Claire is a four-month-old, wiggly, handleable and fun young female Syrian hamster looking for a loving guardian.
Claire is learning to appreciate attention from her people, lots of different foods and treats including unsalted peanuts in the shell and tiny squares of tofu, spinning on her wheel and flying saucer and exploring her surroundings.
Syrian hamsters live alone in their habitats so it’s important to give her daily attention and a lot of love.
In captivity, hamsters can run two to five miles in a 24-hour period, and they can store up to one ton of food in their cheeks in a lifetime. It’s fun to watch them hoard food.
Her adoption fee of $20 benefits the Friends of Petraits Rescue and includes her carrying case. If you need an entire hamster habitat, 20-gallon long aquarium with lid, paper bedding, food, exercise wheel, hidey castle, flying saucer and water bottle – everything you need including the hamster – the whole package is available for $100.
It’s time for baseball to give back. Yes, the MLB. I’m talking about you Major League Baseball. The billion-dollar owners and the million-dollar players. You need to play for us this season. After all, without us, there is no you.
As a kid, I spent all my money on baseball cards and baseball games. Let’s not forget all the team gear. The hundred dollar jerseys, forty dollar hats.
As an adult, I still buy White Sox paraphernalia, while my wife dresses in Cubs regalia. Let’s not be remiss, we spend a shit ton of money on both of our girls, decking them out in Cubs and Sox gear. Oh yeah, and how much have we spent at the stadiums? The $10 beers, the $10 ice creams, $7 hot dogs, and everything else that is single-handedly pricing a normal family out of a game.
I have listened to both sides, and I’m starting to feel to bit angry. Honestly, it’s off-putting for my wife and I. We are trying to stay afloat in the city of Chicago with all of their taxes. Speaking of taxes, isn’t our tax money paying for some of those stadiums and salaries?
I’m not going to have a pissing match, but it’s time baseball got their shit in gear, and take the field for the fans. Do it for the love of the game. We are all trying to shelter in place and we miss the game. We need you to raise our spirits, to take our minds off the pressure. We are counting on you guys, to get us through these dog days of summer.
Also, watch your back. One day soon you won’t have this much power over the people. Ever heard of a little thing called eSports?
Get ready to share some of that revenue. You’ve had your time in the sun. Give back to the fans now, so they continue to support you when you need it most.
Wyatt Waddell dropped the remarkable new single “Fight!” on Wednesday, June 3, and it vibrates with the grief, rage, and revolutionary purpose that millions of Americans have been demonstrating since the killing of George Floyd. “This song is me looking at what’s happening and what I’d tell the people protesting,” says the local singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Waddell recorded the track–with its pumping funk instrumentation and a roof-raising choir of his multitracked vocals–alone in a single day. “I hope that it can be an anthem for my people,” he adds. “Fight!” is a pay-what-you-want Bandcamp download, and he’s pledged to pass all donations along to the Chicago Community Bond Fund, Black Lives Matter Chicago, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. He’ll also stream a set as part of the first virtual Do Division Street Fest on Friday, June 26.
Chicago rapper Femdot launched the nonprofit Delacreme Scholars in 2018 to help Black and Brown college students; this past semester, it gave six Illinois and Indiana students scholarships and clothes. Last week, after CPS briefly suspended its food-delivery program, Delacreme Scholars began food-distribution efforts serving the west and south sides. Those in need can e-mail [email protected]; you can use that address to donate via Zelle or QuickPay (or use $delacremescholars on Cash App).
