Don Alfredo Carnitas

Eating like a Mayan King in the Windy City
Crazy for carnitas?

Chicagoland is home to almost two million people of Mexican descent and what seems like almost two million Mexican restaurants. The options are endless and it would be impossible to try every single spot so I'm lucky I found Don Alfredo Carnitas. It happened after I had a very unsatisfying sub from a well known joint in Forest Park. In Mexico pork carnitas are a specialty where they take all parts of the pig and fry it in large barrels of lard for an extended period of time and then proceed to chop it all up and throw it in tacos. When ordering carnitas you are usually offered outside pieces from the shoulder that are crispy or innards pieces like tendons and all that stuff with the flavor.


Don Alfredo has three locations

Yep it was attached to a gas station which can either be a good thing or a terrible thing. Its always a good sign when there's about 10 different people waiting for takeout. It was even better to see that they were all taking carnitas. I opted for two carnita tacos but chose for the homemade tortillas instead of the $.99 special with store bought. The homemade tortillas may be a weekend thing but they are an option I would advise greatly that you choose them. As much as I love Mexican food and pork I am by no means a carnita expert. I do know a damn fine taco when I taste one and these were really good and the homemade tortilla and homemade salsas took them over the top. I especially liked the fact that there were some really crispy pieces paired with some extra juicy chunks. I think they were $1.50/each and worth every penny.

I got the feeling from the smell of the heavenly hog with lines of people and fact it is attached to a gas station that it was good eating and it was. Even though there can be a line it moves fast and on the weekends its quite entertaining watching everything go on right in front of you behind the plexi-glass. The men are frying and chopping the carnitas while the women prepare homemade salsas and tortillas and they sure make a great team.


Two carnita tacos with onion, cilantro and lime served on homemade tortillas

Don Alfredo Carnitas (3 locations)
15 N. 1st ave.
Maywood, IL 60153
708 343 3351

Burgers from Moody's Pub

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Chi

The burgers at Moody's Pub have been on most compiled lists of the top burger in Chicago since they started making these lists. Moody's is a cozy locals pub in the Edgewater neighborhood thats been since 1959 and always had a reputation for a great burger. It can be cozy spot in the winter when the fireplaces are burning and also a relaxing spot to enjoy a beer outside during summertime when they have the beer garden open. On the inside is an old school wood paneled bar and wooden tables for seating with peanuts at each one. The lighting is dark and it may very well be Chicago's most romantic spot to have a burger with the fireplaces and all. But how is that burger? does it live up to the hype? I haven't been to this place since I was in H.S in the late 90's and remembered liking it. Now it was time to give it a try again and see just how good the burger is.


Moody's Pub in Edgewater

Upon arrival into Moody's it feels like you have transfered from the bustling city life outside into a Wisconsin Northwoods tavern inside. Its dimly lit and the smell of the grill immediately gives a pleasant aroma inside. The wood paneled bar has a few regulars sipping beer and the tables are filled with friends and dates enjoying food, drink and banter. It was a snowy day outside so we took a spot near one of the fires and ordered a few brews, onion rings to start and some burgers. As we waited for food the atmosphere was chill and everyone was having a good time and in full holiday mode.


Moody's Onion Rings

So did the burger live up to the hype? yay and nay. I thought the burger was good and quite satisfying and enjoyed the fact it was grilled and the fresh toppings that came on top, I always enjoy a full onion slice when the onions aren't grilled. The biggest beef I had with this burger was the seasoning it just tasted very plain to me with the unseasoned meat and the lettuce, tomato and onion. The fries were very good and I liked the onion rings for the fact that there were real rings of onion inside but still prefer the beer battered variety to Moody's style. I wouldn't be surprised if the rings came from the freezer. The burger was a good one that I would return for if I lived in the area or knew someone who did and wanted to grab a beer and burger. I wouldn't call it destination driving but might call it best in neighborhood. I have had plenty of bad burgers in my eating days and this isn't one of them but its also not one of the best.


Cheese Moodyburger from Moodys Pub

Overall Grade: B-

Strengths: The fresh grilled (points for that) patty was juicy and comes with fresh toppings and is a very respectable price for a burger and fresh cut fries. Extra points for the fact you can have a beer and the atmosphere inside is great during both summer and winter.

Weakness': The burger tasted rather plain overall and the taste doesn't translate from as good as it smells. Its not a bad burger but it doesn't make you want to come back tomorrow.

Moody's Pub
5910 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 275-2696
Website

Bird's Nest

-KingT's Wing Fling

Sorry for not getting back on the wing-fling sooner but I have been waiting to make this post for the NFL playoffs and what should be the conclusion of the college playoffs but I wont waste your time about old ass stubborn white southern college presidents who cant deal with change. So I'm getting back on the wing fling. When it comes to food and football chicken wings will forever be linked together.

I have had many different wings from around the city and I am always on the prowl for a batch of fire but I always seem to walk down the block for the best Chicken Wings served at any bar in Chicago. The Bird's Nest on Southport and Altgeld in Lincoln Park is just another one of Chicago's corner taverns that has been here longer than most of its neighbors and another spot that proves once again that LP is not a food wasteland.


Lincoln Park's Birds Nest

Bird's Nest is a popular neighborhood bar for food, mingling with friends and watching sports. It's very often you'll find Chicago social league football and softball teams in there after games drinking pitchers and eating the best wings in Chicago and watching real athletes on TV. I will admit that it's kind of like a frat house but trust me the food isn't frozen pizza and cup-o-noodles and the patrons aren't Brutus the Buckeye and Sparty. What makes their wings so good? its what they specialize in and have since they opened. The menu is basically compiled of Chicken with some burgers and such. The Bird's Nest has been able to perfect the art of frying chicken wings, they always come out perfectly fried. When wings are the perfect size and come freshly fried crispy on the outside and juicy inside they are by definition perfect. They offer the wings in either Buffalo sauce or teriyaki.


Buffalo


Teriyaki

The buffalo is really good and much better than most places buffalo sauce but the teriyaki is outstanding. Its because of this I always have to go half and half and I'll usually order 20 so I get 10 of each. The wings come with both bleu cheese and celery as well as plenty of napkins and ranch is available if needed. I've been to alot of bars since I obtained my "license's" from Connecticut and Oklahoma in high school and have returned to many more since my real license from Illinois said I was 21. During those visits I spent plenty of time watching playoff games and eating wings at most of them. The Bird's nest is the hands down winner of the best chicken wings served at a bar in Chicago that I have found to date.

Bird's Nest
2500 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 472-1502

Bangin' Biryani

-Lunch under $6 so you don't gotta eat at Subway

Chicago's famous Devon ave has finally made its way onto my site and its fitting that its in the cheap lunch segment. When people talk of their favorite streets for eating in the city Devon ave is always on that list. It's a stretch where you can encounter many different immigrant groups with a heavy population of people from all over India included on that list. If you want a great mix of Indian snack and sweet shops with restaurants and grocery stores with produce and spices from this region then this is your place to find them. One of my favorite stops on the strip is Ghareeb Nawaz which is one of the best places for cheap eats in the city. Its fitting that a place that's name translates to "benefactor of the poor" would pack quite alot of food for the low price's they have.


GN is a little further east down Devon than most other Indian spots

The menu at GN is pretty expansive with nothing being more than $7/$8 and every item being abundant in food so its really easy to fill up on tasty food at a great price. I am by no means an expert in Indian cuisine and still very much an amateur but I do know when a dish packs a punch of flavor and the chicken and lamb biryani do just that. I hope to one day bring you the full menu and many different dishes that they excel in but for now all I know is the biryani because thats what I get, even if it wasn't great food at $3.95 its a steal for the amount of it you get. The family of biryani consists primarily of dishes from south Asia and is also an Indian style of fried rice with theirs being Muslim style biryani.


packed deep into the container is biryani and fall off the bone chicken

I think that this could be the best meal in the city for under $5 because it could easily be eaten for lunch and dinner or even breakfast, this a great place to eat before you do any shopping in the area. I'm also a huge fan of the lamb biryani which is just a buck more and their fried chicken and samosa's which run you a mere 50 cents a piece. It's not even about the price for me here, its the amazing flavor in the fried rice and the amount you get is enough to fill you up for sure. Like my guy Bob Barker would say "The price is right" and don't forget to have your pets spayed or neutered.


