A Burger and Brunch Bar Expands to Old Town and Four More Openings to Know

Chicago’s hospitality industry wearily forges ahead as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to introduce new twists. Case numbers, attributed in part to concentrations of unvaccinated people and two highly transmissible variants, has spurred city and state officials to reinstate a mask mandate and require patrons to show proof of vaccination in public indoor spaces — including bars and restaurants.

The following are just some of the restaurants that have reopened their dining rooms, patios, and takeout windows. It will be updated periodically.

Know of a restaurant back open? Email chicago@eater.com with details so they can be included when this post is next updated.

March 25

Bronzeville: Pop-up D’s Roti and Trini Cuisine has now found a permanent home inside the South Loop Food Company, a ghost kitchen, tweets Chicago food maven and Eater contributor Titus Pullu, where it will continue to serve roti, rice bowls, and doubles for takeout or delivery only. Among its fellow tenants is Cafe Trinidad ToGo, the city’s only other Trinidadian restaurant. D’s Roti and Trini Cuisine, 2537 S. Wabash Avenue, Open 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Old Town: The Black Barrel Tavern, the West Loop bar that specializes in “Americana” (that is, bar food like burgers, roast chicken, and ribs) and brunch, has opened a second location in the former Old Town Social space on North Avenue. The menu is identical to that at the original location, but it will not be serving weekday lunch. Black Barrel Tavern Old Town, 455 W. North Avenue, Open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday.

River North: Vino &..., a wine bar specializing in Italian varietals, opens today on the second floor of Eataly according to a rep. The wine menu includes 100 different bottles from 20 different regions, all of which are available by the glass; the kitchen specializes in pasta and steak. Vino &..., Eataly Chicago, 43 E. Ohio Street, Open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, reservations available via OpenTable.

Vino &...

Wicker Park: Treats de Cuisine, a “farm to paw” seller of organic cat and dog treats made on-site, is open in the space formerly occupied by the Tamale Spaceship, Block Club Chicago reports. The treats are made from dehydrated meat sourced from local farms; there are also vegan treats made from vegetables. Treats de Cuisine, 1341 N. Damen Avenue, Open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Oak Park: Dollop, the local coffee chain with more than a dozen locations in the city and Evanston opens its latest outpost today in the Albion apartment complex according to an Instagram post. Dollop Coffee Company Oak Park, 1000 Lake Street, Oak Park, hours not yet available.

March 18

River North: Café Crèmerie, a European cafe serving coffee, pastry, and gelato, and selling wine by the bottle, is back open. Owner Lisa Gasparian previously owned the Chicago franchise of Amorino Gelato in the Gold Coast before converting it to Café Crèmerie in 2020 in response to the pandemic. Café Crèmerie, 615 N. State Street, hours not posted.

Wicker Park: Wake N Bakery, a cannabis-infused cafe, is opened inside the Holiday Jones hostel in Wicker Park. This a second location for the social media savvy operation. Wake N Bakery, 1659 W. Division Street, hours not posted.

Lincoln Park: A new bar from the owners of AJ Hudson Public House and the Dandy Crown has debuted in the former Webster’s Wine Bar Space across from the Regal Webster Place Movie Theater. The Albion Manor has two floors for beer, cocktails, and more. The Albion Manor and The Parlour at The Albion, 1480 W. Webster Avenue, hours not posted yet.

North Center: Menya Goku, which serves Japanese rice bowls, buns, and ramen, is back open. Menya Goku, 2207 W. Montrose, open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

North Park: A grocery store with curbside delivery that stocks goods from This Little Goat, Milk & Honey, Heywell Sparkling, Chicago French Press, and more is open on the border of North Park and West Rogers Park. It’s called Free Street and this is the company’s first location after securing $4 million in seed money, according to a spokesperson. It uses a membership model and offers pickup times of within 30 minutes of ordering via computer or mobile app. Fresh Street, 6191 N. Lincoln Avenue, hours not posted.

Fresh Street/Giorgio Reyes

Printer’s Row: 16” On Center’s sandwich shop, the Ruin Daily, will reopen next week for the first time since March 2020. The shop is stressing a happier happy hour and a healthier lunch. The Ruin Daily, 328 S. Jefferson Street, opening Thursday, March 24.

