Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
This is our favorite place in our neighborhood. It is attached to the rock venue next door, The Empty Bottle, but don’t be fooled, the food is excellent.
128 locals recommend
Bite Cafe
1039 N Western AveThis is our favorite place in our neighborhood. It is attached to the rock venue next door, The Empty Bottle, but don’t be fooled, the food is excellent.
Although we aren’t the biggest fans of the décor of this bar/restaurant, there is no denying their burgers (and veggie burgers) are great.
74 locals recommend
Lockdown Bar & Grill
1024 N Western AveAlthough we aren’t the biggest fans of the décor of this bar/restaurant, there is no denying their burgers (and veggie burgers) are great.
This is a great small plate restaurant with amazing meats and cheeses, burgers, as well as great beer and wine.
173 locals recommend
Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar
954 North California AvenueThis is a great small plate restaurant with amazing meats and cheeses, burgers, as well as great beer and wine.
Feed
2803 W Chicago AveThis is a southern style restaurant. Chicken and grits, etc.
This little place is great with a ton of vegan/vegetarian options. Great for breakfast. Cash only.
75 locals recommend
Flying Saucer
1123 N California AveThis little place is great with a ton of vegan/vegetarian options. Great for breakfast. Cash only.
This is a new sushi restaurant and we haven’t been yet, but it’s supposed to be excellent!
87 locals recommend
KAI ZAN
2557 W Chicago AveThis is a new sushi restaurant and we haven’t been yet, but it’s supposed to be excellent!
We haven’t been here in awhile, but it’s walkable with different food options. Typical bar and grill.
39 locals recommend
The Beetle Bar and Grill
2532 West Chicago AvenueWe haven’t been here in awhile, but it’s walkable with different food options. Typical bar and grill.
Shokolad Pastry & Cafe
2524 W Chicago AveSupposed to be good for breakfast!
Nellie’s Restaurant
2458 W Division StHaven't been but it's supposed to be amazing!
Probably the best coffee nearby! Fancy coffee shop. They serve Dark Matter coffee.
135 locals recommend
Star Lounge Coffee Bar (Dark Matter Coffee)
2521 W Chicago AveProbably the best coffee nearby! Fancy coffee shop. They serve Dark Matter coffee.
Probably our favorite restaurant in the city. This is a must try if you’re visiting Chicago. Michelin starred, no reservations, brunch is excellent with way less of a wait (sometimes none).
830 locals recommend
Longman & Eagle
2657 N Kedzie AveProbably our favorite restaurant in the city. This is a must try if you’re visiting Chicago. Michelin starred, no reservations, brunch is excellent with way less of a wait (sometimes none).
Some of the same owners as Longman—really cool outdoor space when it’s warm out! Lots of picnic tables outside. Fried chicken, fish, salads, oysters, everything is great.
658 locals recommend
Parson's Chicken & Fish
2952 W Armitage AveSome of the same owners as Longman—really cool outdoor space when it’s warm out! Lots of picnic tables outside. Fried chicken, fish, salads, oysters, everything is great.
Great pizza joint/bar, industrial vibes and they usually play pop punk!
152 locals recommend
The Boiler Room
2210 North California AvenueGreat pizza joint/bar, industrial vibes and they usually play pop punk!
Handlebar
2311 W North AveOne of our faves, great for vegetarians.
The Rookery
2109 W Chicago AveGreat little gastropub in the area.
Best tacos. Go. You might have to wait--no reservations, but the bar is first come first serve and usually less of a wait than the restaurant.
1176 locals recommend
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveBest tacos. Go. You might have to wait--no reservations, but the bar is first come first serve and usually less of a wait than the restaurant.
Wonderful locally focused menu. Great food, lots of vegetarian options. Great coffee, great for breakfast or dinner.
936 locals recommend
Lula Cafe
2537 N Kedzie BlvdWonderful locally focused menu. Great food, lots of vegetarian options. Great coffee, great for breakfast or dinner.
Milk & Honey
1920 W Division StGreat for lunch!
This place is great. Noisy and lots of meat, shared tables. Excellent.
97 locals recommend
The Publican
837 W Fulton MarketThis place is great. Noisy and lots of meat, shared tables. Excellent.
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf
218 W Kinzie StIncredible steakhouse.
Great spot, they make their own beer and have great food, lots of vegetarian options.
724 locals recommend
Revolution Brewing - Brewpub
2323 N Milwaukee AveGreat spot, they make their own beer and have great food, lots of vegetarian options.
Owen & Engine
2700 N Western AveGreat restaurant!
Supposed to be one of the best in the city but we haven't tried it yet!
496 locals recommend
Girl & The Goat
809 W Randolph StSupposed to be one of the best in the city but we haven't tried it yet!
The Bristol
2152 N Damen AveGreat food! Fancy.
Supposed to be one of the greatest in the city, but we haven't tried it yet! Fancy.
87 locals recommend
avec Restaurant
615 W Randolph StSupposed to be one of the greatest in the city, but we haven't tried it yet! Fancy.
Essentials
This is the best bodega, right around the corner. A small produce section, frozen foods, basic fare, plus a large craft beer section, as well as wine and liquor.
15 locals recommend
Puerto Rico Food & Liquors
2559 W Augusta BlvdThis is the best bodega, right around the corner. A small produce section, frozen foods, basic fare, plus a large craft beer section, as well as wine and liquor.
Dominick's
2021 West Chicago AvenueNow converted to a Mariano's! VERY popular grocery store!
You can walk here easily, it’s on the corner of Western and Chicago, it’s bigger than a bodega but smaller than a big box grocery.
72 locals recommend
Farmers Pride Produce
756 N Western AveYou can walk here easily, it’s on the corner of Western and Chicago, it’s bigger than a bodega but smaller than a big box grocery.
Everything Else
Closest pharmacy, they have groceries, household supplies, and alcohol as well.
135 locals recommend
CVS
2427 W Chicago AveClosest pharmacy, they have groceries, household supplies, and alcohol as well.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a dive bar and one of the best venues to see live music in the city. It has distinctly punk roots, though they have different kinds of music every night. Monday nights are usually free shows.
208 locals recommend
The Empty Bottle
1035 N Western AveThis is a dive bar and one of the best venues to see live music in the city. It has distinctly punk roots, though they have different kinds of music every night. Monday nights are usually free shows.
Blind Robin
853 N Western AveThis is a nice little neighborhood bar.
Sportsman's Club
948 N Western AveRecently re-done to be a fancier spot--check it out!!
This is a really cool spacious old-timey kind of bar. Sometimes they have country night, rock night, trivia night, movie night, I don’t know, it’s different every time!
180 locals recommend
The California Clipper
1002 North California AvenueThis is a really cool spacious old-timey kind of bar. Sometimes they have country night, rock night, trivia night, movie night, I don’t know, it’s different every time!
Great bar and restaurant. A little too busy on weekend nights maybe. Great english bar food. Lots of fancy/local craft beer. They have brunch.
100 locals recommend
Bangers and Lace
1670 W Division StGreat bar and restaurant. A little too busy on weekend nights maybe. Great english bar food. Lots of fancy/local craft beer. They have brunch.
Telegraph Wine Bar
2601 N Milwaukee AveGreat wine bar!
Shopping
This shop is great—they have jewelry, cards, candles, all kinds of cool things. A very fun place to stop by.
29 locals recommend
Komoda
2559 W Chicago AveThis shop is great—they have jewelry, cards, candles, all kinds of cool things. A very fun place to stop by.
Permanent Records
2009 W Chicago AveBest record shop in Chicago! Friendliest too.