Taste of Chicago Unveils 73 Food Vendors for 2018 Summer Festival

This year’s event goes from July 11 through July 15

Sandwich king Jeff Mauro and Mayor Rahm Emanuel talk Taste of Chicago.
Ashok Selvam

The sunshine’s beaming down on Chicago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel is cracking a smile for the annual Taste of Chicago food vendor unveil. The 2018 edition will feature 73 food vendors, including 26 new ones. This is the festival’s 38th year and it will take place from July 11 through July 15 at Grant Park. Last year’s event featured 67 vendors.

Some of the bigger newbies this year include James Beard Award winner Sun Wah BBQ, Albany Park pioneer Arun’s Thai, and the return of the Original Rainbow Cone. Emanuel and Pork & Mindy’s founder Jeff Mauro hosted the unveil on Wednesday afternoon at the Chicago Cultural Center. The mayor talked about how the city has reinvented the event. He also talked about how the festival gives exposure to lesser-known restaurants away from Chicago’s downtown. That’s benefitted the Taste by giving fest-goers more options.

“I really do hope it helps the neighborhood restaurants [as well],” Emanuel said.

Top Chef winner Joe Flamm (Spiaggia) will also do a demonstration on July 13. For more information and tickets for selected events go to the event’s website. Meanwhile, check out the full lineup below. An asterisk (*) denotes a new addition.

38 Five-Day Restaurants

22 Pop-Up Restaurants

13 Food Trucks

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