Guidebook for Chicago

Katy
Guidebook for Chicago

Food Scene

Great beer and thin crust pizza. Get there by 6 on weekends, 7 on weeknights, to beat the crowds. Gets loud when busy.
488 locals recommend
Piece Brewery
1927 W North Ave
488 locals recommend
Great beer and thin crust pizza. Get there by 6 on weekends, 7 on weeknights, to beat the crowds. Gets loud when busy.
Quiet corner byob with outdoor seating, serves thin crust with seasonal ingredients. Easy carryout.
20 locals recommend
Craft Pizza
1252 N Damen Ave
20 locals recommend
Quiet corner byob with outdoor seating, serves thin crust with seasonal ingredients. Easy carryout.
Rick Bayless’ modern casual Mexican is a good option any time of the day. Try the tortas and save room for churros.
39 locals recommend
Fonda Frontera
1471 North Milwaukee Avenue
39 locals recommend
Rick Bayless’ modern casual Mexican is a good option any time of the day. Try the tortas and save room for churros.
Lighter brunch fare with excellent coffee, tea, and baked goods. Lovely patio in the back. Can get crowded on the weekends.
46 locals recommend
Birchwood Kitchen
2211 West North Avenue
46 locals recommend
Lighter brunch fare with excellent coffee, tea, and baked goods. Lovely patio in the back. Can get crowded on the weekends.
Pancakes as big as your head! On weekends, arrive at 9 when it opens or suffer long lines.
199 locals recommend
Bongo Room
1470 N Milwaukee Ave
199 locals recommend
Pancakes as big as your head! On weekends, arrive at 9 when it opens or suffer long lines.
Vintage brunch/lucnh vibe that’s hard to define. Great service and chicken and waffles. At 1.5 miles away, you can bike or stroll through Humboldt Park.
34 locals recommend
Grandma J’s Local Kitchen
1552 North Kedzie Avenue
34 locals recommend
Vintage brunch/lucnh vibe that’s hard to define. Great service and chicken and waffles. At 1.5 miles away, you can bike or stroll through Humboldt Park.
Classic diner with friendly staff, large portions, and the greatest chicken lime tortilla soup in the world. Brunch.
31 locals recommend
Janik's Cafe
2011 W Division St
31 locals recommend
Classic diner with friendly staff, large portions, and the greatest chicken lime tortilla soup in the world. Brunch.
Another favorite brunch spot. Diner vibe with masterful donuts and other baked goods. Pro tip: order a donut as a brunch starter.
72 locals recommend
West Town Bakery & Diner
1916 W Chicago Ave
72 locals recommend
Another favorite brunch spot. Diner vibe with masterful donuts and other baked goods. Pro tip: order a donut as a brunch starter.
Seasonal, eclectic byob, adjacent to the Empty Bottle bar/music venue. Opposite the Lockdown, a biker bar known for big, delicious burgers.
128 locals recommend
Bite Cafe
1039 N Western Ave
128 locals recommend
Seasonal, eclectic byob, adjacent to the Empty Bottle bar/music venue. Opposite the Lockdown, a biker bar known for big, delicious burgers.
Reliably good sushi in Bucktown north of the boutiques.
80 locals recommend
Coast Sushi Bar
2045 North Damen Avenue
80 locals recommend
Reliably good sushi in Bucktown north of the boutiques.
Extensive Himalayan (Nepalese and Indian) menu in a slightly formal setting. Try momos, the Nepalese take on dumplings, or anything from the Tandoori (char-grilled) menu.
46 locals recommend
Cumin
1414 N Milwaukee Ave
46 locals recommend
Extensive Himalayan (Nepalese and Indian) menu in a slightly formal setting. Try momos, the Nepalese take on dumplings, or anything from the Tandoori (char-grilled) menu.
Fresh take on a meatless menu in alternative atmosphere for brunch through dinner. Back patio opens in warm weather. Top picks: Black Bean Maduro, Everything Green Salad, and Ground Nut Stew.
140 locals recommend
