You've found an apartment, figured out which way the lake is, and learned that "the L" is a train. Now for the important part: eating like you live here.
Here's a checklist of 20 foods to work through in your first year, with one reliable place to start for each. Every item links to our full shortlist, so when you want a second opinion you know where to go.
The Chicago classics
These are the foods Chicago invented or perfected. Try them in your first month.
1. Italian beef. Thin-sliced beef soaked in jus on a French roll. Order it "hot and dipped." Start at Al's #1 Italian Beef on Taylor Street. More Italian beef →
2. Chicago-style hot dog. Mustard, relish, onion, tomato, pickle, sport peppers and celery salt on a poppy seed bun. No ketchup. For the full experience, go to the carhops at Superdawg. More hot dogs →
3. Tavern-style pizza. This is what locals actually order on a Tuesday night: cracker-thin crust, cut into squares. Vito & Nick's is the benchmark. More tavern-style →
4. Deep dish pizza. Yes, locals eat it too, just not every week. Try Pequod's for the caramelized cheese crust. More deep dish →
5. Maxwell Street Polish. A grilled Polish sausage piled with onions and mustard. Jim's Original has been doing it since 1939. More →
6. Jibarito. Steak and garlic mayo between two fried plantains, invented in Chicago in 1996. Go to Borinquen Lounge, run by the inventor's family. More jibaritos →
7. The Italian sub with giardiniera. Chicago's spicy pickled-vegetable relish is the city's secret weapon. Bari on Grand Avenue is the classic. More →
8. Chicago mix popcorn. Caramel corn and cheddar corn in one bag. It sounds wrong and tastes right. Garrett on Michigan Ave is the original. More →
9. Rib tips and hot links. South Side barbecue from an "aquarium" smoker, with mild sauce over fries. Lem's is a James Beard America's Classic. More BBQ →
10. Fried chicken with mild sauce. Chicago's own tangy-sweet sauce, on chicken fried hard. Start at Harold's. More fried chicken →
The rest of your first year
These aren't Chicago inventions, but the city does them exceptionally well.
11. Goat birria tacos. Birrieria Zaragoza. More tacos →
12. A great burger. The line at Au Cheval is worth it once. More burgers →
13. Ramen on a February night. Akahoshi Ramen. More ramen →
14. Pho on Argyle Street. Hai Yen, in the heart of the Argyle strip. More pho →
15. A proper bagel. Mindy's Bakery. Get the giardiniera cream cheese. More bagels →
16. A donut worth the line. Doughnut Vault sells until it runs out. More donuts →
17. A hot fudge sundae at an old soda fountain. Margie's Candies, open since 1921. More →
18. The Rainbow Cone. A South Side summer ritual for 100 years. The Original Rainbow Cone.
19. A pastry that's worth the trip. Del Sur Bakery combines Filipino flavors with French technique. More pastries →
20. A great cocktail. Kumiko is regularly ranked among the best bars in North America. More cocktails →
One Chicago rite of passage
Take a visitor to Lou Mitchell's for breakfast. It's at the start of Route 66, it has been open since 1923, and they still hand out free Milk Duds. More brunch →
Still figuring out which neighborhood to call home? ChicagoApartmentBuildings.com is our guide to apartment buildings across the city, from the same people who make this site.