Eating in Aurora

-Grubbing in Chicagoland
Five of a Kind: Aurora Food Stops

My bad on the slow posting cycle of late - I was out of town for a couple weeks and then I had a couple busy weeks upon my return. So I did some digging into my folder and I'm throwing up a 'Five of a Kind' post that just kind of came together based on previous visits out to Aurora. I’ve posted from Aurora before but it’s been quite a while so today is as good of a time as ever to head out west and check out some spots. Aurora is Illinois’ Second City with a population of over 180,000. I’ve been exploring the area for years now as it's only around 45 miles west of Chicago. It has a different footprint now than it did a decade ago. Back in the day it was mostly Mexican worth trying but these days Aurora is more diverse with an interesting mix of options. Here's five more spots worth a stop. 

Pics from Aurora, Illinois
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Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple (Aurora)

The Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple is a beautiful, 20-acre sanctuary in Aurora. It was built in 1986 and it's modeled after traditional South Indian architectural principles and stands as a major cultural hub for the Midwest's Hindu community. But beyond its stunning marble floors and beautifully adorned deities, the temple is widely known for its vibrant, volunteer run basement canteen. This cafeteria serves fresh and remarkably affordable vegetarian Southern Indian cuisine. This past summer I was joined by two friends directly from Southern India for what ended up being one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in quite some time. We arrived around 10:00am and just beat the rush which started flowing around 11a. You walk up to a dedicated counter where there’s a token kiosk used for payment. You order your food and receive tokens that you exchange for your food in the cafeteria. 

Menu at the canteen

I let my friends do the ordering and we ended up with a feast. First up was a Pongal-Vada combo ($7). The former is a comforting, porridge like South Indian dish made from rice and yellow moong lentils. It’s heavily seasoned with clarified butter (ghee), black peppercorns, cumin, ginger, and crunchy cashews and similar in texture to Dominican Mangu. Pongal a staple comfort food in Southern India and at Aurora Balaji Temple canteen where it’s served steaming hot alongside a spicy lentil stew (sambar) and a cool coconut chutney. The latter (Vada) is a South Indian fried snack that resembles a small, crispy donut. It’s crunchy outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Vada is a breakfast staple across Southern India. The Pongol didn’t look like much but it's great dunked into the sambar which is a vegetable soup with lentils. Sambar reminded me of minestrone soup but with a heavy hand of South Asian seasoning. There’s also a cup of tamarind rice on the trey pictured below and it too is a must try. The rice is tangy and savory and really flavorful from the use of tamarind oil. 

Pongal-Vada Combo with Sambar and Tamarind Rice

Next up was the Masala Dosa ($9). This is probably the most well known Southern Indian dish from an international standpoint. Dosa refers to a large and incredibly crisp South Indian crepe made from a fermented batter of rice and black lentils. The batter is spread thin on a hot flattop grill and drizzled with oil or ghee until the bottom turns golden brown and gets paper thin and crispy like a cracker. Masala is a savory potato stuffing (aloo masala) consisting of boiled and lightly mashed potatoes commonly sautéed with onions though all the food served at the temple comes without onions and garlic entirely so there’s turmeric, mustard seeds, green chilies, fresh curry leaves and more mixed into the mashed potatoes. The dosa acts as the texturally pleasing part of the dish while the masala holds the flavor which is upped another level with cups of Sambar ($3) and a yogurt sauce served on the side. This was an incredibly satisfying meal and a very cool experience to boot. There are some dress code rules including no shorts but they do have garments guests can use. But easier to just wear pants. Food is served daily, although it’s a limited menu during the week and full menu on weekends. 

Masala Dosa at Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple
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Alice's Corner (Aurora)

Did you know Aurora is home to the only Bolivian restaurant in all of Illinois? Well now you do. Bolivian food is actually pretty rare as a whole in the States. Of course you can find spots serving food from the heart of South America in New York City and there’s a few spots in South Florida but that’s about it save for a few random places like Alice’s Corner in Aurora. Bolivia is referred as the heart of South America due to its location in the middle of the continent. Alice’s Corner is ran by Alicia Button, a welcoming Bolivian chef who owns and runs the restaurant with her husband, Oscar, and son, Carlos. Before opening her restaurant in a beautiful downtown storefront, Alicia spent nearly 10 years cooking and selling her home baked Bolivian empanadas and salteñas at local indoor markets plus outdoor markets like the Aurora Farmers Market and the Geneva French Market. 

