Great Seas - 3254 W. Lawrence Ave/ 773.478.9129
I believe I’ve been going here for the last 13 years or so, all I do remember is it started back in my college days. Great Seas is all about the chicken wings. In the very beginning the wings were incredibly hot, to the point it was nose dripping hot, delicious to eat, but painful coz of the spiciness 10 or so pieces. Great Seas had a painful secret about it, lousy service. You could be panting for water, waving your hands, and they would never come to serve you. Fortunately, about 5 to 6 years ago, they appeared to have fired the old wait staff and now it’s extremely pleasant to be served there. What’s so great about the chicken wings, its incomparable to any American version out there. But the specific sauce with the crispiness of the wings, makes it mouth watering. I prefer to eat it there, since the freshness is the key, and leftovers for the chicken wings don’t turn out to be so good, so finish everything there.
Back when I was teaching at Southport, our Saturday ritual after training was to hit Great Seas. So we were definitely regulars for a good year or so. Going with April, is the key, she’s literally a celebrity eating there. Holding the record for the most chicken wings. Go with her and leach of the better service she gets. As for trying other food there, over the years I have tried a handful of other dishes, and they are okay. But, if you go to Great Seas, chicken wings should be your only goal.
Great Seas is by Lawrence and Kedzie, an order of 1 chicken wing serving is roughly $10 bucks I believe. Make sure you ask for a side order of Gak To De (fermented turnip/kimchee) but you should definitely have a taste for this Korean dish or you’ll chug it.
Sushi Para - 2256 N. Clark St./ 773.477-3219
There are 2 locations for this place, somewhere in Chicago on Clark, and the other one in the suburbs in Palatine. Let’s get right to the point, sushi is expensive. 1 decent roll like a spider or dragon can normally cost you on average 7 to 8 bucks. So, what does Sushi para do, offer all you can eat the right way for only 17 bucks. What do I mean by the right way, if you know me personally I hate buffet’s coz they are so dirty. But Sushi para, they give you the entire menu with a pen, and you simply check off what you want and they bring it to you fresh to your table, without having to deal with long lines of a buffet as well as the sneeze guards. Now while Sushi will not have the most unique Sushi like Meiji does, its decent Sushi, and you just can’t beat the price. Many of you might have heard of Todai’s in Schuamburg, but this old country buffet style of sushi, is just nasty, when compared to Sushi para. And, the menu is made of not just sushi but Maki roll’s as well. I would suggest hitting this place with at least 4 to 5 people, that way you should be able to hit 60% of the entire menu. Oh yeah, make sure you finish what you eat otherwise they will charge you for stuff leftover on your plate.
Lulu’s Dim Sum and then sum - 804 Davis St./ 847.869.4343
Located in downtown Evanston, I believe specifically 820 Davis st. Lulu’s offers another unique kind of buffet, only from 11:30 – 3:00 Sat and Sunday. But if you’ve ever had a desire for all you can eat Dim Sum buffet style, this place is unmatched. I believe its about 15 bucks, and you can literally get anything you want on the menu, except for the 2 items listed over $13.50 and desserts aren’t included. However, this is another place that does buffet the right way, no lines, no sneeze guards. A waitress comes to your table takes your order and then brings the food to you depending on the size of your group. My recommendation once again, hit it with 4 to 5 people, so you can try to get at least 60% of the menu. I would definitely stay away from the middle of the menu, like the salads and regular stirfry. Now that doesn’t mean its bad, but its just filling and you want to get the most out of the menu which means hitting the dim sum section of the menu. Stuff that really sticks out is their deep fried siopao. But definitely attack the dim sum section first and foremost. The dim sum is unique and not like your traditional kind you find at Chinatown. But the twist they add to their style makes it all the more better. So definitely, this is another thumbs up place.
Hema’s Kitchen - 6404 N. Oakley Ave/ 773.338-1627
Ah, we’ve been long time friends of the owner when Hema’s was a little unknown Indian restaurant. Now with an expansion of the main location at Oakley and Devon, and even opening a Hema’s 2 in posh neighborhood of Lincoln Park, it’s still the best Indian Restaurant to hang out. I have to admit, the original taste of Hema’s was much better in the days when it was unknown, unfortunately fame and fortune has a price, and Mrs. Hema is not a regular greeter or has the same amount of time to chit chat and talk. And, I do have to admit, that prices have gone up a bit, quantity a little down, but taste is a little below what it used to be. I still recommend it, and if Mrs. Potla is there along with her daughter Pam they can help you order if you’re not familiar with Indian Cuisine.
Normally I’d order 2 orders of Kema Samosa (a deep fried breading with stuffing of meat and vegetables) Aloh Gosh (one of their main curry dish) side orders of their bread (Paratha and another bread that was deep fried, can’t remember the name) Make sure for dessert you get their Galob Jalum (call in advance and make sure they have this) Imagine a crispy crème donut deep fried with sauce. Hema’s is extremely busy, I’d definitely hit the weeknights and odd days, coz its almost impossible to get seating during the weekdays.
Java Café
Located by Clark and Addison, is a little java house, that offers Ice bubble tea shakes. Inside, you can sit and read, do homework or just chat. They even have games you can borrow and play while there. But, the main importance of this place is the bubble shakes. While, the variety is not vast as Joy Yee’s immense menu of bubble shakes, the 10 or 20 flavors you can choose along with the taste more then makes up for it. While I would experiment getting the right flavor combination you want, its difficult to go wrong with the simply combinations. Like Jack Fruit and mango, or mango and coconut. This is definitely the place to hit, especially during summer, when you need something to cool you off.
Dong A 3933 W. Touhy Ave /
Dong A is not a restaurant, but a small Korean grocery store. The address is 3933 Touhy Avenue… so it’s sorta mid way between McCormick Rd and 94 highway. The key thing to get here is there chicken, which is comparable to Great Seas, but has a totally different taste. Its not spicy at all has a sweeter taste to it. I believe each serving of about 10 or so chickens are about 5 bucks only. This is another one that should be eaten right away, since when cold or reheated just doesn't taste as good when its cooked fresh.
Cid’s Ma Mon Luk - 9182 W. Golf Rd/ 847.803.3652
I really love these mom and pop dives, and this is as close to Filippino mom’s cooking as you’ll get. Located right next to the closed Golf Glen theaters this little Filippino food restaurant is just the only place I can recommend for uhhhh, Filippino food. If you’ve never had Filippino food before, then go by this simple recommendation when you stop in. Assuming its for dinner for 2, order 1 siopao, 1 Lechon Kawali, and Cid’s house special soup, and rice comes with that, and your set. The soup is perfect during cold Chicago winter times, and Lechon is year round, otherwise I refer to as they seem to double deep fry theirs... oh man, the best and yes very unhealthy for you.
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