CHICAGO IS THE BUSINESS. Just because you moved to New York two years ago from Muncie, Indiana doesn't earn you license to start shouting "Second City", tough guy. Hell, you were still wearing a white belt & a trucker hat last week.
BARS. We do not play when it comes to watering holes. In fact, contrary to popular rumors, we invented alcoholism. Like New York and Cali, smoking is prohibited in bars and restaurants so you can make new friends on the sidewalk when the urge to puff hits you. Most weekday bars close at 2am, with select bars open till 3 or 4am by special license. While this isn't a definitive list of where you should be throwing them back, it's where we spend most of our time.
- The Blue Frog: 676 North LaSalle (LaSalle and Huron) | 11:30 a.m.-Midnight Mon-Thurs 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday | 6 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday | Closed Sunday.
Food, including cheep specials. Go for the grilled cheese, we tell ya. A downtown after work messenger hangout, featuring cheep eats, cheep brews, board games and the periodic bought of karaoke.
- Cal's: 400 S Wells (Wells and Van Buren) | Open most of the time when you'd want it to be. Closed Sundays. Usually.
The post work, during work, before work messenger bar and music venue. By venue we mean the corner at the end of the bar where grimy punk bands bash it out most days of the week. This place has everything, a bathroom with no lock, loads of winos and old men, a full liquor store and people falling down. Sometimes there's outdoor seating. Sometimes there's not. A local legend and not to be missed.
- Goldstar: 1755 W Division (Division and Wood) | 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday through Friday | 4 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday.
Oh Wicker Park. Where have you gone... Even though the rest of Division has turned into boutiqueville and stroller central, you can still put it down at one of Chicago's longest running and well loved bars. Mondays feature $2 drafts of Guiness and Stella and the jukebox is still one of the best in the city. If yr the sporting type you can drunkenly challenge Russell from Upgrade at pool (which is free). He's there most nights, in the back waiting for you to buy him shots. Plus, free extra salty popcorn and snappy dialog with frat-dudes on the sidewalk while you smoke!
- Skylark: 2149 S Halsted (Halsted and Cermak) | 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday through Friday | 4 p.m.-3 a.m.
Two words. Tater-Tots. Just to the west of Pilsen (your friends, they all live there now) the Skylark is huge and roomy, with food, cheep booze and pinball. The kitchen stays open hella late and the more you knock 'em back the better people start to look. It's just about perfect.
- Estelle's: 2013 W. North (North at Damen and Milwaukee) | 7 p.m.-4 a.m. Sunday through Friday | 7 p.m.-5 a.m. Saturday.
Yes, it is located at the center of hell (Damen/North/Wilwaukee) but it's open until 4am! While not as cheep as it ought to be (but by no stretch expensive) this place really gets going around 2am when your ass gets booted from every other bar. And by "getting going" we mean "finding someone to go home with". And, if rejection does happen, yr right around the corner from 24hr burritos and burgers courtesy of Flash Taco and Underdog.
- The Blind Robin: 853 N. Western (Western and Iowa) | 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Friday | Noon-3 a.m. Saturday | Noon-2 a.m.
Don't let the fact that it's not filthy throw you. This is your bar - someone just took the time to mop. Like it's sister bar Green Eye (2403 W Homer at Western) this place is super messenger and bike friendly and has a high tattoo to skin ratio, particularly courtesy of top notch bartenders like Chris and Lil' E. The drinks are reasonable, the music good and, if so inclined, they can even throw a fancy cocktail your way. They'll make fun of you for it, but they'll make it.
- Stella's': 935 N Western (Western and Walton) | 1 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday-Friday | 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday.
Maybe you want to escape hipsters with riser-bars and candy colored deep=v's. Maybe you just want to have a Bud or a Zywiec, watch the game at a bar that's never to crowded and knows how to treat a fellow. Stella's is the spot. A classic Ukranian Village dive Stella herself still tends bar, and will school you on your weak pronunciation of Polish beers.
BIKESHOPS. You will break your stuff. You will taco a wheel. You will drunkenly decide to take apart your headset and lose all your bearing. And when that happens you can go to these places and they will fix it for your dumb ass.
- Yojimbo's Garage: 1310 N Clybourn (between Larrabee St & Mohawk St) | Sundays: noon-4pm | Mondays: 2pm-7pm | Tuesdays: 8am-1pm | Wednesdays: Closed | Thursdays: 8am- 1pm | Fridays: 2pm-7pm. Saturdays: noon-4pm.
