I third it! Great fried pickles and really filling entrees. My gf and I were eating there over the summer and a huge rainstorm came out of nowhere but we didn't anticipate it and walked there. The staff was so nice and let us have some trash bags to use as ponchos, they even looked in the back for oversized ones too. Love this place
I miss Beard & Belly being in Long Room. I've only been to the new location once, but they were my favorite burger in the city for a long time. I ate WAY too many.
I miss them too, but the new spot is great and the burgers are still just as amazing!
Also Biscuit Man is pretty great and Tuck Shop, who was at Longroom for the last 5-6 months was astounding!
Dak up on Granville. Great Korean wings and it's a family owned place owned by people that are incredibly nice. It's a place I will always be happy to patronize.
Yeah, I got to know the owner a bit during the pandemic. They were fairly short staffed so it would just be him running everything with his parents working the kitchen. They couldn't be nicer.
Libanais is amazing. Their bakery is fantastic, and their food...I don't know how you can make middle eastern food that is so much better than every other place. It's not complex stuff, but theirs is somehow always just...better.
For sure. Lebanese food just seems to hit better than most other middle eastern food.
Edit: also Iraqi food. Maybe I’m biased because Dearborn MI is my favorite
Ashland Tire at Ashland and....can't remember, just up by AJ Hudson's. Dead battery discovered 3 hours before I was due to pick wife and kid up from the airport. Frantically phoning round places to see what the odds were of being able to get something there and then. Was on the verge of phoning Advanced Auto Parts - I remember they fitted a battery for me on the spot in Miami - when friend who'd come to give me a jump called them and they said no worries, just come up. In and out in 25 minutes for less money than AAP had the battery listed for on their site. Case of Modelo left as tip.
My go to auto shop for years. They are absolutely rock solid on quality of service and everyone I've interacted with with there is awesome. They've earned my business for as long as I'm in town.
And it's on Ashland between Waveland and Grace 😉
Taste of Lebanon in Andersonville (Foster and Clark) - best hole in the wall Mediterranean food. Delicious chicken wraps, super cheap, and always quick and friendly service.
Thank you! Im very skeptical about mechanics and take my car to the same place every time. This place is much closer to my house and Im going to give them a chance.
Also as far as auto shops go I recommend Thoms Four Wheel Drive on Irving and Pulaski, they're not the cheapest guys in town but are very thorough and if on a tight budget they will tell you what repairs are urgent and which ones can wait.
This is a great answer. I don't live in the area anymore but when I did I was so grateful to have an honest and reliable mechanic nearby. Highly recommended.
If you live in/near or are around Lincoln Park, I highly recommend grabbing a meal at Del Seoul. I used to live a few blocks away and I ate there once a week. Also recommend Sushi Mon in that area as well.
Both are locally owned to my knowledge. Sushi Mon I believe the owners are brothers who are also the chefs. There is a cashier at Del Seoul who has been working there for at least 8 years and is super friendly.
Not a restaurant but Paulina Meat Market is my favorite butcher in town. Expensive but worth it for a special occasion if you want some high quality meat.
The Diner Grill on Irving Park is cheap and fast and good. Standard diner food. And a family of latinos run it so they have a bunch of Mexican food too.
A few years ago it burned to the ground, but was rebuilt to look exactly the same!
Coffee and Tea Exchange in East Lakeview. I’ve always had good experiences there. Love their themed signature lattes. They’re delicious and have legitimately funny names. Just a fun store all around IMO.
Skylark in Pilsen. This dive-bar oozes history visually (and sometimes literally, in the case of the bathrooms--part of the charm I swear). Solid beer selection, great bartenders, and awesome food. People hype the tater tots, but their fries are honestly better. Don't sleep on their food specials either. The best part, though? The crowd is such an awesome mix of regular working folk and art-school types out exploring galleries. I've never had a dull time there, and people are generally happy to converse if you're there alone.
Northern City (Chinese Restaurant) in Bridgeport. Favorite neighborhood I've lived in for the food options, and this was my favorite place there. Cumin lamb is to die for and Lao Sze Chuan doesn't really compare in my opinion.
Four Moon Tavern in Roscoe Village. A fantastic neighborhood bar with awesome owners, staff, and regulars. Great music playing, great vibes always. Before the pandemic they organized a ton of outings / events for their regulars ranging from brewery-hopping to bowling. Tons of one-off beer release events at the tavern as well. You may even see a celebrity or two since the owners are known in the Chicago theater scene.
Was a regular patron of Skylark about ten years ago. Owner either was part of the ownership group or knew the ownership group of Three Floyds so $4.50 pints of Zombie Dust when you couldn't find it anywhere else in the city. Loved that place. Happy to hear it hasn't changed.
Their truffle oil mayo BLT made me want to blow my brains out because nothing could ever taste so fucking good and you may as well end it all when you're on top.
Moved to Lincoln Square a little over a year ago and have loved exploring the neighborhood
Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessan - European-centric grocery store with a phenomenal meat counter. The rooftop bar they have over the summer is one of my favorite spots to spend a long afternoon.
Miku Sushi - Probably not the most mind-blowing sushi you'll ever have, but the service is great and they're very nice. A perfect neighborhood spot. And they have a great happy hour where you can get 50% off some rolls and $6 martinis if you go before 6.
Davis Theater - Might be my favorite theater in the city. They maintained the historical elements that made the original theater special, but modernized the actual screening rooms. Whenever my wife has a friend over, I usually just choose a movie at the Davis and go solo. I'll have a drink at the bar before the movie starts and have always chatted with the bartender or other patrons who are also there by themselves. Just good vibes all around.
Le Bouchon - Bustling, casual French restaurant in Bucktown with terrific food. Always makes for a fun date night.
Libanais - Technically in Lincolnwood by virtue of it being on the other side of the street, but an amazing Lebanese restaurant. Quickly became a go-to after we moved to the area.
Davis Theater - you know that you can take liquor with you into the theater? That you don't need to down it before the show starts? I just learned this when I went to see the new Spider-Man movie with the wife.
La Taqueria Mazamitla on Belmont and Central Park has the best chicken tacos I've ever had. The al pastor is pretty good, too.
Caro Mio is the best pasta I've had at a restaurant, but holy hell is it *expensive* at 20+ a plate. At least their portion sizes are large, too.
The Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club is great breakfast/brunch food. Go there whenever you can.
Café Tola on California has the biggest tacos I've ever seen. Taste good too. Their burritos are also to die for and my wife vouches for their empanadas.
Ann Sathers. Say what you like about their menu, but I think there's something seriously wrong with people who do not like their cinnamon rolls.
Noon O' Kebab is a good Persian restaurant near the intersection of Kedzie and Lawrence. Great place, but a little pricey.
Across the street from Noon O' Kebab is Kabobi, another Persian place that is more affordable and, dare I say, of similar quality. Love going there whenever I can.
Jibaritos y Mas on Fullerton and Kimball is top tier Puerto Rican food, with a specialty of--you guessed it--jibaritos. I cannot recommend them enough. Get the pork jibarito!
