The kitchen at Libanais, which is French for Lebanon, is deceiving. This Lincolnwood restaurant has a small one up front, where you’ll see them slice off beef and lamb shawarma and tuck it into wraps jammed with pickles and tahini. You might see them grill off kebabs or assemble appetizer platters. But the real action … Continued
If you’re headed out for a picnic this weekend and craving some fried chicken, a new spot in Bridgeport offers every level of heat – from mild to inferno. They make gigantic sandwiches too, but it’s definitely not a part of the emerging Nashville hot chicken trend. The spicy chicken at Big Boss is more … Continued
Lin-Manuel Miranda might be the most famous artist of Puerto Rican descent, but there’s no question in Chicago, the jibarito is the most famous sandwich. Created near Humboldt Park by Puerto Rican cooks, the sandwich has spread all over the city, including one shop on Harlem Avenue where just about every customer orders one. Whenever … Continued
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
Most Mexican restaurants purchase their tortillas, since making them one at a time requires extra labor, expense and skill. But there’s a three year-old Mexican diner on the city’s West Side that does everything old school- including salsas, juices and tortillas – made from scratch every day. Minna’s Restaurant 5046 W. Armitage Ave. (773) 417-7602 … Continued
Pilsen continues to see signs of new development. From the stately Thalia Hall, to restaurants reaching beyond the neighborhood’s tradition of Mexican and Czech immigration. One of those new restaurants is serving food with a more global approach, at a level as high as anything downtown, but at a fraction of the cost. S.K.Y. 1239 W. … Continued
Rub’s Backcountry Smokehouse is a distant memory now that the BBQ Supply Co. is fully in charge along Western Avenue in the West Rogers Park neighborhood, near the city’s border with Evanston. When things weren’t going well, Rub’s decided to reconcept and refine the business. After six years, the upgrades have been significant – a new … Continued
Waffles are usually thought of as a breakfast food, but not in Hong Kong, where “bubble waffles” are a popular snack these days. Since they opened a few weeks ago, Joy Yee Plus in Chicago’s Chinatown has been selling them, since they imported the special machines needed to make them on-site.
Good Szechuan-style cooking can easily be found in Chinatown, but an even better option is at a family-run restaurant on Chicago’s Northwest Side where the grandfather is in the kitchen, all by himself.
The Chinese tradition of dim sum has been around for centuries. Typically, the small plates of fried, steamed and baked items are a great chance to share and sample a lot of different things at one meal. In Chicago, one of Chinatown’s most popular dim sum houses — MingHin Cuisine — is now making a trio … Continued
One of Chicago’s landmarked buildings has a stunning new look, and its crowning feature is a light-filled garden restaurant. The 3 Arts Club was built just over 100 years ago, but now, with a furniture and design store giving it new life, it seems the restaurant is attracting as much attention as the sofas and chairs.