Ever since I started this Lunch in the Loop column, everybody's been harping on me to put up a post about Chicken Planet. More

I always remembered Carson's to be, well, kind of crappy. But when I entered, the first thing I noticed was that the interior of the place appeared to be recently renovated. I looked over the menu and discovered that everything looked...oddly fancy. I was puzzled. More

"I was especially taken with the breast meat—it had a shockingly white appearance, near Mr. Clean white, and was not a bit dry." [Photographs: Nick Kindelsperger] Harold's Chicken Shack #36 1361 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago IL (map); 773-252-2424 The Short... More

"Jerk wouldn't be jerk without the heat." [Photographs: Nick Kindelsperger] Tropic Island Jerk Chicken 419 E. 79th Street, Chicago IL 60619 (map); 773-224-7766‎ The Short Order: Juicy jerk chicken, laced with spices. Want Fries with That? No, but you'll definitely... More

Cordero con frijoles y arroz at D'Candela My good friend Mike Sula, the intrepid food reporter for the Chicago Reader recently told the story of D'Candela, an Irving Park Peruvian joint. It reminded me that I had an incredible... More

"Each of the 46 flavors spanning the international scene, from Jamaica (Fire Jerk, Rum BBQ) to Italy (Parmesan, Tomato Basil Pesto), is a study in balance and contrast." Chicago's Wings Around the World is like the Baskin Robbins of Chicken... More