Walking down the bustling streets of Old Town, you're likely to pass their ratty, algae-green awning without a second glance—choose to take a peak and stop inside this dive bar, though, and you’ll be taking a seat among some of Chicago’s richest, most historic spots in the city.
Spend enough time there and you’ll become part of the walls… literally. One of the bar’s most notable features is the portraits of historic bar dwellers hanging throughout almost every inch of the interior. Located directly across the street from Second City, it’s no surprise that some of comedy’s most famed faces reign high above on the walls, including Tina Fey and Michael Shannon. These odes to Second City greats aren’t the only comedic references amongst the paintings—peruse around and you’ll see a naked Sarah Palin strapped with a rifle, international leaders in compromising positions, and a whole lot more.
My advice to first-timers? Grab a seat at the bar, order the negroni on ice, queue up an instrumental melody on the cash-only jukebox, settle in, and buckle up for a visual ride through the bar’s eclectic, famed story.
Whether you stop by for the notoriety or spend an entire day pleading your case to get your portrait painted, Old Town Ale House is one of my favorite spots to enmesh myself in the history, art, and unique company found in Chicago.
Find your way with 116 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Founded in 1948, "Superdawg" is THE quintessential Chicago hot dog place - they'll bring your order right to your car, like they did in the '50s!
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The lentils are filling and creamy; the veggies are lightly cooked and nourishing; the injera bread is the perfect balance of slightly tangy and spongey.
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OMI has many good menu options, but their Japanese dessert toast is their all-star. Think of it as a fluffy French toast served with vanilla ice cream.
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Choose from multigrain sourdough, their house sourdough and miso rye sourdough; pastry choices include croissants, morning buns, and fruit danishes.
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Momos are bite-sized dumplings from Nepal and Tibet, usually filled with meat that is seasoned with spices like turmeric, garlic, cumin, and chili peppers.
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Their bread that has the perfect ratio of chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The 1979 multigrain sourdough is some of the best bread I've had!
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They are arguably most known for their "Kurdish breakfast" an elaborate spread of cheese, jams, fried cheese, olives, fries, cucumbers, tomatoes and bread.
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The tent is run by Adan, who mans the booth entirely alone. His ingredients are kept fresh in coolers which are grilled on the spot in front of customers.
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There are many pastry options like croissants, an assortment of macaron flavors, fruit danishes, quiches... My favorites are the fruit-stuffed beignets!
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While most croissants are buttery and flakey, the ones at Hendrickx are denser and chewier. In my opinion, this makes them even better.
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BULSHO serves a traditional Somalian breakfast that is comprised of seasoned meat or veggie stew served with anjero - a fermented flatbread.
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Start with a freshly steeped cup of sweet mint tea, a staple of any Senegalese meal. Then order fataya, triangular fried pastries with a savory filling.
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116 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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