I've lived in chicago for six years and haven't found quality Thai food since I've been here, until…read morethis place. It hits the spot. I got the Panang curry with tofu + pineapple, the pad see ew, edamame, and veggie egg rolls. The spice in the curry was amazing- all of the flavors in all of the dishes were delectable. My wife's dish had enough sauce and the noodles and veggies were delicious. The egg rolls were super crunchy- it can be hard to find veggie egg rolls that are true egg roll and not spring rolls. I am so happy I found such a great spot local to me! We ordered takeout, but the vibes in there were nice and we'd definitely eat inside next time.

I was not expecting the inside to be as beautiful as it is. Me, hubby and daughter were all…read morepleasantly surprised but the decor We all shared the rice omelet, drunken noodles, fried papaya salad and Thai fried rice Everything was so good. So many flavors. The Thai rice was phenomenal Service was great too. For a Sunday at 2 is wasn't overly busy

Just amazing. Will definitely be back. Wish there was more seating but that's the only downside to…read morethis place.

I've walked past Sfera Sicilian Street Food so many times and I finally had a chance to stop in…read more When you first arrive: The inside of the restaurant is smaller so they can only accommodate a smaller number of parties. In the warmer months they offer outdoor seating so it expands the number of people that can dine-in. The restaurant is colorful and refreshing. It gives Italy in the Summer, it makes you want to wear a sundress and sip fresh lemonade. Food: During my visit I ordered the Arancini Porcini which a fried Risotto ball filled different ingredients. It came with two balls which is perfect because it made it easy to share. I also ordered a slice of the Sfincione Chicago Style pizza which is a Sicilian style pizza with Italian sausage, green peppers and mushrooms. You can tell they invest in the quality of their food because everything tasted fresh. Overall: I highly recommend visiting Sfera Sicilian Street Food at least once. The staff is very friendly and the restaurant is very cute. They don't have a lot of indoor seating so be prepared to wait for a table if you plan to dine-in but the neighborhood invested in a lot of community benches if you opt for a to-go order.

There's just something about a burger that actually lives up to the hype--and Little Bad Wolf does…read moreexactly that. Stacked unapologetically high, this burger is everything you want and more: juicy, perfectly seared patties layered with melty cheese, crispy bacon, and those golden, crunchy fried onions that take it completely over the top. Every bite is rich, savory, and just messy enough to remind you you're eating something seriously good. The toasted bun somehow holds it all together (barely), soaking up every bit of flavor without getting lost in the chaos. And then... the shoestring fries. Thin, crispy, golden perfection--light but addictive, with that ideal crunch that makes it impossible to stop at just one (or ten). They're the kind of fries you keep reaching for without even realizing it, especially dipped in that creamy, tangy sauce on the side. And let's not forget the drinks--just as good as the food. Refreshing, perfectly balanced, and the kind you sip slow while taking it all in (but somehow they disappear way too fast). It's not just a burger--it's one of Chicago's most iconic bites for a reason. Bold, indulgent, and absolutely worth every single napkin you'll need after. The ambiance inside is GORGEOUS!

My husband and I walked in on a Sunday evening for dinner and were able to be seated right away…read more The atmosphere is dark and moody, and it made sense once I realized it was the same owners as Gretel. Loved the 90s female R&B playlist they had going! Little Bad Wolf has been on my list FOR YEARS to try the burger! My husband got the burger with fried onions and I got some Bao because those also looked delicious and were a popular menu item. Honestly the 3 stars are only that high because of the service. Our server was friendly and attentive + the food came out hot and quick. Unfortunately, the food was pretty disappointing. The burger was swimming in a puddle of grease and just picking it up made your hands greasy + was dripping grease. The fries that came with it were floppy, soggy, and sad...but at least warm? I personally wouldn't order this again. The Bao were better, but small for the price and honestly were just okay? It was nice they gave you sauces you could add, but I found the Bao's to already have enough sauce so I didn't need them. Overall I left feeling confused and disappointed. I don't feel the need to come back here - Little Bad Will was a one and done experience for me.

