Once lost, now returned--a healthy, inexpensive lunch

Finally, my favorite lunch spot has returned to me! It's been back a while, but I didn't know it: If anybody here remembers Lo-cal Locale, a wonderfully healthy place for carnivores and vegetarians, torn down to build condos despite much protest—I have found it again! Now it’s called “Lo-Cal Corner,” and it’s inside health food/vitamin store Maple Street Market, 22 West Maple, Chicago.

It’s still got my fave, their delicious turkey burger with lettuce, tomatoes, grilled mushrooms if you want em—I do!—for $3.95!(that includes a side);also beef or veggie burgers, salads, plus Build-your-Own sandwiches with five different bread choices (including Lavash and tortillas), plus pizzas and wraps, chills and soups.

You can sit there if you want and schmooze with the owner, Jonathan and his crew, take out, or get it delivered. I almost forgot their great smoothies, fresh fruit plus yogurt, and some very lo-cal, low fat frozen desserts.

Their number is 312-733-5019, but I recommend stopping by the first time to see the possiblities. Hmmm, now I’m wondering if I shoulda kept this to myself…

Enjoy,
Wendy Lapidus-Saltz, fellow foodie

!

and it's right next to the good Ace hardware!!

and I'd never set foot in it because it's Health! Food! trappings(and shilling) are so over! the! top!

but that's just me

Is this related to the old Lo-Cal Zone from Rush Street that had the wonderful "healthy" burritos (and used to also have a lunchtime food truck near Northwestern Hospital)?
>>Brent

The old Lo Cal Zone was purchased by these folks and they continued with most of their recipes, then added additional items. I'm not sure where they still do the burritos but I hear their chili is great (I myself am not a chili person) and I can vouch for their wraps.

Wendy

I was always a big fan of the "tamale meal deal" at the LoCal Zone when it was on Rush Street. For something like 3 bucks, I could get a tamale and two sides. I liked their brown rice salad and the two chilis were pretty decent. LoCal Zone was torn down, so I lost one of my inexpensive lunch places near the Hancock. Having read this thread, I was excited to give the new locale (ha!) a shot, especially since I had been wanting a wrap of sorts.

I should have gotten the turkey burger instead. At least I could have tried the brown rice salad again. Instead, I tried the BBQ Chicken Wrap. I admit I'm a fan of the BBQ chicken salad at California Pizza Kitchen, so this wrap sounded good: Roasted chicken, our BBQ sauce, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese and cilantro. The chicken was moist and tender. The cheese was nicely melted. But the overall combination was off. The wheat wrap clashed with the barbecue sauce (which had an odd taste by itself) and the whole thing was not helped by the cilantro. It wasn't worth the $6-something (with tax) I paid for it, but I had to eat something for lunch.

I will go back to try the chilis and the brown rice salad again.

Lo-Cal Corner
22 W. Maple
312-397-1501
http://www.lo-calcorner.com