Chicago/Southwest Side

{{Pagebanner|Southwest Side-banner.jpg|1280px|Halal Travel to Southwest Side|caption=Funky decor inside the Polish Highlander-themed Szalas Restaurant|1280px]]

The Southwest Side of Chicago is far off the beaten path. Plenty of visitors know Midway Airport, but never see anything beyond. Truth be told and there isn't a lot to see. But the Southwest Side does hold some interest as the former home to the infamous Union Stock Yards, and a pretty long list of hidden culinary gems well worth the trek.

Chicago/Southwest Side Halal Travel Guide

Union Stockyard Gate - Chicago's Union Stock Yard Gate

The Southwest Side is large enough where you cannot understand it without understanding its neighborhoods — it is united only by its blue-collar character, proximity to the airport, and of course the White Sox.

The Back of the Yards is a loose term encompassing the community areas of McKinley Park, Brighton Park, and New City, referring to the area's history as the home to the vast hordes of immigrant laborers in the Union Stock Yards of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. Though the stock yards are long gone and the blue-collar character remains. The actual stock yards were located in the heart of New City between Ashland Ave and Halsted from Pershing Road (39th St) to 47th St. Today the site is marked by the Union Stock Yard Gate and a large industrial park. The area surrounding the park is comprised of predominantly Mexican-American neighborhoods and has some good food on offer. Canaryville (between Halsted and Wentworth from Pershing to 49th) is an Irish-American neighborhood with a notoriously violent reputation. McKinley Park, on the other hand, is experiencing gentrification as younger Chicagoans are priced out of "hipper" neighborhoods.

The Union Stock Yards|The massive meatpacking industry of the Union Stock Yards developed alongside the technological innovation of the refrigerated railway car. Livestock of the agrarian Midwest were brought to the rail hub of Chicago and its stock yards to be processed and shipped off around the nation. At its peak and the Union Stock Yards processed about 82% of the Meat consumed in the United States!

The stock yards played a huge role in the development of the city. With the enormous wealth they brought in came some of the world's first global companies, capitalizing on the abundance of animal byproducts for use in commercial goods and technological innovations in transport, refrigeration, and the beginnings of the assembly line. Even more important to modern-day Chicago and the yards gave birth to the modern hedging industry needed to manage the inherent risks in agricultural commodities trade, establishing Chicago as a premier world center for finance.

Further technological innovations, however, spelled doom for Chicago's centralized stock yards. The rise of interstate trucking and fast point to point shipping of Meat allowed for livestock to be slaughtered where they were raised and then quickly delivered to consumers without the Chicago middleman.

Chicagoans don't lament the loss of the yards, regardless of the number of jobs they provided — the stench of manure and death was suffocating across the greater part of the city. And the environmental degradation cataloged by Upton Sinclair was extreme. The south fork of the Chicago River's South Branch (just west of Racine Ave) became known as Bubbly Creek for the methane and hydrogen sulfide gas, produced by entrails' decomposition, bubbling through the grease, chemicals, blood, and guts. It wasn't pretty.

Centered on one very large and fabulous park, Marquette Park is an ethnically mixed neighborhood divided between mostly African-Americans east of the park and Mexican-Americans instantly west of the park, along with some Polish and Lithuanian-Americans. Further west and the area becomes more ethnically inclusive, with median income playing a more prominent role in residency.Aside from the park (and its golf course) and the neighborhood is alluring mostly for its great Mexican food, as well its rare-in-America Lithuanian dining. This neighborhood was once dominated by a big, wealthy, Lithuanian-American community, but its demographics began to shift dramatically following Martin Luther King Jr's anti-segregation marches (which at the time met with violence from residents). Accompanying desegregation in this neighborhood was characteristic "white flight," which put an end to the "Lithuanian Gold Coast" and heralded a more open neighborhood which recently has become a major tourist destination in the United States for Mexican immigrants.

Around Midway, you'll find Chicago's second airport, surrounded by an ethnically diverse collection of neighborhoods. This section of town is home to a large, established Polish community, as well as more recently arrived Mexican communities. The neighborhoods of Archer Heights, Garfield Ridge, and Clearing are important centers of Polish culture in the United States; you are likely to hear as much Polish phrasebook|Polish as English while walking around these neighborhoods. Polish Highlanders, or Górals dominate the local Polish population, with a unique cuisine and culture that is decidedly Balkan. A host of restaurants and cultural institutions visibly display the rustic touch of their Carpathian craft such as the Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America at Archer Ave just northeast of its intersection with Pulaski Rd. Points of interest are pretty spread out, but the food and dining sure beats the airport hotels. And you don't have to venture too far to find one-in-a-million Pizzas, or some Croatian baked goods.

In the southeast are a couple of far-flung African-American neighborhoods: Auburn Gresham and Washington Heights. Aside from the Obama family's now famous church and they have far less of interest to travelers, but both are nice enough neighborhoods and have some good places to eat if you find yourself in the area.