Salteñas at Alice's Corner

I enjoy Salteñas which are considered Bolivia’s national dish and the crown jewel of Bolivian street food culture, and maybe empanadas in general. They look similar to standard baked empanadas from outside, but they’re unique because the inside is filled with a piping hot, intensely savory beef and potato stew, instead of dry meat. The process of making Salteñas is similar to Chinese soup dumplings in that the filling (usually beef mixed with potatoes, peas, and raisins) is cooked the night before with gelatin. The stew is chilled until it completely solidifies into a firm jelly and scooped into the dough cold, and as the pastry bakes in a scorching hot oven, the filling melts back into a rich, steaming broth. The Salteñas at Alice’s come four to an order which means it’s best to go with a group so you can try some other things but I decided to get them because even though I was rolling solo they would be good for leftovers. The flavor on these leans slightly sweet due to the dough and there’s an art form to eating Salteñas so that you don’t end up with soup all over your shirt. Hold it upright and nibble a bite off one end and sip the broth out before finishing the rest of it. Good stuff. 

The insides of a Salteña
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Chi Noodle (Aurora)

There was a time when if I was in Aurora I was getting tacos if not a South African meat pie but over the last five years there’s been a number of Chinese restaurants to open in the area. For example you can find ten different food stalls in the Park 2 Shop supermarket and while they’re not all Chinese, they’re all Asian in one way or the other. I tried Chi Noodle a while back due to glowing reviews of their wonton noodle soup and I was not disappointed. It wasn’t quite to the level of Mak’s (iykyk) but it was good enough to make me think of Hong Kong’s most famous wonton shop which is really all you can ask for in these parts. The noodles were bouncy and had some good chew while the wontons were plump and texturally pleasing with loads of shrimp and pork flavor. Even the broth was extra aromatic. I’m not telling you to drive to Aurora if you want wonton noodle soup but you might have to if you want some as good as this as I haven’t found any bowls within the city limits that can match it. 

Wonton Noodle Soup at Chi Noodle
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La Jaivita (North Aurora)

For as many Indian and Asian restaurants that are opening in Aurora and Naperville, there’s still a ton of taco spots that continue to come and in some cases go. La Jaivita in North Aurora seems to be one of the more popular taco spots to open in the last few years or so. It was really busy on my visit with what seemed to be a steady stream of locals (close to 40% of Aurora’s population is Mexican). The menu has an emphasis on seafood blending taqueria staples with vibrant Mexican coastal seafood dishes in a dining room adorned by slot machines. I stopped in to try their signature dish - the Taco Mixto or the ‘Surf & Turf Taco’. It starts with a corn tortilla blanketed with melted cheese which is followed with diced skirt steak, crispy bacon, a scoop of guacamole and a couple of sautéed shrimps. This was a damn good taco further enhanced by lime and a fiery red salsa served on the side. 

Taco Mixto at La Jaivita
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Afghani Box (Naperville)

Last stop is actually in Naperville at Afghani Box - a fun little family owned spot sitting in the River Valley Plaza near the border of Aurora. This halal restaurant puts out Afghan comfort food served in pizza boxes that make it perfect for takeout. It has a small interior with just a few tables but has gained a good local following for generous portions, warm hospitality, and its witty packaging. Being a first time visitor I tried the signature “Afghani Box” which is a good way to go on your first visit. It comes loaded with a bit of everything including Lubiya (a savory kidney bean curry), Mantū (steamed meat dumplings topped with yogurt, lentils, and dried mint), a minced beef Chapli Kabob (mixed with herbs), and a pile of sweet and fragrant Qabuli Palow rice with raisins and carrots. Plus fries, bread, and green chutney. You get a nice amount of food for under $20 and it’s all pretty good. The Mantu dumplings were my favorite and the beans and rice hit the spot. Chapli kebab was a tad dry but the chutney helped with that. I would happily go back and will do so next time I find myself out this way. 

The Afghani Box at Afghani Box
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See ya next time @chibbqking

Summertime Finds

-Grubbing in Chicago
Five of a Kind: Summer Bounty

Summer never fails to fly by as far as the timing goes. Where did it go?! Mornings are already starting to feel like fall while the days are getting shorter and college football returns this weekend. I think the main determining factor to most of when summer ends is students going back to school and just about all of them are back in class at this point. But technically summer doesn’t end until August 31st or September 22nd depending on whether you go by the meteorological end or the astronomical end. So you still have some time to indulge in these delicious summer dishes that I recently enjoyed.

