Best Solo Dining Sanctuaries Restaurants in Little Italy

A short walk from the UIC campus, Kurimu leans into Asian-inspired soft serve, boba drinks, and coffee in a compact counter-service space. Since opening in 2019, it’s become a student staple for photogenic swirls and rotating flavors that run from taro to black sesame.

A counter-service Vietnamese cafe in University Village where pho and banh mi are the main draw, Lotus Cafe & Banh Mi serves fragrant broths and soft, overstuffed sandwiches at student-friendly prices. Locals lean on it for quick lunches and low-key dinners, especially when a straightforward bowl of pho is the priority over scene or design.

ML Kitchen is a University Village standby for Chinese and broader Asian fusion favorites with big portions and reliable takeout. Locals lean on it for saucy combo plates, fried rice, and wings that travel well whether you’re eating at home, in a dorm, or between classes.

The famed New York slice shop’s Chicago outpost brings thick Sicilian squares and big New York-style slices to Randolph’s restaurant row. It’s a fast-casual, mostly-standup operation geared toward quick lunches and late-night runs for pepperoni-cupped, sauce-forward pies.

On Taylor Street in University Village, One More Sushi Express is a fast-casual counter focused on budget-friendly maki, combo trays, and ramen for dine-in, takeout, or delivery. Portions run generous for the price, making it a clutch move for students and nearby workers chasing quick rolls.

The Momo World brings Himalayan street food to Maxwell Street with a tight menu of momos, biryani, and noodle dishes that overlap Indian and Nepali flavors. Students and nearby workers stop in for quick dumpling plates, saucy C-momos, and casual counter-service meals.

IDOF’s University Village location is a fast-casual build-your-own line for falafel, shawarma, and grain bowls aimed squarely at students and office workers. The menu leans customizable and relatively light, with plenty of vegetarian-friendly options and portions that make it an everyday lunch candidate.

Thai Bowl is a long-running counter-service stop near UIC serving fast, inexpensive Thai standards with outdoor seating when weather allows. Students and staff count on it for quick lunch combos and familiar noodle dishes between classes or shifts.