Daley Plaza Farmers Market

I work near Daley Plaza few days w week now. And I LOVE being there at the lunch time. On Wednesdays– Art Festival.
On Thursdays– Farmers Market. Fridays– Food Trucks.
Pricey but usually it is worth it!
You can smell the roses here. Eat some organic tomatoes & strawberries. See what other culture means. Listen to good music. Even dance.
See u there :)
P

I recently moved to River West, and this Thursday market is the one closest to me. It’s not as crowded as a lot of other markets, so you can get the personal attention they lack. One of the vendors here actually took the time to explain the difference between a leek and a large green onion. (Leeks are milder and better for sautéing and don’t get as slimy.)
My favorite bakery booth is the Amish one. I’m not sure if these women are really Amish, or if they’re just actors dressed up to look Amish (hey… I’ve seen Witness). But I’m leaning toward authentic because they don’t pluck their eyebrows. The Amish purple wheat bread with nuts is delish. But if you don’t buy it before lunchtime, they usually run out.
The best produce is in the booth in the photo below. They have the best quality tomatoes, leeks and even golden beats… even my Whole Foods didn’t have golden beets this summer.
My Unilocal app found a Starbucks a half block away on Washington. So last week we bought a couple of lattes and sat at one of the tables in Daley Plaza. I had a yummy pan au chocolate (from the booth on the southwest corner of the plaza), and my friend had an incredible grilled cheese sandwich from Gayle’s.
I love this market!

I pass by they have like Google festival and computer science
Also see ppl setting having their lunch on the areas w/​tables and chairs then the fountain is very relaxing

What an adorable little market! They have pretty much everything you would expect (fresh pasta, plants, vegetables, dog treats, etc.) right in the middle of the loop. I got a grilled cheese breakfast sandwich from Gayle’s, which I will forever compare all future grilled cheeses against.

Q.wk. crepes and Amish cookies.

I made a mistake in ordering a shrimp sandwich from Amazing Shrimp the other day. I’ve never thought of Hammond, IN as shrimp experts, or shrimp anything, but I figured, maybe they’re transplants from a place where they do know shrimp. Anyways, all I can say is UGH! Nothing is much worse than feeling gross for the remainder of the day. The guy behind the tent thankfully dropped the garlic salt housed in a glass container, right before my order, or I would have been treated to a salt bath with what was termed a shrimp sandwich. The sammy was all about a huge brioche roll. After that fluffy/​puffy 2 inch high, 3 inches wide piece of shiny bread, I couldn’t tell you much about the shrimp, as I couldn’t taste it and only saw 1 chopped up and swimming in a mayo and cabbage sea. There was seriously A LOT of mayo — i tons of dripping mayo and messy cabbage hanging over the bread. It was more like a slaw sandwich with a medium sized shrimp as an afterthought. For $ 13.00, that was about the biggest rip off the market has to offer.
Now, Brunkow Cheese of WI is the antithesis of the shrimp sammy. Everything from the aroma to the taste to the price was so perfect. Absolutely wonderful cheese!!! 5 stars for the Brunkow family of cheese.
A few weeks ago, the best asparagus for a buck a bunch were here. They were thin and green and delicious — so good, they were tasty raw. Not to forget, a huge bargain!
Prices for cherries are high — or higher than Organic cherries delivered to my door… so I thought that was a bit odd for non-​organics to be higher than organic. They looked tasty for the cherry devotees like me.
There’s a guy that makes AMAZING cakes and has samples out to tempt customers even further. If there were more than 2 of us to devour a cake I would buy one in a heartbeat. Every flavor I’ve tried is decadent, flavorful, delicious and so moist.

