Where to Eat on Route 66: Chicago (Food Guide)

Here's your horseshoe hand for you. >> This is hilarious. >> Anything else I can get for you? >> No, I I think I have my work cut out for me.

This is not a death wish. >> Hey, I'm Jay Lee. I'm a food critic based in New York City. I write about restaurants with tablecloths, caviar supplements, and natural wine.

And somehow I find myself in Chicago about to embark on a road trip tasting food along Route 66. Route 66 was one of the first American highways established in 1926. This year it's celebrating its 100th birthday.

Woo. The highway was decommissioned in the 1980s, but it remains a destination that some call the main street of America. Known for iconic diners with burgers, fries, and slices of pie.

I'm driving all 2,448 m in just 8 days. The goal is to taste 66 plates on Route 66. >> Most people would say that's crazy. I'm a little crazy. I want to visit iconic restaurants, meet local legends, and

taste American classics. I also want to check out lesserk known spots, places with delicious food that tastes like home. I want to taste America, or at least a slice of it.

Join me on this journey called 66 Plates. Lou Mitchells is our first official stop on Route 66. LSE's has been around since 1923, and as a native Chicagoan, I've been coming here since I was a kid. It's famous for pancakes, omelets, and doughnut holes, which they

give away for free. I invited my little sister to eat some pancakes and see us off. >> We are joined by my little sister, Sarah. Uh if I didn't see her right now, I probably

I wouldn't get to see her on this trip. So, what are we going to What are we going to order? >> I don't know. I feel like you're the expert.

I feel like whenever we go anywhere, you always order. >> That's true. I do always order. >> I think we'll we'll have a stack of the chocolate chip meltway pancakes.

And then I think that we are going to try the the Belgian malted bacon waffle. Actually, >> bacon waffle. >> Yes, please. And then and then we're also going to try the

apple and cheese jumbo omelette. Do you think it's crazy to get diet coke for breakfast? >> No, it's not crazy at all. >> Can I have a diet coke as well, please?

>> Oh, that's crazy. chicken cakes. >> Thank you. >> This is beautiful. >> Waffle.

>> Oh, >> wow. >> Apple and cheese. Waffle. That's crazy. >> It's like an apple pie on top of an omelette.

>> Where's the cheese? >> The cheese must be in the omelette. >> You take the first dig in. Okay, let's see. >> It's It's good.

Kind of. It's like >> It's kind of good. >> It's kind of like a deconstructed cake. The fluffy omelette is like almost acting like a cake and then you have the apples on top.