The biryani plate comes with yogurt sauce, shown here is half of the order

Ghareeb Nawaz
2032 W. Devon Avenue
Chicago, IL 60659
773-761-5300

El Taco Veloz

-Smokin' Bowls of Soup
-Late Nite Carne En Su Jugo

El Taco Veloz on Chicago ave.

In case you missed my post on the dynamite Mexican soup called carne en su jugo then you may want to check it out because I got another spot for you. If your looking for a bowl of CESJ on the northside then el taco veloz is a place that is of interest to you. Taco Veloz is located on Chicago ave in Ukrainian Village and its a cool place to eat and have drinks even if its the early hours of the morning. They have a large space with tables for seating and waitress service, a full menu of booze and on the weekends with the live music it can almost feel like your in Mexico. The menu is rather large and is filled with many different choices but the star of the show is the carne en su jugo. Is there a better bowl of soup during the Chicago winter?

a true Mexican specialty...perfect for Chicago winters

I wouldn't call this the best CESJ I've ever had but it is very good and you cant beat the fact its available late into the night and available at a place where you can also grab a Corona or Margarita and has plenty of other stuff on the menu for any dining companions who are too childish to try this potent soup. Please make no mistake this is an above average version. It can be quite packed on the weekends at night with all sorts of people partying and eating and during winter time there's always more than a few people indulging in the special soup. If you ever leave the bar with a taste for something warm like soup then this is the best bowl of it your going to find in this city after midnight. I give it extra points for the steak being charred and not poached. This is an excellent representation of the Jaliscan dish. More to come.


Hidden underneath the broth

El Taco Veloz
1745 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 738-0363

The Great Uncle of Beef

--Got Beef? Italian Beef

News from chibbqking: Introducing "Whats your beef?" a sister site to this one except its all beef all the time over there. While you will still be able to read all the upcoming beef stand reviews on this site they will appear on WYB first. Spread the word to any beef fans.

Welcome back beefies, off to da south side we go for stop number twelve on the Chicago beef tour. Over on 35th st. in Bridgeport is Uncle Johnny's grocery & deli, the definition of a ma & pa grocery shop. My man Johnny does a grocery business with a fully stacked deli meat case including homemade Italian sausage as well as hot sandwiches like beef, sausage, meatball and cold cuts, also available are all your pasta needs as well as drinks and a few toiletries.


Ole Uncle Johnny's

I rarely make it to the stomping grounds of Cell Block #9 but a few times a year and that's when the real fans of the Northside invade Comiskey and piss off Ozzie that his team has an away game at home and then there's those times when I'm doing some real eating. Chicago is referred to as the world's largest neighborhood due to the fact its a bunch of different vibrant neighborhoods in what also happens to be one the largest city's in the world as far as square miles. The Bridgeport neighborhood is home to the White Sox and quite a few long time neighborhood taverns and independent food spots and a few hot headed locals that have all been there more than a few decades. Its this type of stuff that makes Bridgeport one of Chicago's most notable and for that matter real neighborhoods. Its at Uncle Johnny's Grocery where you can find my favorite beef in the area.


The Whole menu is great at Johnny's

I just happened to find Johnny's randomly one day a few summers ago and have been back quite a few times since. This Italian beef reminds me of a few spots that are long gone from Taylor St. It really fits the mold of an old school beef. Its an old family beef recipe that they serve in both six and foot long options and is served on a homemade bread from a local bakery that isn't Gonnella which it gives it its own character. I think the beef is above average and the gravy is better than good while the unique bread reminds me of different beefs from my youth. My only real beef with Johnny's is that they use the local canned giardinara they sell in store on the beef but thats not really a big deal because its not bad at all, I just like when the peppers are made in house. On top of the fact they do one of the south sides better Italian beef sandwiches its also one of the best deals on a beef in the city.


a large from Uncle Johnny's is how it should be

Over at Uncle Johnny's you pay the same price you would at most other spots around town for double the beef and you cant beat that. He takes care of you like that uncle of yours always did around family parties when he slipped you $20 in cash for grabbing beers when you were a young lad. I'll never root for the White Sox but I'm one of Johnny's biggest fans.


