When most people think of Chicago food, three things immediately come to mind.
Deep-dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, and Chicago-style hot dogs dragged through the garden.
Don’t get me wrong, those foods are absolutely delicious. There are plenty of wildly famous Chicago restaurants that are actually worth the hype serving them up daily.
But if you only eat these three things during your trip, you are missing out on the true heart of Chicago’s culinary scene.
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, built by generations of working-class immigrants. Its best culinary inventions are a reflection of that history, and they are hiding in plain sight.
Locals know that the best meals aren’t always found in downtown tourist traps. They are found in neighborhoods where locals actually hang out, in corner taverns, and inside unassuming mom-and-pop joints.
If you want to eat like a true Chicagoan, you need to step off the beaten path and explore some of Chicago’s best hidden gems.
Getting Off the Beaten Path
Before we dive into the food, let’s address the elephant in the room.
To eat this food, you will have to leave the downtown Loop and River North.
Many visitors feel nervous about navigating the city. But if you check out our guide on whether Chicago is actually safe for tourists, you’ll find that stepping into these residential communities is one of the best things you can do.
Grab a Ventra card, read up on our essential tips for using the Chicago ‘L’ Train, and bring your appetite.
As a bonus? Almost all of the items on this list qualify as Chicago eats that will feed you for under $10.
Here are 15 iconic Chicago dishes that tourists completely ignore—and exactly where you need to go to try them.
1. Tavern-Style Pizza
Let’s settle a debate right now. Most Chicagoans do not eat deep-dish pizza on a regular basis.
Deep dish is strictly for when out-of-town guests visit. What locals actually eat is tavern-style pizza.
If you want the best thin crust pizza in Chicago, you are looking for a cracker-thin crust, a slightly sweet tomato sauce, and cheese pushed all the way to the edges. It is always cut into small, shareable squares.
- Neighborhood: Ashburn (South Side) or Lincoln Park.
- The Vibe: Old-school, no-frills, pitcher-of-beer neighborhood joint.
- Where to get it: Vito & Nick’s for an authentic South Side experience, or Pequod’s (famous for pan, but their thin crust is stellar).
2. The Jibarito
If you haven’t had a Jibarito, you haven’t fully experienced Chicago.
Invented in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood by a Puerto Rican restaurateur in the 1990s, this sandwich is a masterpiece.
Instead of bread, the Jibarito uses two flattened, fried green plantains. It is traditionally stuffed with steak, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and garlic mayonnaise. The combination of the crispy, salty plantains and the savory filling is absolutely incredible.
- Neighborhood: Humboldt Park or Logan Square.
- The Vibe: Lively, casual Puerto Rican comfort food.
- Where to get it: Jibaritos y Más (multiple locations) or Papa’s Cache Sabroso.
3. The Breaded Steak Sandwich
If you are hungry, this is the sandwich you need to order.
The breaded steak sandwich is exactly what it sounds like, but executed to perfection. A massive piece of tenderized, breaded, and fried steak is stuffed into a soft Italian roll.
It is then completely smothered in rich marinara sauce and topped with melted mozzarella and spicy giardiniera. It is incredibly messy and incredibly delicious.
- Neighborhood: Bridgeport.
- The Vibe: A massive, bustling, multi-room South Side institution.
- Where to get it: There is only one correct answer here: Ricobene’s. USA Today famously called it the best sandwich in the world, and Anthony Bourdain featured it on Parts Unknown.
4. Chicken Vesuvio
Did you know Chicago has its own unique style of Italian-American food?
Chicken Vesuvio is a classic dish invented in Chicago in the 1930s. It consists of half a chicken on the bone, roasted alongside thick potato wedges.
The magic is in the sauce—a luscious blend of white wine, garlic, oregano, and olive oil, finished off with a handful of green peas. It is the ultimate comfort food on a cold Midwest night.
- Neighborhood: River North or West Town.
- The Vibe: White tablecloths, vintage photos on the walls, and classic hospitality.
- Where to get it: Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse serves a legendary version, as does La Scarola.
5. The Gym Shoe (Jim Shoe) Sandwich
This is a true South Side Chicago staple that even some North Siders don’t know about.
