![\"Thanksgiving](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Heritage_Thanksgiving-11.7.24-credit_-Ryan_Beshel-047-1024x653.jpg\")
Thanksgiving a la carte options at Heritage Restaurant Partners include oyster and kimchi stuffing and caviar. Credit: Provided\/Ryan Beshel<\/p>\nCHICAGO \u2014 It happens every year. Thanksgiving sneaks up before the jack-o\u2019-lanterns have rotted on your doorstep, and before you know it, it\u2019s time to order a turkey and haul out the platters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This year, why not get professional help in the form of extra side dishes you can heat and serve with your bird?<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve put together a guide to neighborhood restaurants offering Thanksgiving appetizers and sides you can order \u00e0 la carte to enhance your home cooking and round out the table.<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving a la carte options at Heritage Restaurant Partners include oyster and kimchi stuffing and caviar. Credit: Provided\/Ryan Beshel<\/p>\n
Albany Park<\/p>\n
The Fish Guy, 4423 N. Elston Ave.<\/strong><\/p>\n Sometimes on Thanksgiving, there\u2019s just no room on the stove for making turkey stock, even though it\u2019s key to the most flavorful gravy. This year, grab a quart ($12) from the Fish Guy<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The seafood shop offers whole and spatchcocked birds, too, and turkey necks and backs if you want to do it yourself. Pro tip No. 1: Make the broth in your Instant Pot. Pro tip No. 2: Grab some crab cakes<\/a> to serve as a first course on Turkey Day. Order it all here.<\/a><\/p>\n Avondale<\/p>\n Honey Butter Fried Chicken, 3361 N. Elston Ave.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Avondale fried chicken restaurant<\/a> is offering a host of \u201cTake and Bake\u201d packages and \u00e0 la carte options for Thanksgiving. <\/p>\n You can make a meal of the \u201cJust The Sides\u201d kit ($45) consisting of pimento mac and cheese, brown butter mashed sweet potatoes, kale and cabbage slaw, chicken schmaltz-smashed potatoes and 10 corn muffins with honey butter, or take your pick of any of those sides or salads. Order online<\/a> by Nov. 25 for pickup Nov. 26. Items are packed cold and come with reheating instructions.<\/p>\n Beverly<\/p>\n Sanders BBQ Supply, 1742 W. 99th St.<\/strong><\/p>\n You can (and probably should) let the pros at Sanders BBQ Supply<\/a> handle your turkey-roasting duties. After all, the South Side spot was recently named to The New York Times\u2019 list of the 50 best restaurants in America<\/a>.<\/p>\n But if it\u2019s just side dishes you\u2019re after, Sanders has you covered, too. Options include candied yams, mashed potatoes and dressing. A half-pan is $80 and feeds 8-10 people; a full pan serving 10-12 is $150. Order online<\/a> for pickup on Thanksgiving Day.<\/p>\n Bridgeport<\/p>\n The Duck Inn, 2701 S. Eleanor St.<\/strong><\/p>\n Uncle Bob still insisting on deep-frying that turkey? Chef Kevin Hickey and his crew at The Duck Inn<\/a> have the rest of the meal covered.\u00a0<\/p>\n For $175, you can order their \u201cEverything But the Turkey\u201d menu for four people. It includes: duck sausage stuffing; giblet & sage gravy; rum-glazed and spiced sweet potatoes with housemade pumpkin spice marshmallows; buttermilk mashed potatoes; cranberry tangerine chutney, Brussel sprouts in caper Caesar and brown butter crumble; and pumpkin cheesecake! Order here<\/a> and shut down the kitchen.<\/p>\n Bronzeville Soul, 4655 S. Martin Luther King Drive<\/strong><\/p>\n Fried cabbage, fried corn and greens or string beans with smoked turkey are just a few of the highlights on the Thanksgiving menu<\/a> at Bronzeville Soul<\/a>. Order by phone at 872-244-7127 for pickup Nov. 26.<\/p>\n Soul Veg City, 203 E. 75th St.<\/strong><\/p>\n Chatham\u2019s vegan soul food spot<\/a> (formerly known as Original Soul Vegetarian) has been supplying the South Side with a bounty of plant-based items for decades.