LTHForum.com

Hi there,

So while Chicago is not a chili hot spot, you would wonder why there arent a couple of good chili restaurants here?!

Please let me know if anyone knows of any.

Thanks!

J

PS Here is an example of a great chili place, and they ship! (I have no affiliation with this restuanrt other than I have eaten there a bunch when I go to LA for business)

http://www.chilimysoul.com/

I'm sure there are places here and there(I had a memorable bowl o' red at a dive across from Piper's Alley once long ago). The Midwest is "chili soup" territory. Dumbed down(tasty enough right place, right time) and/or Detroit-Greek-Cinti. chili...best as topping for hotdogs and...ack...pasta.

There just isn't the clamoring for the cold rock stuff on a mass scale.

Thing about "cowboy" chili is it's best(outside of Laredo) to DIY.

_________________
"Johnny thought when all purpose had been forgotten the world would end this way, with a dance. He slumped back in a corner, drew his knees up to his chin, and watched."-Derek Jarman

Monk's has very good chili, in my opinion. It's located on Lake Street and Wells. They also have some good burgers, but it's the chili that gets me to go there.

Aside from that, I cannot recall any good chili place in the city. I just make my own!

The best chili that I have had in the city are two places. One is Calliope Cafe on Lincoln and the other is O'Donovans on Irving Park.

Keep the suggestions rolling, and none of that soupy chili. Remember that commericial where the fork stands up, that is what I am looking for.

Thanks!

J

Once Chuck's re-opens, I highly recommend visiting it for Chuck's Bowl o' Red. It may be slightly soupier than you prefer, but the flavor is second to none.

LTHForum dinner at Chuck's

Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe
5557 W. 79th Street
Burbank, IL 60459
708-229-8700
http://www.chuckscafe.com/

Best,
Michael

I had a great bowl of Texas-style chili while watching a football game at the Wild Goose on Lincoln. Only $3.50.

Wild Goose Bar & Grill
4265 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-281-7112

Lindy's has been around forever and they serve a pretty good bowl of red. On Archer, one block east of Western.

Recently poster(s) have spoken of the Ramona ? Grill around
35th & Halsted.
I was aways a fan of Bishop's originally at 18th & Damen.
Bishop's is soupy, but I like it. Bunch of people would tell
me, back in the 70's, "you should go to Lindy's, it's better".
Not for my buck, obvious taste of corn meal thickener.
Bishops's is down to one store in Westmont that manages
to maintain the flavor, both product & room, of the original.
Lindy's has 9 stores, I imagine the original is still a joint, but
the sister/franchises ? are chili & ice cream parlors. The only
worse combination I can imagine is ice cram & beer, that's
on another post. Both have websites.

Bishop's Chilli
250 N. Cass Westmont
630-852-5974

Lindy's Chili
3685 S. Archer Chicago
773-927-7807

As little as I like their barbecue, I think the Texan BBQ makes a damned fine chunky chili. Available in multiple heat levels.

The web site says they have 2 locations, but this is the one I have been to, and the only one I could find on the site:

The Texan BBQ
105 W. St. Charles Rd.
Lombard, IL 60148

http://texanbbq.com/page/15rjg/Home_Page.html

_________________
d
Retired, gone fishing, and exploring my curmudgeon within

The other "Texan" location is on Rt. 31, just north of Algonquin Road in Algonquin. I agree that the chili is excellent, whereas, everything else that I have tried on the menu would rate a B- Nothing is bad, however, there is better BBQ to be had elsewhere.

The Texan in Algonquin looks like it should be good, but the one meal I had there was horrid.

Anywhere in city limits?

Thanks!

J

did you have the chili?

_________________
d
Retired, gone fishing, and exploring my curmudgeon within

So there isnt one great chili place within city limits? Do people sometimes feel the need to start a restaurant because of sorely lacking options in this city?

J

If I have to choose between starting a restaurant and just making a batch in my kitchen, I'll go with my kitchen.

No, to be fair, I do not remember the chili at The Texan. I lost focus on the general subject of the thread.

You might suggest that they change the name to "Texan Chili," because the BBQ was really very poor.

I'm not a big chili fan, but it strikes me that there isn't much demand. Apparently, Chicago used to be lousy with chili parlors. Peep shows, ballroom dancing, big band reviews and nickelodeons, too. Things change. Chili-focused establishments are mostly a thing of the past.

Bishops is fine. Ramova, really very good. Diner Grill's chili is sort of interesting.

And, isn't it acceptable, even authentic, to use corn meal to thicken chili?

