Chicago

We've only been here a few months but we've already found a handful of favorite "eateries" (I'll continue to update this page)...

Chicago

Panes Bread Cafe- bread baked in-house, love the sandwiches and pasta, inexpensive

Azteca de Oro Grill- Mexican, our go-to cheap burrito/quesadilla/taco joint

Over Easy- breakfast/brunch, AWESOME egg dishes, order the Sassy Eggs

Real Kitchen- "mini cafe/meals-to-go/delivery", healthy gourmet meals prepared by experienced chefs, reasonably priced, right around the corner from our place... love it!

Fresh Sushi & Noodle- sushi/asian/thai, great selection of fresh rolls, try the Thai spring rolls

DMK Burger Bar- grass-fed burgers with creative toppings, gourmet fries, not the best burger I've ever had but pretty darn good (bison burger with blueberry bbq sauce... yum)

Epic Burger- local chain that also uses grass fed beef, supposedly the shakes are great

Giordanos- famous "stuffed" deep dish pizza, like it but didn't love it- I don't think deep dish is our thing, but worth experiencing

ETNO- burgers/grill, fantastic gourmet burgers- will be back to try other items on the menu

Uncommon Ground- upscale American, love this place (just a few long blocks down our street)!, famous mac and cheese, sweet potato fries with goat cheese fondue, it was all delicious...

The Bongo Room- breakfast/lunch, awesome sandwiches- will be back for brunch

Soulwich- bahn mi-style Asian sandwiches, try the Indonesian BBQ or Coconut Curry (actually in Evanston)

Indie Burger- grass-fed/organic, get the original Indie burger + add some mushrooms = yum

Beezzee- "fresh healthy food", wraps/platters, rotisserie meats, smoothies, veggies side and mashed potatoes delicious

Lou Malnati's- pizza/Italian, famous Chicago deep-dish chain, not a deep-dish fan, I'll go for the thin crust next time, try the "Lou"

Big Star- taqueria/Mexican, AWESOME tacos- favorites are the pescando and pastor

Zizi's Cafe- Turkish/Mediterranean- Chicken donor, Zizi's favorite wrap, humus (we tried it take-out, I'm sure it will be even better eating in)

Apart Pizza Company- Neapolitan/thin crust specialty pizzas (even dessert pizzas!), great salads, small space, great for take-out

Dorado- French/Mexican fusion, duck nachos, best salmon dish we've ever tasted

Southport Grocery and Cafe- breakfast and lunch served all day (closes late afternoon), sandwiches (turkey and the club) and potato mash were delicious, will be back to try the breakfast menu!

Del Seoul Korean Street BBQ- Korean Tacos/Bahn Mi, etc., the shrimp and fish tacos were amazing, not as impressed with the pork bahn mi

City Farms Market and Grill- healthy local comfort food, breakfast and sandwiches, burgers, etc. (even the veggie burger was delicious)

Zachi- Mediterranean, hummus, chicken schawarma, "pita bites"

Smoque BBQ- traditional bbq and all the sides, great pulled pork sandwich and slaw

Tiztal Cafe- Mexican twist on breakfast, awesome chilaquiles, delicious potatoes

Sensational Bites- bakery just down the street, Oreo and German chocolate cupcakes, cheesecake, brownies, bars... yum!!

Longman and Eagle- American gourmet, we went for brunch and I had the duck breakfast hash

Sweet Mandy B's- cupcakes, cakes, desserts galore

Gene's Sausage Shop- homemade sausage and much much more!, great selection of quality/natural meats at great prices

Bahn Mi and Co- all sorts of yummy bahn mi's, delicious spring rolls

Baker and Nosh- adorable little cafe/bakery, sandwich menu changes week to week- we've had great success with the turkey, delicious brownie

Ora Sushi- Japanese, must get the japanese sweet potato fries w/ dipping sauce!!

