Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Jet's Pizza
3951 N Kimball AveYummy square pizza. Good for delivery!
Small little hole in the wall.. typical chinese restaurant, order the chicken wings!
9 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Great Sea Restaurant
3253 W Lawrence AveSmall little hole in the wall.. typical chinese restaurant, order the chicken wings!
There are a ton of Mexican restaurants in our neighborhood but this is one of our favorites and it's open reallllly late.
47 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Garcia's Restaurant
4760 N Lincoln AveThere are a ton of Mexican restaurants in our neighborhood but this is one of our favorites and it's open reallllly late.
Tre Kronor
3258 W Foster AveSwedish cuisine, popular brunch spot in the area.
Dutch pancakes, very small place but yummy brunch spot. Cash only!
25 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Famous Dutch Pancake Huis - Pannenkoeken Cafe
4757 N Western AveDutch pancakes, very small place but yummy brunch spot. Cash only!
There's a Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks by our place if you just need coffee on the fly. But if you are into good coffee + latte art. You must go here. Military latte. Don't take it to go. Also everything in this area is cool. West Loop is the happening area for bars and restaurants such as Girl and the Goat.
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Sawada Coffee
112 N Green StThere's a Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks by our place if you just need coffee on the fly. But if you are into good coffee + latte art. You must go here. Military latte. Don't take it to go. Also everything in this area is cool. West Loop is the happening area for bars and restaurants such as Girl and the Goat.
Another awesome coffee joint. You have to be an actual coffee drinker, there's no menu. Don't try to order a venti caramel frappuccino here. There's actually a Starbucks across the street from La Colombe.
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La Colombe Coffee Roasters
5158 N Clark StAnother awesome coffee joint. You have to be an actual coffee drinker, there's no menu. Don't try to order a venti caramel frappuccino here. There's actually a Starbucks across the street from La Colombe.
Deep dish. If you're not from here you could go anywhere for deep dish, Gino's, Giodano's, Lou Malnati's, Pizano's or Pequod's. Gino's and Giordano's have a cakey crust. The latter all have more of a crunch to them. I frequent Lou's and Pequod's.
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Pequod's Pizza
2207 North Clybourn AvenueDeep dish. If you're not from here you could go anywhere for deep dish, Gino's, Giodano's, Lou Malnati's, Pizano's or Pequod's. Gino's and Giordano's have a cakey crust. The latter all have more of a crunch to them. I frequent Lou's and Pequod's.
Google it. They get a lot of buzz. People will say it's the best burger in the nation. I never say anything is the best of anything so don't ask me. But it is really good, good enough that I recommend it to strangers. You can expect a line. Two to three hour waits if you go when it's busy. Put your name down and check out all the other fun stuff in the area.
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Au Cheval
800 W Randolph StGoogle it. They get a lot of buzz. People will say it's the best burger in the nation. I never say anything is the best of anything so don't ask me. But it is really good, good enough that I recommend it to strangers. You can expect a line. Two to three hour waits if you go when it's busy. Put your name down and check out all the other fun stuff in the area.
I just really like this place. It can be kind of a tourist trap since it's on Michigan Ave. It's been open long enough for the hype to have died down but I still love going here. Look over the menu online before you go if you're a picky eater. Also, no reservations so there might be a wait. But you're on Michigan Ave, you're sure to find a shop to wander into.
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The Purple Pig Restaurant
444 Michigan AveI just really like this place. It can be kind of a tourist trap since it's on Michigan Ave. It's been open long enough for the hype to have died down but I still love going here. Look over the menu online before you go if you're a picky eater. Also, no reservations so there might be a wait. But you're on Michigan Ave, you're sure to find a shop to wander into.
I also really like this place. Similar to Purple Pig in terms of the hype dying down but still one of my favorite places. Tight space, not good for groups. Bar seats and communal tables. Small plates that are really yummy. Picky eaters beware.
87 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
avec Restaurant
615 W Randolph StI also really like this place. Similar to Purple Pig in terms of the hype dying down but still one of my favorite places. Tight space, not good for groups. Bar seats and communal tables. Small plates that are really yummy. Picky eaters beware.
There is literally nothing to do around here in my opinion. Other than being next to a central CTA station. But this hidden gem is where we go for BYOB/cheap sushi. One order of 2 pieces of sushi OR their half sized rolls (3-4 pieces) are $2.95. For comparison your average sushi roll in Chicago (6-8 pieces) are at the very least $7 to $20 bucks depending how high-end you wanna go. We go crazy here and stuff ourselves silly.
