Chicago's Best BYOB Restaurant 2008

Reasonable prices, romantic ambience and a B.Y.O.B. policy make this Argentine steak spot a Southport favorite.

Reviews:

• “best steak for the price in Chicago”
• “BYOB Fabulosity…weeknight hustle”
• “Great BYOB”
• “BEST STEAK EVER!!!!!”
• “NEVER EAT HERE”

Tips: The restaurant is B.Y.O.B. with no corkage fee; nonalcoholic beverages include South American sodas, fruit juices and Argentine specialty teas.

Tango Sur

A casual, elbows-on-the-table kind of joint that dishes out barbecue in all of its smoky, tangy, saucy, dry-rubbed goodness.

Reviews:

• “One of the Best BBQ in the City”
• “cheap and fast service”
• “Best BBQ IN CHICAGO… !”
• “Not the best!”
• “Good…but not good enough”

Tips: A lot in back is available for Smoque customers. Easy street parking is another option if the lot is full.

Smoque BBQ

Cool sushi clubhouse focuses on delivery and takeout, but tempts with a comfortable, loungey atmosphere.

Reviews:

• “Best Sushi in town”
• “Someone has been stuffing the Sushi X ballot box!”
• “A hidden sushi jewel”
• “Love It!!”
• “Great take out- very yummy”

Tips: For a $3 charge, you can get sushi delivered anywhere in the area bordered by Congress to the south; North Ave to the north; Western to the west; and Lake Michigan to the east.

Sushi X or email Sushi X

Casual Thai spot in Lincoln Square boasts an extensive menu at affordable prices.

Reviews:

• “Good & Affordable Thai food”
• “HORRIBLE FOOD. HORRIBLE SERVICE>>>”
• “Delicious Food, Small Portions”
• “Great Thai — Great Value”
• “not good anymore”

Tips: Some items, including the Peanut Sauce Lover, can be made vegetarian upon request.

Opart Thai House Restaurant or email Opart Thai House Restaurant

Romance is in the air at this sexy Bucktown Japanese joint.

Reviews:

• “Unimpressed”
• “Had it delivered to work.”
• “BYOB Sushi=Love”
• “nice food – but a little too trendy crowd, esp. if you are over 35.”
• “Terrible Customer Service from Erin”

Tips: For a $2 fee and $15 minimum order, the restaurant will deliver west to Kedzie, east to Halsted, north to Belmont and south to Grand.

Coast Sushi or email Coast Sushi

Casual River West storefront draws locals with winning sushi-Thai-B.Y.O.B. combo.

Reviews:

• “Horrible Service”
• “One of the worst dining experiences of my life”
• “Consistently great Asian food”
• “Delightful Experience!”
• “Ok sushi, small space”

Tips: Make sure to B.Y.O.B.; the nearest liquor store, a Jewel on Milwaukee, is a hike.

Butterfly Sushi Bar & Thai Cuisine

Cutting edge dining tucked away in an unassuming Ashland Avenue storefront.

Reviews:

• “Dont expect a call back to make a reservation”
• “Oh Schwa, why are you so cruel?”
• “Good food does not compensate for rude service”
• “No tourists or suburbanites here…”
• “Good but loud”

Tips: The restaurant is B.Y.O.B., so diners on a budget can splurge on the food and not the beverages.

Schwa

This jewel of an Indian restaurant offers reliably excellent, reasonably priced fare in intimate surroundings.

Reviews:

• “Ever been served by Arrogant and Crude people ??”
• “Best of Chicago? Not even close!”
• “Wow — that’s spicy Indian food”
• “perfection”
• “BEST INDIAN FOOD IN CHICAGO!!!”

Hema’s Kitchen

Dig into truly authentic Mexican food at this casual diner, a local favorite since 1962.

Reviews:

• “bad service”
• “Chicago Native”
• “The honest truth”
• “great customer service”
• “authentic and delicious”

Tips: Bring cash—Nuevo Leon doesn’t take credit cards.

Nuevo Leon Restaurant

Moroccan cuisine in an inviting atmosphere at this petite B.Y.O. spot on Clark Street.

Reviews:

• “Nice atmosphere during warmer months”
• “WORST PLACE EVER”
• “A Sham”
• “Suprisingly amazing!”
• “Great Food! Friendly Service.”

Tips: The restaurant is B.Y.O.B. with no corkage fee.

Andalous

Wicker Park cafe serves vegetarian fare to budget-conscious hipsters in a colorful, circus-y setting.

Reviews:

• “Colorful, funky setting, good salads”
• “I don’t know why people like this place.”
• “Earwax Cafe is just Okay”
• “WORST WAITOR I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. AVOID EARWAX.”
• “Seitan Ruben to die for!”

Tips: The cafe doesn’t have a liquor license, so feel free to BYOB.

Earwax Cafe

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