YES, a must for foodies! Mott St is the quintessence of a hole in the wall Asian fusion establishment. Very creative dishes, beautiful presentation and ambiance is always bumpin'. The dining area is very cozy, especially if you're a fan of elbow to elbow seating with other patrons. Love the red lanterns. Always full house. The invigorating energy radiating from the consumers on a Saturday evening attests to its popularity. As was recommended by the bartender, I went for their brussels sprouts, Everything wings and short ribs. While I expected heavily marinated bulgogi quality ribs, flavor fell quite short with the ribs (no pun intended). However, the brussel sprouts and wings were out of this world! I'm already dying to go back to try their burger, pork jowl and oyster mushrooms. read more

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Sweet mother of fusion this is the ultimate brunch The unique spread at Mott St. makes my Asian American heart cry tears of pure joy. The highlights of the meal were the mouth watering Pork Jowl and Juicy as HELL Mott Burger. Someone bring Mott St to SF ok ty read more

Mott St - Pork Jowl and Eggs | Mott Burger | Steamed Dumplings | Freeman Torta | Kimchi Hash - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I went to Mott Street right after they opened years ago and thought it was a pretty good meal. Decided to go again a couple weeks ago when I was feeling asian but not the traditional fare. It's a travesty that I waited this long to go back. The food was even better than I remembered. This is IMO truly what all "asian fusion" should aspire to be. Given the variety of options (meats, seafood and veggies) on the menu, I could see finding some things that I might not have loved, however, we talked to our waiter to get some good recs and then ventured into one or two choices that just piqued our interest. Almost every bite was good with most being downright delicious! The menu changes pretty regularly but the combination of flavors in each dish is always pretty unique. I mean the grilled cauliflower alone was one of my favorites....I could put that sahmjang butter on so many things! I will say the cocktails weren't my favorite as I go for more traditional flavors when it comes to those, but no worry, they can make you whatever you're feeling if something on the menu isn't doing it for you. I would go back here for dinner anytime and will definitely be headed back soon. read more

Delicious food! Lovely, large outdoor dining area. Service was good too. We really love this place.

I finally had the chance to try Mott's famous burger! It did not disappoint. The burger is delicious. The restaurant is intimate and dimly lit. Cocktails were good too. I'm looking forward to coming back soon! read more

I really liked this place. I'll be honest, we came here for the burger and it was my least favorite thing we had. I think the meat was too thick. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the meat didn't fall apart and crumble due to pure juiciness and fat, rather it was very put together and didn't seem fatty. Some may like that, but it wasn't my forte. The ambiance - loved it. Dim lit and cozy on a street corner. I can't wait to come in the summer and sit outside. We came just as they were opening and were greeted with a group of people also ready to enter right upon opening time. We wanted a seat at the bar to make sure we could try this burger. We learned a fun fact that the burger is also available if you sit at a table, only for the first hour or two after opening. Needless to say, we chose to sit at a table and have the luxury of elbow room and space in front of us. Crispy tofu - yum. I love tofu, so I will order anything that a menu offers. the shaved vegetable salad on top was super refreshing, too. Next up, everything wings. Holy smokes, these were something else. Seriously, amazing. They are incredible and you have to get them. Oyster mushrooms and bread - I saw on Yelp that a lot of people got these dishes together and used the bread to dip in the mushroom sauce, so I figured I had to try it. Here's my thoughts on that - great combo, however, a couple critiques. I found the bread to be amazing on its own with its combo of "stuff" included with it, along with it being dipped with the mushrooms. The mushrooms though, a little too salty for me on their own. This is why they went so well with the bread because it kind of toned down the saltiness, yet still had the mushroom sauce flavor. I would not recommend the mushroom dish on its own though. And lastly, the burger; see above for details. read more