\u00a0<\/p>\n Options on their catering menu<\/a> include their famous kale with cornbread ($85), creamy soy cheddar mac and cheese ($65) and mashed potatoes and vegan gravy ($50). Consider sunflower seed pate ($10\/pound) as a starter for your Thanksgiving dinner, and grilled BBQ seitan ($50 for a small pan) instead of a bird this year. Your guests may not miss the meat.<\/p>\n Garfield Park<\/p>\n Jerk Taco Man, 4001 W. Jackson<\/strong><\/p>\n Julius Thomas, Chicago\u2019s Jerk Taco Man<\/a>, makes a set of mean smoked jerk meats, which he serves folded into tacos and eggrolls, tossed in salads, and, famously, piled onto french fries and nachos.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you are not ready to fully commit to a jerk Thanksgiving, Thomas\u2019s sides are definitely worthy of your table. Order<\/a> pans of rice and peas (red kidney beans), candied yams, mac and cheese and cabbage, then sit back and watch your cousin carve the turkey. While you\u2019re there, can you resist grabbing an order of jerk rib tips for snacking?<\/p>\n Humboldt Park<\/p>\n Spinning J Bakery & Soda Fountain<\/a>, 1000 N. California Ave.<\/strong><\/p>\n The word is out on Spinning J\u2019s unique pie selection<\/a>, but did you know owner Dinah Grossman and her team make an herby cheesy roasted vegetable stuffing with chewy sourdough bread and frozen buttermilk biscuits to bake along with your turkey?\u00a0<\/p>\n Be sure to order<\/a> early. Pickup is Nov. 25-27.<\/p>\n Lakeview<\/p>\n Chicago Diner, 3411 N. Halsted St.<\/strong><\/p>\n Vegans and vegetarians rejoice with festive offerings like gluten-free jalapeno corn fritters ($9) and mashed potatoes with country gravy ($9) at the stalwart Chicago Diner<\/a>. Place your order<\/a> by Nov. 23 for pickup noon-7 p.m. Nov. 26.<\/p>\n Oak & Honey, 3124 N. Broadway<\/strong><\/p>\n The team at Oak & Honey<\/a>, East Lakeview\u2019s cozy storefront cafe, wants to put bread on your table this Thanksgiving. Preorder<\/a> loaves of gorgeous sourdough ($10), plus cultured honey butter ($10) to spread on everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n Buy a tray of take-and-bake cinnamon rolls ($24) for morning-of (or after) noshing. Orders<\/a> close Nov. 21 for pickup 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 26.<\/p>\n Gene\u2019s Sausage Shop and Delicatessen, 4750 N. Lincoln Ave.<\/strong><\/p>\n European meats abound at Gene\u2019s<\/a>, and its homemade pork and veal sage stuffing is not to be missed. Mine the catering menu<\/a> for delicious sides and salads. Would a Bavarian meat and cheese platter be too much to start? We think not.\u00a0<\/p>\n Place your order by phone (773-728-7243) and arrange a pickup day and time.<\/p>\n Los Comales, 3141 W. 26th St.<\/strong><\/p>\n The family-run Los Comales<\/a> opened in 1973 as one of Chicago\u2019s first taquerias. More than 50 years later, it\u2019s a firmly established institution serving crowd-pleasing tacos, burritos and tortas at 18 locations in the city and suburbs, including its original Little Village location.<\/p>\n Weave Mexican flavors into your Thanksgiving table with Los Comales\u2019 tamales, a holiday favorite, or add guacamole and quesadillas (or churros \u2014 why not?) to your appetizer spread. Place orders by phone (773-523-1689) a week ahead of Thanksgiving and schedule pickup on Thanksgiving Day.<\/p>\n Logan Square<\/p>\n Noodlebird, 2951-57 W. Diversey Ave.<\/strong><\/p>\n Add an Asian spin to your holiday table with sides from Noodlebird<\/a>. Start with a fresh shaved Brussels sprout and pomegranate salad ($26), add pumpkin milk bread dinner rolls with sage butter ($14) and a gai lan and mustard greens gratin ($28), and you may never serve ordinary green bean casserole again.\u00a0<\/p>\n Order here<\/a> for pickup Nov. 26 \u2014 and maybe throw in some egg tarts for the turkey chef.<\/p>\n Farm Bar, 1970 W. Montrose Ave.<\/strong><\/p>\n The roster of sides from farm-to-table spot Farm Bar<\/a> will make your meal a rustic Midwestern feast. Order<\/a> stuffing ($20), garlic mashed potatoes ($20), biscuits ($10) and roasted turkey gravy by the quart ($20) for pickup noon-6 p.m. Nov. 26.