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Bungalow by Middle Brow (Logan Square)

Bungalow by Middle Brow is one of my favorite spots to eat during the summer months. The pizza is outstanding year round but the rest of the menu really shines over the summer when they take full advantage of the bounty that comes with it. They have a rotating menu item called a ‘pizza sandwich’ which is the kitchen leaning into what it does best: taking their outstanding fermented pizza dough and treating it like sandwich bread. The current iteration is a BLT and it’s really, really good. Bacon is paired with locally grown lettuce and tomato plus togarashi mayo in their signature sourdough pizza crust. Typically the tomato is the most important element of a BLT but the fermented pizza bread is what makes this sandwich so special. It’s airy and crisp and golden on the outside, with a chewy interior and slight tang from the long fermentation. Another candidate for 'Sandwich of the Year'.

BLT Pizza Sandwich at Bungalow by Middle Brow
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Inspired Indian (Evanston)

Speaking of summertime sandwiches - I really liked my pre-beach visit to the Inspired Indian in Evanston. What an interesting little sandwich shop located in the old Al’s Deli space on Noyes street just steps away from the train station. It’s ran by a business lady who originally started the company as a subscription-box business selling pre-measured Indian spice kits before opening the Evanston storefront back in 2021. Last year she introduced a tight menu of vegetarian sandwiches using popular Indian flavor combinations as the baseline. I tried the 'Bombay Sandwich' which is the most popular style of sandwich in Mumbai. It typically consists of cumin-turmeric mashed potato, pickled red onion, tomato, cucumber, green pepper, and beets. At Inspired Indian it also comes with chaat masala, a cilantro and mint mayo, Kashmiri chili aioli and a house blend of shredded white cheddar and Muenster cheese. All of the sandwiches come with masala potato chips and an Indian spiced cabbage slaw, and are served on toasted sourdough panini bread. You can still buy the spice kits here too and although there’s no indoor seating there’s a very nice public space with tables and chairs across the street where people can eat. I wandered over there and thoroughly enjoyed my sandwich while soaking up some sun. It tasted really fresh and was clearly made with care. I’ll be back.

Bombay Sandwich at Inspired Indian
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La Cosecha at Green City Market (Lincoln Park)

There’s no doubt that Green City Market in Lincoln Park is the best farmers market in the city as far as produce goes but I always thought it left a little to be desired in the prepared foods department. Well I visited this past weekend and noticed a new to me stand selling tortillas and stopped to take a look at what La Cosecha Tortilla Company was about. When I saw they were based out of Madison I realized I’d heard of them before though this was the first time I’ve seen them or their product in Chicago. They had a smoked trout tostada on special and it was one of the best things I’ve ate this summer. An organic non-GMO tortilla made with Midwest corn was fried until crisp and topped with Sungold tomatoes, cucumbers, pickled cabbage, dill-Canzonetta cheese spread, and basil. I didn’t realize it until after I had left but every topping was acquired right there at the market making for a very high quality snack. I talked to the people behind La Cosecha and they told me they’re in the process of moving to Delavan (WI) and they hope to have their tortillas available on the Illinois side of the border soon. I suggested they reach out to Agora Market so be on the lookout for them. 

Smoked Trout Tostada at Green City Market
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Andros Taverna at the Farmers Market (Logan Square)

At a time when pretty much everything is getting worse, props to the folks behind the Logan Square Farmers Market which has actually gotten better with its new setup. Not only is it better situated as far as the new layout goes but the vendors are getting better too, particularly those selling prepared food. It’s been about a month since the folks behind Andros Taverna set up a stand ran by my guy Luis who I met the first week. They’re grilling up chicken and pork skewers over live charcoal and serving them in Andros’ signature woodfired pita. Chicago isn’t a big souvlaki town but we really got a good one with these which are the best I’ve had outside of Greece and better than a few in Greece too. The pork is nice and smoky with just the right bite and it pairs perfectly with their delicious dill tzatziki plus lettuce, red onion, and a slither of harissa for some nice spice. The pita in of itself is incredible to where you can put almost anything in there and it would be good but the current combo of flavors would be tough to top. I think I’ve been by for one of these three of the four times they've been there. Important to note these are not available at the restaurant, only Sundays at the farmers market. They also have nice looking Turkish bagels with spreads and some interesting pastries too. 

