Carnitas Don Pedro for fall-apart tender pork, and 5 Rabanitos for creative Mexican small plates.

Chinatown

Chicago Chinatown is one of the largest in North America, and the dining options are exceptional. Head to Lao Sze Chuan for fiery Sichuan cuisine, Ming Hin for dim sum, or Chi Cafe for late-night Hong Kong-style dishes. The neighborhood is also home to excellent bakeries and bubble tea shops.

Andersonville and Uptown

These north side neighborhoods are home to incredible Vietnamese, Ethiopian, and Middle Eastern restaurants. Tank Noodle is legendary for its pho, while Demera Ethiopian serves outstanding injera platters meant for sharing.

West Loop: Restaurant Row

The West Loop is Chicago hottest dining neighborhood, home to many of the city finest restaurants. Randolph Street and Fulton Market are lined with trendy spots, and this is where you will find several Michelin-starred establishments. It is the place to go for a special night out.

Fine Dining and Michelin Stars

Chicago boasts an impressive Michelin-starred restaurant scene. Here are some standout options:

• Alinea (3 stars): Chef Grant Achatz legendary molecular gastronomy restaurant, offering a multi-course tasting menu that is more art installation than dinner. Expect edible balloons, tabletop desserts, and flavors that challenge everything you thought you knew about food.
• Smyth (2 stars): A farm-to-table restaurant in the West Loop that sources nearly everything from its own farm. The tasting menu changes constantly and celebrates seasonal ingredients.
• Ever (2 stars): Chef Curtis Duffy newest venture, offering an intimate, minimalist dining experience with extraordinary multi-course meals.
• Oriole (2 stars): Hidden in an alley in the West Loop, this intimate restaurant serves a Japanese-influenced tasting menu that is both refined and deeply delicious.

For a more casual but still elevated experience, check out Girl and the Goat (Stephanie Izard flagship), Monteverde (handmade pasta perfection), or Proxi (globally inspired small plates).

Street Food and Casual Eats

Chicago street food scene is as diverse as its neighborhoods:

• Maxwell Street Polish: A grilled Polish sausage topped with mustard and grilled onions, served from a street cart. Pure Chicago.
• Elote and esquites: Mexican grilled corn on the cob or in a cup, slathered with mayo, cheese, chili, and lime. Available from street vendors across the city.
• Jibarito: A Puerto Rican sandwich unique to Chicago that uses flattened, fried plantains instead of bread. Try it at Borinquen in Humboldt Park.
• Garrett Mix popcorn: A sweet and savory combination of CaramelCrisp and CheeseCorn from Garrett Popcorn Shops. Addictive and unmistakably Chicago.

Food Tours and Experiences

One of the best ways to explore Chicago food scene is on a guided food tour. Walking tours through neighborhoods like Pilsen, Chinatown, or the West Loop let you sample multiple restaurants with expert commentary on the history and culture behind the food. You can explore food tours and experiences in Chicago to find the perfect culinary adventure for your visit.

Where to Drink in Chicago

Chicago cocktail and craft beer scenes are world-class:

• The Violet Hour: A James Beard Award-winning cocktail bar in Wicker Park with no sign on the door. Look for the yellow light bulb.
• Lost Lake: A tiki bar with creative tropical cocktails and a fun, lively atmosphere.
• Half Acre Beer Company: One of Chicago best craft breweries, with a taproom and beer garden in Lincoln Park.
• The Aviary: From the team behind Alinea, this bar serves some of the most innovative cocktails in the world, presented with the same artistry as the restaurant food.

Practical Tips for Eating in Chicago

• Make reservations: Popular restaurants, especially in the West Loop, book up weeks in advance. Reserve as soon as you finalize your travel dates.
• Tip generously: The standard tip in Chicago is 18 to 20 percent. Service industry workers rely on tips as a significant part of their income.
• Explore beyond downtown: The best food in Chicago is often in the neighborhoods. Take the L train or a rideshare to Pilsen, Logan Square, or Andersonville for the most authentic experiences.
• Come hungry: Portions in Chicago are generous. Pace yourself and do not fill up on bread before your Italian beef arrives.

Final Thoughts

Chicago is a city that feeds the soul through its food. From a dripping Italian beef sandwich at a counter joint to a 20-course tasting menu at a Michelin-starred temple of gastronomy, the range and quality of dining in this city is simply extraordinary. Every neighborhood tells its story through food, and every meal is an opportunity to discover something new. Come hungry, bring your appetite for adventure, and let Chicago show you why it deserves its place among the great food cities of the world.

For the best guided tours and travel experiences worldwide, browse top-rated activities on Viator.

Neighborhood Food Crawls Worth Planning

Pilsen is Chicago's go-to neighborhood for authentic Mexican food. Walk down 18th Street and you will find panaderias with fresh conchas, taquerias serving al pastor on handmade tortillas, and family-run restaurants with mole recipes passed down through generations. For a completely different experience, head to Devon Avenue on the far north side, where Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern restaurants serve some of the best South Asian food in the Midwest.

Breakfast and Brunch Spots

Chicagoans take brunch seriously. Lou Mitchell's near Union Station has been serving oversized omelets and double-yolk eggs since 1923, and they hand you a box of Milk Duds while you wait in line. In Wicker Park, Bongo Room draws crowds for its elaborate pancake presentations. For something more low-key, try a classic greasy spoon diner in any neighborhood, where you can get eggs, hash browns, toast, and coffee for under ten dollars.

Seasonal Eating in Chicago

Summer transforms Chicago into an outdoor food festival city. The Taste of Chicago in July is the biggest, but neighborhood festivals like Ribfest, Taco Fest, and the Chicago Hot Dog Fest offer more authentic and less crowded experiences. Farmers markets pop up across the city from May through October, with the Green City Market in Lincoln Park being the most popular. In winter, Chicago's restaurant scene shifts to hearty comfort food, and Restaurant Week in late January offers prix fixe menus at top establishments for a fraction of regular prices.

Love food travel? Our best street food cities in the world guide covers more culinary destinations. For another American food city, check out our New Orleans food guide with its beignets, po'boys, and Cajun classics. Or explore how to eat your way through Tokyo for the ultimate international food trip.