Mom & Dad's Deli

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Sub Sandwiches in Clearing

While no restaurant is unknown in the era of the internet, some places remain relatively unknown. One such spot in Chicago is Mom & Dad's Deli out by Midway airport. Ok it's on the Southside so you figure lots of people wouldn't have a clue it existed but if you live or work out near Midway you most likely know Mom and Dad. They're the older Korean couple behind this classic sandwich shop.

Locals Favorite in Clearing 

Chicagoan's old enough to remember the 'Streets and San Mans' guide to food dives in Chicago will appreciate a place like this. That's bc the majority of their clientele seems to be the Streets and San man type. Whether you work for the city or at the airport or you just live down the block this is your spot. It's a time honored deli ran by two engaging owners. Sandwiches are made to order with items like roast beef made in-house. The homemade soups are popular too. Personally I'll judge a sub sandwich shop in Chicago by their Italian. Mom and Dad make a fine version that includes sliced pickles which I'm not opposed to. Judging by the care put into the Italian which was put together perfectly I'm guessing any sandwich they make will hit the spot if that's what you like. I'd say we need more Mom & Dad's Deli's but then it wouldn't be such a gem of a spot. The opposite of a Subway.

Italian Sub at Mom & Dad's Deli 

Mom & Dad's Deli
6345 S Central Ave
Chicago, IL 60638
(773) 767-3354

Five More Burgers

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Chi

We have an announcement to make here at chibbqking. During the month of May, which is also national hamburger month, we will have all posts from it in 2011 dedicated to some great burgers around the country that I have consumed over the last year. In fact I've had so many burgers over the last 12 months that I would bet cash money with anyone who thinks they have had more than me. Seriously, I highly doubt it. So by all means, please stay tuned. The "five more..." series is an ongoing one here at S'C'&C and we will continue with that today as we chow down five more burgers from around Chicagoland. Eat up and enjoy!
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Illinois Bar & Grill


a locals favorite on 47th street out by Midway

Illinois Bar & Grill has long been a favorite of mine. I've been going here for a couple decades now. It was featured back in May of '09 on this site and I've been back there a few times since it's original post which can be found HERE. I found myself at IB&G a few months back late into the night one evening as I stopped in for a beer and burger with a friend. The place still has the same great vibe but has also updated their furniture and bar area. The smell of fresh cut wood is in the air now as they have redone the whole bar and seating area with new furniture managing to keep that old school vibe alive that so many love. On my last visit I had one of their classic and massive cheeseburgers taken up another notch with bacon added on. This bad boy can hang out with the greats. Check it out.


Bacon Cheeseburger from Illinois Bar & Grill
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Budacki's


a locals favorite along Damen ave in Lincoln Square

Budacki's is another spot that has been featured here on the site. Back in November of '08 it was introduced as was the "KingT's Wing Fling" series which also featured the hot dogs from here. Well as it turns out they make a very good burger as well. The menu here is pretty solid as far as everything being good as long as that's what your in the mood for. So about a week back I found myself near Budacki's and in the mood for a burger. So I stopped in and gave one a try. I'm glad I did. A 1/2 pound double cheese with fries and a can of pop is just a little over $6 and worth every penny. They take two fresh patty's of beef and throw them on the grill and smash them down while cooking. They go onto a toasted sesame seed bun with the toppings of your choice. McDonald's, Burger King etc...wish they were like this.


Double Cheeseburger from Budacki's
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My Creamery/Iron Horse Express


a small chain in the southern suburbs of Chicago

Last year around this very time I was out and about in the south suburbs and while out there I drove by one of these spots. The Creamery has seven locations around the Southern suburbs of Chicago and as I drove by one of them one day, the "Rainbow Cone Served Here" sign in the window caught my eye. Rainbow Cone is a Chicago southside tradition that will get it's day here on the site sometime this summer. Meanwhile these Creamery's that can be found serve Rainbow cones as well as their other homemade flavors, they also have a grill serving burgers etc...So I decided to give one a try that day and it was a-ok. Nothing too special but a very good eat for the less than $5 it costs. I didn't get to try any of their ice cream but I will if I ever pass one by in the summertime.


