Herscher, IL Food & Drink and More

The Cozy Illinois Deli With Italian Beef Sandwiches So Good They’re Practically Famous

Some sandwiches are good, some are great, and then there’s the Italian beef at Luke’s Italian Beef in Chicago, which exists in a category that doesn’t have a name yet. This place on South Wabash Avenue in the Loop has been quietly making one of the most satisfying sandwiches in the entire state of Illinois, and it’s about time more people knew about it.

Chicago, IL · 1d

everafterinthewoods.com

Inside A Retro Illinois Pie Shop, Cream Pies And Savory Slices Never Went Out Of Style

A pie called the Fat Elvis sits on the menu at a cheerful little shop in Illinois. Right next to it, you might spot a lamb and apricot hand pie. That combo alone tells you this place plays by its own rules. The chocolate cream pie is considered a house...

takingthekids.com

Customers Swear The Deli Meats At These 10 Illinois Sandwich Shops Are A Cut Above The Rest

One Illinois deli has been slicing corned beef cafeteria-style since 1942, and it still hands you a tray. Another shop has been building Italian subs since 1937. That’s older than sliced bread’s big boom in most kitchens. I love that these counters didn’t chase trends. They stuck with...

everafterinthewoods.com

partner publisher · 57.1K followers

This Historic Illinois Outdoor Market Has Been Drawing Shoppers For More Than A Century

Blues musicians once cranked up their amplifiers on a busy street just to be heard over shoppers haggling for bargains. That loud little workaround helped shape a famous sound. Pretty wild for a flea market, right?. This Illinois market has been pulling in shoppers for more than a century. Immigrant...

Chicago, IL · 23h

Chowhound

Ketchup On Hot Dogs Is Basically Banned In Chicago - But Why?

The iconic Chicago dog is full of flavorful toppings, but there is one topping that Chicagoans simply don't tolerate on their hot dogs: ketchup.

Chicago, IL · 11h

Secret Chicago

publisher · 7.1K followers

Bears star D’Andre Swift names his 3 favorite Chicago restaurants—and launches a limited-time Philly-meets-Chicago menu

Caleb Williams has already made it known that his favorite restaurant is Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna, calling his love for it “ the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life. “ Now, fellow Bears star D’Andre Swift is sharing his own go-to Chicago restaurants —and his list offers plenty of inspiration for your next dinner out. D’Andre Swift shares his favorite Chicago restaurants While Williams’ pick might settle your next pizza order, Swift’s shortlist gives you a few more options for a night out: West Loop steakhouse Adalina Prime, Lincoln Park steakhouse & cocktail lounge The Bull Moose , and Asian bistro & nightclub TAO . For something a little more game-day-ready, though, you can try a menu the running back helped create himself. What’s on D’Andre Swift’s menu at Jake Melnick’s? Swift has teamed up with Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap on “Da Swift Picks,” a limited-time lineup that mixes Philadelphia-inspired flavors with Chicago favorites. Here’s what’s on the menu: High Step Hoagie Dip ($12.95): Salami, prosciutto, hot peppers, provolone, and cream cheese, served with fresh Sidewinder Fries. Swift City Wings ($19.95): Long hot pepper-garlic butter, giardiniera rub, parmesan, and a Cooper’s Wiz sidecar. Hometown Fries ($9.95): House-cut fries,

partner publisher · 962 followers

Siliconera Nandemo

Chicago couple opens pizza from Keith Lee-recommended restaurant. Uh, that definitely shouldn’t be in there: ‘And its a knockoff? im ccryyinnn’

'I need ANOTHER pizza for FREE.'

familydestinationsguide.com

The Old-School Illinois Diner With Breakfast Locals Can’t Stop Talking About

There’s a diner in River Grove, Illinois, where the window gives you a pep talk before you’ve even opened the door, and somehow that’s exactly what you needed this morning. Blondie’s Diner has been quietly earning its reputation one plate at a time, and the locals who...

River Grove, IL · 20h

takemetotn.com

This Nostalgic Illinois Diner Serves Chicago Deli Classics With A Side Of Old-School Charm

The house potatoes here get cooked in beef tallow. That one detail alone made me sit up and pay attention. Then there’s the homemade root beer, poured at a spot that also serves matzo ball soup, lox, and a Reuben with a name you won’t forget. Breakfast runs all day, so pancakes at dinnertime are completely fair game.

juliescafebakery.com

partner publisher · 5.3K followers

9 Chicago Restaurants Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner in 2026

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 26 this year, and Chicago’s best tables fill fast. Some restaurants run a buffet, others serve a set menu, and a few build the meal around a whole bird. These nine restaurants have posted their 2026 menus. Prices are the latest published figures, so...

