Patio Beef

-Grubbing in Chicago
The Classics

Every now and then I get the taste for some Chicago style fast food. Not even necessarily a hot dog or an Italian beef so to say but just something cooked up at one the 100's of spots scattered across the city that boast a menu similar to the rest. While the menus may be similar the food is usually not. Some places are better than others and some put forth more effort etc. Patio Beef is a place that I've always appreciated for it's authentic atmosphere as far as a Chicago style fast food stand goes.

Locals Favorite in Edgewater 

I've been going to Patio Beef here and there since my grade school days. I remember when I used to be mad jealous at our Dean in grade school when he got to eat Patio Beef for lunch. I'm pretty sure the lady who's most always in there now was so back when. I thought I had a pic somewhere on my computer of the hot dog but I dont. That said it's nothing special and not the reason to stop into patio beef and eat. For that matter neither is the beef. Like the hot dog it's not bad but nothing that will make you switch over from your current go-to spot. Everything is done well here but none of it is going to be called the best in show except for maybe the Chicago style food artwork on the wall.

Chicago Style Art 

The one thing that keeps me coming back is the chicken kebab sandwich. We dont usually think Greek grilled chicken when the thought of Chicago style fast food comes up but we should. With many of the joints being owned by Greek people it's no surprise to find good Greek marinated chicken at lots of them. Much of the time it's just called chicken and comes served in sandwich form, rotisserie style, and also kebabs like those at Patio Beef. You get two skewers of heavily marinated well charred chicken thats cooked until tender. They come on top of warm pita bread with Tzatziki sauce, lettuce, and tomatoes. Your choice of rice or fries. Having grown up on this kind of stuff it still comforts me to this day. I'll always choose a place like Patio over corporate crap like Chipotle etc.

Chicken Kebab Plate

Patio Beef
6022 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 764-8500

Sandwiched

-The Sammy's of Chi

I'd like to take today's post to introduce readers to what's currently my favorite sandwich in Chicago. Located on an extremely Suburban feeling stretch of Clybourn that houses a Trader Joe's, BW-3's etc is an out of place sandwich shop. Sandwiched opened late last year after taking over the space where Franks and Dawgs used to be located. Local ingredients are the focus of the sandwiches they serve.

Newly Opened in Lincoln Park

Sandwiched is owned by a husband and wife team who share a mutual love for not just each other but also the sandwich. Their love for sandwiches is evident in the menu which features over ten different options with most all of the ingredients being locally sourced. There's plenty of tempting options and many of them come with meat that's made and or smoked in house. The cheeses come Pastoral here in Chicago and the bread is also locally made. Other options are house soups, salads, burgers. But so far I haven't been able to get past the first sandwich listed which is their ode to the Club.

The Club Sandwiched 

Having been a longtime fan of the Club sandwich I went into here the first time knowing this was what I was getting. Purists might not like the fact that this Club is made with sourdough bread and doesn't come with a middle piece of it in between but you cant hate on taste and this thing tastes as fresh as any Club sandwich I've come across. House Smoked Turkey is shaved thin and paired with Beeler's Ham (La Mars, IA) and hickory smoked bacon. Two cheeses, cheddar and gouda, are used and even the tomatoes seem to taste right even though it's the middle of winter. I want one right now.

The Insides

Sandwiched
1863 N Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 643-0705
Website

Yeowoosai

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Korean Bar Food

I think I have a new go-to watering hole for the 2017 Cubs season. At the very least I have a new spot to go when I want to watch a game and eat and drink through all nine innings. I was turned onto Yeowoosai by a friend who's friend owns the place. With my friend being a Korean guy that likes to eat I immediately directed him to hit me up next time he goes here. That happened recently.

