Lake In The Hills
Lake In The Hills, IL · Local Life
everafterinthewoods.com
This Old-School Illinois Restaurant Still Has Lines Out The Door In 2026
A century has passed, yet the door still swings open before sunrise and the griddle never seems to cool. Plates land fast, coffee flows nonstop, and the morning rhythm feels unchanged even as Chicago evolves around it. In Illinois, places with this kind of staying power are rare. Opened in...
myfamilytravels.com
This Illinois Mexican Restaurant Serves Enchiladas That Regulars Defend Like A Sport
Ready to order enchiladas and immediately understand why locals get protective about them? This Illinois Mexican restaurant serves an enchilada plate that regulars defend like a sport, because it hits that sweet spot of comfort, flavor, and consistency that makes people loyal fast. You sit down, glance at the menu,...
familydestinationsguide.com
This No-Frills Illinois Diner Has Been Dishing Out Iconic Breakfasts For A Century
If you’re tired of restaurants that spend more money on Instagram-worthy decor than on actual food, Lou Mitchell’s in Chicago is about to become your new favorite place. This West Loop institution has been serving straightforward, delicious breakfast for over a hundred years without any fuss, fanfare, or foam art on your cappuccino.
Axios
Chicago's Jibarito falls apart in Puerto Rico
I recently spent a few days in Puerto Rico visiting family and eating lots of food including an island version of the Chicago-invented jibarito sandwich. Backstory: Humboldt Park restaurateur Juan C. Figueroa started serving this steak sandwich using fried green plantain planks as bread in the mid-1990s at his Puerto Rican restaurant Borinquen.
everafterinthewoods.com
These Illinois Roadside Stands Serve Some Of The State’s Best Gyros
Illinois takes its gyros seriously and across the state, small counters and drive-ins keep the rotisserie spinning all day. Fast food, yes. Forgettable, never. These places skip the polish and focus on the payoff. You order at the counter, then watch the knife carve the meat. Soon you get a...
Block Club Chicago
20,000 Pounds Of Corned Beef? This 60-Year-Old South Side Shop Is Ready For St. Paddy’s Day
MORGAN PARK — Located just off the South Side Irish Parade route, County Fair Foods has been providing the Morgan Park neighborhood with fresh corned beef for decades. Tom Baffes, president of the family-owned grocery store at 10800 S. Western Ave., said the business will sell close to 20,000 pounds of corned beef out of barrels in the lead-up to St. Patrick’s Day.
Secret Chicago
Martha Stewart’s Favorite NYC Bagel Shop Is Finally Opening Its First Chicago Location
A viral bagel sensation known for its long lines , dedicated fans, and simple motto—”Grip, Rip, and Dip”—is coming to Chicago. PopUp Bagels announced on Instagram that it plans to open a permanent location in Lincoln Park , marking the brand’s first store in the city. Chicago’s first-ever PopUp Bagels is officially coming “Chicago we’re coming soon!!!!” the post read, adding the shop is on the way at 2321 N. Lincoln Ave. And now Chicagoans can eat their bagels the Martha Stewart way! Last December, Martha Stewart sparked some controversy when she shared her preferred method for eating a bagel —taking one quarter of a bagel, breaking it into small pieces, and topping each bite with a fair amount of cream cheese. The star of this performance is her favorite bagel: the PopUp Bagels’ poppy seed bagel, which is fitting since PopUp is known for serving bagels hot and fresh with a tub of cream cheese. While PopUp Bagels does not yet have a scheduled opening day , you can enjoy their offerings this weekend. In c elebration of St. Patrick’s Day, PopUp Bagels has teamed up with Guinness to introduce a special bagel with a unique schmear: Guinness Chocolate
Secret Chicago
Inside Chicago’s Newest Specialty Market Where You Can Grab Michelin-Level Sandwiches and Butcher Cuts for Home
Chicago’s Loop has welcomed a new lunchtime hotspot: Fatback, a hybrid sandwich shop, butcher counter , and specialty market. Chef Charlie McKenna and The Fifty/50 Group opened Fatback to solve a common downtown challenge : how to enjoy a standout lunch while also having quality options for dinner later. Think of it as a convenient “desk-to-dinner” stop. The European-style sandwich shop opened on West Wacker The debut menu takes diners on a one-of-kind sandwich journey , featuring options such as the signature Jambon, made with Lady Edison country ham and whole-grain mustard beurre; the spicy ‘Nduja grilled cheese, incorporating American cheese and Maldon salt ; the Beet sandwich, which includes roasted yellow beets with labneh and za’atar; and the Cochon sandwich, crafted with porchetta, tasso ham, and French raclette. Guests can complement their meals with signature salads like the Tahini Caesar , featuring sesame dukkah, or the Grain Salad, which includes quinoa and pomegranate. Additionally, rotating sides are available, such as Carrot Râpée with cumin and honey or Vodka Tomato Soup. Chef Charlie McKenna said: Fatback is about the human element of dining. It’s the reason to leave your desk at noon to talk to the person who actually brined
Block Club Chicago
Boxty, The Irish Potato Pancake, Is Hard To Find In Chicago — And It’s Delicious
CHICAGO — France has the crêpe and eastern Europe the blintz. In Jewish cuisine, latkes are loved, and in African, Asian and Spanish countries, there are fritters. But in Ireland, one starchy snack encompasses them all: boxty. As Chicago prepares to go green with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations,...
