Urbanbelly-3053 N California Ave- Avondale

Urbanbelly is one of those unique places in Chicago that serves unbelievable food without the slightest hint of pretention. Chef Bill Kim and his wife Yvonne bring a unique pan-Asian flair to a rather non-descript strip mall. While pan-Asian menus often seem unnecessarily ornate and unfocused, Urbanbelly provides diners with relatively few choices, and that’s a good thing.

Urbanbelly’s cuisine comprises of a unique blend of Korean and Vietnamese soup traditions as well as fabulous dumplings of all different origins and rice bowls straight out of Indonesia, China, or Japan. The dishes remain continental rather than too regional, while some of the ingredient combinations, like the Lamb and Brandy Dumplings and the Urbanbelly Ramen, served with pork belly and shitake mushrooms in a pho broth, represent a global approach to cuisine. The menu is divided into three main categories and side dishes: dumplings, rice dishes, and soup-based noodle dishes. With less than twenty dishes and weekly specials total, I can safely say that trying everything is both feasible and a necessity.

The wonderfully dark interior contrasts well with the custom-made Chinese elm wood tables and stools. The walls are also highlighted with wooden planks from old Indonesian ships. Dining is meant to be communal, and strangers are encouraged to meet new friends while slurping the hot broth. The Kims’ Zen –like philosophy reads: “Urbanbelly is about the communal dining experience. Meet new people. Eat great food. Feed your belly from the heart.” I couldn’t put it simpler than that.

Service is a lot more informal than one would expect. People walk up a counter and prepay for their order, much like a regular noodle shop. The service is minimalist but excellent, and the food is at your table within five minutes. The soft drink selection is expansive, and they have my favorite Asian soft drink, Bon-Bon, which is basically grape juice that has skinned grape sacks in it. Urbanbelly is also BYOB.

Simply stated, Urbanbelly is an unexpected and unique gem and should be anyone’s go-to place for cuisine of its kind. The food is fresh, the service is quick, and the ambiance has an informal sophistication that few places can pull off. If the Kims were ever interested in franchising, I’d be their first investor.