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Didn't realize the place doesn't open until 6, so when I arrived at 5:50 for my res, I waved at the hostess that the door was locked thinking it's a mistake. It was plainly empty so nobody must've tried to enter yet. She shook her head and avoided looking at me while I shivered in the freezing wind. Checked info and ok, I need to wait, mere inches from her podium. As I finally enter, my sis texts to say she's parking and will be there in a few. Great. My cold, tired, and hungry self is excited for good food. I give my name and the hostess says she cannot seat me until the entire res is there. Really, I ask? A crickets-chirping empty restaurant and I cannot be seated for my 2-top? Nope. I get another ~10 min of awkward standing and staring at empty tables. Food is tapas-style Asian fusion. We had 2 small (brussel sprouts and cauliflower) and 2 medium plates (pork and shrimp), all of which leaned heavy on the salt and umami. Oddly though, the "small" plate portions were twice the size of "medium" plate portions. Was afraid to order a "large" in case it would be $20 for 2 quarter sized medallions. Server was knowledgeable and bussing staff almost overly attentive. Could've traded some of that care and concern for better service at the front end. Willing to try this place again and hopefully upgrade my rating. read more

I can't speak for the dinner but without a doubt, this is a 5 star brunch spot. While the location isn't the most ideal, it is a real hidden gem! It is described as "Asian fusion" but wouldn't necessarily say that applies as heavily to the brunch menu. My friend and I started with the ricotta brioche, which had fresh made ricotta and drenched cherries. It was amazing, however we both agreed it would have been better to order this bad boy to the end for that fresh, light, dessert-like bite. Next the burger!! Highly spoken about as it just was rated the best Chicagoland burger (above au cheval people)!! While I have only had small cheval, the burger was incredible. Unique flavors and perfectly cooked. While I could have crushed a side of fries with it, the pickle they serve is is one of the best I've had! We finished with sharing the croque madame, which was equally as delicious but again order is key. After that burger, croque madame was underwhelming (don't get me wrong- still incredible). Now my only beef of Mott St...not a criticism, just be prepared- the bloody Mary is pretty obscure! In no way you're typical bloody. While I didn't prefer it, I could see why people would as it was light and extremely flavorful without the true tomato juice flavor! Next round (and the round after) I went with the mimosa which was light and citrusy and perfect :) Highly recommend and so excited to go back, especially in the summer- got a sneak preview of a killer patio! See you soon Mott St read more

Mott St - Ricotta brioche - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

On my most recent trek to Chicago, I was determined to try to find the best burger in town. Upon doing some research, I decided that Mott St had a good chance of satisfying the inner burger snob in me. Mott St delivered. The burger I had here was one of the best I've had in a very long time. Mott St is a Korean fusion restaurant (not sure if that's even the right label) with a very intimate vibe as small inside space can get very crowded. Given their other menu options, I was surprised that one of their best menu options is the burger itself. That's not to say that the other options are underwhelming, I enjoyed everything I ate that night. Besides the burger, I ended up trying the crispy tofu, kimchi & oaxaca empanadas, and mentaiko kimchi udon. The crispy tofu wasn't so crispy, but since I'm a sucker for acidic sauces, the tofu with extra sauce poured on the top was a good start to the dinner. The empanadas are an interesting take on empandas, but ended up being my favorite small plate that I tried. The mentaiko udon noodles were absolutely delicious. The cod roe with the spicy marinade and kimchi was just the right spice level and the udon was perfectly cooked. It would be a tough choice between the burger and the udon next time I visit Mott St. As far as drinks, if the "Vivrant thing" is still on their seasonal cocktail menu, do yourself a favor and get one...or two. There was also a cocktail with matcha green tea that was also great. Do make sure to note their rules on ordering the burger. It's only available during certain times of the day when seated at a table, but it's available at all hours at the bar. I'll definitely be back to try out their other menu options that I missed out on, unless I get enticed to get the burger and udon noodles again which would be perfectly fine with me. read more

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Incredible food. Pork belly blew my mind. Horrible horrible horrible horrible horrible server. He spoke at a whisper. He over complicated the ordering process and made the plate sizes sound like tasting plates (they're tapas. Simple as that). When we asked for clarification, impatiently said "that's your decision" and walked away. After we got all of our food, there was still a dish missing (for about 15 minutes). When asked for an update on the dish, the server impatiently said "like I already told you. It will be ready when it's ready" (he never told us that). read more