March 11

Chinatown: Tony Hu, the well known Chinese restaurateur behind the Lao Sze Chuan empire, has unveiled his latest project: the first Chicago location of Liang Crispy Roll, a Chinese and Taiwanese chain with more than 12,000 locations. Hu is part of a group that includes spokesperson Jay Chou, a Taiwanese celebrity singer, that has brought the chain to Chicago. Beyond the crispy rolls, Liang also serves scallion pancakes. Liang Crispy Roll, 2161 S. China Place, Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Order via ChowBus.

Fulton Market: Evette’s, the hit Lebanese-Mexican mashup in Lincoln Park and Logan Square, will be opening a third location next Wednesday, March 16, in the Time Out Market food hall. The menu will include shawarma wraps, garlic wraps, and a “pretty salad” made up of, among other things, romaine, tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, feta, fried pita, and a lemon sumac dressing. Evette’s in Time Out Market, 916 W. Fulton Market, Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Jefferson Park: Iztatl Cocina Mexicana, a new Mexican restaurant opened this week in the space formerly occupied by Taqueria La Estrella, which closed early in the pandemic, Block Club reports. The owner, Victor Martinez, wants to offer his customers more than the standard tacos and burritos, and plans to concentrate on the cuisine of Guerrero, where his family is from. Iztatl Cocina Mexicana, 4808 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Lakeview: Vietnamese sandwich shop Banh Mi & Co. has closed its location at 3141 N. Broadway and moved to a new space on Clark Street last week, management announced on its website. The menu remains the same. Banh Mi & Co., 3227 N. Clark Street, Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Loop: Monroe Reserve, a tiny, 650-foot space with a bar attached to South Branch Tavern and Grill will open this week, offering charcuterie boards, lobster martinis, and bacon flights, according to a rep. The room will be used for private events, but it will also be open to the public in the evenings. Monroe Reserve, 100 S. Wacker Drive, Open 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

Monroe Reserve

North Center: Menya Goku, one of the city’s essential ramen shops from the owners of Wasabi and Ramen Tekeya, reopened in February, according to a Facebook post, after shutting down temporarily last summer. Menya Goku, 2207 W. Montrose Avenue, Open 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Streeterville: Fast-casual salad spot Sweetgreen opened its tenth Chicago location earlier this week near Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The restaurant will have a large patio and an expanded online order pickup section. Sweetgreen Streeterville, 227 E. Ontario Street, Open 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Evanston: Elephant + Vine, a casual offshoot of Spirit Elephant in Wilmette, the first vegan restaurant on the North Shore, will open its first location on Thursday, March 17, serving Buffalo cauliflower bowls, Impossible burgers, and vegan chicken sandwiches. Half the proceeds on opening day will be donated to the Barn Sanctuary, a rescue organization for farm animals, according to an Instagram post. Elephant + Vine, 719 Church Street, Evanston, Hours not yet available.

Schaumburg: Beyond the opening in Chinatown, Tony Hu has more planned. Recently, he opened a suburban location of Te’Amo Boba Bar in Schaumburg at the Streets of Woodfield shopping center. The menu offers alternatives to sugary drinks with vegan and low-sugar options. Ownership is also looking to reduce the use of plastic ware, something that often plagues tea shops. The chain already has three locations in Chicago. Te’Amo Boba Bar, Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Road, Suite 320. Schaumburg. Hours not posted.

March 4

Heart of Chicago: Taylored by Taylor’s Tacos, a new event space that hosts weekly “Tacos are the New Black” dining events on Thursdays, debuted this week from co-owners and spouses Taylor and Maya Mason, according to the Tribune. Taylor Mason, a West Side native and caterer who honed her taco knowledge as a student at Pepperdine in Malibu, California, serves taco options like “sexy, crispy shrimp” and “awesome AF asparagus” with slaw made by her wife. Taylored by Taylor’s Tacos, 2451 S. Oakley Avenue, Hours not yet available.

Pilsen: Members-only cafe and wine bar Toke Libre, a project from the team behind pop-up cannabis culinary series Herbal Notes, opened last month with a focus on wine and spirits from Black and Brown-owned brands with cuisine that draws on “the liberation of diasporas throughout Latin America,” according to an Instagram post. Memberships ($25 per month) include access to the cafe and bar, as well as a full menu, and the option to bring a guest. Non-members can order off a limited takeout menu that includes mojo-roasted lechon tostadas, ropa vieja, and Cuban-spiced fried chicken with black beans and rice. Toke Libre, 1626 S. Halsted Street, Open 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Ravenswood: Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe, the New York-style pizzeria that’s widely considered one of the best in town, reopened in February at long last in a space that previously housed Nick’s Pizza & Pub, according to Block Club. Owner Jimmy Kang has been on the hunt for a new location since 2020 when he learned that his restaurant’s original building in Lincoln Square would be razed to make way for a new apartment complex. Though he had to push back the opening date in Ravenswood due to the city’s permit process, the wait seems to have only made Kang’s legions of fans even more excited — they’re already lining up for his much-praised slices. Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe, 2434 W. Montrose Avenue, Open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Rogers Park: Morse Gyros and Chicken has relocated and reopened. It’s still on Morse Avenue, so the name continues to be accurate, but two blocks west in the spot formerly occupied by Grill Inn. Morse Gyros and Chicken, 1422 W. Morse Avenue, Open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