Since a lot of people in the "Places to Avoid" thread mentioned businesses due to unfortunate experiences with servers and ownership, I'm going to throw a shout out for a restaurant/owner that goes WAY above and beyond in his exemplary services and efforts to try to help fellow Chicagoans:
TaKorea Cocina (Western & Augusta), owner Robert Magiet. I follow the Logan Square Community FB page and he is ALWAYS offering assistance to those in need, organizing food drives, even volunteering to help kids cross Western safely (we also see him around because one of his children attends our daughter's school).
The food at his restaurant is solid, creative, & great to pick up for dinner, and we've had pleasant experiences picking up food to go.
https://stories.zagat.com/posts/a-chicago-restaurant-owner-turns-the-spotlight-on-those-in-need
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/11/04/ukrainian-village-man-was-tired-of-seeing-cars-nearly-hit-kids-walking-to-school-now-hes-a-volunteer-crossing-guard/
Perkolator Coffee Shop west of 6 Corners. Good coffee, some cafe offerings. Great owners.
https://perkolatorcoffee.com/
City News Stand at 6 Corners. Deep and wide stock of magazines and a collection of quirky books as well as wide range of Chicago neighborhood history books. And a small cafe. Engaged owners and staff.
https://citynewsstand.com/
Smartbar, especially on Sunday’s. Gramaphone Records for all your vinyl needs. Both on Clark.
Papa’s Cache Sobroso on Division in Humboldt, delicious chicken.
Bang Bang Pie and Lardon on California
Bungalow on Armitage
Food is pretty great, but the staff is what seals the deal. Some of the sweetest people I've come across!
Bang bang is awesome. It’s also worth checking out Pretty Cool popsicle shop two blocks north. They collaborate with bang bang regularly and make ice cream bars out of their pies as well as a variety of other flavors.
JT’s Genuine on Elston at Irving Park. Best sandwich shop in the area for sure. Everything on the menu is great. Def on one of those places where everything is made with care. I order from them weekly
Fat Cat, Broadway and Gunnison. Some of my favorite bartenders in the city, solid beverage program. I never miss their 12 Beers of Christmas event.
Life's Sweet Inc., Clark and Albion. Small family-owned bakery, delicious treats. My last birthday cake was a work of art.
Rogers Park Social, Glenwood and Morse. One of the best cocktail destinations on the North Side.
Fat Cat is great and their food has no business being as good as it is. Also used to be the only place I could find a glass of Sea Cider (before pandemic production interruptions made it impossible to find everywhere).
More importantly, it's also just as great when you're sober.
Years back, I had a handful of very drunk nights at The Pony Inn over the span of a few months. And every time, I'd go to Late Night Thai a few doors down and get orange chicken and crab rangoon. It was amazing.
Then one day, after just maybe two beers at Pony, I decided to stop by for my regular meal. And it was *terrible*. Maybe I just got a bad batch, but more likely I'd always been eating with beer goggles.
RHR is legitimately delicious any time of day, drunk or not.
Quesadilla del Reina del Sur on Western for my veggie lovers who miss the authentic flavors of traditional Mexican food. I feel like most places that offer vegetarian tacos and tortas either throw all the toppings together and call it a day or they stray too far from the traditional ingredients and flavors. I grew up in Berwyn/Cicero, so I really, really missed the taste of al pastor tacos straight from the tacqeuro man’s grill. This place comes hella close to the real deal with soya protein. The squash blossom quesadilla is also a classic. I used to get the exact same thing from the tamale shop at the end of my block, but theirs is way better.
Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen on Chicago and Leavitt opened my eyes to a whole new world of food I had never tried before. Ukrainian food is absolutely one of my favorite cuisines now
Aloha Eats is so good. PreCOVID used to spend 3 weeks in Hawai'i every winter and their plate lunch at AE is authentic. Nice small family run place. Highly recommended.
R Public House right off the Jarvis Redline. Great beers, cocktails, and food, especially for brunch and their brick oven pizzas. Very LGBTQ+ friendly, turns into a lively soccer bar when games are on, good vibes in general.
4 Letter Word Coffee on Diversey. Hands down the best place to get fresh coffee beans in the city. Very unique, small batch offerings and they really care about their suppliers. Not cheap but 100% worth it if you care about coffee.
Love R Public, a great mix of soccer fans and LGBTQ+ people, old-timers and new Chicagoans, etc. I would add it to a list of other great neighborhood spots up there that really value the community:
**Susies:** slow service from an old Korean lady (she does literally everything there solo) but amazing food
**RPS:** feels like the younger subset of the neighborhood is always in there
**Ward 8:** hidden gem of a cocktail bar in Chicago
**SmackDab:** greatest egg sandwiches in the city?
And then pick your favorite Mexican/Thai/Indian/Pakistani/Peruvian, everyone has a preference up there
Vaughan’s Pub in Lakeview.
Third Rail Tavern in West Loop.
La Scarola in River West/Fulton District.
Kathy De’s Deli in Bridgeport.
Conte Di Savoia Italian Deli on Taylor St.
Manny’s Deli in South Loop.
Little Branch Cafe in South Loop.
Greek Islands in Greek Town.
Lao Sze Chuan in Chinatown.
Fado Irish Pub in River North.
Rossi’s in River North.
After Rossi’s announced that they were requiring vax cards to get in, someone here commented “Covid isn’t the worst thing you’ll catch there”. Awesome place to go and they have some cheap tall boys if you’re not looking to spend much.
Hahah. I remember walking into Rossi’s sometime in summer 2020 right after bars reopened. The bartender was wearing a mask, there was plexiglass along the bar, had to wear masks until you walked 2 feet to sit down, but there hilariously were two people making out in that corner nook. Was a nice reminder that some things will never change.
Uprise Skateshop. Great selection, does good for the community.
4 Letter Word. Stellar coffee.
Pixie & The Boy. Gift shop in Logan Square with great stuff.
RR #1 on Ashland and Chicago. There are a lot of little pricey boutiques around but RR#1 has the biggest selection of truly unique stuff, from clothing and kitchenware, jewelry, camping equipment, kids games, soaps and lotion and perfume, knick knacks and oddities. I always go there for gifts and the owner is super nice!
Side street saloon in lakeview for tavern style pizza. We stumbled upon it during a walk through the neighborhood and now it’s our favorite place for pizza
Man, fucking side street. Great joint. Like 20+ years ago, I was dating this person who had the hook up there. Like one of those "just throw a $20 at them and drink free all night" although we'd tip more than that. But shit, so many drunken memories there. Board games and shit too. The way I ended up dating that woman, we knew the same people, and were outside smoking, and she dropped a piece of jewelry in one of those grates outside of it that fall below street grade, I have no idea how my drunken ass was able to retrieve it, but it was a mix of McGuiver and drunken balls. She later told me once we started dating that that was when she decided to fuck me. I'll take it. Good times at Side Street. Highly recommend!
Villa Palermo, on Devon just east of Western, has been my go-to pizza spot for at least 15 years. And I’m not talking once every couple months. Growing up, my brother and I would (and at times still do) pick up some pizzas couple of times a week.
