A Chicago winter is the perfect time of year to dive into steaming bowls of Hungarian goulash. Problem is, until recently, there haven’t been too many options in Chicago. Finom Coffee, a new coffee shop in the Old Irving Park neighborhood, is bringing back some of those classic dishes from the old country, and giving them … Continued
A lot of people take their morning cup of coffee for granted. But after spending some time at a new coffee shop in Portage Park, I have a newfound appreciation for all of the work that goes into crafting the perfect cup. Taste of Colombia 4801 W. Montrose Ave. 773-709-7040
The suburbs have plenty of malls and most of them have one or two places to eat, usually from a national chain. But the Golf Glen Mart in Niles is a literal United Nations of eating, with 10 different dining options including a brewery, a stellar Korean barbecue and a classic Greek diner. I visited the … Continued
The southwest suburbs aren’t known for having a lot of premium seafood houses, but the Original Island Shrimp House in Palos Park now lays claim to a casual, East Coast-inspired seafood shack where the ingredients are all flown in fresh, and the recipes are made from scratch. The Original Island Shrimp House 12902 S. La … Continued
Chicago has been gaining a number of new breweries and distilleries over the past few years. There’s even a “Malt Row” in Ravenswood with a concentration of quite a few. Maplewood Brewery & Distillery 2717 N. Maplewood 773-270-1061
What do you get when you combine a degree from the French Pastry School with a family history of Mexican home cooking? A delicious mash-up of two cultures, bound by butter, corn and chiles. The family behind Pan Artesanal has worked for years – literally – on every detail. From the baking equipment to the DIY decor … Continued
There are barbecue joints scattered throughout the South Side, but few make all of their sides from scratch and offer St. Louis-style ribs. A visit to Slab Barbecue can include all of the above, plus the expected hot links and tips. Slab BBQ 1918 E. 71st St. 773-966-5018
Unlike American barbecue, known for it’s “low and slow” cooking over smoke, Korean barbecue is a much faster endeavor. It’s really more grilling than smoking. A family-run operation in Northbrook is serving some of the best versions in the region. PRO SAMGYUBSAL 3420 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook 847-715-9073 Featured Image: @imchristinaim
A beloved Palos Hills butcher shop has expanded, in a big way, in an Orland Park strip mall. Al-Sufara is known for its extensive lamb and chicken dishes – mostly kebabs and shawarma, but they’re expanding into large-format, family-style dining now as well. AL SUFARA GRILL 9218 W. 159th St., Orland Park 708-949-8506 Featured Image: Alsufara … Continued
The Japanese tradition of “omakase” is relatively new in Chicago, but three new omakase-style restaurants have opened in Chicago recently, each with a slightly different approach. KYOTEN 2507 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago 312-678-0800 OMAKASE YUME 651 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago 312-265-1610 OMAKASE TAKEYA 819 W. Fulton Market, Chicago 312-666-7710 Featured Image: @omakaseyume
Memorial Day weekend means picnics of course, and for some, barbecue to go. I’ve been sampling some of the city’s best recently, including Texas-style brisket, which is smoked to perfection at two local restaurants. Yesterday I checked out the fantastic rib tips and hot links at Uncle John’s in Homewood, but today, it’s all about the … Continued