These musicians are coming for Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and North Coast. Here are their favorite Chicago restaurants.

Chicago Tribune

3 days ago

Summer offers the chance to see some of the top musicians from around the world as they come to Chicago to play Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and North Coast. But beyond catching their sets at the festivals and official after-parties, you might also spot bands, DJs and singers hitting up their favorite bars and restaurants around the city. Touring talent seek out local institutions and hot new spots, enjoying live music and playlists along with kebabs, sushi and vegan fare. Even if you don't run into your favorite performers chowing down, you'll eat like a rock star at these spots.
Playing: 1:40 p.m. Sept. 19 at Riot Fest
Where he's eating: 'Chief O'Neill's Pub is definitely the best place in Chicago, and one of the best places in the world, for true Irish traditional music. There are sessions here most every day, which draw some of the best musicians, artists and performers from Chicago and around the world. The food and the chefs are elite, and it is as much of a family restaurant as it is a pub. Children are welcome. It is a lifeline for Irish culture and heritage here. I love the fish and chips, a pint of Guinness and a glass of Paddy or Powers whiskey, but I'm simple. Their braised pork shank is amazing; so is their steak and Guinness pie, and their shepherd's pie is to die for. The Atlantic salmon is also unbelievable.'
Chief O'Neill's Pub, 3471 N. Elston Ave., 773-583-3066, chiefoneillspub.com
Playing: 4 p.m. Sept. 19 at Riot Fest
Where he's eating: '(I) love the beer hall setting (at The Publican). The oyster selection is top-notch. The half chicken is sublime and (there's) so much good meat!'
The Publican, 837 W. Fulton Market, 312-733-9555, thepublicanrestaurant.com
Playing: 12:40 p.m. Aug. 1 at Lollapalooza
Where he's eating: 'My girlfriend is from Chicago and I'm from LA, so for the first couple years of our relationship, we dated long distance, flying back and forth to visit each other. Because of that, Chicago will always hold a special place in my heart. During my visits, one of our favorite Sunday rituals was lounging around watching 'The Office' and ordering breakfast arepas from 11 Degrees North. The Santa Monica was always my go-to: an arepa stuffed with egg, sausage, cheddar cheese, bacon, and chive cream cheese. Pure heaven.
Another favorite from my many pilgrimages to Chicago (is Aba). I have two very vivid memories from my time at Aba: chain-vaping in the restroom after one too many drinks (not my finest moment) and tasting the crispy short rib hummus for the first time, which I still think about regularly. The entire menu is phenomenal, but for whatever reason, those two memories are permanently etched in my mind.'
11 Degrees North, 824 W. Belmont Ave., 773-904-7284, 11degreenorth.com
Aba, 302 N. Green St., 773-645-1400, abarestaurants.com/chicago
Playing: 2:15 p.m. Sept. 19 at Riot Fest
Where he's eating: 'Typically, when I find myself in (Chicago), I'm eating on the run or scarfing down snack bars from the lavish catering in the green room of WGN Morning News. Sometimes, when I've been a good boy, Jeff Hoover and Wink Winkle treat me to brekkie at Kitsch'n on Roscoe, where I enjoy bottomless coffee and more than my fair share of chocolate chip waffles. And for dinner, if I'm lucky, I find time to sit down at Amitabul Simply Vegan for a clean-burnin' home-cooked organic plant-based Korean dish like the Yin and Yang (or maybe the Buddha Bop) and the always delicious Wolfman's Dream Treats. And with my tummy taut, I set off a waddlin' through that toddlin' town!'
Kitsch'n on Roscoe, 2005 W. Roscoe St., 773-248-7372, kitschn.com
Amitabul Simply Vegan, 6207 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-774-0276, amitabulvegan.com
Playing: 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at Riot Fest
Where he's eating: 'Moving over from the U.K., I was convinced that no Indian restaurant in the U.S. made proper curry. And for years, I was proved right, until we moved to Lincoln Square and discovered Essence of India. My go-to was either their butter chicken or chicken bhuna (spicy, of course). Add pulao rice, garlic naan and some lamb samosas, and man, that's a good night. The last time we played Chicago, we had food from there delivered to the Metro for the whole band. You better believe it's one of the main things I'm looking forward to when we play Riot Fest in September!'
