Roadfood in Georgia

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties 
- Pit Stops in The Peach State

It’s a busy time in the U.S.A right now as we host the World Cup on the cusp of our 250th birthday coming up and with that I have a post that that fits in perfectly at this time. If you’re on Twitter or “X” as the right wingers call it you’ve probably heard of Freddy from Germany (@FreddyLA7). If not he's a German soccer fan who “unexpectedly” became one of the stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He’s gained hundreds of thousands of followers while documenting a road trip across the U.S. with his buddies while following Germany's World Cup matches. His posts feature enthusiastic reactions to American culture: everything from Waffle House and Buc-ee's to college football stadiums, Walmart, and our many Main Streets. It’s mostly harmless but to many of us it feels fabricated. Why are Freddy and his friends only going to corporate places as far as food goes? It feels like Freddy is a plant made to make Americans fall back in love with America. Some think it’s a psyop by our government and others think it’s an American taking advantage of the fact you can make money on X when your posts go viral. Not once have they boosted some random small town diner or a local and regionally loved eatery - it’s always places like Taco Bell and Wendy’s. To me it feels a bit off bc of that though it’s totally possible he's just a dumb European tourist. I say so bc to get a true taste for America you have to stop at the mom and pop Roadfood establishments like we’re going to visit today. The American South is flooded with these type of spots. We’re going to visit ten places in Georgia that Freddy and his friends should’ve stopped at for a real taste of America. For those of you wondering “Why Georgia?” it's because I cruise through the Peach State every year I drive to or from South Florida. 

Welcome to Georgia
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The Big Biscuit Farm (Rossville)

We’ll start north and work our way south though most of the spots featured in this post are south of Atlanta with The Big Biscuit Barn in Rossville being the exception (it’s two hours north). Believe it or not, legit biscuits aren’t regularly found in the south. It takes some digging to find the good stuff. But the area up here near the Georgia and Tennessee state line has quite a few spots making biscuits from scratch. We stopped at the Big Biscuit Barn for a quick and satisfying breakfast one morning. I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert in southern biscuits but this would easily be the best biscuit in Chicago - and it would be one of the cheaper breakfast sandwiches in the city too ($4.50 each). 

BEC Biscuit at Biscuit Farm
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Fresh Air Barbecue (Jackson)

Next stop up is the most legendary bbq stop in Georgia and one of the most historic bbq joints in the south. Fresh Air Barbecue is located in Butts County about an hour southeast of Atlanta. Established in 1929, it's recognized as the oldest continuously operating pit-cooked barbecue restaurant in Georgia that remains in it's original location. No modern barbecue trends here. Instead, it has stayed true to a very traditional central Georgia style bbq featuring chopped pork cooked slowly over hickory and oak until tender, then finely chopped. The sauce is thin, tangy, and vinegar-forward, with a mild tomato base and their famous Brunswick stew is made from a long-standing family recipe and is a favorite alongside the barbecue. For those unfamiliar, Brunswick stew is a thick, slow-simmered Southern stew associated with Georgia and Virginia. It’s typically made with shredded pork and or chicken plus tomatoes, lima beans, corn, potatoes, and onions, in a flavorful broth seasoned with bbq sauce, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and spices. It's often served alongside barbecue and is a staple at Fresh Air Barbecue. As far as old school in barbecue goes this is about as OG as it gets. The dining room feels like a flashback to summer camp and the lights never go off in the pit room as there’s always meat being smoked since they open at 8a daily. Breakfast hits different down south! 

Chopped Pork and Brunswick Stew at Fresh Air Barbecue
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Nu-Way Weiners (Macon)

The South is rich with old school hot dog stands serving cheap wieners loaded with chili. Nu-Way Weiners is a Central Georgia institution and one of America's oldest continuously operating hot dog chains. It was founded in 1916 in Macon by Greek immigrant James Mallis, same year Nathan's Famous opened in New York. Nu-Way is known for its unique take on the classic Coney-style hot dog starting with bright red beef-and-pork frankfurters grilled on a flat-top and topped with secret chili sauce, mustard, and diced onions. Order them "all the way," and they add their signature creamy slaw. As far as the spelling: "Weiners" is technically a misspelling of "wieners." According to the company, a sign painter made the mistake in the 1930s and the owners decided to keep it because they thought changing it would bring bad luck. The spelling has become part of the brand's identity. 