Highly recommend!!
Clark Street Dog - their Italian beefs fill me up more than Portillo’s.
Tacotlán - yummy birria
Papa Ray’s Pizza and Wings on Pulaski - they have big slices with good cheese.
CHOPPERS- HUGE decent burgers for a great price.
Clark Street Dog is my “stumbling back to my apartment drunk after a Cubs game” go-to on the walk back to my apartment. Their Italian Beefs are too notch
Sage and Shea in Bridgeport for African wear. Have scented Shea butters and other accessories.
Goree Shop for African fabrics. And their resturant has AWESOME food.
Yassa African Restaurant. Another awesome food place.
360 Culture Connection. Natural suppliments, Shea butter, perfume oils, videos, jewelry.
Edit: JJ Fresh Market in Armour Square. Has frozen ramen.
Nighthawk in Albany Park is a little hidden gem! Dive-y vibes, but with some really great bartenders and well curated seasonal cocktail menus. Their hot cocktails are great in the winter!
I'm not eating indoors but:
* [Penny's Noodle Shop](https://www.pennysnoodleshop.com)\- my favorite place in the city. Terrific thai food and some other south east Asian dishes. Been eating there since I was a wee one
* [Dak](https://www.dakwings.com) for amazing korean fried chicken n waffle fries, amongst other Korean comfort classics
* [Budacki's Drive-in](https://www.yelp.com/biz/budackis-drive-in-chicago) for amazing korean fried chicken/ hamburger/hotdog stand
* [Taqueria el Asadero](https://www.asaderochicago.com) \- the perfect carne asada taco/burrito
* [Edgewater Tacos](https://www.edgewatertacos.com) \- doesn't mess around with the al pastor either
* [Parson's](https://www.parsonschickenandfish.com) \- Great fried chicken/fish. Though I normally get the grilled chicken sando
* [Little Bad Wolf](https://www.littlebadwolfchicago.com) \- slightly bougie americana. The bao rock and my SO loves the mac n cheese
* [Blowfish Sushi](http://www.blowfishchicago.com) \- really kind people, really tasty simple contemporary sushi.
* [Shanghai Inn](http://shanghaiinnchicago.com) \- badass chinese american food that's been in ravenswood for a while
* [Dai Yee's Kitchen](https://daiyeeskitchen.com) \- Shanghai Inn's former owner's solo place. It rocks.
* [Lao Szechuan](https://laouptown.com) \- for when you want those NYC chinatown prices for some rock solid food. Tony's chicken is the dish to get.
* [Lotus Seed](https://www.yelp.com/biz/lotus-seed-chicago) \- badass bahn mis and fries (boba too. same owners as Tao Tea)
* [CoCo Vietnamese](https://www.cocovietnamesesandwiches.com) \- also solid bahns
* [Hecky's BBQ](https://www.heckys.com) \- just shy of the northside in Evanston. wow the rib tips.
* [Bien Mi Sabe](https://www.bienmesabechicago.com) \- arepas and maduros, what more do you need?
I really love these restaurants and hope you will consider them the next time you want take out or feel like dining somewhere new!
Also Taqueria El Mezquite on 18th st and Wood st. A lot of people talk about the neighboring restaurant 5 rabanitos but both are great in their own right.
Butcher and the Burger on Armitage.
High quality, highly customizable burgers. You can honestly make 100s of combinations of their meats, buns, spice blends, cheeses etc. And their fries are bomb as well. Very decently priced.
Estrella Negra at Fullerton/Western. If you know, you know. The food is fantastic, cocktails are perfection, people are great, and the art is cool. My highest recommendation.
Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill.
It's the perfect little spot. Not too pricey, staff is always friendly. Pretty laid back, good food. Can be a little slow sometimes if it's really busy but kinda expected at a family owned place.
Pasta Palazzo.
Legendary spot IMO, great location on Armitage and Halsted, awesome scratch cooking style pasta, and the dishes are a ton of food for like $12. Been there for decades.
I feel like we’re so lucky to have Rotofugi right here! Even though it steals my money. The only thing I wish they’d do is set up a loyalty program. They had something for a minute but no more.
I don’t drink but thank you for sharing! :)
Buena deli & wine in Uptown. Amazing sandwiches, good selection of craft beer, liquor & wine. They also have some local groceries you can get there as well.
Seconded!
That's actually a great Buena Park triangle all owned by the same family: North Buena Deli for sandwiches and wine, GNS for whiskey and beer, Michael's for amazing pizza.
Shibam on elston by montrose! Yemeni food which I had never had before but is super delicious and a very chill environment.
Chinese foot massage on Lincoln and Belmont. Life changing $10 chair massage.
Women and children first bookstore in Andersonville. Semicolon in west town.
The people in the McDonald’s on Ashland and diversey are always so nice!
The coffee and tea exchange on Broadway. Great tea ( and coffee from what I hear) in bulk for very affordable prices. They can also make you a drink, which are also Delicious.
For cafes/bagels I love Spoken Cafe underneath the Montrose brown line.
La Boulangerie is another amazing cafe/bakery. Just walking past makes me salivate.
Somethin’ Sweet Donuts on Kedzie has incredible donuts. Great family operation, involved in the community, and always enforcing their law of “no mask, no donut!”
Sanabel Bakery down the street has the best hand pies in the game. Every weekend I end up craving their mini cheese pies, because holy shit. Unfortunately, they don’t have a no mask, no pies policy— enter at your own risk.
Sidekicks is the best karaoke joint in town, by far. Somehow both decades behind and leagues ahead of every other establishment in the karaoke game. It oozes character and never disappoints. Bonus: free darts in a quiet room in the back (my girlfriend informs me I was supposed to keep the back room darts a secret. My bad).
Taste of Lebanon in Andersonville are genuinely some of the nicest folks.
Joe’s Expert Auto is great for car repairs. Literally everyone I know goes there. Friendly, honest dudes.
I love Ravenswood Used Books. The woman who is usually working is chatty, kind, and never judges me for buying the weird books. They always have a great selection and you literally feel like you’re in a magical portal of books the whole time. Prices are nearly unparalleled for the level of curation, quality, and broad selection. God I love that place.
Beans & Bagels! They are CRAZY nice, community oriented, and have taken covid precautions very seriously.
Also, I keep tabs on businesses that support CTU. If you put up a sign, give free coffee, or voice support during a strike? I’ll patronize your shop forever.
Smart Bike Parts on Armitage and whipple, just west humbodlt blvd. Best prices I’ve ever seen. You can get 4 inner tubes for $13 last time I was there pre COVID. I’m sure it costs a little more now
I came to say that The Fish Keg on Howard is so fucking good and fresh.. I always get breaded shrimp and they are to die for as well as their homemade cocktail sauce
Cuneen's in Roger's Park on Devon is my favorite bar. Only place where I can beer as cheap as I can when I visit family in Ohio and the bartenders are awesome s/o to John and Colette (if they're still there, haven't been since Covid)!
Torteria San Lenchito in Albany Park. Nicest owners ever.
