“Asian stoner food” were the words the ingenious chef Mickey Neely used to describe the food of SuperHai. That would be the mild-mannered couple who disguise their secret identities as, respectively: graphic designer/bartender Jane Shang, and knife sharpener/restorer Jordan Ross. “I’m the Asian, he’s the stoner,” cracks Shang. But on Wednesday nights they pop up […]
Tag: Japanese food
Posted inFood & Drink
Become one with the bowl for the return of Bokuchan’s Curry House at Monday Night Foodball
During the pandemic, Shin Thompson and Liga Sigal established themselves as masters of carryout curry—specifically karē, the alluring, enveloping, Snuggie-in-a-bowl that is Japan’s great gift to global comfort and reassurance. Maybe you’re skeptical. What’s so hard about packing a thick, warmly-spiced, root veggie-stocked edible lava in a plastic jewel box and sending it on its […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Ramen_Lord teams up with Maa Maa Dei at Monday Night Foodball
Mike Satinover’s doors of perception were blown wide open some ten years ago when the 21-year old study abroad undergrad was sent to a famous noodle shop in Sapporo, Japan, for a bowl of miso ramen: “What arrived was ethereal. A scalding hot bowl of rich, intense miso and pork soup, with punches of garlic […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The return of Maa Maa Dei’s cherry blossom pastries
Baker Jaye Fong’s sakura shortbread will come back for a second season.
Posted inFood & Drink
Bokuchan’s ghost curry holds up in transit
It’s Shin Thompson’s pivot to Japanese soul food, from a virtual kitchen.
Posted inFood & Drink
Yuta Katsuyama is the once and future rice ball king of Chicago
His Onigiri Shuttle Kororin rolls to a stop next week—but he’ll be back.
Posted inBlogs
Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya is the dependably good bowl Wicker Park doesn’t need
Another Japanese chain shows how it’s done.
Posted inBlogs
Yakitori Boogytori cements the northwest suburbs’ reputation as a hub of Japanese drinking food
A new yakitori-ya in Arlington Heights adds to Chicago’s suburban Japanese drinking joints.
Posted inBlogs
Three new stands are reinvigorating the Japanese superstore Mitsuwa Marketplace
A tempura ninja, an udon master, and a pork-donburi slinger are livening up the Arlington Heights food court.
Posted inBlogs
Seattle-style sticky meats go Chipotle at Glaze Teriyaki
Lakeview is the right environment for this New York-based chain.
Posted inBlogs
Skip the fish and go French at Nami Sushi Bar
Overworked sushi and surprisingly clever fusion at this Ravenswood spot
Posted inBlogs
Get the Freebird Broth at Ramen Takeya
A new ramen-ya from the folks behind Wasabi specializes in milky chicken broth.
Posted inBlogs
Two Lincoln Square sushi spots continue the effort to rid the world of fish
Lots of fish in the neighborhood—and not much of it’s much good.
Posted inBlogs
Wrigleyville diner Rice ‘n Bread is putting an American spin on Korean short-rib patties
Worlds collide—and fit neatly between a pretzel bun—at Rice ‘n Bread.
Posted inBlogs
Tsu Kiji Fish Market is no Tsukiji Fish Market
Another day, another Japanese restaurant with a sprawling, unfocused menu