Rick Bayless in Chicago, food in Chinatown?

ooheadsoo · « **on:** 10 Jul 2010, 07:08 pm »

I'll be visiting Chicago in mid August for about a day and a half. One thing that has caught my attention is Rick Bayless's chains. I don't watch Top Chef, but I hear he's a "master." I also hear that the lines are long, and I don't know if it's worth the time for Mexican food. I live in Los Angeles and have had more than my fair share of Mexican.

One of my friends is also insisting that we visit an asian ethnic community in Chicago, and since most of my friends are Chinese and Chinatown seems close to Union Station, I thought it would be convenient to go there. Any food recommendations in Chinatown? Other asian community suggestions are also welcome, like Korean.

jmc207 · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Jul 2010, 07:17 pm »

Chi Cafe in the Chinatown Mall, http://www.chicafeonline.com/. Had a couple of meals there two years ago and the food was quite decent, inexpensive, and served in a slightly modern Cantonese atmosphere.

bregez · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Jul 2010, 07:45 pm »

There are lots of restaurants in Chinatown. Just take the Redline to Cermak-Chinatown and walk west (don’t go east!!). The mall has some restaurants or you can walk south on Wentworth and find a few there.
An alternative to Chinatown is Argyle Street. This area has a large Vietnamese and Thai population. Once again it is easily accessible from the Redline. Take the Redline north and get off at the Argyle stop. There are a plethora of Asian restaurants on Argyle Street and on Broadway which is a short walk west of the Redline station.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 Jul 2010, 09:28 pm »

Thanks. Any more specific recommendations? Any Chinese food not HK/Canto oriented?

Any thoughts on Rick Bayless?

gonefishin · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Jul 2010, 03:30 am »

Hi oohheadsoo,

My wife and I have eaten at Topo and Frontera. Both meals were quite nice, but neither was in the upper tier of really good eats. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either of these places and think everyone should give them a try. He really has some nice flavor combinations.

I also don't doubt his abilities, but I don't think either Topo or Frontera reach the upper tier of Chicago dining. But I don't think it's trying to.

Don't discount some of the Mexican street food at Maxwell street. They've moved again...but you could usually get some pretty nice street food. As mentioned above, Argyle street is nice for Vietnamese food (yum!)

I would also recommend David Burke's (the beef sashimi app) and Fox and Obel grocery store (only to mention two). Fox and Obel carries some nice prosciutto. Among some of my favorites are the green label La Quercia, Pio Tosini, Iberico Recebo and my obsession Iberico Bellota.

edit add:Oh yeah, if you're going to Frontera get there early. Preferably a little before they open the doors and you should be fine. If not, just check in...get your pager and go for a nice walk or have a few drinks (they've got some really nice drinks there too!)

have fun!
dan

roscoeiii · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Jul 2010, 06:15 am »

I quite like Lao Schzuan in Chinatown.

And I'm gonna have to disagree on Topolo Bomba (or however it is spelled). Frontera was pretty good, but I would rate Topo really up there in Chicago eats.

The other Mexican place I've really liked is Mundial in Pilsen (but it is not as easy to get to via the El).

Other restaurants in Chicago that I love are Avec (also features great wine) and Publican (also features great beer). A Tavola is another great one. Small Italian place, with great food and a nice intimate and friendly atmosphere. Don't miss their gnocchi.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Jul 2010, 10:56 pm »

What gives? I checked the prices at Rick Bayless's website and they're all fairly reasonable. Really small portions? You might get charged more at a chain restaurant like olive garden around here.

It looks like I will try to hit the Fox and Obel store and a Bayless joint on the same day since they're blocks from each other. I'm glad all the Bayless joints are right next to each other.

We are staying at the Chinatown Hotel, so it looks like it's just a 5 minute walk to Lao Sze Chuan. Awesome!

PhilNYC · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Jul 2010, 11:07 pm »

Hate to say it, but if you are from Los Angeles, you will probably be disappointed with the Asian food in Chicago...not because Chicago has particularly bad Asian food (I'd call it "ok" if you find the right place), but because Asian food in LA is probably the best in the country...

Please do report back on the Bayless stuff. He made a great impression on me on Top Chef Masters....would love to try his food...

Christof · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Jul 2010, 11:27 pm »

Topolobampo is a great eat. I've been there a number of times and never left feeling disappointed. Just a little further up on Clark is Naha which I highly recommend!

roscoeiii · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Jul 2010, 11:59 pm »

And if you decide on Topo, I'd call now to see about reservations.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #10 on:** 26 Jul 2010, 07:22 am »

Unfortunately, eating asian in Chicago is not my idea, but is a friend's "only request." I can only hope for the best, within reason. Lao Sze Chuan, while suspiciously pricey, seems decent and is within walking distance...although I hear everything in Chinatown is within walking distance.

I'd love to try Naha one day, but it is out of my budget for this trip.

It sounds like Xoco might be the best fit for this particular trip. My itinerary for that day is rather loose. I plan on rolling up to the place on a bicycle, so something where we would look too out of place like Topolo is probably out of the picture. We'll just be on our rented bikes, checking out the lake front, wander in whenever we get there.

Hey, any suggestions for a Chinese (Taiwanese/Shanghainese) style breakfast would be awesome. Do they have these around Chicago chinatown?

gonefishin · « **Reply #11 on:** 27 Jul 2010, 02:15 am »

Don't give up on Frontera. I don't think you would be out of place there at all, Topolobampo would be a different story. At least check how long the wait is...if you hit it right it may not be that long of a wait.

dan

gonefishin · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 Jul 2010, 02:20 am »

A friend of mine is friends with Tony Hu. I still haven't gone to any of his restaruants...but they may be worth checking out. But again...haven't been to any of them myself...yet. http://www.tonygourmetgroup.com/

La Scarola has some really good Italian/American food. But it's a taxi ride away...

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Jul 2010, 02:02 pm »

Now I'm looking forward to trying Lao Sze Chuan, too

roscoeiii · « **Reply #14 on:** 28 Jul 2010, 02:15 pm »

Weather may be a little hot for it, but I love Lao Sze Chuan's hotpot. The dish I missed most from my time in China. If you like spicy you can get the bowl half hot (a deep, deep red) and half mild (a fish or chicken based stock, I forget which). A great dish for a long leisurely meal with friends.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #15 on:** 30 Jul 2010, 04:58 am »

Would it be necessary to make reservations at Lao?

roscoeiii · « **Reply #16 on:** 2 Aug 2010, 09:44 pm »

Not necessary.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #17 on:** 3 Aug 2010, 01:56 am »

Good to know, thanks

johzel · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Aug 2010, 02:39 pm »

For you Rick Bayless fans:

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20100816/NEWS07/100819905/rick-bayless-to-open-ohare-outposts

pslate · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Aug 2010, 03:11 pm »

Mixteco is worth a shot if you are on the north side i.e. near Wrigley. It's byob and run by Raul Arreola who ran some of Rick's restaurants http://www.yelp.com/biz/mixteco-grill-chicago