Rapper Common, indie band Beach Bunny and R&B artist Babyface are among the acts set to headline Taste of Chicago, July 8-12 in Grant Park, the city of Chicago announced Thursday.
The annual free festival returns to a primetime stretch in the summer after being bumped to September by the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, which is not taking place this year.
“Taste of Chicago is one of the city’s most beloved summer traditions because it reflects the heart and soul of Chicago through our people, our culture and our extraordinary culinary talent,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. “From longtime neighborhood favorites to emerging chefs and local entrepreneurs, Taste showcases the creativity, diversity and innovation that continue to make Chicago one of the world’s great food destinations.”
Reggae artist Original Koffee and Mexican pop star Julieta Venegas are also scheduled to perform during the five-day festival featuring 84 food vendors and 20 food trucks. About 38 percent of the vendors are making their first Taste of Chicago appearance, according to the Department of Cultural and Special Events.
Some of this year’s food vendors include:
- Aaron’s FOF BBQ and Catering
- Bust Outs
- Café Tola
- Cebu Chicago
- CHKN Box LLC
- Classic Cobbler Baked Goods Company
- Daniel’s Test Kitchen
- Fernando’s Blue Agave Restaurant
- Havana Banana
- Joey G’s Mac N Cheese
- Kaya Grill & Gyoza
- Kinnaree Thai Kitchen
- LC Pho Restaurant,
- Lindsey’s Ice Cream
- Molly’s Cupcakes
- MsP’s GFree Inc.
- Oooh Wee It Is
- Pretty Cool Ice Cream
- Rickshaw
- S2 Express Grill
- Saffron Street Chicago
- Soul Veg City
- Taco Pros
- Taylor’s Tacos
- TE’AMO
- The Tamale Guy.
The food truck lineup includes:
- Caseras Food Truck
- Decadent Flavor
- Delicias Tacos Inc.
- El Azteca Sanchez Inc.
- Haire’s Gulf Shrimp
- Halal Truck Guys
- Happy Lobster
- La Cocinita Food Truck
- La Guerita Mexican Food Truck
- Mr. Quiles Mexican Food
- Ms. Tittle’s Cupcakes
- Route 66 Mobile Diner LLC
- Soul & Smoke
- Sausage Fest
- Taco Motora Inc.
- Tasty Chicago
- Uncle Remus SFC
- Whadda Jerk
- Willie P’s BBQ & Catering
- Yummy Halal Food
For the full food and music lineup, click here. Only credit cards will be accepted by all food vendors during the festival, according to DCASE.