Namo- Thai, shrimp pad thai, fruit fried rice, spring rolls with plum sauce... all yum! we've tried quite a few Thai places and this is the first to make the list

BPig Cafe-  another soup/salad/sandwich shop with a multitude of delicious choices, lots of veggie options too!

The Goddess and The Grocer- deli/prepared foods/grocery- delicious sandwiches and breads and salads

Pequods Pizza- deep dish with a caramelized crust- my favorite deep dish, Dustin's #2 (after Giordanos), tip: call ahead and get your pizza cooking before you arrive so you don't have to wait 45 minutes after placing your order!

Kuma's Corner- BIG burgers, many claim the best in Chicago, enduring the loud heavy metal and long lines are worth it (go early or at off hours to avoid waiting)

M Henry- Andersonville, breakfast/lunch/brunch, lots of delicious options

Cafe Selmarie- in Lincoln Square which is just an adorable place to walk around, loved the baked sweet potato wedges, great breakfast and lunch selection

Taco Joint- Mexican, amazing tacos, yummy guac- favorite Mexican we've found here (and not too pricey)!

Pastoral- gourmet sandwich shop, try something with the prosciutto bacon!

Butcher and the Burger- burgers, obviously. But they've got all sorts and they're amazing and they staff is very friendly and will help you make up your mind.

Sauce and Bread Kitchen- unique little breakfast/lunch place in Edgewater, friendly chefs, great sausage breakfast sandwich

Dawali Mediterannean Kitchen- if I had to choose this would be my favorite Mediterranean spot, everything is good

First Slice Pie Cafe- loved the lunch menu (try the tilapia guac wrap), tempting pies, only downside... no AC. So it was cooler outside on a 90 degree day.

Birchwood Kitchen- (wicker park) cutest, coziest, most delicious cafe, loved our sandwiches and pasta salad and warm oatmeal butterscotch cookie for lunch, expect to wait on a weekend but worth it!

A Taste of Heaven- bakery/cafe, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, delicious sandwiches and cake

Tik Tok Falafel- tiny Mediteranean take-out just down our street, best Falafel I've ever had and while it's no Dawali, it hits the spot

Grand Lux Cafe- fancier version of The Cheesecake Factory, right on Michigan Ave and stuffed with tourists but it's a fun experience, skip dinner and just go for dessert and definitely order the beignets

Sunshine Cafe- hole in the wall Japanese, hardly any sushi on the menu, lots of noodles and rice dishes and it's amazing!

ORD Pizzeria- thin crust, ordered to-go and loved all 3 pizzas, our new go-to pizza, can't beat taste and location

The Burger Boss- pretty great burgers with fun selection of toppings and sweet potato fries!!

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams- the famous gourmet ice cream shop just came to Chicago and opened on Southport! expensive but rich and creamy and delicious. not your typical flavors. LOVED the bramble-berry crisp

Shokran- authentic hole-in-the-wall Moroccan (according to the website, I couldn't say for sure) but awesome either way. make sure to get the hummus and pita, try a tagine, couscous platter, or kabob plate, juicy perfectly cooked chicken, had better lamb though

Toro- sushi, one of the best-reviewed sushi places in the city and the best we've found so far, get there close to open or there will be a long wait

Hot Doug's- gourmet hot dogs, most famous in the city, sadly heard it will be closing soon

Crosby's Kitchen- upscale American, kid-friendly, lobster deviled eggs, cornbread, all yum

Olive Mediterranean Grill- think the Mediterranean version of Chipotle, a local Chicago chain, with delicious chicken and hummus, quick and very reasonably priced

Frasca Pizzeria- pizza/Italian, in the kid-friendly neighborhood of Roscoe Villiage, pizza is great and buy one get one free on Wednesdays!

Tandoor Char House- Indian Grill, tikka masala, naan, kabobs, it was all good

Frontera Fresco- fast cheap version of Frontera Grill, favorites are the guacamole, mushroom quesadilla, and steak tacos