Big Star, Publican, Lillie's Q And More Infiltrate The United Center

By Anthony Todd in Food on Aug 12, 2015 4:44PM

The pulled pork at Lillie's Q. Photo by Nick Kindelsperger.

News broke Wednesday that the United Center will be getting a culinary makeover. Instead of frozen, mass-produced junk, hometown visitors and tourists alike will be able to try food from places like Publican Quality Meats, Big Star, Lillie's Q and more.

The food is part of a new "Chicago's Plate" program bringing local brands into the stadium.

The complete list of new concessions, according to the NBA website, includes: Big Star, Publican Quality Meats, Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap, Leghorn Chicken, Lillie’s Q, LQ Chicken Shack, Frontier, Lottie’s Pub and The Pony. No menus are public yet, but we can only imagine that the stewards of those brands are going to do their best to maintain high quality standards at the concession booth.

The United Center is jumping on board a (welcome) trend of improving the local food and drink options available at major city attractions and tourist centers. Wrigley Field is now serving Hot Doug's inspired dogs and Navy Pier is now home to a DMK Burger Bar and a Fishbar. Tourists can get a real taste of Chicago at these attractions, rather than generic stadium fare.

Now, if only that "all-star Chicago chefs" food court at O'Hare would ever open...