Get ready to give your tongue a mouth watering ride ! Taste of Chicago, a five-day food festival starts this Wednesday and concludes on Sunday in Grant Park. The 36th annual Chicago fete takes place between Lake Shore Drive, Monroe Street, Michigan Avenue and Balbo Drive. It will be opened from 11AM to 9 PM, from Wednesday to Friday and from 10 AM to 9 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Entry is free. Tickets for food and drinks are priced $8.50 for 12. Entry for the performances at the Bud Light Stage are free and the Petrillo Music Shell shows are priced from $15 to $23. Parking will be available in the locations including, Millennium Park Garage and Millennium Lakeside Garage, 5 S. Columbus Drive; Grant Park North Garage, 25 N. Michigan Ave.; and Grant Park South Garage,325 S. Michigan Ave. Millennium Garage prices will start from $35 and regular rates will be applicable for other garages.
This year many new traders will be added, including Auntie Vee’s, Da Lobsta, Firecakes Donuts, The Happy Lobster Truck, La Jefa and La Patrona. Alcoholic beverages, grills, fireworks, tents, beach or picnic umbrellas, flagpoles and pets will be prohibited on the fest grounds.
The Taste of Chicago originated in 1980. A group of restaurant owners approached the mayor of Chicago, with the idea of a large food festival, according to the city. The budget of the event was $150,000, which brought around 250,000 attendees and $330,000 in sales. The fest moved to Grant Park in 1981 to accommodate a larger crowd.
Food lineup for this year Food festival is given bellow:
Five-Day Restaurants
Abundance Bakery, 105 E. 47th St.
Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave.
Billy Goat Tavern & Grill, 1535 W. Madison St.
BJ's Market & Bakery, 8734 S. Stony Island Ave.
Bobak Sausage Company, 4550 W. Jackson Blvd.
Caffe Gelato, 2034 W. Division St.
Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill, 300 W. 26th St.
Chicago's Dog House, 816 W. Fullerton Ave.
Churro Factory, 2214 S. Wolcott Ave.
Connie's Pizza, 2373 S. Archer Ave.
Dia De Los Tamales, 939 W. 18th St.
Dinky Donuts, Inc., located at markets throughout Chicago
The Eli's Cheesecake Co., 6701 W. Forest Preserve Dr.
Farmer's Fridge, 108 N. Lake St.
Franco's Ristorante, 300 W. 31st St.
Frannie's Café Inc, 623 S. Wabash Ave.
The Fudge Pot, 1532 N. Wells St.
Gold Coast Dogs, 225 S. Canal St.
Iyanza, 4623 N. Broadway
Kasia's Deli, 2101 W. Chicago Ave.
La Bomba Restaurant, 3221 W. Armitage Ave.
La Mexicana, 4171 S. Archer Ave.
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, 805 S. State St.
Miller's Pub, 134 S. Wabash Ave.
Oak Street Beach Café, 5700 S. Cicero Ave.
O'Briens Restaurant & Bar, 1528 N. Wells St.
Porkchop, 941 W. Randolph St.
Punky's Pizza & Pasta, 2600 W. Wallace St.
Ricobene's on 26th Street, 252 W. 26th St.
Robinson's No. 1 Ribs, 225 S. Canal St.
Star of Siam, 11 E. Illinois St.
Texas de Brazil, 210 E. Illinois St.
Tuscany, 1014 W. Taylor St.
Vee-Vee's African Restaurant, 6232 N. Broadway
Pop-Up Restaurants
Armi, 1829 W. Chicago Ave.
BRGRBELLY, 5691 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Demera Ethiopian Restaurant, 4801 N. Broadway
Doom Street Eats, located at markets throughout Chicago
Garifuna Flava: A Taste of Belize, 2518 W. 63rd St.
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, 847 W. Fulton Market
Jin Ju Restaurant, 5203 N. Clark St.
MAD Social, 1140 W. Madison St.
nana, 3267 S. Halsted St.
Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, 5212 N. Clark St.
Pork & Mindy's, 1623 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Puffs of Doom, located at markets throughout Chicago
Riva, 700 E. Grand Ave., Navy Pier
Rojo Gusano, 3830 W. Lawrence Ave.
Stan's Donuts & Coffee, 2800 N. Clark St.
Taco in a Bag, 4603 N. Lincoln Ave.
Yum Dum, located throughout Chicago
Food Trucks
Auntie Vee's
Beavers Coffee + Donuts
Bruges Brothers
Chicago Lunchbox
Da Lobsta
DönerMen
The Fat Shallot
Firecakes Donuts
Gino's Steaks Truck
Giordano's
The Happy Lobster Truck
Harold's Chicken
Jack's Fork in the Road
La Cocinita
La Jefa
La Patrona
The Lifeway Kefir Shop
Ms. Tittle's Cupcakes
By Prakriti Neogi
