A lot of people take their morning cup of coffee for granted. But after spending some time at a new coffee shop in Portage Park, I have a newfound appreciation for all of the work that goes into crafting the perfect cup. Taste of Colombia 4801 W. Montrose Ave. 773-709-7040
The suburbs have plenty of malls and most of them have one or two places to eat, usually from a national chain. But the Golf Glen Mart in Niles is a literal United Nations of eating, with 10 different dining options including a brewery, a stellar Korean barbecue and a classic Greek diner. I visited the … Continued
The southwest suburbs aren’t known for having a lot of premium seafood houses, but the Original Island Shrimp House in Palos Park now lays claim to a casual, East Coast-inspired seafood shack where the ingredients are all flown in fresh, and the recipes are made from scratch. The Original Island Shrimp House 12902 S. La … Continued
Chicago has been gaining a number of new breweries and distilleries over the past few years. There’s even a “Malt Row” in Ravenswood with a concentration of quite a few. Maplewood Brewery & Distillery 2717 N. Maplewood 773-270-1061
What do you get when you combine a degree from the French Pastry School with a family history of Mexican home cooking? A delicious mash-up of two cultures, bound by butter, corn and chiles. The family behind Pan Artesanal has worked for years – literally – on every detail. From the baking equipment to the DIY decor … Continued
There are barbecue joints scattered throughout the South Side, but few make all of their sides from scratch and offer St. Louis-style ribs. A visit to Slab Barbecue can include all of the above, plus the expected hot links and tips. Slab BBQ 1918 E. 71st St. 773-966-5018
Unlike American barbecue, known for it’s “low and slow” cooking over smoke, Korean barbecue is a much faster endeavor. It’s really more grilling than smoking. A family-run operation in Northbrook is serving some of the best versions in the region. PRO SAMGYUBSAL 3420 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook 847-715-9073 Featured Image: @imchristinaim
A beloved Palos Hills butcher shop has expanded, in a big way, in an Orland Park strip mall. Al-Sufara is known for its extensive lamb and chicken dishes – mostly kebabs and shawarma, but they’re expanding into large-format, family-style dining now as well. AL SUFARA GRILL 9218 W. 159th St., Orland Park 708-949-8506 Featured Image: Alsufara … Continued
The Japanese tradition of “omakase” is relatively new in Chicago, but three new omakase-style restaurants have opened in Chicago recently, each with a slightly different approach. KYOTEN 2507 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago 312-678-0800 OMAKASE YUME 651 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago 312-265-1610 OMAKASE TAKEYA 819 W. Fulton Market, Chicago 312-666-7710 Featured Image: @omakaseyume
The Bay of Biscay hugs the northern edge of Spain, but also the western side of France. Recently, a restaurant with the same name opened in Chicago’s West Town. There are influences from both the Basque country, as well as Bordeaux, and the vibe couldn’t be more relaxed. Bar Biscay 1450 W. Chicago Ave. 312-455-8900
As we get closer to barbecue and grilling season, I’m starting to look to the Southern part of Asia for inspiration this week. There’s a place on Devon Avenue in West Rogers Park, where the grill gets a workout pretty much all day long. The menu isn’t all necessarily Indian either, despite its location. Anmol BBQ … Continued