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 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 the 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 had garments guests could use. But it’s easier to 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 South America. Alice’s Corner is ran by Alicia Button, a welcoming Bolivian chef who owns and runs the restaurant with her husband, Oscar, and their 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 locals are Mexican). The menu has an emphasis on seafood blending traditional taco shop 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 100% halal outlet puts out Afghan comfort food served in pizza boxes that make it perfect for takeout. While it has a small interior with just a few tables, it’s gained a good local following for generous portions, warm hospitality, and it's 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

Joong Boo Market

-Grubbing in Chicago
Bargain Bites ft. Korean Comfort Food in Avondale

It’s late September and the temp is dipping below 60° which brings hoodies and soups back into the picture. Today we’re going to check out one of my go-to spots this time of the year and pay a visit to Joong Boo Market in Avondale. The original location opened at 3333 N. Kimball Ave. in 1992 and it’s become an institution with a second location that opened in Glenview in 2018. Joong Boo Market is a gateway into Chicago’s food culture. It’s the kind of place people discover when they start venturing beyond the obvious and exploring the city one cuisine at a time. Although it’s technically a grocery store it functions as more than that with two different dining options both worthy of a visit, even on their own.

Locals Favorite in Avondale

First up is Joong Boo Wang Mandoo or “the dumpling stand” as most people call it. It sits outside in front of the store and is no more than a walk-up window selling large Korean steamed dumplings (buns) that make for the perfect snack. I’m partial to the Kimchi Mandoo which is a baseball sized pillowy bao bun wrapped around a savory filling of ground pork, kimchi, and veggies. The kimchi brings a spicy bite that cuts through the pork, while the thick steamed wrapper gives it that satisfying soft and chewy texture. You can make a nice snack out of one of these or a meal by eating two of them at just $5 a piece. I can’t think of many things out there with more flavor at that price-point. 

Snack Corner Cafe (inside Joong Boo Market)

Inside Joong Boo sits Snack Corner, a small counter service Korean restaurant hidden within the grocery store. The menu is a fairly long list of Korean classics served at very favorable prices. Last year when I was there around this time I tried the #16 - Yukgaejang - which is a Korean spicy beef soup. It has a deep red, chile seasoned broth loaded with shredded beef, scallions, fernbrake (gosari), bean sprouts, and other vegetables. It’s hearty, spicy, savory, and slightly smoky and very peppery rather than being a delicate soup. The broth is pretty one dimensional but it’s a nice and spicy dimension and I like the shredded beef giving it a bit of a Korean birria profile. The soup itself is a very nice sized portion and it comes with a side of rice and three types of banchan for just $11 as of the time this was posted. Spots like Snack Corner are only getting better as prices continue to rise. 

#16 - Yukgaejang - at Snack Corner inside Joong Boo Market

Joong Boo Market
3333 N Kimball Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 478-5566
Website

Mazor

-Grubbing in Chicago
Masa Specialties in West Town

I always get backed up with posts this time of the year as summer is really busy as far as going out and about. After a bit of a slow start we’ve had a nice run of really nice openings too. Today’s post will highlight yet another one of them. A place that has yet to really take off but should do so very soon.

Recently Opened in West Town

Mazor opened in June on Milwaukee Avenue near the border of West Town and Fulton. It’s helmed by Chef Cristian Orozco, who previously worked at Chicago restaurants like Acadia and Tzuco. Orozco grew up in Guatemala and his food has both Mexican and Guatemalan influences - the food at Mazor is described as MesoAmerican. It’s a casual spot focusing in on fresh, nixtamalized corn masa and the menu is a breath of fresh air compared to your typical Mexican restaurant. For starters the tostada de atun was one of the most refreshing bites of the summer. A crisp fried corn tortilla is topped with bluefin tuna, avocado and salsa macha and it’s only $9. I could eat a few of these and call it a meal. 

Tostada de Atun

Tacos have become way too generic for my liking. Too many spots are doing the same uninspired stuff - steak, chicken, marinated pork that’s never seen a spit but they still call it al pastor and so forth. Then many of them use the same tortillas and top them the same way with standard onion and cilantro. The tortilla is a blank canvas and more spots should be trying to stand out with their tacos rather than fit in. The tacos here aren’t anything that hasn’t been done before but they’re clearly made with care and not just meant to be a menu filler. First off they’re all served on handmade corn tortillas and they come dressed differently depending on which ones you order. The winner for me was the ribeye taco - thinly sliced ribeye meat with a kiss of smoke goes on a corn tortilla with a cheese crust and is joined by potent grilled onions and crispy potato strings that add a really nice crunch while salsa macha makes it nutty and spicy. Again I could make a complete meal out of a few of these. 

