Chicago's Best Italian Markets and Grocery Stores
Where to Find Authentic Italian Ingredients in Chicago
Chicago is known for having deep, rich Italian roots that have had a significant impact on Chicago’s food scene. Lucky for us Chicagoans, that means the city has no shortage of excellent independent Italian markets from which you can shop for imported Italian cheeses, olives and oils, and fresh pastas.
Check out our roundup of the best Italian markets and grocery stores across the city and learn where to go for various specialty items to bring the taste of Italy home with you!
Chicago's Best Italian Grocery Stores & Market
Best for Fresh Pasta
Italian Homemade Company
(Fulton Market)
Italian Homemade Company, just like their name, is a no-frills what-you-see-is-what-you-get shop with a fairly singular focus on homemade pastas and complimentary sauces. Swing by for a quick counter service lunch, or pick up a few bags of one of their 10 fresh pastas and a tub or two of sauce from their pasta fridge to have on hand at home.
Pasta Fresh
(Dunning)
As you might guess, Pasta Fresh serves up a wide variety of freshly made pastas ranging from linguine and ravioli sheets to a wide array of stuffed pastas including tortellini, agnolotti, ravioli, and more! On top of their widely acclaimed pastas, Pasta Fresh also offers fresh sauces, a variety of pre-made meals, and all of the Italian pantry staples you look for at an Italian market.
Best Italian Bakeries & Pastry Shops
D’Amato’s Bakery & Subs
(West Loop)
D’Amato’s Bakery is famous for their homemade Italian bread, which they use for all of their incredible and generous Italian subs. Swing by for a fresh loaf and a cannoli.
Ferrara Bakery
(Little Italy)
In busienss since 1908, this local Italian bakery has been cranking out authentic Italian specialty cookies, cakes, and pastries for over 100 years, so it’s safe to say they know what they are doing.
Best For Italian Meats, Cheeses & Charcuterie
Calabria Imports
(Beverly)
Calabria Imports has been serving Chicago’s southwest side for 50 years, and they have become famous for their Italian subs. Their full deli and market is stocked with great finds like imported prosciutto and mortadella, fresh ricotta, Fontinella, homemade meatballs and red sauce, a wide array of olives, and Italian pantry staples.
Bari Foods
(West Town)
At Bari, you can find an assortment of high quality imported Italian cheeses, cured meats and prosciutto, plus plenty of great domestic options and homemade sausages. Aside from their stellar butchery, you can also snag homemade giardiniera and pasta sauces from the deli, and be sure to check out their selection of imported tomatoes, coffee, oils, and vinegars.
Tempesta Market
(West Town)
Tempesta specializes in ‘nduja, a spreadable cured spicy sausage that hails from Italy’s Calabrian region. They have a robust selection of specialty in-house cured meats (like their award winning Finocchiona salami, or Tartufo which features black truffle from Tuscany), fresh meats, Italian cheeses, olives, and pantry staples. Here you can find everything you need to compile a gourmet charcuterie board, or have their team assemble one for you.
What to Buy From Local Italian Markets
Whether you’re making a traditional pasta dish, assembling an antipasto platter, or just stocking your pantry, here are the must-have Italian ingredients to look for—along with some unique finds that are hard to come by in regular grocery stores.
- Pecorino Romano– Often compared to Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino is a sharper, saltier cheese that is very popular in Italian cooking and is great for dishes like cacio e pepe.
- Fresh Mozzarella– If you come across house-made mozzarella, do not skip it!
- Guanciale– This traditional Italian cured pork cheek is a specialty item that is often hard to find at mainstream grocers.
- Oils & Vinegars– Take the opportunity to stock up on high quality Italian pantry staples like extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Love discovering the best local markets across the city? Chicago is full of incredible specialty markets, from authentic Latin Markets, to top-notch butcher shops and bakeries to explore!