If you have been happily turning to your favorite foods as a source of comfort during the sh*t-show that is 2020, trust me, you are not alone. One of the perks of living in Chicago is that despite the uncertainty of the pandemic, there is no shortage of unbelievable places to order food. Now, more than ever, it’s important for us to support our local favorites and help them survive the massive toll the pandemic has taken on the food industry. That’s why I asked the genies for their top ten, go-to food spots – take a look 👇
1. Friend’s Ramen & Conrad’s Grill – Dana
https://www.instagram.com/p/B__Bl4vhC8Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“During the colder months of quarantine, Friends Ramen was my go-to for delivery. If you’ve ever gone into the restaurant for a meal you know that there’s usually a long wait, so having their Kimchi Ramen delivered straight to my door was an absolute no-brainer. Now that we’ve made our way into summer, I’ve found myself ordering from Conrad’s Grill more often. My best friend introduced me to Conrad’s at the beginning of quarantine and honestly, all I can say is you have to try it for yourself. 10/10 would recommend the Honey Mustard & BBQ Chicken Tender Wrap (*insert drool here*)”
Order from Friends Ramen here and Conrad’s Grill here
2. Disco Taco – Hope
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ksAhhFMYh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“Disco Taco is in my top 5 best tacos I’ve ever had and they are so kind whenever I order from them. This place is definitely a hole in the wall but also a hidden gem. I highly recommend giving them a try and ordering pickup or takeout directly through them to better support them!”
You can order online from Disco Taco here
3. Ras Dashen – Brittany
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCkOblPl3EI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“I LOVE Ras Dashen, an Ethiopian restaurant I recently tried for the first time on Juneteenth. Their food was so delicious and their service is amazing too. I will definitely be going back soon!”
Order Ras Dashen online here.
4. Del Seoul – Taryn
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ1e-eiH8jp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“If I had still been in Chicago, I would have definitely been ordering takeout from Del Seoul so I could get their incredible shrimp tacos! The funny thing is though, since moving to Marin, we’ve been regularly ordering wraps from Cafe Del Soul, which is a fast-casual restaurant we checked out because the name was so similar to our favorite restaurant in Chicago!”
Order Del Seoul online here.
5. The Bageler’s Coffeehouse – Janelle
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDHkoghAIaH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“The Bagelers has definitely been my go-to spot. The bagels are customizable, the bread is amazing, and the iced vanilla chai latte is heavenly! 10/10 recommend.”
Order from The Baglers here.
6. Frances’ Deli – Violet
https://www.instagram.com/p/CB5krCLJLKp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“I have recently discovered Frances’ Deli and it is one of my favorite spots to order from now. 10/10 recommend their turkey club on challah – it will make u holla! Jk, please don’t put that.”
Order from Frances’ Deli here.
7. Turquoise – Mika
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxwDgLtlcQV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“My favorite local restaurant to order from during COVID was Turquoise, a Turkish restaurant about a block away from my house. They had fantastic family meal selections for take out that consisted of kebabs, rice, Turkish salad, and lentil soup. All of their food was very delicious and comforting during these, dare I say, unprecedented times.”
Order from Turquoise here.
8. SAME SAME Thai Kitchen – Lizz
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zwYhRl_op/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“I have been obsessed with this trendy Thai restaurant in Roscoe Village since I first dined there a few weeks before Chicago locked down! The atmosphere is intimate and hip, and their food and cocktails are next-level! I love picking up their Buddha Bowl with tofu and eating it on the lake – great vibes and super delicious all around.”
Order from SAME SAME here.
9. Pizza Capri & Athenian Room – Jacqui
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8pH9FSHkap/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“Pizza Capri has my favorite Grecian salad and pizza in Lincoln Park! I also love Athenian Room for Greek Food”
Order from Pizza Capri here and Athenian Room here.
10. Wakamono – Anthony
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGe4bf1vA6d/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“I’m always craving sushi (and have never attempted to make it on my own) so we always order from a local sushi restaurant called Wakamono. They have an amazing selection of sushi rolls and they also have their infamous martinis to-go! They are also extremely careful about taking precautions during COVID and provide sanitized wipes and sell face masks on their delivery website.”
Order from Wakamono here
Honorable Mention – Southport Grocery & Cafe
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBqa6ejFtvU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Sure – we may be a little biased since Southport Grocery is one of our clients, but take one bite of their beloved Bread Pudding Pancakes, and you’ll immediately understand the hype. Southport is a gourmet cafe and grocer with specialty goods and the greatest breakfast, brunch, and lunch in the Southport Corridor. They recently reopened their patio as well as limited, socially-distanced indoor seating. If you live in the area, we HIGHLY recommend you check them out!
You can order from Southport Grocery here.
