Kapitan

Interior
Interior
Menu 1
Menu 1
Menu 2
Menu 2
Rosie Retrospection
Rosie Retrospection

**** (4 stars)

A lot of "fusion" places just offer a variety of cuisines, but Kapitan actually is fusing some of them together. The results are a delightful array of colorful, artfully plated, and creative offerings.

My favorites all came from the Local Favorites and Shareables sections of the menu, rather than the Entrees. Of particular note were the Roti served with Dahl rather than a typical curry, and Lobak, which was much better than its description sounded–it was almost more like an eggroll.

The cocktail list is also worth a shout-out. There are many creative, mostly floral-influenced offerings under

Kapitan
2142 N Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

https://www.yelp.com/biz/kapitan-chicago-2

Kapitan

Interior
Interior
Menu 1
Menu 1
Menu 2
Menu 2
Rosie Retrospection
Rosie Retrospection

**** (4 stars)

A lot of "fusion" places just offer a variety of cuisines, but Kapitan actually is fusing some of them together. The results are a delightful array of colorful, artfully plated, and creative offerings.

My favorites all came from the Local Favorites and Shareables sections of the menu, rather than the Entrees. Of particular note were the Roti served with Dahl rather than a typical curry, and Lobak, which was much better than its description sounded–it was almost more like an eggroll.

The cocktail list is also worth a shout-out. There are many creative, mostly floral-influenced offerings. My favorite was the Rosie Retrospection, a combination of sweetened condensed milk, rose, and gin, which was surprisingly light, yet complex.

The space is open and airy, and the service was good.

Kapitan
2142 N Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

https://www.yelp.com/biz/kapitan-chicago-2

Mamak Asian Street Food

**** (4 stars)

This bright, trendy space is a great place to enjoy Asian street food. Much like the restaurant that pioneered this cuisine in Orland (Hawkers, which is just around the corner and up the street), Mamak offers a menu of pan-Asian dishes arranged in columns including noodle dishes, rice dishes, tapas and soups.

We started with some edamame (a gift for checking in on Yelp). It was perfectly heated and salted.

Our first main dish was the Mamak Roti Canai, which many Yelpers justifiably raved over. The curry was the perfect spiciness, and the rotis were puffy and flakey.

The Roast Duck was less successful, fatty, somewhat tough, and it had that jagged “carved with a Korean chain saw” aspect.

Nasi Goreng Kari was a good rice dish, but it was completely overshadowed by the spectacular Indian Mee Goreng, one of the greatest noodle dishes I’ve ever tasted. It was like Pad Thai on steroids. Each bite of this dish produced layers of complex flavors: first the protein (shrimp and tofu), then the scallions and bean sprouts, then the wonderful wok-fried noodles in a sweet chili sauce, and finally the crushed peanuts and tart lime. I could eat this dish all day!

An extensive beer list offers something to match any dish on the menu, and the wines by the bottle come in a fair variety, too, better than Hawkers.

Service was friendly and attentive. The room is large, light and airy, but has no acoustic treatment whatsoever, so it can be quite loud. As a result the most pleasant dining might be during the hours between lunch and dinner.

Mamak Asian Street Food
1231 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 270-4688
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mamak-asian-street-food-orlando-2

Hawkers Asian Street Fare

***** (5 stars)

I love the menu variety at Hawkers, which has almost any pan Asian food you can imagine. Favorites are the Roti, which comes with a bowl of delicious curry for dipping, the summer rolls (nice and light) and the Banh Mi sandwiches with Korean bulgogi beef (two Asian cuisines in one!) Great beer list with some interesting stouts and porters, one of the most extensive selections in town.

Hawkers Asian Street Fare
1103 Mills Ave N
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 237-0606
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hawkers-asian-street-fare-orlando