Englewood also deserves a mention, but mostly as a warning — it is a large, impoverished, and relatively violent neighborhood with just about nothing to offer a traveler. It is generally best to just roll through on one of the primary streets (e.g., 55th St) or to avoid the area altogether.

How to travel to Chicago/Southwest Side

Fly to Chicago/Southwest Side

Midway Airport (IATA Flight Code: MDW) plays second fiddle to the Chicago giant that is O'Hare International Airport|O'Hare International, but it serves a lot of domestic flights (with Southwest & Delta) and some international Flights from Canada and Mexico, serving as a more convenient point of entry. Just about everyone coming into this part of Chicago goes through this airport on low-cost carriers:

• Concourse A: Delta/Delta Connection, Porter Airlines, Southwest and Volaris
• Concourse B: Southwest
• Concourse C: VIA Airlines as Branson Air Express (to Branson, Missouri) and Regional Sky (to Manistee, Michigan)

Parking rates

• Hourly parking: $4 for the first hour and $2 for each additional hour
• Daily parking: $4 for the first hour, each day is $25.
• Economy parking: $2 for the first hour, $5 for two hours, and $12 per day (or just over 2 hours!)

The Omega Airport Shuttle provides transfer service to Chicago O'Hare International Airport for $45 (plus tip), with hourly departures from outside Southwest Airlines Baggage Claim at Door 3LL. Service is offered daily 7:50AM Monday - 11:50PM. Chicago taxis' metered rates for the Midway/O'Hare trip are in the vicinity of $65.

If time is not of the essence and the Chicago O'Hare International Airport|O'Hare to Midway trip can be made via CTA 'L'] lines for $5 (and only $2.50 from Midway to O'Hare). The fully-accessible Midway station is just east of the airport terminal building and is connected to the airport via an enclosed walkway. Follow the signs to “CTA Trains” or “Trains to City” from the airport. An orange line painted on the ground will guide you there. Take the CTA Orange Line from to the Clark/Lake stop and follow the signs on the platform to go downstairs to the CTA Blue Line which goes to O'Hare. There is no charge for changing trains at Clark/Lake. The typical time is about an hour and a half, although extra time should be allowed for delays.

Southwest Side master map - 600px

Parking charges are incurred after 10 minutes in all lots, save the cell phone waiting area.

Travel by train to Chicago/Southwest Side

The CTA Orange Line runs through the neighborhood on its way from Chicago/Loop|the Loop, providing quick and easy access to Midway Airport, as well as some northern areas of the Southwest Side from the Loop, but keep in mind that a bus transfer will likely be necessary to get you from the L station to anywhere other than the airport. Travel duration is about 25–30 minutes from the Loop to Midway, but you may wait up to 30 minutes between trains during off peak hours. Check schedules since Orange Line trains do not run 24 hours.

The CTA Red Line (as does the slightly less convenient Green Line) runs along the eastern boundary of the neighborhood. While it is fairly far from anything of interest on the Southwest Side, you'll find an east-west bus route picking up right in front of each station (except 69th St!), running the length of that numbered street (e.g., #55 along 55th St, #63 along 63rd St, etc.).

Metra's Rock Island commuter rail line serves the southernmost neighborhoods of the neighborhood, and can get you to Auburn-Gresham or Washington Heights. But you will need to take a bus from the station to your destination. Trains depart from the downtown LaSalle Station. A ride to the Gresham station costs just over $2, to Longwood or Washington Heights, just over $3.

The Metra Southwest Service goes straight from Union Station in the Chicago/Near West Side|Near West Side to the Ashburn neighborhood, where it stops twice at "Wrightwood" and "Ashburn." Only take this train if you are going to Ashburn, not if you are going to the airport, as its stops are on the other end of the neighborhood. Saturday service is extremely limited and there is no Sunday service.

Travel on a Bus in Chicago/Southwest Side

CTA bus route #62, which travels along Archer Ave from McCormick Center in the Chicago/Near South|Near South to Midway, is probably the most convenient route into the Southwest Side from downtown Chicago. Other important routes include the city-spanning north south routes along Halsted, Ashland, Western, Pulaski, and Cicero: #8, #9, #49, #54, and #53. The major east west routes are #47, #55, and #63, which as you might expect run the lengths of 47th, 55th, and 63rd streets.

# 62 Archer is the one bus that runs directly from downtown to the Midway Area, but it doesn't stop at the airport (except during the overnight hours when the Orange Line 'L' is not running), so if you're coming from that way and the 'L' is a better option. From the West Side and there are convenient and direct routes along Cicero and Pulaski (#53 and #54). Bus route #55 is by far the best way to travel to Midway from the South Side, which leaves from the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago/Hyde Park|Hyde Park.

