Restaurant Review: In Grant Park, Taste of Chicago brings communities, cuisines, music together
DO YOU REMEMBER…your first Original Rainbow Cone? Your first slice of Lou Malnati’s pizza? For me, a suburban kid, I’d never had either until my first visit to theTaste of Chicago in Grant Park. In 2026, the largest free-admission food festival in the world starts on Wednesday, July 8, ends Sunday, July 12, and runs from 11am – 9pm in the same Grant Park of my youth, Columbus Avenue from Balbo to Monroe.
“Taste of Chicago is one of the city’s most beloved summer traditions because it reflects the heart and soul of Chicago through our people, our culture and our extraordinary culinary talent,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement to WTTW.
Taste of Chicago made the Windy City an international foodie destination
According to Wikipedia sources, restauranteur Arnie Morton (Morton ‘s Steakhouse, Arnie’s), had gone to a similar event in New York and persuaded then-Chicago mayor Jane Byrne and Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Lois Weisberg to block off Michigan Avenue for the first Taste of Chicago on July 4, 1980.
Although organizers expected 100,000 people, a crowd of over 250,000 showed up, with food and soda sales grossing $300,000 at the festival’s inception. The next year, it moved to Grant Park and merged with Chicagofest, the music festival, to create a very large annual event.
Part of the reason for its success (personal opinion) was that, while Chicago has always had its fair share of fancy restaurants (The Berghoff, Gene and Georgetti’s, Italian Village), there was never an affordable event where people could be sample “tastes” of Chicago’s most renowned restaurants.
It was because of Taste of Chicago that I could sample such exotic treats as Turtle Soup, Barbecued Turkey Legs, Jerk Chicken, the Original Rainbow Cone, and Cheesecake-on-a-Stick!
For the Taste of Chicago to be that successful, the combination of free admission, affordability and portion size, along with free, top-notch musical acts, like Stevie Wonder, CeeLo Green, Weezer and proved a winning formula for Chicago and the tourists who made pilgrimages to “The Taste” annually. The event increased to seven days and more than a million visitors at one point.
What’s Happening in 2026?
The festival is happening in Grant Park, Chicago, and is bringing a massive lineup of local eateries, international cuisines, and desserts to the city. Taste of Chicago 2026 features over 45 local restaurants, 20 food trucks, and specialty pop-ups, including:
Global Flavors likeSeoul Taco, Badou Senegalese Cuisine, Cebu Chicago, Khmai, and Tandoor Char House
Barbecue favorites like Soul & Smoke – Smoked brisket, pulled pork, and BBQ ribs, and Lexington Betty Smoke House – Award-winning BBQ and smoked meats
Comfort food, including Joey G’s Mac N Cheese – Gourmet macaroni and cheese and Harold’s Chicken 55 –Famous Chicago fried chicken
When it’s appropriate, we always recommend dessert! Here, try Molly’s Cupcakes on a Saturday pop-up for freshly baked gourmet cupcakes, or have your own Rainbow Cone, or come to Eli’s Cheesecake Birthday Celebration, carrying on the longstanding tradition of cutting a ceremonial 1,000-pound Eli’s Cheesecake. Attendees will receive a free piece of cake following the ceremony.
In addition to these sit-down restaurants, there will be a Snack Shack featuring sweet treats, and rotating pop-up vendors serving cuisines from all over the city.
Please Note: Only credit cards are accepted by all food vendors, No food tickets will be sold!
Music! Music! Music!
The Main Stage features a slate of award-winning artists. Or check out the Goose Island Stage for a showcase of local and up-and-coming artists. Check out this year’s free headliners at Taste of Chicago:
Beach Bunny, indie rock pop favorites
Common, Chicago hip-hop icon
Babyface, Legendary R&B singer, songwriter, and producer
Julieta Venegas, international Mexican Latin pop-rock sensation
Original Koffee, Grammy-winning Reggae singer-songwriter
For a complete list of Taste of Chicago restaurants and events, click here.
Happy 250th Birthday, America!
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
