Fab Happenings: Top 5 Cheap Eats in Andersonville and Uptown

I consider myself lucky to be living in a neighborhood with such a diverse selection of great restaurants. From fancy places to affordable joints, Andersonville and Uptown, has it all. It makes me giddy with enthusiasm when I discover unique and different spots that only a few locals know about. It’s those unassuming hole-in-the-walls that excite me the most.

Here are my top 5 cheap eats in Andersonville and Uptown:

5. Hot “G” Dog

There is a lot of buzz going around about Hot “G” Dog, a counter-service hot dog spot. The two owners were former line cooks from the famed but now closed, Hot Doug’s. They even received Doug Sohn’s blessing to continue his legacy in their new place. Although it isn’t as good as the original Hot Doug’s, it’s pretty doggone close. A section of the menu is focused on traditional Chicago-style hot dogs and sausages. These are priced under $4 and served on a daily basis. One of my faves is the Andouille sausage, which is made with pork, onion, garlic and paprika. It has a nice kick from the spice with a hint of sweetness. I also like the garlicky Thuringer smoked sausage, which is perfectly charred and juicy. Try it with caramelized onions, mustard, and sauerkraut. It’s a great combo.

The other section of the menu is focused on specialty sausages. These change weekly, so make sure you check the website for more info. The flavor combinations are creative and unique, but sometimes it’s a hit or miss. My favorite, thus far, is the smoked shrimp sausage with blue cheese crumble and cajun mayo. The sausage had a great texture and the right amount of spice. The sharpness of the blue cheese gave it a lot of oomph. Yum!

People rave about the duck fat fries, but in my opinion, they are a little overrated. It can get a little greasy at times. I prefer their house-made fries with cheese.

Overall, I appreciate the effort. It’s my go-to spot when I need a sausage fix. It’s a great option if you are craving a good dog without having to wait in long lines.

FAB TIP: Duck fat fries are only available on the weekends. Cash only.

{Location}
Hot “G” Dog
Uptown || 5009 N. Clark St, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 209-3360

{Price Range}
$ (Under $10)

{Fab Ratings: 3 Fabs}

4. Cafe Hoang

My neighborhood is heavily saturated with Vietnamese restaurants but many are not known, except a selected few. It won’t surprise me if you’ve never heard of Cafe Hoang, but it’s one of my favorites. It’s located away from the main foot traffic area so you may not recognize. People like to order pho which is decent, but there are a couple of dishes I highly recommend, that are really worth trying. Their cold noodle salad, topped with grilled shrimp, beef, and an egg roll, is a must-try! It lays on a bed of rice vermicelli noodles with an array of fresh vegetables and herbs. Don’t forget to pour the special sweet and sour sauce all over! This dish is fresh, tasty, and scrumptious.

I also recommend the grilled pork chop with steamed rice. The marinated pork is perfectly grilled and tender. The flavor from the grill gives it a slight smokiness and is best paired with plain white rice.

Cafe Hoang is a clean restaurant that offers very good traditional Vietnamese food. I would recommend it for good eats and casual environment at an affordable price.

FAB TIP: They are open 7 days a week but closed at 10:30 pm every day. This is later than most of the other restaurants in the area.

{Locations}
Cafe Hoang
Uptown || 1020 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 878-9943
Chinatown || 232 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 674-9610

{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$35)

{Fab Rating: 3 Fabs}

3. First Slice Pie Café

With a huge pie sculpture in the window, it’s hard to ignore this adorable café. What makes this place special? All their proceeds go to feeding the hungry and homeless people around Chicago. First Slice Pie Café is a non-profit organization that serves a mouthwatering array of soups, salads and sandwiches…and, of course, pies. All entrées are priced under $10. A slice of pie will cost you around $3.50 and whole pies between $20-$25. My eyes were immediately drawn to the display case filled with many different kinds of pies. It was challenging to pick one, so I had to settle with a few of my favorites. For peanut butter fanatics, the rich and decadent chocolate peanut butter pie is a sure winner. It’s smooth and dense peanut butter cream encased in an Oreo crust.

For fruit lovers, I highly recommend the blueberry cheesecake pie. It has a graham cracker crust and layered with blueberry compote, vanilla cheesecake, and fresh blueberry cream on top.

How can one resist but order the majestic-looking French silk pie which has equal parts chocolate mousse-like filling and whipped cream? It seriously tastes as good as it looks. The thin crust was flaky and the filling had a good chocolate flavor. The dark chocolate curls on top gave it some added crunch and flavor.

Oh, wait! Don’t forget about the excellent Michigan sour cherry lattice pie, which is only available seasonally! It’s  a great combo of sweet and tart.

