United States · month by month
Chicago food calendar
What is in season in Chicago, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Chicago
A hard monthThe best of January: Italian beef and deep dish, Chicago Restaurant Week.
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
On the calendar
- Chicago Restaurant Weeklate January to early February
Prix-fixe menus.
Jan–Feb
Plan around
- Cold
Hard winters; the PATH underground food courts earn their keep.
Jan–Feb
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Chicago
A hard monthThe best of February: Pączki, Italian beef and deep dish, Chicago Restaurant Week.
Eat it now
- PączkiFat Tuesday
Polish doughnuts in the Polish neighborhoods.
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
On the calendar
- Chicago Restaurant Weeklate January to early February
Prix-fixe menus.
Jan–Feb
Plan around
- Cold
Hard winters; the PATH underground food courts earn their keep.
Jan–Feb
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Chicago
The best of March: Italian beef and deep dish.
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Chicago
Shoulder seasonThe best of April: Italian beef and deep dish.
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Chicago
Peak seasonThe best of May: Italian beef and deep dish.
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Chicago
Peak seasonThe best of June: Italian beef and deep dish, Michigan cherries, corn and tomatoes.
In season
- Michigan cherries, corn and tomatoes
Green City Market at its peak.
Jun–Sep
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Chicago
The best of July: Italian beef and deep dish, Michigan cherries, corn and tomatoes.
In season
- Michigan cherries, corn and tomatoes
Green City Market at its peak.
Jun–Sep
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Chicago
The best of August: Italian beef and deep dish, Michigan cherries, corn and tomatoes.
In season
- Michigan cherries, corn and tomatoes
Green City Market at its peak.
Jun–Sep
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Chicago
Peak seasonThe best of September: Italian beef and deep dish, Apples and pumpkins, Taste of Chicago.
In season
- Apples and pumpkins
From Michigan and Illinois orchards.
Sep–Nov - Michigan cherries, corn and tomatoes
Green City Market at its peak.
Jun–Sep
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
On the calendar
- Taste of Chicagorecent years in September
The city's food festival in Grant Park; the dates have moved in recent years.
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Chicago
Shoulder seasonThe best of October: Italian beef and deep dish, Apples and pumpkins.
In season
- Apples and pumpkins
From Michigan and Illinois orchards.
Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Chicago
The best of November: Italian beef and deep dish, Apples and pumpkins, Christkindlmarket.
In season
- Apples and pumpkins
From Michigan and Illinois orchards.
Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
On the calendar
- Christkindlmarketmid November to Christmas Eve
German Christmas market at Daley Plaza.
Nov–Dec
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Chicago
The best of December: Italian beef and deep dish, Christkindlmarket.
Eat it now
- Italian beef and deep dish
Year-round, but a beef dipped with hot giardiniera is a cold-day lunch.
On the calendar
- Christkindlmarketmid November to Christmas Eve
German Christmas market at Daley Plaza.
Nov–Dec
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.