If you love Italian cuisine or just truly appreciate the authentic ingredients and flavors it offers, then this is your list. The Italian community has a strong presence throughout Chicago and it’s suburbs. You’re going to find the best Italian grocery store in Chicago and suburbs that will give a slice of Italy to take home.
I’ve curated a list of the top 17 Italian grocery stores so whether you love to cook looking for high quality ingredients or someone who loves to explore, this is your go-to guide.
These Italian grocery stores are in charming neighborhoods which is part of the experience. You’ll find detailed descriptions really showcasing their unique offerings, 1 must order suggestion and a little history behind it.
Get those taste buds ready, buon appetito!
Italian grocery stores in Chicago have some of the best subs!
Why shop at an Italian grocery store?
Quality and variety of products:
Italian grocery stores offer a wide range of very high-quality products. Think fresh produce, cheese and meats along with cheeses, pasta, sauces and olive oil. The thing that separates grocery stores is that they prioritize the finest ingredients in their Italian groceries. If they can, they usually do locally sourced and traditional products to help the store strive for excellence.
Freshness:
Since Italians deeply appreciate fresh ingredients, there is a direct reflection of this in their grocery stores. There’s a huge focus on having fresh and seasonal produce stocked. At any given time, you’ll find fruits and vegetables, fragrant herbs and some ripe tomatoes. There is a true commitment to freshness that really enhances the overall cooking experience.
Deli and cheese counters:
You’re going to find a well-stocked deli counter at an Italian grocery store. They’ll usually have a mix of cured meats, like prosciutto, salami and mortadella. When talking about the cheese selection, the word impressive comes to mind.
You’re going to find cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano, mozzarella, gorgonzola and pecorino. You can usually taste test some options while you’re at the counter.
Pasta and sauces:
If you ever can’t find the pasta you want at a large grocery store, go to your nearest Italian grocery store. Pasta lovers come in flocks here. They offer such a range of pasta varieties, shapes and sizes from spaghetti and penne to some specialty regional items. In addition to that, you can find a variety of sauces like traditional tomato-based, pesto and even some creamier options.
Specialty products:
The specialty products that Italian grocery stores carry is perfect for someone who has dietary preferences or even culinary interests. You’ll find gluten-free pasta, organic products, artisanal bread, gourmet chocolates and of course an assortment of Italian wines and spirits. This type of store makes dreams come true for any food enthusiast!
Authenticity and tradition:
Since many Italian grocery stores are family run, you know they prioritize authenticity. You’re going to find that these families celebrate traditional recipes and ingredients. In fact, you’ll come to find out that many of those recipes have been passed down through generations, preserving time-tested culinary traditions.
The commitment to authentic Italian foods really makes this an experience and allows you to connect with the store, the workers and Italian food culture itself. This is why it’s good to know what is the best Italian grocery store in Chicago.
Atmosphere and community:
The second you walk into an Italian grocery store, you get that warm and inviting feeling. This is just the type of staff that works there. They’re friendly and knowledgeable. They’re there for recommendations and just to share their expertise. When you shop in one, it can feel like a community experience, because it is! Folks who visit often find themselves in conversations about food, recipes and cooking techniques.
Overall, the combination of quality products, freshness, variety, and a genuine passion for food make Italian grocery stores truly awesome. They offer a culinary adventure and allow people to bring a little bit of Italy into their homes.
Here’s a list of the best places in the Windy City and surrounding area to find an authentic Italian grocery store or deli. There’s a variety of large stores to little Italian grocery stores.
Bari Subs and Italian Food is lunch for many regulars, including Chicago police officers.
Bari Subs
1120 W Grand Ave #1, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 666-0730
Hours:
Monday-Saturday 8:00a-6:00pm
Sunday 8:00- 2:00pm
What to order: The Hot Italian Sub
Bari opened in 1973 to serve the Italian neighborhood of Grand Avenue. It was opened Joseph and Grace Pedota who emigrated from a town near Bari, Italy. Today, it’s operated by sons, Frank and Ralph.
It’s always been known for its famous subs and homemade Italian and Barese sausages. Now, they’ve added new family favorite recipes like fresh made sauces, homemade giardiniera and fresh made pestos! You can get a special cut of veal, lamb, beef, pork or meatball mix for meatballs. Next door, you’ll find a place that sells fresh Italian bread!
You can order online and they also do catering!
J.P. Graziano Grocery Co.
901 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 666-4587
Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday 11:00am-4:00pm
Sunday/Monday Closed
What to Order:
This place is a fourth-generation family-owned and operated Italian grocery store. Located in Chicago’s West Loop, they’re a popular choice for lunch. Many come for subs, antipasti trays, desserts or just to buy authentic Chicago-style Italian foods for their own pantry.
