Chef Bill Kim | Recommendations - Find. Eat. Drink.
Chef Bill Kim, Urbanbelly, UrbanBelly, Urban Belly, Belly Shack, Chicago, IL, Illinois, Asian, Where to eat, Where to shop, Where to drink, Chicago’s Best Restaurants, Undiscovered, Under The Radar, Best Restaurants in Chicago, Local’s Recommendations, Local Eats, Bars, Restaurants, Food Purveyors, Stores, Markets, Farmers Markets, Food Recs, Insider Recommendations, Chef’s Recommendations, Eating, Drinking, Travel
THREE CRABS FISH SAUCE
Buy from Amazon.com
Thailand
Fish Sauce
Carmel, CA
Food
Find | Ingredients
I am a true devotee of Three Crabs fish sauce, no other brand will do. We use it to season pretty much everything that’s not vegetarian.
Recommendations
THREE SISTERS GARDEN
2285 E. 1500 S Road, Kankakee, IL 60901
T: 312.399.5585
Illinois
Fruits and Vegetables
It’s operated by Tracey Vowell and Kathe Roybal. Beth's grandfather was a Japanese immigrant who began farming in Indiana in the 1930s and sold to restaurants in Chicago's Chinatown. She continues the tradition he started by offering Asian greens, cucumbers, and herbs that are essential to our cuisine. Tracey was a chef at Frontera Grill for many years and truly understands what the professional kitchen demands. We use her pea shoots and corn grits year-round.
GREEN ACRES FARM
Indiana
Organic Farm / Vegetables
I am especially proud to use products from Green Acres Farm, operated by Beth & Brent Eccles.
Chef Bill Kim | Recommendations
Urbanbelly & Belly Shack - Chicago, IL
Find | Food Purveyors
JOONG BOO MARKET
Avondale
International Market
It’s a Korean grocery store on Belmont and Kimball just off the expressway. There are so many unique and hard to find items including seaweed, rice cakes, and chili paste. Korean blood sausage is not to be missed!
GREEN CITY MARKET
South end of Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton Drive
Chicago, IL 60614
Wed & Sat: 7 am - 1pm
Farmers Market
I'm a big fan of many of the farmers who sell at the Green City Market.
Find | Markets & Stores - Chicago, IL
EL CUBANITO
2555 North Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60639
T: 773.235.2555
Logan Square
Cuban / Sandwiches
I love the cuban sandwich at El Cubanito on Pulaski in Logan Square. It’s operated by a husband and wife team, just like our restaurants.
GOOSEFOOT
Lincoln Square
Contemporary American
I tend to stay away from the fine dining haunts, but this might be reason to make an exception. Chris Nugent is one of the nicest folks in this business and deserves all the accolades he's received. Now that they've been selected as Best New Restaurant by Chicago Magazine, I hope I can still get a reservation.
Eat | Restaurants - Chicago, IL
PLEASANT HOUSE BAKERY
Bridgeport
British
They have amazing meat pies, especially the Chicken Balti, plus they farm their own produce. Bridgeport is a neighborhood southwest of downtown.
LOU MALNATI’S
Gold Coast
1120 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60610
T: 312.725.7777
Lawndale
3859 West Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60623
T: 773.762.0800
Lincoln Park
958 W. Wrightwood, Chicago, IL 60614
T: 773.832.4030
River North
439 North Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60610
T: 312.828.9800
South Loop
805 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605
T: 312.786.1000
More locations here
Multiple Locations
Italian / Pizza
Lou Malnati's for a pan pizza with butter crust. Say what you will about New York pizza versus Chicago pizza - there's no doubt this is indulgent and delicious. I can't even eat dairy and I still love it!
AUBERGINE | Chef Justin Cogley
Monte Verde at Seventh, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, 93921
T: 831.624.8578 (make a reservation)
Carmel
Californian
Justin Cogley is the Executive Chef of Aubergine in Carmel, California. He was my intern at Charlie Trotter's and quickly rose through the ranks to be chef de cuisine before helping to open the Elysian Hotel, now Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
MARIA’S PACKAGED GOODS AND COMMUNITY BAR
Bridgeport
Bar / Liquor Store
For craft beer.
Drink | Bars - Chicago, IL
Eat | Restaurants - Carmel, CA
June 6, 2012
Photographs courtesy of Urbanbelly | Photo Credit: Yasmina Cadiz
Who
Bill Kim is the chef and owner of Urbanbelly, Belly Shack and Belly Q in Chicago, IL.
Why
Chef Bill Kim worked as a sous chef for David Bouley in New York, an executive sous chef at Susanna Foo in Philadelphia, and as chef de cuisine for Charlie Trotter before opening his own Asian-focused Chicago restaurants.
Recommended By
- Chef Jason French (Ned Ludd in Portland, OR)