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1 / 10
HONEY BUTTER FRIED CHICKEN During its first three days of business, HBFC went through 2,350 pieces of chicken. Case closed. 3361 N. Elston Ave., 773-478-4000
Photo: Courtesy of Honey Butter Fried Chicken -
2 / 10
DILLMAN’S The endless debate—is it or isn’t it a deli?—has overshadowed the real question: How’s the matzo ball soup? 354 W. Hubbard St., 312-988-0078
Photo: Courtesy of Dillman’s -
3 / 10
TANTA CHICAGO The menu says that the Cantonese brought their food to Peru in the 1800s; hence, pork fried rice, shrimp tortilla, and spicy garlic. River North can’t resist a mash-up. 118 W. Grand Ave., 312-222-9700
Photo: Anjali M. Pinto -
4 / 10
JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS Jeni Britton Bauer opened an outpost of her Columbus, Ohio, legend in Chicago because she loves this city. The feeling is mutual. 3404 N. Southport Ave., 773-348-7139
Related: Read an interview with the owner of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Photo: Courtesy of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams -
5 / 10
RESTAURANT BEATRIX Rich Melman claims this is the one with all his favorite foods. He’s not alone. 519 N. Clark St., 312-284-1377
Related: Browse pics of Restaurant Beatrix’s roast chicken sandwich, chocolate chunk cookie, and other goodies on our photo blog What Penny Eats
Photo: Courtesy of Restaurant Beatrix -
6 / 10
JUNO Complain all you want about the prices, but no one’s knocking the sushi. 2638 N. Lincoln Ave., 872-206-8662
Related: Read our review
Photo: Anna Knott -
7 / 10
HOMEGROWN CAFE Chalkboard has been wiped clean, and now Gilbert Langlois has written a brunchy charmer into the neighborhood space. 4343 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-477-7144
Photo: Ratko Radojcic -
8 / 10
THE BENTLEY TAVERN Everyone loves a restaurant named after the owner’s dog—for a few years at least. 2834 N. Southport Ave., 773-477-2283
Photo: Courtesy of The Bentley Tavern -
9 / 10
COUNTY BARBEQUE Rumor has it that the folks in Little Italy are terrified the word will get out. Too late. 1352 W. Taylor St., 312-929-2528
Related: Read our story on County Barbeque
Photo: Courtesy of County Barbeque -
10 / 10
TRAVELLE Tim Graham’s menu, which swims all over the Mediterranean, includes “seacuterie”—emphasis on “cute.” The Langham Chicago, 330 N. Wabash Ave., 312-923-9988
Photo: Mike Schwartz