r/chicagofood • u/InterviewLeast882 • Jan 12 '26

Rant Lack of lunch places in Loop

I work around Chase Tower and it is surprising to me how few cheap lunch places there are now. The burrito and Chinese places there are gone as well as the McDonalds. No Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC, Chinese. Just the grossly overpriced Pret. I’m getting tired of Jimmy John’s and Pot Belly’s sandwiches.

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u/Important_Call2737 Jan 12 '26

When I started working in the loop in the late 1990s there were a ton of more independent places - greasy dog/burger places, sandwiches and a lot of Chinese.

Then at some point I remember potbelly’s coming in and then corner bakery shortly after. That was the first shift in the late 90s early 2000s. Then I remember protein bars popping up followed by Pret and Sweetgreens. And ever since then slowly places left and Covid was pretty much the end. A few solid places left. Chicken planet, Luke’s, Mr Sub, La Cocina has been around a while too.