Fava bean agnolotti
$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, New American, Whisky Bar, Hotel, Logan Square
"This dish has beautiful execution, plus it's rich, complex, and unbelievably savory. It's one of the best vegetable dishes I've had in years."
ChefPaul Fehribach
Chicago
My Venues
- Big Jones
- 5347 N Clark St
- Chicago, IL
Accolades
- Best Chef: Great Lakes Nominee, 2013, 2018James Beard Foundation
- Best Fried Chicken in ChicagoBon Appétit
- Three StarsChicago Tribune
- Diners' Choice WinnerOpenTable
- AuthorBig Jones (coming soon)
- ChefsFeed WinnerOne of the Best Things to Eat in Chicago
Where I Go Out
Rice noodle
"I like to think of this dish as an homage to pozole. It’s a cultural mash-up of rice noodles, kimchi, hominy, and pork belly in a brothy bowl. It’s exhilarating!"
Korean BBQ tacos
$, Korean, Asian, Bbq, Park West
"This is another terrific mash-up of Korean and Latin American street food: savory and fresh, with a myriad of textures and flavors. It’s affordable to boot."
Fried pig's ear
$$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Mediterranean, Tapas, Near North Side
"I love the texture of pig’s ears when they’re fried. This version, with crispy kale and pickled cherry peppers, renders them so light, I feel free to eat the whole bowl myself."
Falafel sandwich
$, Outdoor Seating, Falafel, Mediterranean, Wicker Park
"For about $4, you can score Sultan's above-average falafel sandwich. It’s an eat-on-the-go kind of meal, packed in a pita with tahini-thick hummus and harissa, giving it just the perfect hit of spice. I order mine spicy. It's one of the best cheap meals you can get in Chicago."
#4
$$, Burgers, Full Bar, Lake View
"The Burger Bar is my neighborhood standby—their attention to ingredients is paramount. The #4 burger hits the spot, with roasted green hatch chiles, smoked bacon, and a fried egg."
At My Venues
Beignets
$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Southern / Soul, Cajun / Creole, Andersonville
"These light, powdered sugar clouds are super tasty before hunkering down for a hearty N’awlins-style breakfast, especially one that involves a pork product and pickled vegetables. These are available on their weekend brunch menu."
Shrimp & grits
$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Southern / Soul, Cajun / Creole, Andersonville
"This is one of those dishes that's perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The gulf shrimp are awesomely tender, as are the Tasso gravy and cheesy, creamy grits."
Speckled sea trout amandine, braised butter lettuce and blue crab
$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Southern / Soul, Cajun / Creole, Andersonville
"Going old school #changemenuschangelives"
Devil crabs with fermented black bean remoulade and pickled peppers
$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Southern / Soul, Cajun / Creole, Andersonville
"Devil crabs with fermented black bean remoulade and pickled peppers #sustainableseafood"
American chestnut and native blue corn tamale
$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Southern / Soul, Cajun / Creole, Andersonville
"American chestnut and native blue corn tamal filled with purple yam and dried wild blueberries, with hen of the woods mushrooms and sassafras. A meditation on a winter's walk through the woods. #tamales"
Ice cream trio
$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Southern / Soul, Cajun / Creole, Andersonville
"Ye olde ice cream trio: Tahitian vanilla bean with toasted oat streusel, chocolate-chile with candied peanuts and rum caramel, mamey with fresh coconut and cajeta #changemenuschangelives"