Among its unique menu of new American dishes, Amerikas boasts a traditional pozole, a hearty soup with a smoky, spicy-sweet flavor, and a tortilla soup topped with lime crema and queso fresco cheese that we have dreams about. Pair it with Surf and Turf Tacos with shrimp, Mexican chorizo, potatoes, and caramelized onions, or on its own with homemade tortillas rolled up for dipping.
Oak Park’s favorite noodle house, Katy’s Dumplings, offers distinctive handmade Pan-Asian dishes, including dumplings, noodles, and pancakes, in a cozy and inviting space where soups that warm your heart and soul fill the menu. We love Katy’s spicy Pickled Cabbage Beef Noodle Soup with thick noodles. It’s full of green onions and chunks of beef. The Pickled Cabbage Pork Belly Noodle Soup is also a favorite, and the Juicy Steam Buns, soup dumplings filled with spicy or BBQ pork, beef and scallions, or veggies, are little pockets of joy.
Jerusalem Cafe in Oak Park brings the rich flavors of Mediterranean cuisine to the neighborhood. Known for its authentic dishes, the cafe serves a variety of traditional favorites, from hummus and falafel to shawarma and kebabs. A standout on their menu is the delicious Lentil Soup—a vegan-friendly blend of red lentils cooked with olive oil and brightened with a squeeze of fresh lemon. This hearty, flavorful soup is a must-try for anyone looking to enjoy a wholesome, plant-based option.
Check out Chicago’s beloved Thai restaurant Penny’s Noodles. Try Penny’s Pho, a take on the classic Vietnamese soup with rice noodles in a rich beef, chicken, or seafood broth. We also enjoy garlicky shrimp noodle soup, BBQ pork noodle soup, or a bowl of earthy ramen to take out or enjoy at the friendly restaurant.
Sugar Beet, Oak Park’s full-service community-owned food co-op, champions local farmers, vendors, and small producers, especially businesses owned by women and people of color within the local community. The café and prepared foods section offers specials and a soup of the day. Tasty homemade, fresh, gluten-free, and vegan soups are available daily.
At The Onion Roll, you can enjoy homemade chicken broth with rice, noodles, matzo ball, or kreplach (or a combo of your choice) along with a handmade light and shiny bagel with a crispy crust, spongy crumb, and simple chew synonymous with the bagels found on street corners throughout New York City. Ask about the Soup of the Day. Options like mushroom barley, chicken vegetables, and creamy leek are made daily in-house.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Sawa’s Old Warsaw serves a classic smorgasbord that includes carved roast beef, ham off the bone, macaroni and cheese, and Polish favorites, including blintzes, potato pancakes, pierogies, stuffed cabbage, Polish sausage, and potato dumplings. Daily specials are available to eat in or take out, such as meatballs in dill sauce, goulash, pepper steak, and a rich and fragrant sweet-sour czarnina soup made with duck and dried fruits.
Entering Irish Times in Brookfield feels like walking into a toasty, welcoming pub in County Galway. On crisp (or downright cold) days, warm your body and soul with authentic Shepherd's Pie with beef smothered in stout gravy and topped with mashed potatoes and cheese. Or grab a pint and try the Guinness Beef Stew with tender, braised-for-hours beef in a rich beer broth.
Golden Steer was once a hideaway for notorious Chicago mobster Sam Giancana, where Elizabeth Taylor ordered Jack Daniels neat, and where Blackhawks star Stan Mikita celebrated with friends after games. You can still order the original French onion soup that has delighted diners at “the Steer” for generations.
Well known for its excellent dining experience, Madison Park Kitchen is a great local spot to dine in or pick up brunch classics made with locally sourced ingredients. A variety of homemade soups—ask about the soup of the day—are available, too. We like the rich, fragrant lemon soup and the intense, spicy steak fajita soup.
When Starship was conceived nearly five decades ago, its sub-loving owners focused on sandwiches, but their opening day was so cold they thought the only way they’d stay in business through the winter would be by adding soup to the menu. They started with chili, added French onion, borscht, and lobster bisque over the years, and now offer a rotating array of 150 homemade soups. 80 varieties of soup are available in the grab-and-go freezer every day—perfect for stocking up for the season!
