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
Instagram

South Asian Food on Devon

-Grubbing in Chicago
Five of a Kind: New Openings on Devon

South Asian food has absolutely exploded in Chicago over the last 5 years. I see it on a daily basis as I keep track of restaurant openings all over the city. I would venture to guess that one of every three or four openings in the Chicagoland area right now are South Asian in one form or the other. I would also venture to guess that two out of every three of these new South Asian restaurants are in the suburbs - both the Naperville and Schaumburg areas in particular. Interestingly enough Devon avenue or what some call "Little India" is only now starting to welcome all of these new spots to the block. Devon Avenue has been the center of South Asian food and culture in Chicago starting back in the mid 60's when the first wave of immigration from South Asia came with the passage of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965. By the mid 70's Patel Brothers had opened their first grocery store and the stretch of Devon from California Avenue on the western edge to Damen Avenue on the east was fast on it's way to becoming the hub of South Asian culture in the Chicagoland area. Todays post takes us to five South Asian eateries that have opened on Devon in the last year or so. 

__________________________________________________

Curry Kitchen

Our first stop is a bit outside of the action in the Forest Glen neighborhood where Curry Kitchen opened at 5304 W. Devon late last year. Curry Kitchen labels itself an "Indian and Nepali" restaurant which is fairly common. Typically these spots are ran by Nepalese people who feel like they have to include Indian food in the description as it's a bit more known than Nepali food is. That said I stopped in here specially for the momo which are Nepali dumplings. I've mentioned this before but for whatever reason it's hard to find beef momo in the Chicagoland area. The first time I tried momo it was with beef and it worked so well with the spicing which is cumin heavy and if you go to Nepali restaurants in areas with large Nepalese communities like New York City and Toronto - beef momo is always an option. But not in Chicago where it's always chicken or veggie and pork every now and then. Curry Kitchen doesn't have beef momo but they do have goat momo which also works much better than chicken. They serve their goat momo steamed or sautéed in chili sauce and you cant go wrong either way but I do prefer them to be steamed with the addictively spicy chutneys on the side. 

Goat Momo at Curry Kitchen
__________________________________________________



Afghan House

Our next stop is 3.5 miles east where the "Little India" area starts to take shape. Afghan House opened at 2948 W. Devon in the beginning of the year and it's been quite busy the two times I've visited. On my first visit they were so busy that they were out of both the items I wanted to try so I had to come back for them another day. As the name implies they're serving food from Afghanistan including Chapli Kebab - a favorite of yours truly. These minced meat patties are commonly enjoyed in Pakistan and Afghanistan where it's known for its distinct shape, they're named after the Pashto word "chaprikh" which means "flat". The guy in front remembered me when I returned and offered me a hearty bowl of chicken soup to start before putting in my order for the chapli kebab which are made with beef here. These were a bit chunkier than most chapli kebabs I've tried but they were also well spiced like most chapli kebabs I've tried. They come served on a huge piece of Afghani naan which is baked down the block. Not the best I've had but London is far so these did their job and hit the spot. I plan on returning for their Afghani Burger which is actually a wrap with spicy sausages and fries.

Chapli Kebab at Afghan House
__________________________________________________

Kabbab Inn

Alongside this sudden surge of Indian cuisine has come the rise of Hyderabadi food too. Kabbab Inn is a new Hyderabadi spot at 2510 W. Devon. Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and Hyderabadi cuisine is a vibrant mix of Mughal, Turkish, and Andhra Pradesh food traditions. Hyderabad is very well known for its aromatic biryanis and Kabbab Inn is said to have a good one but biryani can be very hit or miss so I decided to try a dish I've never had before - the Parda Kabab. As far as I can tell this is a newish viral dish that seems to be very popular in Hyderabad right now as there's not much info online in terms of reading material but there are lots of videos with it on Instagram and TikTok. From what I could gather Parda Kabab is also known as Iranian Kabab and it's made by wrapping mutton Seekh kabab in roti with different sauces and cheese. The term "parda" can refer to a veil or curtain, suggesting the wrapping aspect of the kabab. I have no others to compare this with but it was something I could see being popular in the after hours with the younger crowd as it's loaded with cheese and served with different chutneys for dipping. 

