Freshly cooked popcorn transports taste buds to the carnival midway without the hassle of being accosted by barkers trying to guess your shoe size or bearded ladies seeking confidence-boosting compliments. Snack on sideshow sustenance with today's Groupon: for $12, you get a one-gallon tin dressed in Cubs attire and full of gourmet popcorn from Kernel Fabyan's, (up to a $26 value). Your Groupon may be used for online purchases, or in store at Chicago-area locations in Naperville, Deer Park, and Geneva. Kernel Fabyan's pops up crunchy corn in a mouthwatering rainbow of flavors. The shop offers local-loving options such as the Chicago combo, boasting gale-force flavors of caramel and white cheddar ($26 for a one-gallon tin), as well as the classics with sweet and salty scoops of home-style kettle corn ($17 for a one-gallon tin). While Kernel Fabyan's popcorn comes in plenty of tin sizes and styles, the collectible Cubs tin is a great gift to slide under the home base of a Northsider's tree. A dollar from every Groupon purchased goes to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, once endorsed by late Cubs player, Ron Santo. Kernel Fabyan's offers the perfect way to say "I love you," "get well soon," or "deepest sympathy for your dog haunting."

Reviews

Chicago magazine named Kernel Fabyan's Gourmet Popcorn Shoppe some of the best popcorn in Chicago in 2010. Six Yelpers and five Yahoo! Locals give the Naperville location an average of 4.5 stars.

• Quintessential hometown popcorn shop on a picture-perfect street in historic Geneva. Our pick of the five flavors was the warm, fresh Kernel’s Kettle Pop—a melt-in-your-mouth morsel with an ethereal sweet-salty glaze. – Denise Peñacerrada, Chicago
• First off, you could smell the amazing aroma a block away. Try the different samples, but the best is the caramel and cheese. It is the BEST popcorn we have ever had and we will now be lifetime customers. – Gabby, Geneva location, Yahoo! Local