They say no estimable decisions come after midnight , but that does n’t have to apply to food for thought , if you be after ahead enough to keep your post - bartime self from succumbing to soggy 4 am pizza delivery or a 7 - Eleven roller raging domestic dog . Here are 12 late - night spots foretell to turn your last spoiled decision of the nighttime into maybe the best one you ’ve made all solar day .
Ugo’s masterful fried fare
Ugo’s
Nothing puzzle the deep - deep-fried and salty at the end of a tenacious night of drinking … especially when it ’s made by a chef ( and lifelong nighttime owl ) whose CV includesSixteen , Alinea , andSalero . Ugo ’s , the Italian - style diner from executive chef / owner Stephen Hasson , feature of speech charcuterie such as aged prosciutto and pork rillettes ; antipasti like burrata with focaccia crackers ; and scald Neapolitan - manner pizzas until 1:30am nightly . But it ’s the fried part – with panko - crust mozzarella that transude on the inside ; toothsome , buttermilk - brined squid ; beguiling ringlet of still - crepitation fry Parm ; and crunchy cured mad apple – that your sauced self might just thank you for the most .
The best food on North Michigan Ave after midnight
The Purple Pig
Wandering down North Michigan Avenue at nighttime amid the closed shops could easily take on a dingy , otherworldly creepiness a laStranger Things . Luckily , you could retreat toThe Purple Pig , where grill , fried , and meaty Mediterranean - inhale delights await from James Beard Award - winning chef Jimmy Bannos Jr. The whole menu ’s middling plot ' til midnight Sunday through Thursday and 1 am on weekend , but you might not even want to pretend beyond the shareables like antipasti ( pork - electrocute almonds ! Greek cornbread ! ) , smears ( salt - heal Greek yogurt ! sign - made nduja ! ) and fried things ( nuggets of chorizo stuffed olives ! crispy pig spike ! ) . Just be wakeful when you venture back outside .
Turkish soul food
Galata
Galata may seem like any University Village bar , where flat - screens dangle over the received - issue wood bar and the cocktail card is packed with Technicolor concoctions identify Electric Lemonade and Stiletto . But the intellectual nourishment savour like Istanbul on a home base . Feast on shatteringly nipping borek ( fried dough lug with feta ) , juicy kick - and - lamb doner , and an raiment of spread from humus to the less - expect ezme ( bell pepper and tomatoes ) until midnight on weekends , reassuring yourself that your last meal of the nighttime could have been your best all day .
A mindful late-night burger
Epic Burger
When your fourth repast can only be a Warren E. Burger , it helps if it ’s the variety that ’s handcrafted from linear - free , humanely sourced ingredients , right ? As of July , Epic Burger ’s River North and South Loop locations have gone previous - night , offering a focused fare of say aware burgers – topped with gentle grilled onion , pickles , optional cheese , and “ epic ” ( aka ketchup and mayo ) sauce – plus Fry , from midnight to 4 am . So it technically enumerate as breakfast .
The closest we’ll get to In-N-Out Burger
Fatso’s Last Stand
Maybe you ’ve just closed down Tuman ’s or Beauty Bar , and you and your dancing shoes are a bit run - down . Refuel at Ukie Village blistering andiron standFatso ’s Last Standwith snappy Chicago - manner char domestic dog ( no catsup requests , please ) , crisp - edged smash Warren Burger , and gravely poppable panko - cake fried shrimp . If you ask for it , you may also get those shrimp on an off - menu US Post Office - boy with slaw . Everything comes with a side of fresh - slice french fries and slap-up hipster watching ' til 2 am on Thursday nights and 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays .
Tasty tacos and 19 different margs
Del Toro
East Pilsen taco and tequila barDel Torodoesn’t get half the erotic love of trendy advanced taquerias like Antique Taco and Big Star , but the tacos are as delicious as they are sleazy ( $ 2.50 to $ 3.50 ) , and you’re able to get them ' til 2 am five nights a week . The adobo - encrusted pork or scorch carne asada are substantial standbys , while the Saturday - only steamed barbacoa is well worth the wait . The hamburguesa , an oregano - spiced forked ooze with chihuahua high mallow , is a non - taco sleeper hit . If you ’re still boozing , go for one of 19 different margaritas on the deglutition menu . Might we hint the tonic Pepino , laced with cucumber , jalapeño , and chile piquin ? Almost tastes like it ’s good for you .
