Dirty soda gushes into Chicago with new shop

I don't drink much pop, but I was still intrigued to see the dirty soda craze hit town last month with a small Lakeview shop on Belmont called Johnny's Dirty Soda and Snacks.

Catch up quick: More than a decade ago, these drinks bubbled up in Utah's Mormon community, where many avoid hot drinks and alcohol.

• The concoctions blend regular pop with cream, syrups, sparkly shimmers and more to create something more indulgent than your average soda.
• Dirty soda shops with names like Swig, Sodalicious, Sota, Fiiz and Thirst have spread to many parts of the country, while local suburbanites have gotten a sip at chicken chain Minnie Bird.

Inside scoop: I asked my Salt Lake City Axios colleague, Kim Borjoquez, for some advice before I tried my first.

• "The most popular combos are Dr Pepper or Coke with cream and coconut syrup," she wrote to me. "I honestly hate it, lol, but I think I'd like something like Sprite with cream."

The selection: Johnny's sells more than a dozen varieties with bases of cola, sugar-free pop, colorful soft drinks and Red Bull for $4.50-$5.50, along with a wide array of international snacks, sweets and ice creams.

My order: "My Liege," ($4.50 for 20 oz) made with Dr Pepper, black cherry syrup, vanilla and cold cream foam, along with a bag of Indian Chataka Pataka ($1.49) snacks.

The verdict: The creamy drink recalled a cherry-flavored root beer float, but I could only manage a few sugary sips. It did, however, offer a great foil for the funky, fiery Chataka Pataka corn sticks.

Since I like piña coladas, next time I might try the Out of Office, blending Sprite, coconut, pineapple and coconut cream.