Chicago Food Planet normally advocates getting out of your neighborhood and seeing the rest of the city around you — but on those cold early-March nights after a wild, unseasonably snowy day, sometimes you just need to hunker down and enjoy some Netflix and food ordered right to your door.
If you aren't willing to leave your sofa, why not let your palate do the traveling? Send your taste buds to far-off lands where the weather is far more pleasant — and the flavors are exciting enough to transport you out of the gloomy late winter. Without missing the end of the Blackhawks game.
If you're close enough to Argyle Street for them to deliver to your building, don't miss you — even away from the restaurant, piping-hot Vietnamese pho noodle soup will warm you to the core.
Order any of Hai Yen's beef pho bowls and get a complete kit to make your own soup, with flavorful broth, a container of fresh rice noodles, raw beef in its own separate plastic wrap, and all the vegetables you need — plus hoisin sauce and sriracha.
Hai Yen 1055 W. Argyle St. | 773-561-4077The authenticity of this Lake Street gem is built right into the name: It's actually run by Vietnamese sisters, Mary Nguyen Aregoni and Theresa Nguyen — and their mother. What began as a stall in the Chicago French Market at Ogilvie Transportation Center is now a full-service restaurant.
Try the VBQ banh mi with Wagyu beef, barbecue sauce with Vietnamese flavors and Thai basil, or get the Hen House banh mi with caramelized chicken, lemongrass, ginger, mint, lime, crushed peanuts and mayonnaise. Bonus: If you're stuck working late in the Loop, delivery is a breeze.
Saigon Sisters 567 W. Lake St. | 312-496-0090Jerk seasoning, native to Jamaica, uses two main spices: allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers; other ingredients include cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic and salt. It's a super-flavorful dish that will melt away your winter blues!
Mostly catering to the diverse Loyola neighborhood, this new Caribbean joint offers traditional jerk dishes like chicken, goat and oxtail.
Jerky Jerk 1217 W. Devon Ave. | 773-856-0222Even if you can't sit on their beautiful enclosed patio overlooking Milwaukee Avenue just beyond the busiest area of Wicker Park, you can Order up the award-winning vegetarian burrito with black beans, yellow rice, cheese, lettuce, tomato, avocado, sour cream and hot peppers, or if you prefer an omnivore's delight, get the steak Casado with caramelized onions, served over white rice with black beans, sweet plantains, an over-easy egg and cabbage salad. And if you live close enough: Don't miss the oatmeal shake.
Irazu 1865 N. Milwaukee Ave. | 773-252-5687As you are thinking about your Chicago Food delivery, we highly recommend checking out Bootler for your needs - they compare the prices of all food delivery options to get you the best price, shortest wait time and in short is 'da bomb.com! It's like Expedia for food!
What's your favorite exotic delivery in Chicago? Any we should try? Leave us a comment or tweet us at @ChiFoodPlanet.