Thanksgiving is a special time for everyone. With a day off from school or work and an emphasis on family, plenty of folks take the day to cook an exuberant meal and enjoy it with their loved ones. For that same reason, it can be a day of great stress, as the pressure to provide a fantastic feast weighs on one’s enjoyment of the holiday.
Lucky for you, plenty of Chicago restaurants offer fine Thanksgiving options for take-out, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a five-star meal without the stress.
Here are seven Chicago restaurants that take “giving” to a whole new level this year with some amazing Thanksgiving take-out menus.
See also: The 7 Best Restaurants Open For Thanksgiving Dinner In Chicago
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110 W Illinois Street, River North / Website
In the mood for a relaxing Thanksgiving for you and your closest friends or family? Sunda New Asian is known for a wide variety of Thai, Japanese and Chinese food. For this American holiday, it offers its take on the turkey classic with athe “East Meets West Thanksgiving Dinner" supermeal perfect for four. Roasted turkey, confit turkey legs, shishito mashed potatoes and street corn stuffing are on the menu, as well as traditional buttered rolls and apple pie. This modern twist on the traditional meal is perfect for any group. For $180, the whole meal can be pre-ordered for pickup the week before Thanksgiving, and reheated the day of. Just don’t come in on the big day, as they’ll be closed to enjoy their own meals with family!
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Multiple locations in Wicker Park, North Side / Website
One of the more important things to consider when purchasing dinner is who will be sitting at the table. Will it just be you and your lovely significant other? Will the kids be joining this year? Perhaps that curmudgeonly aunt finally came down from Rhode Island? Regardless, this grocery outlet has multiple options for your Turkey Day, including a $75 “Turkey for Two,” $195 “Family Matters” serving six; and the largest $695 “All in the Family” serving 12.
A la carte options are also available, including a wide selection of pies—pecan, pumpkin, apple and dark chocolate salted caramel tart, to name a few—as well as vegetarian and vegan options, like green bean casserole and a cider poached apple. A wide variety of wines and cocktails is also available through the grocer. Order your Thanksgiving meal early, and the outlet will give you a bottle of their Santome Prosecco, on the house. Maybe that’ll get your aunt to be less cranky.
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330 N Wabash Ave, Magnificent Mile / Website
One of the more well-known eateries in the downtown area, Travelle is no stranger to customer’s needs. This year, it's gone bigger than ever, offering three different options to enjoy a good Thanksgiving. For those choosing to eat from home, ready-to-eat pickup options are available that Thursday, including an 18 to 20 pound turkey for $540 that serves 10 people with plenty of other dishes, as well as a “Just the Sides” package for $165, in case you want to cook the turkey yourself. In addition to the available meals, Travelle will offer a “Pop-Up Pie” shop the week before, selling apple, bourbon pecan and pumpkin pies for pre-order at $35 each. Not a bad option for those of us that can’t ever seem to get the right consistency.
See also: Eat Pizza and Help At-Risk Youth with Jet's Pizza's Annual Winter Supplies Drive
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Multiple locations in Bucktown, River North / Website
Perhaps you’re more interested in a woodfired meal than a traditional oven, or maybe meatballs are more your speed. Whichever it may be, this well-regarded Italian eatery has one of the best take-home packages in the area, a “Thanksgiving Take & Bake” that serves four for $250. Including both a red and a white wine, this package centers itself around delicious sides, with options like focaccia, gem salad and spicy meatballs. The main course is a fire-roasted breast and bird that comes with Italian flair. Enjoy whipped and buttered potatoes, bolognese stuffing, as well as rigatoni and brussels sprouts. If you still have room, try the pumpkin pie, a perfect traditional ending to a non-traditional meal.
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Water Tower Place, Magnificent Mile / Website
While the Ritz is well-known for luxurious vacation stays and magnificent parties, it also hosts one of the better fine dining establishments around the magnificent mile. It should come as no surprise it's getting involved in the turkey day festivities with one of the more traditional take-home packages.
For $275, patrons can purchase a meal serving six to eight, straight from Plymouth Rock. It includes an 18 to 20 pound turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, house made cranberry sauce and artisanal rolls. Also included in the package are sides that have become staples of the holiday, including truffle mac and cheese, roasted brussels sprouts, and baby kale salad. All of grandma’s fixings, without any of the prep. For those eating alone this holiday, they also have a “solo turkey” option for just $38.
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3506 N Clark Street, Wrigleyville / Website
This isn’t your traditional oven-roasted turkey package. This is a deep-fried surprise that’s sure to get stomachs rumbling and folks tumbling into your dining room for a savory snack, without the risk or fears that come with operating a deep fryer in your backyard. Two packages are available from this Wrigley Field staple: the Whole Turkey Dinner Package for $250 which includes a 10-pound turkey and four sides of your choice; and the Supreme Turkey Dinner Package for $450. The latter is a smorgasbord of Thanksgiving goodies including house salad, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and garlic stuffing. It serves 10 to 12 of your closest friends.
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1618 W Chicago Ave, West Town / Website
Technically this isn’t a place for a full Thanksgiving takeout, but being one of the best reviewed bakeries in Chicago with a wide array of desserts, this deserves its own post for what it offers after the turkey.
In addition to the usual fall staples like apple, pumpkin and maple pecan, there’s plenty of other made-to-satisfy treats even the choosiest of sweet tooths will love. Also enjoyed by many are the chocolate chess pie, hoosier sugar cream and sour cream dutch cranberry, as well as rotating specials like apple blueberry and plum pie. Be sure to place your order early, however; there’s sure to be a line out the door on the big day.
Photography by: Jed Owen / Unsplash
