-Grubbing in Chicago
Bargain Bites ft. Lunch Specials in Lincoln Park
I’m noticing lunch specials making a comeback, or maybe they’re just being advertised more than ever as a way to get people through the door. Either way, it’s good news for my ‘Bargain Bites’ series, though I wonder if we’ll ever find another as good as the lunch special at Ezankaya Bann Suan.
Recently Opened in Lincoln Park
If the name sounds familiar, you may have been to their other spot on Devon. This is the second Ezankaya location, replacing longtime Halsted favorite Noodles in the Pot, a place I was sad to see go. But it could be worse. The new spot offers an updated Thai menu and a spiffed-up space featuring the colorful design seen at many newer Thai restaurants. That said, I’ve never seen one quite like this. The outdoor patio is on point, though it probably won’t be open much longer this year. Ezankaya Bann Suan gives off the vibrant energy of a Thai night market and the spirit of a Japanese izakaya.
a peek inside
They have a sizable menu of Thai classics, plus a Thai-style hot pot program popular with the expat Thai community. But the chicken and rice lunch specials are what brought me in. At just $10 for your choice of poached, grilled, fried, or spicy chicken, plus rice and a cup of broth, it feels like a steal in this economy (M-F). I tried the spicy option, known as Zaab chicken at some spots and Khao Yum Gai Zap at others. The fried chicken is sliced and tossed in tangy, savory Isan-style seasoning made with toasted rice powder (Khao Khua) and lime, mixed with red onions and herbs. Ezankaya serves it with a sweet, dark sauce that I mixed into the rice and chicken. It was delicious. The broth was a bust, but the meal was a win from a bang-for-your-buck standpoint. I posted about it on social media, and a few of my followers chimed in with good things to say about Bann Suan, so I plan on returning for more.
Spicy Chicken Lunch Special
Ezankaya Bann Suann
2453 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 813-9644
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