Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
LC Pho Restaurant
2739 W Lawrence AveExcellent Vietnamese pho soup, chicken wings and crab rangoon.
Nhu Lan Bakery
2612 W Lawrence AveDelicious Vietnamese sandwiches and smoothies.
Traditional Southern favorites are served in a simple storefront space with a BYOB policy.
14 locals recommend
Luella's Southern Kitchen
4609 N Lincoln AveTraditional Southern favorites are served in a simple storefront space with a BYOB policy.
Bright, family-friendly breakfast restaurant & coffeehouse with indoor-outdoor seating. Cash only.
25 locals recommend
Famous Dutch Pancake Huis - Pannenkoeken Cafe
4757 N Western AveBright, family-friendly breakfast restaurant & coffeehouse with indoor-outdoor seating. Cash only.
Relaxed pizzeria & bar featuring thin, malted-crust pies & an all-Midwestern craft-beer list. This is a local favorite go-to for your pizza fix.
126 locals recommend
Roots Handmade Pizza
1924 W Chicago AveRelaxed pizzeria & bar featuring thin, malted-crust pies & an all-Midwestern craft-beer list. This is a local favorite go-to for your pizza fix.
Neighborhood spot for Mexican dining & drinks in a casual space with carved wood chairs & a patio.
47 locals recommend
Garcia's Restaurant
4760 N Lincoln AveNeighborhood spot for Mexican dining & drinks in a casual space with carved wood chairs & a patio.
Quick stop for sacks of tortillas with a variety of hearty global toppings, plus donut holes.
7 locals recommend
Taco In A Bag
4603 N Lincoln AveQuick stop for sacks of tortillas with a variety of hearty global toppings, plus donut holes.
Rustic bakery with a rotating menu of homemade sweet & savory pies & biscuits for eat-in or takeout
43 locals recommend
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits Ravenswood
4947 N Damen AveRustic bakery with a rotating menu of homemade sweet & savory pies & biscuits for eat-in or takeout
Great coffee, great food and pastries right on the way to the Brown Line. Wi-fi available too.
39 locals recommend
Beans & Bagels
2601 W Leland AveGreat coffee, great food and pastries right on the way to the Brown Line. Wi-fi available too.
Cozy eatery dishing inventive breakfast & lunch fare plus free coffee to those waiting in line. This is our favorite spot for brunch/breakfast; expect a wait (so go early)! Try the sassy eggs!
52 locals recommend
Over Easy Café
4943 N Damen AveCozy eatery dishing inventive breakfast & lunch fare plus free coffee to those waiting in line. This is our favorite spot for brunch/breakfast; expect a wait (so go early)! Try the sassy eggs!
Casual deli/bar with 100-plus creative sandwiches, shakes & other American eats plus live music.
36 locals recommend
Jerry's Sandwiches
4739 N Lincoln AveCasual deli/bar with 100-plus creative sandwiches, shakes & other American eats plus live music.
Casual & modern spot specializing in wings, with rice bowls, Korean classics & imported soft drinks. This is our go to for Korean bbq jumbo wings!
13 locals recommend
Dak
1104 W Granville AveCasual & modern spot specializing in wings, with rice bowls, Korean classics & imported soft drinks. This is our go to for Korean bbq jumbo wings!
Casual Ethiopian eatery with shared plates, house-roasted coffee. Chicago is to a large Ethiopian population has a lot of Ethiopian restaurants; this is our favorite one.
65 locals recommend
Demera Restaurant
4801 N BroadwayCasual Ethiopian eatery with shared plates, house-roasted coffee. Chicago is to a large Ethiopian population has a lot of Ethiopian restaurants; this is our favorite one.
Lady Gregory's Irish Bar & Restaurant
5260 N Clark StTweet
5020 N Sheridan RdCute place with a very large menu. Their Bloody Mary won't let you down.
Neighborhood staple for great breakfast. Expect to wait for a table. One of our favorite brunch spots.
35 locals recommend
Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club
3348 W Bryn Mawr AveNeighborhood staple for great breakfast. Expect to wait for a table. One of our favorite brunch spots.
Homey bakery using its own flour in baked goods & offering grain-focused cafe eats.
42 locals recommend
Baker Miller
4655 N Lincoln AveHomey bakery using its own flour in baked goods & offering grain-focused cafe eats.
Classic Chicago style deep dish. One of our favorite pizzerias in all of Chicago!
163 locals recommend
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
3986 N Avondale AveClassic Chicago style deep dish. One of our favorite pizzerias in all of Chicago!
Gather
4539 N Lincoln AveUpscale New American cuisine with good cocktails.
Casual BYOB eatery serving traditional Filipino cuisine with vegetarian options & lunch specials.
17 locals recommend
Isla Pilipina Restaurant
15 West Washington StreetCasual BYOB eatery serving traditional Filipino cuisine with vegetarian options & lunch specials.
Cozy cafe/bakery serving upscale American comfort food plus an array of pastries, desserts & coffee.