Picked this place for our meal of the week, it's recommended in the Michelin guide book. Had to book reservation a week ahead of time. The line was long when we arrived. The seats outdoors are hard and a bit uncomfortable, but the nice weather made up for it. A great Asian fusion place that both real Asian and Westerners would enjoy. I don't usually eat burgers but their burgers are, supposedly, better than Au Cheveal. It turned out to be pretty good. Burgers only available everyday between 6-7pm! Mango rice is great for dessert. Sze Chuan style shrimp is not really sichuan, taste good though. Their alcohol slushy and home-made soda are tasty. l didn't really like the stuffed cabbage, it's mostly meat and sticky rice. I though it's more like a veggie dish. read more

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Where do I begin?! I came across this gem on my hunt for burgers and thank God I did!! We came here around 6pm on a Tuesday so it wasn't crowded at all. Majority of the tables were empty and there was no wait to be seated. Our waitress was very friendly, answered all our questions, recommended things off the menu and check up on us throughout the night. So like I mentioned I came here to try the burger. Here is what I ended up getting... 1) Brussels Sprouts 2) Oyster Mushrooms 3) Calamari Bokum 4) Everything Wings 5) Mott Burger 6) Cider Donuts I loved every one of these dishes and would recommend each one of them! Around 8pm that same Tuesday as we were finishing up the restaurant got super crowded! There was barely any open seats available on a Tuesday night! If you are planning on dining at The Mott I would definitely recommend that you make reservations! Especially if you are planning to dine later in the evening. I'll also post up pictures of each dish that I tried and of the restaurant! I hope you guys get a chance to check this amazing restaurant out in the near future! read more

Thoroughly impressed with the Asian fusion food. Awesome decor and great food. One improvement suggestion: black bean sauce was too much flavor and overpowering in one of the dishes (I forgot which one). I honestly could not finish this dish, but everything else was great. read more

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I went here on a mission that myself and my friends went on after going into the city, we want to find the best burgers in the city. This place is a serious contender. They have amazing food and a very cool, relaxing atmosphere. The staff is very helpful and courteous. We ended up getting their burger and when I tell you it was mind blowing, I'm not be factious. It is one of the best burgers I have ever had and would recommend anyone who has a taste for a burger to go here. They put an Asian spin on it and it is out of this world. They have other things on their menu too if you are not into a burger that has mind blowing flavor combinations that explode in one's head. I'm sure if half of the other stuff on their menu is as good as good as that then there is no wrong choices here. I will definitely be stopping by again in the future! read more

Had reservations for 3 at 10:15 sunday morning. It was pretty empty when we first walked in but then it got packed around 11. They seated us even though our entire party wasn't there which was nice. There are a lot of servers at Mott St and they are always watching- it's like they know what you want before you even know what you want. I split the eggplant benedict and the kimchi potatoes. The eggplant benedict was amazing. Awesome flavors, would def come back just for this. The potatoes however were meh - they had practically no kimchi so they just tasted like normal potatoes. We also got the balmy breeze which was a really yummy smoothie. read more

Mott St - eggplant benedict so yum - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a top 3 restaurant in Chicago. Whenever i come back in town, i make sure to come here. Just all around awesome. They survived the pandemic and are as good as ever read more

The Mott burger lived up to its hype as being the best burger in Chicagoland. The brussel sprouts were seasoned well with bursts of flavor. Empanadas were ok and not much flavor in them. Pork jowl was excellent and paired well with the cabbage. The service was prompt and professional. This restaurant is a must try when in Chicago. Ensure you have a reservation as it gets crowded quickly. read more

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All you need to know is to get the burger. It truly lives up to the hype! I went here for brunch and some of our group ordered other things but most everyone at our table got the burger. I ordered a beer but a few friends got the Mott Mary and it was a great take on a Bloody Mary! The burger really is about perfect, my only thing is I wish they would let you add like pork belly (nice bacon substitute since I didn't see it on the menu) to it (I asked they declined lol) but you can add an egg! Also my friend asked for ketchup and they didn't have ketchup which I just think is a bit odd but I think it's just one of those things places where you can't really customize which is fine. The burger doesn't come with any sides but I think for most it should be plenty filling enough! The place was very cute. I want to go back and sit out on the lovely patio they have. read more