By car

Midway skyline view - A hazy Chicago skyline guide|skyline view over Midway Airport

The Dan Ryan Expressway runs down the eastern edge of the neighborhood, and heading west on the 55th/Garfield exit will take you directly to the airport. To get to the Union Stock Yard Gate, take the Pershing Road exit from the Dan Ryan. The Stevenson Expressway lacks exits on the primary streets leading into the eastern parts of the area, but the Damen Ave exit will get you on Archer, from which you can easily get onto Western, Ashland, or Halsted. For Midway take Cicero; Pulaski is useful for adventuring the areas just east of the airport.

How to get around In Chicago/Southwest Side

Travel on a Bus in Chicago/Southwest Side

Pretty much the only way to get around the Southwest Side by public transport is by bus, but if thit is the route you choose, make a point of it to plan your route ahead of time, as distances are fairly long and the bus routes generally only run along the main streets.

By car

A vehicle is a handy travel companion in the Southwest Side indeed. Attractions, activities, and restaurants are generally spread apart over long distances, and free on-street parking is available just about everywhere. Taxis are also an excellent option, but do not expect to be able to hail one off the street — you will need to call and arrange rides in advance.

What to see in Chicago/Southwest Side

Waynes World Indian - Glad he can see now

The one big sight on the Southwest Side is the Union Stock Yard Gate, and even that is a pretty small attraction for how out of the way it is. Other sights appeal to narrow sections of society. The Chicago Blues Museum has a magnificent collection for anyone interested in blues history, but it remains to be seen whether it will ever have regular hours. The Balzekas Museum is of obvious interest to Lithuanian-Americans and the Indian Building to Wayne's World fanatics and roadside souvenirs-seekers, and the Archives to, well, archivists (and to those who want to trace their roots in the Midwest).

• Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture 6500 South Pulaski Road 41.7756, -87.7228 ☎ +1 773-582-6500 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 4PM daily Adults: $9, seniors/students: $7, children: $3 Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture The Balzekas Museum has a fine collection of Lithuanian antiques, folk art, armor, coins, rare historical maps, amber jewelry, and other items exhibited chronologically. The center also includes a state-of-the-art audio-visual center and an impressive research facility for Lithuanian history and genealogy. And the gift shop is a great shopping spot for Lithuanian items.

• Capital Cigar Store Inc - The Indian Building | 6258 South Pulaski Road - Forget the store, this place is famous for the giant stereotypical-looking Indian statue of Wayne's World fame on the roof. In the movie, his hand is raised in greeting, but he has an arrow through his back. More recently, however and the Midwest Eye Clinic has usurped the cigar sellers, and adopted the Indian as a billboard — the arrow is gone, he now wears large glasses, and bears an odd sign reading "Eye can see now."

• Chicago Blues Museum | 3636 South Iron Street ☎ +1 773-828-8118 - This museum is huge and has an excellent collection of blues paraphernalia and exhibits related to blues in Chicago today and in history. The museum also has exhibits pertaining to Chicago's African-American history in general, especially about the Chicago/Bronzeville|Bronzeville neighborhood in the 1920s and 30s. But the collection is on tour, and the museum is closed indefinitely.

• La Lotería | 4100 South Ashland Ave - The largest mural in the city (500 ft), painted by Hector Duarte and Mariah de Forest, on the south wall of the Swap-O-Rama building. You can't really see it from the street — you'll need to wander deep into the parking lot for a good look.

• National Archives & Records Administration 7358 South Pulaski Road ☎ +1 773-948-9050 +1 773-948-9050 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8AM Monday - 4:15PM The enormous Midwest branch of the National Archives is hidden away in the middle of nowhere, but its collection of records is enormous. The public has free and instant access to the census records, for those interested in their family genealogy, while historic federal documents are searchable only by researchers who have applied for a pass in advance.

• Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America - Dom Podhalan | polishhighlanders1@ 4808 South Archer Ave ☎ +1 773-523-7632 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday noon-9PM, Saturday - Sunday 11AM Monday - 9PM Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America Thit is the seat of Chicago's Polish Highlanders, or Góral community which dominates the Southwest Side's Polish population. The building, which also hosts a restaurant, is styled as a Carpathian chalet in the traditional Zakopane style of architecture, and is undergoing renovation under the eye of famed artist Jerzy Kenar.

• Trinity United Church of Christ 400 West 95th Street 41.7219, -87.6342 ☎ +1 773-962-5650 - Trinity United Church of Christ 703919 This large and influential church is a long-time pillar of Chicago's South Side, and the former home to one very famous congregant, Barack Obama, who here found his religion and was baptized. Trinity United, to the dismay of its congregants, rocketed to international infamy in the space of seconds during then Senator Obama's presidential campaign, when news outlets got their hands on a fiery sermon by the then pastor Jeremiah Wright. In the now famous clip, replayed endlessly for weeks across the cable news networks, Rev. Wright cried out, "God damn America!" The ensuing characterization of the church was hardly fair, with the short clip shown out of context, and the context itself being one very much alien to most Americans, who had not had any experience of the often radical social justice traditions of the African-American Church. In part because he was unhappy to see his former congregation harassed by reporters, and in part because his increasingly flamboyant pastor was continuing to embarrass and hurt his campaign, Obama left the church, allowing things to calm down over time, and for the congregation to get back to its purposes of worship and charity.

