World Travel Guide Online

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Prices shown are average spent per person.

THAI

Thai Bowl
(1049 W. Taylor Street, 312-226-5865, under $10)
(El Stop-Halsted Blue)
Pad thai is one of the staples at these mom and pop joints, and Thai Bowl blows away the competition with their big bowl of pad thai. They give large portions with plenty of sprouts, egg, green onions, and peanuts. Ask for it extra spicy and with plenty of limes. Easy-going college students usually roll in here after long hours of studying.

Pad Thai Restaurant
(3466 N. Clark Street, 773-348-2875, under $10)
(El Stop-Belmont Brown, Purple, Red)
The curry chicken here is fierce, as is the penang beef. Two of the tastiest dishes I have ever had in a Thai restaurant – they do it well here. The pad thai is decent but somewhat thick and greasy. They have very exquisite works of art decorating the walls as well. Very cozy atmosphere.

Arun’s Restaurant
(4156 N. Kedzie, 773-539-1909, $75)
(El Stop-Irving Park Blue)
I hate to put such an expensive restaurant here, but this place is world-class and the Thai equivalent of Charlie Trotter’s. The creations here are delicious and intricate, delicately meshing cuisine into an art form. The menu is a fixed-price degustation that costs $75 a person, but you get 7 appetizers, 4 entrees, and 2 desserts – and it only gets better with each course. They also accommodate for vegetarians, allergies, etc. Don’t eat all day before you come here. Reservations highly recommended.

Thai Orchid Restaurant
(845 E Roosevelt Rd, Lombard, 630-620-4020, under $10)
(No El Stop-Have to Drive!)
This place is actually in the suburb of Lombard, but the curry here is so damn good that it makes you wanna jump up and slap your mama. No kidding. Their curry blows away anybody else’s.

TAPAS

Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!
(2024 N. Halsted Street, 773-935-5000, under $20)
(El Stop-Armitage Brown, Purple)
Although the tapas here can’t be beat, it is the atmosphere that will entrance you. Wonderful artwork and art deco adorn the walls and make it extremely lively. The seafood tapas here will make you angry they are so good – along with the goat cheese.

Café Iberico
(739 N. LaSalle Drive, 312-573-1510, under $20)
(El Stop-Chicago Red)
The thing that shocked me about this place was how affordable it was. Chowing on several servings of tapas and quaffing pitchers of sangria, everybody ended up spending only $15 each. Try the chicken and goat cheese tapas here – you’ll be hooked.

ECLECTIC

Beat Kitchen
(2100 W. Belmont Avenue, 773-281-4444, under $15)
(El Stop-Paulina Blue)
Even though this is one of the best music venues in the city, it is the food that keeps bringing me back there. They have an amazing goat cheese and sun-dried tomato pizza that knocks me out. Their sandwiches are also top-notch and it makes me wonder if they have a professional chef working back in the kitchen.

GREEK

Greciana Taverna
(4535 N. Lincoln Avenue, 773-728-1600, under $20)
(El Stop-Western Brown)
Forget about all those famous restaurants in trendy Greektown. This place blows away all the competition with their tangy and meaty dolmades. They also have deliciously chewy saganaki that melts in your mouth. Located right by the Davis Theater, this restaurant is a perfect fit for any night on the north side of town.

KOREAN

Gin Go Gae Restaurant
(5433 N. Lincoln Avenue, 773-334-3894, under $20)
(El Stop-Western Brown)
Having lived behind this establishment many years ago, I can honestly say that this is one of the best Korean restaurants in Chicago. Their kal-bi and bul-go-gi (marinated ribs and steak, respectively) are juicy and bold. The big bowl of bi-bim-bop (spicy rice with vegetables and beef) that you get is an explosion of flavor.

ITALIAN

Tucci Bennuch
(900 N. Michigan Avenue, 312-266-2500, $20-30)
(El Stop-Chicago Red)
A bunch of Lettuce-Entertain-You restaurants have cropped up in the Chicago area, and guess what – they’re all pretty good. Tucci Bennuch has delicious food with rich sauces and fresh pasta. Stacks up well to some of the more authentic Italian restaurants in the city.

Tuscany Restaurant
(1014 W. Taylor Street, 312-829-1990, $20-30)
(El Stop-Halsted Blue)
The kind of food here can be described as nouveau – as manifested in such tasty dishes like pear ravioli. (Weird, but delicious.) It seems like you are seated according to dress (formal in front, casual in back), so if you’re wearing your Blackhawks jersey don’t be offended if you’re thrown into the back room – you’ll still get the same great food.

INDIAN

Pasha Palace
(2912 N. Broadway Street, 773-529-8000, under $20)
(El Stop-Wellington Brown, Purple)
Nobody should go through life without ever trying Indian food – it is one of the most exciting cuisines to experience. The naan (flat, buttery bread) is warm and soft, going well with a lot of the rich sauces of the northern Indian dishes. Rice is cool and refreshing with yogurt and dill. Plus the restaurant front is open during good weather, making a pleasant breeze.

If the United States are one big melting pot, then Chicago is definitely one of the spiciest flavors of the stew.

With dozens of ethnic communities, artistic villages, and entertainment districts, the City of Big Shoulders can please even the most scrutinizing pleasure-seeker. Lake Michigan also adds to the excitement, and city life seems to flock to the shore at the first hint of spring—refusing to desert it and extracting every last moment of good weather until the inevitable arrival of winter.

Chicago is definitely the forerunner in many big-city categories. It’s architecture is second to none in the U.S., with influences from such big names as Wright, Louis, and Sullivan.

Its diverse array of quality foods is mind-boggling, having almost every type of ethnic dish from dolmades to pad thai—as well as the famous deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dog.

Entertainment also ranks high as the fierce music, theater, and art scenes vie for attention from the city’s millions.

And with extensive train, bus, and taxi availability, transportation to a favorite bar or opera show is never far away.

Hey everybody. I’m 24 years old and I live in Naperville, a Chicago suburb and the 2nd largest town in Illinois.

I was born and raised in the city and I go back as often as possible. Some of my friends from Naperville think that I’m out of the country because I’m in Chicago so much. In fact, my fiancée and I will be moving back into the city in May 2000.

As far as my interests go, I guess you could call me a Renaissance Man. I love drawing, painting, theater, photography, and music. I am currently the lead singer/guitarist for the Chicago-based band Shampoo Effect.

I love hiking, canoeing, and just plain old adventuring anywhere. Some of my craziest climbs have been Sugarloaf Mountain (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and French Canyon (Starved Rock State Park, Illinois). Both were done without any climbing gear and I think I must have been insane. But I’d gladly do them both again in a heartbeat.

I’ve traveled to Canada, Brazil, Singapore, and France, as well as all over the United States. But I must say that I am pretty damn lucky to live in such a wonderful city as Chicago.

As far as boots are concerned, I’ve only worn Lake of the Woods and they’re fine with me. I’m more of a gym shoes kinda guy though.