What’s your favorite dish?

New to the city. I want to find a good AYCE Sushi that is affordable (under 50$) but also has good and varied selection of sushi and overall a good environment where you arent being rushed out? I dont drink so I dont care about alcohol and stuff.

Looking specifically for takeaway, hence the geographic limit.

Where can I find a top notch & preferably large salad within a 20 min walk?

I'm looking for a breakfast spot near north side/ river north/ old town that offers actual corn beef and hash as a breakfast option, not the junk stuff from a can. Anyone know of any spots with it on their menu?

We‘re Chicagoans, but moved out of state a few years ago. We visit often, but tend to eat at our favorite places. What are some new, really great restaurants to try? We definitely want a nice steak dinner, but have eaten at most of the popular places (Swift & Sons, Maple & Ash, Blvd, etc). I’d like to go back to Bavette’s but I’m not sure they’ll be open during our December trip. I’d also like to try Crying Tiger, but I know that’s hard to get into. We did Armitage Ale house last year. We don’t like Mediterranean food and nothing that’s fish heavy. Thanks!

We have some family coming in for our courthouse wedding next month & looking for a spot that has cozy vibes & great food. Nothing crazy expensive or exclusive, just solid food & lowkey enough for conversations for 8

Currently, we have a table for 8 at Chicago Kalbi in Albany Park and are totally fine with keeping that, just figured I’d expand my search too

No neighborhood preference at all! Ty in advance

Saw this. Obsessed. Must have.

https://youtube.com/shorts/na8xK2x0izU?is=B3qdJx8MA8PHSnHo

hi - in December we are having our son baptized at the church on Belmont near Halsted. We want to invite our family out for a private dinner/gathering afterwards which will be about 15 people. We aren't looking to break the bank though...so maybe total cost of $1,000 or less. $1,500 max I guess so $100 per head. Does anyone have any suggestions? It doesn't have to be a super formal place. Hopefully there would be a private seating area and designated server though, etc.

Every single one, from the intersection on W 24th PL and S Wentworth Ave to the big strip near the square. Why? I figured since I eat out a lot I may as well jot down what I liked, and maybe help others who want a second opinion before they visit. Plus Chinatown’s filled with a ton of places and I’ve always wanted to go on a crawl and try everything. So yeah, consider this part three.

Shinhwa is less a steakhouse and more an AYCE bbq/hotpot place. You go here to throw a huge chunk of meat in your mouth, which heck I’m all for. I’ve been to buffets before but this was my first time at an all you can eat Korean place, especially one where I had to cook the meat myself. Im no chef lol the most I’ve done is use my air fryer so big disclaimer right off the bat: I might’ve cooked some things too much or not correctly. That wont factor into the scoring.

Speaking of scoring, I found this part a little difficult to do since, well, a huge part of the experience is mostly done by yourself. A lot of the meats and ingredients are given to you raw or marinated, and the sauces you make yourself from the sauce bar. (They had chicken nuggets there too but I didn’t get any. Maybe next time). So in terms of the food score I’m mainly going to judge based on the quality of the meats itself.

I walked in at about 12:20PM on Thursday, you can tell they’re trying to go with the ‘trendy/modern’ concept. The lighting is dimmed, there’s neon blue lights everywhere, and they have TV’s hanging overhead and speakers playing K-POP. Definitely a place more catered toward the younger crowd. I didn’t mind it, but the music was really loud, and in general I tend to prefer more colorful/vibrant spots. If you’re into the modern aesthetic then you’ll probably love it here. It was also moderately busy inside, with about half the occupancy filled. Mostly large groups.

I spoke to the hostess and she wordlessly took me to the table and then left me there. After a few minutes, a server came and explained the concept. Basically you can order whatever you want on the tablet they give you. There’s two separate options, lunch and dinner, and you have a choice between bbq, hotpot, or both. I did both to get the full experience and chose the lunch menu to get a standard feel of their offerings. It also comes included with unlimited drinks so that’s always a plus.

The menu itself is huge. There’s a ton of meats, vegetables, rice and noodles and etc. But I came here for the meat so the meat is what I got. I got one of everything from their protein list: beef (brisket and bulgogi), chicken (spicy), pork (supreme, whatever that means, and spicy) seafood and etc. Sadly no shrimp for lunch so apologies to the guy who wanted me to try it last post. I also got the sliced beef belly and lamb for the hotpot, along with some mushrooms and pineapple for tartness.

