Thanksgiving Day is rapidly approaching, and anyone looking for a traditional feast without doing all the cooking should start planning now. From smoked, barbecued, and roasted turkey with all the fixings to vegan delights and international spins, here are the best places for Thanksgiving takeout around Chicago — which is located on the unceded traditional homelands of the Kiikaapoi, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Bodéwadmiakiwen (Potawatomi), and Myaamia tribes.
Read MoreChicago’s Best Thanksgiving Takeout Fest Options
Where to find turkeys, pies, and all the sides to go within the city limits
Soul & Smoke
The acclaimed barbecue restaurant offers an a la carte menu for pickup on Wednesday, November 27 in Evanston, Avondale, and West Loop. Choose from a wide array of entrees including herb-roasted or Cajun-smoked turkey breast, roasted ham with ginger chutney, and braised duck quarters, flanked by sides like green bean casserole, mac and cheese, candied yams, and much more. Orders can be placed through Tock.
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Bar Roma
Find a family-style feast at Bar Roma Italian restaurant, which is offering packages for two. They include options like cider-brined turkey breasts with gravy and cranberry pear chutney, garlic mashed potatoes, pretzel rolls with honey mustard butter, and bourbon pecan pie. Place orders online for pickup on Wednesday, November 27. Orders must be placed by Monday, November 25.
Luella's Southern Kitchen
Lincoln Square’s Southern comfort food haven is back with massive Thanksgiving feasts for two or eight available for pickup on Wednesday, November 22, and on Thanksgiving Day proper. The packages include smoked turkey breast with gravy, cornbread stuffing, brown butter green beans, mac and cheese, and apple cobbler. Place pre-orders via CashApp.
The Chicago Diner
The Lakeview vegan restaurant’s annual feast features Wellingtons, veggie roasts, mushroom lentil loaf, herbed stuffing, sweet potatoes, jalapeno corn fritters, and pumpkin pie. Dishes are available individually or as part of meals or family packs. Orders must be placed by 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 24 for pickup from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27.
Le Sud
Le Sud in Roscoe Village is prepared for Thanksgiving gatherings of all sizes, with dinner packages for two to four, six to eight, and even ten to 14. The team will offer brined, ready-to-cook turkey breasts and whole birds, as well as sides such as red quinoa (arugula, roasted butternut squash, pickled golden raisins, roasted pecans, pears), Brussels sprouts (pickled red onion, feta), and stuffing (apple, herbs de Provence, garlic, rosemary, fennel). Place pre-orders online by Friday, November 22 for pickup or delivery between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27.
Itoko
Boka Restaurant Group’s Lakeview sushi spot is putting a Japanese spin on pot pies. Available for pickup on Wednesday, November 27, customers can order a turkey pot pie with Japanese curry and potatoes.
Farm Bar
At Farm Bar, with locations in Ravenswood and Lakeview, there are packages for two to four people, and another for six to eight. Turkey, stuffing, and garlic-mashed potatoes, are highlights. Pickup from both locations on Wednesday, November 27 from noon to 6 p.m. Order online.
Tandoor Char House
Indian-meets-Pakistani staple Tandoor Char House puts its signature touch on Thanksgiving dinner at home with a package featuring tandoori chicken (bone-in or boneless), vegetarian samosas, cumin rice, and garlic naan. Diners also get to choose three sides from options such as corn chaat, chana masala, aloo gobi, and palak paneer, and top it all off with gulab jamun for dessert. Vegetarian options are available upon request. Place pre-orders for pickup in Lincoln Park, West Town, and River North. The cutoff is Tuesday, November 26 and food can be picked up until Thanksgiving Day.
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Daisies
Now settled comfortably into spacious new digs, Daisies will celebrate turkey day with a “finish-at-home” dinner kit for four. Patrons can expect sous vide turkey breast, confit legs and thighs, and sides including candied sweet potato with marshmallow, green bean casserole, sage and maple stuffing. Pastry chef and partner Leigh Omilinsky is also whipping up pies and ice cream for a la carte purchases. Place pre-orders for pickup via Tock.
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The Goddess and Grocer
The local chain offers meals for two, six, or 12 ($85 to $450) featuring turkey, herb and sourdough stuffing, turkey pan gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and mini pumpkin pies. The team is also offering a vegan alternative for two with roasted vegetable-stuffed acorn squash and quinoa risotto in lieu of a bird.
Bloom Plant Based Kitchen
Bloom, chef Rodolfo Cuadros’s (Amaru) meat-free hot spot in Wicker Park, is offering a vegan package that includes leek and chestnut soup with truffled mushroom pate dumplings, an autumn harvest salad (roasted sweet potato, pomegranate, endive), and royal acorn squash stuffed with smoked mushrooms and chimichurri. Place preorders via OpenTable for pickup on Wednesday, November 27.
