[title]
Whether you work from home on the regular or you're social distancing this week, there's a very good chance that your pantry supplies aren't as exciting as these five local delivery-only options. Ghost kitchens are popping up all over town, giving chefs and restaurant owners another avenue for business, which is particularly important right now, as city officials put the kibosh on large-scale events and gatherings due to coronavirus.
If you're looking for ways to support Chicago businesses, consider ordering lunch or dinner from one of these kitchens, which deliver everything from sauced-up chicken wings and baked samosas to stacked sandos straight to your doorstep. And please—for the love of humanity—tip your driver!
Photograph: DLM Photography
Lucky Klucker
Craving something crispy and smothered in buffalo sauce? Same. Fujimura Hospitality (Arami, Entente, Small Bar) has the fix with this delivery-only chicken joint that pushes out golden wings and tenders dressed up with an array of sauces and rubs, like Thai chili, garlic parmesan, maple bacon, coconut lime and classic buffalo. Opt to get your poultry served on a sandwich or salad, and add sides like waffle fries, coleslaw or mac and cheese. And because Lucky Klucker is available on four delivery platforms, there's a good chance you won't have to waste time downloading a new app to get wings delivered straight to your doorstep.
Photograph: Christina Slaton
Padma's Curry Leaf
With a limited delivery zone that includes Streeterville, River North, Lincoln Park and Lakeview, this ghost kitchen from Lettuce Entertain You specializes in authentic Indian cuisine inspired by recipes from retired school teacher and curry leaf farmer Bharathi “Bonnie” Rao. The name of the concept is a nod to Rao's daughter, Padma, who has enjoyed her mother's cooking for years. Now you can, too, with veggie-packed baked samosas, creamy butter chicken and pillowy butter-garlic naan. A portion of proceeds benefits Step Up Women's Network, which empowers girls in underserved communities to attend college and seek out professional careers.
Photograph: Danny Allegretti
Have a Good Sandwich
Devotees of this Chicago-based Instagram account have an alarm set for Monday at 4pm, when owner Joe Morski posts his latest sandwich creation and opens his DMs for orders. Expect imaginative flavor combinations, like the stack shown here, which layers roasted criollo chicken, mushroom chimichurri salad, black bean purée and queso fresco. Morski includes handmade chips with every order, and his wife, Cheryl Hinman, whips up sweets and screenprints the boxes. If you see something you like, slide into Morski's DMs and schedule your order for pickup (in Avondale) or delivery (for a small fee) Tuesday through Friday.
Photograph: Lindsay Widdel
Whole30 Delivered
Whether you're powering through the popular elimination diet or you just need to hit the reset button on Monday morning, there's a delivery service dedicated to Whole30-compliant eats right here in Chicago, powered by Lettuce Entertain You and Grubhub. That means you don't have to do any guesswork to figure out if these dishes contain carbs, refined sugars or dairy—if you're tracking that kind of thing. The options are actually enticing, too, with a mushroom braised pot roast, an open-faced turkey burger with cranberry-bacon jam, and a Thai chicken-coconut-curry soup. It's worth noting that the delivery zone is limited to Streeterville, River North, Lincoln Park and Lakeview.
Photograph: Tim McCoy
Winner Winner Chicken
Come summertime, we love hanging out on the back patio at Saint Lou's Assembly, but for now, we'll get our fix with their under-the-radar delivery-only concept, Winner Winner Chicken. The menu's all about rotisserie chicken, with whole and half birds, wings, nuggets and salads. The combo meals offer the best bang for your buck, with a whole rotisserie chicken, sourdough toast, three sauces and three sides for $24. If you're dining solo, a half order is available for $15. Psst! You can add beer or cider to your order if your stockpile is running low.