This year, instead of going home for winter break, I spent the entire break on campus. Of course, this meant after the meal plan ran out (December 7, though they kept serving until December 20), I was completely fend-for-yourself. Luckily, I had access to a kitchen to feed myself for most of the break, but for those days I was looking for some additional variety, I had to find something good. Leading up to finals week, I realized there was a neighborhood I had hardly visited in my 4 years in Chicago: Bridgeport. A little less than a mile West sits South Halsted, one of the main arterial roads through Bridgeport, and just a short ride away on both the 35 and 31 buses (though good luck finding reliable service on the 31)! So, I decided to explore the many restaurants between 35th and 31st on South Halsted, and in no particular order, here are my findings!
Taqueira San Jose
This is one restaurant I’ve already been to before the winter break on South Halsted, but figured I’d include it nonetheless! This small store just north of 33rd Street has a rather unassuming storefront, with the only real indicator of its existence being a narrow entranceway and a weathered sign a fair bit above the sidewalk. Inside you are greeted by an equally narrow building, with about 3 columns of seats, a mural on one wall, and, shamefully (in my opinion), some slot machines.
Besides that one small complaint, I have very few notes about this small taqueria. The staff have been incredibly friendly every time I’ve visited, and their food is superb. It has a classic savory heartiness that Mexican food is well known for. The spice is very beginner-friendly friendly, to say the least, without compromising on quality or flavor. For the portion sizes and quality, it is surprisingly friendly on the wallet, a trifecta that seems hard to find post-COVID. Overall this place is a solid 8/10.
Min’s Noodle House (渔家重庆小面)
Min’s Noodle House yet again has another small profile on the street level. Almost halfway between 33rd and 34th, this restaurant has a much more sleek and modern style, with a black steel and dark glass combination that is reminiscent of Mies Van Der Rohe’s style, but with a tasteful inclusion of white plaster and wood that makes it feel not like a prison. The indoors are adorned with simple art, classic paper-style lanterns, and wood seating, and a very approachable wait staff.
Besides the simple yet great atmosphere that tailors to the “less is more” philosophy, the food is nothing short of fantastic. I ordered their ‘Chunking Noodles’ with pork belly (medium spicy) and some Szechuan spicy wontons, and I was stunned. Featuring peppercorn, chopped peanut, fresh scallions, braised egg, and other veggies, the noodles had a certain soul-warming quality in every spoonful, in such an addictive manner that had me cleaning the bowl. I added some of their chili oil to the broth, only further enhancing the meal. The wontons were also good, but proved to be a little but too much food for me as I had not expected the serving of noodles to be so large! For a cold and wet day, or for less-than-happy days, this is the perfect place to visit. Min’s Noodle House was an easy 9/10 for me.
Happiness
Happiness took me just South of 33rd for a change, with the same slim outside profile, this brick-and-mortar structure features an almost cartoonish logo. The inside was very quaint, with quite a small serving area. Unfortunately, all the seating was put up, likely as a byproduct of older COVID precautions, and was carried out only.
I ordered a large Kung Bao chicken and some crab rangoon’s, I assume a classic combo given the waitress beating me to the crab rangoon punch after I ordered the chicken. After bringing it home with me, I am sad to say I was a little disappointed. Promising vegetables, red hot pepper, and peanuts in a plum and spicy garlic sauce, I could taste very little of anything in it all. The sauce was watery and drowned everything, with no hint of plum or spicy garlic, only really tasting slightly bitter with only a hint of peanut, and the vegetable:meat ratio was overwhelmingly in favor of the vegetables. And though I am no expert in crab rangoons, these ones were also slightly bitter, and lacking the usual slight sweetness and savoriness I’ve come to love from crab rangoons. Atleast they had good white rice! 4/10.
Northern Taste
Just South of 34th lies this slightly larger Chinese establishment. Northern Taste unapologetically adopts a very modern look, with the grey and white plaster and floors of millennials, but adapted well with red and gold art and intricate paper-style lanterns. The staff here were incredibly friendly and constantly looked after me, though I probably received more attention than their average customer on the part of me coming in only an hour and a half before close.
Their menu was impressive, and if I return, I definitely have many ideas in mind, but for today, I went with a classic General Tso’s chicken and two egg rolls. I had to wait a bit, likely because they were making fresh batches of everything, but the food that came was incredible! The chicken was ridiculously crispy, and the portion of rice was absolutely massive. The egg rolls were equally crispy and just about perfect. The sauce on the chicken favored the sweetness over the spicy, but was easy enough to remedy with their complimentary chili oil. The whole affair was cheap, filling, great, and for the first time in what seems like forever, I was not presented with an option to tip! No complaints for me, and I hope to try more of their food in the future. 6/10, but I could easily see this becoming higher if I get the opportunity to try more.
Jackalope Coffee & Tea House
Quick disclaimer out of the way: I am cheating a bit with this inclusion! Jackalope Coffee is technically on 34th Street, with no entrance on South Halsted. However, it is immediately accessible from South Halsted, no more than 15 steps from the street. This place has a completely different vibe from most places I’ve been. The walls are adorned with stickers, paint, and art, in an incredibly colorful yet intentional manner. They lean heavily into their mythical creatures theme, with items named after various mythological critters, and has a massive seating area. The staff match this energy well, sharing a homely familiarity with many of the customers that invites you to ease your own tension.
Jackalope clearly prides itself in its drinks, with an incredibly large selection of warm and cold coffees, teas, and other drinks, but still boasts a polite and small menu. I got their Jackalope panini – a bacon, goat cheese, tomato, and jam panini – and a chocolate malt with whipped cream. Their prices are incredibly reasonable, with my total coming out to less than $15 (a rarity for a good meal nowadays)! The panini was great, with the flavors coming together wonderfully, though a bit on the smaller size. The malt featured plenty of, well, malt; and you will not catch me complaining! Their breakfast sandwiches also caught my eye, so I will likely be returning for another bite! A strong 7/10!
To conclude, I’d strongly recommend giving Bridgeport a visit for their food options. South Halsted offers a concentration of great, plentiful, and cheaper-end food that you should not miss, and this list is only a selection of everything they have! All the places mentioned seem to be small businesses as well, which you can never go wrong with supporting. There’s also a thrift store, appliance, and furniture stores, and plenty of other businesses for a variety of needs. All of this and more is just a short bus trip West, so what are you waiting for?