Parda Kabab at Kabbab Inn
__________________________________________________

Hot N' Spicy Chicago

Even though it's called Little India there's just as many Pakistani options on Devon. I recently visited Hot N' Spicy Chicago, a Karachi-style street food spot at 2307 W. Devon. Their paratha rolls are a popular Karachi street food made up of a crispy flatbread wrapped around meat, vegetables, and sauces. But online reviews of Hot N' Spicy Chicago are mixed, suggesting an inconsistent kitchen. I initially hesitated to try this place due to its emptiness, but eventually went in on a Monday night, only to find myself alone for 30 minutes, waiting for a lukewarm beef roll. It seemed like they weren't expecting customers and I suspect I was served a previously frozen product but at least the fries were hot. Would I go back? Yeah but it's going to take someone I know and trust telling me to do so. 

Karachi Roll at Hot N' Spicy Chicago
__________________________________________________

Mintza South Indian & Kerala Cuisine

Last stop takes us to 2245 W Devon where Mintza, a South Indian and Kerala Restaurant, opened a few months back. One of the cool things about the boom in Indian food is that there's alot more regionally focused Indian spots that are opening. Indian food is very regional but only recently has that regionality started to appear on the menus of Indian restaurants. Mintza is the latest Kerala focused restaurant to open in the Chicagoland area. Kerala is a state on India's tropical Malabar Coast with nearly 600KM of Arabian Sea shoreline. It's known for its palm-lined beaches, a network of canals, and it's eclectic cuisine which includes lots of coconut, seafood, and beef which give the region a distinct flavor profile. There was a time when the only Kerala style food you could find in Chicago was at little independent Indian grocery stores where they sold pre-made food to go. But fast forward five years and we have a handful of Keralan food options with Mintza being the first Keralan spot on Devon. Beef is extremely popular in Keralan food due to a substantially sized Christian population. You'll find a few different beef dishes on the menu at Mintza including a delicious beef curry best eaten with a couple of buttery Kerala Parotta - the popular layered Indian flatbread originating from the Malabar region of Kerala is hand made by the friendly older lady that both runs both the front and the back of the house. I haven't been able to gather a group to try the other Kerala specialties like Fish Pollichathu and Beef Dry Fry but I plan on fully digging into the menu when I do. 

Beef Curry and Parotta at Mintza
__________________________________________________

See ya next time @chibbqking

Five of a Kind: Samosas

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Samosas on Devon

The samosa is one of South Asia's most popular snacks. It’s said they can be traced back to Central Asia and the Middle East where Arab cookbooks from as far back as the 10th century referred to triangle shaped pastries as 'sanbusak,' derived from the Persian term 'Sanbosag’. According to Amir Khusro, a scholar and the royal poet of the Delhi Sultanate, samosas were introduced to the Muslim Delhi Sultanate of South Asia in the early 1300s. Cooks came to Central Asia from the Middle East and worked the kitchens of the Sultan, where nobles and princes enjoyed the newly introduced samosa. From there they gained popularity in other countries like Burma, Kenya, South Africa and Somalia. Pakistani style samosas are my favorite from the samosa family tree. They tend to be a smaller (and cheaper) than their Indian counterparts and are often filled with a spicy mix of ground beef (or lamb) as opposed to potato. A variation is found in Karachi called the Kaghazi samosa which translates to “paper samosa” due to the wrapper being thin and crispy like a spring-roll. I went over to Devon in search of the city’s best Pakistani style samosas and this is what I found... 

_______________________________________

Ghareeb Nawaz 

This is probably the city’s most well known Pakistani restaurant. It’s also one of the best bang for your buck dining destinations in town. They always have a big tray of samosas sitting by the register. When fresh out the fryer they’re some of the crispiest and crunchiest in town but that’s not always the case as they make a large amount which can sit for an extended period. But when piping hot they’re as good as they get in Chicago. The meat has a very nice spice profile though the sauce is a bit lacking. 

Samosas at Ghareeb Nawaz
_______________________________________

Tahoora Sweets & Bakery 

Tahoora is a popular stop for Pakistani and Indian treats. They also have a full menu of savory options including samosas. These were perhaps the fattest of the bunch with the meat having a good kick and the shells nice and crisp. They give you packets of sauce which get the job done but I still prefer the spots that make their sauces on site. Also if you’re looking for sweet samosas this is your spot. 

