Beyond popcorn

Best chocolate decadence 
The Music Box (3733 N Southport Ave, 773-871-6604, musicboxtheatre.com) serves all-natural Lake Champlain chocolate bars straight from the green mountains of Vermont. The sinful flavors include milk, dark and milk chocolate caramel ($3.50).

 

Best pizza surprise
Many theaters serve pizza at the counter, but the ShowPlace ICON (150 W Roosevelt Rd, 312-564-2104,showplaceicon.com) has more than just cheese and pepperoni (though it also has those). Try the barbecue chicken flatz pizza, a flatbread-based pie with cheese and buffalo sauce ($5.50). (Parents can also check out the cushy, 21+ VIP section with a full bar and food options like paninis or meat-and-cheese plates.)

 

Best carny fare
At the Davis Theater (4614 N Lincoln Ave, 773-769-3999), get your sugar fix without resorting to Skittles and Icees. It serves freshly spun cotton candy ($3)—just like the carnival, but without the crowds, the sweat and the scam-artist games.

 

Best reason to go ape
Craving a movie treat usually reserved for festivals and gourmet shops? The Logan Theatre (2646 N Milwaukee Ave, 773-252-0628) serves Diana’s Bananas, a chocolate-covered frozen banana on a stick ($4.50). Maybe they’re so delectable because they’re made in Chicago? Whatever the secret, they come in plain and peanut. (You can find a dark-chocolate version in local grocery stores.) Now try to eat only one!

 

Best reason to go vegan
Those looking for a treat sans animal products can safely head over to Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 N Clark St, 773-509-4949, landmarktheatres.com) to nosh on Alternative Baking Company cookies ($4.50). Surprisingly good, they’re made with ingredients like organic unrefined cane sugar and non-dairy cocoa butter and available in a ton of flavors (including chocolate chip, peanut butter, peanut-butter chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and lemon poppy seed). Non-vegans won’t miss the eggs and butter—but they can also opt for cult-favorite Japanese cookie-stick Pockys, available in chocolate($5.25) and strawberry ($4.25).

 

Best way to top your pop
If you can’t do without popcorn, The New 400 Theater (6746 N Sheridan Rd, 773-856-5980, thenew400.com) serves it up as they did in the old days—with real butter. It also offers a dozen Kernel Season’s flavored toppings, including Cajun, ranch, jalapeño, caramel and apple cinnamon. Kids can mix and match flavors to create ungodly popcorn only they can stomach.

 

Best place to play soda scientist
The new AMC Randhurst 12 (324 Theater Way, Mount Prospect; 847-590-1766) boasts four Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, which allow the user to choose from 106 (!) beverage flavors. For pop, choose from Coke, Barq’s, Fanta and the like—or pick non-carbonated Hi-C or Dasani flavored waters. You buy the cup ($4.25–$5.25), then control your soda destiny with the touchscreen—fun for kids of all ages! Almost as much fun is creating your own sundae: Randhurst also offers eight tasty ice cream flavors. Get it in a waffle bowl for $5 (plus toppings, $1 each).