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

Sonora Dogz

-Grubbing in Chicagoland
Bargain Bites ft. Sonoran Hot Dogs in Maywood

When it comes to regional hot dogs the Chicago style is tough to top. I may be a bit of a Homer but I do believe that. That said the Chicago dog is one of many regional styles and it’s not the only one that shines. There’s a couple of others just as popular in their parts. One is the Coney Dog in Detroit and the other is the Sonoran Dog in Tucson - the latter of which can now be found in Maywood at Sonora Dogz, a food truck owner Willy Arenas and his wife opened in June. The truck parks most weekends at a gas station in Maywood but also makes appearances at festivals and other events around town. 

Recently opened in Maywood

Willy is from the Chicagoland area but his family traces back to Sonora Mexico where the Sonoran Hot Dog was born. It’s said to have originated in Hermosillo during the 1980s where it began as a late night street food served from custom carts called dogueras. Street vendors adapted the classic American hot dog to local Mexican tastes and somewhere along the line the current iteration of the Sonoran hot dog was born. It crossed the border in the 90’s and is now considered as much a part of Tucson and Arizona as it is Hermosillo and Sonora. Just like the Chicago dog, an authentic Sonoran dog is heavily layered and defined by specific components. First and foremost is the bun or a bolillo roll. It’s split open on top rather than cut completely in half, this helps hold a heavy layer of toppings. The bun is griddled to warm it up and soften it inside. Many spots in Tucson get their buns from Sonora - it’s the most crucial component of the Sonoran Dog. Willy and his wife bake their own buns. 

Menu at Sonora Dogz (click pics to enhance)

The hot dogs at Sonora Dogz are all beef franks tightly wrapped in bacon and griddled until crispy. The first topping to go on is usually a spoonful of seasoned pinto beans. The warm beans are followed by chopped tomatoes, diced onions and or caramelized onions plus yellow mustard and mayo and it usually comes with a roast chile pepper on the side. There’s typically a salsa bar too as is the case at Sonora Dogz. I tried the OG as it was my first visit and aside from the lack of mustard this seemed to be a textbook version. I added some green chili relish and pickled jalapeños to mine and it tasted just like the Sonoran Dog I had from El Güero Canelo in Tucson, Arizona, which famously won a James Beard award in the ‘America’s Classics’ category back in 2018. Big props to Willy and his wife and the rest of the Sonora Dogz team for bringing this delicious border food to Chicago. Sonora Dogz isn’t the first spot in town to do Sonoran Dogs but it is the first place to specialize in them. 

El Original at Sonora Dogz

Sonora Dogz
409 N 9th Ave
Maywood, IL 60153
(708) 375-9798
Website

Shrimp Tempura in Chicago

-Grubbing in Chicago(land)
Five of a Kind: Shrimp Tempura Run

Picking a favorite dish is an impossible task for someone like me who has way too many favorites to even remember them all in one swoop let alone pick just one. But I will say shrimp tempura would make a list of my 100 favorite dishes. It wasn’t always this way but after going to Japan back in 2019 I fell in love with tempura in general and I’ve been trying to find a suitable spot in Chicago to feed those temptations. Tempura has a fascinating cross-cultural history tracing back to Iberian Catholic fasting practices taken to the streets of Edo-era Japan via Jesuits and traders from Portugal who introduced the Japanese to batter and deep frying techniques. In Japan tempura can come in more ways than I can name. It can be a humble dish served over rice (Ten Don) or it can come with a show in the form of an omakase. I’ve long thought Chicago would be a perfect spot to open a tempura omakase experience as people in the Midwest love fried foods but it hasn’t happened yet. When it does I’ll be one of the first people there but for now here’s five spots I’ve visited in search of good tempura. 

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Omakase Shoji & Izakaya (Chicago)

It seems as though most of the decent tempura options are found in the Northwest suburbs but Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is the exception. This West Town sushi spot is supposed to have a very good omakase ($210) but I haven’t had the chance to try it. But they also have a little Izakaya setup in the front room and that I have done. We tried a handful of classic Izakaya dishes including a very good shrimp and vegetable tempura appetizer that hits the spot at a very fair price. It’s lightly battered and has a nice crunch to it. For now, this is the best shrimp tempura I’ve found within city limits. 

