The 9 best barbecue joints in Chicago
The fact is simple: Chicago has a dearly underrated barbecue scene. While we're still not on most shortlists of the top national barbecue destinations, there's no question the local barbecue...
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1 food critic, 40 burritos: Finding the best in Chicago
Most people don't think about the burrito. The brute cousin to the taco simply exists, and any consideration pertains to size. Who cares about the particulars when the quantity means...
Wrigleyville bars: Your 2023 guide to all 45 spots around Wrigley Field for opening day
Spring and baseball are an ideal pairing, so it stands to reason that Chicago Cubs fans are amped to get back to it with opening day Thursday. After a sleepy...
Taylor’s Tacos finally gets a home on Taylor Street, plus 5 more new restaurants in Chicago
Chicagoans — from Lena Waithe to Chance the Rapper to this critic — have been salivating over Taylor's Tacos for years. In 2021, it landed on my list of best...
James Beard awards: Obelix, Virtue among nominees, plus a solid Midwest showing in Wednesday announcement
The James Beard Foundation named the finalists Wednesday for its 2023 awards — the equivalent of the Oscars of the restaurant world — and it comes with some pretty big...
Review: Valhalla is Stephen Gillanders’ biggest statement yet
Does one want to hear "The Humpty Dance" while sipping a $35 frozen martini at Valhalla? Digital Underground's 1990 single is an undeniable jam, if also deliriously juvenile. (Key lyric:...
Owner of Lucy’s BBQ studied under Texas pitmaster greats — and it shows
Enter Brewfest, a pour-your-own-beer bar in Highland, Indiana, and a haze of smoke rushes out the door and wraps around your nose. It's not the stale and acrid stench of...
Column: Meat Moot Smoking crosses Turkish with Texas for an intriguing take on barbecue
When chatting with food historian Adrian Miller about the Texas-style barbecue boom in suburban Chicago, he casually remarked that the style wasn't just popular around the United States, but overseas...
Critics’ Choice Food Awards: From pizza to pho, our picks for the best in Chicago dining for 2023
In the first year since the start of the pandemic when restaurants and bars were able to (mostly) operate without (major) interruption, Chicagoland's food industry injected a jolt of creativity...
Andros Taverna owners to open Spanish steakhouse Asador Bastian: ‘Our answer to almost any request will be, ‘Yes.”
Doug Psaltis and Hsing Chen, the couple behind Andros Taverna in Logan Square, plan to open Asador Bastian in the next few weeks. The two-story project is located in the...