Where to eat in Chicago

Chicago was cool, both literally and figuratively. I was bummed to pack my winter jacket in New York on Friday when it wasn’t even cold, but as soon as the wind hit us when we stepped out of O’Hare, I was thankful I didn’t put fashion ahead of function.

Friday night was all about Persian food at Noon-O-Kabab. Four of us split the lamb shank and the koubideh kababs with eggplants, borani, hummus, warm pita bread and a bottle of Shiraz. The entire meal was a nice welcome greeting. I haven’t seen Anna and Mike since we all met up in Manila last year.

Saturday was Colombian at Brasa Roja where we watched the lady behind the counter shovel charcoal into the rotisserie pit. Our chicken was all salty goodness together with the arepa (Colombian corn pancakes but Salvadorian pupusas are so much better), plantains plus rice and beans and the bowl of broth peppered with chicken neck and liver.

We also stopped by Izumi for some Japanese to tie us over until dinner. The blue fin otoro and their uni were very satisfying. They also had flying fish roe in black, which I’ve never seen before. We also ordered a flight of sake and a glass of plum wine.

Sunday brought us Scandinavian brunch at Tre Kronor: salmon quiche, corned beef sandwich, crabcakes and a hefty onion soup. Their Danish pastries were to die for.

Dinner was with other anesthesia residency applicants at Meritage, a New American spot that served pretty impressive monkfish and barracuda.

Monday was Mexican at Lindo Michoacan for some awesome chorizo and carne asada tacos. We had to eat something while waiting for the boy to finish his actual interview at the hospital.

The tacos alone made us crave “gourmet” hotdogs at Hot Doug’s.

We stayed with Anna in Albany Park and we were within walking distance from a lot of restaurants offering ethnic cuisines. Chicago is just like New York City in that way–the streets are just cleaner.

Where to eat in Chicago:

Noon-O-Kabab, 4661 N Kedzie Avenue, 773/279.8899
La Brasa Roja, 3125 W Montrose Avenue, 773/866.2252
Izumi Sushi Bar & Restaurant, 731 W Randolph Street, 312/207.5299
Tre Kronor, 3258 W Foster Avenue, 773/267.9888
Meritage Cafe & Wine Bar, 2118 N Damen Avenue, 773/235.6434
Lindo Michoacan, 3148 W Lawrence, 773/539.6627
Hot Doug’s Inc, 3324 N California Avenue, 773/279.9550