West Loop: Local cafe mini-chain Goddess and Grocer on Tuesday opened its fifth location — the brand’s largest yet — with a sizable retail section featuring local goods from Pretty Cool Ice Cream, pasta spot Tortello, and Katherine Anne Confections, according to a rep. Patrons can also expect Metropolis coffee, baked goods from suburban Evanston bakery Hewn, and a massive 24-foot salad bar. In the summer, staff plan to open a dog-friendly patio that seats 60. The Goddess and Grocer West Loop, 911 W. Randolph Street, Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Naperville: Zade’s Lounge, a new restaurant with live music and karaoke, opened Wednesday in the Chicago suburbs, the Trib reports. It’s the latest spot from Scott Harris Hospitality, the company that cut its teeth with Italian restaurant Mia Francesca in Lakeview. Patrons can expect a menu of punny dishes and drinks like “Lolla-pie-loo-zas” (pizzas) and We Built This Suburb on Rock and Roll (X by Glenmorangie single malt whiskey, Rabarbaro Zucca amaro, Heering cherry liqueur, orange juice). Zade’s Lounge, 22 E. Chicago Avenue in Naperville, Open 11:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

February 25

Belmont Heights: Pho No. 1 Brewing Company, a Vietnamese brewery, opened last weekend, according to a Facebook post. Like its sibling Pho No. 1 Vietnamese Cuisine in Portage Park, it will serve pho, noodle salads, and chicken wings. The brewery is still under construction, but in the meantime, there’s a craft brew bar. Pho No. 1 Brewing Company, 7958 W. Belmont Avenue, Open 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.

Ravenswood: First Slice Pie Cafe will open its latest location on Sunday, February 27, serving pie, coffee, and sandwiches, according to a rep. The self-funded charity, which sells prepared meals and as well as pie to support its outreach to Chicago’s hungry and homeless and which uses the cafes as a job-training program, previously had a Ravenswood location inside the Lillstreet Art Center, but is now moving to its own space. First Slice Pie Cafe Ravenswood, 1969 W. Montrose Avenue, Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Tri-Taylor: Typica Diner & Cafe, an offshoot of the Typica Cafe in Wicker Park, opened last month on Taylor Street, Block Club reports. The new location has diner booths for customers to dine-in and a full menu that includes Venezuelan dishes such as arepas, and fusion options like sweet plantain waffles. There will also be pastries and coffee with creative latte art. Typica Diner & Cafe, 2325 W. Taylor Street, Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Ukrainian Village: Boeufhaus, a French-German brasserie celebrated for its dry-aged steaks and short rib beignets, will be reopening its dining room for the first time in nearly two years, since it closed for the pandemic, on Wednesday, March 2, according to a rep. Block Club reports that dinner service from 5:30 p.m. on is already almost entirely booked up for the month of March, but lunch on Friday and Saturday is first come-first served. Boeufhaus, 1012 N. Western Avenue, Open 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, reservations available via Tock.

February 18

Albany Park: Chim Thai Cuisine opened late last month, serving home-style Thai food, Block Club Chicago reports. Chef-owner Tony Sakmunwong based his menu on dishes like khao krapow gai kai dao that his late mother used to prepare. Chim Thai Cuisine, 3254 W. Montrose Avenue, Open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Avondale: Late Bar, the bar and nightclub that’s been closed for nearly two years, since the start of the pandemic, comes back to life on Saturday, February 19, with a revival of the Planet Earth New Wave dance party, the owners announced in a Facebook post. DJ Dave Roberts will start spinning at 8 p.m. The news was first reported by Block Club. Late Bar, 3534 W. Belmont Avenue, Open 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday, and 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday.

