Fab Review: Mott St

Mott St, the sister restaurant of Ruxbin, is a hip and edgy, Asian-influenced restaurant inspired by street food and night markets in Asia. Chef Edward Kim’s mashup of various cuisines including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, and Italian are both brilliant and bold. 

Chef Kim was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. He attended New York University and studied political science with the goal of becoming a lawyer. With the advice of his friends, he decided to explore different interests before continuing his path in law and found his way into Le Cordon Bleu in California. After graduating culinary school, Kim honed his skills by training at several professional kitchens, including Thomas Keller’s Per Se, before opening Ruxbin in 2010 and Mott St in 2013.

Kim has received many awards and accolades for his restaurants from Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Michelin, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and more.

{Ambiance}
The décor of Mott St is urban with rustic light fixtures and exposed brick walls. Due to the limited space, the crew built a wooden pantry within the dining area, which adds to the funky vibe. Ample daylight shines through the oversized windows, making the space warm and bright.

Although, the restaurant has seating for smaller groups, the dining room is primarily focused on communal tables. Eating is not just about food but about socializing and connecting with the people you are with. Mott St provides the ideal environment for you to enjoy family-style dining in a fun and intimate environment.

The large bar is a dominant part of the space. The drinks are creative and crafty. Selected ingredients are made in-house and attention to detail is evident. Expect combinations like sherry + honey + jalapeño + whisky as well as beer hop + black walnut infused shochu. Cheers!

During warmer months, check out the sweet outdoor patio! It’s the perfect place to chill on a warm summer night. It seats about 40 people and is full of energy.

{Food}
Inspired by the post-service cravings of the Ruxbin crew, Mott St’s menu speaks to the soul. The chef prepares intensely flavorful food that is intriguing and satisfying.

Bread
The Bread is a warm, doughy potato and onion bread topped with an egg that is cracked in the middle right before it is baked. When it comes out of the oven, the egg is cooked, but has a perfectly runny yolk, which moistens the bread. It is served with a leek-curry butter, and the combination of flavors will wow your taste buds. Originally, this dish was created as a fun way to utilize leftover ingredients from the kitchen, and now, it is one of the most popular items on the menu.

You knead this in your life!

Oyster Mushrooms
Our server highly recommended ordering the Oyster Mushrooms to dip in the bread. Best. Decision. Ever. I couldn’t get enough. The meaty oyster mushrooms are pan seared with thyme and miso butter. A piece of soft bread drenched in the creamy miso butter is a savory bite you don’t want to miss!

Make mushroom in your stomach for this dish.

Crispy Shrimp
The Crispy Shrimp makes me feel nostalgic about my youth. It reminds of me of eating shrimp chips, a very typical treat in many Asian households, which are crispy and addictive. The gulf shrimp are wild caught and seasoned with lemongrass, onion, and tamarind malt vinegar. It is light and airy without the heavy grease.

Shrimp fry, oh my!

Kimchi & Oaxaca Empanadas
The Kimchi & Oaxaca Empanadas are another popular item on the menu. The tanginess and spice in the kimchi balances out the richness of the Oaxaca cheese filling. The shell is thick and doughy but remarkably crispy. It is served with a chimichurri crème-fraiche, but you almost don’t even need it.

Say kim-cheese!

Calamari Bokum
Bokum means stir-fried in Korean. The Calamari Bokum is wok fried with Korean chili paste (gochujang) and breakfast potatoes. It is the modern version of the traditional ojingeo (squid) bokum. I would have never thought of pairing squid with potatoes, but the potatoes soak up the spicy sauce and serve as a great alternative to rice.

No squiddin’…so good!

Everything Wings
The Everything Wings are my favorite thing on the menu. The crispy wings are glazed with soy, jaggery, and dried chilis. Then tossed with sesame, poppy seeds, and fried shallots like an everything bagel with a side of tzatziki for dipping. The skin is shattery while the meat is juicy.

The wings are so good they made my “Top 20 Things I Ate in Chicago 2015” list here.

Just wing it.

Stuffed Cabbage
The Stuffed Cabbage is similar to a Polish golumpki. The stuffed cabbage has two layers of pan-seared, crunchy sticky rice with pork butt and sits in a bowl of rich, buttery kimchi broth. The pork is tender and perfectly seasoned while the extra sticky rice absorbs the broth exceptionally well. It can best be described as a Korean lasagna.

Feeling stuffed.

Mentaiko Udon
The Mentaiko (marinated cod roe) Udon is inspired by Kim’s experience at Japanese Izakayas, an informal after-work drinking establishment. The mixture of the chewy udon noodles and kimchi has a carbonara feel to it. It creates a cheesy consistency even though there is no cheese in the dish. The spicy marinated cod roe adds a slight spiciness and a pop to each bite. The dancing bonito flakes are representative of how I feel every time I eat this dish.

Udon know how good this is.

FAB TIP: Special Chinese New Year menu available from February 5th – 13th.

{Experience}
Mott St exemplifies the meaning of comfort. From the warmth of the staff to the passion poured into the food, the sense of family is in the air. It is no surprise, since the business is family-owned. The staff is very attentive and really cares about giving you the best experience. Get a group of friends together, grab a cocktail, and order multiple dishes to share. Sharing is truly caring at Mott St.

Reservations are accepted but walk-ins are always welcome. Reservations for parties of six require a credit card. Reservations for parties of eight or more require participation in a set menu.

FAB TIP: Closed on Sundays and Mondays. Bar is open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

{Location}
Mott Street
West Town || 1401 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 687-9977

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

{Fab Ratings: 4.5 Fabs}

Have you been to Mott St? What’s your favorite dish?

Live the Fab Food Life,
Soo

Note: This meal was not complimentary. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.