7 Old-World German Bakeries And Delis In Illinois Still Making Strudel By Hand

Paper-thin dough, stretched by hand until you can almost see through it, is still a daily job in a handful of Illinois kitchens. Strudel takes patience, practice, and a whole lot of butter, which is exactly why so few places bother anymore.

The bakeries and delis on this list keep that old-world habit going, often for well under $20 a person. Grab a box for the car ride home, because these flaky treats rarely make it to the kitchen table.

1. Lutz Bakery, Chicago, IL

Walking into Lutz feels like stepping through a time machine set to 1948. Glass cases stretch along the walls, packed with tortes, cookies, and neat rows of strudel that look like they came straight from a Bavarian village bakery.

The apple strudel has earned a near-legendary reputation on the North Side, and the cherry version tastes the way many people remember their grandmothers making it at home. Cheese strudel rounds out the trio, so indecisive eaters may want to grab one of each.

Fans of marzipan and a proper Sacher torte will find plenty to love here too, since almond flavors run deep in the family recipes.

Located at 2458 W Montrose Ave in Chicago, the shop sits in a neighborhood long tied to the city’s German roots. When the weather cooperates, the outdoor patio is a lovely spot for coffee and a slice of something sweet.

Plan on spending about $10 to $20 per person, which makes it an easy family treat. Hours run from early morning into the evening every day, though weekends get busy.

A quiet Thursday morning is the sweet spot for browsing those cases without a crowd behind you.

2. Schlegl’s Bakery & Cafe, Lincolnwood, IL

Ask a longtime Chicagoland bread lover where the best bakeries are, and the answer often circles back to German ones. Schlegl’s, on Touhy Avenue in Lincolnwood, proves that point with every tray it pulls from the oven.

Strudel is the headliner here, and it is outstanding by any standard. Flaky layers wrap around warm apple filling that tastes homemade rather than mass-produced.

Coffee cakes and specialty danish share the spotlight, earning the shop a reputation as one of the strongest pastry stops in the whole area.

German pretzels, donuts, and custom cakes fill out the menu. Around the holidays, seasonal favorites like Yule logs and fruitcake appear, while paczki show up for the pre-Lent rush.

Practical details matter with this one. The bakery opens at 6 AM Tuesday through Saturday and closes at 3 PM, with Sundays and Mondays off.

Saturday mornings bring the biggest crowds, so a weekday stop is calmer.

A free parking lot makes the visit easy for families, and most folks spend around $10 to $20. Bring an extra box, since one strudel rarely feels like enough once everyone at home gets a taste.

3. Gene’s Sausage Shop and Delicatessen, Chicago, IL

Sausage first, strudel second? Not necessarily.

At Gene’s, in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Square, the bakery section quietly steals hearts while shoppers stock up on bratwurst.

More than 40 sausage varieties line the butcher counter, and the deli is packed with cold cuts, cheeses, pickles, mustards, smoked fish, and imported European groceries. Shelves hold jams, teas, and snacks that make this feel like a mini trip overseas.

Here is the delightful surprise: the cherry strudel from the bakery ranks among the best anywhere in the city. Apple strudel shows up among the European offerings too, making it easy to pair a savory haul with something sweet.

Hungry shoppers can also grab ready-to-eat dishes like schnitzel, pierogies, goulash, and brats with sauerkraut. It turns a grocery run into a casual lunch outing the whole family can enjoy.

You will find Gene’s at 4750 N Lincoln Ave. Hours run 9 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday and 9 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. Expect to spend about $10 to $30 per person.

Weekday mornings are the quietest, while Saturday afternoons get lively, so time your trip for easy browsing and a relaxed strudel hunt.

4. Weber’s Bakery, Chicago, IL

Since 1930, the ovens at Weber’s have been working before most of Chicago’s Southwest Side even wakes up. Founded by a German baker, the shop on Archer Avenue still opens at 5 AM, and the lines prove people are happy to show up early.

Cherry strudel is the must-try item. Regulars treat it as the top pick in the building, with a tart, glossy filling tucked inside tender layers.