Beef wit hot from Uncle Johnny's

Rating Scale 5/5

beef: 3
bread: 4
gravy: 5
hot peppers: 3

Score: 15/20

Uncle Johnny's Grocery
500 W 32nd St
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-6111

The almighty Jibarito and its creator...

-Chicago's Other Famous Sandwich: The Jibarito

When you think of Chicago originals and staples in the food world thoughts of deep dish pizza, Italian Beef, Polish Sausage, Hot Dogs and Mexican food jump into the mind but there is so much more. The Italian Beef may be Chicago's signature sandwich but he has a running mate that can more than hold its own, the almighty Jibarito (pronounced hee-bur-itto). It was invented circa 1993 in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood by the owner of a great Puerto Rican restaurant called Borinquen.


a Chicago staple

The city of Chicago has so many different cultures that make up the city and the Puerto Rican's play a major part in that role. Just like Chicago is home to the most Mexicans east of L.A its also home to the most Puerto Rican's west of NYC. They started coming into the city during the 1940's and by the 1960's most of Chicago's Puerto Rican's were concentrated in Lincoln Park and they had established a long row of small, ethnic enclave along Armitage ave that included small grocery stores and businesses providing goods and services for Puerto Rican neighbors. By the 1980's Lincoln Parks redevelopment pushed most of the people into the Humboldt Park neighborhood where most still reside today.


Division ave in Humboldt Park

Today Chicago is home to a wide array of Puerto Rican places to eat and all of them serve Jibarito's but only one of them invented it. The owner of Borinquen was fooling around one day when he decided to create a sandwich based off the plaintain sandwich from his native country. Peter took two plantains and flattened them and proceeded to twice fry them and that would be used as the bread. He then decided to add steak cooked in butter, cheese, lettuce, tomato's, mayo, sauteed onions and then brush the plantain with a garlic butter spread. The creation was the almighty Jibarito and it has since made its way back to the island. It truly is one of the best sandwiches in the world and there are many different places to get them but Borinquen is the creator and maybe the most consistent around town and when paired with their amazing yellow rice its a treat that you have to try while in Chicago to know just how good they are.


The Chicago specialty sandwich from above


be careful these bad boys pack quite a punch...to the heart

Those of us lucky enough to live in Chicago sometimes forget just how lucky we are. In a recent review of the newly opened Meatloaf Bakery on the serious eats site it was asked if Chicago was closing in on other great food cities of North America like New York, San Francisco and Montreal because "one factor against our pre-eminence as a serious food town was our lack of fringe specialty food shops." Its not a false statement that we may indeed lack specialty food shops like the meatloaf Bakery, where they make meatloaf cupcakes with mashed potato "icing" and use only the freshest and best ingredients to make quite a few variety's of meatloaf. But do we really need them?

The answer is yes and no. It would be nice to be able to get real pomme frites from a specialty shop and stuff of that nature but we don't need a chicken wing place that specializes in chicken wings made from famous chicken dishes created centuries ago for royalty. I don't need Chicken wings ala Divan or Chicken Wings Marengo. Now find me a city anywhere in the world that has the selection of original foods like the roadfood staples we have all the way up to the high end dining with stops of every cuisine in between? sure we don't have the deli's and specialty food shops of NYC and they don't have the authentic Mexican and real fast food joints like we do. We already are one of the premiere dining destinations. If you could get the real McCoy of everything in one location on the map, what would the fun in traveling be?

