Musicians from around the world are heading to Chicago this summer to perform at the city’s biggest music festivals, and beyond spotting them on stage at Pitchfork, Lollapalooza and Riot Fest, you might also see them at their favorite restaurants around town. Chicago natives have childhood memories to relive as they head to taco joints and hot dog stands, while touring acts have standbys for burgers and vegetarian fare. From folk singers getting Italian beef with extra giardiniera to DJs seeking sushi, this is where performers are heading to get a taste of the Windy City.
Akenya
Playing: 8:30 p.m. July 18 at the Pitchfork after show at Constellation and 1 p.m. July 21 at Pitchfork
Where she’s eating: “I’m a native Chicagoan, and this city is filled with incredible food,” she said. “It’s tough to pick just a couple of restaurants, but I’ll start by saying Chicago has some of the best Mexican food in the world. One of my favorite spots is L’Patron in Logan Square. I typically get their pollo adobado taco. Since I have chronic Lyme disease, I have a lot of dietary restrictions. For my fellow gluten-free and dairy-free folks out there, I have to recommend Bloom Plant Based Kitchen in Wicker Park. Their brunch menu in particular is my favorite. The churro waffle is outstanding!”
L’Patron, 3749 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-252-6335, lpatrontacos.com
Bloom Plant Based Kitchen, 1559 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-363-3110, bloompb.com
Molly Neuman of Bratmobile
Playing: 6:30 p.m. July 20 at Pitchfork
Where she’s eating: “It’s been too long since I’ve been to Chicago so I’m excited to eat whatever I can in the small time we have,” Neuman said. “If I was going to splurge, I’d go to Girl & The Goat (I love women chefs and “Top Chef”) and on the quick side I’d love to have a chance to hit Xoco (I’m a big Bayless fan.) I am sure there are so many places that have popped up since my last visit, so I’ll take all the local recommendations I can get!”
Girl & The Goat, 809 W. Randolph St., 312-492-6262, girlandthegoat.com
Xoco, 449 N. Clark St., 312-723-2131, xocochicago.com
Jack Fluegel of Brigitte Calls Me Baby
Playing: 12:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at Lollapalooza
Where he’s eating: “How long can I make this?! Late night usually ends up being Redhot Ranch or Jim’s Original (the one on Union),” Fluegel said. “Pizza always used to be John’s Pizzeria on Western (RIP), but I love a slice of deep dish from Art of Pizza. Taqueria La Zacatecana has the best carne asada in Chicago.”
Redhot Ranch, 2449 W. Armitage Ave., 773-772-6020, and 3057 N. Ashland Ave., 773-661-9377, redhotranchchicago.com
Jim’s Original, 1250 S. Union Ave., 312-733-7820, 2775 N. Elston Ave., 872-206-5279, jimsoriginal.com
Art of Pizza, 727 S. State St., 312-877-5335, artofpizzaonstate.com
Taqueria La Zacatecana, 3024 N. California Ave., 773-279-8260
Cale Tyson
Playing: 11 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Lollapalooza aftershow at Lincoln Hall and 1 p.m. Aug. 2 at Lollapalooza
Where he’s eating: “When I’m in Chicago, I always try to hit Al’s,” Tyson said. “My brother-in-law (a Chicago native) recommended it to me the first time I played there and the Italian beef blew my mind. I’d never had anything like it in my life. I get extra giardiniera to try to get at least a few vegetables into my system (especially when on tour), but I usually go into it knowing the damage it’s going to do to me. It’s totally worth it every time.”
Al’s Beef, multiple locations; alsbeef.com
Tim Kasher of Cursive
Playing: Riot Fest
Where he’s eating: “Handlebar has a friendly, laid-back vibe with a great menu of fun bar food done vegetarian,” Kasher said. “The walls are covered with nostalgic show posters of the Chicago music scene. Kuma’s Corner continues to be my favorite burger on the planet. The metal they perpetually pump out over the stereo is sheer delight. Dante’s rules, a favorite stop whenever in Chicago.”
Handlebar, 2311 W. North Ave., 773-384-9546, handlebarchicago.com
Kuma’s Corner, 2900 W. Belmont Ave., 773-604-8769 and 852 W. Fulton Market, 312-666-9090, kumascorner.com
Dante’s Pizzeria, 3028 W. Armitage Ave., 773-342-0002 and 1936 W. Chicago Ave., 773-697-4172, danteschicago.com
Jeff Rosenstock
Playing: 7:45 p.m. July 19 at Pitchfork
Where he’s eating: “The place we always go out of our way to eat at in town is The Chicago Diner, one of my favorite veggie spots in the country,” Rosenstock said. “I bet they have salads and that kind of stuff on the menu, but our band generally swings by for the unhealthy stuff — their corned beef Reuben is unlike anything I’ve had anywhere else, their mac and cheese and wings are delicious as well. They used to have a sandwich called the Dagwood, which was fake bacon, fake Italian beef and fake corned beef on a hero. Yes, please. Give me my carbs, give me my calories. I’ve eaten at plenty of other tasty restaurants in Chicago, but The Chicago Diner is the spot we’ve been coming to for 20 years now and it is still the only thing I’m thinking of eating when we roll through!”
