Food Guides Archives - Caffeinated Excursions

Get To Know The Washington, D.C. Metro Area: Neighborhoods And Food Scenes

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Get To Know The Washington, D.C. Metro Area: Neighborhoods And Food Scenes

Published August 4, 2024

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Welcome to my first blog post featuring Washington, D.C. and its surrounding suburbs! I’ve been to the nation’s capital at least four or five times since I was a kid, and there is always something new to discover there. This time, I met up with my friend Ismael to explore some neighborhoods I had never been to, as well as try some excellent restaurants!

The main focus of this trip wasn’t landmarks, monuments, or museums. I feel like I’ve seen enough of those on previous trips to Washington. This time, I went with the intention to wander a little more spontaneously. It definitely worked out! Below are some of the neighborhoods we walked around, plus cuisines we sampled. To skip down to any particular section, click or tap the corresponding link below!

Neighborhoods We Explored
Food We Tried

Neighborhoods We Explored

On this trip, Ismael and I spent most of our time exploring NoVA (Northern Virginia) and D.C. beyond its downtown core. Here are the neighborhoods I found most noteworthy!

Old Town, Alexandria, VA

Alexandria is one of two major D.C. suburbs on the Virginia side of the Potomac River (the other being Arlington). Alexandria’s historic center is known as Old Town, and it’s directly across the river from Washington’s southernmost point. This district is quaint, walkable, and inviting!

My favorite thing about Old Town is its architecture. According to the city’s tourism website, “Georgian and Federal period architecture” are prominent. As a novice, I would say most of Old Town is colonial, but I don’t know if that’s the most accurate term. Regardless, I loved seeing the rows of townhouses with their pastel colors and uniform windows!

Old Town Waterfront

Because Old Town is situated on the west bank of the Potomac River, it has a lovely waterfront and harbor area. Here you’ll find parks, restaurants and bars, patios, walking trails, and much more. A visit to Old Town isn’t complete without a leisurely stroll down the public promenade on the river!

Pictured below is an art installation on the river walk reminiscent of a smoking meteorite. I’m not sure if this piece is permanent or temporary, but it was one of the many intriguing attractions we encountered in this area.

We also walked south along the river all the way to Jones Point Park. On the way, we passed by some picturesque residences. At the far end of the park, we checked out the Jones Point Lighthouse, a historic structure dating all the way back to the 1850s.

Torpedo Factory Art Center

Address: 105 N Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Website: https://torpedofactory.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/torpedofactory/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torpedofactory/

This large, industrial building is the focal point of Old Town’s waterfront. At first, we weren’t sure what it was, but I’m glad we stepped in to find out! Torpedo Factory Art Center is free to enter, and it houses over one hundred artists’ studios. You can browse as if it were a museum, or you can purchase works that you want to bring home.

There is so much to see at Torpedo Factory Art Center that we spent at least an hour here. As you explore the various levels of the building, you will also see artists working in real time, which is part of why this is such a unique venue. Don’t miss it!

Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

In addition to Old Town, another beautiful neighborhood to check out is Georgetown. Located directly west of Downtown D.C., Georgetown is easy to get to. Nonetheless, it feels like its own little village or town center. This is reason enough to spend a morning or afternoon here!

Georgetown Waterfront

Georgetown is situated on the eastern bank of the Potomac River. We walked all the way from the Embassy of Iceland to the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and the public paths here offer an abundance of scenic views.

Across the Potomac from Georgetown is the neighborhood of Rosslyn in Arlington, VA. It has a decently picturesque, modern skyline. For this reason, I find the riverfront views in Georgetown to be slightly nicer than the ones in Old Town.

Georgetown University

Address: 3700 O St NW, Washington, DC 20057
Website: https://www.georgetown.edu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgetownuniv/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgetownuniversity/

When we decided to visit this neighborhood, I knew right away that I wanted to see the university campus that shares the same name. For some reason, I always love to visit college campuses when I travel. Georgetown University did not disappoint!

Georgetown University is architecturally stunning, centered around Healy Hall, pictured in the two images above. According to Wikipedia, this building falls into the categories of “Neo-Romanesque and High Victorian Gothic.” It almost looks like a cathedral, and Georgetown is indeed a Catholic Jesuit university.

We wandered into Healy Hall, and the interior was just as ornate as the exterior. While we were here, I also got to peek through the door of the Riggs Library, which is famous for its cast iron railings and open, multi-floor design. Unfortunately, it was not open when we were visiting.

Other buildings on the Georgetown University grounds are worth seeing, but none are as grand as Healy Hall. The campus is relatively compact, so it didn’t take too long to explore the entire thing.

M Street Northwest & Wisconsin Avenue Northwest

These two streets are Georgetown’s busiest thoroughfares. M Street Northwest runs east to west, and seems to be a hub for shopping and retail. Wisconsin Avenue Northwest runs southeast to northwest, and it has a few more restaurant and bar options than M Street. Both M Street and Wisconsin Avenue are lined with colorful storefronts and boutique shops.

National Mall, Washington, D.C.

While D.C.’s National Mall isn’t really a neighborhood, I’ve included it here because we strolled around here multiple days in a row. The National Mall refers to a giant park that houses many of Washington’s most famous landmarks. Even though I no longer feel the need to visit museums when I’m in D.C., I always end up walking through the Mall. There’s definitely an element of nostalgic charm here because I’ve been back to the National Mall on all my visits to Washington.

Lincoln Memorial

At the time of writing (summer 2024), the Lincoln Memorial is under renovation. Despite this, it was still open to the public; its front side just wasn’t as pretty as it usually is. We stepped inside for a few minutes to admire the statue of Abe Lincoln in his chair before continuing our evening walk.

Washington Monument

This iconic obelisk sits at the center of the National Mall. Directly west is the Lincoln Memorial; directly north is the White House. To the east is the United States Capitol. Because the Washington Monument is surrounded by open, grassy fields, there’s always a bunch of people nearby playing frisbee, having picnics, or just hanging out.

World War II Memorial

The World War II Memorial is between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, at the eastern end of the Reflecting Pool. There’s a beautiful fountain in the center that’s surrounded by pillars engraved with the names of states and territories.

Other Things to See

Beyond the monuments listed above, there are so many attractions in and around the National Mall. We never walked all the way over to the Capitol Building, but we got close enough to see it in the distance. If you’re planning on visiting D.C. for the first time, I highly recommend scheduling an entire day to explore everything the Mall has to offer, including at least one or two Smithsonian museums. Admission is free!

National Harbor, MD

During this visit, Ismael and I only crossed into Maryland once. We briefly explored National Harbor, which is right across the Potomac from Old Town in Alexandria. National Harbor looks like it was developed and built relatively recently. The area has lots of street art, a Ferris wheel, a pier, and a variety of restaurants. The restaurants generally seemed to be chains, so we didn’t feel like we needed to eat a meal here.

Food We Tried

One of the biggest reasons I visited the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area) was to eat! Furthermore, I was determined to enjoy a wide range of cuisines on a budget. I think we succeeded in doing that! Especially in NoVA, it is pretty easy to find excellent food for reasonable prices. Keep reading to see which meals we enjoyed the most!

Burgers: 7th Street Burger

Address: 1424 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
Website: https://7thstreetburger.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/7thstreetburger/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7thstreetburgernyc/

This burger chain from New York just opened their first store in D.C., so we went for a casual, early dinner one night in Georgetown. The menu here is pretty small, and they really only offer a couple variations on burgers and fries. I ordered their standard cheeseburger and regular fries, and both were decent.

According to their online menu, these burgers are made with Martin’s potato buns. They were noticeably softer than your typical flour buns. The single cheeseburgers here are admittedly petite, so next time I would consider ordering a double.

Cocktails

On this trip I was feeling a little under the weather, so I ordered mocktails whenever we went out. Below are two bars we tried that had mocktail offerings.

Barmini by José Andrés

Address: 501 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Website: https://www.minibarbyjoseandres.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barminibyJose/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barminibyjose/

José Andrés is an award-winning chef with a massive following and an impressive portfolio of restaurants and bars throughout the US. Ismael suggested we visit Barmini, and it was an excellent idea! I tried a couple different mocktails, including a “2 Stops to Montilla” and a “Ticket to Nowhere.” Despite being nonalcoholic, both drinks were phenomenal! I liked how the first one had some bitterness to it, and the second one was unapologetically spicy.

We also tried some wagyu tartare, pictured above. It was only a small bite’s worth of food for each of us, but it was incredibly tender. The “shiso leaf tempura” it was served on provided a slight crunch to offset the texture of the beef.

Alice Cocktail Bar

Address: 724 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Website: https://alicecocktailbar.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alice_cocktailbar/

As we were walking around Old Town, we happened to pass by Alice Cocktail Bar. Their colorful menu piqued our curiosity, so we stopped in for a round of drinks. The interior is cute, with lots of references to Alice in Wonderland. The cocktails we ordered were sweet and refreshing! We didn’t get any food here, but it looks like they offer Thai and other Asian plates.

Coffee

With a name like “Caffeinated Excursions,” you already know this blog is going to include some coffee recommendations! Read this section to see some of the places we tried in D.C. and Virginia.

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.

Address: 3400 Payne St, Falls Church, VA 22041 (There are also other locations around the US)
Website: https://www.qamariacoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qamariacoffee/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qamariacoffee/

As a coffee enthusiast, I have to admit that I’m not as familiar with Yemeni coffee as I should be. Qamaria was an excellent introduction to it though! They have locations far and wide (I think they even have some near Chicago where I live). The address listed above is a food truck, and when we arrived, we ordered two Iced Qamaria Lattes. According to their online menu, these include espresso, milk, cardamom, cinnamon, and honey.

I normally order all my lattes with oat milk, but I found that dairy milk really worked with all the strong flavors present in this drink. We also tried a couple of pastries from Qamaria, which were rich and moist.

Gute Leute

Address: 800 N Glebe Rd Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gute_leute_usa/

I think most people would be intrigued by a Korean coffee shop with a German name. (Apparently it means “Good People.”) Gute Leute is indeed making waves on social media, especially for their coffee omakase experience (read more about what that is here or book the experience on OpenTable here).

We didn’t do the omakase experience, but we did go to Gute Leute one morning to try a few espresso drinks and some pastries. Everything was pretty sweet, and I’d say the espresso drinks were more interesting than the cakes, which were good but not especially memorable.

Misha's Coffee House

Address: 6 Prince St, Alexandria, VA 22314 and 917 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314 (we visited the Prince Street location)
Website: https://mishascoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mishas-Coffeehouse-and-Roaster/100067162970721/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mishas4coffee/

With two locations in Alexandria, Misha’s is a nice spot to visit if you’re spending the day in Old Town. Ismael and I ordered a few lattes and a slice of cake here. The chocolate layer cake was better than the flavored latte I got, which was just a little too sweet for my taste.

Cortado Cafe

Address: 4543 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22304
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CortadoCafe.VA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortadocafeva/

This cute little spot with a multilingual coffee mural in its dining room was right up my alley! I ordered a cold drink with foam on top, and I appreciated how rich and smooth the coffee was. It also wasn’t too sweet, which is a major plus in my book.

Japanese: Daikaya Izakaya

Address: 705 6th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Website: https://www.daikaya.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Daikaya/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daikaya_izakaya/

Izakaya refers to Japanese small plates, often served with alcohol. After exploring the National Mall one early evening, we walked to Daikaya Izakaya for dinner. I would say most of the items we ordered here were good, but not amazing. The best one without a doubt was their cold ramen, which I believe was a special that night. The savory broth had notes of both wasabi spice and a slightly sweet aftertaste, which really rounded out the soup’s overall flavor.

Daikaya is located in D.C.’s Chinatown, so after dinner, we walked around for a bit. I loved seeing the ornate “Friendship Archway” which is built over H Street NW.

Kenyan: Swahili Village Bar and Grill

Address: 1990 M St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Website: https://swahilivillages.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwahiliVillageDC/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swahili_village_dc/

I’m so glad we found this fun spot south of Dupont Circle! We were looking for a sit-down place that stayed open late in D.C., and Swahili Village was one of the first results we found online. We started off with drinks and then ordered an appetizer sampler and a marinated goat plate to share.

For my main dish, I got goat stew with plantains and jollof rice. Ismael got one of the beef options (I forget exactly which one), also with rice and plantains. These entrees were very large portions, and everything was cooked to perfection! I’m a big fan of Caribbean-style goat stew; I’d say my dinner was pretty similar. The plantains here were also fantastic, and these meals came with a very generous portion of them!

Korean: K Market International in Annandale

Address: 4239 John Marr Dr, Annandale, VA 22003
Website: https://www.kmarketusa.com/

If you’re looking for Korean food, your best bet is to head to Annandale. Here you’ll find the DMV’s Koreatown. It’s further west than Arlington and Alexandria, but I’m glad we went the few extra miles to visit one day for lunch! After browsing a few options, we settled on the food court at K Market International. This Korean grocery store has multiple restaurant vendors and cafeteria-style seating. The stall we ordered from was called K STREET (K 분식).

For lunch, we got bulgogi tteokbokki, a cold ramen dish, and a kimbap roll. I found the ramen to be refreshing, and the kimbap was also very satisfying. If you’ve never had tteokbokki before, consider getting it in Annandale. It’s a very unique dish made of rice cakes in a spicy sauce. These long, cylindrical pieces of rice cake have a spongy texture. I’ll admit, a written description of it doesn’t really do it justice. However, I think most foodies would be pleasantly surprised by it!

Mediterranean: Agora DC

Address: 1527 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Website: https://www.agorarestaurants.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgoraDC/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agoradc/

Dinner at Agora DC was one of the most memorable meals of this trip! According to their website, this restaurant draws inspiration from a number of different cuisines, including those from Greece, Lebanon, and Turkey. Agora serves mainly small plates, so you’ll be able to try a wide variety of things here without getting uncomfortably full.

We started off with drinks, and I decided to try a non-alcoholic beer. I was pleasantly surprised by how similar the flavor was to regular beer. Ismael ordered a few cocktails that were light and refreshing.

Our first set of plates that came out included saganaki, taramosalata (cod roe mousse), and bread. Agora flames their saganaki tableside, which is always fun to watch!

Next, we got a sucuklu pide (flatbread with spicy Turkish beef sausage and mozzarella cheese). It was reminiscent of a pizza for sure, but the unique shape and lack of tomato sauce made this a uniquely satisfying finger food.

At the same time, manti (beef dumplings) arrived to the table. I was very curious what these would be like since many different cultures in Asia have their own version of this dish. The manti from Agora DC were small, almost like ravioli. They were also drizzled with garlic yogurt and tomato sauce. I’ve had Afghan-style manti before with a similar dip, as well as manti from Central Asia (which are typically larger and don’t come with sauce). Nonetheless, these Turkish manti were excellent!

Our final set of dishes included grilled octopus, grilled kalamar (calamari), and grilled chicken served on pita. The chicken was juicy and went so well with the toum (a Lebanese garlic sauce) it came with. The octopus and kalamar were both phenomenal. Despite similar textures, the dishes had very different flavor profiles. The squid was prepared with garlic, roasted peppers, ginger, olives, and lemon. It had a summery, citrusy flavor. Meanwhile, the octopus was served in slightly sweet, viscous sauce. I highly recommend ordering both!

To end the meal, we ordered a spicy tuna tartare. I have to admit, this was the one item here that missed the mark. It was just kind of bland. It was made with avocados, the texture of which didn’t really complement the fish. This tartare might’ve been better if it had a little more acidity, like a ceviche. Service was generally good throughout the meal, but it took a while to get our check. Despite these minor issues, Agora was a fun culinary experience that I won’t soon forget!

Mexican

On this trip, we tried two different Mexican eateries. Learn more about them below!

Taco Bamba

Locations: various (we went to the Shirlington one)
Website: https://www.tacobamba.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TacoBamba/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tacobamba/

Taco Bamba has locations around the DMV, plus a few in places like North Carolina and Tennessee. They offer an extensive menu of unique taco creations. We ordered about half a dozen, including their Small Biggie Smashburger, Spicy ‘Shroom, Taco Bamba (skirt steak and chorizo), Bird’s Hit (Peruvian chicken), and Blackfeesh (black tempura grouper with ink aioli). We also tried an order of Bamba Fries, which can be seen in the top right of the picture below.

All of these tacos were delicious, and I loved the variety and creativity. If you’re having trouble choosing, the signature Taco Bamba is a great place to start. The Small Biggie Smashburger really does taste like a burger on a soft taco tortilla, and I’d say it worked. Taco Bamba also has “tacos tradicionales” such as carne asada and al pastor for a slightly cheaper price than their original menu items like the ones listed above.

El Centro

Address: 1218 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
Website: https://www.eatelcentro.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elcentrodc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elcentrodc/

While we were walking around Georgetown, we stopped into this Mexican restaurant to cool down for a bit. We got a few drinks, and I ordered their happy hour nachos. It was a light snack that had bold flavors, thanks to the melted cheese, beans, and pickled veggies.

Peruvian: Super Pollo Charcoal Chicken

Address: 550 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA 22203

Before this trip, I was not aware that Peruvian rotisserie chicken was a local favorite in the D.C. metro area! There are many places to get it, but Ismael recommended trying Super Pollo in Arlington. They offer quarter-chicken combo plates with a choice of two sides, so I got fried rice and fries. When compared to regular American rotisserie chicken, I’d say this one had more spice and flavor. It was also very tender and juicy, so I can see why people in the DMV love this Peruvian dish!

Pizza: &pizza

Locations: various (we went to the D.C. Chinatown one)
Website: https://andpizza.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LikeAndPizza/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andpizza/

This fast casual pizza chain has locations as far north as New York and as far south as Virginia. I discovered &pizza many years ago on a previous trip to the East Coast. It’s sort of like Subway or Chipotle, but for pizza. By that I mean that they offer some set combo options, but you can customize your order however you like. If you’ve ever been to MOD Pizza or Blaze Pizza, you’ll find &pizza to be a similar concept.

The thing that sets &pizza apart from its competitors is the shape of their pies. They’re long and rounded; the crust is thin, but not paper thin. On this trip, we split a single pie with pepperoni, olives, and hot dog slices. This place is great for a late night snack!

Spanish: Barca Pier & Wine Bar

Address: 2 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria, VA 22314
Website: https://www.barcaalx.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barcaalx/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barca_alx/

If you’re craving tapas in Old Town, be sure to check out Barca! They have two locations next to one another: a wine bar (which includes an indoor, sit-down dining room) and a pier (semi-covered patio vibes on the water). Since the weather was good, we reserved a spot out on the pier.

We ordered a bunch of different plates, including calamari, scallops, bacon-wrapped dates, and a bread that I’m pretty sure came topped with a mushroom-based spread. I loved all of these plates, but their seafood should not be missed. Both the fried calamari and the scallops were mouthwatering, especially with the latter served over a succulent “piquillo romesco” pepper sauce.

Uyghur: Dolan Uyghur Restaurant

Address: 3518 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Website: https://www.dolanuyghur.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dolandc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dolan_dc/

I will never pass up the opportunity to enjoy Uyghur food, and that’s because it’s not super easy to find in the US! I’ve featured two Uyghur restaurants in Chicago on my blog so far (learn more about Café Alif in West Ridge and Faiza Chicago in North Park), so Dolan is my third!

Uyghur cuisine is rich and hearty, incorporating ingredients such as lamb, beef, tomatoes, cumin, and onion. If you visit Dolan, be ready for a savory feast! Try a couple appetizers and share main plates to get the full experience. To start, we ordered a kawa (veggie) samsa and a regular (beef) samsa, as well as a wood ear mushroom salad.

After enjoying our appetizers, we split three entrees: korma chop (fried noodles), arlash korma (stir-fried lamb and veggies), and a goshnan (beef and lamb meat pie). All three were phenomenal, but the noodles were probably my favorite. The arlash korma was almost like a stew, with cooked tomatoes that went so well with the lamb.

