Being a restaurant obsessed foodie, my notes app is filled with a long list of restaurants I want to try. I say this all the time now, but even after spending my whole life coming into the city, and now living here, it still blows me away how many incredible, undiscovered restaurants there are, and how many new ones keep popping up. It feels like every time I check off a restaurant in my notes, I'm adding a new one to the list, and that's one of the things I love most about Chicago. Here are 5 restaurants in Chicago's West Town neighborhood I am really looking forward to trying:
1. Lao Peng You
Cuisine: Chinese
📍2020 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Hours: Monday - Wednesday: CLOSED, Thursday - Sunday: 11:00am - 10:00pm
Lao Peng You is a highly rated Chinese restaurant in West Town with a seemingly small, but mighty menu. The menu highlights popular Chinese dishes like dumplings, noodle dishes, and soup noodle dishes. Lao Peng You doesn’t take reservations and has a relatively small dining space, so it’s best to visit during off-hours to avoid a wait.
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2. Mister Tiger
Cuisine: Korean
📍1132 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
Hours: Monday - Friday: 5:00pm - 9:o0pm, Sundays: CLOSED
I used to live just a few blocks from Mister Tiger, and I would walk past and always wonder what the restaurant is like. It is very unassuming from the outside, but it definitely seems to be an actual "hidden gem." The restaurant focuses on homestyle Korean cuisine, and similar to Lao Peng You, offers a limited but strong menu. There are classic Korean dishes on the menu that look great like bulgogi and kimchi fried rice, as well as dishes like hot stone bibimbap. I love Korean food, and I'm very excited to give this place a try.
3. PIZZ'AMICI
Cuisine: Pizza/Italian
📍1215 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
Hours: Wednesday - Sunday: 4:00pm - 9:00pm, Monday - Tuesday: CLOSED
I've heard great things about PIZZ'AMICI, and it seems like a great neighborhood spot with local charm in West Town. The menu looks like the perfect mix of comfort Italian dishes and pizza, ideal for an easy dinner with friends or a laid-back date night. The pizza is tavern style which is my favorite style of pizza.
4. Flour Power
Cuisine: Italian
📍1642 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 5:00pm - 10:00pm, Saturday - Monday: CLOSED
Flour Power is fresh, homemade pasta and a menu that changes daily. I think the fact that the restaurant does not offer a static menu and the ingredients, sauces, and dishes change each day is what makes it so intriguing. The restaurant has incredible reviews, is BYOB, and could make for a fun date night or group dinner. Tables are first come first serve, but it seems like a restaurant that is certainly worth the wait. If you're up for an adventure, and want a surprise combination of flavors paired with fresh pasta, this is a spot you should also have on your list.
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5. Omakase Shoji & Izakaya
Cuisine: Japanese
📍1641 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Hours: Monday: CLOSED, Tuesday - Thursday: 5:30pm - 11:00pm, Friday - Sunday: 5:00pm - 12:00am
Another Japanese restaurant on my list to try, surprise surprise... Omakase Shoji & Izakaya offers a full omakase tasting, and is great for a special occasion dinner. The current 20-course menu is $210 per person, but reviews say it’s a meal that’s absolutely worth it. If you are not looking to do omakase, the Izakaya menu looks promising with a wide variety of Japanese dishes and rolls. The restaurant also does an Izakaya happy hour Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 5:00-6:30pm. Very excited to check this place out.
