The United State’s meat packing industry controls the slaughtering, processing and distribution of cattle, pigs, chicken, sheep and other livestock. The industry mainly handles meat produced for human consumption, but some slaughterhouses output a variety of by-products, including hide, fat and feathers.

Americans have been eating meat for centuries, but the meat packing industry saw a boom with the advances in refrigeration and the construction of the railroad system in the United States during the industrial revolution. Railroads made it possible for meat to be transported from a central location to various points of purchase throughout the country and the meat could stay fresh thanks to innovative refrigeration techniques.

Chicago quickly became the central hub for the meat packing industry and huge stockyards were built in what is referred to as the city’s West Loop. Now days, the West Loop is mostly condominiums and art galleries, but, if they know where to look, Chicagoans can still find the perfect cut of meat.

Here are a few of our recommendations:

Chicago Game & Gourmet
350 N. Odgen Ave.
Chicago, IL
312-455-1800
Hours vary, call ahead.

Chicago Game & Gourmet’s owner, Jimmy Florek, offers a long list of exotic game, including llama, kangaroo, turtle and zebra. The store also offers to more conservative cuts of meat such as buffalo, wild turkey, Muscovy duck and foie gras. While this meat house is mostly a wholesale operation selling primarily to upscale Chicago restaurants and hotels, it will sell directly to the consumer in large minimum quantities.

Gepperth’s Meat Market
1964 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL
773-549-3883
Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Tues. - Fri.)

This popular Lincoln Park locale has been selling thick cuts of steak and homemade sausage for over 100 years. And the quality is superb. The store’s owner, Otto Demke, personally dry-ages beef for anywhere from 21-30 days.

Romanian Kosher Sausage Company
7200 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL
773-761-4141
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Mon. - Wed.)
               8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Thurs.)
               8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Fri.)

As one of the few purely Kosher meat houses in Chicago, the Romanian Kosher Sausage Company offers a wide range of house-made salamis that come in three sizes-small, medium and large. And for all the New Yorkers in Chicago, the store is rumored to have the city’s best pastrami.