MingHin is a hub of Chinatown and is always crowded according to Zach. “It definitely makes me appreciate the restaurant more.” “Being Chinese makes me feel as if my experience with the restaurant is me getting in touch with some aspects of my parents and my culture,” Zach said. “But since I usually go to Ming Hin with my whole family, every time I go there it is kinda like a reminder of all the experiences I’ve shared with my relatives.” Zach Gin
“Of course, I love the variety of Chinese foods, like the dim sum, and the normal dishes are all really good,” Zach said. Zach, who eats at MingHin once or twice a month, says it isn’t just a spot for great Chinese food - it’s a reminder of his heritage, culture and family. To Zach Gin, a frequent customer, it’s an extension of his dining room. For some, the environment may feel foreign - perhaps even hostile. Situated just at the entrance of Chinatown, MingHin Cuisine is one of the most popular restaurants in one of Chicago’s most popular neighborhoods. The people and the places remind him of his Greek heritage. The galaktoboureko, a pastry made of custard between two sheets of pastry, and the melomakarona, a traditional honey cookie with an almond inside, were Ioannis’ choices.Īlthough he doesn’t go to Artopolis very often, he recommends it as a good choice for a casual Greek dining experience.įor Ioannis, Greektown serves as a great place to enjoy his Greek heritage and not just eat good Greek food. Galaktoboureko and melomakarono are just a few traditional greek pastries served at Artopolis. During events like the World Cup, places like it are an awesome environment to be in to support your country’s team.” “On top of that, the place is usually filled with Greek people since it’s a café as well. “They are probably the best Greek bakery in the city, so that’s enough for me to love the place,” Ioannis said. Ioannis goes for the food and the community. Just a block and a half south lies Artopolis, a self-described “bakery, café and agora.” With an open seating plan and stands for coffee, baked goods and Greek gifts like honey, olive oil and marinated onions, Artopolis fulfills all three of those descriptors. “My favorite thing about it is that I really feel like I’m in Greece for a little moment,” Ioannis continued. If you get some other stuff it would be better, and for others, worse, but for what we got, it was solid.” “They do a great job of recreating the flavors for foods that we ordered. And of course the food only makes this feeling stronger.”” “I really like the atmosphere and the music in the background that reminds me of Greece. All-in-all, the meal came down to about $20 a person. For a main meal, we had saganaki (fried cheese) and arni fournou (a lamb loin served with potatoes). We ordered tirokafteri (feta cheese blended with peppers) and melitzanosalata (eggplant blended with garlic, potatoes and olive oil) alongside grilled octopus and fried zucchini with skordalia, a traditional garlic sauce. And of course the food only makes this feeling stronger.” “Since I’m Greek, being in a place where so many people speak the language makes you feel at home in a way,” Ioannis said. on a Friday, and Ioannis conversed in Greek with the host.
The entrance is a long hallway, with fish laying in ice on a fake hawker’s stand on one side and a shelf filled with amphoras and other jars on the other. “They own both the stores, here and in the suburbs.”Īs soon as we entered, it felt as though we were transported to a different place. “It’s a family-owned business,” Ioannis said. In fact, he goes so often that he knows the family that owns the restaurant. Greek Islands, at the corner of Halsted and Adams streets, is a restaurant where Ioannis often goes for delicious Greek food. For example, every year there is a parade there for Greek independence day.” However, we do go once or twice a year for cultural events.
“Either we actually sit down at a place to eat or we go to this small supermarket that has imported stuff.
Filled with restaurants, boutiques, and other shops with a Greek twist, it’s become a place for senior Ioannis Nikas to connect with his Greek heritage outside of his home. Nestled in a corner of the I-90 and I-290 expressway, conveniently wedged into a one-block wide stretch, and within walking distance from Grant Park, Greektown is one of the most accessible of Chicago’s many ethnic villages.
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