Restaurant Roundup: New Laotian and dumplings
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Fermented sausage, red curry fried rice and papaya salad at Lao Der. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
The summer is bringing a bumper crop of new restaurants serving Laotian street food, twists on Italian-American classics and whole wheat dumplings.
Lao Der cooks up a tempting array of rare (in Chicago) Laotian street food in a petite dining room in Old Irving Park.
Dig in: We were recently blown away by the sai ua moo fermented sausage ($12.95), the nam khao sticky fried jasmine rice with red curry ($14.95) and ribbons of sliced papaya in the tum Thai salad ($9.95).
Dimmi Dimmi brings red-sauce Italian fare with a twist to the corner of Armitage and Seminary under the watch of chef Matt Eckfeld.
Dig in: Handmade pasta, tavern-style pizza ($20-$24), Italian beef carpaccio ($24), Hamachi crudo diavola ($19) and Slagel Farm sausage and peppers ($12).
Cima Restaurant offers Mediterranean-inspired fare at Rosemont's Hyatt Centric O'Hare with local seasonal offerings — and even Illinois sparkling wine — that you don't always see at hotel restaurants.
Dig in: Four Star Mushroom ragout ($27), grilled Publican Quality Bread ($7) and Niman Ranch lamb chops ($46).
Trino serves Latin American-influenced steaks and more in the West Loop under chef Stephen Sandoval.
Dig in: Avocado-honeydew gazpacho ($17) and chips and chicharrónes with Ossetra caviar ($58). Steaks range from a 10-ounce picanha prime rib ($46) to an 18-ounce bone-in filet ($92).
Luella's Southern Kitchen has reopened in Albany Park after closing last year in Lincoln Square. Chef Darnell Reed had planned to serve only breakfast and lunch, but says he's still settling on his hours.
- Recently, "we didn't get our first guest until 11am so we're going to keep watching to see what works best," he tells Axios.
Dig in: Chicken and waffles ($23), a boudin sausage biscuit ($12) and a rare Kentucky Hot Brown ($18) featuring bacon, Slagel turkey, tomatoes and cheesy mornay sauce over toasted brioche.
Union Dumpling House cooks a health-minded array of Chinese dumplings filled with meat, veggies and seafood in Lincoln Square.
Dig in: House specials include dumplings stuffed with pork, chive & shrimp, lamb & cilantro, corn, pork & shrimp and "low-gi" chicken & mushroom dumplings in a whole wheat wrapper, all (12 for $16.99).
- Beyond dumplings, Union offers cucumber and seaweed salads ($7.99), steam bun desserts ($4.99), sour plum and jasmine wellness brews ($6.50).
Seoul Spice, a Washington, D.C.-based Korean fast-casual chain, opened a location in the River North Tree Studios building on State Street, and a new CAVA opened in Streeterville on Ontario.