November 2021 my friend Kramer and I took a little road trip while still social distancing. We headed off to Chicago.

Please Note: 📷✨ I’m transforming this blog into a personal photo diary of my life and adventures. If you’re up for the journey, stick around for some amazing visuals! If not, no hard feelings – thanks for being a part of this blog. You will also see many old posts that I just haven’t made the time to publish.

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Stay tuned for snapshots of my adventures! 🌍📸

First Stop

Mitsuwa Marketplace – 100 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL, 60005

Heading into Chicago from Des Moines, we made our way a little bit north on the tollway to Arlington Heights for a stop at Mitsuwa Marketplace. Mitsuwa is a supermarket chain offering Japanese groceries, plus cosmetics, appliances & housewares. They also have a wonderful food court and bakery. Mitsuwa is a great stop to pick up your favorite Japanese items and to get a great lunch. We had wonderful Char Sui Ramen “less spicy” and a beautifully seared chicken katsu.

Next Day

We chose to stay downtown on Michigan Ave at the Warwick Allerton Hotel. The rooms were just big enough and a fantastic location if you are looking to shop with the masses. Travel Tip: Chicago Parking – I would suggest using Spot Hero for parking to reserve your spot. Don’t pay the downtown hotel prices for parking you’d rather pay for the convenience of valet. If you use Spot Hero, just ensure you know the directions for the place you are parking and understand the rules for your agreement. Use the “L” and Ventra card for transit.

We were hungry – So we headed out to Fulton Market. I’ve had some great meals (See Au Cheval), also home to the famous “Girl and the Goat.” Take the Red Line (Chicago Stop) to the Loop (State/Lake Stop) – Then take the Pink Line (Morgan Stop) to the West Loop – Fulton Market

Time Out Market – Chicago – 916 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607

A place to eat, drink, be social, and listen to great music from some of the best in the business under one roof. Time Out has long been a source for me to find useful information about cities I have visited. I used their websites for visiting cities like London back in 2005. They always had the latest information on the pulse of a city. I wasn’t here long enough to understand the impact of this “food experience hall” to this city, but by looking around, it seemed to be a good thing at least to those who can afford it.

On this day we decided to have small bites. We chose a robust Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee) and mouthwatering fried chicken steamed buns.

Boqueria Chicago – 807 West Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607

Continuing our Fulton Market jaunt, we stopped in for spontaneous happy hour cocktails. Choosing an aromatic old fashioned and an Aperol Spritz. Boqueria has a few locations in NYC, DC, and Nashville. Serving Spanish-style Tapas. At this stop, we enjoyed pan con tomate (tomato and garlic bread) with Manchego cheese, and hand-carved, acorn-fed Jamón Ibérico, aged for 36 months. If you haven’t tried, you must!

As we wrapped up, how could we resist the churros con chocolate for dessert? Served fresh out of the fryer with melted chocolate inside.

Last Day

Triple Crown Restaurant – 2217 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

Little Pig Buns! The kitschy aspect of this restaurant is worth the stop for those new to dim sum. Further south, past the Art Institute of Chicago there is a Cermak-Chinatown stop on the Red Line. A short two block walk, then past the Chinatown Gateway is the Triple Crown Restaurant. Nothing fancy, but here you will get a dim sum experience. Pictures and food as fast as you can order it. Travel Tip: Dim Sum Ordering – Order less than you think you should. You will fill up fast and not be able to eat it all. 2-3 dishes per person depending on your appetite. Definitely many other places to get other types of dim sum, but a good place to start. The little piggy buns were filled with a yellow custard cream.

H Mart – 711 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60661

I love going to Asian Markets. They are my childhood. Countless hours with my Uncle Cao shopping for a special ingredient. I didn’t know at the time, but he was immersing me in important food culture. As we were wrapping up our trip, we decided to stop at H Mart. A Korean Market. We didn’t cry in H Mart like the singer, Japanese Breakfast. If you don’t know, she authored a best-selling book about her childhood with her mother called, Crying in H Mart. Instead, we took our time at the market before we headed home.

H Mart has so much wonderful produce and ingredients for making all your favorite Korean dishes at home. I tend to stock up on Korean sauces, syrups, and dumplings. I also bring a cooler to keep my thinly sliced bulgogi frozen for the trip home. H Mart also has a lovely food court which will make your orders fresh. On this trip we shared, Korean Bulgogi Beef, Sweet Potato Mozzarella Dog, and Korean Fried Chicken! Truly, Chicken and Joy!

If you are visiting Chicago and are up for an adventure. I would encourage you to take a friend and use the public transit to try one of these places. They are worth the trip for the food and experiences. Sure, you can find food on Michigan Ave, but why not try something different. If the “L” is not for you, then try a Lyft or take your car.

Go ahead, Eat Chicago. It will make for some great memories, I promise.