Discover Chicago’s Tranquil North Park Neighborhood: Urban Trails, Colleges, Etc.
Published July 5, 2023
There’s something about Chicago’s Far North Side that I absolutely love. All of the neighborhoods that form the city’s northern boundary are captivating places to visit. They’re far enough away from the Loop that they’re almost suburban, but not quite. Each major street up here has its own distinct character, so exploring them is a lot of fun!
One of my favorite largely overlooked neighborhoods in Chicago is North Park. At first glance, this area may seem quiet and nondescript. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find a rich history influenced by Nordic heritage. North Park is also home to two universities as well as some top-ranked high schools, so the neighborhood serves as a hub for scholars.
This community area is not directly served by any CTA or Metra trains, which is partly why it feels hidden in plain sight. However, North Park is surrounded by other interesting neighborhoods and suburbs: Lincolnwood to the north, West Ridge and Lincoln Square to the east, Albany Park to the south, and Forest Glen to the west. You may have to take a bus to get here, but it’s worth the effort!
This blog post will be broken down into the following topics. To skip down to anything that interests you, click or tap the corresponding link below!
Basic Information About North Park
As you can see from a map of the area, North Park is a large neighborhood with a lot of public green space. Historically, this part of Chicago was a popular destination for immigrants from the Nordics (Sweden in particular). There are still signs of this heritage, including The Sweden Shop and Tre Kronor Restaurant (both on Foster Avenue).
These days, North Park is a cultural melting pot, as evidenced by the wide variety of international restaurants that can be found here. It’s a small but vibrant food scene with lots of amazing options!
The heart of North Park is the intersection of West Foster Avenue and North Kimball Avenue. The neighborhood’s two college campuses are both within walking distance of here: North Park University and Northeastern Illinois University.
North Park University
Location: 3225 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Website: https://www.northpark.edu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/npuchicago
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/npuchicago/
This Christian university has a student body of about 3,000. Sources online indicate that the neighborhood was named after this school, not the other way around. (I’ve always wondered if North Park was named for being directly north of Albany Park, but nothing online seems to verify that.)
The thing that stood out to me while I was exploring North Park U is how green the campus is. It’s also pretty small, nestled between Foster Ave and the North Branch Chicago River. The architecture here is a beautiful mix of traditional styles and a few modern halls. As far as I can tell, you don’t have to be a student at NPU to walk around the grounds.
Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)
Location: 5500 N St Louis Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Website: https://www.neiu.edu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NEIUlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neiulife/
I have to admit, Northeastern (as it’s often called in Chicago, not to be confused with Northeastern University in Boston) is not as picturesque as neighboring North Park University. With that said, the campus is still pretty green, and a few of the halls have noteworthy architecture. NEIU has about 6,000 students, and there is a big focus on education and teacher training.
Parks to Visit in North Park
One of the best things about this community area is the fact that a huge percentage of it is made up of nature reserves. You will never be more than a few blocks away from a park while you’re exploring this part of Chicago! Below are some prominent ones.
North Park Village Nature Center & Peterson Park
North Park Village Nature Center
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/North-Park-Village-Nature-Center/
This is perhaps North Park’s premier outdoorsy attraction. It has a small trail loop that traverses woodlands, wetlands, prairie, and savanna. The path has no change in elevation, so it’s a pretty easy hike.
North Park Village Nature Center is fenced in, and the main entrance is on Ardmore Avenue via Pulaski Road. I think you can also enter via Peterson Park (directly to the east), but I’m not sure. Although maps indicate that there’s an entrance on West Peterson Avenue, you may encounter a locked gate if you try to enter or exit this way.
This area is densely wooded, so it’s easy to forget that you’re still surrounded by residential blocks while walking the trails. However, the pathways are clearly defined and well-trodden. All in all, North Park Village Nature Center is a nice little retreat that feels a world apart from Chicago’s busy streets.
Peterson Park
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/Peterson-Park/
Located right next to the Nature Center, Peterson Park is a standard city park. There’s a walking path here that you can access via Peterson Avenue and Central Park Avenue. You’ll also find various sports areas, a playground, and a field house.
North Park Village
If you look at a map of North Park, you’ll notice that there’s something odd about the area directly south of the Nature Center. It’s not developed into an urban grid system. Instead, a few roads seem to meander in random directions. This isn’t really a park, but there is a bit of history here that’s worth learning about.
While walking around North Park Village, I couldn’t tell what the area was for. Certain buildings have religious undertones. Others look like hospitals and medical facilities. Still others have a kind of collegiate vibe. Wide open lawns separate all of these structures. Was this a former campus of either NEIU or North Park? That was my initial guess, but I wasn’t correct.
It turns out that North Park Village used to be the city’s Tuberculosis Sanitarium. It operated from 1915 to 1974, and it basically served as a quarantine facility for people suffering from TB. Back when it was founded, the Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium was located at the edge of the city, which means it’s older than everything else further west.
