First Trip to Chicago

[Mario_C]

Making my first trip to Chicago (other than as a connecting flight stop).

Would appreciate some suggestions on things not to miss and good restaurant recs (fine dining or hole in the wall - as long as it's good food, no worries).

So far, going to a cubs game, Chicago Institute of Art, Architectural Tour, maybe a speakeasy tour...

Looking for some more good ideas from you seasoned travelers. Will be there for four full days.

Thanks!

 

[Colorado_Poke]

Making my first trip to Chicago (other than as a connecting flight stop).

Would appreciate some suggestions on things not to miss and good restaurant recs (fine dining or hole in the wall - as long as it's good food, no worries).

So far, going to a cubs game, Chicago Institute of Art, Architectural Tour, maybe a speakeasy tour...

Looking for some more good ideas from you seasoned travelers. Will be there for four full days.

Thanks!

I've only been there twice, for training both times, but I would highly recommend getting deep dish pizza at a Lou Malnati's (sp?).

 

[Inky29]

I'm curious as well, heading up there in August for a soccer tournament.

 

[Anodyne]

Making my first trip to Chicago (other than as a connecting flight stop).

Would appreciate some suggestions on things not to miss and good restaurant recs (fine dining or hole in the wall - as long as it's good food, no worries).

So far, going to a cubs game, Chicago Institute of Art, Architectural Tour, maybe a speakeasy tour...

Looking for some more good ideas from you seasoned travelers. Will be there for four full days.

Thanks!

The Best:

Hot dog's: Hot G Dogs in Andersonville (operated by cooks from the famous now-closed Hot Doug's)
Pizza (deep dish, if you really have to): Lou Malnati's on Rush
Actual pizza worth eating: Coalfire on Grand, Vito and Nick's if you want an old school Southwest Side experience, Piece in Wicker Park (brewpub co-owned by Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick)
Hip farm-to-table: Longman and Eagle in Logan Square ($$), Publican in Fulton district ($$$)
Hipster ramen: Wasabi on Milwaukee
Brewpub: Revolution in Logan Square
Chinese: Ken Kee (Hong Kong style) in Chinatown, Ed's Potsticker House (northern) in Bridgeport, Homestyle (Dongbei style) in Bridgeport, Lao Szechuan in Chinatown
Dim sum: Phoenix or Ming Hin in Chinatown
Vietnamese: Nha Hang Restaurant on Argyle
Brewery (tours and tap rooms): Begyle in Ravenswood, Temperance in Evanston, Lagunitas' mega-facility west of Pilsen
Distillery tour and tasting: Few in Evanston, Koval in Andersonville
BBQ: n/a
Mexican: Birreria Zaragoza on S. Pulaski (goat), Taqueria Asado (carne asada tacos), Xoco on Clark (Rick Bayless), Maxwell Street Market on Sunday mornings (South Loop)
German: Radler in Logan Square
Polish: SmakTak on Milwaukee
Serbian: Cafe Beograd on Irving Park
Persian: Kabobi on Kedzie (get the Ramadan special, after dark)
Lebanese: Pita Puff on Kedzie
Korean: Da Rae Jung (mom and pop), Cho Sun Ok (BBQ)
Italian Beef: Jay's in Wicker Park
General hipster dining and drinks: Maria's Packaged Goods (part-time Polish-Korean dive bar) plus English fried pies from Pleasant House, in Bridgeport
Dive bars: Rossi's on State, Billy Goat on Lower Michigan, Carol's on Clark, Nisei Lounge in Wrigleyville, Simon's in Andersonville
Jewish deli: Manny's on Near South Side
Boutique and second-hand shopping: Pilsen
Walks: new 606 Bloomingdale Trail from Humboldt Park to West Town (patterned after NYC's Highline), Museum of Science and Industry to UofC campus, Hyde Park
People-watching: Millineum Park in the Loop, Maxwell Street Market, new portions of the riverwalk in the Loop
Museum: Arts Institute, Field Museum, Chicago History Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art
Small theaters: too many to list---check the Reader for a show you might be interested in
Improv and small theater comedy: Neo-Futurist in Andersonville
Walking tours: Chicago Elevated (led by Second City alumnus) Disaster Tour or Pedway Tour


I'm just rambling things off the top of my head. I can give further detail or other suggestions if you're interested in something in particular like off-the-wall historical stuff or things in the suburbs.

 

[duke-of-earl]

I'll be there the weekend of Labor Day. Any suggestions on where to watch us play Central Michigan that Thursday night?

 

[Anodyne]

I'll be there the weekend of Labor Day. Any suggestions on where to watch us play Central Michigan that Thursday night?

There's an alumni group that meets at some sports bar in Lakeview or Lincoln Park (can probably find the contact info on the Alumni site, or someone here will know it). Otherwise, the challenge will be finding a place that will put the sound on for you.

 

[osufiji]

There's an alumni group that meets at some sports bar in Lakeview or Lincoln Park (can probably find the contact info on the Alumni site, or someone here will know it). Otherwise, the challenge will be finding a place that will put the sound on for you.

When I was there it was the Otherside Bar.

I liked being around OSU fans and having the $25 bottomless joes cup but the bar is absolute crap for watching a game. Not very big and small tvs. Might have changed in the last three years since I was there but I doubt it.

