Louisa Kung Liu Chu

Louisa Kung Liu Chu is the James Beard nominated food critic at the Chicago Tribune. Previously she was a chef, a food reporter at WBEZ and a fixer for Anthony Bourdain. Chu is Chinese American, born in Hong Kong, but raised in Chicago, working at her family’s chop suey restaurant.

The historic James Beard award-winning seafood restaurant on the South Side of Chicago closed temporarily after a fire on Nov. 21.

Restaurants, Food and Drink |
First look: Calumet Fisheries reopened on Saturday after fire: ‘It’s been a stressful six months’

June 10, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

The historic James Beard award-winning seafood restaurant on the South Side of Chicago closed temporarily after a fire on Nov. 21.

Owner and baker Andrew Cheng makes a stunning ham and cheese rye croissant, plus a black sesame buckwheat kouign-amann.

Restaurants, Food and Drink |
Review: Sweet Rabbit Bakery emerges with extraordinary French, American and Asian pastries in Chicago

June 3, 2024 at 1:23 p.m.

Owner and baker Andrew Cheng makes a stunning ham and cheese rye croissant, plus a black sesame buckwheat kouign-amann.

The Tribune food team’s guide for outdoor patios contains spots where you can read or work for a spell, places with after-work happy hours to treat your team, plus patios fit for date night.

Restaurants, Food and Drink |
Patios at 35 Chicago restaurants and bars, from a spot with outdoor bumper pool to happy hour hangs

May 31, 2024 at 6:24 a.m.

The Tribune food team’s guide for outdoor patios contains spots where you can read or work for a spell, places with after-work happy hours to treat your team, plus patios...

Lettuce Entertain You runs the new restaurant and bar at the St. Regis Chicago luxury hotel for a chef with a celebrity following.

Restaurants, Food and Drink |
Review: Tre Dita, the Italian restaurant with steak and a pasta lab by celebrated chef Evan Funke in Chicago

May 20, 2024 at 10:46 a.m.

Lettuce Entertain You runs the new restaurant and bar at the St. Regis Chicago luxury hotel for a chef with a celebrity following.

Gangnam Food Hall serves fantastical Asian American Chicagoan food and drinks with surprising style and substance.

Despite its name, it is in fact not Korean. Even though there’s a bulgogi steak burrito stuffed with kimchi fried rice. Nor is it a food hall with various vendors.

Restaurants, Food and Drink |
Review: Gangnam Food Hall isn’t Korean, but serves Asian American style and substance in Chicago

May 8, 2024 at 6:13 a.m.

Gangnam Food Hall serves fantastical Asian American Chicagoan food and drinks with surprising style and substance. Despite its name, it is in fact not Korean. Even though there’s a bulgogi...

Umaga Bakehouse celebrated its grand opening with lines out the door and sold out shelves in the Mayfair neighborhood on April 20.

Restaurants, Food and Drink |
Restaurant news: Umaga Bakehouse, a reimagined Filipino bakery, among 9 openings in Chicago

April 29, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

Umaga Bakehouse celebrated its grand opening with lines out the door and sold out shelves in the Mayfair neighborhood on April 20.

A round up of a few grocery store items that are good deals that are worth the drive.

Restaurants, Food and Drink |
Grocery deals: The Tribune food team’s favorite money-saving markdowns at Chicagoland stores

April 24, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

A round up of a few grocery store items that are good deals that are worth the drive.

OKAY Cannabis and West Town Bakery in Wheeling is the first and only consumption lounge where you can have your cake balls and smoke cannabis too, all with a focus on craft.

Restaurants, Food and Drink |
Guide: At OKAY Cannabis consumption lounge near Chicago, you can have your cake balls and smoke cannabis too

April 15, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

OKAY Cannabis and West Town Bakery in Wheeling is the first and only consumption lounge where you can have your cake balls and smoke cannabis too, all with a focus...

Chefs Johnny Clark and Beverly Kim pose for a portrait with records in their collection at the currently closed Parachute restaurant on North Elston Avenue on March 28, 2024, in Chicago. The chef-partners plan to open a new restaurant in the same space called Parachute Hi-Fi later this summer. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Restaurants, Food and Drink |
Parachute Hi-Fi will bring bing bread back to Chicago with a Korean pizza puff

April 1, 2024 at 12:16 p.m.

James Beard award-winning chefs Johnny Clark and Beverly Kim hope to open the new high fidelity music bar and restaurant by June or July in the same space in the...

Open since late last fall, there still seems to be a perpetual line outside. It’s a measure of the reputation within.

Restaurants, Food and Drink |
Review: Akahoshi Ramen, beautiful bowls by Ramen Lord in Logan Square

April 1, 2024 at 12:21 p.m.

Open since late last fall, there still seems to be a perpetual line outside. It’s a measure of the reputation within.

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