Chef Ping might seem unassuming, as it sits in a typical suburban strip mall, repurposed from its former life as an outpost of Chicago-area chain Bakers Square. Don’t make the mistake of judging this book by its cover. The giant menu features Chinese-American classics mingled with Korean-American fare. From noodles to dumplings, the suburbs are lucky to have such a quality restaurant. Order online.

While not as well known as the city’s pizzas and hot dogs, the Chicago-style Italian beef sandwich is part of the town’s fabric. Johnnie’s makes among the area’s best example of the sandwich, with two locations inside no-frills spaces perfect for a quick bite. Enjoy thinly sliced rib-eye topped with spicy or sweet pickled peppers; the spicy mix is known as giardiniera in Chicago. A combo won’t come with fries — instead, it’s an Italian sausage topped with shaved beef for a real delight. Order at the restaurant.

The Chicago-area location of Mitsuwa, the all-in-one spot for Japanese groceries and products, includes a food court where customers will find ramen, udon, and yakitori. The grab-and-go sushi also makes for a fast, high-quality meal.

Fresh seafood is the name of the game at Boston Fish Market. Chef Louis “Louie” Psihogios has two locations, but the Des Plaines one is closest to the airport. Find lobster rolls, New England clam chowder, crabcakes, and hefty fish platters. Worried you won’t be getting the best seafood? Don’t be. Chicago’s status as an air transportation hub makes up for its lack of proximity to an ocean.

Harry Caray was a beloved baseball announcer who worked on the North and South sides of town, but he’s most remembered for his work with the North Side Chicago Cubs. His original namesake restaurant is an Italian steakhouse in River North known for mammoth pork chops. This suburban location allows visitors to take a look through all the sports memorabilia inside without straying too far from the airport. Don’t sleep on the tender fried calamari.

Actor Bill Murray and his brothers (Andy, Ed, Joel, Johnny, and Brian-Doyle; many of who also work in TV and film) have opened a restaurant just outside of Chicago. It’s kind of a lifetime achievement award celebrating their successful careers. Fans of golf and Caddyshack will get a kick out of the space that features a colorful mural with tons of references to Bill Murray movies. The restaurant also serves dependable pub grub, like burgers,

Gibsons is a legendary name for steaks in Chicago, with its flagship location downtown, a gorgeous location overlooking the Chicago River, and a massive three-level restaurant project with the great José Andrés. While travelers with corporate accounts can find several steakhouses around ORD (Morton’s, another old-school favorite, is also in suburban Rosemont), this is an ideal spot for dinner on the company’s dime. Gibsons offers takeout and dine-in service. Customers can order or make reservations online.

Indian Garden is a venerable chain of restaurants with a location in Downtown Chicago before that was housed on Devon Avenue, the traditional center of South Asian-owned businesses in the city. This suburban location, Mantra, opened with the intention of refreshing the brand and attracting younger customers. Find the traditional Punjabi favorites, plus a few wrinkles on classics. Order online.

Quesabirria expert Marco Owaynat and his team at Taco Moro have transformed a trip to or from O’Hare into an opportunity to indulge in meaty, cheesy delights. Quesabirria tacos dunked in consomme are the clear favorite, but a lineup of burritos, quesadillas, tostadas, and bowls — all halal — provide a little something for everyone. Taco Moro also has an outpost in Lakeview.

Shakou is a popular suburban mini-chain with a reputation for serving high-caliber fish. Under normal circumstances, the dining room is dark and intimate, a place for a date or a celebration with friends. It’s patronized by a more mature crowd who have departed the city for suburban family life. These customers cherish these places because it makes them feel trendy and young. But that would sell the food short. Expect creative maki and a smattering of Chinese and Korean plates. Lunch specials and bento boxes are also available.

Chicago is a pizza town, and it extends beyond deep-dish pizza. That type of pizza is still revered, but the city’s thin-cut pizza, known as tavern-style and cut up into squares and triangles, may be the most popular in town. Dino’s, which is off the Harlem Avenue exit on I-90 (also a short walk from the Harlem Blue Line), delivers a picture-perfect, tavern-style pizza. Chicago-style sausage (this city likes its fennel) is the signature topping, but customers can’t go wrong other options.

Superdawg is Chicago’s only true drive-in restaurant, with carhop service and ordering via an intercom. It’s a dose of nostalgia that allows customers to safely order from their cars; traditional takeout is also available inside. Customers can order grilled cheeses or burgers, but the signature item is a special version of the Chicago-style hot dog. It’s not dragged through the garden, but comes with relish, mustard, and a pickled tomato. Enjoy the retro cardboard packaging filled with crinkle-cut fries.

Housed in a distinctive blue building in Jefferson Park, North Branch has earned a reputation for excellent fried chicken that’s crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle. Served in pieces and sandwich form, it’s an effective catalyst for a mid-flight nap, especially with sides like cheesy potatoes and pit beans. Chef John Badal also adds a gourmet touch with burgers, smoked ribs, and barbecue nachos with pulled pork.