Golden Loaf

Just polished off a spinach and cheese burek from Golden Loaf on Irving Park, slightly west of the Brown Line stop. It is a darling place, and I don't use the term darling much. Local art "gallery" on the walls, mismatched tables and bench seating with carpets squares for cushions--seating for probably 8-10 people. Very limited menu: burek, pizza, a single sandwich, and some sweets and beverages.
This was my second burek, my first coming from the Clark/Devon grocery, so I'm not in much position to compare to other Chicagoland burek options. I'm pretty sure mine was reheated, but it was still very tasty, with a nice crispness on both top and bottom. Meager fillings, I would have liked more spinach, but what was there had enough flavor for me to not just taste phyllo in each bite. Pastry flaked apart but had a dense chewiness that lent it substance. This pastrysnake was about 2/3 the size of other burek pics I've seen on here--and at $3.30 it was very reasonable.
I asked about a few jars they had behind the register that looked like examples of what can happen to tissue and organs if you choose the wrong vices. The very friendly guy who seemed to be the sole employee (son of owner, I believe?) took some time to explain it was Kombucha tea, which I hadn't heard of before. Wasn't on the menu. After extolling the healthy virtues of the enzymes, he said customers are welcome to bring in their own jars and they would strain/filter it and give it to you to take home (I'm pretty sure he said for free--I may have misheard, but it does strike me as that kind of place).
This isn't destination dining, but it is certainly a cheap, filling option if you're in the North Center area.

Golden Loaf
1921 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 472-0200

skess wrote:This isn't destination dining, but it is certainly a cheap, filling option if you're in the North Center area.

I am, almost daily, and never spotted this place. Sounds like a nice find - thanks! I'll try soon.

skess wrote:This isn't destination dining, but it is certainly a cheap, filling option if you're in the North Center area.
Golden Loaf

Skess,

If nothing else its worth a visit just for the name. Thanks.

Enjoy,
Gary

So, does one go to Golden Loaf before or after the Brown Sack?

jesteinf wrote:So, does one go to Golden Loaf before or after the Brown Sack?

Depends if you're with Yellow Truffle or not.

I was getting my oil changed about 2 minutes from this place a few weeks back and ended up stopping in and tried the meat burek. Meant to start a thread about it because it was DELICIOUS. Freshly baked bread, not too greasy at all. Agree with the OP, not destination dining, but if you're in the area, its absolutely worth stopping in.