Calumet Fisheries is at 3259 E. 95th Street on the Far South Side, near the Calumet River and the 95th Street drawbridge. The family-run smokehouse has served the area since 1948 and smokes seafood onsite over natural oak. Order smoked salmon, smoked chubs when available, smoked trout or pepper-and-garlic salmon for the smokehouse specialty. Fried shrimp, catfish, scallops and fish dinners provide the other classic direction, with fries, coleslaw, crackers and sauce. This is strictly takeout, with no dining room or bathrooms, so plan to eat in the car or decide where you will eat before ordering. Check current hours before travelling. (Calumet Fisheries, checked 2026-09-29)
Manny’s Deli is at 1141 South Jefferson Street in the Near West Side. This Jewish-American cafeteria and delicatessen is a practical place to try Chicago’s corned-beef tradition. Order a corned beef sandwich, Reuben, matzo ball soup or kreplach soup. Breakfast includes corned beef hash and eggs, Nova lox with a bagel and challah French toast. The bakery case adds rugelach, mandel bread, black-and-white cookies and halvah. Counter service and takeaway make Manny’s useful for a substantial lunch. Check the current location hours, particularly because Monday is closed and Sunday service is shorter. (Manny’s Deli, checked 2026-09-29)
Lou Mitchell’s is at 565 W. Jackson Boulevard, at the downtown beginning of Route 66 and west of Willis Tower. The family diner opened in 1923 and focuses on breakfast, brunch and lunch. Choose meltaway pancakes, a Belgian malted waffle, a Greek cheese omelet, a Greek sausage omelet or another egg dish. Fresh bakery items and freshly squeezed juice suit a slower morning meal. The operator also describes a long-running welcome custom of doughnut holes and Milk Duds. Confirm the current service schedule before planning an early visit. (Lou Mitchell’s, checked 2026-09-29)
Green Door Tavern is at 678 North Orleans Street in River North. The operator dates the tavern to 1921 and describes its historic setting, in one of the few surviving wooden commercial buildings built after the Great Chicago Fire. Order GDT Chicago poutine with Italian beef gravy, cheese curds and giardiniera, or the corned beef sandwich on marble rye with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and dressing. The Tavern Burger, Classic Patty Melt and Chicago Fried Chicken sandwich suit a casual lunch or dinner. Check the operator’s current service information before arriving. (Green Door Tavern, checked 2026-09-29)
The Berghoff is at 17 W. Adams Street in the Loop. The family-owned restaurant opened in 1898 and serves classic German and contemporary American cooking. Order bratwurst with sauerkraut, Wiener schnitzel with creamed spinach and spätzle, sauerbraten with sweet-and-sour gravy, a Bavarian pretzel or the sausage trio of bratwurst, knockwurst and smoked Thüringer. Potato pancakes, pierogies, currywurst and beer-battered cod add alternatives. Restaurant, café and bar information are separate, so confirm the restaurant schedule before visiting the Loop. (The Berghoff, checked 2026-09-29)
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