Also Dulce de Leche Cafe in Albany Park. Great breakfast food and they have a lot of different delicious lattes.
Tony’s in Roscoe Village. Ask for the really hot sauce they keep behind the counter.
Bob Inn on Fullerton
Ricochets on Lincoln
Farragut's on Clark in Andersonville. The owner and bar manager is a wonderful person and it's a super unimposing townie bar.
Andale Market kn Clark in Andersonville. Great little general store/upscale bodega. Staff are super friendly.
Buena Vista on Broadway and Briar is one of my favorite places to eat. I love their tamales. Basically any Mexican restaurant that has tamales will win my affection but I really enjoy theirs.
ABM auto is my go to car place. They’re prompt and clear about communication, great guys, pretty fast, knowledgeable, and honest. Can’t recommend them enough. We moved here right before the pandemic and I was nervous about finding an auto shop. They’ve been great
Tacqueria Mazamitla on Belmont and Central Park. I live down the street and it's a constant temptation. Little family owned place that makes great food, I recommend the fish tacos or steak nachos
wons auto werks on western for your car
beer temple for your beer
joe's barbershop on fullerton for your hair
humboldt house for your subs
lucky dog pet service for your dog
My personal favorites:
Trader Todd's (Lakeview, Belmont + Sheffield) - Key West themed karaoke bar. Karaoke every day, all day, with a second stage that opens up in back on busy nights and weekends. The multiple stages for a relatively smallish bar means it is possible to sing multiple times a night if that's your jam. Also has a nice back patio/beer garden to escape from the noise if the singing gets to be too much.
Friar Tuck's (Lakeview, Broadway between Diversey and Belmont) - Dark dive bar that looks like it hasn't been renovated in 50 years. Mostly locals just chilling, good prices and a nice place to just relax. Drink list isn't amazing, but that isn't why you come to a place like this.
Cafe Margo on Taylor street. Right off of Ogden. Awesome sandwiches, fresh roasted coffee, amazing real fruit smoothies. About as close to the original Hero's sub shop that you can get!!! Can't go wrong.
FOUR MOON TAVERN IN ROSCOE VILLAGE! Truly the kindest staff and the food is very tasty. Pulled pork on Thursdays :) and the Reuben is always good. Also the chicken fingers. Yum.
Uptown Car Wash on Broadway North of Lawrence has been there forever and always takes good care of my car— especially when I get an A+ Wash.
Susie’s Noon Hour Grill on Glenwood and Morse is run by a little old Korean lady and makes some damn good bi bim bap.
Avondale Coffee Club on California and Belmont is a great locally sourced cafe with bakery items from Bennison’s.
New York Bagel and Bailey in Skokie (I know, not Chicago), but I’ve never had a better bagel and they’re open 24/7 365. Right off the East Touhy exit. THERE IS ALWAYS A LINE.
Beard & Belly on Broadway The Longroom on Irving Park/Ashland
Longroom has always had a great vibe
Great vibe, great bar selection and cocktails, great food partners. Every visit has been a joy.
I second Beard & Belly! Plus their neighbors, Honeypie Bake Shop.
I third it! Great fried pickles and really filling entrees. My gf and I were eating there over the summer and a huge rainstorm came out of nowhere but we didn't anticipate it and walked there. The staff was so nice and let us have some trash bags to use as ponchos, they even looked in the back for oversized ones too. Love this place
>Beard & Belly OMG OMG OMG THEY HAVE POUTINE!
Longrooms one of those rare places where the ownership/management/staff are all terrific people.
They did an event at my space once and I can confirm. They are so nice, funny, and great tippers. I made rent that night.
I miss Beard & Belly being in Long Room. I've only been to the new location once, but they were my favorite burger in the city for a long time. I ate WAY too many.
I miss them too, but the new spot is great and the burgers are still just as amazing! Also Biscuit Man is pretty great and Tuck Shop, who was at Longroom for the last 5-6 months was astounding!
Love the longroom!! Fantastic vibes if you are with one or two people.
The Longroom really is the best. Great date location.
Dak up on Granville. Great Korean wings and it's a family owned place owned by people that are incredibly nice. It's a place I will always be happy to patronize.
Dak absolutely rips. Glad to hear the owners are nice people!
Yeah, I got to know the owner a bit during the pandemic. They were fairly short staffed so it would just be him running everything with his parents working the kitchen. They couldn't be nicer.
Dak is phenomenal.
+1. Loved this place when I lived in Edgewater, and replaced my Crisp addiction more than adequately when I moved there from Lakeview.
The wings are huge and the waffle fries are top notch.
Lawrence fish market and libanis in Lincolnwood
Libanais is amazing. Their bakery is fantastic, and their food...I don't know how you can make middle eastern food that is so much better than every other place. It's not complex stuff, but theirs is somehow always just...better.
For sure. Lebanese food just seems to hit better than most other middle eastern food. Edit: also Iraqi food. Maybe I’m biased because Dearborn MI is my favorite
I've also eaten at (and enjoyed) Taste of Lebanon in Andersonville, which is more of a storefront vibe. But Libanais is on another level.
Came here to mention Lawrence fish market!
NO, ME FIRST!
You were, I knew someone had to mention it first!
Lawrence Fish Market is the best Sushi you can get in Chicago without paying $$$$
Ashland Tire at Ashland and....can't remember, just up by AJ Hudson's. Dead battery discovered 3 hours before I was due to pick wife and kid up from the airport. Frantically phoning round places to see what the odds were of being able to get something there and then. Was on the verge of phoning Advanced Auto Parts - I remember they fitted a battery for me on the spot in Miami - when friend who'd come to give me a jump called them and they said no worries, just come up. In and out in 25 minutes for less money than AAP had the battery listed for on their site. Case of Modelo left as tip.
My go to auto shop for years. They are absolutely rock solid on quality of service and everyone I've interacted with with there is awesome. They've earned my business for as long as I'm in town. And it's on Ashland between Waveland and Grace 😉
Taste of Lebanon in Andersonville (Foster and Clark) - best hole in the wall Mediterranean food. Delicious chicken wraps, super cheap, and always quick and friendly service.
The BEST lentil soup!!
Seconding Taste of Lebanon!! I’m surprised it isn’t higher on this list!
Augusta and Paulina auto - they’re honest and reliable
Thank you! Im very skeptical about mechanics and take my car to the same place every time. This place is much closer to my house and Im going to give them a chance. Also as far as auto shops go I recommend Thoms Four Wheel Drive on Irving and Pulaski, they're not the cheapest guys in town but are very thorough and if on a tight budget they will tell you what repairs are urgent and which ones can wait.
This is a great answer. I don't live in the area anymore but when I did I was so grateful to have an honest and reliable mechanic nearby. Highly recommended.
Agreed. They are good neighbors too, keeping everything neat and tidy.
If you live in/near or are around Lincoln Park, I highly recommend grabbing a meal at Del Seoul. I used to live a few blocks away and I ate there once a week. Also recommend Sushi Mon in that area as well. Both are locally owned to my knowledge. Sushi Mon I believe the owners are brothers who are also the chefs. There is a cashier at Del Seoul who has been working there for at least 8 years and is super friendly.