Ribeye Taco at Mazor

I’ll always browse the menu of new to me restaurants looking for things that stand out and the tetelas caught my eye at Mazor. Little triangular pockets of corn masa are filled with chorizo and cheese and served with beans, crema, queso, and an avocado mousse. Just like the previous dishes this is driven by the use of nixtamalized corn which gives off that wonderful aroma that sticks to your fingers when you touch it. This is a signature dish of sorts for Chef Orozco and I think in time it will be the signature dish at Mazor too as the taste of the fresh masa really stands out in this dish. I look forward to seeing where this place goes from here. They’re currently offering a tasting menu for around $50 and based on the regular menu it seems like it would be well worth the entry fee. I'm already planning to go back.

Tetelas

Mazor Chicago

485 N Milwaukee Ave

Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 238-9792

Website

Eating BIG in Milwaukee Pt. 4

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- Recent Eats in the Cream City

We were due for a Milwaukee post over here so I threw one together while the weather is still pleasant. I don’t have a ton of new things to say about the city but it remains a great place to take a daytrip or better yet spend the weekend. I feel right at home there even though I’ve never lived there. But I do live in Chicago and Milwaukee reminds me of Chicago in many ways even though it still has a feel all its own. To me it feels a bit like the Chicago I grew up in. It sits on Lake Michigan and there’s similar demographics just much more people in Chicago so Milwaukee isn’t as developed so it feels old school in many ways. Then there’s all the corner bars, just like they did in Chicago, they’re starting to disappear up there but quite a few still remain, just nowhere near as many as before. I always try and hit up an old favorite and a couple new (to me) places when I visit and maybe get to a brewery too. Another trait that Chicago and Milwaukee share is they both really come alive in the summer.

Pics from Milwaukee
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Restaurant Don Lucho

Carnitas Lucho, as it’s called by the locals, is a South Side Milwaukee institution specializing in Michoacán style Mexican food. As the nickname suggests this place has developed a serious local following for carnitas. They sell pork carnitas by the pound as well as in tacos which in my opinion are the reason to come here. The handmade tortillas are large and in charge - simply outstanding when paired with a ton of different cuts of the fried pig aka canitas de surtida. The salsa here is no joke either and simply put these are some of the best carnitas tacos anywhere. But you'll have to plan it right as they’re only open Fri.-Sat.-Sun. from 4a-2p making it a popular spot for weekend breakfast.

Carnitas Taco at Restaurant Don Lucho
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Num Pang Sandwich Shop

One of the more interesting recent openings in Milwaukee can be found downtown at the 3rd Street Market Hall. Num Pang is a Cambodian style sandwich shop that opened inside the hall this past spring. It’s ran by a husband and wife team - Nikki and Brian Podgorski. The sandwich stall draws on Nikki's Cambodian family recipes incorporated into sandwich form. Baguettes are baked fresh each morning and the fillings lean heavily into Southeast Asia with hints of lemongrass and herbs plus sweet and sour notes with pickled vegetables. I saw the ‘Cambo Hot Beef’ making the rounds online and made a note to try one the next time I was in town which was July. The sandwich consists of braised Cambodian beef roast with Papaya Salau, Chili-Oil Aioli, Carrots, Daikon, and Cilantro all on a fresh baked French baguette with a side of infused Pho broth for dipping. The beef is a play on a traditional Cambodian braised beef stew called ‘kaw sach ko’ and it’s dressed with a crisp papaya salad, chili oil aioli, an herb sauce, and cilantro and it comes with a cup of broth for dipping. There’s a lot of components at play, but they come together in a very harmonious way, making this one of the most satisfying sandwiches I’ve had all summer and an instant candidate for ‘Sandwich of the Year’.

'Cambo Hot Beef' at Num Pang
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Doner Kebab

My search for a real deal Doner Kebap in the States continued in Milwaukee recently. Doner Kebab is owned by an Eastern European guy who lived in Germany. They bake the bread there and slice to order from a spit of beef. All in all I thought this was good by U.S. standards but I’m still searching for a Doner sandwich in the States that can match the better ones in Europe. The bread was very nice which isn’t always the case elsewhere in the States. But the biggest difference between how they’re made in Europe and North America seems to be the abundance of fresh toppings you get in Europe.

Doner Kebab at Doner Kebab

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Estabrook Beer Garden

Milwaukee has a very nice public parks system. Estabrook Park is a 124.7 acre county park situated along the Milwaukee River, it’s located north of the city near Shorewood and Whitefish Bay. It’s used for walking, running, biking, soccer, softball, volleyball, skateboarding, playing (playgrounds) and there’s even an 18-hole disc golf course. But this being Wisconsin the parks most popular attraction is Estabrook Beer Garden. It sits on a bluff above the river and was part of the city’s revival of the traditional beer garden culture. I read a note on a plaque at the park that Estabrook’s opening in 2014 helped spark a beer-garden revival across the rest of the state. I like to come here on a nice day and enjoy a boot of beer in the sun while listening to the river flow. Aside from a nice selection of beers they also sell giant pretzels and some really good locally made brats. On my last visit to the beer garden they had a bacon cheese brat on special that I liked more than I thought I would. Really good.

