20 Sick Day Standbys to Order in Chicago

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Even in years when the omicron variant isn’t surging, winter is the season of sickness: stuffy noses, raw throats, pounding heads and throbbing sinuses, and queasy stomachs. The only sensible response is to crawl into bed and stay there until the illness passes. But a human cannot live on NyQuil alone. Here’s a guide to dishes at Chicago restaurants that may not be able to cure everything that ails you but can certainly make recovery more pleasant.

Patrons who are ill or experiencing symptoms can help keep hospitality workers safe by arranging for contact-free takeout and delivery.

As of January 3, the city has mandated that those ages 5 and up be fully vaccinated and masked at public places indoors while not actively eating or drinking. For updated information on coronavirus cases, please visit the city of Chicago’s COVID-19 dashboard. Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

The most wonderful thing about the egg sandwiches at this Rogers Park bakery — described by the owners as “life changing” — is that customers can order them any way they want. Vegan? Sure, have the tofu. Gluten-free? Order it on cornbread. There are nearly 30 bread and topping options, so something is bound to appeal.

Hidden away in the back of a parking lot on Lawrence Avenue, this unassuming Korean spot specializes in ox bone soup. Called seolleongtang, the milky white broth is known as a hangover remedy because of its simple-yet-comforting flavor. Each bowl also contains choice of brisket, flank steak, tripe, tendon, or tongue. It’s accompanied by rice and kimchi and can be seasoned to taste with salt, chopped green onions, and chili paste.

Southerners find grits immensely comforting because it appeals to their most primal memories. But even for Yankees, they’re an excellent sick food: they’re warm and creamy and bland, and they slide down the throat with little effort. Louella’s Southern Kitchen in Lincoln Square prepares an especially good specimen, and patients who are feeling a little better can order them with shrimp.

The Chicken in the Pot at the Bagel in Lakeview is exactly what it sounds like: a chicken (well, half a chicken) in a pot of broth, with a matzo ball and kreplach and noodles, and also carrots and potatoes because vegetables are necessary for good health. Even better, it yields plenty of leftovers, perhaps enough to sustain a person for two or three days. It’s the next best thing to having an actual Jewish mother on call.

Pierogi are essentially carbs — mashed potatoes — wrapped in more carbs — dumpling skins — and then coated in butter or sour cream or both. Can they possibly be any more comforting? There’s plenty of pierogi in heavily-Polish Chicago, especially along Milwaukee Avenue, but some of the finest specimens come from Staropolska in Logan Square.

Dal — the soft, slow-simmered pulses (lentils, peas, beans) stew found across many South Asian countries — has long served as comfort food for millions. Versions vary significantly from kitchen to kitchen, and Mild2Spicy has three strong contenders on the menu: daal makhani (black lentils, kidney beans, split chickpeas, tomato and onion gravy), daal palak (spinach, split chickpeas), and daal thaduka (yellow lentils, curry leaves).

Longtime local favorite Lula Cafe knows how to tug at heartstrings, leveraging a rotating menu and impeccable produce to achieve excellent renditions of the classics. The cozy vibe is neatly encapsulated in the Lula ’99 turkey sandwich, layered with avocado, tomato, red onion, and sprouts. Those who feel up to gilding the lily can add cheddar and bacon.

It’s easy to make a grilled cheese, but very hard to make a good one. The Fat Shallot, the food truck that has found a permanent home in Lincoln Park, has a very good one: it packs ooey gooey melted muenster cheese with sautéed spinach and caramelized onions. And then order a bowl of tomato bisque soup to dip it in.

Tender chicken can be just the thing for folks feeling under the weather, and Puerto Rican destination Ponce in Hermosa squarely hits that target with its pollo guisado — a stew of potatoes with chicken legs and thighs that fall off the bone.

This Wicker Park noodle shop and convenience store has some extremely comforting pho, in chicken, beef, and vegan varieties. It comes ready-made or in kits for assembling at home. But if, for some reason, a bowl of pho does not appeal, Phodega also has Hainan-style chicken rice: poached chicken and seasoned rice that can be dressed up with chili and garnishes depending on your appetite. It also comes with a bowl of soup.

Sickness notoriously kills the appetite, but the sauce in the signature dish at this West Town standby is rich and spicy and, for a peanut butter-lover, completely addictive — the sort of thing you want to keep eating, to the point of licking the plate. It comes with a choice of protein and six different spice levels and garnished with green onions and cashews.

