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ISUCyclones2015 said:
Food Recommendations. Tried to do a mix of Chicago Classics/Tourist stuff near downtown and underrated things and split it out by price points. Chicago is one of the best food cities in the world. This list could be 500+ things and if you're looking for a particular area or type of food, let me know and can give more recs.

Cheap Eats (under $15 per person)
  • Al's Italian Beef - Taylor Street - Italian beef. The original. Order it hot and dipped with giardiniera. Good pregame Friday.
  • Carnitas Uruapan - Pilsen - Mexican. Pork fried in its own fat for 30+ years. Rib carnitas tacos on handmade tortillas. Cash only. Best Saturday afternoon stop.
  • Jim's Original - University Village (Maxwell Street area) - Hot dogs and pork chops. Chicago's longest-operating hot dog stand, open since 1939. Open late, good post-game.
  • Portillo's - Multiple locations - Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, chocolate cake shake. The accessible Chicago classic.
  • Chiu Quon Bakery - Chinatown - Chinese bakery. BBQ pork buns, egg tarts, sesame balls for practically nothing. Great grab-and-go Saturday stop.
  • QXY Dumplings - Chinatown - Chinese. Dozens of dumpling varieties made to order. Cheap, fast, excellent.
  • Xi'an Cuisine - Chinatown - Hand-pulled noodles and lamb burgers. Casual, cheap, the biang biang noodles are the move.
  • Chomp Pizza - Pilsen (inside the 18th St. Pink Line station) - New York-style slices. Quick and solid.
  • Greek Corner Restaurant - Ukrainian Village - Greek. Gyros, Greek chicken, fast and cheap. Good if you're staying near the arena.
  • Taqueria El Milagro - Pilsen - Mexican. Attached to a tortilla factory. Very cheap, very good tacos and tortas on fresh tortillas.
  • Ricobene's - Bridgeport - The breaded steak sandwich is a Chicago legend. Massive, cheap, messy. Worth the trip if you have a car or don't mind a short Uber.
  • Birrieria Zaragoza - Archer Heights - Birria tacos and consomme from a James Beard-recognized family spot. A bit of a trek but worth it for serious food fans.
Normal/Moderate ($15-$40 per person)
  • Greek Islands - Greektown (10-min walk to arena) - Greek. Order the saganaki (flaming cheese with the "Opa!" moment). Great pregame Friday, walkable to the United Center.
  • MingHin Cuisine - Chinatown - Dim sum. Considered the city's best dim sum. Get there by 10:30 AM Saturday or expect a serious wait. Great group brunch.
  • Little Goat Diner - West Loop - Creative American diner. Bull's-eye French toast with fried chicken for brunch. Fun for groups.
  • The Publican - Fulton Market - Farm-to-table, communal tables, outstanding brunch. Maple-braised bacon with crepes is legendary. Saturday brunch pick.
  • Dove's Luncheonette - Wicker Park - Tex-Mex diner. Killer brunch with migas, fried chicken torta, and a strong mezcal program. Small space, expect a wait.
  • Mott Street - Wicker Park - Asian-American. The wings, the congee, the lamb ribs. One of the coolest restaurants in the city. Excellent Saturday dinner for groups.
