Famous Chicago Foods Available Online: Windy City Delights at Your Doorstep

Famous Chicago Foods Available Online: Windy City Delights at Your Doorstep

Chicago’s food scene is a big deal. The city has lots of tasty dishes that people love.

From deep dish pizza to Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago’s food is famous all over the country.

Many folks want to try these yummy Chicago foods but can’t visit the city.

Good news! Now you can get Chicago’s best eats sent right to your home.

Online shops and food delivery services make it easy to enjoy Chicago flavors no matter where you live.

It’s like bringing a taste of the Windy City to your own kitchen.

Portillo’s Famous Italian Beef Sandwich

Portillo’s has been serving up classic Chicago comfort food since the 1960s. Their Italian beef sandwich has become a local legend.

This tasty treat features thin slices of beef piled high on a roll. The meat is cooked in a flavorful broth called au jus.

Customers can customize their sandwich in several ways:

  • Choose sweet or hot peppers
  • Add cheese
  • Get it dry or dipped in au jus

For those who can’t visit a Portillo’s location, the restaurant offers a take-home kit.

It includes:

  • Portillo’s beef
  • Gravy
  • Italian rolls
  • Sweet peppers
  • Hot giardiniera

The kit serves 8 people and costs $109.99. It lets fans recreate the Portillo’s experience at home. The only thing missing is the fun decor of the restaurant itself.

While a juicy, gravy-soaked sandwich isn’t ideal for takeout, the kit solves this problem.

Diners can assemble their perfect Italian beef sandwich right in their own kitchen.

Finger-Lickin’ Ribs from a Chicago Icon

Twin Anchors, a cozy Old Town spot, has been dishing up tasty grub since 1932. This Chicago classic is known for its yummy baby back ribs. Even Frank Sinatra loved them!

Now you can enjoy these famous ribs at home.

Twin Anchors sells kits with two or four slabs of ribs. Each slab has about 12 bones and feeds 1-2 people. The ribs come slow-cooked and covered in their special Zesty BBQ sauce.

Want to cook them up? It’s easy:

  1. Fire up the grill or preheat the oven
  2. Place ribs bone-side down on the hot grill
  3. Cook until the meat starts to sizzle
  4. Flip and finish cooking

These ribs have starred in movies too. Keep an eye out for Twin Anchors in “The Dark Knight” and “Return to Me”. But the real stars are the ribs themselves – tender, meaty, and packed with flavor. Whether you’re a Chicago local or just visiting, these ribs are a must-try treat.

Manny’s Famous Corned Beef Sandwich

Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen has been a Chicago favorite for decades. This family-run spot serves up classic Jewish deli fare that keeps customers coming back. Their corned beef sandwich is a real showstopper.

The sandwich features thin-sliced corned beef piled high on rye bread. It’s so packed with meat, it’s almost falling apart! A swipe of zesty horseradish mustard adds the perfect kick.

Here’s what makes Manny’s corned beef special:

  • Shaved super thin
  • Tender and flavorful
  • Marbled with just the right amount of fat
  • Stacked sky-high on the bread

Locals and tourists alike flock to Manny’s for this classic sandwich. It’s even a popular spot for politicians to grab a bite and chat with voters.

Can’t make it to the deli? Manny’s sells a take-home kit with all the fixings to build your own towering sandwich.

It comes with:

  • 2 pounds sliced corned beef
  • Rye bread
  • Special horseradish mustard
  • 8 homemade potato pancakes

Chicago’s Unique Cheesecake Creation

Eli Schulman changed the cheesecake game in 1978. He made a new kind of cheesecake that was different from others.

His cake had a golden-brown top and a creamy inside. He baked it hot and fast, without using a water bath. The crust was made from buttery shortbread cookies instead of graham crackers.

Eli’s Cheesecake has become a big part of Chicago life. Many people buy these cakes for special events. The bakery even made a huge 500-pound cheesecake when the White Sox won the World Series in 2005!

The bakery offers many types of cheesecakes:

  • Regular sized
  • Bite-sized
  • Gluten-free options
  • Cheesecake of the month club

Their classic plain cheesecake serves 16 people and costs $58.00. Eli’s ships their cakes all over, so anyone can try this Chicago treat.