93 locals recommend
Cafe Selmarie
4729 N Lincoln AveCozy cafe/bakery serving upscale American comfort food plus an array of pastries, desserts & coffee.
Drinks & Nightlife
Philly cheesesteaks & craft brews highlighted in an open room with exposed brick & quirky wall art. Daily drink specials.
9 locals recommend
Monti's
4757 N Talman AvePhilly cheesesteaks & craft brews highlighted in an open room with exposed brick & quirky wall art. Daily drink specials.
Hip, modern hangout featuring creative concoctions made with specialty ice served in chic digs.
26 locals recommend
The Sixth
2202 W Lawrence AveHip, modern hangout featuring creative concoctions made with specialty ice served in chic digs.
The Bad Apple
4300 N Lincoln AveGreat for burgers and a large draft beer selection.
Hopleaf
5148 N Clark StGood beer and wine selection and interesting food menu.
The Northman
233 East RiverwalkCider bar, enough said!
Bar with a Rat Pack theme & basic pub eats plus a photo booth, pool tables, karaoke & DJs. Great daily specials and 90's to now music.
29 locals recommend
Holiday Club
4000 N Sheridan RdBar with a Rat Pack theme & basic pub eats plus a photo booth, pool tables, karaoke & DJs. Great daily specials and 90's to now music.
Colorful bar with offbeat Americana decor offers beers, burgers, Prosecco, weekend DJs & a patio. Daily menu specials and Saturday 80's to 90's music.
24 locals recommend
Innjoy
2051 W Division StColorful bar with offbeat Americana decor offers beers, burgers, Prosecco, weekend DJs & a patio. Daily menu specials and Saturday 80's to 90's music.
Nightclub chain featuring martinis, DJs & dancing in a retro-salon setting transformed into a luxurious, swanky time capsule of big hair, pink nails and dry martinis.
82 locals recommend
Beauty Bar
1444 W Chicago AveNightclub chain featuring martinis, DJs & dancing in a retro-salon setting transformed into a luxurious, swanky time capsule of big hair, pink nails and dry martinis.
Essentials
Family-owned supermarket chain with meat, bakery & deli departments, plus specialty imported foods.
128 locals recommend
Tony's Fresh Market
3607 W Fullerton AveFamily-owned supermarket chain with meat, bakery & deli departments, plus specialty imported foods.
Independent grocery specializing in a wide variety of produce & meats plus international foodstuffs.
46 locals recommend
HarvesTime Foods
2632 W Lawrence AveIndependent grocery specializing in a wide variety of produce & meats plus international foodstuffs.
Gather round for savory meats, tasty side dishes and sweet baked goods while sipping a wine/cocktail at the bar and piano music. They have happy hours too!
171 locals recommend
Mariano's
3358 W Touhy Ave Gather round for savory meats, tasty side dishes and sweet baked goods while sipping a wine/cocktail at the bar and piano music. They have happy hours too!
Sausage market offering more than 40 varieties, plus imported specialties, wine, beer & liquor
91 locals recommend
Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessen
4750 N Lincoln AveSausage market offering more than 40 varieties, plus imported specialties, wine, beer & liquor
Parks & Nature
Great running/biking trail, playground for kids, open space for a picnic or nap, public pool open in the summer
30 locals recommend
River Park
5100 N Francisco AveGreat running/biking trail, playground for kids, open space for a picnic or nap, public pool open in the summer
Lake-Cook /Chicago Botanic Garden station
1000 Lake Cook RdSchool park with a prairie garden, playground, trails, softball fields, soccer field, track & gym.
65 locals recommend
Winnemac Park
5100 N Leavitt StSchool park with a prairie garden, playground, trails, softball fields, soccer field, track & gym.
Entertainment & Activities
Legendary Chicago comedy club known for its many famous alums. Live shows every night!
433 locals recommend
The Second City
230 W North AveLegendary Chicago comedy club known for its many famous alums. Live shows every night!
Historical landmark and community center for cinema and the arts completely renovated in 2016. Great, local spot to watch a movie and grab dinner or drinks.
104 locals recommend
Davis Theater, Chicago
4614 N Lincoln AveHistorical landmark and community center for cinema and the arts completely renovated in 2016. Great, local spot to watch a movie and grab dinner or drinks.
Old Town School of Folk Music provides a wide range of music, dance, theater, and visual arts courses to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Whatever one's interest, the Old Town School provides broad access to more than 700 accredited class offerings, private lessons, and workshops that span an array of artistic genres.
103 locals recommend
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln AveOld Town School of Folk Music provides a wide range of music, dance, theater, and visual arts courses to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Whatever one's interest, the Old Town School provides broad access to more than 700 accredited class offerings, private lessons, and workshops that span an array of artistic genres.
Super fun night out and a great way to experience true "Chicago-style Magic". Tickets sell out quickly, so plan ahead. Even if you don't get tickets to the show, its fun to sit at the bar and watch the bartender perform magic tricks.
39 locals recommend
Chicago Magic Lounge
5050 N Clark StSuper fun night out and a great way to experience true "Chicago-style Magic". Tickets sell out quickly, so plan ahead. Even if you don't get tickets to the show, its fun to sit at the bar and watch the bartender perform magic tricks.