Locals Favorite in Rogers Park / Devon 

Yeowoosai is a casual lounge with food and drink. It's clientele is almost exclusively Korean and because they don't open until 6p they're most popular with the after hours crowd. On our visit the place was only half full until about 11:00 when people then started to show up in groups every few minutes. There's booth seating and also chairs along the bar where you can watch sports / KPop.

a peek inside 

The menu at Yeowoosai (I love saying it's name) is a bunch of Korean bar food classics. You won't find any burgers, pizza, or buffalo wings but they do have an extremely addictive popcorn chicken appetizer. Labeled Daktigem on the menu this is most likely the restaurants signature dish. A big plate of well fried popcorn chicken is just about the perfect drinking food for a group. The crispy pieces of mixed meat come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes assuring you this didn't come from a freezer. While the regular daktigem is good the spicy aka Maewoon Daktigem is the better of the two. It comes fried with jalepenos and onions and has a nice tangy glaze that sticks to the batter. Get the combo plate for the best of both worlds. It pairs perfect with beer.

Korean Popcorn Chicken aka Daktigem

Another perfect beer pairing is the 'Ultimate Everything' Kimchi Fried Rice. Made with pork, beef, spam, eggs, cheese etc. It's got a little bit of everything to the point where I'm probably forgetting a few of the things. A huge bowl was destroyed by our group which was four deep. The best bites being the rice that got stuck to the bottom of the bowl and thus crisped up real nice. My favorite dish of the night. I could see myself heading back here and ordering it to-go for a couple days worth food.

Ultimate Kimchi Fried Rice

Because you can never have enough kimchi in your life we also ordered a plate of Dwaeji Dubu Kimchi. This translates to something along the lines of pork, kimchi, and tofu. It's a great dish to introduce someone looking to dip their feet into Korean cuisine. Lots of stuff going on in this.

Pork, Tofu, Kimchi aka Dwaeji Dubu Kimchi

Moving on to our last round of food we soon realized we ordered entirely too much. Each dish is made to feed a table of people (the price reflects this). Though there were four of us we ended up ordering four dishes total which was going a bit overboard. Lastly was another winner by my watch. The owner suggested a spicy seafood noodle soup that was fantastic. The broth was deep in seafood flavor and there were plenty of ocean creatures up in it. While the noodles were a bit soft the broth was so addictive I ended up eating enough to make myself uncomfortable for the rest of the night. So while while I had heard about this place I always seemed to forget about it, but now that I've been I won't forget next time I'm looking to catch a Cubs game and eat some awesome food. See ya in April.

Jamppong aka Spicy Seafood Soup

Yeowoosai
6248 N California Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 465-7660

Little Bad Wolf

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Chi

Ever since hearing about (and seeing) the much hyped burger at Little Bad Wolf I had a mental note to go. It took a while but I finally made it over to the local watering hole where bar food gets slightly elevated or at least cultured. Aside from the extremely popular burger they also have much loved tacos and bao buns. It's elevated bar food offered with a slightly elevated drink menu. Let's roll.

Locals Favorite in Andersonville 

I like the clever way they break the menu down with sections like Pinch (Appetizers), Fold (Tacos and Bao), Grab (Burgers) etc. It's not an extremely large menu but they have most of the favorites as far as bar food. The difference is in the recipes as most of this stuff is made fresh and not grabbed from a freezer. While it might not be corn season I thought the elotes were well made and tasted as good as they probably do in the summer. By the time you add mayo, togarashi and other ingredients mixed in it's about more than just the corn. The beer battered avocado was also well done. Probably the best piece of fried avocado I've ate. Lots of spots mess this up. They should use it as a taco filling.

Elotes - chili aioli, cotija, togarashi, beer battered avocado

While the burger gets lots of love so do the tacos and bao buns. I know someone who said these were the best tacos in Chicago but I also know that person doesn't get out much. While they certainly aren't the best tacos in Chicago they're better than most other white peoples tacos. If you need to know what white peoples tacos are those would be the spots where the clientele is predominantly white. Places like Little Bad Wolf. That doesn't mean the tacos cant be good, heck I just said they were. I'm just saying they probably shouldn't be compared to the real deal taco spots found around town as they're different aside from the fact they're called the same thing.

