Cuisine of Chicago facts for kids

Chicago is a super cool city known for its amazing food! It has lots of special dishes that show off its history and the different cultures that live there. One of the most famous foods is its unique deep-dish pizza. People say this yummy pizza first started at a place called Pizzeria Uno. Chicago also loves its thin-crust pizza, which is very popular too.

Many famous chefs have opened restaurants in Chicago, like Charlie Trotter and Rick Bayless. In 2003, a magazine called Robb Report even said Chicago was the "most exceptional dining destination" in the whole country. And in 2008, it was named the "Tastiest City"!

Chicago's Most Famous Foods

Chicago is home to some truly special and delicious foods. These dishes are often linked to the city's history and the people who live there. Let's explore some of the most popular ones you can find.

What Makes a Chicago-Style Hot Dog Special?

A classic Chicago-style hot dog.

The Chicago-style hot dog is a must-try! It's usually an all-beef hot dog served on a poppy-seed bun. It comes with lots of toppings, including yellow mustard, chopped onion, sliced tomato, bright green sweet-pickle relish, sport peppers, and a dill pickle spear. A little bit of celery salt is sprinkled on top. The most important rule? Never, ever add ketchup!

Exploring Chicago-Style Pizza

When you think of Chicago, you probably think of Chicago-style pizza. This pizza has a very tall crust and lots of cheese. The chunky tomato sauce is placed on top of the cheese, not underneath it.

There's also "stuffed pizza," which has even more cheese and a second, thinner crust on top. But deep-dish isn't the only pizza in town! Many people in Chicago love "tavern style" thin-crust pizza. It has a super thin and crispy crust and is cut into squares instead of triangles.

The Delicious Italian Beef Sandwich

The Italian beef sandwich is another Chicago favorite. It's made with thinly sliced roast beef that has been cooked in a flavorful broth. This broth is often called "gravy" by locals. The meat is served on an Italian roll that soaks up all the yummy juices.

You can often get a "cheesy beef" with provolone or mozzarella cheese. If you want even more, ask for a "combo." This adds grilled Italian sausage to your beef sandwich. Italian beef sandwiches are usually topped with sweet peppers or spicy giardiniera.

Other Unique Chicago Dishes

Chicago's food scene doesn't stop at hot dogs and pizza. The city has many other interesting and tasty dishes. These foods show off the different cultures that have shaped Chicago.

More Hot Dog Creations

• A francheezie is a fun twist on the hot dog. The hot dog is wrapped in bacon and deep-fried. It's either stuffed with cheese or has cheese melted on top.
• The Maxwell Street Polish is named after the famous Maxwell Street market. It's a Polish sausage made with beef and pork, seasoned with garlic. It's served on a bun with grilled onions.
• The mother-in-law is a unique sandwich. It's a tamale served on a hot dog bun, topped with chili.

Specialty Sandwiches and More

• The jibarito is a special sandwich from Chicago's Puerto Rican community. Instead of bread, it uses two pieces of fried and flattened plantain to hold the meat or chicken and other toppings.
• A pepper and egg sandwich is a simple but tasty meal. It combines scrambled eggs and grilled bell peppers. It's served on French bread. People often ate this during Lent, but now you can find it in many casual restaurants.
• The big baby is a special kind of double cheeseburger. It has cheese between the two burger patties. Ketchup, mustard, and pickle slices go underneath the patties, and grilled onions are on top.
• The breaded-steak sandwich is popular in the Bridgeport neighborhood. It's a flattened piece of beef, breaded and fried. It's served on an Italian roll with marinara sauce. You can add mozzarella cheese or green peppers.
• Pork chop sandwiches are popular on the South Side. They are served with the bone in, along with mustard and grilled onions.
• The gym shoe (or Jim Shoe) is a type of submarine sandwich. It's made with a mix of corned beef, gyros, and either roast beef or Italian beef.

Unique Chicago Flavors

• Chicken Vesuvio is an Italian-American dish. It features chicken on the bone with potatoes, celery, and carrots. It's cooked with garlic, oregano, white wine, and olive oil. Then it's baked until the chicken skin is crispy.
• Shrimp DeJonghe is a casserole dish. It has peeled shrimp covered in soft, garlicky bread crumbs with a hint of sherry wine.
• Chicago has its own style of tamale. These are made from cornmeal and wrapped in paper. You can often find them at hot dog stands.
• Gyro is very popular in Chicago. While some restaurants make their own, Chicago is known for mass-producing gyros.
• Flaming saganaki became famous in Chicago's Greektown neighborhood. It's a square piece of cheese, fried in a small pan. A splash of brandy is added, and it's served flambé-style (on fire!). The waiter traditionally shouts "Opa!" when serving it.
• A pizza puff is a deep-fried dough pocket. It's filled with cheese, tomato sauce, and other pizza toppings like sausage. These are unique to Chicago and can be found at some hot dog restaurants.
• Aquarium-smoked barbecue is a special way of cooking meat in Chicago. It uses a rectangular indoor smoker with glass sides. This style is famous for rib tips and hot links. Barbecued ribs are also a big hit in Chicago.
• Mild sauce is a popular topping in Chicago. It's made with barbecue sauce, ketchup, and hot sauce. Sometimes honey or sugar are added. It's often used on fried chicken and other foods. Fast food places in Chicago's African-American community, like Harold's Chicken Shack, helped make it famous.
• Giardiniera is a spicy mix of chopped, pickled vegetables in oil. It's a popular topping in Chicago, especially on Italian beef sandwiches. It came to the city with immigrants from Sicily. Chicago-style giardiniera has very finely chopped vegetables and uses oil instead of vinegar.

Sweet Treats from Chicago

• Popcorn from Garrett Popcorn Shops is a local favorite. Their "Garrett Mix" flavor is very popular. It combines cheddar cheese popcorn and caramel popcorn for a sweet and salty treat.
• Atomic cake is a fun dessert. It has layers of banana, yellow, and chocolate cake. These layers are alternated with banana, strawberry, and fudge fillings.
• Chicago Brick ice cream is a special three-flavor ice cream. It's like Neapolitan style, but with orange sherbet, vanilla, and caramel flavors.

Images for kids

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  A classic Chicago-style hot dog.