Mizu

I'm a huge fan of sushi. Some people think it weird that a black dude would eat raw fish instead of chicken. Now you maybe thinking to yourself "that was an ignorant statement". We live in the modern age and we finally have a black president. Well, with all of that being true it's amazing the looks I get when I enter a sushi place and ask for a couple slices of raw salmon and fatty tuna. Now I won't turn this into the angryblackguyeatingalone blog entry so let me get to my review.

What separates Mizu from other sushi places is that they also serve yakatori made to order. For those of you that don't know what yakatori is, it is meat skewers that are grilled over charcoal. It similar to shish-ka-bob with the difference being that unusual parts of animals such as chicken backbone can be grilled and enjoyed. At Mizu, they serve items such as the chicken meatball which actually happens to be a favorite of mine. But the duck yakatori can be damn near addictive with the sauces that are served. Another strange but delicious item is the chicken skin yakatori. Yep chicken skin. I must admit it was very good without the rest of the meat.

Lets get to the sushi at Mizu. Bananas is how I can sum it up. The absolute best in Chicago and I have been to many sushi places. ( I will write about a few of them later) Fresh, superbly prepared, and creative. When you go there try out the Mexican roll. Now, I am not big on specialty rolls because in my opinion they only take away from the taste of fresh fish. But, my mind has changed and I have gone back to Mizu to eat many of their rolls and have not been disappointed. Add to this the art gallery decor that makes it stand out and you have a knockout place to bring a date. This ladies and gentleman is a gem of a place.

Now the only thing I would change is the wait staff. Many of them seem very.....how do I say this....stiff. They could have auditioned for the part of the emperor in Star Wars and walked away with the part. Being a little lively wouldn't hurt. In all, I have been back to Mizu and loved it each time. Go there during happy hour and try many of their specials. Great food at slashed prices makes this place very high on my list.

Mizu is located at 315 W. North Avenue Chicago, IL 60614 (312) 951-8880 .

My first review-BBQ King House

At first glance you may thing BBQ king is a place for good greasy ribs and french fries. But in reality this is a Chinese restaurant serving up some of the best Peking duck and princess chicken in all of Chicagos Chinatown. Most restaurants claim to have the best duck and chicken but this place can really take the crown.

When you first walk in, the first thing you will notice is that it is small. So ambiance is not in the picture. But what you will see is nice freshly roasted ducks hanging up with juices and fat dripping from them. The crispy skin inviting you to take a deep bite into culinary sin. Yes, the thought of this making me feel thing a normal person shouldn't feel for food.

They also serve crispy chicken which is seasoned with spices I cannot put my finger on just yet butis so good you may not want to brush your teeth just so you could continue to relish the taste. I'm being totally honest when I say that. They also serve traditional chinese fare but to be honest you won't even think about ordering the regular stuff once you get a taste of the roated meat.

What makes this place a deal is that it is very cheap. Two people can eat a whole duck with all the trimming for less than $20 dollars. But if you go please go early. This place is small but it gets packed. But it will be worth it when you go. BBQ get my vote for peking duck in all of Chicago.