Publication Date

December 12, 2011

Perspectives Section

Perspectives Daily

Attending sessions, perusing the Exhibit Hall, and navigating the Job Center at the upcoming 126th annual meeting may leave you with a healthy appetite. Check out this list of Restaurants in Chicago to find out where to eat. Find out what’s close by, where to grab a pizza, what the vegetarian options are, and cuisines from A to V in this restaurant guide by Local Arrangements Committee members Raymond Clemens and Patrice Olsen (both of Illinois State University).

Theguide contains information on famous restaurants, like Charlie Trotter’s, one of the first nuevo American restaurants; Twin Anchors, which Frank Sinatra claimed had the best baby back ribs in the city; and Valois Cafeteria, made famous by sociologist Mitchell Duneier’s book, Slim’s Table: Race, Respectability, and Masculinity (the Obamas have also been known to eat here).

Find links not only to Chicago pizza places, but to pizza tours: Chicago Pizza Tours and Second City Pizza Tours. And Chicago shows off its status as a global city with its wide variety of cuisine options (American, Chinese, Ethiopian, French, German, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Polish, Swedish, Thai, and Vietnamese). Here are just a few mouth-watering samples from the guide:

Ethiopian Diamond Chicago RestaurantEthiopian:Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant
Cost: Moderate
Transit: Red Line, Granville
Hours: Monday–Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–11:30 p.m.
Address: 6120 N. Broadway St. (between Glenlake Ave. & Hood Ave.)
Phone: (773) 338-6100

French: Les Nomades
Description: Traditional French. Not the most expensive French in Chicago, but close. Jacket required.
Les Nomades Chicago RestaurantCost: Very Expensive
Transit: Red Line, Chicago
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 5 p.m.–11 p.m.
Address: 222 E. Ontario St. (between Fairbanks Ct. & McClurg Ct.)
Phone: (312) 649-9010
More French options.

Indian:India House Restaurant
Description: Good and nearby; has buffet.
India House Chicago RestaurantCost: Moderate
Transit: Red Line, Grand (Walking Distance)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Monday–Thursday and Sunday, 5 p.m.–10 p.m.
Friday–Saturday, 5 p.m.–11 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Address: 59 W. Grand Ave. (between Clark St. & Dearborn St.)
Phone: (312) 645-9500
More Indian options.

Belly Shack Chicago RestaurantKorean: Belly Shack
Description: Korean-Mexican fusion
Cost: Moderate
Transit: Blue Line, Western
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
Address: 1912 N. Western Ave. (between Cortland St. & Winnebago Ave.)
Phone: (773) 252-1414
More Korean options.

Szalas Chicago RestaurantPolish:  Szalas
Description: Authentic Polish Highlands food
Cost: Moderate
Transit: Orange Line, Pulaski, then a mile walk
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 12 p.m.–11 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 12 p.m.–11 p.m.
Address: 5214 S. Archer Ave. (between Kenneth Ave. & Kilbourn Ave.)
Phone: (773) 582-0300
More Polish options.

Ann Sather Chicago RestaurantSwedish: Ann Sather
Description: Swedish food; amazing cinnamon buns. Breakfast and lunch. Several locations.
Cost: Moderate
Transit: Red Line/Brown Line, Belmont
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m.–4 p.m.
Address: 909 W. Belmont Ave. (between Wilton Ave. & Clark St.)
Phone: (773) 348-2378

Vietnamese: Tank Noodle
Tank Noodle Chicago RestaurantDescription: Very popular with locals.
Cost: Inexpensive
Transit: Red Line, Argyle
Hours: Monday–Tuesday and Thursday–Saturday, 8:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
Sunday 8:30 a.m. -9 p.m.
Address: 4953 N. Broadway (between Argyle St. & Ainslie St.)
Phone: (773) 878-2253
More Vietnamese options.

The meeting hotels have also contributed their local knowledge of nearby eating establishments by sending us these restaurant lists, which, not surprisingly, overlap a bit with the restaurant guide compiled by Clemens and Olsen:

Have you dined in Chicago before? What restaurants do you recommend?

This post first appeared on AHA Today.

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