Chinese New Year celebrations kick off today, and while traditions like firecrackers, parades and prayers are sure to be repeated in China and around the world, there’s no reason you can’t add some traditions of your own — like uncorking wine with friends. Grab a bottle and start the year off right at one of these BYOB Chinese restaurants.
Double Li
228 W. Cermak Rd. 312-842-7818
This Chinatown staple known for regional Szechuan cuisine draws a mix of neighborhood regulars, foodies and suburbanites. In traditional Szechuan style, the menu is full of dishes with strong, spicy flavors such as sliced lamb sauteed with salt, cumin and dried chilies, and shrimp in spicy black bean sauce.
Don’t miss: Pepper-garlic beef tenderloin ($12, above), marinated for three days in oyster and soy sauces and prepared with more oyster sauce, sugar and black pepper
BYOB: Swing by the University Village outpost of Lush Wine and Spirits (1306 S. Halsted St.) for a bottle of 2007 Blees-Ferber riesling ($15.50). The wine’s sweetness and high acidity will help tame the heat of spicy dishes. Double Li does not charge a corkage fee.
Mei Shung
5511 N. Broadway St. 773-728-5778
Though the regular menu includes plenty of Cantonese and Szechuan dishes, this casual, 80-seat Edgewater spot specializes in Taiwanese cuisine. Ask your server for the Taiwanese menu — and some assistance navigating it — and you’ll have your pick of authentic seafood and pork selections, most of which top out around $12.
Don’t miss: Soft-shell crab ($15.95), breaded, tossed with spicy salt, stir fried and served with chopped onions, green and red peppers, and garlic
BYOB: Stop by In Fine Spirits (5418 N. Clark St.) for a bottle of 2007 Quinta Cabriz Encruzado ($11.99), a Portuguese white with a sharp acidity that pairs nicely with sweet and spicy food. Mei Shung does not charge a corkage fee.
Guey Lon
3968 N. Elston Ave. 773-267-1724
This family-owned Cantonese restaurant is an Irving Park institution, having called the ‘hood home for 62 years. With entrees under $10 and a menu of crowd-pleasers like Chinese-style shrimp and vegetable tempura (a lighter version of the Japanese classic), it just might get to stick around for another 62.
Don’t miss: Steak fried rice ($7.95), the signature dish, topped with stir-fried sirloin and onions
BYOB: Make a pre-dinner run to West Lakeview Liquors (2156 W. Addison St.) for a bottle of 2007 Tilia Malbec-Syrah ($9.99), a fruity red with some spice that will hold up to bold flavors. Guey Lon does not charge a corkage fee.
Friendship Restaurant
2830 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-227-0970
“180 degrees from ordinary Chinese” is how owner Alan Yuen describes this upscale Logan Square spot, serving French-influenced Cantonese- and Szechuan-style dishes. On weekends, the place gets crowded with folks looking for unique specialties such as sweet-and-sour chicken in passion fruit and white wine sauce and wok-style smoked fish with a mango and pineapple chutney.
Don’t miss: Honey-walnut shrimp ($14.95), lightly breaded shrimp and honey-glazed walnuts topped with walnut sauce, diced sweet pepper and Szechuan aioli
BYOB: Head down the street to Vas Foremost Liquors (2300 N. Milwaukee Ave.) for a bottle of Four Vines zinfandel ($14.50), a red that’s light enough to play well with spicy dishes. Friendship charges a $3 corkage fee per bottle.
Yang Restaurant
28 E. Roosevelt Rd. 312-986-1688
Cantonese fare is the main event at this 6-year-old South Loop spot, so expect a variety of dishes with sweet and sour flavor combos. Join hordes of hungry Columbia College students and indulge in the restaurant’s most popular item, crab rangoon, or try one of the Mandarin-style dishes, such as Mongolian beef or Singapore rice noodles. Most dishes are available in small ($5-$6) and large ($8-$9) portions.
Don’t miss: Barbecue pork with string beans (small $5.75, large $8.75 large), marinated and roasted pork stir fried with garlic in a light brown sauce and served with fresh-cut, long green beans
BYOB: Hit up nearby Sam’s Wines and Spirits (50 E. Roosevelt Rd.) for a bottle of Las Brisas ($9.99), a Spanish sauvignon blanc-verdelho blend with a mild tang and peach notes that will cut through fried dishes and heavy sauces. Yang charges a $2 corkage fee per person.
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Mindy Yahr is a Metromix special contributor. metromix@tribune.com