Had the chance to stop by again recently and B&B is every bit as good as I remembered! The staff is…read morealways kind and the vibe is a total pick-me-up. I doubt anyone leaves feeling less jolly than they did going in. On this visit, I started with the After Word to drink. It was light-bodied, not at all too sweet, and possibly went down *too* easily. We split the short rib poutine and I can't think of a better dish to get you through the winter. The meat absolutely melted in the mouth and the cheese was abundant and rich. Would order again in a heartbeat! We also tried the alligator bites as a seasonal special. I'd not had alligator before, but they were super crispy and spicy with an addictive gochujang sauce. It really does taste like chicken. If you've ever wanted to try alligator, this is the place to do it. For the main event, I opted for the red beans and rice hand pie. It came with a light, citrus salad and delicious hand cut fries with 3 dipping sauces, which were very fun to try. I loved the buttery pie crust but the filling tasty very tomato forward- I was missing the heat of a traditional red beans & rice and wished there was more seasoning. Still good. As usual, the portions were generous for the price and we left with leftovers. Absolutely recommend making the trek over here to give B&B a try, and will be back soon!

This is one of my "little treat" spots, as whenever I get paid or somehow find $20 in my wallet, I…read morelike to come here. Then I forget for a few months, find another $20, end up stumbling across this place again and going "why don't I come here more?" This has happened three times. The most important part though- it's real tasty. Always. I'd say all of it, but I'm still working my way through the menu, but the burgers and Mac never let me down. The servers are always really laid back, and nothing feels rushed. I think it's part of the charm; somewhere to go and relax and take your time to enjoy the vibe. And you know what would help the vibe even more? Including the bread pudding on the menu full time. Keeping that bad boy stocked for me at all times. (This time was my first time seeing it on the specials menu and listen, it WAS special. So special that you should upgrade it to mainstay is all.)

This meal was so good, filling, and FLAVORFUL! Their dolma dish was really good, and the sigara…read moreböreği was so flaky and delicious. I got the Oda combo grill because I wanted to try all the meats, and I definitely chose correctly -- they were all seasoned and cooked so well. The rice and veggies were the perfect sides for the protein, and the portions are pretty big, so we had leftovers. We tried adjaruli khachapuri for the first time, and it was amazing. Once the egg is mixed in, it takes the dish up 5 notches! The drinks were well mixed, the ambiance was dimly lit and nice, and the service was attentive and amazing.

I've always thought that having a great restaurant within walking distance of where you live is an…read moreundervalued property perk. We are lucky to have a wide range of cuisine options near our place in Andersonville, and now we can add Turkish-Georgian fusion to our regular rotation. We had a wonderful meal there--I took advantage of the Restaurant Week menu and ordered cioppino. Half the time I order seafood in a restaurant, I end up with rubbery shrimp and tasteless fish. Not at Oda. Their seafood stew was filled with great stuff. My wife had tokat chicken, which she also enjoyed. The humus, Khachapuri, salad and dessert flight were also excellent. It would be fun to go there with a group. It's an ideal place for a shared-plate night out with friends. But there is one thing--like most restaurants in the city, the tables are close together, which is totally fine. We're not looking for Applebee's-type table separation when we go out. Even when you get a table a few inches between two others, it takes about 30 seconds to isolate your own conversation and enjoy your meal, unless you're next to a table where the diners are essentially yelling at each other. I'm not talking about a couple fighting about money or a bunch of 30-somethings getting rowdy on Moscow mules and umami burgers during a night out without their kids. I'm talking about two people yelling--in a friendly way--about the most mundane subject of all: their coworkers. We noticed as soon as we sat down but by the time we considered asking to be moved, the three tables nearby were filled. No big deal. It was kind of entertaining, in an eardrum-splitting way. Their conversation was shockingly loud. And not just the statements, like "SHE THINKS SHE'S IN LINE FOR HIS JOB," but also the brief conversational acknowledgements, like "YEAH! FOR SURE!" It was like sitting next to dueling car alarms. If you're familiar with Pee-Wee's Playhouse, picture the obnoxious salesman who loudly blah-blah-blahs his way to a quickly slammed door, courtesy of Mr. Herman, but two of them whose faces are two feet apart. And we had no door to slam. All that being said, this isn't a knock on the restaurant at all. And since Oda is so close and so good, we'll be back. And hopefully by then, Josh from accounting figures out how to use Smartsheet--"RIGHT? IT'S RIDICULOUS!"--so if we do end up next to the Decibel Duo, we'll have a new workplace dilemma to listen to.

