Cuban Vibes

Have we really not updated this blog since November?! Yikes. Well, fear not. We are back and eating again. I have put on a comfortable layer of blubber for the rest of the Chicago winter and intend to share my resources so that you too may stay as warm as a happy seal on a harsh winter day. Ok, so I'm breaking the rules a bit to get the food sharing juices flowing again. I don't know if it's because we just watched the movie, "Chef", or if it was just time, but we finally tried Cohiba; A Cuban restaurant across from the BBandB and the TJ Max on Broadway just north of the Diversey Clark intersection. We've been holding on trying this place to give it the benefit of the doubt and work out some "new restaurant in a failing storefront location" kinks. We walked in and were welcomed by the sound of Cuban music. Feet were tapping. Good start. There were 4 or 5 full tables and I overheard someone say how much they loved this place. Also good. Service was pretty quick and the waiter was friendly and attentive without being at all overbearing.
What I Ate: I would imagine, this is the place to get a Cubano. However, since I am on a no pork deal, I was drawn to the Ropa Vieja. A shredded beef sandwich with peppers and onions. Sounds like an Italian Beef right? Nope.  The bun itself was incredible. It was a french roll that was grilled to allow for a tiny bit of crispiness without being too greasy. Maybe it was the luck of the first time visit, but I could not stop eating it and could probably have ordered a roll on it's own with nothing inside. The beef was succulent. So juicy. It required multiple napkins and a wet nap. However, it had an overwhelming flavor of Allspice that I just could not get over. Too powerful and floral for me. I ate the entire ginormous sandwich of course, but I just wished it didn't have that overwhelming flavor. It overpowered the sandwich. Perhaps that is the traditional way to make it, but for me, it took a sandwich that could have been spectacular and put it on my "Ew" list.

Ropa Vieja

Why She Ate: My wife and eating partner in crime ordered the Chicken Cohibarito. It has fried plantains instead of bread and was supposed to have grilled onions (but they were raw), mozzarella cheese, lettuce and tomato. It was really delicious and quite massive. It was indeed the more pleasing of the two dishes. We commented on how it was definitely fried, but not greasy. It wasn't dried out either and was a meaty bite of plantain. Delicious.
The fries were fine, but really nothing special. That's all we got. Much more on the menu and we'll be back.
So here's what I think. Go here. I recommend it after only going once (which breaks my rule, but you'll have to live with that).  I really think it's worth trying. If you eat piggy, get the Cubano. It looked delicious and properly made.
They have a large dinner menu which we will hopefully go back and try. I'm going to give it some time before going for dinner, but maybe will be back sooner for lunch to try a couple of the other sandwiches before determining what is going to be. . . my usual.

Cohibarito

Kim Chi on My Taco, Thank You

Del Soul. It's good. Like really good. You're gonna want to order more, but just let your tummy relax a bit before you make that decision. You ate too fast dude.
Del Soul Korean Street BBQ is located at 2568 N. Clark. Right near Molly's Cupcakes and Luigi's New York Pizza. Tough parking in the area, but if you are persistent, you can usually find a spot somewhere on Clark. Park near th Best Buy or even further north and walk. It's worth it. This is one of those restaurants that I always say, "If it was in NYC, there would be a line out the door, all the time." But it's not. It gets plenty of hospital traffic though, so the wait can vary.  I think actually I've ordered a lot on the menu, but I tend to get the same thing every time. As usual, we are typically there for lunch. We tried taking the kids for dinner, but they are less "adventurous" in their food choices.

Decor is "Eh". Order at the counter and grab a number.
Don't expect a Michelin Star anytime soon. 

The decor is nothing special. Hard surfaces and kind of cafeteria looking. But I'm not really planning to eat the tables, the floors or the wall treatments, so I just take note of how I would re-design it (as Claudia and I always do) and move along to the food.

What I Eat: I generally get the fish taco. It's tempura fried really perfectly with a crunchy fresh batter. A pickled bright pink onion that is just the right compliment to the fryness and the slaw. Honestly, I do think it's the best fish taco around (that is, not Mexican style). But still, I'm searching for better and have yet to have one here in Chicago . . . I tried a fish taco up the street at Dryhop once and spit it out. But I digress. Oh, the fish taco comes on a flour tortilla. I like it. Nothing special about the tortilla. Not handmade, but really takes a backseat to the innards of the taco. I suppose you could specially order a corn tortilla, but c'mon. The fries are simple and slender, but very good as well. (If you do want a great homemade tortilla, try the new Kokopelli in Bucktown. Just be careful of the spicy. The place just opened and they have yet to "adjust the heat".)
I also order the Kolbi Beef Tacos. Sweet Kolbi prepared. Sometimes it can have a bit of gristle or fat that is a bit "Ew" but in general, it delicious. This comes on the corn tortilla with cilantro onion relish and the "secret slaw".
They sell Kim Chi by the jar here. Great deal if you like Kim Chi. I do.
Also on the menu is the Sesame Shrimp Banh Mi. I have not ordered it, but friends of ours go there for this item. The Banh Mi's are probably good. I don't actually remember since I really go there for the tacos. They also love the Chili Sesame Shrimp Tacos. So maybe try those as well. Just don't blame me if you don't like them. Last I heard, we were not a shrimp boat town.
You can get larger items such as a Bento Box, Bibimbop or a Hotpot as well. I have also yet to try the Kalbi Poutine. Looks good but I'm afraid of feeling nasty afterwards so I haven't gone there.

Have an addiction to the Sour Apple Hi-Chew.
Maybe grab one of those on your way out.

So how does this compare to say . . . Big and Littles? I'm going to say it's just different. Larger tacos with more stuffed into them. Different flavors all around and more going on in each dish. So let's not compare too much. I think it's an apples to oranges sort of thing.
Seriously though, if you haven't made it to Del Soul, you are really missing out.  Get over there already. Or meet us there. And if you are still hungry afterwards, grab a cupcake and a cup of coffee at Molly's. Damn, am I hungry right now . . .