Mott St - Mott burger - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pretty good Asian fusion place! My favorite dish was the empanadas. We also had the cauliflower (decent), pork jowl (good) and the cabbage lasagna (good). Everything was pretty good but nothing amazing. Some other things to note - The food came out quick. Atmosphere is loud. They have a nice outdoor seating area. Bummed that the burger is limited to bar seating and at certain times, despite it being what they're known for. read more

Food and service were phenomenal. If you're looking for the typical American huge portions, go elsewhere. If you're looking for creative takes on traditional Asian cuisine then prepare for a wonderful dining experience. read more

Place is average. I was really looking forward to coming here and enjoying the burger but they stopped serving the burger at 7pm?? Server always complained about the bar being packed so they couldn't make our drinks in time. Service was meh. The mushrooms were bomb tho, suggest getting that. We got the chefs special and there was 2/7 that were decent. There wasnt that flavor I was looking for. The mango desert tastes like bird food don't get it. read more

Always wanted to have a big dinner at Mott back in "normal times" but only had the chance to do cocktails and an appetizer at their bar. This was definitely on the long list of restaurants I wanted to support during this pandemic. And they did not disappoint! Got the Friday Family Dinner of fried chicken, kimchi rice with onset eggs along with bean sprout salad and pickles. Everything was amazing! The portion was also legit, would feed family of 4 and still have leftovers, as we did. The instructions were perfect and this was one of the best carryout meals I've had. read more

Mott St - Friday fried chicken and kimchi rice! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

PSA: if you want burgers, sit at the bar. Or come before 7pm to get it at tables. Made a res for 8pm for 4. For groups, it'll mostly be communal seating. But proximity is not too close where conversations overheard. Food: tapas style, 2-3 per person - Brussel sprouts: 5/5. - Gai lan: 4.5/5. Delicious veggie option. - Oyster mushrooms: 5/5. Ugh yes all the way. - Black Cod: 6/5. On the pricier side, but the fish is SO tender and rich in flavor omg. - Sisig: 4/5. Great flavors. - Pork Jowl: 4/5. - Dumplings: 3/5. Very dry... - Empanadas: 3.5/4. Interesting combo. - Udon: 4/5. Good! Wish the udon was chewier. Cocktails: so-so Will be back for the burgers and the mango sticky rice. read more

5 stars for sure!!! Showed up on a Wednesday night without a reservation and we were able to be seated right away in the back outdoor section. I got the burger, which was recommended to me, and it was absolutely incredible. I think it had been over a year since I last had a hamburger, and I'm so glad I waited until Mott St to eat one. Important to note that they stop selling burgers after 7:00pm, so if u want one then get in before then! read more

I was SO looking forward to this place--- it's an unexpected find right off Ashland-- I didn't think it would be great, then I started hearing the hype! I finally was able to make a reservation for a larger party and everyone was excited to go. Truthfully, the reservation piece was pretty frustrating. I can't stand when restaurants make you wait for your table until your full party is there even when the restaurant is NOT full. Our final party member of 7 was going to be 20-30 minutes late, and they still didn't want to seat us without him. Even though the place had a ton of open tables. We eventually got seated without him. The place is definitely for sharing-- all of their plates are share plates and are either small, medium, or large. It seems like it's vegetarian friendly, but a lot of the really good looking options are meat. We still were able to find a bunch of good items. I think we split 5 dishes between three of us and we were all pretty stuffed afterwards. The food wasn't quite as good as I was hoping-- and that could partly be attributed to the non-meat items, but we were mostly satisfied. Don't get the tofu-- it's served cold and it's not worth it. We didn't love the calamari either. But the sauces of the other dishes-- OH MY GOSH!!! I wish I could bottle them and take them home!!!! read more

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A brunch place that takes reservations. Thumbs up. A few of us arrived early, and were able to sit at the bar while we waited for the rest of our party. Had a "Mottmosa," which was very very tasty. Once everyone arrived, we were seated. We sat in the patio area, which was adorable. We did technically share a table with the party next to us. But there was definitely enough space for us to be our own separate groups. I ordered the Kalbi & Eggs: Beef Short Ribs Marinated & Grilled, Two Eggs, Kimchi Potato Hash. It also came with a raw cauliflower and onion salad/slaw of sorts? It was all pretty rich tasting. Great for indulging -- fairly heavy. The service was prompt, and all the wait staff had a "chill" and hipster vibe about them. A bit more expensive than other brunch places I have been to. (A few dollars more per plate, and smaller portions of food than you might typically expect.) Overall, it was a pleasant place to be and the food did taste good. read more

