5 Unusual Illinois Eats You Might Fall In Love With
Illinois isn’t just about deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs. The Prairie State hides some truly unusual culinary gems that might surprise your taste buds.
From innovative small plates to unforgettable fried chicken creations, these spots offer flavors you won’t find anywhere else. Ready to explore some weird and wonderful Illinois eats that might just become your new obsession?
1. Girl & The Goat – Goat Delights
Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard created something magical when she opened Girl & The Goat in Chicago’s West Loop. The menu celebrates the humble goat in ways you’ve probably never imagined from goat liver mousse to goat empanadas that make first-timers into instant believers.
The restaurant’s warm brick walls and communal tables create the perfect backdrop for trying wood-fired goat legs or the surprisingly addictive goat belly. Many guests arrive skeptical about goat meat and leave wondering why they haven’t been eating it their entire lives.
If you’re feeling less adventurous, try the green beans. They’re legendary among regulars who know that even the simplest vegetables get extraordinary treatment at this Chicago landmark.
2. Alinea’s Edible Innovations – Culinary Magic
Imagine eating a balloon made of apple. At Alinea, Chef Grant Achatz turns dining into performance art with dishes that challenge what food can be. This three-Michelin-starred restaurant doesn’t just serve meals it creates edible illusions that play with your senses and expectations.
Diners might find themselves eating off tablecloths as chefs create abstract dessert paintings before their eyes, or discovering that what looks like a cigar is actually made from chocolate and edible paper. The famous floating green apple balloon is filled with helium, allowing guests to inhale its scent before eating the entire thing string and all.
Though prices reflect its status (expect to pay $275-$395 per person), Alinea offers something beyond food it’s a once-in-a-lifetime sensory experience you’ll never forget.
3. The Purple Pig – Pork Paradise
Ever tasted pig’s ear? At The Purple Pig, this unusual delicacy becomes crispy, flavorful magic that might forever change your opinion about offal cuts. Chef Jimmy Bannos Jr. transforms forgotten parts of the pig into must-try dishes that celebrate the restaurant’s motto: “Cheese, Swine & Wine.”
The bone marrow with herb salad delivers rich, buttery goodness that melts on your tongue, while the pork neck gravy with ricotta makes comfort food feel brand new. Located on Michigan Avenue, this Mediterranean-influenced spot draws food lovers seeking something beyond ordinary dining.
What makes The Purple Pig special isn’t just unusual ingredients it’s how they’re prepared with respect and creativity, turning the unfamiliar into the unforgettable.
4. Honey Butter Fried Chicken – Sweet Meets Savory
Forget everything you thought you knew about fried chicken. At Honey Butter Fried Chicken in Avondale, they’ve created something that sounds simple but tastes revolutionary: fried chicken slathered with honey butter that melts into every crispy crevice.
The concept began as an underground dinner series before becoming a full restaurant in 2013. Now lines form regularly for this sweet-savory combination that somehow improves on classic fried chicken. Their corn muffins and pimento mac and cheese make perfect companions to the star attraction.
Sustainability matters here too they use antibiotic-free chickens and compostable packaging. This place isn’t just unusual for its signature honey butter; it’s unusual for proving comfort food can be ethical without sacrificing flavor.
5. Parson’s Chicken & Fish – Negroni Slushies
Who knew that a frozen cocktail could become Chicago-famous? Parson’s Chicken & Fish turned the sophisticated Negroni into something playfully unexpected a boozy slushie that’s become the unofficial drink of Chicago summers. The bright red frozen concoction combines Letherbee Gin, Luxardo Bitter, and sweet vermouth for a perfectly balanced adult treat.
This Logan Square hotspot pairs these famous slushies with outstanding fried chicken and fish in a setting that feels like the coolest backyard party in town. Their massive patio becomes packed with Chicagoans the moment temperatures climb above 60 degrees.
While the food menu offers plenty of comfort classics with creative twists, it’s those signature Negroni slushies that keep people coming back year after year, proving that sometimes the most unusual food experiences come in liquid form.
