In truth, I could have eaten only deep dish pizza and Italian beef sandwiches and been happy, but I realize that Chicago’s food scene is about a little more than that. Though, fair warning, if you’re planning your Chicago itinerary for only 2 days, you won’t be able to squeeze in too much room beyond the classics if your goal is to try all the Chicago staples.

In case you do have some extra time, though, or are there longer, I’m going to recommend a few places to grab a bite in Chicago that I felt were pretty tasty and worthwhile.

Lou Mitchell’s - This is an iconic breakfast spot that has been open since 1923, and you really should make an effort to start one your days in Chicago here. It’s classic breakfast fare with the warmest and kindest staff around. In fact, when I entered, I was greeted upon arrival with a donut hole. I mean, that’s just awesome. My mom’s name is also Donna Lu Mitchell, but everyone calls her Lu, so I think that’s probably one reason I love this place even more. How nice of them to name this place after my mom, right?

Revival Food Hall - Revival Food Hall has my love and respect in that it’s a food hall that aims to showcase popular Chicago eateries, as opposed to a normal food hall which might include fast food giants and the like that have nothing to do with the city. I was staying close by, and this was one of my first stops once arriving in Chicago. Looking at what was on offer actually gave me a bit of a cultural understanding of what foods were popular or coveted in Chicago, so it ended up being a good place to start. Here are the current vendors at Revival Food Hall.

Au Cheval - You’re going to have to wait to get into Au Cheval, but if you can manage to get in quickly, or exercise a bit of patience, then you’re going to be dining on what is arguably the best burger in the city. I’m not a big duck fan, but if you love duck, then you should add the foie gras to your burger!

Angelo’s Wine Bar - I don’t think this spot is on enough peoples’ radars in Chicago. It opened originally as a pizzeria in the early 1960s, but has now morphed itself into a top-notch wine bar which features a menu with Midwestern flare, inspired by ideas in cuisine that extend beyond the region. The wine list focuses on boutique wineries from the US, Spain, France, and Italy, and was spectacular. My pal Devin and I went here on a bit of a man date, and we loved it.

The Purple Pig - Going to eat at the Purple Pig isn’t just a meal, it’s an experience. They’ve got an ever changing menu that reflects the ethos of a deeply creative chef, and, appropriately enough, they do pork as well (or better) than anyone in the city. They’ve also got a wine list that’s about 700 hundred bottles deep, so you can feel happy going there for both food and wine.

If you want to see this itinerary in action, check out the permanent highlight on my Instagram page entitled “Chicago” to see my stories on the city.

Go Out on the Town