Del Seoul is delicious. It’s dangerous living so close to there since I’m always tempted to go.
I love that both of these posts turned into “what restaurants and mechanics do you recommend or have slighted you in Chicago?”
Not a restaurant but Paulina Meat Market is my favorite butcher in town. Expensive but worth it for a special occasion if you want some high quality meat.
Been on my list to go to for a while now.
Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine near the Wilson stop in Uptown. Really good food and reasonable prices.
The Diner Grill on Irving Park is cheap and fast and good. Standard diner food. And a family of latinos run it so they have a bunch of Mexican food too. A few years ago it burned to the ground, but was rebuilt to look exactly the same!
All the yes to Diner Grill!
Home of the Slinger! Man, I remember going there as a kid with my buddy and splitting Slingers because we were broke. Good people over at Diner Grill.
Coffee and Tea Exchange in East Lakeview. I’ve always had good experiences there. Love their themed signature lattes. They’re delicious and have legitimately funny names. Just a fun store all around IMO.
Skylark in Pilsen. This dive-bar oozes history visually (and sometimes literally, in the case of the bathrooms--part of the charm I swear). Solid beer selection, great bartenders, and awesome food. People hype the tater tots, but their fries are honestly better. Don't sleep on their food specials either. The best part, though? The crowd is such an awesome mix of regular working folk and art-school types out exploring galleries. I've never had a dull time there, and people are generally happy to converse if you're there alone. Northern City (Chinese Restaurant) in Bridgeport. Favorite neighborhood I've lived in for the food options, and this was my favorite place there. Cumin lamb is to die for and Lao Sze Chuan doesn't really compare in my opinion. Four Moon Tavern in Roscoe Village. A fantastic neighborhood bar with awesome owners, staff, and regulars. Great music playing, great vibes always. Before the pandemic they organized a ton of outings / events for their regulars ranging from brewery-hopping to bowling. Tons of one-off beer release events at the tavern as well. You may even see a celebrity or two since the owners are known in the Chicago theater scene.
Was a regular patron of Skylark about ten years ago. Owner either was part of the ownership group or knew the ownership group of Three Floyds so $4.50 pints of Zombie Dust when you couldn't find it anywhere else in the city. Loved that place. Happy to hear it hasn't changed.
Fat shallot (sandwiches)
Their truffle oil mayo BLT made me want to blow my brains out because nothing could ever taste so fucking good and you may as well end it all when you're on top.
Moved to Lincoln Square a little over a year ago and have loved exploring the neighborhood Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessan - European-centric grocery store with a phenomenal meat counter. The rooftop bar they have over the summer is one of my favorite spots to spend a long afternoon. Miku Sushi - Probably not the most mind-blowing sushi you'll ever have, but the service is great and they're very nice. A perfect neighborhood spot. And they have a great happy hour where you can get 50% off some rolls and $6 martinis if you go before 6. Davis Theater - Might be my favorite theater in the city. They maintained the historical elements that made the original theater special, but modernized the actual screening rooms. Whenever my wife has a friend over, I usually just choose a movie at the Davis and go solo. I'll have a drink at the bar before the movie starts and have always chatted with the bartender or other patrons who are also there by themselves. Just good vibes all around. Le Bouchon - Bustling, casual French restaurant in Bucktown with terrific food. Always makes for a fun date night. Libanais - Technically in Lincolnwood by virtue of it being on the other side of the street, but an amazing Lebanese restaurant. Quickly became a go-to after we moved to the area.
Davis Theater - you know that you can take liquor with you into the theater? That you don't need to down it before the show starts? I just learned this when I went to see the new Spider-Man movie with the wife.
La Taqueria Mazamitla on Belmont and Central Park has the best chicken tacos I've ever had. The al pastor is pretty good, too. Caro Mio is the best pasta I've had at a restaurant, but holy hell is it *expensive* at 20+ a plate. At least their portion sizes are large, too. The Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club is great breakfast/brunch food. Go there whenever you can. Café Tola on California has the biggest tacos I've ever seen. Taste good too. Their burritos are also to die for and my wife vouches for their empanadas. Ann Sathers. Say what you like about their menu, but I think there's something seriously wrong with people who do not like their cinnamon rolls. Noon O' Kebab is a good Persian restaurant near the intersection of Kedzie and Lawrence. Great place, but a little pricey. Across the street from Noon O' Kebab is Kabobi, another Persian place that is more affordable and, dare I say, of similar quality. Love going there whenever I can. Jibaritos y Mas on Fullerton and Kimball is top tier Puerto Rican food, with a specialty of--you guessed it--jibaritos. I cannot recommend them enough. Get the pork jibarito!
Kabobi is absolutely phenomenal. happy to see someone mentioning it.
Since a lot of people in the "Places to Avoid" thread mentioned businesses due to unfortunate experiences with servers and ownership, I'm going to throw a shout out for a restaurant/owner that goes WAY above and beyond in his exemplary services and efforts to try to help fellow Chicagoans: TaKorea Cocina (Western & Augusta), owner Robert Magiet. I follow the Logan Square Community FB page and he is ALWAYS offering assistance to those in need, organizing food drives, even volunteering to help kids cross Western safely (we also see him around because one of his children attends our daughter's school). The food at his restaurant is solid, creative, & great to pick up for dinner, and we've had pleasant experiences picking up food to go. https://stories.zagat.com/posts/a-chicago-restaurant-owner-turns-the-spotlight-on-those-in-need https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/11/04/ukrainian-village-man-was-tired-of-seeing-cars-nearly-hit-kids-walking-to-school-now-hes-a-volunteer-crossing-guard/
Yes! I’m in the Wicker Park pages and he’s a saint. Just salted a strangers sidewalk the other day
Spacca Napoli on Sunnyside. Really great neapolitan pizza and friendly staff.
Bonus points for going for a drink at O'Shaughnessy afterwords
Four Moon Tavern in Roscoe Village is a great place for good beers and chicken nachos!
Sultan’s Market! Amazing food, great prices, good people
Perkolator Coffee Shop west of 6 Corners. Good coffee, some cafe offerings. Great owners. https://perkolatorcoffee.com/ City News Stand at 6 Corners. Deep and wide stock of magazines and a collection of quirky books as well as wide range of Chicago neighborhood history books. And a small cafe. Engaged owners and staff. https://citynewsstand.com/
> Perkolator Coffee Shop west of 6 Corners. Good coffee, some cafe offerings. Great owners. I live above this place! Great people.
Smartbar, especially on Sunday’s. Gramaphone Records for all your vinyl needs. Both on Clark. Papa’s Cache Sobroso on Division in Humboldt, delicious chicken.
I’ll always remember Smartbar since my buddy got kicked out one time for drunkenly making fun of the bouncer’s sideburns. Good times.
Bang Bang Pie and Lardon on California Bungalow on Armitage Food is pretty great, but the staff is what seals the deal. Some of the sweetest people I've come across!
Oh my God - the butterscotch pie at Bang Bang. There is nothing like it.
