Get To Know Edgewater, Chicago: A Colorful Lakefront Neighborhood
Get To Know Edgewater, Chicago: A Colorful Lakefront Neighborhood
Published May 18, 2023
Last updated September 17, 2024
Chicago’s most stunning attribute is without a doubt the city’s waterfront. The urban coastline here is absolutely gorgeous! It offers phenomenal views of historic skyscrapers, and you’ll find ample green space right next to Lake Michigan. The Windy City has over a dozen officially designated “community areas” directly on the water. If you’re looking to visit one on the North Side, I highly recommend Edgewater!
Edgewater has everything you could want in a lakefront neighborhood: beautiful beaches, urban amenities, great food and drink options, and easy access to public transportation. This blog post will provide a detailed look at this colorful part of Chicago!
Layout of Edgewater
The City of Chicago’s official borders for Edgewater are shown below. Lake Michigan lies to the east. Uptown is directly south. Head west from Edgewater and you’ll enter Lincoln Square. The neighborhood of West Ridge is northwest of Edgewater, and Rogers Park is directly north.
This blog post will provide information about all of Edgewater except for Andersonville, a little urban corridor that comprises the southwest quadrant of the community area. Andersonville is an award-winning neighborhood that feels pretty distinct from the rest of Edgewater. It was historically a Swedish enclave and is now one of Chicago’s premier LGBTQ hangout spots. Andersonville is such a cool little “village” that I’m writing a separate blog post all about it [coming soon]!
The Actual Edge of the Water in Edgewater
As you probably guessed, Edgewater’s focal point is its eastern shoreline. The beaches here are public, with north-to-south pedestrian paths that run parallel to the lake. Edgewater’s most prominent beaches are Kathy Osterman Beach and Foster Beach. A few smaller parks can be found further north along Sheridan Road.
Broadway
Like Sheridan Road, North Broadway runs parallel to Lake Michigan. However, it’s a few blocks further inland. This is Edgewater’s main commercial strip. Many of the restaurants mentioned later on in this blog post can be found on this busy street!
Walk north on Broadway and you’ll cross over into Rogers Park near Loyola University. Taking Broadway south will bring you to Uptown. Rogers Park and Uptown are two additional lakeside neighborhoods that are worth checking out!
Clark Street
Clark Street is Edgewater’s other main north-to-south artery, even further inland than Broadway. Head due west at any point on Broadway, and after walking for about ten or fifteen minutes, you’ll find yourself on Clark. The half-mile zone between these two streets is almost entirely residential.
In the northern half of Edgewater, Clark Street is somewhat commercial, but it’s not as inviting to pedestrians as Broadway is. In the southern half of Edgewater, Clark Street becomes the center of Andersonville. This is a lively and upbeat area with so many dining options. Be sure to check out my Andersonville blog post to learn all about it [coming soon]!
Devon Avenue
Devon Avenue serves as the boundary between Edgewater and Rogers Park. It’s a thriving, busy street thanks to its proximity to Loyola University. Here you’ll find restaurants, cafes, bars, grocery stores, houses of worship, yoga studios, and more. It’s one of my favorite places to take a stroll in Edgewater (along with Broadway and the beach)!
Major East-to-West Streets and CTA Stops
Edgewater is served by multiple train stops along the CTA Red Line. From north to south, they are: Granville, Thorndale, Bryn Mawr, and Berwyn (currently closed, projected to reopen by 2025). Getting to Edgewater from other parts of Chicago is generally convenient and affordable.
Granville, Thorndale, and Bryn Mawr are all interesting east-to-west streets that have little commercial centers surrounding their CTA stops. Bryn Mawr is especially pretty, with lots of historic architecture and easy access to the lake.
Noteworthy Attractions
Kathy Osterman (Hollywood) Beach
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/osterman-beach
Chicago’s most popular LGBTQ beach is right here in Edgewater. During the summer months, beachgoers congregate towards the southern end of this expansive stretch of sand. In spring and fall, you may have this beach all to yourself, even on a relatively sunny and warm day. It’s a great place to go for a walk as long as it’s not raining or freezing cold!
At the south end of Hollywood Beach is a concrete pier you can walk down. The Hollywood Beach Pierhead Light is located at its far end, and this is one of the area’s most iconic landmarks. That’s because its base is painted with the rainbow flag! This vibrant splash of color is visible from far away and is a symbol of Edgewater’s inclusive community.