Pork Souvlaki at Logan Square Farmers Market
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Trecena (Dunning)

Last but not least I recently attended a Trecena dinner which is a tasting menu ran out of Santa Masa Tamaleria. Santa Masa is owned by Chef Danny Espinoza and his wife Johana who are also behind Trecena, the five course tasting menu exploring Chicano food inspired by memory, technique, and the evolving conversation around Mexican cuisine. They do these dinners a few times a month and I was fortunate to be invited to one by Danny and his lovely wife. It's truly all in the family here as Danny’s father in-law and another family member lend a helping hand. It’s a small and intimate meal and each dish comes with a description and a story. We started with a wonderful shrimp aguachile that was extra refreshing on a hot summer night. Next out was a play on barbacoa spiced shawarma served on a warm pita dipped in beef fat. I didn’t get a chance to write down every last detail but this was definitely my type of dish. Same can be said for a plate of cheffed up chicken flautas which were hot and crisp and sat on a tasty pile of black beans alongside some sort of sour cream mousse. The fried flutes were topped with cabbage for crunch and some cheese added saltiness. Fourth dish out was a plate of grilled tri-tip with a lip licking sauce that had peppers and other Mexican forward flavors. The sliced meat was served with a crispy rice taco which was arroz wrapped in a grilled cheese crust. Danny’s wife Jhoana is also a chef and she specializes in pastries and desserts and she absolutely crushed the final course. Listening to her description it sounded like she just kind of put together this bowl of chopped strawberries with a bunch of other stuff that was warm and cold plus crisp and soft. A strawberry smorgasbord of sorts. I had a great time at this leisurely dinner that runs around $90 for five ever changing courses and it’s byob which helps keep the costs down - highly recommended. 

Dinner at Trecena
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See ya next time @chibbqking

International Eats in Albany Park

-Grubbing in Chicago
Five of a Kind: Albany Park Eats

Somebody on Twitter (I’m not calling it X) recently tweeted that “ethnic food” is better in the suburbs than it is in the city. There’s not many (if any) people out there more qualified than me to speak on this and it’s not. It's only true of a few cuisines. Chinese, Mexican, Thai etc is still way better in city. Some burbs do have some good mom + pop spots but it’s all scattered. Bridgeview has great Middle Eastern food but it’s nowhere near Wheeling where people think Pita Inn is the same thing (it’s not). What’s true is that there’s a ton of interesting spots to be found in the burbs but it’s so spread out to where it’s not really comparable. Somebody that lives in Chicago Heights doesn’t have the same options as someone from Morton Grove. But people in Highland Park don’t have close to what the folks of Niles have. You can do the same with the city in terms of the there being more options on the North Side than the South Side but the city is much more condensed when it comes to restaurants. Albany Park alone clears any suburb in a one on one matchup which takes us to this week’s post. Here’s five semi recently opened international dining options I’ve tried in Albany Park of late. 

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Xotikka

First stop is a very new spot at 4749 N Pulaski. It’s so new that Xotikka doesn’t have a sign up yet (Mahi’s Kitchen was the previous tenet). This is an efficient one man operation making some fantastic Indian sandwiches. The first menu item listed is Vada Pav, a Mumbai favorite that spread across India and has really started to take the States by storm too. Vada Pav is a spiced potato patty in a fluffy bun, accompanied by chutneys and sometimes cheese if you please. The potato patty, or vada, is mashed potatoes, herbs, and chickpea flour batter, and deep-fried until golden brown. It's placed in a pav, a soft, savory bun similar to a kaiser roll. I had to get one of these on my first visit as it’s the most mentioned menu item in the few online reviews and I always like a Vada Pav when I get one. This was bigger than any other I tried but still a very good deal at $8 with Amul cheese. The potato fritter was perfectly fried to where the exposed part was crunchy while the inside was soft and super flavorful with a nice and spicy profile. Mint chutney and the option to add cheese plus a well toasted sesame seeded bun round it all out. This was a very good version that filled me up right. I chose to add cheese but it’s shredded and not melted and didn’t really give off any clues that it was being used so I’d skip it. I’ll be going back for one of their Indian chicken sandwiches made in a variety of ways. 