Hot Dogs at Nu-Way Weiners
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Danny's Melon Shed (Cordele)

If you find yourself traveling along I-75 in Georgia, the town of Cordele makes for a great pit stop. Cordele sits on the edge of Crisp County and is considered “The Watermelon Capital of the World” as it’s consistently one of the top watermelon producing areas in the U.S. The region’s sandy soil, long hot summers, and irrigation access make it an ideal place for growing melons. At peak season, farms in the area ship well over 100 million watermelons a year to markets across the country. We stopped in at Danny’s Melon Shed. This roadside produce operation in Cordele, sits in the heart of watermelon country. It’s not a tourist attraction in the polished sense as it’s more of a working produce shed and melon brokerage spot tied directly into the local farming and shipping scene around the Cordele State Farmers Market. Picture loads of Semi-trucks, pallets, and stacked bins of melons during summer. Occasionally they’ll have a small retail stand where you can grab a watermelon off the load. On this visit they had red and yellow watermelons and they were as sweet and juicy as I've come across. 

Melons at Danny's Melon Shed
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Cordele Recreation Parlor (Cordele)

The Cordele Recreation Parlor is one of those classic Southern institutions that feels stuck in time. Located in downtown Cordele, it opened in 1939 as a combo pool hall and lunch counter, and for generations locals have simply called it "the Pool Room." The signature order here depends on just how hungry you are. For some a chili dog or two will suffice but for others a ‘Scramble Dog’ is in store. This regional specialty takes the chili dog a step further by piling on chili, oyster crackers, shredded cheese, onions, hot sauce. It's messy and filling and has become almost as famous as the chili dogs. The chili at Cordele Recreation Parlor is a classic South Georgia “hot dog chili” style, which is very different from a bowl-of-chili Texas or Midwest version. It’s almost paste-like in texture, so it spreads smoothly over the hot dog with a thin, saucy consistency meant to soak into the bun. Really fun stop. 

Pics from Cordele Recreation Parlor
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DK's Bar-B-Que (Waycross)

The small town of Waycross is the county seat of and the only incorporated place in Ware County, Georgia. It’s also the home to DK’s Bar-B-Que. Locals often describe DK's as a longtime neighborhood favorite that's been serving barbecue since the 60’s. It's the kind of place many former residents make a point to visit when they're back in town. I stopped in on the drive down last year after coming across this place and realizing it’s a bit of a hidden gem on the southern bbq circuit. This Black owned bbq joint is known for its chopped pork barbecue sandwiches served with a house-made vinegar sauce. The sandwiches are pressed giving them extra texture. I ate two and was happy with my decision to take the backroads and get lunch at DK’s instead of staying on the main highway. 

Chopped Pork Sandwiches at DK's Bar-B-Que
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Savannah Fried Chicken (Savannah)

We stopped in Savannah for a few nights on the drive down this past January. I’ll do a separate report on most of the spots we ate at but I wanted to include lunch with the locals at Savannah Fried Chicken in this post as it’s a real Roadfood type of stop. It’s considered one of Savannah's best-kept secrets - an unassuming Chinese takeout spot that’s developed a cult following for its crispy, juicy Southern style fried chicken and excellent smoky fried rice. There’s three tables inside that customers sit at to wait for their food so it’s basically a takeout joint and seemingly every city employee was stopping by for lunch on my visit. Most of them were getting some form of fried chicken and fried rice which made for a delightful combo. Both the fried chicken and the fried rice were really well made. 

Fried Chicken and Fried Rice Combo at Savannah Fried Chicken
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Willie's Wee-Nee Wagon (Brunswick)

I’m always researching spots in the towns I plan on passing thru on a roadrip and Willie’s Wee-Nee Wagon in Brunswick caught my eye. It’s ran by a widow that moved to the area from Chicago with her husband after they vacationed down here. After moving down they opened a hot dog stand that became very popular for its pork chop sandwich and hot dogs among other things. That pork chop is modeled after the Maxwell stands of Chicagoland but since we were in the South I got the fried pork chop and I also got the namesake Willie Dog which is an ode to the Chicago style hot dog. I’m glad I stopped in. I often see restaurants with some sort of connection to Chicago when I’m traveling but most of them have a connection in name only. Willie’s felt like it was plucked out of the South Side and plopped into the Georgia Lowcountry. The hot dog was ok - they’re never made in a textbook way when you’re this far from Chicago. But the pork chop sandwich is the reason to go back. It was piping hot and really nicely fried while the crisp bread with mayo and tomato was a great delivery vehicle. 

