7 Places You Need to Check out in Rogers Park
As one of the farthest north neighborhoods of Chicago, Rogers Park is often forgotten about when discussing the best restaurants and shops in the city. But for those living nearby – they know the difference. Rogers Park is full of hidden gems and must-visit shops and places to eat. Take Lakeshore straight up north and you’ll be in the perfect place to check out any spot on this list of places you need to visit.
bopNgrill
A popular location in rogers park that has been around for the last decade – bopNgrill is the spot to go if you’re in the mood for Korean-inspired food like bowls and burgers. Fast-casual is one of the best spots to hit up during lunch or grab a quick takeout for dinner. Featured on Diner’s Drive-ins and Dives, bopNgrill is a popular spot in Rogers Park. Check out their visual menu here.
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Honeybear Cafe
Are you looking for that classic Chicago diner experience in Rogers Park? Look no further than Honeybear Cafe. Known for their epic breakfast portions and diner vibes, this is the perfect spot for a hungover Saturday morning meal or a well-rested Sunday morning coffee. Locally owned and operated, they serve elevated breakfast food in an adorable environment. Check out their menu and hours here.
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The Glenwood
The Glenwood is a stellar restaurant with fun vibes residing in Rogers Park. This place is a playground for 20 and 30-year-olds; this place is as much a bar as a restaurant and the neighborhood hot spot on the weekend.
They specialize in the best cooked and fried up bar food paired with a cool sports bar vibe with an excellent tap list. Timeout.com describes it with – “At first glance, this place looks like your typical yuppie sports bar, but the vastly male clientele, plum and ochre walls adorned with abstract art, and Kylie Minogue soundtrack reveals it to be Rogers Park’s straightest-acting gay bar. It’s also dog-friendly and offers a nice selection of retro cocktails like sidecars and lime rickeys.” Check out their menu and hours here!
Rogers Park Fruit Market
A unique gem in Rogers Park, the fruit market is a local treasure for those in the area. Checking out their website, it seems to say it best – “When you are in need of a grocery store in Chicago, IL, come to Rogers Park Fruit Market. We specialize in groceries, deli, fresh fruit and meat, and much more.” They are locally sourced, a step above going to Jewel or Whole Foods. Featuring organic and non-organic produce, this local market has cultivated a mass following for its awesome products, prices, and staff. If you’re looking for somewhere to feel good about spending your money, this is the place for you.
Ethiopian Diamond
This restaurant is on every list of must-visit places in Rogers Park, so it would be criminal not to include it. Boasting the best Ethiopian restaurant in the city, Ethiopian Diamond will fulfill every expectation you have for them and more. Many websites rave about their menu; according to Timeout.com their Ethiopian delicacies can be found nowhere else in the city.
“The ground beef in the sambusa is livened with peppers, making the timid potato-and-carrot variety pale in comparison. Vegetables shine in the entrées, particularly in the two types of split peas: the rich yet tame alicha and the spicy wat, both stewed to melt-in-your-mouth perfection and served with injera bread. Fat and bones abound, but don’t let that stop you from gnawing on the kay wat, beef cubes simmered in the “diamond sauce,” a gingery, cumin-laced red sauce with a nice chili kick.”
Located between Glenlake and Hood Ave, write this palace down because you don’t want to forget about it. Check out their hours and menu here.
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Brown Elephant
With multiple locations all over Chicago, Brown Elephant is one of the most well-known thrifting spots in the city. Locations are usually in a massive warehouse-like storefront; it’s a place you can find nearly anything secondhand. Rogers Park has one of the best selections in the city, with a huge furniture department and lots of clothes and shoes to sort through. The prices are always fair, and if you have stuff you want to donate yourself, it’s always a great place to take it. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
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Milk Handmade
Looking for a cool and unique gift from a locally owned small business? Milk Handmade is the exact shop for those needs. As a spot known for its uniqueness, it makes it a one-stop-shop for everyone wanting to impress. Like a boutique, the shop offers knick-knacks, candles, purses, clothes, and so much more. Everything is from local and independent designers, including handmade jewelry and more. See what kinds of things they have in stock here.
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