City Cast Chicago logo

Chicago Pasta We Love

Posted on October 16, 2025
Emily Mack

Emily Mack

pasta

Clockwise: spaghetti from Lula; bucatini from Giant; eggplant parmesan from Ignotz’s Ristorante; tagliatelle from Giant. (Emmi Mack / Hey Chicago; Jacoby Cochran / City Cast Chicago; Rick Homuth)

Friday is National Pasta Day … not that Chicagoans need an excuse to chow down, especially in this gloomy weather.

Lucky for us, you can find great pasta in Chicago far beyond the confines of Taylor Street. The City Cast Chicago team's picks run the gamut from red-sauce dishes at old-school joints to handmade specials at trendier spots. (Believe the hype.)

These are our favorite pastas.

Emmi, Hey Chicago Editor — Wait, That’s Me!

  • Cheese ravioli with meat sauce from La Villa
  • Baked mostaccioli from Martino’s — what can I say? I was raised on the Northwest Side.
  • Pasta squares with meatballs from Club Lucky. Extra points for atmosphere and strong martinis.

Simone, City Cast Chicago Executive Producer

  • Bucatini all'Amatriciana or pappardelle with oxtail ragu from Bar Roma in Andersonville. Is it upscale? Is it everyday? Yes.
  • Linguine all'Vongole at Gussie's in Old Town — a go-to when mom's in town and she wants to see a show at Second City.

Jacoby, City Cast Chicago Host

  • Stracci with lamb sugo from Daisies
  • Tagliatelle with crab and bucatini with bacon and jalapeño from Giant
  • Shrimp cognac scampi from Provaré
  • Rasta Pasta from 14 Parish

Rick, Social Media Manager

  • Paccheri alla Gricia from Tortello
  • Whatever the daily shape is from Flour Power
  • Squid ink pappardelle from Pasta Fresh. Buy it fresh and make it at home!

Michelle, City Cast Chicago Producer

🫵 Where’s your favorite pasta in Chicago? Hit our line at chicago@citycast.fm.

Try making your own sauce 🍅

Share article

Hey Chicago

Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

The latest in Chicago

Chicago, ExplainedSeptember 4

Take This Week's Chicago News Trivia Quiz

How closely were you paying attention to this week's current events in Chicago? Test yourself in our weekly trivia quiz.

Residents, shown from behind, confront ICE agents who were driving in a caravan through the Brighton Park neighborhood in November.
Keep It LocalSeptember 3

Your Guide To Karaoke Bars in Chicago

Whether your perfect karaoke night involves performing to an entire bar or renting a room for a more intimate experience, you’ve got opti...

A woman singing into a mic. A man is holding up what looks to be a tv screen
Keep It LocalSeptember 3

The Art of Karaoke

Karaoke is pretty serious business, and I want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.

A woman singing into a mic with her finger pointed up. There's a man behind her holding a screen
Keep It LocalAugust 27

How To Start Growing Your Own Food

Amid a summer of foodborne illnesses, intense weather, and ever-rising grocery prices, many Chicagoans are exploring ways to grow their o...

A man in a bucket hat and glasses holding vegetables in a large garden
Keep It LocalAugust 27

Your Guide To Chicago’s Garden Shops

From expansive gardening centers to little shops packed with houseplants, it’s not hard to find all the supplies you need to bring some m...

A garden with an assortment of big leafed plants
Keep It LocalAugust 20

How Transit Tees Turns Chicago’s Quirks Into Board Games

From board games about the city’s history to puzzles of iconic maps to card decks featuring local wildlife, Transit Tees’ teams of creato...

A person writing on a gridded paper that says "Chicago 1893" There's also a board game with an assortment of different houses for the board game on it. There is also A bowl of popcorn and a soda on the table
Keep It LocalAugust 20

Your Guide to Chicago’s Toy Stores

From vintage toys to a workshop series for aspiring toy inventors, Here's a list of places that’ll help you spoil the kids in your life a...

A table with an assortment of different stuffed animals
Keep It LocalAugust 13

Your Guide to Chicago’s Stationery Stores

Whether you’re actually going back to school soon or you just love analog hobbies, these local shops will help you find all kinds of stat...

A large group of people inside a store. They are looking at an assortment of items