While we managed to get through 2021 feeling more hopeful than the previous year, it would be disingenuous to say that things are back to normal or that theyâre going to be. As we think about how far weâve come, we notice the different ways that our communities are internalizing a new normality.
Neighborhood parks are more active than ever with organized activities; restaurants that survived the pandemic have mastered outdoor dining and making food to go; some mutual aid efforts are expanding or formalizing their services; there are more food vendors and farmers markets on the sidewalks; more art is going up on the walls; and workers in various industries are striking and organizing for what they know theyâre worth.
In the annual Best of the South Side we invite South Side residentsâcommunity leaders, writers, youth, regular peopleâto help us craft the issue by telling us what they love about their neighborhoods.Â
We invite you to immerse yourself in the responses you find here and to patronize local businesses, get inspired, and learn from one another. In no way is this an exhaustive list of everything thatâs good in the South Side, or even of every neighborhood, but it may show you a side of things that you may not be used to seeing. #BoSS2021
To learn about getting involved in next yearâs Best of the South Side, email editor@southsideweekly.com.
Best of Archer Heights & West Elsdon
- Best Quesabirria: Birreria Zaragoza
- Best Nixtamalization: El Popocatepetl Tortilleria
- Best Puesto de Abarrotes: ArtesanĂas Neri
Best of Auburn Gresham & Chatham
- Best Coffee Shop: Afro Joe’s Coffee
- Best Atmosphere: Ooh Wee It Is
- Best South Side Storyteller: Jacoby Cochran
- Best Community Development Do-Over: 838 W. 79th St.
Best of Avalon Park & Calumet Heights
- Best Place to Find Nemo: Aquatic Oasis
- Best at Keeping South Side Smiles Bright: Watson and Watson Dental Associates
- Best Space Cultivating the Social Side of Avalon Park: The Woodlawn
- Best Music Store: House of Music
- Best Haircare Drive: Love & Nappyness by Matt Muse
- Best Milkshake Maker: El Señor de los Licuados
- Best Recreational Sports League: Friday Night Softball at Davis Square Park
- Best Restaurant Soon to Be Open: Tom’s Pancake House
- Best Pandemic Community Building: Peace and Education Coalition
- Best South Side-Themed Candles: Beverly Dry Goods
- Best Gourmet Popcorn: Let’s Get Popping
- Best Freecycle Group: Beverly Free Box
- Best Roaming Comedy Show: All That Good Stuff Comedy Show
- Best Punk Rock Librarian: Jeremy Kitchen
- Best New Restaurant: Greek Prime
- Best Use of Public Space: U.S. Cellular Field Parking Lot
- Best Preschool in an Old Salvation Army Building with a Rooftop Playground that Often Smells of Sautéed Onions Due to its Proximity to the Maxwell Street Depot: Bridgeport Child Development Center
- Best Meals to Go: Bridgeport Community Canteen
- Best Colombian Food on the Southwest Side: MEXICOLOMBIA
- Best SSA Mural: Archer Heights & Brighton Park
- Best Paletas to Chase as a Small Child: Paleteria Ayutla
- Best Bakery for Your Inner Latinx Child: La Central Bakery
- Best “Little Crib” Cafe for Mental Health According to a Ten-Year-Old: CafĂ© El MesĂłn
- Best Barbacoa and Homemade Tortillas Weekend Spot: La Palma Supermercado
- Best Hidden Gem of One-Stop Shops: Omar’s
- Best Corner Store to Support: Carniceria y Taqueria (referred to as Supermercado El Rodeo)
- Best Wellness One-Stop: Haji Healing Salon
- Best Wait for a Good Meal: Ain’t She Sweet Cafe
- Best Place to Catch a Good Vibe: Mandrake Park
Best of Chicago Lawn & West Lawn
- Best Supermarket: La K-Buena Supermarket
- Best Bakery: Bambino’s Bakery
- Best Pastor Tacos: TaquerĂa El Pastor
- Best BotĂĄnica: Oshun Yemaya Botany
- Best Community Advocacy Organization: Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community
- Best Wall: Nine Dragon Wall
- Best Culture Event: Chinatown Hip-Hop Festival
- Best Dessert: Ice Grass Jelly Signature
- Best Festivities on Water and Land: Dragon Boat Race for Literacy
Best of East Side & South Chicago
