Chicago is the perfect city to try new foods and drinks. Natives and visitors alike will find something to please their inner foodie. We’ve rounded up some of the most unusual and interesting places to eat in the Windy City.
A pizza walk through the West Loop
The West Loop is a thriving foodie paradise. It’s home to some of Chicago’s best pizzerias, and on this tour, you’ll get to try them all. From a guide who specializes in dough, you’ll learn about the ten types of pizza in the city and their history. You’ll also learn about the history of the West Loop neighborhood and its colorful characters.
Alinea
Alinea is a Michelin-starred restaurant serving molecular gastronomy and experimental cuisine, which means using cutting-edge scientific techniques to enhance traditional cooking methods. It is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Alinea also offers cooking classes where you can learn how to recreate their specialties at home.
Superdawg Drive-In
The Superdawg Drive-In is a classic for Chicago residents. It’s been around since 1948, and to this day, it’s still packed with people who come to eat and socialize. There are delicious hot dogs, good hamburgers, and awesome cocktails.
Kaiser Tiger
If you love German food and beer, Kaiser Tiger is the place for you. This quaint restaurant serves traditional dishes (schnitzel, sauerbraten and sauerkraut) in a casual, festive atmosphere and over 100 beers on tap. The room is spacious, seating 250 people, and there’s a small craft cocktail list if that’s more your thing.
Kaiser Tiger opened in 1986 as a bar with a few tables in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Today, the restaurant has three locations in Lincoln Park, Olde Towne, and River North. All three establishments offer the same menu and have similar décor. However, each has its own specialties, for example, River North has outdoor seating.
The Girl and the Goat
If you’re looking for unique dishes, check out Girl & The Goat restaurant in the West Loop. This is Stephanie Izard’s first restaurant with Boka Restaurant Group after winning the fourth season of Top Chef. The family-style restaurant seats 122, and the menu is divided into meat, fish and vegetable categories and offers a selection of wines from around the world. The menu features globally influenced dishes with vibrant flavors in a fun and lively environment with banquettes, dimly lit nooks and elevated seating platforms. Snack on pretzels or chickpea fritters before trying some of the more unique dishes like goat belly, liver mousse, sticky glazed pork shank or string beans in a fish sauce vinaigrette. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, try the roasted pig face, and don’t be afraid to ask your server questions!
Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club is a restaurant and bar with speakeasy upstairs.
Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club has been around since 1934, when it was known as the Kegel Tap Room. The bar was closed during Prohibition and reopened after it was repealed in 1933, but this time as a speakeasy.
SafeHouse Chicago
SafeHouse Chicago is a unique restaurant located in the basement of The Pump Room, a bar that has been around since Prohibition. Settle into a booth and order a few drinks from the speakeasy-style bar. Their cocktails are creative, so it’s hard to choose just one.
The food here is just as great as the drinks, and the kitchen prepares it quickly. Start with the signature duck hoisin tacos, pastrami sandwich, or fries. Then wash it all down with an Old Fashioned cocktail made with house-made batter and citrus zest (or any other drink).