Shrimp Tempura at Omakase Shoji
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Tenjin (Lincolnwood)

Next we head north to Lincolnwood where Tenjin (formerly Renga Tei) has served Chicagoland’s Japanese-American community since 1991. The transition from Renga-Tei to Tenjin occurred after a husband and wife duo from Fukuoka, Japan, took over the business back in 2023. They operated as Renga-Tei for roughly a year before rebranding the business to Tenjin (named after a vibrant food district in their hometown of Fukuoka). The menu here is a what's what of Japanese food in the form of sushi, udon, teriyaki, katsu, tempura and so forth. They have daily specials too and it’s a popular stop with Japanese families in the area. I usually get the Yaki Udon or a chicken teriyaki bento box but I tried the Ten Don on a recent visit. Ten-Don refers to a shrimp tempura (ten) bowl (don is short for donburi). The Ten Don at Tenjin comes with two shrimps and a handful of standard vegetables like pepper, onions, and zucchini. Some of the veggies were crisp while others were soft likely due to the way they were placed on the mound of white rice. Ten Don is typically served with a tempura sauce made up of soy sauce, mirin, sake and more but there was none served with this. I like all forms of shrimp tempura so I enjoyed this for what it was but I was hoping for a little more in terms of quality. 

Shrimp Tempura Bowl (tendon) at Tenjin
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Daruma Restaurant (Schaumburg)

Moving onto Schaumburg where you’ll find a trio of tempura options. First up is Daruma. This place has been serving Japanese food since the 80’s. It’s developed a reputation among Japanese expatriates living in the northwest suburbs. They’re known for their sushi and Japanese spaghetti among many other things. I visited one night a few years back and they weren’t doing sushi due to some sort of equipment gaffe so I pivoted to the shrimp tempura bowl. Not bad at all. I liked how the shrimps and all the vegetables had good crunch despite tempura sauce being poured on top. Not the best I’ve had but it hit the spot for sure. Do make sure to try their Yoshoku style spaghetti though. 

Shrimp Tempura Bowl (tendon) at Daruma
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Tempura Man (Schaumburg)

Staying in Schaumburg we’ll head over to a new tempura spot from the guy behind the Chicago Ramen brand. Kenta Ikehata is a Japanese chef who trained and worked at the acclaimed Tokyo ramen shop Tsujita before helping open and manage Tsujita's first U.S. location in Los Angeles. He later moved to the Chicago area (first location was in Des Plaines) and launched Chicago Ramen, bringing Tsujita-style tonkotsu ramen and tsukemen to the Midwest. Tempura Man is the latest project by Kenta Ikehata. The concept grew out of his desire to create a restaurant focused almost entirely on freshly fried tempura, something that's surprisingly rare in the Chicago area. The restaurant is built around a comic-book superhero character called "Tempura Man" - a caped hero flying through the air on a giant shrimp tempura. I stopped by a couple weeks ago and noticed little stickers for a free item in front and I grabbed one and sat down. I asked the waiter what the little piece of paper got me and he told me I could try anything I wanted off the menu. So basically I ate for free (I did buy a beer). I chose the shrimp tempura udon platter and it was pretty good. I thought the tempura could’ve been hotter but it hit the spot in a way tempura always does. Note: Torizen is yet another tempura option in Schaumburg and likely the best of the bunch - click here to see a previous report on that place.

Shrimp Tempura Udon Set at Tempura Man
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Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr (Arlington Heights)

Final stop takes us to Arlington Heights where you’ll find the areas best tempura spot stationed inside Mitsuwa Market. The Japanese grocery store stays packed with people shopping for Japanese groceries and also people looking to eat at one of the handful of food stalls found inside the market.  A critically acclaimed tempura chain out of the Los Angeles area opened there last year. I’d been waiting for a tempura donburi specialist (tendon) to open in Chicagoland so I didn’t hesitate taking the ride out to Tempura Carlos Jr. to see what was up. Since it was a Saturday the place was packed though despite that the line wasn’t that long and they were moving it quite fast. I tried the ‘Edomae Tendon’ which is two pieces of fried shrimp, kakiage, conger eel, shishito pepper, pumpkin, seaweed and soft boiled egg. All of which is dunked in a house tare sauce which is a thin umami rich heavily concentrated seasoning sauce. The sauce seeps into the white rice creating a delicious second meal of sorts after finishing off tempura. As of now this is the best tempura you’ll find in Chicagoland.

Edomae Tendon at Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr.
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See ya next time @chibbqking 

Bennigan's

-Grubbing in Chicago(land)
The Last Bennigan's in Illinois

I recently got the taste for a Monte Cristo which is weird because it’s not a sandwich I seek out in any sort of way. Except for recently when I used a pickup at O’Hare I had to do as an excuse to leave early and ride further west into Elgin where the only Bennigan’s left in the state Illinois of resides. 

