Chicago Lunchbox
Asian fusion restaurant · Edgewater ·
Asian fusion rice & noodle bowls, customizable proteins
Asian fusion rice & noodle bowls, customizable proteins
"A decade-old Chicago food truck I’ve followed, Lunchbox was founded in 2013 by John and Tanya Nguyen and earned a following with spicy “fire” rangoons, bahn mi stuffed with Filipino longanisa, and pork tacos slathered in savory Vietnamese sauce, navigating stringent regulations as one of the city’s early trucks. They had spent a year working toward opening a permanent location when a fire on Wednesday, April 17 destroyed the space at 1535 W. Devon Avenue in Edgewater after John Nguyen discovered a cloud of black smoke while checking the building; firefighters extinguished the flames, the damage was significant, no injuries were reported, and the blaze was ruled accidental. Despite the setback, the Nguyens vow to spend the next year rebuilding, are seeking $15,000 via GoFundMe to help them start over, and the food truck remains operational for weekday lunches, usually near the University of Chicago at 5801 S. Ellis Avenue — “We shall rise from these ashes,” they write on Instagram." - Naomi Waxman
"Wicker Park’s death as an edgy and affordable neighborhood was announced with the closure of Leo’s Lunchroom, a welcoming restaurant with exceptional breakfast fare. The customers really came from a variety of walks of life; at the end of its life, the backroom was covered with promo material from Hoop Dreams, the exceptional documentary about Chicago high school basketball. Leo’s was around for more than four decades, one of the only restaurants along Division Street, a far cry from the new construction that dominates west of Ashland. Leo’s was a place to center yourself, to grab a great meal to get the morning to a tremendous start. Nothing has filled the void since it closed in 2005." - Naomi Waxman, Ashok Selvam
"A former food truck that opened a permanent spot downtown, serving a variety of Asian-influenced dishes including egg rolls, banh mi, tacos, and rice bowls." - Ashok Selvam
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