This is THE Chicago bike shop if you happen to think track bikes are the thing. Marcus Moore, arguably Chicago's best bike mechanic and wheel builder, set up his shop back in 1997 in the shadow of Cabrini Green. It's like wandering into a cave of bike porn. Nito parts stacked around, piles of Bareknuckle, DeBenardi and Gan Well Pro frames (plus a nice selection of Fuji's), and rims in every color of the rainbow (we know how you kids roll). Marcus has been wrenching for the messenger community for over a decade, as well as being the gateway to sanctioned racing for the alleycat jet set. He is the man. You should go to his shop.
- Upgrade Cycle Works: 1130 W Chicago Ave (Just West of Milwaukee) | 8am-9pm Monday-Friday | 10am-6pm Saturday-Sunday.
A long stand out in the Chicago messenger scene (On Time's offices used to be above it) Upgrade has earned it's reputation as a solid, dependable, sometimes belligerently drunk shop, thanks in part to master mechanic and wheel builder James's wrench skills and Russell's "happy go lucky" demeanor. We kid, we kid. We love you Russell.
- Rapid Transit: 1900 W North Ave (North and Wolcott) | Mon-Thu 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. | Mon-Thu 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. | Sat 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
The shop that keeps Chicago Bike Polo employed. Stop by and say hey to local luminaries like Andy Dumptruck or BenBikePolo. Then buy a recumbent. No kidding. They've got hella recumbents. Like they're the biggest recumbent dealer in the midwest or something. It's pretty rad.
- Boulevard Bikes: 12535 North Kedzie (Kedzie and Milwaukee where Logan intersects) | Tues-Wed 12pm-7pm | Thurs 12pm-8pm | Friday 12pm-6pm | Sat 10am-5pm | Sunday 12pm-5pm | Closed Monday.
Logan Square's long running and best bike shop. Kevin Womac has been holding it down here next door to the popular (and tasty) Lula Café and it features a host of long-time Chicago wrenches like Adrian Red, Nate and lately the Dumptruck himself. They take care, no doubt.
GRUB. Yes, there are more than Brauts in Chicago. In fact, we rule the school when it comes to food. You want it, we got it. We'll break it down style by style for yins. Oh yeah, just so you know, in Chicago cash is king. Which means lots of bars and restaurants only take cash. So stuff that mad roll in your sock before you head out or be prepared to be washing some dishes.
Vegetarian / Vegan
- Handlebar: 2311 W. North (North and Oakley - just west of Damen/North/Milwaukee)
Mon-Fri 11:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. | Sat 10:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. | Sun 10:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. Global/Fusion/Eclectic, Vegetarian/Healthy.
Bike themed with specials for messengers on Mondays (gotta show yr messenger ID). The food is cheap and vegetarian/vegan friendly: most entrees are under $10, and the only meat option is fish. The kitchen also does a bang-up job with comfort food: seitan and tofu sandwiches come with a variety of sides including a respectable vegetarian version of southern collard greens and a totally addictive smoked Gouda mac 'n' cheese. Dining on the big ass patio is like sitting in someone's backyard. Because it is. Watch out for falling soccer balls. No joke.
- Veggie Bite: 1300 N. Milwaukee (Milwaukee and Paulina)
Vegetarian/Healthy. Lunch, dinner: seven days.
100% Vegan fast food place with vegan versions of buffalo wings, gyros, meatballs, and Philly cheese steaks. Not going to change your life, but inexpensive, fast and good for those Earth Crisis fans still rocking it.
- Chicago Diner: 3411 N. Halsted St (Halsted just North of Belmont)
Vegetarian/Healthy. Lunch: Mon-Fri. Dinner: seven days. Saturday and Sunday brunch.
Chicago's original vegetarian / vegan restaurant. A little pricy, but not bad if yr in for a real meal. Dishes made with eggs and dairy are indicated on the menu, and vegan substitutions are often available upon request.
- Soul Vegetarian East: 205 E. 75th St (West of Hyde Park)
Southern/Soul Food, Vegetarian/Healthy. Breakfast, Lunch: Mon-Sat. Dinner: seven days. Sunday brunch.
