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Going to Chicago this week and wanna eat some of the foods that made Chicago famous like a chicago dog and decent deep dish pizza somewhere between downtown and ORD along 90. Nothing high-end. Thnx.
You're gonna get a heated debate on the pizza....... My fav is Gino's East, located on Ontario & Wells (downtown). There's a place called Al's across the street from Gino's with great dogs as well.
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago
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One grossly overlooked Chicago culinary invention is the jibarito. It's a steak sandwich with cheese, lettuce, tomato and a garlicky-mayo sauce. Only instead of bread slices, they use flattened, fried plantain slices. You'll find it in any number of restaurants in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, but Boriquen at 1720 N. California is considered the top place to get it; it is generally agreed that Borinquen is where the jibarito was invented. They have two other locations along the Northwest side but the California Avenue location seems to be their most consistent.
One variation on the jibarito is the jibarita. The difference is the jibarito uses green plantain slices while the jibarita uses ripe plantain slices. The jibarita tends to be a little greasier -- for some reason a green plantain fries up crisper than a ripe plantain -- something to do with different moisture content between green and ripe plantains I think, which affects their ability to absorb the fry grease. I personally prefer the jibarita, but it takes more napkins to eat one.
Another great place right off the Kennedy Expressway is Smoque barbecue on Pulaski Avenue just south of Irving Park Road. By a long shot, the best ribs in the city. Maybe I'm biased since I live right near this place. More info here.
BTW, does it have to be along the Kennedy Expressway corridor? I mean, there's some good restaurants along that corridor, but you're kind of limiting yourself.
Thanks, those places sound great. I'll definitely check them out. Drover - sounds OK, but, sorry, I'm not really into P-Rican food right now. I lived in FL for 8 years and I'll about vomit if I have another plantain - too starchy for me. But thanks anyway.
One grossly overlooked Chicago culinary invention is the jibarito. It's a steak sandwich with cheese, lettuce, tomato and a garlicky-mayo sauce. Only instead of bread slices, they use flattened, fried plantain slices. You'll find it in any number of restaurants in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, but Boriquen at 1720 N. California is considered the top place to get it; it is generally agreed that Borinquen is where the jibarito was invented. They have two other locations along the Northwest side but the California Avenue location seems to be their most consistent.
One variation on the jibarito is the jibarita. The difference is the jibarito uses green plantain slices while the jibarita uses ripe plantain slices. The jibarita tends to be a little greasier -- for some reason a green plantain fries up crisper than a ripe plantain -- something to do with different moisture content between green and ripe plantains I think, which affects their ability to absorb the fry grease. I personally prefer the jibarita, but it takes more napkins to eat one.
Another great place right off the Kennedy Expressway is Smoque barbecue on Pulaski Avenue just south of Irving Park Road. By a long shot, the best ribs in the city. Maybe I'm biased since I live right near this place. More info here.
BTW, does it have to be along the Kennedy Expressway corridor? I mean, there's some good restaurants along that corridor, but you're kind of limiting yourself.
OMG. The jibarito is amazing. The only place I ever had it was Borinquen over in Humboldt Park.
You're gonna get a heated debate on the pizza....... My fav is Gino's East, located on Ontario & Wells (downtown). There's a place called Al's across the street from Gino's with great dogs as well.
Go to the original Gino's location on Superior! It's not the original buidling (it was torn down because of structural problems), but they rebuilt on the same spot. That Gino's on Ontario is awful (former Planet Hollywood).
To add on to the OP's question, my wife is Chicago for business this week and staying at the Hard Rock Hotel. She is not the very adventorous type, as it was a kind of a big deal for her to walk to down to "the bean" after she was finished with work today. With that said, she is interested in trying some authentic chicago style pizza before she leaves. Is there anywhere nearby the Hard Rock that she could walk to nearby for some good pizza. We are from LA, so she isn't afraid of the big city and walking around alone, but as you probably know, there isn't much walking here in LA and I know she won't want to schlep half way across the city for a slice of pizza. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to join her on her trip to chicago as I've never been there, but I'm interested in what she thinks about chicago style pizza vs. ny style pizza which we are huge fans of. thanks in advance!
She could get the Pizza delivered if she does not like to walk aroung too much...
I think both locations are about a 5 block walk.
Have her get "Pan" Pizza at either.
Ginos East
162 E. Superior St
Chicago, IL 60611
312-266 DEEP (3337)
Lou Malnati's
439 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610
312.828.9800
I wonder how some people I know are not impressed by Lou Malnati's pan pizza's. I don't even like pizza, but this stuff is awesome. It may sound strange, but their tomatoes are exceptional.
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Where to eat?
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