franchising.com
Potbelly Makes National Meatball Day Twice as Toasty with BOGO Promotion for Perks Members
March 09, 2026 // Franchising.com // CHICAGO – Potbelly is turning up the toastiness all week long for National Meatball Day with a buy-one, get-one-free promotion for Perks members. Beginning Monday, March 9, and lasting through Sunday, March 15, Perks members who order any Original or BIG meatball sandwich will receive any Original sandwich or wrap for free.
Block Club Chicago
Chicago Irish Rock Band One For The Ditch Is Ready For Its Busiest Week Of The Year
CHICAGO — Sean Mulroney was wrapping up his day as a lawyer in the West Loop when his phone rang. At the other end, someone made Mulroney a stunning offer: If his band could get to the Aragon Ballroom by 6:30 p.m., they could open for Smashing Pumpkins. “I...
everafterinthewoods.com
You’d Never Expect To Find One Of America’s Best Pizzas At This Illinois Spot
Chicago built its pizza reputation on deep-dish legends, but another style is drawing serious attention. A waterfront pizzeria here focuses on thin-crust pies with carefully developed dough and toppings that lean creative without feeling overworked. The setting adds its own appeal. This corner of Illinois proves that Chicago’s pizza identity...
blockclubchicago.org
Hey Friends Cafe Launches Kickstarter To Bring Filipino Food To Portage Park
PORTAGE PARK — Amanda Agosto and her husband, Victor, want their new Portage Park coffee shop to be a place where teens meet up to do homework after school, where families bring their kids for a treat and where neighbors are regulars. The Agostos have summed up the welcoming...
WTTW - Chicago PBS
Irish Pubs and Restaurants With Special Food and Festivities for St. Patrick's Day
Get more recipes, food news, and stories at wttw.com/food or by signing up for our Deep Dish newsletter. Have a food story or recommendation? Email us at [email protected]. Chicago may have just celebrated its 189th birthday, but the real party is this weekend. The festivities honor not the city’s founding but St. Patrick’s Day, which is the occasion for arguably the most raucous revels in this proudly Irish city. While the official St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, celebrations are concentrated on the weekend before, with the River dyeing and downtown parade taking place on March 14 and the South Side and Northwest Side Irish parades on March 15.
evanstonroundtable.com
Northlight Theatre announces 2026-2027 season, first in new home in Evanston
Northlight Theatre announced its 2026-2027 season Tuesday — the inaugural season at its new downtown Evanston home at 1012 Church St. The upcoming slate of five plays, includes three world premieres, and there will be celebratory opening gala on Aug. 15. The theater will kick off its season with...
Chicago Public Radio
Ramadan nights turn Bridgeview’s Yemeni coffee shops into late-night hubs
A coffee haven has emerged in Bridgeview along Harlem Avenue and 87th Street. Several coffee shops have opened post-pandemic, forming a corridor that centers Middle Eastern flavors, design and culture. Long lines that move quickly, crowded dining rooms and a lively, alcohol-free environment — where people stay and mingle instead of staring down at their phones — are becoming a defining part of the suburb’s social scene.