On Friday, Chicago polymath Nnamdi self-released the EP Black Plight through Bandcamp. Snaggletoothed guitars, rambunctious bass, and athletic drumming tangle in its freewheeling protest songs–the seesawing “Rage” conveys the anger and anxiety he feels seeing police kill people who look like him. Black Plight sold so well on “Bandcamp day” that Nnamdi made more than $10,000; he’s giving $4,000 to Assata’s Daughters and to EAT Chicago and directing the rest to Chicagoans who need help with food or housing. v
Not only is 2020 the Year of ChicagoMusic, it’s also the 35th year for the nonprofit Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC), which provides business expertise and training to creatives and their organizations citywide. To celebrate, the A&BC has launched the #ChiMusic35 campaign at ChiMusic35.com, which includes a public poll to determine the consensus 35 greatest moments in Chicago music history as well as a raffle to benefit the A&BC’s work supporting creative communities struggling with the impact of COVID-19 in the city’s disinvested neighborhoods.
Another part of the campaign is this Reader collaboration: a series spotlighting important figures in Chicago music serving as #ChiMusic35 ambassadors. This week, we hear from businessman, producer, and promoter Vince Lawrence. A key figure in the early history of Trax Records, he shares credit with high school friend Jesse Saunders for what’s widely considered the first house-music release, the 1984 classic “On and On.” Lawrence’s vast music-business resume also includes cowriting the 1986 Farley “Jackmaster” Funk hit “Love Can’t Turn Around,” the first house record to chart in the UK.
This interview was conducted by Ayana Contreras, who’s a DJ, a host and producer at WBEZ radio, and a columnist for DownBeat magazine.
Ayana Contreras: Why do you think Chicago has this history of creating artists that resonate worldwide?
Vince Lawrence: I think that Chicago being divested from the mainstream record business has created a different standard of excellence for artists that are requesting support. The record business will sign ten acts, knowing that one of them will cover the cost of all. But with a typical investor in Chicago, rather than try nine shots at the apple, they just want to get one that works.
And because of that, the bar for excellence is just astounding. Chicagoans are hardened, groomed, and polished until they’re the best that they can be.
What’s one of your favorite Chicago music moments?
There was a party that we threw at Sauer’s called Izod Fest. I want to say [the first one] was ’79 or ’80.
Our peer group had come to distinguish itself by the straight-leg Levi’s, K-Swiss, and Izod movement that took over middle class Black America in the early 80s. And we faced a dilemma of less-than-desirable factions busting up our parties with fighting and other disruption. We banded together and said, “How can we keep these bad kids out of our parties?”
We decided that our desired customer was this kid from Hyde Park who wore Izod. So we said, “Let’s throw a party that requires you wear that for admission. Or at least require that you wear that to get a discount.” And we had Farley (Farley “Funkin” Keith was his name at the time), Jesse Saunders, and a bunch of other DJs. Our party would go to three or four in the morning, and it was a pretty awesome time.
You guys were young, right? Late teens, early 20s?
Seventeen-year-old kids, renting restaurants [after hours]! We would take all of the tables and move them to one side of the room. Then we would bring in the sound system, put some police lights on top of that, and have DJs.
We’d pass out flyers all over town . . . in front of schools that we didn’t go to. We thought that we would get maybe a 5 percent return on flyers. So we’d print 10,000 flyers and hope we get a thousand kids. And we would.
That’s powerful, especially for folks so young.
It was a great time to be a young Black person trying to do something, because you could. And it seems that all of us that were involved in that are, in one aspect or another, self-employed businesspeople to this day. v
Movie fans who want to return to watching their favorite films on the really really big screen that’s not located in their home will have several drive-in options in and around Chicago this summer.
While indoor moviegoing remains verboten under Illinois’ social distancing rules, drive-in theaters are permitted, and new ones are popping up in Pilsen and Bridgeview, with others on the way.
The ChiTown Movies drive-in, located in the parking lot adjacent to the massive ChiTown Futbol facility at 2343 S. Throop St. in Pilsen, opened for business Tuesday and will continue offering screenings of “Star Wars: A New Hope” at 8:50 p.m. and 11:50 p.m. through June 15.
The price is $33 per car for up to 5 adults; $5 additional charge for each extra adult. For social distancing purposes, cars will receive assigned spots that are seven feet away from the next vehicle. Only 107 car spots will be available per screening. All attendees must wear masks when exiting a car to use indoor restroom facilities (the only time anyone will be permitted to leave a vehicle during a screening).
