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Best BLTs In Chicago

Pork Belly Shortage Drives Price Up Bacon Up
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

BLTs may have the same components, bacon, lettuce, tomato and two pieces of bread; but just because a sandwich includes those ingredients doesn't make it boring and ordinary (although it's hard to go wrong with bacon as a main ingredient). What does make a BLT perfect is quality ingredients; and yes, that even includes the bread. These five BLTs on this list make some of the tastiest lunches or dinners all throughout Chicago.

Old Oak Tap
2109 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 772-0406
www.theoldoaktap.com

BLTs
(Photo Credit: theoldoaktap.com)

Once voted the best sandwich in all of Chicago by Chicago magazine, Old Oak's BLT has everything you'd expect from an amazing sandwich of its kind; applewood smoked bacon, fried green tomato, arugula and then some. It also has a slathering of amazing pimento cheese too, all yours for $10. The sandwich also comes with salad, fries, or mashed potatos at this charming West Town restaurant.

Honky Tonk BBQ
1800 S. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 226-7427
www.honkytonkbbqchicago.com

Honky Tonk
(Photo Credit: honkytonkbbqchicago.com)

When you order the BLT at this Pilsen restaurant, it's obvious you're at a restaurant that specializes in southern comfort food. Their BLT comes as not one, but two small sandwiches, packed with fried green tomatoes cooked in a cornmeal batter, crispy bacon and some mixed greens for only $8. If you want to switch things up a bit, ask for some garlic mustard BBQ sauce to accompany the sandwich. Alternatively, you can also add a portabella mushroom to the mix.

Kuma's Corner
2900 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 604-8769
www.kumascorner.com

This Avondale restaurant (along with its sister restaurant Kuma's Too in Boystown) is best known for its heavy metal music and burgers with a crazy array of toppings. But for something just as tasty, and just as heart-stopping, grab their version of a BLT: All Pigs Must Die, or APMD. Ten ounces of amazing applewood bacon on piled high on the bun, and paired, just as they should be, with lettuce and tomato. A Sriracha aioli rounds out this dish and helps it stand out from other BLTs out there.

Related:  Top Bacon Burgers in Chicago

Panes Bread Cafe
3002 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 665-0972
www.facebook.com/La-Pane-Pizza-Bakery

Bread is an important component of any BLT and at this cafe, it's one of the staples of the entire menu. From the toasted bread to the perfectly crisp bacon, they make everything just right. This cash-only cafe is well known around the city, both for the bread and it's array of sandwiches, but ask any of the patrons and the BLT will rank high on their list of tasty eats. The BLT is just $5.25 and for 50 cents more, you can also get cheese. Other than BLTs, the restaurant serves other sandwiches as well as traditional Italian fare.

Brett's Kitchen Cafe
233 W. Superior St.

Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 664-6354
www.brettskitchen.com

This River North restaurant may be quaint, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in a variety of menu choices and lots of flavor. Their BLT is reasonably priced at just $5.75, perfectly made whether you grab one of the few chairs in the restaurant or get your sandwich delivered. Want an even better BLT? Order it with avocado.

Related: Best Sandwiches in Chicago

Elizabeth SanFilippo is a freelance writer, who enjoys trying new foods from all over the world. But her favorite city for culinary treats will always be Chicago. When not writing about food, she's working part-time at a culinary vacation company, The International Kitchen, based in the Windy City. Some of her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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