Places I miss eating in Chicago
-Lou Malnatis
-DMK burger
-Taco Pizza at Roots Pizza
-Garrett's Popcorn
-Smoque BBQ
-Nookies for brunch
-Kuma's Corner

 

[Mario_C]

Anodyne--you are a scholar and a gentleman. I didn't want to call you out in the initial post, but was hoping you would weigh in. Read too many of your posts and knew you would have a solid list. How is the XLB at the dim sum place? Can't find a legit soup dumpling in Oklahoma to save my life. Someday, I may approach Lao Wang on Federal in Den-vah to see if they want to franchise a location in Tulsa. Ha,fat chance. Any idea if nha hang makes their own pho stock, the traditional way, or if they cheat with MSG and bouillon soup cubes?

OSUF1J1, I will give those a Google as well. Thanks for the tips.

Any one know if the speakeasy tour is worth it, or not? understand it probably depends on the tour guide/company, but if any one has done one or heard about them, I kind of like the idea of it...

 

[Anodyne]

Anodyne--you are a scholar and a gentleman. I didn't want to call you out in the initial post, but was hoping you would weigh in. Read too many of your posts and knew you would have a solid list. How is the XLB at the dim sum place? Can't find a legit soup dumpling in Oklahoma to save my life. Someday, I may approach Lao Wang on Federal in Den-vah to see if they want to franchise a location in Tulsa. Ha,fat chance. Any idea if nha hang makes their own pho stock, the traditional way, or if they cheat with MSG and bouillon soup cubes?

OSUF1J1, I will give those a Google as well. Thanks for the tips.

Any one know if the speakeasy tour is worth it, or not? understand it probably depends on the tour guide/company, but if any one has done one or heard about them, I kind of like the idea of it...

A good XLB is tough to come by here. My wife, being a native of NYC Lower East Side, is an XLB connoisseur/snob. She tolerates the XLB at Phoenix, and we've had it at Ed's where it's OK. I think XLB at Phoenix is only available on Saturday dim sum after 10 am, if you want to fight the crowds (Phoenix is cart-style dim sum, while Ming Hin is off a menu---also, must get the Macau-style pork belly at Ming Hin). BTW you should take the water taxi to Chinatown, it departs from the Wrigley Building and is just a few bucks. Great views, weekdays only I think?

A great dumpling I forgot to mention is the fist-sized kimchee wang mandoo at the stand outside the Joong Boo Korean supermarket on Belmont and Kimball. Chase it with a black rice and red bean wando. $2 each! I think I'm going to have some as soon as I finish this post.

Nha Hang is a magical place. We eat there more than anywhere, by far. I don't know for sure if their pho stock is from scratch, but I suspect so. Everything there is a cut above anything else on Argyle. The pho is very good, especially the Hue-style. But you should take the opportunity to try some things you won't see on most other Vietnamese menus---at least not executed to this level--bun mam (funky!) and mi quang. The soft shell crabs are excellent, as is the catfish and pork belly clay pot. I get depressed when I think that in a few weeks I'll live 3.5 hours from Nha Hang. I'm fighting back tears as I type this. A really good Chinese bakery, Patisserie P, is a block over. Great 1-2 punch, both a short walk from the Red Line. The best bahn mi is a couple miles west on Lawrence at Nhu Lahn, where they bake their own bread.

I'm not familiar with the speakeasy tour. The Chicago History Museum has occaissional tavern tours. They're very popular and I imagine done well.

 

[TPOKE]

Wife and I are going this this weekend to visit some friends. Wrigleyville/Cubs game on Friday, deep dish pizza and downtown on Saturday, hang out at his place in Wilmette on Sunday and fly out that evening.

 

[FalseGod]

Ricobene's Breaded Steak Sandwich
Kuma for hamburger or Lockdown is decent too.

 

[SUPERPOKES]

My family passed through there just last week. We went by Wrigley Field (it was an off day, but you can still tour), Lou Malanti's Pizza (our whole family agreed it was awesome), and went by the Green Mill tavern (just a few blocks from Wrigley) which was one of Al Capone's favorite spots. We also went to the Jane Addams Hull House museum (on UI-Chicago campus). Very historic spot regarding immigrants.

In all in Chicago we hit three spots that are major things I teach about in U.S. History in Texas to high school juniors (the third was the spot of the Haymarket Riot).

We also went to Six Flags Mid-America (north of Chicago) so we crammed a lot of things in in just two days. Went to St. Louis from there and then down to Memphis. In all, over 14 days we hit nine spots that I teach about during the school year.

 

[The Duke]

U-505

http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/u-505/

 

[Anodyne]

Today's Tribune has an article about some tours. As I mentioned earlier, Margaret (pictured, doing some kinda weird improv stuff) and her "Chicago Elevated" tours are great. She has a Second City/Old Town tour, which I'm sure is good because she's a Second City alumnus.

Also, you should hit a neighborhood festival if there is one during your visit.

 

[TPOKE]

Got home lat night. Caught a game at Wrigley Friday afternoon, Lou Maltani pizza afterwards. (I have never lifted a large pizza that heavy, awesome) Saturday we did the river architectural tour. Really enjoyed it, but I like those kinds of things. Went and ate at Green Street Smoked Meats. It's in an old warehouse where it looks like they did nothing to the original and moved in. Great place and food. Wrapped up Saturday at the Windy City Smokeout. The wives love country music and wanted to see a few of the later acts. I was wearing my OSU hat and actually had 2 girls give me the pistols firing. Sunday was hanging out in Wilmette