Hanukkah begins on Dec. 25 this year, meaning that many American Jews will be eschewing the usual Christmas Day tradition of movies and Chinese food in favor of celebrating the Festival of Lights with candle-lighting, potato pancakes and brisket. Spots throughout the Chicago area are offering the miracle of a stress-free holiday by providing full meals with kugel and matzo ball soup. There are also plenty of options if you just want Hanukkah favorites, with novel spins on the classics including za’atar scallion latkes with beet caviar and sufganiyot stuffed with lemon curd and Nutella.
The convergence of holidays requires some extra planning, as many places are closed for Christmas so Hanukkah specials must be picked up earlier or later. Luckily there are eight days to celebrate so you can keep indulging in jelly doughnuts through New Year’s with the help of these 21 spots.
The Loop and Near North Side
Ema
Celebrate Dec. 26 to Jan. 2 with specials including grilled harissa-spiced sea bream with roasted garlic yogurt, and parmesan, potato and Brussels sprout latkes with scallion crema. 74 W. Illinois St., 312-527-5586, emachicago.com
Schneider Deli
The River North spot offers brisket with sweet mustard jus for four to five ($65), latkes with sour cream and apple sauce for eight ($48), challah ($12), and chocolate, raspberry and custard sufganiyot ($4.75 or $45 for a dozen). 600 N. La Salle Drive, 773-590-1345, schneiderdeli.com
North Side & Northwest Side
Fiya
The Andersonville Levantine restaurant offers specials including latkes with smoked salmon roe and labne, house-made raisin challah, sufganiyot and noodle kugel starting Dec. 23. 5419 N. Clark St. 773-543-7074, fiyarestaurant.com
Floriole
The Lincoln Park bakery offers specials Dec. 27 to Jan. 2 including a pack of four jelly doughnut morning buns ($30), a whole quiche ($66), cranberry orange olive oil tea cake ($19) and honey pecan sticky buns ($40). 1220 W. Webster Ave., 773-883-1313, floriole.com
The Graystone Tavern
The 8 Crazy Nights pop-up bar running through Jan. 5 features more than 30,000 blue and white lights and ball lanterns hanging from the ceiling, an 8-foot-high inflatable dreidel, a Hanukkah sweater wall and more festive decor. A special menu offers matzo ball soup, six flavors of latkes, a brisket sandwich and challah grilled cheese, plus themed cocktails such as the Gelt Martini, a blend of vodka and chocolate liqueur rimmed with gold sugar and garnished with a gelt coin. Revelers can also play dreidel and Connect 4 with Hanukkah gelt. 3441 N. Sheffield Ave., 773-666-5450, 8crazynightschicago.com
Steingold’s of Chicago
A special menu available for pickup and delivery Dec. 26 to Jan. 2 features latkes with apple sauce and sour cream with optional add-ons like roasted apple butter and pecan praline sauce, plus sufganiyot filled with vanilla custard, red berry jam or whipped citrus curd. Those looking for a full holiday meal can choose from braised brisket with pearl onions, lamb shoulder with carrot puree or lemon-roasted chicken accompanied by noodle and potato kugel and citrus-pomegranate salad. 3737 N. Southport Ave., steingoldsdeli.com
Summer House Santa Monica
Snack on classic latkes with house-made apple sauce and sour cream Dec. 26 to Jan. 2, 2025. 1954 N. Halsted St., 773-634-4100, summerhouserestaurants.com/Lincoln-Park
West Side & Near West Side
Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar
Available for pickup daily from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, the a la carte special menu features slow-roasted brisket in house-made chile sauce ($48), noodle kugel ($22), giant potato and apple latkes served with creme fraiche and black garlic apple sauce ($24), matzo ball soup ($25) and a platter of five varieties of fish including beet-cured gravlax, smoked whitefish salad and pickled herring ($60). 2700 W. Chicago Ave., 773-661-9577, heritage-chicago.com
