Cuban Restaurant · The Loop · 193 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: There’s no confusion over the star of the show here: The Cubano’s crusty bread is toasted just right, its roast pork juicy, its pickles thick, and its mustard and gooey cheese plentiful.
Dumpling Restaurant · The Loop · 32 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: Pot stickers are fine; better to go with the Thai curry-chicken rice bowl with its yellow curry. Or just stick with the bao, steamed buns stuffed with fillings such as slightly spicy kung pao chicken.
Time Out Chicago: There's a fiercely enforced policy of no cell phones. The wait is rewarded with deli classics, like egg salad sandwiches and “Perry’s Favorite”—corned beef, Jack cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing.
24 S Michigan Ave (btwn Monroe & Madison St.), Chicago, IL
Gastropub · The Loop · 339 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: The food is rich and flavorful, from the perfect-for-snacking Scotch egg to the Gage burger, served a juicy medium-rare and dripping with melted onion marmalade and gobs of Midwestern Camembert.
517 S State St (btwn E Congress Pkwy & E Harrison St), Chicago, IL
Burger Joint · South Loop · 105 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: Burgers are cooked to a nice medium. Opt for aged cheddar, bacon and egg toppings, and be sure to add the rustic, skin-on fries. Try the Lemon Squeeze, a blend of fro-yo, strawberries and lemonade.
111 N State St (at 7th Floor of Macy's), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · The Loop · 37 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: There's tortas, huaraches, quesadillas and tamales, all of which counter most fast-food notions. But we’re big fans of the torta Cubana, and all of its smoked pork loin and applewood bacon glory.
Time Out Chicago: Don’t bother with pseudo-fresh and flimsy maki—stick to creative combos like miso-glazed scallops over beet risotto, a standout item amid pedestrian pot stickers, crab rangoon and seaweed salad.