JP Graziano takes their own approach to an Italian grocery store. For example, they cut the meats and cheeses for each sandwich just seconds before they assemble it. They pay such attention to detail placing the meats and cheeses in a specific order and slicing to size. These sandwiches sometimes travel the distance to concerts at Ravinia, summer boat excursions on the lake and football games.
JP Graziano also makes their own giardiniera. Only the best Italian grocery store in Chicago makes their own giardiniera, I mean isn’t that what Chicago is known for?
Frangella is a cute Italian grocery store in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.
Frangella Italian Market
11925 S 80th Ave, Palos Park, IL 60464
(708) 448-2598
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
What to Order: Lasagna
This Italian grocery store was established in 1993 by Gina and Francesco Frangella. They are both originally from Calabria, Italy. It’s a cute family run business and gives you all the feels inside.
They’ve brought in some imported items to the mom-and-pop store. In fact, you’re going to find hard to find high quality foods and products here. They prepare their roast beef and meatballs in-house daily, paying attention to the quality. Their cookies are just the tastiest, definitely get those for dessert.
The trick to being the best Italian grocery store in Chicago area is the friendliness, and this place has it!
They have a great line of frozen pasta like tortellini, gnocchi and ravioli. Some other imported items include unique flours, rare cheeses, pizzelle makers, cookies, arancini (rice balls), and the list goes on. They strive to bring the taste of Calabria to your table!
S & T Provisions is home the famous pizza setups.
S & T Provisions
3804 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60655
(Locations in Mt. Greenwood, Frankfort, Bolingbrook and coming to Crown Point)
(773) 238-5990
Hours:
Monday- Saturday: 9:00am-6:00pm
Sunday Closed
What to order: Pizza Setups OR their world famous meatball mix
Pizza setup at home from S&T Provisions.
The original location in Mt. Greenwood was established in 1960. You’ll find quality meats, spices, pastas, lunch meats, homemade sausage, meatball mix and pizza setups.
Pizza setups come with one pound of shredded mozzarella cheese, one pint of their homemade pizza sauce. The 12” and 10” setups come with three crusts, while the 7” minis come with ten. They recently came out with a cauliflower crust, but they also have gluten free as well as thin n’ crispy!
S&T Provisions.
They do fundraising options and don’t forget to check out the pizza tent (they come to you- perfect for a party). This makes the list for best Italian grocery store in Chicago because of the unique approach it takes to Italian cuisine with the pizza setups.
Zeppe’s Italian Market
529 87th St, Naperville, IL 60565
(630) 753-0955
Hours:
Monday-Saturday 10:00am-7:00pm
Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm
What to order: Lasagna
At Zeppe’s, their bread is made first thing in the morning. There’s a full line of deli meats and cheeses, and some homemade salads. They have also created their own marinara sauce, vodka sauce, alfredo sauce (full of delicious garlic) as well as pizza sauce. Owner Joe Gambino’s catch phrase, food is love and love is food.
They have a few grab & go options like baked mostaccioli, Italian sausage and peppers, meatballs, eggplant parmigiana as well as stuffed green peppers. A few things they rotate in include meatloaf, south of the border lasagna as well as sausage lasagna.
They also sell some foods that you can bring home to cook like their lasagna and don’t forget to check out the merch!
Nottoli Italian Foods
5025 N Harlem Ave Chicago, IL 60656
773-631-0662
Hours:
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday-Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
What to order: Spicy Italian Panini
This Italian grocery store offers a butcher, full deli, produce and grocery items. They began their tradition of making sausage, but they use an intentional selection of fine, cured meats. They have a range of made-to-order deli services along with catering platters for events of all sizes.
Specialty subs include the Italian, Proscuitto, American, cold roast beef, turkey, tuna and vegetarian. Their hot sandwiches include ones like meatball, Italian beef, Italian sausage, eggplant parmesan, turkey artichoke panini, spicy Italian panini or prosciutto with fresh mozzarella. Yum! They’ve also got some great lent specials and a tasty list of meatless dishes.
Eataly downtown Chicago hosts cooking classes, has imported good and a sit down eatery.
Eataly
43 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 521-8700
Hours:
Sunday-Thursday 7:00am-10:00 pm
Friday-Saturday 7:00am-11:00pm
What to order: Gnocchi
Eataly is one of those restaurant experiences that can be a whole day affair! I mean, the place is huge. Eataly, which is the combination of Eat and Italy really stands for “eating Italian”. Their motto is people can eat, shop and learn all about high-quality food.
They have hundreds to high-quality Italian products, seasonal produce from local farms (score!), as well as fresh pasta & mozzarella made in house daily. There’s a bakery, butcher, and seafood section.
You can find Eataly vino as well as houseware cooking utensils you might need to prepare your dish. They have such cute little culinary trinkets that you’re not going to find anywhere else.
Eataly downtown Chicago.
