Chicago’s World Fair first introduced America to hamburgers and shredded wheat in 1893. Ever since, Chicago’s been proving to the world that it’s definitely no second city—from slices of deep-dish pizza packed with ingredients to punk-rock pastries to juicy Italian beef. We’ve selected a few of the best places to give you a taste of what makes Chicago the city of big eatin’.

BEST CHICAGO-STYLE PIZZA

Lou Malnati’s

3859 W. Ogden Ave.

(773) 762-0800

LouMalnatis.com

Chicago-style pizza will put you in a food coma. Period. Lou’s thick, fat slices of ‘za come with plenty of toppings and the right amount of sauce—no tomato gush here. The buttercrust may pack on the calories, but the crunchy-outside, soft-inside texture will melt your heart. The flagship pizzeria opened up in 1971 in suburban Lincolnwood, Ill., and later grew to 22 restaurants all over Chicagoland. This West Side location was opened in 1995 for a very special reason: All profits at this Lou’s go to children’s educational and recreational programs at the Lawndale Community Center.

BEST MEXICAN FOOD

Taqueria Los Comales #3

1544 W. 18th St.

(312) 666-2251

CASH ONLY

LosComales.com

How does a $1.50 taco sound to you? Los Comales is a family-owned chain started in Little Village that prides itself on cheap, delicious, no-frills Mexican food. Quench your thirst with horchata (rice water), tamarindo (tamarind fruit water), or jamaica (for people who like Kool-Aid). Ask for your tacos “Al pastor,” with juicy pork and onions—it’s what made Los Comales famous. It’s fast food, so don’t expect to wait long for your meal—just what you’ll need after a late night out on the town

BEST CHICAGO-STYLE HOT DOG

Hot Doug’s

3324 N. California Ave.

(773) 279-9550

HotDougs.com

The friendly, fun staff and oodles of hot dog options at Hot Doug’s will make the 35-minute wait worth it. Saturdays are the busiest day at this joint, and it’s also the only day the $3.50 duck fries are served (potatoes fried in duck fat). In Chicago, we don’t do a dog with ketchup, but it comes with mustard, onion, relish, a dill pickle, tomato, peppers, celery salt and sometimes cucumber. Hot Doug’s sells them for $1.75. Already tried the Chicago dog? Among the other menu choices are “The Elvis,” a smoked polish sausage; “The Pete Shelley,” a meatless dog; and “The Salma Hayek,” a terrifically hot Andouille sausage.

BEST ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICH

Al’s #1 Italian Beef

1079 W. Taylor St.

(312) 226-4017

CASH ONLY

AlsBeef.com

Some Chicagoans are as picky about their Italian beef as they are about deep-dish pizza. This greasy spoon does beef right, and they do it in three sizes: 4” Little Al ($3.29), 6” Regular Al ($4.29) and the 8” Big Al ($5.99). Though it tastes great on its own with au jus (the regulars say “dipped”), the Provolone, marinara, homemade giardiniera and homemade sweet peppers are worth it for 45 cents extra each. It’s definitely not the cheapest in town, but it’s the best-tasting. The fries aren’t bad either, and if you’re a big eater you should order the combo, which comes with sausage on top of that beef. Grab a handful of napkins and a seat at the outdoor picnic tables—this is going to get messy.

BEST 24-HOUR DINER

White Palace Grill

1159 S. Canal St.

(312) 939-7167

This all-night filling station is one of the oldest diners in the city—it opened in 1939. This slice of Americana won’t take any guff from hipsters looking to be seen. Locals, seniors and students frequent White Palace for its cheap eats and quieter atmosphere. You can fill your belly for under $10, not including alcohol (beer and wine is served).

BEST BAKERY

The Bleeding Heart Bakery

1955 W. Belmont Ave.

(773) 327-6934

TheBleedingHeartBakery.com

Edgy, beautiful and delicious—everything at this bakery fits that description. Owner Michelle Garcia is probably one of the punkiest pastry chefs you’ll meet. Not only are her baked goods made with all organic ingredients, but a lot of them are also vegan-friendly. The variety of yummy pastries changes all the time, but you’ll want to try the scones, pecan sticky buns and tarts. The average baked good costs $3.