Locally Owned and Operated in Chicago Since 1966
Gino's East of Chicago

Pizza Near McCormick Place: Deep Dish in the South Loop

— Gino's East

Stone storefront of Gino's East South Loop with a neon heart and pizza slice sign in the window and palms lining the sidewalk

If you want real Chicago deep dish pizza near McCormick Place, the closest Gino’s East is our South Loop restaurant at 521 S Dearborn St, in the Printers Row neighborhood just north of the convention campus. It is a short train or cab ride from the show floor, it takes reservations, and it can seat a whole booth team at once. Here is how to get there, what to order, and how to make a convention dinner painless.

Why convention crowds end up hungry for pizza

McCormick Place is the largest convention center in North America: four connected buildings and an arena on the Lake Michigan shore, about a mile south of the Loop. That is a lot of walking on concrete. By the time the exhibit hall closes, most people want two things: to sit down, and to eat something they can only get in Chicago.

It is a busy fall on the city’s convention calendar. Choose Chicago’s 2026 convention calendar lists PACK EXPO International (October 18 to 21), the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions (November 6 to 9) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting (November 29 to December 3), among others. If your badge is on one of those lanyards, plan dinner before the week gets away from you.

Busy dining room at Gino’s East South Loop with exposed brick, timber ceiling beams, tufted red booths and a long table of guests

Pizza near McCormick Place: getting to Gino’s East South Loop

Let’s be straight with you: we are not across the street from the convention center. Using the published coordinates for McCormick Place and our own address, Gino’s East South Loop sits a little under 2 miles north and slightly west as the crow flies. That is a long walk after a long day, but an easy hop by train or car.

By train: the CTA Green and Red Lines

The Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line station sits near Cermak Road and State Street, directly west of the convention center. Ride the Green Line north to Roosevelt, where you can transfer free to the Red Line, then go one stop north to Harrison station at 608 S State St, per its Wikipedia entry. From Harrison, walk one block west to Dearborn and a few doors north. Working from the two addresses, that last stretch is about a 5-minute walk.

By train: the Metra Electric

There is also a commuter rail stop right under the halls. McCormick Place station is beneath the campus, with its main entrance off the Grand Concourse in the South Building, and the Metra Electric line runs north from it toward Millennium Station downtown.

Ride north to Van Buren Street station, at 132 E Van Buren St. From there, head west across Michigan Avenue, Wabash and State to Dearborn, then turn south. Working from the two addresses, it is about a 10-minute walk. Check the Metra Electric schedule before you head out.

By cab or rideshare

If your feet have filed a formal complaint, a taxi or rideshare from McCormick Place will drop you at our door on Dearborn. Put “Gino’s East, 521 S Dearborn St” in the app so you land at the right spot.

Staying up north?

If your hotel is near Michigan Avenue rather than the South Loop, our Magnificent Mile flagship at 162 E Superior St may be the easier stop on your way back. It sits steps from the stretch of Michigan Avenue where the Gino’s East idea was born in 1966, with three floors of graffiti-tagged walls, a Comedy Bar with weekly shows and a third-floor terrace.

What to order when you finally sit down

Start with the classic. Our dough is made from scratch every day, the tomatoes in our sauce are family-grown in California, the cheese comes from Wisconsin and the sausage is made in Chicago. You can read more on our deep dish pizza page.

A few orders that work well for a hungry convention table:

  • Meaty Legend for the table that came hungry: pepperoni, Italian sausage, Canadian bacon and bacon.
  • Chicago Fire for anyone who likes heat: hot and spicy patty-style sausage, fire-roasted red peppers and red onions.
  • Spinach Margherita or O.M.G. (onions, mushrooms and green peppers) for the vegetarians in your group.
  • Tavern-style thin crust for colleagues who want to try both sides of the Chicago pizza argument.
  • Famous hand-rolled mozzarella sticks to tide everyone over while the deep dish bakes.

Vegan cheese is available as an add-on. In 2019 Gino’s East became the first major Chicago deep dish restaurant to offer it.

If you are slipping out at midday, ask about the weekday lunch special built around a mini deep dish with a side and a drink. It is the fastest way to get a genuine deep dish fix between sessions. Current details sit on the South Loop menu.

Slice of deep dish pizza lifted from a pan, long strands of mozzarella stretching down to the pie, against a dark wall covered in writing

A neighborhood worth the short ride

Printers Row is not just a pizza stop. According to its Wikipedia history, more than 40 buildings for the printing industry went up here between 1886 and 1922, in the shadow of Dearborn Station, when Chicago was the publishing capital of the Midwest. The district went on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and became a Chicago Landmark in 1996.

You can still see that history in the heavy stone and brick facades along Dearborn, including the building we call home. Inside, it is exposed brick, timber beams, tufted booths and TVs for the game. When the weather cooperates, there is an outdoor patio too.

Booking a convention group dinner

Taking out a client, a sales team or the whole booth crew? This is where the South Loop restaurant really earns its spot. It seats 100 guests, hosts up to 120 reception style, and the entire restaurant and patio can be reserved for a private event.

Our South Loop event hosting page covers the details: a dedicated event coordinator, full audio/visual equipment, screens for presentations, complimentary Wi-Fi and a large full bar. Food packages for groups start at 15 guests, and conference and convention group dinners are among the event types we host. Our wider group events page lays out the packages.

To lock in a date, call our group sales team at (312) 266-5421. Big shows fill the city’s dining rooms fast, so the earlier you call, the more choice you have.

Server carrying a tray of appetizers to a lively group party at Gino’s East South Loop, with balloons, pints of beer and sports on TV

Can’t leave the hotel?

Some nights the hotel bed wins. You can still have deep dish: the South Loop restaurant offers carry-out and delivery, including beer and wine delivery. See delivery and pickup for how to order. Feeding a meeting room instead? Our catering team handles corporate lunches and staff events from the South Loop kitchen.

Frequently asked questions

Is there deep dish pizza near McCormick Place?

Yes. Gino’s East South Loop, at 521 S Dearborn St in Printers Row, is the closest Gino’s East to McCormick Place. It is a little under 2 miles north of the convention center, so plan on a short train or car ride rather than a walk.

How do I get from McCormick Place to Gino’s East South Loop?

Take the CTA Green Line north from Cermak-McCormick Place to Roosevelt, transfer to the Red Line for one stop to Harrison, then walk about 5 minutes to Dearborn. The Metra Electric from under the convention center to Van Buren Street also works, followed by about a 10-minute walk. A taxi or rideshare is the simplest door-to-door option.

Does Gino’s East South Loop take reservations?

Yes. Both downtown Chicago restaurants take reservations online. Use the reservation button on the South Loop location page, or call the restaurant at (312) 939-1818.

Can Gino’s East host a dinner for a convention group?

Yes. The South Loop restaurant seats 100 and hosts up to 120 reception style, and the whole restaurant and patio can be booked privately. Call group sales at (312) 266-5421 to plan it.

Can I get Gino’s East deep dish delivered to my hotel?

Yes. The South Loop restaurant offers carry-out and delivery. Check delivery and pickup for how to order to your hotel.

Plan your visit

Gino’s East South Loop is at 521 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605. Phone (312) 939-1818. For current hours, the full menu and reservations, visit the South Loop location page. Staying up north instead? Head to Gino’s East Magnificent Mile at 162 E Superior St. Bring your appetite and your badge. We won’t judge the lanyard.

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