A beloved barbecue joint that opened 11 years ago in North Chicago has been quietly attracting a devoted following, ever since it moved to Waukegan in 2012. Big Ed’s BBQ 4030 Northpoint Blvd., Waukegan 847-473-5333
New Zealand is known for its breathtaking scenery, worthy of a “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, but one of that country’s best-known coffeehouses has been quietly serving breakfast and lunch to Loop workers for about a year. Mojo Coffee 200 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago 312-631-3881
A McKinley Park bakery is a homecoming of sorts for a local family. After opening in Pilsen in 2003, they moved to Florida five years ago. But the family couldn’t keep away. So a few months ago, they re-opened on 35th Street, now focusing primarily on cakes. One of them is called a chocoflan, and it’s … Continued
Restaurants come and go all the time, but it was a surprise in the food community when Grace suddenly shut its doors last year in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. A legal dispute between the chef, GM and owner led to a high-profile vacancy. However, a new restaurant called Yugen opened in the space by an all-female … Continued
The Chinese New Year is coming up on Tuesday, and if you’re headed to Chinatown, be prepared to see a lot more baked goods and specialty teas. Tous les Jours 2144 S. Archer Ave. 312-225-8488 Bingo Tea 2150A S. Archer Ave. 312-328-6668
There is only one Chicago area restaurant combining both Filipino and Cuban cuisines in the city’s Ravenswood neighborhood. Bayan Ko is a result of the origins of the husband-and-wife owners, and sits just beneath the Montrose stop on the CTA’s Brown Line. BAYAN KO 1810 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago 773-698-6373
How does all-you-can-eat Alaskan King Crab and prime-grade beef burgers sound? It’s not some gimmick from a chain restaurant, but rather, a new concept tucked away in the basement of an oyster bar, from the folks at Lettuce Entertain You. Crab Cellar 1962 N. Halsted St. 773-248-1737
Chef Rick Bayless has been a part of Chicago’s food scene for over 30 years, but his latest project — a subterranean bar beneath his Frontera Grill — is a collaboration with his daughter, who is a cocktail impresario. BAR SOTANO Alley behind 443 N. Clark St., Chicago 312-391-5857
Pizza in Chicago has, for too long, been associated with one of two styles: deep or stuffed. But since my book came out a few months ago, I have been trying to shift the conversation to tavern style, artisan and Neapolitan. My latest find is in Bridgeport, near the home of the White Sox, where a … Continued
Like pizza and doughnuts, fried chicken is one of those universally loved dishes. There are two new options in Chicago making two very different styles of fried chicken – both of them delicious. Landbirds 2532 N. California Ave (773) 697-7107 Luella’s Gospel Bird 2009 N. Damen Ave. 773-904-7704
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