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Food & Drink

Secret Chicago

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Free turkeys at 5 Chicago-area McDonald’s are here: 3,000 up for grabs, one location per day through Saturday from 8 a.m.

A Thanksgiving turkey giveaway is making five stops across the Chicago area this week. The Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana plans to distribute 3,000 turkeys , along with gift cards to help families buy additional holiday groceries. The 26th annual Food for the Body & Spirit giveaway runs November 10–14, with a different McDonald’s hosting each morning. Distributions begin at 8 a.m. and continue while supplies last, so organizers recommend arriving early. The first stop took place in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on Tuesday morning. The remaining giveaways are scheduled for Maywood, Grand Boulevard, Auburn Gresham, and Chicago Heights through Saturday. Where and when to get a free turkey Each restaurant hosts the giveaway on one scheduled day—not throughout the week. Here’s the full lineup: Tuesday, November 10: 5015 W. Madison St., Chicago Wednesday, November 11: 11 N. 1st Ave., Maywood Thursday, November 12: 740 E. 47th St., Chicago Friday, November 13: 8321 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago Saturday, November 14: 19767 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights All five distributions begin at 8 a.m. and continue until supplies run out. Veterans can use a priority line Veterans can receive VIP line entry by showing proof of military service.

Chicago, IL · 3d
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unearththevoyage.com

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Johnnie’s Beef In Elmwood Park Still Makes Locals Wait In Line For Italian Ice

Some of the best meals in Illinois hide behind plain little walls and hand-lettered signs you could drive past a hundred times. I almost did, until I noticed a line of people stretching out the door on a random weeknight. My stomach decided before my brain did, and I pulled...

Elmwood Park, IL · 20h
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chicagocrusader.com

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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...

Chicago, IL · 23h
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takingthekids.com

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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...

Chicago, IL · 1d
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oakpark.com

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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 · 13h

Axios Chicago

partner publisher · 5.3K followers

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

Chicago, IL · 1d

everafterinthewoods.com

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Paczki And Rye Bread Have Kept Lines Out The Door At Chicago’s Oldest Polish Bakery

Paczki in July? At one tiny Illinois bakery, that is not a typo. The owners make the famous Polish doughnuts all year, not just on Fat Tuesday. That alone got my attention. Then I learned the same small counter sells flaky croissants, seeded sourdough, and frozen pierogi to take home.

Chicago, IL · 1d

fastfoodclub.com

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Chicago’s Lou Mitchell’s Has Been Handing Out Free Milk Duds To Breakfast Crowds Since 1923

Some Chicago breakfast spots hand you a menu and a check. One downtown diner hands you a little gift before the first plate even lands, and it has been playing that generous game for more than a century. The doors first opened in 1923, back when travelers heading west needed...

Chicago, IL · 1d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Old-Fashioned Illinois Candy Shop Still Makes Its Own Fudge And Caramel Apples In A Nostalgic Little Shop

Caramel apples come with a choice of fruit at one little Illinois candy counter: tart Granny Smith or sweet Honeycrisp. That decision alone could stall a family for ten minutes. Then you spot the bear claws, the cheese popcorn, and the chocolate-dipped apricots. The fudge is made in house, the...

Riverside, IL · 10d

juliescafebakery.com

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7 Chicago Foods You Need to Try at Least Once (Beyond Deep-Dish Pizza)

Ask a Chicagoan where they actually eat and the answer rarely involves a knife and fork. It usually involves a paper bag, a cash-only counter, and a very specific way of ordering. These seven places keep coming up in local roundups, review sites, and Reddit threads. Each one comes with...

Chicago, IL · 1d

unearththevoyage.com

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Illinois Families Fill Their Pantries At These 8 Old-School Meat Markets Making Their Own Smoked Sausage

Some of the best food in Illinois hides behind plain storefronts with hand-painted signs and a smoky smell drifting out the door. You walk in expecting a quick errand and walk out with a cooler full of brats, sausage sticks, and summer sausage you did not plan to buy. These...

Illinois · 3d

WTTW - Chicago PBS

publisher · 12.7K followers

While Sujan Sarkar Expands His Restaurant Empire, Sahil Sethi Keeps the Chicago Spots Up to Snuff

More than ten years ago, Sahil Sethi and Sujan Sarkar met in the kitchen of a Mediterranean restaurant in India. Many years, restaurants, cities, and awards later, they are still working together, with Sarkar expanding into a global presence based on the reputation of restaurants in Chicago that Sethi helps to oversee and maintain as culinary director.

Chicago, IL · 20h

Q985

partner publisher · 3.8K followers

Wisconsin Claims Two Spots In Top Fifty-five Foodie Cities In US

Madison and Milwaukee both cracked the top 55 foodie cities in America, with Milwaukee coming in ahead of Chicago by one spot.

Wisconsin · 7d

pmq.com

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In the Era of Downsizing, Why (and How) This Pizzeria More Than Doubled Its Dining Room

Photos courtesy of Lantern Pizza Co. In an era where many pizzerias are downsizing versus expanding, Lantern Pizza Co. in Downers Grove, Illinois, recently opened a new dining room, growing to more than 100 seats over its previous 38. The Neo-Neapolitan concept’s new kitchen-view dining room also doubles as a versatile private event space with flexible seating.

Downers Grove, IL · 5d

BevNET.com

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Kava Haven Launches at Binny’s Beverage Depot

CHICAGO, IL — November 2026 — Kava Haven, the kava-infused non-alcoholic spirit redefining how people relax and socialize without alcohol, is now available at Binny’s Beverage Depot. The launch marks a meaningful milestone for the Chicago-based brand, expanding its Midwest presence through one of the region’s best-known...

Chicago, IL · 1d

whatnow.com

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5918 Catering & Events Leases Kitchen Space in Hazel Crest

Soul food will soon be prepared out of a storefront in the suburb. Matanky Realty recently carried out the lease for 5918 Catering & Events, coming to 17503 Kedzie Avenue in Hazel Crest. The owners Anthony and Rhonda Williams have been serving the Chicago area at pop-ups and have been looking to prepare their meals out of a brick-and-mortar. Rhonda told What Now Chicago it is too early in the process to announce an opening date right now.

Hazel Crest, IL · 1d

takingthekids.com

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People Bring Their Own Jars To Stock Up At This Illinois Bulk Food Store

Half of this little store is candy. The other half holds spices, flours, nuts, teas, and coffee, and you can scoop all of it into jars you carried from home. That detail alone made me want to know more. Shoppers bring clean containers, the staff weighs them, and you pay only for what goes inside.

Westmont, IL · 17h

southwestregionalpublishing.com

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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 · 16h

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Unassuming Illinois Spot Piles Pizzas High With Toppings And Serves Wings Worth Licking Your Fingers For

Sixteen first-place wins at Chicago’s WingFest is a lot of hardware for one modest neighborhood grill. Add four Best of Fest awards, and that shelf starts looking crowded. The place doesn’t stop at wings, either. Homemade tavern-style thin crust pizza comes out of the same kitchen, along with garlic buffalo wings that seem to have their own fan club.

Palatine, IL · 2d

whatnow.com

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Fifty50 Restaurant Group Building Cocktail Bar Concept in Andersonville

Andersonville is getting another bar addition, this time on the more upscale side. Sin & Tonic is the name of a new drink concept on the way to Andersonville, per a recent Block Club Chicago report. This is coming to 1481 W Berwyn Avenue, next to the iconic Devil Dawgs location. Fifty50 Group, which is managing the concept, is hoping to debut it in mid-December.

Chicago, IL · 15h