Crisp

2940 N Broadway Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 697-7610

The fact that I went to Crisp and had such an enjoyable experience is proof that I am mellowing out in my old age. I'd tried going to Crisp almost a year ago. I called to get the hours of operation. I got a recording listing the times. I looked at the clock and saw that I had a good 1.5 hours to spare before closing and made my way through the cold snow & ice (remember last winter?) to get some Korean food. They were closed. That night, I swore a vendetta against Crisp and vowed to destroy it.

Fast forward nearly a year and I am hanging out with She Who Shall Not Be Named ('SWSNBN') on another terribly cold day in Chicago. After wandering in the tundra for what seemed like 40 years, she decided upon us going to Crisp. I told her that I had sworn a vendetta against the place and would not go. She gave me a side eye and walked in the door. I followed.

Right off the bat, we're greeted by the very friendly manager. He walked us through the concept and menu a couple of times. He was very patient and extremely helpful. I'd had Bi Bim Bop before (liked it) and Koren bbq before (loved it) but was unsure of the strange amalgamations I was seeing. Figuring out "when in Rome" and all that, I might as well go all out and order a Korean burrito. I asked for the spicy sauce and made it a meal with fries (huh?) and a drink. SWSNBN ordered a beef burrito and drink. Just as I was about to ask where the soda fountain was, the manager told us to pull a drink out of the cooler.

We turned around and time stood still. Not only did the cooler come equipped with various Korean sodas and libations - IT HAD TAHITIAN TREAT AND RUBY-RED SQUIRT!!!! Do you hear me? At that point, I knew, regardless of what the burrito tasted like, all would be well with my soul as long as I had one of these sodas. We snagged the sodas (TT for her, Squirt for me) and took a table. We'd just started a conversation when the manager brought us our food - and there was a lot of it. The burritos were cut in half which made pouring the sauce so that it coated the entire burrito - rather than just the immediate bite - a bit difficult. But, that's a trifling matter. The burrito tasted great. I was doubtful that a Bi Bim Bop with chicken (sans egg) in a burrito would work but it worked really well. The burrito with sauce tasted great. Whatever that sauce is, it's slamming. I tend to not like white or creamy sauces, but this was the exception. The fries tasted good. They're standard, thin-cut, fast-food fries. They were crispy and numerous.

While a burrito with fries & soda doesn't sound like a lot of food, by the time we finished our meal, I had a nice food baby growing in my belly and I felt a deep food coma coming on. You get your moneys worth at Crisp. I can appreciate that. The manager checked on us one last time before we left and I appreciated that as well. SWSNBN & I both thought that we'd be back. And with that, SWSNBN took me on a shoe shopping death march that made me realize I got the raw end of the vendetta.

You've won this round, Crisp.