Tonker's Upscale Fast Food Tour and Reviews

[Tonker]

Okay, Gentlemen - I give you the starting point for my week of gluttony and heartburn.  Some of these are just ideas and I would welcome any advice - just as I would welcome company.  At this point I'm happily going to assume that whenever I'm putting a delicious, juicy piece of meat in mouth, Oleg's going to be right there beside me, (||) but if any of the rest of you also fancy accompanying me to any of these (or other) joints, shout up and I'll include you in the plans.

BBBQ: Pork Shoppe; Smoque
Italian Beef: Portillo's
MEAT SANDWICHES: Skrine Chops
Burgers: Kuma's Corner (natch); Butcher and the Burger
Sausages: Hot Doug's; UB Dogs
Breakfast: Deleece; Sam & George's; Kanela Breakfast Club
Po Boys: Big & Little's
Burritos: ???

I've left Burritos blank because Yelp has got its knickers in a twist and appears to be recommending that I go to a Taco Bell on an industrial estate somewhere.  The burrito place that Fork took me to last year (right next to Wrigley) was fine but they didn't have fresh cilantro in their burrito which is, essentially, unforgiveable.  What I'm really looking for is reasonably authentic Mexican.  Is Chipotle any good?

One more thing - please bear in mind when making recommendations that a) I am limited to where public transport and/or my feet can take me and b) I have no wish to see the frigging suburbs.

Have at it.  Or don't.  Whatever.

[Richard Chuggar]

Okay, Gentlemen - I give you the starting point for my week of gluttony and heartburn.  Some of these are just ideas and I would welcome any advice - just as I would welcome company.  At this point I'm happily going to assume that whenever I'm putting a delicious, juicy piece of meat in mouth, Oleg's going to be right there beside me, (||) but if any of the rest of you also fancy accompanying me to any of these (or other) joints, shout up and I'll include you in the plans.

BBBQ: Pork Shoppe; Smoque
Italian Beef: Portillo's
MEAT SANDWICHES: Skrine Chops
Burgers: Kuma's Corner (natch); Butcher and the Burger
Sausages: Hot Doug's; UB Dogs
Breakfast: Deleece; Sam & George's; Kanela Breakfast Club
Po Boys: Big & Little's
Burritos: ???

I've left Burritos blank because Yelp has got its knickers in a twist and appears to be recommending that I go to a Taco Bell on an industrial estate somewhere.  The burrito place that Fork took me to last year (right next to Wrigley) was fine but they didn't have fresh cilantro in their burrito which is, essentially, unforgiveable.  What I'm really looking for is reasonably authentic Mexican.  Is Chipotle any good?

One more thing - please bear in mind when making recommendations that a) I am limited to where public transport and/or my feet can take me and b) I have no wish to see the frigging suburbs.

Have at it.  Or don't.  Whatever.

UB Dogs isn't anything special at all.  It's across the street from my work here DOWNTOWN and been there twice and you might as well get a dog at Portillo's while you're getting a combo beef.

Go to the Vienna Beef place or make the trek out to Gene's and Jude's.

Burrito:::  Arturo's.

[Tinker to Evers to Chance]

Intrepid Readers: TEC and PenFoe:

No way in hell you're getting decent Mexican food that far north of the border.  You might as well go to Taco Bell.

[thehawk]

Tonks

Chipotle is a national chain (originally started by McDonalds) that makes west coast style burritos (e.g. they use rice inside).  Its ok (a bit better than McDs does burgers) but far from anything to travel 5,000 miles for

One thing to consider is that Chicago is more a taco or torta town than a burrito town.  A couple of my local standbys are:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/dona-torta-chicago#query:tacos%20al%20pastor
Dona Torta is a tacoria (doesn't serve alcohol), but does some pretty good stuff

For a restaurant http://www.yelp.com/biz/mi-tierra-cocina-mexicana-chicago-3 is good, and serves good margaritas as well.

There are dozens of places that im sure are better (including the taco places at Western/Milwaukee and Armitage, which have Margies around as an added bonus), but these are good (and near the public transport)

Let me know your dates, I am out on this Friday and Saturday morning but otherwise want to join.

[Tonker]

The first of those places has apparently closed due to a "small fire", Hawk.  Perhaps I'll skip it - it's not what Chicago is famous for, after all, and I can make bloody good Mexican food for myself at home.  Margueritas, though... that's a thought.  Haven't had a marguerita since I made myself sick on them at a Straßenfest in Munich back in 2003.  It's probably safe to try again, by now.

[Tonker]

Oh, and the one thing I forgot to include was perhaps the most pertinent: the Shoutlunch.  Heaven on Seven?  Or do we want to mix it up a bit?  When's a good day?