According to one source, people believed that the best remedy for TB was sunlight and fresh air (before drug treatments were developed). This explains why there are so many lawns and so much space between the buildings here. These days, the former TB Sanitarium is known as North Park Village. It’s been converted into multiple retirement communities, a Chicago Park District field house, a gymnastics center, and the two parks mentioned above.
LaBagh Woods & Gompers Park
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://fpdcc.com/places/locations/labagh-woods/
The large natural area of LaBagh Woods is managed by Forest Preserves of Cook County as opposed to Chicago Park District. It forms North Park’s western edge, and is easily accessible from the surrounding communities of North Mayfair and Forest Glen.
The North Branch Chicago River runs directly through here, so much of the trail system runs alongside the water. I’ll be honest: it’s not an extremely stunning view, but it’s still a nice place to go for a stroll.
La Bagh woods has two main trails: one that leads towards Forest Glen Avenue (the North Branch Trail) and one that goes all the way to Lincolnwood Town Center (the Weber Spur Trail). To be honest, I don’t love how isolated certain sections of the Weber Spur Trail are. In many places, the pathway is surrounded by thick vegetation, despite running parallel to residential streets. It’s pretty, but I’d exercise caution if you choose to hike or jog here.
Field Park
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/Eugene-Field-Park/
If you’re looking for a quiet, under-the-radar park in the neighborhood, this might be it. It’s small, split into two different sections by the North Branch Chicago River. The portion of Field Park to the north of the river is basically a tiny little segment of trail surrounded by a grove of flowers that’s been allowed to grow wild. There’s also a wetland area that seems more like a bog than a pond that you can get up close to.
Enticing Food & Drink Options in North Park
Almost every neighborhood in Chicago I’ve explored has a thriving food scene, and that’s definitely true of North Park! Restaurants are a little spread out, but many of the places mentioned below are within a few blocks of North Park University.
Vietnamese Cuisine & Phở
I was surprised to learn that North Park is sort of a hub for Vietnamese cuisine! Read on to see where you can get phở and other authentic Vietnamese dishes.
Phở Năm Lúa
Address: 6261 N McCormick Blvd, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://www.pho5lua.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pho5lua/
I have always spoken very highly of this cozy little spot with an artsy dining room. It is my favorite phở spot this far north, and is probably in my top two all throughout Chicago. (I’ve written a separate blog post about Chicago’s best phở joints, so be sure to check that out if you’re as obsessed with this noodle soup as I am!)
Everything I’ve eaten at Phở Năm Lúa has always been phenomenal. I’ve had the combo phở a number of times and it is always very fragrant with generous cuts of high-quality meat. Their gỏi cuốn (spring rolls) are also really tasty. I recommend visiting Phở Năm Lúa outside of peak hours. That’s because their dining room seems to fill up every day for lunch and dinner!
Hoanh Long Vietnamese & Chinese Cuisine
Address: 6148 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://www.hoanhlongrestaurant.com/
I enjoyed trying the phở at Hoanh Long, although I did find that their bowl size was a little small. Despite this, the broth, noodles, and spring roll I had here were all pretty good. I need to go back and try one or two of their Chinese dishes.
Saigon Phở
Address: 3222 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://chicagopho.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Saigon-PHO/100057608732710/
The first time I saw this restaurant’s name, I was immediately drawn to it. That’s because I actually lived in Saigon in 2019! I can only assume that the owners of this restaurant come from that amazing city. The best thing about the phở here is the broth. It is consistently rich and complex. The meat portions and quantity have been a little hit-or-miss, but I still find myself going back to this place every so often.
Pho Le 777
Address: 6257 N McCormick Blvd, Chicago, IL 60659
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pho777
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phole777/
Did you know that Pho Le 777, Phở Năm Lúa, and Hoanh Long are all clustered at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and McCormick Boulevard? I’m not sure why, but this little commercial area is great for phở lovers! The thing that stood out to me about the bowl of soup here is that it had really good oxtail. Some restaurants don’t offer it, and some charge extra for it. As you can see, the portion size here is also pretty big.
Additional Asian Restaurants
In addition to all of the Vietnamese restaurants featured above, North Park has quite a few other places to get delicious Asian cuisine. Check them out below!
Mee Mah Restaurant
Address: 4032 W Peterson Ave, Chicago, IL 60646
Website: https://www.meemahrestaurant.com/
I instantly fell in love with Mee Mah when I stepped inside. Their main dining room is like a time capsule: all of the decor seems like it’s straight out of the 1970s (although it’s all in very good condition, so I don’t think it’s actually that old). Normally, I dislike darker tones in a restaurant, a lot of floral accents, wood paneling, etc. But at Mee Mah, it all comes together and works. I think the owners just have an amazing sense of style. They clearly know how to dial up the nostalgia!
In terms of food, Mee Mah also sticks to tried and true classic Chinese dishes. I’ve had their Mongolian beef lunch combo, which comes with rice, soup, and an egg roll for a few dollars extra. The entire meal was great, and their prices are very reasonable too. I can’t wait to go back and try something else!