  • Kaiser Tiger - West Loop (near United Center) - Beer garden, sausages, 20+ taps. Free shuttle to the United Center on game nights. Good pregame
  • Park Tavern - West Loop - Sports bar, deep dish, 30+ beers. Free parking and a free shuttle to the arena. Good pregame
  • Third Rail Tavern - West Loop - 300+ whiskeys, solid bar food. Free shuttle to the United Center. Good pregame
  • Arturo's Tacos - Multiple locations - Mexican. The al pastor is the best in the city according to a lot of locals. Late night hours.
  • Haymarket Pub & Brewery - West Loop - Brewpub with house beers and solid pub food. Close to the arena. Good Saturday lunch or pregame.
  • Big Star - Wicker Park - Tacos, whiskey, honky-tonk vibes. The al pastor taco and a whiskey shot is the move. Gets loud and fun at night.
  • Nando Milano Trattoria - West Loop - Italian. Homemade pasta, moderate prices for the quality. Good Saturday dinner.
  • Lagunitas Taproom - Pilsen - Brewery taproom with free tours on weekends, food trucks on-site. Saturday afternoon hangout.
  • Lou Mitchell's - The Loop - Classic old-school Chicago diner. Breakfast and brunch institution since 1923. Expect a line, worth it.
  • The Ogden - Near the United Center - Sports bar, opens early for March Madness, excellent wings. Good pregame or Saturday game-watching.
  • Coalfire Pizza - West Loop - Neapolitan-style thin crust from a coal-fired oven. One of the best pizza spots in the city that nobody talks about. Great for a quick Saturday lunch.
Expensive - Special Meal ($40-$80+ per person) Tried to keep it near the arena/West Loop. This list could be miles long.
  • Monteverde - West Loop (on the walk to the arena) - Italian, pasta. James Beard Award winner. Order the cacio whey pepe and any seasonal agnolotti. Get there for happy hour around 5 PM Friday for spritzes before the game.
  • Girl & the Goat - West Loop - Creative American. Book ahead. Goat empanadas, wood-oven roasted pig face. Lives up to the hype. Best Saturday dinner pick (if you can get in).
  • Rose Mary - West Loop - Italian-Croatian. From Top Chef winner Joe Flamm. The black risotto is incredible. Great Saturday night.
  • Au Cheval - West Loop - Burgers. Many consider this the best burger in America (I don't but I have to recommend it). Half-pound patty with bone marrow and fried egg. Expect a wait. Put your name in and go have a drink. Small Cheval is basically the same burger without the pomp and circumstance
  • Cabra - West Loop (rooftop of The Hoxton) - Peruvian. Skyline views. Great for a celebratory dinner if the Cyclones advance.
  • Avec - West Loop - Mediterranean small plates. The chorizo-stuffed dates are legendary. Communal seating, great for couples.
  • Elske - West Loop - Scandinavian-influenced tasting menu and a la carte. Beautiful space, creative cooking. Special occasion pick.
Click to expand...
Little goat closed in west loop. Now on Southport. Lagunitas closed last year, or year before. Solid list.
 
