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Soul Vegetarian East
Finding soul food that meets the tenants of the vegan diet is such a rarity that the creative BBQ sandwiches and dinner plates at this comfy South Side place have earned a national reputation.
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Spring
The seafood mains at this award-winning place come to your plate by way of Asia, with Chef Shawn McClain lovingly dressing up dishes of lobster, grouper, halibut and scallops in mouthwatering soy glazes, hot and sour broth, and fresh wasabi. The restaurant - which was a bathhouse in a former life - looks a little like an Ikea showroom: simple, modern lines and muted greens set the tone.
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Sultan's Market
Steps from the Blue Line, this Middle Eastern spot has meat-free delights like falafel sandwiches, spinach pies and a sizable salad bar. Especially recommended: the egg fettia , an egg sandwich with two kinds of cheese baked over it.
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Swedish Bakery
You get free coffee in amazingly small cups here, but that's the only minimalist thing about the place, with its stock of butter-laden breads, cookies and pastries that have fattened up Andersonville for 75 years. Everything is good, but the princess cake and semla buns deserve a bit of extra attention.
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Sweet Cakes
Try 'the egg' - a hard-boiled egg baked into a corn muffin - at this Ukrainian Village newcomer, where baked goods for breakfast, a spacious, shady patio and free wi-fi entice travelers to grab a quick bite and plan their day. When you head out, pick from the array of bite-sized cupcakes.
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Sweet Maple Cafe
The creaking floorboards, matronly staff and soulful home cookin' lend the Sweet Maple Café the bucolic appeal of a roadside southern diner. Inch-thick banana (or, seasonally, peaches and cream) pancakes, cheddar grits and fluffy, fresh-baked biscuits smothered in spicy sausage gravy or as a part of a fried 'Chick'n Egg and Cheeser' earn the superlatives of locals, but egg dishes, sturdy muffins and lunch sandwiches are done with equal aplomb.
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Tango Sur
This candlelit BYOB Argentine steak house makes an idyllic date location, serving classic skirt steaks and other tender, grass-fed options. In addition to the traditional cuts, the chef's special is 'bife Vesuvio,' a prime strip stuffed with garlic spinach, cheese - it's a triumph. In summer, tables outside expand the seating from the small and spare interior.
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Tank Noodle
The servers wear camouflage aprons at this spacious corner eatery, a quirky touch in an otherwise utilitarian restaurant. The crowds come for bahn mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), served on crunchy fresh baguette rolls, and the pho (noodle soup), which is regarded as the city's best. More adventurous palates should try the marinated squid, item #203 on the sprawling menu.
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Taza
The tiled floor and undressed tables don't overwhelm with ambiance, but when it comes to the holy trinity of cheapie Mediterranean pita-wrapped staples - falafel (spiced chickpea patties), shawarma (marinated meat with tomatoes and garnish) and gyro (spit-roasted lamb) - this humble lunch joint is awe-inspiring. The balance of lip-warming spice and cool cucumber, lettuce and tomato make the crispy falafel a particular triumph.
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Tecalitlan
Weighing in at more than a pound and costing less than around US$5 , the carne asada (roast meat) burrito with cheese is not just one of the city's best food values, it's one of the city's best foods. Add the optional avocado and you'll have a full day's worth of food groups wrapped in a huge flour tortilla. The horchata (a rice-based beverage made with water, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and lime) is creamy and refreshing.
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Tempo Cafe
Bright and cheery, this upscale diner brings most of its meals to the table the way they're meant to be served - in a skillet. Its omelette-centric menu includes all manner of fresh veggies and meat, as well as sandwiches, soups and salads. After the bars close the scene here is chaotic and fun.
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Thai Pastry
A lunchtime favorite with workers from both Uptown and Andersonville, this Thai restaurant has a window filled with accolades and awards, and the food to back it up. The pad thai is excellent, and the spot-on curries arrive still simmering in a clay pot. For a quick, cheap snack, visit the counter for a baked pastry.
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Topolobampo
Part of the same operation as Frontera Grill, this is where Chef Rick Bayless unleashes his creativity, unfettered by cost restrictions. Compared with its rollicking neighbor, Topolobampo's mood seems downright severe, as diners sample flavor combinations most people never knew existed. The menu changes nightly; be prepared for a memorable experience. Reservations required.
