What Is Chicago Known for? 35 Things Chicagoans Love About Themselves

Every big city in the world has its pros and cons. And, depending on who you are and what sort of lifestyle you prefer, some cities might suit you better than others. In Chicago, residents remain pretty set on one thing: their city is one of — if not the — best city in the world. It’s a cosmopolitan hub of culture, art, food, history, and people that create a one-of-a-kind home. 

After interviewing travel experts and native Chicagoans, AZ Animals has compiled a list of the 35 things Chicago is known for and why its residents love the city so much.

1. Deep Dish Debate

Throughout the city, locals have time-honored favorites and new spots to get deep-dish pizza. If you wonder “Where’s the best deep dish pizza in Chicago?” you may get a different answer from every Chicagoan you ask. Try Lou Malnati’s, Giordano’s, Pequod’s, Bartoli’s, and George’s for a start.

2. The “Perfect” City

“In Chicago, we embrace being comfortably average — in a good way! Not too slow and not too fast. This balance can be seen through our dialogue, expectations, and even fashion.”

3. Neighborhood Identities

Chicagoans are very proud of the neighborhoods within the city. The sprawling blocks cover acres of land, and each street brings a new identity to the area. Chicagoans know their neighborhoods so well, that they’re often able to navigate without a map or a car.

4. No Ketchup on Hotdogs

Of all the natives we asked, this was a resounding reply: No ketchup on hotdogs, ever! Chicagoans instead prefer a Chicago-style dog with mustard, relish, onion, tomato, peppers, pickles, and salt.

5. Lake Shore Drive

Traffic-filled as it may be, Chicagoans will refer to Lake Shore Drive as LSD, according to Ashley. “Chicagoans don’t tell people to take Lake Shore Drive, they tell them to take LSD!”

6. Tavern Style Pizza

When deep dish gets old, Chicagoans love to indulge in a different sort of pizza style: tavern style. 

“While Chicago is known for deep dish pizza, the locals prefer ‘tavern style’ which is a cracker crust and truly the antithesis of deep dish.”

7. Dibs

The winters are fierce — but Chicagoans might be fiercer when it comes to parking spots. Calling dibs on the street during snowstorms in a seasonal affair completely with lawn chairs to “reserve” spaces.

“Dibs refers to the practice of residents claiming on-street parking spaces that they have shoveled out after a snowfall. After individuals spend time and effort clearing snow from a parking spot (but need to leave), they often use items such as lawn chairs, traffic cones, or other personal items to mark the space as reserved. The practice is not officially sanctioned by the city but has become a longstanding tradition during snowy winter months in many neighborhoods. It’s a unique aspect of Chicago’s winter culture, reflecting a sense of community and respect for the effort put into clearing parking spaces in challenging weather conditions.”

8. Chocolate

Wherever a Chicagoan is, the scent of chocolate can take them back home to downtown where the smell of Blommer Chocolate Factory fills the air.

9. Kindness

“What truly sets us apart? It’s the people!” Exclaimed Marcy. “While the landscape and weather may not steal the spotlight, there is something genuinely special about the people. We identify by neighborhoods, sometimes even down to the name of our church. The song, Sweet Home Chicago captures the essence of coming home to Chicago: Back to that same old place, sweet home Chicago. No matter how far or long you are away it feels like home. Why? The incredible people.”

10. Sports

The Bears and the Cubs. The White Sox. The Blackhawks. The Bulls. Chicago is full of sports spirit from the NFL to the MLB to NHL and NBA. Wrigley Field, in particular, is a famed venue with a neighborhood named after it.

11. Braving the Winter

Chicago winters can feel brutal — and Chicagoans take pride in the pain. Weathering a winter in Chicago fills residents with a sort of pride that — yes, it sucks — but it’s home, and after it’s over, it wasn’t all that bad.

12. Musical Heritage

Chicago credits itself with the birthplace of several subgenres of music, including gospel music, urban blues, and modern jazz. The dedication to art spans decades, with the modern music scene spanning genres like classical music, indie rock, and hip-hop.

13. Passion for Food

The food in Chicago is next-level. Whether you’re a resident or a tourist, the food scene in the Windy City remains as diverse as the neighborhoods. From hole-in-the-wall delights on one corner to Michelin-star restaurants on the next, it’s hard to turn a corner and find bad food in Chicago.

14. Lake Michigan Summers

Traveling to “the Lake” on a summer afternoon for a picnic with friends is one of the many summer pastimes Chicagoans love. Packing their favorite Italian sandwiches from their neighborhood bakery and sitting in the sun makes a perfect weekend activity for many natives.

15. Their Loyalty to the City

Not only do Chicagoans rank in the top 20 cities in America for loyalty to their sports teams; they’re vocal about their love for the city wherever they go. Despite some flaws, Chicago creates lifetime residents of many people who live there thanks to its diversity, innovation, and culture.