Illness causes many people to revert to a needy, infantile state. When that happens, the best thing to do is to eat nursery food, like pancakes. But the Japanese souffle pancakes at Hanabusa are lighter and fluffier than American diner pancakes, which makes them more soothing, and they’re served covered in chilled whipped cream and custard.

Soto ayam is chicken noodle soup Indonesian style. This means it has some extra spice from sambal; texture from fried shallots, bean sprouts, and tomatoes; and anti-inflammatory properties from a dose of turmeric, all bathed in a deep and delicate chicken broth. Find it at Minahasa, the mother-and-son-run regional spot inside Revival food hall.

Conventional wisdom says that vitamin C is the best thing to beat back a cold. This Pilsen standby, proudly woman-owned since 2013, has vitamin C in spades in the form of all the citrus juices: orange, of course, but also grapefruit and lemon. There’s also turmeric and ginger and honey, all mixed into various concoctions to soothe a variety of illnesses and boost immune systems.

There’s nothing like a hot pepper to clean out the respiratory system, and there are no hot peppers like Sichuan peppers. The dry chili chicken is one of the signature dishes at Tony Hu’s empire — which has eight locations in the city and suburbs — and the chefs are not messing around.

Celebrated Chicago chef and restaurateur Erick Williams (Virtue) in 2021 debuted Mustard Seed Kitchen, a takeout-only restaurant starring American “everyday eats” — salads, sandwiches, burgers, and entrees like salmon and skirt steaks. Williams also applies his expert touch to a smooth, blended tomato basil soup that shouldn’t be missed.

It’s conventional wisdom that there’s nothing like honey to soothe a sore throat, and that surely must apply to honey barbecue chicken wings. Even if the magical properties of honey are dulled by the presence of other ingredients, the barbecue sauce is still spicy enough to clear out blocked nasal passages, and that’s important, too.

One of the classic recommendations for a cold is hot consomme, which happens to be a key ingredient in birria, and the goat birria at Birrieria Zaragoza in Archer Heights is some of the city’s best. Order a large, steaming bowl, and let it do its work.

Caribbean-inspired 14 Parish in Hyde Park does belly-warmers island style. Grounded Chicagoans who are under the weather can find respite in its creamy coconut conch chowder, a light yet filling nod to warmer climates.

In Garifuna Flava’s rendition of the national dish of Belize, chicken is marinated in bell peppers, paprika, and other spices and stewed until it’s soft and so tender that, even if you don’t feel like eating, you’ll eat.

The most wonderful thing about the egg sandwiches at this Rogers Park bakery — described by the owners as “life changing” — is that customers can order them any way they want. Vegan? Sure, have the tofu. Gluten-free? Order it on cornbread. There are nearly 30 bread and topping options, so something is bound to appeal.

Hidden away in the back of a parking lot on Lawrence Avenue, this unassuming Korean spot specializes in ox bone soup. Called seolleongtang, the milky white broth is known as a hangover remedy because of its simple-yet-comforting flavor. Each bowl also contains choice of brisket, flank steak, tripe, tendon, or tongue. It’s accompanied by rice and kimchi and can be seasoned to taste with salt, chopped green onions, and chili paste.

Southerners find grits immensely comforting because it appeals to their most primal memories. But even for Yankees, they’re an excellent sick food: they’re warm and creamy and bland, and they slide down the throat with little effort. Louella’s Southern Kitchen in Lincoln Square prepares an especially good specimen, and patients who are feeling a little better can order them with shrimp.

The Chicken in the Pot at the Bagel in Lakeview is exactly what it sounds like: a chicken (well, half a chicken) in a pot of broth, with a matzo ball and kreplach and noodles, and also carrots and potatoes because vegetables are necessary for good health. Even better, it yields plenty of leftovers, perhaps enough to sustain a person for two or three days. It’s the next best thing to having an actual Jewish mother on call.

Pierogi are essentially carbs — mashed potatoes — wrapped in more carbs — dumpling skins — and then coated in butter or sour cream or both. Can they possibly be any more comforting? There’s plenty of pierogi in heavily-Polish Chicago, especially along Milwaukee Avenue, but some of the finest specimens come from Staropolska in Logan Square.