Samosas at Tahoora Sweets & Bakery 
_______________________________________

Pak Sweets

Here's another spot where one can score all sorts of treats, both sweet and savory and some good sandwiches too (stay tuned). Breakfast is also popular here. The samosas are very good but a little different from the previous spots in that the filling is beef and vegetables. The neon green sauce served with them is what makes these stand out. It’s got real pop in terms of South Asian flavors. 

Samosas at Pak Sweets 
_______________________________________

Makkah Cafe

This place is located right off of Devon on Claremont. I visited in the evening so there were no samosas ready to go like all the other spots but the friendly young lady who was working there happily made me a couple of fresh ones. Fresh is always better and these were on point as far as crispness goes. Inside is a heavily seasoned beef and although these were a tad bit dryer than the others they came with a very tasty yogurt cilantro sauce that kind of hides some of that dryness. 

Samosas at Makkah Cafe 
_______________________________________

Ajwaah Sweets

Ajwaah makes my favorite samosas on Devon. At just $1 each it’s not a surprise to find the filling is only about half ground beef and half greens but it's a fragrant spicing that makes them. I also like how they give you both a green and red dipping sauce. The red is a sweet and sour while the green is a cilantro and mint based chutney. Get there early bc when they’re gone they’re gone for the day.

Samosas at Ajwaah Sweets 
_______________________________________

See ya next time @chibbqking

Lahore Food & Grill

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Fried Chicken on Devon

Fried chicken is one of the worlds most popular meals with seemingly every country having their versions. You’ll find some of the most interesting options in Asia including Chargah chicken from Pakistan. It’s a specialty from Lahore which is the city that today’s stop on Devon is named after.

Locals Favorite on Devon 

Lahore Restaurant & Grill is a nighttime dining dining destination in that they don’t open until 6p with a 2am closing time. It’s a busy spot on the weekends with groups of friends and families sharing large platters of chargah chicken paired with naan and sides. The seasoned chicken is marinated in a yogurt sauce and typically slit with a knife to infuse flavor. It leans crisp and spicy and semi dry from the spicing plus a double fry but that’s where a refreshing cilantro yogurt sauce and some limes come in. If you like it extra spicy try the Chicken tawa rice which is terrific but far from tame, easily one of the hottest things I’ve ate of late. An order of Lahori daal was rather bland when compared to the chicken and the rice but it made for a pretty nice sauce with the naan. Pakistani food has become one of my favorites so this did not disappoint on a night I wanted something that was bold and spicy.

Chargah Chicken dinner at Lahore Food & Grill (click pics to enhance)

Lahore Food & Grill 
2116 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 761-4919

Bundoo Khan

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Pakistani Food on Devon 

It’s been a minute since we hit up Devon. So let’s head over to Bundoo Khan. It’s one of the most popular spots on the block, a favorite of Pakistani families who come from all over the Chicagoland area for Paki grilled meats and Karahi style cooking. Visit over the weekend and it will be busy. 

Locals Favorite on Devon  

I’m not 100% sure as I never got an email reply but I think this might be the U.S location of a popular spot in Karachi. Either that or it’s a spot that wanted to be something similar to the one in Pakistan. The owner mentions the fact that Paki grilled meats were hard to find in Chicago as being the main motivation for opening Bundoo Khan. Pictured below is the Gola Kebab which are oval shaped kebabs of aggressively seasoned minced beef plus some Chinese chicken egg rolls. All of the kebabs are very good from here with the Bihari kebab being my favorite of those on offer. 

Egg Rolls and Kebab at Bundoo Khan 

Aside from the grilled meats, the Karahi dishes are also very popular here. Karahi refers to a deep and thick cooking pot that’s similar to a wok. It’s used to cook and serve up one of my absolute favorite dishes in the neighborhood - Kashmiri Chicken Karahi. Bone-in chunks of chicken are cooked in a silky creamy curry with heavy hints of ginger and garlic paste. It’s pretty great. This is the dish that first comes to mind when thinking about what I want to eat when I’m on Devon. There’s lots of good options found up and down the block but I think about this one more often than any other. 

