"Chicago is known for pizza, steaks, burgers, and having the largest naturally occurring population of Top Chef contestants in the wild. So throw your friend a curveball with a spot like Dancen in Lincoln Square. It’s a small, dark spot with tasty Korean bar food and more black lights than a Spencer’s Gifts in 1996. Come here and order the fire chicken: chunks of marinated chicken are grilled on an open flame behind the bar until the marinade becomes charred and caramelized. Delicious and incredibly spicy, it comes with a Thousand Island-dressed cabbage slaw to balance out the heat." - adrian kane, veda kilaru