Chicago winters are long, and the city eats accordingly. When the wind comes off the lake, locals head for a bowl of broth, a plate of pierogi or a deep dish pizza baked to order. Here's where to go when you need to warm up, all from our own short lists.
A bowl of broth
Nothing beats the cold like noodle soup, and Chicago has two great traditions to choose from.
- Akahoshi Ramen in Logan Square: Sapporo-style miso ramen with house-made noodles, widely called the best bowl in the city. Order the Akahoshi Miso.
- Monster Ramen in Logan Square: gyukotsu, a beef-bone broth that's rare in the US, with noodles made in-house.
- Menya Goku in North Center: a nutty, tingly tantanmen from Ramen Wasabi's sister shop.
- Hai Yen on Argyle Street: the standout pho on the strip, beefy but light, with warm spice. Order the phở đặc biệt.
- LC Pho in Lincoln Square: one of the most fragrant bowls in the city, under chandeliers and a painted-sky ceiling.
Our ramen guide → · Our pho guide →
Polish comfort food
Chicago's Polish kitchens were built for winter: dumplings, potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage and sour rye soup.
- Staropolska in Avondale: the classic sit-down Polish dinner on Milwaukee Avenue, with brick walls and wood beams. Share the Polish Plate for two.
- Polish Bistro on the Far Northwest Side: a cozy, cabin-like dining room. Get the potato pancake topped with goulash.
- Kasia's Deli in Ukrainian Village: handmade pierogi to take home, plus borscht.
- Sawa's Old Warsaw in Broadview: a family-run, all-you-can-eat Polish buffet with steam tables of pierogi, potato pancakes and stuffed cabbage.
Our pierogi and Polish food guide →
Deep dish, with time to thaw
Deep dish is baked to order, so the wait is part of the deal. On a cold night, that's a feature: settle into a warm room and let the pie take its time.
- Pequod's in Lincoln Park: pan pizza with a burnt, crispy cheese crust, in a divey bar.
- Lou Malnati's in River North: the buttery-crust classic and the easy downtown pick.
- Exchequer in the Loop: a family-run pub serving deep dish in a building with a Prohibition-era past.
Deep dish vs. tavern-style, explained →
A hot beef
An Italian beef dipped in jus is a hot meal you can eat standing up, which is handy when you're dashing between errands.
- Al's #1 Italian Beef on Taylor Street: the original, still roasting on site. Order it dipped, with hot giardiniera.
- Luke's Italian Beef in the Loop: an old-school lunch counter with well-seasoned gravy on a bun that holds up.
How to order an Italian beef →
Dim sum on a winter weekend
A steamy Chinatown dining room, a pot of tea and a table full of dumplings is a very good way to spend a gray Sunday.
- MingHin Cuisine in Chinatown: a big, lively Cantonese hall that works for groups. Order the siu mai and egg tarts.
- Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao in River North: handmade soup dumplings, closer to downtown.
Getting ready for your first Chicago winter? ChicagoApartmentBuildings.com is our guide to apartment buildings across Chicago.