An usher guides patrons to their parking spot at ChiTown Futbol’s first night of drive-in movies on Tuesday. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-TimesTyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Movies will be shown on a 60-by-40-foot screen; audio is played through cars’ FM radios.
According to a ChiTown Movies spokeswoman, concessions will be available for purchase by phone or online from the facility’s onsite restaurant The ChiTown Grille. “[They] give their parking spot number and the food will be directly delivered to their car.” ChiTown Futbol, a 60,000-square-foot indoor soccer/fitness/fun/food facility, received approval for the drive-in use from 25th Ward Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez.
Lea este articulo en espanol en La Voz Chicago, un servicio presentado por AARP Chicago.
Across town in Bridgeview, Chicago Drive-In Theaters will open June 11 with a screening of “Goonies” at SeatGeek Stadium, the home field of the Chicago Red Stars soccer team at 7000 S. Harlem Ave. Gates will open at 7 p.m. each day and family-friendly movies will screen at 8:30 p.m., with R-rated midnight movies Fridays and Saturdays. The movies will be projected on a 70-foot screen, with audio played through each vehicle’s FM radio.
Tickets, $30-$50 per car, are available at www.chicagodrivein.com. Concessions will be available from a central stand as well as mobile golf cart units, offering sodas, popcorn and candy. Masks are required if you exit a vehicle to use restrooms or purchase food/drinks.
Manny Rodriguez, head of security at ChiTown Futbol, hands food to a moviegoer at ChiTown Movies on Tuesday, the facility’s first night of drive-in movies in its parking lot.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
An announcement is expected soon on another drive-in site teased by Bucket Listers, a team of local event curators. The location has not been revealed, but it is said to be close to downtown Chicago with room for 300 socially distanced cars.
The venerable Music Box Theatre in Lake View is scouting locations for a drive-in it would run in partnership with Elevated Films Chicago.
And the Chicago Park District and Chicago Film Office announced Tuesday that they will present six drive-in movie nights this summer in various city sites that will be revealed later. Those will take the place of the popular Millennium Park Summer Film Series, which traditionally has drawn crowds too big to allow for proper distancing.
Meanwhile, at least two old-school drive-in theaters have been operating for several weeks in northeast Illinois: the McHenry Outdoor Theater in McHenry and the Route 34 Drive-in in Earlville.
This south side classic (and rumored Obama-family favorite) is open 24/7, making it the perfect late-night spot for a plate full of bacon and eggs. Serving up diner classics like hashbrowns, corned beef, biscuits & gravy, and the namesake steak & eggs, you pretty much can’t go wrong. Oh, and don’t even get us started on the pancakes.
Yup, that’s right – one of the best breakfasts in Chicago is served all day at this South Loop staple. With classics like a killer create-your-own-omelette spread to signatures like the fried matzo brie (don’t even ask), this is one breakfast for dinner you’re gonna be craving again and again. And probably, also, again.
Looks can be deceiving at the Iguana Café, located in Chicago’s West Loop. What appears to be a trendy, coffee shop in outward appearance, is, in fact, one of the city’s finest choices for late-night breakfast munchies. Founded in 1998, this Euro-centric spot hails to the Windy City from Sparta, Greece, bringing with it an all-day serving of stupid-yummy crepes. Open late both weekdays and weekends, this is gonna become your go-to in no time.
Oh, Stephanie Izard, you’ve gone and done it again. Taking all the funky-fresh flavors of her ridiculously popular restaurant, Girl & the Goat, this Top Chef’s diner concept is anything but ordinary, but that’s what makes it perfect for breakfast AND dinner. Serving everything from bi bim bop breakfast bowls to what she’s calling Fat Elvis Waffles (see above pls) this west side rising star is serving up the goods till 10pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends. Plus, they have a pretty sick bakery, too.
