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Aloha Poke Co. inside the Chicago French Market
Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune
Aloha Poke Co. inside the Chicago French Market
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The term “food hall” might conjure up visions of stuffy dorm cafeterias, stale mall food courts and unlimited orange chicken samples. Forget that. Food halls are back and better than ever with at least six (and counting) options in Chicago offering top-notch eats from some of the area’s brightest chefs. Because why shouldn’t downtown diners be able to eat tacos and a bowl of ramen in the same sitting?

“High-end food halls offer a unique dining experience in one location, providing a variety of options and a common place to eat and socialize,” said Victor Alvarez, founding partner of Alvarez & Marsal Property Investments (AMPI), which will open a food hall at 205 W. Wacker Drive next spring.

If variety is the name of the game, Revival Food Hall, which opened in the Loop last month, is the current MVP, with seafood, barbecue, fried chicken, poke, pizza and more. The sprawling food court from 16″ On Center (Longman & Eagle, Moneygun, The Promontory) tasked its chef partners with focusing on one or two dishes each—and doing them well—to avoid having 20 burger options, managing partner Bruce Finkelman said.

“We really wanted to give people who not only work downtown but tourists in the area and people who are visiting a really great slice of our Chicago and our neighborhoods,” he said. “Because that’s what Chicago is known for—it’s the city of neighborhoods.”

And apparently a city of food halls, too. Here’s what to know about the seven major players—lingering Cinnabon fumes sold separately.

The Budlong at Revival Food Hall
The Budlong at Revival Food Hall

Revival Food Hall | 125 S. Clark St. 773-999-9411
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, bar open until 9 p.m.
In a nutshell, Revival is a one-stop shop for Chicago’s most craveable dishes. Chefs who usually steer clear of pricey downtown locations come together under one roof to offer their finest fare, Finkelman said. The 24,000-square-foot space houses 15 different concepts, including bite-sized versions of full restaurants you already know and love—think Furious Spoon, Smoque BBQ and The Budlong—and spinoffs such as Antique Taco Chiquito from the folks behind Antique Taco and Danke from the people who brought you Table, Donkey and Stick. If tacos with a side of charcuterie sound delightfully right, you already understand the beauty of this place.

Aloha Poke Co. inside the Chicago French Market
Aloha Poke Co. inside the Chicago French Market

Chicago French Market | 131 N. Clinton St. 312-575-0306
Hours:
7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday. Check individual retailers for specific hours at frenchmarketchicago.com
More than 30 family businesses, local food-trepreneurs (it’s where Zach Friedlander launched his crazy-popular Aloha Poke Co. earlier this year) and grocers alike inhabit this West Loop marketplace with European vibes. Grab individual ingredients to make a gourmet dinner at home or go the no-fuss route and visit one of the many food stalls, including Da Lobsta with lobster rolls, Pastoral with hearty sandwiches and artisan cheese and K-Kitchen with Korean fare. To get the full experience, grab a macaron from Vanille Patisserie and saddle up at a cafe table to people-watch the day away.

Eataly Chicago
Eataly Chicago

Eataly Chicago | 43 E. Ohio St. 312-521-8700
Hours:
Market 10 a.m.-11 p.m. daily, Caffe Lavazza 8 a.m-11 p.m. daily
Like the Chicago French Market, Mario Batali’s Italian-focused Eataly offers an upscale grocery store and a handful of curated dining options. Upstairs, sit-down restaurants are dedicated to specific dishes, such as La Pizza & La Pasta and Il Pesce & Le Verdure (that’s fish and veggies for Americanos). While you’re there, grab hard-to-find Italian products, wines and fresh pasta to take home. On the lower level, browse casual counters with grab-and-go options that are perfect for lunch, including panini, gelato and—best of all—a Nutella bar that packs the addictive hazelnut spread into crepes and baked treats.

Latinicity
Latinicity

Latinicity | 108 N. State St. 312-795-4444
Hours:
11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
If variety is the spice of life, Latinicity is too hot to handle with flavors from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Think restaurant-quality pork belly tortas next to salted cod croquettes and—OK, a little Chicago influence too—hot dogs with a Latin twist. The concept, helmed by chef Richard Sandoval, opened in Block 37 late last year and has since been feeding hungry Loop lunchers looking to break out of the Chipotle mold. The hardest part is choosing what to eat from 10 stands offering everything from sushi and ceviche to tacos and stew. Once the tough decisions are behind you, grab a seat in the cozy dining area where lush greenery transports you to a warmer climate. Beer-inclined visitors won’t want to miss the 80-seat beer garden Cerveceria for post-work brews and appetizers.

3 Greens Market
3 Greens Market

3 Greens Market | 354 W. Hubbard St. 312-888-9195
Hours:
Monday through Friday: coffee shop 7 a.m.-8 p.m., salad bar 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and hot bar 11 a.m. until sold out. Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Upon entering the unique River North space, Brendan Sodikoff fans will think they’ve died and gone to Hogsalt heaven. The spot is part eclectically decorated coffee shop lounge (with a putting green!) and part food hall-like cafeteria featuring selections from Sodikoff’s growing empire. Order a Dillman’s pastrami sandwich or Small Cheval burger, or opt to load up at the pay-by-the-pound salad bar. No trip is complete without a Doughnut Vault treat.

Foodlife
Foodlife

Foodlife | 835 N. Michigan Ave. 312-335-3663
Hours:
8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday
This Water Tower staple that launched in 1993 could easily be considered the O.G. of all Chicago food halls. The Lettuce Entertain You concept offers 14 distinct restaurants serving stir fry, soups, pizza, sushi, pasta, salad, barbecue—you get the idea. Many diners grab their meals and head back to the office, but there’s seating available for those brave enough to fend off tourists and shoppers.

Coming soon | 205 W. Wacker Drive
The vision for Alvarez’s yet-to-be-named project isn’t finalized just yet. What we do know is that the 10,500-square-foot food hall will overlook the dazzling Riverwalk and the vibe will be comfortable but upscale. The rest is up to you: Chicagoans are invited to share ideas for the project by tagging #Devour205 on social media. So far, the response from everyday food fans as well as Chicago food purveyors has been overwhelmingly positive, Alvarez said.

Moira Lawler is a RedEye contributor.