CITY
CALYPSO CAFE (1 fork)
5211-C S. Harper Ave.
773-955-0229
There’s an alluring vacation vibe and solid Caribbean menu at Calypso, but meals sometimes can be undermined by lukewarm food and rushed service.
Recommended: Black-bean soup, red snapper, toasted coconut-crust banana cream pie.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7.95-$15.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Reservations: Not accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible
ISLAND DeLITES RESTAURANT (2 forks)
2347 E. 75th St.
773-978-3200
This is a spot for great Jamaican-style jerk chicken or fish, though the service is lacking.
Recommended: Jerk chicken and catfish, curried goat, kingfish escobietch.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $6.50-$10
Credit cards: DS, M, V
Other: Wheelchair accessible
JAPANESE
CITY
KAMEHACHI OF TOKYO *
1400 N. Wells St.
312-664-3663
Neophyte-friendly options like Sushi 101 (all cooked ingredients) makes this Old Town spot one of the most accessible Japanese restaurants in town. Interior is bright, cozy and clean, displaying framed Japanese prints and a stunning mosaic behind the sushi bar.
Recommended: Oyster shooters, sushi combinations A and B, nigiri zushi.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sun., lunch Tue.-Sat.
Entree prices: $6-$15
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Other: Late-night hours
MIRAI ***
2020 W. Division St.
773-862-8500
Unimpeachably fresh seafood, imaginative preparations and charming atmosphere make this arguably the best sushi restaurant in town, though the menu offers more than just sushi and sashimi. I wish Mirai had more than 46 seats, although the upstairs bar (which permits smoking) offers some relief.
Recommended: Monkfish pat, horse mackerel sashimi, otoro tuna sushi, carpaccio trio, tuna steak.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $13-$18
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended on weekends.
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Valet parking available; no smoking in dining room.
SUSHI WABI **
842 W. Randolph St.
312-563-1224
An urban-chic sushi restaurant with artfully prepared food in a minimalist space highlighted by cement slabs, structural steel and tabletops of reclaimed timber. The kitchen is a little slow, but displays of nigiri zushi and maki rolls look gorgeous when they arrive, and portions are generous. Assortment platters eliminate the guesswork for neophytes; sophisticates should order a la carte. On weekends a deejay spins industrial pop to progressive jazz at a pleasantly discreet sound level.
Recommended: Unagi (sea eel), mackerel and uni (sea urchin) sushi, spider maki, dragon maki, seared tuna.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $9-$21
Credit cards: A, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends.
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible, valet parking available.
TSUNAMI *
1160 N. Dearborn St.
312-642-9911
Except for the nine-seat sushi bar just off the entryway, this place looks like anything but a Japanese restaurant. Textured walls and faux finishes make up the decor, jazz and soul are the featured music and minimal lighting gives the main dining room a moody, nightclubby feel. But the menu is mostly straightforward Japanese, emphasizing sushi and sashimi, with the occasional French- and Italian-accented appetizer thrown in.
Recommended: Gyoza, combination sashimi, spider maki, sushi-sashimi dinner for two.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Sat.-Sun.
Entree prices: $12-$50
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking available.
NORTH
AKAI HANA (2 forks)
3223 W. Lake Ave., Wilmette
847-251-0384
Brightly lit and spacious sushi bar draws a multicultural client mix for its first-rate seafood — raw and otherwise.
Recommended: Fried oysters, sushi deluxe, sashimi platter, tempura-udon, green tea ice cream.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $8-$18.75
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted for parties of six or more.
Other: Wheelchair accessible
FUJIYAMA (3 forks)
3057 Dundee Rd.,
White Plains Shopping Center, Northbrook
847-714-1319
The Japanese cuisine is fresh and unpretentious at this small eatery, where co-owners Irene and Paul Lee preside over the eight tables and compact sushi bar.
Recommended: Sushi platter, gyoza dumplings, tempura dishes.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sat., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $6-$15
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Not accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
WAKABA (2 forks)
20506 N. Milwaukee Ave., Deerfield
847-541-7777
In keeping with its name (which means young leaf), dozens of plants (real and otherwise) create a garden atmosphere in this 76-seat Japanese restaurant. Sushi is the focus, though there are other options as well.