Mott St - Kalbi & Eggs for me -- you can also see our Mottmosa drinks - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

While I'm not purposely stingy with 5 star ratings, I do believe the "expectation bar" has to be surpassed across the board to earn them. Be it a food truck or a fine dining restaurant, every aspect of my experience has to exceed my expectations. The place has to have the right, authentic look, feel vibe for whatever they are trying to achieve, the food has to be interesting, unique, tasty, innovative and stimulate / excite my sense of taste, smell, sight. Finally, the staff and service have to be exceptional (professional, efficient, friendly, not intrusive, happy etc). I need to be "wowed". Tonight Mott St delivered! From the minute I walked in I received a big smile and was immediately seated at my choice of table. The food, well, below is some of what we had, all different, tasty and exciting. Care is taken to serve the food in an order that makes sense to the pallet and the dish is carefully re-explained when served by someone knowledgable about its ingredients and preparation. GRILLED LEEKS with sahmjang butter and chopped almonds BRUSSELS SPROUTS wok fried with lamb pancetta and maple brown butter OYSTER MUSHROOMS pan seared with thyme and miso butter STUFFED CABBAGE napa kimchi stuffed with pork butt and sticky rice, pan seared SHORT RIBS (Special) with jalapeno yogurt and a bunch of other great stuff The real "fifth star" of the evening was Kristen. She is across the board fabulous and takes "wow" to a whole different level. read more

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Everything that we ordered here was PHENOMENAL. I don't know if it's my Korean taste buds paired with all of the Korean influences in the dishes on the menu...but everything was seriously so delicious and perfectly balanced (taste AND texture). There was not one dish that I did not like! I was saying "Mmmm" and "OMG this is so good" the entire night hahaha. It was a group of 7 foodie girls, and we ordered and ate to our heart's content! It's hard to give you suggestions on MUST HAVE items, because everything was so good. I guess you can make your decisions based on my review below. Here's what we got, in no particular order: BREAD: potato & onion bread, leek-curry butter, topped with a soft baked egg. This is not your ordinary bread, it's like bread taken to a whole other level of flavor and chewiness. I was actually able to cut this up into 8 pieces and each piece had some portion of the egg and egg yolk! *Patting myself on the back. OYSTER MUSHROOMS: pan seared with thyme and miso butter. This has such an amazing umami flavor and goes really well the bread. Drip that bread in the sauce of this dish and let the flavors overwhelm your senses. KIMCHI & OAXACA EMPANADAS: masa shell served with chimichurri crème-fraiche. There's some spice with the kimchi, and some ooey cheesy melted goodness with the oaxaca in there. The creme-fraiche paired well with this spicy, cheesy dish. STEAMED DUMPLINGS: stuffed with pork, ginger and green onion. This seemed like your typical steamed dumpling -- pretty juicy and flavorful in the middle. Just not your soup dumpling, though. Don't get it twisted. EVERYTHING WINGS: crispy wings covered in a gooey soy glaze, jaggery and dried chilis, tossed with sesame, poppy seed, fried shallots and served with tzatziki. I didn't think to pair Korean type chicken wings with tzatziki, but it was a refreshing pairing that I will definitely be trying at home. KIMCHI UDON: Udon noodles made with spicy marinated cod roe (mentaiko), kimchi and seaweed, topped with bonito flakes that wiggle and waggle with delight as it comes to your table. I really loved how the mentaiko brought a different type of texture -- they were like little balls of popping joy with the chewiness of the udon noodles, and of course, the spicy kimchi. Tons of umami flavor and different types of texture. SHORT RIB: marinated and grilled, tamale pave, jalapeño yogurt, radish. This was actually just like the Korean kalbi, which is soy marinated short ribs, usually grilled in a similar fashion. I guess I could have done without this dish since I can make this at home, but it's still nice to try with the jalapeno yogurt and radish. These are all some unique pairings with tons of complementary flavors. PORK JOWL: chili marinated and grilled, sesame leaf, and tofu. For some reason I can't remember how this tasted, but I'm pretty sure it tasted delicious. STUFFED CABBAGE: napa kimchi stuffed with pork butt and sticky rice, pan seared. OK this dish was freaking amazeballs. Who would have thought stuffed cabbage would be this delicious? It's layers of cabbage, kimchi, pork butt goodness! It's a Korean lasagna, so to speak. WHOLE FISH: the fish that evening was a branzino (European seabass) fried in coconut fat, dirty rice of plantains & nam prik pao, sesame leaf, tamarind broth, and house sambal. This was actually one of the items we were on the fence about, because it was the last thing that we ordered. We knew we had a lot of good stuff already, and we weren't sure if this would be too much food. But boy, were we are all so delighted that we ended up ordering this dish. One of the highlights of the evening! The branzino meat was so moist and tender, and the tamarind broth was so fragrant as our server poured it over the fish. Writing about it now is making me drool a little bit. I'm definitely going back for this. There's always room for dessert! We got: BREAD PUDDING: gingerbread ice cream, chocolate, cinnamon, eggnog creme anglaise. The gingerbread ice cream was unique and this entire dish tasted like Christmas morning. RICOTTA DOUGHNUTS: custard, raspberry, and mint -- such a simple little donut hole, but filled with wonderful flavors. The custard, raspberry and ricotta complemented one another on top of this beautiful little deep fried donut bite. What a perfect end to an otherwise perfect meal. Stay hungry, my friends! read more

