We Celebrate The Best of McKinley Park

Chicago’s McKinley Park neighborhood is a wonderful and unique spot, supported by all our great community features, groups and enterprises.

The Best of McKinley Park is our members’ choice contest highlighting the entire neighborhood and selecting top options in Dining, Shopping, Services and Community. McKinley Park News members, including those with free memberships, voted across dozens of categories in fall 2025 to pick their favorites.

Our results have been quantified since the holidays, and we’re very happy to finally present them here and congratulate the winners.

McKinley Park's Best

One contestant winning big across multiple categories is Chile Toreado, 2022 W. 35th St., Chicago, which notched top totals against significant competition in Best Latin Cuisine and Best Sit-Down Restaurant.

Cadinho Bakery and Cafe anchors the flat iron building at South Archer Avenue and West 35th Street.Owner and executive chef Jaime Sotelo has been serving authentic Mexican food alongside creative specials and craft cocktails since 2019.

Multiple-Award Winners

“We're very happy to see [the awards] given our hard work,” Sotelo said. "It lets us know we're doing things the right way."

Another winner in multiple categories is Cadinho Bakery and Cafe, topping members choice for Best Baked Goods and Best Coffee, with the latter closely contested by Café Consume.

Our neighborhood Walgreens also won in multiple categories for Best Convenience Store and Best Pharmacy.

Neighborhood Favorites

We so appreciated every vote of our members, as well as how so many jumped in to comment and correct unintended omissions.

Two voter favorites stood out thanks to overwhelming vote totals and direct member feedback: Ganger Family Dentistry won for Best Dental Care, and Miami Optical won for Best Medical Care.

All 2025 Winners 

In the Community category:

Best Community Organization

Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball League
Headquartered at Hoyne Park, 3417 S. Hamilton Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Hangout Spot

Lagoon & Natural Area at McKinley Park
On the east end of McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Road, Chicago

Full Results

Best Local Elected Official

12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez
3868 S. Archer Ave., Chicago

Full Results

In the Dining category:

Best Baked Goods

Cadinho Bakery and Cafe
3483 S. Archer Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Coffee

Cadinho Bakery and Cafe
3483 S. Archer Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Fast Food Chain Restaurant: Tied

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
3204 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago

White Castle
3205 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Latin Cuisine

Chile Toreado
2022 W. 35th St., Chicago

Full Results

Best Pizza

Trino’s Pizza
2001 W. 35th St., Chicago

Full Results

Best Sit-Down Restaurant

Chile Toreado
2022 W. 35th St., Chicago

Full Results

Best Spot for a Drink

Marz Community Brewing Co.
3630 S. Iron St., Chicago

Full Results

Best Take-Out Restaurant

Nicky’s Carry Outs
3501 S. Western Boulevard, Chicago

Full Results

In the Shopping category:

Best Auto Parts

AutoZone Auto Parts
3311 S. Archer Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Beer, Wine and Spirits

Jewel-Osco
3644 S. Archer Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Clothing and Apparel

Consume Vintage
3452 S. Western Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Convenience Store

Walgreens
1926 W. 35th St., Chicago

Full Results

Best Garden and Landscaping

JC Licht Ace Hardware
3145 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Gas Station

BP Gas Station
3269 S. Archer Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Groceries

Mariano’s
3145 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Home Goods

Target
1940 W. 33rd St., Chicago

Full Results

Best Pet Store

Pet Supplies Plus
3145 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Phones & Mobile

T-Mobile
3150 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago

Full Results

In the Services category:

Best Auto Body Repair

Cambray’s Auto Rebuilders
3231 S. Archer Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Auto Mechanic

Rojas Auto Service
1850 W. 33rd St., Chicago

Full Results

Best Bank

Marquette Bank
3521 S. Archer Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Child Care

Montessori Foundations of Chicago
2239 W. 35th St., Chicago

Full Results

Best Dental Care

Ganger Family Dentistry
1858 W. 35th St., Chicago

Full Results

Best Hair & Beauty Services: Tied

Exquisite Beauty Salon
1738 W. 35th St., Chicago

Patty’s Hair Design
1514 W. 33rd St., Chicago

Sammy’s Hair Studio
2335 W. 35th St., Chicago

Zaleta’s Family Hair Center
3474 S. Archer Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Home Contractor

Silva Construction & Restoration
3315 S. Oakley Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Insurance Agent

M. Rodriguez Agency – American Family Insurance
1701 W. 35th St., Chicago

Full Results

Best Medical Care

Miami Optical
3125 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago

Full Results

Best Pharmacy

Walgreens Pharmacy
1926 W. 35th St., Chicago

Full Results

About The Best of McKinley Park

The Best of McKinley Park is a non-scientific series of polls for McKinley Park News members to vote on neighborhood favorites for Dining, Shopping, Services and Community. Voting for the 1st annual The Best of McKinley Park took place from September to Thanksgiving 2025 and garnered hundreds of votes across dozens of categories.

No automated agents, bots, spammers or AI are allowed to hold or access membership accounts on the McKinley Park News, and we use our due diligence to qualify our member community and its interactions.

The Best of McKinley Park is not only a true barometer for our neighborhood’s favorites, it is a showcase for every contestant who calls our community home. It is our hope that you will not only enjoy the McKinley Park neighborhood’s top picks, but also discover great spots new to you.

Watch for the 2nd annual The Best of McKinley Park contest to start in early fall 2026.