Recommended: Ikura orosh, maki rolls, sushi-sashimi combination, Makunouchi bento box B.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sun., lunch Tue.-Fri.
Entree prices: $12-$25
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends.
Other: Wheelchair accessible
NORTHWEST
SEIJI’S HOUSE (3 forks)
Golf Center, 353 N. River Rd., Des Plaines
847-803-4653
It’s a quietly kept secret in the Chicago area that the best in Japanese dining takes place where Japanese executives entertain. The state-of-the-art Golf Center, owned by a group of Japanese businessmen, is actually a three-story driving range with climate-controlled stalls for 80 golfers. The resident restaurant, Seiji’s House, describes itself as serving Japanese and American food, but it excels at a comfortable fusion cuisine, as interpreted by talented chef Akio Yamaguchi.
Recommended: Mignon carpaccio, gyoza (meat dumplings), veal cutlets.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $10-$15
Credit cards: A, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Sushi bar; wheelchair accessible.
YURAKU TEI BBQ AND SUSHI (2 forks)
234-236 E. Golf Rd., Arlington Heights
847-437-2323
Mark and Theresa Nakagawa have achieved a playful teaming of Korean and Japanese fare at this expansive restaurant, where the large sushi bar is banked by numerous private dining rooms.
Recommended: Woodfield Melt, beef sashimi, Korean-style seafood assortment, combination specials.
Open: Dinner Mon., Wed.-Sun., lunch Mon., Wed.-Fri.
Entree prices: $10-$24
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Reservations: Recommended for barbecue tables and private rooms.
SOUTH
HOUSE OF KOBE (3 forks)
1951 Wicker Blvd., Schererville, Ind.
219-322-1919
House of Kobe offers rowdy teppan-yaki dining as well as a large variety of pristinely fresh sushi and sashimi. It’s also lots of fun for the kids, making it a great spot for family dining.
Recommended: Alaskan red salmon steak, stir-fried steak, sushi assortment, saki skin-maki.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7.95-$33
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Required on weekends.
Other: Wheelchair accessible
KOREAN
NORTH
SENOYA (2 forks)
8750 W. Golf Rd., Niles
847-299-7717
You’ll find the bounty of Asia at this buffet, the creation of B.K. Jeon, a Seoul native. Not surprisingly, Korean items are among the best of the more than two dozen entree items.
Recommended: Sushi platters, braised Korean barbecue beef, Mongolian barbecue beef, boiled shrimp, simmered mussels.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $2.50 (children 3 to 5) – $9.95
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible
SOJU (3 forks)
1745 W. North Ave.
773-782-9000
For now, this stylish Korean restaurant is BYOB, so you can’t order its namesake beverage. Console yourself with the Soju chicken, juicy, deep-fried bird served with spicy sauce infused with the Asian liquor.
Recommended: Soju chicken, kimchi bindae duk (vegetable pancake), kalbi, bulgoggi
Open: Dinner Wed.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7-$19
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: BYOB
WEST
KOREA GARDEN (2 forks)
204 N. Cass Ave., Westmont
630-852-1900
The best way to savor the experience at this unassuming spot is to cook your own dinner on a tabletop grill.
Recommended: Beef and vegetable barbecues, kalbee tang (beef short-rib soup), corn/barley tea.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $5.95-$26.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Reservations: Accepted for large parties.
NORTHWEST
CHO DANG TOFU RESTAURANT (1 fork)
1719 W. Algonquin Rd., Mount Prospect
847-956-8638
If you’ve never thought of tofu as anything but bland, vegetarian punishment, this place aims to change your mind. The soy curd anchoring the dishes is silky and subtly sweet, and many entrees have a flavorful spice kick.
Recommended: Kimchee appetizers, tofu soups, entrees.
Open: Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $6.99-$8.99
Credit cards: A, M, V
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Reservations: Recommended on weekends.