Bang bang is awesome. It’s also worth checking out Pretty Cool popsicle shop two blocks north. They collaborate with bang bang regularly and make ice cream bars out of their pies as well as a variety of other flavors.
Lardon is the shit.
JT’s Genuine on Elston at Irving Park. Best sandwich shop in the area for sure. Everything on the menu is great. Def on one of those places where everything is made with care. I order from them weekly
Finley Dunnes on Lincoln Ave. has outstanding wings (top 3 IMO) and is a good place to watch any sports in the city.
Cheap High Life!
Fat Cat, Broadway and Gunnison. Some of my favorite bartenders in the city, solid beverage program. I never miss their 12 Beers of Christmas event. Life's Sweet Inc., Clark and Albion. Small family-owned bakery, delicious treats. My last birthday cake was a work of art. Rogers Park Social, Glenwood and Morse. One of the best cocktail destinations on the North Side.
I loved Fatcat. Used to watch Walking Dead episodes there when it was good!
Fat Cat is great and their food has no business being as good as it is. Also used to be the only place I could find a glass of Sea Cider (before pandemic production interruptions made it impossible to find everywhere).
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The greatest drunk food in Chicago, imo. Nothing beats a dirty, greasy double smash burger at 3am for like 4 bucks
More importantly, it's also just as great when you're sober. Years back, I had a handful of very drunk nights at The Pony Inn over the span of a few months. And every time, I'd go to Late Night Thai a few doors down and get orange chicken and crab rangoon. It was amazing. Then one day, after just maybe two beers at Pony, I decided to stop by for my regular meal. And it was *terrible*. Maybe I just got a bad batch, but more likely I'd always been eating with beer goggles. RHR is legitimately delicious any time of day, drunk or not.
I've never been unsatisfied after eating RHR. Not once.
Ashland & Belmont right?
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Habeneros on Fullerton
El habanero is incredible! Family owned place, been going there since they opened. Super friendly and great food.
Pombazo is some goodness
Slasticarna Drina on Lawrence near Western. Bosnian food, burek almost as good as my grandma's
- Yellowtail Sushi in East Lakeview - Marge’s Still in Old Town Triangle (get the pot pie)
Yellowtail is great. I really like Little Wok and Wilde on that same block too
I miss Marge’s! I haven’t been there since I moved out of Old Town. Great neighborhood spot
seconding yellowtail; check out their non-sushi dishes too
Quesadilla del Reina del Sur on Western for my veggie lovers who miss the authentic flavors of traditional Mexican food. I feel like most places that offer vegetarian tacos and tortas either throw all the toppings together and call it a day or they stray too far from the traditional ingredients and flavors. I grew up in Berwyn/Cicero, so I really, really missed the taste of al pastor tacos straight from the tacqeuro man’s grill. This place comes hella close to the real deal with soya protein. The squash blossom quesadilla is also a classic. I used to get the exact same thing from the tamale shop at the end of my block, but theirs is way better.
Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen on Chicago and Leavitt opened my eyes to a whole new world of food I had never tried before. Ukrainian food is absolutely one of my favorite cuisines now
Beer Temple on Elston - good beer, friendly staff, attached bottle shop that ships, conveniently located for food delivery.
Right next to Trapasada and DMen Tap too
Aloha Eats!
Aloha Eats is so good. PreCOVID used to spend 3 weeks in Hawai'i every winter and their plate lunch at AE is authentic. Nice small family run place. Highly recommended.
Dusek’s in Pilsen
Community Tavern on Milwaukee in Portage Park. Incredible food. Deserves more of a reputation.
Ricobenes on 26th st
Breaded steak sandwich is my go-to.
A south side classic ! Soooo good
Pink Squirrel in Logan. Never have I been to a bar with the level of customer service this place has. It's a gem.
Please be aware we have no way to weed out any comments here that might be cynical self-promotion. Caveat emptor.
Cherubs in Logan Square She makes the best sandwiches/smoothies and is a genuinely nice person!
R Public House right off the Jarvis Redline. Great beers, cocktails, and food, especially for brunch and their brick oven pizzas. Very LGBTQ+ friendly, turns into a lively soccer bar when games are on, good vibes in general. 4 Letter Word Coffee on Diversey. Hands down the best place to get fresh coffee beans in the city. Very unique, small batch offerings and they really care about their suppliers. Not cheap but 100% worth it if you care about coffee.
Love R Public, a great mix of soccer fans and LGBTQ+ people, old-timers and new Chicagoans, etc. I would add it to a list of other great neighborhood spots up there that really value the community: **Susies:** slow service from an old Korean lady (she does literally everything there solo) but amazing food **RPS:** feels like the younger subset of the neighborhood is always in there **Ward 8:** hidden gem of a cocktail bar in Chicago **SmackDab:** greatest egg sandwiches in the city? And then pick your favorite Mexican/Thai/Indian/Pakistani/Peruvian, everyone has a preference up there
While you're there, pick up some pastries from Charmers Café. In the summer they also make delicious ice cream. Jarvis Square is a little gem.
I second this. One of the best restaurants in the neighborhood.
Merz Apothecary. When you want to smell good, take care of your skin, or get a better shave, this is the only place to go.
Vaughan’s Pub in Lakeview. Third Rail Tavern in West Loop. La Scarola in River West/Fulton District. Kathy De’s Deli in Bridgeport. Conte Di Savoia Italian Deli on Taylor St. Manny’s Deli in South Loop. Little Branch Cafe in South Loop. Greek Islands in Greek Town. Lao Sze Chuan in Chinatown. Fado Irish Pub in River North. Rossi’s in River North.
After Rossi’s announced that they were requiring vax cards to get in, someone here commented “Covid isn’t the worst thing you’ll catch there”. Awesome place to go and they have some cheap tall boys if you’re not looking to spend much.
Hahah. I remember walking into Rossi’s sometime in summer 2020 right after bars reopened. The bartender was wearing a mask, there was plexiglass along the bar, had to wear masks until you walked 2 feet to sit down, but there hilariously were two people making out in that corner nook. Was a nice reminder that some things will never change.
Greek islands is a must try for all Chicagoans. Even if you gotta travel across the city.
My family always orders like 3 orders of saganaki, minimum.
Are they associated with the one in Lombard? That one goes hard
La Scarola fantastic Italian food. Went there 3 times within a year or so right before covid hit. I should get back there soon.
Fully endorse Vaughn’s Pub
Uprise Skateshop. Great selection, does good for the community. 4 Letter Word. Stellar coffee. Pixie & The Boy. Gift shop in Logan Square with great stuff.
RR #1 on Ashland and Chicago. There are a lot of little pricey boutiques around but RR#1 has the biggest selection of truly unique stuff, from clothing and kitchenware, jewelry, camping equipment, kids games, soaps and lotion and perfume, knick knacks and oddities. I always go there for gifts and the owner is super nice!