Handlebar
2311 W North Ave
140 locals recommend
Fresh take on a meatless menu in alternative atmosphere for brunch through dinner. Back patio opens in warm weather. Top picks: Black Bean Maduro, Everything Green Salad, and Ground Nut Stew.
So many sandwiches! So many beers! Check for special tasting events, live entertainment.
36 locals recommend
Jerry's Sandwiches
4739 N Lincoln Ave
36 locals recommend
So many sandwiches! So many beers! Check for special tasting events, live entertainment.
Quiet corner spot where Latizia makes pastas, pizzas, pies and offers a prodigious wine selection. You can’t go wrong with the bruschetta sampler or the goronzola pear ravioli; sit on the back patio i
31 locals recommend
Enoteca Roma
2146 W Division St
31 locals recommend
Quiet corner spot where Latizia makes pastas, pizzas, pies and offers a prodigious wine selection. You can’t go wrong with the bruschetta sampler or the goronzola pear ravioli; sit on the back patio i
Great pizza (deep dish or thin crust) for delivery or no-wait dine-in. Not the hippest vibe.
18 locals recommend
Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta
2056 West Division Street
18 locals recommend
Great pizza (deep dish or thin crust) for delivery or no-wait dine-in. Not the hippest vibe.
Chicago’s best deep-dish (try “The Lou”). No dine-in; carryout or delivery only.
513 locals recommend
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State St
513 locals recommend
Chicago’s best deep-dish (try “The Lou”). No dine-in; carryout or delivery only.
The best New York Style pizza in Chicago. By-the-slice or whole pie. Your best bet for late night or a pizza snack.
7 locals recommend
Santullo's Eatery
1943 West North Avenue
7 locals recommend
The best New York Style pizza in Chicago. By-the-slice or whole pie. Your best bet for late night or a pizza snack.
Fish Taco is excellent!
113 locals recommend
Antique Taco Wicker Park
1360 N Milwaukee Ave
113 locals recommend
Fish Taco is excellent!
Veggie friendly.
57 locals recommend
Mana Food Bar
57 locals recommend
Veggie friendly.
Almond Brittle Ice Cream. Try it!
131 locals recommend
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1505 N Milwaukee Ave
131 locals recommend
Almond Brittle Ice Cream. Try it!
Get the namesake!
108 locals recommend
Mindy’s HotChocolate
1623 N Damen Ave
108 locals recommend
Get the namesake!
Great breakfast sandwiches! Solid pastries!
52 locals recommend
Letizia's Natural Bakery
2144 W Division St
52 locals recommend
Great breakfast sandwiches! Solid pastries!
Pork and squeak! Great local 'Dark Matter' coffee.
50 locals recommend
Hash Chicago
1357 N Western Ave
50 locals recommend
Pork and squeak! Great local 'Dark Matter' coffee.
Great local meats and craft drinks.
27 locals recommend
Chop Shop
2033 W North Ave
27 locals recommend
Great local meats and craft drinks.
Solid burgers and onion rings.
30 locals recommend
Umami Burger Wicker Park
1480 N Milwaukee Ave
30 locals recommend
Solid burgers and onion rings.
Huge burgers with a heavy metal vibe.
74 locals recommend
Lockdown Bar & Grill
1024 N Western Ave
74 locals recommend
Huge burgers with a heavy metal vibe.
BBQ and live music.
116 locals recommend
Smoke Daddy BBQ - Wicker Park
1804 W Division St
116 locals recommend
BBQ and live music.
BYO and great sushi
7 locals recommend
Runa Japanese
2257 W North Ave
7 locals recommend
BYO and great sushi
Southern diner with lots of tequila.
113 locals recommend
Dove's Luncheonette
1545 N Damen Ave
113 locals recommend
Southern diner with lots of tequila.
British Pub with Indian small plates. Try a Pimms cup.
65 locals recommend
Pub Royale
2049 W Division St
65 locals recommend
British Pub with Indian small plates. Try a Pimms cup.