• The Union Stock Yard Gate 4200 South Peoria Street 41.818547, -87.648367 Union Stock Yard Gate - Chicago Union Stockyard Gate 886121 This limestone structure marks the entrance to the now defunct Union Stock Yards that dominated this section of Chicago (and the meatpacking industry of the nation) in the late 19th-early 20th centuries. The current stone gate replaced an original wooden gate, designed by the legendary architect John Root, of Burnham and Root (who you'll know well if you read Devil in the White City). Look on the front of the gate for Sherman, a prize winning bull — the Second City's second most famous bovine, right on the heels of Chicago#Understand|Mrs. O'Leary's Cow.

• Stock Yards Firefighter Memorial - right behind the Stockyard Gate | The stock yards produced an awful lot of grease, with a good amount of chemicals added to the mix. Unsurprisingly and the place caught on fire now and then. In 1910, a particularly ferocious blaze took the lives of 21 firefighters on this spot, just behind the gate. The memorial is dedicated to all Chicago firefighters who have lost their lives to fires, 530 at the time of the dedication in 2004; their names are inscribed on the base.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Chicago/Southwest Side

Marquette Park - The lagoon at Marquette Park

• Marquette Park 6734 South Kedzie Ave 41.768, -87.7029 ☎ +1 312-747-6469 Opening Hours: 7AM Monday - 11PM daily Marquette Park (Chicago) - A4687840 Marquette Park is huge and is a good place to get away from the urban commotion of the city. Ice skating (on the lagoon) and cross-country skiing are both possibilities during the winter. During the summer, it's likely the South Side's favorite place for a picnic or a pick-up game of soccer (or more accurately in these parts, futból). The park is also home to the Ashburn Prairie, a fine specimen of the native plant species of the area.

• Marquette Park Golf Course - 6734 South Kedzie Ave ☎ +1-312-747-2761 Opening Hours: Sunrise-sunset daily Weekdays: $16, Weekends: $18 The hidden gem that is Marquette's public golf course is considered one of Chicago's most beautiful. You will feel miles away from the city. Nine holes, 3,187 yards.

• Sherman Park 1301 West 52nd Street 41.796667, -87.655 Opening Hours: Sunrise-sunset daily Sherman Park Although lesser known than Marquette Park, this 60-acre park is historically and aesthetically its equal. Designed by architects Daniel Burnham & Co and landscape artists the Olmsted Brothers and on a rather unsafe stretch of historic Garfield Boulevard, this park provides open green space and a beautiful lagoon, classically designed architecture, and a glimpse into the past and the future of the Back of the Yards area.

Shopping in Chicago/Southwest Side

FordCityMallChicago - The giant Ford City Mall

The Southwest Side is not an enticing shopping destination, unless the endless strip malls on Cicero are your thing. Even Midway Airport lacks a duty-free shop, as it only serves a few international Flights to Mexico. But if you find yourself here and need something, you can almost certainly find it on Cicero.

• Ford City Mall 7601 South Cicero Ave 41.755626, -87.736924 73rd Street & Cicero Ave ☎ +1 773-767-6400 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10AM Monday - 9PM, Saturday 10AM Monday - 7PM, Sunday 10AM Monday - 6PM Ford City Mall - FordCityMallChicago This mall has a bit of history to its name. In its former life it produced engines for bomber planes during World War II under Ford Company management, and later vehicle engines. If the mall fails to satisfy your needs, rest assured the Cicero Ave strip malls extending endlessly to the south will.

• Video Strip - 3307 South Archer Ave 41.8338646, -87.6716795 ☎ +1 773-927-4307 Opening Hours: 11AM Monday - midnight daily A McKinley Park video rentals shop with an eccentric collection of DVDs. If you are staying anywhere nearby and they will actually deliver the rentals to you.

• Chicago Ridge Mall - 444 Chicago Ridge Mall 41.716, -87.782 ☎ +1 708-499-0840 - Chicago Ridge Mall Chicago Ridge Mall offers great shopping near Chicago at over 130 stores. In the mall and nearby Commons Shopping Center are restaurants and an AMC movie theater. Find Kohl's department store, Bed Bath & Beyond and other stores in the mall, just east of I-294 at 95th St.