The apple strudel deserves attention too, especially alongside a coffee cake or a box of fresh donuts.

Old-world touches pop up all over the menu. Sauerkraut bread, a true European specialty, sits near kolaczki, tortes, and chocolate pecan bites.

Birthday and wedding cakes keep the decorators busy, so this is a full-service neighborhood bakery in every sense.

Find it at 7055 W Archer Ave in Chicago. It runs Tuesday through Saturday from 5 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 5:30 AM to 3 PM, closed Mondays.

Weekends get packed, but the service moves quickly and the wait is worth it. Free parking options, curbside pickup, and prices around $10 to $20 per person make this an easy family stop.

There is no seating, so plan on a strudel picnic elsewhere.

5. Jarosch Bakery, Elk Grove Village, IL

Plenty of Elk Grove Village kids grew up pressing their noses against the cases at Jarosch, and many of them now bring their own children. That kind of loyalty does not happen by accident.

A German immigrant and his wife opened this family-run shop in 1959, and it remains a full-service scratch bakery today. The apple strudel is the star, with flaky, buttery dough and a homemade apple cinnamon filling that practically melts in your mouth.

Mini strudels with apple or cherry filling are perfect for little hands or a quick car snack.

Butter cookies are another classic, rich and tender in the best old-fashioned way. Kids tend to make a beeline for the smiley face cookies, while grown-ups go for brownies, eclairs, or the Swedish Flop.

Custom cakes and wedding cakes keep the decorating team busy, and the moist white cake with buttercream has a loyal following of its own.

Jarosch sits at 111 E Higgins Rd and opens Monday through Saturday from 6:30 AM to 5 PM, closed Sundays. Wednesday mornings are calm, while Fridays and Saturdays hum with activity.

Free parking and prices around $10 to $20 keep it wonderfully budget-friendly.

6. Oma Gisi’s German Bakery, Kinmundy, IL

Down in Marion County, far from the Chicago crowds, sits one of the most charming surprises on this list. Kinmundy is a small rural community, and Oma Gisi’s brings a genuine taste of Germany to its quiet streets.

Everything here leans traditional. Apple strudel tastes so authentic that it can stir up memories of childhood Christmases for anyone raised on German baking.

Marzipan strudel offers a nutty, sweet twist that is hard to find anywhere else in Illinois.

Springerle cookies, those pretty embossed anise treats, are another highlight. True German bread, shortbread cookies, cheesecake, and cakes round out the lineup, and orders are packed with real care so they arrive in perfect shape.

Timing takes a little planning. The listed pickup window is short, Monday from noon to 1 PM, with other days closed, so it pays to check ahead before making the drive.

Takeout is the way to go.

The bakery is located at 310 N Madison St in Kinmundy. Pairing a stop with a southern Illinois back-roads day trip makes for a memorable family outing, especially in the cozy months when warm strudel feels like a holiday tradition all its own.

7. Gerhard’s Elegant European Desserts, Lake Forest, IL

Elegance is right there in the name, and Gerhard’s lives up to it. Tucked along Western Avenue in Lake Forest, this family-owned shop has an Austrian pastry chef guiding its European dessert menu.

Apple strudel shares the display cases with dark chocolate mousse, spinach pastries, baklava, and a Danish hazelnut cinnamon roll that pairs beautifully with espresso. Handcrafted breads and wedding cakes show off the shop’s more polished side.

Think of this stop as a special-occasion treat rather than an everyday snack run. A single slice of strudel can run around $14, so splitting one is a smart move for families.

Most visits land in the $10 to $20 per person range.

The cozy setting makes it easy to linger. Free wi-fi, dine-in seating, and breakfast options turn a quick pastry pickup into a relaxed morning out, and the staff are known for friendly, professional service.

Gerhard’s is at 720 N Western Ave in Lake Forest, open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 AM to 4 PM and closed Sundays and Mondays. Free lot and street parking help, and a stroll around downtown Lake Forest afterward makes the trip feel complete.