Chicago, IL · 1d

Axios Chicago

Alley cafes and plants in the Pedway: 3 ideas to transform Chicago's State Street

From more green space to interactive installations, three winning proposals reimagine what could make Chicago's State Street "that great street" once again. Why it matters: The plans could help breathe new life into a part of the Loop that was once a retail, cultural and social attraction. Driving the news: The Chicago Architectural Club, World Business Chicago and other civic organizations on Wednesday announced the winners of this year's Burnham Prize . Context: In April, the groups called for ideas for "The Future of State" — ways to make State Street a vibrant, inviting and modern urban center. Zoom in: The three winning projects take different approaches to best utilize what already exists along State Street, as well as what new infrastructure is needed. Thickness: From Corridor to Urban Field focuses on the spaces between the buildings. It would turn parking lots into green space, alleys and the Pedway into spots to meet and drink and build elevated walkways to move through the Loop. Unlocking State Street centers on the Chicago Federal Center block, a Mies van der Rohe-designed complex surrounded by Dearborn, Clark and Adams Streets and Jackson Boulevard. The plan would move the security barriers that exist around

oakpark.com

The heart of Hemmingway will take its final beats this month

After 25 years, Hemmingway’s Bistro is saying its final “Au Revoir” to Oak Park. The French restaurant at 211 N. Oak Park Ave., is owned and operated by Chef Christopher Ala and his wife Lucia Ala. For over two decades it has been a testament to resilience...

Oak Park, IL · 2d

travelmag.com

This Illinois Drive-In Is Topped With Giant Hot Dog Statues And Has Served Carhop Burgers And Dogs Since 1948

Two giant hot dogs are hanging out on an Illinois rooftop, and one is wearing a leopard-print leotard. The other rocks a blue skirt and a bow. Fashion week could never. Meet the rooftop duo named after the couple who started this quirky hot dog joint. And trust me, the experience only gets better at ground level.

Chicago, IL · 5d

blockclubchicago.org

Trader Joe’s Uptown Store Opens Monday

UPTOWN — A Trader Joe’s is opening on the Far North Side sooner than expected. The popular grocery store chain is opening 9 a.m. Monday at 804 W. Montrose Ave. in Uptown, a company spokesperson said. Last month, the company said the store wouldn’t open until next year.

partner publisher · 45.5K followers

Cheapism

12 German Restaurants Across America Known for Keeping Things Traditional

Explore 12 German Restaurants Across America serving schnitzel, sausages, sauerbraten, and other traditional favorites, plus tips for your visit.

Chicago, IL · 5d

hoodline.com

Hazel Crest Welcomes 5918 Catering, Chicago Soul Food Pop-Up Gets a Kitchen

After serving up soul food through pop-ups around the Chicago area, Anthony and Rhonda Williams are getting a kitchen to call their own. The couple behind 5918 Catering & Events has leased kitchen space at 17503 Kedzie Avenue in Hazel Crest. The lease, carried out by Matanky Realty, places the...

Chicago, IL · 1d

nickscookingclub

user · 12.1K followers

Chicago Bakeries Knew Apple Pie Needed More Pieces

Chicago-style apple slices take everything comforting about apple pie and reshape it into soft, bakery-sized bars made for sharing. Tender apples flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg sit between pastry layers, creating fruit-filled squares with more convenient portions than a traditional round pie. Every piece offers soft apple filling, warm spice, and enough pastry to keep the dessert sturdy in one hand. The rectangular format also means more people receive those prized edge pieces where the crust becomes especially golden. It is a nostalgic Midwest bakery treat that feels familiar even to anyone who never stood before a Chicago display case. Simple ingredients and an old-fashioned presentation give these bars the character of something a neighborhood bakery might have been selling for generations.

Chicago, IL · 6d

chicagocrusader.com

Black McDonald’s Operators Bring Thanksgiving Relief to 3,000 Chicago-Area Families

As families across Chicago prepare for Thanksgiving amid rising household expenses, the Black McDonald’s Operators Association (BMOA) of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana is continuing its longstanding tradition of giving back to communities in need. Through its 26th annual Food for the Body & Spirit initiative, the organization plans to...

southwestregionalpublishing.com

Summit’s Maple & Mozza pairs scratch-made brunch with Italian dinners

A new restaurant on Archer Road in Summit is serving the kind of food its owner says people would otherwise go to downtown La Grange to get. Maple & Mozza opened in October at 6151 S. Archer Road. It serves breakfast and brunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 3 to 10 p.m., with a happy hour and wine specials from 4 to 6 p.m.

Summit, IL · 2d

unearththevoyage.com

Monster Memorabilia Covers Every Wall Of This Quirky Chicago Café Serving Comfort Food

I only stopped because I needed coffee, and I figured any counter with a cup would do. Then I looked up and found a room packed with monsters, glowing posters, and retro toys staring back at me from every corner. Illinois hides plenty of surprises in plain sight, but few...