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Neighborhood Guides

Get to Know Jefferson Park & Portage Park

Posted on November 30, 2022 | Updated on September 30, 2025

Sidney Madden

To the left of the image is a sign of Jefferson Park Metro Station. To the right is Bungalows in Portage Park Historic District

Jefferson Park Metra Station. Bungalows in Portage Park Historic District. (Adam Moss / Flickr ; Wikimedia Commons)

These Northwest Side neighborhoods have long connected travelers and commuters to the rest of the city and beyond!

While Portage Park is named for the route Native Americans took to get from the Chicago River to the Des Plaines, Jefferson Park is known as the “gateway to Chicago” partly due to its train and highway connections.But that doesn’t mean you should just pass through these neighborhoods. Here are some places to stop, according to City Cast listeners.

Something to eat: “Mom’s Old Recipe is great,” Drew A. said. “I live right near there, and it is dangerous when you can smell them cooking up some fajitas.” In Portage Park, Patrick R. on Twitter recommends Community Tavern, where we're looking at the chicken-and-kimchi dumplings.

Something to drink: Get your caffeine fix along Irving Park Road at Perkolator or Portage Grounds, Patrick said.

Something to do: “Local Goods on Devon (technically in Forest Glen) or Rep Chi on Milwaukee are a couple go-tos for me getting gifts for people,” Drew said. Need something, anything, with a Chicago flag on it? Try these spots.

see more:travel,restaurants & bars

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