Dining Near McCormick Place During RSNA 2020
McCormick Place sits just south of Chicago’s downtown core, surrounded by several useful dining areas rather than a single concentrated restaurant district. Meeting attendees could find quick sandwiches, deep-dish pizza, seafood, burgers, classic diners, and Chinatown specialties within a manageable walk.
For professionals attending the RSNA 2020 Annual Meeting from 29 November to 4 December 2020, proximity mattered. A nearby restaurant reduced travel time between scientific sessions, poster visits, team meetings, and evening networking. The choices below cover convenient options near the convention center as well as restaurants at the farther edge of a realistic walking radius.
Walking times are approximate and depend on the McCormick Place entrance, weather, construction, and walking pace. Restaurant hours and menus can change, so checking current information before setting out is sensible. The RSNA 2020 site also provides useful context about the meeting, venue, and accommodation planning.
Restaurants Closest To The Convention Center
Fatpour Tap Works McCormick is one of the easiest choices, located only a few minutes from the convention complex. Its casual pub atmosphere, broad beer selection, burgers, pizzas, and shareable plates suit groups looking for a relaxed meal without a long journey.
Chicago Oyster House, on South Indiana Avenue, offers a seafood-focused alternative within roughly 10 to 15 minutes on foot. Oysters, fish, shellfish, and traditional seafood entrées make it a stronger choice for a sit-down dinner, especially when a group wants something different from standard conference food.
Casual Meals In The South Loop
The Burger Point provides a straightforward option for burgers, fries, sandwiches, and quick comfort food. Its location in the South Loop places it within approximately 15 to 20 minutes of McCormick Place, making it practical for lunch or an informal team meal.
The Scout Waterhouse + Kitchen is another South Loop possibility, with a sports-bar setting and a menu built around American favorites. Its larger dining environment can work well for small delegations, although groups should allow extra time during busy evening periods.
White Palace Grill brings a classic Chicago diner experience to the area. Open-late diner food, breakfast plates, sandwiches, and milkshakes make it especially useful for attendees with irregular schedules or early morning commitments. The walk is around 25 to 30 minutes, so the route may be less appealing in cold or wet weather.
Pizza, Pasta, And Chicago Classics
Lou Malnati’s South Loop is a familiar destination for deep-dish pizza and a popular choice for visitors who want a distinctly Chicago meal. The restaurant is generally around 25 to 30 minutes from McCormick Place, and deep dish takes longer to prepare than fast-casual food, so advance planning helps.
Giordano’s South Loop offers another well-known deep-dish option near Michigan Avenue. It can accommodate informal groups and provides an easy way to organize a shared meal after a full day of sessions. Ordering ahead is particularly useful when several colleagues want to dine together.
Eleven City Diner combines a traditional diner menu with substantial sandwiches, burgers, breakfast dishes, and Jewish-American specialties. At roughly 30 minutes on foot, it is better suited to an unhurried meal than a short break between presentations.
| Restaurant | Cuisine and Style | Approximate Walk From McCormick Place | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatpour Tap Works McCormick | Pub food and craft beer | 3–5 minutes | Casual groups |
| Chicago Oyster House | Seafood | 10–15 minutes | Sit-down dinners |
| The Burger Point | Burgers and American comfort food | 15–20 minutes | Quick casual meals |
| The Scout Waterhouse + Kitchen | Sports bar and American cuisine | 20–25 minutes | Informal team dining |
| White Palace Grill | Classic diner | 25–30 minutes | Late or early meals |
| Lou Malnati’s South Loop | Chicago deep-dish pizza | 25–30 minutes | Shared local specialty |
| Giordano’s South Loop | Deep-dish pizza | 25–30 minutes | Delegation dinners |
| Eleven City Diner | Diner and Jewish-American food | About 30 minutes | Breakfast or hearty lunch |
| MingHin Cuisine Chinatown | Cantonese and dim sum | 25–35 minutes | Larger groups |
| Lao Sze Chuan Chinatown | Sichuan Chinese cuisine | 25–35 minutes | Spicy shared dishes |
Chinatown Dining Within A Longer Walk
Chinatown begins within a reasonable longer walk from McCormick Place and expands the range of cuisines available to convention visitors. MingHin Cuisine is known for Cantonese dishes and dim sum, making it a useful choice for groups that prefer to share several plates rather than order individual entrées.
Lao Sze Chuan offers bold Sichuan flavors, including spicy dishes, noodles, dumplings, and family-style plates. It can be an appealing destination for an evening meal, though attendees should consider the longer 25- to 35-minute walk and arrange transportation if temperatures are uncomfortable.
Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings and Ken Kee Restaurant are additional Chinatown options for dumplings, noodles, and Cantonese-style comfort food. Chinatown restaurants may be busier at peak dinner times, so a reservation or coordinated arrival can save a delegation from waiting outside.
Planning Meals For Radiology Delegations
Restaurant selection becomes more complicated when a group includes physicians, technologists, exhibitors, researchers, and administrative staff with different schedules. A smaller nearby venue may be ideal after a short session break, while Chinatown or a South Loop restaurant may work better for a planned dinner away from the convention center.
Delegation organizers should also account for dietary requirements, accessibility, seating capacity, and the time needed to return to a hotel or evening event. The group registration tips offer relevant planning ideas for coordinating larger radiology teams around the meeting.
Practical Ways To Choose A Nearby Restaurant
The best choice depends on whether convenience, atmosphere, or Chicago food culture is the priority. These simple guidelines can make dining plans easier:
- Choose Fatpour or Chicago Oyster House when minimizing walking time matters most.
- Reserve Lou Malnati’s, Giordano’s, MingHin, or Lao Sze Chuan for planned group meals rather than short breaks.
- Use White Palace Grill or Eleven City Diner for flexible breakfast, late-night, or irregular conference schedules.
- Confirm menu details and accessibility before inviting a large delegation.
- Keep a weather-friendly backup, especially for restaurants requiring a 25-minute walk or longer.
A well-planned dining schedule can make the RSNA meeting feel more manageable. Start with the closest restaurants for tight breaks, reserve distinctive Chicago meals for open evenings, and coordinate larger parties before the busiest dining hours. Review the available meeting and accommodation information, then build restaurant plans around the sessions and activities your delegation most needs to attend.