- Best Immigrant and Workers’ Rights Organization: Centro de Trabajadores Unidos
- Best Local Condiment: Quality Brand Hot Sauce
- Best Summer Arts Fest: Nest Fest
- Best Samaritan: The Street Barber
- Best Place to Pick Up Diapers: Englewood Free Market
- Best Garden That Could: Englewood Veterans Garden
- Best Childhood Memories of Tacos: TaquerĂa Jamay Jal
- Best Spot to Rebuild Gage Park’s Historically Disinvested Library: Empty Kedzie Kmart
- Best Childhood Tamal: Rosa’s Tamales
- Best Movie Theater to Renovate for Cross-Community and Youth Programming: Colony Theater
- Best Baseball Fields to Improve: Gage Park Baseball Field
- Best Area to Build a Safe Soccer Field for Children that Play on Cement: 52nd and Rockwell
- Best Park to Renovate Before the Chicago Park District Moves Into the Area: Senka (Edward “Duke”) Park
- Best New and Inclusive Cafe for Local Families: Dulce Mami
- Best Retro Pizza Spot That Supports High Schoolers: Naty’s Pizza
- Best Youth-Driven Center and ‘Reclaiming our Roots Chicago’ JardĂn: Gage Park Latinx Council
- Best Advocate for Local Business: Garfield Ridge Chamber of Commerce
- Best Triangle: The Land Just East of Archer, Narragansett, and 55th, Near Where Sizzler Used to Be
- Best Park Named for a Chicago Mayor: Wentworth Park
- Best Startup: Hegewisch Nutrition
- Best Local Activist: Melany Flores
- Best Community Pushback: The Fight Against General Iron
- In Memoriam: Best Newsletter Writer: Roberiste
- Best Grassroots Sports Scene: Kenwood Park
- Best and Longest-Tenured Waitstaff: Original Pancake House
- Best Egg: The Bird of Peace
- Best Farmer’s Market: Mercado De Colores
- Best Hip-Hop Recording Studio: Lone Wolf Records, LLC
- Best Fried Fish: Pescaditos Estilo D.F. aka Mr. Fish
- Best Bike Shop in La Villita: Sanchez Bike Shop
- Best Local Activism: Neighbors for Environmental Justice
- Best Place to Cool Off in the Summer: McKinley Park Pool
- Best Play Area: McKinley Park Community Play Garden
- Best Stroll Into the Past: Prospect Park and Surrounding Streets
- Best Spot for Cheetos, Milk, and Chit-chat: Longwood Foods
- Best Roots Festival: Morgan Park Roots Festival
- Best LGBTQ+ Network: Two Churches, the BAC, and Grace English
- Best Community-Oriented Church: Morgan Park Presbyterian Church
- Best Community Garden Comeback: Edna White Community Garden
- Best Recording Studio: On Track Recording Studio
- Best Irish Import Shop: South Side Irish Imports
- Best Memorial: Korean War Memorial
- Best Bird-Themed Mini Golf Course: Douglass 18
- Best Daughter of the Neighborhood In Bloom: Jordan Carr aka @photosynthe_sis
- Best Pop-Up BBQ: 5th Ave Smokers
- Best Mexican American Brunch: Frida Room
- Best Hot Dog Stand: Emilio’s Hot Dogs
- Best Healing Space: El Paseo Community Garden
- Best Tortas: Doña Torta Chilanga
- Best Plant Pop-Up: Semillas Plant Studio
- Best Clock Tower: Pullman National Monument Clock Tower
- Best African American Labor History Museum: Pullman Porter Museum
- Best Restorative Justice Experiment Through Urban Community Gardening: Cooperation Operation
- Best Place to Get Your Shot: Roseland Community Hospital
- Best Place to Watch the Sunset: Kensington/115th St. Metra Station
- Best Park to Pet Dogs That Aren’t Yours: Fred Anderson Park
- Best Place to Cloud Watch/Best Hill to Roll Down: The Great Ivy Lawn
- Best New Student Center Made Mostly Out of Glass: Columbia College Chicago Student Center
- Best Spot to Catch the Bus Going South: South Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive
Best of South Shore & Woodlawn
- Best Corner: 71st and Jeffery
- Best Customer Service: Taco King
- Best Win: Hyde Park Academy
- (Worst) Repurposing of a School: South Shore High School
- Best Potential: Jackson Park Comfort Station
- Best Place for Solace and Creativity: K.L.E.O. Community Family Life Center
- Best Tennis Club: XS Tennis and Education Foundation
- Best Space to Share Cultural Wealth: Washington Park Arts Incubator
- Best Regenerative Epicenter: Sweet Water Foundation
- Best Fancy Night Out: The Park Supper Club