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🥩 Little Italy / University Village, Chicago
8 restaurants · 2026
🍽️ 8 Restaurants
✨ Italian Beef, Italian-American, Historic
A historic Italian neighborhood west of downtown along Taylor Street. The original location of Al's Italian Beef and Mario's Italian Lemonade.
Known for: Taylor Street, University of Illinois Chicago, Italian heritage
Don't miss: Al's Italian Beef (Original)
💡 Al's on Taylor Street is the original 1938 location and still uses the same recipe.
Top 8 in Little Italy / University Village
1
The Momo World
Nepali
Nepali dumpling spot in University Village rated 9.0 by the Infatuation. Counter-service with perfectly chewy steamed momos, jhol momo in tomato-based soup, sadeko momo with sesame...
89
2
Portillo's - Canal & Taylor
American
Near West Side / Little Italy location at Canal and Taylor. Chicago hot-dog institution founded 1963 by Dick Portillo — char-grilled dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and the famous c...
86
3
Tuscany on Taylor
Italian
Taylor Street Italian institution open since 1990 serving Northern Italian classics with wood-burning oven pizza and homemade pastas.
85
4
Rosebud on Taylor
Italian
Flagship Rosebud Italian restaurant serving scratch-made Italian since 1976 on historic Taylor Street in Little Italy.
85
5
Chez Joel
French
Southern French bistro tucked into Little Italy with a hidden back patio — the best hidden patio on Taylor Street.
84
6
Peanut Park Trattoria
Italian
Opened 2021 on Taylor Street serving traditional Italian pasta and pizza, quickly recognized as one of Chicago's best new Italian spots.
84
7
Tufano's Vernon Park Tap
Italian · James Beard America's Classic 2008
James Beard America's Classic since 2008, this family-run Italian has been on Taylor Street since 1930, cash-preferred, BYOB.
83
8
Scafuri Bakery
Italian Bakery
Little Italy neighborhood institution since 1904 serving coffee, pastries, cookies, and pies with old-world charm.
81
Local Favorites (7)
Italian (5)
Date Night (4)
Casual (3)
Iconic (3)
Nepali (1)
Hot Dogs (1)
Drive-Thru (1)
French (1)
Patio (1)
BYOB (1)
Bakery (1)
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