Halal Restaurants

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Plane over Midway - Flying over Midway

The Southwest Side excels in three culinary areas: Mexican, Polish/Bohemian, and Chicago-style fast food. Avoid the airport hotel restaurants like the plague — there are far better (and more fairly priced) places to eat nearby. If you have a car, drop whatever you are doing and head down Pulaski Ave to Vito & Nick's for the "best Pizzas, anywhere." If stuck at the airport, Gold Coast Dogs will give you a bonafide Chicago Hot Dog.

• Birriería Zaragoza | 4852 South Pulaski Ave ☎ +1 773-523-3700 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday 8AM Monday - 7PM, Sunday 8AM Monday - 4PM $5-12 This little South Side birriería has found itself featured in just about every major Chicago magazine and newspaper, and while thit is surprising, it is not unwarranted. The birria tatemada on order is shredded goat, first steamed for hours and then oven roasted, coated with a mild mole Sauces, served in tacos, or "en plato" in a tomato consommé. The owner is an artist first, business owner second, who has studied his narrow trade on a level unique in the city.

• Harold's Chicken Shack | $2-5 The great South Side fried Chicken chain is cheap, a little dirty, and always delicious. Crowded at meal times.

• #12 | 917 West 87th Street ☎ +1 773-224-4621 Opening Hours: 11AM Monday - 2AM daily
• #35 | 10259 South Halsted Street ☎ +1 773-568-5906 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 10AM Monday - midnight, Friday Saturday 10AM Monday - 1AM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 10PM
• #8 | 2521 West 63rd Street ☎ +1 773-778-9659 Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 2:30AM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 4AM
• La Cecina 1934 West 47th Street ☎ +1 773-927-9444 Opening Hours: 8AM Monday - 10PM daily $4-14 Come to La Cecina for la cecina — a Guerrero -style salt-dried Steaks that is rehydrated with a marinade and then grilled. But if you are less in the mood for culinary refinement, and more in the mood for bull testicles, well, you are in the right place.

• Lindy's & Gertie's - 3685 South Archer Ave ☎ +1 773-927-7807 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:30AM Monday - 10PM, Friday 10:30AM Monday - midnight, Saturday 11AM Monday - midnight, Sunday noon-10PM $2-7 Who could go wrong with a South Side institution (since 1924) serving chili, ice cream, and soft-drinks? The interior is somewhat of a historic landmark, since it's barely been renovated since the roaring 1920s.

• Nicky's - 5801 South Kedzie Ave ☎ +1 773-436-6458 Opening from Monday to Saturday 10:30AM Monday - 12:30AM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 10PM $1-8 Nicky's is another one of those legendary South Side fast food institutions rich with local tradition and absent quality controls — for the real deal, you'll want to come to this one and the original. You'll never be starved for Chicago fast food options in this part of the city, but it's worth seeking out a Nicky's for a reliably great gyros or the legendary Big Baby. Whether Chicago came up with this double decker hamburger as a challenge for the invading Big Mac, or for its predecessor the Big Boy is uncertain. Either way the toasted buns, condiments on the bottom, and most crucially, Maxwell Street-style greasy grilled onions all add up to a tasty treat. (Alas, Nicky's Hot Dogs suffer from rumored estrangement from Vienna Beef.)

• Paletería Flamingo | 2635 West 51st Street ☎ +1 773-434-3917 Opening Hours: 11AM Monday - 10PM daily (in theory) $1-5 Endless (Mexican) flavors of ice cream and Italian ice to choose from — try horchata or maybe cinnamon-apple pie.

• Pticek & Son Bakery | 5523 South Narragansett Ave ☎ +1 773-585-5500 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 4:30AM Monday - 6PM, Saturday 4:30AM Monday - 5PM 25¢-$4 A small Croatian bakery with a good range of unfamiliar treats (and some rather familiar, gooey Chocolates chip cookies).

• Racine Bakery | 6216 West Archer Ave ☎ +1 773-581-2258 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 6AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday 6AM Monday - 6PM, Sunday 6AM Monday - 5PM 25¢-$8 A nice big crowded Lithuanian bakery, with all sorts of pastries, meat/potato pies, jams, mushrooms, juices, and anything else you are missing from Silesian Voivodship|Silesia.

• Taquería Atotonilco #2 | 1659 West 47th Street ☎ +1 773-247-5870 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 9AM Monday - 1AM, Friday 9AM Monday - 3AM, Saturday 8AM Monday - 4AM, Sunday 8AM Monday - 1AM $2-4 A mostly take-out taquería with a reasonably large seating section that cooks the real deal.

• Three Sons | 6200 South Archer Ave ☎ +1 773-585-2767 Opening Hours: 5AM Monday - 11PM daily $3-8 An affordable American diner, but since it's in the neighborhood it's in and the best options are in that little Polish section. Full café.

• Windy City Hot Dogs | 4205 West 63rd Street ☎ +1 773-581-0332 Opening from Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 8PM $2-4 The place in the area to get your Chicago-style fast food: Hot Dogs and Italian Beef.

