Wicker Park Eats

Wicker Park has long been a Mecca for offbeat antics and niche cultural resources, but lately the hyper-gentrified neighborhood has seen a surge in eclectic, ethnic flavors thanks to the arrival of 5411 Empanadas, Tamale Station, and more.

One of the most illustrious additions to the Wicker Park dining scene of late is Tamale Station, the brick-and-mortar iteration of the Tamale Spaceship food truck. After making a colorful name for itself as the contemporary tamale truck staffed by Lucha Libra-inspired, sombrero-clad drivers, the Spaceship has put down new roots with an expanded menu and a motif as dazzling as the vehicle. The small, counter service eatery sports an open kitchen and a jazzy mural of Lucha Libra figurines engaged in a vivid melee. While the Spaceship typically just peddles assorted tamales, the Station expounds upon its tamale roster with tacos, guacamole, elotes, and more.

Another food truck-cum-restaurant is 5411 Empanadas, which already operates a storefront in Lincoln Park and is on the verge of launching a larger space in Wicker Park. The Argentine eatery, which gets its name from the Buenos Aires dial code, features an array of enriching, doughy South American delights. From the basics such as beef, spinach-cheese, and BBQ chicken, to novelties such as ratatouille, banana-Nutella, and mushroom-blue cheese, 5411 does Argentina proud. Look for the opening any day now on North Avenue.

The owners of Forever Yogurt are broadening their breadth with Bee & Tea, an adorable new boba tea and bao shop on North Avenue. The crux of the menu is Taiwanese boba milk tea, the refreshing and creamy beverages studded with the likes of jelly, chewy tapioca pearls, and red beans. Here, options are dizzying and delightful. Select black tea, black milk tea, green tea, green milk tea, or a smoothie as the base, then choose up to three flavors, with options ranging from kiwi and almond to blood orange and guava. Optional toppings are honey boba and red beans, plus popping boba in flavors such as cherry, lychee, mango, and peach. Guests can select if they’d like it light sweet, normal sweet, or very sweet, augmenting with jellies like “rainbow bear” jelly, coffee jelly, and mango jelly. In addition to all that boba, chewy bao come in savory and sweet varieties like cheeseburger, BBQ pork, chorizo and cheese, and coconut creme. Look for more Bee & Tea outlets to pop up around town in the coming months as well.

Next up on Wicker Park’s cultured docket is Dove’s Luncheonette, the latest entry from the unstoppable One Off Hospitality group, which owns Big Star, The Violet Hour, The Publican, and others. This new venture takes over the former Cipollina space, with promise of Mexican-inspired, diner-style soul food. Should go nicely alongside Big Star.

Tamale Station
1341 N. Damen Avenue, Chicago
(312) 909-7009
Website

5411 Empanadas
2045 W. North Avenue, Chicago
(773) 755-5411
Website

Bee & Tea
1843 W. North Avenue, Chicago
(312) 878-7597
Website

Dove’s Luncheonette
1545 N. Damen Avenue
(773) 235-4039
Website