Inspiration Kitchens
Social-enterprise restaurant that trains people overcoming homelessness while serving scratch-made New American comfort food
Lost Larson
An acclaimed Scandinavian bakery in Andersonville, milling heritage grains for its breads and cardamom buns.
Stony Island Arts Bank
A 1923 bank reborn by artist Theaster Gates as a gallery, archive, and community space on the South Side.
Bridgeport Coffee Company
A neighborhood roaster in the heart of Bridgeport, roasting its own beans in a sunny corner cafe.
MingHin Cuisine
A go-to Chinatown Square dim sum house, bright and bustling with carts and Cantonese classics.
Big Jones
Andersonville’s temple of heritage Southern cooking, from shrimp and grits to a legendary weekend brunch.
Loaf Lounge
A bread-centric Avondale cafe from Lula and Nightwood alums, serving pastries, sandwiches, and Four Letter Word coffee.
Lula Cafe
A farm-to-table pioneer and the heart of Logan Square dining since 1999, known for its beloved brunch.
Panaderia Nuevo Leon
A nearly 50-year-old Pilsen panaderia turning out conchas, pan dulce, and Mexican pastries the traditional way.
Carnitas Uruapan
A Pilsen institution since 1975, revered for slow-cooked crispy carnitas from a family recipe out of Uruapan, Michoacan.