This is a great place to get lunch if you are downtown. The prices are equal to or less than what you would pay in a restaurant and you can be assured of organic, non-​gmo fare. I love Gayle’s cheese sandwiches but they also have the longest line. However, just down from Gayle’s is a tamale shop on the southwest corner that serves organic vegan tamales 2 for $ 5 that are to die for! This particular market seems to lean more towards prepared foods for consumption probably because there is such a huge supply of rabid lunch fanatics. However there is an ample selection of organic vegetables, meat, fruits, and normal farmers market-​type items for sale.
This market runs from mid-​May to the end of October and is famous as the longest running farmers market in Chicago. The hours from 7 AM to 3 but many of the stalls stay open later so you can stop and pick something up for the ride home if you’re lucky.

A cool thing to have a farmer’s market right in the middle of downtown. Really pleasant to stroll around and look at what’s for sale.

Aside from being a little piece of nature in the middle of the business district of Chicago, the Daley Plaza Farmers market sports excellent selection, variety, and value. Doubly so on that last one considering you’re in downtown Chicago.
I go there once a week while we’re lucky enough to have it for a week’s worth of veggies, pastries, and toffee (OK, i load up on all sorts of other treats too).
Based on the produce alone, i would give it a $, but considering all the sweets and treats and candles and flowers and whatever else you’re unlikely to walk away with without buying, i rate it as a $$ overall cost factor.
In relation to the Logan Sq or various other farmer’s markets I’ve run into, this one is the best for produce. The one by Damen between Irving and Montrose has a better cheese selection though.
In response to a couple of other reviews, some vendors DO accept credit cards, but it’s not a uniform policy. I don’t particularly mind since i take cash out before going there and i can certainly understand the micro-​economics involved.
Love it. Will take advantage of it while it’s around.
You probably should too.

I love this market. It’s like touch of the country in the heart of the city. The fountain and the Picasso are such a cool backdrop for the stands ands their umbrellas. This market has a bit of everything. You can pick up a great selection of fresh produce, including a generous bunch of kale for a dollar! The raspberries were beautiful and much less expensive than their grocery store counterparts. There are quite a few stands that sell ready to go meals, like noodle bowls and sandwiches. My favorites are the vegan tamales and vegan fruit bars. While you’re at it you can pick up a nice bunch of fresh flowers. There are several flower stands to choose from. A lot of loop workers visit the market at lunchtime. It opens early so you can also swing by and pick up your morning fruit. The energy is great here, and the market is much more extensive than some of the little neighborhoods ones.

Awesome market. I will have to update this review after I actually buy something. However, this review is based on walking around and seeing all the vendors. There are many vendors here, a supple amount, actually. Dude, what a variety of fruits and veggies that are in season and fresh. The prices weren’t bad either. The only downside, they only accept cash! Come on people, it’s the digital age, getting an effing square already!
They have a huge variety of vendors as well, from fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs, to local made cheese from the great North, to fresh bread, flowers, and food vendors that filled the plaza with a great aroma.
I will have to bring cash next time to actually try these vendors out!

Magical.
The Farmer’s market transforms the usually hectic city corner into a blissful bazaar.
On a nice day it’s pretty hard to convince yourself to go back to work. Thursdays have become my favorite day of the week!
Everything is so reasonably priced. You’ll pay more at Whole Foods for practically everything at the market.
The vendors are nice and everything is fresh.
There is something for everyone. From fresh flowers to homemade cakes and candy or even just a quick getaway from the office!
Stop by for a jar of honey or an Amish donut before it’s too late!

I just moved offices and am now close enough to walk to this market — YAY! I’d been going to the one in Federal Plaza but this one is significantly bigger, and better.
First of all, it’s just gorgeous. The Daley Plaza has this lovely fountain, and seeing all the tents set up around it will give any foodie a thrill. Who doesn’t want to spend a lunch break here?
This market has several vegetable stands offering a variety of seasonal deliciousness, and a good selection of fruit as well (well, now, anyway). They have tomatoes and apples and potatoes in varieties you’ve never heard of, the biggest squash I’ve ever seen, people handing out random samples of goodness. flowers, cheese, bread, herbs (do not miss the fresh herbs stand, it is BOMB and so cheap and they have kale and other beautiful greens), pastries, toffee. the Amish people who sell the yummy food, mushrooms (ew but whatever), jams/​salsas, soap and a few other crafts, and some places where you can actually get lunch instead of just ingredients!
I’m depressed that I only have 2 more months to go here. Green City Market isn’t convenient for me and this place is the next best of the city markets, in my eyes. You will find me here every Thursday until the end of October. I’ll be the weirdo getting funny looks in the elevator because I have a massive heap of basil sticking out of my purse.