Regalia is one of those cute places you pass by and make a note of to try *sometime*- well, that…read moreday finally came and my only regret is not making it happen sooner! It's super cute and cozy on the inside- there isn't much seating, so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation. It's neither too loud nor too quiet, and the staff was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. My friend and I stopped by for restaurant week, and for 3 courses at $40 it was a great deal! For drinks, we started with the Queen Bee and Flying High. I absolutely loved the first- the ginger was super unique and very crisp. There was complimentary homemade focaccia and white bean dip to start, which was both a huge bonus and possibly the best bread I've had in a minute! The bean dip especially was so flavorful and unique. We split the carciofo (artichokes in lemon butter) and meatballs with polenta to start. The artichokes were bright and not too heavy. I think the meatballs could've had a little more flavor, but they were tender and the polenta was very smooth and creamy. For mains, we split the chicken parmigiano and rigatoni alla buttera. The chicken was ultra crispy and the marinara was exceptionally flavorful. The rigatoni was rich and meaty with very tender sausage. We really enjoyed both and had a ton of leftovers. We ended with the tiramisu, and I've never had one so light and creamy yet rich. Already looking forward to returning and can't recommend Regalia highly enough!

Regalia is a must visit restaurant whenever you're in Edgewater!…read more Regalia has managed to blend the vibe of a small neighborhood restaurant with high end cuisine. This is the perfect date night spot. I highly recommend making a reservation because Regalia is typically busy. During the warmer months they have outdoor dining so the restaurant is even busier. They typically reserve the bar area for walk-ins but it's not promised you won't have to wait to get seated. My go-to dish is the Chicken Parmigiano but I recently had the Rigatoni alla Buttera and it has become my new favorite dish. I've also been able to try the Rigatoni Ragu Alla Rustico and it's also delicious. Truly you cannot go wrong with any of the dishes. The food is priced similarly to other Italian restaurants in the area. The dishes are large so you could easily get two meals from your order. The thing I love the most about Regalia is that the food is consistently good. It's hard to find a place that invests in quality food and creating an atmosphere. The manager / owner will periodically walk around the restaurant and check-in with customers to see how everything is going. The one con is Regalia tries to optimize their space so the tables are tightly packed into the restaurant. It sometimes feels like you're dining with the table next to you because the tables are so close. If you're someone that needs to use the restaurant frequently don't sit in the inner chair because you almost have to shift your table over to get through. Overall, I love visiting Regalia!

2026: A new year & Chef Mona is bringing all the flavor from different provinces of Cambodia. My…read morehusband and I came in for dinner, and as always, Khmai blew us away again! The drinks at the bar are always so good, with complementing and light flavors that deceptively cloy the taste of alcohol, which is surprising because they are strong. We had the Love Island and I forgot the name of the second drink, but it had strawberries with a light spiciness at the end, and they were delicious. For apps we always go with our favorites: Mai's Eggrolls, Sach Ko Ja Kak (Steak skewers), and Sach Morn Ampil (Lemongrass & Tamarind fried wings). When I see ANY of these items on the menu, I don't hesitate to order ESPECIALLY the wings.... crispy whole wings and that sauce is to die for! On to the entrees! - First up was the Sach Ko Ang, which are beef ribs of Flinstones proportions that have been braised for 10 hours.... Let me tell you, the meat is fall off of the bone with crispy end bits, and the sauce was also soooo good. Don't let me lie, we were slightly intimidated when they came out, but all reservations were gone once we dug in, and asked for extra napkins (you'll need them, lol). We also had the Sach Chrouk Ampil (pork ribs), which were tender, but also with an extra crispy bite and a sauce that is sweet and spicy. We also tried one of the soups, Somlor Machu, that contained chicken, shrimp, and veggies in a light but highly flavorful broth. Dessert came around, and we got to try a hand-whipped Ube mousse, a durian brownie, and a sweet black-eyed pea dessert. Do not let me lie, that black eyed pea dish was REALLY good, and I kept going back for more, but my absolute favorite was the Ube mousse. Good flavor without being crazy oversweet, and super creamy. We also enjoyed the Durian brownie, which is not a mix I thought would go together, but surprisingly complemented one another beautifully. As always the ambiance is great, and the wait staff are very knowledgeable, kind, patient, and helpful. Chef Mona is always a treat to see, and makes sure that all of her patrons leave full and happy with a smile on their faces. Khmai is always a special and welcoming restaurant with a menu that rotates, and does a phenomenal job at showcasing the bold and funky flavors of Cambodian food!