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canker2323 said:
Little goat closed in west loop. Now on Southport. Lagunitas closed last year, or year before.
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When the hell did Little Goat close? I felt like I was just there, maybe it was the other location. And totally forgot about Lagunitas closing.

Thanks, I'll edit
 
ISUCyclones2015 said:
River North/Near North Recs (sorry a bit late @RedlineSi work kept me busy and then watched the first two Sweet 16 games)

Cheap Eats (Under $15 per person)
  • Portillo's
  • Al's Beef
  • Quartino Ristorante - Italian. Wood-fired pizzas, meatball sliders, massive pasta portions. The dining room is huge and loud and fun for groups.
  • Ramen-San - Japanese. Solid bowls of ramen
  • Billy Goat Tavern - Burgers and beer. Famous from the old SNL sketch. The burgers are fine, not amazing, but it's cheap, it's historic, and it's fun for a quick bite.
  • Cafecito - Pressed Cuban sandwiches and strong espresso drinks. Multiple locations around downtown.
  • Momo Factory - Nepalese. A real hidden gem. Counter-service, no-frills space with incredible momos (Nepalese dumplings) in every style: steamed, fried, jhol (in a spicy sesame broth), butter curry masala. Huge portions.
  • Seoul Taco - Korean-Mexican fusion. Burritos, tacos, and bowls with Korean BBQ fillings. Quick, filling, flavorful.
Normal / Moderate ($15-40 per person)
  • Ema - Mediterranean. One of the best mid-range restaurants in River North. Shareable dips (the whipped feta is legendary), flatbreads, and grain bowls in a bright, stylish space. Reservations recommended but walk-ins sometimes work.
  • Gilt Bar - American. The tenderloin steak tartare, truffle bucatini, and chocolate cream pie have been on the menu for years. Downstairs bar (The Library) is excellent for a nightcap.
  • Crying Tiger - Southeast Asian. Pad thai, curries, and stir fry in a fun tropical-themed space. Great for groups. Solid food and strong cocktails. Hard to get in
  • Bar Goa - Indian, Goan-inspired. Butter chicken croquettes, prawn fried rice, and excellent cocktails. The vibe is fun and casual with a focus on pairing food with drinks.
  • Il Porcellino - Italian-American. Housemade pastas in a warm, comfortable space. The bolognese and the burrata are excellent.
  • Frontera Grill - Mexican. Rick Bayless's original restaurant. Regional Mexican cooking that's the real deal, not Tex-Mex. One of the most important restaurants in Chicago's history.
  • The Dearborn - American. Upscale comfort food in a polished but not stuffy space. The fried chicken and the burger are both strong. Good cocktail program.
  • Cafe Iberico - Spanish tapas. Order a bunch of small plates and pitchers of sangria. Patatas bravas, croquetas, chorizo.
  • Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Spanish tapas. Same concept as Iberico but a different vibe. Shareable plates, sangria, paella.
Expensive ($40-80+)
  • Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Steakhouse. Dark, glamorous, old-school speakeasy vibes with one of the best steaks in the city. The bone-in prime rib is exceptional.
  • RPM Italian - Italian. Flashy, see-and-be-seen Italian. The food is genuinely excellent despite the scene. The bucatini cacio e pepe and the veal parmesan are outstanding. Loud, energetic, a very "big night out" feel.
  • Roka Akor - Japanese, sushi, robata grill. High-end sushi and Japanese grill in a sleek space. The wagyu, the sashimi, and the miso-marinated black cod are all excellent. Good sake and cocktail program.
  • Gibsons Italia - Steakhouse, Italian, river views. Massive, opulent, over-the-top. Prime steaks, raw bar, Italian dishes, and some of the best river and skyline views from any restaurant in the city.
  • Gingie - New American. From the people behind Girl & the Goat, Momotaro. Fresh, creative, one of the most talked-about new openings in 2026.
  • La Grande Boucherie - French brasserie. Grand Parisian-style dining room, raw bar, steak frites, escargot. The space is stunning.
  • Huitzuco - Mexican fine dining. The first Mexican chef to earn a Michelin star (Carlos Gaytan) runs it. French technique applied to regional Mexican cuisine from his hometown.
Quick Bar suggestions in River North specifically

Sports Bars
  • Parlay at Joy District - Bit more upscale
  • Hopsmith - Lots of beer selection
  • Jake Melnick's - Good wings
  • Mother Hubbard's - Can be quite busy and skews young
Cocktail Bars
  • Three Dots and a Dash - Tiki Bar (one of the best in the country, seriously)
  • Gus' Sip & Dip - Retro themed and good snacks
  • Untitled Supper Club - Largest collection of American Whiskey in the world supposedly. Live music and Burlesque
Dive Bars / Casual
  • Rossi's - Probably the last real real dive bars left in River North
  • Streeter's Tavern - Pool Table and lots of TVs
  • Snicker's - Divey and cheap
  • Green Door Tavern (plus Drifter Speakeasy inside it)
  • Mom's Place - Karaoke
  • Clark Street Ale House - One of the few 4am bars that still stay open that late
Click to expand...
Fantastic.

We already booked the Rivercruise and the Art Institute for Saturday. Looking forward to it!
 
RedlineSi said:
I love on the overhang of Rossi’s it says “open at 7am” lol
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I'm not sure that's true anymore lol. I've been there before 10am for a soccer game but not quite that early.

Big thing with Rossi's is that it's got a bunch of fridges for the beers, you pick one and hand it to the bartender and they open it for you. They'll get real surly if you open it yourself
 
ISUCyclones2015 said:
Other Saturday ideas worth knowing about
  • Revolution Brewing in Logan Square (the state's largest independent brewery, great taproom)
Click to expand...