I love me a Farmers Market, and this one does not disappoint. Lots to choose from, great vendors & the prices are very decent. Nichols Farm, Brunkow Cheese (Go. Eat. Samples. Now.), River Valley Kitchens, just to name a few. I definitely recommend hitting this up before it’s gone (last day is October 31)!

After I heard there was a Thursday farmers market downtown I (literally) took the next train there! It is pretty big! They have more produce than my neighborhood farmers market. They also seemed to have a lot of great lunch time options that could be eaten right away. I was surprised by how large the space was. There were tons of produce for what seemed to be pretty inexpensive. Also, they had so many gorgeous flowers! I love buying flowers at farmers markets, they just make the day better!
There is also the relaxing fountain you can stop and eat or relax at during your lunch break. I will definitely be coming back (and have cash with me!) This is a great way to take a few minutes and relax from the work day. Go check it out!

I can’t believe I haven’t been here every week this summer! Awesome produce & prices.

I LOVE THE CHICAGO FARMERS MARKETS! They serve food, are good people, and have a great selection for a small space in the city. Need I say more?

All these years working downtown, and never have I stopped to check out the Farmer’s Market. It wasn’t until a brisk fall morning waiting at the bus, when I spotted a lady with 4 loaves of bread. She initiated conversation with me, stating that she was looking for her favorite bus driver to give him a loaf of her Labriola garlic parmesan French bread. Garlic parmesan… «Where did you get those from?», trying not to sound too desperate. She pointed and said, «Right across the street».
She then went on to state that they had fried cheese there, lots of local farmers with fresh produce and bakeries for some morning goodies. I looked at my watch, and knew that making a detour before work that morning was impossible but dutily noted to leave earlier for work the next week.
Morning meetings, cuddling up in a warm bed on a cool morning, unpacking after a work move… none motivate me to leave earlier for work. Nope? And what does? Obviously some garlic parmesan bread.
So the next week, I left a little earlier and upon arriving, I knew to make a beeline for Labriola. My bus occupant said they sell out fast, so that was the treasure that I was looking for. I bought one loaf at $ 4 and knew if I fell in love with it, that the Paleo diet would be history. I also bought an almond croissant at Delightful Pastries for $ 3 or so which completed my morning breakfast.
The almond croissant was very good. Flaky, crusty, airy, but could’ve used more almond paste inside it. The garlic parmesan loaf was incredible. Wonderful ratio of garlic to parmesan, and if consumed within 24 hours, a great texture as well. Don’t try to ration out the loaf over a few days, or it will be hard as a rock.
I sampled the hot cheese they had simmering up. For whatever particular reason, the curds don’t really melt into a glob, and stay in curd form. The salesman reassured me that they would hold up the day without being refrigerated, but I just made another mental note to pack a small cooler on my next visit.
Farmer’s Market is only open till next Thursday, Oct 18^th this year from 7 am– 3 pm. On the last day, for the very first time, they will be have a Red Meat Market with chefs, butchers and guest speakers throughout the day… more mental notes for the folks who want to remember to bring their coolers that day

Another great part of this great city is the various farmers markets. I was able to stop at this market and check things out.
Due to the location which is right outside of the Daley Plaza so you can pick up vegetables, fruits or flowers when you are leaving the courts, heading to work or during your lunch break. The market starts in the morning and ends early afternoon.
The prices are okay for location. Great people watching. Go and enjoy this market.

Simply love the farmer’s market. It comes along the way to my office walk from home. The whole feel of fresh, organic produce items gives me such a good feeling.
They got some really good stuff out here. I always end up buying flowers, honey and cheese.
A must visit when one is around loop or daley plaza on thrusday.