Question 1

How does Harry identify tourist trap restaurants in Chicago?

Accepted Answer

Harry cross-references Tripadvisor (heavily tourist-weighted) against local review sources — Google and Yelp, which skew local. When Tripadvisor is significantly higher than local ratings, or when the review demographics are heavily tourist-skewed, Harry flags the restaurant. These places aren't necessarily bad; they're just priced for visitors who won't be back.

Question 2

What is a tourist trap restaurant?

Accepted Answer

A tourist trap restaurant is one that charges premium prices for food that locals know isn't worth it. The telltale sign: Tripadvisor loves it, Yelp is cooler, and nobody who lives nearby goes there twice. The food is fine. The location is great. The bill is optimised for people who won't be back.

Tourist skew	When the review base is heavily tourist-weighted — short visits, one-off trips, no local context — the scores drift upwards. A bad meal when you're on holiday gets rounded up. Harry counts that.
TA vs local	Tripadvisor skews tourist; Yelp and Google local skew resident. When Tripadvisor significantly exceeds local ratings, the gap is a signal. It means locals know something the tourists don't.

Tourist trap restaurants in Chicago.

How Harry spots them

Nothing to flag in Chicago

Where the locals actually go