Parachute HiFi
Korean restaurant · Avondale
3500 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Highlights
Korean listening bar with DJ, burgers, and unique cocktails
Korean listening bar with DJ, burgers, and unique cocktails
"During Parachute’s 10-year lifespan, it has evolved from two different Korean restaurant concepts into its current form: a full-fledged vinyl listening bar. Now called Parachute HiFi, this basement-esque Avondale spot with Hank Williams staples and Korean oldies crackling through the speakers is a great hang, especially with their creative food-inspired cocktails. A prosciutto-washed gin drink deftly balances meaty and fruity flavors, while spoonfuls of the bingsu’s Fruity Pebbles and shaved makgeolli ice (yes, this cocktail is eaten) make for a perfect boozy dessert. It can get busy even on a Wednesday with couples and friends snacking on bordelaise-dipped burgers or rice cake pad thai, so tell your fellow audiophiles to meet you there early." - adrian kane, john ringor
"For a solo experience that will likely lead to finding a new favorite song, head to Parachute Hi-Fi. This basement-esque Avondale listening bar is a great scene, with vinyl always crackling through the speakers. The menu is Korean with twists, so you'll find stuff like tteokbokki pad thai and drinks like the bingsu cocktail. And even though the walk-in-only place is often busy, the bar is especially laid-back with bartenders who are friendly, and never pushy. But if you do want to geek out with a stranger about the Korean oldies currently playing, Parachute Hi-Fi is a great place for that, too." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen
"Parachute is offering a $50 family-style meal for two to-go, or for delivery. The menu changes daily, but expect dishes like bing bread, kimchi-guk, steamed rice, and a dessert of the day." - adrian kane
"Reimagined from a fine-dining concept into a more casual, pub-like atmosphere, this venue features wood-paneled walls lined with a vinyl collection, lampshade-lit booths, and a DJ booth spinning soul, funk, and Japanese pop. The beverage program includes about 17 sake, soju, and rice-based sool options as well as inventive house cocktails—examples include a Pickled Ginger that balances piquant ginger with a sweet milk-and-yogurt–flavored soda and a Matcha Latte cocktail with whisky, fig-leaf syrup, coconut milk, and green-tea shochu. The playful food menu highlights items like barrel-shaped tteok turned into pad thai, fried tofu pouches with enoki, and juicy mandarin-orange bites served with crackling fried noodles and lettuce." - ByKristin Braswell
"Even on a Wednesday, this restaurant-turned-listening bar from the Anelya team fills its quiet Avondale corner with energy typically reserved for weekends. Coworkers freshly released from the office descend on enoki-filled tofu pockets while chatty couples at the bar trade sips of each other's cocktails. As vinyl records crackle through the speakers, disco lights project onto the line of people waiting to snag the next open spot. Parachute HiFi might technically be at street level, but this wood-paneled bar is the buzzy-yet-lowkey basement hang you want to return to every week. photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik Pause Unmute One night you might get a Hank Williams serenade while digging into fantastic bing bread—a throwback dish from when Parachute used to be a full-fledged Korean spot. Another night, they might be spinning Korean classics while you make your way through chewy tteokbokki pad thai. And you can’t swing by without getting their innovative, food-inspired cocktails, like a mezcal sour cosplaying as blueberry pancakes or a frozen makgeolli bingsu cocktail that’s more like an adult dessert. photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik Pause Unmute Parachute HiFi isn’t flawless. A few bites like oversauced nigiri or slightly dry karaage lack the precision of other dishes. And it’d be nice to be able to put a name down, instead of having to wait in a crowded front area that often blocks the entrance (they don’t take reservations). But none of that detracts from Parachute’s overall Feel Good Factor™️, whether you want a place for a casual catch-up dinner or need some alone time with a juicy burger and jams from a local DJ. Like many of the records on their turntables, Parachute has infinite replay value. Food Rundown Baked Potato Bing Bread This beloved dish from Parachute’s original menu was on hiatus for a few years, but the prodigal bread has returned as a Wednesday-only exclusive. It has a crispy crust, and plenty of scallion in its soft chewy center. Get the sour cream butter on the side involved for creaminess and tang. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Tofu And Rice Pockets A great plate for sharing. The inari are loaded with rice, a mountain of enoki and chives, and mushrooms that have a fantastic meatiness. Some spillage is inevitable, but you’ll want to scoop up every last bite. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Tteokbokki Pad Thai Rice cakes add a fun chewiness to this twist on pad thai, contrasted by the sprinkle of crisp bean sprouts. The noodle substitute is also a great vehicle for the nutty sauce. Make sure to shower it with lemon juice to balance some of the richness. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Cheeseburger When this burger lands on the table, its halves facedown in a pool of cheese and bordelaise like a diver breaking water, you’ll want to gaze in awe for a few seconds. Aside from being a looker, it has charred patties that are well-seasoned, and a combination of cheesy, beefy sauces that add richness. Onions and pickles give it a nice layer of sweetness. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Bingsu Is this a cocktail? Is this a dessert? Yes, and yes. Armed with a spoon, you get to dig through this fun play on the classic Korean frozen dessert—layers of shaved makgeolli ice on top of ice cream and chunks of mango, plus a sweet drizzle of rumfire dulce de leche. There’s a delicious mix of boozy and fruity flavors, plus fun textures like crackly Fruity Pebbles and chewy mochi pieces. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Prosciutto & Melon Light, refreshing, and incredibly balanced, get this if you like a savory cocktail. The sweetness from the melon kicks off each sip, while a hint of saltiness from the prosciutto-washed gin rounds it out. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Blueberry Pancakes As the name suggests, this take on a mezcal sour tastes exactly like blueberry pancakes. Yes, there’s a richness from the butter, maple syrup, and egg white, but the tartness balances it all out. photo credit: Kim Kovacik" - John Ringor
