Sitting over there is the Woman from Tokyo.

Was walking though Chinatown Square and saw something wonderful.

Veggie House in the old Spring World space, serving vegetarian and vegan cuisine.

I had already eaten in the new Hunan Cuisine that opened in the Old Mala Spicy Spirit place; so I did not go in. But I am looking forward to it. The entrance for this place is now on Wentworth.


Veggie House
2109 South China Place
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-9966


Hunan Cuisine
2002 S Wentworth Ave Unit 100
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 285-2968

Indianbadger wrote:Was walking though Chinatown Square and saw something wonderful.

Veggie House in the old Spring World space, serving vegetarian and vegan cuisine.

I had already eaten in the new Hunan Cuisine that opened in the Old Mala Spicy Spirit place; so I did not go in. But I am looking forward to it. The entrance for this place is now on Wentworth.


Veggie House
2109 South China Place
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-9966


Hunan Cuisine
2002 S Wentworth Ave Unit 100
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 285-2968

I believe both opened last year though the Hunan one had a different kind of path than Veggie house.

Little Wok is opening a 3rd location in Chicagoland this time in Wicker Park. They applied for a liquor license. I'm not too familiar with them but they look pan Asian with some half way authentic Chinese looking dishes, American Chinese looking dishes, some authentic looking Korean dishes, Thai, etc. Their other locations are in Lakeview East and Evanston.

Coming soon...
Little Wok
1950 W Division St

Looks like Holu has finally opened in East Pilsen in the whole Jefferson Square complex with 88 Marketplace. They say they are an Asian and American steakhouse which also offers fish, seafood, etc. It looks like they have their own dry aging room for steaks - 45 days to 90 days. Holu is a type of "stove" in northern China for cooking things (well that's what my wife tells me). I believe most of this place allows you to cook your own meat on your own grills but in a more elevated setting than you might be used to.

Some of the pictures I've seen on their Facebook page show higher quality cuts of meat, fish, etc. For example, one of the recent ones shows an imported hunk of Miyazaki wagyu imported from Japan complete with the certificate for the exact cow. Platings in some pictures look more elevated cuisine wise.

It also looks like they serve wine, beer, and cocktails as well as some sashimi.

Holu
2101 S Jefferson St
https://www.facebook.com/holuchicago/
Open Mon - Fri 5pm - 11pm, Sat-Sun 4pm - 11pm

No phone number, but email: holu.age888@gmail.com

Lake Effect Brewing’s Firehouse Brewpub In Jefferson Park Will Serve Up North Branch Fried Chicken. North Branch Fried Chicken will head up the brewery's kitchen, bringing barbecue, fried chicken and burgers to the former Northwest Side firehouse.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/07/06 ... d-chicken/

Boka plans River North restaurant in former Bottled Blonde space.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business ... story.html

Spiaggia and Cafe Spiaggia are closing.
https://twitter.com/spiaggiachicago/sta ... 94152?s=21

Shibam Grill, a Yemeni restaurant has opened in the former location of Mashawi Grill on McCormick Blvd in Chicago.

6257 N McCormick Blvd UNIT B,
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 654-1499

Next Alum Jenner Tomaska's new spot:
Esmé
2200 N. Clark St.
Scheduled for an August 17 opening.

Highland Baking is leaving the fresh bread business in September.
https://chicago.eater.com/2021/7/14/225 ... ation-tock

A few new openings:

1) A Japanese and Chinese cafe/bakery opened up in the South Loop in the former home of Bongo Room. Looks like in addition to various types of teas (fruit teas, maybe milk tea?, hojicha, etc) they also have a bunch of Asian baked goods like sweet salted egg yolk bun (one of my favorite things in the entire world), pineapple bun, cha siu (bbq pork), etc

Sweet Bean Cafe
1152 S Wabash Ave
312.248.1881

Open daily from 7am - 8pm
https://www.sweetbeanchicago.com

2) A new eatery is open in Chinatown serving up a particular type of sour and spicy fish soup. I can't 100% tell yet, but if it's what I think it is then it is serving one of my favorite Chinese dishes ever, which isn't that easy to get in some places (especially in Chicago). This might be a mainland Chinese brand but don't 100% hold me to that.

Yao Yao
230 W Cermak Rd
(312) 929-4279

3) There is now a bubble tea shop open in a laundromat in Pilsen..

Jay's Bubble Tea, inside of John's Lavanderia
1856 S Ashland Ave
(312) 829-2201

Open Mon 12pm - 6pm, Wed - Sun 12pm - 8pm

marothisu wrote:It also looks like the people behind The Social Table and L&M Fine Foods will open a restaurant at 4356 N Leavitt at the site of Monty Gaels Tavern. Official address though is 2201 W Montrose, opening this summer:

Called L&M Parkside:
https://www.lmparkside.com/

L&M Parkside is now open. Details on Eater.

Tecalitlan Mexican Restaurant has reopened in their new location at 1538 N. Clybourn Ave. (New City).