If you look at Dolan’s menu, you’ll notice that another very prominent offering is laghman. This thick hand-pulled noodle can be prepared in many ways (I think Dolan offers five or six different varieties). I didn’t order it here because I’ve already had it a few times in Chicago. With that said, the fried laghman (“boso laghman”) I’ve had at other Uyghur restaurants seemed pretty similar to the korma chop at Dolan.

Vietnamese

If you’re visiting the DMV in summer like I did, chances are it is hot and humid! There’s no better cuisine for the heat than Vietnamese, which is always fresh and healthy. Check out a few places to get it below.

Hoang Viet Restaurant in Eden Center

Address: 6795 Wilson Blvd #32, Falls Church, VA 22044

Eden Center is a massive Vietnamese marketplace with dozens of restaurants and stores. I had fun walking around and browsing all the food options, but I found the number of choices to be a little overwhelming. Ultimately, we picked one called Hoang Viet Restaurant, and it was pretty good.

I ordered bún chả, one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes. It’s made up of rice noodles, a ton of herbs and veggies, and a dipping sauce that contains grilled pork. This version from Hoang Viet Restaurant was a little different from the bún chả I’ve had from other places, but it was still very tasty! Ismael ordered a rice combo plate, and we shared some fried spring rolls as an appetizer. After eating, we continued to explore the many vendors at Eden Center.

Pho 75

Address: 1721 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209

As a foodie, I am absolutely obsessed with phở! I will savor this Vietnamese noodle soup anywhere I can find it, regardless of time or place. With this in mind, we simply had to get lunch at Pho 75, one of the DMV’s most famous spots.

From the moment we stepped inside, it was clear that this bustling restaurant runs like a well-oiled machine. The dining room was at capacity the entire time we were eating, with a long line of people waiting to be seated. Even though they were packed, I’m pretty sure there was only one waiter for the whole dining room! Despite that, he clearly had his process down to a science. We didn’t have to wait long for our food to come out.

What sets excellent phở apart from merely good phở? I tend to think it’s the broth, as well as the meat. The broth here was delicious, and I’d say it leaned a little more towards the sour/acidic end of the scale. (Sometimes phở broth is more aromatic or fragrant, and sometimes the saltiness is the most prominent flavor.) The cuts of meat at Pho 75 were good quality, which is another important thing for me. A casual lunch here was one of the culinary highlights of my visit!

Conclusion

Washington, D.C. is perfect for a long weekend trip in summertime! The city has a very unique character, unlike any other part of the United States. From quaint neighborhoods to a truly global food scene, the DMV has it all. Even riding the city’s Metro is an experience, with its signature underground platforms like the one pictured below.

At the very end of my trip, as I was waiting to board my plane at Reagan National Airport, I was treated to one of the most vibrant rainbows I’ve ever seen! It was the perfect way to say farewell to our nation’s capital (until next time)!

Have you been to Washington or NoVA before? Have you tried any of the restaurants, bars, or cafes mentioned in this post? If you have, leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading, and have fun in D.C. if you’re about to embark on a trip!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on Aug 4, 2024

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post Get To Know The Washington, D.C. Metro Area: Neighborhoods And Food Scenes appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

The Best Places To Eat, Drink, And Caffeinate In Portland, Maine

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 17:00:00 +0000

The Best Places To Eat, Drink, And Caffeinate In Portland, Maine

Published July 13, 2024
Last updated September 15, 2024

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Are you planning a trip to Portland, Maine? If you are, I’m giving you one mission: eat a ton of excellent food! My friend Ismael and I (Kevin) recently spent a week in this beautiful city, which gave us the opportunity to try so many restaurants, bars, and cafes. Portland is increasingly known as a top culinary destination in New England. After you read this blog post, you’ll understand why!

Unsurprisingly, Portland’s food scene revolves around lobster and oysters. But there are lots of other equally enticing options, including Thai and Japanese cuisines, a vibrant craft beer scene, cute coffee shops, and much more. To skip down to any particular section of this post, click or tap the corresponding link below!

Eat
Drink
Coffee, Breakfast, & Pastries
Prices & Final Thoughts

Eat

I was impressed by the wide variety of dining choices that Portland had to offer, as well as the generally high quality of the food. This section features over a dozen different restaurants to consider during your trip!

Seafood

If you’re visiting Portland for its food scene, rest assured that fresh seafood is available around every corner. During our week here, Ismael and I enjoyed seafood for roughly half of our meals. Lobster is the most prominent offering, and oysters are a close second. Scallops, crab, fish, and clams are all common, too.

Becky's Diner

Address: 390 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.beckysdiner.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Beckys-Diner/100064605436897/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckysdiner207/

Becky’s Diner is great because it’s located at the far (western) end of the waterfront. This sets it apart from many of the waterfront restaurants a few blocks to the east that explicitly cater to tourists. Becky’s Diner feels more local. It’s one of my top recommendations for lunch in Portland.

I walked by Becky’s Diner a few times during my stay in town. Each time, I saw a crowd of people waiting outside for a table. That’s usually a good sign! Upon arrival, we put our names on the list and were given a buzzer that would vibrate when our table was ready. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot to do nearby, so we meandered around the adjacent wharf for about twenty minutes.

Once we got seated, I started off with a local beer and a cup of coffee. I had to try the lobster roll here, and Ismael ordered the “Fried Fisherman’s Platter,” which had clams, haddock, scallops, and shrimp. The lobster roll came with a choice of mayo or melted butter, and I asked for both on the side. We also shared one blueberry pancake and one regular pancake.

During my week in Portland, I probably had about six or seven different iterations of lobster rolls. With that said, the sandwich from Becky’s Diner was one of my favorites. It had a lot of meat, and the butter and mayo on the side was a nice touch. Everything at this cozy, nostalgic diner tasted great. It’s no wonder they always seem to be at full capacity!

DiMillo's On The Water

Address: 25 Long Wharf, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.dimillos.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portlandmainelobster/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dimillos/

If you’re walking along the waterfront in Old Port, it’s hard to miss the giant sign for DiMillo’s On The Water. I waited until the final day of my trip, but I made sure to try a meal here before flying home. The most notable thing about DiMillo’s is that it’s housed in a giant boat anchored at the end of Long Wharf. Whether you’re seated at the bar, in the dining room, or on the open-air patio, you really will feel like you’re on a ship (because you are). It’s definitely a cool atmosphere!

Since this was the end of my trip, I had already consumed a bunch of lobster. Therefore, I decided to mix things up and order a scallop roll at DiMillo’s On The Water. I have to admit, it wasn’t as good as any of the lobster rolls I had. The fried batter, melted cheese, and bacon bits all made it a heavy sandwich. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the flavor of the scallops wasn’t completely overpowered by all these other ingredients.

Even though I didn’t love this fried scallop roll, I’m glad I tried it. In addition to DiMillo’s unique atmosphere, the service here was exceptionally friendly. I’d gladly go back to this boat-turned-restaurant to try another lunch plate!

Eventide Oyster Co.

Address: 86 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.eventideoysterco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EventideOysterCo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eventideoysterco/

Seafood enthusiasts won’t want to miss Eventide Oyster Company. Just like Becky’s Diner, Eventide always seems to be busy. Ismael and I were able to find bar seating on their outdoor patio, where we split a dozen and a half oysters from various locations around Maine. Be sure to try their “ice” accoutrements. They add a splash of flavor, but still allow the essence of the raw oyster to shine through.

I’ve always enjoyed oysters, but I’ve never done a deep dive into their flavor profiles or subtle nuances. This trip to Portland allowed us to talk to servers and learn the basics, including here at Eventide. If you’re curious about oyster tasting, you can read more about that here. I tried a wide variety of oysters during this vacation, but I wasn’t really able to discern notes of cucumber, mushroom, mollusk, etc. Maybe I need more practice.

In addition to oysters, Eventide serves other seafood, such as a brown butter lobster roll (pictured above). We also tried scallops on the half shell, a round of dirty martinis, and some oyster shooters. With regard to that last item, I wasn’t sure if we should eat the oyster first and then drink the shot, or use the oyster as a “chaser.” I think we went with the latter option.

Portland Lobster Company

Address: 180 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://portlandlobstercompany.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PortlandLobsterCompany/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portlandlobstercompany/

Portland Lobster Company was the very first restaurant I went to after arriving in the city. Its outdoor patio on the waterfront served as the perfect place to try my very first lobster roll in Maine and get acquainted with other local menu offerings.

This lobster roll was a nice introduction to the sandwich, with the meat served chilled and brushed with sweet butter. The lobster came on a toasted roll that wasn’t as dense as the bread at Becky’s Diner. After trying a bunch of lobster rolls, the amount of meat in this one seemed to be on the smaller side. In Portland, this sandwich is usually sold at market price. At least in theory, you should be charged more for a sandwich that has more meat. I can’t say if that’s always true.

Portland Lobster Company was the only sit-down restaurant in town that I visited twice. The second time, I got their Sea Burger. The menu says the filling of this sandwich is a clam cake patty. It definitely tastes “ocean-y,” especially after being fried and served with tartar sauce. If you’ve already had your fill of lobster rolls, this burger is a nice alternative.

Scales

Address: 68 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.scalesrestaurant.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScalesSeafoodRestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesrestaurantportland/

Scales was probably the most upscale (get it?) seafood restaurant we tried in Portland. We didn’t make a reservation, but we found open seats at their bar. I really didn’t mind, because we got very attentive service from our bartender/server. One cool thing about dining here is that a big groove is carved right out of the bar top. If you order oysters, they’ll be shucked in front of you and served in this little divot! Table seating at Scales doesn’t appear to come with this little extra perk.

The oysters at Scales were delicious, and so were all the other appetizers we tried. Everything from the rolls to the grilled octopus was fabulous. Perhaps the best small plate we got was the tuna crudo from the raw bar. It was incredibly tender and the lemon aioli sauce it was served over was phenomenal. A bit of pickle garnish and fennel chili crisp sprinkled on top rounded out the texture of each bite as well.

After being wowed by the appetizers, we had high expectations for our main plates. I ordered the Fried Whole Fluke with mustard greens and scallion vinaigrette; Ismael got the Stuffed Lobster Frites (lobster & scallop mousseline, buttered crumbs, dijonnaise). Both entrées were okay, but not spectacular. I found the back side of my fluke to be a little too oily.

For dessert, we split an order of Indian Pudding, and I sipped on a Quinta do Noval Tawny Port. I had never heard of Indian Pudding before, and that’s probably because it’s a New England delicacy. I liked how it had a lot of spice and was sort of reminiscent of Thanksgiving.

To sum things up, the appetizers at Scales were much better than the main dishes. If I went back, I would order enough appetizers and items from the raw bar to make a full meal.

The Highroller Lobster Co.

Address: 104 Exchange St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://highrollerlobster.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehighrollerme/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highrollerlobsterco/

Highroller is a diner that specializes in lobster and has a fitting, distinctive red-and-white checkerboard design scheme. You’ll find it on Exchange Street, which runs right through the heart of Old Port, the city’s historic waterfront district. The Highroller Lobster Co. fits right in among Exchange Street’s lively bars and colorful storefronts.

I like that Highroller offers a highly customizable lobster roll, with over a dozen sauces to choose from that you can have drizzled over the sandwich or on the side for dipping. Ismael opted to add seared scallops on his, and once I saw it, I sort of wished I had done the same. Even without the scallops, I found this lobster roll to be very satisfying.

My one small complaint about The Highroller Lobster Company was their mac and cheese. It sounded so creamy and delicious on their menu, but came out disappointingly bland.

Finally, we got a dozen oysters at Highroller. These were the first of many I enjoyed during this vacation, and they served as a great first impression!

The Shop by Island Creek Oysters

Address: 123 Washington Ave, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://portland.islandcreekoysters.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portlandoystershop/

As you can probably tell from the name, this modern-looking spot is basically just a raw bar. It’s part of the food corridor on Washington Avenue, an up-and-coming dining district that forms the boundary between the neighborhoods of Munjoy Hill and East Bayside. A lot of the restaurants and bars here have an industrial chic vibe. It’s a great place to walk around, especially if you’re hungry but feeling indecisive.

At this spot, we ordered a total of two dozen oysters, largely because they sell them for $1.95 per piece (as of summer 2024). We got a variety of oysters from different farms and locations, and I tried my best to taste the subtle differences. While you’re here, consider trying a few oysters without any sauce to see if you like them on their own. After a week of enjoying oysters across Portland, I think I prefer them this way!

Asian Cuisine

When it comes to international cuisines, Asian food seems pretty popular in this seaside town. Japanese and Thai restaurants are common in and around Old Port, so we tried a few of them.

Crispy Gài

Address: 90 Exchange St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.crispygai.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrispyGai/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crispygai/

I love when restaurants have creative names that incorporate a play on words, and Crispy Gài delivers in this regard! “Gài” (ไก่) is the Thai word for “chicken.” The thought of crispy, Thai-inspired fried chicken? Say no more. Crispy Gài also has a bright pink storefront and a neon color scheme. It’s very eye-catching and likely to pique the curiosity of any hungry passersby.

After being seated for lunch, we immediately ordered a dozen raw oysters. These were served with bits of fried onions and Thai dipping sauces. I will always give kudos for originality when it comes to oysters. With that said, extra ingredients and strong sauces run the risk of masking the oysters’ flavor. It’s a fine line! I would recommend only a tiny dollop of this green sauce on the oysters at Crispy Gài. Like many Thai sauces, this one was full-bodied.

Since Crispy Gài offers so many different flavors of wings, we shared two: the “Hat Yai Wings” (extra crispy wings with fried shallots) and the “Sichuan Wings” (Thai-Chinese style with numbing spice). I have always loved Sichuan cuisine, so I was very happy to taste legit numbing pepper here! If you love unapologetic spice, you won’t want to miss this Sichuan seasoning!

In addition to excellent wings, this restaurant offers a few different dipping sauces to choose from. I know we got the “NJS Ranch,” and I’m pretty sure we got the “Nam Jim Jaew,” a spicy fish sauce. The creaminess of the ranch paired well with the Sichuan pepper, and the Nam Jim Jaew was great with the Hat Yai Wings.

Pictured above is one small area for improvement, in my personal opinion. We ordered some Siu Mai Dumplings, but found them to be the least impressive part of this meal. Despite that, Crispy Gài was a fun and memorable dining experience! And oh, before I forget, the cocktails here are bold, creative, and delicious! I absolutely loved the “Same Same But Different” with rum and coconut milk!

Dok Mali

Address: 47 India St Suite B, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.dokmalimaine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dokmalimaine/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dokmalimaine/

Dok Mali is the other Thai restaurant we tried in Portland. I would say it’s a little more traditional than Crispy Gài, but their menu still featured some unique creations. For example, their “Dumpling Flight” pictured below allowed us to try seven different varieties.

I also appreciated their lobster bao, which was a nice change of pace after trying multiple traditional lobster rolls. I believe this small plate was a special, but maybe they serve it periodically. We also ordered a grilled okra appetizer. It was crispy, split down the middle, and served on skewers.

For entrées, Ismael and I split a “Crying Tiger” and a “Nam Khao Tod.” The former was marinated ribeye, served with sticky rice and veggie skewers. The latter was crispy curry rice mixed with fresh herbs, ground pork and som moo, topped with roasted peanuts and served with lettuce. The ribeye was incredibly tender, and the Nam Khao Tod was sort of like a rice and salad dish.

In general, I found Dok Mali to serve light and refreshing Thai food. It was probably good for us to have a generous serving of fresh veggies here. The lobster bao and Crying Tiger were my highlights at Dok Mali. The Nam Khao Tod was fine, but it would’ve been a lot better if all that lettuce was coated in just the thinnest layer of some kind of light dressing.

Mami Japanese Street Food

Address: 339 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://mamiportland.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamiportland/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamiportland/

In case you can’t already tell, our modus operandi for trying restaurants is to order a bunch (perhaps too many) appetizers. I love tasting as many different dishes as possible in one sitting. And I highly recommend you do the same at Mami Japanese Street Food! We ordered the following “zensai” or small plates: nikuman (bao buns), yaki onigiri (rice ball), sunomono (salad), age nasu (fried eggplant), and pork belly. All were excellent, but the onigiri and eggplant really stood out.

Main dishes at Mami include things like okonomiyaki, a katsu sando, yakisoba, and donburi rice bowls. I got a pork katsudon donburi, and it was as delicious as the appetizers. This was a restaurant where every bite surpassed my expectations and the food was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Don’t miss Mami, especially if you’re looking for something other than lobster or oysters.

Other Restaurants

Even if you’re not the biggest fan of seafood, or if you’ve had too much lobster and need a break, Portland has lots of other great options. Check some of them out below!

Duckfat

Address: 43 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.duckfat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duckfatmaine/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/df.friteshack/

This popular Belgian-inspired restaurant is located on the eastern edge of Old Port. They specialize in frites fried in duck fat, as well as poutine and other plates. The concept is definitely intriguing, pulling inspiration from Belgium, Amsterdam, and Quebec while incorporating local ingredients from Maine.

I found the poutine here to be good, but it would’ve been even better if the cheese curds were larger. Great cheese curds in poutine are large enough to “squeak” in your mouth as you bite down on them, and these were a little small.

Flatbread Company

Address: 72 Commercial St #5, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://flatbreadcompany.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flatbreadcompanyportland/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flatbreadcompanyportland/

When we decided to try Flatbread Company for our final dinner in Portland, I didn’t realize that it was a chain with locations in far-flung places like Vancouver, BC and Maui. I typically try to stick to local businesses when I travel, but occasionally I’ll end up at a chain without realizing it. Nonetheless, this restaurant originated in the Northeast (out of Amesbury, MA), and their second store is the one we ate at in Portland, ME.

We ordered two Half-N-Half flatbreads (which are basically pizzas). This allowed us to try a total of four flavors. If I remember correctly, we ordered Pepperoni & Mushroom, Street Taco, Pesto Margherita, and Sausage. All four were good, although I found the maple-fennel sausage to be a little too sweet for my liking. The Street Taco was probably the most interesting recipe, and the Pesto Margherita was my personal favorite.

For dessert, we tried the Strawberry Rhubarb Crispy and the Mamma Santos Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. Both were decent, but I’d say dessert here is not a must.

Fore Street Restaurant

Address: 288 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.forestreet.biz/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/288forestreet/

According to their website as of summer 2024, “Fore Street is part of a family of restaurants and bakeries that include Street & Company, Scales Restaurant and Standard Baking Company.” After trying both Fore Street and Scales, I have to say that Fore Street was much more impressive than its sister restaurant. They’re only a block or two away from one another, and if Scales focuses more on “surf,” then Fore Street seems to focus more on “turf.”

Fore Street Restaurant offers a menu that changes daily based on fresh ingredient availability, so it’s ideal for adventurous eaters that don’t mind a bit of spontaneity. We started off with wine and bread, then tried a variety of appetizers, including foie gras, calamari, veal, and scallops. Everything was rich and full of bold flavors!

For my main plate, I ordered a rabbit leg pasta. This was undoubtedly my favorite part of this dinner! The noodles it came with were almost reminiscent of ramen. The combination of the rabbit, cheese sprinkled on top, and a light broth tied this dish together perfectly, both in terms of flavor and texture.

By the time dessert came, I was completely stuffed. I don’t remember exactly what the pastry on this plate was, but I know it had rhubarb and a dollop of cardamom ice cream. Even on a very full stomach, this dessert was the perfect end to one of our best meals in Portland.

Hot Suppa

Address: 703 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102
Website: https://hotsuppa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hotsuppamaine/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsuppamaine/

Finding this southern kitchen on the western side of town was a pleasant surprise. Since it’s not anywhere near Old Port, Hot Suppa was perhaps the least-touristy restaurant I dined at on this trip. Regardless of that, I loved the murals here that reminded me of New Orleans, the diner vibe, and the friendly service.

After browsing the menu, I decided to try the cheesy shrimp and grits, plus a side of fried green tomatoes. It was a great, indulgent breakfast, and I appreciated that the grits came with a pretty generous amount of shrimp.