Vada Pav at Xotikka
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Tikal Sabor Chapin

Next we’ll shoot over to 3216 W Lawrence street which is home to one of two spots serving the cuisine of Guatemala in these parts. The Central American country has a very interesting cuisine revolving around Mayan and Spanish traditions characterized by hearty stews, corn-based staples, and mild spices. The menu here is a what's what of Guatemalan favorites including ceviche, fried chicken and even stir fried chow mein noodles as “Chino-Chapin” food is very popular with Guatemalans. The trend began with Chinese immigration in the late 1800s, with immigrant-run food stalls, known as kodores chinos, becoming popular at local fairs. But first things first was an order of the Garnachas - a popular Mesoamerican dish found in both Mexican and Guatemalan cuisine, with distinct regional variations. The ones at Tikal Sabor are made with little puffs of fried masa topped with carne molida, sauteed onions, salsa and a sprinkle of cotija cheese with a vinegar cole slaw. These delicious one bite snacks pack a big punch of flavor. I could’ve easily ate two more plates. The chow mein was also tasty though pretty much something most people can make at home. 

Garnachas at Tikal Sabor Chapin
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Zaab E Lee

Zaab-E-Lee Thai Street Food opened at 3121 Lawrence last winter and immediately started to garner buzz. I visited on one of the coldest days of the year in hopes of warming up with some Isan style Thai food but it was a bit of a mixed bag. First we’ll start with the duds which were a bowl of seafood Tom Yum that had nothing distinct in taste and only came with shrimp. I felt like we might’ve been gringo’d (given the milder version) which sucks is still a thing. A plate of Crying Tiger wasn’t any better in fact it was worse. The steak was a cheap and chewy cut served at room temp. The winners were a very good plate of Sai Oua that was some of the better Thai style sausage I’ve had in Chicago and an order of the Moo Ping with Sticky Rice which was served piping hot off the grill with a very nice smokiness going for it. I might go back and try a few other things that have been propped up at places like Infatuation and r/ChicagoFood but for now I have to agree with Steve Dolinsky - it’s a mixed bag.

Moo Ping at Zaab-E-Lee
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My Doner

Let's head west to 3806 W Lawrence where My Doner has been serving spit sliced Doner since last summer. Turkish style Doner is the original spit roasted meat traced back to the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey) during the 19th century, when vertical cooking was common in the 1830s-1850s. I stopped in around the time they first opened and got a pretty good beef Doner wrap. Not the best not the worst. They’ve since added a “Berlin style Doner Sandwich” to the menu but it’s not going to change your mind about there not being any great Berlin style Doner options in Chicagoland. It’s a good sandwich but it’s lacking in the toppings department and is far from stuffed like the ones in Europe. 

Doner Wrap from My Doner
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Katkout

Last stop takes us to 4734 N Kedzie for more spit roasted meat. Katkout opened last winter in a packed little strip mall that also houses a new Yemeni coffee shop. The menu here has some typical things with shawarma and falafel being popular on top of options like a zinger sandwich and even some less typical dishes like Middle Eastern offal sandwiches. I asked the friendly guy about the offal but he didn’t have any ready to go yet. So instead I tried the “Krispy Shawarma” which is a bit of a viral dish at the moment. Unfortunately what I got was typical “Arab style” in that it was sliced into bite sized pieces and served with fries. I believe the owner is Syrian making this a Syrian style shawarma. It hit the spot but didn’t stand out outside the pricing which was $10 with fries and a drink - good deal.

Arab Style Chicken Shawarma at Katkout
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See ya next time @chibbqking

The Clove

-Grubbing in Chicagoland
Excellent Indo-Chinese (and more) in Glenview

The Clove is a relatively new South Asian restaurant in the Northern suburbs but it also has a bit of history in the North Shore area. It opened in Glenview last summer but the guy behind The Clove used to run now closed The Red Hot Chili Pepper in Evanston which I visited Pre-Pandemic. 

Recently Opened in Glenview

The menu is split into two - there’s an Indian-Nepali and an Indo-Chinese menu. This is fairly common but what’s not is having two separate kitchens (and cooks) for each menu. The Clove is located in a large strip mall so there’s a nice amount of space inside including a full bar which along with the food is 25% off on Mondays. The Indo Chinese food at The Red Hot Chili Pepper was the best I’d had in Chicagoland so I had The Clove pretty high on my list but it took some time to find myself out that way. Well that recently happened not once but twice in the span of a week so I got to try a pretty nice portion of the menu and as I suspected it would be - the Indo-Chinese food here is excellent.

