Craving something iconic for lunch? While some people come to Chicago to check out amazing attractions, others arrive to sample dishes that made the city famous. Whether you’re looking for a unique Puerto Rican sandwich or fried chicken served with a special sauce, some of the best restaurants in Chicago will give you a meal to remember. We realize that deep-dish pizza and hot dogs covered with condiments aren't for everyone, but there’s a (heavenly) reason why Chicagoans swear by them. Here are some iconic Chicago dishes that everyone should try—and the best places to find them when the middle of the day hunger hits.
A Depression-era dish that’s stuck around for decades, the Italian beef sandwich is easily customizable and the perfect way to elevate your day. First, you’ll need to decide if you want your thinly-sliced beef on Italian bread served dry, wet or dipped into a pot of au jus. Then you can add hot peppers, sweet peppers and a couple of slices of cheese. And if one meat simply isn’t enough, try your Continental beef with an Italian sausage.
Order it from: Al’s #1 Italian Beef
If you love toppings, a Chicago-style hot dog offers a menagerie of flavors stacked atop an all-beef weiner. The standard recipe calls for yellow mustard, neon green relish, chopped onions, tomatoes, a pickle spear, sport peppers and a dash of celery salt. The use of ketchup is widely frowned upon, but nobody’s going to stop you from grabbing a few packets and (discreetly) adding it yourself.
Order it from: Chicago’s Dog House
Originating in Puerto Rico, but popularized in Chicago by the defunct Borinquen Restaurant in Humboldt Park, the jibarito is an extremely hearty sandwich that will really set you up for the rest of the afternoon. Using fried plantains instead of bread, the popular handheld typically contains steak, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and a thick smear of mayo. You may end up eating it with a fork, but you’ll still enjoy every bite.
Order it from: Jibaritos y Mas
You need to have an especially large appetite to tackle a deep-dish pizza (Chicago residents are more likely to order a thin tavern-style pizza), but if you’re hungry, this is the pie for you. Cooked in a pan with ample amounts of cheese, handfuls of toppings and crowned with a layer of sauce, a single slice of deep dish pizza can be a meal unto itself—you’ll probably have to enlist some friends to finish an entire pie.
Order it from: The Art of Pizza
Chicagoans certainly didn’t invent fried chicken, but one local chain has perfected the greasy, crispy delicacy. You’ll find Harold’s Chicken locations throughout the city, where every wing, breast and thigh is fried to order and served with coleslaw and white bread. Make sure to ask for mild sauce, a beloved local condiment that balances sweetness and spicy heat.
Order it from: Harold’s Chicken
In any other city, the cartilage-ridden tips on a rack of spare ribs are usually carved off and thrown away. In Chicago, a pile of rib tips is a barbecue joint staple, sometimes served alongside chicken wings or hot links. You’ll get your hands dirty tearing the tender rib tip meat apart and dunking it in barbecue sauce—the succulent flavor is well worth the mess.
Order it from: Leon’s Barbecue
