Restaurant Review – Little Bad Wolf

One of the best parts of having friends visit is showing off Chicago’s amazing food scene. I live very close to Andersonville, which has some incredible restaurants. Little Bad Wolf has been on my list for weeks! Two of our good friends from Austin came to visit and we knew it was the perfect spot to take them. Little Bad Wolf, located at 1541 W. Bryn Mawr, has a charming, intimate atmosphere. The lighting is subdued and the space is small. With a limited number of tables, we did have to wait about 45 minutes for a group of 5. However, with so many bars in Andersonville, we simply walked down the street, had a drink, and by the time we finished, our table was ready. Little Bad Wolf is known for their craft cocktails, so of course I had to try one. I started with the El Chupacabra. Made with mezcal, rum, and pineapple shrub, it was sweet and smoky; a perfect aperitif. To give our friends a taste of Texas, we started with the chips, guacamole, and salsa trio. The chips are cut in house and they were delicious. Perfectly puffy and salty, they complimented the dips so well. Little Bad Wolf’s main menu is divided into four sections: Fold (tacos and baos), Grab (burgers), Stab (salads), and Entrees. Everything looked amazing (and I had trouble deciding) so I decided to mix and match from the Fold section. I ordered a shrimp taco, a pork taco, and a pork bao. The bao was my number one favorite. The small bun was flawlessly steamed and filled with barbecued pork, pickled carrots, and daikon. I normally don’t like daikon, but it was crisp and refreshing. The pork was mouthwateringly tender and the sauce was sweet and tangy. My best friend ordered the Little Burgers, which comes with three sliders. Little Bad Wolf’s burgers are simple: American cheese, mayo, and house made pickles, but the taste is out of this world. The meat is tender and flavorful and the house made pickles are excellent.

Little Bad Wolf is easily one of my new favorite restaurants in Chicago. So much so, I’m taking my parents when they come to visit next week! Little Bad Wolf does not take reservations, so be sure to get there ahead of time to put your name on the list, especially if you have a larger group. Hours are Monday through Friday from 11 am to 2 am, Saturday from 11 am to 3 am, and Sunday from 11 am to 12 am.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO