Chicago is taking the food hall concept to a whole new level. Eat, sip, shop, learn and more at these buzzing food court meets epicurean market hybrids. Here’s a primer on Chicago’s booming food hall scene.
Time Out Market
Time Out Market Chicago brings together some of the city’s most revered chefs, restaurants, and mixologists all under one roof, for a one-of-a-kind food and culture experience. It feature an impressive culinary lineup of 18 eateries serving cuisine from the city’s top restaurants, with everything from cult-favorite burger joints to Michelin-starred spots:
- Chef Brian Fisher of Michelin-starred Entente brings approachable, upscale fare
- Chef Bill Kim of urbanbelly is serving fresh takes on casual Asian cuisine
- Chef Thai Dang of Haisous offers the vibrant flavors of modern Vietnamese fare
- Chef Kevin Hickey of The Duck Inn brings his signature duck hot dog
- Chef Abe Conlon of Fat Rice is debuting an eclectic Portuguese-inspired menu
- Chef John Manion of El Che Steakhouse and Bar will be cooking meats over a live fire
The food stalls are a mix of new concepts exclusive to Time Out and extensions of existing Chicago favorites. There’s also a rooftop bar, a hidden speakeasy, a demo kitchen, and a lineup of cool events throughout the month.
Revival Food Hall
Revival Food Hall is a contemporary, all-local food hall in the heart of the Loop The sleek space features 15 fast-casual stalls that showcase some of Chicago’s most beloved restaurants. Some of the permanent vendors include:
- Antique Taco Chiquito, a spin-off of the acclaimed Wicker Park taco hot spot
- Furious Spoon, which has a cult following for their steaming bowls of ramen made using an imported Japanese noodle machine
- The Fat Shallot, once a food truck, now a permanent fixture where you can find their excellent sandwiches
- Smoque BBQ, slinging their award-winning barbecue and signature, house-smoked meats
- HotChocolate Bakery, offering a selection of hand-crafted goodies from a James Beard Award-winning chef
- Danke, a charcuterie-focused concept from the team behind acclaimed Table, Donkey & Stick
- Graze, serving up fresh acai bowls and smoothies made with fresh fruit and superfoods
- Curbside Books & Records, a punk rock band turned publisher showcasing independent books and vinyl
There are also rotating pop-up vendors, so you’ll always find something new to try. Plus, there’s a gorgeous coffee bar that transitions into a cocktail bar in the evening.
Eataly
Travel to Italy, without ever leaving Chicago. Eataly was one of the first to combine a bustling European-style market with a high-end food court. With roots in northern Italy and multiple locations around the world, Chicago holds the title as the largest Eataly outpost in the U.S.
Upstairs, you can savor Italian specialties at several sit-down restaurants and casual counters. Order a plateful of handmade pasta al dente, a perfectly charred Neapolitan-style pizza, plates of charcuteries and antipasti, and more all made with traditional methods and artisanal ingredients. Downstairs, load up on authentic, straight-from-Italy ingredients at the market area, then grab a piping hot espresso or cup of impossibly creamy gelato to go.
One Eleven Food Hall
One Eleven Food Hall, located in the historic Pullman neighborhood, is just steps from the Pullman National Monument. The new food hall currently houses three different restaurant concepts:
- Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine is run by husband-and-wife team. Majani, meaning ‘green’ in Swahili, offers guests everything from barbecue cauliflower to black-eyed-pea fritters, mushroom burgers, jerk tofu and more.
- Laine’s Bake Shop sells their homemade sweets like cookies, muffins, the famous red velvet brownie, and specialty coffee drinks
- Lexington Betty Smokehouse offers a variety of succulent smoked meats by Dominique Leach, who opened her own barbecue restaurant after working at Michelin-starred Spiaggia. Don’t miss the pork and turkey rib tips, smoked chicken, and brisket.
Latinicity
Renowned Chef Richard Sandoval’s multi-sensory Latinicity Food Hall + Lounge features 10 innovative kitchens, a tapas restaurant, coffee café, full bar, market, and lounge. Latinicity commands an entire floor of the Block 37 shopping center in the Loop, with diverse offerings from Spain, Portugal, and Latin America.
The colorful food hall is a lively oasis in the middle of downtown. Shop imported provisions and Latinicity branded goods and peruse menus from a counter service hamburguesa eatery, ensalada station, sushi stop, wok-cooked rice and stir-fry purveyor, taco stand. and more. And don’t miss their excellent margaritas.
Chicago French Market
The Chicago French Market brings together more than 30 specialty vendors inside Ogilvie Transportation Center. There’s standard French fare, plus cuisine from all over the world, including:
- B.I. Tea and Dim Sum, serving Cantonese dumplings and bubble teas
- Demera Ethiopian, an outpost of a local favorite selling their authentic Ethiopian classics
- Flip Crepes, a French classic stuffed with your choice of sweet or savory filling
- Frietkoten Belgian Frieds & Beer, where you can grab a paper cones of hot, crisp fries
- Saigon Sisters, beloved for their traditional Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches
- Vanille Patisserie, displaying gorgeous stacks of macarons, chocolates, and more
- Firenze Italian Street Food, slinging freshly made sandwiches on homemade bread
The quick service makes this a perfect spot for a grab-and-go meal, or to stock up on picnic supplies before heading to Millennium Park for a concert or movie night. There’s also plenty of seating if you’d rather relax and catch some live music. Since its located in the train station, the market caters to commuters with happy hour specials and rush hour concerts.
Well Street Market
Wells Street Market is mixing up the lunch game in the Loop. This food hall brings some of the city’s best chefs and vendors under one roof, with nine fast-casual restaurants, a full service bar, a specialty flower service, and more. It’s the perfect spot to stop for a quick bite, or to grab a picnic to bring to the Chicago Riverwalk right across the street.
A few local favorites at Wells Street Market include:
- Tempesta Market, serving up some of the best sandwiches in the city
- Firecakes and their addictive, light-as-air donuts
- Pork & Mindy’s, with globally inspired sandwiches from Food Network’s “Sandwich King” Jeff Mauro
- Flowers for Dreams, a locally based and community-minded artisan flower shop
Politan Row
This chef-driven food hall offers 13 different restaurant options, a coffee shop, bar, and beer garden all around the corner from the West Loop’s bustling Restaurant Row. Whether you’re in the mood for Korean bibimbop, gourmet sausage and Cuban sandwiches, al pastor tacos or empanadas, Politan Row has all your cravings under one roof.
Many of food stall have ties to existing Chicago favorites, including:
- Smashed Radish, the veggie-centric spot from popular food truck The Fat Shallot
- Clave, which focuses on traditional Cuban soul food from Bayan Ko founders
- Floriole, showcasing gorgeous pastries from beloved baker Sandra Hall
Politan Row also features brand new concepts, like:
- Mom’s, serving Japanese comfort food
- Bumbu Roux, a mash-up of Indonesian and Cajun flavors
- Thattu, an Indian street food spot
- LaShuk Street Food, an Israeli kitchen and hummus bar
And don’t miss Perle, the bustling German-style beer garden, or Bar Politan, the hall’s sleek cocktail bar.
