Justin’s guidebook
Food you can walk to
Really good burgers, thick, juicy, delicious burgers. And a large selection of beers on tap. This place is good for a date, for going out with friends, and surprisingly, a good spot to take kids. Take a left on Lincoln and its just past the Jewel. They offer carryout or you can sit on the patio.
76 locals recommend
The Bad Apple
4300 N Lincoln AveReally good burgers, thick, juicy, delicious burgers. And a large selection of beers on tap. This place is good for a date, for going out with friends, and surprisingly, a good spot to take kids. Take a left on Lincoln and its just past the Jewel. They offer carryout or you can sit on the patio.
It's good Korean BBQ, its cheap, and it's across the street. On weekends, there is usually a line to get a table. They also offer take out. Our go to's there are the Pan-fried dumplings and BulGoGi.
21 locals recommend
Cho Sun Ok Restaurant
4200 N Lincoln AveIt's good Korean BBQ, its cheap, and it's across the street. On weekends, there is usually a line to get a table. They also offer take out. Our go to's there are the Pan-fried dumplings and BulGoGi.
Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza. Everyone has an opinion about who has the best deep dish and Malnati's is part of that conversation. Pizza can take 30-40 minutes to cook so I recommend calling ahead and asking to pre-order your pizza so its ready when you arrive. Take a left on Lincoln and walk three blocks. If you prefer Giordano’s Pizza, take a right out the front door and take a left on Damen. Walk three blocks.
163 locals recommend
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
3986 N Avondale AveChicago Style Deep Dish Pizza. Everyone has an opinion about who has the best deep dish and Malnati's is part of that conversation. Pizza can take 30-40 minutes to cook so I recommend calling ahead and asking to pre-order your pizza so its ready when you arrive. Take a left on Lincoln and walk three blocks. If you prefer Giordano’s Pizza, take a right out the front door and take a left on Damen. Walk three blocks.
Jewish deli classics made way better than you'd expect. This place is the longest walk but so worth the extra steps. If you like pastrami, theirs will blow you away. Their corned beef is freshly cooked and cut into thick slices. I can't recommend this place enough. Take a right on Lincoln and then a left on Irving Park, Steingold's is on the north side of the street just before you get to the L.
Steingold's of Chicago
3737 North Southport AvenueJewish deli classics made way better than you'd expect. This place is the longest walk but so worth the extra steps. If you like pastrami, theirs will blow you away. Their corned beef is freshly cooked and cut into thick slices. I can't recommend this place enough. Take a right on Lincoln and then a left on Irving Park, Steingold's is on the north side of the street just before you get to the L.
Arguably the best pizza in Chicago. Wood-fire pizzas, appetizers, and salads. Their gluten-free crust is just as good as their usual crust. They have lots of space, indoor and outdoor, but be prepared for a wait on a Friday or Saturday night. Take a right out the front door and keep walking on Berteau until you go under the train overpass (8 minutes) then take a left on Ravenswood. Continue walking north for about 8 minutes.
83 locals recommend
Spacca Napoli Pizzeria
1769 W Sunnyside AveArguably the best pizza in Chicago. Wood-fire pizzas, appetizers, and salads. Their gluten-free crust is just as good as their usual crust. They have lots of space, indoor and outdoor, but be prepared for a wait on a Friday or Saturday night. Take a right out the front door and keep walking on Berteau until you go under the train overpass (8 minutes) then take a left on Ravenswood. Continue walking north for about 8 minutes.
They specialize in Northern Thai cuisine and they cook all of your favorite Thai dishes too. Take a left out the front door until you get to Western and then cross Western. Turn left and walk three blocks (11 minute walk)
14 locals recommend
Sticky Rice
4018 N Western AveThey specialize in Northern Thai cuisine and they cook all of your favorite Thai dishes too. Take a left out the front door until you get to Western and then cross Western. Turn left and walk three blocks (11 minute walk)
New American food, vegetarian-friendly, craft cocktails. They have a nice little patio.
23 locals recommend
The Warbler
4535 N Lincoln AveNew American food, vegetarian-friendly, craft cocktails. They have a nice little patio.
Savanna Restaurant
4111 North Lincoln AvenueA consistently good breakfast spot just steps from our place.
Irene's Finer Diner
Great breakfast and brunch spot.
Mixteco Grill (North Center)
The best, quickest and least expensive taco place in the neighborhood.
Neighborhoods
The heart of a south Asian community where you find south and north Indian cuisine, Pakistani BBQ, Iraqi bakeries, and a ton of Indian clothing stores. My favorite spots are Khan BBQ and Mysore Woodlands.
West Devon Avenue
West Devon AvenueThe heart of a south Asian community where you find south and north Indian cuisine, Pakistani BBQ, Iraqi bakeries, and a ton of Indian clothing stores. My favorite spots are Khan BBQ and Mysore Woodlands.
A mixture of chain boutiques, national chains, and cute neighborhood shops. There are a few good restaurants on Southport, specifically Tango Sur, a BYOB Argentinian steak house, Southport Grocery (it is actually a brunch spot), and three different empanada shops.
9 locals recommend
North Southport Avenue
North Southport AvenueA mixture of chain boutiques, national chains, and cute neighborhood shops. There are a few good restaurants on Southport, specifically Tango Sur, a BYOB Argentinian steak house, Southport Grocery (it is actually a brunch spot), and three different empanada shops.
I’m partial to this area because I used to live over there.
