Chicago Dining

[Clark Addison]

I love Chicago deep dish pizza, but I am not offended if you don't call it pizza, or even if you don't like it. I grew up on the stuff, so I'm biased. It's probably like Philly cheese steaks for me. I like them fine; I've had some that are good, but I really don't see what is so special about them (especially with cheeze whiz. blech).

Having said that, I do think that if you are in Chicago, you need to try it. Chicago deep dish is one of those few foods that is very popular in one region, and doesn't exist anywhere else. I have never see true Chicago deep dish outside of Chicago. It's kind of like 16 inch softball.

What other foods are there like this, that you really can't find outside of one area? The first one that comes to my mind is a fried brain sandwich, which really was rare outside of the St. Louis area, I believe (I've never had one). Brain sandwiches were never, I believe, anywhere as popular as Chicago Deep Dish, and are becoming rarer and rarer. Are there other examples? Fry sauce in Utah, maybe?

[YOhio]

What other foods are there like this, that you really can't find outside of one area? The first one that comes to my mind is a fried brain sandwich, which really was rare outside of the St. Louis area, I believe (I've never had one). Brain sandwiches were never, I believe, anywhere as popular as Chicago Deep Dish, and are becoming rarer and rarer. Are there other examples? Fry sauce in Utah, maybe?

Plenty of other examples.

http://firstwefeast.com/eat/25-regio...ow-but-should/

[TripletDaddy]

Donute and Markgrace are slagging on deep dish pizza? They have become the FMCoug of this thread.

Chicago style is delish, who cares if it is pizza or not pizza. Also Stop being a Moran and asking for dumb recommendations, the answers to which you already know. just go try a couple of the R, S, T, L, and E (skip topolobampo) and enjoy.

[YOhio]

I read that Charlie trotter died. I ate there back in the early 2000s now and then when in chicago. Pretty good eats but sometimes overrated.

IIRC, Red Head Gal was a fan of Trotters.

[TripletDaddy]

IIRC, Red Head Gal was a fan of Trotters.

She tried to drop knowledge and I wasn't having any of it.

[ERCougar]

Plenty of other examples.

http://firstwefeast.com/eat/25-regio...ow-but-should/

That's a great list, with the exception of the "Crown Burger", which looks really out of place on it. I fell in love with pasties (the food, sickos) in Michigan and would be sure to load up on them on any trip approaching the UP. Probably like most of the items on that list, I can't really nail down why I like them so much--they're no culinary feat to make--but they just hit the spot. I missed them until I found a shop in Elko, NV, of all places, that sold them. The owner was a UP transplant and had clientele from all over the area regularly come to his place to get them. It's funny--you could easily make them at home, but I think there's something about connecting with someone with a common background.

[Flystripper]

Poag Mahone's, good burger.

Any recommendations for classic Chicago style deep dish pizza?

Kuma's Corner - better burger

[MarkGrace]

Deep dish is most definitely not delish. Not gross by any means, but can't think of a time when it ever sounded good.

[Flystripper]

I don't care for Gio's. People rave about their stuffed pizza. (Crust on top and crust on bottom). I just don't care for it. I prefer Lou's. Gino's is decent. If you are doing traditional Chicago eats I would not miss getting an Italian beef sandwich. Al's, Portillos' or Johnny's will do.

[MarkGrace]

I don't care for Gio's. People rave about their stuffed pizza. (Crust on top and crust on bottom). I just don't care for it. I prefer Lou's. Gino's is decent. If you are doing traditional Chicago eats I would not miss getting an Italian beef sandwich. Al's, Portillos' or Johnny's will do.

Unfortunately I'm in BFE outside of Chicago or there are some places I'd definitely be heading. Wouldn't be for an Italian beef sandwich, though.

[TripletDaddy]

Grace doesn't like deep dish pizza or Italian beef.

[Flystripper]

Well yeah. There are amazing places to eat in the city. I was only mentioning the pizza/fast food stuff you don't find many places. For me I crave an Italian beef from Johnny's way more than I ever. Rave Chicago deep dish pizza.

[TripletDaddy]

Well yeah. There are amazing places to eat in the city. I was only mentioning the pizza/fast food stuff you don't find many places. For me I crave an Italian beef from Johnny's way more than I ever. Rave Chicago deep dish pizza.

did you live near Elmwood Park? I loved going there for some beef. It was my favorite place. Always ordered the same thing: two juicy beefs, hot, an ice with no cap, and a cup of Lake Michigan. I was in Chicago this summer for a wedding (when the blackhawks had their parade) and my wife and I went over to johnnys and reminisced.

[snowcat]

I went to the Chicago Chop House several years ago and it was great. I have also enjoyed Gibson's in Chicago in past years.

[Joe Public]

I don't care for Gio's. People rave about their stuffed pizza. (Crust on top and crust on bottom). I just don't care for it. I prefer Lou's. Gino's is decent. If you are doing traditional Chicago eats I would not miss getting an Italian beef sandwich. Al's, Portillos' or Johnny's will do.

I think that's one of the charms of Chicago: pizza partisanship. I've had Gino's and Giordano's, but I haven't had Malnati's yet. Maybe I'll hit it next month when I'm there.

There's a Portillo's in Buena Park and in Moreno Valley. Al's is going to open a location out in Alhambra or some place like that.