The Famous Chicago Popcorn Blend

Garrett Popcorn has been a Chicago staple since 1949. They make their popcorn fresh daily in copper kettles.

Their most popular item is the Garrett Mix. This blend mixes sweet CaramelCrisp with salty CheeseCorn.

The idea for this mix came from customers. People would ask for empty bags to mix the flavors themselves.

In 1977, Garrett started selling the pre-mixed version. It was a hit! Soon, other shops started copying the sweet and salty combo.

Garrett still uses old-school methods to make their popcorn:

  • Small batches
  • Copper kettles
  • Hand-mixing

You can buy Garrett Mix in different sizes:

Size Price
Small $8
Medium $15
Large $25
Classic Tin (14 cups) $35

Garrett also sells fun specialty tins. These make great gifts or souvenirs.

The smell of Garrett Popcorn is famous in Chicago. You can often catch a whiff while walking through the Loop or at the airport.

The Classic Chicago Dog: A Vienna Beef Tradition

Vienna Beef hot dogs are a Chicago icon. These tasty sausages got their start at the 1893 World’s Fair. Two brothers brought their Austrian-Hungarian recipes to life, and a legend was born.

During tough times in the 1930s, creative vendors packed these dogs with veggies and put them in buns. This cheap meal kept folks fed for just a nickel.

A real Chicago dog starts with a steamed bun sprinkled with poppy seeds. The all-beef frank gets steamed too.

Then comes the fun part – piling on the toppings!

Chopped onions, tomato slices, spicy sport peppers, bright green relish, and a pickle spear all find a spot. A squiggle of yellow mustard and a dash of celery salt finish it off.

Want to make your own at home? Vienna Beef sells kits with everything you need.

For about $80, you get 10 hot dogs, buns, and all the fixings. Just remember – no ketchup allowed on a Chicago dog!

Ricobene’s Famous Breaded Steak Sandwich

Ricobene’s has been a Chicago staple since 1946. Their breaded steak sandwich is a local legend.

It’s a messy, tasty treat that’s perfect after a Sox game.

The sandwich starts with a big piece of steak. It’s covered in seasoned breadcrumbs and fried until crispy. Then it’s drenched in red sauce and stuffed into a soft roll. Melty cheese and spicy giardiniera top it off.

Can’t make it to Bridgeport? Ricobene’s sells a DIY kit:

  • Breaded steak
  • Red sauce
  • Turano Baking Co. rolls
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Giardiniera

The kit feeds 4-6 people. It’s pricey at $109.95, but it’s a fun way to bring a taste of Chicago home. Plus, you won’t have to worry about sauce drips in public!

This sandwich isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s big, bold, and messy – just like Chicago itself.

Frango’s Sweet Chicago Legacy

Frango Chocolates have been a Chicago favorite for generations. These tasty treats got their start in Seattle back in 1918. But it was when they came to Chicago’s Marshall Field’s store in 1929 that they really took off.

For years, folks would head up to the 13th floor of Marshall Field’s to buy fresh Frango candies made right there in the store’s kitchen. Even though Marshall Field’s closed its doors, Frango lives on.

Now owned by Garrett Popcorn, another Chicago snack legend, Frango keeps making their famous chocolates.

You can still get the classic milk chocolate mints in a 15-piece box. They also offer dark mint and white mint flavors for those who like to mix it up.

A box of these minty delights doesn’t come cheap at $60. But for many, it’s worth it for a taste of Chicago history. After all, Frango has been making mouths happy for over 100 years!

Rainbow Cone’s Colorful Ice Cream Treat

Rainbow Cone has been a Chicago favorite since 1926. The shop’s signature dessert is a mix of five flavors in one cone. It’s not your typical scoop job – they slice the ice cream and stack it up.

The flavors are:

  • Chocolate
  • Strawberry
  • Pistachio
  • Orange sherbet
  • Palmer House (vanilla with walnuts and cherries)

This bright, tasty treat started in Beverly but has grown. Now you can find Rainbow Cone trucks and shops all over the Midwest.

Can’t make it to a store? They’ll ship two quarts to your door for about $85.

