The fair-trade ticketing company.

Summertime Southeast Asian Treats on Argyle Street, with Slow Food Chicago

Argyle Street, Chicago Uptown
Chicago, IL

On Saturday, July 22, Slow Food Chicago will host a tour of Chicago's Argyle District. Situated blocks from the lake in the historic Uptown neighborhood, the Argyle District is a vital social and commercial hub for several of Chicago's Southeast Asian communities. Join us as we uncover culinary treasures, view architectural landmarks from the neighborhood's past and present, and take advantage of some of the area's unique shopping opportunities.

The tour will begin at 10:00 a.m. in front of the recently completed "Roots of Argyle" mural at the southwest corner of Argyle and Winthrop. The creation of the mural was supervised by Brother Mark Elder of DePaul University, and it depicts the history of the many groups that have made the area their home over the past 100 years. Several significant figures in the area's past and present are also represented.

The focus of this summertime tour will be on the various "street snacks" of the area, and our destinations will include Sun Sun Snack Shop for Chinese-style snacks and pastries, Ba Le for the unique Franco-Viet baguette sandwiches known as "banh mi", Thai Grocery for Thai pork cracklings and homestyle curries, and Pho 888, for the spectacular house-made steamed sausage known as "cha lua".

Shopping-oriented stops on the tour will include Tai Nam for cookware and dry goods, Thailand Import for Thai handicrafts and housewares, and Hoa Nam Grocery for a bit of cooking-related Q&A.

Our tour will be led by Erik M., a local food enthusiast, writer, and critic. Erik has traveled extensively in Southeast Asia and is widely-regarded as an authority on Thai cuisine. As a proficient home cook and a frequent visitor to the Argyle District's many restaurants, bakeries, and grocers, he will be able to offer a unique and insightful perspective on the neighborhood's various culinary riches. Erik will be accompanied by a Vietnamese translator, who will be on hand to facilitate exchange and enhance the tour experience.

Space is limited to the first 20 people who RSVP.
Tour cost per person is $25.

Kid Friendly: No

Dog Friendly: No

Non-Smoking: No

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Contact