Everything old is new again - Naperville & Environs

Now being on the same posting and shower schedule, today seemed like a good time to bathe...

This will be long & possibly multiple postings,

There are a number of west suburban spots that need mention because of changes, or because they have not been mentioned of late, if ever. I think these spots would qualify as essentials for the most part.

The best news is about my cheap, local Korean Sushi joint, where I have gone for lunch lo these many years just because it was cheap and local. Recently it changed hands, being bought by a gentleman I believe to be Japanese after a brief transiton, tho I cannot swear to ethnicity. One day at lunch, the place was quite busy and the wait for my sushi was long, so I embarked on an attempt at conversation, tho none too gracefully.

"Lots of business today," I said in a congratulatory way, as I am pleased when a place I like is busy.

"Don't worry, I take care of you with special sushi," he replied, clearly hearing a complaint in his busy and harried mode.

After some mutterings of how glad I was about all the business in an attempt at recovery, and a few more minutes, there emerged a version of the $12 lunch sushi deluxe that was unrecognizable. White tuna, fatty toro, a couple of fish I do not know, a large and tender anago, maki with flying fish eggs. First I saw a bargain, but as I tasted the fish, I found something delightful. Delicate taste of sea spume, and fresh fish. Bold flavors, and amazing fish. I began to interrogate him about what I was eating - names, show me the fish, etc. While also grunting, exclaiming and otherwise showing my delight. After the first couple of bites the wasabi and soy were left aside almost completely, as they would be a desecration to what I was eating.

Most of the fish he gave me was hidden in a cooler in back, but the discovery of its existence has changed my sushi lunches. Yamado now is both cheap and very good, with some wonderful fish. Just ask the chef/owner to make something special with his best fish, and he will. The days of $12 sushi lunches are gone for me, as the bill now comes out at $35 with a $10 discount down to $25, but it is very much worth it, probably worth twice as much. Wherever he sources it, the place now have very, very good fish. Maybe not quite the best I have ever had, but awfully close. Check it out.

Had occasion to be in Wheaton recently while dealing with the results of number one son's traffic accident. After braving the court system successfully, we decided a celebratory father/son luncheon was in order. Luong Loi was our choice. This is primarily a Vietnamese place on Main Street, though they also do the odd chinese dish, which probably explains their success where other Vietnamese places in Wheaton, some better, have come and gone. While it probably attains no more than the level of very good at its best, Luong Loi does offer good grilled meats with lemongrass, a very serviceable Pho, and lots more. And given that there is no competition in the Vietnamese space in these parts, when I need a Pho, it is where I go (which should not really rhyme, btw). It had been far too long since I last went, and I will be back soon. Actually, I found the food much better than I remembered, but perhaps that was the company.

To be continued in a subsequent posts(s).

Yamado
929 E Ogden
Naperville, IL 60563-2855
630-983-3564 (they have some promotions and deals on half price sushi for lunch on Saturday and maybe dinner on Tuesday, not 100% certain on when, and I recommned going anytime and having the good stuff)

Luong Loi
110 N. Main St.
Wheaton, IL 60187
630-653-8250

ByBys

Soccer season alwasy brings me back this time of year (see this for more http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=99&highlight=bybys). This place is, in many ways, the ultimate LTH ethnic gem. A tiny store front, with 4 tables, a counter, and members of the family sort of living up front. The night I was there, the owner was in back cooking, and the just pre-teen daughter was running the front while doing her biology homework, watching a special on Selena on Univision (I sure did not know Gloria Estefan was still working), and singing along quietly and very pleasantly. Heck, just that was worth the visit, as I settled in happily.

They excel in their various sopes. I had a Tlacoyo topped with nopales, a little beans and some hot sauce (think blue corn blini topped with these savory delights), and a huarache with al pastor. They also make some mean quesadillas with just about any filling you can imagine, something they call a Oaxaquena, which is really a Tlayuda, and lots of other tasty, and hard-to-find, authentic regional fast food items. It does not attain the gourmandise level of Amanacer, which is probably why I have neglected it for a bit, but they routinely serve huitlacoche (probably canned, but a damned good quesadilla none the less), flor de calabaza, and many interesting specials. And where else can you get brain tacos out here? Good spicy and warm red salsa, too.

