Suburban Delights: Northern Chicago's International Eateries

By: Kim Moldofsky - Hormone-Colored Days

A whole world of flavor exists beyond Chicago’s borders, a place where the parking is cheaper and more plentiful. The northern suburbs are home to a wide variety of ethnic eateries. I’m thrilled that my boys are adventurous enough for my family to take advantage of the many unique dining opportunities that exist just a short drive from our home. Five of my family’s favorite ethnic restaurants are below.

Pita Inn — My oldest boy had a severe, potentially deadly sesame allergy that kept us away from Pita Inn for nearly a decade. After testing revealed he’d outgrown the allergy, Pita Inn was our first stop. We love the falafel, the schwarma, hummus and baba ganoush. The hot, fresh pita (produced in the bakery next to the Skokie location) makes every dip taste amazing. Their “business lunch” is so large, that my boys split one and we still have leftovers. Pita Inn's meals are very inexpensive, so there’s no excuse not to splurge on a piece of sweet, golden baklava for dessert.

Ruby of Siam — This is our go-to Thai place. The boys and I enjoy the sweet and slightly tangy cucumber salad, while my husband likes the hot and spicy soups and curries. My boys often make a meal out of the appetizers such as satay and pot stickers, while I stick with a mild noodle dish like lard nar or pad thai.

Himalayan Restaurant — We love heading to Indian restaurants with buffets. Buffets offer plenty of choices, so timid eaters like my kids, or those with a low tolerance for spicy food (myself) can fill their plates without complaint. This strip mall location lacks the ambiance of Chicago’s Devon Avenue, “Little India”, but the food is just as good and parking spots abound.

Addis Abeba — We initially walked into Addis Abeba Ethiopian restaurant after a long morning of volunteering with a beach clean-up crew. My boys hadn’t eaten since breakfast and like a bad sitcom, the minute we sat down they started whining, “We’re sooo hungry! We’re starving! When will the food get here!?” They loved eating with their hands, or rather scooping up our main courses with the spongy injera. Once the novelty wore off, they were less enamored with the food, but that just meant my husband and I had more to enjoy.

Sea Ranch — Carry-out sushi doesn’t get any better than this. At least, not if the main competition is that horrid pre-made stuff that my husband insists on bringing home from the supermarket every now and again. The staff members at this little shop are always pleasant and the sushi chefs love to take requests. My boys and husband mostly stick with the vegetable rolls with the occasional California roll thrown in for variety, while I’m all about the tuna rolls or sashimi.


Photo credit: flickr cc MR+G