[J. Walter Weatherman]

One thing to consider is that Chicago is more a taco or torta town than a burrito town.

For tortas: Xoco?

[Richard Chuggar]

Tonks

Chipotle is a national chain (originally started by McDonalds) that makes west coast style burritos (e.g. they use rice inside).  Its ok (a bit better than McDs does burgers) but far from anything to travel 5,000 miles for

One thing to consider is that Chicago is more a taco or torta town than a burrito town.  A couple of my local standbys are:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/dona-torta-chicago#query:tacos%20al%20pastor
Dona Torta is a tacoria (doesn't serve alcohol), but does some pretty good stuff

For a restaurant http://www.yelp.com/biz/mi-tierra-cocina-mexicana-chicago-3 is good, and serves good margaritas as well.

There are dozens of places that im sure are better (including the taco places at Western/Milwaukee and Armitage, which have Margies around as an added bonus), but these are good (and near the public transport)

Let me know your dates, I am out on this Friday and Saturday morning but otherwise want to join.

You mean Arturo's?

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Tonks

Chipotle is a national chain (originally started by McDonalds) that makes west coast style burritos (e.g. they use rice inside).  Its ok (a bit better than McDs does burgers) but far from anything to travel 5,000 miles for

One thing to consider is that Chicago is more a taco or torta town than a burrito town.  A couple of my local standbys are:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/dona-torta-chicago#query:tacos%20al%20pastor
Dona Torta is a tacoria (doesn't serve alcohol), but does some pretty good stuff

For a restaurant http://www.yelp.com/biz/mi-tierra-cocina-mexicana-chicago-3 is good, and serves good margaritas as well.

There are dozens of places that im sure are better (including the taco places at Western/Milwaukee and Armitage, which have Margies around as an added bonus), but these are good (and near the public transport)

Let me know your dates, I am out on this Friday and Saturday morning but otherwise want to join.

You mean Arturo's?

Señorita! Cincuenta margaritas, por favor.

[R-V]

Okay, Gentlemen - I give you the starting point for my week of gluttony and heartburn.  Some of these are just ideas and I would welcome any advice - just as I would welcome company.  At this point I'm happily going to assume that whenever I'm putting a delicious, juicy piece of meat in mouth, Oleg's going to be right there beside me, (||) but if any of the rest of you also fancy accompanying me to any of these (or other) joints, shout up and I'll include you in the plans.

BBBQ: Pork Shoppe; Smoque
Italian Beef: Portillo's
MEAT SANDWICHES: Skrine Chops
Burgers: Kuma's Corner (natch); Butcher and the Burger
Sausages: Hot Doug's; UB Dogs
Breakfast: Deleece; Sam & George's; Kanela Breakfast Club
Po Boys: Big & Little's
Burritos: ???

I've left Burritos blank because Yelp has got its knickers in a twist and appears to be recommending that I go to a Taco Bell on an industrial estate somewhere.  The burrito place that Fork took me to last year (right next to Wrigley) was fine but they didn't have fresh cilantro in their burrito which is, essentially, unforgiveable.  What I'm really looking for is reasonably authentic Mexican.  Is Chipotle any good?

One more thing - please bear in mind when making recommendations that a) I am limited to where public transport and/or my feet can take me and b) I have no wish to see the frigging suburbs.

Have at it.  Or don't.  Whatever.

No pizza? Pequod's? Art of Pizza?

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Okay, Gentlemen - I give you the starting point for my week of gluttony and heartburn.  Some of these are just ideas and I would welcome any advice - just as I would welcome company.  At this point I'm happily going to assume that whenever I'm putting a delicious, juicy piece of meat in mouth, Oleg's going to be right there beside me, (||) but if any of the rest of you also fancy accompanying me to any of these (or other) joints, shout up and I'll include you in the plans.

BBBQ: Pork Shoppe; Smoque
Italian Beef: Portillo's
MEAT SANDWICHES: Skrine Chops
Burgers: Kuma's Corner (natch); Butcher and the Burger
Sausages: Hot Doug's; UB Dogs
Breakfast: Deleece; Sam & George's; Kanela Breakfast Club
Po Boys: Big & Little's
Burritos: ???

I've left Burritos blank because Yelp has got its knickers in a twist and appears to be recommending that I go to a Taco Bell on an industrial estate somewhere.  The burrito place that Fork took me to last year (right next to Wrigley) was fine but they didn't have fresh cilantro in their burrito which is, essentially, unforgiveable.  What I'm really looking for is reasonably authentic Mexican.  Is Chipotle any good?

One more thing - please bear in mind when making recommendations that a) I am limited to where public transport and/or my feet can take me and b) I have no wish to see the frigging suburbs.

