Champaign-Urbana's Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

With a salad or a hearty bowl of soup, grilled cheese is aimed to please children and adults alike

Who knew there were so many options to get a great grilled cheese (or is it a cheese toastie?) in Champaign-Urbana? From traditionally simple ooey-gooey sandwiches to elevated culinary experiences, there are a number of great grilled cheese sandwiches to be found in Champaign-Urbana.

Maybe your kids are stuck in a rut or you are secretly on the hunt for a tasty bite, but grilled cheese is a perfect option on any day that ends in Y. When paired with a salad or a bowl of your favorite soup, grilled cheese can become the lunch of your dreams.

As with all of our “favorite food” lists, we focus on locally owned restaurants around Champaign-Urbana and beyond. (This list is in alphabetical order.)

Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage, Urbana: The pesto grilled cheese is the stand-out here. Served on herbed focaccia bread.

Billy Barooz Pub & Grill, Champaign: Their gourmet grilled cheese is a blend of three cheeses served on sourdough bread.

Cracked on Green, Champaign: Whether you are feeling the need for a plain grilled cheese or feeling more adventurous by adding ghost pepper cheese or rosemary aioli, there are many options for cheese lovers here. At Cracked, they LOVE cheese, so it makes sense there are seven (last we checked) grilled cheese options on the menu.

Esquire Lounge, Champaign: Their bread is extra crispy and cheese is extra melty. Try it with a traditional side of fries, OR something like fried mushrooms to switch it up a bit.

Guidos Bar and Grill, Champaign: Ordered as a full-size or half-sandwich, our readers tell us Guidos has a great sandwich. They offer a traditional grilled cheese sandwich along with a California grilled cheese which comes with onion and pesto. Try the red pepper mayo on your grilled cheese and eggplant fries as a side.

Harvest Market Farmhouse Restaurant, Champaign: Their grilled cheese comes with “ultimate” in the title on the menu. And it is! It has Boursin, which makes it decadent.

Piato To Go Food Truck: Try the Big Kid’s grilled cheese at Piato food truck. It’s made with cheddar, swiss, brie and tomato on grilled sourdough. You can also add bacon, or spinach and onion!

Seven Saints, Champaign: Seven Saints delivers a classic grilled cheese sandwich. We love the tomato & pesto gourmet grilled cheese even more than the classic (which is what the kids prefer). Order the sweet potato fries as your side – you won’t regret it.

Merry-Ann’s Diner, Champaign: If you’re looking for a no-bells-and-whistles grilled cheese, you’ll find it at Merry-Ann’s. The diner vibe adds to the tasty food on the plate in front of you.

Sun Singer Restaurant, Champaign: This one probably wins for most-recommended gourmet grilled cheese. The combo of cheeses they use is truly spectacular… the apple adds the perfect complement to the cheeses too. This will make you want to eat only gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches moving forward. It comes with their fig jam, too.

The Bread Company, Urbana – The #12 Gruyere Cheese for me is what you want to order here. Enjoy the tapinade.

The Original Pancake House, Champaign: Just a few items that are not breakfast items, and grown up grilled cheese is one of them. If you ever decide to pass on the pancakes, this is a great option.

Did you think of someone we missed? Let us know what you love about their grilled cheese sandwiches and email us.

Champaign-Urbana’s Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

With a salad or a hearty bowl of soup, grilled cheese is aimed to please children and adults alike

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