{"id":99810,"date":"2022-03-17T13:59:46","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T18:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=99810"},"modified":"2022-03-17T13:59:46","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T18:59:46","slug":"chicago-food-influencers-offer-their-top-recommendations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/chicago-food-influencers-offer-their-top-recommendations\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago food influencers offer their top recommendations"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Graphic\"
Credit: Jackie Walsh \/ Medill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Jackie Walsh<\/strong>
\nMedill Reports<\/em><\/p>\n

From deep-dish pizza to Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago is a food lover\u2019s dream.<\/span><\/p>\n

Approximately 280 of the 7,300 restaurants in the city closed in the last three months of 2021 alone, according to data from the food and beverage analytics firm <\/span>Datassential<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

COVID-19 and restaurant restrictions took a serious toll on the restaurant scene in Chicago over the past two years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chicagoans are looking for new favorites, and one of their favorite sources for tips is social media.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to data from <\/span>Cision PR Newswire<\/span><\/a>, 36% of TikTok users visited a restaurant after seeing it on their feed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chicago restaurant-related content on social media is often generated by food and drink influencers, people who visit restaurants and then take their impressions to social media to shed light on local businesses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From doughnut lovers to happy hour goers, the Chicago food and drink scene of influencers is expansive. Follow the Story Map to look at the top spots from Chicago creators in their areas of expertise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n