I moved here from Texas about 5 years ago and I am sorry to say the best Texas chili I get here in Chicago is made in my kitchen. You are in runny chili country (i.e. Chili five way from Cinncinati). I have found one place that is okay- Horseshoe on Lincoln above Irving Park. Nice big chunks of brisket and they actually serve frito pie!!! Hope that helps

Ramova Grill reviewed @ RoadFood.

E.M.

_________________
"Don't even touch my gold, I'm good."

This place doesn't serve Texas chili but it does serve a bowl of chili that is pretty good in a parlor that looks like it hasn't changed since the 1930's.

It is located right off the Marquette University campus.


Real Chili Restaurant
419 E Wells St
Milwaukee, WI 53202-3706
(414) 271-4042

Anything that can compete with Real Chili in Milwaukee? There's got to be some places with some really great chili in this town.

Greasefreak has a good overview of chili in Chicago, and I've tasted samples from some of the spots that he's rated more highly and I haven't been disappointed. I am surprised that Cinners and Chili Mac's aren't rated because they are dedicated chili restaurants. http://www.greasefreak.com/chili.html

I was raised on Dew Chilli (spelled with two "i's" as opposed to one "i" from their main competition in town, the Den) down in Springfield. My great-great grandfather, my great-grandfather, my grandfather, my father, and my generation all enjoyed our favorite meal of chilli and a tamale there over the years and I still mourn the day they closed their doors back in the mid 90's. Rita used to call us when a batch was just the way we liked it and we'd go in to pick up a dozen quarts to stash in the freezer. I can't tell you how it pained us to open the last one...Springfield is a chili town - Chicago, not quite so much.

In any case, I'm very fond of Midwestern style chili having grown up on it, and am always on the lookout for that perfect bowl. My favorites in Chicago are the Ramova's and, surprisingly, Tore's Italian Beefs, although you have to catch the latter on a good day. That being said, I like the chili from my kitchen the best, of course.

For Texas style, the Harmony Grill at Schuba's has always had a very nice rendition, generously laden with chunks of steak although a bit tame on the heat-o-meter for my taste.

_________________
"Baseball is like church. Many attend. Few understand." Leo Durocher

While Ramova's is great I don't think that's the type of chili the poster is looking for. Ramova's is pretty soupy IIRC.

Hi,

Diner Depot serves chili, which my friend's portion last week looked rather soupy.

Regards,

_________________
Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

The problem is that most of the places already mentioned include beans in their recipe, meaning that they don't serve the "cowboy" kind of chili that the OP asked about. I'm afraid that the chances of getting a decent bowl of red around here is just about the same as getting a decent hot dog in Dallas...possible, but unlikely.

_________________
Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/01/garden/chicago-country-spot-may-fade-into-sunset.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/R/Relocation%20of%20Business


RR Ranch (or Double R Ranch) Not much online believe it or not. (As my screen name can atest, I loved this joint)

This place would've fit the bill. 20 years ago! Ungh. At the corner of State/Randolph and it was Country swing music with The Sundowners (And sometime ol' Joel Daley). About 30-40 types of Texas chili (Generally beanless)in little brown odd shaped 'bowls' and including perch chili from my memory.

Now THAT was the Loop!

Today is the first wintery full snow day in Chicago, at least for me living in Bucktown so I wanted to get everyone's opinions on the BEST Chili in the Loop. I am addicted to Chili, love Chili want to cuddle with Chili, especially in the cold. My usual lunch time options are Potbelly's which can be good or watery depending on the location and/or day, Pockets has a pretty good Chicken Chili and if I'm forced to go to Blackie's I will order their Chili. Any other locations in the loop that you would recommend?

West Egg on Fairbanks and Ontario has really sub-par food. But actually really great chili. It has a really great flavor, a bit spicy, very meaty and not that watery (usually). We order from there sometimes and when we do everyone usually gets the chili. Not sure if that qualifies as loop. But if you're going to Blackie's (which I think is totally mediocre at best) then it's not too much further. Plus they deliver.

West Egg
620 N Fairbanks Ct
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 280-8366

_________________
"I Like Food, Food Tastes Good" - The Descendants

The ONLY two places that I will eat chili in this area are:

1) Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe (see above) - Bowl of Red chili is outstanding.

2) Real Chili - several locations in Milwaukee - more similar but not quite Cincinnati Chili.

While generally not that crazy about their food, I had a delicious plate (yes, a plate) of chili with flank steak at Twisted Spoke at Ogden and Grand. They served it with cheddar cheese, green onions, and sour cream, all on the side (at my request).