Is there a better fried chicken in Chicago? Probably not. Although there are certainly different styles (I love the Carolina-style at Roost, as well as the vaguely Asian-flecked version at Smalls). But Crisp has always been my go-to. It’s twice-fried, then tossed with a choice of either a gojujang-laced barbecue sauce or a sesame-soy-garlic Korean … Continued
Say what you will about Montreal smoked meat, but Schwartz’s – that legendary icon – is nothing more than a tourist trap. On my most recent visit, a few years ago, I got a tour of the kitchen and noticed they don’t smoke the cured briskets anymore; haven’t since the 60s. What they serve at … Continued
Even though you’ll find better okonomiyaki in Osaka, when in Kyoto, you would be hard-pressed to find a better source than Kora Tei. The Korean owners replicate this large, savory seafood pancake to perfection, topping it with either some Kewpie mayo or bonito flakes or both. Reminiscent of their own seafood pancakes from Korea, called … Continued
With the elderly Matsuno-San overseeing every detail of your meal, and his son, Toshio, supervising the kitchen crew, your meal at Tempura Matsu will be life-changing, revelatory. It’s not molecular, and it’s not avant-garde. It’s simply Japanese perfection, using only what they can purchase each day, then combining fish, rice and a myriad of sea … Continued
An upscale take on the American diner with great cocktails, matzo ball soup and yes, those cheeseburgers. During brunch (and after midnight) check out the chilaquiles, but be sure your friends are joining you, because the mound is enough to feed six. It seems like Brendan Sodikoff and the Hogsalt team thought of everything here … Continued
What’s not to like about biscuits, jams, pie and candied bacon? These are no ordinary biscuits of course, and the fact that goose lard is used in the pie crust makes those extra special too. I say get a little candied bacon, or maybe opt for one of the breakfast sandwiches now available. Grab a … Continued
Jimmy Bannos, Jr. has restaurants in his blood. His father launched Heaven on Seven, where the young Bannos grew up, then he trained in New York with Mario Batali’s team for a series of stages. But it’s his father’s Greek heritage and his mother’s Italian heritage the really creeps into dishes like the grilled chicken … Continued
Where do the chefs of Las Vegas go after they get off work? To the same place they’ve been going for years: Raku. This casual izakaya, just off Spring Mountain Road, offers food that’s actually quite a bit better than anything remotely close on The Strip, and at fairer prices. I love the homemade tofu … Continued
Yes, it’s still worth going here. Despite the fact that every writer and TV personality in the country has been here, you can still eat pretty well, but only if you give yourself to the kitchen. Hopefully owner Saipin Chutima or her daughter Penny will be there to answer questions. Look deep within the menu … Continued
The problem with Yi Mei is that it’s embedded within the heart of the Chinese restaurant vortex, out near the intersection of Jones Blvd. and Spring Mountain Rd., so you could literally spend all day walking up and down the strip malls to eat like a pro. I say go for breakfast (it’s only a … Continued
Like most great Asian restaurants, Huynh is a family-owned joint, serving up fresh, homemade Vietnamese dishes in a comfortable, urban atmosphere. One of the things a lot of people don’t realize about Houston is that it has a massive Vietnamese population, which in turn results in some of the best pho, banh mi and banh … Continued