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Where To Eat During CAF's Open House This Weekend

By Benjy Lipsman in Food on Oct 18, 2013 9:50PM

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Photos by Benjy Lipsman

We've already shared our excitement over the Chicago Architecture Foundation's Open House Chicago, which is happening all weekend across the city. We love any opportunity to explore the wonderful buildings across our city and peek into the nooks and crannies to satisfy our architectural needs. But we also realized that while racing across neighborhoods to admire rotundas and libraries, we'll probably work up an appetite. And that moment might happen when we find ourselves in an unfamiliar neighborhood with little to no guidance on good food and drink. To help others who will be pounding the pavement this weekend, we've jotted down a few personal favorites in the neighborhoods you might be visiting this weekend. Have fun exploring the city and we hope you enjoy your meal as well.

Downtown/Loop
Macy's top floor food court - This cafeteria style room includes Rick Bayless' Frontera Fresco & Noodles by Takashi Yagihashi.
Cafecito - With two Loop locations, Cafecito offers up delicious Cuban pressed sandwiches and strong Cuban coffee.
Do-Rite Donuts - Gourmet Donuts that are popular with the office crowds in the Loop.
Maxwell St. Market - Open on Sunday from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., the market offers a plethora of Mexican street foods like Tacos from Rubi's and Manolo's, tamales, churros and more.

Bridgeport / Back of the Yards
Pleasant House Bakery - English-style meat pies with melt-in-your-mouth flaky crust.
Potsticker House - Bridgeport is home to some of the best Northern Chinese cooking in the city and Potsticker House is the restaurant that started it all.

Gold Coast
Big & Little's - Fish tacos, fish and chips, po' boys... fried sea food is the specialty here.
Bad Happy - Poutine, tasty sandwiches and birthday cake shakes, with some interesting brunch options on Sunday as well are offered up at this smaller spot.
Ginza Sushi - Hit up this long time purveyor of sushi and ramen before they close next week.
Xoco - Rick Bayless' ode to tortas, caldos (meal sized soup), churros and drinking chocolate. We especially crave his caldos during winter months.

Hyde Park
Zaleski & Horvath MarketCafe - One of the best sandwich spots around, plus you can pick up groceries to bring home.
The Medici - Serving up deliciousness since the 1960s. Not always the most consistent, but when they get their pizza right, it's great.

Lincoln Park
Crisp - Known for their Asian fried chicken and Buddha bowls. The chicken wings here are extra sticky and crispy.
2 Sparrows - A popular brunch spot from a pair of Trotter's alums.
Cafe Vienna Austrian Bakery - Fancy European baked goods & coffee fill this cafe spot.
Del Seoul - A Korean taco joint to satisfy your fusion needs.
Cafe Luigi - Perhaps the most authentic NYC style pizza in Chicago, available by the slice of course.

Near West Side
Glazed & Infused - Gourmet doughnuts like creme brulee and bacon maple long johns satisfy your fried dough sweet tooth.
Little Goat - Stephanie Izard's take on diner food. Get the horseshoe if you stop in.
Au Cheval - Brendan Sodokoff's stylized take on diner food has one of the most talked-about hamburgers in Chicago. But you can't go wrong with most of the menu here.

Pilsen
Carnitas Urupan and Don Pedro Carnitas - carnitas by the half-pound, served with tortillas and all the fixings. Order up and dive in.
Nuevo Leon - A Mexican restaurant that's anchored the 18th street neighborhood for 50 years.
Honky Tonk BBQ - Looking for something other than the popular Mexican fares in Pilsen? Honky Tonk offers some of the city's best BBQ.

Pullman
Old Fashioned Doughnuts - the BEST apple fritter in Chicago and their other doughnuts aren't bad either. True old school doughnut shop. Bring cash and grab a fritter almost the size of your head.

Rogers Park / West Ridge
Rub's Backcountry Smokehouse - Another one of our favorite BBQ spots in Chicago.
Metropolis Coffee - This local coffee roaster serves up amazing coffee, teas and pastries.
Taste of Peru - Authentic Peruvian dishes like their take on ceviche and Lomo Saltado (beef stir fried with onions, tomatoes, and french fries).

Uptown
Tank Noodle - Argyle St. institution best known for their pho, but with an extensive Vietnamese menu.
Nha Hang Vietnam - Vietnamese food prepared with fresh, healthy ingredients and friendly service.
Ba Le - Banh mi sandwiches are their specialty at this bakery.
Hopleaf - Interesting takes on bar food with excellent mussels and perhaps the best beer list in Chicago.

Additional reporting from Lisa White and Anthony Todd.