9 Illinois Popcorn Shops Showing Chicago Mix Isn’t The Only Flavor
Illinois knows popcorn like nobody’s business!
While Chicago Mix (that heavenly caramel-cheddar combo) often steals the spotlight, local popcorn artisans are cooking up wild flavors you’ve never dreamed of.
From spicy jalapeño to birthday cake and even dill pickle, these innovative popcorn shops are proving the Land of Lincoln is also the Land of Mind-Blowing Munchies.
1. Garrett Popcorn Shops – Beyond The Famous Mix
Ever tasted Matcha CaramelCrisp? This iconic Chicago chain shocks loyal fans with seasonal surprises that’ll make your taste buds do backflips!
Macadamia Caramel brings tropical vibes to Midwest snacking, while their Almond blend adds nutty perfection to the classic caramel base. Sorry, Chicago Mix – you’ve got serious competition in your own hometown!
2. Nuts On Clark – Airport Snacking Revolution
Located in Chicago’s busiest transit spots, this popcorn paradise has rescued countless hungry travelers with spicy cheesecorn that kicks boring airport food to the curb.
Though the name suggests nuts, their kettlecorn and caramelcorn combinations have achieved legendary status. Where else can you munch glazed pecan popcorn while waiting for your delayed flight?
3. Sha-Poppin Gourmet Popcorn – Flavor Laboratory
Holy kernel explosion! This Westchester gem boasts over 40 mind-bending flavors that’ll make your grandma’s plain buttered popcorn seem positively prehistoric.
Their 24K Gold Caramel literally sparkles with edible gold dust. Meanwhile, BBQ Cheddar and Truffle varieties satisfy savory cravings. Can’t decide? Mix Dill Pickle with White Cheddar for a tangy flavor bomb!
4. Popus G Popcorn – South Side Sensation
Banana Pudding popcorn? Yep, that’s a thing at this Chicago neighborhood favorite where wild experimentation meets comfort food nostalgia.
Spicy Ranch brings the heat while staying creamy-cool. Their rotating flavor calendar keeps locals coming back weekly just to see what crazy concoction they’ve dreamed up next – Jalapeño Cheddar Tuesdays are particularly packed!
5. Illinois Nut & Candy – Small-Batch Wonders
Tucked away in Skokie, this unassuming shop might fool you with its name – until you discover their popcorn laboratory churning out small-batch blends that put factory stuff to shame!
Family-owned since forever, their secret caramel recipe dates back generations. Why settle for basic when you can try their Chocolate Drizzled Caramel with Sea Salt or Spicy Buffalo Cheddar that leaves a kick lingering deliciously?
6. Signature Popcorn – Suburban Flavor Paradise
Whoever said suburbs lack excitement never tasted Cookies and Cream popcorn from this Long Grove hotspot! Each kernel gets royal treatment with hand-drizzled white chocolate and cookie crumbles.
White Cheddar Jalapeño delivers that perfect spicy-cheesy balance suburban daredevils crave. Their Birthday Cake flavor, sprinkled with actual rainbow jimmies, makes adulting way more fun than it should be!
7. Chicagoland Popcorn – Border-Crossing Goodness
Technically in Merrillville, Indiana, but Illinoisans happily cross state lines for their Turtle popcorn – a caramel, chocolate, and pecan masterpiece that’s worth every mile of the drive.
With over 250 flavors (not a typo!), you could try something new daily for most of a year. White Cheddar Garlic creates breath that’ll keep vampires away, but tastes so divine you won’t even care!
8. Cornucopia Popcorn – Northern Illinois Gem
Rockford’s popcorn paradise lets you mix-and-match flavors like you’re creating edible art! Root beer popcorn tastes exactly like the soda – minus the fizz but plus the crunch.
Caramel apple brings fall festival vibes year-round. Their dill pickle version transforms the humble cucumber into a popcorn superstar. Bonus points for their sampler packs that let indecisive snackers try multiple mind-blowing options!
9. What’s Poppin Gourmet Popcorn – Chicago’s Hidden Treasure
Red Velvet popcorn that tastes like cake? Small batch wizardry happens daily at this Chicago neighborhood gem where every kernel gets treated like royalty.
Buffalo Bleu brings wing night to popcorn form without the messy fingers. Their Garlic Parmesan flavor could make Italian grandmas weep with joy. Family-owned passion translates into popcorn so good you’ll contemplate hiding it from your kids!