Other: Takeout available
KOSHER
SHALLOTS (3 forks)
2324 N. Clark St.
773-755-5205
This Chicago glatt-kosher restaurant (meat but not dairy, no shellfish, pork or flavored alcohols) is an upscale spot with muted-burgundy decor and fine tableware (this sentence as published has been corrected in this text). Laura Frankel’s cooking is good enough to attract gourmet diners as well as those observing dietary laws. On Saturdays the restaurant opens one hour past sundown and serves a limited grill menu.
Recommended: Salt-cod fritters, foie gras and truffle ravioli, chicken paella, veal medallions, black hat cake, citrus plate.
Open: Dinner Sun.-Thurs., Sat., lunch Mon.-Thurs.
Entree prices: $17.50-$32
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking available.
LATIN
CITY
ISABEL’S (2 forks)
1329 W. Chicago Ave.
312-243-2929
A once-vacant corner has sprung to life as a captivating Puerto Rican restaurant where the Latin music gets diners swaying in their seats.
Recommended: Aguacate relleno de camarones, pastelillos de carne, house salad, camarones al mojo de ajo, candied papaya with cheese.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sun., lunch Tue.-Fri.
Entrees: $7.95-$16.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
JACKSON HARBOR GRILL (3 forks)
6401 S. Coast Guard Drive
773-288-4442
Located in a turn-of-the-century building at a South Side marina, Jackson Harbor Grill offers prime seating for catching lake breezes on sultry days. With a location like this, management (the same crew that operates North Pond Cafe in Lincoln Park) hardly has to bait diners with good food to hook a crowd. The welcome news is that the kitchen aims high – no hamburgers or hot dogs – and succeeds admirably with a menu of pan-Latin menu with a little Creole thrown in.
Recommended: Jambalaya, Brazilian mussels, banana rum-roasted chicken.
Open: Dinner and lunch Tue.-Sun.
Entree prices: $6.95-$20
Credit cards: A, M, V
Reservations: Not accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
MAS **
1670 W. Division St.
773-276-8700
The trendy popularity of nuevo Latino cooking can be seen in the crowds that jam into this Wicker-Park-fringe newcomer. Happily, the kitchen justifies the crowds; the food is lively and flavorful and, as a bonus, moderately priced. Drawbacks include an extremely noisy dining room that does not filter kitchen smoke effectively, and a no-reservations policy. But the bar offers some interesting libations, and you can order appetizers there.
Recommended: Ceviche del dia, braised short ribs, black bean soup, roasted pork tenderloin, cafe con leche creme brulee.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $15-$20
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Not accepted
Noise: Bring earplugs
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking available.
NACIONAL 27 **
325 W. Huron St.
312-664-2727
Cool as a tropical breeze, Lettuce Entertain You’s nuevo Latino concept features dishes culled from 27 Central American, South American and Caribbean nations – though fun and flavor are paramount, rather than strict authenticity. The menu includes a glossary of terms, making ordering far less daunting (waiters also are well-informed). Tables and booths face a central dance floor, which heats up after 10 p.m. on weekends; in the earlier hours, Nacional 27 seems more like a spacious, romantically lit supper club.
Recommended: Arepas, crab fritters, seabass en Zarzuela, pork adobado, chorizo-crusted mahi mahi, N27 banana split, tres leches cheesecake.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $15-$23
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking available.
WATUSI **
1540 W. North Ave.
773-862-1540
An on-the-edge hip hangout with fruity cocktails named for ’60s dances and a pan-Latin menu (dubbed “West Indies Soul Food” by creator Suzy Crofton, taking inspiration from Norman Van Aken’s New World Cuisine) that uses exuberant flavors with pinpoint precision. The place is noisier than most, but fun, and serves a late-night menu (appetizers mostly) from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Recommended: Lobster-conch fritters, grilled octopus, suckling pig, orange-marinated chicken, sorbet wave.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $15-$19
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking available; smoking at bar only.
WEST
SAMBA ROOM *
22 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
630-753-0985
This lively restaurant is part of a nuevo Latino concept that originated in Dallas, but the kitchen product is nothing like you’d expect from a chain. Hefty portions of boldly seasoned food, appealing visuals and good service are pluses; horrific noise levels and ambient cigar smoke are minuses.