Papi Portland

Address: 18 Exchange St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.papiportland.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PapiPortland/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papiportland/

The festive vibe at this Puerto Rican bar and restaurant overflows onto the street, which is how Papi Portland first captured our attention while we were walking along Exchange Street. We stopped in for dinner the next day and were seated at the bar.

Right off the bat, we ordered a few cocktails, which were sweet and strong. Most libations here are rum-based, but Papi Portland also offers a wide variety of drinks that draw inspiration from all over Latin America. Their menu includes tequila, mezcal, and cachaça, among other liquors.

For dinner, we got a few beef empanadas and tostones al ajillo as starters. We also ordered all four of their dipping sauces to use throughout the meal. My entrée was the Pincho, which are marinated skirt steak skewers. Ismael got the Pernil (not pictured below), and we split a Canoa. This sweet plantain filled with chicken picadillo and cheese is pictured last in the gallery below.

All in all, both the drinks and the plates at Papi Portland were awesome. My steak skewers were juicy and tender, and the Canoa was a delicious dish I had never had before. I’ll be keeping an eye out for it the next time I’m at a Puerto Rican restaurant!

Terlingua

Address: 40 Washington Ave, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.terlingua.me/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terlinguarestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terlinguabbq/

Terlingua is mentioned on many Portland restaurant guides online, and they specialize in an admittedly unexpected combo: Mexican food and BBQ. While we were here, I figured we should try both. We started out with chips and salsa, and I ordered a bloody maria.

A good way to try their BBQ is to get a lunch or dinner board. It comes with a variety of smoked meats and classic BBQ sides. Check out the lunch board we got, pictured below.

To try the Mexican food here, we ordered two chicken tacos and a green chili. I was expecting the BBQ at Terlingua to be the highlight and for the Mexican dishes to be less impressive, but it actually ended up being the opposite. The BBQ was only okay, but the tacos and chili were more worthy of praise. All of the meats on the BBQ lunch board were decent, but none of them really stood out as being especially juicy, tender, or seasoned. In contrast, I found the tacos and the chili to be very satisfying, boasting more complex flavors. The meat in these Mexican dishes was also more tender and succulent than the BBQ cuts.

The Grill Room & Bar

Address: 84 Exchange St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://thegrillroomandbar.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrillRoomBar/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrillroomportland/

This restaurant is one of a handful that all fall under the umbrella of “The Rooms Portland.” We were drawn in by their appetizers, which included things like bone marrow and escargot. We ordered both of these, plus their roasted local oysters, and a banh mi-style rabbit dish. I think this last one was a special, because I don’t see it listed on their website.

I had high hopes for all these plates, and some were better than others. The rabbit was probably my favorite, and the bone marrow came in second. The oysters were decent, but I think after trying them roasted, I prefer this delicacy raw. The appetizer that could’ve been improved was the escargot. It tasted like it was missing salt, and that’s not a critique you’re going to hear me make very often.

Even if the escargot wasn’t amazing, my main plate made up for it. I got the duck breast, and it was so good! Not only did it taste amazing with local mushrooms, but it was a very generous portion. It’s always a little disappointing to order duck and only be served like, five pieces. That was not an issue here at all! On top of that, the meat was cooked to perfection. I am a huge fan of duck when it’s prepared well, and The Grill Room did an excellent job with this plate.

Drink

Portland’s craft beer and cocktail scene is undoubtedly booming. We got drinks at most of the restaurants we tried, but here are three additional bars to consider if you’re still in need of ideas.

Anoche

Address: 43 Washington Ave, Portland, ME 04101
Website: http://anoche.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anoche.portland/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anoche.portland/

This Basque-inspired bar appeared on nearly every Portland food guide I saw, so I had to check it out. Anoche can be found on trendy Washington Avenue, across from Terlingua and a few blocks south of The Shop by Island Creek Oysters.

I’ve never been to Basque Country, but I’ve heard great things about the food scene there. With that in mind, I ordered a Spanish gin and tonic at Anoche. The one I got came with Bimini Gin, hibiscus, lime, cardamom, mint, and bee pollen. As far as G&Ts go, this one was definitely a little on the sweeter side, but it worked. The most unique ingredient by far was the bee pollen, which didn’t really dissolve in the drink due to its cakey yet still powdery texture. Unsurprisingly, it had a strong floral taste.

In addition to their alcoholic beverages, Anoche serves “pintxos,” or Basque small bites. I wanted to try one so badly, but with all the eating we were doing on this trip, I just wasn’t hungry enough to try one. If you order some food at Anoche, leave a comment at the end of this blog post and let me know how it is!

Novare Res Bier Cafe

Address: 4 Canal Plaza #1, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://novareresbiercafe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovareResBierCafe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novareresbiercafe/

I’m a language lover, so I was very curious about this bar’s unusual name. Apparently, “novare res” means “to start a revolution” in Latin. Novare Res is sort of tucked away on Canal Plaza, and sipping a beer here feels like being transported to Europe. Their spacious, covered biergarten is quintessential summer!

Novare Res Bier Cafe has a draft list with a mix of local Maine beers as well as offerings from Belgium, Germany, and other countries in Europe. For my first glass, I tried a local Liquid Riot (it might’ve been the Persuasion?), and for my second one, I tried the De Ranke XX Bitter. This 6% ABV Belgian beer was very unusual, in a good way! It was hoppy for sure, but was much lighter than I expected.

Portland Beer Hub

Address: 320 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.portlandbeerhub.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PortlandBeerHub/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portlandbeerhub/

Portland Beer Hub is a cozy little spot on the corner of Fore Street and Pearl Street. Its bright interior and picturesque location almost make it feel more like a coffee shop than a bar. I got a flight of Maine beers here. They were all pretty light and refreshing!

Coffee, Breakfast, & Pastries

Before even trying any of Portland’s cafes, I could tell that this was a coffee-lover’s town. With that said, I visited a new cafe or pastry shop for breakfast each morning of this trip. They all had unique concepts, and each one offered smooth, rich coffee and delicious breakfast options.

Belleville

Address: 1 North St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.blvl.me/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bellevillemaine/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blvlme/

Ismael and I only stopped here for pastries, so I can’t comment on the coffee at Belleville. We bought a few strawberry and rhubarb-based treats, and they were as delicious as they look! The tartness and sweetness were perfectly balanced. Belleville also sells a variety of savory pastries. If we had an extra day in town, I would’ve probably gone back to try one or two of those.

Bom Dia Cafe

Address: 47 India St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.bomdiame.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bomdiame/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bom.dia_me/

If you’ve browsed around my blog, then you probably know that I lived in Brazil for over a year. When I saw Bom Dia Cafe, I simply had to stop in. “Bom dia” means “good morning” in Portuguese, so I figured this was a Brazil-inspired spot.

The vibe and color scheme in Bom Dia is absolutely on point. In particular, I loved the counter made out of white cinder blocks. Bom Dia Cafe sells coffee, açaí bowls, bagels, and more. If you’re in need of a fruit boost at the beginning of your day in Portland, look no further than the açaí! They offer tons of add-ons, including berries, bananas, granola, chocolate, and peanut butter sauce.

Coffee By Design

Address: 1 Diamond St, Portland, ME 04101 (I visited a branch on India Street location, which permanently closed in August 2024)
Website: https://coffeebydesign.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coffeebydesign/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffeebydesign/

Coffee By Design is a traditional coffee shop that prides itself as being a community hub. Local artists’ work was displayed on the walls, which was a nice touch. I enjoyed sitting by the windows, watching pedestrians and traffic go by, and sipping on an iced coffee at this wholesome spot.

Coffee ME Up

Address: 221 Cumberland Ave, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://coffeemeupportland.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Coffee-ME-Up/100063279081841/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffeemeupportland/

You’ll find this bustling cafe a few blocks inland from Old Port (walk up either Franklin Street or Pearl Street from the waterfront). I ordered a caramel iced latte with oat milk and a bagel with chive cream cheese from Coffee ME Up. The beverage was good, but the toasted bagel was phenomenal! I’d highly recommend both a coffee and a breakfast item here.

Double Great Coffee

Address: 100 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.doublegreatcoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Double-Great-Coffee/61559793375261/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doublegreatcoffee/

If you’re staying in or around Munjoy Hill, Double Great Coffee is an ideal place to get your caffeine fix. The interior is bright and modern, and the dining area is a comfortable place to relax. This might’ve been the only place I ordered a hot latte on this trip, but it was smooth and delicious!

Moonday Coffee

Address: 93 Washington Ave Unit 1, Portland, ME 04101
Website: https://www.moondaycoffee.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moondaycoffee/

If you love small businesses, consider getting your morning coffee at Moonday on Washington Avenue. The store itself is physically small, with no space for indoor seating. However, there are a couple tables on a small patio directly outside. Despite (or perhaps because of) Moonday Coffee’s cozy setup, there’s no shortage of charm here. In fact, they even sell jewelry here! I got an iced maple latte with oat milk, a refreshing coffee treat that wasn’t overly sweet.

The Holy Donut

Locations: multiple (I visited the Commercial Street location)
Website: https://www.theholydonut.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theholydonut/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holydonutmaine/

This donut and coffee shop has about half a dozen different locations, and they’re all in Maine. They sell “potato donuts,” which I found noteworthy right off the bat. I ordered one vegan pomegranate donut, an “Everything Bagel Holy Cannoli,” and a cold brew.

I will say, I couldn’t really taste the potato. Regardless, I liked the coffee here and the pomegranate donut. In contrast, the Everything Bagel Holy Cannoli really missed the mark. The cashier told me it was sweet and savory, and it looks interesting. But I found the everything bagel seasoning to be extremely salty, to the point that I couldn’t finish it. I would say stick with the sweet flavored donuts here, and you should be good.

Prices & Final Thoughts

I’m hoping this blog post has convinced you that Portland’s food scene is one of the city’s best features! There are so many great options no matter what types of cuisines you prefer. Now, the only caveat I’ll mention is that restaurants in the city are pretty pricey. I live in Chicago, and dining out in Portland was much more expensive than at home. I haven’t traveled much within New England (or even on the East Coast) in the last few years, so I’m not sure if that’s true for the entire region or not.

For what it’s worth, Ismael (who lives in the DMV) agreed that restaurants in Portland were expensive. I’m sure a major factor is the seafood. For example, all the lobster rolls I had were between $30 and $40 before tax and tip. However, it seemed like some non-seafood restaurants in town cost just as much as the touristy spots on the waterfront. Maybe they simply charged more, knowing that many patrons would be tourists.

If you’re planning on ordering drinks, appetizers, and/or desserts in addition to main dishes, budget between $50 and $100 per person for lunch. Most of our dinners ended up being between $100 and $150 per person after tax and tip. I know… it’s a lot. You could definitely bring those numbers down if you’re willing to just order main plates.

Have you been to any of the restaurants mentioned in this post? Are you planning a trip to Portland, ME soon? Or do you have any favorites in town that I missed on my trip? Leave a comment below and let me know! If you’re headed to Maine, enjoy the gorgeous scenery, and bon appétit!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on July 13, 2024
This post was updated on Sept 15, 2024

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post The Best Places To Eat, Drink, And Caffeinate In Portland, Maine appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

Virgin Voyages Food Review: Restaurants, Bars, And More Aboard The Scarlet Lady

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Virgin Voyages Food Review: Restaurants, Bars, & More Aboard The Scarlet Lady

Published April 10, 2024

One of the first questions people ask when booking a cruise is: what will the food be like on board? That was definitely at the top of my mind when a friend and I decided to do a Virgin Voyages Riviera Maya cruise aboard the Scarlet Lady. And let me tell you, the restaurants on the ship really surpassed my expectations!

This was my very first ocean cruise, so I can’t compare the dining experience to other cruise lines (yet). With that said, I’d be shocked if one of the major international cruise companies offers better cuisine than Virgin Voyages. VV seems to market heavily towards millennials, and a major component of that involves going all out with the food!

Our five-night cruise was aboard the Scarlet Lady, but restaurants and dining options are identical across the Virgin Voyages fleet of ships. As such, this review should give you a good sense of what to expect regardless of which boat you’re sailing on!

Below are all of the restaurants, bars, food stalls, and cafes that we tried during our time on the Scarlet Lady! To skip down to any particular spot, click or tap the corresponding link below. To see Virgin’s official dining webpage, click or tap here.

Sit-Down Restaurants
The Galley
Other Options
My Favorite (And Least Favorite) Food Item on the Ship
Pricing, Drinks, And Final Thoughts

Sit-Down Restaurants

Virgin Voyages essentially has two main options for meals: sit-down restaurants and a more casual food court (more on that below). The sit-down places are not to be missed. This is where the cruise line’s culinary prowess really shines through! All of these restaurants take reservations through the Virgin Voyages app, and it’s wise to book the ones you want as early as possible. They do hold some space for walk-ins, but you are not guaranteed a table at your desired time if you don’t reserve in advance.

Razzle Dazzle

Razzle Dazzle seems to be Virgin Voyages’ flagship restaurant, complete with a red, white, and black interior design scheme to match their corporate color palette. Razzle Dazzle offers standard American restaurant fare in a modern dining room.

Our appetizers, drinks, and desserts were all decent. I ordered fried okra and green tomatoes, and Ismael ended up getting a cocktail served in a popcorn container with actual caramel popcorn on top! For my dessert, I tried a rich, smores-inspired chocolate pudding.

The best part of this meal was my main plate: a succulent slow-cooked lamb shank that fell right off the bone. It was served with glazed veggies over a bed of taleggio cheese mashed potatoes. Dinner at Razzle Dazzle was our very first meal aboard the Scarlet Lady, and it set the stage for four days of feasting and drinking!

Extra Virgin

We didn’t book a reservation at Extra Virgin (I love that play on words, by the way) weeks or months advance. But after checking in on the Scarlet Lady, we saw how chic and stylish the dining room was! That was enough to convince us that we should try this Italian restaurant. There were still some slots open for dinner, so we snagged a table!

Extra Virgin was one of my favorite restaurants on the ship, both for the ambiance and the food. The pastel colors, nods to nautical themes, and Italian design elements all come together in a very cohesive way.

Upon being seated, we were immediately brought a tray of sliced meats, cheeses, spreads, and honey. Bread, olive oil and vinegar, and wine were also served. It was a sign that this dinner would be a major ordeal, in a good way!

Guests at Extra Virgin are encouraged to order one antipasto starter, one pasta dish, and one secondo (main). We did exactly that, and I was a worried it would be way too much food. Luckily, the portion sizes here were on the smaller side. Needless to say, it was a lot of food, but not overwhelmingly so. For appetizers, we shared meatballs and calamari (both pictured above).

Because this meal was pretty large, I opted for fish instead of red meat for my main plate. The sea bass I got was light and refreshing. For my pasta, I got a black squid ink “nero gemelli” with shrimp and mussels. This was the highlight of my dinner! The texture of the noodles was perfect: just chewy enough without being mushy. The pasta and seafood also came in an irresistible spicy sauce. Don’t miss Extra Virgin on your next VV cruise!

The Wake

Known for its steak and seafood, The Wake is fully decked out with fancy chandeliers, a spiral staircase, and sparkly copper spheres on the ceiling that will make you feel like you’re in The Great Gatsby. This restaurant’s name references its location at the back of the boat, and the view it offers of the ship’s wake or trail in the water.

This was another restaurant we didn’t reserve before embarking, but we were able to get a table for brunch towards the end of our cruise. According to staff on the ship, The Wake is one of the most popular sit-down venues on board. So if you’re intent on having a fancy steak dinner here during your cruise, try to make a reservation on the app as soon as it allows you to.

We began our brunch here with a few rounds of traditional morning cocktails, followed by appetizers of citrus fennel salad and poached shrimp. The salad was delicious and refreshing, not to mention a much needed dose of fresh fruits and veggies.

However, the poached shrimp at The Wake was probably the least impressive shrimp I had on the Scarlet Lady (and trust me, I ate a lot of shrimp during our cruise). Compared to the delicious seafood I had with my squid ink pasta from Extra Virgin, these just tasted like your average shrimp cocktail. They were plated beautifully, but they didn’t have an exquisite flavor.

For our main brunch plates at The Wake, Ismael got their Benedict with pork belly, and I got the steak and eggs. We both agreed that the steak and eggs was the better dish. After all, this is what they’re known for!

The Test Kitchen

Whether you end up loving or hating it, The Test Kitchen is arguably Virgin Voyages’ most unique (and controversial) restaurant. They don’t really shy away from it either. The entrance hall is decorated with symbols of ingredients meant to look like the periodic table. Inside, the dining room is minimalistic with muted colors and chrome accents. It really does look like a science lab.

The Test Kitchen offers a tasting menu, which is shown simply as a list of about a half dozen ingredients. If I remember correctly, ours was, “corn, salmon, beet, shrimp/lamb, asparagus, and strawberry.” You won’t really know how each ingredient is prepared, or if there’s an unexpected twist, until it arrives at the table.

For example, our starter course (corn) is shown below. At first glance, this may just look like a segment of an ear of corn. But it was actually a corn mousse molded in the shape of corn on the cob. You could slice it with a butter knife and spread it on bread. It was creamy, and I personally liked it.

Other courses were more predictable, such as the lamb. Even though there wasn’t anything unusual about this plate, it was probably my favorite at The Test Kitchen.

The shrimp was a bit more interesting, served with wide noodles that were also made from shrimp. The flavor reminded me of fish balls that you might find in a Chinese hot pot.

I took pictures of every course we were served, which are shown below. We knew the meal would end with a strawberry dessert, but we didn’t know that the dollops of cream you can see on the plate were made with wasabi. That flavor combination was truly innovative and a nice end to the meal.

We met other “sailors” (as VV would call us) who didn’t like The Test Kitchen at all. In contrast, I enjoyed the overall experience, and found it to be a pretty whimsical tasting menu. However, a few of those courses missed the mark, namely the beets and the asparagus ice cream.

I feel like our wine pairings for these two courses didn’t really mesh with the flavors of the food either. However, I am not sure that any wine would’ve complemented these unusual, veggie-based recipes. Nonetheless, I feel like adventurous foodies will enjoy a meal at The Test Kitchen. Most of the plates were delicious, and a few were genuinely surprising.

Pink Agave

If you’re looking for an indulgent meal with bold flavors in a fun environment, be sure to book a table at Pink Agave! I would say this restaurant is more Mexican-inspired than Mexican, but that’s not a bad thing! I enjoyed everything I ate here.

To start off, I ordered Pink Agave’s “crickets” cocktail. Take a close look at it. There are indeed actual, dried crickets floating in the drink! I’ve enjoyed similar cocktails in places like Oaxaca, and I rarely turn down an opportunity to eat bugs. In case you didn’t know, I am an adventurous eater! These crickets didn’t really taste like much, but it was still a memorable start to this meal.

For appetizers, we split shrimp (camarones amarillos), enchiladas, guacamole, and esquites (street corn). The corn was my favorite out of all of those due to its grilled, smoky flavor.

My main plate was the roast duck, which came with mole ahumado and smoked yam purée. I’m a bit of a duck connoisseur if I do say so myself, and I was very pleased with this rendition. Ismael ordered the ribeye steak, which was topped with cheese. The duck was good, but I have to admit the steak was just a tiny bit better!

For dessert, we threw caution to the wind and ordered three things: chocolate tacos with a dulce de leche filling, bread pudding, and milhojas (a layered pastry with passion fruit). Of those three, the bread pudding was the best.

Gunbae (Korean BBQ)

This was the only sit-down restaurant on the ship we didn’t try during our cruise. For whatever reason, it just didn’t appeal to us enough to make the reservation. I guess I will have to prioritize Gunbae for my next Virgin cruise!

The Galley

Located on one of the top floors of the ship, The Galley is a large, casual food court where you can always grab something to eat without a reservation. Meals from The Galley are satisfying, but they won’t be as formal or extravagant as meals from one of the sit-down restaurants mentioned above.