Pics from Willie's Wee-Nee Wagon
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B & J's Steaks & Seafood (Brunswick)

Shrimping is a big deal in Brunswick Georgia where commercial shrimpers harvest an average of 2.1 to 3.3 million pounds of shrimp tails annually along the Georgia coast. Because Brunswick serves as the historic hub of this regional industry it’s often called the "Shrimp Capital of the World" as a massive portion of that total is brought directly into local Brunswick docks. With that comes some great fried shrimp shacks in the area. B & J’s Steaks & Seafood is a no-frills coastal institution beloved by locals and travelers alike for its massive portions of fresh, locally caught, seafood and thick-cut steaks. I'm sure the steaks are great but you can find a good steak in alot of places. Fresh shrimp is a different story. We got a combo plate featuring a half pound of fried shrimp plus a half pound of blackened shrimp with two sides. The sides were fine but the shrimp was outstanding. When it comes to fresh caught there’s a world of difference in texture compared to the stuff you get at most supermarkets. Eating shrimp in a place like Brunswick will ruin shrimp in most other spots for you. 

Shrimp Platter at B & J's Steaks & Seafood
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JB's Shrimp Shack (Brunswick)

Last stop for this post is the most recent place I ate in Georgia. We stopped at JB’s Shrimp Shack in Brunswick before making the final push to South Florida this past January. JB's is a family-owned seafood restaurant located just off I-95. It sits in a sea of corporate entities with neighbors like Walmart, Zaxby’s, and Hilton but it’s quickly built a reputation as a standout spot for fresh Georgia seafood since opening in 2024. We popped in right around lunch time and were lucky enough to snag a table right away. Due to its location this place seems to get packed with roadtrippers meaning large families were waiting for tables during peak hours. We were here for the fried shrimp which is locally caught and truly some of the best tasting shrimp I’ve ever ate. I might even go as far as to say it’s the best fried shrimp I’ve ever had but there’s a few other spots in the Lowcountry that also come to mind. The standard breading down here is thin and brittle and the shrimp is as fresh as it gets. We also got a bowl of fish and grits made with blackened flounder that was absolutely off the charts in terms of flavor, one of the best things I’ve ate this year. On top of killer food this place had sensational service even though it was a bit of mad house, it was the holiday season after all. Highly recommended!

Lunch at JB's Shrimp Shack
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Previous Posts You Might Like:

Eating BIG in Alabama (2022)

Roadfood in Chattanooga (2022)

Eating BIG in Greenville (2024)

Roadfood in Atlanta (2024)

Roadfood in Kentucky (2025)

Roadfood in North Florida (2025)

See ya next time @chibbqking

Spice By CMB

-Grubbing in Chicago
Afro-Caribbean Food in Avondale

I’d been meaning to check out Spice by CMB for a while now and I was finally able to do so last week. Located in Avondale at 2853 N. Kedzie Ave., it’s the second coming of a successful catering operation led by hospitality veteran Mychael Bonner, who opened the full service restaurant last February. The menu focuses on Afro-Caribbean flavors in a modern setting. It's located in what some would call a “cursed location”. The building has hosted a few restaurants over the years and none of them seemed to stick. I’ll admit I was a bit worried about this place making it in part due to the fact it was really slow the first couple of months. But social media is still a powerful tool for restaurants and a favorable review from Infatuation created a domino effect to where it was absolutely popping on our visit. 

Recently opened in Avondale

We snagged seats at the bar which was fine by me as there was a World Cup game on the TV and the vibes were lively. Both the setup inside and the menu feel like something I would come across in South Florida (if you know you know). The food is a mix of African and Caribbean flavors thru the lens of the chef and his team. We started with a plate of crispy black eyed pea fritters which were a hit. The menu lists tomato relish and herb ranch in the description but there was also slices of fresh jalapeño giving it a bit of a Mexican vibe. These were great as far as taste but they were served lukewarm which is my only complaint. It's even priced reasonably by today’s standards at $8.90. 

Black Eyed Pea Fritters

Next up was Creole shrimp fondue which was a favorite of the Infatuation crew and now us too. This was an awesome appetizer for a group in that it’s a bowl of cheesy fondue mixed with shrimp and peppers served with a bunch of house fried plantain chips that make for a great delivery vehicle for the oozy melted cheese and shrimp mixture. For those that are reading this and questioning the pairing of shrimp and cheese I’m guessing you never had a shrimp quesadilla on the coast of Mexico. It’s actually a crazy good combination. The chips were a tad bit oily but I can get past that when they’re made from scratch like these were. Visit during Happy Hour and appetizers are even cheaper.