Dunning: Miski Custom Cakes & Bakery, a Peruvian American bakery from pastry chef Carmen Castro-Almasri, opened earlier this month, serving cakes, alfajores, and confections, Block Club reports. The name “miski” means “delicious” in Quechua, and Castro-Almasri, who trained at the Le Cordon Bleu in Peru, uses family recipes passed down by her aunt. Miski Custom Cakes & Bakery, 6115 W. Addison Street, Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Humboldt Park: Etheria Cafe, named after the home world of She-Ra, Princess of Power, opened Monday in the former Be Cafe Kids space, Block Club reports; the new owners have kept the two-level play area, where kids 1 through 10 can blow off steam all day long. For adults, there’s Metropolis coffee and pastry from local providers such as La Estrella, La Boulangerie and Bot Bakery, and, eventually, there will be non-alcoholic cocktails. Etheria Cafe, 2800 W. North Avenue, Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Uptown: Milly’s Pizza in the Pan, the hit Logan Square virtual restaurant founded by Robert Maleski after he was laid off from his serving job at the start of the pandemic, opens in a storefront space today, Friday, February 18. The storefront will serve the same pan pizzas with caramelized cheese on the crust that made the ghost kitchen operation so popular that it sold out regularly. Milly’s Pizza in the Pan, 1005 W. Argyle Street, Open 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Niles: An outpost OhK-Dog, a Korean hot dog chain primarily located in Texas, opened last month inside the Niles HMart. The menu includes dogs stuffed with sausages, mozzarella, and rice cakes with a variety of toppings, as well as egg toasts. OhK-Dog, 801 Civic Center Drive, Niles, Open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

February 11

Beverly: The Original Rainbow Cone, which has been serving up its signature five-scoop ice cream cones since 1926, has reopened its original location on S. Western Avenue after an extended winter break, the ice cream parlor announced in an Instagram post. In celebration, it will be selling buy-one, get-one rainbow cones at all three locations (the others are in suburban Darien and Lombard) through Monday, February 14. The Original Rainbow Cone, 9233 S. Western Avenue, Open 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.

Gold Coast: Adalina, the swanky bi-level modern Italian restaurant that debuted last summer, will be opening a speakeasy-style bar called Rose Lounge on Thursday, February 24, according to a rep. Hidden behind a secret door on the first floor, the Rose Lounge can accomodate 50 drinkers by candlelight and will serve a variety of wines, spirits, and original cocktails. Rose Lounge inside Adalina, 912 N. State Street, Open 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, reservations via OpenTable.

Humboldt Park: Café Calidá, a new mom-and-pop coffeeshop from the husband-and-wife team of Anton and Liset Adkins, opened last Saturday, February 5, in the former Homiey’s space, Block Club Chicago reports. The Adkins wanted a coffee shop in the neighborhood that wasn’t part of a chain; “calidá” is Guatemalan slang for “quality.” They’ll serve JoeBVegan doughnuts and Passion House coffee to start, though they’re hoping to establish partnerships with other local roasters. Café Calidá, 3455 W. North Avenue, Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Uptown: BadaBing Wings opened on January 3 at the corner of Clark and Lawrence. Owner Jose Lopez told Block Club that he was undeterred by the pandemic-related chicken wing shortage, which has forced him to close early some days. The name was inspired by the TV show The Sopranos, as was the slogan, “wings you’ll never fuhgettabout.” BadaBing serves large halal wings with a choice of a dozen sauces. BadaBing Wings, 4754 N. Clark Street, Open 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday and 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

West Loop: Aikana, a new South and Latin American restaurant, opens today in the space formerly occupied by Yugen and Grace. The kitchen is helmed by Alexander Quintero, a hotel veteran most recently sous chef of Trump Tower Chicago, and the bar is led by Benjamin Schiller, formerly of the Boka and Fifty/50 Restaurant Groups. Aikana Chicago, 652 W. Randolph Street, Open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, Reservations via OpenTable.

Naperville: Jojo’s Shakebar will be opening a third location in Naperville on Tuesday, February 15, according to a rep. The suburban spot will pay tribute to Cock Robin, an ice cream shop and hamburger joint that expanded into a 25-location chain in the western suburbs and whose owners, Walter Fredenhagen and Earl Prince, invented the Multimixer, the first multi-spindle milkshake machine. Jojo’s Naperville, 5 Jackson Avenue, Naperville, Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

February 4

Avondale: TriBecca’s Sandwich Shop makes its debut today, a year and a half after co-owner Becca Grothe began testing her sandwiches in a weekly pop-up at her former employer, Honey Butter Fried Chicken. TriBecca’s will serve renditions of Midwestern favorites like the horseshoe and the loose meat sandwich, plus Cubanos, grilled cheese, fried cauliflower, and potato doughnuts from Tuber’s Donuts, run by Grothe’s husband, Cam Waron. TriBecca’s Sandwich Shop, 2949 W. Belmont Avenue, Open 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday.