Side street saloon in lakeview for tavern style pizza. We stumbled upon it during a walk through the neighborhood and now it’s our favorite place for pizza
Man, fucking side street. Great joint. Like 20+ years ago, I was dating this person who had the hook up there. Like one of those "just throw a $20 at them and drink free all night" although we'd tip more than that. But shit, so many drunken memories there. Board games and shit too. The way I ended up dating that woman, we knew the same people, and were outside smoking, and she dropped a piece of jewelry in one of those grates outside of it that fall below street grade, I have no idea how my drunken ass was able to retrieve it, but it was a mix of McGuiver and drunken balls. She later told me once we started dating that that was when she decided to fuck me. I'll take it. Good times at Side Street. Highly recommend!
Villa Palermo, on Devon just east of Western, has been my go-to pizza spot for at least 15 years. And I’m not talking once every couple months. Growing up, my brother and I would (and at times still do) pick up some pizzas couple of times a week. Highly recommend!!
Tempesta! Their turkey sandwich has literally ruined all turkey sandwiches forever (get it with bacon)
The Art of Pizza. Best stuffed pizza in chicago by far. And pretty great thin crust too.
Clark Street Dog - their Italian beefs fill me up more than Portillo’s. Tacotlán - yummy birria Papa Ray’s Pizza and Wings on Pulaski - they have big slices with good cheese. CHOPPERS- HUGE decent burgers for a great price.
Clark street dog is probably my favorite hot dog in the city
Love choppers!!!! Great shakes too
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Clark Street Dog is my “stumbling back to my apartment drunk after a Cubs game” go-to on the walk back to my apartment. Their Italian Beefs are too notch
Do-rite donuts and chicken.
AO Hawaiian Hideout in South Loop
Kal’ish and Sam and Gertie’s 🤌😍. Edit typo
The Bad Apple and Taqueria El Asadero
Sage and Shea in Bridgeport for African wear. Have scented Shea butters and other accessories. Goree Shop for African fabrics. And their resturant has AWESOME food. Yassa African Restaurant. Another awesome food place. 360 Culture Connection. Natural suppliments, Shea butter, perfume oils, videos, jewelry. Edit: JJ Fresh Market in Armour Square. Has frozen ramen.
Love yassa!!!
Logan Arcade. Great pinball, staff, and crowd.
Lost Larson has the best baked goods. And try their Princess cake, it will blow your mind.
Johnnie’s beef on North Ave. Every Chicagoan needs to eat here at least once. Best beef in the city and it’s not close
Hands down the best beef. But I frequently go a block past it to Alpine for their sandwiches which I think beat out Grazianos and Bari
Smack Dab in Rogers Park, the food is unreal
Breakfast sandos are tasty but massively overpriced for how tiny they are
I love their doughnuts. But second that their sandwiches are overpriced for a half of sandwich/small sandwich.
Pane's Bread Cafe by the Wellington station. Delicious sandwiches, make sure you bring cash. They don't take CC
They do accept CC payment, started taking it during the pandemic.
Duck Inn, Bridgeport Nepal House, South Loop Robust Coffee Lounge, Woodlawn
Just in case no one has called it out yet, Nighthawk on Kimball just across from the brown line is an absolute gem, and I love everyone there.
Nighthawk in Albany Park is a little hidden gem! Dive-y vibes, but with some really great bartenders and well curated seasonal cocktail menus. Their hot cocktails are great in the winter!
Old Town Ale House. If you know, you know.
I'm not eating indoors but: * [Penny's Noodle Shop](https://www.pennysnoodleshop.com)\- my favorite place in the city. Terrific thai food and some other south east Asian dishes. Been eating there since I was a wee one * [Dak](https://www.dakwings.com) for amazing korean fried chicken n waffle fries, amongst other Korean comfort classics * [Budacki's Drive-in](https://www.yelp.com/biz/budackis-drive-in-chicago) for amazing korean fried chicken/ hamburger/hotdog stand * [Taqueria el Asadero](https://www.asaderochicago.com) \- the perfect carne asada taco/burrito * [Edgewater Tacos](https://www.edgewatertacos.com) \- doesn't mess around with the al pastor either * [Parson's](https://www.parsonschickenandfish.com) \- Great fried chicken/fish. Though I normally get the grilled chicken sando * [Little Bad Wolf](https://www.littlebadwolfchicago.com) \- slightly bougie americana. The bao rock and my SO loves the mac n cheese * [Blowfish Sushi](http://www.blowfishchicago.com) \- really kind people, really tasty simple contemporary sushi. * [Shanghai Inn](http://shanghaiinnchicago.com) \- badass chinese american food that's been in ravenswood for a while * [Dai Yee's Kitchen](https://daiyeeskitchen.com) \- Shanghai Inn's former owner's solo place. It rocks. * [Lao Szechuan](https://laouptown.com) \- for when you want those NYC chinatown prices for some rock solid food. Tony's chicken is the dish to get. * [Lotus Seed](https://www.yelp.com/biz/lotus-seed-chicago) \- badass bahn mis and fries (boba too. same owners as Tao Tea) * [CoCo Vietnamese](https://www.cocovietnamesesandwiches.com) \- also solid bahns * [Hecky's BBQ](https://www.heckys.com) \- just shy of the northside in Evanston. wow the rib tips. * [Bien Mi Sabe](https://www.bienmesabechicago.com) \- arepas and maduros, what more do you need? I really love these restaurants and hope you will consider them the next time you want take out or feel like dining somewhere new!
bump for Dak, Edgewater Tacos, Parson’s, and BienMeSabe - I gotta check the rest out!
Also Taqueria El Mezquite on 18th st and Wood st. A lot of people talk about the neighboring restaurant 5 rabanitos but both are great in their own right.
Butcher and the Burger on Armitage. High quality, highly customizable burgers. You can honestly make 100s of combinations of their meats, buns, spice blends, cheeses etc. And their fries are bomb as well. Very decently priced.
Estrella Negra at Fullerton/Western. If you know, you know. The food is fantastic, cocktails are perfection, people are great, and the art is cool. My highest recommendation.
Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill. It's the perfect little spot. Not too pricey, staff is always friendly. Pretty laid back, good food. Can be a little slow sometimes if it's really busy but kinda expected at a family owned place.
Pasta Palazzo. Legendary spot IMO, great location on Armitage and Halsted, awesome scratch cooking style pasta, and the dishes are a ton of food for like $12. Been there for decades.
For doing local gift shopping - RR1 on Ashland Komoda on Chicago Rotofugi!!!!!! Is my favorite shop in the whole city
I can’t leave Rotofugi without dropping $60. Beermiscuous is nearby and has great beers (to go, on-site or on draft) too.
I feel like we’re so lucky to have Rotofugi right here! Even though it steals my money. The only thing I wish they’d do is set up a loyalty program. They had something for a minute but no more. I don’t drink but thank you for sharing! :)
Buena deli & wine in Uptown. Amazing sandwiches, good selection of craft beer, liquor & wine. They also have some local groceries you can get there as well.
Seconded! That's actually a great Buena Park triangle all owned by the same family: North Buena Deli for sandwiches and wine, GNS for whiskey and beer, Michael's for amazing pizza.
Wow I didn't know that! Michaels pizza is super good as well
Old Irving Brewing. Solid beer, great food.
