Kankakee

United_States

Kankakee is a city in Chicagoland, the county seat of the Kankakee Area.

The Kankakee metropolitan area has a population of about 120,000. The elevation of Kankakee is a little below 700 feet aMSL.

The major industries of the Kankakee area are health care, higher education, manufacturing, and retail trade. The area is the regional retail market center for the Far Southern Chicago suburbs, with a strong reputation as a City of Restaurants serving Interstate Highway 57 travelers, from Interstate Highway 57 Exit 308, Interstate Highway 57 Exit 312, Interstate Highway 57 Exit 315, and Interstate Highway 57 Exit 322. Suburban Bradley is the retail hub serving Interstate Highway 57 Exit 315.

The Kankakee Area has a hot summer, cold winter climate, typical of the interior Midwest region of the United States of America.

  • B. Harley Bradley House, 701 S Harrison Ave (in the Riverview district, +1 815 9369630. Built by Frank Lloyd Wright, designed in the Prairie Style. The Kankakee County Museum complex contains the home of former governor Len Small, a racist Democrat who was sympathetic to the KKK.

B. Harley Bradley House, 701 S Harrison Ave (in the Riverview district, +1 815 9369630. Built by Frank Lloyd Wright, designed in the Prairie Style.

With its reputation as a City of Restaurants, this area has a greater share of restaurants, and of fine restaurants, per capita than its population would suggest. The restaurants are throughout the city and the adjacent suburban villages. A trip to the nearby city of Momence can also reward the traveler looking for fine dining.

  • Great American Grill, 455 Riverstone Parkway (at the Hilton Garden Inn, just north of the Interstate 57 Exit 308, +1 815-932-4444. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served.

Great American Grill, 455 Riverstone Parkway (at the Hilton Garden Inn, just north of the Interstate 57 Exit 308, +1 815-932-4444. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served.

  • Poor Boy Restaurant, 1514 East Court (drive west from I-57 Exit 312, +1 815-939-1880. Street, offers fast food: American, Greek, and Mexican.

Poor Boy Restaurant, 1514 East Court (drive west from I-57 Exit 312, +1 815-939-1880. Street, offers fast food: American, Greek, and Mexican.

  • Johnny's Pizza, 265 South Schuyler Avenue (drive north from I-57 Exit 308, South Schuyler Avenue; or drive west from I-57 Exit 312 Court Street, then left into South Schuyler Avenue, +1 815-939-2333. Offers pasta, soups, sandwiches, salads, and pizza, a rich and varied Italian cuisine. Open for lunch and again for dinner, but sometimes closed in mid-afternoon.
  • Lori's Diner, 364 East Court (drive west from I-57 Exit 312 on Illinois 17, Court Street, +1 815-939-3790. Street, offers home style cooking. Open for breakfast and lunch.
  • Soul Da Soul Barbeque Restaurant, 559 East Court (drive west from I-57 Exit 312, Court Street, +1 815-932-3663. Street, barbeque.
  • 5 Wings Buffalo Style, 545 South Washington, +1 815-212-7840. Chicken wings, and only chicken wings. On routes 45/52, just north of the river. Very small, white trailer. Walk-up/Carry-out only, no tables. Known for the multiple flavors available: Mild, Medium, Hot, X-treme, lemon peppered, italian, honey BBQ, hickory smoked, sweet & sour, teriyaki, "Mama's Fried", and more. Slogan: "More Flavors Than Life Savers"

Johnny's Pizza, 265 South Schuyler Avenue (drive north from I-57 Exit 308, South Schuyler Avenue; or drive west from I-57 Exit 312 Court Street, then left into South Schuyler Avenue, +1 815-939-2333. Offers pasta, soups, sandwiches, salads, and pizza, a rich and varied Italian cuisine. Open for lunch and again for dinner, but sometimes closed in mid-afternoon.

Lori's Diner, 364 East Court (drive west from I-57 Exit 312 on Illinois 17, Court Street, +1 815-939-3790. Street, offers home style cooking. Open for breakfast and lunch.

Soul Da Soul Barbeque Restaurant, 559 East Court (drive west from I-57 Exit 312, Court Street, +1 815-932-3663. Street, barbeque.

5 Wings Buffalo Style, 545 South Washington, +1 815-212-7840. Chicken wings, and only chicken wings. On routes 45/52, just north of the river. Very small, white trailer. Walk-up/Carry-out only, no tables. Known for the multiple flavors available: Mild, Medium, Hot, X-treme, lemon peppered, italian, honey BBQ, hickory smoked, sweet & sour, teriyaki, "Mama's Fried", and more. Slogan: "More Flavors Than Life Savers"

  • Blue's Cafe, 1190 West Station Street, +1 815-933-5315. Offers a fine selection of home cooking and the best pie in the area.

Blue's Cafe, 1190 West Station Street, +1 815-933-5315. Offers a fine selection of home cooking and the best pie in the area.

Many bars are in less-than-ideal neighborhoods, so keep that in mind when looking for a drink.

Out on a Limb Bar, 139 S Schuyler Ave, +1 815-939-9421. Attractive and unique.

The area is served by Provena St. Mary's Hospital, 500 West Court Street, and the Riverside Medical Center, 350 North Wall Street.

The nearest town is Manteno, population about 6,000, also in Kankakee County. Kankakee's suburbs include the Villages of Aroma Park, Bradley, Bourbonnais, Momence, Limestone and Sun River Terrace. Other nearby Villages include Herscher, Grant Park, Hopkins Park, Bonfield, Union Hill, and St. Anne, all in Kankakee County. Chebanse is in Kankakee County and neighboring Iroquois County, Clifton is in Iroquois County, as is Gilman; and Reddick is in Kankakee County and neighboring Livingston County.