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11 delicious food and drink pairings at Time Out Market Chicago
Match these food items with drinks from the bar for mind-blowing results
We like to think of Time Out Market Chicago as a 50,000-square-foot culinary playground inhabited by some of the best chefs in the city. With 18 eateries, four bars and hundreds of menu items to choose from, no two visits are the same. If you're still contemplating your order, allow us to assist with editor-tested food and drink pairings that work every time. Match these tasty bites with cocktails, beers and wines from any Time Out Market Bar (there's one on every floor), or seek out Secret Sound on the second floor for tropical tipples from the co-owners of Lost Lake. The possibilities are endless, but these pairings are tried and true.
RECOMMENDED: Explore more Time Out Market Chicago eateries
Delicious food and drink pairings at Time Out Market Chicago
Mott burger at Mini Mott
Pair it with: Fulton Market Handshake
Tasting notes: If there's a more quintessential Chicago combination, we've yet to find it. Wash down the stacked Mott Burger with our twist on the Chicago Handshake: a Hopewell beer back with Malört, persimmon liqueur, grapefruit soda and lemon zest.
Tamal tots at Dos Urban Cantina
Pair it with: Blue Line Negroni
Tasting notes: Traditional Mexican and Italian flavors collide in this unexpected culinary marriage. Between bites of craggy masa nuggets, sip on our very own Negroni rendition, which is infused with smoky black tea and sweet citrus syrup.
Kale and gruyère empanadas John Manion
Pair it with: Her Name Was C-O-L-A
Tasting notes: Transport yourself to Argentina with a gussied-up fernet and Coke, which is made in-house with 15 ingredients, and an order of flaky empanadas stuffed with kale and gooey Gruyère.
Princess cake at Lost Larson
Pair it with: West + Wilder rosé
Tasting notes: A sweet slice of princess cake—comprising layers of vanilla sponge, raspberry, almond crunch and green marzipan—is best matched with this bone-dry rosé that's got a touch of mouthwatering acidity.
Caramelized pork dumplings at Bill Kim
Pair it with: Rare Tea Cellars hibiscus iced tea
Tasting notes: These tender, pork-filled pockets of happiness are downright addictive. Slow your roll with thirst-quenching hibiscus iced tea that's teeming with lip-puckering notes of cranberry.
Sticky rice wings at Thai Dang
Pair it with: Pipeworks Unicorn Time Machine
Tasting notes: Bursting with bright mango and lime flavors, this exclusive collaboration brew is the perfect match for crispy chicken wings enrobed in sticky rice and drizzled with caramelized fish sauce.
Famous Fried Chicken Sandwich at Split-Rail
Pair it with: Domaine la Barbotaine Sancerre
Tasting notes: You're going to need both hands to devour this stacked chicken sando, which is piled high with crispy thigh meat, tangy slaw, hot mayo and cooling pickles. When you come up for air, wash it down with this acidic, minerally white wine.
Avocado toast at FARE
Pair it with: Never Let Go Rose
Tasting notes: This one's for all you early-risers! FARE's hearty avocado toast—which features thick sourdough from Publican Quality Breads and fresh seasonal veggies—goes down easy with this pink drink that's bubbling with rose gin, sparkling rosé, grapefruit soda and lemon.
Whole roasted duck at Brian Fisher
Pair it with: The Millenial
Tasting notes: If you're dining with friends, pull the ultimate party trick by ordering Brian Fisher's magnificent 28-day dry-aged whole roasted duck, which arrives carved and accompanied by peanut butter egg rolls, fresh herbs and addictive dipping sauces. Send a buddy to the bar to fetch a round of Millenials, a cross between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan that's built with bourbon, cream sherry, amaro, sugar and bitters.
Stuffed Art’s Special at the Art of Pizza
Pair it with: Moody Tongue Smoked Applewood Gold
Tasting notes: This golden-hued smoke beer with hints of apple, honey and pine helps lighten the load of Art's Special pie, which is crammed with Italian sausage, 'shrooms, green pepper and onion.
Trio maki at Arami
Pair it with: Golden Glow from Secret Sound
Tasting notes: On the second floor of Time Out Market, guests will find pristine sushi offerings from Arami and a hidden tiki window from the co-owners of Lost Lake. Snag an order of the trio maki—with tuna, hamachi and salmon—before placing a drink order at Secret Sound. We recommend the Golden Glow, a sunshiny blend of multi-island rum, manzanilla sherry, coconut, pineapple and lime that pairs perfectly with raw fish.