I don't think I've had Mexican, Thai, OR Mediterranean when I've visited Chicago!
Dawn: Any luck? Willow: If you define luck as the absence of success--plenty.
'Touched'
F2F5: I forget that everyone isn't us
Plan what to do, what to wear (you can never go wrong with a corset), and get ready for the next BuffistaCon.
Polter-Cow - Mar 30, 2009 11:14:41 am PDT #835 of 12685
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Kathy A - Mar 30, 2009 11:31:49 am PDT #836 of 12685
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
That's what I mean about avoiding the tourist traps. If you skip the deep-dish pizza and steakhouses that were big places to go in the 1970s, there are a lot of other options in the city.
The huge influx of Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern immigrants in the past 30 years has been a huge boon to the restaurant industry. Most non-Chicago-native foodies are highly impressed with the level of Mexican cuisine (considered by most as the best outside of southern California or the Southwest), and Thai food has been big here since the mid-80s. Mediterranean has more recently joined Thai as the "there's one on every corner" quick take-out joints. We even have a smal suburban Mediterranean chain called Pita Inn (there's one near me--a great place to get chicken schwarma and homemade hummus, pita bread and baklava!).
Polter-Cow - Mar 30, 2009 11:40:57 am PDT #837 of 12685
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
I had no idea Chicago had good Mexican food. Would not have guessed! I'll have to check it out next time. And Thai!
Typo Boy - Mar 30, 2009 12:34:42 pm PDT #838 of 12685
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.
Does Chicago really no longer have fabulous deep dish and hot dogs? I'm unlikely to be there in the forseeable future, and Thai, Mexica and so on are great, but it seems a shame to visit Chicago and not get at least a really good Polish sausage.
Kathy A - Mar 30, 2009 12:58:43 pm PDT #839 of 12685
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
Oh, we still do have all that!! It's just that I like to highlight the stuff we have here that's great that non-natives might not know about. With all the Med and Thai corner places, the hotdog/beef joints outnumber them by a vast margin.
If you get the chance, see the Anthony Bourdain No Reservations show that was about Chicago--it was on a few months ago. One of the places he went to was Fat Johnnie's on the South Side where he had a Mother-in-Law, a tamale with chili on a bun (the tamale is the Chicago-style ones in a "corn roll," not the more traditional Mexican tamale).
meara - Mar 30, 2009 1:29:19 pm PDT #840 of 12685
FYI--am seeing the Crowne Plaza tomorrow, and the Hotel Monaco Thursday. Interestingly, the lady at the Hotel Monaco sounded like she might be willing to bargain on the price of the hotel rooms...
megan walker - Mar 30, 2009 1:35:19 pm PDT #841 of 12685
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
Interestingly, the lady at the Hotel Monaco sounded like she might be willing to bargain on the price of the hotel rooms...
Oooh. I like the sound of that. That one looked so purty.
Matt the Bruins fan - Mar 30, 2009 2:35:12 pm PDT #842 of 12685
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
If you're staying near Michigan Avenue (or travel there to see Millenium Park) be sure to stop in at The Gage Restaurant. I had the best hamburger of my life at that place, and have had to talk myself out of driving to Chicago just to buy another one on a couple of occasions.
brenda m - Mar 30, 2009 5:13:14 pm PDT #843 of 12685
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
I'll second that. Nom.
Laga - Mar 31, 2009 10:14:28 am PDT #844 of 12685
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.
If you want to do a Chicago Architecture Foundation river tour, call early. They fill up fast.