Fish Taco (L) Fish Bao (M) Shrimp Taco (R)

But the reason I was here was the beloved burger. How would it stack up against the rest? This is a classic double cheeseburger served in the diner style that's taken the globe by storm. While burgers are available as sliders and also served as a triple cheeseburger it's the double aka the 'Bad Wolf' that catches all of the praise. It's toppings are minimal with two slices of American cheese, house made pickles, and mayo. The brioche bun holds it all together quite well but I felt it was a little too dense and not as soft as others I've ate. Still though this was a damn good burger that cracks my top ten in Chicagoland. It's $12 price-tag put's it in the fancy category but they come with a basket of thin fresh cut fries that are pretty good in their own right. All in all this is exactly what they said it was going to be and that's elevated bar food. Extra points for well made cocktails. I'll be back for that burger.

Bad Wolf Burger

Little Bad Wolf
1541 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Chicago, IL 60660   
(773) 942-6399
Website

Pho Loan

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Where to go for Pho

There was a time when I visited Tank Noodle when in need of a big bowl of beefy Vietnamese Pho but as time passed I came to learn there was much better to be found put there. In the case of Pho Loan it's found right across the street. It sits in a nondescript building just east of the train station on Argyle. It has it's fair share of regulars and that would include myself. During winter anyway.

Locals Favorite on Argyle

When Steve Dolinsky announced he was doing a Pho Crawl seeking out the best bowls in Chicago, I was intrigued to see where my go-to spot would end up. I first came upon Pho Loan a while back as I was looking for a new spot and this was in the area and rated well. Turns out the Hungry Hound agrees. He put Pho Loan in at #3 on his city's best Pho list. I agree that it's one of the best though I haven't done nearly as comprehensive of a search as he just did. For me they're one of the best because they always seem to have the freshest condiments served alongside your soup which is always delivered piping hot. That and the little drops of fat one can see when he/she further inspects the broth make this my current go-to pho spot. But I'll have to check out the 1st / 2nd ranked stops.

Pho on a Cold Day

Pho Loan
1114 W Argyle St
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-4500

Makki Fast Food & Grill

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Diverse Eats

It's an interesting time in America right now. Without getting to political I'd like to address the current Muslim ban by showcasing a Muslim owned Chicago restaurant located in an Albany Park strip mall. Makki Fast Food is a pretty typical Chicago style fast food outlet with a few minor differences than others. As mentioned this is Muslim owned and the menu isn't just hot dogs, gyros, and Jim Shoes.

Locals Favorite in Albany Park 

Makki first caught my eye when I spied the aforementioned Jim Shoe on it's menu. For those unaware of this lesser known Chicago style sandwich you can click HERE. The Jim Shoe tends to be found on menus of South and West side establishments so seeing one on offer in Albany Park caught my eye. I searched around online and found a pic and it showed they make their Jim Shoe's by layering sliced meats on top of each other. I prefer the spots that chop it all up and mix it together.

The Menu (Chicago style portion of it)

When searching around about their Jim Shoe I also came to read they make a pretty mean cheese steak. Not in the traditional Philly way but rather the Chicago style that you'll find on the menu at the same type of places that make a Jim Shoe. This means chopped up steak mixed with well fried onion and green peppers served on a toasted roll layered with a sweet bbq sauce like condiment and melted cheese. It works. Shout out to the girl on yelp who convinced me to try this obviously popular sandwich as there was a group of 20 something Hispanic kids eating them at a table next to me while another guy of Middle Eastern descent called in an order for two to go.

