Best Illinois Restaurants for Corned Beef and Cabbage in Rockford

St. Patrick's Day celebrations will be happening throughout this upcoming weekend all across northern Illinois and in the Chicagoland area.

If you do not want to deal with the huge crowds and traffic in Chicago where the historic parade and river dyeing will take place this Saturday (3/16), just head to downtown Rockford for the annual St. Patty's Day parade and watch green dye being poured into the Rock River.

READ MORE: Grocery Store in IL Has World's Best Ice Cream Selection

As we get closer to March 17, some popular Rockford restaurants add corned beef and cabbage to their menu, a dish that symbolizes the rich cultural Irish heritage.

But how did this combo become the go-to dish for St. Patrick's Day?

Why is St Patty's Day Celebrated with Corned Beef and Cabbage

Back in the 1600s over in Ireland, corned beef was like the VIP of meats, getting shipped off to England and beyond. But back home, beef was pricey, so the Irish kept it simple with bacon for their St. Paddy's feast.

READ MORE: The Best Spaghetti in Illinois is Served at These 15 Food Joints

Fast forward to the 1800s when Irish folks started landing on American shores, especially in places like New York and Boston. They found out that corned beef was easier to get and cheaper than bacon, so they swapped it out.

And just like that, corned beef and cabbage became the star of Irish-American cuisine and a must-have on St. Patrick's Day menus.

Best Restaurants for Corned Beef and Cabbage in Rockford Area

In Rockford, just like in cities all over America, serving up corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day is like a big ol' group hug, bringing folks together to celebrate Irish culture and chow down on some delicious grub.

So this upcoming weekend, let's raise a glass to tradition and dig into a plateful of history at 13 of the Best Restaurants in the Rockford Area for Corned Beef and Cabbage: