Argyle/Little Vietnam

Hi everyone!

My bf and I love to explore and hang out in new neighbourhoods. One of the neighbourhoods we've never been to is the Argyle/Broadway area that's known for its heavenly Vietnamese restaurants and we're thinking of venturing there this weekend. I was just wondering if you have any restaurant reccomendations for that neighbourhood and if there's anything fun/educational/cultural to do there? Thanks, y'all!

None of my recommendations are for Vietnamese restaurants per se, but they are in that neighborhood.

My favorite is Sun Wah, a hole in the wall Chinese bbq, it is cheap, delicious, and definitely not fancy. My faves are the Soy Sauce Chicken, Hong Kong Style Pork, BBQ Duck, egg rolls, Hot and Sour Soup, and the Mai Fun Noodles, the supreme soup with shrimp dumplings is also delightful.

Sun Wah Bar-B-Q Restaurant
1132 W Argyle St
(773) 769-1254

Here are some other places that I like to go

Thai Avenue
4949 N Broadway
Chicago
773-878-2222

Silver Seafood
4829 N. Broadway Ave.
(773) 784-0668
Try the Oysters they are great

Tai Nam Grocery
4925 North Broadway Street J
(773) 275-5666
Crowded asian market, great deals on tofu, noodles, frozen dumplings, and the like. They also have amazing looking seafood on ice in bins.

In addition to those good picks, look at the obvious: Tank, Ba Le, Thai Grocery, Broadway Supermarket, and Dong Ky, all are Viet except for the one that isn't.

we are big fans of Cafe Huoang, just west of Sheridan on Argyle. I like the pork chop and shrimp combo and have been wowed by the anything in spicy basil sauce dish, they also do a lovely non-greasy Ban Xeo, crispy "pancake" filled with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts. It's BYOB, but an old-school Foremost liquor is just down the street.

If you want to make an adventure out of it, duck into the watch repair place at around Kenmore. You can buy an alarm clock in a dizzying array of cutesy animal shapes and score some Hello Kitty or Bats Maru bandaids on the other side of the shop. There's a lively grocery store in this same block where you can have fun checking out the produce and sweets and snacks. And there are a few kitschy bamboo/buddha shops worth ducking into. We also like the steamed bun bakeries right under the El tracks. I am a quiet fan of Thai Grocery on Broadway (west side) at Argyle. They have a crazy wonderful staff that speaks about 6 languages and you can score spices and cool serving pans and tripe and you know, anything you need. Where else can you witness a Guatemalan worker talking with a Thai owner about the pork skin they are selling?

good luck and have fun,

bjt

cuteheart1977 wrote:Here are some other places that I like to go

Thai Avenue
4949 N Broadway
Chicago
773-878-2222

Thai Avenue was closed by the Health Department yesterday.

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I recently led a tour of the Argyle Neighbourhood for Slow Food Chicago.

Here is the info. which I provided the group in the form of a handout:

Resources & References for the Uptown Neighborhood

1. Uptown Chicago Commision -- http://www.uptownchicagocommission.org

2. Friends of the Uptown Theatre -- http://www.uptowntheatre.com

3. Essanay Studios -- http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/E/EssanayStudios.html

4. C.P.L. (Bezazian) -- http://chicagopubliclibrary.org/002bran ... azian.html

5. Uptown Neighborhood Council -- http://www.uncchicago.org

6. Uptown Historical Society -- http://www.uptownhistoricalsociety.org

7. Uptown Community Development Corp. -- http://www.upcorp.org

8. Vietnamese Association of Illinois -- http://www.v-a-i.net

9. Chinese Mutual Aid Association -- http://www.chinesemutualaid.org

Markets & Grocers

1. Trung Viet -- 4936 N. Sheridan, 773.561.0042

2. Hoa Nam -- 1101 W. Argyle, 773.275.9157

3. Viet Hoa -- 1051 W. Argyle, 773.334.1028

4. Vinh Tho -- 1112 W. Argyle, 773.275.2985

5. Sea World Food -- 1130 W. Argyle, 773.334.5335

6. Tai Nam -- 4925 N. Broadway, 773.275.5666

7. Thai Grocery -- 5014 N. Broadway, 773.561.5345

8. Thailand Food Corp. -- 4821 N. Broadway, 773.728.1199

9. Broadway Supermarket -- 4879 N. Broadway, 773.334.3838

10. Golden Pacific Market -- 5353 N. Broadway, 773.334.6688

11. Old World Market – 5129 N. Broadway, 773-989-4440

Restaurants,Cafés, Bakeries, Etc.