Beatrix brings breakfast to heights of elegance and excellence. You absolutely have never seen eggs done like this before. The premium comes at a price, but sometimes you just gotta do breakfast for dinner right. The food? Decadent. The service? Top-notch. The ambiance? Unparalleled. Did we use too many adjectives in that description? Yeah, maybe. But that’s just how good it is. And if you end up at Beatrix and decide breakfast ain’t the move (why?), their menu is as endless as your imagination.
3rd Coast Cafe sits on the site where legendary Chicago restaurants stood before it for a century, and they aren’t eager to drop the ball. A wide selection of breakfast for dinner options from omelets, to breakfast sandwiches, to breakfast tacos (you heard that right!), and more, 3rd Coast Cafe serves breakfast all day because they’re no newcomers to the breakfast game.
Tempo Cafe stays true to its name. While there’s no question the food here is bangin’, patrons comment on how quick service is for both staff and food. Even though they hope to it, Tempo Cafe by no means wants you out of the door fast. How do we know this? Because they’re BYOB until 10pm. Grab a bite, sip your drinks, and live your best life.
For almost a half-century, Golden Apple has been a Chicago staple. Offering breakfast around the clock for anyone (families included) hankering to quell that breakfast hunger striking at any moment. Known for their prowess in all things breakfast, the one thing that will surely get your mouth-watering is their sizzling skillets. Once you hear that crackling, it’s game over.
At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.
Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!
Featured Image Credit: Little Goat Diner Instagram
Having just entered Phase 3 of its gradual reopening process, Chicago and its residents are ready to take advantage (albeit carefully) of the summer season. As we all get outside a little more, many of us are ready to see the return of one particular staple of summer living in the Windy City: farmers’ markets. Luckily, these neighborhood institutions are able to reopen as part of Phase 3, but they must follow strict guidelines (including social distancing, the use of protective equipment, and sanitization measures) laid out by the city, submit a form outlining their adherence to these guidelines, and be officially approved before they begin welcoming back members of the community. As a potential visitor to Chicago farmers’ markets, you can review the process at the City of Chicago’s website.
Check out these 10 Chicago farmers’ markets that are planning to reopen with the city’s approval this summer!
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Photo Credit: gipna.org
Independence Park Farmers Market
3945 N Springfield Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
This market, run by the Greater Independence Park Neighborhood Association and located along Irving Park Road (near the Kennedy Expressway), is scheduled to begin its summer season Sunday, June 14. There, one can choose from an array of goods sold by local farmers and other sustainable food providers. Market hours are 9 am – 1 pm on the second and fourth Sundays of each month through October.
Logan Square can find its usual fresh fruits and veggies 10 am – 3 pm on Logan Boulevard every Sunday, starting June 14 until the end of October; those with greater health risks amid the pandemic are encouraged to attend 9 am – 10 am.
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61st Street Farmers Market
6100 S Blackstone Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
This important source of fresh produce on Chicago’s south side is opening up in June and providing regionally-grown food 9 am – 2 pm every Sunday through the end of October. You can find it at Experimental Station, near East 61st Street and South Dorchester Avenue.
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Photo Credit: thechicagoelstopfoodhuntproject.com
Lincoln Square Farmers Market
N Lincoln Ave & W Leland Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Though the market is still waiting for official city approval (according to a June 5 Facebook post), its current tentative opening dates are Tuesday, June 16, and Thursday, June 18. Assuming all goes well, Lincoln Square residents should be able to buy their fruits, veggies, and baked goods every Tuesday and Thursday through October 29.
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Photo Credit: South Loop Farmers Market Facebook
South Loop Farmers Market
1936 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Due to kick off June 11, the South Loop Farmers Market is scheduled to take place 4 pm – 8 pm every Thursday through September 24 on South Michigan Avenue. Among the farm-fresh produce to which you might be accustomed to at a farmers’ market, you can also buy specialty fruits and vegetables you might have a hard time finding in a grocery store.
