Chicago is known as the “Windy City,” but I was thinking about anything but wind when I was there. My main focus was on two things: Cloud Gate (The Bean) and food. Traveling to big cities is exciting for me because I get an opportunity to eat trendy foods that I’ve seen online. Chi-Town exceeded my dining expectations, so I’m sharing my Chicago foodie tour with you to give you a taste of my two-day vacation.
Lou Malnati’s
Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza was so life-changing that I
wrote a love letter about it. If that doesn’t tell you how much I appreciate Chicago-style pizza, I don’t know what will. Regular pizza will never compare to Lou Malnati’s cheesy goodness.
Magnolia Bakery
To be honest, Magnolia Bakery’s cupcakes were disappointing. However, their banana pudding was outstanding. It was creamy with the perfect amount of banana. The only complaint I had about their pudding was the price. It was $3.95 plus tax for a tiny 4 ounce cup. I like a lot of dessert, so I wasn’t thrilled with 4 ounces.
Dylan’s Candy Bar
When I walked into Dylan’s Candy Bar, the first thing that hit me was the glorious smell of sugar. This is a candy paradise for kids and adults. I wanted to get one of everything in the store. In the end, I got four chocolate bars, but these weren’t your average candy bars. The flavors I got were Brownie Batter, Red Velvet Cake, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and Pizza. Yes, my mom insisted that we get Pizza for whatever reason. After tasting it once, I decided I don’t need to taste it ever again.
Portillo’s
If you want a classic Chicago Dog, this is the place to go. My mom ordered that, while I ordered chicken and fries. By the way, this place was a madhouse during the lunch hour. A long wait can be aggravating, but you know a place is good when so many people are willing to wait more than 20 minutes for a hot dog.
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Sprinkles Cupcakes made me believe in cupcakes again after Magnolia’s disappointment. These cupcakes had a sophisticated look with a punch of flavor. I chose the Sprinkle and Vanilla Milk Chocolate cupcakes to try. The Sprinkle may have been a little extra with its jimmies, but I had to get it. I definitely recommend Sprinkles to any cupcake fan. Plus, if the wait inside the store is too long, you can always stop at one of their cupcake ATM’s.
Shake Shack
Shake Shack was quite good for fast food. I got a plain hamburger with Shack Sauce, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Don’t even get me started with the chocolate shake. That baby was super thick and chocolatey. Shake Shack was like a super upscale McDonald’s, so it was good, but I could live without it.
Stan’s Donuts
Stan’s Donuts was by far my absolute favorite part of this trip. Their donuts were so unique and creative that I had a hard time choosing the lucky few that would win a trip to my stomach. After contemplating my tough donut decision, my mom and I decided on the Nutella Pocket, Pistachio Glazed, Buttercream Bismarck, and Orange Creamsicle. If you’re ever in Chicago, make sure you hit up Stan’s at least once.
After visiting Chicago for the first time, I understand why it’s such a popular destination. I look forward to visiting again and tasting more of Chi-Town. I also look forward to my reunion with the one and only Bean.
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