1. Dong Ky – 4877 N. Broadway, 773.989.5579

Recs: Hu Tieu Trieu Chau, Mi Quang, Bun Nuoc Leo, Ga Xao Xa Ot, Lau Mam Do Bien

2. Dong Thanh – 4925 B. N. Broadway, 773.275.4928

Recs: Bun Cari Ga, Hu Tieu Bo Sate, Bun Rieu, Hu Tieu Dong Thanh, Mi Ga Da Don, Hu Tieu Xao Bo, Chao (Various), Bun Nuoc Leo, Canh Chua Ca, Ca Kho To

3. Pho Xe Tang (Tank) – 4953 N. Broadway, 773.878.2253

Recs: Sup Mang Cua, Goi Du Du, Goi Ngo Sen, Goi Cuon, Banh Hoi Nem Nuong, Banh Cuon Cha Lua, Banh Mi Xiu mai, Banh Mi Ga, Chao (Various), Pho, Mi Vit Tiem, Mi Bo Kho, Hu Tieu Do Bien, Hu Tieu Kho Dac Biet, Bun Bo Nuong-Tom-Cha Gio, Bun Rieu, Bun Mam, Com Cari Ga, Com Bo Bit Tet, Com Bo Luc Lac, Com Ga Xao Sa Ot, Gia Xao He, Ca Nuc Muoi Sa Ot, Ca Kho To, Bo Tai Chanh, Thit Heo Xao Mam Ruot, Bo Nhung Dam, Suon Heo Nuong Sa Ot, Rau Muong Xao Chao

4. Pho 888 – 1137 W. Arglye, 773.907.8838

Recs: Cha Lua & Cha Chien (Housemade), Cari De (Curried Goat), Com Ga Hai Nam, Goi Cuon Bo Nuong, Banh Mi Thit Nguoi, Banh Mi Thit Nuong

5. Thai Binh – 1113 W. Argyle, 773.728.0283

6. Sun Sun Snack Shop – 1117 W. Argyle, 773.769.5122

7. Hong Xuong Bakery – 1139 W. Arglye, 773.878.2888

Recs: Chinese-Style Baked Goods & Snacks, Che

8. Chiu Quon Bakery – 1127 W. Argyle, 773.907.8888

Recs: Chinese-Style Baked Goods & Snacks

9. Pho 777 – 1065 W. Argyle, 773.561.9909

Recs: Pho, Bun Bo Hue, Ca Nuong Da Gion, Ca Bay Mon (Fish Seven Ways)

10. Double Happiness – 1061 W. Argyle, 773.334.3735

11. Hai Yen – 1055 W. Argyle, 773.561.4077

Recs: Bo Bay Mon (Beef Seven Ways), Bo La Lot, Bo Lui, Hu Tieu/Mi My Tho Dac Biet, Mi Quang, Banh Uot Cha Lua, Banh Beo Vi Da, Cari Ga, Tom Rang Muoi Co Vo, Rau Muong Xao Toi

12. Pho Xe Lua – 1021 W. Argyle, 773.275.7512

Recs: Cha Gio, Ca Thit Kho To, Pho, Luon Xao Xa Ot, Heo Ram Man, Com Mam Chung Thit Heo, Mi Trieu Chau, Mi Bo Kho, Banh Mi (Various)

13. Café Láo – 1007 W. Argyle, 773.275.5092

14. La Banh Mi Hung Phat – 4940 N. Sheridan, 773.878.8688

Recs: Banh Mi (Various), Sweets, Drinks, and Snacks

15. Vinh Phat BBQ – 4940 N. Sheridan, 773.878.8688

Recs: Roasted Duck

16. Café Hoang – 1010 W. Argyle, 773.878.9943

Recs: Banh Xeo, Goi Ga, Spicy Lemon Beef Salad, Bun Bo Hue

17. Nhu Hoa – 1020 W. Argyle, 773.878.0618

Recs: Bo Bay Mon (Beef Seven Ways), Goi Cuon Nem Nuong, Lau Ca Dua Cai Chua, Ca Kho To, Ga Kho Gung, Keng Som Kay (Laotian Sour Soup), Laotioan Salads (Various)

18. Ahn-Linh – 1032 W. Argyle, 773.506.4848

19. Hong Kee BBQ – 1064 W. Argyle, 773.878.6650

Cantonese-Style Roasted Pork & Poultry, Rice Plates, Noodle Soups, Etc.