Gobi Manchurian

Indo-Chinese food is a blend of Chinese style cooking techniques with Indian spices and chiles. It comes from the Chinese community that was living in India back when it was said to be created in the 1970’s by Nelson Wong, the same guy said to create Gobi Manchurian. There’s a set of dishes you’ll see at every Indo-Chinese restaurant whether it’s in India, Pakistan, or the suburbs of Chicago and Gobi Manchurian is perhaps the most popular of them all. Crispy fried cauliflower is wok tossed in a spicy soy-garlic sauce but despite the name it has nothing to do with Manchuria in China. It’s said to be invented in India in the mid 1970s at China Garden in Mumbai. I’ve had my fair share of Gobi Manchurian over the years and the version served at The Clove sits at the top my list. First off it’s a dry version so it’s not gloppy from a sauce and it’s got a really nice spicing to it while the fry job is also done well. Resulting in a crisp and tasty product. I would highly recommend starting with an order. 

Dry Chili Chicken at The Clove

Chili Chicken is another dish you’ll find on every Indo-Chinese restaurants menu. It too comes served wet or dry depending on the spot but at The Clove they do both. Again I’m a dry guy when it comes to Indo style chili chicken. This can be traced directly to Yueh Tung in Toronto where they serve a legendary chili chicken that I still think about now and then (fyi the Indo-Chinese food in Toronto aka “Hakka Chinese” is as good as it gets). To me dry is better because it’s crisper and tends to be more intense as dry is the preferred way in places like Mumbai. I’ve been searching for something similar to the version served at Yueh Tung for years now and the chili chicken at The Clove is the closest I’ve found up to now. This is in big part due to it being dry when most spots serve it wet but it’s also got great flavor from the ginger and chiles, speaking of which if you order it hot they bring the heat.  

Manchow Soup

Just like its American-Chinese food cousin, Indo-Chinese is popular to eat in large groups. Usually you order for the table and get a few apps plus entrees and sides. Manchow Soup is another one of those standard Indo-Chinese dishes. The soup has a few defining features including a soy-based broth, strong use of garlic and ginger, and lots of chili flavor. It’s thickened with cornstarch and packed with cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, and a variety of other vegetables plus chicken, tofu and other stuff depending on the recipe. Supposedly the name has no meaning other than to sound Chinese. The Manchow soup at The Clove is flavorful and filled with a ton of crisp vegetables leading me to believe it’s made to order as they wouldn’t be that crisp if it was made ahead. The only thing missing was the crispy noodles on top that typically come with Manchow but all the crunchy vegetables made up for the lack of crunchy noodles (note: they were included on my return visit). 

Hakka Style Noodles at The Clove

The Hakka noodles at previously mentioned Red Hot Chili Pepper in Evanston were among my favorite noodles in town and they’re just as good at The Clove. They get a ton of wok hei in the flavor. You can add chicken or tofu but I like it as it is as it already comes with a ton of crisp veggies. I haven’t gotten to try the fried rice bc I can’t pass on the Hakka Noodles but I’m guessing it’s just as good if it’s cooked the same way with lots of wok hei given off by an extra hot wok. Momo Dumplings aren’t Indian-Chinese but the Nepali and Tibetan style dumplings pair well with the rest of the Indo-Chinese food here. I don’t think of Chicago as a great Momo town but the chicken ones at The Clove are as good as I’ve had in the city or suburbs. The wrappers are thin and soft and the chutney is on point. 

Chicken Momo Dumplings

On my initial visit I was with my wife who really likes Dal Makhani and any type of seafood curry. I'm also a fan of these things so we got an order of the Dal and decided to try the Goan style snapper curry alongside it. The former was good but not great, though it tasted even better the next day. The latter was really good. The coconut based gravy had a sneaky hot spice to it and the fish was perfectly cooked making them the perfect match for each other in the same way The Clove is the perfect match for Glenview. The space is large and clean while the food is fresh and flavorful. 