Recommended: Grilled mussels, spice-rubbed chicken, pork tenderloin over sweet-potato hash, chile-spiked chocolate cake.
Open: Dinner, lunch Mon.-Sun., brunch Sun.
Entree prices: $12-$19
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Bring earplugs
Other: Wheelchair accessible
MEDITERRANEAN
CITY
CALITERRA **
Wyndham Chicago Hotel,
633 N. St. Clair St.
312-274-4444
What “Cal-Ital” has done for wines (made from Italian grapes grown in California), executive chef John Coletta does for food in this hotel dining room, gleefully mixing Italian and Californian ingredients and styles, creatively interpreting menu definitions and generally having a fine time creating dishes whose uncertain pedigrees are compensated by fine flavor.
Recommended: Grouper cheeks in “cioppino” broth, softshell crabs, duck foie gras, lamb loin, roasted sturgeon, chocolate cannoli.
Open: Dinner, lunch and breakfast Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $18-$35
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking available.
CLARK STREET BISTRO
**
2600 N. Clark St.
773-525-9992
This is close to being the perfect neighborhood restaurant: It’s imaginative, comfortable, pretty and reasonably priced. The food is notable for its artful composition and unfussy, clean flavors.
Recommended: Duck confit, bouillabaisse, couscous, Night and Day cake.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Sat.-Sun.
Entree prices: $9.50-$14.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends.
Other: Wheelchair accessible; two hours free parking (with validation) at Columbus Hospital.
CUISINES **
Chicago Renaissance Hotel
1 W. Wacker Drive
312-372-7200
This restaurant skillfully weds unfussy Mediterranean food to a fine-dining atmosphere.
Though prices aren’t cheap, quality and portions make dining a good value. Service is a strong point, and the wine list is broad, informative and very attractively priced.
Recommended: Polenta cake with asparagus, grilled shrimp, veal medallions
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sat., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $6-$28
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking available.
WEST
LA PERLA DEL MEDITERRANEO **
4100 W. Roosevelt Rd., Hillside
708-547-7177
Part of Emilio Gervilla’s restaurant family, which includes Emilio’s. Colorful and lively, with friendly service and a large, moderately priced wine list.
Recommended: Grilled oysters, baked mussels, grilled beef tenderloin, gambas a la plancha, triple chocolate mousse torte.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $18-$20
Credit cards: A, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends.
Other: Wheelchair accessible, complimentary valet parking.
MEXICAN
CITY
ADOBO GRILL *
1610 N. Wells St.
312-266-7999
Once this Old Town newcomer gets its front-room act together – long delays for reserved tables and overmatched service mar the experience at times – this may be one of the best Mexican restaurants in town. Owner Paul LoDuca and chef Dudley Nieto are veteran restaurateurs, so the prognosis is very positive.
Recommended: Tableside-prepared guacamole, Hawaiian ono seviche, tortilla soup, snapper Veracruzana, grilled quail, arroz con leche, dessert crepes.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $9.95-$17.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
FRONTERA GRILL ***
445 N. Clark St.
312-661-1434
Mexican food takes on a whole new dimension at Frontera Grill, where the authentic regional cooking of chef Rick Bayless (James Beard Society’s Chef of the Year in 1995) is unsurpassed, yet marvelously accessible in concept and price. Dining here is especially good with large parties, when sharing adds to the experience. The Saturday brunch is a fine option that isn’t as crowded as evening service. (See also Topolobampo, Frontera’s fine-dining sibling, at the same address.)
Recommended: Enchiladas nortenos, queso fundido, silver salmon with pumpkinseed mol, pork with pasilla sauce.
Open: Dinner and lunch Tue.-Sat.
Entree prices: $9-$22
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted for parties of five or more only.
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Valet parking available, wheelchair accessible (elevator to lower-level restrooms).
IXCAPUZALCO **
2919 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-486-7340
Geno Bahena, a chef who worked at Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill, somehow has created a Mexican restaurant out of a storefront space that was, until recently, a gyros hut. The place is named after the Mexican town where Bahena was born and raised, working on a family ranch and orchard, and the rustic food of his youth figures prominently in the restaurant’s menu, though the chef brings a fine-dining sensibility to his dishes. Service is improving.