Borinquen Restaurant (3 locations)
1720 N California Ave
(at Wabansia Ave)
Chicago, IL 60647
Website

Duk's on Ashland

Grubbing in Chicago
Where the locals (and gangsta's) eat.
--The burgers (and sandwiches) of Chi


anyplace that has a working payphone these days is going to attract shade balls

Have you ever driven down Ashland ave at night and come across a very vibrant little hot dog stand that looks likes its straight out of Coney Island or the carnival? Duk's Hot dogs, formerly Donald Duk's, has been around Chicago since 1954 and was was once a booming operation. There was a time when there were a few different locations of Duk's including one on Clark St. in Andersonville that I used to hit up with my friends in grade school as well as four more that were in the work's until Mickey Mouse got involved. I want to say it was around the late' 80's or early 90's when the people at Disney got involved and crushed a dream like big time conglomerates like to do if they aren't getting a piece of the action. Disney sued Donald Duk's saying that the hot dog stand had infringed on one of their beloved trademark's-Donald Duck. The Disney corporation seeked unspecified damages and the original owners of Duk's couldn't afford the fight and removed the name and signs. They had a funny looking Duck somewhat similar to Donald that would be holding hot dogs on that sign to the best of my memory. The owner called it Donald Duk's after himself, Mervyn Dukatte and his cousin, Donald Marselle, as time passed all of the locations faded except for the outlet on Ashland. I guess that old saying that not all bad press is bad for business didn't work in their case.


Click picture for the full story behind Disney and Duk's

Duk's is a 24 hour grease pit that has been in its current location for ages. When you drive by during the day it is obvious that it is a old run down beat up place and when you go by at night it looks like the carnival with all the lights flashing and inside is about as well kept as the outside. I've been going to this Duk's now and then since I got my license and 98% of the trips are after midnight. There was a time when this neighborhood was real bad and nothing more than a gangland. I'm not here to sugarcoat you about hyped up POS burger joints like The Counter.

I bring you real Chicago and this is a place where the gangsta's eat...not the Gangster's but the gangbangers. Any grease pit that's open 24/7 in a less than desirable neighborhood is going to attract its fair share of hoodrat's. Just let me say that the ladies that work there are absolutely wonderful and as nice and happy as can be. Maybe they can tell you the stories of ducking under the counter when stray bullets would fly through the windows on multiple occasions or the time they saw a gang member get slain while leaving with his double cheeseburger and custard. The neighborhood isn't nearly as bad as it was in the 80's and 90's but its still a 24 hour joint on a quiet corner where there isn't many people so be cautious but not scared because I have never had a problem and I'm only there late nite. Now onto the food.


Duk's signature item is their "famous" double bacon cheeseburger

If your eating at Duk's then your most likely inebriated or distorted and its most likely during the wee hours of the morning so order what you feel like but do be aware of the fried tacos and don't say I didn't warn you if you do decide to try one. Its the definition of a Chicago grease pit as far as the menu goes. It features hot dogs, burgers, Italian Beef, Polish, breakfast sandwiches, chili, tamales, breakfast items like pancakes, bacon and sausage and their crinkle cut cheese fries. During summertime their custard is very popular and the most popular menu item may be their 89 cent junior cheeseburgers. There was a time when I enjoyed these McDonald's like 30's style cheeseburgers but now I just go for breakfast sandwiches. One thing they do amazing at Duk's is bacon, on most nights the cooks will fry the bacon extra crispy. How can you beat a bacon, egg and cheese for under $2 at 3am?


Duk's has some tasty breakfast sandwiches at 3a

Even though its pronounced Duk's me and my friends call it Duke's for whatever reason. I thought this post was appropriate because I can remember two or three different occasions on new years eve when I was stranded on Ashland ave. at 4 in the morning in the freezing cold walking endlessly with my friends looking for a taxi and stopping at Duk's for our first meal of the new year to warm up and hopefully find one. Please don't be afraid to go here, the Ukrainian Village neighborhood is an up and coming place to live with great citizens as residents. I don't see people scared to go eat at the tourist trap Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder and it was on the opposite end of where the St. Valentine's day massacre occurred. Its all a part of Chicago's history. Plenty more to come. Even though I think its totally an amateurs night out, happy new years and don't think its a given you'll be getting a cab...I never do.

Overall Grade (burger review): C-

Strengths: It does the job after a long night of boozing and anything with bacon is going to have some flavor.

Weakness: I'm not to fond of the frozen patties that they use to make their cheeseburgers with or frozen patties period. It is by no means Chicago's best burger but like I said above...it gets the job done late night.

