Cheeseburger in Paradise

I would definitely have to say, Jimmy Buffet had the right idea when he sang this song. It's an art itself to cook the perfect cheeseburger; The perfectly cooked patty, not too pressed down, not too thick that it's impossible to eat, and a crisp char on the outside with a moist, tender and juicy middle...and of course who can forget the charred melted cheese to top it all off. It sure does sound like paradise to me. Sadly the chain after the inspiration failed miserably compared to this little shack in the middle of nowhere.

"Paradise Pup"!!. The phrase "Great things come in small packages" can't be used in a more apt situation. This little 15 feet by 20 feet shack is home to one of Chicagoland's best char grilled burgers. It's located in the remote part of Northwest suburbs of Chicago, just 2 miles north of O'hare international airport, with a modest sign that reads "Paradise Pup" in Red.

The open hours are short. 11am to 4pm Monday through Friday, and 11am to 3pm on Saturdays. They know the good stuff, to be able to do this, and stay in business for the past 20 or so years. The menu is simple, with the original Char burger, the double, swiss melt, cheddar and american. Of course if your in the mood to clog your heart...the bacon option is there for the few. With only 4 guys working behind the extremely small counter, the lines are long and wait is longer. The reward however is priceless.

The burgers are juicy, moist, and ever so delicious. They are seasoned perfectly, and the taste detonates with every bite. Its not over-complicated with condiments or toppings. Just a humble topping of fresh tomatoes, caramelized onions and lettuce accompanies the un-rivaled taste of the burger it self.

Be prepared to stand in line, be ready to wait for about 45 mins, even when it is -20 F. Be readyto sit in your car, since there are barely any seats and get your hands messy, because once you do, you just might hear yourself humming to the tune of .... "Cheeseburger in Paradise"...

Down by the docks

After moving up to Chicago, I used to drive a lot to Indiana, visit the good ol Alma mater catch up with a few old friends, enjoy the $1 pints, and reminisce the days when we didn't have a care in the world. I digress; in my pursuit to not get into a fateful accident with the morons who couldn't drive well on the free way or Chicago's traffic, I was forced to at times take the inner streets. One fateful, yet eventful night, my craving for some fried food, though not "fast fried food" led me to make a Pitt stop at Calumet Fisheries...thanks to the 5th person I asked randomly on the street. The other 4 suggested "church's chicken". I won't hold it against them :)

Located on the corner of Calumet and 95th, just before the bridge that arches itself over the calumet river, lies a shack....literally. A small 10 by 20ft that has existed as long as the docks and the industrial steel mills that have dominated the south side of Chicago since the 20's. Established in 1928, they have catered and mastered the dieing art of smoking fish, along side with their double battered smelts or catfish, which is served with their ever secretive hot sauce or mild and slightly sweeter sauce for those who can't handle the good stuff ;)

They actually have a smoke house, in the back, which has real smoke coming from it. There is always a guy tending to it, with cherry wood and white oak logs, and always staying true to the art of smoking meat. Staying true to their one and only location, bordering between Indiana and Illinois, they have managed to stay there through the ups and downs of the south side. Their ever faithful and loyal customers, that come in for the smoked chubs or the salmon smoked with fish oil and whole black peppercorns and garlic or their ever famous smoked shrimp, a poor man's lobster. Never dry, always moist and tender, perfect for Chicago's ever changing weather, any day of the week.

No white napkins or tablecloths at this joint. Hell, no tables or chairs either. During the summer you park your car, along the line of cars parked along the curb, as you open your door, take a seat, and enjoy your meal by the curb. Its amazing how there is no other place remotely close to the quality and the effort that is put into this one and only smoke joint.

