Chicago State University – Foodie Guide

There are a number of reasons you could be traveling to Chicago State University in the beautiful city of Chicago, Illinois. Maybe you’re a prospective student who’s checking out the campus for the first time. Or an alumni looking to relive some memories. Or the proud parent of a student stopping by for a visit.

Whatever your reason for going to Chicago State University is, make sure to also immerse yourself in Chicago’s thriving food scene while you’re there. This Midwestern mecca is home to many one-of-a-kind culinary experiences, such as the legendary thin-crust pizza at Vito & Nick’s and Au Cheval’s award-winning burger.

Visiting a city with so many great restaurants is both a blessing and a curse; a blessing because you get to eat lots of tasty food, and a curse because you obviously can’t try them all. So if you’re a foodie who wants to make every meal count, let this guide point you in the direction of some of Chicago’s best and most unique dining experiences.

Vito & Nick’s

Contrary to popular belief, not all pizzas served in Chicago are that of the deep-dish variety. In fact, one of the Windy City’s most celebrated pizzas is, wait for it… thin crust! Gasp! Mind-blowing, right?

But seriously, the thin-crust pizza at Vito & Nick’s really does stand out in a place where deep-dish pies dominate the culinary landscape. It’s what has kept people coming back for almost a century, after all.

The defining characteristics of a Vito & Nick’s pizza are cracker-thin crust sliced “tavern style”; that is, in squares instead of triangles; bubbly, browned cheese; and tomato sauce that’s equal parts tangy and spicy. For the full Vito & Nick’s experience, get your pizza topped with their flavorful, house-made fennel sausage. Or if your taste buds are feeling adventurous, and you happen to be there on a Friday, try their signature cheese and eggs pizza.

Fry the Coop

It’s no secret that fried chicken is one of the biggest trends in food today. Purveyors of crispy, crunchy poultry have been popping up all across the country, and Chicago is no different. One of the latest additions to the city’s growing lineup of fried chicken-focused restaurants is Fry the Coop, a joint specializing in Nashville hot chicken.

If you’re unfamiliar with Nashville hot chicken, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a spicy style of fried chicken that originated in Nashville, Tennessee. Most places let you choose your desired level of spiciness, and Fry the Coop is no different. Their menu features five different heat levels, running the gamut from “Country” to “Crazy.”

The decision-making doesn’t stop there, however, since you’ve still got to choose how you want your fried chicken served. On the purist side of things they’ve got options such as sandwiches and tenders. On the other end of the spectrum is a donut fried chicken sandwich topped with pickles and “special” sauce, and chicken and waffles served with smoked bacon, spiced butter, and hot maple syrup.

Chuck’s Southern Comforts Cafe

If you couldn’t already tell from the name, they take Southern food very seriously at Chuck’s Southern Comforts Cafe. And not just one type of Southern food, either. No, they cook up many different kinds of cuisine at Chuck’s, including barbecue, Tex-Mex, Cajun, and more.

The menu at Chuck’s is quite large, which makes sense given that it features dishes from all across the Southern U.S. Start your meal off with a selection from the appetizer selection, such as fried zucchini and yellow squash fresh from Chuck’s garden. Then follow that up with a hearty entrée like the BBQ Combo, which comes with a half slab of baby back ribs and one additional meat of your choosing.

They serve breakfast at Chuck’s too, believe it or not, but only on weekends. Some of their breakfast offerings include habanero chilaquiles, Cajun eggs Benedict, and pain perdu, a New Orleans-style French toast.

Au Cheval

At around 13 miles away, Au Cheval is a bit of a drive from Chicago State University, especially if there’s traffic. And you’ll likely have to wait for a table when you get there, sometimes for more than an hour. Don’t let either of these things deter you from going, though.

Why? Because Au Cheval makes a burger that, back in 2012, was declared the best burger in America by Bon Appétit. It comes with your choice of either two or three grass-fed beef patties cooked medium, along with American cheese, Djonnaise, and house-made pickles.

Now that’s all well and good, but what really sets Au Cheval’s burger apart, however, are the add-ons. For $1 extra, they’ll top it with a perfectly fried sunny side up egg. For a few dollars more, thick-cut peppered bacon gets added to the mix. And if you’re really looking to gild the lily, pony up $9 for a three-ounce slab of decadent foie gras.

McDonald’s Global Menu Restaurant

Let’s switch gears here and go from talking about one of the most lauded burger joints in the county to… McDonald’s? Yes, you read that right: McDonald’s. We’re not referring to just any old Golden Arches, though. This is the McDonald’s Global Menu Restaurant, located on the ground floor of the new McDonald’s headquarters in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.

Unlike your neighborhood McD’s, this one features menu items from McDonald’s all over the world. These “global favorites” rotate every so often, but some examples of what you might find include the McSpicy Chicken Sandwich from Hong Kong, Cheesy Bacon Fries from Australia, and The Mighty Angus Burger from our neighbors to the north.

Of course, the menu at this McDonald’s doesn’t consist entirely of foreign food. You can still order any of McDonald’s domestic delicacies there too. So if your taste buds are feeling a bit homesick after traveling abroad, why not welcome them back with some McNuggets or a Big Mac?