11 Dishes That’ll Make You Feel Lucky to Be Dining in Chicago

Chicago Chop House

Are you feeling lucky, Chicago? You should be! Despite all the uncertainty and changes going on in our city right now, there are still few places that are as beautiful or delicious as our hometown. From bars and restaurants to bakeries and wineries, the world of Chicago food still has so much to offer to all of us! And since today is all about luck - it is 11/11 after all! - we are lining up the dishes that make us feel most lucky to live in the Windy City. Every bite will remind you just how amazing our hometown is!

Wet-Aged Grand Filet from Chicago Chop House: The Windy City is known for being a steak town, and that’s in part thanks to the steaks and chops served up from spots like Chicago Chop House. All their prime steaks and chops are Midwest beef that are grain-fed and hand-cut in-house, so you know every bite is made with the utmost care and precision.

Gino’s Supreme Deep Dish Pizza from Gino’s East: The first thing most people think of when they hear “Chicago” is …Italian food! From classic steaks (see above), to mobsters, to pizza, Chicago has it all for those who want to live the Italian life. And that is no more true than with deep dish pizza. Some might call it controversial, but we will always call it a classic. And no one does it better than Gino’s!

Portillo’s

Cheese Fries from Portillo’s: This is the top choice from one of our co-founders (me)! Portillo’s is a Chicago staple and their entire menu is full of classic fast-casual favorites like hot dogs, Italian beef, and their iconic Chocolate cake. But the Cheese Fries take top prize. Even perfect when delivered, you won’t be able to stop dunking.

Chicago Neighborhood Label Wine from City Winery: We are always ready to say “Cheers!” to our home, and City Winery is always here to help with that mission! Their Neighborhood Label wines highlight special spots across town, ensuring their will be a wine for you, no matter your taste.

Traditional Pasta Squares from Club Lucky: You can never have too much of Chicago Italian! Club Lucky is full of comfort food, served from a team with decades of experience. They’re old school in the best way, and they bring the flavor with their whole pasta menu, but no dish is more classic than their Traditional Pasta Squares.

Beatrix

Fresh-Baked Cookies from Beatrix: Another team favorite, and our co-founder Laura’s kryptonite, the Beatrix cookies are seriously delicious. Her favorite is their Chocolate Chip, but you can’t go wrong with a single one of their baked goods. Just order more than you think you need - because you’ll always want another bite.

Croissants from Floriole: Clearly we love Chicago, but we’ll also take a taste of good ole’ Paris now and then! These croissants are to die for, and the perfect start to any day in the Windy City.

Turtle Pie from Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House: A Chicago stand-by for it’s seafood and steaks menu, Hugo’s is a great choice for everything from date night to a business luncheon (remember those?!). But save room for dessert, because the Turtle Pie is phenomenal!

Roots Pizza

Mozzarella Sticks from Roots Handmade Pizza: You may think you know mozzarella sticks, but trust us, you haven’t tasted anything like these. Twice the size of your standard mozzarella stick, but 10X as good, cheese-lovers from all across the city will want to come running for these.

Reserve Coffee from Starbucks Reserve Roastery: The best part of this recommendation is that these Reserve Coffees change all the time! The beans are sourced from the best that Starbucks has to offer, and then roasted right here in Chicago. This is a technique you can’t get at just any Starbucks -and it makes your cup of coffee a grand experience! Scoop the beans at their Scooping Bar and taste truly unique coffee from a brand you already know.

Truffle Gnocchi from Spiaggia: We couldn’t get through this list without mentioning Spiaggia! One of the early restaurants to really put Chicago food on the map, this iconic spot is still offering carryout, and the Truffle Gnocchi is a must-try. It will make you feel like a real highfalutin foodie in the city - even if you’re eating it on your couch ;)

By Kaleigh Glaza | Market Editor