The West Loop and Fulton Market went from meatpacking warehouses to Chicago's busiest restaurant district. There are more options here than anywhere else in the city, so here's where we'd start.
Breakfast and brunch
- Lou Mitchell's: the diner at the start of Route 66, open since 1923. Get a double-yolk omelet, and don't skip the free Milk Duds.
- The Publican: Fulton Market's anchor beer hall. The weekend brunch is a pork-lover's dream, so get the maple-braised bacon for the table.
- Good Ambler: the textbook croissant, right downtown.
Lunch
- J.P. Graziano Grocery: a 1930s family grocery still on Randolph. Get the Italian sub with its own hot giardiniera. More Italian subs →
- Taqueria Chingón: Mexico City-style tacos with some of the best al pastor in the city.
Dinner
- Au Cheval: the burger that made Chicago a burger city. The wait is long, and it's worth it once.
- The Loyalist: a downstairs bar serving a chef's burger without the chef prices.
- Green Street Smoked Meats: a Texas-style smokehouse down an alley.
- High Five Ramen: a tiny basement counter serving fiery spicy tonkotsu.
Drinks
- Kumiko: regularly ranked among the best bars in North America. It's calm and precise, with Japanese-inspired drinks.
- Bisous: a small, stylish Parisian-style bar.
- The Aviary: Grant Achatz's theatrical cocktail lounge, for a special occasion.
Thinking about living near all of this? Browse apartment buildings in the West Loop and Fulton Market →