Kashmiri Chicken Karahi at Bundoo Khan 

Bundoo Khan
2539 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(872) 241-9100
Website

Anmol Barbeque Restaurant

-Grubbing in Chicago

Kebabs on Devon

Today's post was a long time coming. Anmol Barbeque has been on my radar for a couple years now. I have an ongoing list of spots I want to try in my notes on my phone. It's at least 100 deep. So sometimes I can flat out forget about a place. Here's the thing about Anmol though. It was on my Milwaukee list up until I saw a check-in from there by the Hungry Hound over on instagram. At first I figured he was in Milwaukee but then I read Chicago in the description and I was a bit confused. As it turns out Anmol Barbeque has two locations. One in Milwaukee and one in Chicago on Devon.

Locals Favorite on Devon 

If you've ever traveled down Devon on a weekday you may notice most of the restaurants are empty. This can make it a bit hard to distinguish which spots are popular amongst the locals. But if you go on a weekend, especially at night, you can figure out which spots are worth exploring. So I wasn't surprised when we found about 4 or 5 different groups of what seemed to be large families dining in here one weekend. It's pretty large space so there's lots of seating options. The menu here is typical of many others up and down the block. It mixes both Indian and Pakistan menu items. This usually means it's also Pakistani owned. Like so many of the other spots the menu here is fairly large with many of the options being very familiar. Stuff like Samosas, Chicken 65, Biryani, and more can all be had. We started off with an order of the Masala curly fries which are a guilty pleasure of mine. These are usually made with frozen fries but dusted with a homemade spice blend that tingles ones lips.

Masala Fries and Mango Shake at Anmol Barbeque 

But the real reason you're here is for the kebabs. They offer a variety of charcoal grilled options many of which you're probably familiar with if you've ever ate somewhere on Devon. But they also have a few options you wont find everywhere else and the key is to focus in on them. This is best done via the special platter options of which there are three. I read in a few reviews that the third platter was the way to go. It features four different grilled chicken options - Malai Boti / Harabara Chicken / Bihari Chicken / Mango Habanero Chicken. Malai Boti being a creamy marinated bird. Harabara is a coriander laced bird while Bihari is traditionally marinated in raw papaya and yogurt. Lastly the Mango Habanero is about what you'd expect - spicy! The meats are delivered on a sizzling platter with a bunch of grilled onions on bottom. Each option has great smoke flavor from being grilled over live coal which sets Anmol apart from other spots using just gas. Bring some friends and get a big plate of rice to go with some naan and you got a feast fit for at least a few people and maybe even leftovers. 

Charcoal Grill Platter #3 at Anmol Barbeque

Anmol Barbeque Restaurant
2858 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 508-5050
Website

JK Kabab House

-Grubbing in Chicago

Lunch Special off Devon

Hello friends. It's good to be back. Sorry about the unexpected pause but my computer took a crash. Luckily I was able to get it fixed and all of my files (pictures) were saved. Nonetheless I have so many posts that need to go up so expect a stream of them to come. We'll start with a spot I went to this past spring when on a run for lunch specials. I was planning on doing a little special on where to find the best lunch specials but two of the spots ended up closing and JK Kebab was clearly better than the others. It's a favorite with the locals and those willing to look off of Devon. It sits on Rockwell.

Locals Favorite in West Rogers Park 

JK Kabab calls itself an Indian / Pakistani restaurant but the menu seems to be Pakistani dominant. In fact most of Devon is Pakistani despite it's standing as Chicago's Little India. You'll find classics on the menu such as Chili chicken and Chicken tikka. What sets JK apart from others in the area is the fact there is no buffet or heat lamps. Everything is made (grilled) fresh to order. The lunch special is a good way to go should you be there the hours it's available. It includes some Seekh kabab, Chicken kabab, rice, soup, salad, and bread (paratha). A meal fit for a sumo wrestler for the price of just $6.99. Making it one of the better lunch deals in the city. You could tell the kababs were grilled to order while the rice was nice and fluffy which is just the way I like it. Only thing I wouldn't recommend is the soup which was way to gloppy for my liking. They also have a second location in Naperville.