Have at it.  Or don't.  Whatever.

No pizza? Pequod's? Art of Pizza?

Or, if Tonk feels like a trek to THE SUBURBS, Burt's.

[Tonker]

Okay, Gentlemen - I give you the starting point for my week of gluttony and heartburn.  Some of these are just ideas and I would welcome any advice - just as I would welcome company.  At this point I'm happily going to assume that whenever I'm putting a delicious, juicy piece of meat in mouth, Oleg's going to be right there beside me, (||) but if any of the rest of you also fancy accompanying me to any of these (or other) joints, shout up and I'll include you in the plans.

BBBQ: Pork Shoppe; Smoque
Italian Beef: Portillo's
MEAT SANDWICHES: Skrine Chops
Burgers: Kuma's Corner (natch); Butcher and the Burger
Sausages: Hot Doug's; UB Dogs
Breakfast: Deleece; Sam & George's; Kanela Breakfast Club
Po Boys: Big & Little's
Burritos: ???

I've left Burritos blank because Yelp has got its knickers in a twist and appears to be recommending that I go to a Taco Bell on an industrial estate somewhere.  The burrito place that Fork took me to last year (right next to Wrigley) was fine but they didn't have fresh cilantro in their burrito which is, essentially, unforgiveable.  What I'm really looking for is reasonably authentic Mexican.  Is Chipotle any good?

One more thing - please bear in mind when making recommendations that a) I am limited to where public transport and/or my feet can take me and b) I have no wish to see the frigging suburbs.

Have at it.  Or don't.  Whatever.

No pizza? Pequod's? Art of Pizza?

Or, if Tonk feels like a trek to THE SUBURBS, Burt's.

Honestly, I'm not a fan of Chicago-style pizza.  I did Lou Malnati's, years ago, and was thoroughly underwhelmed.  Besides, I'm going to make the traditional Candlelite stop on the way back on the airport.

[Quality Start Machine]

Okay, Gentlemen - I give you the starting point for my week of gluttony and heartburn.  Some of these are just ideas and I would welcome any advice - just as I would welcome company.  At this point I'm happily going to assume that whenever I'm putting a delicious, juicy piece of meat in mouth, Oleg's going to be right there beside me, (||) but if any of the rest of you also fancy accompanying me to any of these (or other) joints, shout up and I'll include you in the plans.

BBBQ: Pork Shoppe; Smoque
Italian Beef: Portillo's
MEAT SANDWICHES: Skrine Chops
Burgers: Kuma's Corner (natch); Butcher and the Burger
Sausages: Hot Doug's; UB Dogs
Breakfast: Deleece; Sam & George's; Kanela Breakfast Club
Po Boys: Big & Little's
Burritos: ???

I've left Burritos blank because Yelp has got its knickers in a twist and appears to be recommending that I go to a Taco Bell on an industrial estate somewhere.  The burrito place that Fork took me to last year (right next to Wrigley) was fine but they didn't have fresh cilantro in their burrito which is, essentially, unforgiveable.  What I'm really looking for is reasonably authentic Mexican.  Is Chipotle any good?

One more thing - please bear in mind when making recommendations that a) I am limited to where public transport and/or my feet can take me and b) I have no wish to see the frigging suburbs.

Have at it.  Or don't.  Whatever.

No pizza? Pequod's? Art of Pizza?

Or, if Tonk feels like a trek to THE SUBURBS, Burt's.

Honestly, I'm not a fan of Chicago-style pizza.  I did Lou Malnati's, years ago, and was thoroughly underwhelmed.  Besides, I'm going to make the traditional Candlelite stop on the way back on the airport.

Malnati's is solid, but Pequod's will get you properly whelmed.

Unless you want straight Neopolitan, in which case Spacca Napoli will get it done.

[thehawk]

Oh, and the one thing I forgot to include was perhaps the most pertinent: the Shoutlunch.  Heaven on Seven?  Or do we want to mix it up a bit?  When's a good day?

Any day next week works for me.  Will never turn down H07 but Xoco is an interesting choice.  Its Rick Bayless's sammwich shop.  I tend to more 'hole in the wall places' like Dona Torta (can beleive they had a fire, can't beleive I leared about it from Tonks), but those arent available in the loop

[Chuck to Chuck]

Honestly, I'm not a fan of Chicago-style pizza.  I did Lou Malnati's, years ago, and was thoroughly underwhelmed.  Besides, I'm going to make the traditional Candlelite stop on the way back on the airport.

That was your mistake. Malnati's is the most overrated and inconsistent deep dish in the city.

Burt's is not deep dish.  Nor is Pequods.