A reliable pick-me-up next to Wrigley
Pick Me Up Cafe
break up Me Up Cafehas furnish of the metropolis ’s most veggie - favorable menu for 19 years , and it ’s a delightfully kitschy honest-to-god gem in a hood where they ’re in short supply . Wander into this vintage - style Wrigleyville coffeehouse ' til 2 am any night of the calendar week , where you may get huevos rancheros or a five - gamy smokestack of pancakes at any 60 minutes , where Blink-182 is still in regular playlist rotation , and where the sexually attractive cheese fries always come go past with real – as in , not cheeseflower sauce – melted Armerican cheddar and little metal cup of tangy ranch and zingy unfermented salsa .
College redux by way of mac & cheese pizza
Dimo’s Pizza
The unconventionally topped pies atDimo ’s Pizza– like the redundantly carby yet resistless mac & cheese , the butter- and bourbon honey - soaked chicken & waffles , and Philly cheesesteak – might make your sombre , waistline - savvy ego cringe a little , but they ’re nearly perfect at preventing a hangover . With locations open until 2 am on Fridays and 3 am on Saturdays in equally rowdy Wrigleyville and Wicker Park ’s Six Corners , you may feel a few disgraceful twinge of college deja vu in the post - bartime blood line , but that alcoholic beverage sponge of a cut is well worth it .
High-five for dim lights and fiery noodles!
High Five Ramen
How should one crest off a Nox of go out and being seen at one too many West Loop bars ? slurp ramen- and pork - filled stock in the subterraneanHigh Five Ramen– both because down light works wonderment on your skin color , and because the fiery , rich broth brimming with springy bonce and satiny porc paunch seems like as good a balm as any for tomorrow ’s hangover . Slurp ‘ em ' til 1 am , Thursday through Saturday .
When regular nachos won’t cut it
Urbanbelly
If your “ belated ” happen during a more civil timeframe ( say 8 - 11pm ) , and your taste in belated - nighttime menu runs fancier than the stock nachos , pooch , and fries , Urbanbelly ’s latterly launched late - night menu is for you . Bill Kim ’s Asian fusion spot process up Asian - inflected bar bites like chicken gyro bao with yogurt nuoc cham ; beef hot cad topped with crunchy ramen , kimchee slaw , and curry mayo ; grilled cheeseflower with sambal and cilantro ; and togarashi fries .
A finer diner breakfast
Johnny’s Grill
Sometimes get word “ last call ” can put forward a Pavlov ’s andiron - type craving for greasy - spoonful breakfast . as luck would have it , revived Logan Square dinerJohnny ’s Grill , helm by the capable Sarah Jordan ( Blackbird , GT Fish & Oyster , and Cicchetti ) , serves up classical diner breakfast ( and dinner ) fare without the epithelial duct - tapdance booths or lingering smell of bleach . Get the whole computer menu ' til 11 pm each Nox , though on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 post-mortem until 2 am , it shrinks to a focused list of faculty favorites – like blueberry syrup - soaked Johnny bar , Irish deep-fried breakfast , that double - patty cheeseburger , or chocolate and beignet . Bonus : should hambre take up while you ’re sipping on mezcal at the side by side Mezcaleria Las Flores , Johnny ’s late - dark menu is available there , too .
The closest thing to poppable BBQ
Lem’s Bar-B-Q
Did you know that costa tips ( the irregular , cartilage - laced bits made famous on the South Side ) are actually grand drinking food?Lem ’s Bar - B - Q ’s sturdy yet tender , savory nuggets of crispy - edged pork are sodding to snack on on the ride home ( supply your designated driver does n’t bear in mind the BBQ sense of smell overwhelm the auto ) . cast in a few smoky hot links for good step , all piled alongside Wonder gelt and small fry soaked in tangy , spicy BBQ sauce . Get ‘ em ' til 1 am Sunday through Thursday and 3 am on weekends ; just do n’t blank out to fetch hard cash .
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The Purple Pig
Lisa Predko
Epic Burger
Fatso’s Last Stand
Pick Me Up Cafe
Courtesy of High Five Ramen
Courtesy of Urbanbelly
Mike Gebert/Thrillist
