CardsofSTL wrote:I travel around a lot for work...it is a pain. But one of the things I like is finding quiet local places to have a meal. I have had some good; some not so good; some horrible and some great food at these places.
If you're traveling to Chicago, these are the places I tell people to go eat when they're in town, all of which fit your criteria and all of which are the types of places I go out to eat....
Sandwiches / Lunch Spots:
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- ITALIAN SUB-STYLE SANDWICH
Mr. G. — Grazianos, 901 W. Randolph
Italian, Hot — Bari, 1120 W. Grand
The Dante — Tempesta, 1372 W. Grand
Vinnie’s Special — Vinnie’s, 1204 W. Grand
Italian Deluxe w/ Provolone and Hot Giard — Rosie’s Sidekick, 2610 N California
STEAK/BEEF SANDWICHES
Cheesesteak — Boeufhaus, 1012 N. Western
Boeuf on Weck — Boeufhaus, 1012 N. Western
Cheesesteak — Monti’s, 4757 N. Talman
Corned Beef Reuben — Steingold’s, 1840 W. Irving Park
Italian Beef — Johnnie’s, 7500 W. North Ave.
Prime Beef French Dip — Bavette’s, 218 W Kinzie
Prime Rib Sandwich — Eataly, 43 E. Ohio
Gym Shoe — Sun Submarine, 5542 W. North Ave.
Sweet Steak — Taurus Flavors, 8534 S. Stony Island
Sweet Steak — Home of the Hoagy, 1316 W. 111th
CHICKEN PARM
PQM, 825 W. Fulton Market
Nonnas, 925 W. Randolph
FRIED CHICKEN
The Roost Carolina Kitchen, 457 N Milwaukee (both regular and Nashville hot)
Budlong, 4619 N Western Ave. (Nashville hot only)
Roister, 951 W. Fulton Market
CENTRAL/LATIN AMERICAN
Pambazo — El Habanero, 3300 W Fullerton
Cemita Atomica — Cemitas Puebla, 817 W. Fulton Market
Jibarito — El Nuevo Borinquen, 1720 N. California
Jibarito — Papa’s Cache Sabroso, 2517 W. Division
Cuban — Cafecito, 26 E. Congress
GYRO
PQM, 825 W. Fulton Market
Hella’s, 1133 W. Bryn Mawr
HAM AND/OR FRUIT AND CHEESE
Prosciutto/Fig/Taleggio — Cafe Marie Jeanne, 1001 N. California
CB&J — Hopleaf, 5148 N. Clark
The Parisian — La Boulangerie, 3129 W. Logan Blvd
BANH MI
Nhu Lan, 4810 N. Sheridan Ba Le, 5014 N. Broadway
Ca Phe Da, 1800 S. Carpenter
PORCHETTA
Tempesta, 1372 W. Grand
PQM, 825 W. Fulton Market
SHAWARMA
Falafel & Grill, 1317 N. Milwaukee Salam, 4636 N Kedzie
Shawarma Garden, 1951 W Division
MISC
The Ben — Baker Miller, 4610 N. Western
The Sun Also Rises — Bourgeois Pig, 738 W. Fullerton
BLT — Same Day Cafe, 2651 N. Kedzie
Sauteed Calf Brains — Cafe Marie Jeanne, 1001 N. California
GLUTTONOUS CURIOSITIES THAT ARE NOT RECOMMENDED BUT HAVE BEEN COVERED BY MAJOR MEDIA
3 Little Pigs — Silver Palm, 768 N. Milwaukee
Breaded Steak Sandwich — Ricobene’s, 252 W. 26th
Storefront Ethnic*:
- [SHOW]
- THAI
Rainbow Thai
Jin Thai
JJ Thai Street Food
Thai Pastry
CHINESE
Qing Xiang Yuan Dumpling House
Lao Sze Chuan
Sun Wah BBQ
Szechuan JMC
Cheng Du Impressions
A Place by Damao
FILIPINO
Uncle Mike’s (breakfast)
Isla Pilipina
VIETNAMESE
Hai Sous
Pho Xe Tang aka Tank Noodle
Nhu Lan
Ba Le
KOREAN
Cho Sun Ok
Dumpling stand at Joong Boo Korean Supermarket
San Soo Gab San
MEXICAN
Don Pedro Carnitas
Carnitas Uruapan
Sol de Mexico
Cemitas Puebla
Birreria Zaragoza
Gorditas La Tia Susy
Alegria’s Seafood
La Condesa
El Barco Mariscos
Mariscos La Costa 2
Mazamitla
Guanajato grocery
Las Traspasadas
L’Patron
La Oaxaquena
Torta Milanesa
Taqueria El Moran
El Herradura
COLOMBIAN
ArePa George
MIDDLE EASTERN
Sultan’s Market
Juliana
Old Jerusalem
Taste Of Lebanon
Semiramis
Falafel & Grill
INDIAN
Mysore Woodlands
Uru-Swait
Indian Clay Pot
POLISH
Podhlanka
Kasias
Staropolska
SERBIAN
Cafe Belgrade
ETHIOPIAN
Ethiopian Diamond
Demera
*Storefront Ethnic Qualifiers:
1. Not from the US, Canada or any Western European country that influences so much American food already.
2. Not done by a white dude who has ben to Cambodia 3X, but by a Cambodian whose cooking is best described as "this is how my grandma made it."
3. Must be able to get in and out with an entree for under $20
4. Must be excellent quality food.