Diner & Dash

This quick-service grill is Virgin Voyages’ 24-hour food stall. However, it should be noted that many other places on the ship are open very late, well past midnight. Diner & Dash offers rotating specials, such as the fried rice, orange chicken, and noodles shown below.

Diner & Dash also serves classic breakfast options such as omelettes, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, and hash browns. They also have a delicious cooked tomato, which I got with every breakfast! It tasted great and provided some fiber to start off the day.

Other breakfast choices from The Galley are shown below. I tried the French toast and the eggs Benedict, but I definitely preferred the breakfast from Diner & Dash over these.

Burger Bar

Burger Bar can be found right next to Diner & Dash (at least on the Scarlet Lady). They offer pretty standard cheeseburger options, plus chicken sandwiches if I remember correctly. The best item here is their fries! They’re thick with a crispy outside and a soft inside, and the seasoning they use is amazing.

Let's Taco Bout It

I tried a few fish tacos from The Galley’s taco stall. While they tasted fine, they were pretty small and basic. You can always order more, but a tray with two was a small snack for me.

Bakery & Pastry Shop

I think this baked goods counter has an official name, but I don’t remember what it was, and it’s not listed on the Virgin Voyages website as far as I can tell. The selection of desserts here is extensive and fancy: fruit tarts, chocolate pastries, large flavored macaroons, and more are available throughout the day.

Another item that deserves special mention from the bakery is their savory sausage roll! I forgot to grab a picture of it, but Ismael and I both agreed that it was one of the best items we found in The Galley.

Noodle Around

With so many other restaurants on board to choose from, I only managed to try Noodle Around on our final morning of the cruise before disembarking. I was pleasantly surprised by both the fragrant broth and the tender pork that came with an order of their spicy ramen!

Other Options

The following areas on the ship are not quite sit-down restaurants, nor are they located in The Galley.

Grounds Club

Y’all already know with a blog named “Caffeinated Excursions,” I was down in the Grounds Club every morning getting an iced oat milk latte! The ship’s main coffee shop is large and spacious, so it’s a relaxing place to sit and sip on a drink or enjoy a pastry. Be aware that espresso-based drinks are charged extra (more on pricing below).

The Dock & The Dock House

These two venues located at the back of the ship were some of the coziest places to eat, drink, and socialize on the Scarlet Lady. The Dock refers to the open-air back deck of the boat, while The Dock House is an indoor space. The latter is part bar, part restaurant, and part cabaret lounge. Both are beautifully designed; I especially loved the beachy vibe of The Dock House!

In terms of food and drink, both The Dock and The Dock House offer identical menus. Their food offerings center around Mediterranean small plates, most of which are excellent. Since they’re small and don’t cost anything to order, you can try a bunch of them. Then, reorder your favorites as many times as you like. The chicken and shrimp skewers really stood out to us.

Pictured below is a Greek sampler from The Dock House. It was fine, but not as good as the kabob skewers mentioned above.

The Pizza Place

Okay, I have to admit that with Virgin’s generally creative restaurant names, this one sort of falls flat. But don’t let that stop you from trying their personal pan pizzas! We may or may not have come here on a nightly basis to get a mini second dinner right before bedtime. The pizza is light with a thin, crispy crust, so it’s ideal for a mid-afternoon snack or late night munchies.

While I’m sure you could eat at The Pizza Place for lunch or dinner, it would be a pretty petite meal. They do have seating in the restaurant, or you can have your pizza boxed to go. Just know that it’s not a full-service dining option with waitstaff.

My Favorite (And Least Favorite) Food Item on the Ship

And now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for! What was the best item on the ship that we couldn’t get enough of? It had to be the shrimp skewers from The Dock and The Dock House. They were just phenomenal, cooked to perfection every time! The combination of chili oil and a Greek yogurt dip was incredibly addicting, and the shrimp were light and fluffy. We simply couldn’t stop ordering them!

What was my least favorite meal on the ship? I’m sorry to say, it was the cheeseburger from Burger Bar. The biggest issue was that the meat was so dry. The patty wasn’t juicy or tender at all. Instead, it was flat, and looked like it came out of a frozen pack. The other ingredients were also thrown on at the time I ordered it, so the cheese didn’t have a chance to melt or warm up. The bun was toasted, but it was bordering on burnt. It had also cooled down, so it was hard and tough.

Maybe I got a bad batch, or a burger that had been sitting for a while. Nonetheless, this was surprising since all the other food on board was so tasty. In comparison to other meals on Virgin Voyages, this underwhelming plate was definitely an outlier. Even the thick-cut fries from Burger Bar were deliciously seasoned, with the perfect combination of crispiness and softness. So I’m not really sure why their cheeseburger was not a slam dunk.

Pricing, Drinks, And Final Thoughts

In addition to all of the restaurants and food venues mentioned above, the Scarlet Lady has a plethora of bars on board. Each one has its own character and drink offerings, which are pretty self explanatory. For example, the poolside bars tend to offer more frozen drinks and fruity libations to be enjoyed on the upper deck.

In general, drinks on the ship were mixed well. They all tasted great! I felt like Virgin did a good job of hiring experienced bartenders. In terms of potency, most drinks were medium strength. A couple cocktails we tried tasted pretty boozy, but most of them balanced flavor with ABV. I’m happy to report that I never received a drink that tasted disappointingly watered down or weak.

Let’s talk about billing and prices. The most important thing to know is that you should rarely if ever have to pay for food on a Virgin Voyages cruise. In certain cases, food may cost money if it’s part of a package deal with alcoholic beverages, or as part of a special event on board. The sit-down restaurants may also offer one or two premium courses for an additional cost. We never ordered these, and I don’t feel like we missed out by skipping them.

Virgin Voyages’ drink policy can be found here. Specialty drinks that incur an extra charge include all alcohol, handmade espresso-based drinks like lattes, and certain canned beverages like energy drinks and kombucha. Prices for all specialty drinks are usually a dollar or two cheaper than on land, since tax and tip are included.

Virgin Voyages: A Cruise Line for Foodies

I am highly complimentary of the food offerings on the Scarlet Lady. If someone were to ask me whether or not I recommend Virgin Voyages, I’d say absolutely! My top reason would be the cuisine. A few plates from The Galley could’ve been improved, but they were few and far between. Most meals on board the ship tasted great without being overly salty or sweet. I’m dreaming of my next cruise with VV so I can go back to Extra Virgin, Pink Agave, and The Dock House in particular!

Have you cruised with Virgin Voyages before? Do you have experience vacationing with other cruise lines? Leave a comment below and let me know! I am so curious to know how the food on board Virgin Voyages compares to Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and other famous operators. Someday, I’ll find out for myself. But until then, Virgin has set the bar very high!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on Apr 10, 2024

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post Virgin Voyages Food Review: Restaurants, Bars, And More Aboard The Scarlet Lady appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

Where To Eat In Guadalajara: My Top Restaurant And Bar Recommendations

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Where To Eat In Guadalajara: My Top Restaurant And Bar Recommendations

Published January 11, 2024

It’s been a while since I’ve published a restaurant guide on my travel blog, but I simply had to make one for Guadalajara! During my week-long stay here, I fell in love with the city’s food scene. Guadalajara’s delicious, down-to-earth Mexican cuisine is one of the top reasons to visit!

This blog post is broken down into the following topics. To skip down to any particular restaurant, bar, or cafe, click or tap the corresponding link below!

Restaurants to Try in Guadalajara
Bar Recommendations
Coffee
- Café La Flor de Córdoba
- Café San Pedro

Disclaimer For My Food Guides When patronizing restaurants, bars, and cafes for my food guide blog posts, I always pay full price. I never request discounts or free menu items in exchange for being featured here. As such, all opinions are completely my own!

Restaurants to Try in Guadalajara

On this trip, I made an effort to patronize local, affordable restaurants. Recommendations came from various sources, including online lists, Google reviews, and my Airbnb hosts. For the rest of this post, any business that has a star next to its name () was so phenomenal that I had to visit multiple times!

Breakfast

Breakfast in Mexico is always such a treat. Typical breakfast dishes here are filling and packed with flavor. Even if you typically skip breakfast at home, you won’t want to miss ‘the most important meal of the day’ in Guadalajara!

Restaurante y Menudería Lidia

Address: C. Joaquin Angulo 272, Zona Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Restaurante-y-Menuderia-Lidia-100057126563096/

At first glance, this restaurant doesn’t really stand out as you’re approaching it on the street. There’s no patio out front, so it almost resembles a private residence. Luckily, there is a sign painted on the building. After you go inside, you’ll see multiple large dining rooms in a surprisingly open and airy space.

“Menudería” refers to their specialty dish, menudo. I ordered it for breakfast on my first visit to this establishment. Menudo is a savory soup made with tripe and lots of other spices. It was served with onions, limes, and tortillas on the side. My Airbnb host recommended I ask for an avocado (“aguacate” in Spanish) as an extra, and I’m glad he did! It absorbed the soup and added an additional layer of texture to the meal.

Since the menudo here was so delicious, I came back another day to try something else! I got chicharrón and chilaquiles. With meat, chips, cheese, beans, and multiple red sauces, this combo plate had so many different flavors and textures. In addition, Lidia also serves a great cup of coffee! It comes with piloncillo, an unprocessed form of pure cane sugar molded into the shape of a little cone. You can drop one piece in your cup, let it dissolve, and enjoy the fragrant sweetness it adds to the coffee.

El Terrible Juan Café

Address: C. Colonias 440, Col Americana, Americana, 44160 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Website: https://www.elterriblejuancafe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elterriblejuancafe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elterriblejuancafe/

If you’re looking for a trendy brunch spot in a trendy neighborhood, head over to El Terrible Juan Café in Colonia Americana! Their covered, semi-outdoor seating area was the perfect place to enjoy a nice, smooth “latte mazapán” and some molletes.

If you’ve never had molletes before, I’d recommend trying them on a visit to Guadalajara! They’re a popular breakfast throughout Mexico consisting of toasted bread topped with beans and melted cheese. At El Terrible Juan Café, you have the option to add meat on top as well. It’s sort of like a bagel, but the beans and salsa give this breakfast dish a distinctly Mexican flavor!

Mexican Food for Lunch and Dinner

Food in Guadalajara is reminiscent of what you’ll find at Mexican restaurants in the US, but there are a few popular meals here that are exclusive to this region. I used to live in Mexico City back in 2018, so it was cool to discover some new dishes here that aren’t staples in the country’s capital.

La Chata

Address: Av. Ramón Corona 126, Zona Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Website: http://lachata.com.mx/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaChataCentro/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lachatamexicana/

How do you know if a restaurant is worth trying when you’re traveling? If they always have a line out the door, that’s generally a good indication! And that was the case for La Chata. I ate here twice, but I passed by on foot a few more times. Every time, people were queued up, waiting their turn to go in. You’ll have to join them, but the line moves somewhat quickly. You can minimize your wait time by avoiding peak hours (lunch in Mexico is usually an hour or two later than it is in the US).

La Chata has a pretty extensive menu, so I found that it’s best to order one of their combo plates. On my first visit, I got the “platillo jalisciense” which came with chicken, a sope, an enchilada, a flauta, and potatoes. The second time I went, I ordered the “plato combinado,” which included chicken with mole, a chile relleno, and rice and beans.

As you can see, these plates contain a lot of variety. La Chata is an ideal place to become acquainted with comida tapatía (food from Guadalajara). This restaurant is popular enough that they receive some foreign visitors, but most diners appeared to be local when I went. That’s how you know it’s the real deal and not a tourist trap!

Restaurantes La Gorda

Address: Av. Ramón Corona 181, Centro, 44600 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico (see website below for other locations)
Website: https://lagorda.com.mx/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Restauranteslagorda/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restauranteslagorda/

La Gorda is right down the street from La Chata, and I’d say both offer similar cuisine. There’s sometimes a line at La Gorda, but not always. La Gorda’s dining area is also a little less hectic. Because of the constant line outside La Chata, the interior dining room there has quite a buzz, with customers constantly shuffling in and out. La Chata is more or less always at capacity, while La Gorda might not be.

I enjoyed one breakfast (Platillo de la Abuela) and one dinner (Enchiladas Gordas Mixtas) at this location of La Gorda on separate days. I liked the breakfast a little more, especially since it came with aromatic coffee and freshly toasted bread with salsa! If you’ve never experienced bread with salsa before, be sure to seek it out while you’re in Mexico! Sometimes the simple pleasures in life really are the best!

Kamilos 333

Address: C. José Clemente Orozco 333, Santa Teresita, 44200 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Website: https://www.kamilos333.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kamilos333/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamilos333/

This festive restaurant serves a special dish that’s native to the state of Jalisco: carne en su jugo (meat in its juice). It might sound a little weird in English, but it is an awesome meal to try if you’re really hungry and looking for something with a soup base.

Since the beef is cut up into small pieces, it ends up being very tender and easy to eat. This dish also contains beans, and the soup itself is pretty light in flavor. It’s not not super spicy or thick, and a little bit of lime squeezed in adds just a hint of acidity.

Birriería Las 9 Esquinas

Address: C. Colón 384, Zona Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lamejorbirriagdl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birrialas9esquinas/

Birria has become very popular in recent years in the US, but for whatever reason it’s not something I’ve really gotten into. I figured I should give it a chance while in Guadalajara. Birriería Las 9 Esquinas was a great place to try the real thing!

Located on the beautiful Plaza de las 9 Esquinas (Nine Corners Plaza), this restaurant’s striking storefront is beautiful day and night. They also sometimes have mariachi bands serenading diners, so it’s hard to miss!

I know birria tacos are all the rage these days, but I ordered it here as a stew. (You do get tortillas on the side, so you can make your own tacos using the meat if you want.) According to Wikipedia, birria can be made with goat, beef, lamb, mutton, or chicken. I’m not sure which meat was used in this plate, but I did have a gamier flavor and aroma to it. As you can see below, the soup is dark and a little cloudy. It’s more interesting and complex than carne en su jugo, and I would absolutely get it again!

El Pilón de los Arrieros

Address: C. Galeana 388, Zona Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Website: https://www.elpilondelosarrieros.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElPilondelosArrieros/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elpilondelosarrieros/

This establishment is also located on Plaza de las 9 Esquinas, right next to the birria restaurant mentioned directly above. They have a diverse menu, so I asked for the spicy shrimp platter. Guadalajara is not directly on the ocean, but the Pacific coast is not too far away. Because of that, seafood is pretty popular here.

The diabla sauce was legitimately spicy, which is always a plus in my book! It was also nice to have a lighter meal that wasn’t based on red meat. El Pilón de los Arrieros seems a little touristy, but I still liked the food and the vibe. If anything, they might cater more to domestic tourists than international tourists.

Súper Tortas Ahogadas El Pique

Address: C. Jesús González Ortega 169, Zona Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Website: https://ahogadaselpique.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tortas-Ahogadas-El-Pique-100050299963534/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tortas_ahogadas_el_pique/

Anyone who is familiar with Mexican food has probably heard of a torta before. This sandwich is available at many Mexican restaurants throughout the US, but Guadalajara has its own unique twist on this plate. Ahogada means “drowned,” so a torta ahogada is a sandwich drenched in a red sauce made from tomatoes and chilis.

If the sandwich sounds messy and soggy, it is. That’s part of the experience, though! I tried one at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant called Súper Tortas Ahogadas El Pique, which had good reviews and wasn’t too far from my Airbnb. I don’t really know what cuts of meat went on this torta, but I do know that with onion and lime juice squeezed on top, it was a pretty memorable, scrumptious meal.

There are so many signs around Guadalajara for tortas ahogadas that you will probably never be more than a block away from a store that sells them. I don’t think any one place can legitimately claim to offer the very best in the city. With that in mind, don’t feel like you have to get one at El Pique. Any place that specializes in them with decent reviews should serve a mouthwatering torta ahogada that won’t disappoint.

Taquería Los Faroles

Address: Av. Ramón Corona 250, Zona Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Los-Faroles-Centro/100088711217063/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/losfaroles_centro/

If you’re looking for authentic, neighborhood tacos in a no-frills environment, try Taquería Los Faroles. The tacos are small, and served only with meat. If you want to add cilantro, onions, lime, or salsa, you have to use the sauce tower they bring to your table at the beginning of the meal.

I ordered about half a dozen different tacos here. They came out in a heap on a pretty small plate. Would I be able to identify each type of meat I ordered? No, and I had no problem with that. Taquería Los Faroles isn’t exactly a hole in the wall, but it does sort of have that vibe.

Quelite

Address: C. Pedro Moreno 1078A, Col Americana, Americana, 44200 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Website: https://restaurante.covermanager.com/reservas-en-quelite/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quelite.gdl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quelite.gdl/

I think this was the fanciest restaurant I visited in Guadalajara. I tried Quelite for dinner one night towards the end of my trip. My goal was to mix things up a little bit after eating a lot of meat-heavy dishes for most meals. The pulpo zarandeado, grilled octopus over avocado salad, sounded intriguing and fresh, so I ordered that.

With a fruity cocktail and a complimentary amuse-bouche to start, this meal felt light and refined. I’m glad I focused most of my efforts in Guadalajara on trying mom-and-pop restaurants, but it was nice to splurge a little bit and experience more luxurious dining here as well.

International Options & Others

El Habanero Negro

Address: C. Manuel López Cotilla 1228-a, Col Americana, Americana, 44160 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elhabaneronegro/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elhabaneronegro/

This Cuban gastropub serves rum-based classic cocktails like mojitos, as well as a bunch of creative tacos. Try their “taco Lyn Mei” with pork belly and chicharrón or their “taco Mongol” with Mongolian beef! Those two were both so good that I had to get a third one (battered shrimp, not pictured here).

After downing my mojito, I ordered a “dragón de jade.” This was like a green variation of a michelada with a tomatillo base. It had a pretty bold, herbal flavor to it, and I really liked it!

Restaurante La Roma (Food Hall)

Address: C. Juan N. Cumplido 123, Americana, 44200 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restaurantelaroma/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laromagdl/

As far as food halls go, this one is pretty cozy and laid back. There aren’t giant crowds or dozens of vendors. Instead, you just take a seat and get to see all the different menus, then choose items from whichever one(s) you want. I was craving a burger at the very end of my trip, so that’s what I asked for.

Burgers in Mexico sometimes taste a little bit different than they do in the US, and that was true at La Roma. It wasn’t bad though! I always love trying typical American food abroad and seeing if it’s slightly different. I appreciated that this one came with a bunch of different ingredients, including bacon and a side of guacamole.

Mercado de San Juan de Dios (Mercado Libertad)

Address: C. Dionisio Rodríguez 52, San Juan de Dios, 44360 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico

I hesitated to include this market on my Guadalajara food guide, but ultimately decided I should. You’ll understand why once you read this section. Mercado Libertad is one of the most noteworthy places to see in Guadalajara. That’s because it is the largest indoor market in all of Latin America! I have been from Mexico to Central America, down to Brazil and Argentina, and no other market I’ve ever seen can compare. This place really is mind-bogglingly big.

Even from a few blocks away, you’ll start to see vendors on the streets lined up selling everything from cloth to snacks, souvenirs to antiques. As you enter the actual market building, there’s a palpable hustle and bustle all around you. You’ll eventually approach one atrium and think you’ve reached the center, until you realize that this giant structure consists of multiple massive rooms just like this.

So, Mercado de San Juan de Dios is very cool. (It’s also a pickpocketer’s paradise, so watch your belongings really carefully.) There are dozens if not hundreds of restaurants and food stalls inside, so what was my experience eating there, you ask?

I walked around the market for quite a while because the sheer number of choices was pretty overwhelming. I sat down at one, but felt like I regretted it pretty quickly. The main issue was that I was asked if I wanted water, to which I said yes. I was expecting a bottle of water as is standard in Mexico.

