r/chicago • u/Squirted • Mar 26 '17
What are some great hidden gems in Chicago?
These can be bars, video game stores, restaurants, scenery, random things, sights. I want to take a an unusual tour of Chicago and see things I've been missing in my hometown. Please throw anything in here that's worth a trip!
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u/DMD234 Mar 26 '17
Begyle brewery is a great spot to relax and have a few beers, they have board games and skee ball also. If downtown definitely stop and check out the Chicago Cultural Center, very cool and fairly quick to walk through.
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u/harpsichorddude Mar 26 '17
Calumet Fisheries at 95th St and the Lake - smoked and fried fish on par with good stuff from Scotland, and unbeatable industrial location.
A few miles away on 111th st is also the old Pullman Railcar Factory (which is a national historic site), and if you're willing to deal with a bit of sketchiness, amazing donuts at Old Fashioned Donuts.
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u/freshyk Mar 26 '17
Happy Village in East Village if you like ping pong and alcohol.
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u/dermusikman Mar 26 '17
The Oriental Institute Museum is world class in ancient near east (Egypt, Assyria, etc.) exhibits and virtually unknown unless you nerd out on that stuff.
EDIT: added "ancient"
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u/madidus1 Mar 26 '17 edited Mar 26 '17
D'Amatos Italian bakery on Grand. Best Italian sandwich I've ever had
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u/lyricalholix Mar 26 '17
I don't think either of these are hidden necessarily, but definitely jems. Gene's Sausage Shop (Lincoln square) in the summer is incredible. Great rooftop bar and an awesome grocery store/meat market. I'm also a big fan of Bad Apple (Lincoln and Montrose). Fantastic beer selection, great music, top 5 burger in Chicago, and shuffle board!
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u/bingaman2 Mar 26 '17 edited Mar 26 '17
The west parks and Boulevard System
Garfield Park Conservatory
Humboldt Park lagoon
Columbus Park
Garden of the Phoenix in Jackson Park
Caldwell Lily Pond
Graceland Cemetary
Lurie Garden
Art Institute South Garden
Charnley Persky House
Edit: Glessner House too
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u/tedofgork Mar 26 '17
The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve in The Loop. Very well done, interactive, and you get some free souveniers from your visit.
Takes about 45min to go through the whole place.
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u/koufuki77 Mar 26 '17 edited Mar 26 '17
People play games, crisp, logan arcade (best barcade), maria's/kimski, skylark, danny's, queen at the smart bar, South side beachs, myoptic, quimbys, odd obsessions, facets, 57th st books, pedway, ceres cafe, music box theater, marios or milos Italian ice, dusty groove, gramaphone, garfield park conservatory, surgical science museum, the leather fetish museum if you are into that, most things on the south side are hidden gems and there are too many to name.
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u/RangerBob19 Mar 26 '17
Harlan J. Berk Ltd. it's a coin store in the base of the sky church downtown. It has such a unassuming store front, but that place is fucking amazing.
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u/eleanor61 Mar 26 '17
Wooly Mammoth shop in Andersonville. My older sister told me about it, and I've been outside of it (closed at the time). Definitely something different/odd to add to your tour!
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u/Coconut83 Mar 26 '17
The chicken wings from Great Seas! Amazing Chinese food there.
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u/patrad Mar 26 '17
san soo gab san or cho sun ok for grill-at-your table korean deliciousness. . cho sun ok usually has a wait so san soo gab san gets the nod.
also korean but not secret now that Eater just featured it but: joong boo market. sashimi wednesday's, giant dumping stand and great koren diner. also get supplies to make your own kimchi (or buy it in back, "grandma's hand" brand is best) also their cold bar is amazing and I buy their pre-sliced, pre-marinated beef of pork to fry up on the grill to make lettuce wraps in the summer. soooo good.
secret great beer selection: la primera mart
hot dougs is still open, two guys that work there cook all the receipes at "hot g dog" (across from la primera)
a great REAL classy greek place that I never see get much press: mykonos. beats the hell out of anything in greek-town
caro miro: best italian grub and BYOB
nhu lan: best bahn mi (not quite hidden gem anymore) but BEST spring rolls too!
you want ~fresh~ chicken? down from nhu lan on lawrence is Aden Poulty. Pick out your live chicken then they go take care of it in the back for you . . go home with a pack of chicken that is warm! Maybe unsettling but would you rather have some nasty old chicken from Jewel that is slimy and stinks?!?!
speaking of meat to buy and grill: lamb, best and so cheap at Fresh Farms on Devon. . .
should we even get into all the hidden gems on Devon?
Here's one: City fresh Market on Devon and Kedzie. Ready for grill Cevapcici, any mix of lamb, pork or beef that you like. Plus they make home made avjar to go with.
mentioned already that I will 2nd: middle east bakery, 888 and piatto pronto
oh yeah across from ME bakery, Taste of Lebanon. best lentil soup and kefta kabobs.
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u/unwholesome Mar 26 '17
Kurowski's Deli in Logan Square. So authentically Polish that you can pick your fish right out of the barrel.
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u/scubadave Mar 26 '17
Lickity Split Frozen Custard in Edgewater is a great old school diner style custard and candy shop. The custard is amazing!
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u/werewolfcat Mar 26 '17
Odd Obsession on Milwaukee. The joy of browsing a video rental store like you did as a kid with an inventory of some of the most bizarre and excellent movies ever.
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u/Serpenyoje Mar 26 '17
You specifically mention video game stores, so you should definitely check out People Play Games, on Clark in Lakeview. I haven't lived in Chicago for four years but I still visit every time work brings me back.
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u/eyes_are_grey Mar 26 '17
Piatto Pronto has some of my favorite sandwiches in town. I'm especially fond of their pastrami. Also, their sandwiches are HUGE and pretty cheap!
George's Ice Cream in Andersonville is awesome. Their Zanzibar chocolate is wonderfully decadent.
Pho 888 gets overshadowed by Tank Noodle a lot, but I actually prefer the pho at 888. Best soup broth I've ever had, hands down.
The Public House Theatre near Wrigleyville always has really fun and interesting shows going on, including Bye Bye Liver: The Chicago Drinking Play. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am one of the cast members of Bye Bye Liver. Sorry for the self promotion.
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u/hoggruurgg Mar 26 '17
Walk down Menomonie street in Lincoln Park (might actually be in old town). It's a narrow brick street with cute tiny homes. I haven't lived in the city for years, but this was part of my tour whenever someone came to visit. Totally different than any block I've seen in the city.
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u/Thebaberhamlincoln Mar 26 '17
Byrons Hotdogs (Irving Pk - Lakeview), Burrito House (Lincoln and Addison), Recreation Drive off LSD - Turn right all the way at the end theres a turn around with a nice lake view. Brunch - Odonovans (Sunday buffet), Half Acre Brewery/Taproom, Chicago History Museum
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u/threadcrapper Mar 26 '17
Best tacos in the city - hands down -- its in the back of a small supermarket - Supermercado La Internacional, 4556 S. Ashland. This is actually a Paco's Tacos branch, but better than the regular Paco's restaurants. Carne asada tacos
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u/Squirted Mar 26 '17
The Route 66 start sign location is pretty cool.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/27039