Halsted St: The north end of Halsted Street is called Boystown. There are a dozen or more bars and several excellent restaurants too (Wood and Yoshi’s being my favorite spots on the fancier side)
Broadway St: Beginning at Cornelia Broadway and ending at Diversey, it is the second or third busiest shopping district in Chicago. Most of my recommendations are food-related but there are cute shops too. I like Wrigleyville BBQ, Ping Pong for Asian fusion, Unabridged Bookstore, Chilam Balam for outrageously good gourmet Mexican, and Crisp for Korean style fried chicken.
7 locals recommend
Lake View East
I’m partial to this area because I used to live over there.
Halsted St: The north end of Halsted Street is called Boystown. There are a dozen or more bars and several excellent restaurants too (Wood and Yoshi’s being my favorite spots on the fancier side)
Broadway St: Beginning at Cornelia Broadway and ending at Diversey, it is the second or third busiest shopping district in Chicago. Most of my recommendations are food-related but there are cute shops too. I like Wrigleyville BBQ, Ping Pong for Asian fusion, Unabridged Bookstore, Chilam Balam for outrageously good gourmet Mexican, and Crisp for Korean style fried chicken.
Technically in Uptown, West Argyle St is home to a large Vietnamese community, Argyle has several Vietnamese restaurants worth visiting as well as a few bakeries. My favorite spots here are Nha Hang Vietnam Restaurant, Pho 888, and La Pâtisserie (the bakery).
West Argyle Street
West Argyle StreetTechnically in Uptown, West Argyle St is home to a large Vietnamese community, Argyle has several Vietnamese restaurants worth visiting as well as a few bakeries. My favorite spots here are Nha Hang Vietnam Restaurant, Pho 888, and La Pâtisserie (the bakery).
With a Main Street feel about 4 blocks long, there are 5 or 6 bars, and 8 or 9 restaurants on Roscoe between Damen and Western. The street is not close to an L stop so it is often overlooked by visitors. It’s a beautiful walk from our house or a quick Uber or bus ride.
Roscoe Village
With a Main Street feel about 4 blocks long, there are 5 or 6 bars, and 8 or 9 restaurants on Roscoe between Damen and Western. The street is not close to an L stop so it is often overlooked by visitors. It’s a beautiful walk from our house or a quick Uber or bus ride.
Breweries within Walking Distance
Begyle Brewing
1800 W Cuyler AveAnother nearby brewery. They are nearly next door to Dovetail.
This brewery makes more German-style beers, so they tend to be well balanced and less hoppy than the other nearby breweries. They are BYO-food.
28 locals recommend
Dovetail Brewery
1800 W Belle Plaine AveThis brewery makes more German-style beers, so they tend to be well balanced and less hoppy than the other nearby breweries. They are BYO-food.
A nice brewery with a beer garden in the back, right along the river.
8 locals recommend
Burning Bush Brewery
4014 N Rockwell StA nice brewery with a beer garden in the back, right along the river.
This place was selected as the best small brewery in the country in 2023. Their beer is very good.
Hop Butcher For The World
This place was selected as the best small brewery in the country in 2023. Their beer is very good.
Nearby Parks
If you are looking for a tennis court, an indoor swimming pool, a playground, a baseball field, a natural area to walk around, or just a nice spot to sit under a tree, this is your park. On weekends, Welles Park can get crowded.
63 locals recommend
Welles Park
2333 W Sunnyside AveIf you are looking for a tennis court, an indoor swimming pool, a playground, a baseball field, a natural area to walk around, or just a nice spot to sit under a tree, this is your park. On weekends, Welles Park can get crowded.
If you are looking for a walk along the river, through wild flowers, with a little elevation this is your park. This is a great place for a jog, for a picnic, or to use their playground. They also have a big fenced-in dog park. The park is a 12-15 minute walk from our house.
56 locals recommend
Horner Park
2741 W Montrose AveIf you are looking for a walk along the river, through wild flowers, with a little elevation this is your park. This is a great place for a jog, for a picnic, or to use their playground. They also have a big fenced-in dog park. The park is a 12-15 minute walk from our house.
Coonley is our closest playground, and they have a considerable astroturf field. This playground is really for the summer and weekends as the school uses it on school days.
John C. Coonley Elementary
4046 N Leavitt StCoonley is our closest playground, and they have a considerable astroturf field. This playground is really for the summer and weekends as the school uses it on school days.
Grocery Stores in the Neighborhood
This grocery store is less than a block from our front door. While it is not my favorite place to shop, they are a grocery store that also sells beer, wine, and liquor.
139 locals recommend
Jewel-Osco
4250 N Lincoln AveThis grocery store is less than a block from our front door. While it is not my favorite place to shop, they are a grocery store that also sells beer, wine, and liquor.
A standard Trader Joe's. With social distancing, there is usually a line to get inside.
360 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
667 W Diversey PkwyA standard Trader Joe's. With social distancing, there is usually a line to get inside.
This little shop has a great butcher and a small selection of groceries and prepared foods.
L&M Fine Foods
4363 N Lincoln AveThis little shop has a great butcher and a small selection of groceries and prepared foods.
This is our nearest full service butcher. If you need a steak, lamb, pork, or freshly made sausages, this is your spot. They also have a good grocery area and we are huge fans of their pirogies.
91 locals recommend
Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessen
4750 N Lincoln AveThis is our nearest full service butcher. If you need a steak, lamb, pork, or freshly made sausages, this is your spot. They also have a good grocery area and we are huge fans of their pirogies.