Best of Mastication Monologues (200 Post Anniversary)

Wow, never thought I’d make it to 200 posts back in 2011 when I first started my blog with the pedestrian title of Stick a Fork In Me.  Since then, I’ve traveled to many different countries and cities around the world.  I’ve had meals with old friends and new ones in some very interesting backdrops.  There have been certain foods that have made me hear the food angels trumpeting on high while others have taken me to the fiery pits of hell.  Long story short, I’ve experienced meals that most people haven’t in their lives, and that’s the main reason why I’ve started this blog.  I want to educate the public of not only the variety of foods and drinks that exist throughout the world, but also the cultural environments that have birthed said foodstuffs. While my aim is all well and good, I’ve decided (compliments to my gf, Janice, for the idea) to make it easier for you, the reader, to make sense of my blog’s contents.  I plan to do this by providing you with a top 3 list for certain dishes or cuisines on which I have an overwhelming amount of entries.  I will only be ranking restaurants I have written about on this blog, so they might not reflect my true feelings about the rankings, i.e. the pizza ranking, for example.  If you have any suggestions, questions, comments, or concerns, do let me know in the comments section below.  I’d love to hear your opinion one way or another.  Without further ado, time to drop this list!

Best Hamburger                                         Best Pizza                                                                      

1.  DMK Burger, Chicago, USA                 1.  Pequod’s, Chicago, USA 

2.  Kuma’s Corner, Chicago, USA             2.  Eataly, Chicago, USA    

3.   Wolfhound, Seoul, South Korea       3.   Monster Pizza, Seoul, South Korea

Best Hot Dog                                                     Best Italian Food    

1.  Hot Doug’s, Chicago, USA                       1.   Quartino, Chicago, USA

2.  Nicky’s, Chicago, USA                               2.   Papa Joe’s, Orland Park, USA

3.  Doc’s, Del Ray Beach, USA                     3.   Buona Beef, Darien, USA  

Best Korean Food                                                         Best Chinese Food

1.  Kim Bong Min Kimbap, Ulsan, South Korea     1.    Lao Zhai Yuan, Beijing, China

2.  Onnurye Donkatsu, Seoul, South Korea            2.    Zhong Guo Song, Hong Kong

3.   DelSeoul, Chicago, USA                                            3.     Din Tai Fung, Hong Kong

 Best Latin Food                                                           Best Breakfast Place 

1.  Taco Grill, Westmont, IL, USA                             1. Blueberry Hill, Darien, IL, USA

2. Carnivale, Chicago, USA                                          2. Bongo Room, Chicago, USA

3.  Gusto Taco, Seoul, South Korea                          3. Honey Bowl, Seoul, South Korea  

Best Dessert                                                                      Weirdest Food Consumed                    

1.  Kilwin’s, Delray Beach, Florida, USA                    1. Live octopus, South Korea  

2.  Quartino, Chicago, USA                                           2. Poisonous blowfish sperm sacks, Japan

3.  Fell + Cole, Seoul, South Korea                             3. Dog soup, South Korea

       Most Creative Restaurant                                    Spiciest Food 

1.   Ninja Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan                       1.  Onnurye Donkatsu, Seoul, South Korea

2.  Modern Toilet, Taipei, Taiwan                     2.  Salvador Molly’s, Portland, Oregon, USA

3.  Bunga Bunga, London, England                   3. Mae Oon Jjampong, Seoul, South Korea

 Worst Customer Service                

1.  Ali Baba’s, Seoul, South Korea

2.  Pompei, Westmont, IL, USA

3.  Falafill, Chicago, USA