I am a pure Chicago native. I eat, sleep, and breathe Chicago. From being an avid Cubs fan (years before the beautiful specimen Kris Bryant walked onto the team), to my excessive love for Green River soda and giardiniera, I am one of the ten million residents who claim a spot in the Windy City. I am a traveler and a wanderer, and I am also a person who loves good eats. I may be a little biased, but I think Chicago has some of the best food money can buy! For all of my colleagues, co-workers, and friends and just people who have never experienced the Madhouse (nice little reference there) that is Chicago, here are my top five picks of eateries that you HAVE to experience while in Chicago.

1. Palermo's 95th Street Italian Cuisine

4849 West 95th Street Oak Lawn, Illinois

Palermo's is listed as a "rustic, family-owned eatery, serving up pizzas, antipasti, and classic Italian entrees since 1961", but there is more to that than Google's description provides. I have been going here with my Italian side of my family since I was practically an embryo. From the pasta dishes (the fettuccine Alfredo is my favorite) to their awesome appetizers for something lighter (go for the fried calamari or baked zucchini), Palermo's falls nothing short of authentic, Italian home-cooking.

2. Xocoatl

2214 South Wolcott Avenue Chicago, Illinois

Skip the Sprinkles Bakery ATMs and bakery locations, because this bakery is where the hype and magic is at. Located in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, Xocoatl is not for the faint heart. Their desserts, solely focused on the Latinx dessert of churros, are homemade and made to order. Each and everyday, Xocoatl has rotating churro filling flavors, from apple pie to Nutella, however, they always offer the traditional Vanilla and Chocolate, or even the unfilled churro.

3. Gino's East

500 North LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois

You would really be doing a disservice to yourself if you didn't experience the magic t

hat is Chicago deep dish pizza, specifically Gino's East. This specific location, located in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, is always busy, so be prepared to wait. Gino's East has been dishing out their coveted pizzas for over 50 years, and it falls nothing short of the name they have created for themselves. The pizza dough is made fresh on site, and everything, from the marinara pizza sauce to the mozzarella cheese is authentic, and usually takes about forty minutes to make a Gino's East deep dish pizza. This place is DEFINITELY worth the wait.

4. Pop's Italian Beef and Sausage

10337 South Kedzie Avenue Chicago, Illinois

You cannot leave Chicago without experiencing the beauty and life-changing experience that is a classicItalian Beef Sandwich (if I could choose any specific meat product to eat again, it'd be an Italian beef sandwich). I grew up eating Pop's Italian Beef and Sausage the true Chicago way, with extra au jus and piled high with giardiniera (also a Chicago delicatessen). From their famously acclaimed Italian beef sandwiches to their hot dogs and sandwiches, anything you try at Pop's is bound to be heavenly.

5. Chi Tung Restaurant

9560 South Kedzie Avenue Evergre

en Park, Illinois

Chi Tung just falls right outside of the Chicago borders and is located in the south-side suburb of Evergreen Park. For my fans of Japanese, Chinese, and Thai food, this is the place for you. Chi Tung has hibachi grills set up where you have your own personal chef to cook your food right in front of your eyes. Their sushi is to die for (I love the California rolls).