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We've been coming here for years. Drink menu is small but fantastic. The garlic shrimp noodles are amazing we get them almost every time. The pork belly is tender and falls apart with a spoon. The burger is probably the best Asian fusion burger and possibly best burger in general in chicago. If you pick another place over Mott St you have picked wrong. Owners are super sweet. Staff is always helpful and knowledgeable. Patio summer vibes are 10/10. read more

Service- excellent! Upon entering I was warmly greeted and quickly seated. The servers were prompt, food came out pretty timely and I never had an empty water glass. Food- Imperial rolls were piping hot and came with a generous plate of fresh green leaf lettuce, mint, basil and sprouts. The dipping sauce was a little on the sweet and could've used more acid. I don't know if this is traditional, but I wished there was a little more spice/heat. Stuffed cabbage changed since I last tried it two years ago. The kimchee broth was lukewarm. The rice was less crispy on top. The pork had an off after taste. I actually didn't finish the dish this time. read more

Was so excited to try this place, but we started off on the wrong foot by getting my credit card stolen from their ordering site. As soon as I ordered my bank called saying there was a fraudulent charge, had to go through the hoops of changing card and all autopays. I called them to talk to a manager, didn't seem to take me to seriously, no apology. Went to pick up food and it was so underwhelming to say the least. Small quantity for high prices. Food was cold and staff was not friendly. Not going back unfortunately. read more

Love the patio, love the food. If you're splurging calorie wise definitely get the donuts. Although everyone raved about the oyster mushrooms but they were a little overdone for my taste. It was basically oysters, mushrooms and a major amount of butter. Would have liked a little more flavor to shine through. Definitely the best dish of the night was the pork jowl, with the tongue being the next best. They recommend sharing a few dishes so even though the prices seem 2 star you end up paying on the higher end of the 2 star scale rather than low end. The service though.. On. Point. Great wait staff. Came here for a bday dinner and we didn't want to rush. They basically let us close the place down and made no efforts to rush us out the door. Will definitely come again to try the burger. read more

Mott St - Patio, great for conversing kinda awkward for cuddling up though - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A very good tapas place. I've been eyeing this place for a while after they received some sort of an award for their burger. I finally went there with a friend. The cocktails I had were pretty good though not amazing. Please see the pictures for what we ordered: brussels sprouts, the Bread, everything wings, pork jowl, and last but not least the famous Mott Burger. I loved each dish, though perhaps there isn't a mindblowing wow factor. The Mott Burger was actually really, really good. I like it better than Au Cheval/Small Cheval (though I like those places too). I'd give this place 4.5 stars if I could. I'd love to come back again and again and am planning to. read more

