Chicago is home to hundreds of celebrations, festivals, and traditions, but the food is what I find myself coming back to. Over the years, Chicago’s street-food culture has gained quite the rep with large Italian and Polish influences. If you’re in the area, you won’t want to miss out on these quintessential dishes. Alternatively, if you’re well-acquainted with the hot dog carts, put on a spin on things by trying to make these dishes at home. Here are 9 of Chicago’s best foods:
- Chicago Style Hotdog | All-beef dog on a poppy seed bun topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt | Popular at Portillo’s but also try their Italian beef or famous chocolate cake
- Deep Dish Pizza | Gooey cheese in a characteristically high crust with chunky tomato sauce | Popular at Ginos East and Lou Malnati’s, or Giordano’s for stuffed pizza
- Tavern-style, square-cut pizza | Flat, crunchy, square, easy-to-eat
- Chicago Tacos | Fresh corn or wheat tortillas folded around a variety of fillings with sharp flavors
- ‘Nduja | Spicy, spreadable pork salame from Italy, mainly served with slices of bread or ripe cheese
- Breaded Steak Sandwich | Breaded and fried steak paired with a variety of other deli essentials, like mozzarella cheese and hot giardiniera, combine to form what this critic swears is the “perfect sandwich”
- Elotes | Corn on the cob, served on a stick, splashed with condiments like salt, chili powder, butter, cheese, and lemon juice
- Paczki | Traditionally Polish deep-fried dough, filled with sweet confiture and topped with powdered sugar, icing, or dried orange zest
- Pierogi | East European Dumplings made by wrapping pockets of unleavened dough around a savory or sweet filling and boiled