Further south of Kathy Osterman Beach is a series of trails that all lead to Foster Beach. In between the two, it’s not sandy, but there are terraced stone and concrete steps that lead down to the water. The paved paths, grassy areas, and waterfront here are all so serene. This might be my favorite little corner of Edgewater!
Foster Beach
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Website: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/foster-beach
In addition to Hollywood Beach, Foster Beach is Edgewater’s other popular lakefront area. The vibe is a little different, with Foster Beach being more popular among families. Volleyball nets are set up here in the summer, so there’s typically a lot of athletes who come to use those facilities.
Foster Beach does offer nice views, but I have to be honest and say I think Hollywood Beach is a little more picturesque. Maybe I’m imagining things, but I feel like the water by Hollywood is always a little bluer and clearer than the water by Foster.
Edgewater Historical Society & Museum
Address: 5358 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: https://www.edgewaterhistory.org/ehs/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edgewaterhistory/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgewaterhistory/
Even though this museum is technically in Andersonville, I’ve included it in this post because it focuses on all of Edgewater. Entrance is free, but the museum is only open for a few hours on Saturdays and Sundays (check their website and/or social media to verify).
When I visited, I was asked if I wanted to watch a short introduction video. After that, I checked out the exhibits, which are housed in one large room. They’re organized pretty logically, and my favorite part is their old photos of Broadway. That street used to look very different!
Restaurants to Try
Edgewater is a diverse community, and this is reflected in the area’s truly global culinary scene! From hole-in-the-wall places to high-end dining, Edgewater has food options for every budget. No matter what cuisine you’re craving, you’ll almost certainly be able to find it somewhere along Broadway.
East Asian Cuisine
Kohoku-ku Ramen
こうほくく ラーメン
Address: 1136 W Thorndale Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://www.kohoku-kuramen.com/%E3%82%B7%E3%82%AB%E3%82%B4-chicago
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kohokuku.chicago/
This ramen restaurant is a relative newcomer to Edgewater. It appears that they originally started with one location in New York City and recently opened their second store right here in Chicago. The décor inside the dining room is absolutely on point! It’ll make you feel like you’re actually in Japan.
I tried the spicy tonkotsu ramen here, which came with a delicious chili oil broth and extremely tender chashu pork. I also ordered a takoyaki appetizer (not pictured here), which was equally tasty. I need to go back and try some of their other ramen offerings!
Indie Cafe
Address: 5951 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: http://www.indiecafe.us/testimonials.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indiecafeindiesushi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiecafechicago/
Indie Cafe is a chic restaurant that’s making a name for itself on Broadway. During the high season, their outdoor patio gets pretty crowded. This place offers an extensive menu of sushi and Thai fusion. They also serve cocktails and other pan-Asian rice and noodle dishes.
While their Thai dishes are good, I’d say the real highlight here is their creative, colorful sushi rolls. I mean that literally: they come out with visually stunning ingredients and sauces drizzled on top! In addition to being very Instagrammable, all the rolls I’ve tried here taste amazing! As a foodie, I am always a little wary of sushi-Thai fusion, but rest assured that Indie Cafe has figured out how to do a great job with it!
Yatai Asian Street Food
Address: 6230 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
This unassuming little restaurant doesn’t have the most prominent storefront on Broadway. You might miss it if you’re not keeping your eyes open for places to eat. Despite that, I really liked the lunch I ate here! Their prices are pretty competitive, so I think many of their plates are designed to be shared or mixed and matched.
Yatai Asian Street Food offers a large menu of sushi, noodles, ramen, and other mostly Japanese plates. They also serve some Thai and Chinese dishes. I got their karaage don rice bowl with a Mexican sushi roll on the side. Both tasted great, and I loved that the Mexican roll was genuinely spicy. It ended up being a pretty big meal for about $20 before tax and tip.
En Lai Asian Grill
Address: 6044 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://enlaiasiangrilltogo.com/
If you’re looking for classic Chinese comfort food, En Lai Asian Grill has you covered! I stopped in one day to try their Mongolian beef lunch special plus an egg roll appetizer. The lunch special wasn’t huge, but it was decently priced. The egg roll was actually the highlight of the meal! It was just hot enough to eat without burning your mouth. The outside was crispy, the filling was delicious, and the sweet and sour dipping sauce was tangy and satisfying.