In addition to all the Italian goods, they offer a wide range of cooking classes as well as private dining or group dining. They have wine tasting and other seasonal events. Children are always welcome and can be offered simple dishes like pasta with butter or tomato sauce for a meal.
The best Italian grocery store in Chicago could be argued on a daily basis, but each puts their own unique twist on things. Eataly happens to
Minelli Meat and Deli
7900 N Milwaukee Ave #6, Niles, IL 60714
(847) 965-1315
Hours:
Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm
Sunday 9:00am-2:00pm
Monday Closed
Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-4:00pm
What to order: Italian cookies (or anything from the MaMa Minelli line)
Mrs. Minelli came to the United States and lived on Taylor Street in Little Italy. Her sons have since taken over ownership, but you will still find the MaMa Minelli line of pastas and sauces.
Minelli Meat and Deli offers quality meat like their famous Italian sausage, steaks, chops, beef and handmade burgers to name a few. There’s a wide variety of Italian bakery specialties. For lunch, they offer daily specials, beef sandwiches, meatball sandwiches, pizza, Italian subs and Mama Minelli Italian specialties.
Rubino’s Italian Imports
16635 Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park, IL 6047
708-614-0755
Hours:
Monday-Saturday 9:00am-6:00pm
Sunday 9:00am- 3:00pm
What to order: Italian combo sub
This local deli is in the heart of Tinley Park. They offer a full-service delicatessen. You’ll find sub sandwiches, fresh salads, pizza setups and homemade sausage. They have party subs, party trays as well as funeral arrangements.
They have an easy-to-use garlic spread for garlic bread as well as a variety of gift baskets filled with all sorts of authentic Italian goods.
Calabria Imports
1905 W 103rd St, Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 396-5800
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 10:00am-6:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday: Closed
What to order: The Freddy
Calabria has been serving the Chicagoland area since 1975. There are many specialties here, including the Italian and American deli meats and cheeses that are sliced to order. You have to try the “Freddy” which is a homemade Italian sausage patty, sweet peppers, melted mozzarella all topped with their homemade red sauce.
They have a wide a variety of choices like spaghetti, chicken parmesan, Italian sub or even the Italian beef sandwich. They have a catering menu as well as a food truck!
Frankie’s Deli
17W626 Butterfield Rd, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 (They recently moved)
(630) 627-7977
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Saturday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Sunday: 11:00AM – 4:00PM
What to order: Homemade sausage
This family-owned business deli was established in 1964 and has a variety of Italian cuisine including sandwiches, salads, and fresh bread (made daily). They also have soups, chilis, frozen dinners, pastas and sauces. They also offer some specialty items like imported coffees, specialty beverages and Lupini beans. If you’re looking for some Italian wine or homemade sausage, Frankie’s Deli is the choice!
They recently have a new butcher shop section that offers beef, pork, poultry, and sausage. Not only is this on the list for best Italian grocery store in Chicago area, it’s one of the best hidden secrets in the western suburbs. And remember, you can call ahead to place an order!
D & D Food Shop
1023 S Halsted St, Chicago Heights, IL 60411
708-755-1520
Hours:
Sunday 10:00am-2:00pm
Monday/Tuesday 8:30-5:30pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday/Friday 8:30 am-5:30 pm
Saturday 8:30 am- 5:00pm
What to order: Italian roast beef
This Italian deli is run by Guido Damiani, but you can rest assured everyone in the family pitches in. To think, this community started mostly with parishioners from St. Rocco’s Italian Catholic Church and St. Agnes Parish. Today, it has grown into so much more.
The homemade Italian roast beef, sausage, meatballs and of course Mama Damiani’s special homemade spaghetti sauce are some of the biggest reasons for repeat customers. It’s a great Italian family style service that is warm and welcoming. Check out their homemade ravioli and Italian sausage along with their imported cheese. If you need any suggestions, just ask! This might be a great place to put on your list if you’re headed to NW Indiana or Michigan, worth the visit.
Berto’s Deli is a cute Italian deli downtown Downers Grove.
Berto’s Deli and Pasta Shoppe
5004 Main St, Downers Grove, IL 60515
(630) 493-0643
Hours:
Monday-Friday10:00am-6:30pm
Saturday10:00am-5:00pm
SundayClosed
What to order: Berto’s sub
We ordered Berto’s Deli sub sandwiches and had a picnic in a nearby park.
Berto’s Deli is in downtown Downers Grove and fits in perfectly. They offer a freezer of pastas and desserts along with a deli counter offering sandwiches. When talking about family owned, this is the place. The side dishes like bow tie pasta salad or homemade 3 bean salad are all in red dishes you would find in your house. It’s a cute sandwich shop, but so much more. The sides and homestyle soups really make it a meal!