Dal Makhani and Goan Snapper Curry

The Clove Indian & Nepali Cuisine
1827 Waukegan Rd
Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 999-0862
Website

Lincoln Park Eats

 -Grubbing in Chicago
Five of a Kind: Newly Opened in Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park has long been one of Chicago's premier neighborhoods in terms of living but only recently has it started to enter the chat of Chicago's best food neighborhoods. The food scene in the neighborhood I grew up in has exploded over the last five years or so. Take Lincoln Avenue for example. When I was a kid the stretch of Lincoln that cut thru Lincoln Park was mostly watering holes. I remember when the Bulls were winning championships and Lincoln Avenue was one of the main places people would go to celebrate when they won. Then in the early 2000’s it kind of became dead over there for quite a while until restaurants like Galit and more recently Nadu started setting up shop. Fast forward to today and LP has suddenly become one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods when it comes to opening a restaurant. But how come? Two guesses 1) people have money to spend in that area and 2) it’s become much younger and much more diverse as a neighborhood leading to some interesting restaurant openings. Today we take a look at five spots that opened in Lincoln Park in the last year or so. The type of spots that would’ve been out of place in this area a decade ago. 

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KookKook Khao Man Gai

For our first stop we head over to Clark street which is also booming right now. The stretch of Clark between Fullerton and Diversey has seen a handful of international openings the last couple years. Kook Kook Khao Man Gai is one of the more recent spots to set up shop. It’s ran by a guy from Nashville by way of Thailand. So I was told the owner runs a bubble tea shop in Nashville but he wanted to do something a bit more personal here and he’s doing exactly that at 2532 N Clark where he’s serving up Thai style Chicken and Rice aka Khao Man Gai. This chicken and rice dish consists of boiled chicken, rice cooked in broth, sauce, and a chicken soup as a side. It's a Thai version of Hainanese chicken with which it shares a common origin, though they differ mainly in the sauce and accompaniments. Khao Man Gai is known for its punchy, complex dipping sauce, most often made with fermented soybeans, vinegar, and chili, and is typically served with chicken soup and cucumber slices. It’s not the most instagramable dish you’ll come across but it’s likely to be one of the more flavorful. Kook Kook serves up an excellent version that comes with or without the skin - get it with for extra flavor. All facets of this dish from the tender boiled chicken, to the rice infused with broth, and the garlic sauce are very well made. The menu is small with a few other options including what’s said to be a good Tom Yum  soup plus other chicken dishes like Khao Mun Gai - fried chicken and rice. 

Khao Man Gai at Kook Kook Khao Man Gai
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China Wok

Next we head a couple minutes down the street to China Wok located at 2485 N Clark I’ve featured this spot before as the owner here used to run a takeout spot called New China Station in Humboldt Park where I was a regular. The dry chili fish filet at New China Station was one of my favorite dishes in town until it suddenly closed out of nowhere. I spent a couple years trying to find a replacement for it often to no avail until one day I decided to try this newly opened spot called China Wok that had quite a few Sichuan dishes including dry chili fish filet. As soon as it came out I knew I had found my favorite version again as the owner of China Wok previously ran the kitchen at New China Station. So you know about the dry chili fish filet but what else is worth getting? Here’s my go to order when we go with a group as it’s great place to byob as the family is so accommodating. First up I suggest an order of their old school potstickers which are thick and chewy and bursting with pork and ginger flavor. I’d also go for an order of the Sichuan green beans which always come out crisp with a nice spice kick. Then I recommend a plate of the “Thai Crazy Spicy Noodle” for the noodle lovers in your group. These are made with thick stir fried rice noodles mixed with onion, Chinese broccoli, jalapeño and basil leaves. We usually get the shrimp as the beef is a bit chewy but the noodles are always cooked well with hints of wok hei abound. I also love the “Szechuan Fish Casserole” which seems to be an Americanized description of Shui Zhu Yu or Sichuan boiled fish. This is a popular dish where marinated fish is boiled, then hot oil is poured over it, with heavy use of chili and Sichuan peppers. But whatever you get make sure to try the dry chili fish which is still the best in town on my watch. 

Dinner at China Wok
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Trilokah Kerala and South Indian Restaurant

