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SEE ALSO: Best New Restaurants 2012 »
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1 / 10
BELLYQ Something just feels right about eating kimchi in a former pickle factory. 1400 W. Randolph St., 312-563-1010
RELATED: Check out photos of BellyQ’s banana leaf-wrapped salmon, grilled edamame, and other goodies on our photo blog, What Penny Eats and read more on BellyQ
Photograph: Courtesy of BellyQ -
2 / 10
ELIZABETH Three communal tables, three different menus, online ticketing for the 24 seats. It might be easier to get into Next. 4835 N. Western Ave., 773-681-0651
Photograph: Jennifer Moran/ JenMoranPhotography -
3 / 10
CARRIAGE HOUSE To us northerners, low-country cuisine always sounds like the food is going to be bad. Time to get over it. 1700 W. Division St., 773-384-9700
RELATED: Browse pics of Carriage House’s she-crab soup, Lyonnaise, and more on What Penny Eats
Photograph: Courtesy of Carriage House -
4 / 10
BAVETTE’S BAR & BOEUF Brendan Sodikoff’s best trick: getting a bunch of 20-something hotties to eat short rib stroganoff. 218 W. Kinzie St., 312-624-8154
RELATED: See pics of Bavette’s hanger steak, crab cake, and more on What Penny Eats and read about the bar’s soul-warming Old Fashioned
Photograph: Courtesy of Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf -
5 / 10
KAI ZAN In five months flat, this friendly 22-seater in Humboldt Park has become the center of the sushiverse. 2557½ W. Chicago Ave., 773-278-5776
Photograph: Courtesy of Kai Zan -
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7 / 10
THE SAVOY The legend is true: After you’ve had enough absinthe and oysters on the half shell, the fish photos on the wall come alive. 1408 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-698-6925
Photograph: Jamco Creative -
8 / 10
SENZA A restaurant that doesn’t asterisk its gluten-free options. How rude! Oh, the whole place is gluten free. Never mind. 2873 N Broadway, 773-770-3527
Photograph: Courtesy of Senza -
9 / 10
JERRY’S The endless sandwich options at the newest Jerry’s are more impenetrable than a Pynchon hardcover. 5419 N. Clark St., 773-796-3777
Photograph: Courtesy of Jerry’s -
10 / 10
ANDY THAI KITCHEN Will the throngs of TAC Quick die-hards follow its former chef ten blocks south to his new BYO? They already have. 946 W. Wellington Ave., 773-549-7821
Photograph: Courtesy of Andy Thai Kitchen