Brian Eng

@minc798 @chibbqk1ng Saint Anna’s

@minc798 @chibbqk1ng Ya it’s a cha chaan teng. HK cafe style stuff like Saint Ann’s, Chi Cafe, My Place. Stopped in to check the menu, Pretty limited so far: mostly congee, stir fried noodles, and noodle soups. Food didn’t look inspiring, but lots of old timers were there. Will check it out soon

New Korean street food place coming to Wicker Park, Chicago (or maybe it already opened?). Seoul Stick. Things served on a stick just like for Korean street food. Takes over Furious Spoon @ 1571 N Milwaukee. Daebak Korean BBQ opening up a few blocks away there soon

@minc798 I’ve tried all the Chinese flavors available in town and the mala ones are my fav

OK - Lay's Hot Pot/Mala flavor chips are actually pretty damn good. How in God's name are these not more popular in the US?

@minc798 Ya we noticed that too and got the dried Harbin sausage and pork head. Thought they were pretty good (we’ve always thought their smoked pork head was tasty). Chive box was good but slightly less tasty than usual (maybe just typical consistency issues). Soy milk was way worse

@brian_eng We ordered from there the other night. They have smoked meat on the menu now. We got their Harbin sausage

Northern City is now Uncle Zhang. New owner, same chef

@minc798 Also interesting things are finally moving forward with that address given there are so many vacancies in the newer developments (Canal Plaza, Jefferson Square), not to mention lots of vacancies in Chinatown Square

@minc798 Interesting development. Wonder if they’ll open a new flagship Park To Shop there. The OG one is a bit rough around the edges and has a really small footprint, tho we still go there for certain items that are better there compared to 88

The developer of Pacifica Square in Aurora, IL (huge Asian mall), Windfall Group, has taken over the project at 465 W Cermak in Chicago near Chinatown. Previous plans called for a 200 room hotel at the top and it'll now be residential. Still calls for retail, dining, etc

@chibbqk1ng We really enjoyed Ouzeri Lesvos, especially for their marinated fish

Off to Athens Greece this week if anyone has any must stop food spots. I got plenty but could use some help trimming my list down. Paris after that but same thing, too many spots, not enough time, let alone stomach space.

@minc798 Cool. These are the frozen ones? Wonder if the have fresh ones during dragon boat festival

@brian_eng Btw their zongzi (pork belly) are actually good. Even impressed my MIL

@brian_eng Did you know Shine restaurant in Lincoln Park has an entire Shanghainese menu? And apparently it's legit.

@minc798 Did the marinated crab have a gelatinous texture and edible shell? That’s my wife’s fav dish to get whenever she’s in Shanghai (tho technically it’s a Ningbo dish she says), but it’s outlawed now

@brian_eng Just a few dishes ordered

@minc798 Nice! Lmk how it is

@brian_eng Going tomorrow to try it! There are some things you have to order a day ahead if you go in person I guess.. So weird, I always thought this place was just sushi.

@minc798 Guess what’s replacing Meet Fresh?

@minc798 Haha ya, my money would be on a boba place

@brian_eng Happy Lamb Hot Pot really officially coming to Lincoln Park - recent liquor license application confirms it. Also another Chinese place might be coming next to the new Uni Uni on Clark, but not sure what place yet.

@ArchiJake @chibbqk1ng If they opened a suburban branch it would be in Aurora or Naperville

@chibbqk1ng Based on their mall locations on the west coast, & the # of stores they have opened in relation to total Chinese-American population, I would predict 4 Chicagoland locations w/ only 1 located in Chinatown proper. My guesses for the other 3? Broadway Old Orchard Oak Brook Terrace

One of Chicagos biggest food flaws is the fact we still don’t have a Din Tai Fung. I figured we’d have one by now with all the other corporate openings Chinatown has seen the last few years. That said I wouldn’t wait more than a half hour to eat there, save for the OG in Taipei.

@chibbqk1ng Instead we just keep getting hotpot place…

@minc798 I just wish an 85c would open up here and I’ll be happy. The Korean-based bakeries that have been popping up in the last few years haven’t scratched the itch for me when it comes to Asian bakeries

@brian_eng Same - over a year ago. Not sure what happened to it tho. Hopefully it opens too

Paris Baguette opening up 2 new locations in Chicago soon - 1 at 105 E Delaware in Gold Coast and 1 at 1100 S Michigan in South Loop

@minc798 Thought I saw signs for one opening a while back on the east side of wentworth just south of cermak too

FYI @brian_eng

Shoo Loong Kan hot pot replacing Chongqing Chicken Pot, Meet Noodles back from the dead in Tanlu’s 2F, Daboba opening in Chinatown Sq, Partea opening in Tianhe/Canal Plaza, Sushi Light opened in Richland, and still no intel on Hu China Bistro