Menu Misspellings & New Experiences

Menu Misspellings & New Experiences

It is not easy breaking out of the mold of regular behaviors to experience new stuff.

Years ago, the august Vital Information suggested that we order at Lao Sze Chuan based solely on menu misspellings. This could be an excellent way to try things you might otherwise not order, subvert routine thought processes, and savor new foods not on the regular radar.

I was in Pilsen this afternoon at an otherwise seemingly unremarkable taqueria (La Cebollita) and, ever on the lookout for menu items I don’t recognize, I saw “Winnie and eggs.” Wow, I thought, new one. “What is Winnie?” I asked the lady behind the counter, and she says, matter-of-factly, “You know, hot dogs.” The misspelling, of course, was for “wieners” or maybe “wienies.” Okay, so that might not have been such a great dish to order.

At Sol de Mexico, however, I think it was SteveZ who was attracted by a dish of camarones with “spacy salsa.” These I liked – probably the hottest item on Carlos Tello’s menu of disciplined flavors.

So ordering based simply on misspellings may yield mixed results, but it’s probably worth a try.

David “Dada” Hammond

In San Diego, 10 years ago, instead of RICE BOWL, the restaurant had RICE BOWEL.

Some ethnic restaurants would do well to trade a couple of free meals for a menu spell check.

Often times the misspellings give a ring of authenticity to a place, though at some places it comes of as sloppy. Being in the place one can usually tell the difference.

Trying only misspelled items would make for an interesting experience. However, I can't say I'd jump at the prospect of being served, "Crap"

I lived for a couple of years near the intersection of Irving Park, Damen, and Lincoln. At the time there was a very seedy looking place on the northwest corner of Lincoln and Irving Park that had all the different things they served painted on the outside. The only specific misspelling I can recall is "Hat Dog", but the really brilliant thing is that everything that was misspelled in one spot was spelled correctly somewhere else on the same building!

In the ongoing gentrification of North Center, I believe this spot is now a bank. In this case, not much of a loss, I think.

One time the joke was on me. I sniggered when I went past an Indian place on Broadway north of Diversey which had a sign in its window advertising "Chicken Donor." Poor, misguided immigrants, I thought, so cutely struggling with our language as they attempt to spell "Chicken Dinner." What's a "Chicken Donor" anyway, I mused--a volunteer for a beak transplant? Ba-rump-bump. Oh dear. Someone really must teach these people to spell.

Later, I found out they really were advertising Chicken Donor.

Edited because I made a typo on "transplant." Ironic, ain't it?

germuska wrote:I lived for a couple of years near the intersection of Irving Park, Damen, and Lincoln. At the time there was a very seedy looking place on the northwest corner of Lincoln and Irving Park that had all the different things they served painted on the outside. The only specific misspelling I can recall is "Hat Dog", but the really brilliant thing is that everything that was misspelled in one spot was spelled correctly somewhere else on the same building!

In the ongoing gentrification of North Center, I believe this spot is now a bank. In this case, not much of a loss, I think.

Wasn't this the same place that proclaimed itself to have the "Best Tacos in Tawn"?

stevez wrote:

germuska wrote:I lived for a couple of years near the intersection of Irving Park, Damen, and Lincoln. At the time there was a very seedy looking place on the northwest corner of Lincoln and Irving Park that had all the different things they served painted on the outside. The only specific misspelling I can recall is "Hat Dog", but the really brilliant thing is that everything that was misspelled in one spot was spelled correctly somewhere else on the same building!

In the ongoing gentrification of North Center, I believe this spot is now a bank. In this case, not much of a loss, I think.

Wasn't this the same place that proclaimed itself to have the "Best Tacos in Tawn"?

Indeed -- how could I forget that one! And that is also definitely one that was spelled correctly somewhere else.

I believe the hat dogs and best tacos in tawn were found at Frank's Food City. Remember the tapas place that replaced it? Considering the disrespect all food was shown at that location, perhaps a bank isn't such a bad replacement. Seriously, though, I sorely miss the good ol' days of North Center. I remember seeing silver lame high-heeled sandals and various garments of clothing discarded into the gutter outside of Asi Es Columbia (on Lincoln, about the third door north of Byron) after particularly high-spirited evenings that generally involved paddy wagons. What a great 'hood that used to be.

This isn't really a misspelling, just a poor choice of transliteration, but good enough to have made it to Leno:

At Yummy Gourmet in Arlington Heights, one of the dishes is called "Fuk King Fried Rice"

Remember the tapas place that replaced it? Considering the disrespect all food was shown at that location, perhaps a bank isn't such a bad replacement.

Yes, that tapas place was truly one of the most depressing places I ever tried. A real "Beam me up Scotty" experience, one of those meals where you're looking for a way to sneak out, yet you know you're going to have to eat some of everything before you can escape.

germuska wrote:I lived for a couple of years near the intersection of Irving Park, Damen, and Lincoln. At the time there was a very seedy looking place on the northwest corner of Lincoln and Irving Park that had all the different things they served painted on the outside. The only specific misspelling I can recall is "Hat Dog", but the really brilliant thing is that everything that was misspelled in one spot was spelled correctly somewhere else on the same building!

I'm pleased to note that I stumbled across some photo documentation of this spot.

riddlemay wrote:One time the joke was on me. I sniggered when I went past an Indian place on Broadway north of Diversey which had a sign in its window advertising "Chicken Donor." Poor, misguided immigrants, I thought, so cutely struggling with our language as they attempt to spell "Chicken Dinner." What's a "Chicken Donor" anyway, I mused--a volunteer for a beak transplant? Ba-rump-bump. Oh dear. Someone really must teach these people to spell.

Later, I found out they really were advertising Chicken Donor.

My kind of job.

JoelF wrote:This isn't really a misspelling, just a poor choice of transliteration, but good enough to have made it to Leno:

At Yummy Gourmet in Arlington Heights, one of the dishes is called "Fuk King Fried Rice"

At the Family Palace, a restaurant I used to be forced to go to weekly as a kid that I will never step inside again, they posted a special of some form of chicken with "your choice of pot". This amused me to no end.

The most common misspelling I see is 'prix-fixe' as 'pre-fix'; as a grammar nazi, this cracks me up to no end. I think prefixes are a sadly underappreciated art form.

Anyway, I missed this thread until now, but is 'hat dog' how it's pronounced in Chicago?

Independent George wrote:The most common misspelling I see is 'prix-fixe' as 'pre-fix'; as a grammar nazi, this cracks me up to no end. I think prefixes are a sadly underappreciated art form.

Anyway, I missed this thread until now, but is 'hat dog' how it's pronounced in Chicago?

I think you're right, it's spelled phonetically. But in that case it should be hat dag.

Pie Lady wrote:I think you're right, it's spelled phonetically. But in that case it should be hat dag.

Or add a couple extra As. As in, haaat dag.

That almost looks European. All it needs now is an umlaut, and you have a great name for a heavy metal band.

Years ago, when I was living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the local Indian place down the block from me used to put out s sign that proudly proclaimed "Price Fixing Is Our Specialty".