Whiting, IN Food & Drink and More

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 · 2d

takingthekids.com

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 · 9h

gotodestinations.com

Why Locals ADORE This Hot Dog Drive-In That’s Older Than McDonald’s in Chicago, Illinois

Open Sun–Thu, 11 AM–1 AM; Fri–Sat, 11 AM–2 AM. In May 1948, two newlyweds opened a summer hot dog drive-in in Chicago to help pay for college. 🌭. At Superdawg Drive-In, Chicago diners still pull into a carport, order through a speaker box and wait for a carhop’s tray on the car window.

unearththevoyage.com

This Tiny Illinois Bakery Serves Flaky Danish Pastries So Authentic You’ll Swear You’re In Copenhagen

Some of the best bites in Illinois hide in places you would drive right past without a second look. I walked into a small, quiet bakery expecting a quick donut and walked out with a box of buttery Danish treats and a new weekend habit. The kind of flaky layers...

Burr Ridge, IL · 3d

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.

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.

Chicago, IL · 17h

takemetotn.com

This Old-School Illinois Steakhouse Serves Famous Baked French Onion Soup Worth The Drive

A bowl of French onion soup gets baked under a lid of cheese at one Illinois chophouse. The kitchen has been turning out that soup alongside steaks and ribs since 1969. That is a long run for any restaurant. It’s even longer when the menu still leans on prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, and Shrimp De Jonghe.

Forest Park, IL · 1d

fastfoodclub.com

Seven Illinois Pizza Taverns Have Been Cutting Squares For Regulars Since The 7s

Ask anyone who grew up around Chicago how pizza should be sliced, and there is a good chance they will say squares, not triangles. Tavern-style pizza, with its cracker-thin crust and party-cut pieces, has been a neighborhood staple across Illinois for generations, and a handful of family-run spots have been serving it to the same loyal crowds for decades.

everafterinthewoods.com

This Illinois Restaurant Serves Holiday Meals Beneath A Giant Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree stands right in the middle of a department store dining room, rising so high it nearly brushes the ceiling. People book tables months ahead just to eat lunch under it. The room itself dates back to 1907. The walls are covered in walnut paneling, and crystal chandeliers...

publisher · 196.4K followers

rolling out

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.

Chicago, IL · 13h

unearththevoyage.com

This Family-Run, Cash-Only Illinois Bakery Still Draws Fans For Its Famous Cheese Sticks

Some of the best food in Illinois hides behind plain storefronts you could drive past a hundred times. I almost did, until the smell of warm bread and the line at the door made me pull over. Inside, there were trays of pastries, towering cakes, and a buttery, cheesy treat...

Chicago, IL · 6d

unearththevoyage.com

Pick Any Cupcake You Want At This Entirely Gluten-Free Bakery In Chicago, Illinois

Some of the best bakery stops in Illinois hide behind a plain front door you could walk past a hundred times. I went in expecting a polite little snack, the kind you eat and forget. Instead I found a glass case so packed with cupcakes, cake pops, and frosted bars...

partner publisher · 38.2K followers

The Takeout

The Tangy Dipping Sauce You'll Find At The Best Chicken Shops In Chicago

Chicago may be famous for pizza and hot dogs, but residents also love a sweet, tangy dipping sauce on their chicken. Learn about this Windy City favorite.

partner publisher · 12.2K followers

Fun 104

12 Illinois Restaurants Land On OpenTable's Top 100 In America For 2026

Twelve Illinois spots landed on OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2026, and every one of them sits right here in Chicago.

publisher · 7.1K followers

Secret Chicago

Chicago’s crown jewel of pan pizza just earned another national nod—thanks to its legendary caramelized crust

Chicago hardly needs another reason to defend its pizza credentials. But we’ll happily take this one. Pequod’s Pizza—the local favorite known for that exquisite ring of caramelized cheese —has been named Illinois’ pick in Food & Wine’s “50 States of Award-Winning Pizza.” And while the national recognition is nice, the real draw is waiting around the edge of the pan. What makes Pequod’s crust so special? At Pequod’s, you don’t leave the crust behind. As Food & Wine explains, t he pizzeria places a ring of mozzarella around the inside edge of the pan. As the pizza bakes, that cheese caramelizes, creating the signature rim that sets these pies apart . A deeply browned cheese surrounds a generously topped Chicago-style pizza. The menu starts with a cheese pizza, with toppings available so you can build your own order. Sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, giardiniera, and more are among the options—but that caramelized edge is something you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished the meal. Why Food & Wine picked Pequod’s Food & Wine assembled its state-by-state guide using existing accolades, including international pizza competitions, restaurant rankings, local journalism, and readers’ choice awards. For Pequod’s, the magazine points to two major wins:

Chicago, IL · 4d

everafterinthewoods.com

This Illinois Coffee Shop Pours Nutella Lattes Among Two Floors Of Christian Books

A Nutella latte, a steak jibarito, and a shelf of Bibles in Spanish and English can all share one table here. That combination alone made me stop scrolling. This Illinois coffeehouse spreads across two floors packed with Christian books, gifts, and even games. A nonprofit Christian organization runs it, and the whole place carries a warm, homey feel.

chicagofoodmagazine.com

Avondale’s Moody’s Market Evolves Into a Neighborhood Gathering Spot For Cake & Wine

What began as a neighborhood specialty market is entering a new chapter. This November, Moody’s Market is evolving into Moody’s Cake & Wine, a refreshed concept from longtime friends and co-owners Mollie Mettelka and Melissa Korth, centered on house-made cakes, curated wines and community driven experiences. Situated at 2755 W. Belmont Ave. in Avondale, Moody’s expands on its original location by highlighting customer favorites including a larger focus on online ordering, curated private events, and custom cake and pastry production.

Chicago, IL · 2d

familydestinationsguide.com

Grab A Cup Of Courage At The Spookiest Horror-Themed Coffee Shop Hiding In Illinois

Most coffee shops want you to feel calm and productive, but The Brewed on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago has a slightly different agenda, and honestly, it’s so much more interesting. This place is something else entirely. There’s a moment that happens to almost everyone who encounters The Brewed for...