View Serious Eats Neighborhood Guides: Jill Barron's Logan Square in a larger map
Jill Barron is the Executive Chef/Owner of MANA Food Bar, where she's turned out beautiful vegetarian and vegan dishes since 2008. Though her bulgogi is made with seared tofu instead of beef, Barron isn't a vegetarian. She's lived in Logan Square for 12 years, and she recently shared her favorite spots in the neighborhood.
[Photograph: Nick Kindelsperger]
Bar: We go to The Owl. It always has really good music playing and it's just really unassuming and has a good beer list.
Not the BLT, but the Ham and Raclette Panino from Lula Cafe is still good. [Photograph: Nick Kindelsperger]
Sandwich: It depends, but it's usually either Lula Café for the BLT or El Rinconcito Cubano on Fullerton for a Cuban sandwich.
[Photograph: Nick Kindelsperger]
Dinner Spot: There are so many options. I love Wasabi, which has just really good Japanese food. The ramen is great.
Essential Neighborhood Spot: I would say it's Lula. It's been there for a long time and it's just a great place to have a drink or eat.
[Photograph: Nick Kindelsperger]
Hot Dog: Red Hot Ranch on Western. There's like nothing there but hot dogs and fried shrimp.
Taco: I'd say El Cid. I get whatever looks good to me at the time, but it's usually the fish tacos.
Grilled Squid at Yusho [Photograph: Nick Kindelsperger]
Date Night: I'd say Yusho, we like that a lot. The chawanmushi is really great.
Pizza: We get Father and Sons' thin crust pizza.
Pastry/Dessert: Lula has great pastries, also Letizia's on California, also Bang Bang Pie Shop, though that's only open during the day.
Burger: I go to Rocking Horse for mini burgers.
Bread: La Boulangerie, right next to New Wave. I go there or the Dill Pickle.
Coffee: Gaslight Coffee Roasters. I usually get a latte.
Breakfast: When we go out for breakfast we go to Johnny's Diner. They do a really good ham and cheese omelet and a Denver omelet.