The Chicago Diner, 3411 N. Halsted St., 773-935-6696 and 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-252-3211 ext. 1; veggiediner.com
Mersiv
Playing: 10 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Lollapalooza afterparty at Concord Music Hall and 4:45 p.m. Aug. 4 at Lollapalooza
Where he’s eating: “Juno is epic for sushi and I hope to get a chance to try Mr. Beef during Lolla. I love watching ‘The Bear,’” he said.
Juno Sushi Chicago, 2638 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-935-2000, junosushichicago.com
Mr. Beef, 666 N. Orleans St., 312-337-8500
Michael Peña of Nico Vega
Playing: 11 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Lollapalooza aftershow at Empty Bottle and 1:50 p.m. Aug. 4 at Lollapalooza
Where he’s eating: “Taquerias Atotonilco on 26th Street. We would go there with my family every Sunday. You can’t get a better taco in the city than here,” he said. “Polish sausages at Jim’s Original on Maxwell Street. My dad used to take me there when I was a kid right after we went to the flea market. Still the best!”
Taquerias Atotonilco, multiple locations, taqueriasatotonilco.com
Jim’s Original, 1250 S. Union Ave., 312-733-7820, and 2775 N. Elston Ave., 872-206-5279, jimsoriginal.com
Nate Amos and Rachel Brown of Water From Your Eyes
Playing: 4 p.m. July 20 at Pitchfork
What they’re eating: “Mas Alla del Sol used to own a different restaurant by my house so I have been eating their food since I was 7 years old and I have yet to find anything even remotely close to the quality,” Brown said. “My childhood favorite was the enchiladas verdes and recently I keep ordering the tampiqueña, which is carne asada with an enchilada. It is probably the most delicious meal I have ever had in my life.”
“I used to live across the street from El Milagro in Pilsen and I swear they have the best tacos I’ve eaten anywhere,” Amos said. “Getting pork stew to go once a day got me through the worst flu I’ve had in my life. I tend to choose one restaurant near wherever I live at a given time and looking back it’s my all-time favorite.”
Mas Alla del Sol, 5848 N. Broadway, 773-654-1900, masalladelsolchi.com
Taqueria El Milagro, 1923 S. Blue Island Ave., 312-433-7620
Brann Dailor of Mastodon
Playing: Riot Fest
Where he’s eating: “Obviously Chicago is known for its deep dish pizzas, Chicago beef dipped sandwiches, hot dogs and Kuma’s Corner’s heavy metal-themed cheeseburgers (the Mastodon burger is the best FYI), so I’ll spare you those delicious, but well known, selections for something off the beaten path,” he said. “Chicago boasts one of the largest Polish communities in any major city in America, so along with that comes some incredible Polish food. My favorite is a spot called Podhalanka. It looks like someone’s house from the outside and the inside is not much different. The first time I went there, there was a table full of firefighters and an old woman in the back corner rolling pierogies. I knew I was in the right place. I loved the stuffed cabbage, the potato pancakes and of course, pierogies. We ordered a ton of stuff for our table and went family-style. I highly recommend it for a unique and delicious Chicago culinary experience.”
Podhalanka, 1549 W. Division St., 773-486-6655, podhalankachicago.com
Angry Blackmen
Playing: 1:45 p.m. July 19 at Pitchfork and 10 p.m. July 19 at the Pitchfork aftershow at Cobra Lounge
Where they’re eating: “Gino’s East is one of my favorite Chicago restaurants,” Brian Warren said. “Growing up, I have very fond memories of attending many birthdays and graduations with my family. It’s a great place to build memories.”
“Whenever I’m in Chicago, I always make it a point to set a day aside to pick up some Harold’s Chicken,” Quentin Branch said. “It’s something special that’s been a part of my life since I was young and it has this unique way of making a bad day better, especially after that first bite.”
Gino’s East, 162 E. Superior St., 312-266-3337 and 521 S. Dearborn St., 312-939-1818; ginoseast.com
Harold’s Chicken, multiple locations, haroldschickenscorp.com
Gavin Royce of Walker & Royce
Playing: 4:10 p.m. Aug. 1 at Lollapalooza and 10 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Lollapalooza aftershow at Sound-Bar
Where he’s eating: “Whenever we are in Chicago, we go to Paulie Gee’s in Logan Square,” Royce said. “It’s our favorite place to get pizza in Brooklyn and since I moved out west, I take any chance I get to have it. Our go-to pizzas are the Big Bad Wolf and the Ricotta Be Kiddin’ Me. They also have amazing vegan options if that’s your thing.”
Paulie Gee’s, 2451 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-360-1072 and 1566 N. Damen Ave., 773-661-6793, pauliegee.com
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
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