Locals Favorite in Elgin

For those too young to remember eating at a Bennigan’s it’s a casual dining chain that peaked in the U.S. in the 1980s and 1990s after being founded in Atlanta Georgia back in 1976. Not coincidentally by the same guy who helped build brands like Chili’s and Steak & Ale. At its peak there were 1000’s of outlets but today there’s just 21 left in the U.S including this one found on the outskirts of Elgin. You walk in and it’s like stepping back into time. The entire place is carpeted and outdated TV’s are pinned into the walls while Billy Joel and Chicago (the band) and other 70’s and 80’s artists play on the speakers. As the sign out front says Bennigan’s serves American fare with Irish hospitality. There’s nothing Irish about the menu unless I guess you count the fish and chips or maybe the fact that potatoes are served in a handful of ways including potato skins which are straight out of 80’s. 

Monte Cristo at Bennigan's

Bennigan’s didn’t create the Monte Cristo but it’s a big reason why many Americans know of this sandwich said to be an adaptation of the French croque-monsieur, versions of it appeared in U.S. cookbooks as early as the 1930’s. Bennigan’s popularized a very specific and very over-the-top version that went onto become iconic. It starts with honey wheat bread with ham and turkey plus Swiss and American cheese all stacked in a sandwich that’s battered and deep-fried making it more like a savory pastry than a pan grilled sandwich. It’s finished with a dusting of powdered sugar and served with raspberry preserves for dipping. I recall having this sandwich once when we were on a roadtrip somewhere. I remember it was a real vibe inside and I also liked the baked potato soup. So on this visit some 30 years later I started with exactly that. Pro-tip: you can get half a sandwich (which is really one full sandwich) plus your choice of soup for $16. The baked potato soup which was more like gravy - not what I remembered. That said the sandwich was pretty good. I was impressed by the frying job as it was extra crisp without any trace of oil. I’m not big on mixing sweet with savory but it all works well together. I wouldn't eat this regularly but I would get it again if the opportunity came about.

Monte Cristo Closeup

I'd like to know the whole story behind this place because the food seems pretty good but it’s also in a random location connected to a Holiday Inn which seems fitting. I checked the Google reviews and "fish fry" was one of the most common mentions. I was intrigued considering how well the sandwich had been fried. I asked about it and was told it’s the same thing as their fish and chips but on Fridays it’s all you can eat. I said what the heck and put in an order. Not bad. Far from the best version I’ve tried but the batter was crisp and the cod meat inside was a delicate counter to the crunchy batter. It sounds funny to say but if you find yourself out this way you can do worse as far as far as chain food and other watering holes goes. After eating I took a seat at the bar and got a beer and the bartender noted their glasses were bigger than a typical pint. On top of that the beer was ice cold. That was fun. 

Fish and Chips at Bennigan's

Bennigan's
495 Airport Rd
Elgin, IL 60123
(847) 488-9900
Website

Lamb in Chicago

-Grubbing in Chicago(land)
Five of a Kind: Easter Lamb Special

With Easter Sunday around the corner now is a good time to showcase some of my favorite lamb dishes around town. I was curious why lamb is so closely associated with Easter and according to what I read it’s due to religious symbolism that goes back thousands of years - mainly from both Judaism and Christianity. But there was also a real world explanation that spring is when lambs are naturally available as they’re born in late winter/early spring. Historically, it was one of the first fresh meats eaten after a long winter and it became a natural centerpiece for a spring holiday meal. Back when I was a kid we used to have lamb most Sundays at my grandmas house but I wasn't a big fan back then and usually walked down to Pop's and ate an Italian beef and or gravy bread instead. But over the years I've come to love lamb especially when it's grilled over a live fire. I wish the U.S. took lamb as seriously as England where it's common but you kind of have to find spots that serve it in the States. So I've gathered a handful of lamb dishes I've recently ate and would happily eat again. 

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9 Muses Bar & Grill (Greektown)

We’ll start in Greektown as the Greeks are serious about lamb. Though the area is a shell of its former self with only a handful of Greek restaurants left. 9 Muses Bar & Grill blends into Halsted where it looks more like a bar than a restaurant. It doesn’t look all that Greek compared to the other spots but if you’re familiar with Greek mythology the Nine Muses are goddesses of inspiration for the arts, literature, sciences. 9 Muses on Halsted is a Greek owned bar and grill with a Greek forward menu. I stopped in here with the alderman and his team one day and decided to try the lamb steak which sounded great and it was. Nothing fancy but it’s far from standard. It comes with extra starch in the form of rice and potatoes and has that wonderful taste of char grilled lamb that I’ve come to love. 

