Home to roughly 100,000 proud Chicagoans, Lakeview is a mix of energy. The neighborhood is unofficially divided into smaller enclaves: Lakeview East, West Lakeview, Southport Corridor, Boystown & Wrigleyville. It's a mix of the bustling, the peaceful and everything in between. Here you'll find tourists and residents alike vying for space at popular restaurants, cafes, biergartens, boutiques, parks & the lakefront. It's also home to many of the city's "bests" in several categories.
Crisp is an unassuming counter-service restaurant, possibly with an identity crisis. It's a Korean menu at it's core – but they also serve sandwiches, burritos, french fries and wings. The common thread is of course the chicken; fried, acclaimed and covered in your choice of sauce. When I lived nearby, I walked by this no frills orange storefront a dozen times before my interest was piqued by the always packed interior. And after one visit, it's easy to see why. You cannot go wrong with this menu, plus it's BYOB. The bowls are great, the sandwiches and wings are even better. Opt for the house "sassy" sauce (seriously) and wait for a seat to open up at one of the communal tables.
