Top 5 Lunch Spots Around UIC

If you find yourself off campus and away from UIC Dining locations, picking a good lunch spot around campus can be hard since there are so many options! However, if I were to choose my top 5 spots (in no particular order), it would be these.

Thai Bowl   
1049 W. Taylor St. 
Chicago, IL 60607  
Menu 
Located closest to Morgan St., this small family-owned business is a delicious lunch spot. I first started going to Thai Bowl with my sister when she attended UIC and now five years later as a junior, I still go. It’s affordable, filling, and delicious. My usual order is Pad See Ew with duck meat or tofu and Thai iced tea.

Jim’s Original   
1250 S. Union St. 
Chicago, IL 60607  
Menu  
Near the JST dorms, this famous Polish hot dog joint is not a place to miss. Jim’s Original first opened its doors in 1939 and heavily catered to the night owls of the Eisenhower Expressway for many years. Their famous hot dogs made from Vienna Beef, a Chicago based supermarket company that produces the famous Chicago style hot dogs, became its main staple. Not only does this business have a long history serving the neighborhood, which eventually became University Village, but it also has a long history of serving many UIC students.

ML Kitchen   
1138 W. Taylor St. 
Chicago, IL 60607  
Menu    
Found in the heart of Little Italy, ML Kitchen brings you authentic Chinese-American food. This is the place to go if you are looking for a price-friendly and filling place to eat lunch. If you order online, you can receive 10% off your order. Who doesn’t like a good discount?

Mr Greek Gyros  
234 S. Halsted St. 
Chicago, IL 60607  
Menu  
Located on the corner of Halsted & Jefferson, this mom-and-pop joint is great for when you’re craving a good gyro. With the old-school like interior, this place feels like you are thrown into Chicago of the past while eating delicious food.

Rosati’s Pizza of Chicago  
1339 S. Halsted St. 
Chicago, IL 60607  
Menu   
With a century long history of being family-owned, Rosati’s Pizza is an amazing place to eat delicious pizza while celebrating a family recipe with each bite. Rosati’s can be found on the corner of Halsted and Liberty St, in the heart of University Village. Not only is Rosati’s rich with history, but they offer weekly specials, such as “buy one pizza, get one free” on every Monday and Tuesday. Who doesn’t like a good deal that happens each week?

While, the UIC campus is rich with various cuisine options, I hope that all of you explore the surrounding neighborhoods to find your favorite spots for a good lunch. Remember to eat all your meals and stay healthy as we reach finals week. Happy eating!