ByBys is worth a trip.

Bybys
142 West Washington Street, West Chicago, IL 60185

N'ville Indian roundup

The golden days of Naperville Indian food seem to be behind us. Bharatmela is in a bit of a decline, based on recent tastings. One still can get a pleasant Thali, and some reasonable breads, but they are taking many short cuts, cutting back on the quality and breadth of the buffet offerings, and I just have not found it anywhere near as good as in its first year of operation.

Swagat remains the place of choice, with southern Indian selections, strong roti and dosa offerings, and an excellent Thali. They now offer a lunch buffet which is passable - good in that the seasoning is more than than the norm at placs out here, but a fairly small selection, and as with most buffets the quality really is nowhere near what one gets when ordering fresh from the kitchen.

Cuisine of India offers northern Indian and can also do quite well when one orders from the kitchen. They have added some Chinese/Indian dishes over the years that are also of interest, and it remains the Bride's Indian of choice (though as shown by her selection in spouse, I believe that loyalty tends to trump all else for her, admirable but perhaps not discriminating?). Their lunch buffet is also best in terms of breadth and general quality, but I find the seasoning to be highly variable ranging from a decent level of spices and heat on one visit, to pretty bland on the next.

The Indian fast food joint, Ruchi, continues to offer a very reasonable and quick lunch, though it appears to be on its third owner in three years. Have not yet stopped by to see if the food has changed much. The last incarnation was probably the most consistently spicy of the choices out here, but ordering from the prepared offerings quality was just okay.

The only new option is an outpost of Sizzle India on Route 59. I have not yet been, but have been told that it is decent. nothing to die for. Similar to what is on offer in Schaumburg. I will go soon and report on my impressions.

Sadly, the days of new places every couple of months, competing to be the most delectable, seem to be behind us.

Cuisine of India
1255 E Ogden Ave
Naperville, IL 60563
Phone: (630) 548-9440

Swagat Indian Cuisine
1570 W Ogden Ave
Naperville 60540
(630) 420-7565

Bharatmela - Hunan Inn (yes, they continue to be 2 restaurants under one roof, so the family can order mediocre chinese with their indian)
8 w. Gartner Rd, Suite#116
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 357-6240

Ruchi Cuisine
417 E Ogden Ave
Naperville, 60563
(630) 717-7977

Sizzle India
1904 Brookdale, Naperville
Tel: (630) 305-9800

Dickson,

thanks for the roundup. The one time I was out at bharatmela, I noticed a catering menu full of interesting choices, do you know if they would be convinced to make any of those on a per order basis?

In the interest of completeness, there's also Indian Harvest at Ogden and Cress Creek. I think their buffet is generally better than the others mentioned. Cuisine of India's buffet can be quite good, but it's inconsistent.

Ruchi has a new name (and I believe new owners). I don't remember the new name off the top of my head. Friends that have been there for lunch do not give it high marks. I haven't tried it since it's changed.

I think the dosa combo at Swagat is the best bet overall. I especially like the mysore masala dosa. Come's with idlyl, sambar and vada. Always made fresh.


Tim

Zim - I have not tired to special order at Bharatmela, but I suspect they would do it, given a little notice.

Tim - Complete agreement about the Dosa combo and Swagat. I go back and try Indian Harvest every couple of years, and every time I do this round up someone mentions it. Last time I went, and it has been a while (though my experiences there over the years have been consistent) I found the food to be exceedingly buttery and mildly spiced. Tender meats, rich sauces. Not bad, but not to my taste.

Ruchi has always been about quick and cheap, but it also is the spiciest lunch option, though I have yet to try the newest incarnation. Maybe today, and I will try to get the new name.