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Photo Credit: Wicker Park Farmers Market Facebook
Wicker Park Farmers Market
1425 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Unlike many other Chicago markets aiming to open in early-to-mid-June, Wicker Park Farmers Market has scheduled its opening for Sunday, July 5, with a closing date of October 24. Situated on North Damen, the market will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. In addition to produce, meats, cheeses, and flowers, you can also find plastic-free alternatives here.
The market on West Catalpa is implementing an online pre-order system in order to help customers move through the space more quickly and safely, and the first pickup time for those orders is set for 3 pm – 7 pm on Wednesday, June 10. Check out their June 3 Facebook post to learn more about ordering and pickup procedures for their selection of fresh produce, grass-fed meats, dairy items, and baked goods.
Photo Credit: Pilsen Community Market Facebook
Pilsen Community Market
1800 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
According to a June 5 Facebook post, the Pilsen market will be kicking off its summer season and once more providing farm quality food sources 9 am – 3 pm on Sunday, June 14, at its usual location on South Blue Island Avenue.
Photo Credit: Green City Market Facebook
Green City Markets
1817 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614 | 115 S Sangamon St #2615, Chicago, IL 60607
In addition to pickup and delivery options (the “Virtual Market” opens for online orders on Fridays at 8 am), Green City is planning to open both its Lincoln Park and West Loop locations in June, pending official city approval. Assuming the market’s safety protocols are approved, the Lincoln Park market will open 7 am – 1 pm Wednesday, June 10, and the West Loop market will open 8 am – 1 pm Saturday, June 13 (the Lincoln Park location also runs 7 am – 1 pm Saturdays), making Green City’s sustainable produce, meat, and other products more widely available once again.
Photo Credit: Low-Line Market Facebook
Low-Line Market
3410 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Thursday, June 11 is the first day of Low-Line’s new COVID-era experience. Operating 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm as an “‘in-and-out’ style market,” the Lakeview farmers market (located at the Southport CTA station) is committed to new procedures that help keep its community safe while allowing for the sale and purchase of produce, flowers, and specialty food items.
As Illinois continues its Phase 3 run, more and more entertainment and recreation areas, such as Chicago libraries and parks, will be opening up. Most notably, a drive-in theater in Bridgeview will be opening its lot to anyone ready to indulge in some movie nostalgia.
Since March, public libraries have been completely closed down in the Chicago area, barring many from accessing reliable connections and information, except online. As of yesterday, almost all Chicago Public Library (CPL) locations will have been opened with limited service and proper social distancing measures in place. Computer service is available on a first-come, first-served basis, but not all computers are available for use to continue ensuring CPL locations adhere to social distancing guidelines.
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At this time, meeting and study rooms are not available for use to discourage patrons from coming into close contact with each other. For a detailed understanding of how the CPL is conducting its operations, peruse the CPL COVID-19 Reopening Frequently Asked Questions document available to address any and all concerns.
View Chicago Bars and Restaurants with Open Patios
Want to snag a bite with your book or grab a drink after a day in the park? View which patios are open in the city.
Chicago parks west of Lake Shore Drive, such as Grant Park and Jackson Park, will slowly allow visitors in, but it should be noted that the Lakefront Trail will not be joining the reopening. Like the libraries, these parks have been closed since the end of March due to overcrowding and the increased risk of coronavirus spread.
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Photo Credit: Maggie Daley Park Facebook
Larger parks in the city will also be opening up as summer begins to ramp up. Maggie Daley Park will open on June 15th, its rollerblade and scooter ribbons open for use for patrons with their own equipment. Their rental counters and playgarden will remain closed until further notice. Masks will be required for visitors at the park. Millennium Park plans to open parts of the park mid-June, but a concrete date has still to be set. Until then, features and fountains such as Cloud Gate and Crown Fountain remain closed and turned off.
Photo Credit: SeatGeek Stadium Tripadvisor
For those hankering to experience their favorite films on the big screen again, Chicago Drive-In Theaters will be launching their experience at Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium this Thursday. The stadium, home to the National Women’s Soccer League’s Chicago Red Stars, has been dormant since the start of the pandemic.