Creole Shrimp Fondue at Spice By CMB

As far as the entrees we both knew what we wanted as soon as we first saw the menu. For Erica it was the grilled branzino with a chermoula spice and Carolina broken rice. Chermoula is a vibrant North African sauce and relish originating from the Maghreb region. It’s basically the North African answer to chimichurri or pesto. The sauce is built on fresh herbs, citrus, and warm spices and traditionally paired with grilled seafood. At Spice By CMB they rub chermoula onto filleted branzino which is grilled and served over a bed of Carolina gold rice which is a highly prized heritage grain known for its rich history and exceptional culinary versatility. Two thumbs up from the both of us. 

Grilled Branzino

I rarely eat oxtail in Chicago unless making it for myself. But that’s because I don’t see it on menus often. I usually get my oxtail fix in South Florida where it’s much more common. So I knew what I was getting as soon as I saw braised oxtail on offer. They served me three meaty pieces that fell right off the bone alongside brussels sprouts and cassava dumplings, all of it sitting in a dark and delicious Caribbean style brown gravy. This was everything I was hoping it would be. The dumplings are a bit chewy and somewhat sweet Caribbean style dumplings made from grated cassava root. I also tried a side of the Jollof rice which is a dish known to create more arguments than most as far as how it’s supposed to be made. I’m far from an expert but I enjoyed this version. It was fresh and fluffy full of spice. They do brunch on Sundays and offer a fried Jollof rice with spam dish that has my name on it.

Braised Oxtail at Spice By CMB

Spice By CMB
2853 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 654-3376
Website

Bánh Mì Ông Mười

-Grubbing in Chicago
Bargain Bites ft. Banh Mi in North Park

Apologies on the lack of posts of late. I’ve been really busy but I’m also kind of running out of spots I want to post about (that I've been to). Then there’s the whole inflation thing and how expensive it’s become to dine out regularly. So with that I’ve decided to add a cheap eats feature where I showcase some places that won’t break the bank. First up is a one year old Banh Mi sandwich spot up north.  

Recently Opened in North Center

Bánh Mì Ông Mười opened last summer at 6257B N McCormick in the North Park neighborhood. I was able to communicate with the old man on my initial visit, he told me that he’s from Southern Vietnam and they make Southern style Bahn Mi. What’s the difference between a south style and a north style Banh Mi? Well according to some digging I did in the South they use a wider and airier baguette with a very light, crispy crust that produces lots of crumbs. Also the fillings in the South are said to be more abundant and diverse. The sandwiches down there feature grilled pork, shredded chicken, meatballs, sardines, and multiple variations of cold cuts. That said I didn’t notice a major difference in the style of Banh Mi being served at Bánh Mì Ông Mười. What I did notice was some of the best French bread I’ve had in Chicago being used - it’s crisp and light and baked on site ($8.95). 

Banh Mi Dac Biet at Bánh Mì Ông Mười

I always go with a Dac Biet as far as gauging the quality of a Banh Mi store. Dac Biet means “special” in Vietnamese. In terms of a Banh Mi it’s the original version made with cold cuts and pork liver pate. The fillings on this one weren’t abundant like they say the Banh Mi in Saigon are but they were of quality and the taste was terrific. They recently added pho to an otherwise tight menu made up of mostly sandwiches but they also have packaged stuff like rice paper rolls on the counter. Nhu Lan has held the title of 'Best Banh Mi in Chicago’ for some time but this place is just as good, if not better.

Banh Mi Dac Biet

Bánh Mì Ông Mười
6257B N McCormick Blvd
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 754-0731
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 

Asian Homecook

-Grubbing in Chicago
Rohingya Style Malaysian Food in West Ridge

Grub is the main focus here but before we get to the food and flavors of Asian Homecook on Devon I have to give a rundown of what led to the recent opening of this family run Rohingya restaurant. The Rohingya crisis remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. More than a million refugees live in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh after fleeing persecution in Myanmar, while those still in the Rakhine State face ongoing violence and severe restrictions. With global aid declining and dangerous sea crossings increasing, humanitarian groups continue urging greater international support and a long term political solution to this persecution. Malaysia is also one of the major destinations for Rohingya refugees in SE Asia as it’s a Muslim-majority country and there’s existing Rohingya communities there that can help with jobs in informal sectors. Malaysia is where the family behind Asian Homecook fled Myanmar before moving to Chicago which hosts one of the largest Rohingya communities in the country. The Rohingya Culture Center on Devon is at the center of that. The community nonprofit was founded in 2016 to support Rohingya refugees who resettled in Chicago. The center provides day-to-day services like ESL class, job support, case management, youth programs, and navigating healthcare and public services. It also acts as a cultural hub where families can stay connected to language, food traditions, and community life while rebuilding in the U.S. 