The roasted pork at this establishment is particularly good.

20. Tien Giang – 1104 W. Argyle, 773.275.8691

Recs: Goi Cuon, Goi Kho Bo Cay, Banh Hoi Bo Nuong La Lot, Bo Cuon, Mi Kho Dau Hau, Bun Mam, Hu Tieu Trieu Chau, Hu Tieu My Tho, Com Dac Biet, Com Suong Non, Muc Xao Dua Cai, Bo Xao Xa Lach Son, Heo Ram Man, Heo Kho Hot Vit, Lau Ca, Hen Xuc Banh Trang, Canh Ca Chien Don, Ech Chien Bo, Ngheu Luoc, Dua Cai Chua Xao Trung

21. Sun Wah Bar-B-Q – 1132-34 W. Argyle, 773.769.1254

Cantonese-Style Roasted Pork & Poultry, Rice Plates, Noodle Soups, Etc.

The roasted poultry at this establishment is particularly good.

22. BaLe – 5018 N. Broadway, 773.561.4424

Recs: Banh Mi (Various) , Cha Lua Que, Nem Chua, Iced Coffee, Com Ga Nuong

24. New Saigon – 5000 N. Broadway, 773.334.3322

25. Furama – 4936 N. Broadway, 773.271.1161

Reliable Weekday/Weekend Dim Sum Service (W/ Carts)

26. Silver Seafood – 4829 N. Broadway, 773.784.0668

Reliable Hong Kong-style Cantonese Food.

Recs: Spicy & Salty Cuttlefish, Steamed Clams, Lobster With Ginger & Green Onion, Spices Salted Beef Spare Ribs, Bitter Melon with Black Bean Sauce

27. Thai Pastry – 4925 N. Broadway, Unit E, 773.784.5399

Recs: Thai Sweets (Various), Village Creamery Ice Cream (Various)

28. Pho Hoa – 4925 N. Broadway, 773.784.8723

29. Thai Avenue – 4949 N. Broadway, 773.878.2222

Well-executed, high-quality Thai standards. Take note of the native Thai offerings.

My Thai language menu translation can be found at http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=35451#35451

30. Mei Shung – 5511 N. Broadway, 773.728.5778

Take note of the Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese Specialties

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The word on the street is that I am leading another tour of the Argyle Neighbourhood for Slow Food Chicago sometime this summer.

E.M.

Eric M. - I have to de-lurk to say thank you so much for your detailed post. It's a great reference with a lot of places (especially markets) that I didn't know about. I'm really looking forward to checking these places out.

-Jen

Erik M: Thanks for the fantastic Argyle guide . . . this will come in very handy.

I notice one place not mentioned was La Patisserie P which was just written up in the Chicago Tribune. Has anyone tried it? Any thoughts?

I now live in the West Loop, so I don't get up to Argyle as much as I'd like. Sun Wah leaves a lot to be desired in terms of ambience, but the food is great. The BBQ duck is cruchy but moist. Two fish dishes are standouts: fish filet with brocolli (from the regular menu) and the ubiquitous special of steamed sole topped with scallions, ginger and ham.
Also tasty is the beef chow fun. Highly recommend this place.

BR wrote:I notice one place not mentioned was La Patisserie P which was just written up in the Chicago Tribune. Has anyone tried it? Any thoughts?

I am not generally keen on sweets and baked goods, so those sorts of things were underrepresented on my list.

I do apolgize.

--------

At the request of a few members of my tour group we stopped in at La Patisserie P and I am so glad that we did.

We had an enjoyable visit with the owner, and we were able to sample a wide array of offerings.

I was very favourably impressed.

