In Chicago you can bet your bottom dollar you'll lose your blues, but you may add a few waistline pounds at the city's selection of top restaurants, everyday diners and coffee hangouts
*Superdawg*
No ketchup. That's the first commandment of a Chicago-style hotdog, served in all its relish-and-sport-pepper-topped glory at this historic drive-in hotdog stand. Order through a call box and a friendly server whisks your "dog"– and milkshake and fries – out to your car. Before you drive away, snap a picture of the vintage hotdog figures perched atop the restaurant.
• 6363 North Milwaukee Avenue, +1 773 763 0660, superdawg.com. Open Sun-Thurs 11am-1am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am. Hotdogs and sandwiches $5.50-$9.95
*Lula Cafe*
For a proper taste of the midwest, snag a table for lunch, dinner or the super-popular brunch service at chef-owner Jason Hammel's laidback temple to local and seasonal cuisine. While the ingredients come from nearby farms, global flavours keep the menu interesting. Expect a hip crowd as eclectic as the menu.
• 2537 North Kedzie Boulevard, +1 773 489 9554, lulacafe.com. Open 9am-2pm, closed Tuesday. Mains $9-$29
*Little Goat Bread*
A winner of TV show "Top Chef", Stephanie Izard remains one of the city's hottest restaurateurs … but good luck getting a reservation to her booked-three-months-out restaurant Girl & The Goat. You'll have better luck at Little Goat Bread, a grab-and-go coffee shop and bakery adjacent to her recently opened Little Goat Diner. Along with your snack, pick up some coffee beans or a cookbook as a souvenir.
• 820 West Randolph Street, +1 312 888 3455, littlegoatchicago.com. Open daily 6am to 6pm. Diner mains $10-$22
*The Doughnut Vault*
The early bird gets the doughnuts at this to-go-only window in River North. Lines are manageable during the week, but can stretch for an hour on weekend mornings – but don't worry, the wait is justified once you bite into the crisp, perfectly-frosted Old Fashioned cocktail. Oh, and it's best to stock up on seasonal flavours, too, since you've probably worked up an appetite.
• 401 North Franklin Street, no phone, thedoughnutvault.tumblr.com. Open Tues-Fri 8am until sold out; Sat 9.30am until sold out. Doughnuts $2-$3
*Avec*
Before the city was head-over-heels for small plates, Avec introduced shareable, seasonal dishes, communal seating and an esoteric wine list. Truly, Chicago's never been the same. A decade later, this chic but casual no-reservations restaurant is as popular as ever, with awards for food and innovative design under its belt.
• 615 West Randolph Street, +1 312 377 2002, avecrestaurant.com. Open Mon-Thurs 3.30pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 3.30pm-1am, Sun 10am-2pm, 3.30pm-midnight. Shared plates $11-$21
*Cemitas Puebla*
A sandwich worth a 45-minute bus ride from downtown? That's exactly what's cooking at this bare-bones sandwich spot, where the namesake cemitas rolls – crispy and sesame seed-studded on the outside, soft on the interior – barely contain the onslaught of fillings such as pork Milanesa and carne asada. Your best bet is the Atomica, a diet-annihilating trio of pork Milanesa, carne enchilada and ham.
• 3619 West North Avenue, +1 773 772 8435, cemitaspuebla.com. Open daily 11am-9pm. Cemitas $6.50-$9
*Ruxbin*
Ruxbin's team serves whimsical and funky food in one of the smallest dining rooms in the city. The team are serious about solid flavours: there's Asian inspiration, midwest ingredients and a range of other influences on the constantly changing menu at one of the city's best-loved BYOs (bring your own alcohol). Come early, though, since reservations are only accepted on Sundays.
• 851 North Ashland Avenue, +1 312 624 8509, ruxbinchicago.com. Open Tues-Sat 5.30pm-10pm, Sun 5.30pm-9pm. Entrees $22-$28
*Bang Bang Pie Shop*
Light wood, brightly coloured chairs and a charming, shady patio all contribute to make Bang Bang a cosy bakery worthy of multiple Instagrams. But yes, you're here for the pie, available in daily rotating flavours by the slice or whole pie. Don't neglect the house-roasted coffee or the dense, melt-in-your-mouth buttery biscuits.
• 2051 North California Avenue, +1 773 276 8888, bangbangpie.com. Open Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-4pm. Slices $5, whole pies $26
*Three Aces*
Punk rock. Seasonal, Italian-leaning bar food. Weekday brunch. An Elvis pinball machine. Somehow, this odd mix of rock and refinement suits this Little Italy bar that's quickly become an under-the-radar favourite. During the summer, there are few spots better than Three Aces' picnic table-dotted parking lot patio for bourbon, a burger and sunshine.
• 1321 West Taylor Street, +1 312 243 1577, threeaceschicago.com. Open Sun-Fri 11am-2am, Saturday 11am-3am. Mains $12-$26
*The Bento Box*
This off-the-beaten path matchbox of a restaurant is the sort of place that defines "neighbourhood restaurant". A limited-but-tight chalkboard menu of mostly Asian-leaning dishes such as Korean fried chicken and beef bulgogi changes often, but the friendly service and BYO policy is consistent.
• 2246 West Armitage Avenue, +1 773 278 3932, artisancateringchicago.com/Box. Open Wed-Thurs 5.30pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5.30pm-10pm. Entrees $17-$23
*Kate Bernot** is nightlife reporter for **Redeye Chicago*
• *For more information on holidays in the USA, visit **DiscoverAmerica.com* Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.
