Seven new Chicago restaurants to try now
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Ube cheesecake and matcha latte from Puffy Cakes in West Town. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
Summer is sizzling with new dining options from a Japanese cheesecake shop in West Town, a taqueria in Portage Park, highly anticipated steakhouses and possibly the city's most ambitious restaurant.
Puffy Cakes
This Japanese cheesecake cafe cranks out brightly colored Instagram-ready confections, including light, egg-white infused cheesecakes and rich Hokkaido tarts along with specialty tea and coffee by La Colombe.
Dig in: We enjoyed the fluffy ube cheesecake ($10.50) with a side of Nutella and a frothy matcha latte ($4.50).
Perilla Steakhouse
A sister eatery to Perilla in the West Loop, this anchor for the L7 Hotel at Wacker and Wabash brings a new level of modern Korean American dining downtown.
Dig in: Try breakfasts of chicken and waffles, kimchi shakshuka, and rice soup with pickles.
- Lunch features Caesar salad with milk bread croutons, cacio e pepe rice cakes and steakburgers, as well as Korean lunch trays and stews.
- Dinner offers seafood towers, monkey bread, steak frites, eggplant confit and traditional table-grilled galbi.
The intrigue: The dining room also offers a chef's counter for personal tasting menus.
Feld
Two years in the making, this ambitious West Town eatery opened right after "The Bear's" season launch with an ever-changing seasonal menu by chef Jacob Potashnick, who returned to Chicago after cooking abroad. Coincidence?
- Expect about 30 courses for $195 per person with a mandatory $95 deposit at reservation.
Dig in: Dishes change every day, but Potashnick says a recent favorite has been "a puree of purple cauliflower from Kaiser Farm with egg yolks pickled in Three Fontaine lambic beer and then served with crispy leeks or crispy sunchokes depending on the day."
What they're saying: "A meal at Feld is not driven by a specific culture or cuisine, but by the produce of the moment and all the possibilities it allows us," Potashnick says on the restaurant's site.
Migos Fine Food
Chef Brian Jupiter offers halal and vegetarian friendly tacos at this colorful spot in Portage Park.
Dig in: The menu features lamb smashburgers and lamb carnitas, along with cauliflower and mushroom tacos.
- Our favorites on a recent visit were the plump and juicy fried chicken tenders with a biscuit and generous beef barbacoa tacos.
Hawksmoor
This British steakhouse named No. 2 in the world has landed in the old Michael Jordan's space on LaSalle.
Dig in: Classic steakhouse surf and turf accompanied by a mushroom "beef" Wellington ($28), bone marrow oysters ($18), ash baked beets ($18) and potted beef and bacon with Yorkshire pudding ($20).
Bar Parisette
A new French bistro has sprung up in the old Dos Urban Cantina and Attagirl spot on Armitage in Logan Square.
Dig in: Find bistro classics including roast chicken ($29), mussels ($29) and steak frites ($32), along with seasonal finds like chilled corn soup with strawberries and garlic scapes ($9) and lavender blueberry soft serve for dessert ($10).
Mána
This new Mediterranean eatery in LaGrange takes its name from "mother" in Greek and features a wraparound patio.
Dig in: The menu includes traditional and modern Greek dishes such as tzatziki avocado, spicy feta, charred beets, kale tabbouleh, wood-fired tiger prawns and oven-baked moussaka.