Ethiopian Cuisine
Did you know that Edgewater and neighboring Uptown are both local hubs for Ethiopian food? It’s one of my favorite things about the Far North Side’s dining scene! Edgewater has at least four Ethiopian restaurants to try. Check them out below!
Axum Ethiopian Restaurant
Address: 5844 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://axumethiopianrestaurant.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/axumethiopianrestaurant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axumethiopianchicago/
Of all the Ethiopian places I’ve tried in Chicago, Axum probably does the best job in terms of plate presentation. Their meat and veggie combos are a kaleidoscope of colors! With so many tasty ingredients, stews, and sauces, the variety simply can’t be beat. Axum might be a little more expensive than other Ethiopian restaurants, but it is worth it for the portion size and top-notch dining experience!
Ethiopian Diamond
Address: 6120 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://www.ethiopiandiamondrestaurants.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ethiopiandiamondchicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethiopiandiamond/
This large restaurant can accommodate quite a few dine-in customers, and it seems to be the most popular Ethiopian restaurant on Broadway within Edgewater. When I went with a friend, we shared two different meat entrees that came with veggie sides. It all came out on one giant tray. Although everything tasted great, we were unsure which meat was which since both were mixed with veggies. I would go back again, but I wish our server had told us what everything was on our tray!
Awash Ethiopian Restaurant
Address: 6324 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://awashethiopianrestaurant.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Awash-Ethiopian-Restaurant-and-Bar/100063572199055/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awash_ethiopianrestaurant
Awash seems to be the most under-the-radar Ethiopian restaurant on Broadway. It’s right off the corner of Devon Avenue, but it’s kind of hidden in plain sight next to a Dunkin’ and a Popeyes. A friend and I went here for a late dinner one weeknight since they stay open until midnight most days. We had the place to ourselves, and ordered a few glasses of wine to sip on while we waited for the food.
The meat combo we ordered wasn’t exceptionally pretty, nor did it contain a massive variety of ingredients. It included kay wat (spicy beef stew), doro wat (spicy chicken stew) with egg, lentils, collard greens, and salad. Despite this, I really savored every bite of this meal! They did a great job with the beef and chicken stews, which were so fragrant and full of spice. This was definitely an instance of a meal not being the most picturesque, but tasting exquisite!
Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine
Address: 5352 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: https://www.tesfacuisine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tesfaethiopiancuisine/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tesfaethiopiancuisine/
Tesfa is a local institution that all foodies in Chicago should visit! It was the first Ethiopian restaurant I tried after moving to Chicago in 2021, back when they were still located in Uptown. They’ve since moved into a new storefront in Edgewater that is bright and modern.
For dinner, a friend and I split one of their meat combo platters, which came with two meat options and three veggies. We got the beef stew (siga wot) and chicken stew (doro wot) for our meats. For the veggie sides, we ordered collard greens, cabbage, and lentils. The salad must’ve been included automatically, and of course, the platter came with lots of injera!
I’m glad we ordered a wide variety at Tesfa because every portion we got was delicious! Both the chicken and beef were incredibly flavorful. If I had to choose, I’d say the beef was my favorite of those two. In terms of veggies, the collard greens and cabbage were both on point.
Mexican Cuisine
Más Allá del Sol
Address: 5848 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://www.masalladelsolchi.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masalladelsolchi
I would consider this restaurant to serve elevated or upscale Mexican cuisine. It’s a little more expensive than other Mexican restaurants nearby, but I was pretty impressed with the food I had here. The main dish I ordered here was a lamb shank, which was incredibly tender and easy to eat! It reminded me of osso bucco and was served in a tomato-chipotle sauce.
I also enjoyed a margarita here and a dessert of “nieve frita,” which was basically vanilla ice cream with corn flakes, strawberry, kiwi, whipped cream, and a chocolate drizzle. Más Allá del Sol is a place where going all out with the desserts, drinks, and appetizers is worth it!
Southeast Asian Cuisine
Little Vietnam Restaurant
Address: 1132 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://orderlittlevietnam.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleVietnam
It makes me happy that Edgewater has its very own phở restaurant, despite the relative proximity to all of the Vietnamese restaurants and cafes that are part of Asia on Argyle (Chicago’s “Little Saigon” in Uptown). It’s a hop and a skip from the Bryn Mawr CTA station, so this eatery is easy to get to.