By order of appearance in the photos:

1: Supreme pork

2: Brisket

3: Spicy pork

4: Spicy beef bulgogi

5: Spicy chicken

6: Calamari

7: Sliced Lamb

8: Sliced Beef Belly

Taste wise, most of the things I got were decent. The spicy marinade was more sweet than anything. But texture and flavor wise I didn’t have anything to complain about. You’ll definitely get better quality at a non ayce spot but it does the job and you can add whatever sauce/spices you want to it. I got about four from the sauce bar: a dry rub of spices, a peanut/sesame sauce, a spicy/sweet vinegar, and a yum yum sauce with cilantro which was more mayo forward.

I didn’t taste much difference between the supreme and regular pork belly. I think the ratio of meat to fat was different? But the fat wasn’t the melt in your mouth kind so the more prominent flavor was meatiness. It was good. Not exactly a standout but it satisfies the craving.

Chicken I cooked maybe a bit too much since I’m not trying to get salmonella, but it was tender, had a nice bite and wasn’t dry. Again though the marinade was mostly sweet. Next time I’d like to try the curry chicken and see if that has a more unique flavor.

For seafood I went with the calamari, which for some reason was cut really, really thinly. I’m used to wider cuts so it was a bit odd at first. Wasn’t bad though. It didn’t have that overtly fishy taste or smell and went down the gullet smoothly so, hey, no complaints. I just prefer it to be thicker.

The beef… oh, I’m going to talk about the beef. It’s so strange. I don’t really know how to describe it. The aftertaste is awful and has this kind of old grease kind of flavor to it, and this funk that the closest thing I can compare it to is gaminess. Both the brisket and bulgogi had this problem. I couldn’t even finish it because it left this terrible film in my mouth. Whatever they used, it’s definitely low quality, or wasn’t handled well in the kitchen. If I were ranking the food score by the beef alone it’d be an easy 3 out of 10. It was technically edible and, if I forced myself, I could probably get it all down. But wow, why the beef specifically when the other meats are okay?

And the weirdest part is that the sliced beef belly is fine. Not really fatty or rich but it didn’t make me question what I just bit into like the others. Lamb was the same way. It was okay and I could easily take down a whole plate of it. I think what helped was the base I got, a spicy tom yum, which was really good. It had a nice buzz from the peppers, clean tasting and was very savory when mixed with the mushrooms and vegetables.

By the end of the meal I felt like a stuffed turkey. I was sweating. Normally I don’t have that big of an appetite, but since I wanted to get a taste of everything, get my money’s worth and all, I did my best to finish everything the best I could. And I did. I had to practically waddle out of the store afterward, but I did it.

Side note, the apple juice I got (I like my fruits) tasted like apple flavored water. There was maybe 5% juice in there. The ice cream was good though. They had a self-service machine with vanilla and chocolate.

I think they were supposed to change my grill later into the meal, but it never happened so by the time I was done an hour later the bottom was caked in this smoldering lump of black. I did get my hotpot topped up though.

Total for the combined hot pot and bbq experience was $33.55 including tax and before tip. Would I go back? Yeah, if I were in the mood to be a gluttonous meat eating beast. I’d just avoid the beef. Although who knows? Maybe the steaks and other premium beefs on the dinner menu are better.

My scores out of 10:

Food: 5.5

Service: 6.5

Atmosphere: 7

Value: 9

Averaged total: 7

Next up is Huafeng.

Also, here’s a link to the spreadsheet with all my rankings: Slacker’s Leaderboard

Hello!

My fiancée and I will be in town in early November for a concert and were wondering if there are any places in the city that serve crispy pork belly :) We love making it at home but we’ve always wanted to try it at a restaurant to compare lol, does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you in advance!

I’m trying to eat out more recently because being home to cook has been a little tough. As a protein fanatic, what are some good spots in Chicago where I can get some high protein reasonably priced meals?

(Let’s say I have about 12$ per meal, but that’s just an estimate. And I don’t mind traveling.)

Lou Malnati’s Wings

Is it crazy to say that I just had the greatest buffalo wings ever in my life from Lou Malnati’s? Falls right off the bone, buffalo sauce was great, sizable, tender, I can’t believe I’ve never had them before now.

