Illinois

Layers of flaky pastry glistening with honey make the display case at Hellas Pastry Shop difficult to pass…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 26

A towering scoop of ice cream feels right at home beneath the vintage glow of Union Dairy in…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 26

The smell of pancakes hitting the griddle is reason enough to make an early start at Sam’s Cafe…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 25

The sight of seasoned meat turning slowly on a vertical spit is a pretty good sign that a…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 25

A crisp dosa hitting the table can make an ordinary weeknight dinner feel considerably more interesting. At Subbamma’s…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 25

The clang of a bell and the rumble of steel wheels make history feel surprisingly alive at the…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 24

A few blistered spots around the crust can tell you plenty about a pizza before the first bite.…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 24

A towering bottle of catsup rising above the roadside is the kind of sight that makes you wonder…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 23

An old iron bridge surrounded by trees can feel unsettling enough before you hear the stories attached to…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 23

The difference between an ordinary bratwurst and one made by an experienced butcher can show up with the…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 23

The smell of freshly fried donuts has been part of the morning routine in Crystal Lake for generations.…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 22

A memorable Illinois road trip does not have to come with an expensive itinerary. Around the state, travelers…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 22

Walls of fabric stretching through a warehouse can make arriving with a short shopping list feel almost optimistic.…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 22

A lonely lighthouse facing dark Lake Michigan waters already has the ingredients for an eerie story. At Grosse…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 21

There is something reassuring about ordering meat from someone who knows exactly how to trim it for the…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 21

The size of the plate does not seem to slow down the portions at Charlie Parker’s Diner in…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 20

A fresh bagel is even harder to resist when you can watch the process that gives it that…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 20

A chilled relish tray arriving before dinner is a small ritual that instantly sets an old-school supper club…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 20

A crowded dining room full of regulars can tell you more than a dozen flashy advertisements ever could.…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 19

Rows of plump pierogi and smoky kielbasa make it difficult to walk into Kasia’s Deli with only one…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 19

A plate nearly disappearing beneath golden schnitzel and tender spaetzle is a pretty convincing introduction to Laschet’s Inn.…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 19

Fresh strawberries and rich chocolate make a simple combination, but watching that classic treat take shape by hand…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 18

The best road-trip detours sometimes begin with the smell of fresh bread or the promise of something covered…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 18

A warm round of fry bread becomes a full meal once Ketapanen Kitchen starts piling on the toppings.…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 18

There is a small window when Illinois sweet corn tastes exactly the way summer should, and it is…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 17

Golden fried chicken and an open-air table make a pretty convincing combination when Chicago weather cooperates. At Honey…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 17

Forty-five hours of continuous simmering goes into the broth before a single bowl of tonkotsu ramen reaches the…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 16

Crisp air and colorful leaves can make even an inexpensive Illinois road trip feel like a seasonal event.…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 16

Seven miles is a lot of ground to cover when nearly every turn offers another excuse to stop…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 16