Windy City Italian Beef - Italian Beef at Windy City Dogs

• Los Delfines Restaurant | 2750 West 63rd Street ☎ +1 773-737-4900 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 8:30PM daily $9-14 Tasty Mexican food focusing on the seafood, with a full bar, open late.

• Los Gallos #2 | 4252 South Archer Ave ☎ +1 773-254-2081 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 8AM Monday - 1:30AM, Friday Saturday 8AM Monday - 3:30AM, Sunday 7AM Monday - 1:30AM $3-12 Deceptively appearing to be a small nondescript Brighton Park taquería, this place is actually a culinary find of the first order. Breakfast is good, so is the menudo, but the delicious specialty is the Jalisco|Jaliscan -style carne en su juego (roughly: Steaks soup). The Steaks is roasted separate from the broth and the boiled Meat of which is discarded, and then joins a cornucopia of limes, bacon, beans, cilantro, onions, habanero peppers, and radishes. Unless you are planning to feed a family, get the smallest available portion, and make it clear that you want to eat here, not takeout.

• Giordano's | 6314 South Cicero Ave ☎ +1 773-585-6100 Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 11PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - midnight $14-25 At the southeastern corner of Midway Airport, if you have a layover and want to try real Chicago Pizzas, take any bus south along Cicero Ave, or you could take a good walk, to the best Chicago chain around for stuffed Chicago Pizzas.

• Leon's-Bar-B-Que - 4550 South Archer Ave ☎ +1 773-247-4171 Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - midnight $3-15 Thit is one of the city's favorite outposts of Leon's, a local BBQ chain that has fed hungry ribs-lovers since Leon Finney opened the first up in 1940. The links are incredible.

• Mabenka - 7844 South Cicero Avenue in Burbank ☎ +1 708-423-7679 $5-12 Thit is a good Polish/Lithuanian restaurant across from Ford City Mall. It is always packed, in no small part owing to its tremendously popular pierogies and kugelis.

• El Patio | 4527 South Ashland Ave ☎ +1 773-847-2595 Opening Hours: 8AM Monday - 9:30PM daily $8-14 Excellent food and warm, friendly service in this Mexican restaurant. The seafood on offer is especially good.

• Valentina's | 4506 West 63rd Street ☎ +1 773-284-5529 Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 10AM Monday - 10PM, Friday Saturday 10AM Monday - midnight $8-15 This place, just a few blocks from Midway, serves wonderful taco platters. And the margaritas are just fine too. The decor is light and cheery, on-street parking is plentiful, and service is friendly, all making this a wonderful place to hang out, relax, and have some top-notch Mexican food.

• Vito & Nick's | 8433 South Pulaski Road ☎ +1 773-735-2050 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 11PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 1AM, Sunday noon-11PM $6-15 It's a quiet, family-style eatery with a few older patrons chit-chatting at the café. Widely regarded on the South Side as serving the best thin crust Pizzas in the city; it bears the slogan "the best Pizzas... anywhere," and that may well be true — to be clear, this may be the best Pizzas in the world. The South Side accents are thick and the decor with its shag carpeted walls and Christmas lights is South Side chic in its purest form — thit is an experience to be had. The Sausages and giardinera is the classic order, it's cash only, and it sometimes closes early if things are slow.

Birria in Pilsen - A delicious birria en plato

The Southwest Side does not rank prominently in the minds of Chicagoans when they think of city Halal dining, but there are a handful of worthwhile spots, with good live music.

• Groucho's | 8355 South Pulaski Ave ☎ +1 773-767-4838 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 2PM Monday - 4AM, Saturday noon-5AM, Sunday noon-4AM; Kitchen open until 3AM Admission: $5, entrees: $5-11 A nice South Side rock club featuring better-known local and regional acts. As an added bonus and the kitchen serves bar food all night.

• InnExile 5758 West 65th Street ☎ +1-773-582-3510 Opening Hours: 8PM Monday - 2AM daily nightclub that attracts all sorts of people passing through next-door Midway with occasional live performances.

• Linda's Lounge - Linda's Place | 1044 West 51st Street ☎ +1 773-373-2351 Opening Hours: Blues: Monday 9PM Monday - late A small, cozy neighborhood dive bar offering live blues and soul on Mondays with L'Roy and Linda. The immediate area is a little rough, so make sure you have transportation lined up in advance. Trust in the address — there is no signage.

• Natasha's Rome | 2441 West 69th Street ☎ +1 773-842-9816 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5PM Monday - 2AM, Saturday 5PM Monday - 3AM, Sunday 3PM Monday - 2AM Thit is the nicest club in the Marquette Park neighborhood, with a laid-back bar on each of its two floors. Willie T performs live blues on Fridays, Sundays feature spoken word night, and the rest of the time there is a DJ spinning R&B and other pop music. Locals dominate the crowd, except on Fridays and Sundays.