Essence of India, 4601 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-506-0002, essenceofindiachicago.com
Playing: 2:55 p.m. Sept. 20 at Riot Fest
Where he's eating: 'Chicago is one of our favorite places to play; we've had great shows there since our first tour in 1990. It's also one of our favorite places to eat. I love going to see our friend Courtland (Green) at Dove's Luncheonette for incredible Tex-Mex breakfast or a special mezcal, depending on the hour (sometimes both?). Also, great music on the turntable there. Avec on Randolph has been a post-show or night off favorite for years. More recently, my wife and I had a memorable lunch at All Together Now; I had the insanely good smashed white bean sandwich on focaccia. Can't wait to come back this fall.'
Dove's Luncheonette, 1545 N. Damen Ave., 773-645-4060, doveschicago.com
Avec, 615 W. Randolph St., 312-377-2002, avecrestaurant.com
All Together Now, 2119 W. Chicago Ave., 773-661-1599, alltogethernow.fun
Playing: 4:15 p.m. Sept. 21 at Riot Fest
Where he's eating: 'I'm not vegan, but I'm vegan for The Chicago Diner. We eat there almost every time we're in Chicago. We've walked quite a ways for it before.'
The Chicago Diner, 3411 N. Halsted St., 773-935-6696 and 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-252-3211, ext. 1, veggiediner.com
Playing: 9 p.m. July 30 at the Lollapalooza after-show at Lincoln Hall (sold out) and 4:30 p.m. July 31 at Lollapalooza
Where he's eating: 'Being on tour means I'm constantly bouncing from city to city, but one thing I never stop chasing is good local food. In Chicago, there are two spots I always come back to: Dicey's Pizza and the Yum Dum Truck. Dicey's is solid — just really good pizza that hits every single time. Yum Dum is amazing. If the truck is nearby, I'm stopping by, no question.'
Dicey's Pizza & Tavern, 2109 W. Chicago Ave., 872-335-4645, diceystavern.com
Yum Dum Truck, 847-376-1925, yumdumtruck.com
Playing: 4:50 p.m. Sept. 21 at Riot Fest
Where he's eating: 'Lula Cafe is the easy number one. They do it with such style, you're cooler just by being there. The food is ingredient-forward and the wine rips. Ask to eat at the bar and you're a real local.'
Lula Cafe, 2537 N. Kedzie Blvd., 773-489-9554, lulacafe.com
Playing: 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 3 at Lollapalooza
Where she's eating: 'Sushi-san is the one place I'll always make time for in the city. (It has an) incredible playlist always blasting through the speakers, and to die for Japanese cuisine. If you go, you have to get the togarashi chicken nuggets (the best karaage I've ever had) and at least two orders of the skirt steak (I dream about the mustard sauce). If you don't leave too full of fish, definitely stop by Three Dots and A Dash on your way home! Recently, my crew and I have been getting into tiki bar lore and this one is one of the best!'
Sushi-san, 63 W. Grand Ave., 312-828-0575 and 1950 N. Halsted St., 773-389-7101, sushisanrestaurant.com
Three Dots and a Dash, 435 N. Clark St., 312-610-4220, threedotschicago.com
Playing: 8:45 p.m. Aug. 30 at North Coast
Where she's eating: 'My family is from Chicago and my grandfather started an Italian restaurant, The Tivoli, in Chicago Heights that fed families traditional Italian food. I say this to say that food and the restaurant dining experience is one of my family's love languages. My family has been going to Lettuce (Entertain You) restaurants forever because they have the best hospitality and we can count on the experience to be unique, the food to be excellent, and the service to be top-notch. Two of my favorite restaurants in Chicago (and Lettuce restaurants as well) are Sushi-san and Tre Dita! Before my last headline show in Chicago, my touring crew and family all ate together at Sushi-san. Everyone from my 7-year-old niece to my restaurant industry uncle loved it. Last time I was in Chicago, I went to Tre Dita with my brother and sister-in-law because my sister-in-law had it on her wishlist since it opened. It was probably the best service I have ever had and the most delicious food I've ever had the privilege of eating.'