Instead, the server brought over a giant cup of fresh pineapple juice. Since I am pretty well traveled, I don’t worry too much about stomach bugs abroad, and I don’t go out of my way to avoid certain things, including ice or fresh produce. However, something about this juice just made me so nervous, and I was too self conscious to tell him to take it back. I also felt bad leaving this huge cup of juice full on the table, so I reluctantly drank about one-third of it.

Now, I don’t know why I got so freaked out about the pineapple juice here. But it might’ve been that the market, despite being impressive for its size, was generally not very clean. Dust and dirt was everywhere. I got the sense that some food vendors here probably play fast and loose with sanitation standards. There’s a risk no matter where you go, but it just seemed more likely to be an issue here.

I would recommend travelers visit Mercado de San Juan de Dios, but don’t feel obligated to eat here if you’re not comfortable with it. The average meal I had wasn’t worth an entire afternoon of worry.

Bar Recommendations

Pulque Degollado

Address: C. Liceo 176-planta alta, Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pulquedegollado/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulquedegollado/

I’m so glad I found this place, because I had never heard of pulque before trying it here! It’s a low-ABV beverage made from fermented agave sap. It’s got an opaque white appearance and a tart taste. It honestly reminded me of a pisco sour.

If this beverage sounds interesting to you, make your way to Pulque Degollado. The bar is located up a set of stairs in a quaint little loft at the address listed above. Their bright, comfortable seating area is very inviting, and the bartenders are friendly and willing to explain what pulque is and how it’s best enjoyed.

At Pulque Degollado, you can try pulque with various different fruit blends, or (I think) as a distillation. They also offer mezcal, a few classic cocktails, and more.

Vietnam Bar

Address: C. Pedro Moreno 1296, Col Americana, Americana, 44600 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vietnambargdl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vietnambargdl/

I mentioned earlier that I used to live in Mexico City in 2018. But did you know that I also lived in Vietnam in 2019? It should come as no surprise that I felt a deep sense of obligation to visit a place called Vietnam Bar in Mexico. I am a huge fan of doing “crossover” activities that incorporate multiple places I used to live!

I immediately loved Vietnam Bar’s sunny patio, green retro design scheme, folding chairs, and bold red label. My first impression was overwhelmingly positive, and the beer was cold and refreshing.

If you come over here, make sure to try their pork belly tacos. They are so succulent, with a sweet and tangy glaze. That plate really embodied the Mexico-Vietnam fusion I was hoping for when I first heard of this place! Even if you have no past connection to Vietnam, this bar is totally awesome and worth visiting for food, beer, or both.

Amargo Cervecería

Address: Calle Prisciliano Sánchez 807, Col Americana, Americana, 44160 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amargobar/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amargocerveceria/

You can find Amargo a block away from the picturesque Parque Expiatorio, but it’s kind of tucked away on a side street. It wasn’t very busy when I went to try a few beers here one night, but I didn’t mind having the place almost to myself. I also went early (before dinner), so maybe they get more crowded later in the evening.

The cool thing about this bar is that they have a bunch of beers on tap, and (at least when I went) almost all of them were brewed locally. Their menu board states the origin of each one, so you can be sure you’re ordering something produced in Guadalajara. I’m no beer expert, but I can tell you I enjoyed the two local brews I tried here!

Coffee

To be perfectly honest, Guadalajara’s cafe scene is a little lackluster. The good news is, I was able to order coffee at many of the restaurants mentioned above, and it was generally good. However, I didn’t see a lot of family-owned coffee shops around the “Centro Histórico.” Maybe I wasn’t looking in the right places or looking hard enough.

There are two main chains you’ll find in Guadalajara beyond the typical international brands. They are Café La Flor de Córdoba and Café San Pedro. Both are local-ish, with stores mainly in the state of Jalisco. I used to live in Mexico City in 2018, and I never came across either of these coffeeshops over there.

Café La Flor de Córdoba

Locations: various (click here to see full list)
Website: https://www.cafelaflordecordoba.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaFlordeCordoba/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laflordecordoba/

Of the two chains mentioned above, Café La Flor de Córdoba is the larger one. As of January 2024, they have over 100 branches spread out across Jalisco, plus one in Sinaloa. I stopped in for a mocha and a fruit tart one morning. It was a fine way to start the day, but I wouldn’t say the beverage was exceptional.

Café San Pedro

Address: various (click Linktree below to see full list)
Website: https://linktr.ee/cafesanpedro
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cafesanpedromx/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafesanpedro/

Unlike La Flor de Córdoba, San Pedro only has about half a dozen stores at the time of writing. They are basically clustered in the greater Guadalajara metro region, so you won’t find this chain in other parts of Jalisco or beyond. I honestly liked Café San Pedro more than La Flor de Córdoba. Their stores look more upscale, and the one I went to was a comfortable place to sit and relax. The French press I got here was excellent!

Enjoy Your Culinary Journey Through Guadalajara!

I hope this blog post provides a roadmap as you embark on a culinary adventure through this amazing city in Mexico! The restaurant and bar scene in Guadalajara is underrated and worth exploring in depth. The food here is unpretentious yet so delicious, and it’ll feel pretty familiar to most Americans.

Keep in mind that Guadalajara is a giant city of over a million residents, so this food guide is by no means exhaustive. I tried to keep my restaurant and bar recommendations centrally located, since most visitors will probably stay in Centro Histórico or Colonia Americana.

Have you tried any of the places I featured in this post? Did you discover one that I should try next time I’m in Guadalajara? Leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading and buen provecho!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on Jan 11, 2024

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post Where To Eat In Guadalajara: My Top Restaurant And Bar Recommendations appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

The Best Places To Eat In West Ridge And Little India, Chicago

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 18:00:00 +0000

The Best Places To Eat In West Ridge & Little India, Chicago

Published March 7, 2023

Ever since I moved to Chicago in April of 2021, I’ve been exploring different neighborhoods throughout the city. West Ridge is one of the most intriguing. It’s ultra-diverse, and has an almost suburban vibe. This is also one of the least touristy parts of the North Side, perhaps because it’s not located directly on any of the CTA train lines. However, all of these factors culminate in one of Chicago’s most underrated food scenes!

The heart of West Ridge (also known as West Rogers Park) is located on West Devon Avenue. Here you’ll find Chicago’s Little India! It’s an area that’s full of vibrant storefronts, restaurants, and cafes. On Devon, you can savor authentic cuisines from India, Pakistan, and Central Asia. All foodies should know about Little India, whether you’re visiting or local!

This blog post provides information on over a dozen awesome restaurants to try in this part of Chicago. It’s broken down by location, since West Ridge is surprisingly large. To skip down to any specific section or feature, click or tap the corresponding link below!

Restaurants in the North Part of West Ridge
Restaurants in Little India (Central West Ridge)
Restaurants in the South Part of West Ridge

Restaurants in the North Part of West Ridge

The north side of West Ridge is largely residential. However, some great restaurants can be found along the major boulevards, including North California Avenue, North Western Avenue, Touhy Avenue, and West Howard Street.

Kizin Creole Restaurant

Address: 2311 W Howard St, Chicago, IL 60645
Website: https://www.kizincreole.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kizincreolerestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kizincreole/
https://www.instagram.com/chef_dandesir/

Haitian food is not super common in Chicago, so it’s pretty cool that delicious Creole cuisine can be found right on Howard. On my first visit to Kizin, I ordered their goat stew with rice and plantains. It was incredibly tasty! Goat stew and curry goat are popular throughout the Caribbean. Each island seasons goat meat a little differently, and trying it Haitian-style at Kizin was quite a treat!

El Garcia Restaurant

Address: 7515 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Elgarciarestaurant1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elgarciarestaurant/

This Mexican restaurant is sort of tucked away on its own, across the street from the strip mall on the corner of Howard and Western. However, it is conveniently located right next to the north terminal for the 49B bus line. I was very impressed with the chile relleno and steak combo I ate here! Both the meat and the stuffed pepper were excellent, especially with a few grilled onions on top to give it all some extra spice.

The rice, beans, and salad that came with this dish were also delicious. That is definitely a factor I consider when choosing Mexican restaurants to feature on my food guides: whether their sides are tasty and fresh. All in all, this meal felt like a feast. Service was also quick and friendly!

Candlelite

Address: 7452 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
Website: https://candlelitechicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CandleliteCHI/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candlelitechi/

Candlelite is one of the neighborhood’s long-standing institutions: according to their website, they’ve been serving tavern-style pizza since 1950! If you’re walking or driving along Western Avenue, this pizzeria’s flashy red sign will probably capture your attention. Their dining room feels like a modern sports bar with historic touches that hint at the restaurant’s long history.

Candlelite is known for their white pizzas, so I ordered a personal pan the first time I went. I am not generally a fan of pizza that doesn’t have a tomato sauce base, but the Candlelite White, which is topped with caramelized onions, goat cheese, and roasted garlic was still very good. I can’t wait to go back and try some of their other offerings!

Queen K's Kitchen

Address: 7210 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
Website: https://www.queenkskitchen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Queen-Ks-Catering/100069050057273/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queenks2021/

The first thing I noticed about this cozy soul food restaurant near the corner of California and Touhy was its stylish sign, which displays a great big picture of their food! This sign also mentions their specialty: Cajun catfish, so of course I had to try that!

The fish was quite good cut up into pieces, breaded, and fried. All of the sides were delicious too! The mac and cheese was creamy, and their collard greens were phenomenal. The meal also came with a refreshing side salad that had a sweet poppy seed dressing on it.

Bina's Place

Address: 2210 W Touhy Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/binasplace/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Binas-Place/100063773462646/

Head to Bina’s Place for some delicious Balkan food! This is one cuisine I’m not as familiar with, but I am hoping to change that this year! At Bina’s, I’ve tried their cevapi plate, which consists of almost a dozen small beef sausages served with red onion, cabbage, and an incredibly soft pita. I’ve also ordered their signature dish: burek, a savory pie with your choice of meat or cheese filling. I got one with spinach and feta, and it was surprisingly light.

In addition to dishes like cevapi and burek, Bina’s Place offers a wide variety of American classics, some with Balkan twists. These include burgers, pasta, and pizza. I need to go back to try these!

Zimi's Pizza And Grill

Address: 6954 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
Website: https://zimispizza.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Zimis-Pizza-Grill/100083195927814/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zimispizzagrill/

Zimi’s is another excellent place to get Balkan food on the northern side of West Ridge. In fact, it’s only a short walk away from Bina’s Place. I couldn’t resist ordering their stuffed pleskavica, pictured below. This huge grilled meat patty is made of 100% beef. If you get it stuffed, the pleskavica is folded over with a layer of melted provolone cheese in the middle! It’s a very filling dish that tastes amazing, especially with kojmok! This creamy spread sort of looks like butter, but kojmok tastes more like cream cheese. It pairs perfectly with the meat and the bread!

I was so impressed with the stuffed pleskavica at Zimi’s that I had to go back and try their pizza! According to their website, they serve New York-style, so it has a pretty thin and crispy crust. All of their flavors sound good, but the bresaola (dried cured beef) stood out to me. The thin strips of meat and mushrooms went well together. I’m sure I’ll be back soon to try even more of their menu!

Siam Pasta

Address: 7416 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
Website: https://www.siampastathai.com/

The first thing I noticed about Siam Pasta is its eye-catching wood-themed exterior. It kind of makes the restaurant look like a cozy cabin. If you visit for dinner, you’ll also be greeted by their distinctive neon sign in the window. Inside, beautiful gold decorations on the walls will make you feel like you’re actually in Thailand.

Since I’ve become a Chicago restaurant enthusiast over the last few years, I feel like I have a lot of experience trying different renditions of Pad Thai. And I have to say, I really like this iconic dish at Siam Pasta. The ingredients are fresh, and the portion size is generous. Their thin noodles and sauce have the right texture and taste; the flavors are balanced, and it’s not too sweet or salty. The appetizer I tried here, their “Treasure Bag” dumplings, were also crispy and delicious!

Restaurants in Little India (Central West Ridge)

Little India runs east to west along West Devon Avenue. It’s a great place to start exploring the area’s dining scene, as there are dozens of options within walking distance to choose from!

Nepal House

Address: 2601 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://thenepalhouse.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nepalhouse.devon.5

If you’ve never tried Nepali food before, Devon Avenue is a great place to get it! At Nepal House, you can try curry or rice dishes. Pictured here is their goat curry, a meal that is full of spice. I want to go back and try their momo, which are traditional dumplings from Nepal.

Kabab King Grill

Address: 2305 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://kabab-king-grill.business.site/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kababkinggrilldevon/

This highly-rated Indian restaurant on Devon is worth trying if you love a meat combo platter. I split their Kabab King Combo with a friend and found that it was an ideal amount of food for two people. At first, we were surprised that the meal only came with naan and no rice, but the bread ended up being pretty filling. The tandoori chicken and chicken tikka are delicious here, and this combo includes both! We also saw lots of people ordering biryani at Kabab King Grill, so I’ll probably order that the next time I’m here!

Ali's Nihari & BBQ

Address: 2548 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://alinihari.com/

I had never heard of nihari before trying it at this restaurant, but it was delicious here! This piping hot soup is served with a huge piece of beef that is incredibly tender. The broth itself is fairly viscous and opaque, perfect for dipping naan. The nihari is served with fresh jalapeño and ginger which can be added to give the dish even more spice and flavor.

Café Alif

Address: 2245 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafealif/

One of the awesome things about Chicago’s food scene is that it features multiple places around town to get Central Asian food. Café Alif specializes in Uyghur cuisine, and is likely one of only a handful of Uyghur restaurants in the US.

I was first introduced to Uyghur food while studying abroad in Shanghai almost a decade ago, and I’ve loved it ever since. It features lots of lamb, thick noodles, beautiful flatbreads, and veggies such as peppers, onions, and tomatoes. At Café Alif, I’ve tried guru lagman, a thick noodle dish served with beef and veggies in a red soup. I poured the soup over the noodles and enjoyed everything together! They also serve a different style of lagman where the noodles, meat, and veggies are all grilled like a stir fry.

Safari Somali Cuisine

Address: 6319 N Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL 60660

This restaurant is sort of off on its own, away from the main stretch of Little India on Devon. However, Safari is worth walking over to if you’re looking for an amazing meal! I had never had Somali food before trying it here, but I’m already a huge fan. I ordered the goat, which came with rice, cooked veggies, a fresh salad, and beans. It was a very filling plate, full of spice and flavor! The goat was also really tender.

This colorful dish was served with a small cup of hot sauce, which really added some zing to the meat and rice. I tried to spread it out over everything, and it was still pretty spicy. I’m also planning to return to Safari to try their beef or chicken. Furthermore, a common staple in Somali cuisine is spaghetti! I’d love to substitute the rice for noodles next time to see how it is. I bet it’ll be amazing!

Restaurants in the South Part of West Ridge

The southern third of West Ridge is a gateway to a bunch of other cool neighborhoods and suburbs, including Lincolnwood to the northwest, North Park to the west, Lincoln Square to the south, and Andersonville to the east. Restaurants here are clustered on North Lincoln Avenue and West Peterson Avenue.

Wolfy's

Address: 2734 W Peterson Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://www.wolfyshotdogs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfysChicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfyshotdogschicago/

Wolfy’s is hard to miss, with its massive sign in the shape of a hot dog on a skewer out front. This is West Ridge’s most prominent “Chicago-style” local fast food joint. They serve Chicago dogs, burgers, fries, beef sandwiches, gyros, and other popular menu items.

I think Wolfy’s hot dogs are good with everything on them, and their burgers are even better. They are pretty juicy and filling! If you’re really hungry, consider getting one of each!

Milo's Pita

Address: 5731 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://www.milospita.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Milos-Pita/100063785356464/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milos_pita/
https://www.instagram.com/milos_pita_westridge/

Milo’s Pita is aptly named, because their pita really is delicious! It’s fairly thin, but always served warm and fresh with white and red dipping sauces. Milo’s Pita offers tasty and affordable lunch combos. I’ve had their vegetable and meat over rice lunch plates. Both are filling yet refreshing!

BryAnna's Restaurant

Address: 5695 N Lincoln Ave Apt 2, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://www.bryannasrestaurant.com/
Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/bryannasrestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryannasrestaurant/

Central American food is always such a treat, and BryAnna’s is a great place to get it! They specifically offer Guatemalan and Salvadorian dishes, and I’ve loved everything I’ve tried here. Their combination plates are a great way to try many different offerings at once, or you can order a traditional dish such as their pollo amarillo: chicken and veggies served in a tasty yellow-orange sauce.

Afghan Bamyan Kabob

Address: 5701 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60659

This restaurant is located near the corner of California and Lincoln (along with Milo’s Pita and BryAnna’s). I absolutely love their lunch specials, which come with your choice of kabob, rice, a small salad, and two delicious dipping sauces. The meat here is perfectly seasoned, and it’s a lot of food for a pretty good price.

I’ve also tried Afghan Bamyan Kabob’s mantu ground beef dumplings, which are phenomenal. They’re prepared with a red tomato sauce and a garlic yogurt sauce, as well as split peas and cilantro on top. This plate is bursting with flavor, but it’s not overly heavy.

R-Haan Thai

Address: 5848 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
Website: https://r-haanthai.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhaanthaichicago
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhaan.thai/

R-Haan Thai has a tiny dining room with only a few tables, but it’s a restaurant I keep going back to again and again! I’ve tried their fried rice, Pad Thai, moo ping (pork skewers) with sticky rice, curry, and more. Everything is really satisfying at R-Haan, and their Pad Thai is cooked to perfection. Prices here are pretty competitive, so be sure to check them out!

Go Try One of These Amazing Restaurants!

West Ridge is a largely residential area, about a mile inland from Lake Michigan on Chicago’s north side. The restaurants featured in this guide are geographically spread out, but they come together to form one of the most impressive international food scenes not only in Chicago, but arguably in the whole country.

Have you tried any of the places mentioned in this food guide? Is there one I missed that you think should be included? Leave a comment below and let me know! I am always open to expanding this post if I find something new worth sharing! Thanks for reading and bon appétit!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on Mar 7, 2023

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post The Best Places To Eat In West Ridge And Little India, Chicago appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

Restaurants In Rogers Park: An Unexpected Food Mecca On Chicago’s North Side

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +0000

Restaurants In Rogers Park: An Unexpected Food Mecca On Chicago’s North Side

Published October 21, 2022
Last updated September 14, 2024

Have you ever been up to Chicago’s northernmost neighborhood? It’s called Rogers Park, and it’s a low-key, quirky part of town. One of the best things about Rogers Park is its incredible food scene! Even though this isn’t a touristy area, restaurants here represent a wide range of authentic international cuisines.

This guide features over a dozen different restaurants to try throughout Rogers Park. To skip down to any particular place or type of cuisine, click or tap the corresponding link below!

Mexican Cuisine
Other Latin & Central American Cuisine
African Cuisine
- Badou Senegalese Cuisine
- Denden Eritrean Restaurant
Asian Cuisine
Other Great Options

Mexican Cuisine

Rogers Park’s most prominent cuisine is Mexican. There are so many authentic options in the neighborhood, and many of them are clustered on Clark Street. Learn more below!

Taquería Restaurant Cd. Hidalgo

Address: 7104 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: http://www.hidalgotogo.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaqueriaCdHidalgo/

This is one of my favorite Mexican places on Clark Street. The chiles rellenos combo plate is excellent. It features perfectly soft yet flaky batter on the outside of the peppers, which are smothered in a tomato sauce. The service is quick and friendly, and the food is very satisfying at Taquería Ciudad Hidalgo!

El Pulpo Loco

Address: 6619 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://el-pulpo-loco-restaurant.business.site/

I normally don’t go for seafood whenever I’m at a Mexican restaurant. It tends to be more expensive than other menu items and is sometimes less filling. But at El Pulpo Loco (“The Crazy Octopus”), I couldn’t resist one of their seafood platters. And I must say, the camarones a la veracruzana really impressed me!

