Chicago Trip Overview
Experience the best travel stories for yourself! Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this Lonely Planet Experience powered by Urban Adventures.
Join us for the ultimate foodie adventure in Chicago’s historic River North area alongside a local guide who can show you the best spots for some of the city’s best loved dishes. From deep dish pizza to Chicago-style hot dogs, this tour will leave you filled with delicious local foods as well as some insider knowledge into the city’s culinary history and culture.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 hours
Starts: Chicago, United States
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Chicago Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Chicago, Illinois, United States
Experience the best travel stories for yourself! Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this Lonely Planet Experience powered by Urban Adventures.
Join us for the ultimate foodie adventure in Chicago’s historic River North area alongside a local guide who can show you the best spots for some of the city’s best loved dishes. From deep dish pizza to Chicago-style hot dogs, this tour will leave you filled with delicious local foods as well as some insider knowledge into the city’s culinary history and culture.
Pass By: Chicago River, Chicago, IL
Your Chicago food tour will take you through the River North neighborhood — the original Chicago foodie destination — to sample some world-famous Chicago dishes, local favorites and a sweet treat. It’s an afternoon that will leave you full of delicious food and memories for a lifetime!
We start with a very well-known Chicago dish: the Chicago-style hot dog. Perfect for summers at a baseball game (cheering on the Cubs or Sox of course), or for a quick lunch on a work day, this local take on a hot dog is a debate-worthy food in Chicago and is taken very seriously by locals. Every Chicagoan has his or her own preference as to how the dog should be made, and you’ll get a chance to try your guide’s favorite version.
Stop At: Pizzeria Due, 619 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Next up is the world-famous Chicago deep-dish pizza! An entire meal unto itself, this staple of the Chicago food scene originated in River North in the 1940s when workers and families needed filling dishes at low prices. Your guide will take you to a pizza place that’s an icon to Chicago natives to try the real deal for yourself.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Portillo’s Hot Dogs, 100 W Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60654, USA
After you’ve filled up on pizza and hot dogs, we’ll take a stroll through two more establishments, each one essential when it comes to Chicago’s food culture. One is a sight to behold. This uniquely Midwest phenomenon is filled to the brim with kitsch and 1950s retro love, and you have to see it to believe it.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610
We’ll take a stroll through two more establishments, each one essential when it comes to Chicago’s food culture. Rock N’ Roll Mcdonald’s is a restaurant born in Chicago and recognized by nearly everyone on earth. This location is something special, with impeccable design elements, a live vertical garden, solar panels and a beautiful atrium.
We’ll then continue our tasting journey with a classic Chicago sandwich: Italian beef. This hearty meal came about during the Depression, and it’s here to stay. You’ll sample this sandwich in a real city institution — no-frills decor included!
Finally, it’s time for something sweet inside a truly local hangout. Your guide will show you to one of the oldest establishments in the city — either a classic Italian restaurant or a local watering hole with deep Prohibition roots. Here, you’ll enjoy a dessert with the opportunity to relax and purchase a beverage of your choice.
We’ll conclude your Chicago foodie experience here, with easy access to the ‘L’. Even if you say you’ll never be hungry again, don’t forget to note some great dinner recommendations from you guide. You won’t regret it!
Duration: 30 minutes
