Restaurants
Asian Cuisine in Chicago
Taste the flavor of Asian culture in Chicago cuisine. Whether its Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Thai, we have some wonderful recommendations for you.
Tank Noodle has become quite the local icon for best Vietnamese food. In fact, they are located in the Vietnamese-influenced side of Uptown (Broadway & Argyle). “You’d swear they’ve got a sushi chef trapped in the kitchen, though: dishes are presented with fussy attention to color and arrangement, and rarely do vegetables, meat, or noodles seem over- or undercooked.” states their website, and this rings true, just be prepared to be confronted with crowds on a weekend evening. We recommend the Signature Pho.
Notorious Chicago Restaurants
Best Chicago BBQ
Behold Chicago’s great BBQ joints, the sunshine is here, get a delicously flavorful experience at any of these highly recommended locations:
Chicago Q.
Chicago Q offers a great fusion of Southern hospitality & savory grilled entrees. We recommend the BBq Flight (kobe brisket, pulled pork, & pulled chicken) to get a great taste of what this place is about. 1160 N. Dearborn St. in Chicago’s Gold Coast.
Cheap Ethnic Dining in Chicago
Chicago is the diverse dining capital of the U.S., so many ethnicities, so many inexpensive & delicious restaurants….
Cafe Iberico
Spanish dining is too much fun. At Cafe Iberico, the tapas is cost-efficient, delicious, and always fresh. Tapas is defined as: are a wide variety of appetizers, or dishes, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or warm (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried mushrooms, steak, tilapia, or squid). In select bars in Spain, as well as some parts of North America and the United Kingdom, tapas have evolved into an entire, and sometimes sophisticated, cuisine. Also, the sangria (sweet Spanish wine) is a delectable drink, sold by the pitcher or glass. Average $ per person: $15.
Chicago’s Best Breakfast
Looking for a delicious & wholesome morning meal? We get asked a lot. You never know where the night will take you, but come morning, you can bank on these locations serving some hearty breakfast & brunches; here are our recommendations….
Welcome to the The Bourgeois Pig, nestled in a quiet nook on Fullerton Ave., this charming little cafe/eatery is a 5 minute walk from our front door. The menu reflects an extensive line of coffee drinks, memorable smoothies, & some great sandwich items, whether your looking for that hearty breakfast sandwich, or a vegan friendly lunch option. We recommend the Jamaican Latte (perfect blend of coffee & a little honey) as a formidable day-starter.
Great Sports Pubs in Chicago
The Globe Pub
Bask in the revelry of your favorite team & see why this pub always seems to make the Best Football Bar Lists of North America. The highly-rated Globe Pub has become well-known not only for being soccercentric but for its exceptional service, immense & cultured beer selection, & ambience. 1934 w. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago…The Brew City!
Beer, it’s here. . .
We’re here to put the myth of terrible AMERICAN beer to rest. Chicago offers many great home-grown breweries and best off all, they’re all over the city! If you’re heading out to enjoy the many wonderful neighborhoods of Chicago; we would suggest hitting up these great AMERICAN CHICAGO breweries!
1. Goose Island
Goose Island is perhaps the best well know Chicago beer with brews such as: 312, Honkers Ale and the Green Line. When the first Goose Island Brewpub opened its doors in 1988, domestic, mass-produced beer was deeply ingrained in Midwestern culture. The craft beer industry was still in its infancy, with only a handful of brewpubs in existence in the Midwest. In his travels across Europe, beer-lover John Hall had enjoyed a distinctive local brew in each region he visited. Hall was convinced that Midwesterners could produce beers as good or better than those he’d tasted in his travels. Living on the shore of the largest system of fresh water on the planet Earth, in a city with rapidly evolving tastes – John decided that his hometown, Chicago, would be the ideal place to do just that.
Today, Goose Island continues to brew an innovative selection of over 50 craft beers at the brewpub, the best of which are then bottled at our Fulton Street brewery. Goose Island beers are now enjoyed in 26 states and Europe.
Goose Island is located at:
1800 North Clybourn
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 915.0071Brew Tours are also available:
A Goose Island brewer will lead you on a tour of our brewery– where it all began in 1988! Tours also include a tasting of 6 of our current beer selections and a souvenir pint glass!
Saturdays at 12:30pm, 2pm and 3:30pm
Sundays at 1:30pm, 3pm, and 4:30pm
Duration: 60-90 minutes
2. Metropolitan Brewing
Looking to head a bit north to Andersonville? A must stop in this historically Swedish neighborhood is Metropolitan Brewing. They’re know for beers with industrial influence such as Krankshaft, Dynamo and the Flywheel. Metropolitan’s sole focus is on the production and packaging of Metro Beer…so you won’t find a store, pub or restaurant. Don’t be too sad, they do offer some brewery tours which are a ton of fun, and reasonably priced.