Cheeseburger from Iron Horse Express
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Good Burger


Located on Burnham ave in Calumet City

I was cruising thru Cal City when this place Good Burger caught my eye. The promise of hand packed patty's and specialty burgers was too much to pass up so I did a U-turn and headed in for a bite. The menu features a few specialty burgers as well as the regulars like chicken sandwiches, wings etc...It's located inside an old Bakers Square or something to that extent but I went in anyway. I ended up going with the cheeseburger with the works minus the ketchup which came with fresh cut fries. It wasn't anything to write home about. You can see the picture below.


Cheeseburger from Good Burger
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Hamburger King


an old locals favorite in Wrigleyville

It's almost springtime which means baseball isn't far away. With that comes trips to Wrigley and Comiskey to watch some major league baseball. Hamburger King aka Chester's which is about a 10 minute walk from Wrigley Field has been featured on here before. It is one of my favorite breakfast stops in the city and you should really check out it's complete report HERE. It's so good and in my regular chowing rotation enough that it's actually been featured twice so check HERE too. It was Sunday morning and I was in need of something other than liquid in my stomach and Hamburger King came to mind. My thought was maybe it was time to try the massive heart fighting burger I had planned too for a while now so that's what I did.


KingT's special at the Hamburger King

From the bottom up: Double cheeseburger with some aromatic grilled onions topped with two slices of American cheese which is then topped with a fried egg followed by two cooked 'til perfectly crispy pieces of bacon, and then all that is topped with some rice and gravy that is thrown onto the upper part of the hamburgers bun. Put together and enjoy! This is one of the baddest hamburgers in the city, don't mess with it unless you have been in battles with burgers like it before.


Who want what?
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Illinois Bar & Grill on 47th*
4135 W 47th St
Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 847-2525
Website
*Also a location at Midway Airport

Budacki's Drive In
4739 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 561-1322

My Creamery/Iron Horse Express
Click HERE for locations

Good Burger
634 Burnham Ave
Calumet City, IL 60409
(708) 801-9980

Hamburger King
3435 N Sheffield Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 281-4452
Note: Open for breakfast/lunch only
Menu

Scatchell's Beef

--Got Beef? Italian Beef
as seen on 'What's Your Beef?'

Scatchell's beef and pizza is a tiny little shack located right along the border of Chicago and Cicero on Cermak and is technically in the Village of Cicero. It's a place that I had been to once or twice in my time at a younger age and for whatever reason never got back to it. The fact that its not too far from Midway airport makes it one of the best if not the best beef available upon your arrival into Chicago should you land at Midway. Scatchell's has been a fixture of Cicero since 1953 when Stubby and Eddie Scatchell opened its doors. When driving down Cermak it is very easy to recognize at night the sign with flashing lights. It was around 1995 that the owners of Scatchell's decided to let the people of Cicero get a days worth of work done in one swoop when they opened a car wash and laundromat in the same strip mall as the restaurant.


Since 1953

The idea was that maybe if the current owners who bought the store from the original owners brought people into the lot to wash their cars or do laundry they would pick up a quick bite to eat from the dog stand. Scatchell's is a classic Chicago dog stand, there's no where to sit but you can eat at the counter along the walls, take outside or take it to go. The menu is features all the usual suspects. Along with the Italian Beefs they offer up all the others like Italian sausage, Polish Sausage, Vienna Hot Dogs and slices of pizza which were introduced in the 90's and is about the only thing that's changed since it got its start over 50 years ago. I'm glad I finally made it back to Scatchell's because they really do a good job with everything including this Italian sausage. It had me thinking that maybe there's another combo out there worthy of a shot at Johnnie's crown.


Scatchell's sausage with hot peppers is a very nice version

The star of the show on this menu is the beef and its not hard to taste why. The beef is sliced thin and tastes great in the spiced gravy and is loaded into the sandwich and topped off with some of my favorite housemade giardineria. They go thru alot of beef in a days work so the bread is always fresh and the price is right as far as a great lunch and one of the better beefs in Chicagoland. It was on my last visit that I realized that Scatchell's is one of the best Italian beefs in the only city to get one of them. Anyone traveling into the city thru Midway airport might want to check this place out if you already aren't. Its no secret that Scatchell's is a player in the beef game.