This is the first time I've had Cambodian food, and I'm glad to try it out…read more Kroeung is in a lot of dishes and is a foundational herb with spices like Lemongrass, galangal, tumeric, garlic. The dishes we tried had similar notes to other SE Asian delicacies but a little different flavor profiles and styles. It was a little funky with the fermented fish paste but in a good way. The Trei Chien- fried red snapper was awesome. The market price we paid was $45 and was tasty with the mango salad and fresh herbs. The Katang was almost like a Thai Pad Sie Iew with the wide noodles. I craved a bit of spice with it. The Amok Tawhou was like a curried tofu, the little bamboo box it came in was cute. I enjoyed the Kapi Ktiss with rice instead of just the raw veg to cut the saltiness of the fermented paste. Service was a bit slow and the main server seemed a little over whelmed. But overall it was a good experience and I'm glad we went.

If you've been in Edgewater, you've likely driven by the condo-building where La Pharmacie is…read morelocated. Who knew it would be in a residential building? It took a hot minute, but I finally made it in. I cannot say the experience was bad, but at the same time I don't find myself itching to stop back in. I had the opportunity to try the Ancestral and a Mint to Be. With the Ancestral, this one didn't do it for me. I am very familiar with Mellow Corn whiskey, and expected something more spirit forward with a little heat from the Chipotle-Adobo Syrup. As much as I hate to say it, I felt that this cocktail both was and fell flat. Not wanting to leave disappointed, and because I didn't want to look for a second bar that night, I ordered a Mint to Be. Now, when a friend orders mint-anything, I joke that they're ordering toothpaste-flavored-that-thing. That said, I am pleased to report that this one was decidedly not toothpaste flavored. Both the use of sweetness and mint was mild and pleasant. I also liked that this one was more spirit forward. At the same time, I wouldn't go as far as to say this is something I would order again. For lack of better terms, I felt it was a little plain. When it comes to the service, this too left a bit to be desired. It felt a little slow and inattentive, especially given that it wasn't very busy at the time. The best thing about the experience? Believe it or not, the Bar Mix. It was like a bougie-ish chex mix and pretty inexpensive at that. Not a bad way to get something in your stomach to slow down alcohol absorption. In terms of their vibe, it's unique in that it used to be a pharmacy (hence the name!). I do wish there was a little more memorabilia, but I suppose some is better than none. Final verdict: La Pharmacie had some good ideas, but in execution, I'm afraid they fall short across the board. This has to do with the service, vibe, and the drinks themselves.

This place is a hidden gem I think partly bc you can't tell if it exists. The cocktails range from…read moreclassic to inventive. The bartenders were super friendly and didn't hesitate in chatting us up. It's got a speakeasy vibe that also borders on spooky if you can imagine that!