Lastly, the glutton in me had to order a slice of the All-American Apple Pie. I appreciate how you are able to really taste the fresh apples and the fragrant cinnamon they used. The only thing that needs a little work is the pie crust. It was a tad bit soggy and could use a little bit of flakiness. Otherwise, great pies for a great cause at reasonable prices. Who can say NO to all of that?

FAB TIP: They offer delicious gluten-free pies as well as yummy vegan cookies.

{Locations}
First Slice Pie Café
Andersonville || 5357 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 275-4297
Albany Park || 4664 N Manor Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 267-0169
Ravenswood || 4401 N. Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 506-7380

{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$35)

{Fab Rating: 3.5 Fabs}

2. Dak

OK. So, Dak is technically in Edgewater but it’s so close to my house and it’s so good. I cannot help but include them on this list. Dak is named after the Korean word for “chicken”. It’s a family-owned , quick-serve restaurant that specializes in Korean-style jumbo chicken wings, rice bowls and other Korean classics. The gargantuan chicken wings can be coated in either of these two sauces: Dak sauce (soy, garlic, and ginger) or spicy bbq (Korean red pepper paste). I prefer the Dak sauce on my wings. You can always squeeze a little bit of the spicy bbq on the side, if you are so inclined. The wings have a nice, thin, and crunchy coating which is generously slathered with the sticky, sweet Dak sauce. The chicken is juicy and I can taste all the components of the sauce. The flavors complement each other perfectly.

The rice bowls are some of the best in the city. They are served with a wide array of beautifully prepared veggies over rice and topped with a fried egg (over medium).  They give you the spicy & sweet red pepper sauce on the side so that you can control how much heat you want in your bowl. I prefer the spicy chicken over the beef bulgogi because it’s less sweet and the spice goes really well with everything.

Another specialty that you must order is the dukbokki with bulgogi. They are essentially deep fried rice cakes that are coated in gochujang (red pepper paste).

Let’s take a closer look at these dukbokki. I love the contrasting texture of the chewy interior against the crispy exterior.

Frankly, the sauce could use a little work in terms of the sweet and spicy ratio. It was a bit too sugary for my taste and it could use a little bit more spice in my humble opinion. It was topped with bulgogi which was tender and flavorful but still on the sweeter side. Overall, Dak is a great casual lunch or dinner spot if you are craving good wings and rice bowls.

FAB TIP: Wings always taste better with alcohol. It’s a BYO joint with free corkage.

{Location}
Dak
Edgewater || 1104 W Granville Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 754-0255

{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$35)

{Fab Ratings: 3.5 Fabs}

1. Taste of Lebanon Restaurant

There is nothing fancy about the Taste of Lebanon Restaurant but yet they serve the best Middle Eastern food in the city. It’s so refreshing to see that the menu caters to both meat and veggie lovers. For only $2.49, you can get their famous Lentil soup that comes with warm pita halves. It has a great consistency. It’s not too thick and has a good amount of spice. The spices are just enough that it lingers at the back of your throat for a few seconds. It’s so flavorful that I cannot put down my spoon until the bowl is done.

The beef shawarma wrap is filled with tender strips of grilled marinated skirt steak, fresh tomatoes, onions, and creamy tahini sauce. The exterior is slightly toasted which gives it an awesome crunch. You know I am all about contrasting flavors and textures. I ordered the Vegetarian Combo Special #1. It has everything I want, all in one plate…perfectly fried falafel, creamy hummus, and flavorful baba ghannouj with fresh vegetables. Of course, it comes with tahini sauce and a warm pita. All of this deliciousness only adds up to $15 excluding tax. Taste of Lebanon is a true hidden gem right in the heart of Andersonville with super affordable prices, great quality of food, and a friendly staff.

FAB TIP: Open from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Mondays thru Saturdays. Closed on Sundays. It’s a cash only joint.

{Location}
Taste of Lebanon
Andersonville || 1509 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 334-1600

{Price Range}
$$ ($10-15)

{Fab Rating: 4 Fabs}

I have to admit, I have passed by these places several times without even giving it the time of day. Mostly because I was judging the book by it’s cover. It was through research and word of mouth that made me want to find out what the big fuss was all about. Wow, I am so glad that I took a leap of faith and tried all of these hidden gems around my neighborhood. It made me realize that you can’t form an opinion about an establishment until you have given it a try. The quality of the food at the affordable prices totally blew me away. I remember thinking that I couldn’t wait to share my new discoveries with as many people as I could, so all these underdogs can receive the recognition and support they deserve from the community. I urge you to try these places at least once and let me know what you think about them!

Savor Every Moment,
Sherrie

Note: These meals were not complimentary. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.