Best Lunch: Chicago Loop!

Piggie Smalls is one of my favorites in this whole list!

It's a gyro shop by Chef Jimmy Bannos Jr. (who you already know from The Purple Pig) -- and it's awesome.

What to Order:

• Greek American gyro
• Build your own bowl (I get a cauliflower base, pork, veggies, and salsa verde)
• Greek fries

Food Hall: Wells St. Market (205 W Wacker)
Location: back left-hand corner

Right next to Piggie Smalls is Tempesta Market, serving some seriously loaded sandwiches with delicious meats. They have some of the best meats in the whole city. YUM!!

Their food hall spot is their second location - the original is over in West Town.

What to Order:

• Really epic sandwiches - I like the Dante (Hot Sopressata, Mortadella, Finocchiona, Hot Coppa, Porchetta, Provolone, Hot Giardiniera, ‘Nduja Aioli, Lettuce, and Tomato on a Baguette)

Food Hall: Wells St. Market (205 W Wacker)
Location: back middle

Fry the Coop is relativelty new to the Loop as of Summer 2019. They have 4 locations in Chicago: this one, West Town, Elmhurst, and Oak Lawn (which is their original spot).

They serve Nashville hot chicken sandwiches with 6 levels of spiciness to choose from!!! I must warn you: they are VERY hot. Whatever level you think you are, consider stepping down a level or two. 🙂

This spot gets a pretty long line right at lunch time, as do many of the other spots in this food hall. Try going for an early or lunch for a much shorter wait!

What to Order:

• Nashville hot chicken sandwich
• Spicy butter fried chicken sandwich(!!)
• Hot chicken sandwich on a donut(!)

Food Hall: Wells St. Market (Wacker & Wells)
Location: back right-hand corner

One more spot in Wells St Market, located right up front -- FARE, a veggie-forward fast casual spot opened by two awesome women.

As with all spots in this market, I recommend going before ~11:30 or after ~12:45 to avoid the lunch rush.

What to Order:

• Grain bowls with awesome toppings
• Seasonal toasts (avocado, labneh, beet hummus...)

Food Hall: Wells St. Market (205 W Wacker)
Location: front

The Fat Shallot started as a food truck and is known for absolutely epic sandwiches -- like their Truffle BLT and Buffalo Chicken Sandwich on brioche. Ugh, they're so good. 😍

It's owned by an awesome husband and wife team, and this location (in Revival Food Hall) is their first permanent spot in the city. It's a little tucked away within Revival, in the side hallway, so a lot of people don't even know it's there.

But now you do. 🙂

What to Order:

• Truffle BLT
• Spicy Sesame Fries
• Pickle

Food Hall: Revival Food Hall (125 S Clark St)
Location: side hallway, by the windows

If you're looking for epic BBQ for lunch in the Loop, Smoque is your spot. It's so good!!

Just go there -- you'll be happy.

What to Order:

• Sliced or chopped brisket!!!

Food Hall: Revival Food Hall (125 S Clark St)
Location: side hallway, right next to The Fat Shallot

If you're looking for something a little bit healthier, you can try Farmer's Fridge - located at the back of Revival food hall.

They have self-serve fridge locations all over the city, but this food hall location is fast casual and made-to-order.

What to Order:

• Avocado + labneh toast
• Seasonal salads

Food Hall: Revival Food Hall (125 S Clark St)
Location: back of Revival

Psst! Farmer's Fridge is also on these guides: Best Food at ORD Airport + Avocado Toast Guide.

Foodworks, located within food hall Forum55, provides a rotating pop-up location for local spots.

Recent pop-ups here have included Art of Dosa, Da Lobsta, and Pork & Mindy's.

It's a great spot to check if you're looking for some variety in the Loop (and from local spots!).

Food Hall: Forum55 (55 E Monroe)
Location: Foodworks stand

One of my favorite fast casual spots in the Loop is Naf Naf Grill. I'm obsessed!

I don't work in the Loop anymore, but I often beg my husband to bring it home for dinner.

What to Order:

• Steak bowl with pretty much every topping
• House-made pita 😍

Location: Washington & Franklin

If you've been following me on instagram for more than a week, you know I love The Roost. (and if you're not... umm, please do it now! follow 312food).

That's why I was so excited when they opened a location in the Loop! And, of course it's earned a spot on my Best Lunch Chicago Loop guide.

What to Order:

• Fried chicken sandwich (choose between regular, spicy, or Nashville hot. I'm a wimp so I get spicy) on a biscuit
• Fried chicken tacos
• Peach cobbler
• Psst! their breakfast sandwiches are pretty epic, too

Location: 400 S Financial (SW corner of Van Buren and Financial)

If you want to go to Cafecito for lunch, you have to time it right. As with a lot of other busy spots, don't try to walk in right at lunch or you'll be waiting A WHILE for one of their delicious Cuban pressed sandwiches.

I try to get there before 11:30 when I go.

What to Order:

• Cubano + Cuban coffee
• Jerk (caribbean spices, marinated chicken, lettuce, tomato, red onion, habanero lime mayo)
• Chivito (steak, ham, bacon, fried egg, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, onion, citrus mayo)

Location: 7 N Wells (Wells & Madison)

Dos Toros has yummy food, and they're big on sustainability (naturally raised meats, composting, etc.) - placing it on my Best Lunch Chicago Loop list.

They've got a few locations in the Loop.

What to Order:

• Cali quesadilla
• Their giant burritos
• Chips & guac

Locations: 

• 1 N Dearborn (Dearborn & Madison)
• 300 S Wacker (Jackson & Wacker)
• 205 W Wacker (Wacker & Wells - inside the Wells St Market food hall)
• 875 N Michigan Avenue (basement of John Hancock building)

You might know them from their food truck, but a lot of people don't know that Chicago Lunchbox has a small location in the Loop at 400 S Financial Place.

They serve awesome Asian fusion sandwiches and "street eats" -- like noodle and rice bowls with your choice of yummy sauces. If you haven't tried it, I recommend giving it a shot!

What to Order:

• Beefy Korean noodle bowl
• Sweetened Thai tea

Location: 400 S Financial Place

Rounding out my fast casual section is Be Leaf -- a locally owned, locally sourced salad spot with punny salad names.

You can pick from their seasonal menu options, or build your own!

What to Order:

• Greek to me salad
• Look for their seasonal featured options

Location: 29 N Wacker (Wacker between Madison and Washington)

You KNOW I'm not going to write a list of the best Chicago lunch and not include one of my favorite restaurants, Heaven on Seven. It's a hidden cajun lunch spot that has been in the Loop for over 38 years!

There are two things you should know: 1) it's hard to find - it's located on the 7th floor of an office building! and 2) it's cash only.

It's a quick lunch, so you can easily get in and out for lunch during the workday.

What to Order:

• Surf & turf poboy
• Korean fried chicken poboy
• Fried shrimp platter
• Cheese curds OR pimiento cornbread
• Gumbo!

Location: 111 N Wabash, 7th floor (Wabash between Washington and Randolph)

Psst! Heaven on Seven is on these other guides: Chicago Brunch Checklist + 14 Hidden Restaurants in Chicago.