Best Chicago Comfort Food Spots: Hearty Classics Like Mac & Cheese and Fried Chicken
If you’re craving something warm and hearty, Chicago is never in short supply of amazing comfort food options. Indulge in gooey mac and cheese, hearty chicken pot pie, perfect fried chicken, and more. Don’t forget to top it all off with a little something for your sweet tooth.
Cozy up with some of your favorite comfort foods at these great Chicago spots.
R.J. Grunts
The vibes and the eats are nostalgic at this Lincoln Park legend, R.J. Grunts. Order a bowl of their “famous chili,” which was dubbed Chicago’s best in 1979 and has remained unchanged ever since. They’re also got French onion soup, giant piles of nachos, tuna melts, and tons of burger options. Order a milkshake or, if you’ve had enough comfort food, hit the massive salad bar. 2056 N. Lincoln Park Way
Cheesie’s Pub & Grub
You can’t go wrong at Cheesie’s. Their mouth-watering menu of creative grilled cheese sandwiches is perfect for a weekend indulgence or a late-night snack. Get the OG made with American and Merkt’s Cheddar melted on Texas toast with a tomato soup dipping sauce. Or go big with the Tenderizer: cheddar, mozz, bacon, and fried chicken tenders (plus a ranch sauce for dunking). If that’s not enough, order a side of cheese curds or fried mac and cheese balls. Various locations
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Lot’s of places do fried chicken. Few get it right. This casual Avondale spot really gets it right. Honey Butter Fried Chicken uses only antibiotic-free, cage-free, humanely-raised chickens to make their unbelievably crispy-yet-juicy fried feast. Order two, four, or eight pieces that include a mix of breasts, drumsticks, and fries (plus corn muffins and, of course, honey butter on the side). Tip it off with their homemade dipping sauces or a side of smashed potatoes made with chicken fat gravy. 3361 N. Elston Ave.
Lady Gregory’s Irish Bar & Restaurant
Head north to Andersonville for some of the most decadent mac and cheese in the city. Irish bar Lady Gregory’s serves up their noodles topped with Irish cheddar, Irish bacon, tomato, caramelized onion, and garlic crumb crust. Or try the Ultimate Grilled Cheese (also with bacon), featuring gruyere, white cheddar, mozzarella, brie, roasted tomato concassé, fried shallots, and candied bacon confetti on parmesan-crusted sourdough. 5260 N. Clark St.
Big Jones
Inspired by the rich history of Southern cooking, Big Jones serves up delicious fried chicken for brunch, lunch, and dinner. You can get it a la carte with a biscuit and homemade jam or as a sandwich with mayonnaise and lettuce on a soft egg bun. And their chicken and biscuit sandwich is so good, that chef Paul Fehribach used it to beat Bobby Flay on a recent episode of the popular Food Network show. Try his winning dish on the Big Jones brunch menu. 5347 N. Clark St.
Ann Sather
If you love brunch, you have to stop at Ann Sather. All the egg entrées at the cozy brunch are served with your choice of two sides — including their famous cinnamon rolls. These hot, gooey, soft buns are made from scratch, loaded with icing, and nearly impossible to resist. A long-time community staple, Ann Sather has been around for decades and now have three Chicago locations; the original is the one on Belmont in the Lakeview neighborhood. Various locations
Green Door Tavern
This long-running watering hole, the Green Door Tavern, is famous for their Prohibition-era roots and their old-fashioned chili. It’s served with a side of kidney beans, red onions, jalapeños, and garlic bread. And their late-night menu includes all your favorite pub grub, like Scotch eggs, fried calamari, loaded fries, and triple decker grilled cheese. 678 N. Orleans
