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Sure, this city has great architecture, museums, and sports venues. But at its heart, Chicago is really a food town. This is evident in the priority that good eating takes, no matter the occasion. Rain or shine, locals will wait in a line that snakes around the corner for dolled-up doughnuts at Doughnut Vault. They’ll reserve part of their paychecks to dine at inventive Alinea. And they love to talk about their most recent meal—just ask.
It's no wonder that outdoor festivals are often centered on food, from Taste of Chicago in summer, which packs the grounds at Grant Park, to smaller celebrations, like the German-American fest in Lincoln Square, a mini-Oktoberfest in fall.
Although the city has always had options on the extreme ends of the spectrum—from the hole-in-the wall Italian beef sandwich shops to the special-occasion spots—it's now easier to find eateries in the middle that serve seasonal menus with a farm-to-table mantra. For the budget conscious, it's also a great time to dine: some talented chefs aren't bothering to wait for a liquor license, opening BYOB spots turning out polished fare (just try Ruxbin in West Town).
Expect to see more Chicago chefs open casual concepts—Rick Bayless, Paul Kahan, and Michael Kornick have a head start with their respective sandwich, taco, and burger spots. Yet the goal remains the same: to feed a populace that knows good food and isn't willing to accept anything less than the best. In the following pages, you'll find our top picks, from quick bites to multicourse meals, in the city's best dining neighborhoods.
Chef and co-owner Michael Kornick knows fine dining, but he's also a longtime fan of the simple burger, and the two worlds mingle at DMK Burger Bar. This is a place where grass-fed beef patties can come topped with green chiles or chipotle ketchup, and fries are often adorned with truffle aioli. If you're not in the mood for beef, there are also options like chicken tenders or salmon bowls. Sweet tooths are satiated by one of their rich (sometimes boozy) milkshakes.
After walking through exhibits at the Art Institute, follow the local college crowd to this order-at-the-counter eatery, where the ambience is kitschy but the food is “more mindful." Epic Burger serves hand-shaped, natural beef burgers, as well as a plant-based Beyond Burger, all served atop a soft bun with add-ons like Wisconsin cheese, nitrate-free bacon, or an organic fried egg.
Massive hamburgers named for heavy metal bands are served alongside craft beer and a pounding heavy metal soundtrack at this famous bar and grill. Creative, uniquely topped burgers fill the menu, though their decadent mac 'n' cheese is also worth sampling. The original Avondale location retains the tavern vibe, but there's a larger location in the West Loop as well.
If you find yourself in far-north Edgewater with a craving for a burger, head to Moody's. Decades before the crazy toppings of Kuma's Corner and the world-heralded Au Cheval burger, Moody's was serving hefty pub-style burgers in an almost medieval space, dark and woodsy with two crackling fireplaces in winter. Warm-weather travelers should make a beeline for their sprawling multilevel enclosed patio comfortably covered by shade trees.
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