Lunch Special at JK Kabab House 

JK Kabab House
6412 N Rockwell St
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 761-6089
Website

Karahi Corner

-Grubbing in Chicago  

Where the locals eat

When most people think about the food found up and down Devon avenue it's Indian that comes to mind. Sure there are Indian owned restaurants and businesses but probably not as many as there are Pakistani. I could be wrong but when I find myself up around that way it seems like Pakistan restaurants outnumber the places serving food from India. Many of these spots include Karachi in their names or descriptions. Karachi being the most populated city in Pakistan. However at Karahi Corner the name is actually an ode to a type of cooking pot popular in the Indian subcontinent.

Locals Favorite on Devon

According to Wiki - Karahi pots are usually made out of cast iron and cooked using heavy temps. Essentially this a deeper wok and the dishes served at Karahi Corner are not to far off from stir fry. I'd had this place on my radar for a while but due to the fact they open later in day it made trying them harder for me. When I finally remembered to check it out one evening we were warmly greeted by a guy who I believe was the owner. The menu here is pretty simple with Karahi Chicken being the main event. It comes in half or full bird orders and you can also try it with baby goat. Items like rolls, grilled meats, and biryani are also available but you cant not do the namesake on the first visit. For starters an order of masala fries seemed like the right way to go. Even though this dish is usually made with frozen fries it's all about the spices applied and yogurt dipping sauce used. I enjoy them.

KC Masala Fries

All the meats here are fresh and everything is cooked to order. Upon placing your order you'll hear your Karahi chicken sizzling away in the open air kitchen. The bird is chopped down into somewhat larger than bite size pieces (bone-in) and cooked in a dark red curry with heavy hints of garlic and ginger paste. We ordered some naan that was delivered piping hot and used that to pick up the meat and eat. Condiments of thinly sliced onion and a white yogurt sauce worked quite well when added on. I thought this was an excellent dinner. Perfect on a rainy weekday. I plan to go back for more.

Karahi Chicken

Karahi Corner
2658 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 516-4743
Website

Karachi Chat House

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Pakistani Eats

I've been eating my way up and down Devon avenue more and more lately. For those that have never been it's basically Chicago's Little India though Little Pakistan might be a more suitable nickname. There's not a ton of Indian Style Curry shops but there is quite a few Pakistani owned businesses including today's featured spot. Karachi Chat House isn't new but at some point in the last year or so new ownership took over. So if you visited this place pre-2015/16 it's different these days. I know this cause I chatted it up with the owner the first time I visited. It's since become a regular in my rotation.

Locals favorite on Devon 

The new owners decided to add an American part to the menu, specifically Chicago style food ala hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza puffs etc. That pairs with popular street food eats from Karachi which is the largest city in Pakistan. Chat (chaat) translates to savory snacks usually found alongside the road in places like India and Pakistan. While I'm not well educated in Indian or Pakistani street food I've come to love it when I get the chance to try it and Chat House is one of my current go-to spots. Only thing is I've gotten pretty much the same thing on each of my visits. If I'm dining in I always get a plate of the Dahi Puri which looks somewhat like a complete mess but tastes fantastic with all sorts of flavors and textures to enjoy. It's origins go back to Mumbai and the main ingredients in this vegetarian dish include Sev, Puri, Onion, Chili Powder, Mung Bean, Yogurt, Coriander.

Dahi Puri 

My go-to item from Chat House is the shredded beef wrap. Please note I'm not positive as to what it's called on the menu but if you order the shredded beef roll they'll know exactly what it is. I asked the guy working the register on my first visit what his favorite item was and this is it. He picked a good one. Best way I can describe the meat used in this Pakistani style burrito is corned beef. It's not hunter beef (Pakistani style corned beef) but has the same flavors and when paired with some onions and a spicy green coriander sauce inside this is one of my favorite cheap eats in the city at this moment. The wrap is warm and thick like a flour tortilla. Pretty sure they make them on the spot.

Shredded Beef Wrap

Karachi Chat House
2301 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 856-3600

Spinzer Halal Fast Food

-The Sammy's of Chi

Today's post should have come alot sooner than it has. I first learned about Hunter Beef, a popular Pakistani eat, from my buddy Peter Engler who posts as Rene G on LTHforum. He had learned about this dish from another poster on the board and went out to Devon avenue to investigate. Hunter Beef is basically corned beef cured with South Asian spices. It's typically served shredded with sides but there's a popular locals stop on Devon that's doing their own Hunter Beef sandwich which Peter recommends in his original piece.

