It's Great To Be Back, Chicago! — Blonde Voyage Nashville

After a year of being locked down and unable to freely move about the country or anywhere other than the four walls of your home, it seems as if the world is slowly starting to reopen. While each city and country is opening up at its own pace, it’s great news for travelers and adventure-seekers alike.

Like many others who have been itching to get out and about, I am vaccinated, and I am ready to travel. First stop, none other than my favorite city, Chicago.

Trips to Chicago are usually filled with new restaurants and breweries that I’ve been researching since my last trip, but this visit looked a little different. My itinerary was a perfect mixture of exploration and revisiting some of my forever favorites like Bob’s Pizza (last seen HERE) that hold a special place in my heart. If it’s your first time in Chicago, or maybe you want to change things up, here are some of the newest gems that I uncovered during my last adventure.

Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen Located In The South Loop Since 1942

Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen

1141 S Jefferson Street

Chicago, Illinois 60607

Website and Instagram

Manny’s has been a Chicago institution since 1942, and quite honestly, I am trying to figure out how I just found out about them. Originally, opened by Jack Raskin and named after his son Manny, Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen remains in the Raskin family where they continue to use the same family recipes and traditions that made Manny’s a Chicago icon.

For my Nashville people, think of Manny’s like the Jewish Deli version of Arnold’s Country Kitchen. You arrive early to avoid the line outside the door, grab a tray and tell those individuals working the line what you’re in the mood for.

Manny’s is known for their Reuben and Pastrami sandwiches, which are piled high with what looks like a pound of meat. Avoid looking like a novice and get a mixture of corned beef and pastrami on the Reuben and add the potato pancake to your order, you’ll thank me later. This sandwich is not for the faint of heart. Bring your A-game appetite and maybe even some Tupperware. It’s a beast!

Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen | Reuben | Half Corned Beef + Half Pastrami + Potato Pancake

Gaijin

950 W. Lake Street

Chicago, Illinois 60607

Website and Instagram

Do you all ever have one of those evenings where insomnia takes over? Not tossing and turning and eventually falling back asleep. I’m talking about eyes wide open, it’s 2:00 am, and there’s not enough melatonin or sleepytime tea in the world to get you to fall asleep, and oh, did I mention the alarm goes off at 5:00 am? Yeah, it was one of those evenings. I surrendered and started endlessly scrolling. That evening I discovered two things: 1) there are way too many amazon gadgets that I need and 2) Gaijin.

Oh. My. Gosh. A restaurant that served okonomiyaki and kakigori, SOLD! While we didn’t have a chance to try the okonomiyaki ( blame Manny’s) we did want to pop in and have dessert, and with kakigori that cute, how can you say no! Grabbing a seat at the bar we ordered all the cocktails and almost the entire kakigori menu. Come on, do you blame me?

For those of you who have yet to experience kakigori, you might be thinking to yourself: “ it’s ONLY shaved ice.” You’re right, it is shaved ice, but it’s smoother and fluffier, think of freshly fallen snow. Chefs use a variety of flavors and textures when constructing the dish making the experience that much more special. While I may have ordered Kurokuma simply for the ‘gram, I really did enjoy the sweetness of the dish, and those brown butter blondies weren’t bad either. The Sesame Yuzu was bright and refreshing acting as the perfect complement to the Kurokuma.

When it comes to the Windy City, food options are endless. Expand your horizons and your palate and enjoy an authentic Japanese dining experience at Gaijin.

Gaijin | Kurokuma // Cinnamon-Gooey Butter Cake Ice Cream + Chocolate Syrup + Poached Pears + Brown Butter Blondies + Snowcap

Gaijin | Sesame Yuzu // Black Sesame Ice Cream + Yuzu Syrup + Strawberry Compote + Honey Sesame Brittle + Snowcap

The Wormhole Coffee

1462 N Milwaukee Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60622

Website and Instagram

I rarely like to duplicate anything during a weekend getaway. There are always so many incredible places to explore in such a short amount of time. However, I had to break this self-imposed rule when it came to The Wormhole Coffee. Located in Chicago’s Wicker Park area, Wormhole Coffee serves delicious caffeinated beverages with a side of heavy 80’s vibes. From the vintage movie posters, metal lunch boxes, and cardboard cutouts, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

This is far from your average coffee shop. Perhaps the decommissioned Delorean gave it away, but don’t expect to find a Caramel Macchiato on the menu. Wormhole Coffee serves up some of the most interesting and flavorful lattes I’ve ever enjoyed. I tried the Cool But Rude and The Ghostly Trio, both of which were amazing, but I think the Ghostly Trio was my favorite. There’s something about the white miso and caramel that just hits differently.

Chicago has one of the best food scenes in the country, and if I’ve learned anything, expect the unexpected. Some of the best bites in the city may come from an unassuming deli like Manny’s or a Michelin-starred restaurant like Alinea. Whether you are a lifelong Chicagoan or simply passing through for the weekend, there’s no better way to experience Chicago than eating your way through the city. Thanks for an epic weekend, Chicago. It was great to be back!

Until Next Time!