La Celia opened shortly before the pandemic, and it’s located on an uncharacteristically quiet stretch of Milwaukee Avenue on Chicago’s NW Side. But go for brunch! La Celia Latin Kitchen 2890 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-360-7536
Shawarma stands selling falafel, kabobs and other Middle Eastern dishes are all over the region. But a locally-owned concept – with locations in Skokie and the West Loop – differentiates itself, by hand-stacking their shawarma each day into giant cones that are cooked slowly. Crave Kabob 1521 W. Madison St. 312-600-6800 http://www.cravekabob.com 7240 Niles Center … Continued
There were no ball drops last night at midnight, but Friday is the Chinese New Year. The Year of the Ox would typically usher in parades and family feasts in Chinatown, but with COVID-19, it’s obviously a different story. I visited a pair of restaurants this weekend. One specializes in Hunan cuisine and the other focuses … Continued
For years, fans of the Jewish deli have lamented its demise in Chicago. Only a handful remain, like Eleven City Diner or Manny’s in the South Loop. But a couple of new options have emerged during the pandemic – offering takeout – including one in the West Loop that’s sure to be a destination once indoor dining … Continued
With the holidays approaching and most restaurants closed to indoor dining, bakeries seem to be opening at a frantic pace. This week, I visited two new spots in the city where creative pastry chefs are leading the way. Sugargoat 820 W. Randolph St. 312-667-0108 www.sugargoatsweets.com Brite Donuts & Baked Goods Available at Metric Coffee, 2021 W. … Continued
When’s the last time you saw quiche on a menu? The classic French dish – which is really a custard at its core – is the star of a new grab-and-go café that just opened this week in Lincoln Park. I got an early taste, and there’s actually a lot more than just eggs, heavy cream … Continued
While everyone was going crazy last year for Popeye’s fried chicken sandwiches, a couple of local chefs were planning on creating their own versions of this Southern staple. The result is a pair of new options – for takeout or delivery – offering crispy chicken sandwiches several notches above traditional fast food offerings. GG’s Chicken … Continued
While it’s relatively easy to find Chinese, Thai or Indian restaurants in Chicago, the food of Malaysia is more elusive. But one young couple is cooking some cherished recipes from the Southeast Asian country, but like a lot of start-ups these days, they’re doing it in a ghost kitchen, with pickup or delivery. Kedai Tapao … Continued
The Promontory in Hyde Park has a temporary restaurant, El Oso, with a focus on Mexican cooking. Chef Jonathan Zaragoza, a family member of the Southwest Side Birrieria Zaragoza Mexican joint, has given new purpose to a music venue and restaurant that has been prospering since spring. El Oso (at the Promontory) 5311 S. Lake Park … Continued
There’s quite a bit more to Indian food than just tikka masala or tandoori chicken. The tradition of chaat – or street snacks – is integral to every region of India. A new cookbook highlights the subject, and so I went in search of some local versions, while also discovering they can easily be made at … Continued
Baked dough and melted cheese are pretty elemental, and in Chicago, we typically see them in pizza. But they can also form the basis of a classic dish with roots in Turkey and Georgia, near the Black Sea. The dish – khachapuri – is made from scratch every day inside an Andersonville restaurant, where the … Continued