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312 Reviewer Discovering Chicagoland Flavor - City Streets to Suburban Eats
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09/05/2026

Bobby’s Fried Chicken opened this July and is currently operating out of The Hatchery Chicago, a West Side food incubator that gives local entrepreneurs the kitchen space and resources to get their ideas off the ground.
You can see the effort here. The French influence isn’t there just for show. It comes through in the sauces, the technique and those thousand-layer fries, while still keeping the food grounded in what it’s supposed to be: a really good fried chicken sandwich.
More than anything, this feels like someone who genuinely cares about fried chicken and is putting that enthusiasm into every detail.
If you want to give Bobby’s a try, you can order directly for pickup at BobbyFriedChicken.net, or find them on delivery apps such as DoorDash.

09/03/2026

Meet Bobby. Self-taught fried chicken enthusiast bringing French technique into his cooking, including these thousand layer fries inspired by mille-feuille. Running a ghost kitchen out of The Hatchery in Chicago. Orders can be placed on bobbyfriedchicken.net or through delivery services like DoorDash, though direct pickup orders from his site support him more directly. One guy building something real out of one small kitchen.

09/01/2026

Autea Sweets and Eats in Chinatown is known for these massive snow ice desserts, mine came stacked with mango and hidden red bean at the bottom, easily enough for two or three people.
They’ve also got a full food menu, dumplings, noodles, the usual spread, nothing fancy but a nice option if you’re not just there for dessert.
If you’re in the area with a sweet tooth, this one’s worth keeping on the list.

08/29/2026

kasama has some of the longest lines in Chicago. Two Michelin stars, a feature on the FX show The Bear, and a menu that weaves Filipino flavors into French pastry technique in a way I haven’t seen done quite like this anywhere else.

Order ahead online and you can walk right past the line. Genuinely one of my favorite bakery experiences in the city.

08/26/2026

Sankyu Sushi and Izakaya in Mount Prospect has been around for decades, but it just changed hands and got a refresh, including a private tatami room where you take your shoes off and sit low to the table if you want a more intimate setup. Small strip mall spot from the outside, but don’t let that fool you.

1176 S Elmhurst Rd, Mount Prospect

Baklava that skips the syrup and the sugar crash. Dar Baklava cuts the mess down to almost nothing and packs in real nut...
08/24/2026

Baklava that skips the syrup and the sugar crash. Dar Baklava cuts the mess down to almost nothing and packs in real nuts instead, so every bite is crunchy instead of sticky. This might be the healthiest baklava you can order online.



The founder, Sharif leads a healthy lifestyle as a Chicago pediatrician and marathon runner, and since he couldn’t find a baklava that wasn’t drowning in syrup, he made his own. Six real ingredients, three times more nuts than dough, and none of the sticky fingers.

If you’re interested in checking out their page, head over to my bio and click the link for 15% off your order.

08/21/2026

There’s a lot more going on at Al’s Hotdogs than just the 1950s theme.

What stood out to me was the attention being paid to things most diners would probably just buy ready-made. The sport peppers are prepared in-house, and even the cheese sauce served with the fries is their own blend rather than the usual yellow cheddar sauce. They make it fresh throughout the day, and paired with those beef-tallow fries, it was probably my favorite surprise of the meal.

They’re also trying to make Al’s a neighborhood gathering spot. On Wednesdays, they bring in vintage cars and live music outside, which feels pretty fitting for the whole concept.

The nostalgia might get you through the door, but thankfully, they’ve put just as much thought into the food.

08/17/2026

Royal Buffet in Schaumburg is quite the experience. Weekday lunch runs $24, dinner is $40 on weekdays and weekends, and honestly still a solid deal given how much food you’re getting. This isn’t your typical buffet with 20-30 options, we’re talking two dozen plus sushi types prepared fresh every few minutes, a hibachi station where you pick your own ingredients and watch it get cooked in front of you, snow crab legs, seafood boils, galbi beef ribs, Beijing duck, and just about everything else you can think of.

Quality was good, not everything hit, a few things felt underwhelming or bland, but at this price you just move on to the next thing. With this much variety, you’re getting your money’s worth.

08/13/2026

5 spots you need to try in the North suburbs of Chicago

08/12/2026

Five North Suburban Chicago restaurants that are worth the drive.
These are five spots I’ve personally tried and would recommend, covering everything from Korean and Hawaiian to Italian, Southern, and seafood. They’re in no particular order and this is by no means a definitive ranking.

Let me know what other spots are worth checking out.

Address

701 N Wells St
Chicago, IL
60654

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