Best Cheap Eats Restaurants in Loop (60606)
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Small Cheval - Riverside
A stripped-down, riverfront offshoot of Au Cheval focused almost entirely on burgers, fries, and shakes.
Notable Picks
8.4
A tight, smash-style burger counter that keeps the menu disciplined—thin patties with real char, a soft bun, and just enough sauce to stay punchy. It’s built for speed, and the fries-and-aioli combo is the reliable add-on when you want the meal to feel complete.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheeseburger, Bacon Cheeseburger, Fries with garlic aioli
What makes it special: A stripped-down, riverfront offshoot of Au Cheval focused almost entirely on burgers, fries, and shakes.
8.2
A Loop workday staple that’s strongest when you treat it like an efficient Italian market lunch—made-to-order sandwiches, a solid salad bar, and pasta that’s built for speed. The room handles crowds well, and it’s a dependable choice when you need a quick, filling meal without sacrificing freshness.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Parmesan, Meatball Cavatappi, Zesty Tomato Pasta Salad
What makes it special: Counter-service Italian where salads, pizzas and pastas share equal space.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Lotus Banh Mi is a fast-casual Vietnamese lunch spot in the Loop focused on bánh mì, pho, and rice bowls built for the downtown office crowd. Guests line up for honey grilled pork sandwiches, beef pho with all the fixings, and spring rolls that deliver solid flavor and value on a tight lunch break.
Must-Try Dishes:
Honey Grilled Pork Banh Mi, Beef Pho Soup, Fresh Spring Rolls with Pineapple Peanut Sauce
What makes it special: Vietnamese counter-service spot turning out dependable bánh mì, pho, and bowls for Loop lunchers.
#4
Avanti Caffé
7.9
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
A European-leaning Italian cafe that’s most useful for a quick but sit-down-friendly lunch—panini, pasta, and salads made to order. The food stays straightforward and consistent, and it’s a solid move when you want something calmer than a pure grab-and-go line.
Must-Try Dishes:
Homemade Meat Lasagna, Homemade Veggie Lasagna, Homemade Gnocchi
What makes it special: Homemade lasagna served fast in a true Loop lunch-counter format.
7.8
A classic Loop counter for Italian beef that’s built for speed: thin-sliced beef, a properly wet dip option, and hot giardiniera when you want the sandwich to bite back. It’s the kind of place you hit when you want something unmistakably Chicago and don’t need it dressed up.
Must-Try Dishes:
Italian beef (dipped) with hot giardiniera, Chicago-style hot dog, Pizza puff
What makes it special: A no-frills Italian beef stop that moves fast at lunch.
#6
Depot 226
7.7
A hotel-lobby all-day spot that functions as a coffee bar, cocktail counter, and light-bites kitchen without feeling like an afterthought. The best move is to treat it as a flexible reset—morning caffeine, late-afternoon snack, then a simple drink before heading out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast sandwich, Pastry + coffee combo, House cocktail (ask what’s featured)
What makes it special: A lobby bar-cafe that’s genuinely useful all day.
7.6
A made-to-order deli counter for straightforward sandwiches that are most valuable when you need something fast and reliably portioned. It’s not a destination vibe, but it’s a dependable downtown lunch tool—order a classic, add chips, and keep moving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Turkey club sandwich, Italian sub, Soup and sandwich combo
What makes it special: A fast downtown deli counter that stays consistent.
7.6
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A low-key sub shop that’s all about straightforward, filling sandwiches with a classic deli build—meat, cheese, and crunch in a clean, no-drama package. It’s at its best as a weekday lunch fallback when you want something simple that won’t miss.
Must-Try Dishes:
ISS Classic sub, Turkey and provolone sub, Chili (when available)
What makes it special: A simple, filling sub shop that delivers on value.