Restaurant Rave: Joy Yee's Noodle Shop -- Chicago

Chicago, like any big city, has its fair share of good restaurants.

Joy Yee's Noodle Shop is one of them.

I've been to the Joy Yee's in Chinatown twice, and I have never been disappointed. Joy Yee's is a Pan-Asian restaurant that is famous for its bubble drinks and for its phenomenal food presentation.

If you're not quite familiar with Asian cuisine, or if you are having trouble deciding what to get, Joy Yee's takes the guess work out of ordering. Every dish they serve is shown, picture form, in their extensive menu. The one catch to this, is, that with so many choices (and so many pictures) you may get bombarded. It is best to come with friends; this way, everyone can order a different dish and share. Having friends with you can also help you from getting too stuffed-- the portion sizes are hefty.

The Joy Yee's in Chinatown is located in the China Plaza and can get quite busy-- and quite crowded. To compensate for popular demand, the restaurant provides small, square, black tables that can be arranged to provide for large or intimate groups of people. Beware that you may find yourself sitting too close to other patrons from other tables.

Don't forget to order one of their famous bubble drinks. They are a perfect way to complement a perfect Asian meal. Overall, Joy Yee's is very affordable with entree prices ranging from $8-$20; if you want to try some of their more extravagant seafood dishes, your check will depend on the market price of the fish. Joy Yee's is a great way to end a day in Chicago, to relax with good friends, or to just enjoy a fantastic meal.

Restaurant Rave: Sushi Avenue

There is one particular sushi joint in my neck of the woods that is absolutely fabulous: Sushi Avenue.

It is located on Green Street in Champaign, where the old Dorcas Korean place used to be. If you're sad or suicidal about Dorcas not being there anymore, not to worry; Sushi Avenue has kept the old Dorcas menu for those craving some Jab Chae with their spicy tuna roll.

Sushi Avenue offers a great lunch special: 2 sushi rolls, miso soup, and salad for $11.28 (including tax.) You get your choice of one basic sushi roll (these include, but are not limited to, spicy tuna, spicy salmon, and, cucumber) and one of the house specials. Now, the house specials are not your typical run of the mill sushi rolls; they are unique to Sushi Avenue and utilize traditional (and not so traditional) sushi ingredients to create mouthwatering sensations. My personal favorite is Hell. You can even sample your favorite cities; try a Las Vegas roll, or a New York roll. Heck, you can even sample Champaign, or Urbana--in your mouth.

So roll down to Sushi Avenue sometime. They redefine why sushi is so amazing.
picture: http://llcskitchen.blogspot.com/