Before I became comfortable in my own kitchen, my home cooking was what I would politely call unpredictable. Some meals were edible, others were experimental in the wrong way, and a few were memorable only because the smoke alarm got involved.
But eating out in Chicago did something magical for my confidence. It showed me what flavour could be, how ingredients behave, and what a truly balanced dish feels like.
These six restaurants didn’t just feed me. They taught me lessons that no cooking class ever managed to teach. In many ways, they shaped the cook I am still becoming.
1. The Duck Inn in Bridgeport
The Duck Inn was the first place that made me sit up straight and really think about temperature.
Their signature rotisserie duck is crisp on the outside and tender beneath the skin, and I remember wondering how on earth anyone could achieve such a miracle.
As I ate, I realised that temperature is not just about numbers on a dial. It is patience, attention, and a willingness to let the food take its time.
That dinner encouraged me to stop rushing through my own cooking. Slowly, I learned the difference between browning and burning, between simmering and boiling, and between overcooked and perfect.
2. Lou Malnati’s in any Chicago neighbourhood
Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza taught me that comfort food can be indulgent without being one dimensional.
Their buttery crust, the rich tomato sauce, the generous cheese, all of it comes together in a way that feels balanced despite the decadence. It made me rethink my approach to comforting dishes at home.
I used to believe that more cheese or more sauce automatically meant more flavour. But eating here taught me that balance matters even when the dish is supposed to be hearty.
Comfort food, I realised, is not about excess but about harmony.
3. Frontera Grill in River North
Frontera Grill was where I discovered how layered spice can be when treated with respect. Before I ate here, I was misusing cumin in ways that should probably be illegal.
I tossed it into dishes like a reckless artist throwing paint without understanding the canvas.
At Frontera, the flavours felt built, not thrown. I could taste brightness, warmth, smokiness, and depth all in one bite. It taught me that spices should not shout at each other.
They should speak in a thoughtful, slow conversation. After that meal, I began using spices more intentionally, learning to toast them, layer them, and coax out different notes from the same ingredient.
4. Sun Wah BBQ in Uptown
Sun Wah BBQ showed me that food is about joy, community, and the pleasure of sharing. Watching a whole duck carved tableside was like witnessing a cooking dream unfold in front of me.
The crisp skin, the tender meat, the pancakes, the hoisin, the scallions, all arranged with such ease and confidence.
It made me realise that eating is not just about flavour, but also about the experience around the table. At home, I started focusing less on perfection and more on creating moments.
Meals became less stressful and more communal, no matter how simple the dish.
5. Parachute in Avondale
Parachute introduced me to modern Korean flavours in a way that felt bold yet inviting. It gave me my first real taste of gochujang used beautifully. Until then, I had been too intimidated to experiment with it at home.
The dishes here taught me that strong flavours do not need to be feared. They just need to be balanced.
After one unforgettable meal, I went home, bought a small tub of gochujang, and started playing with it. It opened a whole new world for me, one that I continue to explore with excitement.
6. Joong Boo Market Snack Corner in Avondale
Joong Boo Market’s tiny snack corner is proof that simple food can hit the soul just as powerfully as fine dining.
A bowl of noodles, a humble dumpling, or a soothing Korean soup from this counter taught me that flavour does not have to be complicated to be meaningful.
Whenever I ate there, I felt comforted, grounded, and strangely proud of my own cooking journey.
This place reminded me that good food comes from honesty, not showiness. That lesson changed the way I approach weekday meals entirely.
What These Restaurants Ultimately Taught Me
Chicago restaurants have been some of my greatest teachers. They showed me that flavour has rules, emotions, and personality.
They taught me to be patient, to be curious, and to treat ingredients with respect. Restaurant meals are not just treats. They are classrooms filled with inspiration, creativity, and lessons waiting on every plate.
And thanks to these six places, my home cooking is now far less unpredictable and far more joyful.
Hi there! I’m Olivia Chen-Williams, a 54-year-old late-blooming cook, career coach, and the face behind Turn Around At 50 – a food blog that proves it’s never too late to start something new (even if your first attempt burns to a crisp!).
