You know those restaurants you go to for one specific meal? We’re talking about those places where you wouldn’t dream of ordering anything but the most popular dish. These 10 best menu items at restaurants across Illinois are just that. Check it out:
- Candlelight Inn
Google/rodney keefer
Facebook/Candlelight Inn Sterling The original location of this restaurant is situated in a renovated barn and has been around since 1967. Known for Chicken George, this restaurant has two other locations that serve this crispy fried chicken dish. Get it with the special sauce for the intended experience or with sweet and sour or buffalo. Learn more about this unique chicken dinner here.
- Cheese Nuts Brickoven Pizzeria
Facebook/Cheese Nuts Brickoven Pizzeria - Junction
Facebook/Cheese Nuts Brickoven Pizzeria - Junction This miraculous pizza joint’s best menu items are its multi-flavored pies that can be divided up into four different types. There is even a pizza that has garlic cheese bread as the center. This all-in-one pizza is truly one-of-a-kind. Get more details about it here.
- Cheesie’s Pub and Grub
Facebook/Cheesie’s Pub and Grub
Facebook/Cheesie’s Pub and Grub This Chicagoland staple is known for its gourmet grilled cheese and beer. Sandwiches come with interesting toppings like french fries, chicken salad, chorizo, mac and cheese, ham, bacon, jalapenos, and much more. You’ll also find great sides like tater tots, cheese curds, fried mac and cheese bites, and fried pickles. Learn more about this popular place here.
- Crazy Joe’s Fish House
Facebook/Crazy Joes Fish House
Facebook/Crazy Joes Fish House Locals have been loving this restaurant since 1995. It is known for its hot fish and cold beer. This casual diner is one of those places the regulars go, and you’ll want to stop in to see (and taste) why. All the fried fish dinners are amazing and keep the kitchen going all night. Get more details about it here.
- Moonshine Store
Facebook/Moonshine Store
Facebook/Moonshine Store In a tiny little town that most people have never heard of, there is a historic burger joint that has been around since 1912. The place is flocked between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. most days, and you have to stop in early to guarantee you get a burger. Learn more about this locally famous restaurant here.
- Schultz’s Dairy Bar
Facebook/Schultz’s Dairy Bar
Facebook/Schultz’s Dairy Bar In business since 1957, this amazing little diner is an Illinois classic. It is best known for a fried tenderloin sandwich that is so big it hardly fits on the plate. This Midwest meal is best with at least one bun and a side of fries. This is definitely a shareable meal for some. Click here for more details.
- Spoonies Bar & Grill
Google/Jim Scott
Facebook/Spoonies Bar & Grill As this is the Midwest, there are several restaurants that specialize in giant tenderloins. This one is bigger than your head and comes with pickles and onions. The pork is hand-cut and hand-breaded for the most authentic taste. Learn more about this local watering hole here.
- Sweet Lorraine’s Fabulous Mac-n-Cheez
Google/Sweet Lorraines Fabulous Mac-n-Cheez Vernon Hills
Google/Sweet Lorraines Fabulous Mac-n-Cheez Vernon Hills Cheese lovers will want to try this restaurant right away. It has been in business since 2016 and specializes in nostalgia. You can design your own bowl of mac and cheese with a plethora of toppings like hot dogs, truffles, and different types of cheeses. Click here to get more details.
- The Apple Dumplin
Facebook/The Apple Dumplin
Facebook/The Apple Dumplin The best menu items at these last couple restaurants are desserts. This family-friendly diner in central Illinois has been in business since 1985. It is very simple inside but the food is spectacular. The savory dishes are marvelous, but it is the apple dumplings that most people find addicting. These are certainly some of the best apple dumplings in the Midwest, so check them out here.
- Blue Springs Cafe
TripAdvisor/Frank B
TripAdvisor/Ashley W In what used to be an old Stucky’s, this restaurant opened in 1992 to serve down-home dishes to people from all over the country. It is located just off I-70 and is known for its foot-high lemon meringue pie. This dessert is definitely worth a stop on your next road trip. Learn more about it here.
For more like this, check out eight foods every Illinoisan craves when they leave the state.
Google/rodney keefer
Facebook/Candlelight Inn Sterling
The original location of this restaurant is situated in a renovated barn and has been around since 1967. Known for Chicken George, this restaurant has two other locations that serve this crispy fried chicken dish. Get it with the special sauce for the intended experience or with sweet and sour or buffalo. Learn more about this unique chicken dinner here.
Facebook/Cheese Nuts Brickoven Pizzeria - Junction
This miraculous pizza joint’s best menu items are its multi-flavored pies that can be divided up into four different types. There is even a pizza that has garlic cheese bread as the center. This all-in-one pizza is truly one-of-a-kind. Get more details about it here.
Facebook/Cheesie’s Pub and Grub
This Chicagoland staple is known for its gourmet grilled cheese and beer. Sandwiches come with interesting toppings like french fries, chicken salad, chorizo, mac and cheese, ham, bacon, jalapenos, and much more. You’ll also find great sides like tater tots, cheese curds, fried mac and cheese bites, and fried pickles. Learn more about this popular place here.
Facebook/Crazy Joes Fish House
Locals have been loving this restaurant since 1995. It is known for its hot fish and cold beer. This casual diner is one of those places the regulars go, and you’ll want to stop in to see (and taste) why. All the fried fish dinners are amazing and keep the kitchen going all night. Get more details about it here.
Facebook/Moonshine Store
In a tiny little town that most people have never heard of, there is a historic burger joint that has been around since 1912. The place is flocked between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. most days, and you have to stop in early to guarantee you get a burger. Learn more about this locally famous restaurant here.
Facebook/Schultz’s Dairy Bar
In business since 1957, this amazing little diner is an Illinois classic. It is best known for a fried tenderloin sandwich that is so big it hardly fits on the plate. This Midwest meal is best with at least one bun and a side of fries. This is definitely a shareable meal for some. Click here for more details.
Google/Jim Scott
Facebook/Spoonies Bar & Grill
As this is the Midwest, there are several restaurants that specialize in giant tenderloins. This one is bigger than your head and comes with pickles and onions. The pork is hand-cut and hand-breaded for the most authentic taste. Learn more about this local watering hole here.
Google/Sweet Lorraines Fabulous Mac-n-Cheez Vernon Hills
Cheese lovers will want to try this restaurant right away. It has been in business since 2016 and specializes in nostalgia. You can design your own bowl of mac and cheese with a plethora of toppings like hot dogs, truffles, and different types of cheeses. Click here to get more details.
Facebook/The Apple Dumplin
The best menu items at these last couple restaurants are desserts. This family-friendly diner in central Illinois has been in business since 1985. It is very simple inside but the food is spectacular. The savory dishes are marvelous, but it is the apple dumplings that most people find addicting. These are certainly some of the best apple dumplings in the Midwest, so check them out here.
TripAdvisor/Frank B
TripAdvisor/Ashley W
In what used to be an old Stucky’s, this restaurant opened in 1992 to serve down-home dishes to people from all over the country. It is located just off I-70 and is known for its foot-high lemon meringue pie. This dessert is definitely worth a stop on your next road trip. Learn more about it here.
What other best menu items keep you coming back time and again? Share your favorite restaurants with us below in the comments.
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