"Deli Boys" Asif Ali's guide to Chicago: Logan Square to late-night chai
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Asif Ali attends the premiere of Hulu's "Deli Boys" in February. Photo: Araya Doheny/Getty Images
The first season of the television comedy "Deli Boys" debuted last month on Hulu to great reviews and fans are eagerly awaiting official word of a second season.
State of play: The series is set in Philadelphia, but was shot on the North Side of Chicago, featuring neighborhoods like Lincoln Square and Rogers Park.
The intrigue: One of its stars, Asif Ali, spent time in the Chicago comedy scene before his breakout career in Hollywood.
- So we asked him to give us his ultimate day here:
🥑 Breakfast: "Cafe Mustache in Logan Square. While shooting I would only really have the weekends so I would sleep in and then grab a chicken avocado sandwich."
☕️ Morning activity: "I love just hanging at coffee shops with big windows, like Gaslight Coffee, to just people watch, listen to music, read, and write."
🍝 Lunch: "When I was staying in Logan Square, I fell in love with a restaurant called Daisies. I would definitely order the rigatoni, simple green salad, shishito peppers, and rainbow trout. And I know this is from the dinner menu, but this is my IDEAL day so let me have this."
🖼️ Afternoon activity: "If it's not a good weather day then I would hit up a museum like MCA and look at art/people watch. And if I'm with friends, I like to do a bit where I point at art and say "you wouldn't get it" loudly to them. It's a good bit and I recommend it."
🌭 Dinner: "This being my IDEAL day also means that we can get basic and nasty. I would get two beef Chicago dogs with all the fixings from the legendary Portillo's as well as a chocolate cake shake. Then I would put sunglasses on and have a food coma nap in my chair "Weekend at Bernie's" style. Ten million calories of pure bliss."
😆 Evening activity: "While most people are winding down, as a standup comedian, I would instead be out trying to do a set at any of the many comedy clubs/shows in Chicago like Zanies, Laugh Factory, Lincoln Lodge, Comedy Bar, Comedy Underground, Comedians You Should Know, and all the other independent shows around town. I love performing and hanging with comics. It's the best. I'm so lucky."
☕️ Afterparty: "Hyderabad House on Devon. Best chai I've ever had in my life and I personally dragged everybody in "Deli Boys" here any chance I could get. Devon is such a magical place and there are so many amazing places here, too many to list.
- "Chicago is an incredible food town, but what makes it pop are the people. If you haven't visited, do yourself a favor, you won't regret it. But watch "Deli Boys" first please. Thank you lol."