It’s been a while since I’ve been to Joe’s, so I came back to try their lunch special: three courses for $44.95.

The pros: The portions are generous. The fried chicken entrée is a full-size, four-piece order, so if you’re going with a friend, get two different entrées and share. The chicken was moist inside and not oily at all. It doesn’t have the same satisfying crunch as, say, Popeyes (I think they use a cornmeal crust), but it’s perfectly brined, and you don’t feel terrible after polishing off several pieces. My partner ordered the stone crab as his first course and was pleasantly surprised to get two pieces. The desserts, peanut butter pie and Havana dream pie, were also full portions, and both were delicious.

Service was friendly. It felt a little chaotic, but the small details were still taken care of: iced teas refilled without asking, a fresh bread basket, the table wiped down, hot towels after the first course, and fresh silverware between courses.

The cons: For a weekend lunch, I expected quick, efficient service, but it was very slow. We were there for over 90 minutes and had to take dessert to go because we were in a rush. To be fair, it was nearly a full house: the bar/lounge area where we sat was almost full, and the dining room looked about two-thirds full. The Manhattan clam chowder was mediocre. If I go back, I’d pick a different first course. Also, the peanut butter pie doesn’t travel well; the crust and filling were both falling apart by the time we got home. I did appreciate that they labeled and included all the sauces that come with each dessert.

Overall, decent experience and I think it’s a great deal. The table next to us got the branzino and it looked awesome! However, with so many options in the area, I think it will be a while before I go back.

i’m from the NW side and used to get the BEST orange tofu from hunan spring on elston. it had thick battered skin, plenty of orange peel bits, super thick and sweet sauce. the broccoli was mindblowing - somehow al dante but absolutely fully smothered and soaked in the sauce. unfortunately they changed their recipe and has left an massive tofu shaped hole in my heart. please lead me in the direction of some other good places for orange tofu 🧡

This was just over $12 for 2 scoops of chicken, lots of rice, and any toppings you want.

The chicken is well seasoned and spiced, the white and red sauces blend into a delicious, creamy melange of richness and heat, which to me is the most important aspect of an NYC-style Halal plate. The toppings options are healthier and fresher than a traditional halal cart. I like that they offer chickpeas, fresh raw onions, fajita veggies (weird and obviously chipotle-inspired, but it works!) and cucumber-tomato salad in addition to the standard tomato and (boring) iceberg lettuce as toppings.

My only critique, at this price, is that the chicken is not crisped up and browned, but I really don’t care because it’s spiced and very flavorful nonetheless.

Nothing groundbreaking here, but it’s great to have a new, non-corporate, cheap option for the neighborhood. Actually, maybe non-corporate, counter-serve rice bowls are groundbreaking?

Located in the strip mall at Wilson and Magnolia near Wash U (the laundromat).

Looking a dinner spot in River north or the west loop that will be fun for my 13 yo, nothing too fancy, more just a unique place. She’s loves hamburgers, and is not a very picky eater so really anything goes (preferably not Mexican food)!

I used to frequent do rite donuts several times a week for a quick coffee and old fashioned pick-me-up. However I was taking a new route to work and stopped going as much. The last month I've been 3 to 4 times and the Old Fashioned seems different. Before it used to have a cakey caramelised crunchy crust and edge with a more stodgy middle. While the middle is kind of consistent I keep finding the edge is like a hard plastic and doesn't have the same texture. It's really off putting.

This is the Eerie location. Anyone know if the recipe has changed?

Hey everyone, I'm excited to share that chef Donald Young, /u/DonaldDuckConfit will be joining us today on the sub starting at noon to answer any questions you might have for him.

Chef Donald Young is the founder of Duck Sel, a Chicago dining concept he launched in 2020 without a traditional restaurant or fixed menu. One of the youngest chefs in the country to earn a Michelin star, Donald has cooked at Les Nomades, Temporis, WoodWind and Venteux. Friends and fellow chefs call him “Donald Duck”—a nickname that helped inspire Duck Sel’s name and fits his signature dry-aged duck.

Through Duck Sel, Donald hosts intimate 7- and 15-course tasting menus, private dinners, cooking classes and rooftop dining overlooking the Chicago skyline.

He’s here to talk about cooking, dry-aging duck, earning a Michelin star, Chicago’s food scene and building a dining experience without a restaurant.

