Chicago Restaurants

Chicago is a city that has a rich collection of ethnic groups and flavors. Every neighborhood that you enter offers its own collection of cuisines, food specialties, ethnic diners, restaurants and street carts. To get the best Chicago food experience you will want to allow your taste buds to travel around the world by sampling foods from the city’s various neighborhoods.

African Chicago Restaurant Choices

There are several quality African cafes, coffee houses and restaurants in Chicago. Some of your choices include African Coffee on E. 79th Street, Couscous on W. Taylor Street, and Toham on W. Devon Ave. If you find yourself on W. Randolph Street in Chicago, stop by Alhambra Restaur. Here you will find tasty African dishes like Cumin Crusted Salmon, Chicken Kabob, Kefta Kabob and Lamb Shwama. To quench your thirst you will want to try their Albali or Doogh, two great yogurt based drinks. If on your Chicago travel experience you hunger for the spicy, delicious and diverse cuisine inspired by the cultures on the Dark Continent, then tour through Lakeview, Wrigley, Wicker Park or Uptown. These neighborhoods offer a great selection of African and Middle Eastern restaurants.

Asian Chicago Restaurant Choices

Chicago is the home to a large selection of Asian restaurants. You can find Asian-themed restaurants in River North, Lincoln Park, Garfield Park, Chinatown, Archer Heights, uptown, the Loop and the South Loop. Choices vary from restaurant style to fast food style establishments.

If you find yourself on West Illinois Street in River North, then you will want to stop by Ben Pao Chinese Restaurant. They offer a lunch menu, a dinner menu and even a gluten free menu. If you are traveling with kids this is the place to go. The children’s menu selections include Crispy Chicken bites, Shanghai Combination and Beijing Beef. Dragonfly Mandarin is another great Asian restaurant. Some of their signature dishes include Honey Walnut Prawns and the Dragonfly and Phoenix.

Mexican Cuisine in Chicago

Another popular ethnic cuisine genre found in Chicago is Mexican cuisine. From fast-paced, family friendly Mexican restaurants to upscale fine Mexican dining establishments, Chicago has a solid range of Mexican food choices. Your first option is the Nuevo Leon Restaurant, located at 1515 W. 18th Street. This family friendly restaurant serves authentic, tasty, fresh and affordable Mexican food. Favorite menu items from this restaurant include the carne asada and the fajita. This restaurant is a must-visit if you are visiting the Pilsen neighborhood. If you happen to be in Old Town, stop by Salpicon. Located at 1252 N. Wells Street, Salpicon is an upscale Mexican restaurant that is known for its fabulous margaritas, amazing wine list and mouth-watering menu options. Visit on Sunday to sample their Chilaquiles Rojos for a real treat.

Famous Chicago Chefs

Chicago is not only the home to ethnically diverse restaurants, it’s also the home of famous chef-owned restaurants. All of these await you as soon as you can break away from your beautiful Chicago hotel. Your first option is to sample the menu created by celebrity chef Grant Achatz at Alinea. Located at 1723 N. Halsted Street, you will find contemporary American cuisine, unique ingredients and dazzling presentations at this restaurant. The average price for a dinner here is $200.

Another menu that you will want to sample is the one created by celebrity chef Charlie Trotter, at his self-titled restaurant Charlie Trotter’s. Located at 816 W. Armitage Avenue, you will find some of the best food in the country here. As you savor every complex taste, texture and aroma, you will feel that you are getting your money’s worth for your dining experience even though average dinner tabs run about $235.

Chicago is an amazingly diverse city with representatives from many different cultures. This ethnic diversity not only makes the city richer, it also makes your dining experiences more rewarding. When you visit the city, be sure to sample the cuisines of several different continents, and not just the best restaurants in downtown Chicago. It will be quite a tasty adventure.