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The movie lineup includes films friendly for the family and has a mix of classics to contemporary. For this week, The Goonies begins the fun on Thursday. Friday and Saturday have double-features of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Trading Places, and Spiderman: Far From Home and The Blues Brothers respectively. Sunday closes out with The Sandlot.
The theater has strict guidelines in place to ensure all attendees can safely enjoy their viewing experience. Some of these guidelines include wearing masks when not in one’s vehicle, not allowing grilling, and asking patrons to take their trash home with them to reduce cross-contamination for employees cleaning up the theater. Tickets start at $30 for General Admission per car and go up to $50 for Preferred Parking per car. To purchase tickets, view the full schedule of movies, and glean more information, visit the company website.
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What movie are you most excited to see? Let us know in the comments!
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At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.
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Featured Image Credit: Chicago Public Library Facebook
Despite being the furthest you can be from an ocean — smack-dab in the middle of the country — Chicago has an outstanding seafood culture, often topped off by our many diversified Asian restaurants. The Second City is home to hundreds of sensational restaurants influenced by China, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Thailand, and so many more Asian countries. But, when it comes to offering some of the best sushi in Chicago, one only has to look to our Japanese mainstays, proudly brimming with the Midwest’s most delicious selection of raw fish.
Photo Credit: U.B. Dogs Instagram
View the 24 of the Best Hot Dogs in Chicago, Ranked
Sushi not your thing? View our list of the 24 best hot dogs in the city.
We know it can be overwhelming to find a good place to eat, but don’t worry — we did the work of discovering the best of the best sushi restaurants in Chicago to make it nice and easy for ya. No need to thank us. Just let us know what you think in the comments below!
We’d guess you’ve probably heard of Sunda, given that it’s a place beloved by locals and celebrities alike. This New Asian fusion joint opened in River North just over 10 years ago. Combining the influence of Japanese, Filippino, Indonesian, Thai, and Chinese flavors, as well as many others throughout Southeast Asia, Sunda tops the sushi market in Chicago with unparalleled innovation and a dedication to guest service. Sushi is a huge hit at this Chicago staple, but the entire menu is worth a once-over.
A BYOB Japanese-inspired mainstay with an 8-year-old past in the Windy City, Yuzu Sushi & Robata Grill has quickly risen to the top of the ranks for some of the best sushi Chicago has to offer. They dabble in the cultural influence of Japanese cuisine, while also crafting all-new and absolutely delicious sushi rolls that are totally unique to their menu. They offer a limited one-cup sake, beer, and wine selection, but also allow you to BYOB with your meal.
Real-deal Japanese cuisine is the name of the game here. This omakase-style restaurant boasts artfully and expertly crafted rolls that will undoubtedly make for a memorable experience. Some would venture to say that it’s the best in the city.
Runa has all the accouterments of a hip sushi joint. Mural art, modern music, and a BYOB policy make this a popular spot amongst young locals in the Wicker Park area. If you’re looking for a recommendation, try the Hawaiian Catch Maki.
This place has all the essentials – hot and cold apps, sashimi, maki, and cocktails – and it executes each of them flawlessly. Many Chicagoans will claim this Lincoln Park sushi spot to be their favorite, and we totally get it.
Step into this trendy, social environment with a group of friends for something that’s a little more upscale, but not too fancy. Trust us – if you suggest going here for dinner, people will get excited. It tends to get busy in the evenings, so call ahead.
Venture further east in Lakeview and you’ll come across this cute, bamboo-trimmed sushi bar that invites fresh air in the summertime with sidewalk seating. Owned by a traveler and sailor, try a taste of one of their creatively-named signature rolls or their assortment of classic maki.
Situated on a busy corner on Randolph’s “Restaurant Row,” this is the kind of place that’ll have you talking for days about how freakin’ great it was. Melt-in-your-mouth rolls will have you smiling at the first bite, and a superb list of Japanese craft beers and whiskey top it off perfectly. Bring someone here and they’ll surely be impressed.