Re: Luong Loi in Wheaton

dicksond wrote:And given that there is no competition in the Vietnamese space in these parts, when I need a Pho, it is where I go

What about Nyã Ý? (that's Nya(squigly) Y(squigly) if your browser doesn't support it.) It's about 3 miles north of Luong Loi. Luong Loi is a Chinese/Vietnamese mixture, but Nyã Ý is Vietnamese (at least what I think of as Vietnamese). They have a wider Pho selection than Luong Loi, plus many other traditional Vietnamese dishes.

Nya Y is on St. Charles in Carol Stream. It's just east of Schmeal.

Nya Y
632 E. St. Charles
Carol Stream, IL
630-682-6310



Tim

Hey, I just want to thank everyone for these posts. A lot of what is posted here concentrates on the city - it is nice to get some suburban discussion going!!

Christine

What about Nyã Ý? (that's Nya(squigly) Y(squigly) if your browser doesn't support it.) It's about 3 miles north of Luong Loi. Luong Loi is a Chinese/Vietnamese mixture, but Nyã Ý is Vietnamese (at least what I think of as Vietnamese). They have a wider Pho selection than Luong Loi, plus many other traditional Vietnamese dishes.

You know there are also Pho Ha and Pho Saigon in Glendale Heights. I have tried Pho Saigon, and enjoyed it, but not Ha. The mystery to me is why there are two Pho places and a third Vietnamese restaurant in such close proximity. And there used to be a fourth just a bit south on the border of Carol Stream and Wheaton. Clearly a decent sized community out here, though when I have inquired about that in the places in Wheaton, I was told there was no such community.

Anyway, I will venture to Nya Y sometime for dinner. It is a bit far for lunch.

Pho Ha
1232 Bloomingdale Rd
Glendale Heights, 60139
(630) 681-8325

Pho Saigon
1971 Bloomingdale Rd
Glendale Heights, 60139
(630) 894-4000

You are welcome Christine. My role is to be the token west suburbanite in LTH, but I have been a bit of a slacker of late.

Indian update -

Have not yet made it to whatever Ruchi is, but I did get to Swagat for lunch today. The buffet is much improved, and very strong in vegetarian choices with 4 or 5 dishes, plus sambar and a clear broth whose name I forget, plus VI's favorite, Rice Curd, and of course Raita. They also still do the Tandoori chicken fresh for you with the buffet, and provide a very pleasant Dosa. Te Nan is a bit on the heavy and chewy side, and like pretty much all buffets out here, it is not very hot, but it was flavorful and good.

Good news:

What was Ruchi became Monpasand - still a fast food Indian place whose main offering is a selection of dishes on a steam table in front - two curries and rice being a meal. The first edition of Monpasand was, on multiple visits, pretty mediocre. The seasoning was okay, but the ingredients were not good.

Today I went back because it was convenient, and I felt a hunger for an Indian lunch. There are new owners yet again, and the food is much better. I had Aloo Gobi, Chicken Curry, and some of each of the two rices they were offering - lemon & cilantro.

Flavors were fresh, ingredients quite good. The only quibble is that they backed off the heat in the dishes quite a bit, so I was not able to break into a good healthy sweat a I would have with the old owners. But the food was quite good, and at $3.99 a real bargain. Wonderful news for anyone searching out a good, quick, cheap Indian meal in N'ville. The kitchen also will make food to order, inclduing Biryani, so I will order 1/2 tray and report back one of these days.

Go now and support this place before it closes again!

Monpasand
417 E Ogden Ave
Naperville, 60563
(630) 717-7977 (not sure about this phone #, it might have changed).

dicksond wrote:The kitchen also will make food to order, inclduing Biryani, so I will order 1/2 tray and report back one of these days.

The biryani is usually pretty good. I sometimes stop by after work and get an order to go. A lot of food for ~$5.50.

I believe they offer both chicken & goat biryani. (I've only had the chicken.)

Tim

Thanks, Tim, for the info on the Biryani. I will get an order soon.