Cheese Steak Sandwich 

The Chicago style portion of the menu seems well done but to me the reason to come here is for the Pakistani part. It's not large but biryani, butter masala, and samosas are on it. I knew I wanted to try the biryani when I saw a couple white businessmen each eating an order while waiting on my sandwich. I made it back and tried both it and the beef samosas. I'm not an expert in biryani but this was a stellar example of a fantastic 'cheap eats' lunch. The rice was mixed with peppers and onions and the chicken was tender. All together it was slightly smokey and nice and spicy with the hot sauce mixed in. I suppose some people dont want to hear this but Makki is every bit as American as the local small town Dairy Queen. It proudly serves people from all walks of life. Let's all follow along.

Chicken Biryani and a Beef Samosa (tasty)

Makki Fast Food
4702 N Kimball Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 661-4430

New China Station

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Sichuan Food on the Northside

Usually the weekend of the Super Bowl I like to share a bunch of worthy recipes for the game (feel free to look up past posts). Though as years go on I've pretty much shared all of the stuff I'll be making this upcoming Sunday. That said I also plan on eating a little bit of takeout before the game on top of that which I cook. The plan is to order some Szechuan cuisine and the place I'm ordering it from recently shot onto my radar when it popped up in my twitter feed. If not for this informative tweet from the Fuckerberg on Food Team I would've had no idea about the "New" China Station.

Best Chinese option in Humboldt / Wicker Parks? 

When I learned that this place underwent a revamp it caught my eye as it's a quick 7 minute ride from my house. That and the fact they now seem to focus on Szechuan made it a place I decided to check out not too long after learning of the change. It's only been a couple weeks but I've already been in on three separate occasions and now have a new Chinese takeout option in the area. As it turns out the chef here used to man the kitchen at one of Tony Hu's Lao Sze Chuan spots. This is obvious in the dry pepper chili dishes which is offered not just in the traditional dark meat chicken option but also in the form of chicken nuggets and wing zings. Chef Hu's dry chili chicken is one of the first dishes that put me onto the wide world of Chinese cuisine outside that of which most Americans are used to. It's crunchy, it's spicy, it's garlickly, it's delicious.

Dry Chili Chicken

I've come friendly with one of the guys in the front of the house and they really take pride in their food. You can tell with the dry chili chicken which was spiced just right and stayed crispy through the car ride home. They cut holes into the plastic ware so everything doesn't steam up during transportation. It's bare bones inside with just three tables which are mostly used for people waiting to take orders out. The menu features other Sichuan favorites such as cumin lamb and yang zhao fried rice etc. I look forward to trying the spicy numb fish as well as the red curry which is listed right after the dry chili chicken as far as house specialties. As of now I haven't been able to get past the dry chili fish which might be better than the chicken. It's come perfectly fried and feeds two for $10.95.

Dry Chili Fish

On top of the Sichuan specialties there's also the typical Chinese-American specialties. Stuff like Mongolian Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, and Shrimp Lo Mein, and so forth. So far I've only had the lo mein but I liked what I ate. Fresh crunchy veggies with well fried noodles. I could take or leave the beef but I look forward to trying an orange chicken or something when the craving comes. If you live near the North and Western intersection this is a place you might want to check it out.

Beef Lo Mein

New China Station
2411 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 252-1023

Al's Deli

-The Sammy's of Chi

Today we turn back the clock and check out an old favorite amongst Chicago's culinary driven. Al's Deli has been an Evanston mainstay going on over 60 years (Since 1949). It's one of the original spots I sought out when this online food thing actually became a thing for not just me but ton's of others. I remember reading about it back in the golden age of LTHforum and have been a semi regular customer ever since then. Al's is truly a treasure in that once it's gone so is this style of deli.

Longtime locals favorite in Evanston

Al's labels itself as a French Deli. The current owners took over from their dad. Bread is delivered fresh daily and aside from sandwiches the soups and cookies are also popular. Having just visited Paris a couple months ago I finally felt what people mean when they say it's like a little piece of Paris planted in Evanston. The atmosphere here is as old school as anywhere as far as a sandwich shop can go. It's long and narrow and you get the feeling some things haven't been moved in years.

