"Hermosa may look similar to a neighborhood hot dog or beef stand that many Chicagoans grew up with, but chef and owner Ethan Lim, who had a stint as a server at Alinea Group’s Next Restaurant and the Aviary, uses his culinary talent to take Chicago classics to the next level, incorporating Asian flavors to create a Cambodian fried chicken sandwich and an Italian beef banh mi. For those who want a composed meal rather than a fast-casual sandwich, Lim also offers a popular “Family Meal,” essentially a chance to buy out the entire room for dinner. The chef is a one-man show, loading the table up with delicious pan-Asian plates (noodles, Cambodian beef dishes) meant to be shared. The restaurant recently hired a pastry chef for the first time which means Hermosa is growing in unexpected ways and continuing to raise its ceiling as one of the best restaurants in town." - Ashok Selvam
