Hawaii Meets the Loop & A Historic 'L' Station Gets a Glow-Up: Downtown's Summer Surge Keeps Delivering

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/The Loop · July 5, 2026

The Loop's dining and transit scenes are both getting exciting upgrades this summer, and there's never been a better time to explore downtown Chicago on foot — or by rail.

Food lovers have two fresh reasons to linger in the Loop at lunch. Da Local Boy, a Hawaiian counter-service gem tucked inside Willis Tower, is winning over Loop workers with hearty rice plates loaded with soy-marinated short ribs, garlicky shrimp, and the showstopping Braddah Paul's Plate — a surf-and-turf trio of pork belly, mochiko chicken, and shoyu tuna poke. The spot is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so plan your midday escape accordingly. Meanwhile, Mexican Radio has debuted inside the Hyatt Centric right at the heart of the Loop — an all-day Mexican-American destination serving up chilaquiles at breakfast, lunchtime tortas, and tacos al pastor from a trompo at night. It's the kind of neighborhood addition that makes every hour downtown feel a little more delicious.

On the infrastructure front, Chicagoans are buzzing about the CTA's ambitious State/Lake L station rebuild. The 130-year-old station is getting a long-overdue overhaul, and while the three-year timeline has sparked plenty of debate among daily commuters, locals largely agree it's a welcome investment in the Loop's storied transit backbone. Whether you're fueling up at a new lunch counter or watching the skyline roll by from a freshly rebuilt platform, the Loop is stacking reasons to show up this July. Head to loopchicago.com to plan your next downtown adventure.

Sources:
1. https://www.theinfatuation.com/chicago/guides/best-new-chicago-restaurants-hit-list
2. https://www.theinfatuation.com/chicago/guides/new-chicago-restaurant-openings
3. https://chicago.suntimes.com/loop