*Superdawg*
No ketchup. That's the first commandment of a Chicago-style hotdog, served in all its relish-and-sport-pepper-topped glory at this historic drive-in hotdog stand. Order through a call box and a friendly server whisks your "dog"– and milkshake and fries – out to your car. Before you drive away, snap a picture of the vintage hotdog figures perched atop the restaurant.
• 6363 North Milwaukee Avenue, +1 773 763 0660, superdawg.com. Open Sun-Thurs 11am-1am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am. Hotdogs and sandwiches $5.50-$9.95
*Lula Cafe*
For a proper taste of the midwest, snag a table for lunch, dinner or the super-popular brunch service at chef-owner Jason Hammel's laidback temple to local and seasonal cuisine. While the ingredients come from nearby farms, global flavours keep the menu interesting. Expect a hip crowd as eclectic as the menu.
• 2537 North Kedzie Boulevard, +1 773 489 9554, lulacafe.com. Open 9am-2pm, closed Tuesday. Mains $9-$29
*Little Goat Bread*
A winner of TV show "Top Chef", Stephanie Izard remains one of the city's hottest restaurateurs … but good luck getting a reservation to her booked-three-months-out restaurant Girl & The Goat. You'll have better luck at Little Goat Bread, a grab-and-go coffee shop and bakery adjacent to her recently opened Little Goat Diner. Along with your snack, pick up some coffee beans or a cookbook as a souvenir.
• 820 West Randolph Street, +1 312 888 3455, littlegoatchicago.com. Open daily 6am to 6pm. Diner mains $10-$22
*The Doughnut Vault*
The early bird gets the doughnuts at this to-go-only window in River North. Lines are manageable during the week, but can stretch for an hour on weekend mornings – but don't worry, the wait is justified once you bite into the crisp, perfectly-frosted Old Fashioned cocktail. Oh, and it's best to stock up on seasonal flavours, too, since you've probably worked up an appetite.
• 401 North Franklin Street, no phone, thedoughnutvault.tumblr.com. Open Tues-Fri 8am until sold out; Sat 9.30am until sold out. Doughnuts $2-$3
*Avec*
Before the city was head-over-heels for small plates, Avec introduced shareable, seasonal dishes, communal seating and an esoteric wine list. Truly, Chicago's never been the same. A decade later, this chic but casual no-reservations restaurant is as popular as ever, with awards for food and innovative design under its belt.
• 615 West Randolph Street, +1 312 377 2002, avecrestaurant.com. Open Mon-Thurs 3.30pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 3.30pm-1am, Sun 10am-2pm, 3.30pm-midnight. Shared plates $11-$21
*Cemitas Puebla*
A sandwich worth a 45-minute bus ride from downtown? That's exactly what's cooking at this bare-bones sandwich spot, where the namesake cemitas rolls – crispy and sesame seed-studded on the outside, soft on the interior – barely contain the onslaught of fillings such as pork Milanesa and carne asada. Your best bet is the Atomica, a diet-annihilating trio of pork Milanesa, carne enchilada and ham.
• 3619 West North Avenue, +1 773 772 8435, cemitaspuebla.com. Open daily 11am-9pm. Cemitas $6.50-$9
*Ruxbin*
Ruxbin's team serves whimsical and funky food in one of the smallest dining rooms in the city. The team are serious about solid flavours: there's Asian inspiration, midwest ingredients and a range of other influences on the constantly changing menu at one of the city's best-loved BYOs (bring your own alcohol). Come early, though, since reservations are only accepted on Sundays.
• 851 North Ashland Avenue, +1 312 624 8509, ruxbinchicago.com. Open Tues-Sat 5.30pm-10pm, Sun 5.30pm-9pm. Entrees $22-$28
*Bang Bang Pie Shop*
Light wood, brightly coloured chairs and a charming, shady patio all contribute to make Bang Bang a cosy bakery worthy of multiple Instagrams. But yes, you're here for the pie, available in daily rotating flavours by the slice or whole pie. Don't neglect the house-roasted coffee or the dense, melt-in-your-mouth buttery biscuits.
• 2051 North California Avenue, +1 773 276 8888, bangbangpie.com. Open Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-4pm. Slices $5, whole pies $26
*Three Aces*
Punk rock. Seasonal, Italian-leaning bar food. Weekday brunch. An Elvis pinball machine. Somehow, this odd mix of rock and refinement suits this Little Italy bar that's quickly become an under-the-radar favourite. During the summer, there are few spots better than Three Aces' picnic table-dotted parking lot patio for bourbon, a burger and sunshine.
• 1321 West Taylor Street, +1 312 243 1577, threeaceschicago.com. Open Sun-Fri 11am-2am, Saturday 11am-3am. Mains $12-$26
*The Bento Box*
This off-the-beaten path matchbox of a restaurant is the sort of place that defines "neighbourhood restaurant". A limited-but-tight chalkboard menu of mostly Asian-leaning dishes such as Korean fried chicken and beef bulgogi changes often, but the friendly service and BYO policy is consistent.
• 2246 West Armitage Avenue, +1 773 278 3932, artisancateringchicago.com/Box. Open Wed-Thurs 5.30pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5.30pm-10pm. Entrees $17-$23
*Kate Bernot** is nightlife reporter for **Redeye Chicago*
• *For more information on holidays in the USA, visit **DiscoverAmerica.com* Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.