When we have friends visiting Chicago for the first time, we take them for deep dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, soaked Italian beef sandwiches, smoked shrimp at Calumet Fisheries and jibarito sandwiches. These foods are the backbone of Chicago cuisine, and you should absolutely spend your first visit eating them.
But for your second visit? We’ve compiled 25 dishes and drinks we consider the new Chicago classics. Many have remained firmly on menus, season after season, and there are some newcomers that have already made an impact. These are the dishes and drinks we find ourselves craving, and the places we recommend to friends and family when they visit.
How many have you had? Use our checklist below to tally up the dishes and drinks you've tried and share the results.