Green Street Smoked Meats, Chicago

Sample Menu

• Main: half a pound of sliced brisket
• Side: Frito pie
• Cocktail: sweet tea with bourbon and lemon

How it Works: It’s a cafeteria-style setup, and the line to get food sometimes stretches across the restaurant. Once you reach the counter, you’ll find a crew of black-gloved men wielding cleavers as they plate up orders.

How to Find It: GSSM is a bit hidden on Green Street. Keep your eyes peeled for a discreet-looking alleyway filled with tables and lights. That’s where you’ll find the main door.

Where to Sit: If the weather is nice, try to grab one of the tables outside.

While You Wait: Before you get in line, grab a cocktail or craft beer at the bar, or plunge your hand into one of the ice-filled antique sinks and snatch a brew for yourself.

Inside Tip: When something runs out for the day, it’s out for good. Be sure to arrive a bit early and keep an eye on the board up front, which keeps track of what’s still available.

While You’re in the Neighborhood: Right next door you’ll find Parlor Pizza (108 N. Green St.), which dishes out more than a dozen different wood-fired pizzas. The real draw: sipping a craft beer while soaking up views from the second-story rooftop deck.