The rest of the list is food-related, so if you're looking for things to do between meals, here are our top recommendations: 1. Go to a museum! Eric's favorite is the Art Institute, while Niko prefers to see Sue and all her fossilized friends at the Field Museum. 2. Go on an architectural boat tour! A top-rated activity, be one of the best ways to see Chicago. Tours run year-round except Jan-Feb. 3. Explore a neighborhood! Chicago is known for its neighborhoods, and you can make an entire trip revolve around one particular neighborhood. We recommend Andersonville, Chinatown, Lincoln Park/Gold Coast, or Wicker Park/West Town. 4. See a comedy show! Second City and iO are all-time greats, but the city has no shortage of comedy venues.
Grabbing a skillet at S&G is an absolute MUST in Chicago. Stop by for the best diner food the city has to offer. And we're not just saying that because it's been Niko's family's restaurant since 1957! Pro tip: try name-dropping ;-)
One of our favorite traditions is a spur-of-the-moment empanada walk. It's also how Eric proposed to Niko :) Starting at Southport Ave & Addison St and going north, there are three can't-miss empanada spots to grab an empanada (or six) all within a few block span: 1. Cafe Tola — Try the chicken mole, ropa vieja, or rajas/potatoes/cheese 2. 5411 Empanadas — We recommend bacon/date/goat cheese, caramelized onion, or malbec beef 3. Mercado Sur — This small Argentinian bodega carries hot & fresh empanadas from Tango Sur steakhouse. We love the ham/cheese & sweet corn options most, but you can't go wrong here! Enjoy your haul along the walk or on the red bench outside Mercado Sur (where Eric proposed!). Southport has plenty of shops, restaurants, and even our favorite movie theatre (Music Box) to round out your perfectly satisfying neighborhood stroll.
We had chicken wings on our first date and on *several* dates after that. If you'd like to try some of Chicago's best wing spots, here are a handful we recommend: - Output Lounge in West Town (our first date!) - Bird's Nest in Lincoln Park (our engagement dinner!) - Crisp in Lakeview (delicious Korean wings) - Buffalo Joe's in Evanston - Clark St. location (if you know you know)
Whether it's xiao long bao, gyoza, or varenyky, we are all about dumplings. Here is an extremely truncated list of some of favorite spots: - Qing Xiang Yuan in Chinatown (our 2nd date and a dumpling haven!) - MingHin in Chinatown (a lively spot for a dim sum brunch) - Tryzub in Ukrainian Village (a delicious & authentic Ukrainian option) - Lao Peng You in Ukrainian Village (a popular hole in the wall)
If none of the above looks appetizing to you, we're frankly surprised you even made the guest list. But because we love you dearly, here's a running list of other favorite spots to grab a bite: - Sushi: Tanuki in Lakeview - Ribs: Twin Anchors in Old Town - Pho: MK Noodle in Roscoe Village - Bar food: Tuman's Tap in Ukrainian Village - Cuban food: 90 Miles in Logan Square (Armitage) - Chicken nuggets: Wendy's <3