Arya Bhavan
When traveling down Devon, drop into Arya Bhavan. The buffet, which spans an entire wall, is served fresh daily. Begin by grabbing a plate and layer it with a bed of rice. Then add Chana Masala (spicy chickpeas), Aloo Gobi (potatoes and cauliflower), Bhendi Masala (fans of okra try this), and top it off with a warm Samosa. Most items are vegan so ask if you have dietary restrictions. Leave room for seconds (and thirds), making sure to try a bit of everything. If you can’t, you’ll have to stop by again. Your stomach will thank you.

Arya Bhavan, 2508 West Devon, (773)274-5800, aryabhavanchicago.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Amitabul
There isn’t much competition for Amitabul, the only all-vegan Korean restaurant in Chicago, which has endured for more than fifteen years, eventually relocating to Norwood Park on North Milwaukee Avenue after initially opening up in Lakeview. By drawing from traditional dishes, mixing noodles, nuts, fresh vegetables and spices, Amitabul does not use the wheat-meat substitutes usually found in vegan dishes. And if you’re under the weather, order up Dr. K’s Cure All soup to knock out any cold.

Amitabul, 6207 North Milwaukee, (773)774-0276, amitabulvegan.com

Best of Chicago 2012

El Faro
El Faro, Spanish for “the lighthouse,” is a beacon for South side vegetarians. Their menu offers many veggie options including flavored Tacos de Soya or Nopalitos (cactus) tacos. Their specialty dish, which even vegans can enjoy, is Tofu a la Mexicana: a plate of beans, rice, and scrambled tofu and hot peppers. Their hot sauce and spicy carrots complement any dish. And try one of their fresh fruit juices (like their Super Fruitas). When you see how large their portions are, you’ll walk out feeling like you can’t eat for the rest of the day.

El Faro, 3936 West 31st,  (773)277-1155, elfarorestaurant.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Old Town School of Folk Music
Since the unfortunate demise of Hothouse a few years ago, Chicago has been without a venue that programs world music at its core. And that’s a cultural shame as well as a market void if the massive crowds at the city’s World Music Festival this past September were any indication. Fortunately, a number of venues are producing world music shows on a consistent basis, from stalwarts like Martyrs’, Evanston Space and Jazz Showcase to relative newcomers like Mayne Stage, City Winery and The Shrine, to name a few. Arguably that diffusion of venues is a good thing, representing a maturity of the marketplace for world music here. In any case, Old Town School, with its comfortable auditorium, good acoustics and most consistent flow of world-music acts stands out from the pack. Especially noteworthy is the regular nature of its commitment, as Old Town School offers three regular showcases: World Music Wednesday, Global Dance Party Friday nights and the pan-Latino Pueblo Latino Chicago.

Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544-45 North Lincoln, (773)728-6000, oldtownschool.org

Audience choice: Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 North Lincoln, (773728-6000, oldtownschool.org

Best of Chicago 2012

Irazu
Travel northwest on Milwaukee Avenue to Oakley Street and find Irazu, the city’s predominant Costa Rican eatery. Settle in for signature menu items Palmito salad, yuca fries and fried plantains. For a burst of flavor, ask the server to add their sautéed hot peppers to your dish. Irazu is BYOB, but consider ordering one of their trademark oatmeal shakes. Though they’re open year round thanks to their recent addition of an enclosed outdoor seating area (heated in the winter), plan ahead as they get packed nightly. It’s definitely worth the wait, though.

Irazu, 1865 North Milwaukee, (773)252-5687, irazuchicago.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Fogo 2 Go
A match made in heaven: Guarana, a typical Brazilian soda that manages to be really sweet but not sickening, and coxinha—a savory that includes chicken, spices, tomato sauce, onion, parsley and sometimes catupiry cheese. Fogo To Go makes the crunchiest coxinha of all, along with Brazilian-style pizzas.

Fogo 2 Go, 926 West Diversey, (773)880-8052, fogo2go.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Instituto Cervantes
Foreign cultural centers are under-appreciated assets of a city like Chicago. Often established by the governments of various nations, they serve as a sort of home away from home for the various expats and émigrés who are now living in Chicago. But their offerings to the rest of us risk getting lost in the noise of the city’s larger cultural entities, and that’s unfortunate. In addition to offering classes in the native tongues of whatever nation they serve, they often produce and promote singular cultural activities, from cinema, to literary, to academic forums to visual arts and dance. Instituto Cervantes, which opened a beautiful new space in River North a few years back, has an art gallery that offers a regular rotation of high-quality exhibitions, along with a spacious auditorium in constant use. We’ve caught flamenco performances, classical music, a panel on Spanish graphic novelists and appearances by Granta’s Best of Young Spanish-Language Novelists in the space, for example, along with an appearance of Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia at the space’s inauguration in 2009. What’s especially compelling about Cervantes is that, though it is founded and funded by the government of Spain, its mission is the promotion of its language, which means it features the cultures of all Spanish-speaking peoples, including most of Latin America. In a country where the Latino minority is becoming a major part of its identity, Cervantes offers Americans an easy path to increased knowledge and appreciation.

Instituto Cervantes, 31 West Ohio, (312)335-1996, chicago.cervantes.es

Audience Choice: DANK-Haus, 4740 North Western, (773)561-9181, dankhaus.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Fogo de Chao
If you still haven’t been to a Brazilian steakhouse, you don’t know what the true meaning of the word “bounty” is. And you don’t even have to be a carnivore to enjoy the feast: one of the best features is their salad bar. Fogo de Chao offers a wonderful selection of vegetables, cheeses and cured cold cuts—if you want you can just pay for the salad and skip the whole meat extravaganza.

Fogo de Chao, 661 North LaSalle, (312)932-9330, fogodechao.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Showplace ICON Extras
The newish movie theater complex just off Roosevelt Road boasts some of the priciest movies in town, with a VIP seating section that offers big plush seats and upscale food and bar privileges during the screening. But it also offers one of the best deals in town in the form of an affinity card that offers, among other things, a weekly slate of first-run films for six dollars a ticket. Though opening and second weekend films are excluded, most of the movies you want to see are included after a short spell in the theater. As long as you use the card, you can bring in multiple guests for that six-dollar price and there are no blackout dates, so it’s good even at peak times. There are some other perks too, but none compare to a nearly half-price discount at prime time. But make sure you keep an eye on the email newsletter for there is no mention anywhere in the theater as to which films are “on sale.”

Showplace ICON at Roosevelt Collection, 150 West Roosevelt at 1011 South Delano Court, (312)386-7440, showplaceicon.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Ñ
On the soccer field, Brazil and Argentina are fierce rivals but in Chicago the two countries have been teaming up to produce one of the most entertaining venues. Every Tuesday from 10pm, the Argentine bar Ñ—from the same folks who brought us Tango Sur and Folklore restaurants—is hosting Bossa Tres, a Brazilian group who knows how to throw a party. Led by the singer Dill Costa, the trio mixes classic bossa nova with vibrant Brazilian rhythms such as samba and pagode. Be prepared to join an energetic crowd that might drag you on the dance floor to teach you how to shake. You can then chill drinking mojitos, margaritas and pisco sours, or choosing typically Brazilian drinks like caipirinha and guarana. So enjoy the party, but do not start a soccer conversation.

Ñ, 2977 North Elston,  (773) 866-9898 , folklorechicago.com/n/barran1.html, bossatres.com

Best of Chicago 2012