I was surprised to see how many of those places I've been to, since I'm always grumbling about the lack of 24-hour establishments in Chicago, although I guess I'm usually talking about grocery stores.
Chicago Public Radio did a great piece on the Golden Apple where they stayed in the restaurant for a day straight and interviewed people the whole time... Apart from the thick atmosphere that's a great place if you like some chilaquiles for breakfast - or whenever!
24-hour groceries are a fine thing, but if I had to choose between a good 24-hour diner and a 24-hour grocery, I'd take the diner every time (obviously, I don't have kids), and Chicago is a veritable heaven of 24-hour eateries.
Also I don't live in Chicago, but Oak Park, which has no late night diners... so maybe that's part of my gripe. I was much more in reach of anything I wanted at any time in Bloomington IN than I am here.
But diners are great! I especially like late night Mexican... and I suppose they didn't have that in Bloomington.
Argh. 24-hour, you guys are worried about. And I live in a town where they look at you funny if you attempt to get seated too close to 9 pm...
Man, do I miss urban life.