Metropolitan is located at:
5121 N. Ravenswood
Chicago, IL 60640
Find a list of places where you can purchase and drink Metropolitan:
Find out information on the Brewery Tours
3. Half Acre
Hanging out in Andersonville a little bit more? After checking out the brew tour at Metropolitan, head on over to Half Acre. Half Acre Beer Company began in 2006 with no experience and loads of optimism. Since then, they’ve come a long way and have had the chance to expand their skills and grow their brewing company. On August 10, 2011 they purchased their building and cemented their place in the mix of it all. At Half Acre Beer Company, they brew beers they want to see made, and encourage the interesting experiences the beer ride has to offer.
Half Acre doesn’t serve food, but their three pillar beers are: Gossamer, Daisey Cutter and Over Ale. The awesome thing is though, you can buy 4 pack cans, growlers and kegs directly from them at their brewery store.
Brewery Store Location:
4257 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 248-4038Half Acre Tours:
- Time: 1:00pm
- Day: Every Saturday, except major holidays
- Cost: $10. Cash only. This gets you a Half Acre pint glass & sampling during the tour.
- Tour participants must be 21 or older with identification. No one under 21 is permitted without a parent.
- All tour goers must form a line outside the brewery. First come, first serve.
- Groups are 6o people maximum. If you’re number 61, then you’re out of luck…but you can go into the store and sample some beer
4. Revolution Brewing
After spending your afternoon in Andersonville at Half Acre and Metropolitan…head on down to a great spot in Logan Square called Revolution Brewing Company. Revolution is both a brewery, restaurant and bar…and is a favorite of Mat and Jason the managers of Chicago Getaway Hostel. The owner spent a few years working for Goose Island Brewery and opened a bar called the Handlebar. Revolution started in the late 2000′s and has been a huge success ever since. We’d suggest eating their Beer Cheese Soup…it’s honestly one of the best things you’ll put into your mouth. Wash it down with some Bottom Up Wit…a refreshing Belgian-style wheat and….. If you’re heading back to the hostel right after… don’t forget to bring some food for the desk staff..they’ll appreciate it immensely!
Brew Pub Location:
2323 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 227-BREWWhere else can I drink Revolution Brewing?
Check out the LIST!
5. Haymarket Pub and Brewery
After spending your day drinking at Revolution, Half Acre, Goose Island and Metropolitan…close it out at Haymarket Pub and Brewery…located right off the #8 Halsted bus…and easily accessible getting back to Chicago Getaway Hostel! Haymarket is new to the Chicago scene, but has had a huge impact on Chicago’s brewery scene. Haymarket specializes in classic Belgian and contemporary American beer styles and their space is trendy, comfortable and vintage. Haymarket is ideal for watching sporting events and is located fairly close to the United Center (da’ Bulls and Blackhawks.)
Brew Pub Location:
737 W. Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 638-0700
Other Breweries we Like!
- Koval Distellery
- Hamburger Mary’s Brews
- Two Brothers
- Three Floyds
- Granville Island Brewery- Vancouver, BC
- Bold City Brewery- Jacksonville, FL
Chicago Restaurant Week
More than 200 restaurants come together to bring you 10 days of pure dining pleasure. Whether you want to revisit your favorite haunts or scope out new hot spots, you won’t want to miss the Fifth Annual Chicago Restaurant Week. This gastronomic event is your once-a-year chance to sample fare created by some of the city’s – and the world’s – top chefs at restaurants with prix fixe menus at $22, $33 and $44. It’s a true celebration of Chicago’s world-class culinary scene. This event occurs: Feb. 17th-26th.
Unique Dining in Chicago.
Check out one of these unparalleled places to eat for a memorable sit-down dining experience in a delightfully unique setting…
Hema's Kitchen
Let’s get ethnic. It’s no wonder Hema’s Kitchen is so high-ranked when it comes to authentic Indian cuisine. Whether its savory sheek kabobs (minced lamb marinated on skewers) or delicious shrimp lajawab (marinated shrimp cooked in the Tandoor & served on a sizzler) you won’t regret going to this tasty place. 2411 N Clark St.
Places to Eat in Lincoln Park
Welcome to our neighborhood. It is one of the best neighborhoods to indulge in delicious Chicago cuisine. Here are a few of our personal recommendations….
DEL SEOUL.
This new place was recently discovered by our general manager, Mat. Now we all love Del Seoul’s Korean/Mexican flare, they offer mouth watering tacos and sandwiches, along with Korean staples like kimchi and miso soup. Modeled after a Korean Street BBQ, you can’t go wrong with their excellent menu options (located on Clark St. between Deming & Wrightwood).