The next time you think of the south side, apart from the sox stadium, a.k.a Comiskey Park, a.k.a US Cell field...think about making a stop at the docks, where the smoked fish is always a Home Run. :)

Maxwell Street's Finest

I was walking down the streets of Chicago, and wondering whatever happened to the street food lifestyle we used to always crave for? Restaurants, cafe's and spoofed up Starbucks looking diners seems to have dominated and taken over and run the street food out of this beloved city. There are a few renegades out there, but I'd make sure you have some life insurance before you dare to venture. There was a point when I almost lost all hope...but then, there was Jim's.

Most who have gone to UIC, I'm sure would be wondering why am I writing about this local polish hot dog place, on the corner of Maxwell street. Thats right, the original Maxwell Street Polish hot dog. Established almost 70 years ago, on the corner Maxwell and Halstead, in a small shack, Jimmy, an immigrant from Europe, perfected the the polish style hotdog. A delicious homemade style polish hotdog, char grilled to perfection on a steamed bun, smeared with mustard and topped with grilled sweet onions, which I can only describe as heavenly.

Due to city pressures and UIC expansion, they were re-located to union ave and maxwell. But the quality hasn't gone down one bit. It's still a shack, about 10 ft by 20 ft. There is no place to sit, just a shelf made next to the shack, when you can unwrap your goodness and enjoy. Or if during the cold winter months, you could do what everyone else does...park your car on the street, with the no parking sign, put on your hazard lights, and enjoy it in the comfort of your car.

The menu is your basic char-grilled hot dogs and burgers and fries. Though nothing can top the flavor of the polish sausage. Always ask for the hot peppers, and it comes with a generous portion of fries, which by the way I have to say is one of the best I've had. The inviting aroma of grilled sausage permeating though the streets of maxwell would be enough to entice any true street food lover to go for it's calling.

So if you;'re just out late, (*they are usually open till about 2am*), or just in a mood for a cheap good wholesome street food, go to where it still exists in its true form...

The True Mexican Roast

Everyone's got their own version of a good roast meat...the way its marinated, the way its seasoned, the temperature...and so on. Las Asada's: unheard to most, loved by few. Its the place where the true meaning of Carne Asada comes to life...not literally of course.

The sizzle, the aroma, the texture, the marinade and spices and who can forget that char crisp color that just manages to engulfs all five senses and culminates into just one physical result. A drool that would leave you wondering, "why haven't I come here all my life ? "

Its your typical shack, nothing special, of course easily missed in a strip mall on the corner of Oakton and Elmhurst Road. The humble menu offers the usual Mexican line up, tacos and burrito's from grilled chicken to carnitas and carne asada. Now do understand, there is a reason why they call it "las asada's"... go for their carne asada, its something outta this world.

They have managed to do one thing right, and managed to keep it that way. Mind you, if you want to get great service, and great sit down place, you know this is not the place for you. You just want something quick, in a run down place, with the best carne asade you'll ever have, now this is definitely the place for you. Its marinated overnight, in a blend of herbs and spices that's never overwhelming, and char grilled and served fresh with chopped onions, cilantro with your choice of tacos or burrito.

I would definitely recommend this place to your local steak lover who doesn't need their steak served with a side of a 3 digit bill, or topped with so many condiments that the flavor of the meat just evaporates. Go try it and it would definitely be a trip you would not regret.

Little Mexico in the Burbs

In the relatively remote suburbs of Northlake, IL ( yea even I haven't heard of it, and I live 15 miles from there ), on the corner of grand and wolf road, lies a hidden secret that even Indiana Jones couldn't un-cover...the shack known as "El Pollo Vagabundo", the vagabond chicken.

Three years ago, the place only had bar stools and about 2 tables, and barely any heat. Now, they still have the barstools, and about 8 tables, and still barely any heat during the cold days of winter. It's in a strip mall, where parking is limited and not known. So why this place?