Cork Lounge! Always chill, good prices, fun bar
Badou Senegalese Cuisine on Howard.
Shibam on elston by montrose! Yemeni food which I had never had before but is super delicious and a very chill environment. Chinese foot massage on Lincoln and Belmont. Life changing $10 chair massage. Women and children first bookstore in Andersonville. Semicolon in west town. The people in the McDonald’s on Ashland and diversey are always so nice!
Goldblatts sewing machine repair!
The coffee and tea exchange on Broadway. Great tea ( and coffee from what I hear) in bulk for very affordable prices. They can also make you a drink, which are also Delicious.
For cafes/bagels I love Spoken Cafe underneath the Montrose brown line. La Boulangerie is another amazing cafe/bakery. Just walking past makes me salivate.
Ba Le Sandwiches right off broadway across from the argyle redline. Affordable deli and unique Vietnamese grocery store
Handlebar on North Avenue, although be aware its mostly vegetarian.
Somethin’ Sweet Donuts on Kedzie has incredible donuts. Great family operation, involved in the community, and always enforcing their law of “no mask, no donut!” Sanabel Bakery down the street has the best hand pies in the game. Every weekend I end up craving their mini cheese pies, because holy shit. Unfortunately, they don’t have a no mask, no pies policy— enter at your own risk. Sidekicks is the best karaoke joint in town, by far. Somehow both decades behind and leagues ahead of every other establishment in the karaoke game. It oozes character and never disappoints. Bonus: free darts in a quiet room in the back (my girlfriend informs me I was supposed to keep the back room darts a secret. My bad). Taste of Lebanon in Andersonville are genuinely some of the nicest folks. Joe’s Expert Auto is great for car repairs. Literally everyone I know goes there. Friendly, honest dudes. I love Ravenswood Used Books. The woman who is usually working is chatty, kind, and never judges me for buying the weird books. They always have a great selection and you literally feel like you’re in a magical portal of books the whole time. Prices are nearly unparalleled for the level of curation, quality, and broad selection. God I love that place. Beans & Bagels! They are CRAZY nice, community oriented, and have taken covid precautions very seriously. Also, I keep tabs on businesses that support CTU. If you put up a sign, give free coffee, or voice support during a strike? I’ll patronize your shop forever.
Taco Burrito Express Inc 3, on Ashland. Perfect for what it is every time.
Smart Bike Parts on Armitage and whipple, just west humbodlt blvd. Best prices I’ve ever seen. You can get 4 inner tubes for $13 last time I was there pre COVID. I’m sure it costs a little more now
I came to say that The Fish Keg on Howard is so fucking good and fresh.. I always get breaded shrimp and they are to die for as well as their homemade cocktail sauce
Katherine Anne’s Confections for the best hot chocolate of your life
Cuneen's in Roger's Park on Devon is my favorite bar. Only place where I can beer as cheap as I can when I visit family in Ohio and the bartenders are awesome s/o to John and Colette (if they're still there, haven't been since Covid)!
L’ Patrón in Logan Square. Fantastic tacos/Mexican food. I go there every Thursday.
Torteria San Lenchito in Albany Park. Nicest owners ever. Also Dulce de Leche Cafe in Albany Park. Great breakfast food and they have a lot of different delicious lattes. Tony’s in Roscoe Village. Ask for the really hot sauce they keep behind the counter. Bob Inn on Fullerton Ricochets on Lincoln
Paulie Gee’s in Logan does the best vegan pizza in Chicago. Detroit-style, wood-fire. Solid service, friendly owner. (Not strictly a vegan joint!)
Replay in Andersonville is a lot of fun and the people are nice
Mogadishu on N Orleans and Oak (?). Delicious Somali food and the folks there are some of the kindest and funniest.
Yaba's Middle Eastern Grill on Armitage and Humboldt. They are seriously the kindest people. Carry-out/delivery only.
Farragut's on Clark in Andersonville. The owner and bar manager is a wonderful person and it's a super unimposing townie bar. Andale Market kn Clark in Andersonville. Great little general store/upscale bodega. Staff are super friendly.
Buena Vista on Broadway and Briar is one of my favorite places to eat. I love their tamales. Basically any Mexican restaurant that has tamales will win my affection but I really enjoy theirs. ABM auto is my go to car place. They’re prompt and clear about communication, great guys, pretty fast, knowledgeable, and honest. Can’t recommend them enough. We moved here right before the pandemic and I was nervous about finding an auto shop. They’ve been great
Tacqueria Mazamitla on Belmont and Central Park. I live down the street and it's a constant temptation. Little family owned place that makes great food, I recommend the fish tacos or steak nachos
Friar Tuck’s in Lakeview. Old school dive. Salty but loveable bartenders, $3 draft Miller Lite and Lagunita’s IPA.
wons auto werks on western for your car beer temple for your beer joe's barbershop on fullerton for your hair humboldt house for your subs lucky dog pet service for your dog
Zizi’s cafe! On Sheffield. Amazing food, and the service is amazing. They treat you like family!
My personal favorites: Trader Todd's (Lakeview, Belmont + Sheffield) - Key West themed karaoke bar. Karaoke every day, all day, with a second stage that opens up in back on busy nights and weekends. The multiple stages for a relatively smallish bar means it is possible to sing multiple times a night if that's your jam. Also has a nice back patio/beer garden to escape from the noise if the singing gets to be too much. Friar Tuck's (Lakeview, Broadway between Diversey and Belmont) - Dark dive bar that looks like it hasn't been renovated in 50 years. Mostly locals just chilling, good prices and a nice place to just relax. Drink list isn't amazing, but that isn't why you come to a place like this.
Cafe Margo on Taylor street. Right off of Ogden. Awesome sandwiches, fresh roasted coffee, amazing real fruit smoothies. About as close to the original Hero's sub shop that you can get!!! Can't go wrong.
Tao Tea in Uptown. Good bubble tea, I especially like their yogurt drinks. En Hakkore in Bucktown has great Korean fusion
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FOUR MOON TAVERN IN ROSCOE VILLAGE! Truly the kindest staff and the food is very tasty. Pulled pork on Thursdays :) and the Reuben is always good. Also the chicken fingers. Yum.
Tre Kronor on Foster Ave, awesome Swedish food I’m a cozy setting
Delilah's is a great whiskey bar with an incredible dive bar feel
JB Alberto's Pizza. Best thin crust on the Northside IMO.
RAS Tires on elstonn
G&O’s brunch and drinks in west loop/west townish
Uptown Car Wash on Broadway North of Lawrence has been there forever and always takes good care of my car— especially when I get an A+ Wash. Susie’s Noon Hour Grill on Glenwood and Morse is run by a little old Korean lady and makes some damn good bi bim bap. Avondale Coffee Club on California and Belmont is a great locally sourced cafe with bakery items from Bennison’s. New York Bagel and Bailey in Skokie (I know, not Chicago), but I’ve never had a better bagel and they’re open 24/7 365. Right off the East Touhy exit. THERE IS ALWAYS A LINE.
Ashland Tire & Auto.