Sometimes the fastest way back home is through a favorite meal.
Whenever I’m back in Chicago, there are a handful of foods I make a point of eating before I head back to Luxembourg.
A Chicago-style hot dog, Garrett Mix popcorn, and a slice of pizza are probably the city’s most recognizable foods, and I happily seek them out every visit. They’re classics for a reason.
But the foods that truly feel like home aren’t always the ones visitors know about. They’re the neighborhood favorites I grew up with on Chicago’s South Side. The places where my family gathered, where traditions were made, and where certain flavors instantly transport me back to childhood.
Fox’s Pizza is one of those places. While Chicago is famous for deep-dish pizza, I grew up loving South Side tavern-style pizza. Thin, crispy, cut into squares, and perfect for sharing. Some of my favorite memories are Friday and Saturday nights when my dad would bring home a pizza, we’d all stay up a little later than usual, and settle in together to watch the late-night movie.
No trip home is complete without stopping at County Fair for their meatloaf, potato salad, and kidney bean salad. It’s simple comfort food that hasn’t changed much over the years, and I hope it never does.
Then there’s Swanson’s Deli. My mom loved their chicken salad, and I can still picture stopping in to pick up a container to bring home for lunch for her and my dad. Some foods become part of a family’s story, and this is one of ours.
I’ve been fortunate to travel, discover incredible restaurants, and experience remarkable food around the world. But coming home reminds me that the meals we grow up with stay with us forever. They’re more than favorite foods—they’re memories, family, and a reminder of where we come from.
Portillo’s Chicago Dog
A stop I make every time I’m home.
Garrett’s Chicago Mix
Sweet, salty, and unmistakably Chicago.
Fox’s Southside Pizza
Friday nights, late movies, and family.
Swanson’s & County Fair
The flavors that still feel like home.
What I Learned
- Every city has famous foods, but the neighborhood favorites are often the ones locals treasure most.
- Food has an incredible way of preserving memories across decades.
- The meals we remember most are usually connected to the people we shared them with.
- Coming home is often just one familiar bite away.
Liz 'N Lux 