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Trattoria No 10
An ideal stop for ticket holders, this lively bistro is just steps from the Loop theater district. The straightforward menu provides exceptionally flavorful takes on familiar items like ravioli (try the one filled with asparagus tip, bufala cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes) and risotto with skirt steak.
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Tru
Gale Gand (of the Food Network's Sweet Dreams ) and Rick Tramonto opened Tru to instant acclaim in 1999. The eclectic, highly seasonal French menu features a renowned cheese course and brilliant desserts. Prix fixe Menus include an all-vegetable version and the decadent deluxe version (around C$250 ). Getting a nibble doesn't have to break the bank though; all prix fixe items are available à la carte in the adjoining lounge.
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Tsuki
This large, urbane sushi destination opened in 2004 and is beloved for its fresh sashimi and playful approach to traditional rolls. Top picks include the smoked duck nigiri and the intriguing pistachio-salmon teriyaki. Soba and udon noodles and tempura round out the menu, which also includes some vegetarian selections. Most items on the simple, late-night lounge menu are around C$5 or less, making for the best nighttime eats around.
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Tufano's Vernon Park Tap
Still family-run after three generations, Tufano's serves old-fashioned, hearty Italian fare for modest prices. The blackboards carry a long list of daily specials, which can include such wonderful items as pasta with garlic-crusted broccoli. Amid the usual celebrity photos on the wall you'll see some really nice shots of Joey Di Buono and his family and their patrons through the decades.
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A dish of perfect biscuits and gravy is a surprise just steps from the city's northern Asian enclave, but so are many of the re-imagined breakfast standards made by former Charlie Trotters chefs at this cozy morning spot. The 'Country Benedict' adds two poached eggs and a thick slab of sausage for a decadent opening meal. For something lighter, try the Corn Arepas, corn pancakes with eggs, avocado and crème fraîche.
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Twin Anchors
Twin Anchors is synonymous with ribs, and Chicagoans can get violent if you leave their city without sampling some of Twin Anchors' baby-backs. The meat drops off as soon as you lift them. Choose fries, onion rings and baked potatoes for sides. They don't take reservations, so you'll have to wait outside or around the neon-lit 1950s bar, which sets the tone for the place. A Sinatra-centric jukebox completes the '50s supper-club ambience.
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Twisted Spoke
Don't let the motorcycle theme, burly burgers and steel finishing intimidate you: behind the macho facade at this popular brunch spot are artful dishes better calibrated for nesting yuppies than hardscrabble Hell's Angels. If the smoky-sweet BBQ Kobe Brisket isn't tough enough for you, order their famous, though unfortunately named, 'Road Rash' bloody mary extra spicy, and chomp your way through its accompanying array of harpooned veggies.
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Underdog
This subterranean late-night hot dog stop is a drunkard's paradise after a long night on Wicker Park barstools. Inebriated or not, the hot dogs and gyros are on par with the city's high standard. For more booze fueled mayhem and Mexican, try a couple of al pastor (grilled pork with pineapple) tacos upstairs.
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Via Carducci
The simple, southern Italian dishes regularly draw moans of delight from diners at this small Lincoln Park gem. Red-checkered tablecloths complement the baroque murals on the walls, and the food leans toward thick tomato-based sauces and amazing sausages.
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Victory's Banner
The tough decision at this revered breakfast house is between the fresh, free-range egg omelets and the legendary French toast, cooked in rich cream batter and sided with peach butter. New Age tunes and muted colors give it a soothing vibe, even when the place is mobbed on weekend mornings.
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Vienna Beef Factory Store & Deli
After eating them all over town, it's worth a trip to the source. The Vienna Beef Factory makes the majority of hot dogs sold in Chicago, and the factory's workers' deli is one of the freshest places to try the famous creations. Hot-dog haters can nosh on corned-beef sandwiches or potato pancakes. And Vienna diehards can pick up a case of the dogs at the on-site store to bring back home.
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Village Tap
Although it can be packed on the weekends, this neighborhood tavern does everything well: food, drink and atmosphere. The friendly bartenders give out free samples of the ever-changing and carefully chosen lineup of Midwestern microbrews. The kitchen turns out some great burgers, veggie burgers and chicken sandwiches, served with a side of spiced pita chips. There's a beer garden with a fountain and tables inside are good for watching the game.
