Adrian Kane

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Adrian Kane |John Ringor |Josh Barnett |Claire Schlafly

The StopAlong’s bright, retro dining space in Wicker Park is full of old Star Wars memorabilia, arcade games, and cartoon paintings of superheroes stuffing their faces with pizza and burgers. And you should do the same because their Stop-In is one of the city’s best smashburgers. The two patties have a great char with just the right amount of saltiness, and they’re perfectly complemented by caramelized onions, pickles, and a tangy combo of special sauce and melty cheese.

2 months ago | theinfatuation.com | Nick Allen |Adrian Kane |John Ringor |Josh Barnett

How Far In Advance Should You Book? You could eat here tonight. Yes, it’s Alinea. But reservations at this Chicago legend no longer require as much science and math as that edible balloon they serve for dessert. If you’re in the market for a spontaneous, unforgettable dinner that costs more than 50 Chicago dogs, a slot is available. RESERVE A TABLEHow Far In Advance Should You Book? You can get a primetime spot two days in advance, especially on a weeknight.

Mar 10, 2025 | theinfatuation.com | Nick Allen |John Ringor |Adrian Kane

The pizza pot pie is the epitome of what we imagine coastal elites think of Chicago food—a buttery tub of bread surrounding a vat of cheese, sausage, and tomato sauce. Sure, it’s ugly like a pizza teleportation gone wrong a la The Fly, but it’s delicious. RESERVE A TABLEYes, bacon-wrapped dates are now as common at restaurants as being told to “order two to three small plates per person.” But Avec’s chorizo-stuffed dates were ahead of the trend 20 years ago, and remain a standout.

Mar 10, 2025 | theinfatuation.com | Nick Allen |John Ringor |Adrian Kane

Birrieria Zaragoza reels you in right away with its carving station and the smell of pressed-to-order tortillas. This tiny taqueria has been specializing in Jalisco-style birria since 2007, and even though the menu is small, they set the standard for birria citywide. Their stewed goat basically melts on impact, and the meat's funk is nicely balanced out by smoky arbol consomé. Sun Wah is the Peking duck king of Chicago.

Jan 24, 2025 | theinfatuation.com | Adrian Kane

Chicago’s streets are practically paved with tavern-style pizza. To stand out, a spot needs to be pretty special. WG, a suburban transplant operating out of a takeout-only kitchen in Avondale, is good, but not great. You won’t be disappointed if one of these pies shows up at your house, but they’re not worth going out of your way for. WG’s pizza has a buttery cracker crust that holds up well to toppings.