Two words: "The Chicken". It's marinated, and char grilled fresh. They make the usuals, burritos and tacos, or you could just order the chicken by it self with a side of rice, beans and tortillas. On that note, their tortillas... freshly made. You see them make it in front of you too and not behind closed doors. They run their kitchen, which is also fully visible, by one philosophy; one skillet per customer. No mass production, no scooping from some big pot to serve you. One skillet, per order. They make it fresh, just for you. That is a rarity in days where there are so many "cost cutting" measures.

To accompany you're meal, is a small humble spread of salsas, just about 14 different types. I bet if he had a little more space, he could have easily increased that amount. There are salsa's ranging from the mildest form, of cilantro and avocado to the daring yet flavorful habanero salsa, for those who want to venture . Either way, you can never go wrong with freshness.

So if you're ever that way, and have a craving for a hot mexican meal, or just itching for flavor and boldness, El Pollo Vagabundo is the place to be.

Hot Doug's ?

The first time I heard the name of this Hot Dog joint, sounded just like any other place that serves you're regular hot dog's and fries, and burgers and sandwiches... wait, I thought they are a hot dog joint?

Hot Doug's does one thing, and one thing only, Hot Dogs. This is the one time when putting all you're eggs in one basket has actually paid off. Once you stop thinking of the beautiful Keira Knightley, formerly known as Jennifer Garner and Britney Spears, (Name's of hot Dogs), you need to take the time to actually decide what hot dog you want to try. They stay true to the basics, the good ol Chicago style, or the chili dog. Now, the more adventurous could always venture into the unknown, by trying the cognac-infused lamb/pork sausage or the Foie Gras and duck sausage. But at the end of the day, whatever route you decide to take, the path most taken or the path least taken...the final destination is always the same, "Pure Bliss".

They even have a bonus system attached to all this. If you happen to stumble into this place on a Friday or Saturday, well you're in for a treat. For just those 2 days, they serve fresh cut french fries deep fried in duck fat. Now I don't know about you, but when I read, "fat", "fried" and "duck" in one line, I have the same reaction that Ivan Pavlov's dog had when he rang the bell. The fries are crisp on the outside, flavorful and tender on the inside, just the way they were meant to be. The duck fat gives it that extra kick, which it's been begging for, since they realized how to make a starchy potato even more un-healthier.

So if you're in the mood for some gourmet street food, Doug's the place to go. :)

Kuma's Corner

Its a small shack to say the least, with tables almost touching each other, one of those places, you probably would drive by and would miss it in a blink. Located in the corner of Belmont and Francisco Ave, this hidden gem is one that I feel every burger lover has to go to.

If your looking for your regular all american burger, or your regular cheeseburger, this is definitely not the place for you. But if you want a place that names their burgers after hard rock and metal groups, and their only purpose is to make a burger so creative it blows you away in more ways than one, oh yea, you just found your Graceland.

So once you've done waiting for your seat for about 40 mins, and taken down a few of their grand selection of micro brews from across the country and Canada, and just happy to get a seat, your probably gonna do what most do; bypass the salads, appetizer and sandwiches. Your time, effort and hunger generated by the 3 pints taken down is going to take you to "The Page"... "Best Burgers in Chicago".

Once you've gotten your laugh with the Burger names, such as Metallica, Led Zeppelin and Iron Maiden... and 19 others, take your time to read through the build of the burgers. Don't forget to ask the monthly specials, it's a creation special to the month, that sometimes is not on their regular menu. The quality of the ingredients are nothing but the best, from prosciutto and pancetta, to andouille and sheboygan bratwurst, to a list of cheese that can top it all off, that will only leave you breathless...don't bother trying that list.

The staff which is ever so friendly are always great at recommending a good burger for the first comers. I do suggest you take their advice, at least for the first time. To wash it all down, how about their micro-brew list, which does the impossible. It surpasses their magnificent list of creative burgers.

So if your in the neighborhood, or have to drive 45 mins from the suburbs (yours truly), and just want to have a good burger...with a crazy and impressive twist, Kuma's Corner is the way to go. Trust me, it is worth the wait.