The Starbucks at the Streets of Woodfield has closed. All the signage has been removed from the building which is a surprise since this location must have been one of the busiest Starbucks in all the suburbs. A passerby told me they closed this location because of the lack of a drive through.

From an email I received today, Cellars Bar and Grill, aka Broadway Cellars, in Edgewater will be closing. They have been a reliable neighborhood destination for 15 (!) years.

We fought hard to return in the spring of 2021 and it has been a remarkable recovery. However, the time has come again for us to close the door on this chapter of our lives. There is another sale in the offing to hopefully ensure Broadway Cellars Bar and Grill will continue under new direction. That said we will be closing our doors on Labor Day, September 6th.

Cellars Bar & Grill
5900 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60660
https://cellarsbarandgrill.com/

Zia’s Trattoria, 6699 N. Northwest Highway, plans to close its Edison Park location in September and reopen as Zia’s Social at 6158 N. Northwest Highway in Norwood Park in October.
https://flip.it/WliHiC

Reza's Restaurant is now opened in downtown Evanston:

"The wait is over! Come visit us at 1557 Sherman Ave. Evanston starting July 20th"
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRXZrbKj-aQ/
https://www.facebook.com/rezasrestaurant

Reza's Restaurant
1557 Sherman Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
http://www.rezasrestaurant.com/menu.html

Dave148 wrote: Zia’s Trattoria, 6699 N. Northwest Highway, plans to close its Edison Park location in September and reopen as Zia’s Social at 6158 N. Northwest Highway in Norwood Park in October.

It seems Zia may be riding on the coattails of Illuminated Brew Works, which is scheduled to open quite soon at 6186 N. Northwest Hwy.

A restaurant serving Georgian food is coming to a Wheeling shopping center.

Pirosmani Georgian Food Art is planned for the Dunhurst Plaza at 849 W. Dundee Road. The owners envision opening in two or three months, after an interior renovation.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2021 ... /210729668

Dave148 wrote:Pirosmani Georgian Food Art is planned for the Dunhurst Plaza at 849 W. Dundee Road.

Great! Grits, hush puppies, cobbler... what? Oh, then never mind.

Fancy Plants Cafe is opening a full service vegan restaurant in Lincoln Park called Fancy Plants Kitchen. It should be opening August 15 according to Google and they recently applied for a liquor license. This is in the former home of Pizzeria Da Nell.a

https://vegoutmag.com/news/new-144-seat ... n-chicago/

https://fancyplantscatering.com/uncateg ... july-2021/

Fancy Plants Kitchen
1443 W Fullerton St

LA-Based Dave’s Hot Chicken to Open First Chicago-Area Location This Week

https://chicago.eater.com/2021/7/26/225 ... -expansion

The owners of neighborhood bistro Vincent plan to open a new restaurant called Theo just two doors down, according to a sign in the window at 1479 W. Balmoral Avenue.

https://chicago.eater.com/2021/6/3/2249 ... ttractions

Dave148 wrote:A Florida-based meat and fish market plans to open its first Midwest store in Greektown, bringing another newcomer to a Chicago neighborhood that has lost some of its oldest businesses — and a part of its identity — in recent years.

Wild Fork Foods will open in July at 100 S. Halsted St. in a 4,536-square-foot space at Halsted and Monroe streets that formerly was a Fifth Third Bank branch.
https://apple.news/AB7Kvced4RtSI_1XPXfgYKg

Drove by earlier and it appeared to be open. Huge selection on their website. It's like Wixter (all frozen), but for meat, fish and poultry. Will have to stop in soon.

Signage is up in the windows of the old Ipsento site (2035 N Western) for a place named Mammoth Poke. No web presence or any further info.

Mochinut, a mochi donut and Korean corn dog chain, is opening in Chicago soon. They have locations in many places and big time in CA. Location unknown but will update soon. I'm sure they'll be opening up more than 1 in the area.

My guess for first location is in Wicker Park on Milwaukee Ave. Just a wild guess though

https://www.mochinut.com/donut-menu

Drove by Sweet Pepper on Lawrence today. It's all papered over and Google says it's permanently closed. Bummed. It had really good arepas.

marothisu wrote:A shop serving up Spanish bocadillos (a type of sandwich) is coming to Lincoln Park in the former Cafe Corbel space. At night, it looks like it will have more dinner related Spanish dishes (i.e. paella).

A new and inventive addition to the Chicago food scene, the daytime bocadillo menu will be a mix of traditional and seasonal bocadillos featuring a range of Spanish ingredients and flavors to keep the menu fresh for all guests.

The evening will be anchored by family-style paella–celebrating traditional dishes, great ingredients and diverse flavors.

Coming Summer 2021
Bocadillo Market
2342 N Clark St

http://www.bocadillomarket.com

Scheduled to open Wednesday, August 4th

Sweet Pepper has been closed for at least six months. I saw them hauling out the equipment before the windows were papered over but don't recall exactly when it was.