Scatchell's beef with hot

Rating Scale 5/5

beef: 4
bread: 4
gravy: 4
hot peppers: 5

Score: 17/20

Scatchell's Beef & Pizza
4700 W Cermak Rd
Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 656-0911

Quick Note: beef with hot is back to its monthly updates. You can expect a few beef shack scores a month.

Illinois Bar & Grill

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Chi

Ever had that hankering when you just need a big, juicy burger and nothing else? We all get it, even vegetarians, though they wouldn't admit it, get it. Lucky for the people of Archer Heights they have had Illinois Bar & Grill at the corner of 47th and Kedvale. Many people that are lifelong 50+ year old Chicagoans will tell you that the IBG is a real Chicago bar. In fact some of my oldest food memories come from IBG when my uncle would take us here when we were kids for their ginormous greasy burgers. Back then it seemed like these bad boys were the size of a medium pizza. I remember not being able to fit it in my mouth and so the bartender would cut the burger into pizza slices for the youngsters so we could eat the thing. If Illinois Bar & Grill sounds familiar to out of towners its probably because they also have a location at Midway airport and a recently closed down location on Taylor St. But if you want to get the real thing and experience the real atmosphere of where it all started then you need to visit the 47th St. location.


You can miss it in an instant

Illinois Bar & Grill is an old school southside bar with the same set of regulars who been going there for decades. The regulars will be seated at the bar controlling the remote watching whatever is on TV and there will be a bartender and a grill cook. Usually the place is pretty empty but never totally empty. There's always a few people be it solo or a group who are enjoying IBG greasy grub. Whats on the menu? I couldn't tell you except for the fries and half pound monster burgers I spoke of above. People go to IBG for one of two things: 1) to get piss drunk and 2) to get a burger. I imagine some people do both one and two. When you want a monster burger in Chicago its available over on 47th St. Its hard to eat a cheeseburger and fries if your solo and not a professional eater but I recommend getting an order of fries regardless. The fries pictured below easily serve 2-3 people and are some of the best fries alongside a burger your going to find. All the better that burger is legit.


fresh cut twice fried fries

Illinois Bar & Grill has some real old school character but the real reason people stop in for a glass of old style is the cheeseburger. Over there they been doing it the same way on the same greasy top since they opened. You'll get a half pound patty they throw on the greasetop cooked perfect with crispy edges, throw it on an oversized bun then load that with a bunch of grilled onions, two slices of cheese and the option for pickles and tomato. In the end you get a mega burger that would make Homer Simpson switch his regular hangout from Moe's to Illinois Bar & grill. Don't be afraid to use 7 or 8 napkins from the roll on the table next to the ketchup and mustard. They're there for a reason. I have never had a chance to try their breakfast but I could almost guarantee the sandwiches are good. One day I'll let you know if you don't find out before me.


Regular cheeseburger from Illinois Bar & Grill

Overall Grade: A-

Strengths: the best thing it has going for it is the price and size but without a juicy patty and the right condiments to accompany it I could care less about either. Instead IBG does it perfectly and I cant think of a better burger that's going to leave you stuffed no matter what. Like the rest of the good old school joints around the country they stick with what they've been doing since day 1 and that a big time burger. Extra points for the perfectly fried fresh cut fries and the load of grilled onions that takes the burger to the next level.

Weakness': There's really nothing not too like. the burger will get messy but what do you expect from an oversized giant? Unlike some stingy places these days they leave a whole roll of paper towels and as said above the price is right.

Illinois Bar & Grill on 47th*
4135 W 47th St
Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 847-2525
Website
*Also a location at Midway Airport

Polka with some Pierogis

-Grubbing in Chicago
Where the locals eat.

I got an email last month from an avid reader from the South Side who asked me why I hadn't been to any of the citys Polish bar's for some food and booze. Then coincidentally I was driving by his local watering hole a couple weeks later. The Karolinka Club on Central ave. just across the street from the private jet entrance at Midway airport. In case you not from here and haven't been able to figure it out thru this site...Chicago is a very diverse city. We have more Polish people than any city in the world with the exception of Warsaw in Poland. The city's Polish community is concentrated on the Northwest and Southwest sides along Archer ave and Milwaukee ave. There is an extensive amount of Polish bakeries and sausage shops and one of the city's signature food items is the Maxwell Street Polish. The Karolinka club sits where the once famous Baby Doll Polka club used to sit. Imagine if your Polish mom and dad decided they wanted to open up a bar like back home with a little bit of Chicago thrown in. That's the Karolinka Club. Its got decorations up for every holiday and they pour a strong drink and have Okocim beer on tap with the large pint glasses.


