When you leave Chicago, even for a quick trip, you’re bound to miss the perfect skyline and vast Lake Michigan. And you probably know you’ll miss much of the local food and drink—the Chicago-style hot dogs, the Italian beef and the plentiful craft brews from local breweries. But there are quite a few other things we’re sure you’ll miss, too. At least, we always do when we’re gone a few days. Try not to be away long, but if you simply must go, at least take note of this list beforehand—and maybe grab some grub on your way out the door.
1. Au Cheval burger. It’s potentially the only burger people will wait an hour or more for, and you can only get it at Au Cheval. Whether you like a single or a double, no burger will quite hit the spot like this griddled beef patty with cheddar, pickles and an egg.
2. Mexican panaderías. If you live in the right neighborhood (say, Pilsen), a Mexican bakery is never far away. You can walk out of most with your arms full of bread, pastries and sweets—baked fresh, just minutes before hitting the shelves—for $5 or less.
3. Pierogies. Truly great Polish fare can be hard to find outside of Chicago, where as much as 7 percent of the city’s population identifies as Polish American. Stop at one of the city's best Polish restaurants before you say goodbye.
4. Pequod’s Pizza. Deep-dish isn’t the same outside of the city, and neither is the thin crust.
5. The Half-Acre Daisy Cutter Pale Ale. If only every bar you went to had this as an option on tap, you’d always have your favorite hoppy fallback.
6. Chocolate cake shake from Portillo’s. The craving for a chocolate cake shake comes on fast and hard, the same way it hits your stomach when you finally get your hands on this rich dessert.
7. Chocolate City at Dark Matter. It’s 8am and you’re in need of an iced coffee fix. Dark Matter’s Chocolate City draft iced coffee is smooth and bold. There simply aren’t any others that’ll give you that same jolt.
8. Garrett’s Popcorn. There are plenty of imitators, but nothing stains your fingers quite like the classic Chicago Mix.
9. Carnitas from Carnitas Uruapan. A half-pound of crispy pork served with tortillas may seem like a meal for two, but you’ll have no problem finishing it solo—it’s that good.
10. A classic Ballpark hot dog with onions and mustard from Wrigley Field. You can put as many condiments on them as you want.
11. Jibarito from El Nuevo Borinquen. This steak sandwich, which substitutes fried plantains for bread, originated in Chicago, so you’ll be hard-pressed to find a decent rendition elsewhere.
12. Pizza puff from Donald’s Famous Hot Dogs. No Hot Pocket can come close to this local delicacy, which wraps pizza-flavored goo inside a deep-fried tortilla.
13. Do-Rite doughnuts. You know you’re getting some of the best fresh doughnuts when you pick up a box from Do-Rite, always made in small batches, whether you want traditional glazed or candied maple bacon.
14. A Paul McGee cocktail. There are tiki drinks, then there’s the Paul McGee cocktail. With drinks available at Lost Lake and virtually every bar in the Chicago Athletic Association, the man who made Three Dots and a Dash famous has perfected the science of creating quirky drinks with full flavors that aren’t overwhelming.
15. Original Rainbow Cone. No other five-flavor ice cream cone will do.
16. A shot of Malort. Sometimes you just need that sweet, sweet Jeppson’s Malort. And by sweet, we mean incredibly bitter, unlike anything else with tastes of brännvin. For some reason, it reminds us of home.
17. A tamale from Tamale Guy. When Tamale Guy calls, you answer. Pass him a handful of rumpled singles and you shall receive a bag of tamales, napkins and the salsa of your choice (or not), and your hangover worries will float away.
18. Hot Doug’s. Doug Sohn’s beloved sausage restaurant may be closed, but Chicagoans still enjoy his signature encased meats at Cubs games and the occasional pop-up.
19. Maxwell Street Polish. If you’re going to eat this kielbasa, you need to have one in the same city as the street it’s named after.
20. Harold’s Chicken. Because amazing fried chicken served with white bread and hot sauce is worth waiting 15 minutes for.
21. Giardiniera. A good Giardiniera is hard to find… outside of Chicago, that is. Here, these pickled veggies are more than a condiment—they’re a necessary part of most meals.