Greek$$greektownTue-Thu 11:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-21:30, Sun 11:00-21:00
Greek Islands in Chicago is the Greektown standard on South Halsted since 1971, with the flaming saganaki tableside-presentation that the neighbourhood made.
Signature: Saganaki (flaming cheese), Lamb on the spit, Gyros
Order: Saganaki (Opa!), lamb on the spit, gyros plate to share.
Tip: Sunday lunch with the family is the room's natural use. Book a long table and a bottle of Boutari.
Chicago Deep-dish Pizza$$lincoln-parkMon-Thu 11:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-00:00; Sun 11:00-23:00
Lou Malnati's in Chicago is the Lincoln Park branch of the deep-dish chain founded 1971 by Lou (Rudy Malnati Sr.'s son), butter-crust pies with The Lou.
Signature: Chicago deep-dish pizza, The Lou (spinach, mushroom, tomato)
Order: The Lou with sausage, plus a small Malnati Salad first, with sweet vinaigrette.
Tip: Order the pizza when you sit; baking takes 45 minutes. Otherwise you wait twice.
Pizzeria$$lincoln-parkMon-Sat 11:00-02:00; Sun 11:00-00:00
Pequod's Pizza in Chicago is the Lincoln Park pan-pizza institution on Clybourn since 1971, the caramelised cheese ring around the crust copied.
Signature: Caramelised-crust pan pizza, Sausage and mushroom
Order: Medium pan pizza, sausage and mushroom, with extra cheese around the rim.
Tip: Walk in at 16:30 to beat the queue; tables fill before the kitchen opens for dinner service.
Pizzeria$$the-loopDaily 11:00-23:00
Pizano's Pizza & Pasta in Chicago is the family-owned Loop deep-dish room founded in 1991 by Rudy Malnati Jr., son of Pizzeria Uno's original cook Rudy.
Signature: Cheese deep-dish, Thin pepperoni
Order: The cheese deep-dish, no toppings, the way Rudy Sr. baked it at Uno.
Tip: The Madison location is the original; State Street is the bigger pre-theatre spot.
Pizzeria$$river-northSun-Thu 11:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-00:00
Pizzeria Uno in Chicago is the original deep-dish pizza shop, opened by Ike Sewell on Ohio Street in 1943, where the city's pan-baked pizza was invented.
Signature: Numero Uno deep-dish, Sausage and pepperoni
Order: The Numero Uno, the canonical deep-dish from the original menu.
Tip: The pies bake 45 minutes; order on arrival. The nearby Due (Pizzeria Due) is the same kitchen if Uno is full.
Pizzeria$$west-loopMon-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-21:00
Bonci Chicago is Gabriele Bonci's West Loop pizza al taglio counter on Sangamon, the first US outpost of the Rome bakery, with rectangular pies cut by weight.
Signature: Pizza al taglio by weight, Mortadella and pistachio
Order: Mortadella and pistachio cream; potato and rosemary; whatever seasonal vegetable is current.
Tip: Walk up at 11:30 for the widest selection. By 14:00 the popular cuts are gone for the day.