One more thing: they have a fun tiki room in the back, and their sign mentions that they serve cocktails. I hope to sit there at some point, and I definitely need to try one or two of their mixed drinks!
Merla's Kitchen
Address: 5207 N Kimball Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Website: https://merlaskitchenchicago.squarespace.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerlasKitchen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merlaskitchen/
This cozy little Filipino restaurant is sort of tucked away on Kimball. You may not see it if you only walk along Foster, so be sure to keep an eye out for it at that intersection! Pictured below is “Merla’s Platter,” which includes rice, chicken adobo, pancit, and a large empanada. The pancit (noodles) were light yet flavorful, and I loved how flaky the ham and cheese empanada was. If you’ve never had Filipino food before, this is a great place to try it!
Midori Japanese Restaurant
Address: 3310 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MidoriJapaneseRestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midorijapanesesushi/
Much like Mee Mah, Midori Japanese Restaurant makes an excellent first impression with their beautifully designed dining room. They have shoji doors and windows, private rooms with tatami mats, and a sushi bar that will make you feel like you’re enjoying a meal in Japan.
For my first visit, I decided to try their beef sukiyaki. It was a large bowl filled with tofu, meat, mushrooms, onions, cabbage, and clear noodles. All of those ingredients were stewed in a slightly sweet and savory broth. Before that dish came, I enjoyed a small salad with ginger dressing and a cup of miso soup. The main dish also came out with rice and fresh veggie sides. Needless to say, it was quite a feast!
When I went to Midori, I was surprised by how many regulars were there. The staff seemed to know so many of the customers personally, and it’s easy to see why people keep going back. The service at Midori is truly top notch, and their menu is pretty comprehensive. I’m looking forward to trying their sushi next time!
Cozy Brunch Places
North Park is not a brunch destination per se, but there are a few places to try if you happen to be in the neighborhood early in the day.
Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club
Address: 3348 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://www.brynmawrbreakfastclub.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Bryn-Mawr-Breakfast-Club/100063689944426/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brynmawrbreakfastclub/
This breakfast and brunch place has a kind of rustic farm theme going on. The atmosphere is great, and they always seem to be busy (even on weekdays). I’ve tried the bagel and lox plate, which is a colorful and healthy plate. Their fried potatoes are also excellent!
Tre Kronor Restaurant
Address: 3258 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Website: http://swedishbistro.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TreKronorRestaurant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trekronorresto/
Not only is this restaurant an amazing place to get breakfast or lunch, but it’s also an ode to North Park’s Swedish roots! The establishment’s name means “Three Crowns” in Swedish, referencing the national symbol. Tre Kronor has a beautiful, cozy dining room that feels like a forest, adorned with hand-painted murals.
I wanted to try something new when I went, so I ordered their Stockholm Omelette. Tucked inside was falukorv sausage and Havarti cheese. I had never had falukorv before this, and it was such a treat! The meal was also served with a choice of toast, and I couldn’t pass up the Swedish limpa. It’s a variety of rye that really complimented the omelette and potatoes.
Other Great Restaurants to Try
Sissy's Sandwich
Address: 3224 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Website: https://sissyssandwich.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Sissys-Sandwich/100076073096911/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sissyssandwich/
This relatively new sandwich joint is a must-try if you’re in North Park! It’s conveniently located right across the street from North Park University’s main entrance. They offer standard breakfast choices as well as sandwiches with Latin flair. I tried their steak and plantain sandwich, which blew me away!
The steak was cut into thin strips, and the plantain was cooked perfectly. It was just crispy enough without being hard to bite. The meal was also served with fresh seasoned fries, as well as green and orange salsas. It was a pretty heavy and filling lunch, but it was so satisfying! The prices here were also very competitive. I’m jealous of NPU students who are just a minute or two away from this awesome diner!
Charcoal Delights
Address: 3139 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Website: http://www.charcoaldelights.com/
Charcoal Delights is North Park’s very own Chicago-style fast food establishment. They have burgers, fries, Chicago hot dogs, gyros, and other classic quick dishes. So far, I’ve only tried their double cheese burger with fries. The burger was extremely cheesy, and I have to agree with the owners: I think having it charbroiled makes a difference!
Enjoy Your Visit to North Park!
I hope this blog post inspires you to set aside a day or two to go explore North Park! It’s not a touristy part of Chicago by any means, but it definitely has its charm. There’s also a surprising amount of history here, not to mention local religious and cultural traditions.
If you’re visiting Chicago for the first or second time, North Park isn’t a neighborhood I’d say you absolutely have to see. But if you’re either a local resident or a traveler who’s been to Chicago many times, I highly recommend exploring the little “village” at the intersection of Foster and Kimball at least.
Have you been to North Park before? Are there any amazing restaurants here that I missed? Leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out some of my other Chicago 360 neighborhood guides!
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This post was published on July 5, 2023
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