Where should I eat when I visit the Chicago / Brookfield, IL

I'm coming from New Jersey and I'm visiting Brookfield, IL next month with a friend for a few days. I'm after something interesting to eat for lunch and dinner.. maybe breakfast too if we get up early enough. I'll drive up to an hour if I have to.

While I am browsing your website, do you have any suggestions?

Is there something you'd say "you drove all the from New Jersey and didn't go to XXX"?

I'm after a greasy dive, or maybe some wild game meat (I've always wanted to try something like camel or yak, aligator and wild boar aren't that unique these days), or maybe some really spicy food (and I do mean really spicy)?

What I am not really after is a hot dog (even though I love hot dogs) or deep dish pizza, those seem so cliche.. well unless it involved the game meat or spicy things I mentioned above.

Maybe there's a place with insanely big baked potatoes? Maybe there's a good Mongolian Hot Pot?

Here's a source of recommendations generally from this board.

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=33547

Yep. I've been looking at those.

Any supersized supermarkets in your area? I like to see stuff I can't find here.

If you like Asian (and especially Japanese), this might be of interest.

viewtopic.php?t=2161

Sounds great. I like Mitsuwa, but seeing the other store would be nice. I'm always on the look out for weird Japanese snacks.

Sorry to see Hot Doug's go.

In the immediate Brookfield area, you have a few gems if you wanna stay close.
1. Las Asadas for flame grilled skirt steak tacos, and green and black salsas.
2. Zacatacos on Harlem Avenue in Berwyn for flame grilled skirt steak tacos with usually screaming hot salsa de Chile arbol.

I generally choose Las asadas 1st for better steak, but the salsa at zacatacos is usually always better. When the salsa at Las asadas is screaming hot, and the steak is fresh off the grill, it's AWN!

If you like middle eastern, there is a pocket of fantastic restaurants about 15 minutes south of Brookfield straight south on Harlem ave when you hit the 8000 south and further. My current favorites are AL Mawal, and Fattoush.

If you want a lesser known Chicago classic awesome greasy food, check out Pop's in Lyons for an "Italian Beef" sandwich, or a "Combo" sandwich with hot giardiniera. Pop's fries are horrible, but they make a respectable beef.

For breakfast, I'd suggest Blueberry Hill pancake house in Lagrange.

Really close are a few serbian restaurants in Lyons, "Dunav," and "Zuppa." Rumor has it that Dunav is really good.

If you'very never had a beef, try one. Deep dish pizza and dogs are the most talked about, but a beef is pure Chicago too.

Perfect Seebee!!

Do you guys have any movie theaters that serve dinner? I Googled but came up empty so far. If not we'll just visit a regular theater.

I agree with Seebee's plan, but as a local to that area, Asada blows Zaca away for food quality - and I used to be a huge Zaca fan, but expansion has gotten the best of them.

Also, Bubba's Place on Ogden before Pop's.

If you want some true 'local' food, hit Riverside Restaurant for some of the best European stuff.

Plus, on the movie theater with food question, there are a few (Yorktown and Chicago Ridge I believe) - but the food is mediocre at best. I'd suggest hitting the Middle Eastern alley on south Harlem (referenced above) and then do Chicago Ridge for a show.

Or Spicy Thai Lao is in that same region if mid east isn't enticing....see the many great recent reviews of STL here....

Another one which I think might fit your bill is Birerria Zaragoza on s. Pulaski. Roasted goat, homemade tortillas, and warm fresh salsa. Dive-y, destination worthy from Brookfield, and the food is right on. It's one of those "We do one thing" joints, and they do goat right.

StoutIGF -
Zaca is my go to in the hood if I'm with others who are not in it for the steak. If I'm going for steak only, Asadas is my first choice. Zacas is still respectable, but Asadas "a grade" stuff blows Zacas away - agreed.
As for Pop's vs Bubba's, I like both, neither blow me away. Bubba's fries are the clear winner, so you might have the better rec with Bubba's.

Another joint you'll be close to worth looking into (noting your nod to Hot Doug's) is Big Guy's Sausage Stand. Not far from Brookfield at ALL. If you go, you should seriously consider getting the butter garlic fries along with your goofy sausage.

yuppicide wrote:Is there something you'd say "you drove all the from New Jersey and didn't go to XXX"?

I'm after a greasy dive, or maybe some wild game meat (I've always wanted to try something like camel or yak, aligator and wild boar aren't that unique these days), or maybe some really spicy food (and I do mean really spicy)?

I'll second the recommendation for Birerria Zaragoza, in nearby Cicero (4852 S. Pulaski). They serve one dish (goat), and they do it perfectly... I guarantee you won't find it anywhere else in the US. The official website is here, but our thread is actually more informative since there's only one item on the menu.

What I am not really after is a hot dog (even though I love hot dogs) or deep dish pizza, those seem so cliche.. well unless it involved the game meat or spicy things I mentioned above.

Skip the deep dish, but if you can stand the 90-minute wait in line, you've basically just described Hot Doug's. It's cash only, and now that Doug's announced his impending retirement, the lines have been absurd (I'd suggest going on a weekday before 10 AM) - but this is another totally unique and delicious Chicago experience. (Click here for the LTH Thread). Have I mentioned the lines yet? I'm really trying to hammer home how absurd it's been because I wouldn't want you to be surprised by it - as much as I love the place, it's really not worth the hassle if lines bother you that much.

Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace has plays and a very nice champagne brunch/buffet on Sundays. In Brookfield, Irish Times does a nice menu, good music on certain days and a comfy outdoor garden.

Drury Lane Theatre & Conference Center 100 Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181. Phone: +1 630.530.8300 Box Office: +1 630.530.0111 Catering: +1 630.530.0202

P: 708.485.8787 | 8869 Burlington Ave; Brookfield, IL Irish Times

There are one or two Bohemian style restaurants along Ogden in Brookfield as well. Haven't been that route in some time and the names have faded for a few hundred reasons. LaGrange is pretty darn close and has some offerings.

Independent George wrote:
I'll second the recommendation for Birerria Zaragoza, in nearby Cicero (4852 S. Pulaski).

Zaragoza is most definitely still in Chicago, not Cicero (and it's still great, had lunch there Saturday).