A Culinary Guide to The Taste of Chicago

By Sarah Freeman

We fulfilled our duty as a Chicago food writer and ventured to The Taste. Despite the reduced duration and limited vendors, The Taste delivered consistence – the usual slow moving crowds, free samples of the latest sugar-free soda and plenty of food. We took the guesswork out of The Taste and picked the booths you should scour for sample-worthy dishes.

The taste offers patrons an opportunity to do just as the name implies: taste. We advise avoiding the staple comfort foods such as Harold’s Chicken (for a whopping 24 tickets – sold in sheets of 12 for $8). Instead opt for some unusual ethnic eats such as steak tacos from Carbon or hibiscus sorbet from Iyanze.

Two booths with impressive mobile kitchens are Lou Malnati’s and The Smoke Daddy. A wall of ovens in the back of the Lou Malnati’s booths is cooking fresh cheese and sausage deep-dish pizza. A row of smokers at The Smoke Daddy booth slowly smokes chicken and pork for their pulled BBQ sandwiches.

For a gourmet experience check out the row pop-up restaurant booths. On Thursday, Tre Kroner offered Swedish meatballs and pancakes. Riva had the most photogenic dishes with shrimp skewers and crab cake. This weekend, Austrian Bakery and Karyn’s on Green, among others, will pop up. 

There is of course the traditional Eli’s Cheesecake, Rainbow Cones and half a dozen varieties of pizza. However, since hungry visitors have less to chose from at this year’s Taste, we hope they choose wisely.