Across from the Private Jet entrance at Midway

Since the Polish community is so dominant in Chicago compared to elsewhere you will find different regional variations of Polish cuisine around the city. Along with the usual offerings of potato pancakes, both meat and potato pierogis, Polish kielbasa sausage and pork tenderloin sandwiches they are said to have the best Silesian food in America. ts different than other styles of cooking around Poland in that its more fatty and has alot more calories. Its still enjoyed around Poland and Chicago despite the advise of modern day dietitians. Karolinka club offers a variety of homestyle Silesian dishes on the weekends as well as was what was described by the hot Polish bartender as the "best Silesian club in the world"


Silesian Dish


Potato Pancakes


Meat Pierogi with bacon bits

Based on the above average pancakes and pierogis I will no doubt be back to try some more of the Silesian eating. The problem with it is that after eating a plate of food that would make Bill Swerski scream mercy its hard to start drinking big glasses full of good beer and partying the night away with some pretty Polski ladies. All while the men all stare in envy pissed off wondering why they wore their best jumpsuit to the club with the chain they paid to borrow from the local pawn dealer and brought out the Michael Jordan cologne for the occasion. I keed, I keed in all seriousness though it is a locals working class bar that seems to cater to the usual crowd on the weekdays and a younger crowd on the weekends. I'll be back to scope out the scene on the weekends this summer and eat some more

Karolinka Polka Club
6102 S Central Ave
Chicago, IL 60638
(773) 735-0818

Top Notch Tacos Al Pastor

Eating like a Mayan King in the Windy City

Taco's al pastor translates to marinated pork and can be found on almost every Mexican restaurant in the entire city's menu. However there are only a small percentage of spots that do the Mexico City specialty the real way. I fell in love with real tacos al pastor in Cancun of all places when I was on spring break back in 2000. Tacos al pastor get their nickname "Mexican gyros" due to the proper preparation of these special Mexican treats and the fact that they may have been created after shawarma by Lebanese immigrants who came to Mexico. The restaurants that do it right start by marinating pork and layering it on a spit with onions in between every few layers and a pineapple on top that drips down as the spit turns creating amazing crispy pieces of flavorful pork that melt on your tongue. The authentic taco al pastor is topped with fresh onions and cilantro and maybe a lime and some salsa roja. The problem is unless your at a taqueria that specializes in tacos al pastor its not worth ordering. Oh but when it is their specialty and you can see a spit roasting behind the counter than odds are its the real deal.


a real al pastor spit

For Chicagoans even though there are a bunch of spots that specialize in al pastor they can still be hard to find since there are 100's of 1,000's of Mexican taquerias. I for one am always on the prowl for more so check back here for reviews of the stands that succeed in pork from a spit. Ever since I ate those shaved tacos in Cancun I have been on the lookout for the authentic spots with the best representation of this popular Mexican taco and I just recently found one of my new favorites. The Midway airport neighborhoods are rich in ethnic cuisine with a selection of Mexican being everywhere. One of the best spots to eat in the land of Southwest airlines is taqueria el pastor.


on 63rd in Gage Park

The perfect taco al pastor start with the meat. The meat should be caramelized, flavorful and finely shaved and in pieces and not one large strip and topped with fresh onion and cilantro. Check, check, check and check when it comes to taqueria el pastor. Another big key to having great al pastor is a hot flame so that the pork gets crispy and a steady, not busy, but frequent visitors every 10 minutes or so. This ensures that the meat will be perfectly crisped and not cut too early. Many places have just started to cut the meat and store it in a container and crisp it up on the griddle when somebody orders them. I didn't experience any of these problems at this wonderful taqueria. Its owned by a man who takes his al pastor seriously and its the star of the show. Its why people choose to eat their lunch at this specific spot instead of one of the 100's of others. One last important thing to mention is that tacos al pastor places much like BBQ can have off days but when you hit them on an "on" day there are few things more satisfying for a quick cheap lunch that's full of flavor.


tacos al pastor

Taqueria El Pastor
4418 W 63rd St
Chicago, IL 60629
(773) 284-1003