Not only was the shrimp served in a tomato-based sauce with green olives, but the dish also came with coleslaw, fresh crispy fries, rice, and salad. It was quite a feast! I saw other customers who had ordered fish, and I was intrigued. I’ll have to order that next time I’m at El Pulpo Loco!

Taquería El Charro

Address: 6661 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charrotacos/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taqueriaelcharro1/

El Charro is another great place to get authentic Mexican food. I’ve tried their house special pictured below: carne asada with nopales, a type of edible cactus (the green pieces are mostly hiding under that generous portion of beef). Their salsas are genuinely spicy, and the food I got was perfect with fresh, warm tortillas.

Akay Tacos

Address: 7360 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/AKAY-TACOS/61561150195336/

One of the newest Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood is Akay Tacos. It looks like they’ve already made a name for themselves since they opened up shop, because I always see a busy dining room here whenever I walk by.

I really enjoyed the “Enchiladas Akay” I had here, which came with a shredded chicken filling, plus two chicken drumsticks on the side. The enchiladas in green sauce were cheesy and delicious, and I was surprised the chicken on the bone wasn’t fried or grilled. Instead, it was served with a tomato and pepper stew. I really liked it, and it made the meal feel authentically Mexican.

Rocky's Tacos "Super Tortas Futboleras"

Address: 7043 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://www.rockystacoschicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Rockys-Tacos-Supertortas-Futboleras/100063752225087/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockys_tacos_futboleras_/

Even though I am obsessed with Mexican food, I haven’t really eaten a lot of tortas. I had to get one at Rocky’s (I’ll try their tacos next time). Upon ordering, I learned that the “super torta futbolera” only references their large size sandwich, and that they have a ton of different flavors to choose from. I requested the “selección mayor” off the Cuban tortas portion of the menu, which included breaded pork steak, pork leg, sausage, chipotle, ham and cheese. It also had lettuce and avocado.

I got the regular size torta, and it was pretty filling thanks to all those ingredients. Some of the meat in the torta was marinated in a spicy red sauce (probably the Chipotle), and you could add more red or green salsa if you wanted to. In terms of texture, this sandwich was perfect! The avocado went well with the meat, and it helped balance out the spice. If this torta had cheese, that flavor wasn’t very prominent. Regardless, each bite was a burst of flavor. The prices are pretty reasonable, too!

Taqueria Hernandez

Address: 6983 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Taqueria-Hernandez/116178398405792

This taco restaurant on the corner of Clark and Lunt may look like a hole-in-the-wall. If anything, that’s all the more reason to try it! Their tacos were so good that I had to get an extra one after ordering their taco dinner combo. They charge a little extra for cheese, but it is absolutely worth it, and the overall meal isn’t too expensive.

I’ve tried their steak and lengua tacos, and both are excellent. Even their rice and beans, which come topped with Mexican cheese, are really good!

Other Latin & Central American Cuisine

In addition to excellent Mexican food, Rogers Park is also home to cuisine from Central and South America. See which countries are represented below!

Taste of Peru

Address: 6545 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://tasteofperu.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOPChicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasteofperu.chicago/

My first real exposure to Peruvian food was during my 2018 trip to Lima, and I’ve loved it ever since! It is complex and subtle. I also appreciate that it draws influence from the many groups of people who’ve immigrated to Peru over the centuries, including from China and Japan. Taste of Peru on Clark Street is the real deal! On my first visit, I had their lomo saltado, a steak stir fry with onions, tomatoes, and potatoes mixed in, plus white rice on the side. It’s a great meal to try if you’re having a hard time choosing a dish from their extensive menu!

On my second visit, I branched out. This time, I tried their tallarín verde con bistec apanado (spaghetti with green pesto sauce and a breaded ribeye steak) and arroz chaufa (Peruvian fried rice). Tallarín verde is incredibly rich and creamy, so I recommend this for all pasta lovers.

Main plates at Taste of Peru are very filling (I definitely brought home leftovers from my second visit). With that said, a traditional Peruvian appetizer to try is yuca. It’s a boiled, starchy root vegetable (also called cassava). It’s got a subtle flavor and a soft texture, which distinguishes it from potatoes. I think it’s supposed to be decently healthy, too!

Las Delicias

Address: 7027 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://www.lasdeliciasrestchicago.com/

Pupusas are a delicious, savory treat from El Salvador. I’m glad that Rogers Park now has a restaurant that specializes in them! Las Delicias on Clark Street is actually the second location of this restaurant; the first one is on Montrose Avenue by Albany Park and Irving Park.

At Las Delicias, I ordered the pupusa dinner. It comes with three of these flatbreads. You can mix and match fillings, so I got a pupusa de camarón, a chipilín y queso, and a pollo y queso. Chipilín is an herb, which went well with melted cheese. Of the three pupusas that I tried, the camarón was probably my favorite. They have about a dozen different flavors to choose from, and you can also order the pupusas individually.

Redz Belizean Restaurant

Address: 7605 N Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60626
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redzbze/

Have you ever had Belizean cuisine? My first time trying it was during my 2018 trip to Corozal in the country’s north. Despite sharing a border with Mexico and Guatemala, Belize offers rich cuisine that shares more in common with that of the Caribbean islands than those Latin American countries.

Pictured here are two dinner plates from Redz: oxtail (above) and fried red snapper (below). Both entrees were phenomenal, especially because of the rice and beans and plantains. Oxtail is a little tough to eat because of all the bones, but it is one of my all-time favorite Caribbean specialties. Redz Belizean Restaurant does an excellent job preparing it!

African Cuisine

Rogers Park is home to a large African community. As such, the area is home to some excellent African dining options you won’t want to miss!

Badou Senegalese Cuisine

Address: 1947 W Howard St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://badousenegalesecuisine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/badousenegalesecuisine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badou_cuisine/

I don’t think I had ever tried Senegalese cuisine before going to Badou, and this was a great place to get acquainted with it. Senegal is a country on Africa’s Atlantic coast, so typical cuisine features a lot of seafood.

With that in mind, I couldn’t resist their “thiebou djen jolof” (sometimes spelled Thieboudienne). This is labeled on the menu as the national dish of Senegal, and it’s basically fish with veggies and a side of jolof rice. The fish was satisfying but the jolof rice was really the highlight of the meal. It has a tomato flavor to it, and the grains of rice are smaller than what I’m used to. It’s also not very sticky, but it can still hold its shape. The entire plate was rich in flavors and textures, and I highly recommend trying this lovely little spot on Howard Street!

Denden Eritrean Restaurant

Address: 6635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DenDenRestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dendenrestaurant/

Like Senegalese, Eritrean food was another new culinary experience for me, and I absolutely loved it! The meals at Denden were set up similarly to Ethiopian meals I’ve had, with an injera base on a large metal plate. I ordered their spicy lamb, which came with some veggie-based sides. Everything was so good! Denden really feels like a local secret hiding in plain sight.

Asian Cuisine

In all honesty, Rogers Park doesn’t have as many Asian dining options as other parts of Chicago. Despite that, Rogers Park’s Asian restaurants showcase cuisines from countries like Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining

Update Summer 2024 Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining is temporarily closed until September 18, 2024.

Address: 6580 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://khmai-fine-dining.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monabellacatering
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khmai_fine_dining

This beautiful Cambodian restaurant really puts Rogers Park on the map in terms of its culinary offerings. If you have never had Cambodian food, you’ll be in for quite the experience at Khmai. Pictured below is their Kuy Teav Kok, egg noodles tossed in garlic oil topped with ground pork, meatballs, shrimp, crispy garlic, and cilantro. This was served alongside a delicious savory broth. It was listed as one serving but could’ve fed two people.

The Kuy Teav Kok had a full range of flavors and textures, with perfect hints of sweet and spicy aftertastes, and just enough garlic to pull everything together without being overpowering. The cilantro went very well with the ground pork, and the broth was just as interesting and complex as the rest of the meal. The staff are really helpful as well, and mentioned that the noodles and the soup could be eaten separately or together. I tried both ways, and the food was amazing regardless.

This feast took a little while to come out, but when I saw how intricate the meal was, I completely understood why. It was well worth the wait! Just know that this is a place where you’ll want to really savor your food and give yourself time to enjoy the meal.

It seems like Khmai has been noticed by lots of prominent people in Chicago’s food sphere, and the restaurant has quickly gained recognition as one of the city’s most popular new places. As such, it appears that they have moved towards requiring reservations (this was not the case when I went back in August 2022). They also post updates including rotating menus on their Instagram, so that’s the first place to check for up-to-date info.

Asian Station

Address: 1343 W Morse Ave, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://asianstationchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theasianstation/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianstation_at_morse_redline/

This pan-Asian restaurant is conveniently located right next to the Morse Red Line stop. They used to be take-out only, but have since expanded to offer dine-in seating. I’ve only tried the pad thai so far, but I loved that it was made with an original slightly spicy sauce. The beef in the dish was also very tender!

On Asian Station’s pan-Asian menu, sushi is a prominent feature. I will have to get that next time I’m here! Many of their rolls have fun names that pay homage to Rogers Park, the Red Line, Morse Avenue, and other local landmarks. It’s a nice touch!

Cafe Nova

Address: 6431 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://thecafenova.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecafenova/

Cafe Nova’s website indicates that they serve Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine. I’d say I’m familiar with the former, but not so much the latter. I ordered a chicken curry plate with a side of naan. The plate came with a green chicken curry, dhal (lentil) curry, and carrots. Everything at Cafe Nova was excellent, including the two curries! The green curry had a ton of spice and complexity to it, and the chicken pieces were super tender.

Eggs with Benefits

Address: 6441 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://eggswithbenefitschi.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eggs_with_benefits_chi/

Eggs with Benefits is a casual Korean restaurant that serves breakfast-style dishes all day. The menu also includes some Japanese options, like the tonkatsu curry rice bowl pictured below. It included scrambled egg, which was an original, “brunchy” touch to this otherwise traditional dish.

The two main sections of the menu here are egg bowls over rice and egg sandwiches. I still need to try one of those sandwiches, and I’ll add a review of it on this post as soon as I do!

Other Great Options

Beyond Mexican, African, and Asian restaurants, Rogers Park is home to lots of other unique places to grab a meal. The last section of this post features a variety of other delectable options.

Burger Bite

Address: 1500 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://burgerbite.dine.online/locations/821551?fulfillment=pickup
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/8burgerbite/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/8burgerbite/

This little diner with only a few tables is interesting because it’s located inside of a Shell gas station convenience store on Rogers Park’s south edge. I get it, gas station food doesn’t always have the best reputation. But don’t judge a book by its cover! The burgers, shakes, and fries at Burger Bite are all top notch. This place has even had articles written about it for its unique location and the fact that locals seem to love their take on American classics.

Drippin' Bites

Address: 6808 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://www.drippinbites.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drippinbites/

Rogers Park’s newest burger joint is certainly making waves! The name really captures what this restaurant is all about; they don’t shy away from serving messy burgers that do, in fact, drip. Their two signature offerings seem to be a smash burger and a “Drippin’ Burger.” I went with the latter as a double. The Drippin’ Burger had American cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, Drippin’ Sauce, and sweet chili sauce on a brioche bun.

The Drippin’ double was pretty neatly stacked when it was served. Nonetheless, the burger required two hands to hold and inevitably slid around a bit. With so many ingredients, the Drippin’ Burger offered a bunch of overlapping flavors and textures in each bite. Of all the ingredients on that long list, I think the pickles stood out the most. While the other sauces and grilled onions sort of blended together flavor-wise, the pickles were pretty distinct.

The fries here are also freshly sliced in house, so they have some potato skin left on the edges. Prices here are a little high, but I applaud them for their bold and innovative concept. Burger aficionados should check out Drippin’ Bites!

Anto Pizza Chicago

Address: 1547 W Jarvis Ave, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://antopizza.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/antopizzachicago
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antopizzachicago/

You’ll find this cute little pizza and pasta place right off of the Jarvis Red Line stop (walk west for about thirty seconds or a minute). They have all the bases covered: thin crust Napolitan pizza, thick crust Roman pizza, and a variety of pastas, which they serve in an iconic cone. Pictured below is their Italian sausage and pepper thick crust pie, which I thought was really good! It was filling but still had a crispy bottom side, and it wasn’t overwhelmingly heavy.

Honeybear Cafe

Address: 7036 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Website: https://honeybearrp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehoneybearcafe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehoneybearcafe/

This brunch restaurant is undoubtedly one of the busiest restaurants in Rogers Park. Weekends are always packed, which speaks to how much the community loves Honeybear Cafe! I always prefer dining out during non-peak times, so I have taken advantage of the occasional weekday morning off to eat here when it’s not as busy.

I think one reason Honeybear Cafe is so popular is that they do a great job with both the sweet and savory sides of brunch. Pictured below is their Lulu Louisiana skillet with seasonal pumpkin French toast. As you might imagine, it was a very filling breakfast and a great way to start the day. I appreciated that the skillet included Andouille sausage and a lot of melted cheese.

Bon Appétit in Rogers Park!

Chicago’s far north side is one of my favorite parts of the city, in no small part because of its stunning international food scene. Incredible flavors from around the world are always within walking distance no matter where you are in Rogers Park!

Have you been to any of the places on this list? Are there any restaurants you think I should include? Leave a comment below and let me know! I will definitely update this post if I find any more restaurants nearby that really stand out. Thanks for reading!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on Oct 21, 2022
This post was updated on Sept 14, 2024

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post Restaurants In Rogers Park: An Unexpected Food Mecca On Chicago’s North Side appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

An Anguilla Food And Restaurant Guide

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Tue, 03 May 2022 17:00:00 +0000

An Anguilla Food And Restaurant Guide

Published May 3, 2022

Anyone who loves the beach needs to put Anguilla at the top of their travel wish list. Its sandy shores are some of the best I’ve ever seen throughout my travels. But Anguilla’s other main draw is its stunning culinary scene! During our week-long visit to the British West Indies, my friend Ismael and I had so much fun beach hopping and trying as many restaurants and bars on the island as possible!

This post is meant to be a guide for travelers headed to Anguilla. The first half features some of the island’s must-try delicacies, all of which pretty are widely available. The second half features some of the restaurants we found. Foodies won’t want to miss all of the amazing flavors Anguilla has to offer!

To skip down to any dish or restaurant below, click or tap the relevant link!

Anguillan Delicacies to Try
Anguillan Restaurants
International Cuisine
- Dolce Vita (Italian)
- Picante (Mexican)
Restaurants on the Offshore Islands

Anguillan Delicacies to Try

Caribbean cuisine in general is packed full of spice and flavor, and that’s especially true in Anguilla! After you visit a few restaurants that serve local dishes, you’ll get a sense of what the most iconic meals are. Here are some things you should try while on the island!

Lobster

Of all the Caribbean destinations I’ve been to, Anguilla is the one where lobster is most prevalent. It’s especially delicious here, and when it’s cooked well, the soft white tail meat just slides right out of the shell. We tried lobster multiple times because each place prepares it in a unique way.

Fish

As you might expect, seafood is a major component of many Anguillan dishes. Mahi-mahi and red snapper are common here, as well as saltfish.

BBQ

Barbecue is a staple in Anguilla. It’s generally more budget-friendly than seafood dishes, especially when you get it from a roadside stand. The meat was so juicy and tender every time we ordered it! A few barbecue places we tried are featured below. These were some of my favorite casual meals during our trip.

Oxtail

Oxtail is a little tough to eat given that it’s a somewhat chewy and comes on bones with lots of ridges on them, but it is a really flavorful cut of meat that I recommend you try in Anguilla.

Goat Stew

Goat is a very common protein eaten in Anguilla, and it’s got a stronger flavor than beef or pork. Goat stew or curry is usually served with chunks of meat on the bone, and it’s sure to be one of the most fragrant and hearty dishes you have here!

Peas and Rice

Order any dish listed above and there’s a good chance it’ll be served with a scoop of peas and rice. If you think rice is a boring carb with no flavor, think again! This common side dish is brimming with aromatic spices. It’s one thing I really look forward to eating every time I’m in the region. No two recipes for peas and rice are the same, so I never even come close to getting tired of it!

Plantains

We ate some plantains during our visit to Anguilla, but I actually am including this here on my list because they weren’t as common as I’d thought they would be. Plantains are one of the most important ingredients in Caribbean food, but that seemed to be less true in Anguilla. Perhaps the relatively dry climate on the island made it harder for them to grow here historically.

Breakfast - Fry Cake Sandwiches

The most common fried bread treat on the island are Johnny cakes. These are small, round, medallion-shaped savory bread cakes with a little hole in the middle. You’ll probably have them at some point during your trip, but I’d also like to draw your attention to fry cake sandwiches.

We found them at Hall’s Unique Bakery in The Valley. Hall’s serves them for breakfast, but you have to get there early: they tend to sell out quickly! These pastries have a variety of protein and cheese fillings to choose from. Fry cake sandwiches are the perfect breakfast food that will hold you over until lunchtime.

Rum Drinks

No trip to a Caribbean island paradise is complete without a healthy dose of rum! You can get it in almost any fruity cocktail you can think of from a variety of restaurants and beachfront bars.

Anguillan Restaurants

Now that you know what types of meals are typical in Anguilla, the second half of this blog post will tell you where to go to get them!

Beachfront Restaurants

Many of Anguilla’s best restaurants are blessed with amazing beach views and direct access to the sand and sea. If that’s what you’re looking for, check out the following section for recommendations!

Palm Grove Bar and Grill - Nat's Place

Address: 7227+QW Mount Fortune, Anguilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalmGroveAnguilla/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palmgroveanguilla/

This festive beach shack is the only dining option on Savannah Bay Beach, one of my favorite beaches on the island! If you’re headed out this way, I highly recommend you plan for a lunch at the Palm Grove Bar and Grill, which offers amazing tableside views of the bay!

Nat’s Place offers many of the Anguillan classics featured in the first half of this blog post, and I couldn’t resist ordering lobster here. It came out smelling delicious and smothered in a delicious butter sauce. While you wait for your meal, order one (or two, or three) rum punch to sip on. It’s a refreshing pink drink here with a sprinkling of cinnamon on top!

Ocean Echo

Address: 5VH5+WP Long Bay Village, Anguilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OceanEcho264/

Ocean Echo overlooks Meads Bay, a wide open beach facing north. The vibe here is perfect, with a large open-air dining area and an extensive menu of comfort food and fruity drinks. We ordered burgers, wings, and a pizza, and everything was delicious!

SunShine Shack

Address: 5VGP+XH Long Bay Village, Anguilla
Website: https://sunshineshack.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GarveysSunshineShack
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshineshack_/

This beach bar is an absolute must-visit! Located on idyllic Rendezvous Bay, SunShine Shack will immediately catch your attention. Colorful flags flap in the wind, and their row of umbrellas is impossible to miss.

The SunShine Shack serves unique drink specials and one of the most indulgent meals we had on the island: shrimp skewers and fried calamari appetizers, plus glazed BBQ and chicken with peas and rice and crispy fries! If you’re looking for a feast with an ocean view, this is it!

Roy's Bayside Grill

Address: 5WX5+4J Sandy Ground, Anguilla
Website: http://www.roysbaysidegrill.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoysBaysideGrill
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roysbaysidegrill/

This casual restaurant is one of many that can be found at Sandy Ground. They serve pretty typical Anguillan food, and when we went, we ordered a few drinks and lobster curry, which was a unique twist on Anguilla’s most popular seafood.

BBQ Shacks

Many cities and states in the US are known for their own local take on BBQ, but so is the island of Anguilla! It’s a more substantive meal than even a large portion of lobster, it’s usually more affordable, and the locally made sauces and glazes are so succulent!

Jelly BBQ

Address: 6W3J+GQ9, The Valley Road, George Hill 2640, Anguilla

This roadside stand is centrally located not too far from the airport, so visitors to the island are likely to see it. We decided to try it for dinner one night towards the end of our trip, and I’m so glad we did. The ribs were so tender that we actually had to get a second order! Their oxtail was also really good, and so was the peas and rice on the side.