Once upon a time, Aldo Conforti and Joseph Gapastione, two boyhood friends, opened a corner store in their Italian neighborhood in Chicago. Once they started making sandwiches for customers with fresh Gonnella bread and sliced meats and cheese, Al & Joe’s Deli was born. Six decades later, Joe’s son offers a menu of Al & Joe’s Italian favorites such as kosher corned beef and pastrami piled high on rye bread, pizza, pasta, homemade soups, and hearty chili and beef stew.
Blackberry Market is a casual café, bakery, and coffeehouse that serves handcrafted meals, daily dinners to-go, premium coffee, and memorable baked goods. More importantly, its Italian Wedding Soup—a flavorful broth with juicy meatballs, spinach, and pasta—is always available. The current Soup of the Day list includes Pumpkin Apple (Monday), Chicken Wild Rice (Tuesday), Autumn Veggie Soup (Wednesday), Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili (Thursday), Tomato Basil (Friday), Chicken Chile Verde (Saturday), and Miso Sweet Potato (Sunday).
Drawing on the flavors of the Mediterranean with a reverence for its deep American roots, The Grapevine serves Greek dishes, like pastisio, spanakopita, dolmades, and Italian favorites—we love the hearty bolognese sauce. A signature, creamy avgolemono soup with lemon, chicken, and rice is available by the cup or bowl. Take home a quart; you’ll be glad you did!
Eco-friendly Prasino combines farm-to-table ingredients, sustainable seafood, hormone/antibiotic-free meats, and organic produce to deliver Contemporary American dishes, including daily soup specials, that are simple, green, and down-to-earth delicious.
With a bright and inviting dining room, Happier Now Cafe & Market is a recent addition to the La Grange Park dining scene. Its marketplace offers packaged to-go favorites, including prepared meals and homemade soups to take home and reheat, a beverage market, a beer and wine bar, and a kids play area.
The large, brick, wood-fired oven in the center of its dining room, tall ceilings, and rustic chandeliers set the stage for a casual yet sophisticated dining experience at Mattone Restaurant and Bar. You can expect delicious wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches, flavorful Italian entrées, and classic Italian minestrone and pasta fagioli.
Carnitas Don Alfredo in Maywood is a beloved spot known for its authentic Mexican flavors. While they’re famous for their savory carnitas, weekends bring an extra treat: homemade pozole. Pozole is a traditional Mexican soup made with hominy, tender pork, and a flavorful broth infused with chiles and spices. It’s typically topped with fresh ingredients like shredded cabbage, radishes, onions, and a squeeze of lime, creating a rich, comforting dish. If you’re craving authentic pozole, make sure to visit Carnitas Don Alfredo on the weekend!
Family-owned and operated for generations, Ozzie’s Italian Deli boasts “the world’s best subs” and a variety of specialty sandwiches and deli sides, including egg salad, pasta salad, and cole slaw, priced per pound. Fresh homemade soups and Elena’s chili are available in small, medium, and large portions to take home.
In a cozy, family-friendly atmosphere, Village Pub serves flavorful Italian favorites, including lasagna, a strip steak sandwich, sausage and peppers, Chicken Vesuvio, and tiramisu, along with a hearty Pasta Fagioli made with pasta, beans, and veggies.
Every hand-carved sandwich is prepared right in front of your eyes at Sawmilly, and most ingredients are prepared from scratch, from their slow-roasted turkey, in-house smoked pork shoulder, and brisket to the chimichurri sauce with fresh mint, cilantro, parsley, roasted garlic, and spices. Homemade soups—creamy tomatoe served with fresh croutons, lemony chicken & rice, and New Orleans-style sausage gumbo—are available in 8 oz, 16 oz, and 24 oz sizes. Grab a couple and save them in your freezer for a snowy day!
Huge portions of Bohemian-American food—think pickled beef with creamy svíčková gravy, chicken schnitzel, pierogi, dumplings, and meatloaf topped with gravy—delight your tastebuds at Westchester Inn, and their budget-friendly prices are pretty pleasing too! Their soup is made in-house daily, along with kolacky and Westchester Inn’s own freshly baked rye bread.