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dining out
Fortify your strength for more culinary capers with a quick snack or a full meal at one of the city’s legions of award-winning restaurants.
Need help sorting through the options? Get FREE expertise from a Culinary Concierge. Visit the Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Information Center to find the dining choice that’s perfectly suited to the needs and tastes of your group.
Turn your picky eater into a fine diner during Kids’ Restaurant Week In Chicago (June 21–28). Everyone wants a place at the table when these 20 noteworthy establishments extend their warm welcome to appetites of every size. Illustrious hosts include May Street Market, Prairie Grass Café, Vie, Olo, OTOM, Ina’s, Lula Café, Uncommon Ground, Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, and Blue Water Grill. (See also Kids Eat Better in the right-hand sidebar.)
Food Festivals
Flock to festivals featuring food, music, crafts, and shopping throughout the summer.
The Asian American Festival (May 19–23), Turkish Festival (May 28–31), Sister Cities Festival (June 2–6), Taste of Thailand (June 11–21), and Arab American Festival (June 25–28) are among those with particular appeal.
And of course, there’s the highly anticipated Ribfest Chicago (June 7–8), where revelers vote for the best ribs, fave food item, and the best griller—all amid stages presenting 20 bands, street dancing, and “Kids Square,” where the little ones make room for more ribs by jumping around in the bouncy castle.
Tours
Find the facts beneath Chicago’s culinary charm with fascinating, treat-filled tours.
Sample and compare the surprising and complex flavors of chocolate during 3 different Chicago Chocolate Tours. Or set out on foot with chef Jenny Lewis to reminisce about Chicago’s long reign as Candy Capital of the World during Chicago Candy Tours, also offering up contemporary confections for the tasting.
Combining cuisine with culture and history, Chicago Food Planet’s Near North Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour showcases some of the most appetizing and historic neighborhoods.
Accompany ethnic food guide Evelyn Thompson on Chicago Neighborhood Tours’ überpopular Taste of the Neighborhoods (July 26, August 16). Visit several Chicago restaurants by motorcoach to savor various ethnic foods and desserts.
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dining out
Culinary Concierge
Daily, 9 am–6 pm, except Holidays 10 am–4 pm
Chicago Cultural Center
Visitor Information Center
77 E. Randolph Street
cityofchicago.org/tourism
Kids’ Restaurant Week In Chicago
Daily, Saturday, June 21–Saturday, June 28, seatings 5:30–6:30 pm
Locations vary kidsrestaurantweek.com kids 11 and under pay their age; everyone else $20
Kids Eat Better
Locations and times vary. Attend parent-child classes and events at Green City Market and restaurants to showcase the pleasures and health benefits of good eating with local parents group Purple Asparagus; 773.991.1920
purpleasparagus.com
festivals
Daley Plaza (except Ribfest)
50 W. Washington Street More information
(except Ribfest)
Asian American Festival
Monday, May 19–Friday, May 23, 10 am–5 pm
Website
Turkish Festival
Wednesday–Friday, May 28–31, 10 am–5 pm chicagoturkishfestival.com
Sister Cities Festival
Monday, June 2–Friday, June 6, 10 am–3 pm chicagosistercities.com
Ribfest
Chicago Damen (2000 W.) and Irving Park (4000 N.)
Saturday, June 7–Sunday, June 8, Noon–10 pm
773.525.3609
ribfest-chicago.com donation $5
Taste of Thailand
Monday, June 16–Saturday, June 21, 10 am–5 pm
Arab American Festival
Wednesday, June 25 – Saturday, June 28, 10am – 5pm chicagoarabesque.com
tours
Chicago Chocolate Tours
312.863.8614 chicagochocolatetours.com $40 per person (samples included)
Fridays 12:45 pm
Chocolate Shops of the Loop
Saturdays 3:45 pm Chocolate Shops of the Magnificent Mile and the Chicago River
Sundays 1:45 pm
Chocolate Shops of the Magnificent Mile and Oak Street
Chicago Candy Tours
Wednesday, June 25 – Sunday, September 28; Wednesdays 11 am –1 pm, Saturdays 11 am – 1 pm, Sundays Noon–2 pm,
312.607.8939
chicagocandytours.com
(advance booking required)
$40 per person (4-person minimum; includes samples; private group
tours are available at special rates)
Chicago Food Planet’s Near North Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour
Daily, between 11 am–2 pm
800.979.3370 chicagofoodplanet.com (advance booking required); $40 per person (samples included)
Taste of the Neighborhoods
Saturdays, July 26, August 16, 10 am–2:30 pm
Chicago Neighborhood Tours
Depart from the Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street 312.742.1190 (early booking recommended) More info
Adults $50; Seniors 65+ / Students w/ valid ID / Children 8–18 $25
(please notify when booking)