Gladstone Park: Greek pastry chef Ioannis Tasopoulos will on Saturday will unveil Zymi Bakery, his new sweets spot on Chicago’s far Northwest Side, according to Block Club Chicago. Born to a family that owns two bakeries in his native Filiatra, Greece, Tasopoulos sought formal pastry education and snagged a number of awards before taking over the space vacated by Kazik Bakery, which relocated to Norridge. Zymi patrons can expect to find Greek favorites like paximadia, baklava, and galaktoboureko alongside truffles and intricately decorated cakes. Zymi Bakery, 5806 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Lincoln Park: Daily Harvest, the website that delivers boxes of fruit- and vegetable-based meals, snacks, and smoothies to customers’ homes, opened its first offline shop, the Tasting Room, on Thursday, February 3. Visitors can sample new products, have consultations about meal plans, and buy more food to take home. Daily Harvest Tasting Room, 854 W. Armitage Avenue, Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Lincoln Park: Counter-service fried chicken spot Red Light Chicken is newly open in the storefront space that previously housed the original Devil Dawgs, owner Gary Strauss, who also operates Big & Littles, announced on Facebook. The square red restaurant on the corner of Sheffield and Webster hasn’t yet posted a menu online. Red Light Chicken, 2147 N. Sheffield Avenue, Hours not yet available.

River North: Friends Station, a new all-you-can-eat restaurant touted as Chicago’s only location for rotary shabu shabu, or Japanese hotpot, debuted in January from Friends Hospitality Group (Friends Ramen, Friends Sushi). Customers start with a pot of broth and then select meat and vegetables off a conveyor belt. Sushi, tempura, and other bites are also available. Friends Station, 800 N. State Street, Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

January 28

Lakeview: La Biznaga #2 opened on November 12 on Broadway, the descendent of the first La Biznaga taqueria in Irving Park, which has since closed, the restaurant announced on Facebook. The menu features tacos, tortas, and burritos with a variety of fillings, including shrimp, lengua, nopales, and birria. La Biznaga #2, 3555 N. Broadway, Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Lakeview: Stan’s Donuts and Coffee will open its first location in a grocery store — and its 16th overall — in the Mariano’s on Broadway this Saturday, January 29, according to a rep. The celebration will include doughnut and coffee samples, plus a drawing for two customers to win free doughnuts for a year. Stan’s Donuts and Coffee in Mariano’s Lakeview, 3030 N. Broadway, Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Logan Square: Lolita’s, a new restaurant run by Venezuelan immigrant Lolimar Gutierrez, opened last weekend in a former ice cream shop, Block Club reports. The menu features Venezuelan arepas, Italian sandwiches, and the house special, grilled pear salad. Lolita’s, 2937 W. Armitage Avenue, Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

North Center: Joy Yee Noodle, the local pan-Asian mini-chain, opened a sixth outpost in the Roscoe Square shopping center in mid-November. The new location has the same extensive menu of Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese favorites. Joy Yee Noodle Roscoe, 3336 N. Western Avenue, Open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

West Loop: Joker’s Cajun Kitchen will be reopening in the Chicago French Market on Tuesday, February 1, according to a Facebook post. The smaller outpost of Joker’s Cajun Smokehouse in Avondale will serve lunch: po’boys, muffuletas, gumbo, and jambalaya. Joker’s Cajun Kitchen, Chicago French Market, 131 N. Clinton, Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Norwood Park: Blazzin’ B’s Chicken, a Tennessee hot chicken spot from chef Jamal Williams, opened on November 19 inside suburban bar Trinity Pub, the Tribune reports. The menu features all chicken all the time, with the two exceptions of shrimp and catfish po’boys and sides. Blazzin’ B’s Chicken, 5943 N. Northwest Highway, Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Villa Park: Cultura Subs, a mash-up of Ecuadorean, Argentinian, and Palestinian flavors in sandwich, taco, and protein bowl form, opened on December 11, the Tribune reports. Highlights include a steak jibarito, gyro tacos, and an avocado bacon burger topped with beef bacon. Cultura Subs, 9432 Waukegan Road, Morton Grove, Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

January 21

Avondale: Owen & Engine, chef Bo Fowler’s tribute to the English pub, reopened this week, the Tribune reports, after a 22-month pandemic hiatus, extended by real estate difficulties and Fowler’s need to concentrate on her health and her other restaurant, Bixi Beer in Logan Square. The restaurant is reservation-only for now, but it still serves the same beloved dishes from before the pandemic, including the pub burger and Scotch egg. Owen & Engine, Open Sunday through Tuesday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight, reservations available via Resy.