Recommended: Daily mol dishes matched with chicken, duck breast and fish or quail, softshell crabs, lime-cured marlin.
Open: Dinner, lunch Wed.-Mon.
Entree prices: $13.50-$17
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
SALPICON ***
1252 N. Wells St.
312-988-7811
Priscila Satkoff turns out wonderful regional Mexican cooking – with an emphasis on her native Mexico City – at this wonderful Old Town restaurant, decorated with brightly colored walls and furniture, and even brighter colors on the Alejandro Romero paintings. There’s a well-chosen wine list and an impressive list of tequilas, too.
Recommended: Wild mushroom soup, octopus ceviche, shrimp mojo de ajo, tequila-marinated halibut, pollo yucateca, pastel tres leches.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., brunch Sun.
Entree prices: $14.95-$21.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
TOPOLOBAMPO *** 1/2
445 N. Clark St.
312-661-1434
Somewhere in this world there may be a better Mexican restaurant, but until it is discovered, Rick and Deanna Bayless’ breathtaking River North establishment will have to do. A recent expansion has made the dining room larger and more comfortable, and the kitchen is ever-instructive in its presentation of stunning regional cuisine. It can take weeks to secure a reservation, but dining here is worth whatever effort is required.
Recommended: Seviche moderna, tequila-cured salmon, garlic soup, stuffed trout, carne asada, lime tart.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sat., lunch Tue.-Fri.
Entree prices: $18-$24
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Valet parking available; wheelchair accessible.
NORTH
LINDO MEXICO (2 forks)
1934 Maple Ave., Evanston
847-475-3435
With food that is authentic, diverse and health-conscious, this lively Mexican restaurant is a North Shore treasure.
Recommended: Enchiladas indigenas, pechuga de pollo.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun., brunch Sun.
Entree prices: $8.95-$14.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted for parties of 6 or more.
Other: Carryout available
WEST
LAS BELLAS ARTES **
112 W. Park Ave., Elmhurst
630-530-7725
This fine-dining outpost is good news for lovers of serious Mexican food in the suburbs. Not cheap, but the $32 prix-fixe dinner (five courses) is a good value.
Recommended: Chorizo pork loin, lamb, black bean soup, chile relleno, mol Amarillo.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sat., brunch Sun.
Entree prices: $15-$25
Credit cards: DS, MC, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
LAS PALMAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT (2 forks)
311 W. Ogden Ave., Westmont
630-963-9999
One of several suburban locations of this small chain, Las Palmas offers an enormous, wide-ranging menu, cozy surroundings and reliably good food.
Recommended: Enchiladas, Yucatan snapper, fajitas.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7.50-$14.25
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted weekends for parties of 4 or more.
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Carryout available
NEW REBOZO (2 forks)
1116 Madison St., Oak Park
708-445-0370
The menu is inspired by the cooking of owner Jorge Lopez’s mother. Orders may take a while to emerge from the kitchen, but the food is worth the wait.
Recommended: Tortilla soup, mol dishes, enchilada Pancho Villa.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sat., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $9.30-$25
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible
SALBUTE (4 forks)
20 E. 1st St., Hinsdale
630-920-8077
A tiny (25 seats) BYOB Mexican restaurant with boldly seasoned food, Salbute is fun, brash, and definitely something different.
Recommended: Sea bass with blackberry sauce, chumayel, Salbute (achiote-marinated chicken), monte-bello (portobello mushroom in chipotle-goat cheese sauce).
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $10.95-$26.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: BYOB; carryout available; wheelchair accessible.
NORTHWEST
HAY CARAMBA (3 forks)
146 S. Euclid Ave., Park Ridge
847-518-0747
Though the menu includes the expected fajitas, tacos and combo plates of less-ambitious restaurants, the emphasis on unusual seafood dishes sets this place apart.
Recommended: Seafood cocktail, appetizer combo, catfish ceviche, carne tampiquena.
Open: Dinner and lunch Tue.-Sat.