If you’re wondering where locals go for late-night food at 2 a.m., it’s usually to get a Gym Shoe (often spelled Jim Shoe).
It is a submarine sandwich packed with roast beef, corned beef, and gyro meat. If that wasn’t enough, it’s topped with tzatziki sauce, mustard, tomatoes, onions, and giardiniera.
- Neighborhood: South Shore.
- The Vibe: Late-night, counter-service sub shop behind bulletproof glass.
- Where to get it: Stony Sub on Stony Island Avenue is the undisputed king of the Gym Shoe.
6. The Pizza Puff
If you visit a classic hot dog stand to find the best hot dog in Chicago, look closely at the menu board.
Right next to the fries and onion rings, you will almost always see a “Pizza Puff.”
Created by a Chicago-based company called Iltaco Foods, the pizza puff is a rectangular, deep-fried dough pocket filled with tomato sauce, cheese, and sausage. Think of it as a much better, deep-fried, locally-made Hot Pocket.
- Neighborhood: Everywhere!
- Pro-Tip: There is a real reason Chicago banned ketchup on hot dogs—so don’t ask for it, even for your Pizza Puff!
- Where to get it: Almost any neighborhood hot dog stand. Try Redhot Ranch or The Wiener’s Circle.
7. Flaming Saganaki
You can find Saganaki all over the world today, but the flaming version was actually invented in Chicago.
In the late 1960s, a restaurant in Chicago’s Greektown decided to pour brandy over a block of frying cheese and set it on fire.
The waiter yelled “Opa!” as the flames shot up, and squeezed fresh lemon juice over it to extinguish the fire. The crispy, salty, melty cheese is the perfect appetizer.
- Neighborhood: West Loop / Greektown.
- The Vibe: Festive, loud, family-style dining.
- Where to get it: Greek Islands serves some of the best Saganaki in the city.
8. The Mother-in-Law
This dish is definitely an acquired taste, but it is deeply embedded in Chicago’s food history.
The Mother-in-Law is a factory-made corn roll tamale placed inside a hot dog bun. It is then smothered in chili, onions, and sometimes classic Chicago hot dog toppings.
It is heavy, uniquely textured, and a true relic of mid-century Chicago working-class food.
- Neighborhood: Marquette Park.
- The Vibe: A legendary, tiny roadside shack.
- Where to get it: Fat Johnnie’s Famous Red Hots is world-famous for this creation.
9. South Side Rib Tips
When tourists think of barbecue, they usually think of Texas, Memphis, or Kansas City.
But Chicago has its own incredibly rich barbecue history, specifically on the South Side. The star of the show here isn’t brisket; it’s rib tips.
Rib tips are the meaty, cartilaginous ends trimmed off a slab of spare ribs. In Chicago, they are smoked in a unique, glass-enclosed contraption known as an “aquarium smoker” and drenched in sweet and tangy BBQ sauce.
- Neighborhood: Chatham.
- The Vibe: Takeout-only BBQ counter where the smell hits you from a block away.
- Where to get it: Lem’s Bar-B-Q is a legendary institution. Make sure you get a side of hot links, too.
10. Shrimp de Jonghe
If you want a taste of historic Chicago, this is the dish to order.
Shrimp de Jonghe was invented at DeJonghe’s Hotel and Restaurant in Chicago in the late 19th or early 20th century.
It is a decadent, rich casserole of whole, peeled shrimp blanketed in a heavenly mixture of garlic, butter, sherry, and soft breadcrumbs. It is baked until golden brown and bubbly.
- Neighborhood: River North or Gold Coast.
- The Vibe: Old-money Chicago steakhouses.
- Where to get it: Gene & Georgetti or Hugo’s Frog Bar serve phenomenal versions.
11. The Bone-In Pork Chop Sandwich
Yes, you read that right. Bone-in.
Originating from the historic Maxwell Street market area, this sandwich is a street food legend.
It consists of a thin, heavily seared pork chop served on a hamburger bun with mustard, sweet grilled onions, and a spicy sport pepper. The bone is left right in the middle of the sandwich to lock in the flavor and juices!