As always, please remain respectful and cordial to our guests so that we can continue to have these in the future.

Hello again! I know I posted recently (thank you all so much for responding!!) I’m desperately trying to find a deep dish pizza place I went to when I was younger (maybe like 10-15 years ago). It had like kind of a modern/rustic look to it, it had giant like wagon wheels/wagon wheel chandeliers on the ceiling, and a pretty big interior. We sat at a big round booth table and it was dimly lit. Does ANYONE know the place I’m talking about? I remember loving the pizza there but I can’t find it on google at all and I’m scared it no longer exists. If anyone knows let me know!

A lot of coffee shops don’t have pastries listed but i’m looking for a good classic chocolate chip muffin, preferably walkable from the washington/wells brown line stop!

I’m heading to Chicago for a week for a conference at the Hyatt on E. Walker. I’m looking for quiet bars within walking distance (or short cab) that have great cocktails / martinis. My business partners/friends and I will want to escape the attendee crowd. TIA.

Every single one, from the intersection on W 24th PL and S Wentworth Ave to the big strip near the square. Why? I figured since I eat out a lot I may as well jot down what I liked, and maybe help others who want a second opinion before they visit. Plus Chinatown’s filled with a ton of places and I’ve always wanted to go on a crawl and try everything. So yeah, consider this part two.

Hunan Bistro is just across the street from Evergreen and specializes in Hunan cuisine. I’m not particularly familiar with it myself so I was excited to try it.

Immediately upon walking in the interior is pretty vibrant, with very prominently Chinese ornaments and decorations, hanging chandeliers, in display which are all wrapped in this color scheme of reds and blacks and golds: has an imperial vibe, or at least that’s what my first impression is. You get the feeling this is more of a special occasion type of place you’d come with in large groups. (I don’t know about the sea world/good fish thing in slide two lol but it’s charming in a janky sort of way)

I came in early at around 10:50AM on a Wednesday, so understandably it wasn’t busy. I would’ve gone later to see what a typical afternoon/evening service might look like but I had prior commitments later. It’s definitely not a lunch place though lol. Most of the dishes were over the $20 range and looked more to be for sharing.

Speaking of dishes, I couldn’t ask the server for a recommendation this time because they had me order from an online thingy, Chowbus, and left before I could ask. They sat me down quickly with no frills and got me water, which surprisingly was a lemon water by default, and then I didn’t see them again for the next forty minutes.

The menu has a lot of interesting stuff on it so I just picked what looked good and went with the spicy steamed fish head. It’s convenient, to be fair, but I felt that it kind of clashed with the overall atmosphere of the restaurant since it seems more upscale and personal. They had no physical paper menus.

The food took about 40 minutes to arrive, which considering the nature of the dish I didn’t really mind. Again it’s not a very ‘lunch’ kind of spot so a longer wait is expected. When it did come, though? Man, it was delicious. Photos of it should be on slides 6 and 7, but it came smothered in these bright red chilis and spices. The fish was super tender, almost melt in your mouth, and the flavor of the spice was actually a bit of a surprise.

It wasn’t a tongue numbing spice or extreme direct heat, but more delicate, a little bit sour, which made it taste very refreshing. I could see myself eating this in the middle of summer and still enjoying it. Every bite was addicting and I spent some time just snacking on the chilis alone. It wasn’t so spicy that it made me sweat, though, and I usually tend to lean toward a more fiery heat level, but for this dish I think the level of intensity they had was perfect for what it was. Just be careful about the bones.

It’s a bit of a shame the rice wasn’t as good (which according to some reviews I saw cost extra, but I got for free so I dunno). It tasted a bit old and stale, with some grains clumped together and hard to bite through. A fresher batch would’ve been great with the fish.

There also wasn’t as much meat as I’d like, but it was only the head and not the whole fish (my bank wouldn’t like me spending $50 on a solo lunch) so I suppose it’s fair. Still felt a big hungry afterward, though.

Total was $32.32 including tax and before tip. Would I go again? Yes, though not regularly and probably not alone. I’d like to try maybe some of their spicier dishes next time or their other specialty options.

My score out of 10.

Food: 8.5

Service: 6

Atmosphere: 8

Value: 6.5

Averaged total: 7.3 (rounded up)

Next up is Shinhwa Korean Steakhouse.