For the last 25 years Soul Veg has been handling it with the best vegan and vegetarian soul food - barbecued wheat gluten, stir-fried meatless "steak," tofu tidbits. Watch local vegan kids eyes light up like it's Christmas when you mention that yr thinking about going there. This is not some hippie shit. This is real, putting it down South Side Chicago soul food shit. Worth. The. Trip.
- Karyn's Cooked: 738 N. Wells (Wells just off Chicago)
Vegetarian/Healthy. Lunch: Mon-Sat. Dinner: seven days. Sunday brunch.
If Soul Veg is a bit to far south for you this River North spot can provide a decent substitute. Just about everything's Vegan and the BBQ ribs will fool eve die hard meat eaters. Good comfort and soul food, ranging from an excellent (vegan) flat bread pizza to lasagna and sandwiches. A little heavier on the pocket, though, with the average tab, if you buy booze (all organic) running about $20.
- Kramer's Health Foods: 230 S Wabash (Wabash and Adams)
Vegetarian/Healthy.
Old school Chicago health food store/ restaurant. Max sez: "The Rocket Fuel shake gives you mad sexual powers." Yeah! Yeah! Whole Foods blow it out your ass. This is the spot.
Open Late / 24hr
- Flash Taco / Underdog: 1570 N. Damen (Damen/North/Milwaukee)
Mexican / Burgers/Dogs/Pizza. Open every night until 4am.
If you're drunk in Wicker Park after the bars close this is where you end up. Cheep burritos upstairs and downstairs everything else. For "don't ask don't tell" vegetarians there are Veggie Burgers downstairs. Just don't watch them fry on the same grill as the loose meat sandwiches. The food is cheap but pretty good, the place is clean (by 4am standards) and they've got a decent horchata.
- Hollywood Grill: 1601 W. North (North and Ashland)
American. Open 24 hours every day.
It's a 24hr diner serving 24hr food. Late night people watching here is pretty good, as the crowd seems to refuse to be gentrified. It's cheep, greasy and open.
- Lorraine's Diner: 1959 W Chicago (Chicago and Damen)
American. Open 24 hours every day.
Cheeper than Hollywood Grill, dirty, bitchy waitresses, truck-stop coffee, Chocolate chip pancakes with cheese fries, biscuits and gravy with corned beef hash and it has payphones. PAYPHONES!!!
- Pick Me Up Cafe: 3408 N. Clark (Clark and Newport)
American, Vegetarian/Healthy. Open late: Friday & Saturday open 24 hours, other nights till 3 AM.
This place has been around for ages, servicing late night Lakeview crowds staggering home from shows at the Metro. It's pretty much got everything you could ever want, with excellent breakfasts served anytime. While it might be a little away from where yr crashing it's way better food than just about any other all night spot and probably the best bet for your Vegetarian and Vegan friends (has vegan pancakes. And vegan french toast. Hell yeah). Or just stick to giant plates of fries, bacon omelets and calamari. And now, at long last, the Pick Me Up serves beer. Sweet sweet beer...
- Super Sub: 1048 N. Ashland (Ashland between Division and Augusta)
Sandwiches, subs, Phili Cheese. Open late: 9 a.m.- 5 a.m. Sunday-Thursday | 9 a.m.-6 a.m. Friday-Saturday.
Fine Ass Matt, who used to live around the corner, sums it up: "I recommend against it". That didn't stop him from eating there, but consider yourself warned. With it's thick, bulletproof plexiglass and the enticing smell of french fries and ammonia setting the mood, few places make better sandwich while perpetually talking on their wireless phone in Urdu and nobody charges less, even if the price on the menu and the price you pay seem to have no relation to one another. 4am is when it really gets going here, with half-asleep drunken fights and thugs playing grab-ass with your girlfriend. But it's open and cheep. So cheep. So very very cheep.
- Mr Greek Gyros: 234 S. Halsted (Halsted south of Adams)
Greek, Gyros. Open 24 hours every day.
The best gyros in the city and their chicken burrito is fucking amazing. Gets nice and rowdy late nights as well.