Another update, or why I hate Joy Yee.

Recovering from stomach flu, I decided to venture out for my first meal in a week - Udon seemed safe. Wanted to avoid Yamado, because I was pretty sure the owner would offer me sushi, and I might accept, which seemed inadvisable. So I headed for Sakura. Which appears to have passed away in the face of so much competition. Oh well, no great loss there but they were the only Japanese place in N'ville for years.

So I headed thru Iroquois Center and spied Joy Yee Noodle, which I forgot for the moment was the same place as the one I despise in Chinatown. Once I walked in the door I realized my mistake, but figured I should try it.

Chicken Udon was amazing in a sense - chicken broth with loads of shredded chicken. Seemed like at least 1/2 pound. Plus a few chopped scallions, some sprouts and even some udon hidden at the bottom of the bowl, if one searched. Uninspiring and not really Udon, but I did get my protein. The place was pulsing with noise and busy with young N'ville hitting the lunch specials, and I wanted to hand out cards for the Chinese Bakery, Tea & Sympathy in the Center, Fab Noodles and Yamado, but even though their food is better, they clearly do not have Joy Yee's vibe. I suppose it is better than Stir Crazy or BD's Mongolian BBQ, it just made me sad to see.

Naperville is currently awash in Pan-Asian hot spots, and against that competition Joy Yee is darned good, if not any place I will go back to, intentionally.

Grumble, grumble, grumble.

Joy Yee Noodle
1136 East Ogden (Iroquois Center, near Starbucks and Quizno's!!)
Naperville
630-579-6800

dicksond wrote:and I wanted to hand out cards for the Chinese Bakery, Tea & Sympathy in the Center, Fab Noodles and Yamado...

The Chinese bakery, Tea and Sympathy, has closed as far as I can tell. The store where it used to be looks vacant.

dicksond wrote:Monpasand
417 E Ogden Ave
Naperville, 60563

I have tried the two-item $3.99 combo twice. The first time was ok, the second time was much better.

BTW, I haven't read the sign very closely, but that word is usually spelled "Manpasand" and is pronounced "Mun-puh-sun-nthe". It loosely translates to "something that the mind likes". Mun = mind, pasand = likes.

Another place to try out is Banda Nawaz (pronounced Bun-they Nawaz) in Oakbrook Terrace. It is a small, Pakistani, mainly carry out place with only a couple of folding tables. When it first opened a couple of years ago, I heard it was somehow related to Ghareeb Nawaz on Devon, but I'm not sure. They have a similar menu and almost similar prices, but the food at Ghareeb Nawaz is much better. But this place is not bad for the burbs. I like the gyros-paratha roll. For $2.75 it is great value.

Banda Nawaz
17W612 14th St.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Tel: 866 889 0786
http://www.bandanawaz.com

Another place I haven't seen mentioned here is KM Oriental Mart in Downers Grove. It's a family-run Phillipino grocery store that also sells fresh-made Phillipino food at the back. Seems to be quite popular among Phillipino folk. It is located on the northwest corner of 75th St and Lemont Rd, at the far west end of that strip mall next to the mattress store. They have a two-item combo for $4.99, which I quite like. It is better to visit at lunch time as things start getting over in the evening. On Saturdays, they often have a goat curry, which is nice. They also sell Phillipino deserts.

KM Oriental Supermart Inc.
1602 75th Street
Downers Grove, IL
Tel: (630) 960-2310
Monday closed

Thanks for the info, jow - now I can add guilt that I did not support Tea & Sympathy better, too.

Since you have taken this to Filipino-land, and added another Downers/Darien Filipino choice, here is a link to a thread on Cebu, and also Unimart which is located just a little west on 75th and sounds like a direct competitor to KM: http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=35719#35719

It is a very encouraging development in general - this addition of ethnic grocery stores that offer fast food. There are a number of asian versions of it, and I have seen a couple of Mexican ones in Aurora. I need to try to sample more of them.