There aren’t many meals more nostalgic than a bowl of cereal. Whether you prefer the first still crunchy bite or slurping down the leftover sugary milk, a meal of Fruity Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch or (in the healthier families) Cheerios brings back memories of Saturday morning cartoons and lazy Sundays without a care in the world.
Momofuku Milk Bar started a cereal revival in the late ‘00s with its trademarked Cereal Milk. Now, restaurants are taking the beloved breakfast item and adding it to dishes ranging from churros to fried chicken to milkshakes, bowl and spoon no longer required.
Bah’s famous French toast
1962 N. Halsted St., 773-248-3000
The “famous” French toast at this Lincoln Park seafood and raw bar includes challah bread, a Cap’n Crunch crust, blueberry maple syrup and orange custard. $11.95. Osyer Bah chef Pete Balodimas told the baiduhai last year that it’s a nod to his childhood: “This was my favorite cereal growing up. I made this French toast at home for my family, and it worked so well, we incorporated it onto our brunch menu.”
Looking for more cereal French toast options? Flo (1434 W. Chicago Ave.) offers Cocoa Pebbles and Fruity Pebbles French toast, both topped with fruit and whipped cream. $10 each.
Bombolato
832 W. Randolph St., 312-967-7000
BomboBar — Bar Siena’s dessert concept walk-up window — sells bomboloni (a hole-less Italian doughnut) with gelato and a variety of toppings. The Bombolato special includes a bomboloni ice cream sandwich stuffed with vanilla gelato, dipped in smoked caramel and topped with Fruity Pebbles. $7.
Cereal bar
1225 E. 87th St., 773-934-3438
Looking to get your cereal straight up? At this tea spot’s cereal bar, check out 75 different brands and over 25 toppings from yogurt to fruit to chocolate to nuts, as well as 10 types of milk (everything from nut to flavored varieties).
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Ice cold milk is shaken in a martini mixer and strained into the bowl. There’s even the option to add liquid nitrogen to make your creation smoke. Dine in or take your cereal to go. $3 for a small and $4.50 for a large bowl.
Cereal milk covfefe
2273 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-697-8899
At this late-night Lincoln Park spot, La Colombe dark roast meets house-made cereal milk, with the choice of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs or Vanilla Frosted Flakes. $5.
“Cereal is the most iconic childhood food I would say and breakfast has an emotional tie for everyone,” said owner Jeremy Fall. “The overall Nighthawk brand was to take those childhood favorites and create a new modern twist on them.”
Need more cereal? Nighthawk: AM also has Yabba Dabba Dough with Fruity Pebbles cereal milk dough and lime zest. $4-$10.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Fruity Pebbles cookies
1148 W. Monroe St., 312-265-0780
The Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Fruity Pebbles cookies at this Near West Side bakery combine cereal milk butter (a shout out to Momofuku Milk Bar) with extra cereal in the cookie and on top. $3 each.
The cookies are a labor of love: Cereal is soaked over night in heavy cream before being strained into a butter. Chief cookie officer Joe Dela Pena — who based the first two flavors off his favorite childhood cereals — is working on turning more cereals into cookies.
“A lot of my inspiration comes from nostalgia, but we also try to be innovative,” he said. “I think the way we make the cookie is innovative, but when you have it, it reminds you of a simpler time of being a kid.”
Cornflake-crusted chicken
Various locations
If you’re looking for a more savory option, Cornflake-crusted chicken is a comfort food classic, and this casual seafood chain makes a customizable version ($8.99) along with fish, shrimp and other chicken dishes.
Chicken breasts marinated in buttermilk are breaded with cornflake cereal, flour and eggs.
Dragonbreath cereal ball
2935 N. Broadway, 773-697-7530
At this cold dessert spot, crunchy snacks are fused with negative 321-degree liquid nitrogen. The puffy cereal can hold the freezing temperature, so smoke is released when you bite into it. Clearly, it’s as much of a treat as an experience. $5.46.
Fruity Pebbles churro
355 N. Clark St.
Try a variety of experimental churro flavors including Fruity Pebbles (with vanilla frosting) as well as red velvet, Oreo and Nutella. $3.50 each, six for $18 and 12 for $35. Also check out imported snack foods and alcoholic beverages sold in the market area.
Fruity Pebbles milkshake
Miss Ricky’s
203 N. Wabash Ave., 312-940-4777
The American diner-style restaurant in the Virgin Hotels Chicago concocted a Fruity Pebbles milkshake with vanilla ice cream and topped with a cereal rim, whipped cream and a rainbow cookie. $8.
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Into the milkshake idea? Steak ‘N Shake, which is in the process of opening a location near the University of Illinois at Chicago, boasts a slew of cereal milkshakes, including Fruit Loops, Frosted Flakes, Cocoa Krispies, Honey Smacks and cinnamon crunch. Cereal pieces are swirled with the shake and served with whipped cream, a cherry and more cereal on top. $2.99 each.
Fruity Pebbowl
Multiple locations
Craving the flavors of childhood, but not the sugar and calories? This smoothie, juice and all things healthy chain has a Fruity Pebbowl with Blue Magik (a blue-green algae extract that provides the bright color), vanilla, banana, almond milk, coconut, bee pollen and seasonal fruit. $11.50. According to the website, it “tastes like Saturday morning cartoons. Yabba dabba do it.”
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