16. The Aesthetics

The skyline, the green spaces, and the architecture of the city are just three of the countless different sights in Chicago that leave you breathless. Although it’s a “concrete jungle,” the beauty of the buildings, people, and nature in the city make Chicago a truly gorgeous and impressive place to live.

17. Millenium Park

While Chicagoans don’t feel a need to visit The Bean at Millenium Park more than once in their lives (if that), it never gets old to watch the hordes of visitors flock to the sculpture. One Chicago resident interviewed even asked, “What am I missing? Does it have free food or something?”

18. The Train System 

A love-hate relationship that Chicagoans have with the city comes in the form of the CTA. Riding the L on the Red Line promises at least one story fit for parties. Most Chicagoans also share the information to stay closer to the front, or in the front car, at nights and away from the doors to avoid potential muggings.

19. The Art Institute Free Days

Chicagoans interested in a free activity to do for a few hours love to visit the neighborhood museum that just happens to be the number one thing to do in the city and one of the world’s most treasured museums.

20. Willis Tower 

Perhaps not so much of a love as it is a hate, but Chicagoans feel strongly about the Willis Tower — and how it always has been and always will be the Sears Tower to them.

21. Malört

Residents of Chicago may measure their love for their city in many ways — one of which is their ability to drink Malört. Famously difficult to get down, Malört became “Chicago’s drink” in the mid-twentieth century when a bartender took a liking to it and wanted his regulars to feel the same. Today, Chicagoans, even if they hate it, will convince others to drink it too.

22. Their Accent

Though nuanced, Chicagoans do have an accent. And boy, do they love some of their weirdly specific vocabulary.

23. Soda vs. Pop

Speaking of Chicagoan vocabulary, many Chicagoans will swear that the correct way to reference a carbonated beverage like Coke or Pepsi is pop, not soda.

24. Shorts in February 

Braving the winter weather isn’t the only thing Chicagoans love about their city. Once February rolls around, residents might break out the shorts after the “chill” has left the city.

25. Chicago’s Nicknames 

Some natives of Chicago denounce the nicknames given to the city, like Chi-town or Chiraq. Why? The first is simply a misnomer and blander by most people’s standards, but Chiraq communicates a certain level of danger or “warzone-like” crime, to which many residents steadfastly disagree.

26. The Necessity of Boots

If you’re wintering in Chicago, you need boots. Lots of them. Make sure they’re comfortable to walk around in, too, because that’s one of the best ways to get around the Windy City when the weather backs up the traffic.

27. Comparative Cleanliness 

Though cities and dirtiness are somewhat synonymous with each other, residents (and tourists!) of Chicago often remark on the cleanliness of the city. Especially compared to other large cities like L.A., Philadelphia, and New York City, Chicago and Illinois do a great job of keeping the city clean.

28. Walkability

Chicagoans take pride in knowing their city’s layout — and the accessibility of everything they’d need on foot or public transportation. 

29. Diversity and Character 

Several interviewees mentioned the true diversity of the city that creates such an interesting and exciting place to live. Residents of different backgrounds, religions, orientations, and thoughts come together to create a rare and beautiful community.

30. Historical Significance 

After the Great Fire, Chicago rebuilt and grew exponentially. It became a hub for industry and transportation in the midwest; the rail center, the manufacturing plants, the educational opportunities, and the retail surpluses made Chicago a destination in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. That renaissance hasn’t abated today — Chicago still holds a wealth of innovation, culture, and business.

31. The Property Taxes

Within a state that has the second-highest property taxes in the country, Chicago residents know what they’re in for when tax time rolls around. It might not be something to love about the city, but the exorbitant property taxes remain a well-known part of Chicago living.

32. Work Hard, Play Hard 

For most of history, Chicagoans have worked hard in their jobs. What compliments their great work ethic is an even more fundamental thirst for adventure and fun. Residents might take the train one night for a quick grab-and-go bibimbap and discover a bar, a cafe, and a new park to visit. 

33. Air Travel Accessibility 

Chicagoans don’t have to take a pricey ride-sharing service to the airport or worry about the parking bill if they drive themselves. The accessibility of both Chicago O’Hare and Midway allows domestic and international travel without the headache and wallet-punch of getting to the airport.

34. Architecture 

The city of Chicago has impressive architecture throughout its streets, alleys, and avenues. The styles in the city are many, including Art Nouveau, Neoclassical, Moderne, and so many more. 

35. Opportunities to Evolve

Chicago takes every opportunity it can to grow. The Great Chicago Fire didn’t burn the residents’ love for the city to a crisp, and no snowstorm has ever buried their fervor. Chicagoans love how the city changes, evolves, and makes itself better with each new resident and year.

Chicago’s Biggest Fans Live There

Despite nearly 50 million visitors coming in and out of the city every year, Chicago’s biggest fans are its residents. Exceptionally loyal and enthusiastically engaged with the culture, Chicagoans have a lot to love about their city — and they’re one of the biggest things that make it so unique.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Jose Carlos Castro Antelo/iStock via Getty Images