Take-Out / Sandwiches
- Bari Foods: 1120 W. Grand Ave (between Ashland and the Kennedy)
American, Italian. Breakfast: seven days | Lunch: Mon-Sat. A grocery and deli (takeout only)
Bari is the business for authentic Italian sandwiches. Subs stuffed with corned beef, roast beef, Italian sausage, or Italian deli meats, but a favorite is the fresh mozzarella and prosciutto sub. Available at 9 or 12 inches, the sandwich packs ultrathin slices of melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto and hunks of squeaky cheese between the halves of a loaf of French bread crisp from the ovens next door at D'Amato's Bakery, and dresses it up with shredded lettuce, onion, and tomato, with a dash of oil and Italian seasoning. Pick up a jar of their ultra-hot hand made giardiniera.
- Sultan's Market: 2057 W. North (North just west of Damen/North/Milwaukee)
Middle Eastern. Lunch, dinner: seven days.
The best, cheep and amazing falafel sandwich in Chicago. Throw in a bowl of lentil soup or some lentils and rice topped with fresh tabbouleh and you are good to go. Seating outside and in, or take it to go and eat in the park. With booze.
- The Brown Sack: 3706 W. Armitage (at Lawdale, just east of Pulaski)
American, Ice Cream. Breakfast, Lunch: Sun, Tues-Sat. Dinner: Tues-Fri. Closed Monday.
A sunny, six-table Logan Square/Humboldt Park spot with hearty down-home standards like a gooey grilled peanut butter, banana, and honey sandwich and beefarific chili laced with head-clearing handfuls of cumin and chile (a vegan version is also available). The Reuben, a popular choice, comes piled with thick folds of corned beef topped with the traditional Thousand Island dressing and melted Swiss, plus grilled onions. There's also rich mac 'n' cheese, meatball subs, Goose Island root beer floats, and daily soup, sandwich, and dessert specials.
- Fontano's Subs: 20 E Jackson (Jackson between State and Wabash)
Subs, Deli.
The loop location of this local chain produces some of Chicago's finest subs (or hoggies, or grinders or whatever you out of towners call 'em). The Meatball and Italian Beef are top notch, with a 6" setting you back around $4.95. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they do a killer homeade breaded eggplant for $6.
- Haifa Cafe: 19 N. Wells (Wells and Madison)
Middle Eastern. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday | closed Saturday-Sunday.
Cheap falafel, baba ghanoush, hummus, gyros and bus station atmosphere. They make a damn good shawarma platter.
- Jim's Original: 1250 S. Union (Union just south of Roosevelt)
Encased Meats. Open 24-hours | Carry-Out Only. Cash Only.
The best place for a polish in the city. People will try to sell you gently used pornography as you eat. Owner Gus Christopoulos says he does not use any old store-bought Polish, he has them custom-made with his own blend of spices. Another bestseller is the bone-in pork chop sandwich, which Christopoulos' father-in-law James Stefanovic, who ran the eatery until 1976, started serving in the late '40s. These sandwiches, which come loaded with mustard, onions and sport peppers are now a Chicago classic.
Burgers/Brauts/Red Red Meat
- Kuma's Corner: 2900 W. Belmont (Belmont just west of California)
Bar/Lounge, Burgers. Open late: Saturday till 3, Monday-Friday till 2, Sunday till midnight.
We're going out on a limb here and saying this is the best burger in Chicago. First off, all 26 different burgers are named after metal bands. That's right. You can order a Slayer (a pile of fries topped with a half-pound burger plus chili, cherry peppers, andouille sausage, onions, jack cheese and anger) or a Mastodon (BBQ Sauce, Cheddar, Bacon, Frizzled Onions). There's make your own mac & cheese, with will freak you out, and beer beer beer beer. So many beers. The bartenders are awesome (shout out to our boys Alex and Big Black) and the waitresses are hot, surly, tattooed and crush worthy.
- Hot Doug's: 3324 N. California (California and Roscoe)
Encased Meats. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday | closed Sunday.
Award Winning Encased Meat Emporium Hot Doug's is a Chicago legend. It's original location burned down a few years ago, but the new spot is rocking. Polishes, brats, Thuringers, andouille, and Chicago-style dogs, dressed and cooked to customer preference--whether char-grilled, deep-fried, steamed, or fried then grilled. There are also daily gourmet specials and a "game of the week" sausage: gator, boar, rattlesnake, rabbit, duck, kangaroo, or duck sausage with foie gras. Fridays and Saturdays fresh-cut fries are cooked in duck fat. Lunchtime there can be a line, but it's worth the wait.
