Chicago.

Sawada Coffee (112 N Green St)

Military latte / Start your day off with the perfect cup of coffee. Matcha green tea with robust espresso combined with vanilla syrup & topped with cocoa powder makes for a rich, velvety latte. It’s almost too beautiful to drink but trust me, it’s even more delicious than it looks. Crafted to perfection by champion latte artist Hiroshi Sawada, I promise I’m not being dramatic when I say this matcha latte just really hits a spot that Starbucks could never reach even in it’s wildest dreams.

Green Street Smoked Meats (112 N Green St)

Lunch / After you grab a cup of joe, enjoy lunch at Green Street Smoked Meats for some amazing Texas-inspired BBQ. It’s located directly behind Sawada Coffee, you can actually enter from Sawada coffee indoors. Indoors you’ll find long picnic tables, a full bar, and the cutest indoor string light set up overhead. Grab a drink first or head straight for the food line! Order tender brisket, pulled pork, or pork belly cooked to absolute perfection by the pound. Oh & trust me on this one, you’re gonna want to order a side of potato salad. Don’t skip out on those sides!

Little Goat Diner (820 W Randolph St)

Brunch / There always seems to be a long wait for Little Goat Diner but it is one of those places that is actually worth the wait. I’ve traveled to Chicago twice now and have yet to snag a reservation at the famous Girl and the Goat. If you’re in the West Loop, Little Goat Diner is one of their sister restaurants and it did not disappoint. Maybe I’ll finally get a reservation at Girl and the Goat someday! I tried a really intriguing asian-fusion brunch. Scallion biscuits topped with an egg served with a delicious soy chili sauce. And if my memory serves me correctly, my friend’s french toast was absolutely incredible as well.

BomboBar (832 W Randolph St)

Dessert / While you’re in the West Loop I recommend stopping by BomboBar for dessert. What is a bombobar? I’m not quite sure.. but it’s certainly a unique dessert experience and I AM 100% positive that is it amazingly good. BomboBar features bombolinis, basically a holeless doughnut that is served with a a cute squeeze bottle of filling! They also serve gelato and much more.

Pequod’s (2207 N Clybourn Ave)

Pizza / Torn between trying Lou Malnati’s or Giodarno’s for an authentic Chicago deep dish pizza experience? I’ll save you the time and effort right now. Forget both of this places and just get your butt over to Pequods. Hands down this is the best deep dish pizza in chicago, no question about it! I tried Giordano’s the first day I visited Chicago several years ago and I thought it was good. Honestly I was very underwhelmed by Lou Malnati’s. I honestly found their big deep dish to be overly saucey which lead to a soggy thick crust. Being from the East Coast, I am definitely in favor of a good thin slice of NY Style pizza. But man, it wasn’t until I tried Pequods that I discovered I can actually enjoy deep dish pizza. The crust is cooked with cheese and fired in the oven to make a deliciously crisp and flavorful crust that holds the sauce, more cheese, and toppings in place. If I’m gonna wait 45+ minutes for a pizza to cook in the oven it better be darn stinking good, and trust me Pequod’s did not disappoint!

Tortello (1746 W Division St)

Pasta / Handmade pasta crafted to perfection. Seriously, if you don’t believe me check out the store front and watch the mesmerizing pasta making craft with your own eyes! They even hold pasta making classes on Monday & Tuesday evenings if you want to try your hand at perfecting the art of pasta making yourself! Order your meal at the cashier and they will serve it to your table. Be sure to start off with the focaccia with ricotta and honey, you won’t be disappointed. Their signature dish is the tortelli di burrata, topped with sage butter that is absolutely impeccable. I also enjoyed a seafood squid ink pasta that was bursting with richness and flavor. Another must-try is definitely their Chiusoni alla Gallurese Feeling adventurous? Purchase fresh pasta and sauce to create your own signature dish at home! & Don’t forget a glass of wine ;)

Cà Phê Dá – Dang Good Wings (1800 South Carpenter Street Entrance on, W 18th St)

Wings and coffee / Their signature egg custard coffee is creamy, decadent, and oh so delicious. It’s a dessert and mood booster for sure. Choose an egg custard flavor (I chose the original) to be served over strong brewed Vietnamese iced coffee. Cà Phê Dá translates to iced coffee in Vietnamese. If egg custard isn’t your thing, try a ca phe sua da (vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk), a classic that can’t be beat! While you’re stopping by for a drink don’t forget to try their wings and especially don’t pass on the opportunity to try their caramelized fish sauce fries. These fries are perfectly crisp, topped with savory fish sauce, chili, and garlic. Seriously such a complex flavor profile of acidity, salt, and heat that your taste buds will never forget.

Gaijin (950 W Lake St)

Japanese / Gaijin was an all-around tasty experience: from drinks to okonomiyaki to dessert, this place should be a stop on everyone’s itinerary in Chicago. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake commonly made with cabbage and meat or seafood. Gaijin served a variety of okonomiyaki including seafood, meat, or vegetarian options. Pictured below is the pork okonomiyaki. Their cocktails are even beautiful! I tried the ube all day, one of their kakigori cocktails served over shaved ice. And don’t forget the best course: dessert! We tried one of their kakigori, which is a Japanese shaved iced dessert flavored, and a matcha mochi donut. I love mochi donuts, the consistency of a slightly warm/crisp donut paired with the chewiness of mochi is just an amazing combination.

Firecakes Donuts (Multiple locations)

Donut ice cream sandwich / I mean, do I even need to say any more?? Customize by selecting your donut and your ice cream flavor. You can even add a sauce and a topping! Firecakes is so good I made sure to get my fix during my second trip to Chicago. I enjoyed a classic glazed donut, vanilla ice cream, with chocolate syrup. Because basic. But let’s be honest, you can never go wrong with a good classic.

Beacon Donuts (In The Alley, 810 W Armitage Ave)

Donuts / Venture down the alley way..you won’t regret it. Beacon donuts is hidden in the alley off armitage street. But you definitely won’t miss this donut shop while walking by since it stands out with its eclectic and colorful graffiti storefront. Their donuts are made in small batches so it is best to get their early or preorder if you have your eye on a something special! Beacon donuts also offers a large variety of vegan donut options with flavor profiles that can’t be matched.

Kibbitznest Books, Brews, & Blarney (2212 N Clyburn Ave)

Board games & Brews / I feel like every city needs at least ONE place likes Kibbitznest. Basically a great spot to hangout with friends any time of the day. I can see myself going here to enjoy coffee and a book or coffee and a board game with friends. Or hit up Kibbitznest for a nightcap. I stopped by Kibbitznest with a friend, enjoyed a Chicago hot dog, and an IPA. We even managed to find a few strangers to join us for some board games! Overall a super relaxing environment bound to lead to a good time and meeting new people.

Janitor’s Closet (312 W Chestnut St)

Speakeasy / This place is a true hidden gem. Hidden behind a door marked “employees only”, my friend and I had difficulty locating this tiny cocktail lounge. The owner/bartender was knowledgable, humble, easy to converse with, and makes a KILLER cocktail. I mean he made award-winning cocktails. Janitor’s Closet embraces the theme with full on custodial decor. It’s charming, intimate, and certainly a unique experience.