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Despite the obviously empty tables, we were told that there would be a wait. I'm assuming that those tables were for people that actually plan ahead and make reservations, so I wasn't terribly upset at the 15-20 minute wait at 8:45 on a Friday evening. I was a little more upset at how hyped up this place is versus the reality of the food, but Mott St. still definitely has tasty food and beverages. My cocktail- How Bazaar: A whiskey and Malort-based libation. I *heart* old man drinks that taste like they want to punch you in the face. Maybe it's the Malort. The manufacturers describe Malort as "rugged and unrelenting (even brutal) to the palate". How can you not love that?! Even better, the cocktail was served cold as hell with one gigantic ice cube in it. Even better than *that*, our bartender was amazing. He seriously knew his alcohols and discoursed freely on them. RAWR. The boyfriend's cocktail- Extra Mart: A gin-based drink that had water kimchee, dashi bitters, and pickled watermelon garnish in it. It has a brininess to it, but still preserves that mild undercurrent of bitter juniper from the gin. Definitely a more delicate drink than the How Bazaar. Kimchee-Oaxaca Rolls: They were little deep fried bits of goodness, but too much like flautas stuffed with kimchee for me to be impressed. (Oaxaca, pronounced "wuh-HAWK-uh".) I'm still trying to figure out where the "Oaxaca" part of this dish came from... unless that was the flauta aspect of it? BRAAAIIINNNNSSSS. BRRRAAAAAAAIIIIIINNNNSSSS: Okay, I'm done being a zombie now. I ordered brains. Specifically, the crab brain fried rice. I wish I could tell you what brains taste like. All I tasted was lime and cilantro. Occasionally, a tidbit of sweet Chinese sausage let my tongue know it was there. So sad. :( Pork Jowl- chili marinated and grilled, served with sesame leaf, sliced radishes, and tofu. Normally I don't complain at all about a plate of meat. Seriously. Meat and I have had a long-standing serious relationship. However, this time the overall dish was just too smoky. This could easily have something to do with the tastelessly crunchy fried tofu that came with it, but (a) there were only two cubes of tofu and (b) I didn't know I should have mixed them until one of two cubes was gone. The overall effect for me (and my boyfriend, since it was actually his dish) was an unbalanced one. Tres Leches Cake: Amazingly light and fluffy, topped with some more light and fluffy! The host stopped by and explained that it was made with coconut milk, which was why it was such an airy cake that still retained some richness. I could taste the coconut flakes in there (I LOVE coconut.) and the tartness from the fresh raspberries, strawberries and blueberries complemented it very well. Don't get me wrong, the food is good. But this much hype, when the best things I had on a Friday night were cake and whiskey? Ridiculous. read more

