Duration: 3 Days
Available: Year-round
This Itinerary is Ideal For: All
DAY 1
MORNING
Begin your Chicago culinary tour in the charming Andersonville neighborhood, on the north side of the city, with a trip to Taste of Lebanon. This restaurant serves renowned Middle Eastern fare including falafel, hummus, grape leaves, and chicken and beef shawarma. Perhaps this establishment’s most popular dish is its lentil soup, which is served piping hot and will wow your group’s taste buds.
Fat Rice
AFTERNOON
Staying on the north side, head to the Uptown neighborhood, and specifically, Demera Restaurant, which serves highquality Ethiopian food. Demera prides itself on making its dishes from scratch, including roasting its own Ethiopian coffee beans. Among Demera’s most lauded meals are its vegetarian Gomen (collard greens slowcooked with onions, garlic and ginger) and sambusas (fried dumplings served with a sweet and spicy honey sauce). Demera also offers family-style combination platters that include beef, chicken, lamb, seafood and vegetarian portions.
EVENING CLOSED
Cap off your day on the north side with a visit to Fat Rice, a lauded establishment in Logan Square that serves a creative, globally inspired Macanese (ChinesePortuguese fusion) menu along with cocktails and wines in a chic setting. Fat Rice’s signature dish is the arroz gordo, which translates into “fat rice” and is an incredible offering that is made up of curried chicken, char siu, linguica, wood-roasted beef and chili prawns. Fat Rice also offers a tasty Chicago/Macanese pork chop sandwich, Piri-Piri chicken and salt meadow lamb.
DAY 2
MORNING
Groups seeking to enjoy a hearty breakfast, brunch or lunch should head to Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen, a storied institution in the South Loop that has served classic deli fare for more than 75 years. This iconic eatery is known for its famous corned beef and pastrami, but also serves a renowned assortment of breakfast options, from traditional buttermilk pancakes, bacon and eggs to fried matzo with onion, salami and corned beef. Visitors will also appreciate Manny’s rich history, as the dining room walls are decorated with news clippings, reviews, snapshots and memorabilia demonstrating how deeply Chicagoans treasure this historic restaurant.
Mannys Deli Diners
AFTERNOON
In Chicago’s West Loop, visitors can make a pit stop in Greektown, where you will find a myriad of top-notch restaurants. One such establishment is Athena Restaurant, which combines fine Greek architecture and art with comfortable seating, warm fireplaces and an outdoor patio with an award-winning view of the Chicago skyline. It offers special group lunch, dinner and beverage menus that serve appetizers like octapodi skaras, Greek salad, chicken kabob, gyros, and for
dessert, baklava.
EVENING
Ever since it opened in 1998 in Chinatown, Lao Sze Chuan has become one of the country’s most beloved Chinese restaurants, having been voted the No. 1 Chinese restaurant in the U.S. by multiple publications and being named to the Michelin Bib Gourmand list numerous times. Lao Sze Chuan prides itself on providing traditional Sichuan cuisine with high-quality ingredients and serves an array of spicy dishes including handmade dim sum, salt and pepper squid and
oven roasted Peking duck.
Chinatown
DAY 3
MORNING
If you get a later start to your day and are more in the mood for lunch, a must-visit on the South Side is Taqueria Los Gallos in South Lawndale. This Mexican spot, with plenty of seating for large groups, serves more than just tacos and burritos. In fact, its most popular offering is carne en su jugo — a soup from the city of Guadalajara. This fabulous soup is a beef broth filled with grilled steak, avocado, bacon and pinto beans and boasts a hearty flavor most soups
can’t match.
AFTERNOON
Next stop is the legendary Chicago’s Home of Chicken and Waffles in Bronzeville. This esteemed restaurant serves crispy fried chicken and thick waffles creating a delicious sweet and savory combination. Another popular menu item is the fried chicken gizzard, livers and giblets served with waffles or French fries.
EVENING
For dinner, travel to Little Italy where you’ll find Tuscany on Taylor, which serves the authentic, fresh cuisine of a small Italian village with some of Italy’s finest wines. Tuscany’s engaging décor, hearty menu and sizable dining area are perfect for hungry groups looking to share some laughs.
New Tuscany
From pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven to pasta dishes served with tomato or Bolognese sauce, Tuscany on Taylor’s menu will delight your crowd. Another spectacular dining option is Piccolo Sogno in River West, a classic Italian restaurant with a beautiful outdoor patio that enables patrons to enjoy an al fresco dining experience in an alluring setting.