730 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60605 | 1217-1219 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Enjoy your sushi night in this South Loop spot with funky digs relaxed vibes. The line for a table can get pretty lengthy here, so make sure to plan in advance. Oh, and if you want your sushi fix without leaving your couch, it’s cool. They deliver.
Hailing from Bridgeport, the unassuming South Kawa is definitely somewhere we’d encourage you to put on your bucket list. In fact, we challenge you to find something on this menu that’s not absolutely delicious. Trust us, it’s impossible.
This Humboldt Park phenomenon makes sushi that’s just as amazing to look at as it is to eat. Here, sushi isn’t just a meal. It’s an art form. Presentations showcase colorful arrangements, but it’s not all about looks. The taste is just as impressive.
This BYOB sushi bar in Wicker Park, Chicago is conveniently located, has cool vibes on the inside, and the sushi rolls themselves are pretty tasty. However, for the price, we just wish the rolls weren’t so damn small…
Photo Credit: Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar Yelp Page
The Union Sushi & Barbeque Bar is one of the best destinations to get sushi in Chicago. This restaurant features inventive takes on sushi served in an edgy space in River North. Try anything from their expansive menu – from the lunchtime bento box specials to smoky barbecued seafood, to noodle dishes, and of course, an assortment of sushi rolls.
Rollapalooza is a quaint sushi restaurant in Boystown of Chicago that is perfect for a casual lunch. Considering how comfortable the prices are, the sushi is surprisingly good here. They’ve got a pretty large list of signature rolls, so you’re guaranteed to find something. Make sure to go here for a failsafe option.
There’s no “you can’t sit with us” talk at this place, because it’s all about friendship here, if you couldn’t tell by the name. Top-notch apps and a massive selection of sushi makes this a no-brainer for an affordable yet satisfying meal.
Beautifully presented Japanese dishes made with high-quality ingredients are what this award-winning restaurant is known for. Even though it has locations in other U.S. cities too, it’s still a must when you’re in River North.
This cozy Lincoln Park joint is a cult favorite amongst Chicagoans – people swear by it. One bite of these delectable rolls and you’ll immediately plan your next visit. The best part? It’s one of the most affordable places on this list.
Spice things up with an omakase-style dining experience served in an elevated, modern interior. Using only the freshest fish, Macku is a hit with locals in Lincoln Park.
Housed in an unassuming storefront on bustling Clark Street in Lakeview, this is a place that’s sure to surprise you. Pick anything from their huge selection of appetizers, signature rolls, maki, sashimi, and ramen, and you won’t be disappointed.
This small but comfortable space is often met with high praise from anyone that visits. Their thoughtful takes on traditional sushi rolls are refreshing to frequent diners, and the chic lounge setting is perfect for a date night.
1139 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642 | 1131 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607
The colorful interior of Butterfly is met with an equally colorful menu featuring generously-sized sushi rolls and various Thai dishes. It’s moderately priced and there’s more than one location, so this one’s definitely a go-to on a spur-of-the-moment sushi night.
This place receives nothing short of rave reviews, and for good reason. The highly-acclaimed Lincoln Park restaurant uses high-quality ingredients to craft their sushi rolls to perfection. If you’ve wondered what all the hype was about, go see for yourself.
Brought to you by the renowned Boka Restaurant Group, this heavy-hitter in the West Loop touts a Michelin star, proving that it’s a major destination in the Fulton Market District. The menu regularly tops the restaurant lists, and the Izakaya bar downstairs adds another fun element to the experience.
Where do we start with this one? Kai Zan is a sushi experience unlike any other in Chicago. Led by two two sushi masters (seriously, they are), prepare to be served a customized, omakase-style meal that’s totally catered to your taste. Does it get any better than that?
At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.
Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!
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View Chicago Bars and Restaurants with Open Patios