La Patisserie P
1050-1052 W. Argyle
773.878.3226

E.M.

echoing the comments about la patisserie p, as a relative activist in the neighborhood, and particularly with regard to argyle st., la patisserie p represents everything that i want and hope for argyle.

not only does peter, the owner, turn out exquisitely presented, and great tasting, pastries, but he caters to both the asian elements of the community and also to a wider audience with his western-style baked goods. i regularly enjoy the bakery's asian buns, and we had peter create my daughter's birthday cake. it's a unique place. if you're planning a trip to argyle, i'd strongly recommend stopping in.

peter has also created a modern and open space that would be perfectly placed in such tony places as lincoln park or ukranian village. sadly and pleasantly, for now his place sticks out on a still relatively shabby looking argyle. it is my hope and expectation that la patisserie p will lead to an increased focus by the property owners and merchants on the street to clean up their spaces. there are strong indications that it already has.

fwiw, there was a great write up of la patisserie p and of peter in the wednesday trib's good eating section -- http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/ ... 0100.story.

Erik M. wrote:

BR wrote:I notice one place not mentioned was La Patisserie P which was just written up in the Chicago Tribune. Has anyone tried it? Any thoughts?

I am not generally keen on sweets and baked goods, so those sorts of things were underrepresented on my list.

I do apolgize.

Hardly a need to apologize after providing the very thorough guide that you did . . . but thanks for the follow-up.

BR wrote:Erik M: Thanks for the fantastic Argyle guide . . . this will come in very handy.

I notice one place not mentioned was La Patisserie P which was just written up in the Chicago Tribune. Has anyone tried it? Any thoughts?

My previous review on another website of La Patisserie:

Took a walking tour of Viet-Chinatown in Argyle this weekend and visited all the bakeries along the way. Stepped into this nice looking bakery and went a little overboard in my purchases. This bakery has traditional Chinese baked goods, as well as Western style pastries and cakes (cannolis, napoleons and eclairs) as well as Western-style cakes. Purchased a package of steamed chicken buns (10 to a package at $7), steamed char-siu buns (BBQ pork, also 10 to a pkg at $7), some baked pastries and some "cake scraps" (when they trim their cakes or cake-rolls, they collect the edges in a bag which they sell for $.75- kinda like broke pieces found in other Western bakeries). Came home and was severely disappointed with the steamed buns - miniscule filling and even worse, the texture of the bun was all wrong - dry and crumbly. Who'd have thought such a clean, nice and classy-looking place would sell such horrible buns (and now I had 20 of them, ugh). A bad sign when I got home was noticing that the packages of buns were actually cold (as if they were previously made and had sat in the fridge) - in any Chinatown bakery these buns would have been fresh and even maybe warm. Also, in my baked bun selections, I had bought a green bean and a red bean bun (they gave me two reds instead). The baked buns were tasty, albeit small. Considering there are less expensive and better quality pastries in other Chinatown bakeries, I'd be hard-pressed to visit this bakery again."

foo d wrote:echoing the comments about la patisserie p, as a relative activist in the neighborhood, and particularly with regard to argyle st., la patisserie p represents everything that i want and hope for argyle.

not only does peter, the owner, turn out exquisitely presented, and great tasting, pastries, but he caters to both the asian elements of the community and also to a wider audience with his western-style baked goods. i regularly enjoy the bakery's asian buns, and we had peter create my daughter's birthday cake. it's a unique place. if you're planning a trip to argyle, i'd strongly recommend stopping in.

peter has also created a modern and open space that would be perfectly placed in such tony places as lincoln park or ukranian village. sadly and pleasantly, for now his place sticks out on a still relatively shabby looking argyle. it is my hope and expectation that la patisserie p will lead to an increased focus by the property owners and merchants on the street to clean up their spaces. there are strong indications that it already has.

fwiw, there was a great write up of la patisserie p and of peter in the wednesday trib's good eating section -- http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/ ... 0100.story.

Another eatery which seems to have gone a similar route in Argyle Viet-Chinatown is Ba Le, but unfortunately I did an abrupt about-face upon walking in, seeing the fare and prices and clientele. Overpriced in comparison to more traditional bahn mi places and a strange ambiance/setting - like seeing the result of a deviant mating btwn a hole-in-the-wall bahn mi shop and Starbucks (or rather PF Changs on a smaller scale). Having spent two years in Houston and frequenting the vast sprawling Viet-Chinatown there, Ba Le was a freakish and garish personification of what I "enjoy" as a Vietnamese "sandwich shop." In the end however, I have to say they have what appears to be a most excellent business model, and setup to be highly successful (kinda like Joy Yee's - which I also loathe).

