We asked our 65,000 Chicago-loving followers to recommend the absolute best souvenirs to stash in your carry-on.
The results? A perfect mix of iconic snacks, questionable liquor, and nostalgia-inducing gear.
1. A Massive Tin of Garrett Popcorn
If you walk down Michigan Avenue and smell caramel and butter, you’re already in line.
Garrett Popcorn is non-negotiable.
While the “Garrett Mix” (a blend of caramel and cheese) is the classic move, true savory fans know the power of the CheeseCorn.
Grab a tin of just the cheddar cheese popcorn. It is dangerously orange, aggressively cheesy, and impossible to stop eating.
Your fingers will be stained for days, but it’s worth it.
Pro tip: If you’re flying, seal that tin tight—the cabin pressure will make the whole plane smell like delicious cheese.
2. A Mold-a-Rama Figurine
If you visit the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Field Museum, or the Museum of Science and Industry, keep your eyes peeled for a retro-looking machine that smells like melted crayons.
That’s a Mold-a-Rama.
Put in your money, and watch the machine inject hot, molten wax into a mold right in front of you.
Minutes later, you have a still-warm, hollow plastic figurine of a gorilla, a dinosaur, or a U-boat. It is cheap, nostalgic, and smells amazing.
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3. A Jar of Giardiniera
If you ordered an Italian Beef sandwich while you were here, you probably noticed the spicy, oily, crunchy veggie mix on top. That’s giardiniera, and life is boring without it.
It’s a mix of pickled peppers, celery, carrots, and cauliflower packed in oil. We put it on everything—pizza, eggs, subs, pasta. Grab a jar of Marconi or Ditka’s brand from a local grocery store. It’s the secret ingredient your home cooking has been missing.
4. A Bottle of Jeppson’s Malört
Do you hate your friends?
Do you love them?
It’s hard to tell the difference when you gift them a bottle of Malört.
This wormwood-based liqueur is a Chicago rite of passage. The taste has been described as everything from “pencil shavings” to “gasoline and grapefruit peel.”
It’s bitter, it lingers, and it’s the most authentic drinking experience you can have here.
Buy a bottle, take it home, and force your loved ones to take a shot while you film their “Malört Face.” It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
5. Frango Mints
Before it was Macy’s, it was Marshall Field’s, and locals will never let you forget it.
The one thing that survived the transition?
The Frango Mint. These little chocolates are a staple of Chicago holiday seasons and grandmother’s coffee tables.
They melt in your mouth and come in that distinct green box that looks fancy without breaking the bank. It’s the perfect “safe” gift for your boss or your house sitter.
6. Chicago Flag Apparel
We are obsessed with our flag.
Seriously, we might like our flag more than we like our sports teams.
You will see those four red stars and two blue stripes tattooed on bartenders, painted on fire hydrants, and hung on porch fronts across the city.
Skip the generic “I Love Chicago” text and grab a t-shirt, baseball cap, or simple silver necklace featuring the flag.
It’s universally recognized as one of the best-designed city flags in the country, so you’ll look cool wearing it even if you aren’t from here.
7. A Can (or Case) of Old Style
It’s known as “Chicago’s Water” for a reason.
For decades, Old Style was the only beer that mattered in the Wrigley Field bleachers.
It’s a no-frills lager that tastes best ice cold while eating a hot dog.
While the craft beer scene here is incredible (shout out to Revolution and Half Acre), nothing says “Chicago dive bar” quite like the shield logo of an Old Style. Grab a six-pack to stash in your checked bag.
8. Chicago Sports Merch
This is a sports town, through and through.
But you have to pick a side. Are you going with the North Side Cubs or the South Side White Sox?
The Bears are always a safe bet (even when they’re breaking our hearts), and a red Bulls jersey is iconic worldwide thanks to the Jordan era.
Head to a frantic sports shop near the stadiums or a local vendor to grab a beanie or a jersey. It helps you blend in immediately.
9. Frozen Deep Dish Pizza
Okay, this one requires a bit of logistics, but it’s the ultimate power move.
You can’t bring a hot Lou Malnati’s or Giordano’s pizza on the plane, but you can buy them frozen and packed on dry ice.
Most of the big-name pizza places sell travel-ready pies. If you want to be the hero of your household when you land, walk through the door with a slab of sausage and mozzarella that weighs as much as a brick. Pop it in the oven, and you’re back in the Midwest.