Popular Locals Stop on Devon

Spinzer Fast Food looks like most other casual eating stops on this block. They offer an array of favorites including samosas, wraps and some wonderful looking shaved ice treats I saw a couple young girls getting down on. On my visit I saw two locals eating a Hunter Beef sandwich which is what I was there for. I placed my order and the friendly man behind the counter told me to take a seat and he'd bring it to me when ready.

A Pakistani Hunter Beef Sandwich

This was a really good eat in my book. I could hear them sizzling the corned beef on a skillet in back and what came out was as appealing to the eye as it was the nose. Along with the shredded bits of spiced corned beef they add in diced onions and jalapeno peppers while cooking. A slather of mayo goes onto a toasted sub roll and it all works in perfect harmony. If you pay the $1 for fries on the side you get a nice helping of seasoned spuds to go with the sandwich. I noticed a local eating his with a side of some sort of yogurt based sauce and decided to ask for one, still not sure what it was but it helped as the meat was a tad dry. The sandwich and fries and a water were around $8 and made for a very filling meal. I wont wait so long to return.

The insides

Spinzer Halal Fast Food
2331 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 338-9804

Cevapi at City Fresh Market

-The Sammy's of Chi

I think I just might of stumbled upon the best sandwich for under $5 in all of Chicago. I was north and needed to pick up some things to make a gumbo with the leftover turkey I had from Thanksgiving. Instead of chasing around a few different spots for what I needed, specifically the okra, I rode up Devon to the City Fresh Market where I knew they always had it.

Popular locals grocer at Devon and Kedzie

Located at the corner of Devon and Kedzie, depending on which way you're going you could consider this the beginning or end of one of the more international stretches in all of the city. Starting East you'll find a few blocks dominated by Latin American grocers and as soon as that ends it turns into the cities main stretch for all your Middle Eastern grocery needs. As that goes on for a couple miles it eventually turns hardcore Jewish with many Hasidic bakeries and shops and then Eastern European as you hit City Fresh.

Some items inside

I've always liked City Fresh when I was around and needed something as they have a nice selection catering to all of the different neighborhood residents with a specialty in Eastern European goods. They offer many different bottles of booze from the old country that I've never heard of. The sausage and smoked meat has it's own corner in back. The deli provides popular made in house Eastern European snacks like Sarma. It consists of "grape, cabbage or chard leaves rolled around a filling usually based on minced meat, or a sweet dish of filo dough wrapped around a filling often of various kinds of chopped nuts. It is found in the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire from the Middle East to the Balkans and Central Europe" from Wikipedia. I've always wanted to try their made in house ljuta rostiljska kobasica (Polish Spicy Sausage) sold in packages with the meats as well as their cevapi which they make in both beef/lamb and beef/pork form. They even sell baked in house lepinja bread so you can build your own sandwiches at home. Then I noticed they had a grill where they'll make it there for you and Pakistani for lunch was put on hold.

Grilled to order Cevapi Sandwich from City Fresh Market

If you click the pic of the deli counter you'll notice on the sign that they offer Cevapi sandwiches with your choice of beef/lamb or beef/pork, five total, for $4.99. If you've ever seen the bread you know it's about the size of Barry Bonds on the Giants head so I said hell yeah, that's a steal and ordered one up. What exactly is Cevapi? The word comes from the Persian word Kebab. Its a grilled skinless sausage or kebab popular in Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia amongst other places. Traditionally they're served with the aforementioned lepinja bread as well as diced onion and both Kajmak and Ajvar. The first being a really rich and creamy dairy product made from cows milk that goes on the bottom bun, followed with onion so they stick and the latter being a red pepper paste that gets spread across the top. All of this is made in house and for $5 I cant tell you of a better sandwich as far as both taste and portion goes. Just know if Jared had been eating these all the time instead of Subway, he'd of blown up past 450 pounds by now.

A steal of a sandwich

City Fresh Market
3201 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 681-8600
Website