Avondale’s star is on the rise, particularly as prices and attention creep upward in next door Logan Square. Home prices in Avondale may not be far behind (a median sale price of $390,000 compared to Logan Square’s $420,000, according to Neighborhoods.com), but its vibe is markedly different. 

Though bisected by major streets like Belmont and Elston avenues, Avondale’s residential streets are dotted with two-flats, apartment buildings, schools, and churches. Plus, the onset of new development, while certainly happening in the neighborhood, has been slower than Logan Square. Avondale residents are looking to have an active say in how their community is reshaped.

Avondale might not have the busy nightlife reputation like Logan Square, Wicker Park, or Bucktown, but among its quieter streets you’ll find a lively food scene that encourages culinary exploration at home and out on the town.

Grocery Shopping

Avondale has typical grocery shopping spots, namely the large Jewel Osco and Target on Addison Avenue, but it has two smaller stores that invite you to try cooking something new. 

Joong Boo Market, though marked by a large green sign visible from the highway, has an easily overlooked location across the street from the on-ramp and a gas station. Yet, this Asian grocery store has been a Chicago staple since the early 1990s. People come to peruse its extensive shelves of meat, seafood, produce, spices, and snacks. Plus, hungry shoppers—or anyone looking to avoid cooking at home—can whet their appetites at the homemade dumpling stand or Snack Corner, the quick-bite Korean restaurant inside Joong Boo.

At the corner of Central Park and Milwaukee avenues, the southwestern part of the neighborhood, Kurowski's Sausage Shop is a Polish butcher shop and grocer. Wander the jam-packed aisles looking for delicacies you probably won’t find in your average grocery store, and order fresh sausage (so many different kinds) by the pound from the counter.

Dining Out

While many Chicago neighborhoods have central dining districts along a major street or clustered around one of the city’s notorious six-way intersections, Avondale’s revered restaurants are a bit more scattered. 

Situated on Lawndale Avenue in a thoroughly residential area, La Nonna serves Argentinian food in a cozy and often busy space. Customers sit at small tables or on communal benches while they eat from the savory menus that span breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Right across the street from the Belmont Blue Line station, Belmont Snack Shop functions as the neighborhood greasy spoon, complete with a long counter lined with stools. Patrons can step inside for coffee and a heaping plate of diner food any time of day—Belmont Snack Shop is a 24-hour joint.

Just down the street from an outpost of the Chicago Fire Department (if you see the big red garage door, you’re in the right area), Honey Butter Fried Chicken serves chicken, biscuits, and its signature honey butter to ravenous crowds. Be prepared to take a number, order at the counter, and wait a bit for a table to open. Grabbing a seat becomes a little easier in the summertime. People linger over chicken and cocktails in the sun on the restaurant’s colorful patio.

As an acknowledged foodie city, Chicago naturally has a proliferation of burger joints vying for the title of “best burger.” Of course, finding an objective answer to a question subject purely to taste is impossible, but it sure is fun to debate. 

Inevitably, the name Kuma’s Corner will pop up in most Chicago burger throwdowns. Since expanded to other locations, the original Kuma’s still stands on the corner of Belmont and Francisco Avenues in Avondale. Don’t expect thin smash-style burgers here. Instead, think over-the-top, towering burgers will all manner of toppings. The theme of the menu and the decor add a fun twist, particularly when you spot a table caught unawares by the loving homage to heavy metal music. 

Not everything served in Avondale falls under the category of deliciously greasy. Perhaps the neighborhood’s most surprising eatery is the Michelin-starred Parachute. Featuring Korean flavors, this restaurant’s creative menu regularly rotates to include different mains and desserts.

Drinks

Avondale doesn’t have the equivalent of Logan Square’s Milwaukee Avenue with its fair share bars and coffee shops, but it does have a handful of venerable watering holes well worth visiting.

The convergence of Elston, California, and Belmont avenues represents one of Avondale’s busiest areas. Shop for records, grab sushi, and go out for tacos in this pocket of the neighborhood. Also on the scene: Avondale Coffee Club, one of the neighborhoods newer additions, opened in 2018. And, the spot neatly fits the neighborhood coffee shop niche. People come to grab to-go cups, linger over large cups of coffee and conversation, or buckle down with caffeine and a laptop. Avondale Coffee Club also serves a solid collection of baked goods and sandwiches.

Practically next door on Elston Avenue, The Beer Temple creates a loving altar to all things hoppy. The craft beer store sells all different kinds of bottles, while the taproom hosts a rotating line of 20 drafts. The Beer Temple doesn’t serve its own food, but it does encourage anyone sampling all the taproom has to offer to bring their own.

What Chicago neighborhood is complete without its very own dive bar? Alice’s Lounge fits the bill in Avondale. Right at the corner of Belmont and Central Park avenues, Alice’s stays open until 4 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and until 5 a.m. on Saturdays. Spend the wee hours of the night throwing back drinks more reasonably priced than those served at a trendy cocktail lounge. Alice’s also has a major reputation for its late-night karaoke.