The cone’s look is as fun as its taste. Each layer adds a new color, making it a feast for the eyes and the taste buds.

It’s a unique way to enjoy ice cream that’s become a Chicago icon over the years.

Pequod’s: Chicago’s Deep-Dish Sensation

Pequod’s Pizza has made a name for itself in the crowded Chicago pizza scene. This Lincoln Park spot draws crowds willing to wait hours for a taste of their famous pies. What sets Pequod’s apart is their unique caramelized crust.

The pizza’s crispy edge perfectly balances the gooey, cheesy center. Pequod’s has been serving up these tasty pies since 1970, first in the suburbs before opening their city location in 1992.

For those who’d rather skip the wait, Pequod’s offers a tasty at-home option:

  • 2-pack of pan-style deep-dish pizzas
  • Price: $99.95
  • Perfect for enjoying on the couch in comfy clothes

Pequod’s consistently ranks as one of Chicago’s top pizza spots. Their pies stack up high in the pan, loaded with toppings and cheese. The combination of crispy crust and melty center keeps fans coming back for more.

Duck Fat Dogs: A Tasty Twist on a Chicago Classic

The Duck Inn puts a unique spin on the beloved Chicago-style hot dog. Chef Kevin Hickey blends beef with duck fat to create a juicy, flavorful sausage that’s hard to resist.

These special dogs are served on brioche poppy seed buns, giving them an extra touch of luxury.

What really sets these hot dogs apart is the Duck Inn’s Chicago Hot Dog Super Condiment. This special blend packs all the traditional toppings into one jar.

It’s got onions, mustard, tomatoes, peppers, pickles, and celery salt mixed together for easy serving.

Want to try these fancy franks at home? The Duck Inn offers a hot dog kit that serves eight people.

  • Duck fat hot dogs
  • Brioche poppy seed buns
  • Jar of Chicago Hot Dog Super Condiment

It’s a fun way to enjoy a gourmet version of a Chicago favorite without leaving your kitchen.

The Duck Inn has found a clever way to update a classic while keeping the flavors Chicagoans know and love.

The Sweet Legacy of Brown Sugar Bakery’s Obama Cake

Brown Sugar Bakery has been a Chicago staple since 2002, serving up tasty treats that bring a taste of the South to the Windy City. Their Obama cake stands out as a special tribute to Chicago’s own former president. This eye-catching dessert comes in red, white, and black colors, meant to show off America’s mix of people.

The Obama cake is a real treat for the taste buds. It has four layers of different cakes:

  • Yellow cake
  • Dark chocolate cake
  • Red velvet cake

On top, there’s cream cheese frosting, a drizzle of chocolate, and crunchy pecans. It’s a big cake that costs $85.95.

Stephanie Hart, the bakery’s owner, came up with this cake as an answer to one made in Washington, D.C. during Obama’s first run for president.

Her hard work and yummy cakes even got her noticed by the James Beard Foundation. They picked her as a top baker nominee.

Tea Time at Madame ZuZu’s

Smashing Pumpkins fans can sip on some truly unique brews at Madame ZuZu’s Emporium. This cool spot in Highland Park mixes tea, vegan eats, and tunes. Billy Corgan and ChloĆ© Mendel opened it up back in 2012.

They gave it a fresh look in 2020, making it even bigger and better.

Madame ZuZu’s is all about good tea from small farms. They’ve got a neat sampler pack with 28 different teas to try. Here are some of the yummy flavors:

  • Earl Grey
  • Lemon Berry Meritage
  • Soothing Sunshine Ginger Turmeric
  • French Kissed Moroccan Mint

It’s like a mini tea adventure in a box!

Grab a cup, put on some Smashing Pumpkins, and pretend you’re chilling at the shop.

The vibe is laid-back and fun, perfect for tea lovers and music fans alike.

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About Author

Anthony Blackies

Meet Anthony Blackies, the passionate Italian-American behind "Blackies Chicago." Inspired by his heritage and Chicago's vibrant food scene, Anthony shares authentic recipes and explores the city's culinary treasures on his blog. From iconic deep-dish pizza to neighborhood delicatessens, he invites readers to savor Chicago's flavors through his flavorful stories and homemade dishes.