- Harold's Chicken Shack : 636 S. Wabash (Wabash south of Harrison) & 1361 N. Milwaukee (Milwaukee west of Division/Ashland)
Fried Chicken. 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday | 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday.
Amazing fried chicken w/ 2 slices of white bread. Extra white bread is .10 cents per slice. There are about a dozen more of these around the city, and they're all killer.
- Feed: 2803 W. Chicago (Chicago and California)
Fried Chicken, BBQ. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday | 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday | 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. | BYOB
Damn good side dishes. Damn good chicken.
- Calvin's BBQ: 2540 W. Armitage (Armitage west of Milwaukee)
Barbecue. 11 a.m-9 p.m Sunday-Thursday | 11 a.m-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Pulled pork heaven. Don't even think about getting anything besides meat here.
Asian (Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc)
- Star of Siam: 11 E. Illinois (Illinois just east of State)
Thai. 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday | 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday | 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday.
If you find yourself downtown this joint offers reasonably priced Thai food (particularly for the loop) in classier-than-usual surroundings just west of Michigan Avenue. Most entrees are $7.25, with the Pad Thai coming in at a bargain $6.75. Good for take-out and boasts a pretty damn good green curry.
- Zen Noodles: 1852 W. North (North just east of Wolcott - Right by Rapid Transit)
Thai/Japanese/Pan-Asian. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday | closed Sunday.
A popular favorite of the Wicker Park working set (Rapid Transit kids seem to live off it) it's your pretty typical Pan-Asian fair. In case you've been gone a while this is the place used to be Hi Ricky. The sushi isn't the best, so stick to Thai. Portions are impressive, the Tangy Peanut Noodles being enough to split between two people. There are a couple cool crispy noodle dishes you won't find elsewhere as well. Prices hover around the $7-$9 (it is Wicker Park after all) and they've got booze. Right next door to Quimby's, Chicago's best 'zine and alternative media shop.
- Joy Yee Noodle: Chinatown Square - 2139-41 South China Place (North of Cermak, east of Canal)
Chinese. 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. seven days a week. | BYOB
Chinatown can be a little daunting, since it's chocked full of options. If yr feeling adventurous by all means jump into just about anywhere you see. But this popular spot, recently moved to larger digs, features a massive menu that feels like a phonebook and does it authentic with ample portions served in oversized Asian bowls, bamboo pots, stone bowls, hot pots, and even a halved pineapple. Bubble teas --the iced tea-drink laced with tapioca pearls and sipped through a fat straw--are the preferred beverage.
- Hachi's Kitchen: 2521 N. California (California just south of Logan)
Japanese, Sushi. 4-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 4:30 p.m.-midnight; Friday-Saturday; 3:30-10 p.m. Sunday.
Logan Square sushi joint featuring creative maki like the spicy white tuna crunch and cooked fare like Chilean sea bass sautéed with jalapenos and onions. While not bargain basement prices, their average of $6 a roll and entree's for $19 are (big city) reasonable. It's sushi and yr in Chicago, so you know what yr getting into.
- Joy's Noodles & Rice: 3257 N Broadway (Broadway and just north of Belmont)
Thai, Pan-Asian. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. | BYOB
This Lakeview joint, just a couple blocks from Belmont Harbor, is pretty amazing. It's one of those spots that you'd never know about unless you knew someone who had lived in the neighborhood (and we got people everywhere dog). For how good everything is it's shockingly cheep. Lunch specials are $5 and include an egg roll and cucumber salad, with everything else sticking under $9 the rest of the day. The Drunken Noodles are about the best in the city.
- Thai Butterfly: 1156 W. Grand (Grand and Racine)
Thai, Sushi. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday | noon-11 p.m. Saturday | noon-10 p.m. Sunday. | BYOB
Looks and tastes expensive but isn't. Free miso soup. Entrees are split between Japanese and Thai; look for choices like green curry, cashew chicken, steak teriyaki and chicken katsu and there's plenty of a la carte sushi. Shit is under $9 generally. No joke.
Mexican/Latin American
- El Taco Veloz: 1745 W. Chicago (Chicago between Wood and Hermitage)
Mexican. Open Late every night until 2am.
An extensive (and inexpensive) menu offering tacos, burritos, huaraches, and gorditas, but it's best known for the Jaliscan dish carne en su jugo, "meat in its own juices," a bowl of stewed beef, bacon, beans, avocado, onion, and radishes. Posole and menudo are available only on weekends, but you'll find other specialties like cecina and barbacoa seven days a week. Awesome for takeout, but with plenty of booth space if you want to take a load off. The horchata is some of the best in the city.