Dal — the soft, slow-simmered pulses (lentils, peas, beans) stew found across many South Asian countries — has long served as comfort food for millions. Versions vary significantly from kitchen to kitchen, and Mild2Spicy has three strong contenders on the menu: daal makhani (black lentils, kidney beans, split chickpeas, tomato and onion gravy), daal palak (spinach, split chickpeas), and daal thaduka (yellow lentils, curry leaves).

Longtime local favorite Lula Cafe knows how to tug at heartstrings, leveraging a rotating menu and impeccable produce to achieve excellent renditions of the classics. The cozy vibe is neatly encapsulated in the Lula ’99 turkey sandwich, layered with avocado, tomato, red onion, and sprouts. Those who feel up to gilding the lily can add cheddar and bacon.

It’s easy to make a grilled cheese, but very hard to make a good one. The Fat Shallot, the food truck that has found a permanent home in Lincoln Park, has a very good one: it packs ooey gooey melted muenster cheese with sautéed spinach and caramelized onions. And then order a bowl of tomato bisque soup to dip it in.

Tender chicken can be just the thing for folks feeling under the weather, and Puerto Rican destination Ponce in Hermosa squarely hits that target with its pollo guisado — a stew of potatoes with chicken legs and thighs that fall off the bone.

This Wicker Park noodle shop and convenience store has some extremely comforting pho, in chicken, beef, and vegan varieties. It comes ready-made or in kits for assembling at home. But if, for some reason, a bowl of pho does not appeal, Phodega also has Hainan-style chicken rice: poached chicken and seasoned rice that can be dressed up with chili and garnishes depending on your appetite. It also comes with a bowl of soup.

Sickness notoriously kills the appetite, but the sauce in the signature dish at this West Town standby is rich and spicy and, for a peanut butter-lover, completely addictive — the sort of thing you want to keep eating, to the point of licking the plate. It comes with a choice of protein and six different spice levels and garnished with green onions and cashews.

Illness causes many people to revert to a needy, infantile state. When that happens, the best thing to do is to eat nursery food, like pancakes. But the Japanese souffle pancakes at Hanabusa are lighter and fluffier than American diner pancakes, which makes them more soothing, and they’re served covered in chilled whipped cream and custard.

Soto ayam is chicken noodle soup Indonesian style. This means it has some extra spice from sambal; texture from fried shallots, bean sprouts, and tomatoes; and anti-inflammatory properties from a dose of turmeric, all bathed in a deep and delicate chicken broth. Find it at Minahasa, the mother-and-son-run regional spot inside Revival food hall.

Conventional wisdom says that vitamin C is the best thing to beat back a cold. This Pilsen standby, proudly woman-owned since 2013, has vitamin C in spades in the form of all the citrus juices: orange, of course, but also grapefruit and lemon. There’s also turmeric and ginger and honey, all mixed into various concoctions to soothe a variety of illnesses and boost immune systems.

There’s nothing like a hot pepper to clean out the respiratory system, and there are no hot peppers like Sichuan peppers. The dry chili chicken is one of the signature dishes at Tony Hu’s empire — which has eight locations in the city and suburbs — and the chefs are not messing around.

Celebrated Chicago chef and restaurateur Erick Williams (Virtue) in 2021 debuted Mustard Seed Kitchen, a takeout-only restaurant starring American “everyday eats” — salads, sandwiches, burgers, and entrees like salmon and skirt steaks. Williams also applies his expert touch to a smooth, blended tomato basil soup that shouldn’t be missed.

It’s conventional wisdom that there’s nothing like honey to soothe a sore throat, and that surely must apply to honey barbecue chicken wings. Even if the magical properties of honey are dulled by the presence of other ingredients, the barbecue sauce is still spicy enough to clear out blocked nasal passages, and that’s important, too.

One of the classic recommendations for a cold is hot consomme, which happens to be a key ingredient in birria, and the goat birria at Birrieria Zaragoza in Archer Heights is some of the city’s best. Order a large, steaming bowl, and let it do its work.

Caribbean-inspired 14 Parish in Hyde Park does belly-warmers island style. Grounded Chicagoans who are under the weather can find respite in its creamy coconut conch chowder, a light yet filling nod to warmer climates.

In Garifuna Flava’s rendition of the national dish of Belize, chicken is marinated in bell peppers, paprika, and other spices and stewed until it’s soft and so tender that, even if you don’t feel like eating, you’ll eat.