Entree prices: $4-$13
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted for parties of 6 or more.
Other: Wheelchair accessible
MEXICO UNO (3 forks)
61 N. Bothwell St., Palatine
847-358-6856
This restaurant’s name may be Mexico Uno (One), but it should be Mexico Diez (Ten), for all the Gonzalez family members that work in the front and back of the house.
Recommended: Guacamole, caldo de pollo, Birria al Estilo Jalisco (goat-meat stew), Carne a la Parrilla (skirt steak).
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $4.50-$9.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Not accepted
Other: Carryout available
SOUTH
CILANTRO (2 forks)
18755 Dixie Hwy., Homewood
708-798-3500
There’s a fiesta feeling at this adobe-hacienda-style restaurant, where owner Joe Mendez infuses the cocina Mexicana menu with family favorites.
Recommended: Joe’s Special Nachos, spinach quesadillas, carne con rajas, wood-grilled pollo.
Open: Dinner and lunch Tue.-Sun.
Entree prices: $4.95-$12.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted for 6 or more on weekends.
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; carryout.
JALAPENO’S “THE HOTTEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT” (3 forks)
200 U.S. Hwy. 41, Schererville, Ind.
219-864-8862
The awkward name differentiates this Tex-Mex spot from similar-sounding but unrelated chain restaurants. The authentic, well-prepared food here is a more important differentiation.
Recommended: Pozole soup, sea bass, chicken mol, caramelized banana.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $6-$14
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted Sun.-Thurs.
Other: Wheelchair accessible
TORTILLA GRILL & CANTINA (3 forks)
3720 Ridge Rd., Lansing
708-474-8422
The menu won’t challenge the palate (the sauces lack heat), but old favorites are well-executed from fresh ingredients.
Recommended: Fajitas, tamales, chili relleno, pollo en mole.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $6-$15
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Reservations: Accepted
MIDDLE EASTERN
CITY
KAN ZAMAN (3 forks)
5204 N. Clark St.
773-506-0191
In a neighborhood already brimming with good Middle Eastern restaurants, this newcomer proves it can compete.
Recommended: Hummus, falafel, lubia, dolma, stuffed cabbage, house specialty of fresh leeks sauteed in white wine with carrots.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $6.95-$12.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
SOUK ***
1552 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-227-1818
It is rare to find Middle Eastern food so appealingly prepared, in such eye-pleasing surroundings. Souk (the name means “market”) is a lively convergence of Turkish, Lebanese, Afghan and Persian dishes, assembled by a kitchen that uses spices to entice the palate, not overwhelm it. Knowledgeable and confident servers can help neophytes navigate the menu – though you probably could point at a selection with your eyes closed and still do all right.
Recommended: Cold appetizer assortment, shrimp chermoula, couscous Bahri, lahme steak, baklava.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., brunch Sun.
Entree prices: $13.50-$22
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking available.
PAN-ASIAN
CITY
BEN PAO **
52 W. Illinois St.
312-222-1888
This Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, arguably more pan-Asian than strictly Chinese, is much improved since its early-1996 opening days. The menu is better focused, the cooking more consistent and service professional and communicative. Options include a grazer’s paradise of small dishes, including a handful of satays, and skillfully prepared main courses that range from the traditional to the adventurous. The bilevel dining room, done in black and fiery red and highlighted by twin water sculptures, is sleek and soothing.
Recommended: Shanghai peanut noodles, black pepper scallops, green curry lamb.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $7.95-$17.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking available; smoking at bar only.
JAPONISANTE **
2044 N. Halsted St.
773-348-8228
Sushi meets foie gras-though happily not on the same plate- at this French-Japanese fusion restaurant. Fusion get an often-deserved bad rap, but chef Shigeyoshi Kojima, who worked under Paul Bocuse in France, knows what he’s doing-though the “novelle sushi” creations are a mixed bag. Dining rooms are bright but serenely peaceful.
Recommended: Foie gras and duck breast, eel and eggplant millefeuille, seared bluefin, stuffed snapper, barbecued salmon.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $19-$28.
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V.
Reservations: Accepted.
Noise: Hushed.
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking available.
