My first time visiting Chi-town!
Hubby and I will be staying in downtown Chicago end of April/beginning of May for two weeks.
I heard its cold, but being a Cali girl I think its cold when its in the 50s and 60s! What should I pack?
Also, looking for Chicago activities and halal food recommendations. Go!
Re: Chicago activities and halal food recommendations. Go!
Devon Street --> just scour that place for desi food
Re: Chicago activities and halal food recommendations. Go!
Check out Shedd aquarium. Sabri at Devon is really good for desi foods and Tahoora great for breakfast and sweets. Junaid Jamshedpur had a large store at Devon including kids' clothes. Reasonably priced too. Studio Elite has good designer clothes but is quite expensive.
Re: Chicago activities and halal food recommendations. Go!
Oh yeah! The Magnificient mile in downtown is really good. A happening downtown area. Filene's basement is a great store around that area for designer western bargain deals.
There's a couple of halal fast food options in downtown... Max's Take Out on Adams (American halal food), I Dream of Falafel (like an Arab version of Chipotle but millions of times fresher, and yummier) is also around there. For fancy dinner, Shaw's Crab House is amazeballs. Apparantly, David Burke's Steakhouse has halal Creekstone Farm steaks. If u go there, make a reservation and ask them for it specifically.
For touristy things, Shedd is a must. Millenium Park and the Bean, if the weather is nice a stroll through Lincoln Park Zoo. There's a French cafe near there called Mon Ami Gabi, again halal Creekstone farms beef... delicious burgers and desserts. Shopping is great in downtown. U'll probably spend more time shopping lol.
As far as Devon and desi food, a lot of ppl will recommend Sabri cos it's so famous but i've been there numerous times and the service is absolute trash. The last time i went i was pregnant, they didn't serve us our food for about an hour and a half. The food is not memorable, plus expensive. Go to Anmol BBQ, much better option. Tahoora has good stuff, Annapurna is good for vegetarian desi food.
Re: Chicago activities and halal food recommendations. Go!
Some days are still a little chilly, so definitely pack a light wind breaker or a thermal just in case.
Everyone else’s suggestions are spot on.
Check this events calendar for any given date for highlights of happenings around the city. There’s too much to list.
Chicago Calendar Of Events - Choose Chicago
Re: Chicago activities and halal food recommendations. Go!
Thanks so much everyone :)
Also, is the subway/train system relatively safe and easy to use? is it a good option to use for getting to/from O'hare to the hotel?
Thanks so much everyone :)
Also, is the subway/train system relatively safe and easy to use? is it a good option to use for getting to/from O'hare to the hotel?
I've only used the Red Line which runs North/South, but never had an issue. In the winter it can have delays etc.. but summer time is fine. U might aee some weird ppl late at night tho, so yeah lol
Re: Chicago activities and halal food recommendations. Go!
Blue Line runs from O'Hare through downtown. It's good. If you want to get as close as possible to Millennium Park/Lake Shore, get off at Washington Blue Line station. Cabs are easily found anywhere in downtown once you come up from subway.
Re: Chicago activities and halal food recommendations. Go!
We have been to Chicago many many times and tried food there numerous times but Sabri comes out tops. Service has been good each time. But I guess everyone's expereince is different. Khan Bbq and Usmania come highly recommended too but did not like these as much. I guess if you like Nihari and chicken tikka, Sabri is good. They even have Chicken tenders for kids which few desi restaurants have.
Re: Chicago activities and halal food recommendations. Go!
Anmol BBQ, much better option. Tahoora has good stuff, Annapurna is good for vegetarian desi food.
Anmol is also our favorite...we don't really care for Sabri either :) The chargha is my absolute favorite item at Anmol.
Tahoora has good samosas and chai but that's about all I like there now...I like Pak Sweets much more for their breakfast but when we went last weekend...they weren't air conditioned :( And it was hot :(
Khan BBQ is good for only certain items...like their chicken broast, frontier beef rice and kashmiri chai. Not all items are good...like their fish is nasty. They also have a chicken pulao they do on Fridays which is good.
Usmania is okay...they do a weekend brunch buffet which not many offer on Devon anymore. Food is not amazing by any means.
Nayeem Pan Wala...amazing and fresh pans...best I have had so far.
Thanks so much everyone :)
Also, is the subway/train system relatively safe and easy to use? is it a good option to use for getting to/from O'hare to the hotel?
Subway and trains are easy and safe to use...so long as you're not riding alone on them at midnight or something :) Blue Line always has some funny characters on it after 10pm.
Mag mile, shops on State Street, Shops at 900 North, Water Tower, The Ghirardelli and Hershey stores, etc. There is a lot to see and do...Lincoln Park shops are also beautiful and quaint. You have to take a picture standing at the Bean...its a must.
Desserts: Toni Patisserie and Cafe, Sweet Mandy B's, Mindy's Hot Chocolate, Ethel's, etc.
It really depends on what you like and want to do...but there is soooo much to see.