Cheap Places to Eat in Cook County

"Sun Wah doesn’t hide what it does best with an enticing (unless you’re a vegetarian) line of ducks hanging in the window just waiting to be roasted. Sun Wah is Chinese barbecue, and the duck is the star; order it ahead of time when you make your reservation and be treated to a multicourse dinner of soup, carved bird, and fried rice, with plenty to go around for a group, and at smile-inducing prices. Once you’ve gotten the duck out of the way, carry yourself back to the sparsely decorated but charmingly simple dining room and order the juicy roast pork or any number of the Chinese favorites; repeat as necessary."

"The duck feast at this James Beard Award-winning spot in Uptown includes a whole roasted duck to feed a family, carved tableside, and served with steamed bao, hoisin sauce, and crispy garnishes. You’ll also get a delicate duck soup, and duck fried rice. As with most Chinese cuisine, not a morsel goes to waste."

"For an upscale and elegant dim sum experience, no place in the city rivals the Shanghai Terrace, perched on the top of the Peninsula Chicago Hotel. With an emphasis on Cantonese dishes, the dim sum menu features delicate plates with high-end ingredients such as dumplings with lobster and black truffle, bean curd rolls with scallop and fresh rice crepes. The Terrace also offers Peking duck prepared three ways – roasted and sliced according to tradition, cooked in a Chinese green mustard soup and finally, mixed with braised noodles."

"Chinese is perched curiously atop the list of cuisines that seem to resist the high-end treatment. Maybe it’s the long association with greasy delivery dishes and Chinatown dives, who knows, but it’s a shame, because the bevy of flavors seem like they would be perfect in the hands of a sophisticated chef. At least Chicago has Shanghai Terrace, which sports a luxurious atmosphere atop the Peninsula Hotel with a sublime view of city."

"Known for its Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, Portillo’s has been a staple of Chicago since 1963. Most of the hot dogs, sandwiches, burgers and sides on the menu cost $5 or less. Besides Chicagoland, Portillo’s also has locations in Arizona, California and Indiana."

"Portillos isn't exactly new in Chicago but the new Avondale location on Addison and Kimball adds to our city's legacy. Get an Italian Beef with giardiniera peppers or a chocolate cake shake for dessert!"

"Portillo's is the king of sandwiches in Chicago and a meat lover’s dream. Paired best with the chocolate cake shake."

"A post shared by Table for Two (@table__for__two) on Jan 16, 2019 at 7:25am PST. Be prepared to be blown away from the moment you step foot into this two-level 300-seater restaurant. A grand staircase connects both levels, allowing guests a magnificent full view of its chic dining space."

"The views of the Chicago River from the outdoor decks of both Pizzeria Portofino and its upstairs neighbor (and fellow Lettuce Entertain You hotspot) RPM Seafood allow you to heckle the kayakers below as they drift by, but you won’t even be tempted as you soak up the sun — or admire the night time twinkling of office tower lights in the water. Whether you’re feasting on RPM’s Red Snapper Seviche and Tuna au Poivre or Portofino’s fennel sausage- and rapini-laden Pugliese Pizza and twirling strands of Cacio e Quattro Pepe bucatini on your fork, you’ll be living your best Chicago life. Pizzeria Portofino: Open daily at noon."

"Restaurants River North. It might not be the Cinque Terre, but Pizzeria Portofino's airy patio, decked out with white wicker couches and plenty of sunlight, does its best to bring the Italian coast to the riverfront. Order one of the restaurant's hand-stretched pizzas and an Aperol-spiked cocktail to complete the effect."

"Patrons enjoy lunch at Pizzeria Portofino on the Chicago River on Aug. 13, 2019. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune). The Riverwalk is a fun place for curious Epicureans, but along the way, many riverside restaurants have patios with delicious bites to boot."

"Working from home all day and eager to get out of the house?. Hop off the Brown Line at Armitage and post up at this tucked-away spot. You’ll forget your work blues quickly when you call your quarantine pod to share some pizza, beer and—most important—late-afternoon sunshine."

"Because Chicago has non-deep dish pizza too and it is just as heavenly. Their pizza selections are rivaled by none, so good luck choosing just one."

"American , Pizza"