Another year, another GLBE! Your favorite Chicago cuisine obsessed dancer, Sangdi Chen, back with this year’s food guide. For 2024, I’ve made a few tweaks since we’re back at the Irish American Heritage Center and added new spots for the curious and adventurous dancers. See below for more info and see you on the dance floor!
Venue: our home for the weekend, the Irish American Center.
Quick Bites: need a snack or quick meal between classes, dances and such? Everything on this list is within a 15 min walk and are faster or have takeout.
Dine-In: got a little more time and want a nice sit-down meal? Spots on this list are within walking distance or a short drive and have affordable, tasty menus.
Coffee: what’s a dance weekend without caffeine? This list includes spots near the venue and farther away for the connoisseurs among us.
Anelya: opened by Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark of nearby acclaimed Parachute, Aneyla began life as a popup created by the duo to raise funds for Ukraine, it has since evolved into a love letter to its namesake, Johnny’s grandmother. https://www.anelyarestaurant.com/
Dear Margaret: Chicago is hardly short on French restaurants, but Dear Margaret is something kind of special–a blend of homey comfort with superb technique that it basically convinced me, an admitted French food skeptic, in a single visit. https://www.dearmargaretchi.com/
John’s Food and Wine: It’s a little unusual for me to put a place on this list I haven’t been myself yet, so I’ll refer you to Louisa Kung Liu Chu’s review in the Chicago Tribune. The fact that the owners are insistent about paying their staff a living wage while crafting incredible food and change their service style in aid of this is, sight unseen, worth a trip in my book. No reservations accepted here, so you may want to drop in close to their 5pm opening time. https://www.johnsfoodandwine.com/
Jibek Jolu: this one is a bit personal. Jibek Jolu is about the closest approximation of food I ate growing up in Xinjiang I’ve found in Chicago. And in general, Central Asian food has been growing, though slowly, in the US–I just want more folks to know about this excellent regional cuisine. https://jibekjolu.us/chicago/
Daisies: this is a perennial recommendation for townies and visitors because they have just evolved and gotten better over the years. Specializing in handmade pasta, Daisies is also among the first recipients of the Michelin Green Star–a new category awarded to restaurants that are uniquely focused on sustainability in their food and beverage. https://www.daisieschicago.com/
Elske: I swear this recommendation isn’t just because I went to Copenhagen this summer, but Elske’s New Nordic-infused American cuisine has always been a standout in Chicago since its opening. It’s also one of the few restaurants in its category not owned by a hospitality group. Pay special attention to the desserts, Anna Posey is kind of a magician. Plus they have a sweet courtyard/patio. https://elskerestaurant.com/
Richland Center Food Court: this might be the closest thing in Chicago (and maybe the Midwest) to a Singaporean hawker center. Some of the best Chinese food in the city, including the best baozi I’ve had, are tucked away in this hidden gem; it’s counter service, barebones, and often untranslated so let your nose and your eyes guide you–most stands have a touchscreen ordering system. https://maps.app.goo.gl/7m8fDB6FniqJJa2M7
EL Ideas: I’m still a bit of a sucker for fine dining, but this spot is a lot less of the dressed up, bordering on stuffy for some, ambience as other places in the city. Chef Philip Foss and a tiny team only do eight seatings a week but the food is playful, approachable, and just delicious. https://www.elideas.com/