Shopping

Fairly comprehensive used bookstore. Especially good selection of Chicago books and fiction.
118 locals recommend
Myopic Books
1564 N Milwaukee Ave
118 locals recommend
Fairly comprehensive used bookstore. Especially good selection of Chicago books and fiction.

Drinks & Nightlife

Whiskey and Tacos!
1176 locals recommend
Big Star
1531 N Damen Ave
1176 locals recommend
Whiskey and Tacos!
First City and the Smokehouse pizza. Lots for veggies too!
101 locals recommend
Revolution Brewing - Brewery & Taproom
3340 N Kedzie Ave
101 locals recommend
First City and the Smokehouse pizza. Lots for veggies too!
It's a the original in Chicago. Great pulled pork and pub chips.
32 locals recommend
Goose Island Brewhouse
1800 N Clybourn Ave
32 locals recommend
It's a the original in Chicago. Great pulled pork and pub chips.
One of the original beer bars in the city. A classic corner bar. Pretzel rods on every table.
119 locals recommend
Map Room
1949 N Hoyne Ave
119 locals recommend
One of the original beer bars in the city. A classic corner bar. Pretzel rods on every table.
Beer and sausage. Try the "six pack" sampler.
100 locals recommend
Bangers and Lace
1670 W Division St
100 locals recommend
Beer and sausage. Try the "six pack" sampler.
A sports bar with big screens and a big beer list.
59 locals recommend
Fatpour Tap Works - Wicker Park
2005 W Division St
59 locals recommend
A sports bar with big screens and a big beer list.
Old school video games and craft beer.
158 locals recommend
Emporium Wicker Park
1366 N Milwaukee Ave
158 locals recommend
Old school video games and craft beer.
Great beer list and a huge selection of sausages.
18 locals recommend
Links Taproom
1559 N Milwaukee Ave
18 locals recommend
Great beer list and a huge selection of sausages.
Terrific cocktails and a nice quiet vibe--silence your cellphone.
355 locals recommend
The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen Ave
355 locals recommend
Terrific cocktails and a nice quiet vibe--silence your cellphone.
Strong drinks, live music, red lighting, leather booths.
180 locals recommend
The California Clipper
1002 North California Avenue
180 locals recommend
Strong drinks, live music, red lighting, leather booths.
Simple menu but always changing. Great patio to sip your cocktail on. Cold? Stay in and play checkers.
116 locals recommend
Sportsman's Club
948 N Western Ave
116 locals recommend
Simple menu but always changing. Great patio to sip your cocktail on. Cold? Stay in and play checkers.
Have a cocktail at the bar. This use to be an old Russian bath house many years ago.
59 locals recommend
Trench
2039 West North Avenue
59 locals recommend
Have a cocktail at the bar. This use to be an old Russian bath house many years ago.
One of the original bars on the street--hasn't lost its charm. Belly up to the bar with a PBR. Listen to some live music.
19 locals recommend
Phyllis Musical Inn
1800 W Division St
19 locals recommend
One of the original bars on the street--hasn't lost its charm. Belly up to the bar with a PBR. Listen to some live music.
Cheap beer and a ping pong table room. Great beer garden too.
63 locals recommend
Happy Village
1059 N Wolcott Ave
63 locals recommend
Cheap beer and a ping pong table room. Great beer garden too.
Another great dive in the neighborhood. Touts itself as "the home of the arts". Free pool, a solid juke box, and many bobble heads and strange treasures on the walls.
26 locals recommend
Innertown Pub
1935 W Thomas St
26 locals recommend
Another great dive in the neighborhood. Touts itself as "the home of the arts". Free pool, a solid juke box, and many bobble heads and strange treasures on the walls.
Up and comings.
62 locals recommend
Double Door
62 locals recommend
Up and comings.
Music every night of the week.
57 locals recommend
Subterranean
2011 W North Ave
57 locals recommend
Music every night of the week.
Also a great bar.
208 locals recommend
The Empty Bottle
1035 N Western Ave
208 locals recommend
Also a great bar.