Sushi-san, 63 W. Grand Ave., 312-828-0575 and 1950 N. Halsted St., 773-389-7101, sushisanrestaurant.com
Tre Dita, 401 E. Wacker Drive, 312-725-1724, treditarestaurant.com
Playing: 3:25 p.m. Sept. 19 at Riot Fest
Where they're eating: 'The corned beef and pastrami sandwiches at Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen are always delicious and the potato pancakes and matzo ball soup are also spot-on. Kuma's Corner on West Belmont serves up some great and inventive burgers, all named after heavy metal bands, which is blaring out of the speakers at ungodly volumes. If we're in the right frame of mind, it's a fun place. Right across the street from Kuma's is a great little bar, DMen Tap, that has a kitchen that serves some wicked döner kebabs and currywurst. The music has always been great when we're there, and the pinball in the back room is a blast.'
Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen, 1141 S. Jefferson St., mannysdeli.com
Kuma's Corner, 2900 W. Belmont Ave., 773-604-8769, kumascorner.com
DMen Tap, 2849 W. Belmont Ave., 773-961-8757, dmentap.com
Playing: 11 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Lollapalooza after-show at Lincoln Hall and 3 p.m. Aug. 3 at Lollapalooza
Where they're eating: Devan Glover: 'My (favorite) spot is Chicago Diner. I'm obsessed. I started going here when I was a vegetarian, but even now that I'm not, it's still my mandatory pit stop in Chicago. The seitan wings are amazing.'
Khalid Yassein: 'Viaggio is the perfect spot for either an anniversary dinner or if you've just watched a marathon of 'The Godfather' movies. Classic Italian flavors, delicious gigantic meatballs, and old-school classy vibes makes this one of our favorite Chicago destinations.'
The Chicago Diner, 3411 N. Halsted St., 773-935-6696 and 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-252-3211 ext. 1, veggiediner.com
Viaggio, 1027 W. Madison St., 312-829-3333, viaggiochicago.com
Playing: 1 p.m. July 31 at Lollapalooza
Where they're eating: 'We've only been to Chicago a few times, so we are constantly exploring and trying new places. One of our new favorites is a bar called Fat Cat. After we played at the Riviera, we snuck out of the venue to get a quick bite and drinks while Silversun Pickups was playing. The glowing sign immediately drew us in like a moth to a flame. It was fate!'
Fat Cat, 4840 N. Broadway, 773-506-3100, fatcatbar.com
Playing: 3:15 p.m. Aug. 3 at Lollapalooza
Where they're eating: 'We're thrilled to be in Chicago for the first time! It's a true food city and we're unapologetic foodies. Avec is at the top of our list to try. The Chicagoans on our team rave about its cozy, welcoming vibe, and the unforgettable blend of Mediterranean and Midwestern flavors. We have to try those chorizo-stuffed dates and experience the magic of sharing plates in that warm, wood-lined space. If you know Katseye, you know food is our love language.'
Avec, 615 W. Randolph St., 312-377-2002, and 141 W. Erie Street, 312-736-1778, avecrestaurant.com
Playing: 11 p.m. July 31 at the Lollapalooza after-show at Bottom Lounge (sold out) and 2:45 p.m. Aug. 1 at Lollapalooza
Where she's eating: 'My favorite place to eat in Chicago is Giordano's. It's one of the last restaurants my family went to with my sister Celene and holds great memories. Also, when you get the pizza slices, the cheese just keeps going and is delicious!'
Giordano's, multiple locations, giordanos.com
Playing: 9:15 p.m. Aug. 29 at North Coast
Where he's eating: 'When you need that famous Chi-Town deep dish experience, it's Pequod's all the way. The way they caramelize that crust makes it worth every minute of those brutal wait times. Yes, I wait. I'm playing North Coast on Aug. 29 and should probably get my tour manager in that line now. Then there's Devil Dawgs on State. … Maybe (it's) not 'the best' hot dog in Chicago (I know these are fighting words), but I usually stay right near here and literally walk out of my hotel and grab one the second I get to town. Look, there aren't a lot of good hot dogs around the world, and this dog is solid. Sometimes convenience trumps all, you know? When you only get a Chicago dog a few times a year, it's like drinking water after being in the desert for months.'
Pequod's Pizza, 2207 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-327-1512 and 8520 Fernald Ave., Morton Grove, 847-470-9161, pequodspizza.com/chicago
Devil Dawgs, multiple locations, devildawgs.com