Taste of Chicago 2019 announces 37 new restaurants, food trucks plus a Malort cocktail

Taste of Chicago will welcome 37 new-to-the-fest restaurants, food trucks and shared kitchens — including Luella's Gospel Bird, Josephine's Cooking, Seoul Taco and Gordo's Homemade Ice Cream Bars — when it launches in July. The lineup for the 39th annual Taste, announced Thursday by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, will include a total of 82 vendors. The world's largest free-admission food festival, according to the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, runs five days, July 10 to 14 this year, in Grant Park.

Look for our speed review list on opening day after we visit every vendor to find the best bites.

All vendors will offer a “Taste of” portion priced at $3 or less plus signature items varying in price. Ticket strips of 14 for $10 will be sold on site. While credit cards should be accepted, last year on opening morning the machines had yet to be installed so you might want to bring cash if you’re really hungry.

A new Malort cocktail will be offered at the CH Vodka Cocktail Lounge by Buckingham Fountain. The city’s biggest pop-up bar, according to DCASE, will offer the Chicago mule, a take on the classic Moscow mule. CH Distillery brought production of the bitter liqueur back to Chicago earlier this year after three decades away.

“As the culinary capital of the world, the Taste of Chicago will give residents and visitors alike the opportunity to sample some of the greatest foods this city has to offer," said Emanuel in a release. "Since its inception, the Taste of Chicago has become a summertime staple and this year’s lineup of world-renowned restaurants, food trucks and pop-ups will be even more vibrant and diverse than ever before."

When I asked the mayor at the preview event, which took place at Seoul Taco, if he’ll try the new Malort cocktail, since Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot takes the oath of office on May 20 and he can attend the Taste as a private citizen, Emanuel raised his eyebrows then replied. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”

Before the big event, look for new Taste of Chicago Community Dinners. Vendors may host free meals for community organizations on June 26 at restaurants and venues across the city, “to create a positive social impact,” according to a release. More information will be announced in June.

Over the course of the fest expect 41 five-day participants, 24 one or two day pop-ups and 17 food trucks to offer more than 300 menu items. More than 1.5 million people attended Taste last year according to DCASE. The 37 new vendors, across all categories (five-day, pop-up and food trucks) include the following:

90 Miles Cuban Cafe

A Place by Damao

Bar Takito

Barangaroos Aussie Pies

Ben's Bar-Be-Cue

Big Wang's Chinese Street Food

Black Dog Gelato

Brazilian Bowl Inc.

Buscia's Bacon Buns

Coastline Catering

Da Pizza Dude

DMen Tap

Dog Haus

Egg Rolls Etc.

Fronen

Gordo's Homemade Ice Cream Bars

Hakka Bakka Indian Kati Rolls

Jason's Deli

Jeannie's Flan Inc.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

Josephine's Cooking

Jus Sandwiches

Kitchen 17

Lao Sze Chuan (Michigan Avenue)

Luella's Gospel Bird

Madame VanderKloot's Weiner Emporium

Mr. Quiles Mexican Food Truck

Ms. Tittle's Cupcakes

Nourish Catering

Pink Flamingo (The Flamingo Rum Club)

Pink Taco

Seoul Taco

The Cookie Crate

The Slab Bar-B-Que

Three Legged Tacos

Whadda Jerk

Yvolina's Tamales

Full disclosure: the Tribune is one of the sponsors of the Taste of Chicago.

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Taste of Chicago

Jul. 10-14 (Wed-Fri, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sat.-Sun, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

Grant Park, Jackson and Columbus drives, tasteofchicago.us

Free admission. Food and drink additional.

lchu@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @louisachu

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