Marengo, IL Food & Drink and More

We Ranked The Best Barbecue In Illinois And These 7 Smokehouses Made The Cut

Two of the best barbecue joints in Illinois sit inside old train depots. I love that. Brisket and railroad history might be the most Midwestern pairing ever invented. The surprises keep stacking up from there. One Chicago spot has been a South Side standard for over 70 years. A small...

Illinois · 1d

everafterinthewoods.com

This South Side Chicago Counter Has Been Dunking Breaded Steak Sandwiches In Red Gravy Since 1976, And Illinois Still Lines Up

A four-pound sandwich sits on the menu at one South Side counter, and it comes breaded, fried, and dunked in red gravy. Anthony Bourdain counted that sandwich among the best sandwiches in the world. The star is USDA Choice skirt steak, tenderized and hand-breaded with Italian seasonings. Then it gets...

Chicago, IL · 5d

wheninyourstate.com

Restaurant closures hit popular Chicago hot dog chain known for its longtime local following

Chicago favorite Portillo’s plans to close several underperforming restaurants outside the Chicagoland area as it changes its approach to national expansion. The company announced the decision on November 5, 2026, following a review of its restaurant performance. Portillo’s expects to close approximately 5 to 9 locations, with most shutdowns...

Chicago, IL · 3d

familydestinationsguide.com

This Illinois Seafood Restaurant Is Known Far And Wide For Its Incredibly Fresh Fried Fish

Some restaurants earn their reputation quietly, one perfectly fried piece of fish at a time, and The Fish Keg in Chicago has been doing exactly that for longer than most food trends have existed. If you haven’t heard of The Fish Keg yet, that’s about to change. The...

Chicago, IL · 5d

allamericanatlas.com

5 Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois that Will Make You Feel Like You’re in Rome

Chicago is a city that sings in many tongues—where the L rumbles above streets lined with brick and glass, where the lake wind tangles with the scent of roasted garlic and sweet basil, and where every neighborhood is a patchwork of stories. Here, the skyline rises bold and blue, but it’s the warmth of the people—Polish, Mexican, Black, Irish, Italian, and every dreamer in between—that gives the city its pulse. This is a place where food is memory, migration, and celebration, and where the table is always set for one more.

partner publisher · 865.6K followers

Parade

In 1893, a Woman Born Into Slavery Made Pancakes at the World’s Fair and Became the Country’s First Living Brand Ambassador; She Was Buried in an Unmarked Grave

Born into slavery in Kentucky. Made pancakes at the 1893 World’s Fair for 27 million visitors. Became the country’s first ever living brand ambassador. Buried in an unmarked grave. The brand she made famous lasted 130 more years.

Chicago, IL · 6d

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...

takemetotn.com

partner publisher · 3.8K followers

7 Illinois Restaurants Where Dinner Comes With A Show The Kids Won’t Stop Talking About

Dinner with no fork sounds like a kid’s wildest dream, and at one Illinois spot, it’s actually the rule. You eat a four-course meal with your hands while knights joust a few feet away. That alone would be enough for me. But this list goes further, with servers...

Rock Island, IL · 1d

Q985

These 12 Illinois Restaurants Make The List Of America’s 100 Best

Illinois landed twelve spots on OpenTable's best restaurants in America list, and they're all a road trip away in Chicago.

Illinois · 2d

rolling out

publisher · 196.4K followers

James Sanders on the best BBQ in Chicago that never reheats

James Sanders started his career at Ryan’s Steakhouse the day after he graduated high school. He set cooking aside to join the National Guard, then studied at Southern Illinois University, where late night backyard barbecues for friends turned a passion into a plan. Back in Chicago, he attended culinary school and worked as a prep cook for the Chicago Bears. He went on to own and oversee 22 Harold’s Chicken locations across the country, then launched Fuze Catering, the first African American owned catering company to cater events at the Art Institute of Chicago. Fuze also catered the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

everafterinthewoods.com

partner publisher · 5.3K followers

Old Italian Grocers Still Slice Mortadella At These 6 Illinois Markets

A single log of mortadella can weigh more than a toddler, and somebody still slices it by hand. That old ritual lives on behind a handful of no-frills Illinois deli counters that still do things the slow way. I find that oddly thrilling, like discovering your favorite song still plays...

Illinois · 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

Chicago, IL · 12h

Eater

Every Chicago 2026 Eater Award Winner, Mapped

The best restaurants, bars, and bakeries of 2026, according to Eater editors. The 2026 Eater Awards, presented by Capital One, brought some of the most memorable restaurants to the forefront. This year in Chicago, we honor the Best New Restaurant, Chef of the Year, Best New Bakery, Dish of the Year, and Best New Restaurant and Bar Combo. Here are the award recipients that made their mark on Chicago’s culinary scene in 2026.

partner publisher · 230.9K followers

CBS Chicago

Black McDonald's Operators Association hosting turkey giveaways in across Chicago

The Black McDonald's Operators Association is relaunching its 26th Big Turkey Giveaway in Chicago's Austin neighborhood on Tuesday.

nrn.com

Trending this week: Portillo’s to shutter five to nine restaurants outside Chicago

This week on Nation's Restaurant News, the top story was “Portillo’s to shutter five to nine restaurants outside Chicago.” Portillo’s plans to close a "mid- to high-single digit" number of underperforming restaurants outside Chicago, mostly in the fourth quarter, as part of a turnaround plan. The company did not say which restaurants are scheduled to close or where specifically.

thewhiskeywash.com

Buckhorn Whiskey Unveils Smoked Maple and Buck Hunt Pop-Ups

Beth Squires is the Deputy Editor of The Whiskey Wash and a graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s Atonia Programme. With over half a decade of industry experience, she is passionate about writing stories that highlight innovation, diversity, and sustainability across the global whisky landscape. Follow The Whiskey Wash on...

publisher · 6.0K followers

WBEZ

From Irish pub to Chicago blues hub: What happened to Biddy Mulligan’s?

In Rogers Park, a block from the lake, weeds are growing in front of a shuttered Irish pub. A sign above the door reads Mulligan’s Cafe, but a marquee above that identifies this closed business by another name: Biddy Mulligan’s. This unassuming storefront was once a hot spot for blues fans on Chicago’s North Side in the 1970s and 1980s.

chicagofoodmagazine.com

Now Open: Sifr Café, a New Daytime Café from Chefs Sahil Sehti and Sujan Sarkar

Sifr, the Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized Middle Eastern restaurant from Chef and Operator, Sahil Sethi and Chef Sujan Sarkar, officially debuts Sifr Café Wednesday, November 11, bringing a new daytime café experience to its River North location (660 N. Orleans St.). Open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sifr Café introduces a menu of specialty coffee, curated teas, house-made pastries, and savory breakfast offerings inspired by the diverse flavors of the Middle Eastern diaspora.

partner publisher · 11.7K followers

Timeless Dishes

8 Regional Hot Dog Styles and Stands, From Chicago to Seattle

From Chicago's garden of toppings to Seattle's cream cheese, eight regional hot dog styles and stands, each with its own bun, sauce and story. The post 8 Regional Hot Dog Styles and Stands, From Chicago to Seattle appeared first on Timeless Dishes .