Brat and Beers at Estabrook Beer Garden
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Ferney's Pizza

I’m always keeping tabs on Milwaukee’s food scene as far as what’s new and what’s buzzing and Ferney’s Pizza is that spot right now. It’s ran by Brian Cripps, he’s worked in Michelin starred kitchens and served as executive chef at Tre Rivali, and he’s also competed on Food Network's 'Beat Bobby Flay'. Ferney’s is clearly a passion project as it’s only open Fri/Sat/Sun and it’s ran out of the back of a corner store in an otherwise residential neighborhood. Customers line up in one of the food aisles and make their way to the back where Chef Cripps and a helping hand pump out East Coast style slices until sold out. I was recently in town on a Friday and arrived at Clarke Foods around 11:50a and there was already a line out the door. It took about 15-20 minutes to get up to the front where I ordered a slice of pepperoni and a slice of the ‘Brew Crew’ with Bratwurst, giardiniera, red onion, mozzarella, red sauce, and Pecorino. Fun set of toppings on the ladder but it’s the crust that’s most notable. You can take your slices to the church across the street and sit on the stairs if it’s nice out.

The 'Brew Crew' at Ferney's Pizza
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Ni Burmese

Milwaukee has had one of the country’s larger Lao communities for a bit but people from Myanmar's many ethnic groups such as Karen, Karenni, Chin, and Burmese are newer arrivals. Milwaukee also has a nice sized Rohingya community with the Burmese Rohingya Community of Wisconsin (BRCW) estimating more than 4,000 Rohingya people in the area. Ni Burmese is a mother and daughter operation that opened in Bayview in 2025. It’s a real deal Burmese restaurant serving Burmese / Myanmar cuisine as its own distinct tradition, rather than mixed with Thai, Chinese, or Indian food. Burmese cooking draws influences from all three cuisines, but it has its own characteristics with sour, salty, spicy, herbal, and crunchy flavors. I stopped in last year and enjoyed an order of samosas which the Burmese do with turmeric potatoes. These are more aromatic than spicy but I love the crunch factor from the thin wrappers. I also ordered a bowl of Mohinga which is considered Myanmar's national dish. It’s a fish based broth with vermicelli, traditionally flavored with things like lemongrass, ginger, garlic and banana stem. Ni Burmese serves theirs with a boiled egg, crispy yellow beans and coriander. It was good as is but a jar of spices sitting on the table really took it up a notch. Order the samosas, the Mohinga soup, and a tea-leaf salad if you want to try traditional Burmese food.

Lunch at Ni Burmese
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Todd I Believe I Can Fry

Todd ‘I Believe I Can Fry’ is a weird name for a restaurant but it’s also one that stands out I was curious what it was so I investigated further. As the name suggests this Bayview spot is frying Asian things like Korean style chicken wings and Tonkatsu among other stuff. I was intrigued when I saw it mentioned in a list with Milwaukee's best openings of the year. Honestly I don’t love Korean fried chicken like I do other some things but it hits the spot once or twice a year as was the case here. I tried a six piece wing with the K-Spice sauce and they were perfectly fried. These were some meaty wings with serious crunch and the sauce was super satisfying. I can see why this place is commonly mentioned when it comes to the best chicken wings around Milwaukee.

Korean Chicken Wings at Todd I Believe I Can Fry

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An Ox Cafe

I’m always on the lookout for Lao food in Wisconsin as there’s local communities in places like Milwaukee and Madison. An Ox Cafe is a Lao bar / restaurant on the Northwest side of the city. It’s owned by a husband and wife team with Lao roots. The name “An Ox” refers to the Year of the Ox as both were born in 1973. The menu is Lao / Thai as both cuisines share similarities and it doubles as a dance club at night so there’s alcohol here too. We had to start with an order of the Lao Sausage which is one of my favorite types of encased meat and is made on site at Ox Cafe. Lao sausage is herby and aromatic with a fatty texture and is typically served sliced with rice and a spicy dipping sauce. Really good version served here. We also tried the stir fried baby bok choy with roasted pork belly that hit the spot. The pork was crisp and tender as was the bok choy - a very satisfying meal.