Phở is basically my favorite food, so I wrote up a detailed review of Little Vietnam Restaurant on my separate “Best Phở Restaurants In Chicago” blog post. Be sure to check that out to see what I thought about this restaurant’s version of this iconic Vietnamese noodle soup!
Jin Thai
Address: 5458 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: http://www.jinthaicuisine.com/
Jin Thai is a prominent restaurant on the southern side of Edgewater, just across the street from the beautiful Saint Ita Catholic Church. It’s got a casual atmosphere, but their menu feels slightly more refined than your average Thai restaurant.
At first, I was tempted to get pad thai here. But when I saw that they had ginger duck listed under their specialties, I couldn’t resist. It took a little while to come out, but I was fine with that. I was pleasantly surprised by how green the plate was with so much bok choi and cilantro. I poured the white rice over meat and veggies, then let it soak in the sweet ginger soy sauce on the bottom of the plate. It was an incredibly balanced meal, and the duck was cooked to perfection.
The ginger duck plate also came with a choice of tom yum soup or salad, so I went with the former. It was delicious and spicy, and it held me over until the main plate came out. Jin Thai also makes a refreshing Thai iced coffee.
Ben's Noodles and Rice
Address: 1139 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: http://www.bensnoodlesandrice.com/
Like many of the restaurants located on Bryn Mawr Avenue, Ben’s Noodles and Rice has a very local vibe. It’s small, cozy, and comfortable. I wouldn’t call it no-frills, but I would say the dining room here isn’t done up with excessive decorations.
I ordered the “Pad Ped Catfish,” which was listed under their specials. It was a filling dish with lots of fried catfish pieces plus veggies in a slightly sweet, medium spice glaze, along with side of white rice. I don’t eat a lot of fish when I go to restaurants, but I’m glad I did here! The flavor of the catfish was pretty prominent, but it was interesting when combined with the spicy red sauce.
Other Restaurant Options in Edgewater
Regalia
Address: 5959 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://www.regalia5959.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regaliachicago/
Regalia is right next to Indie Cafe, and together they put the corner of Broadway and Thorndale on the map so to speak as a food destination. Regalia offers an innovative take on Italian food that still pays homage to its old-world roots. Every element of the dinner I had here was enjoyable, from the wine and cocktails to the soft, fluffy garlic bread that was brought to the table at the beginning of the meal. This bread was topped with herbs; it also came with a unique dip that tasted like hummus and olive oil.
For my main dish, I ordered the rigatoni ragu alla rustico. This pasta dish had wagyu beef short rib in it, which was succulent and juicy. A dollop of ricotta dolce on top tied everything together. After I mixed this cheese in, it added the perfect amount of creaminess to the dish. On top of all that, the portion size was pretty substantial, and it had a good amount of meat. Just like at Indie Cafe, Regalia’s patio out front is a beautiful place to sit on a warm summer evening!
Patio Beef
Address: 6022 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatioBeef/
Every neighborhood in the city has its own quirky, family-owned Chicago-style fast food joint. They often have funny or unusual names, and Patio Beef definitely fits the bill in that regard. I’ve tried the Chicago-style hot dogs burgers, Italian beef, and gyros here. I’d recommend trying their burger first, then branching out on subsequent visits.
The Little India
Address: 1109 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://littleindiatogo.com/
Tucked away next to the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop, The Little India restaurant is easy to overlook. It’s pretty small and quiet, but a friend and I who went to try it really enjoyed what we discovered! We shared two different meat combos (one chicken tikka and one kebab mix), which came with biryani rice, salad, and naan. The chicken tikka plate came with one portion that came in a creamy red tomato sauce, which was probably my favorite part of the meal.
Go Enjoy Edgewater!
Now that you’ve read this blog post, you’re ready to go explore Edgewater for yourself! It’s such a cool neighborhood with so many unique things packed in. During the summer, Hollywood Beach looks and feels like a slice of Miami. Broadway has a wide assortment of restaurants and bars, but it’s a more laid-back and affordable food scene than you’d find in the Loop, River North, Lakeview, or Wrigleyville.
Have you ever been to Chicago’s most colorful neighborhood on the North Side? Is there anything I missed that I should go check out and include in this post? Leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for visiting Caffeinated Excursions, and be sure to check out my other Chicago 360 neighborhood guides!
Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!
This post was published on May 18, 2023
This post was updated on Sept 17, 2024
The Caffeinated Man Behind The Blog
Where I’ve Been