- Tecalitlan: 1814 W. Chicago (Chicago and Wood)
Mexican. Breakfast, lunch, dinner: seven days. Open Late Friday & Saturday till 3a.m.
Come for the margaritas (half priced pitchers on Wednesdays) and stay for the free chips and salsa. This place is huge and good - perfect if you're rolling deep. Steaming combination platters, hefty burritos, and the usual array of a la carte tacos, tortas, tostadas - everything piled with fresh avocado.
- Irazu: 1865 N. Milwaukee (Milwaukee just east of Western)
Costa Rican. Lunch, dinner: Mon-Sat (closes at 9p.m.). Closed Sunday.
Tiny and always crowded, Irazu is Chicago's best Costa Rican spot, serving food that's cheap, tasty, and plentiful. Standouts are the burritos (big enough to feed two) with optional mushrooms and hot peppers, and interesting nonalcoholic drinks like the tart, refreshing tamarind shake. Plenty of Vegetarian options. Make sure to try the Casado, thin rib eye steak or chicken breast caramelized with onions, served with white rice, black beans, sweet plantains, an over easy egg & cabbage salad.
- Nuevo Leon: 1515 W 18th (18th just east of Ashland)
Mexican. 7 a.m.-midnight daily. | BYOB
This Pilsen institution has been steady slinging since 1962, with inexpensive lunch specials, killer mole and it's BYOB. The Enchiladas Suizas (three corn tortillas dipped in mole sauce, red chile ancho sauce or green tomatillo sauce rolled and filled with ground beef or chicken and topped with cheese) come highly recommended.
- Taqueria Moran: 2226 N. California (California and Milwaukee)
Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban. Lunch, dinner: seven days.
Located right under the California Blue Line stop, with capably prepared Mexican classics, Puerto Rican jibaritos and Cuban sandwiches. You can come for breakfast chilaquiles and machaca (the dried beef of northern Mexico) or hit up late night Denver omelets and fajitas.
- Carbon: 300 W 26th (26th under the Dan Ryan Expressway) | Mexican. Lunch, dinner: seven days.
It's hard to miss this 20-seat Bridgeport quick-serve restaurant, sitting under the Dan Ryan Expressway. Just look for that enormous mural on the side of the building featuring an oversized, flame-enhanced "Carbon" logo. They've got all the standards, but the real reason you're here is for the fish tacos, which are excellent. Don't mess.
- Habana Libre: 1440 W. Chicago (Chicago east of Ashland)
Cuban. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday | noon-10 p.m. Sunday. | BYOB
The best motherfucking Cuban sandwich in the city. Whatever is on special is guaranteed to be greasy as hell and smothered in garlic.
Coffee / Café's
- Atomix: 1957 W. Chicago Ave (Chicago and Damen)
Coffee/Sandwiches. 6:45 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday though Friday | 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
A long loved local spot, featuring excellent fair trade coffee and tea, plus make your own sandwiches (hot or cold), vegan baked goods, veggie chili and grilled soy cheese. Atom himself generally mans the counter and, once yr jacked up on the caffeine, you can stagger next store to Rotofugi and buy yourself some designer toys.
- Cafe Jumping Bean: 1439 W. 18th (18th just east of Ashland)
Coffee/Sandwiches. 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday | 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
A Pilsen standby for the last 10 years. During the day, the bright blue walls make the room an inviting space with cheep gourmet coffees, bagels, sandwiches and zesty soups. At night hit up ritzy desserts and revel in world music. Plus, extra bonus, they've got one of the last pay phones that only costs a quarter.
- Atlas Cafe: 3028 W. Armitage (Armitage just west of Humboldt)
Global/Fusion/Eclectic. Lunch, dinner: Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday.
It's got a small, dark tiki-bar feel, with the kitchen's beaded curtain, high rattan-backed chairs, and the long bamboo-lined counter behind which our server whipped up mango and almond milk shakes as good as the famous ones at Irazu. Atlas Cafe bills itself as an "international kitchen": the menu hops around madly from club sandwiches to (in winter) charquican, a Chilean stew, with a welcome $10 cap on nearly every item.