Fulton Market: Lil Amaru, a spin-off of Amaru, the Wicker Park restaurant that serves Latin street food and tacos, will Monday, January 24, in Time Out Market. The menu includes Cuban and criollo chicken sandwiches, fish tacos, fries, and guacamole. Lil Amaru in Time Out Market, Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Lincoln Park: Sushi by Bou, the New York-based mini-chain that serves $50 omakase meals in 30 minutes, opens today in the Hotel Lincoln, already home to sister restaurants Sushi Suite 202 and Sushi Boutique. The “Bou” is controversial chef David Bouhadana, and the restaurant is dine-in only. Sushi by Bou Lincoln Park, 1816 N. Lincoln Avenue, Open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday; and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Reservations via OpenTable.

Ravenswood: Anna’s Thai Kitchen, a new restaurant from Anna Ong, the chef behind Thai Planet, opens this Sunday, January 23, in the former home of Nami Sushi Bar, according to a Facebook post. The menu includes a full range of Thai soups, salads, curries, and noodle and rice dishes, and the restaurant offers a 15 percent discount to first responders. Anna’s Thai Kitchen, 1828-1830 W. Montrose Avenue, Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.

Melrose Park: Dave’s Hot Chicken, the LA-based chain whose celebrity investors include Drake and Samuel L. Jackson, opens its third Chicago-area location today in suburban Melrose Park. It serves halal-certified chicken tenders at seven levels of hotness (the hottest requires a signed waiver), plus fries, coleslaw, and mac and cheese. The other local Dave’s outposts, in Naperville and North Center, opened last year. Dave’s Hot Chicken Melrose Park, 2615 W. North Avenue, Open 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

January 14

Lakeview: Cody’s Public House, which closed in 2019, has reopened under new ownership, according to a rep. Red Door Tavern Group took over from Gene Frankowski, who had owned the bar since 1986, and made extensive renovations, including a game room and a beer garden with a fire pit. Cody’s Public House, 1658 W. Barry Avenue, Open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday.

Cody’s Public House

Portage Park: Province Pizza, a new pizza spot and sports bar, has opened at Six Corners, Block Club reports, in the space previously occupied by Mesa Urbana. It’s the first restaurant from Moe Taleb, who also owns La Vida Catering and the app Let Us Cater, and it serves wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and deep dish. Province Pizza, 4024 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Ravenswood: Salsa’s Family Market opened in the former Chui’s Food Store on Monday, Block Club Chicago reports. Proprietors Laura and Jorge Rosales previously owned Salsa’s Grill in Albany Park but decided to close last year due to the difficulties of running a restaurant in a pandemic. The grocery will eventually expand to include salad and juice bars and a butcher counter. Salsa’s Family Market, 4852 N. Damen Avenue, Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

River North: Barstool River North, a sports bar affiliated the website Barstool Sports, has opened in the former Henry’s Swing Club space on Hubbard Street under the management of Stanton & Bowery Hospitality of West Palm Beach, Florida. It’s the first of several upcoming Barstool bar locations; another is currently underway in Philly. Barstool River North, 14 W. Hubbard Street, Open 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday.

West Loop: MAD Social returned from its pandemic hiatus last month with an updated menu of bar food and brunch and is now accepting reservations. MAD Social, 1140 W. Madison Street, Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Wicker Park: Pan-Asian spot Little Wok opened a third location in Wicker Park on New Year’s Eve. Like its predecessors in Lakeview and Evanston, the restaurant has a Japanese menu of sushi and noodles and an “Asian” menu that offers a choice of Chinese and Korean dishes. Little Wok Wicker Park, 1950 W. Division Street, Open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.

West Lafayette, Indiana: Cornerstone Restaurant Group has teamed up with Aramark to open up kiosks on Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus, according to a rep. SolToro, Chef Bill Kim’s Ramen Bar, Chef Bill Kim’s Pizza & Parm, Fresh Fare, and J Manion Latin. Inspired all opened in Memorial Union on January 10.

For a list of the 2021 fall openings, click here.