7 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Gorilla Sushi
4945 N Milwaukee AveThere is literally nothing to do around here in my opinion. Other than being next to a central CTA station. But this hidden gem is where we go for BYOB/cheap sushi. One order of 2 pieces of sushi OR their half sized rolls (3-4 pieces) are $2.95. For comparison your average sushi roll in Chicago (6-8 pieces) are at the very least $7 to $20 bucks depending how high-end you wanna go. We go crazy here and stuff ourselves silly.
This is where white people go to dress up and eat Asian food. We love this place and actually know one of the staff, but besides that it's pan-Asian/fusion cuisine. You could go here in jeans, it's not a club, but you probably shouldn't. The area (river north) if full of high end restaurants and bars.
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Sunda
110 W Illinois StThis is where white people go to dress up and eat Asian food. We love this place and actually know one of the staff, but besides that it's pan-Asian/fusion cuisine. You could go here in jeans, it's not a club, but you probably shouldn't. The area (river north) if full of high end restaurants and bars.
Probably my personal favorite. Classic french food, affordable. Plenty of things to do in Old Town.
13 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Bistrot Margot
1437 North Wells StreetProbably my personal favorite. Classic french food, affordable. Plenty of things to do in Old Town.
Great cocktails and food. Skip going to the Bean. My favorite view of the city. Usually pretty busy, so be assertive and order your drinks at the bar and take them outside. Firepits during cooler weather. I always order We'll Always Have Paris. Check out all of the public areas at this hotel.
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Cindy's
12 S Michigan AveGreat cocktails and food. Skip going to the Bean. My favorite view of the city. Usually pretty busy, so be assertive and order your drinks at the bar and take them outside. Firepits during cooler weather. I always order We'll Always Have Paris. Check out all of the public areas at this hotel.
Shopping
Open 24 hours, just in case. There is a Chase Bank and Fifth/Third Bank and Starbucks in the same plaza.
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Walgreens
4010 W Lawrence AveOpen 24 hours, just in case. There is a Chase Bank and Fifth/Third Bank and Starbucks in the same plaza.
I'm not into malls. But if you're in town, you're into name brands, high-end designers but also like deals.. go here. It's indoors. Bus/train accessible. But maybe drive. Free parking. Let us know if you're going, we know employees at a few shops.
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Fashion Outlets ta 'Chicago
5220 Fashion Outlets WayI'm not into malls. But if you're in town, you're into name brands, high-end designers but also like deals.. go here. It's indoors. Bus/train accessible. But maybe drive. Free parking. Let us know if you're going, we know employees at a few shops.
Boutique store home to Chicago. Chicago has a brick and mortar to just about any major brand/chain you can think of. Topshop and Uniqlo are the more recent imports for us. But Akira is Chicago based boutique, so you should probably give them a look if you're from another major city like NYC or LA.
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AKIRA
1814 W North AveBoutique store home to Chicago. Chicago has a brick and mortar to just about any major brand/chain you can think of. Topshop and Uniqlo are the more recent imports for us. But Akira is Chicago based boutique, so you should probably give them a look if you're from another major city like NYC or LA.
Entertainment & Activities
There are some little parks in the neighborhood, and this is a good walk from our place, but it's our favorite park to take our son.
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River Park
5100 N Francisco AveThere are some little parks in the neighborhood, and this is a good walk from our place, but it's our favorite park to take our son.
We take our son here every Thursday night, it's free from 5-8pm. Fun stuff for kids of all ages. Standard admission is about $12. Everything else at Navy Pier is a tourist trap. OK view of the city though. Parking at Navy Pier will run you about $25 bucks. Ask us to help you get there via CTA.
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Mużew tal-Ħbieb ta' Ċikago
700 E Grand AveWe take our son here every Thursday night, it's free from 5-8pm. Fun stuff for kids of all ages. Standard admission is about $12. Everything else at Navy Pier is a tourist trap. OK view of the city though. Parking at Navy Pier will run you about $25 bucks. Ask us to help you get there via CTA.
Play for kids of all ages, including myself. We love taking our son here. Grown ups without kids will also have fun checking this park out after you're done staring and taking selfies at the Bean.
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Maggie Daley Park
337 E Randolph StPlay for kids of all ages, including myself. We love taking our son here. Grown ups without kids will also have fun checking this park out after you're done staring and taking selfies at the Bean.