Duk's Hot Dogs
636 N. Ashland
Chicago, IL 60622
773 733 0069

The Ultimate Hangover Cure Pt. 2

--Tailgatin' and how to make mofos start playa hatin' (Recipes)

I gave you the place to go eat if your looking to kill that hangover from last night. But I know that HK isn't accessible to everyone so I am going to give you the ultimate hangover cure you can cook at home. Its pretty damn easy too so anyone can do it. We all know you need a good helping of grease to soak it all up and this recipe is no exception to that rule. One of my favorite sandwiches for breakfast or anytime for that matter is a chorizo, egg and cheese on an English muffin. This will help you feel much, much better. Happy Holidays.

Chorizo-Egg & cheese breakfast sandwich (serve with potato/hash browns)

1 package of Mexican chorizo (two tubes per package)

Note: This is enough for four people but its always good to make your chorizo mixture at once and put the leftovers in the fridge.

1 green/red/yellow pepper chopped and diced (1 total of any variety)
1 Spanish onion chopped and diced (any onion will do though)
1-2 jalapeno chopped and diced
2 cloves of garlic chopped and diced

English muffins
slices of American cheese
egg's

1) Sautee the onion/pepper/garlic mixture with your two tubes of chorizo in a pan and break down the chroizo as it cooks. Cook for 15-20 stirring every few and making sure the chorizo is well broken down so its like a ground beef taco mixture. Its done when the chorizo is getting crispy and nicely browned. Let sit when done and place your mixture into a bowl.


chorizo mixture cooking away

2) Toast your English muffin to desired doneness and let it sit when it pops out of the toaster so you can cook your egg.

3) Cook your egg sunny side up on the same pan you used to cook the chorizo and place a slice of cheese on top and build your sandwich accordingly.


Take two of these in the morning and thank me later


Soak it all up

Note: You can also make these with scrambled eggs and some cheese mixed in. I also will usually buy some of those fresh hash browns from the grocery store and make those on the same pan as the chorizo according to the instructions but I always cook them longer so that they are nice and crispy and top them with hot sauce and cheese. Have the ingredients for this in your fridge on January 1st if you want to kill that NYE hangover.

The best gyros you've never had

--Got Beef? (and lamb)
KingT's gyro-tron

Just like it had been a while since I brought you pizza, its been a minute since we stepped into the gyro-tron. My next stop is a little hidden gem a food compadre told me about when the topic of gyros was being discussed. The poster brought up the fact that a little place called cafe Orchid that is tucked into a miniature strip mall with a flower shop and a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins. The owners are of Turkish descent so they call it doner but it sure is a tasty version you wouldn't expect to find tucked away in this little restaurant. What a coincidence I said, I have driven by that place for the last 10 years and always said I would stop in and try something and just a little while earlier I did just that but didn't see a gyro spit and settled on falafel. The falafel was excellent so I knew I would be back and was informed by the devoted customer that the gyros is a lunchtime thing.


Some of the better falafel I've had in the city

Over the fall on a random Sunday right before the Bears game I stepped out to grab a bite to eat and when I ended up driving by Orchid I drove on in to finally give that gyros a try. I stepped inside and realized that its much bigger than it looks from the outside. There is a dining room that goes into the back and a small little waiting area for pick up and take out orders. cafe Orchid sports an entire Turkish menu but I was here to try the gyros and was pleasantly surprised when I saw a spit of fresh meat ready to go.

Upon ordering the sandwich the waiter asked if I wanted a traditional pita or a Turkish type of flat bread that makes it more like a burrito but still just as tasty and I chose the flat bread. I watched as the spitmaster made sure that each piece that he cut off was perfectly cooked and he was a pro with the knife slicing it nice and thin. The end product was one of the better gyros in the city and by far the best in the Lakeview neighborhood. Unfortunately the fries were your average run of the mill frozen fries but they were a real treat when drenched with a cup of the tzatziki which was also top notch. the onions and tomato were fresh and the lettuce laced with vinaigrette was a nice touch. The meal was a gut buster for under $7 and is now a regular spot in my rotation.


Orchid Cafe gyro (sauce on side)

Rating Scale 5/5

Gyro meat: 5
tzatziki: 4
fries: 3
freshness of pita and toppings: 4

Score: 16/20

Cafe Orchid
1746 W Addison St
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 327-3808