Lou Mitchell's, also known as Lou Mitchell's Restaurant, is a

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

diner located at 565 W. Jackson Boulevard. It is a popular restaurant for commuters, as it is located near

Union Station A union station, union terminal, joint station, or joint-use station is a railway station at which the tracks and facilities are shared by two or more separate railway company, railway companies, allowing passengers to connect conveniently bet ...

. It is also located near the start of

U.S. Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) is one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The high ...

and was frequented by many people at the start of their journey along the road, earning it the nickname "the first stop on the Mother Road." In May 2002, the Nationwide Route 66 restoration program was launched at Lou Mitchell's. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 2006. Lou Mitchell's has been owned by Heleen Thanasouras. She appeared as the guest judge for the Quickfire Challenge of Episode 11 of Top Chef (season 4), which involved working at "the hull", or egg station, at the restaurant for twenty minutes. In November 2015, Heleen died at age 63.Heleen Thanasouras-Gillman obituary
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* 1923 establishments in Illinois U.S. Route 66 in Illinois Restaurants in Chicago Tourist attractions along U.S. Route 66 Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Chicago Restaurants established in 1923 Diners on the National Register of Historic Places Diners in Illinois {{Chicago-struct-stub