Smoke Daddy BBQ - Wicker Park
The teams from 4 Star Restaurant Group’s Smoke Daddy and Crosby’s Kitchen are back with smoked whole turkeys, glazed bone-in smoked ham, and pulled turkey by the pound for a very hearty Thanksgiving. There’s also cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole to reheat at home, as well as pecan pies, pumpkin pies, and bottles of spiked cider. Place orders via Tock for pickup on Tuesday, November 26, and Wednesday, November 27 at Smoke Daddy Wrigleyville, Smoke Daddy Wicker Park, or Crosby’s Kitchen.
Somerset
Gold Coast’s Somerset’s is offering Harvest-At-Home kits with a full Thanksgiving spread available for pickup on November 27 and 28. Packages serve up to seven with turkey, sides, salads, rolls, and pie.
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Frontier
West Town’s big-game restaurant and bar features 10-pound, 15-pound, and even 20-pound smoked turkeys — cooked and hot — for to-go Thanksgiving, as well as sides portioned for ten people each, such as mac and cheese, sweet potato pie, string beans, and gravy by the quart. Place pre-orders via Tock for pickup on Wednesday, November 27, or Thanksgiving Day.
Jeong
One of Chicago’s best Thanksgiving traditions comes at Jeong, the Korean fine dining restaurant in West Town. Order their famous holiday pie with dry-aged Angus beef, caramelized kimchi, crimini mushrooms, onions, carrots, beef and kimchi gravy. Order via Tock. These pies keep, too.
Bub City
Lettuce Entertain You’s honky tonk barbecue spot in River North and suburban Rosemont offers packages for two, four, or eight for pickup on Wednesday, November 27 — the order cutoff is Monday, November 24. A la carte pies, turkeys, and sides are also available. Call River North at (312) 610-4200 or Rosemont at (847) 261-0399 to place an order.
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Beatrix
Lettuce Entertain You’s all-day cafe is offering to-go herb-roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, gravy, Parker House Rolls, and cranberry sauce for $179.95. It’s also available a la carte. Carryout and delivery orders must be placed by noon on Monday, November 25 and pickup is on Wednesday, November 27.
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Publican Quality Meats
One Off Hospitality has put together a fun build-your-own Thanksgiving meal kit that allows patrons to choose among whole turkeys (in a wide variety of weights), turkey breasts, and half or whole hams, as well as ready-to-serve side dishes, pies, pastries, and bread from Publican Quality Bread. Would-be patrons should note that these turkeys are raw, so the team strongly suggests purchasing a brining kit, too. Place pre-orders online for pickup or delivery. Pickup is at Publican Quality Meats in West Loop from November 25 to 28.
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Alinea at Roister
The Alinea Group is going all out for Thanksgiving and offering a comprehensive takeout experience. Packages can feed four to eight guests and contain a free-range turkey (complete with detailed cooking instructions, compound butter, herbs, and spices), as well as sides including baked brie with apple cinnamon compote, roasted garlic sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie for dessert. Place pre-orders via Tock for pickup on Wednesday, November 27 at Roister (951 W. Fulton).
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Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails
Kindling, the steakhouse inside the Willis Tower, is featuring packages for five to 10 people ($65 per person) and 12 to 20 ($95 per person). Dishes include crispy Brussels sprouts, confit chicken wings, brined and herb-marinated rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese gratin, beef-fat glazed Hasselback potato, butternut squash, and a s’mores cake bar. Orders must be placed at least 72 hours in advance of pick up with the final date to order being Saturday, November 18 with the final pick up date on Tuesday, November 21. Order on the restaurant’s website.
Lowcountry
One of the city’s best spots of seafood boils is celebrating Thanksgiving. Lowcountry’s South Loop is offering a to-go package for four and trays that could feed 10. Pickup is on Thanksgiving day and customers can order online. Selections include lobster tails, cornbread, shrimp, and corn.
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The Duck Inn
Chef Kevin Hickey’s lauded duck-themed tavern is dishing out dinners featuring its signature rotisserie duck, turkey with duck fat-poached breasts with braised legs and thighs, and tons of fixings such as duck sausage stuffing, giblet sage gravy, rum-glazed and spiced sweet potatoes, brown butter crumble pumpkin cheesecake, and much more for Thanksgiving. Place pre-orders via Tock for pickup on Wednesday, November 27.
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Pearl's Place
The Bronzeville restaurant offers a personal Thanksgiving feast for pickup and delivery featuring hand-carved roast and jerk turkey, cornbread, collard greens, yams, macaroni and cheese, cornbread dressing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. Finish the meal with sweet potato pie, or peach or apple cobble. Groups of six or more can take advantage of a family-style country ham, pot roast, or turkey dinner that includes three large sides. Place orders by email at [email protected].
Virtue Restaurant
James Beard Award-winning chefs Erick Williams and Damarr Brown will return this year with a Thanksgiving feast for four that hits all the nostalgia notes. Virtue’s package includes a half-turkey with gravy, mac and cheese, collard greens with smoked turkey broth, cranberry sauce, rolls with honey butter, and bourbon pecan pie. Smart patrons will think to add a gallon of gumbo made with andouille sausage, chicken, and Carolina Gold rice, sold a la carte. Whole free-range cooked turkeys are also available while supplies last. Orders must be placed online with pickup around the corner at Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern, 5215 S. Harper Avenue with pick up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27.