24 new dishes to eat at Taste of Chicago 2015, ranked from worst to best

What happened to this poor Italian beef? Cold, soggy and gray, the only redeeming factor is the spicy giardiniera.

Is there anything sadder looking than a single buffalo wing? The sauce is lively, but Miller’s Pub is serving the iconic turkey leg this year, so don’t bother with anything else there. 

Sometimes you don't mind basic fries, but it's not usually at a food festival. There are much better options here.

The sauce is super sweet, which detracts from otherwise well-cooked pork.

A little bland and dry, this tamale isn’t as enjoyable as the black bean and corn version.

This would be better served at room temperature, since the cold center is a little off-putting.

With a crispy edge, these are perfectly fine fries, though they didn’t taste as fresh as the ones I’ve had from the truck before.

Topped with chorizo and paprika and garlic sauce, these fries are more exciting than the plain duck fat fries.

You get your tickets’ worth of shrimp here, though the bun is so small, it’s a challenge to eat. Sprinkled with Luke’s blend of spices, it’s a decent option, but I’d save my money and visit Luke’s restaurant for the crab roll.

You can pick your protein to stuff into this tiny bao, like a fat piece of pork belly, and it's good, but pales compared to Yum Dum's kimcheesy rice balls.

The fried onions overcomplicate the half sandwich, which has fried chicken tenders doused with buffalo sauce and blue cheese slaw.

Layered with thin slices of roast pork, fig jam, crispy prosciutto and apple slaw, the half sandwich comes in a satisfying portion. 

This very pleasant slaw tastes fresh and would make a nice side to any other dish.

Braised chicken, cheese and chipotle crema combine for a satisfying taco.

Moist and spicy, this vegan option is definitely the better pick from Dia De Los Tamales.

These ice cream nuggets come in two flavors: vanilla ice cream coated with thick dark chocolate, or milk chocolate wrapped with more milk chocolate. Both are creamy and have a pretzel shot through the center—end your day with them, because while they’re very messy and melt quickly, they’re delicious. 

Thick bread is topped with mashed avocado, black sesame seeds and pickled radish. It’s easy to eat and healthy, which makes it perfect festival food.

One of the prettiest (and most delicious bites) is this fried plantain base, which comes topped with tender braised pork, queso fresco and guava sauce, and has a great mix of textures.

This warm, spicy, creamy chicken filling tastes exactly like the sort of party dip you know you shouldn’t eat but can’t step away from. 

The tiny popsicle is sweet and refreshing, and at two tickets, feels like a steal.

This adorable little cup of watermelon gazpacho is fresh, bright and delicious.

These kimchi-stuffed arancini are spicy and flavorful, and disappeared faster than anything else we ate. You get two in a tasting portion, so if you’re with a group, just splurge and get a full portion of four.