Alulu Brewery and Pub

"Alulu in Pilsen sticks out on this list because it’s the only brewery. And while you can definitely get some great local drafts and classic American bar snacks, there are some great Filipino-influenced dishes on the menu. Their rice plates are huge and come with sweet and savory BBQ ribs or fall-off-the-bone chicken tinola with a light, gingery broth. Handhelds, like the longanisa burger, crispy lumpia, or wings made with the chef’s grandma’s marinade, are also fantastic. And whether you’re dining solo at the bar or are with friends giving a Shark Tank-esque pitch about why you deserve the last lumpia, it’s always fun hanging out in their busy space while Biggie and Tribe blast through the speakers." - john ringor

"Alulu’s bar is a great place to camp out solo, but on warmer days the patio or tables by their garage-style windows are perfect for recovering from Chicago’s collective vitamin D deficiency. This Pilsen spot has 21 house-brewed beers on tap, from light lagers to bitter 12% stouts that are tasty, but also cause furrowed brows. And their food menu is just as varied as their long draft list, with both bar classics and some Filipino-influenced dishes. The simple beef burger with cheese and tangy pickled onions is fantastic (can also even be upgraded with egg and pork belly), but equally delicious is their sweet and savory longanisa burger with shishito peppers." - john ringor, veda kilaru

"Alulu in Pilsen is about 1/10th the size of most Chicago breweries, and the closeness of its tables and bar stools makes it feel natural to start chatting up your seat neighbors. After drinking a few of the 21 beers on tap, you might end up splitting some good Filipino-inspired dishes like jumbo crispy lumpia. But resist the urge to offer half of that sweet and savory longanisa burger. Seriously, you just met. Possible Conversation Topics: Favorite beer (ours is the Ghostly Negra), guessing what the rotating chef’s selection chicken wings might be, appropriate amount of time to know someone before going halfsies on a sandwich. " - john ringor

"It might be because of all the reclaimed wood and the living plant wall behind the bar, or the fact that it’s about 1/10 the size of most Chicago breweries, but drinking at Alulu feels like sitting in a childhood treehouse. The beers are great (like their Mexican lager with smoked poblano and jalapeno), you can order flights that include palate cleansers, and (unlike your treehouse) you won’t have to hide them from your parents. As a bonus, the food is also good, with Filipino-influenced dishes like lumpia and tangy BBQ ribs with rice." - josh barnett, adrian kane, john ringor

"It might be because of its size (about 1/10 the size of most Chicago breweries), or because of all the reclaimed wood and a living plant wall, but drinking at Alulu feels like sitting in a treehouse. They have 21 house-brewed beers on tap, you can order flights that include palate cleansers, and unlike your treehouse, you won’t have to hide them from your parents. Their food menu is as varied as their long draft list, with both bar classics and some Filipino-influenced dishes." - adrian kane, alyssa reyes, veda kilaru, john ringor