3 Little Pigs

Originally conceived as a virtual venture that accepted orders through Instagram, 3 Little Pigs pivoted to operating out of a shared kitchen before eventually moving to its current home inside Molly's Cupcakes in the South Loop. Chef-owner Henry Cai whips up what he calls “untraditionally authentic” American Chinese cuisine and with his new brick-and-mortar location, both longtime fans and first-timers alike need not worry anymore about missing out due to limited availability. Cai smokes fatty pork butt to make the signature char siu—Cantonese-style barbecue pork—and finishes it off with a liberal dose of sweet and tangy sauce. The menu also features favorites such as fried rice studded with three types of pork and a unique salt and pepper fried chicken sandwich dressed with fried garlic, sautéed jalapenos and mayo.