Illinois – Food & Drink

Discover the Illinois food scene – the best restaurants in Chicago, Michelin stars, artisan tastes, farm-to-table, local favourites, wine trails and craft beers.

While restaurant powerhouse Chicago hosts such crown jewels as Grant Achatz’s The Aviary and Alinea, Brendan Sodikoff’s Au Cheval, and Maurie Berman’s legacy Superdawg, southern and central Illinois are home to the country’s best chilli, ribs, and spaghetti and meatballs.

Goose Island was founded in 1988 and has grown exponentially since then. They pioneered the use of bourbon barrels in the beer-ageing process. If you’ve never had the pleasure of trying bourbon-aged beer, you are in for a treat. By championing sustainability in their breweries and investing in Chicago’s communities, Goose Island continues to lead in the craft brewing industry.

Iconic Illinois Dishes:

  • Deep Dish Pizza – more than just a pizza!
  • Horse Shoe Sandwich – an open-faced sandwich–typically a thick piece of bread, a burger, and then there are a bunch of fries on top
  • Hotdog – Try it Chicago-style, with tomatoes, sport peppers, and mustard (no ketchup allowed!)