Linton dredges avocado slices in Japanese panko crumbs to create a beautifully crisp, crunchy jacket for each lush chunk. En savoir plus .
Order the restaurant's specialty of Big French Pancakes — you have choices, but blueberry quinoa ($14) is the way to go. En savoir plus .
The restaurant's Cap'n Crunch French toast ($12) layers in orange custard that adds tartness, and ups the texture by coating challah bread with crispy Cap'n Crunch. En savoir plus .
The CB+J ($5.50 for 12 ounces, $7.15 for 16 ounces) teams creamy, house-made cashew butter with mixed berries, banana and almond milk sweetened with dates. En savoir plus .
A good french fry is pretty easy to find. A great french fry? Much harder. It's a Goldilocks situation: These fries are too crispy. These fries are too soft. En savoir plus .
These are my favorite fried pickles in Chicago right now: a tongue-tantalizing balance of moisture and crunch, with tang and creaminess in every bite. En savoir plus .
This boutique steakhouse features classic American steakhouse offerings, but also includes French staples such as escargot, roasted bone marrow and bouillabaisse. En savoir plus .
Try the spicy tuna tartare tower with house-fried tortilla chips and sweet sauce to start — the hot stone bibimbap entree ($15.95) pops with color and flavor in any iteration. En savoir plus .
The hazelnut horchata ($6 for 12 ounces), creamy thanks to rice, coconut and hazelnut milks, is a delight. En savoir plus .
The Lou ($23), a three-cheese pie with rich mozzarella, Romano and cheddar, is my favorite. En savoir plus .
Don't let the modest storefront fool you. Nada Tea & Coffee House is a Japanese teahouse that serves some of the most expertly made tea in Chicago — including the best matcha I've found in the city. En savoir plus .
The slow-rise naan ($3) is served warm with a light gloss of butter and a sprinkling of sea salt. En savoir plus .
The pierogi are the popular kids in the case, with different flavors every day. I got four: sweet cheese, sauerkraut, potato-and-cheese and beef. En savoir plus .
The croissant sandwich plate ($8) at Cafe Vienna includes a breakfast sandwich served on either a plain croissant or a pretzel croissant, the latter option being particularly swoon-worthy. En savoir plus .
The veggie burger at Revolution Brewpub ($13) is one of those masterworks. Every component is made in-house, including the bun. En savoir plus .
Salads start at a reasonable $9 on the menu alongside vegetable dishes and heartier items like truffle-butter grilled cheese. En savoir plus .
This pizza is so good, it doesn't need any toppings ($18 for large). En savoir plus .
The vegetable tempura is as it should be: delicate, crisp and focused. The vegetables vary with the season (meaning the $4 price may as well, says chef and co-owner Beverly Kim). En savoir plus .
The sloppy joe's sweetly spicy barbecue sauce will get your face just as satisfactorily messy as it did at summer camp. The tangy sandwich ($9.25) comes with a side and a pickle. En savoir plus .
The lightly fried yam dumplings served at Little Unicoco in Rogers Park are mild in flavor, perfect for dipping into rich stew. $6 for five. En savoir plus .
If it's a meat-free pizza you want, the Zephy ($11 for a small, $23 for a medium, $32 for a large) is the pie to beat. En savoir plus .