“Spotted by Locals” might as well be the nickname of the this colorful art shop/gallery–Sacred Art is 100% LOCAL. They sell original artwork created by Chicago and Midwest-based artists, ranging from paintings, jewelry, ceramics, photography, to one-of-a-kind screen-printed t-shirts, blown-glass, and miniature wind-up dioramas of pea-sized pirate ships (truly magical). I love Sacred Art, not only because they promote the work of local artists, but because the owners are almost always there, along with their irresistible door-dog Louie, engaging with folks about the stories behind the work that they sell. I have lived in Chicago over ten years, and every time I leave this space, I feel a little bit more “in-the-know” and connected to the city when I leave.
Moreover, Sacred Art’s location is a major bonus. It’s situated on Lincoln Avenue, the “main drag” through Lincoln Square, Chicago’s old German neighborhood. The stretch is sprinkled with local shops and restaurants like Mertz Apothecary, Gene’s Sausage Shop, Huettenbar, Timeless Toys, the Book Cellar, and the Grind Cafe, plus arts and entertainment hubs like One River School of Art, Old Town School of Folk, and my personal favorite directly across the street from Sacred Art–the Davis Theater, one of the few old-school, boutique movie theater in the city! I love feeding my right-brain with local art followed by cinema with a glass of wine Yep, there’s a bar connected to the theater and, yes, you can take your drinks to your seats!
Find your way with 116 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
The food here is prepared by Moses Sake, chef and co-owner of Tesfa, who learned how to cook from his mother. He runs Tesfa with his brother, Samuel Sake.
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I recommend getting the traditional breakfast combo, a sampler with three dishes, that comes with complimentary warm, crispy bread!
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The star of the show is De Luna's "volcano" taco, made with spicy poblano pepper and melted cheese. It may be one of the best tacos I've eaten in my life!
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Although this street is dominated by Vietnamese eateries, Nhà Hàng is a quieter, no-frills joint as opposed to the touristy, upscale restaurants nearby.
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Here diners sit in the naturally lit patio while enjoying traditional homemade Costa Rican food: sweet plantains, grilled veggies, rice and beans.
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My favorite thing to order here is the vegetarian arepa, which is stuffed with black beans, a generous portion of avocado, and sweet plantains.
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Founded in 1948, "Superdawg" is THE quintessential Chicago hot dog place - they'll bring your order right to your car, like they did in the '50s!
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The lentils are filling and creamy; the veggies are lightly cooked and nourishing; the injera bread is the perfect balance of slightly tangy and spongey.
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OMI has many good menu options, but their Japanese dessert toast is their all-star. Think of it as a fluffy French toast served with vanilla ice cream.
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Choose from multigrain sourdough, their house sourdough and miso rye sourdough; pastry choices include croissants, morning buns, and fruit danishes.
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Momos are bite-sized dumplings from Nepal and Tibet, usually filled with meat that is seasoned with spices like turmeric, garlic, cumin, and chili peppers.
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Their bread that has the perfect ratio of chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The 1979 multigrain sourdough is some of the best bread I've had!
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116 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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