They offer daily specials that includes bread, butter and cheese. They’re $10.95 and range from spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, manicotti, ravioli and stuffed shells. The catering menu is awesome too. They do dishes from cold cut trays, pasta trays and meat entrees to name a few.
They do have outdoor seating but we decided to grab sandwiches to go from here and ate at a park a few minutes away. Both great options. Next time, we’re going back for another sub and to get some merch! They had reasonable prices, and the location was awesome.
Ambrosino’s Market and Deli
20495 South La Grange Road, Frankfort, IL 60423
(815)464-5002
Hours:
Monday- Friday 9:00am-6:00pm
Saturday 9:00 am-6:00pm
Sunday 9:00-2:00pm
What to order: A whole pig
Ambrosino’s is well known for party trays, gift baskets and both hot and cold sandwiches to go. They have panini subs, classic Italian dinner dishes, subs and salads. They have a soup of the day, jumbo pickles, homemade tomato and garlic bread to round out your meal.
If you have an upcoming special event or even an office party, their catering side of things is off the charts. They do hors doeuvres, catered dinners, party trays, party subs and whole pigs & whole lambs. If you wanted them for your wedding, they cater that too! The luau catering package includes the whole pig.
Tony’s Italian Deli & Subs
6708 Northwest Hwy Chicago, IL 6063
(773) 631-0055
Hours:
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday-Sunday 9:00am – 3:00pm
What to order: Meatball sub
This Italian deli is located in Edison Park and has been a community favorite for a long time. The owners Vito and Maria Dalmazio were born in Italy (Vito- Sicily, Maria- Abruzzo) and have been owners since 1978. They feature old family recipes that keep the quality top notch.
Their coolers feature a signature spaghetti sauce, homemade giardiniera along with homemade pasta dishes and pizzas. The deli counter serves hot beef sandwiches as well as subs ranging from 6 inches- 3 feet!
Along with the coolers, they are an old-fashioned Italian style grocery store. There’s a huge selection of olive oils, canned tomatoes, pasta and espresso. You might need some kitchen tools to help prepare and they’ve got them like cheese graters, coffee pots or pasta makers. You get it all!
Riviera Foods Chicago
3220 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60634
(773)637-4252
Hours:
Sunday 8:00am-2:00pm
Monday-Friday 9:00-4:30 pm
Saturday 8:00- 4:30 pm
What to order: Meatballs
Riviera Foods Chicago has been a family-owned deli in business for over 40 years. They specialize in imported Italian meats and cheeses. The homemade sausage and fresh mozzarella are big hits!
This is a great go-to place for catering a party with a 3-foot party sub or a couple of pounds of beef. They offer holiday specials until they run out like homemade ricotta, Italian truffle cream, octopus fish salad or holiday panettone. This is another one of the best Italian grocery store in Chicago live on Harlem.
Pasta Fresh
3418 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60634
(773)745-5888
Hours:
Sunday 9:00am-3:00pm
Monday-Saturday 9:00am-6:00pm
What to order: Stuffed Shells
Since 1989, Pasta Fresh has been making fresh pasta for families and restaurants. Tony and Gino Bartucci built a 2-story strip mall building and called it Piazza Italia which now houses Pasta Fresh. Tony immigrated from a region of Calabria in 1960 from the city of Cosenza.
Rest assured, Pasta Fresh is more than just fresh pasta. They have a look through window in the back room and see how they make ravioli, lasagna and more. Take home some stuffed shells, rotolo, agnolotti or cheese gnocchi.
Pasta Fresh also sells panzerotti, arancini and focaccia. You’ll find kids slurping spaghetti or working folks grabbing lunch. Coming into Pasta Fresh is an experience in and of itself, but if you can’t make it in, they cater and offer wholesale options.
Conte di Savoia
1438 W. Taylor St. Chicago Illinois, 60607
(312) 666-3471
Hours:
Monday-Saturday 9:00am-6:00pm
Sunday 9:00am-4:00pm
What to order: Grilled Italian Panini
This cute Italian grocery store has been around since 1948. They have delicious sandwiches and salads. In fact, they cater party subs ‘n trays. There’s an assortment of some hard-to-find imported items like coffees and olive oils. You’ll find fresh pasta ready to cook, frozen pasta or dry pasta. The sausage cooler is out of this world.
Their philosophy is to provide the best quality products and outstanding service at a reasonable price. They can fill your picnic basket with bread, cheese, salami and wine if you want suggestions. In the summer, you’ll find sidewalk tables and freshly potted herbs to take home.
Pro Tip: Their counter becomes a bit crowded at lunch time with students from the university, so just call ahead for a pick-up order.
So now you have the list of your options, do you know which is the best Italian grocery store in Chicago? It might be a fun bucket list to put together.
If you enjoy using Italian grocery stores to make pizza, have you ever read about the difference between NY style vs Chicago style pizza?