Recommend to us by a different server at another restaurant. Being from San Diego California, I…read morefelt it was bold of someone to recommend Mexican food to someone who lives right next to Mexico and eats loads of mom and pop homemade Mexican food. But it was truly amazing. The server gave us the history and where their family is from and how the food is traditional to their area of Mexico and the state of Mexico. Aside from what is pictured we also ordered ceviche and this fried cheese. The ceviche was different than what I would normally order, it's on the sweeter side, but oh so good. And can't go wrong with fried cheese. We tasted the mole sauce, as it can be hit or miss for me, and it was spicy and not too sweet with lots of chile flavor. Didn't end up ordering it, as I tend to shy away from chicken dishes. Our entrees were amazing. Between the three of us we split everything. Two apps two entrees and finished with guava cheesecake. So dang yummy. We all got different margaritas. The flight was great, there was a special coconut marg that we subbed in, and then also got the mezcal margarita which was so good. The restaurant was not busy on a weekday at 7:30, but I imagine it is normally poppin on the weekends. It's cute and cozy with plenty of seating. The staff is so thorough and so kind. My only critique is that the booths are so tight. I was like chest to the table with no space. Just asked to move to a regular table and it was no issue. Would return 10000x to eat everything else on the menu.

You know the feeling when you get free chips and salsa, only to realize the chips have no…read moreseasoning? Here it is the opposite problem - not only are the chips a salt-bomb, the salsa itself contains a triple helping of salt. I do want to recognize the heat, though! Nothing too crazy, just fleeting kick. Another example of something way overdone is the Ceviche. The shrimp and tilapia were perfectly fine, issue is, I had to go fishing (ha) for them in a pool of pico de gallo! Don't get me wrong, I love Pico de Gallo more than the average person, but I also like sugar in my coffee, not coffee in my sugar. While the start of the meal disappointed, the main course did not. I went for the Enchiladas, with chicken and mole sauce. The mole sauce was rich, savory, with just the right amount of sweetness. The enchiladas themselves had a hearty amount of tender chicken, and were wrapped in very soft tortillas - I wouldn't be surprised if these were homemade! Also on the plate were beans, rice, and lettuce/tomato - all completely fine. Finally, I would like to recognize the plate being hot - while grabbing it needs a napkin, it helps to ensure food remains hot. For drinks, I was able to tried the House Marg and the "with smoke" (mezcal). Both were well balanced, with the mezcal having some smokiness true to its name. These are both premade, but if I didn't see it, I would never know. When it comes to the service, while it wasn't very busy at the time, everything came out fast, hot, and fresh. As fort the vibe, it is casual, and every-so-slightly elevated above an average Mexican spot. Final verdict: While I commend the enchiladas, the chips, salsa, and ceviche made the experience less than great. With no shortage of fantastic Mexican spots in the area and Chicago more broadly, I am unsure a return visit is in the cards.

Stopped by for lunch one day when I had an appointment in the area, now it's a WFH lunch time…read morefavorite of mine! So glad I discovered it! The owner is really nice! I love Bánh Mi, so that's become a new lunch time staple of mine. When I've stopped in, I've been told my wait would be a certain amount of minutes for my carry-out order, only for my sandwich to be ready moments later. You gotta love that! This price is great, there's a lot of options for parking, and I love supporting a small business! Hope to enjoy Little Vietnam for dinner sometime!

Thank you, Little Vietnam, for stopping the self-gaslighting I had going on. After a couple…read morelackluster experiences in other places (to be fair, of different categories), I was worried my palate was catastrophically fried, and in need of a plain chicken and rice reset. I started my experience with the crab rangoons. These had that little home-made touch, as they weren't quite the precision engineered, very crisp ones that many other places have. The wonton was a little softer, and seemed almost as if it could have been pan fried - not a negative, just a statement of fact. Where I do want to give them credit is regarding the very tasty filling! For my main, I had the Combo Pho. The broth on this was immensely rich, flavorful, and savory. At the same time, it remained balanced and was not oversalted. All the meats within were cooked well, and the noodles were pleasant as well. The bean sprouts, basil, jalapenos, and lime, not to mention the sauces, can be used to adjust or add flavor to your heart's content, though it is perfect as is. IIRC, this is a family recipe! When it comes to the service, it was friendly, polite, welcoming, and helpful. Can't be beat for a small, family run business like this. There's just one thing I am slightly less than thrilled about: their prices, while not unreasonable, are on the higher side of average. However, I think economies of scale are at play, and I feel as though I got more than my money's worth considering how delectable and filling everything was. Final verdict: While as a matter of value and personal preference, I may pass on the rangoons next time, the Pho is an absolute 10/10, and I can't wait to return as the weather becomes colder and hot soup hits so much harder.