Moving along we head over to Clybourn just off Webster where there’s yet another string of recent openings including Trilokah Kerala and South Indian Restaurant at 2239 N Clybourn. Trilokah isn’t exactly new though as they moved to Lincoln Park from Mount Prospect. I never got a chance to try this regional Indian restaurant when it was in the suburbs but I’ve been a few times since they moved into the city. Trilokah is cooking up food from Kerala, a state on India's tropical Malabar Coast. Judging by the crowds on my visit they made the right call moving to Lincoln Park. They did a nice job on the inside giving it a fun feel with colorful pieces of art lining the walls. On my first visit, which was solo, I had to try the Kothu parotta - a popular South Indian and Sri Lankan street dish made up of shredded flatbread (parotta) stir-fried with assorted vegetables, eggs, and meat in a spicy masala. The name "kothu" literally means "minced" or "chopped," referring to its preparation method. This dish is kind of like fried rice except it’s diced flatbread instead. Trilokah serves up the best version I’ve tried in the States. It’s super fluffy and not mushy at all with a nice spice profile. I tried it with beef which might seem out of place at an Indian restaurant but not one featuring the food of Kerala which has a large Christian population that often eats beef. Actually beef seems to be the move here, the beef curry has a ton of mentions in online reviews and most of them are favorable. As far as appetizers go the Tawa Roasted Shrimp makes for a great group starter with a thick and flavorful coating. 

Tawa Roasted Shrimp

Beef Kottu Porotta

The menu at Trilokah features quite a few dishes I’d never had before including Kizzi Porotta - a popular and aromatic South Indian delicacy where flaky, layered parottas are combined with a flavorful, spicy meat or vegetable curry, wrapped tightly in a banana leaf, and then steamed or slow-cooked. I decided to try it with beef and even though I had never tried this hands on dish it brought back a ton of memories upon first bite as it tasted like an Al’s Italian beef to me. I can see myself returning on a cold day as this dish had the same warming effect as a pot pie does. On a more recent visit we very much enjoyed the Kottayam style fish curry which is a semi spicy curry from Kerala cooked with kudum puli (malabar tamrind) and red chili powder which produces a vibrant red color that really stands out on a crowded table of food. Be sure to add a side of flaky porotta for dipping purposes. I look forward to further exploring the menu at this exciting new spot. 

Kizzi Porotta at Trilokah

Kottayam Style Fish Curry
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Dimmi Dimmi Corner Italian

Tavern style pizza is having a big moment across Chicago right now with lots of chefs chasing the crowds that come with it. Dimmi Dimmi Corner Italian opened up at 1112 W. Armitage and it’s been a hot stop since first opening their doors this past August. It’s ran by the Cornerstone Restaurant Group which took over the former space of Tarantino’s, a family-run Italian spot that closed last year after a 30-year-run. The kitchen is helmed by executive chef Matt Eckfeld, who previously worked at some very popular red sauce joints in New York such as Carbone. I really like the dining room which gets very lively on the weekends with groups of friends and families sharing plates of pasta and super thin and crisp tavern style pizza. I haven’t had the pasta, prices on that are getting pretty ridiculous, but the pizza is pretty damn good. It reminds me of the version served at Middlebrow as it’s super thin and almost too sturdy if that makes sense. It comes out as if you requested it extra well done. The namesake salad was a perfect pairing with the pizza. Some people don’t like this recent trend of cheffing up a working man’s treat but I find it refreshing in that a lot of pizza out there is average at best. It's the same product at a lot of spots as they all use the same supplier (Sysco) for their cheese, and toppings and so forth but places like Dimmi Dimmi are giving it a bit of a more personal feel.

Sausage Pizza at Dimmi Dimmi
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Le Mistral

Last stop takes us over to the beautiful Belden Stratford building at 2300 N Lincoln Park West where S.K.Y. recently relocated after spending seven years on 18th Street in Pilsen. As was to be expected it’s a beautiful space and a quite large one at that though I only walked through there to get to their new hidden wine bar Le Mistral. It’s a sleek looking spot hidden in a back room that you have to pass thru the kitchen to get to. It has the feel of a posh hotel bar in Europe and I don’t mean that in a bad way. On top of cocktails and wine they also have a little food menu that’s separate from S.K.Y. but I think you can order off the standard menu too. I saw something about their French Onion Burger which comes with a dipping sauce though it’s not poured over the top like those viral ones you've seen on social media. But this burger felt like a bit more than a viral stunt with a nice juicy patty covered in buttery onions and melted gruyere cheese with a Parmesan crisp added for crunch. It’s served with a rich and indulgent gravy like you might find on an upscale version of poutine. It hit the spot but I thought the Parmesan crisp was a bit distracting though that sauce would be good on anything beefy. Not cheap ($24) but with a bit of a tweak they can make it worthy of the price. I look forward to trying the new iteration of S.K.Y. which has a few old favorites and some new dishes too. 

French Onion Burger at Le Mistral
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See ya next time @chibbqking