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Top 11 Dishes: Famous Food in Chicago
Are you stuck wondering, “what food is Chicago known for?” Good news foodies, this city is full to the brim with delicious traditional Chicago food as well as international cuisine.
Wander the streets of Chicago admiring famous buildings and fun activities, with plenty of meal breaks in between. There are so many great foods to eat in Chicago, the list could be endless.
But if you’re visiting Chicago for the first time, the following famous food in Chicago should be at the top of your list. After living in Chicago for three years, I tried many different foods, including the most traditional ones. And they don’t disappoint.
Fully immerse yourself into the Chicago foodie culture and indulge in these dishes. It’s time to explore Chicago via taste buds and see what this city has to offer!
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Chicago Foodies Quick Links:
Try traditional Chicago food and explore the city's famous landmarks on these guided food tours in Chicago. Click the hyperlink to check tour availability.
Famous Food in Chicago
Deep Dish Pizza from Lou Malnati’s
When it comes to traditional Chicago food, deep dish pizza tops the list. This Windy City specialty cannot be missed while you’re visiting. Just like its name suggests, deep dish pizza is thick with a heaping layer of cheese, tomato sauce, and whatever other toppings you’d like.
There are many places to eat deep dish pizza in Chicago, but the best is Lou Malnati’s. Try to make a reservation as they are generally busy for lunch and dinner, especially on the weekends. And be prepared to wait for your pizza; they’re made fresh after all.
Book a classic Chicago food tour here and try deep dish pizza!
Chicago Style Hot Dogs
No one does hot dogs like Chicagoans. If you’ve never had a Chicago hot dog before, what better place to try one than in the Windy City itself.
What makes this traditional Chicago food special? This all-beef hot dog is on a steamed poppy seed bun and topped with yellow mustard, tomato slices, white onions, a dill pickle, sweet pickle relish, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt. Are you drooling yet?
Grab a Chicago style hot dog from Devil Dawgs, Weiner’s Circle, or Portillo’s.
Italian Beef Sandwich
It wouldn’t be a complete visit to Chicago without an Italian beef sandwich or two. This dish is a Chicago original despite its name suggesting otherwise.
Try this french bread sandwich stuffed with thinly sliced roast beef and au jus sauce at Al’s #1 Italian Beef, Tony’s Italian Beef, Johnnie’s Beef, or Ferro’s.
Book a classic Chicago food tour here!
Cinnamon Rolls from Ann Sather’s
Looking for a sweet traditional Chicago food? Indulge in Swedish cinnamon rolls at the iconic Ann Sather’s. I recommend planning to stop here for breakfast at least once while you're exploring Chicago.
Make sure you arrive early! Not only are the famous cinnamon rolls delicious, but their entire breakfast menu is the perfect way to fill up before you hit the ground running to see as much of Chicago as possible.