After lord knows how many years of habitual visits to the Windy City (22 years? I think?), I’ve never had the opportunity to head up to Sun Wah BBQ for their famous Duck Dinner. Truth be told, I heard about such a thing over 15 years ago from my pedicurist, who talked about this off-menu, kind-of-secret duck dinner served at a hole in the wall on the north end of the city, but visit after visit, there was never a reason, or the right amount of people, or the right company to go.
This summer, though, as I started planning a trip up, I knew I wanted to add in a new experience or two, and finally decided to take a chance.
With no social media presence, a website that was very minimal for the longest time, and this “secret” menu item, I was surprised when I pulled up their website and found a link to the duck. Peppered with cheeky instructions and detail, as I read the page out loud to my gentleman friend, I barely finished the description, when he threw his hands up and announced, “I’m in!” And we were.
We had to call the restaurant for a reservation, and before hanging up, had to quickly proclaim, “and we’d like the duck!”
The night of our reservation, we arrived to a small-ish store front on North Broadway, with some of the most beautiful glazed ducks you’ve ever seen hanging in the front window. Our wait was a short one, and my Lychee Martini arrived ice cold and perfect. His beer was exactly what he said he wanted.
And the duck. My god.
Not too awfully long after we sat and started sipping our drinks, a gentleman arrived table side with a wheeled cart carrying one of those beautiful front window ducks. Swiftly, he sliced the meat off of the bone, and sat it on a platter next to fluffy bao buns, hoisin, carrots, and green onion, leaving us to make our own little duck sammies. After 15 minutes or so, the meat that was left on the bone was picked off and tossed into a lovely duck fried rice that was just as comfort food-y as you’d expect it to be. Moments later, a broth- made with the bones- arrived, a light and perfect end to the meal.
While Sun Wah may not look, sound, or feel like those higher-end restaurants and steakhouses so often associated with Chicago, I believe that this may be one of- if not the– best meals I’d ever had in the city. If you’re craving something different, off the beaten path, and not remotely expensive, I’d invite you to go. I’d also invite you to invite me.
** this post is not sponsored in any way. all thoughts and opinions are my own **
** photo via Condé Nast Traveller**
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