Hot Doug's might be the best sausage shop in America, so plan accordingly. Show up early, enjoy the wait, and look forward to chatting with Doug about your encased meat of choice.
Chicago deep dish pizza is never anything less than deliriously overloaded, and the pie at Lou Malnati's is no exception. The sausage is overrated, but flavorful sauce or tangy cheese make up for it.
As far as a way to beat the crowds, there isn't one. Arrive early or go late. Otherwise, bring a book and wait in line with the rest of us.
This is the place if you like gargantuan burgers topped with eggs, bacon, and whatever other salty, fatty ingredients just happens to be lying around.
No other Italian beef in town tastes quite like the original Al's #1 Italian Beef. The meat roasts with a collection of spices, accentuating each bite while never overwhelming the beefy flavor.
Getting a table to sip margaritas can take awhile, but if you just need a taco fix, head straight for the takeout window where you can usually get served in minutes.
You can scratch a shocking number of essential Chicago street food classics off your list with a stop by Portillo's--Chicago style hot dog, Italian beef sandwich, chocolate cake shake? It's all here.
Classic drive-in, with beefy mammoth dog. Crinkle cut "superfries" come with every order.
Lines are long in the mornings and on weekends, but after 10 am, its a little easier to slip in. Go for the buttermilk old fashioned or the yeasty glazed doughnut.
The skinny burgers get a nice sear on the hot griddle, and you can top them with as many of the wonderful pickles as you want. You can't order fries, but the chips help bulk this out to a fine meal.
