Travel video guide
Where to Eat in Chicago, IL | Varedelo
This guide turns 5 Foods Invented in Chicago (SURPRISING)!! Don’t Miss Eating in Chicago, USA! from Mark Wiens into a practical food map with 5 saved spots around Chicago, Chicago Loop, and Logan Square. The mapped places include a hotel, a neighborhood, a park, and a sandwich shop. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Mark Wiens was thoroughly impressed by his first Jibarito, praising the garlicky steak and the resourceful use of fried plantains instead of bread. He believes this unique Puerto Rican-Chicago invention deserves to be celebrated alongside iconic staples like deep dish pizza and hot dogs. He also enjoyed exploring the sports history and Italian-American culinary roots at Harry Caray's while hunting for the city's best Chicken Vesuvio.
What this map is good for
- Planning a sandwich shop stop or short itinerary in Chicago.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 5 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse
Neighborhood in 33 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654, USA, Chicago, IL, United States
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Jibaritos y Más
Sandwich Shop in 3400 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA, Logan Square, Illinois, United States
Price level: Inexpensive
Hours: Hours available - Great Sea Restaurant
Park in 3253 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, USA, Chicago, IL, United States
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots
Store in 7242 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60636, USA, Chicago, IL, United States
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available - Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
Hotel in 17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603, USA, Chicago Loop, Illinois, United States
Food notes from the video
- Jibarito (steak sandwich with plantain bread)
- Cola Champagne
- Rice
- Garlic sauce
- Chicken Vesuvio
Experiences captured
- Explored indigenous Chicago food culture
- Rented a minivan for a family food tour
- Visited Jibaritos y Mas restaurant
- Learned the history of the Jibarito sandwich
- Visited Harry Caray's Legendary Italian Steakhouse
- Viewed sports memorabilia and antiques at the steakhouse
- Learned about legendary broadcaster Harry Caray
Planning notes for Chicago
Chicago, incorporated as a city in 1837, is located on 234 square miles of land at the intersection of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. The city's history includes its 1779 establishment as a trading post by Jean Baptiste Point du Sable and the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, which led to the 1885 construction of the Home Insurance Building, the first steel-frame skyscraper. The city contains 59 historic districts and hundreds of landmarks. Architectural classifications include the Chicago School.
Must-try foods nearby
- Deep-Dish Pizza
The quintessential Chicago staple featuring a buttery, high-walled crust, thick layers of mozzarella cheese, and chunky tomato sauce on top. - Italian Beef Sandwich
Thinly sliced, seasoned roast beef simmered in 'au jus' and served on a long Italian roll. - Chicago-Style Hot Dog
An all-beef frankfurter on a steamed poppy seed bun, 'dragged through the garden' with yellow mustard, neon green relish, chopped onions, tomato wedges, a dill pickle spear. - Tavern-Style Pizza
Often called 'real Chicago pizza' by locals, this thin-crust, square-cut (party cut) pizza features a cracker-like base and toppings that go all the way to the edge. - Jibarito
A unique Chicago-Puerto Rican invention that replaces bread with flattened, fried green plantains.
When to go: The best time to visit Chicago is from June to August or during the shoulder months of September and October, when the city is most vibrant and outdoor events are in full swing. While summer offers warm, humid weather perfect for lakefront activities.
Local tips
- Purchase a Ventra card for easy, contactless access to the extensive CTA 'L' train and bus network to avoid the high cost and hassle of city driving.
- Never ask for ketchup on a Chicago-style hot dog, as it is considered a major local culinary faux pas.
- Expect to leave a gratuity of 18-20% at sit-down restaurants, as tipping is a standard social and economic expectation in the United States.
- Stay to the right on busy sidewalks and escalators to allow faster-moving locals and commuters to pass on your left.
What travelers are noticing
- Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening
- The Hand & The Eye Magic Mansion
- Route 66 Centennial Celebrations
Extra place context
- Jibarito y Más
Known for: Jibarito. Mentioned as a must-try spot in top foods.
food and Jibarito
Planning questions
What is this video map?
It is a crawlable guide to the mapped places from 5 Foods Invented in Chicago (SURPRISING)!! Don’t Miss Eating in Chicago, USA!, with the creator video, a static map preview, and selected spots from the trip.
Can I save these spots?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save the places, keep planning notes, and revisit the guide from your phone.
Does this replace watching the video?
No. The video remains the source, and the map makes the places easier to scan, compare, and save while planning.
Use it on your trip
Save this food map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.