epik high is in chicago

if you’re there on a saturday, perusing their menu is an easy fix: go for their daily special, the goat barbacoa. juicy, rich, braised goat with the perfect tang of fresh salsa. pair it with a margarita if you’re feeling it (and def get one if you’re not—you’ll be feeling like you can dance all night long after their prickly pear margarita)!

if you’re looking for authentic cantonese-style barbecue, this is it right here. order their san-bao-fan (3 meats with rice) platter to sample a few, and be sure not to skip out on their won ton soup (delicately wrapped shrimp and a light but perfectly salty broth). don’t forget to order their char siu rou (so good on the go, too!) and their pork belly (best when fresh out of the kitchen). if you’re a lover of spice, help yourself to the jar on the table—i don’t know what they put it in except absolute magic!

some of the best cupcakes around. with a ton of flavours, you really can’t go wrong! (but i’d recommend you try out their crème brûlée cupcake: a blissful marriage of vanilla cake, sweet custard, and fruit, with a caramelized crunch to top it off)

duck, duck… half duck! with a crunchy skin and tender meat, their half duck+greek yoghurt+salmon roe meal is sure to burst with flavours on your tongue. be sure to have some of their hummus smear—the focaccia is to die for.

the best, most authentic japanese food around. come for their perfectly light, crispy katsudon, try out their savory, melt-in-your-mouth eel sushi, and stay for the teriyaki steak (or salmon, your pick)!