However, when we went for a slightly late dinner, Jelly BBQ was already out of some items on their menu! They must sell quickly, so consider trying them for lunch or for an earlier dinner for a larger selection.

Ken's BBQ

Address: 6W7W+QPM, The Valley 2640, Anguilla

This BBQ stand in The Valley (Anguilla’s capital) is an institution on the island; it appears on many restaurant recommendation lists. Located on a little strip of food stalls, Ken’s may look humble, but their BBQ is delicious! Don’t forget to drizzle your order of ribs in their homemade sauce! I also really liked the peas and rice from Ken’s.

Other Options

Sharky's

Address: 5VH8+XR Long Bay Village, Anguilla

We happened to drive by Sharky’s during dinnertime and noticed that it was packed. We decided to try it and were seated after a short wait. To be completely honest, Sharky’s seemed to cater a little more to tourists than locals. But everything was good, from the bottle of white wine we ordered to the risotto to the fish carpaccio.

Tasty's Restaurant

Address: 5WW8+M4H, South Hill, Anguilla, Sandy Ground, Anguilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TastysRestaurantAnguilla
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tastysanguilla/

Tasty’s was pretty close to our Airbnb, so we tried it for dinner on our first night in Anguilla. The Caribbean curry goat stew and slow cooked oxtail were both really flavorful dishes served with veggies and plantains. The only thing is, I wished their portions could’ve been a tiny bit bigger!

International Cuisine

Don’t get me wrong: Anguillan food is amazing. But if you stay for a week like we did, you might start craving a change of pace in between lobster and BBQ feasts. There are some limited international options on Anguilla, including Mexican, Italian, and Chinese.

Dolce Vita (Italian)

Address: 6W25+2RP, Sandy Ground 2640, Anguilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DolceVitaAnguilla
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dolcevitaanguilla/

You might be wondering, “Why should I get pizza and pasta in Anguilla when I can get that almost anywhere?” Well, Dolce Vita offers high-class, delectable Italian cuisine with an amazing view of the sunset. In fact, it’s the only restaurant in Anguilla we went to twice.

Start off with a burrata or escargot appetizer and some wine or a negroni. For our main courses, we tried the lambchop, black squid ink risotto, and a few varieties of seafood pasta. I don’t think there’s any way to go wrong here, plus the service is friendly and quick! If you don’t have a reservation at Dolce Vita, I highly recommend you arrive a little early. The house gets packed as the evening goes on!

Picante (Mexican)

Address: 5VC2+QW The Valley, Anguilla
Website: https://www.picantebwi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/picanteanguillabwi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picantebwi/

From the main road, Picante looks like a tiny little restaurant that can barely seat a few parties. But what you’re seeing is actually the back of the kitchen! Drive in and you’ll see a large cantina and bar, which (at least when we went for dinner) was packed with people!

The food and jalapeño margaritas at Picante were refreshing and filling. I ordered their taco platter, which was served with both hard and soft shells and a layer of beans and cheese in between.

Restaurants on the Offshore Islands

Before you click off of this blog post and start feasting at one of the restaurants featured above, you should know that three of Anguilla’s most prominent restaurants are located on small offshore islands! Since visiting them by boat is an experience in and of itself, I wrote a separate blog post all about these cays and the culinary experiences they offer.

Bon Appétit!

I’m going to be honest: food (especially at restaurants) in Anguilla is expensive, and it’s one of the main reasons the island is less affordable than some other neighboring destinations. However, almost every meal we had here was its own self-contained culinary adventure! If you consider yourself a foodie, Anguilla is worth exploring in as much depth as you can.

Have you ever been to Anguilla? If you have, what was your favorite dish or restaurant on the island? Leave a comment below! Thanks for reading and have a good one!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on May 3, 2022

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post An Anguilla Food And Restaurant Guide appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

The Best Phở Restaurants In Chicago, Illinois

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000

The Best Phở Restaurants
In Chicago, IL

Published August 23, 2021

I’ve spent the past few months on a mission to find the best places to get a bowl of phở in Chicago! This popular noodle and soup dish from Vietnam is one of my all-time favorite foods, and there are so many places to get it throughout the city. This blog post is for all the foodies out there who are craving some phở in the Windy City!

Many of the restaurants on this list can be found on or around the intersection of West Argyle Street and North Broadway, which serves as Chicago’s Little Saigon. There are also a couple in Chinatown, and a few more are scattered throughout some other neighborhoods. Click or tap any of the links below to jump down to that section of the list!

Keep in mind that this list is not ranked in order! In fact, some of the most unique restaurants are down at the bottom!

Phở Restaurants On & Near Argyle
Phở Restaurants in Chinatown
- Phở Cafe • 越南粉
- The Noodle Vietnamese & Thai Cuisine
Phở Restaurants in Other Neighborhoods

How I Made This List

To write this blog post, I tried as many phở places as I could in Chicago! At every restaurant, I ordered a fresh spring roll (gỏi cuốn) followed by a combo bowl (phở đặc biệt), which typically comes with raw sliced steak, beef tripe, brisket, tendons, and Vietnamese meatballs. I did this so I could standardize the dining experience and try as many ingredients as possible in one meal!

Phở Restaurants On & Near Argyle

Miss Saigon Restaurant

Address: 1129 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: https://www.misssaigonchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Misssaigonchicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miss_saigon_chicago/

This restaurant on Argyle offers friendly service and a casual dining environment. They add their own creative touches to classic Vietnamese fare, which makes every meal here a treat!

In terms of the menu, the gỏi cuốn at Miss Saigon is pretty standard. For a more interesting alternative, try their “Saigon roll” (not pictured here), which contains a crispy fried center. Miss Saigon doesn’t offer a standard phở đặc biệt, but they do have a “Pho Saigon.” This bowl of soup has a variety of meats including short ribs, something you won’t be able to find anywhere else!

Phở 777

Address: 1065 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: https://www.pho777chicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pho777chi/

A block or two down Argyle from Miss Saigon is Phở 777. This cozy little place serves a deliciously satisfying phở đặc biệt, although their menu has other excellent options such as an authentic bún chả Hà Nội.

The bowl size at Phở 777 isn’t huge, but they do offer generous portions of meat. Their broth consistently has a full and complex flavor reminiscent of fish sauce with a peppery aftertaste. Their spring rolls are equally good, with crisp lettuce and a lot of mint.

Phở 888

Address: 1137 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL 60640

If I’m being honest, Phở 888 is probably my go-to place on Argyle. It’s a small restaurant that serves large bowls of phở with generous amounts of tender meat. Their broth has more of a peppery taste, which I love. Their spring rolls are big too, and they taste very fresh.

Nhà Hàng Vietnam Restaurant

Address: 1032 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL 60640

This restaurant on the corner of Argyle and Kenmore has a colorful, eye-catching storefront. Go inside and find a table in their equally colorful dining room, or grab a table on their outdoor patio when the weather is nice.

Nhà Hàng Vietnam offers two sizes of combo phở, and their broth has a really unique flavor that isn’t really peppery. In my experience, they don’t serve as much meat as some of the other places on my list. As such, this might be a good place to go if you don’t like super meat-heavy phở.

Nha Trang Vietnamese Restaurant

Address: 1104 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL 60640

Formatted text

Phở Restaurants in Chinatown

Phở Cafe • 越南粉

Address: 232 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: http://www.phocafechicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phocafechicago/

If you’re in Chinatown and craving hot noodle soup, this is a good place to try. Phở Cafe’s prices are pretty reasonable and the atmosphere is casual. Their phở đặc biệt is served in a pretty big bowl, and it comes with a lot of meat!

I think their broth has a strong, complex flavor to it, perhaps from the oxtail. It’s peppery and not too acidic, so a squirt of lime really compliments the soup. The shrimp gỏi cuốn here are a little small, but always super fresh! I would bet that they’re hand-rolled to order.

The Noodle Vietnamese & Thai Cuisine

Address: 2336 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://thenoodleschicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenoodleschicago

Chinatown’s other prominent phở restaurant is called The Noodle. This restaurant serves a large number of Vietnamese and Thai dishes, and it always seems to get pretty busy for lunch. The most notable thing about The Noodle is their massive bowls and low prices. If any place on this list offers the most bang for your buck, it’s this one!

I have to say, their broth is on the lighter side in terms of flavor. If you don’t love super peppery, aromatic phở, you should definitely try The Noodle. Despite their low prices, they don’t compromise on the quality of their meat cuts. In addition to good food, their service has always been quick and friendly!

Phở Restaurants in Other Neighborhoods

Sunset Phở Caffe

Address: 2856 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
Website: https://www.sunsetphocaffe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunsetphocaffe

Sunset Phở Caffe is one of the most unique restaurants in Lakeview East. Their front window advertises that they serve Vietnamese and Jugoslavian fusion, which should immediately pique the interest of any foodie!

Once you go inside, you’ll notice a distinctly medieval vibe, with stained glass windows and a sloping ceiling. There are also retro travel posters on display featuring destinations in Vietnam and the former Yugoslavia.

The menu here includes a number of classic Vietnamese dishes like bún thịt nướng plus a Jugoslavian section. Luckily, you can get an excellent fusion dish by ordering their ćevapčići fresh spring rolls as an appetizer! What is ćevapčići? Well, I didn’t know either before trying it here, but it’s basically a delicious style of sausage from the Balkans. It’s such a good substitute for the standard shrimp and pork that are usually rolled into Vietnamese gỏi cuốn along with lettuce, bean sprouts, and rice noodles!

In terms of phở, Sunset Caffe serves a broth with a light flavor that doesn’t need a ton of hoisin sauce or Sriracha. And last but not least, there’s a full bar here. Ask about their fruit-infused liquors or enjoy a Saigon Beer with your food!

Sochi Saigonese Kitchen

Address: 1358 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Website: https://www.sochikitchen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sochichicago
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sochichicago/

Of all the restaurants on this list, Sochi is probably the fanciest. It’s also noteworthy that they specialize in Saigonese food. Their dining room is open and modern, and they typically have a busy dinner rush.

The most unique thing about a meal at Sochi is that they use incredibly tender pork and steak in their gỏi cuốn and their phở. This is reflected in their prices, but it makes for an interesting Vietnamese dining experience. They also don’t have bottles of hoisin sauce or Sriracha on the table, which suggests that they want diners to enjoy their broth without an excess of either sauce.

This restaurant also serves the thickest noodles of any restaurant on this list, in true Saigon-style. If you’re interested in trying a unique, more upscale interpretation of phở, consider visiting Sochi!

Phodega

Address: 1547 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Website: https://www.phodega.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phodega
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phodega/

Phodega is an original concept for a phở restaurant located in Wicker Park. In addition to being a casual place to order a hot bowl of soup, it’s also a small convenience store specializing in Asian packaged foods and snacks.

The combo phở here has a light broth and high-quality meat. They don’t offer fresh spring rolls, but their fried shrimp spring rolls are a good alternative.

MK Noodle

Address: 3341 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Website: https://mknoodle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MK-Noodle-Pho-Restaurant-102312141999513
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mk.noodle/

MK Noodle is a restaurant that’s not too far from Sochi in Lakeview. They have casual, semi-self service: you place your order at an electronic station in the front of the restaurant and go up to get your food when your name is called.

MK Noodle is a little on the pricey side, but their phở and spring rolls are really good, and the portion sizes are large. The broth here isn’t super fragrant, but it is still very flavorful. Their soup includes a lot of white onions, good cuts of all the meats you typically find in a combo phở, and a lot of noodles. If you have a big appetite and don’t mind spending a few dollars more, MK Noodle is a great phở place to try!

Little Vietnam Restaurant

Address: 1132 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
Website: https://orderlittlevietnam.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleVietnam

I’m so glad I found this cozy little phở place in Edgewater! It’s technically within walking distance of Asia on Argyle, or you can get off at the Bryn Mawr CTA Red Line stop. The meal started off with a fresh shrimp spring roll that came with a notably delicious peanut dipping sauce.

Their take on phở was equally good. Their combo phở had a broth that had strong notes of onion and pepper, and the meat was all tender. I especially liked their meatballs. The service was quick and friendly and the restaurant itself was cute. If you’re further north than Argyle, be sure to check out Little Vietnam!

So... is this just a list of every phở place in Chicago?
Short answer: No!

Some phở restaurants I tried didn’t make the cut! Some simply didn’t serve a great bowl of noodle soup. A couple had decent broth, but served cheap cuts of gristly meat. A few had poor service and/or underwhelming food.

One restaurant in particular (which shall remain nameless) was found to be involved in a string of scandals, including but not limited to mistreating their workers. I would never knowingly recommend unethical businesses on my blog, which is why that popular phở joint is not listed here.

Go Enjoy Some phở!

Now you know where to go for the best phở and spring rolls in Chicago! If I find any other great Vietnamese restaurants that specialize in my favorite noodle soup, I’ll be sure to add them here!

Have you been to any places on my list? Are you going to try one? Leave a comment and let me know! Thanks for checking out my Chicago phở guide!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on Aug 23, 2021

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post The Best Phở Restaurants In Chicago, Illinois appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

Restaurants in Chicago Chinatown: Dim Sum, Dumplings, Noodles, And More

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Restaurants in Chicago Chinatown: Dim Sum, Dumplings, Noodles,
And More

Published August 10, 2021

Chicago is truly a foodie’s paradise, with each neighborhood offering its own unique specialties. Many of these delightful dishes come from all over the world, and aren’t necessarily easy to find in other American cities. That’s especially true of Chicago’s Chinatown, which offers a stunning variety of foods that come from individual cities and provinces in China!

No matter how long or short your visit to Chicago is (or if you’re a local), you should visit Chinatown for an unforgettable dining experience! This post is organized first into regional cuisines first, then individual dishes. Skip down to the bottom for drinks and dessert suggestions, as well as other Asian dining options in the neighborhood!

Dim Sum
Other Cantonese Food
- MingHin Cuisine
- Ken Kee Restaurant
Sichuanese Food
- Lao Sze Chuan
- Chef Xiong – Taste of Szechuan
Xi’an Cuisine
- Xi’an Cuisine Restaurant
- Shan Shaan Taste
Hunan Cuisine
Noodle Dishes
Dumplings
- Hing Kee Restaurant
- Qing Xiang Yuan
Hotpot
Drinks and Desserts
- Legend Tasty House
Other Options in Chinatown

1. Dim Sum
點心

Restaurants that specialize in dim sum typically have huge menus with dozens of varieties of dumplings, pastries, and other small plates. This delicacy from Guangdong and Hong Kong is probably what I’d recommend if you only have time to eat one meal in Chinatown, which is why it’s at the top of my list!

Phoenix Restaurant
萬濠酒樓

Address: 2131 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.phoenixrestaurantchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Phoenix-Restaurant-Chinatown-103508408149724

This was the very first dim sum restaurant I tried in Chinatown. I love everything about it, from the golden, regal dining room to the fresh steamed siu mai and hā gáau (shrimp dumplings). They also make really delicious chicken feet for anyone who likes them as much as I do!

Triple Crown Restaurant
大三元酒家

Address: 2217 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.triplecrownchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/triplecrownchi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/triplecrownchi/

With a second floor dining space that overlooks South Wentworth Avenue, Triple Crown is another great place to get as much dim sum as you can eat! Everything I’ve had there is full of flavor and the service is great.

Imperial Restaurant
彩蝶軒

Address: 2100 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.imperialchicago.com/

This dim sum hall can be found on the second floor of the Chinatown Square outdoor shopping mall near the north entrance. If you can, I would recommend going on a weekday. That’s because Imperial gets absolutely packed on weekends!

Since I eat dim sum so often, I decided to try a couple of new dishes at Imperial, including sponge cake and curry octopus. They were so good, as were some of my other favorites like chicken feet and ginger tripe.

2. Other Cantonese
粵菜

Keep in mind that Cantonese food is so much more than dim sum! In fact, all the places mentioned above also serve family-style plates (larger portions). But if you want to branch out a bit, consider these other great places below.

MingHin Cuisine
名軒芝加哥

Address: 2168 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.minghincuisine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minghinchicago
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minghinchicago/

MingHin has a dim sum menu, but I think they market themselves more broadly as a Cantonese restaurant. Their dumplings and pastries are good, and so are their rice and noodles. Cantonese food can absolutely be enjoyed by only one or two people, but if you can get a big group together to go eat in Chinatown, do it! It’s best when you can share lots of different dishes and try a bit of everything.

Ken Kee Restaurant
強記港式茶餐廳

Address: 2129 S China Pl, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.kenkee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenkeerestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenkee_restaurant/

This is such a cool restaurant that’s sure to capture the attention of anyone who walks by it in the Chinatown Square outdoor mall. That’s because it’s got a bunch of neon signs both inside and out! They offer a lot of different things, but their specialty is Hong Kong-style cart noodles in soup. There are about a half dozen combos that you can choose from, or you can build your own and choose the kinds of meats, veggies, and broth that you want to add.

3. Sichuanese Food
川菜

If you’re a lover of spicy food, you need to try one of the Sichuanese restaurants in Chinatown! Known for its use of red pepper, chili oil, garlic, and a type of numbing peppercorn, Sichuan-style food is basically the polar opposite of Cantonese cuisine, which is defined by lighter flavors.

Lao Sze Chuan
老四川

Address: 2172 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: http://laoszechuanchinatown.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaoSzeChuanChinatown/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laoszechuan_dmv/

This local chain with multiple restaurants around Chicago is probably where I would recommend for anyone who wants to try Sichuanese for the first time. They have a large menu with the spicy dishes clearly marked as well as a section featuring their signature items.

I ordered their Chef’s Special Dry Chili Chicken, which their menu lists as their top seller. It was excellent, especially with a bowl of white rice to offset some of the spice! I can’t wait to go back and try some of their lamb dishes, and I’d also love to try one of their spicy frog delicacies!

Chef Xiong – Taste of Szechuan
入香随蜀

Address: 2143 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://chefxiong.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefxiong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefxiongchicago/

As far as I know, this Sichuanese restaurant is not a chain, but don’t let that stop you from visiting! It’s a cozy place with great service, and the food is amazing. I tried their beef noodle soup, and it was about as spicy as I could handle!

4. Xi'an Cuisine
西安菜

Xi’an is a city in China most famous for being home to the Terracotta Army. But a ton of delicious dishes also come from the city, which is the capital of Shaanxi Province in Central China. Dishes from Xi’an tend to incorporate lamb, spices like cumin, flatbreads, and noodles. They are full of flavor and can be spicy, but generally not as spicy as Sichuan peppers.

Xi'an Cuisine Restaurant
西安小吃

Address: 225 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.xiancuisinechicago.com/

This restaurant is one of my favorites in Chinatown. I highly recommend trying their delicious and flat biang biang noodles and lamb skewers. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, consider ordering one or two ròujiāmó (肉夾饃), a flatbread pouch with your choice of meat filling.

Shan Shaan Taste
山陝名吃

Address: Richland Center Chinatown Food Court (basement), 2002 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: http://places.singleplatform.com/shan-shaan-taste/menu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shan-Shaan-Taste-山陕名吃-Xian-Cuisine-100718495097190
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanshaantaste/

Head to the Richland Center Chinatown Food Court to find this small shop that serves Xi’an-style noodles and more. I went with their lamb noodle soup and will definitely be back for more in the coming months!

5. Hunan Cuisine
湘菜

Food from Hunan Province is not nearly as popular in the US as Cantonese or Sichuanese food, but that’s all the more reason foodies should try it! Hunan cooking uses a lot of onions and garlic, but it’s not as spicy and oily as Sichuan cuisine. Some common ingredients include pork, steamed fish, and green pepper.

Hunan Cuisine Restaurant
湘鄉香

Address: 2002 S Wentworth Ave Unit 100, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://hunancuisinechicago.square.site/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunancuisinechicago/

This is Chinatown’s most prominent Hunanese restaurant. I ordered their sautéed pork with green veggies and white rice, but their extensive menu had a lot of other tempting choices! The pork was juicy, and the peas, peppers, and onions made it both a healthy and filling meal.