- Neighborhood: University Village.
- The Vibe: Standing on the sidewalk at 1 a.m. eating off the hood of your car.
- Where to get it: Jim’s Original. It is an absolute must-visit for street food lovers.
12. Anything Drenched in “Mild Sauce”
Okay, this is technically a condiment, but it is so deeply ingrained in Chicago food culture that it deserves a spot on this list. (It even has its own Chicago slang term!).
If you order fried chicken on the South or West Side of Chicago, you will inevitably be asked: “Mild sauce?” The correct answer is always yes.
Mild sauce is a tangy, sweet, slightly spicy concoction that usually consists of a secret blend of ketchup, barbecue sauce, and hot sauce. It gets poured directly over fried chicken and cascades down into the french fries beneath it.
- Neighborhood: Bronzeville, Hyde Park, and all across the South Loop.
- The Vibe: Quick-service chicken shacks wrapped in bulletproof glass.
- Where to get it: Harold’s Chicken Shack (multiple locations). Harold’s isn’t just a restaurant; it is a vital piece of Chicago culture.
13. The Original Rainbow Cone
Chicago summers are notoriously hot and humid, and locals know exactly how to cool down.
While tourists line up for standard downtown gelato, true Chicagoans head to the South Side for a Rainbow Cone.
Invented in 1926, this isn’t just a scoop of multi-colored ice cream. It is an architectural masterpiece of five different flavors sliced (not scooped!) onto a cone: Chocolate, Strawberry, Palmer House, Pistachio, and Orange Sherbet.
- Neighborhood: Beverly.
- The Vibe: A bright pink, historic neighborhood ice cream parlor.
- Where to get it: Original Rainbow Cone. (They have recently expanded to Navy Pier, but the Beverly location is the historic pilgrimage).
14. Gravy Bread
If you go to a classic beef stand to order the best Italian beef in Chicago, but you aren’t quite hungry enough for a massive meat sandwich, locals have a secret hack.
You order “Gravy Bread.”
It is just a piece of fresh, crusty French bread that is completely submerged in the hot, seasoned beef broth (the “gravy”) used for Italian beef sandwiches. You can (and should) ask for it topped with sweet peppers or spicy giardiniera.
- Neighborhood: Elmwood Park or Little Italy.
- The Vibe: Fast-paced, shouting order counters. Know what you want before you get to the front!
- Where to get it: Johnnie’s Beef or any local Al’s Beef location.
15. The Pepper and Egg Sandwich
This sandwich is proof of Chicago’s deeply rooted Catholic, working-class history.
Originally created to give blue-collar workers a hearty lunch on Fridays during Lent (when Catholics abstain from meat), the pepper and egg sandwich is a seasonal obsession.
It is a simple scramble of eggs and soft, roasted green bell peppers, stuffed heavily into a piece of crusty Italian bread. Some places add a splash of beef au jus or some melted provolone cheese.
- Neighborhood: Little Italy.
- The Vibe: Classic Italian deli and beef stand.
- Where to get it: Carm’s Beef or Buona Beef (usually only available during the Lenten season leading up to Easter!).
Bring a Taste of Chicago Home
Can’t make it to the neighborhoods? Or maybe you just left the Windy City and you are already having withdrawals?
You don’t have to live in the Midwest to eat like a Chicagoan. Here are a few ways to bring these iconic flavors right to your own kitchen:
- Stock up on Giardiniera: You can’t make a proper Chicago sandwich without it. Grab a jar of authentic Marconi Hot Giardiniera online.
- Order Vienna Beef: The legendary hot dog and Italian Beef makers ship nationwide. Get a Classic Chicago Dog Kit shipped via Goldbelly for your next summer cookout.
- Master the Tavern-Style: Ditch the deep dish pan and grab a LloydPans Chicago Thin Crust Pizza Pan to start making crispy, square-cut pies at home.
Chicago is undoubtedly one of the best food cities in the world. Venture out into the neighborhoods, order something you’ve never heard of before, and your tastebuds will thank you!
What is your favorite underrated Chicago food? Let me know in the comments below!