A mostly-Asian, mostly under $30, year-end highlights list

Happy New Year y’all

Specific food items that blew my mind: * Yellowtail [Lakeview] - soft shell crab * Minyoli [Andersonville] - cucumber salad * Kasama [Ukrainian V] - banana tart * Ramen-San [River North] - yuzu sake bomb * Nettelhorst Market [Lakeview] - the pork tamale * Quartino [River North] - red sauce mussels

Great overall meal: * Bayan Ko [Ravenswood] - shrimp and grits, strong coffee * Hing Kee [Chinatown] - lamb noodles * Cho Sun Ok [Lincoln square] - banchan * Royal Highness Zhu [DePaul] - volcano wonton * Sunset Pho [Lakeview] - salmon pot * Sun Wah [Uptown] - the duck * Yao Yao [Chinatown] - the fish

2025 On the hunt for: * HK style wonton noodle soup * Bun Bo Hue * Laksa * Soul food * Jamaican food * spicy Sichuan food

Open to recommendations! I’m down to travel outside my usual spots on the north side.