So glad that my foodiness has rubbed off on my kids as my son, Matt found the most incredible restaurant for us to try in Chicago. It was a causal neighborhood joint, a bit out of the way, offering Euro-Asian cuisine and it rocked! I voted it the top foodie spot on our Chicago Trip.
Fat Rice offers what they regard as homestyle comfort food with Portuguese flair. We guessed our way through the menu with help from the waitstaff. Fortunately I had spent a few moments perusing the Yelp reviews which gave me a few inside tips on the menu. Unfortunately, we were there for brunch so our choices were a little more limited. Not to worry though, everything they offer is fantastic and consequently we had a wonderful meal!
The boys ordered their Boozy Bourbon Tea made with spiced whiskey, sweet vermouth, black tea, tea shrub and mint which was served in a small carafe. I opted for their Magnolia Blossom Oolong Tea minus the booze. Both were delish.
We began the meal with dumplings: Boiled Pork Dumplings with sichuan garlic oil and sweet soy and Steamed Pork & Shrimp Dumplings with dill, chili, and black vinegar. We also tried their Curried Fish Balls made with mackerel & pollock and cilantro. They were all yummy and unique.
For one of our mains, we selected the Juicy Porkchop Bun made with house bread, crab chips and chinese mustard. Wow, that was good!
The most incredible dish we had was their namesake; Arroz Gordo (fat rice)! A little pricey but a robust portion of their version of paella and fantastic down to the very last kernel of rice! Here is a photo description of the dish:
Ok, did I error and say that the Arroz Gordo was the best dish of the day? Well, the waitress insisted that we save room for one of their desserts; her favorite. It was the Pastel de Nata, a puff pastry filled with custard, love & secrets. I’m not sure what the secrets are and I don’t care how full you are; there should always be room for this absolutely, inexplicably wonderful sweet sensation. I adored it!
Fat Rice is a very small restaurant and they don’t accommodate parties larger than 6. They are open for dinner Tues thru Sat from 5:30 – 10:00 and Fri & Sat brunch from 11:00 – 2:00 and Sun brunch from 11:00 – 3:00. The word is out so I would call for a reservation! You will love it!!