- Kristoffer's Cafe & Bakery: 1733 S. Halsted (Halsted & 18th)
Coffee/Mexican/American Nuevo Latino/Bakery. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Husband-and-wife-owned cafe bakery featuring Intelligentsia coffees and fresh-baked tres leches (three milk) cake and chocoflan (chocolate cake topped with flan). Other menu items include soft Mayan tamales wrapped in banana leaves and chorizo or spinach quesadillas, all for under $7. The breakfast menu features cheep (averaging $4.50) breakfast sandwiches, like the Spanish Classic (Scrambled eggs w/chorizo - spicy sausage) as well as $4 French Toast. Free Wi-Fi available if you need to reach out to the interweb.
Pizza
- Pizza Metro: 925 N Ashland (Ashland north of Chicago)
Italian, Pizza. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday | 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, noon-10 p.m. Sunday. | BYOB
There's another Pizza Metro over on Division Ave, but that's the mean one. This is the nice one. The pizza's are authentically Italian, rolled out to rise on well-oiled 32-inch-square pans; they're covered with toppings that include potato and rosemary, grilled chicken and vegetables, and blue cheese. In addition to pizza, Pizza Metro offers a short menu of sandwiches, salads, soups, and pastas, including a version of lasagna made without ricotta.
- Village Pizza: 2356 W Chicago (Chicago and Western)
Italian, Pizza. Open Late: 11 a.m.- 3 a.m. Monday through Sunday.
Don't be fooled by the pretender across the street with the Bacci sign. This is the original "stagger out of (Old)Tumans, get screamed at by Johnny Bacci, talk to homeless dudes and winos and get free pop" joint. For reals, it's worth a trip to watch Johnny drop mad f-bombs, yelling at customers, hollering at his cooks, and generally putting on a crazy show. Huge ass slices slung out for a couple bucks, with a side menu of pasta and sandwiches. But really you're here for the pizza. And our man Johnny.
- Pequod's: 2207 N. Clybourn (Clybourn at Webster)
Pizza. Open Late: Monday-Saturday till 2, Sunday till midnight.
Real deal Chicago style Pizza. Don't be suckered into Uno's or Duo's. This is the spot. The pizzas have a special 'caramelized' crust that is different than anything else you've ever had and if you order sausage, beware; the sausage topping is made from huge chunks of meteorite meat. The beer is cold and the pizzas are huge and cheesy.
Breakfast
- Bite Cafe: 1039 N. Western (Western and Cortez, just north of Augusta)
American Contemporary and Vegetarian. 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday | 7:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday | 8 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturday | 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sunday | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. brunch Saturday and Sunday. | BYOB
Located next door to the Empty Bottle (one of our best music spots), this smallish cafe has one of the best brunches in town, augmented by one of the best Bloody Mary's available next door at the Bottle (there's a shared door, so you just roll on over to the bar while you wait for your food). Chris and Augie get brunch there a lot, but never together. Kind of creepy. Good for meaties and veggies alike and featuring some strong ass coffee.
- Flying Saucer: 1123 N. California (California just south of Division)
American Contemporary. 8 a.m.-3 p.m., daily | Saturday and Sunday, brunch only. | BYOB
This Humboldt Park spot fills up fast on weekends, but is worth a bit of a wait. Breakfast options include huevos volando (eggs hash over corn tortillas with guajillo sauce) and omelet specials, each accompanied by home fries, mixed field greens or spiced apples (think apple pie, but without the crust). Coffee is good and everything's under $9. Check out the door to the upstairs apartments for an exciting array of bike and skate related stickers. Then play "guess who lives upstairs."
- Le Sabre: 1969 W. Montrose (Montrose and Damen)
American Contemporary. Open 24 hours, seven days a week.
Sunday brunches are popular at this fifty-year-old family spot in Ravenswood. A variety of eggs, pancakes and steaks for breakfast. All breakfast dishes come with your choice of toast or a giant stack of pancakes. Awww yeah. The breakfast special, which is $7.25 for two eggs, bacon or sausage, toast or pancakes, juice and coffee will do you right. Cash only, secretly Greek, and a prefect grease soaked hangover cure.
- Listed elsewhere but also good for breakfast: Handlebar, Chicago Diner, Lorraine's Diner, Pick Me Up Cafe, Atomix, Kristoffer's Cafe & Bakery
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