
The Stevenson (n.): Named for former Illinois governor Adlai Stevenson, this is the name frequently used for the portion of I-55 in Cook County, which connects Chicago to St. Sometimes the beer and booze is sold through an attached liquor store, and sometimes (like in the case of Go Tavern in Logan Square) you'll find coolers and shelves in the bar itself. Slashie (n.): A bar that also sells beer and liquor to go. Pedway (n.): The network of underground pedestrian passageways that connect many buildings in the Loop.

You'll find it on the menu at places like Harold's Chicken Shack and Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken. Mild sauce (n.): A combination of ketchup, hot sauce and barbecue sauce that is usually served with fried chicken. Kennedy, this northern section of I-94 and I-90 runs from the Jane Byrne Interchange to O'Hare International Airport. The Kennedy (n.): Named for President John F. Jagoff (n.): A term used to describe corrupt politicians, bad drivers, lousy tippers and anyone else that Chicagoans generally dislike. Garden apartment (n.): A word used by realtors to gloss over the fact that the apartment you're looking at is in the basement (or, at the very least, partially below street level). It's now used as a blanket term for the CTA's train system (including the lines that run at or below ground level).įrunchroom (n.): The front room of an apartment or house, where guests are usually entertained. The El (n.): Short for elevated, like the train lines it refers to. Eisenhower, this section of I-290 runs from the Jane Byrne Interchange to Schaumburg. The Eisenhower (n.): Named for President Dwight D.

The Dan Ryan (n.): Named for former Cook County Board president Dan Ryan Jr., this southern section of I-94 and I-90 runs from the Jane Byrne Interchange to 95th Street.ĭibs (n.): When it snows in Chicago and people dig out parking spots on the street to move their cars, you'll find stretches of pavement reserved with lawn chairs, tires, cinder blocks, stuffed animals and other assorted junk in observance of this winter ritual. The construction of new backyard houses is currently prohibited under Chicago's zoning ordinance, making these vintage residences increasingly rare.

Many fans still cling to the South Side stadium's original title.Ĭoach house (n.): A small apartment located in the rear of a property. Cellular Field in 2003, and more recently was dubbed Guaranteed Rate Field. You'll find it at Garrett Popcorn (where the scent usually wafts into the street) and pretty much every other popcorn shop in the city.Ĭomiskey (n.): When the original Comiskey Park (the home of the White Sox) was demolished in 1990, the team's new ballpark went by the same name until it was renamed U.S. While most people are familiar with "The Bean" and nicknames for other Chicago attractions, we've gathered some more essential Chicago slang-including terms you can use during your next visit to a Chicago hot dog restaurant.īungalow (n.): One-story, single-family homes with slanted roofs that are found in neighborhoods throughout the city.Ĭhicago handshake (n.): The local version of a boilermaker, typically comprising a pint (or can) of Old Style and a shot of Malört.Ĭhicago mix (n.): The salty-sweet combination of cheddar and caramel popcorn. From unique Chicago delicacies to nicknames for interstates, there's plenty of Chicago slang that might elicit a bit of confusion if you haven't spent much time in the Midwestern metropolis. Every city has its own lingo, so if you're spending some time in Chicago, you might as well get acquainted with the local vernacular.
