(photo: Todd Rosenberg) While a wave of fried chicken joints has washed over Chicago in the past year or so, only a handful specialize in “Nashville hot.” The most recent – a tiny operation in Lakeview – has big expansion plans already, thanks to the overwhelming success after just a month or two in business. They’ve … Continued
After more than 70 years in business, it was time to hit the “refresh” button. Manny’s has been a well-worn staple in the South Loop, hosting politicians and city workers of all stripes, but its best days were behind it, and if the Raskin family hadn’t done something with it, the temple of corned beef, … Continued
The team behind fine-dining gems Alinea and Next have finally opened a restaurant a little more on the casual side. It’s quite a bit louder than its siblings, but the format is a lot more conducive to sharing.
Pizza is practically religion in Chicago, and there’s a lot more than just deep dish or tavern-style. Robert’s Pizza Company is a new pizza place in the city that has been years in the making by a man with a simple goal: to create the perfect slice.
In case you haven’t noticed, every Friday in May, I’ve been featuring a different Asian country for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We’ve covered Thailand, Japan and China so far, and today, we’re off to Malaysia. Chicago has plenty of Asian restaurants – mostly Korean, Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese, but only one focusing on the … Continued
Every culture has its favorite snacks. And in Japan, two iconic treats come to mind: takoyaki and okonomiyaki. As part of my Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month coverage, I’m devoting each of my Friday Feasts this month on ABC 7 to a different country. Today it’s all about Japan, specifically the city of Osaka: one … Continued
There’s a lot more to Thai food than simply hot chilies. An Uptown family is taking a unique approach, serving traditional “street food” dishes from Bangkok and beyond. It’s part of my Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Coverage, in which each Friday Feast in May is linked to a different country.
Taking a seafood lover to a steakhouse might seem counterintuitive, but that’s exactly what you need to do in the West Loop. It’s there that a large counter and an impressive array of raw seafood await, along with quite a few creative dishes, plus an impressive dessert menu. This week’s Extra Course, my web-exclusive video: … Continued
If you’re looking for affordable Mexican food in Pilsen, there’s a new restaurant from a pair of men who used to work at Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. Even better, 5 Rabanitos is also proudly BYOB. It’s tucked away, among the taquerias and bakeries on busy 18th street, but inside, you quickly see that the … Continued
Chicago has seen a surge of brewpubs over the past few years, but nothing quite like a new concept in Ukrainian Village. The kitchen is also getting into the act, offering much more creative fare than just pretzels and French fries.
There are dozens of Italian restaurants in Chicago, but only a small percentage go that extra mile and make all of their pastas in-house from scratch. A new restaurant in the West Loop is committed to hand-making everything, including one pasta dish that has become a personal favorite.