What's up with referring to Argyle/Uptown as Little Chinatown, or god forbid, Viet-Chinatown?

When I lived on Argyle in the mid-90's it was always...haha..."Li'l Saigon" or, simply, and non-pedantic, "Argyle St."


fyi: Ba Le IS a nationwide chain supplying Delta? with french bread, as well.

Christopher Gordon wrote:What's up with referring to Argyle/Uptown as Little Chinatown, or god forbid, Viet-Chinatown?

When I lived on Argyle in the mid-90's it was always...haha..."Li'l Saigon" or, simply, and non-pedantic, "Argyle St."


fyi: Ba Le IS a nationwide chain supplying Delta? with french bread, as well.

Because it IS a Viet-Chinatown - many of the shops/restaurants are owned/run by Chinese-expatriates who "grew up" in Vietnam and are mixed families w/ Chinese and Vietnamese heritage - therefore they often speak Cantonese and Vietnamese among other Southeast Asian languages. It is a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese family-owned businesses. I place the hypen to indicate this as a mixed cultural enclave, not as the way you took it to mean. If it was majority or entirely Vietnamese, I would have called it Viet-town.

Very interesting re: Ba Le - I visited their website and they seem to have 25 locations in Hawaii, but the Chicago location is not listed. Same chain?

http://www.ba-le.com/

Here's Ba Le Chicago's website
http://www.balechicago.com/

They both seem to use the same Eiffel Tower logo - Ba Le does mean Paris in Vietnamese.

History of Hawaii's Ba Le Founder
http://app1.sba.gov/sbsuccess/2002/dsp_ ... ?Bus_ID=12

Looks like his company supplies to hotels, multiple airlines as well as Hawaii's Papa John's (their pizza dough).

Ba-Le Franchise Corporation

Locations

Jay K wrote:

Christopher Gordon wrote:What's up with referring to Argyle/Uptown as Little Chinatown, or god forbid, Viet-Chinatown?

When I lived on Argyle in the mid-90's it was always...haha..."Li'l Saigon" or, simply, and non-pedantic, "Argyle St."


fyi: Ba Le IS a nationwide chain supplying Delta? with french bread, as well.

Because it IS a Viet-Chinatown - many of the shops/restaurants are owned/run by Chinese-expatriates who "grew up" in Vietnam and are mixed families w/ Chinese and Vietnamese heritage - therefore they often speak Cantonese and Vietnamese among other Southeast Asian languages. It is a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese family-owned businesses. I place the hypen to indicate this as a mixed cultural enclave, not as the way you took it to mean. If it was majority or entirely Vietnamese, I would have called it Viet-town.

Very interesting re: Ba Le - I visited their website and they seem to have 25 locations in Hawaii, but the Chicago location is not listed. Same chain?

http://www.ba-le.com/

Here's Ba Le Chicago's website
http://www.balechicago.com/

They both seem to use the same Eiffel Tower logo - Ba Le does mean Paris in Vietnamese.

History of Hawaii's Ba Le Founder
http://app1.sba.gov/sbsuccess/2002/dsp_ ... ?Bus_ID=12

Looks like his company supplies to hotels, multiple airlines as well as Hawaii's Papa John's (their pizza dough).

Not that I'll change my ways ...but thank you for the clarification on "Viet-Chinatown"...it always(not that you did this, mind you) chaps my ass when I hear people refer to Argyle, etc. as "Little Chinatown."

I would've linked to the Ba Le info myself, but figured Google was a click away.

Now, the story I read in some guidebook years ago offers a different spin, which is not strictly mutually exclusive with the above: in the 60s and 70s there was a group of younger Chinese businessmen who felt hemmed in by 1) the traditional boundaries of Chinatown, which had been barred from expanding by the neighborhoods around it such as Bridgeport, and 2) the power of the old On Leong Association crowd (back in the days before the Feds raided and seized their clubhouse).

These Young Turks (so to speak) went up to Argyle to start a second Chinatown out of On Leong control. This action coincided with the Vietnamese boat people and so on, and so their new Chinatown became a natural place for freshly-arrived Vietnamese to settle (especially, I suspect, given the strong presence of social services agencies in Uptown).