Lamb Steak at 9 Muses Bar & Grill
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Central East Asian Cuisine (Chinatown)

Next we head to Chinatown where the generically named Central East Asian Cuisine sits at the end of Wentworth. This spot is churning out Central Asian food from the lens of the Chinese side. I’ve visited a few times and it looked like hot pot is popular with groups but it’s the skewers that got me in the first time and thats also why I returned twice since my initial visit. I could eat the grilled lamb skewers from here every day for the rest of my life and I doubt I would get sick of them. They pack so much flavor from a rubbing of cumin and other spices along with a trip over charcoal that releases all the delicious fat. They actually have two different types of lamb skewers but I much prefer the smaller ones which are 5 for $5 and listed among the best things we ate in 2025 in a Chicago Magazine feature. They also make a really great samsa here which is a savory lamb pastry by way of Central Asia. But it’s the skewers that always leave me wanting more. Click HERE for a deeper dive into Central Asian food.

Lamb Skewers at Central East Asian Cuisine
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Momotaro (West Loop)

We went to Momotaro last summer for my birthday dinner. It’s not my scene per se but we’ve been fans of Chef Gene Kato going back to when he ran Sumi Robata Bar and the Boka Restaurant Group was smart to bring him on board. Momotaro is a see and be seen type of place but the Japanese inspired food is the only reason I wanted to go. I thought the sushi was just ok but all the other dishes were hits including anything from the robata bar. Robata is short for Robatayaki which is a traditional Japanese cooking style that involves grilling food over hot binchotan charcoal at different speeds. Chef Kato is a robata specialist and his lamb chops aka Kohitsuji just might his best offering. High quality bone-in chops are rubbed with a mixture of red miso, sake, gochujang, and brown sugar and broiled before a trip to the robata where they take on a wonderfully smoky flavor and some incredible caramelization to go with it. They come served with a cup of white rice and I suggest dumping the rice on your plate and placing the lamb chops on top so that so the juices from it can seep into rice. 

Bone-in Lamb Chops at Momotaro
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Bocadillo Market (West Town)

Speaking of smoky and succulent lamb I’m so glad to have the smoked lamb sandwich at Bocadillo Market back into the rotation. This place originally opened on Clark in Lincoln Park but ended up moving to Grand Avenue across the street from D’Amato’s and Bari, a couple of Italian delis known for their sandwiches. I’m a fan of both of spots but the smoked lamb bocadillo at Bocadillo Market might be the best sandwich on a block that also includes Tempesta Market. Smoked lamb is seriously underrated and I think the smoked lamb sandwich from here is the best tasting smoked lamb in the city. You almost wish that there was an option to get it as a platter. The sandwich consists of smoked, braised, locally sourced lamb, mojo rojo (Nora pepper) aioli, shaved carrots, cilantro, fresh mint, and pickled green beans on a crisp Spanish baguette. Served with some excellent Patatas Bravas. 

Smoked Lamb Sandwich at Bocadillo Market
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Al Bawadi Grill (Bridgeview)

Lastly we head to the suburb of Bridgeview - the backbone of the largest Palestinian community in the country. Al Bawadi is basically the anchor of Little Palestine. It sits on 87th street just off of Harlem which is the areas main strip lined with 100’s of middle eastern businesses including Al Bawadi which opened in 2008. It’s a big, communal, old-school Middle Eastern restaurant that leans into a Bedouin and Palestinian aesthetic of patterned fabrics, lamps, and a kind of “desert tent” feel that’s a bit over-the-top in a fun way. It’s the type of place where families go to celebrate so it’s a very festive place putting out some really wonderful wood grilled kebabs. I still remember the first time I tried this place and instantly fell in love with the idea of the wood grilled kebab to where it’s now one of my absolute favorite things to eat. I’ve never strayed away from the lamb which I think benefits most from the use of live fire when it comes to the grilling of different meats. The lamb kebabs at Al Bawadi have basically become comfort food for me as I take the drive out at least once a year to eat them. They also have a second location in Niles these days but I like going out to the original as Bridgeview is filled with other Middle Eastern spots to try. I’m currently working on what’s going to be a massive post of newer places to open in the area since the last time I posted from there so do stay tuned. 

Lamb Kebab at Al Bawadi Grill
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See ya next time @chibbqking