Liberation Kitchen
The vegan doughnut shop offers sufganiyot for pickup and delivery Dec. 28-29. 2054 W. Grand Ave., 312-872-7838, uptonsnaturals.com/restaurants
Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen
Preorders are suggested if you want to get your Hanukkah treats from the Jewish deli, which offers potato pancakes ($3.50), mini latkes ($1.50) and sufganiyot stuffed with raspberry, Nutella or vanilla cream ($4.50). 1141 S. Jefferson St., 312-939-2855, mannysdeli.com
Pickup, suburban and multiple locations
Bennison’s Bakery
Pick up Hanukkah treats including apricot or raspberry sufganiyot ($3.32), sugar cookies decorated with menorahs or dreidels ($4.33), coconut macaroons ($11.33) and rugelach ($10.49) Dec. 19 to Jan. 4. 1000 Davis St., Evanston, 847-328-9434, bennisonscakes.com
Di Pescara
Place an order by noon Dec. 19 to pick up servings of matzo ball soup, braised beef brisket with caramelized onions, potato pancakes and noodle kugel Dec. 24 to Jan.1 (except Dec. 25). 2124 Northbrook Court, Northbrook, 847-498-4321, di-pescara.com
Ema
Pick up 20 sweet potato latkes served with charred avocado and jalapeño crema for $39 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 24. Orders must be placed by noon Dec. 22. 1320 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, 847-262-9500, emarestaurants.com/glenview
Firecakes Craft Donuts
Yeast-raised bismarks are stuffed with lemon curd and dusted with confectioner’s sugar or filled with blood orange-raspberry jelly and tossed in granulated sugar for the chain’s spin on sufganiyot. Multiple locations, firecakesdonuts.com
Hewn
Pick up a frozen four-pack of raspberry sufganiyot ($18) Dec. 21, 22 or 24 to bake at home. 1733 Central St., Evanston, 847-869-4396, hewnbread.com
L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge
Get your potato pancake and apple sauce fix during lunch or dinner Dec. 26 through Jan. 2. 7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, 847-677-3350, lwoodsrestaurant.com
Mensch’s Deli
Place an order by Dec. 22 to pick up latkes with apple sauce and sour cream ($4), challah ($11), noodle kugel ($10-$20), braised brisket ($32-$68), roasted carrots in a pomegranate-honey glaze ($15-$30) and a chocolate babka loaf ($18) to pick up Dec. 26. 1608 Chicago Ave., 847-859-6153, menschs-deli.com
Once Upon a Bagel
Sufganiyot filled with raspberry, chocolate or vanilla are available throughout December along with trays of mini- and full-size latkes. 268 E. Deerpath Road, Lake Forest, 224-436-8028 and 1050 Gage St., Winnetka, 847-784-1411, onceupononline.com
Prairie Grass Cafe
Celebrate at home with a $143 package for two featuring slow-braised barbecue short ribs, potato au gratin, sauteed Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and sticky toffee date cake. Add on potato latkes with apple butter and sour cream ($45) and noodle kugel ($18). Orders must be placed by Dec. 19 for pickup between 3-5 p.m. Dec. 23. 601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, 847-205-4433, prairiegrasscafe.com
Schmaltz & Vinegar
Build your own latke bar for $14 per person featuring traditional, vegetable or za’atar scallion versions with apple sauce and sour cream plus two additional toppings such as creamy onion dip, eggplant caponata and beet caviar. Latkes are also included in a Hanukkah dinner featuring matzo ball soup, brisket, creamed spinach and holiday cookies ($28 per person). Delivery orders require 48 hours notice. schmaltzandvinegar.com
Sweet Mandy B’s
The bakery offers blue and white dreidel and Star of David cookies, cakes and cupcakes for preorder at its Lincoln Park and Streeterville locations. 1208 W. Webster Ave., 773-244-1174 and 254 E. Ontario St., 312-255-1632, sweetmandybs.com
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
