Albany Park and adjacent North Park make up an area that's well known in Chicago as ethnic melting pot of cultures. Billed as "one of the most diverse zip codes in the nation" (both share the 60625 code), these north-side communities are home to sizable Central American, Indian, Middle Eastern, European and East Asian populations, and boast a food scene that's equally as multi-cultural. While there's plenty of food options to choose from in the area, I recommend Orga Tea Cafe & Grill for a Falafel Sandwich ($3.75). More

At first glance, the Smoked Turkey Piadina sandwich ($5.25) looks a little, uh, flat. Like really flat. Flatter than Illinois' landscape flat. That's because the sandwich—all of Letizia's Fiore's sandwiches—are served on piadina, a thin, Italian biscuit-like bread that's both crunchy and slightly crumbly. More

Lula Cafe's Ham and Raclette Panino ($10) is no exception to the cafe's standard of deliciousness. An upscale version on the traditional ham and cheese sandwich, the panino takes locally sourced ham and mild raclette cheese, and tops it with a fried farm egg. More

those looking for a deli sandwich akin to the stylings made famous along the East Coast, Bergstein Deli is the truck to track down. Or at least follow on Twitter. More

Estrella Negra's Gorrito Croissanwich is a lighter, slightly more healthy option than the typical egg-cheese-meat trifecta. The end result is a refreshing, crisp way to start off the morning, so long as morning starts after 11 a.m, when the restaurant opens. More

While the atmosphere at Caffe DeLuca boarders on kitsch, that doesn't make the food any less worthy of sampling. Take, for example, the Mandoria ($11.00), which is aimed at striking the oh-so-delicate balance between savory and sweet. More

Located just west of the Damen/Milwaukee/North intersection, this Sultan's Markets is a long-time staple of the neighborhood for good reason—it's as delicious as it is reasonably priced. The falafel sandwich costs just less than four dollars, giving it one of the highest taste to cost ratios in the city. More

strong>Red Hen Bread has been providing freshly-baked goods to city folk and many of their favorite restaurants for nearly two decades. Given the role bread plays in sandwich making and Red Hen's place atop the list of Chicago's bread providers, it's hard to figure out why it's taken us sandwich bloggers so long to check this place out. Yet here we are, more than four months after the Chicago site's launch with nay a Red Hen sandwich post. No longer. More

Wicker Park's Cipollina, a sister restaurant to nearby brunch destination Milk & Honey, follows this formula: simple, made-to-order sandwiches crafted from the freshest ingredients to be found. That's most evident in the Italian-style deli's vegetable-heavy artichoke and red pepper sandwich ($6.75). More

Las Aadas is a favorite in the northwest neighborhood for its late hours and made-on-the-spot Mexican cuisine. It's hard to go wrong with anything on the menu, but for the purposes of this blog, we'll stick to the torta menu. More

Longman takes a few liberties in crafting their pork belly cubano sandwich.The combination of pork and ham slices remain, but the Longman sandwich strays just slightly from the typical assemblage from there. More

For those who enjoy scarfing down greasy grub to the dulcet tones of Slayer and the like, look no farther than Santullo's Eatery. Located right in the heart of the Wicker Park/Bucktown area, this New York-style pizza joint is known for its blaring metal music and thin-sliced pie. That said, its sandwich selection is certainly worth a sampling, More

Though there's nothing particularly exciting about grilled chicken breast, I'd argue it gets an unfair wrap for being overly bland and, let's face it, the meat of choice for picky eaters. But accompanied by the right garnishes, vegetables and seasonings, chicken breast can be a subtle compliment to other, more robust flavors in some dishes. More

In my opinion, there are only two kinds of meat: pulled pork and everything else that's not pulled pork. What's not to love? Cooked right, pulled pork is succulent and flavorful without being too fatty. And because the dish is a staple in multiple cultures around the world and can be prepared with a variety of spice rubs, no pulled pork experience is exactly the same. More

Bucktown is not wanting of tiny hole-in-the-wall coffee shops ideal for curling up with a good book. The challenge, though, is finding one with a strong brew, cozy space, and decent grub to fuel the hours of page turning. These three factors converge at Ipsento. More

There's nothing quaint or trendy about Johnny's Grill, a tiny American-style diner located in the heart of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. It's neither ideal for a leisurely brunch over mimosas and witty banter, nor suitable for those looking to eat anything even remotely associated with the word "lite." More

When I'm craving some some porky south Asian grub that's as delicious as it is portable, I head to Wicker Park's Bon Bon Sandwich. More

For the Chicken Divine, hunks of chicken breast are sautéed in a white wine sauce before being tossed together with caramelized onions, mushrooms and grilled bell peppers. Melted provolone cheese pulls everything together into one cheesy, gooey mess that makes it a challenge to eat, but no less delicious. More

90 Miles Cafe throws down an ample slab of meat for the Lechon sandwich. Luckily, it's pork that is fall-off-the-bone tender and marinated in a sauce that's part salty, part citrusy. More

Irazú Cafe has been serving up traditional Costa Rican dishes on Chicago's northwest side since 1990, surviving largely on word-of-mouth advertising and a reasonably priced menu full of some the most delicious Central American food you'll find in the city. More

Birchwood's croque vert ($9.25) is a vegetarian-friendly take on the French classic croque madame. Featured exclusively on the weekend brunch menu, this sandwich is a locavore's delight of regionally grown market vegetables and Gruyere cheese pressed between crisp, fresh-baked slices of sourdough bread. More

One bite of The Appleton ($7.95) will quell any cynicism as to Melt's sandwich destination worthiness. The Appleton boasts a cheesy melange of Cajun-spiced cheddar, pepper jack, and muenster, topped with red apple slices and bacon aioli, all pressed between a semi-sweet baguette. The sweet apple slices are a nice balance to the medley of part savory/part spicy cheeses that ooze out from the bread with every bite. More

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Too consumed by work to bake a pie for Thanksgiving? Family already providing enough stress? We know not everyone can be a domestic deity, which is why this Thanksgiving we at Serious Eats Chicago are giving thanks for these five bakeries and their delicious made-to-order holiday pies. More

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It's gourd season, ya'll! That's right. It's that time of year when pumpkins overwhelm grocery store shelves and restaurant menus. And if there's one thing Chicagoans are crazy about, it's their pumpkin goods. Here are 7 pumpkin sweets we love in the Windy City. More

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Overly sweet ricotta filling, mushy chocolate chips, soggy casing. These are just some of the common offenses that plague this sweet treat. But five Chicago bakeries are doing the Don proud, serving up cannoli that stays true to Sicilian standards. More