6. Noodle Dishes

The last few sections have all featured various regional cuisines, but if you know exactly what you want to eat, check out these next sections for ideas! This one will feature a couple different noodle houses.

Slurp Slurp Noodles (Lanzhou-Style Ramen)
林記蘭州手拉麵

Address: 2247 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.slurpslurpnoodles.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SlurpSlurpNoodles/

The type of noodles that you’ll find here come from a city called Lanzhou in Northwest China’s Gansu Province. They have a couple different noodle and soup options, but I recommend trying the hand pulled noodles either in the house special bowl or the slurp slurp big bowl if you’re really hungry!

Even though the Chinese word lāmiàn is related to the Japanese word ramen (both mean pulled noodles), the Lanzhou-style soup is quite different from Japanese ramen. It’s definitely worth trying if you’ve never had it before. These bowls are also served with bok choy and a couple different cuts of beef and pork.

Daguan Noodle (Yunnan-Style Mǐxiàn)
大官米線

Address: 2230 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.daguannoodle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaguanNoodle

Mǐxiàn is a rice noodle served in a light and clear broth with your choice of toppings. This soup dish comes from Yunnan Province in Southwest China, and it’s one dish I was honestly surprised to find in Chinatown! My very first trip to China in 2008 was to Yunnan, so mǐxiàn is a special treat for me that reminds me those days. I highly recommend it!

Yummy Yummy Noodles
肥仔麵家

Address: 2334 S Wentworth Ave Unit 105, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.yummyyummynoodleschicago.com/

This restaurant definitely has a hole-in-the-wall vibe, but that’s all the more reason to check it out! The entrance is technically on West 23rd Place, so you won’t see the storefront along Wentworth Avenue.

If you order a noodle soup dish here (which you should), you’ll get your choice of five different types of noodles: thin egg noodles, wide egg noodles, thin rice noodles, wide rice noodles, or ramen. Pictured above is their thin egg noodles. You also get your choice of meat, and the BBQ cuts I had were so juicy and tender!

J's Snack House Potato Noodles
秋歌小廚姐弟倆土豆粉

Address: Richland Center Chinatown Food Court (basement), 2002 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://jssnackhouseil.com/

Have you ever had Chinese potato noodles (土豆粉) before? I don’t think I had, but they were delicious at J’s Snack House! They remind me a little bit of udon, but they’re much lighter and a bit chewier. If you order the House Special Potato Noodle Soup, you get your choice of broth. Their málà (麻辣) soup was amazingly spicy, but their milder soup bases sound equally good!

7. Dumplings

While dumplings are a major component of dim sum (a Southern Chinese cuisine), there are other varieties you can get in Chinatown, including Northern-style ones. Check out some of my favorites below!

Hing Kee Restaurant (Shanghai-Style Xiǎolóngbāo)
珍味佳

Address: 2140 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.hingkeechinatown.com/

Hing Kee serves a lot of different things, but their signature item is xiǎolóngbāo, or steamed soup dumplings. Originally from Shanghai and neighboring Jiangsu Province, xiǎolóngbāo require you to use chopsticks in one hand and a spoon in the other to prevent the soup from making a mess. Be careful too, because they can be piping hot!

The default filling for xiǎolóngbāo is pork, but Hing Kee also makes a delicious crab and pork option. They’re typically served in steamed baskets that contain eight, and one or two of those is enough for a meal depending on how hungry you are.

Qing Xiang Yuan
青香苑

Address: 2002 S Wentworth Ave #103, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://qxydumplings.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qxydumplings
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qxydumplings/

Qing Xiang Yuan is listed as a must-try on so many different Chicago food and restaurant guides, and I can confirm that it really is an excellent dumpling house. If you place one order, you can request a combination of two different flavors, which I suggest. They offer pork, beef, lamb, chicken, seafood, and veggie fillings.

A Family in the Northeast
東北人家

Address: Richland Center Chinatown Food Court (basement), 2002 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

This little stall can be found in the Richland Center Chinatown Food Court. They specialize in Northeast-style dumplings, which are filling and hearty. You can get an order of twelve for less than ten dollars (as of 2021), which is a price that can’t be beat!

8. Hot Pot
火鍋

Hot pot is a great option if you have a large group, especially since some places offer all you can eat deals. For those who’ve never had it before, hot pot is essentially a large vat of broth that’s heated directly on the dining table. Meat, veggies, and noodles are dipped into the boiling broth to cook and soak up flavor.

The flavor of the broth as well as the dipped items can vary depending on what regional style of hot pot you’re trying. Here are a couple places to consider!

Happy Lamb Hot Pot (Mongolian-Style)
快樂小羊

Address: 2342 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HappyLambHotPotChicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happylamb_hotpot_chicago/

Happy Lamb might be Chinatown’s most popular hot pot restaurant. It’s Mongolian-style, which our waiter explained is characterized by lighter broth flavor. (Even though half of our broth was spicy, it was fairly mild, at least to me.) We tried their lamb and beef, which was cut into really thin strips for quick cooking. Make sure to also check out their complimentary topping bar!

9. Desserts
甜點

Legend Tasty House
傳奇美食屋

Address: 2242 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.legendtastyhouse.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legendtastyhouse/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legend_tasty_house/

Rolled ice cream is Chicago Chinatown’s newest food trend, but as far as I know, Legend Tasty House was the original. They have lots of different flavors, and you can even watch them make it at the counter! This place also serves bubble tea, but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet.

10. Other Options in Chinatown

Phở
越南粉

There are a couple of good phở restaurants in Chinatown. To see my favorites, check out my Chicago Phở Guide!

Chinese Wraps from Monkey King Jianbing
大聖煎餅

Address: 2252 S Canal St, second floor Unit 228, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://monkeykingjianbing.com/

I’ll admit, this little store is in an odd location (on the second floor of Canal Plaza, a mostly vacant mall that is a little far from the heart of Chinatown). But if you’re willing to walk over and find it, Monkey King Jianbing is worth a try. Their main offering is jianbing, a type of flat rolled crepe-like breakfast wrap. But I actually went to try their shǒuzhuābǐng (手抓餅), another type of wrap that I used to order for breakfast as a study abroad student in Shanghai.

And let me tell you, the shǒuzhuābǐng from Monkey King was on point! It’s so good because the dough is both crispy and chewy after being cooked, and you can order a variety of fillings such as ham or a hot dog. They have just a little bit of cheese and lettuce, which come together to make the perfect combination for a fresh yet filling wrap. Give them a visit if you’re on Chinatown’s western edge!

Plant-Based Treats at Veggie House
聚緣齋

Address: 2109 S China Pl, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.veggiehouseusa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veggiehousechicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veggiehousechicago/

Veggie House is a really interesting restaurant located in the Chinatown Square outdoor mall. Even if you’re not vegan or vegetarian, go try them out! For an appetizer, I tried their four-color veggie dumplings, which were fine. But what I really loved here was their Mongolian soy beef. As far as plant-based meat substitutes go, this dish was really as good as the original! It was full of flavor and just the right amount of spice. Plus, it was really filling!

Japanese & Korean Food

Daifuku Ramen
大福ラーメン

Address: 2155 S China Pl #A, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.daifukuchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Daifuku-Ramen-108590698391965

This new ramen place is my top recommendation for Japanese food in Chinatown. Their broth and noodles are on point, with just the right amount of spice and garlic. Their pork chashu was super tender and literally melted in my mouth! For good ramen, look no further than Daifuku.

Ahjoomah's Apron

Address: 218 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.ahjoomahchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahjoomah/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahjoomahsapron/

Ahjoomah’s Apron is Chinatown’s most prominent Korean restaurant, serving traditional dishes. If you go, prepare for a feast: Korean food is often served with many small plates of appetizers or side dishes known as banchan (반찬). At Ahjoomah’s, the banchan I had were a wide variety of pickled and fresh veggies. Their bibimbap is also great if you’re craving a filling rice dish with lots of protein.

What Do You Have a Taste For?

Well, there you have it: my food guide to Chicago Chinatown! What do you think? If this all seems overwhelming, head over to the neighborhood and check it out on foot before deciding. Keep in mind that this list isn’t even complete! There are still so many places I need to try, and I’ll be updating this post if I find any other restaurants worth sharing. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to leave a comment below if you try a place on the list!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on Aug 10, 2021

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post Restaurants in Chicago Chinatown: Dim Sum, Dumplings, Noodles, And More appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

Why You Should Check Out “Asia On Argyle,” Chicago’s Little Vietnam

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Why You Should Check Out “Asia On Argyle,” Chicago’s Little Vietnam

Published July 30, 2021

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

One of my all-time favorite neighborhoods in Chicago is the West Argyle Street Historic District! Known for its Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, and East Asian heritage, Argyle is a prominent cultural destination on the city’s north side. If you’re going to be in Chicago, you should definitely check out some of the restaurants, cafes, and street art in this area!

Having lived in Vietnam for most of 2019, I love going up to Argyle as often as I can. It’s is a pretty small neighborhood, so the main thing for visitors to do is support local businesses and enjoy delicious, authentic Southeast Asian cuisine. This post will highlight some of my top recommendations! To skip down to any particular section, click or tap the link below!

Where is Argyle?
Six Vietnamese Dishes to Try
Noteworthy Restaurants
Desserts, Drinks, & Pastries
- First Sip Cafe
- Chiu Quon Bakery
Street Art
Uptown Beyond Argyle

Where is Argyle?

Asia on Argyle is located in Chicago’s Uptown district. It’s right on the CTA Red Line, so it’s easy to get to from the Loop (downtown Chicago). Centered at the intersection of West Argyle Street and North Broadway, Little Saigon is a compact neighborhood that extends only a couple of blocks in each direction.

Six Vietnamese dishes to Try

If you’re visiting Chicago, the best thing to do on Argyle is eat! This section features six dishes to get your mouth watering, and most if not all of them should be easy to find at any Vietnamese eatery in the area.

1. Lots and Lots of Phở!

Argyle has by far the highest number of phở restaurants of any neighborhood in Chicago. In fact, there are so many options that I’ve written a separate post all about it! Be sure to check it out if that’s what you have a craving for!

2. Bún Thịt Nướng

This is a popular dish that is great for hot summer days. Like phở, bún thịt nướng is based on rice noodles, but it’s served cold with only a small serving of sauce on the side and no soup. It’s also usually topped with veggies, grilled meat, and an egg roll. The dish is an incredibly balanced and fresh meal with a full range of flavors.

This bowl of bún thịt nướng pictured above is from Phở 888 (location), one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in the area!

3. Cơm Đĩa (or Cơm Tấm)

Whether you see it on a menu as a rice plate (cơm đĩa) or broken rice (cơm tấm), any Vietnamese combo meal with rice as the base is bound to be delicious. Usually served with egg, meat, veggies, and a slightly sweet and sour sauce, cơm tấm is another refreshing meal that basically hits all the food groups.

The plate shown here was ordered at Miss Saigon Restaurant (location | website). With great service and an interesting interior, this place is worth trying, even if you’re in the mood for something other than rice!

4. Mì Quảng

I didn’t really discover mì quảng until my final few months of living in Saigon, and I’m so sad I didn’t find it earlier! It’s a delicacy from Central Vietnam, and since I haven’t had it that many times, I’ll let an expert explain exactly what it is:

"Mi Quang is rice noodles with an assortment of fresh vegetables and Vietnamese herbs, tossed together with a small amount of intensely flavored broth made from pork and/or chicken stock. The small amount of broth sets this noodle dish apart from the others. There is just enough broth in each serving to wet the noodles and bring everything together. There are many variations on what proteins and toppings that go into the dish but the signature items include slices of pork belly, whole shrimp, roasted peanuts and toasted sesame rice crackers."

Vicky Pham Culinary Blogger at vickypham.com (Click name for link)

Vicky goes on to explain that the noodles are dyed yellow using turmeric, and her blog includes a full recipe. Isn’t this bowl of mì quảng so pretty? It was as delicious as it looks, and I ordered it at Nhà Hàng Vietnam Restaurant (location).

5. Bánh Xèo

Does this dish look like a massive omelette to you? It does to me, but it’s actually not made of egg at all! Bánh xèo is a crispy pancake made using rice batter, folded over and filled with steamed bean sprouts, shrimp, and bits of pork.

It’s eaten together with a serving of leafy greens and a delicious dipping sauce. If you’re looking for a lighter meal than a bowl of soup or noodles, try bánh xèo! You’ll often find it on the appetizer section of menus. The one pictured here was served at Pho Viet (location | website).

6. Bún Chả Hà Nội

Have you noticed how many different noodle dishes I’ve featured already? They’re definitely a staple in Vietnamese cuisine, but every dish has such a unique flavor. That’s true of bún chả, a specialty from Hanoi. It’s not as easy to find in the US as phở. However, it is such a treat and worth seeking out! Essentially, you dip the cold noodles and fresh veggies into the bowl of broth, which contains pork meatballs, carrots, and thinly sliced green papaya.

I’ve actually mentioned this dish a number of times in the blog already: once in my Saigon food guide, and once in my blog post about Hanoi. It has been a personal favorite of mine for years now! The beautifully plated bún chả shown above is from Phở 777 (location | website).

Noteworthy Restaurants

All of the dishes mentioned above can be found at multiple places on Argyle, but I also want to feature some individual restaurants. I’ve been pretty methodical about trying as many places as possible in the neighborhood. Below are some of my favorites! To skip down to the next section of this post about cafes, bakeries, and tea shops, click or tap here.

Furama Restaurant
富麗華酒樓

Address: 4936 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: https://www.furamachicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/furamachicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/furamachicago/

There’s something I find really endearing about this Chinese restaurant on Broadway! Some people might feel like the interior décor is a little dated, but I think it has such a cool retro vibe that gives the place a lot of character.

Furama is famous for dim sum, which is served all day. If you’d rather do a family-style meal, their menu also has a large selection of meat, rice, veggie, and noodle dishes to choose from.

Immm Rice & Beyond

Address: 4949 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: https://immmchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/immmchicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immmchicago/

I love the concept of Immm, a restaurant specializing in Thai street food. Even if you’re craving pad thai or curry, Immm offers a chance to branch out and try a Thai dish or two that you’ve never had before.

Kuay tiew rua (boat noodles) is listed as the most popular dish on their menu, so of course I had to try it! The broth was fragrant, and it had just the right amount of spices.

Sun Wah BBQ

Address: 5039 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: https://sunwahbbq.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sun-Wah-Barbecue-Restaurant-120618204621446/

This is one of Chicago’s cornerstone Hong Kong style BBQ restaurants. They’re famous for their multi-course Beijing Duck Dinners, which I’d really like to try someday soon. However, they also offer your choice of BBQ meat over rice with veggies and soup for a good price. These are a great option if you’re looking for a quicker meal for one or two people.

Ba Le Sandwiches

Address: 5014 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: https://www.balesandwich.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balebanhmisandwiches/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ba_le_sandwich/

Have you ever had bánh mì (Vietnamese baguette sandwiches) before? Whether your answer is yes or no, you should visit Ba Le. This small deli on the main intersection of Argyle serves delicious and fresh sandwiches that are as good as the ones you can get from street vendors in Saigon!

Thai Pastry Restaurant

Address: 4925 N Broadway Unit E, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: https://www.thaipastry.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thai-Pastry-Restaurant-115961455093904/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thai.pastry.restaurant/

Argyle’s other noteworthy Thai restaurant is only a short walk down the block from Immm. In addition to offering standard dishes like curry and fried rice, Thai Pastry has a lot of unique appetizers. Consider trying their kuchai, an order of flat chive dumplings served with a slightly sweet sauce.

As the name suggests, this restaurant also sells pastries, imported snacks, ice cream, and other things to take home with you after dinner. Be sure to check them out at the front counter!

Desserts, Drinks, & Pastries

Don’t forget to save room for dessert when you’re visiting Asia on Argyle! There are lots of great places to try if you’re looking for something sweet or caffeinated.

First Sip Cafe

Address: 1057 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: https://www.firstsip.cafe/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firstsipcafe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstsipcafe/

This cozy coffee shop is one of my favorites in all of Chicago. The interior is so unique, with lots of potted plants by the front window and teacups hanging from the ceiling around the counter area.

First Sip Cafe also offers some amazing flavored lattes that you can get hot or iced. I really liked their pistachio mint and orange blossom lattes, and I can’t wait to try spicy mango and banana sundae. This should give you an idea of how creative their menu is!

Chiu Quon Bakery
超群茶餐廳

Address: 1127 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: http://www.cqbakery.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cqbakery/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiuquonbakery/

You can buy steamed buns, cookies, moon cakes, and more at this bakery that also has a location in Chinatown. Located right next to the CTA train stop, Chiu Quon’s big sign with the bold red letters is likely to be one of the first things you see when you get to Argyle via the metro.

Street Art

In addition to eating and cafe hopping, the other main thing to do in Argyle is to admire the street art. There’s an overarching theme of celebrating the diversity and the many cultures that make up the neighborhood, which is expressed through a variety of artistic styles.

Uptown Beyond Argyle

Argyle may only span a couple blocks, but the district it’s located in is pretty large. Uptown is close to the lakefront and has a lot of interesting architecture! I’ve written a separate blog post about this part of Chicago, which you can check out using the image link below!

In addition to its beautiful buildings, Uptown has such a vibrant food scene that extends beyond Asian cuisine. For example, this part of town seems to be home to a number of Ethiopian restaurants. Check out my separate Uptown blog post to learn more about that!

Go Visit Argyle!

This little part of the city may not make it onto every visitor’s radar when they come to Chicago, but I’d guess that it’s one of America’s best destinations for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cuisine. It’s also an area worth supporting, learning about, and experiencing for yourself!

Have you been to Argyle before? Do you have a favorite restaurant here? Leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on July 30, 2021

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post Why You Should Check Out “Asia On Argyle,” Chicago’s Little Vietnam appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

Food Guides Archives - Caffeinated Excursions

Get To Know The Washington, D.C. Metro Area: Neighborhoods And Food Scenes

Neighborhoods We Explored

Old Town, Alexandria, VA

Old Town Waterfront

Torpedo Factory Art Center

Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Georgetown Waterfront

Georgetown University

M Street Northwest & Wisconsin Avenue Northwest

National Mall, Washington, D.C.

Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument

World War II Memorial

Other Things to See

National Harbor, MD

Food We Tried

Burgers: 7th Street Burger

Cocktails

Barmini by José Andrés

Alice Cocktail Bar

Coffee

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.

Gute Leute

Misha's Coffee House

Cortado Cafe

Japanese: Daikaya Izakaya

Kenyan: Swahili Village Bar and Grill

Korean: K Market International in Annandale

Mediterranean: Agora DC

Mexican

Taco Bamba

El Centro

Peruvian: Super Pollo Charcoal Chicken

Pizza: &pizza

Spanish: Barca Pier & Wine Bar

Uyghur: Dolan Uyghur Restaurant

Vietnamese

Hoang Viet Restaurant in Eden Center

Pho 75

Conclusion

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

Recent Posts

Meet Your Caffeinated Blogger: Kevin!

Where I Am Now

Categories

Where I’ve Been

Upcoming Trips

Archives

Click To Follow!

Support the Blog!

Subscribe Via Email

Meta

The Best Places To Eat, Drink, And Caffeinate In Portland, Maine

Eat

Seafood

Becky's Diner

DiMillo's On The Water

Eventide Oyster Co.

Portland Lobster Company

Scales

The Highroller Lobster Co.

The Shop by Island Creek Oysters

Asian Cuisine

Crispy Gài

Dok Mali

Mami Japanese Street Food

Other Restaurants

Duckfat

Flatbread Company

Fore Street Restaurant

Hot Suppa

Papi Portland

Terlingua

The Grill Room & Bar

Drink

Anoche

Novare Res Bier Cafe

Portland Beer Hub

Coffee, Breakfast, & Pastries