Drinks & Nightlife
Standard bar/grill. I've never been here so I can't say much, my boyfriend goes here with his friends because it's close by and they seem to like it.
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Ravenswood station
4800 N Ravenswood AveStandard bar/grill. I've never been here so I can't say much, my boyfriend goes here with his friends because it's close by and they seem to like it.
You could get here via CTA, but I would take an Uber or a Lyft or drive. Young crowd/hipster area in general, but one of my favorite bars. There's always a good dance crowd, but it's not a nightclub. Cocktail enthusiasts check out Heavy Feather upstairs.
127 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Slippery Slope
2357 N Milwaukee AveYou could get here via CTA, but I would take an Uber or a Lyft or drive. Young crowd/hipster area in general, but one of my favorite bars. There's always a good dance crowd, but it's not a nightclub. Cocktail enthusiasts check out Heavy Feather upstairs.
I used to work here. Let me know if you're going so I can give my old pals a heads up. It's a restaurant, but they're hyped for the craft cocktails. If you're gonna get food order the chicken fried lobster.
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The Dawson
730 W Grand AveI used to work here. Let me know if you're going so I can give my old pals a heads up. It's a restaurant, but they're hyped for the craft cocktails. If you're gonna get food order the chicken fried lobster.
Arts & Culture
If you're gonna hang out in Chicago and all you're gonna do is watch a movie.. well at least go here. Pricey in terms of movies. But location: it's in the heart of the loop. Easy access to trains. Key: It's new and not everyone has found out about this little treasure. Lazy boy reclining seats, full service dine-in service. THEY WILL SERVE YOU MOJITOS WHILE YOU WATCH AVENGERS. So there's that.
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AMC DINE-IN Block 37
108 N State StIf you're gonna hang out in Chicago and all you're gonna do is watch a movie.. well at least go here. Pricey in terms of movies. But location: it's in the heart of the loop. Easy access to trains. Key: It's new and not everyone has found out about this little treasure. Lazy boy reclining seats, full service dine-in service. THEY WILL SERVE YOU MOJITOS WHILE YOU WATCH AVENGERS. So there's that.
Essentials
So maybe you don't want to spend your money going out to eat. This is where we get pretty much all of our groceries.
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Mariano's
3358 W Touhy AveSo maybe you don't want to spend your money going out to eat. This is where we get pretty much all of our groceries.
Local supermarket in our area with all of the basics, you're obviously a lot of hispanic foods here. I like to buy myself a churro and eat it while I pick out produce.
6 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Lindo Michoacan
3142 W Lawrence AveLocal supermarket in our area with all of the basics, you're obviously a lot of hispanic foods here. I like to buy myself a churro and eat it while I pick out produce.
Want to whip up some asian food or just browse? One short bus ride from our place. I think it's mainly Korean (I'm asian so I should know, right?) but you'll find all sorts of asian foods here. There's also a mini cafeteria area in there. Get some hot soup before you shop!
25 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Joong Boo Market
3333 N Kimball AveWant to whip up some asian food or just browse? One short bus ride from our place. I think it's mainly Korean (I'm asian so I should know, right?) but you'll find all sorts of asian foods here. There's also a mini cafeteria area in there. Get some hot soup before you shop!
Sightseeing
Calling all families/tourists, you're probably going to stop by one of these museums. We love them but we take them for granted. Anyway, our favorite (everyone's favorite) touristy skyline view is on the lake right between the Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium. If anything just drive here, park and take photos.
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Adler Planetarium
1300 S Lake Shore DrCalling all families/tourists, you're probably going to stop by one of these museums. We love them but we take them for granted. Anyway, our favorite (everyone's favorite) touristy skyline view is on the lake right between the Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium. If anything just drive here, park and take photos.
We have tons of museums: The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science/Industry, Museum of Contemporary Art, The Art Institute. You should go to those places. BUT if maybe you want to get a little taste of Chicago without paying admission.. just walk in here. Free to the public. Pretty small compared to our other museums but the exhibits change frequently and it's just a nice historic building. If you get bored, you're a couple blocks away from The Art Institute.
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Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington StWe have tons of museums: The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science/Industry, Museum of Contemporary Art, The Art Institute. You should go to those places. BUT if maybe you want to get a little taste of Chicago without paying admission.. just walk in here. Free to the public. Pretty small compared to our other museums but the exhibits change frequently and it's just a nice historic building. If you get bored, you're a couple blocks away from The Art Institute.