I m traveling to Chicago for Labor Day and want to know?

Question

whats the best hole in the wall restaurant or bar with the best food downtown.....I'm staying at the Westin on Dearborn and want to go where the locals go --not some chains. Although there may be some great food at those chains, I want something more native to the city. Please advise

Answer 1

Lou Mitchell's there is nothing better ... thank me later hehe

Answer 2

You should get some great Chicago style pizza at Lou Malnati's.

http://www.loumalnatis.com/

Answer 3

Get the addresses for these places off of metromix: http://chicago.metromix.com/

By far the best hole in the wall restaurant in Chicago is the White Palace just off of Roosevelt & Canal.  It was just featured on Diners, Drive Ins & Dives on the Foot Network and it's quite busy especially in the middle of the night as it's open 24/7...it's a serious Chicago Greasy Spoon.

For in the downtown area look up:

B&B (Beef & Brandy) - Chicago diner on State in the Loop.  An easy stop for breakfast.

Ada's - Deli & Diner on Wabash under the track in thh Loop.

Tempo - Another 24 hour diner just off of State & Chestnut near the activity on Rush.

Miller's Pub - Great bar food, drinks until 4am.

Lou Mitchell's - Chicago diner, a must for breakfast.  It's right across from Union Station.

Manny's - Best corned beef deli in the city.

Plymouth - Same owners as White Palace but in the Loop with an awesome rooftop deck and not open 42/7.

Hackney's (Printer's Row) - Also featured on Diners, Drive In's & Dives...if you go you must have the inside-out burger which is stuffed with cheddar & bacon, or the Hackney Burger on rye.

On the Southside there's not too much but here's a few:

El Salvador Restaurante - The best Salvadorian food & hole in the wall in the city.  It's so Salvadorian they don't even speak English.  Try the papusa's and get a few empanadas de leche for dessert.

Fat Johnnie's Red Hots - A literal hotdog shack on the far Southside of the city at 7200 S Western.  If you have a car, go when the sun is out because the neighborhood is rough at night.  It's the best hotdog in the city...it's the wooden shack next to Popeye's.  If you're looking go here and click on the street view: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=...

Archview - Another 24hour diner in McKinley Park near Bridgeport.

Brandy's - Yet anotehr 24 hour diner near Midway Airport.

Won Kow - The oldest Chinese in the city (and in Chinatown).  It also happens to be open fairly late...afterwards head a few blocks south to Ethyl's Party, a former Italian funerl home turned bar.

I'm not too familiar with the north side but they have the Hollywood Grill which is also owned by the White Palace/Plymouth guys and is 24/7.  Also check out:

Matsuya - A Japanese hole in the wall near Wrigley Field.

Stanley's (Lincoln) - By far the best southern comfort style food in Chicago.  Awesome burgers, mac & cheese, and this thing like a pot pie except with biscuits instead of pie crust.  Try to eat there during a Cubs game maybe...

Michael's North - A 24/7 diner at North & Clark which will be full of drunk Lincoln Park douche bags starting around 1am.

Answer 4

I work at the Westin in Lombard... I used to be downtown.. and I worked in the service express department.  We constantly had guests calling looking for this type of information.. although I can't give you any names to places because i'm not so familiar with downtown (i'm from suburbs) I'd highly recommend you call the hotel.. they will be more than happy to help you out (or should be) and have the resources that contain a million places right in front of them for a quick assistance to you.  have fun and enjoy chicago!! :)  

Answer 5

Mc Donald's.