The Menu (click pics to enhance)

While I'm sure all of the sandwiches at Al's are fantastic I've pretty much always stuck to roast beef. The only question for me is which type of bread I want it on. I slightly prefer the French baguette but the seven grain isn't anything to be looking down on. While I typically only like bleu cheese dressing mixed with Buffalo sauce, I enjoy the combination of it with this fresh cut rare roast beef as well. It's probably the closest thing Chicagoland has to old school roast beef. The type that's made on-site and not in a factory across state lines. I don't make it to Evanston often but when I do Al's is an option.

Roast Beef on Seven Grain Bread

Al's Deli
914 Noyes St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-9400
Website

Mr. Pollo

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Cheap Eats

I can't tell you how many times I've driven past today's post but it's definitely in the 100's. Matter of fact I couldn't figure out if I'd been here or not. I do know that if I had it was years ago and maybe even before this sites existence. So not to long ago I was hungry and surprise, surprise, riding by.

Locals Favorite in Avondale 

Mr. Pollo calls itself a South American rotisserie. The menu is pretty much rotisserie chicken and the sides on offer with it. It seems to be a popular stop for many of the city's Spanish speaking families as they had a nice crowd of them on my visit. The inside is minimum but clean. A poster of the Chimborazo (highest mountain in Ecuador) gives a clue as to the background of the family that owns the place. So how's the chicken? Well it's like alot of other rotisserie chickens in that it's skin isn't all that crispy but the meat falls right off the bone. I enjoy a nice rotisserie chicken now and then and Mr. Pollo makes a more than passable bird. But where it stands out is in the salsa. The salsa verde that accompanied my 1/4 chicken with two sides ($7.99) was so good I used it not just to dip the chicken meat into but also enhance both the black beans and potatoes on the side. I'd call it addictive.

1/4 Chicken with Black Beans and Mashed Potatoes 

Mr. Pollo
3026 W Belmont
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 509-1208

Noon Hour Grill

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Korean Comfort Food

Noon Hour Grill aka Susie's has been a food staple for multiple generations of Chicago's Northside. You can tell this upon entering though you can get the idea from the outside as well. It's an old school diner with comfort Korean food on the menu. Tucked away on a side street off of Morse it's the type of spot someone usually has to tell you about. I found out through the old LTHforum and have enjoyed dining here ever since first reading about others love for not just the food but Susie herself.

Locals favorite in Rogers Park 

Susie is usually a one woman show. She takes orders, she cooks, she serves. A true treasure indeed. Her menu is broken down into Korean favorites and American classics. While there's lots of good food on offer one of the customer favorites are the omelettes. Both bulgogi and kimchee work so well with salty melted American cheese it's easy see why this dish is loved by so many. Susie also has the mysterious meal of Aktagawa on her menu. I'm pretty sure here and Hamburger King (now Rice N' Bread) are the only two spots in the city to feature this unique dish that's said to have been born at the old Hamburger King. It mixes chopped hamburger meat with eggs and other veggies like bamboo shoots and is served with rice. Susie's is different in that hers doesn't come with a gravy aka HK. It's good but I prefer the one over in Wrigleyville when it comes to this dish.

Octogawa Scramble (Hamburger Meat with Scrambled Egg, Mixed veggie, Sugar, Soy Sauce 

I dont know about you but the way I go about judging a Korean diner is a bowl of their bi bim bop which translates to "mixed rice" This is probably the most well known Korean dish amongst gringos like myself. It's probably the first dish of Korean descent I ever ate and I love a bowl to this day. Susie's might serve the best in Chicago. Or at least one of my favorites. For me its the sauce that separates it from others. I dont know if it's homemade but I love pouring it on the bulgogi beef and egg and all the veggies and mixing it all up into the rice and going to town on it. The only thing that might be holding this back is the fact it's served in a regular bowl and not a flaming hot stone bowl.

Bi Bim Bop

Noon Hour Grill
6930 N Glenwood Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 338-9494