Anyway, that's what I remember reading....

P.S. Encyclopedia of Chicago supports the Chinese-from-Vietnam story here...

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory. ... /1305.html

AND the escape-old-Chinatown angle here:

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory. ... s/285.html

But you have to go to an article on Tongs here to get the skinny:

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory. ... /1259.html

I am working from memories of the time, but Jimmy Wong was a big backer of what he promoted as Chinatown North along Argyle. As Mike G noted, Chinatown was very much landlocked at the time by expressways and railroad tracks. Both On Leong and crime were problems with particular crime problems east of the Cermak el stop. Bridgeport had a lot of discrimination against all nonwhites, particularly before fair housing laws were passed.

Jimmy Wong had two large touristy Cantonese restaurants. One was on Wabash just south of the Loop while the other was on Peterson not too far east of Lincoln. He put some money where his mouth was by purchasing some real estate near the Argyle el stop. That area was at least borderline slum at the time although revival efforts were underway. Unfortunately, few Chinese people were interested. Places like Skokie seemed like better bets than Uptown. The arrival of refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia provided impetus for what the area became. The presence of social service agencies and cheap (in both senses of the term) housing and transportation also contributed. Unfortunately, Jimmy Wong did not live long enough to see how his dream worked out.

Need it be heralded yet again: this is what makes LTHforum such a great dialog. Thanks for the links and info.

Jay K wrote:Ba Le does mean Paris in Vietnamese.

No, it's not.
The correct name of this bakery franchise is Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ

Paris in Vietnamese is written as Ba Lê
http://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pari

When these 2 words are written without the true Vietnamese fonts, they end up looking the same as Ba Le (thus probably why the franchise uses the Eiffel Tower as the logo).

Regards,

Nghe

Nghe wrote:No, it's not.
The correct name of this bakery franchise is Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ

pardon our ignorance, what does Ba Lẹ mean exactly? and is it possible for the owners to actually convey Ba Lê but was unwilling to pay the franchising fees?

Jay K wrote:Ba Le, but unfortunately I did an abrupt about-face upon walking in, seeing the fare and prices and clientele. Overpriced in comparison to more traditional bahn mi places and a strange ambiance/setting - like seeing the result of a deviant mating btwn a hole-in-the-wall bahn mi shop and Starbucks... (snip snip).. Ba Le was a freakish and garish personification of what I "enjoy" as a Vietnamese "sandwich shop."

Chicago Ba Le's westernization is neither freakish nor garish. Observe "Mr. Baguette" in Rosemead, as well as the sprawling Lee's Sandwiches franchise in California (now also avail in AZ and TX). What I'd like to call the "banh mi shop cleanup" seems a natural progression for this niche food: Lee's Sandwich now has a 24 hour Subway sandwich substitute on UCI campus. In many locations, Lee's has a diverse, multi-generational, multi-ethnic clientele which would not be feasible without the hybrid facilities. Even Lee's sandwich #1 in San Jose at 6th and Santa Clara (as I was told over the phone yesterday) is a modernized fast food restaurant w/ fancy LCD order systems constantly flashing commercials. FWIW, Ba Le's prices, while obscene, is in tune with other banh mi shops around Argle.

Mr. Baguette
http://www.mrbaguettesandwiches.com/
8702 E Valley Boulevard
Rosemead, California 91770
T: 626-288-9166, 626-288-9133
F: 626-288-8733

Lee's Sandwiches
http://www.leesandwiches.com/

disclaimer: i do not personally eat at Mr. B's or Lee's sandwiches. che Cali in Westminster FTW.

TonyC wrote:pardon our ignorance, what does Ba Lẹ mean exactly? and is it possible for the owners to actually convey Ba Lê but was unwilling to pay the franchising fees?

According to this article regarding the franchise's history:
http://mail.saigon.com/pipermail/vnbiz/2003-January/000595.html

the name Ba Lẹ came from the original bakery owner's name - Mr. Võ Văn Lẹ . Later on, around 1990, the current franchise's owner - Mr. Lâm Quốc Thanh, has decided to modify the business name to Ba Lê (i.e Paris) to make the franchise more recognizable by mainstream population. Vietnamese around the world still use the term Ba Lẹ to refer to this bakery chain rather than Ba Lê .

