Chicagoans secretly love knowing what outsiders think of our city. We might act like we don’t care, but the moment a transplant posts a “brutally honest review” of Chicago on the internet, we are in the comments section with our popcorn (and our defensive arguments) ready to go.
Recently, a Pacific Northwest (PNW) native who moved from Seattle to Chicago a few years ago took to Reddit to post their unfiltered thoughts on our city. And their review? It was a hilarious, surprisingly accurate, and deeply revealing mirror held up to our city’s culture.
The funniest part? They actually liked our winter weather—but it was our personalities and our driving that sent them into culture shock. Let’s break down what this West Coast transplant got right, what they completely misunderstood, and why we wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Compliments: They See Our Global Soul
First, let’s take a victory lap. The transplant was absolutely blown away by our diversity and food scene. Coming from Seattle, they noted how visible and authentic Chicago’s internationalism is.
They loved riding the CTA up to Argyle and seeing the signs switch to Vietnamese, heading to Avondale for Polish, or strolling down Devon Ave surrounded by Arabic, Hindi, and Tamil. They even marveled at the O’Hare tram signs translated into five different languages. In their words, moving here made them feel like they “leveled up.”
They also gave us our rightful crown as an urban powerhouse. While Seattle is a city, the transplant realized Chicago is on a “completely different level,” noting that our dense developments go on for miles. To them, we are undeniably the second most urban-feeling city in the country after NYC. (And yes, they actually cried the first time they saw American Gothic at the Art Institute).
The Weather Twist: Wait, They Like the Winter?
Usually, when a transplant reviews Chicago, the winter is the first casualty. Not this time. Because they hail from the rainy, gray PNW, the transplant actually loved our weather. They pointed out something we locals know but outsiders never believe: Chicago isn’t a constant frozen tundra.
They appreciated that our coldest days are often brilliantly sunny and dry, and that our winters frequently bounce back into the 40s and 50s. Their only weather-related shock? Getting used to how loud and intense our summer thunderstorms are.
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The Crosswalk Culture Shock: “Get Out of the F***in’ Street!”
If the weather was a pleasant surprise, our driving culture was a traumatic event.
In Seattle, the transplant noted, a pedestrian can simply look at a car, and the driver will politely yield. They tried that in Chicago and quickly learned they were playing a real-life game of Frogger. They recounted a traumatizing moment where a Chicago driver blew through a red light, swerved around them in a designated crosswalk, rolled down the window, and screamed, “Get out of the fuckin’ street!”
Then there’s the honking. The transplant was baffled by our horn usage, specifically mentioning a time they sat in their parked car at the grocery store for a minute, only for the car waiting for the spot to aggressively lay on the horn. (To the commenters on Reddit who replied, “Well, what were you doing in there? Get in your car and leave!” — never change, Chicago).
The Controversy: Are We “Midwest Nice” or Just Mean?
The transplant added a trigger warning to their post: “If you’re easily offended, defensive, or just a hater, leave now.” Why? Because they did not like the people here.
They found Chicagoans to be blunt, direct, and at times, flat-out rude. They noted a stark contrast to the polite, reserved nature of the West Coast. Naturally, this caused the Reddit thread to explode.
However, the comment section quickly turned into a fascinating psychological breakdown of the “Seattle Freeze” versus “Chicago Bluntness.” As many locals and East Coast transplants chimed in, Chicago doesn’t really subscribe to “Midwest Nice.” Socially, we orient ourselves much more toward the East Coast.
In the PNW, people might be polite on the surface, but it’s often passive-aggressive and hard to break through. In Chicago, we don’t have time for fake enthusiasm. We are busy, we talk fast, and we will tell you exactly what we think. We might not smile at you while ringing up your groceries, but if your car gets stuck in the snow, three strangers will silently appear to help you push it out. We aren’t rude; we are efficient.
The Missing Mountains
The one area where the transplant truly felt a loss was access to nature. If you’re used to having the Cascade Mountains and premier hiking trails in your backyard, Illinois is a tough pill to swallow. As one local commenter perfectly put it, we have the lake, the dunes, and some forest preserves, but to a West Coaster, it can feel like “an artificial substitute for nature.” The transplant felt the city seamlessly blended into endless suburbs, making it hard to escape the concrete jungle. We have to concede this one—you don’t move to Chicago for the elevation.
The Verdict
Despite the culture shock, the aggressive honking, and the lack of mountains, the Seattleite ultimately concluded that they highly recommend Chicago. They enjoyed their time here and appreciated the authentic, fast-paced intensity of the city.
So, here’s to Chicago. We might yell at you in a crosswalk and honk at you in the Jewel-Osco parking lot, but we have the best food in the world, a skyline that can’t be beat, and a population that will always tell it to you straight.
