HaiSous, Chicago

Given the HaiSous backstory, I couldn’t help but hope that the Dangs’ new restaurant would flourish.  To make a long story short – their prior partners embezzled over a million dollars from their first restaurant then fled the country.  Talk about deserving good karma!

To my delight, HaiSous combines great food and great fun.

To start, there are classic Vietnamese options like summer rolls and green papaya salad.  They’re favorites for a reason, and excellent here (especially the summer rolls with their sticky, savory peanut sauce).  But also – do try the chopped clams, which are bright with lime, spicy, and a little funky.  I’ve never had anything like them, and D and I are now big fans!

The fried whole fluke is impressively presented and perfect to share, or if you’re in the mood for beef, there’s simply grilled, well-seasoned sliced steak.  Either way, get the grilled eggplant side.  It’s delicious.

For wine, I’d recommend one of the dry Rieslings on the list, with just a little sweetness to offset the heat of the food.

If you’re slowing down by this point, a grilled pineapple skewer with chili salt and lime is an ideal way to end on a sweet note.  Or you could take a page from our book and have pineapple and the cream puff, cleverly filled with Vietnamese coffee cream.

I hope HaiSous continues to thrive!