Mott St - How Bazaar- Whiskey based malort drink - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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FOOD: Let's get a few things straight here. As far as the food goes, Mott St is absolutely amazing. I have been here a handful of times the past year, and the food does not disapppoint. My S.O. and I were here recently on a date night with reservations. Showed up about 5 min early, and were let in with kind greetings. Once seated, we began our gluttonous/ravenous feast. Between the two of us, we ordered the potato-onion bread, the brussels sprouts with lamb pancetta, General Tsao's sweetbreads, and the catfish claypot. And, ummm, let me say, yum! They ask that you order all at once, so that the food comes out in the most harmonious and delicious symphony of ways. Like a salty, sweet, umami concerto, the food comes out in waves of pitch-perfect notes of om nom nom. We had the pan-seared brussels sprouts with lamb pancetta first. Normally, I'm not big on musky taste (brussels sprouts) on musky taste (lamb), but the combo here with the maple butter married perfectly. I loved the smokiness of everything-- not overwhelming, but lightly fragranced. Then we had the potato-onion bread with an egg cracked in the center. It reminded me of a Georgian khachapuri. Eggy, bread-y goodness. But the main dishes were even better. The General Tsao's sweetbreads were next, and, let me just say, as a half-Chinese person, I was pleasantly surprised that the sauce wasn't overly sweet or tangy-- it was well-balanced. And the sweetbreads themselves were so tender. Next came the "Stuffed Cabbage" -- Which, can I say, is my absolute favorite dish? It has kimchi, sticky rice, and pull-apart, slow-cooked pork. Basically like a deconstructed cabbage roll, but infinitely better. Always, always order the stuffed cabbage if you are there. When the catfish claypot finally came out, I was pretty much ready to call "Uncle," but Im glad I made room because the catfish claypot was a sweet and savory surprise. The caramel sauce was pretty darn good, and the catfish, small, but oh-so-tender. SERVICE: Overall, not bad. But it needs work in some areas. Hence, the 4-star rating. One star less for service. The hosts/hostesses are generally nice, if not a little indifferent or aloof, as one reviewer has mentioned. But the servers are where they could use a little boost. Felt a bit rushed, despite a relatively empty dining room. Having 2 yrs of server/hostess experience and 6+ yrs of retail mgmt/customer service, I am a bit disppointed that service was a little hurried. I understand the turnaround time for reservations, which can be as little as 45 min, but the check should not be dropped at the same time as the server asks if you want dessert. Wait until your customers finish their drinks and their last entree... Then drop it. Just an FYI to your customer service staff. Don't rush your reservations. It's not good form. read more

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BEST BURGER IN CHICAGO! I love this place so much. You can't go wrong with anything. My faves are the burger, wings, fried rice, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. read more

Very limited vegetarian selection - fried rice, empanadas and mushrooms. My friend got a couple of additional dishes such as pork and was underwhelmed too. The sauce in the mushrooms was good but the other foods could take more flavor. Service was excellent, easy parking in the area, good spot for a date. Solid cocktails. I'm confused about three stars vs four but I can't commit to saying I'm a fan. read more

Incredible food! And the service was amazing, our server recommended certain dishes over others and was very honest. It made the experience even better because we got some of the best things on the menu! Mushroom appetizer - so good and surprisingly the butter doesn't overpower Kimchi udon was flame emoji Fire chicken was great Pork belly was amazing, only advice would be slightly slimmer slices but still the same amount, those were thicc babies but still amazing 5/5 The burger was DELICIOUS!! Will be back again! Loved this place. read more

Fan-freaking-tastic! I liked it that much. Service was super attentive and knowledgeable. Before suggesting drinks, she quizzed me on what sort of flavors I liked. The boy and I tried 5 of their cocktails concoctions. the one with side of bacon was quite the highlight. the whiskey based drinks were crafted well even I, a non-whiskey/boubon/scotch drinker, found it palatable. Foodwise, it was all mostly great. The standout dishes were the Brussel sprouts and the Everything wings. I went in with much skepticism thinking these wings can't be that awesome....but I failed... thankfully. These wings were pretty great...sweet, spicy, sticky perfection. The shorts ribs were a bit chewy but still tasty. We honestly didn't like the oyster mushrooms since it didn't taste like anything. We even tried dipping the savory bread into the buttery sauce from the mushroom dish as suggested by the waitress and fellow yelpers but we weren't impressed. I am a bread pudding fanatic and their bread pudding was not a let down. read more

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This place is a definite must for foodies, especially those that love good cocktails. I loved the food and service, but the fifth star is for the bartender. We went here for a friend's birthday. They don't let you sit until everyone arrives but that ended up being perfect because we got to talk to the bartender. He clearly loves his job and was amazing at recommending drinks. I loved the Huggy & Jalisco. The Virginia Darlin' was another hit at the table. The food was great. They do small plates and are great at making recommendations. They also have an allergies menu which was great as one of our group members has several food allergies. We had the cauliflower, shrimp, and brussel sprouts. The pork jowl and wings were huge hits. Don't eat the wings if you don't want to get your fingers dirty. They provide wet wipes and the tast was well worth the mess. We finished with the short ribs and then went on to dessert. They brought out a candle for the birthday song which we loved. The doughnuts were the highlight of the dinner, the frozen chic banana was just fine. Overall the ambiance is super cute and trendy. Not fancy but still intimate enough to be a touch romantic. read more

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