Rohingya Culture Center of Chicago (2740 W Devon)

I started to notice a few Rohingya owned grocers on and off of Devon the past few years so it was only a matter of time until a Rohingya restaurant opened which is where Asian Homecook comes back into the picture. It opened about two months ago, but you wouldn’t know it if just driving by as the sign from the previous business is still up. There’s a small sticker on the door and a picture of some dishes but there's not much else to let you know this is no longer an Indian kebab restaurant. 

Asian Homecook

On my visit it looked like a nice sized crowd of locals, older and younger, have embraced this place. The menu is made up of four sections (all Halal) starting with roti flatbread. Roti was brought to British Malaya by South Indian Tamil Muslim immigrants in the early 20th century, evolving from Indian parotta. An order of Roti Telur (egg roti) is a great starting point here. It’s made by stretching dough really thin, cracking an egg, and folding it into a square parcel, and pan-frying it until crispy. Asian Homecook serves their Roti Telur with a soothing lentil curry and a vibrant sambal chili sauce.

Roti Telur

Fried (goreng) noodles (mee) are another focal point. An order of ‘Mee Goreng Mamak’ was everything I love about stir fried noodles. Originating from the Indian-Muslim (Mamak) community, yellow egg noodles are stir-fried over a high heat and deliver a sweet, savory, and spicy flavor profile, achieved by tossing the noodles in sambal, soy sauces, spices. The Mee Goreng Mamak at Asian Homecook is a large and spicy portion with tofu, crisp veggies and crunchy chilis for just $7.

Mee Goreng Mamak at Asian Homecook

Fried Rice (Nasi) makes up the final section of food options (there's also a drinks page). Early reviews online point to Nasi Goreng Kampung aka Village Fried Rice. Nasi Goreng Kampung is a beloved, savory and spicy Southeast Asian dish featuring day-old rice tossed with rustic ingredients like pounded shallots, garlic, bird’s-eye chilies, shrimp paste, and crispy fried anchovies and it typically comes topped with a fried egg. The friendly English speaking waitress also recommended this dish as her personal favorite so I wasn’t going to pass it up. Unlike other fried rice variations, Village Fried Rice is extremely savory with a distinct umami punch and extra spice. The use of belacan (fermented shrimp paste) gives this dish a rich and extra aromatic flavor profile that pairs perfectly with the salty crunch of tiny dried anchovies. Diced chicken is included in the version at Asian Homecook but it’s basically a filler. The flavor, and there’s a ton of it in this dish, comes from all of the other stuff. 

Nasi Goreng Kampung aka Village Fried Rice

The most interesting options seem to be the daily specials showcased on their Instagram. That’s where I first learned about one of Malaysia’s most recognizable dishes - Nasi Kerabu. This vibrant blue colored rice dish comes from the the east coast states of Kelantan and Terengganuz. It's made with a delicately floral rice turned indigo blue by steeping it in a water made of bunga telang (butterfly-pea flower). It’s commonly served with fresh herbs, crispy fish crackers, and different proteins like fried chicken and fish plus a sweet and spicy coconut sauce. Wow I thought - this is one of the most vibrant dishes I've ever come across. I would be surprised to learn you can find this dish anywhere else in the city as Malaysian food is pretty scarce in these parts and the one spot we do have is Peranakan, an entirely different group with different origins, food cultures, and geographic locations. My visit to Asian Homecook reminded me of two things. The first was how despite all its flaws just how privileged it is to be born in the USA. The second thing was I really need to go to Malaysia which sits near the top of my bucketlist. The food is a vibrant, mouth-watering reflection of its multicultural society, blending Malay, Chinese, and Indian flavors with spices, chilies, coconut cream. It's said the people are warm, exceptionally hospitable, and famously united by their deep, shared passion for eating, socializing, and celebrating their diversity. A meal at Asian Homecook feels like a sneak peek. 

Nasi Kerabu

Asian Homecook
2739 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
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