One of the best cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day — other than Dublin, Ireland, of course — is Chicago, Illinois.
Thanks to the city’s vibrant Irish heritage, it’s famous for the numerous traditional pubs throwing themed events and St. Paddy’s Day parades, as well as for dyeing its iconic river a vivid green to ring in the celebration.
The Chicago River’s envious holiday coloring has been a tradition for more than five decades, and every year, people from across the city and around the country line the bridges and river walk to watch the barges release dye into the water and see the river slowly turn an emerald green.
From colorful waterways and parades to bar hopping and good eats, Chicago’s rich culture also offers up some of the country’s best food, including the ever-popular corned beef in honor of the holiday.
Happy eating, drinking and celebrating!
1. Morry’s Deli
5500 S Cornell Ave.
773-363-3800
morrysdeli.com
Photo courtesy Morry’s Deli
Morry’s Deli has been a Chicago legend for decades and is famous for its corned beef, which is sliced fresh each and every morning, much to the delight of hungry patrons. The biz is the brainchild of founder Morry Orman, who wanted to share his favorite sandwiches with the community. The deli’s corned beef sandwich is served traditional-style on rye bread with mustard, but the establishment also offers up a large selection of breads, condiments and cheeses to suit any palate. Morry’s first opened in Chicago in 1960 and has since launched 12 more locations around the Windy City.
2. Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen
1141 S Jefferson St.
312-939-2855
mannysdeli.com
Photos courtesy Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen
A fourth-generation family-owned and -operated restaurant, Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen cannot be overlooked. It boasts a 1950s cafeteria-style setup and seats up to 300 guests. All of its dishes are made with fresh and high-quality ingredients, served in large portions that are made to order. “St. Patrick’s Day is our busiest time of year,” shares owner Dan Raskin. “We’re known for corned beef year-round, but for the holiday we serve a little more traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner.”
Photos courtesy Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen
3. Cork & Kerry
10614 S Western Ave.
773-445-2675
corkandkerry.com
Photo courtesy Cork & Kerry
Located in the Beverly neighborhood, Cork & Kerry is a go-to Irish pub. For those who want to hit the town to sip some iconic Irish brews, Cork & Kerry is also guaranteed to satisfy your appetite. Especially over the holiday, this pub is known for its Irish egg rolls — a different take on the classic corned beef sandwich. The chefs serve the unique rolls with slow-roasted corned beef prepared in-house, cabbage and Dubliner Irish cheese, all rolled up and fried to perfection.
