We gave it our best shot last week, but Chicago is (well, was) the Hog Butcher for the World… so this week we sat down around an imaginary meat lover’s pizza and asked ourselves what’s our favorite MEAT in Chicago:

CP says:

As far as Chicago meat is concerned, I’d have to say I’m torn on whether I love the corned beef at Chief O’Neill’s (“the three-leaf clover with the butthole” sign, you can’t miss it). They serve it up in big honkin’ slices, throw that in with some Guinness Cheddar Soup. Or if a Vienna Beef hot dog done up correctly is better. Then again….. gyros, which you can just about anywhere in
the city, are a favorite of mine. I like “Big Boys” on Western but it’s kinda hard to mess up gyros anyway. So, my favorite meat is….MEAT!

Lauren says:

Mr. Beef on Orleans. If you are gonna snarf some meat, this is the place to do it. So yummy, spicy, and DIPPED! I hate wet bread; it drives me into violent convulsions, but this is the one place I can eat a dipped beef. It is just that good.

Nikkos says:

I’ll keep it short and to the point. Get thee to Luc Thang Noodle, for THE
BEST BEEF SATAY EVER.

Steven says:

Hands down, my fav meat is located at Ruth’s Chris. It arrives at your table on a hot, steamy plate of butter. This keeps it hot throughout your whole meal. And it’s oh so soft….you can pretty much place your knife on the steak and it falls right through. I needs to get me back there, real soon.

Jennifer says:

I am quite certain that if it weren’t for barbequed ribs, I would be a vegetarian. My favorites are Carson’s, which we order to-go all the time with the potato skins or potatoes au gratin. They’ve got a bunch of locations all over town and the burbs. (And, for our friends following along from out of town, they also ship via overnight delivery.) Carson’s has completely ruined my potential for vegetarianism.

And, roasted chicken. Roasted chicken is another reason why I’m not a vegetarian. My favorite, when in a pinch for time, is from Cub Foods on Elston. They have them ready, warmed and waiting. They’re like five and a half bucks and kept at the front of the store for quick pick up. The meat is always moist. Just be sure you get “Original Recipe.” The other “flavors” taste fakey.

Other than these two exceptions, I’m a vegetarian.

Tom says:

My favorite meat is prime rib. Every birthday my parents have been taking me to Skip’s in New Buffalo, Michigan for the best prime rib ever. I’ve been working my way up to eating skip’s cut (40 ounces, I believe), but so far I’ve only managed Barb’s cut (something like 14 ounces).

Officer Gleason says:

Hands down, my favorite meat has got to be bacon…. However, if I want to get the most meat for my money, there is really only one place that I go to: Fogo De Chao. It has a ginormous salad bar that almost offsets the various cuts of beef, pork and chicken you can eat.

Fuzzy says:

Last week I noted that I was a vegetarian for nine years before I moved to Chicago. Well, Chicago beat that out of me pretty quick — shwarma and hot dogs and ribs and chicken and lamb chops and pork tacos and, damn, I’m hungry all of a sudden…

But my favorite meat has become the stuff we cook ourselves. When we moved into our condo last year my roommate went out and bought a big gas grill and now when we cook at home we rarely cook anything not on the grill. A household favorite is Erica’s Marinated Pork Loin — stick some pork loins in a big ziploc bag with soy sauce, water, garlic, honey, orange juice. Throw it in the fridge and go run some errands or take a walk down to the lake. Come home and throw them on the grill for a few minutes a side. Maybe grill some corn at the same time (just throw unshucked ears on the top rack of the grill). Deeeelish. Now I’m really hungry.

Tankboy says:

Man oh man this one is a toughie! I love meat so much that I pretty much dig it in every form and from every place. My favorite place to eat meat, though, used to be Smokedaddy on Division but over the last two years the quality has really plummeted and I can no longer recommend them. A more recent discovery that has just knocked my sock off is the Chicken Oregenato served at Bella Notte on Grand. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Get thee to that restaurant now!

Bella Notte
1374 W Grand
312-733-5136

Burrito Mexicano
936 W Addison
773-327-6991

Carson’s
2 Chicago and 2 Suburban locations

Chicken Hut
3200 N Broadway
773-868-1855

Chief O’Neill’s
3471 N Elston
773-IRE-LAND

Cub Foods
2627 N Elston Ave
773-227-7143

Fogo De Chao
661 N LaSalle Street
312-932-9330

Hot Doug’s
3324 N California
773-279-9550

Luc Thang
1524 N Ashland Ave
773-395-3907

Mr. Beef
666 N Orleans St
312-337-8500

Reza’s
3 locations

Ruth’s Chris Steak House
431 N Dearborn Street
312-321-2725

Sinbad’s
921 W Belmont Ave
773-477-6020

Skip’s Other Place
16710 Lakeshore Road
New Buffalo, MI
269-469-3330

Smokedaddy
1804 W Division St
773-772-MOJO

Smokin’ Woody’s
4160 N Lincoln
773-880-1100