Diversey House, Taquizas Valdez, Milk Bar open
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Chicken ramen, beer and a fully loaded sausage. Photos: Courtesy of Steep Ravine and Marc Anthony Bynum
A new taqueria, bakery, brewery and poultry-based ramen joint are dazzling diners with fresh takes on old favorites.
Diversey House: This month Black-owned Moor's Brewing Company joined forces with Steep Ravine Brewing Company to take over the renamed Ravinia Brewing Company to create an "experiential sports bar" in Logan Square.
On tap: More than a dozen housemade brews as well as non-alcoholic drinks and "beertails" like the Blackstar ($10) featuring Moor's imperial porter with cassis and spiced rum.
On the plate: Modern bar food from "Chopped" winner Marc Anthony Bynum including jambalaya arancini ($18), kimchi steak & eggs ($34), veggies in curried yogurt ($24), a fried chicken sandwich with compressed watermelon ($19) and oxtail fries ($18).
Taquizas Valdez: Former chef de cuisine at Homestead on the Roof, Ivan Valdez, has returned to the kitchen after three years with this BYOB spot in Irving Park celebrating his late mother Rosa and backyard taco parties.
On the menu: Traditional tacos, tortas, ceviche and guac, but also pambazo de hongos ($19Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say that Taquizas Valdez is located in the Irving Park neighborhood (not North Center) and that the pambazo de hongos at Taquizas Valdez cost $19 (not $10).), a mushroom torta dipped in guajillo sauce and stuffed with fries, avocado and salsa macha.
- Also, taquizas fries ($16) topped with marinated skirt steak, banana pepper fondue, black beans, guacamole and lime crema.
Monica's thought bubble: Valdez's chuy mushroom taco ($6) is the best veggie dish I've tried this year and I can't believe how much I loved the El Americano taco ($6) featuring marinated steak, Munster cheese, lettuce and tomato with lime cream on a flour tortilla.
Bonus: On weekend mornings Taquizas turns into a Mexican bakery with hot pastries and breakfast tortas baked in-house.
- Also, don't miss out on the restaurant's mural that tells the story of the Valdez family's journey from Mexico to Chicago.
Milk Bar Chicago: New York's cereal milk soft serve and bakery emporium opens in Fulton Market's Hoxton Hotel on Saturday, when staff will be handing out swag and signed copies of chef Christina Tosi's latest cookbook to the first 50 customers.
New ramen landing: Birdman Ramen will fill the empty Furious Spoon space at Halsted and Belmont in Lakeview offering the same poultry-based broths served at the downtown location.
- Owners tell Axios they plan to open in the "coming weeks."
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say that Taquizas Valdez is located in the Irving Park neighborhood (not North Center) and that the pambazo de hongos at Taquizas Valdez costs $19 (not $10).