Maplewood is a nice brewery/distillery not far away.

Food options
Chief O’Neill’s Irish Pub - one of the best in the city and has great all you can eat fish and chips on Friday night. Get there early on Friday and it’s not a bad ride to the UC from there. Sacramento and California are good options since Kennedy will be packed.
Kuma’s Corner - massive cheeseburgers named after metal bands
Honey Butter Fried Chicken - chicken is good. Not a huge fan of their sides although it’s been a while since I’ve been there
Eden - more expensive but great food
Also have quick options like Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Portillo's, and of course White Castle.
 
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How about Wildfire on Erie? That place looks great and I got a very high level ISU recommendation for the place.
 
Cycsk said:
How about Wildfire on Erie? That place looks great and I got a very high level ISU recommendation for the place.
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I've never been to the one in Chicago, but have been to the ones in the Burbs quite a few times. It's solid, I've never had a bad meal. If you are looking for the "Best" steak or chop you've ever had, there are better options. That being said, those other options will be considerably higher priced.

Another bonus with Wildfire is you get a meal, usually choice of two sides with steaks/chops/chicken/fish. The higher end steak joints everythinhg will be a la carte even adding more to the cost. My wife and I try to hit a high end steak joint once a year or so. Two steaks, a couple of sides and a glass or two of wine, usually end up easily hitting that $300+ mark, not including tip. Eating really well, you should be able to get out of Wildfire for $150 or less including a couple drinks.

I haven't been there in about 7 years, but one of my favorite pricier options in Chicago always used to be Joe's Seafood, Prime Steaks and Stone Crab on the corner of Rush and Grand.
 
Clonefan94 said:
I've never been to the one in Chicago, but have been to the ones in the Burbs quite a few times. It's solid, I've never had a bad meal. If you are looking for the "Best" steak or chop you've ever had, there are better options. That being said, those other options will be considerably higher priced.

Another bonus with Wildfire is you get a meal, usually choice of two sides with steaks/chops/chicken/fish. The higher end steak joints everythinhg will be a la carte even adding more to the cost. My wife and I try to hit a high end steak joint once a year or so. Two steaks, a couple of sides and a glass or two of wine, usually end up easily hitting that $300+ mark, not including tip. Eating really well, you should be able to get out of Wildfire for $150 or less including a couple drinks.

I haven't been there in about 7 years, but one of my favorite pricier options in Chicago always used to be Joe's Seafood, Prime Steaks and Stone Crab on the corner of Rush and Grand.
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Agree with everything here. If you are in the area of Wildfire on Erie, you have over a dozen steakhouse options within 5 minutes.

Chicago Cut Steakhouse
Kinzie Steakhouse
STK Steakhouse
Gibsons
Gene & Georgetti
Bavette's
Michael Jordan's
RPM Steakhouse
Chicago Chophouse
Harry Caray's
Maestro's
Joe's
Morton's
 
IMO - El Che (845 W Washington Blvd) is the best steakhouse in Chicago. Might need to grab a bar seat when they open, reservations might be limited this weekend.

RPM is also a favorite. Great steaks but their roasted king crab appetizer is amazing. Not a fan of the trendy vibe it has but that app brings me back

Carino is not a steak house and is very expensive, but is the best restaurant in the city
 
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@ISUCyclones2015

Do you know if anything came from our work with Amanda on the self-guided experience for the Design Museum of Chicago? I may just stop by and ask, but I thought I would check with you first.
 
LancelotClone said:
Agree with everything here. If you are in the area of Wildfire on Erie, you have over a dozen steakhouse options within 5 minutes.

Chicago Cut Steakhouse
Kinzie Steakhouse
STK Steakhouse
Gibsons
Gene & Georgetti
Bavette's
Michael Jordan's
RPM Steakhouse
Chicago Chophouse
Harry Caray's
Maestro's
Joe's
Morton's
Click to expand...
El Che mentioned in another post and Bavette's are 2 of my favorites. Can't go wrong with any of these options tho. Best city in the country for Steak options IMO
 
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