• Reese's Lounge - Burnside Lounge | 1827 West 87th Street ☎ +1 773-238-1993 Opening Hours: 11AM Monday - 2AM daily Dinners $5-6 Live DJs W-Su, Sunday nights are all-jazz. Dress nicely, it's a swanky place.

• Tina's | 5440 South Narragansett Ave ☎ +1 773-586-8767 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 4PM Monday - 10PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 11PM, Sunday 2PM Monday - 10PM A divey neighborhood sports bar that rises above the crowd for its thin-crust and stuffed Chicago style Pizzas.Otherwise, affordable drinks and free swimmingpool are the draws.

• Tony O's Studio 31 | 5147 South Archer Ave ☎ +1 773-585-7512 Opening Hours: Sunday - Friday 8PM Monday - 2AM, Saturday 8PM Monday - 3AM No cover A bar/nightclub that is plenty friendly, packed on weekends, and miles away from the too-cool-to-sweat clubs downtown.

• Touch of Class | 6058 West 63rd Street ☎ +1 773-586-8177 Opening Hours: Sunday - Friday 9AM Monday - 4AM A neighborhood pub just west of Midway that takes pride in turning off the ear-splitting music that kills conversation in bars across the city. The atmosphere is extremely friendly and laid-back (although Notre Dame games can enliven the place up a bit).

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Chicago/Southwest Side

Chicago/Southwest Side - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Chicago/Southwest Side, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Chicago/Southwest Side. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Chicago/Southwest Side and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Chicago/Southwest Side. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Chicago/Southwest Side. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Chicago/Southwest Side: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Chicago/Southwest Side.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Chicago/Southwest Side: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Chicago/Southwest Side, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Chicago/Southwest Side.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Chicago/Southwest Side, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Chicago/Southwest Side, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Chicago/Southwest Side and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Chicago/Southwest Side, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Chicago/Southwest Side, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Chicago/Southwest Side without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Chicago/Southwest Side is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Chicago/Southwest Side.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Chicago/Southwest Side is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Chicago/Southwest Side, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Chicago/Southwest Side Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Chicago/Southwest Side

eHalal Group Chicago/Southwest Side is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Chicago/Southwest Side. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Chicago/Southwest Side.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Chicago/Southwest Side ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Chicago/Southwest Side. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Chicago/Southwest Side, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Chicago/Southwest Side are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

As it is an airport neighborhood and the Midway Area has a ton of hotels, which mostly fall in to two categories: bland, mid-range, three star business/airport hotels and affordable, but not seedy, motels.

• Crossroads Hotel | 5300 South Pulaski Road 41.79705, -87.72376 ☎ +1 773-581-1188 Rooms from $50 - Tattered but cheap. Just a couple blocks south of the Pulaski Orange Line station.

• Mainway Midway Motel | 4849 South Cicero Ave ☎ +1-773-735-0550 Rooms from $52 Sunday - Thursday, $67 Friday Saturday - Another "tattered" budget option located around a half mile north from Midway along Cicero Ave, an easy bus ride.

• Skylark Motel | 5435 South Archer Ave 41.79810, -87.74399 ☎ +1 773-582-2100 Rooms from $75 - Slightly more expensive than the other budget motels, but the extra cost may be worth it — it is a step up.

• Carlton Inn Midway - 4944 South Archer Ave 41.8039189, -87.7220744 ☎ +1 773-582-0900 +1-877-722-7586 $92-159 - A short walk (1.5 blocks) from the Pulaski L stop. Free airport shuttle, free parking, free internet, and free breakfast. Clean, comfortable rooms.

Midway Hotel Center

The Hotel Center is a hotel campus in Bedford Park, of 7 mid-range options, two blocks south of the airport (about a half mile from baggage claim) at 65th Street and Cicero Ave. Shuttles run between all the hotels and the airport, although (despite claims to the contrary) you cannot always get a shuttle to/from the L station, so expect to have a long trip if you are heading to the downtown. If you're here and looking for food, it would be a travesty of taste to go to the center's chain restaurants. Walk a block north to Giordano's for some quality Chicago-style Pizzas or solid Italian dishes. Better yet, get a taxi to Vito and Nick's.

• Chicago Marriott Midway | 6520 South Cicero Ave 41.77406, -87.74461 ☎ +1 708-594-5500 +1-800-228-9292 $140-220 - A fine business hotel, albeit a small step down from the usual Marriot standards.

• Courtyard Chicago Midway Airport | 6610 South Cicero Ave 41.77294, -87.74370 ☎ +1 708-563-0200 $110-220 - Renovated, but nice as the Marriott.

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Midway Airport | 6630 South Cicero Ave 41.77223, -87.74368 ☎ +1-708-594-0090 $110-210 - This location is notably nicer than most Fairfield Inns, probably closer to a three-star than a two-star. Free wireless.