<\/p>\n Thanksgiving preorders are sold out at Farm Bar\u2019s Lakeview location, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary<\/a> this month.<\/p>\n Tanta Cocina Peruana, 118 W. Grand Ave.<\/strong><\/p>\n Tanta Cocina Peruana<\/a> has served authentic Peruvian dishes in a splashy River North setting for a dozen years. Pick up a half-dozen ($48) of the restaurant\u2019s tasty empanadas to serve as an appetizer while the turkey is roasting or as a gift for your Thanksgiving Day host.\u00a0<\/p>\n Empanadas feature three fillings: Estofado de Carne, beef tenderloin with a green huaycatay sauce; Aji de Gallina, shredded chicken with fruity, piquant aji amarillo chile; and Tamalito Verde, with two kinds of corn and queso fresco. Orders can be placed here<\/a> Nov. 17-25 for pickup at the restaurant Nov. 26.<\/p>\n Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave.<\/strong><\/p>\n Chef and owner Brian Jupiter has Thanksgiving on lock. Frontier\u2019s<\/a> straightforward selection of sides can be picked up hot and ready-to-eat if you don\u2019t want to bother turning on the oven. Choose from the likes of mashed potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts and cornbread stuffing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Order here<\/a> for pickup 3-7 p.m. Nov. 26 or 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 27 (Thanksgiving Day). Add a bottle of the restaurant\u2019s batched cocktails, like the tequila-spiked Flor de Jamaica ($75), for an extra kick.\u00a0<\/p>\n West Loop<\/p>\n Heritage Restaurant Partners, 1516 W. Carroll Ave.<\/strong><\/p>\n Although Heritage Restaurant in Ukrainian Village closed<\/a> this summer, chef Guy Meikle<\/a> of Heritage Restaurant Partners can\u2019t stop cooking. He\u2019s put together a unique Eastern European-inflected menu of items, including caviar and oysters, to grace your Thanksgiving table.\u00a0<\/p>\n Place orders online<\/a> for pick up 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 26 at Meikle\u2019s catering team\u2019s home base in the West Loop. Smoked oyster and kimchi stuffing ($30)? Cranberry pear chutney ($25)? Giblet and wild mushroom gravy ($25)? We\u2019re coming over.<\/p>\n The Publican, 837 W. Fulton Market<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BBQ3-1024x682.jpg\")
The Sanders BBQ team, from left: Janell M. Richmond, Nick Kleutsch, James Sanders, Nehemiah Holmes and Bill Jones. Credit: Crystal Paul\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n![\"Baked](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BronzevilleSoulBakedChickenFB-1001x1024.jpg\")
Baked chicken is a menu staple at Bronzeville Soul, 4655 S. Martin Luther King Drive. Credit: Facebook\/Bronzeville Soul<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GenesSausageShop.png\")
Find all kinds of encased meats for Thanksgiving appetizer platters at Gene\u2019s Sausage Shop in Lincoln Square. Credit: Provided.<\/p>\n![\"Noodlebird's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Blank-2000-x-1300-10-1024x666.jpg\")
Noodlebird\u2019s Thanksgiving side dishes include (from left) Brussels sprout salad, mashed potatoes and maitake mushroom wild rice. Credit: Instagram\/Noodlebird<\/p>\n![\"Tanta's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/TantaEmpanada-Sampler-2-1024x683.jpg\")
Tanta\u2019s empanada sampler features beef tenderloin, shredded chicken and chille, and corn and queso fresco fillings. Credit: Provided\/Jonathan Cooper<\/p>\n![\"Chef](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Blank-2000-x-1300-7-1-1024x666.jpg\")
Chef Brian Jupiter of Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., is offering classic Thanksgiving sides like roasted brussels sprouts and cornbread stuffing. Credit: Instagram\/Frontier<\/p>\n![\"Roasted](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PublicanSweetPotatoFB.jpg\")
Roasted sweet potatoes with candied hazelnuts at The Publican, 837 W. Fulton Market. Credit: Facebook\/The Publican<\/p>\n