(08-01-2014 11:26 AM)Policiious Wrote: metro Chicago:
Deep dish pizza: Giordano's & Pizza Uno. They also ship frozen pies anywhere
Thin Crust: Lou Malnotti's. Also Ships pies nationally
Italian Beef
Al's originated the thin sliced Italian Beef Sandwich in 1938. Have added locations in Los Angeles, the Sahara in LV along with San Jose.
Duke's Drive In Bridgeview where they do an Italian Sausage & Beef combo. They charcoal grill the sausages which gives them a crispiness that pops with the italian beef.
Johnnies (Elmwood Park) the best gravy on great beef.
Pierogies
Fried slices of heaven filled with cheese & berries (dessert) Bacon, cheese & Mushrooms, pepppers or onions.
U Gazdy in Wood Dale
Smak-Tak! 6000 N Elston Chicago
Old Warsaw 4750 N Harlem, Harwood Heights &
Helen's (Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale) an all you can eat buffet style
All offer great versions
My Chicago area suggestions.
Pizza: It's
Lou Malnati's and its deep dish and thin crust are the best. The Lou salad is also good.
Italian Beef: Portillo's and Buona Beef are good city wide options. There are hundreds of places all over Chicagoland that serve good Italian Beef, I'm partial to Nicky's Red Hots for beef. I've been to Duke's several times and its good but not as flavorful as others and their fries aren't great.
A good beef comes with mozzarella or provolone cheese, extra gravy (au jus) and Giardiniera, hot.
Perogies: Hell, just like Italian Beef and hot dog joints, there are ton of perogie options. Several good Polish and eastern European deli's all over the western part of town serve them up.
Hot Dogs: All over Chicagoland, though you better hit Hot Doug's before it closes its doors for good.
Mexican Food: If you enjoy
"authentic" Mexican food there are 10,000 places with unique, regional food offerings. It all kinda sucks in my opinion. I prefer Tex-Mex and the best places for that are all in Texas.
Best Euro diner: Grand Duke's
Best ice Cream: Emo's Dairy Mart in Peoria (a good drive but if you have to be in Peoria for any reason stop by Emo's).