Visiting Chicago's Little Italy and University Village, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this Chicago neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a Mexican restaurant to a Vietnamese spot.
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Little Italy and University Village, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results.
1. Chilango Mexican Street Food
Topping the list is Mexican spot Chilango Mexican Street Food. Located at 1437 W. Taylor St. (between Laflin and Bishop streets.), it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 470 reviews on Yelp.
The restaurant serves Mexican street food like empanadas, tacos and more. On the menu, look for the chicken tortilla soup, the beef and rice empanada or the shrimp tacos.
2. Lotus Cafe & Bánh Mì Sandwiches
Next up is Vietnamese spot Lotus Cafe & Bánh Mì Sandwiches, which offers sandwiches and more, situated at 719 W. Maxwell St. (between Union Avenue and Halsted Street). With 4.5 stars out of 451 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite.
The cafe serves Vietnamese cuisine specializing in banh mi sandwiches. On the menu, look for the steamed pork belly, the curry chicken rice bowl or the seared beef pho.
3. Chez Joel Bistro
French spot Chez Joel Bistro is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 1119 W. Taylor St. (between May and Aberdeen streets), 4.5 stars out of 362 reviews.
Chez Joel Bistro specializes in French cuisine like steak frites and coq au vin. On the menu, look for the linguine with shell fish, escargot with garlic butter or the ratatouille.
4. Davanti Enoteca
Davanti Enoteca, an Italian spot, is another high-traffic neighborhood go-to, with four stars out of 1,191 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1359 W. Taylor St. (between Loomis and Ada streets.) to see for yourself.
The Italian restaurant serves brunch, lunch and dinner. On the menu, look for the prosciutto-veal meatball sandwich, the spaghetti with pecorino or the mushroom and leek pizza.
5. Sweet Maple Cafe
Check out Sweet Maple Cafe, which has earned four stars out of 776 reviews on Yelp. You can find the traditional American, Southern and breakfast and brunch spot at 1339 W. Taylor St. (between Ada and Loomis streets).
The cafe serves soups, salads and sandwiches. If you can't decide what you want, try the cafe combo with your choice of half a sandwich and a cup of soup or a half a sandwich with a salad.
This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