I go to Sun Wah or Hong Kee for lunch whenever I am in the area. Sun Wah has the better reputation for Roast Duck but Hong Kee is not far behind. I usually get my won ton soup at Hong Kee but Sun Wah has a better lunch. Sun Wah offers a plate where you can choose a sample of three of their bbq items such as char siu, roast duck, roast pork, or soy sauce chicken over rice and half of a salty egg. As a previous poster noted, their fish fillet (sole) over chinese broccoli and cantonese noodles is also a tasty choice.

Chiu Quon bakery also has a store in old Chinatown but the one at Argyle is better. On Wednesday, there is a senior citizen discount. Their egg custard tarts are very good as are their version of honey noodles s'mores. They also offer bags of yellow sponge cake clippings which you can purchase cheaply, eat by itself or add your own frosting. Those get snapped up fast. They also have an item called "tofu fa" which consists of tofu in a sweet (they usually add the sugar syrup) watery base. It can be eaten cold but sometimes served warm. Moon cakes - see below.

When the Moon festival is around the corner in September and early October, I typically buy my moon cakes at the Viet Hoa market where they have imports from Hong Kong and even Mainland China. Also Viet Hoa will occasionally have lychees when they are in season. The lychees are worth trying if you never had them before (okay, even from a can if the fresh version is not available). Incredibly I have seen lychees at Valli supermarket in Arlington Heights but shoppers didn't know what to make of the fruit. LOL.

I have enjoyed the moon cakes when I use to live on sunnyside. Gooood and tasty stuff.

Fresh lychees are also currently available at the Marketplace on Oakton. They had great-looking green papayas on hand, too, when I was there on Saturday. Love that place. Best Asian produce selection in Chicagoland, to my mind, though admittedly they are always sans durian. Oh, well.

Some friends and I are planning an outing to Argyle St, but one person in our group is a vegetarian (not vegan -- eggs, for example, are fine -- but definitely opposed to meat-based broths).

Can anyone recommend a good choice where the rest of us could get some excellent pho or bun, but our animal-loving friend could find a decent range of options as well?

I went with my kosher/vegetarian friend to Cafe Hoang and they were incredibly accomodating, they did a tofu filled Ban Xeo and we had crispy tofu in the spicy basil sauce and I, a proclaimed loather of squiggly tofu loved the dish and have ordered it since wihtout a vegetarian in sight! (Just prepared for a language barrier challenge but just point and be gracious and patient.) They have all the other meat based dishes so you won't miss out . . .

bjt

Erik M. wrote:The word on the street is that I am leading another tour of the Argyle Neighbourhood for Slow Food Chicago sometime this summer.

Did this ever happen? Is it going to?

Had a quite enjoyable afternoon on and around Argyle today with my neighbor, John, and his two young children. We had a very good lunch at Tank. (John had #83, whose name I can't remember but which is a common Vietnamese dish of beef and shrimp over rice noodles and a little crispy egg roll. It also came with what was referred to on the menu as "grilled slice," being a very tasty slice of some kind of sausage. He and I each asked different staff members what it was, and we each got different names. Alas, I have no "ear" for Vietnamese, so both names have slipped my mind anyway, but if anyone knows which sausage it is and whether there's a good place to get it, I'd be pleased to hear.)

We walked over to Broadway Market, where I binged on snack foods -- my office mates should be happy tomorrow -- and where we wondered about chinese style bacon -- I don't think I've seen it prepared, although maybe I just wrote it off as "some kind of pork." Anyone have references on what is done with that, where to eat it prepared, or how to cook it.

We also walked over to the above-mentioned Patisserie P, which I hadn't visited before. They were retrieving some snow balls to take home to Kris (wife/mom) who wasn't able to join us. I was too maxed out to shop much there, but the European style offerings looked pretty good. I understand that Peter, the proprietor, opened Sweet Passion down the street on Argyle close to the intersection with Broadway -- I don't see any LTH commentary on it, but apparently it's a more completely European offering? We didn't go in.

We thought we were done, but driving up Broadway we decided to swing in and check out Golden Pacific. Somehow, I found it in me to buy more junk food, and generally enjoyed browsing around this extremely clean and nicely stocked grocery. I definitely hope to go back sometime when I am more ready to shop for real goods.