Best Spots in Wicker Park

As you explore around Wicker Park, you may have seen some interesting spots that you want to try, but you don't know how it's going to go. Here at NXT, we have many, if not all, foodies in our team. Here are some of the best local restaurants in the Wicker Park area. 

This place is the little brother of Au Cheval at Randolph and Halsted. This joint is well known for its high-quality burgers, with a fraction of the waiting time compared with its big brother. Small Cheval has the same, if not similar, burger but with a different kind of bacon and without the fried egg. If you're not into eggs in your burger, this should be good either way. The regular burger is served with two patties, pickles, garlic mayo, and bacon if you choose. What's also a plus is there's a beverage store next to it, going southeast from there. It's called Garfield's Beverage Express. Burgers and beer, what more could you ask?

Oiistar 

1385 North Milwaukee Ave Chicago, IL 60622

(773) 360-8791

https://oiistar.iorderfoods.com/products/items/MTAyNA/Mzk0

Since Chicago is pretty chilly at the moment, it's a good idea to have some soup-based dishes. If you've ever tried legit ramen that didn't come out of a packet or plastic container, this is the ramen spot to go. If you've never had ramen made from scratch, then you have to check this place out. I recommend the Musclemen Ramen if you want to be adventurous and/or like seafood. Its served with mussels, onion, chili pepper, scallions, and a bonito kind of miso. The other one I recommend is the oiimen classic. Now, this is served with Berkshire pork belly, ground pork, scallions, tree ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and a soft-boiled egg. The broth is made with Oiistar special blended miso paste. A bowl of this on a cold day will warm you up in a heartbeat.

If you have a craving for something doughy and cheesy, maybe with a hint of unconventional ingredients if you want, then you have to try this place. I was taken to this place with some friends before COVID, the inside is tastefully decorated and the layout is not bad... but let's get to the food. The pizza has a good amount of cheese, and the crust has the right amount of crunch to it where it doesn't mess up the roof of your mouth. I recommend the "Honey Boo Boo", "Margherita", "I Feel Like Bacon Love'', and if you want something classic, then the "Sgt. Pepper'' pizza is good too. I believe that was most of their pizza selection so that being said, you can't go wrong with any of them. If you have room for dessert, then try the 'TACOlato.'' It's a taco-shaped waffle cone served with your choice of flavors and toppings.

These are just a couple of spots you can try. The beautiful thing about Chicago and its neighborhoods are how diverse it is, and how much variety of food is out there. You just have to go and try it.