• Hampton Inn Chicago Midway Airport | 6540 South Cicero Ave 41.77224, -87.74369 ☎ +1 708-496-1900 $130-240 - Renovated, bland three-star hotel.

• Hilton Garden Inn Midway Airport | 6530 South Cicero Ave 41.77406, -87.74641 ☎ +1 708-496-2700 $110-200 - Three star hotel with free high speed wireless.

• Holiday Inn Express | 6500 South Cicero Ave 42.1541399, -87.8909029 ☎ +1 708-458-0202 $140-210 - Probably the best option of the seven (although the differences between them are pretty slight), and has a curious New Orleans theme.

• Sleep Inn | 6650 South Cicero Ave 41.77152, -87.74266 ☎ +1 708-594-0001 $85-180 - The most price competitive option in the hotel center has a few less frills, and like the others is a bit overpriced, but perfectly sufficient. And the continental breakfast is actually good (waffles!).

Telecommunications in Chicago/Southwest Side

Midway Airport offers high speed wireless in several lounges, restaurants, and gates, but it is only available to Boingo subscribers. All the following branches of the Chicago Public Library also offer free public internet access.

• Back of the Yards Library | 1743 West 47th Street ☎ +1 312-747-8367 Opening Hours: Monday West 10AM Monday - 6PM, Tuesday Thursday noon-8PM, Friday Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM
• Brighton Park Library 4314 South Archer Ave ☎ +1 312-747-0666 Opening Hours: Monday West 10AM Monday - 6PM, Tuesday Thursday noon-8PM, Friday Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM
• Clearing Library 6423 West 63rd Street ☎ +1-312-747-5657 Opening Hours: Monday West noon-8PM, Tuesday Thursday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Friday Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM
• Gage Park Library | 2807 West 55th Street ☎ +1 312-747-0032 Opening Hours: Monday West 10AM Monday - 6PM, Tuesday Thursday noon-8PM, Friday Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM
• McKinley Park Library | 1915 West 35th Street ☎ +1 312-747-6082 Opening Hours: Monday West noon-8PM, Tuesday Thursday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Friday Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM
• Scottsdale Library 4101 West 79th Street 41.74916, -87.72458 ☎ +1 312-747-0193 Opening Hours: Monday West 10AM Monday - 6PM, Tuesday Thursday noon-8PM, Friday Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM
• Thurgood Marshall Library | 7506 South Racine Ave ☎ +1 312-747-5927 Opening Hours: Monday West noon-8PM, Tuesday Thursday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Friday Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM
• West Lawn Library | 4020 West 63rd Street 41.77891, -87.72363 ☎ +1 312-747-7381 Opening Hours: Monday West noon-8PM, Tuesday Thursday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Friday Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM
• Woodson Regional Library | 9525 South Halsted Street 41.72099, -87.64280 ☎ +1-312-747-6900 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 9AM Monday - 9PM, Friday Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM, Sunday 1PM Monday - 5PM
• Wrightwood-Ashburn Library | 8530 South Kedzie Ave 41.73766, -87.70247 ☎ +1 312-747-2696 Opening Hours: Monday West noon-8PM, Tuesday Thursday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Friday Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM

Stay Safe

Church in Englewood, Chicago - A stark sort of beauty in Englewood, churches amid vacant lots

As you would expect in such a large neighborhood of the city, crime levels vary throughout. The northern and western neighborhoods, while sometimes looking gritty, should not worry you in the slightest. Marquette Park is very safe as well, although it deteriorates a bit southeast of the actual park. Englewood, on the other hand, is a huge neighborhood notorious among Chicagoans for murders, random beatings, and what have you. Auburn-Gresham and Washington Heights rest somewhere in the middle, but they're fairly quiet and peaceful — violent crime is not happening on main streets during the day.

More Muslim friendly Destinations from Chicago/Southwest Side

• If your flight is not on the departures display, perhaps you were looking for O'Hare International Airport? If so, grab a cab and hope for the best. Most taxis have special rates for the MDW-ORD trip, which should cost about $50–60 at the cheapest and take about an hour. If time is not an issue, you can take the Orange Line to the Chicago/Loop|Loop and transfer to the Blue Line to O'Hare for just $2.25, but it will take two hours or more.
• If you are staying downtown and just want to get some authentic Mexican food and there are great options closer by in the Gulf countries Side's Chicago/Pilsen|Pilsen neighborhood.
• While you are out this far from the downtown, why not head even further south to the Chicago/Far Southwest Side|Far Southwest Side to dig the Irish pubs and brogues.
• Hop on the CTA Orange Line and head downtown to the Chicago/Loop|Loop to escape the outskirts and see the city you recognize from the postcards.
• For more Polish culture and the mother lode is on Chicago's Chicago/Far Northwest Side|Far Northwest Side.

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