Lunch at An Ox Cafe
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Archie's Flat Top

Archie’s Flattop is an extremely popular, retro-themed bar and diner located in the suburb of West Allis. It’s known for serving some of the best smash burgers in the Milwaukee area. This place just opened in 2023 but did so in the former location of an old neighborhood staple (Randy’s Neighbors Inn) and thus it features a more realistic aesthetic of nostalgia complete with black and white checkered floors, red vinyl stools, neon lights, and a working vinyl turntable behind the bar. I stopped in here with same friend mentioned above so we were able to try both the smash burger and the fried baloney sandwich. The latter comes with two thick slices of homemade smoked bologna sourced directly next door from a local butcher shop. It’s griddled on the flat top and gets two slices of American cheese and comes topped with a house sauce on a soft potato bun with pickles on the side. It’s a damn good version of a sandwich you usually don’t see this far north. As for the smashburgers, they too are really well made. Nothing unique just properly smashed and holding a ton of flavor. They do come with beer braised onions so I suppose they do have a bit of a Wisconsin touch to them.

Fried Baloney Sandwich at Archie's Flat Top

Smash Burger at Archie's Flat Top

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Lonchera El Tapatío Taco Truck

There’s a pretty good taco truck culture in Milwaukee and one of them serves up one of my favorite bites in town and it’s just four bucks and comes served in a styrofoam cup. The ‘Frijoles Charros ATM’ at Lonchera El Tapatío Taco Truck is a classic blend of Mexican cowboy beans mixing pinto beans with jalapeño, onion, tomato, bacon. Order them “ATM” it comes topped with steak, queso, avocado. 

Frijoles Charros ATM at Lonchera El Tapatío Taco Truck
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McBob's Pub & Grill

It’s hard to pick a single favorite bar in Milwaukee but McBob’s serves one of my favorite sandwiches in the city. It’s all about the Corned Beef at this Irish tavern coming up on its 40th anniversary. The corned beef is hand sliced and served thick and tender like a Texas brisket. I like it in Rueben form. The bar is a bit of a dive but the bartenders and customers are always friendly. The Reuben comes with your choice of Swiss, American or pepper-jack and in my experiences the cheese is well melted, the toast is nicely toasted and the thick corned beef is fall apart tender. McBob’s doesn’t stay open late so it’s a great place to day drink as it’s a classic Irish bar with great corned beef sandwiches.

Rueben Sandwich at McBob's
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Jack Pandl's Whitefish Bay Inn

Jack Pandl's Whitefish Bay Inn is one of the more old school spots in the Milwaukee area. It’s a German-American institution up in Whitefish Bay with more than a century of history. John and Anna Pandl bought the Whitefish Bay Inn back in 1915, when the surrounding area was mostly farmland and the restaurant has remained with the Pandl family thru four generations. It’s got the vibes of a classic Wisconsin supper club mixed with German-American cooking. The atmosphere inside is cozy, traditional, and very nostalgic. The bar is a real throwback and they have a nice outdoor dining patio too. The menu offers up German-American favorites like Wiener schnitzel, jaeger schnitzel, beef rouladen, spaetzle, and their signature German pancake. But this being Wisconsin it’s the Friday fish fry that Pandl’s is particularly well known for. Fish options include lake perch, cod, potato-crusted cod, and broiled whitefish. Well if you know me well you know I’m going with the lake perch and a potato pancake as my picks. We sat outside on a lovely summer day and enjoyed the butterflied filets with the same standard potato pancake many spots in Wisconsin seem to serve. I would definitely come back here for a few beers in the bar and possibly another plate of lake perch if it was a Friday.

Friday Fish Fry at Jack Pandl's
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Three Brothers

It’s tough to go up to Milwaukee and not stop at Three Brothers but at the same time it’s tough to go to Milwaukee’s iconic Serbian restaurant and not leave extremely full. It’s also a busy spot that doesn’t open until the late afternoon so you kind of have to plan a visit here with a reservation though I've walked in upon opening and been seated before. I’ve posted about Three Brothers previously - it’s one of the city’s most well known restaurants. It’s situated in an old Schiltz Tied House that traces back to 1897. The restaurants founding father gave it the name ‘Three Brothers’ in honor of his three sons when he opened it back in 1956. The dining room is one of the coolest anywhere - a real time capsule in so many ways. I’ve featured Three Brothers before and I almost always get the burek which you can check in the links for my previous posts from Milwaukee. My most recent visit came with a friend that loves cevapi so we stopped in right around opening for a plate and it was great as to be expected. We actually got the combo plate which comes with pork skewer too and it was excellent if that’s the route you choose to go but I still prefer the small, grilled minced meat sausages (cevapi). 

Raznjici and Chevapchichi at Three Brothers
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Previous Milwaukee Posts

Eating BIG in Milwaukee (2013)
Eating BIG in Milwaukee Pt. 2 (2017)
Eating BIG in Milwaukee Pt. 3 (2022)

See ya next time @chibbqking