Ty's Tasty Tips

Sure, everyone says breakfast is the most important meal of the day. As a late riser on weekends though, I treasure a great brunch. Bixi Beer quickly became my top brunch spot. This 2-story brewery, located on North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, offers a very clean and classy look from the moment you walk up to the front. With a modern exterior and hint of the balcony up top, you feel drawn in out of excited curiosity. As soon as you’re inside, it may take a moment for your eyes to adjust to the lower light on the first floor. Rest assured though, there is plenty of lighting to see the gorgeous greenery that decorates the interior. Bixi, in my opinion, has done an incredible job of combining the beauty of nature with their modern stylings and atmosphere. You’ll find several different plant and moss walls on the first and second floors. Once upstairs, you’ll most likely need a moment to take in the spacious, open area with a high, retractable, glass ceiling, letting in plenty of fresh air and natural light. There are no coverings on the more intimately sized balcony, but that’s perfect for those days where you truly want to bask in the 78-degree weather with a gentle breeze and not a cloud to be found!

So, how’s the food? Let me remind you, they are my favorite spot. While relatively short, the Asian inspired menu is perfectly crafted. My personal favorite dish is the Bixi Burrito. Made with Thai chicken sausage, fried rice, cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, and coconut crema, every bite will leave your tastebuds yearning for the next. The chicken sausage and egg give it a hearty breakfast taste, while the coconut crema keeps its light and airy enough to prevent it from being too heavy. I always worry that there will be too much cheese (I know, how could there be such a thing!), but my worries never manifest here. There’s a perfect amount evenly mixed with the fried rice to keep it gooey and delicious, without ever accidently ending up with a giant glob of melted cheddar in your mouth.

Now, my partner and I were both raised in the South, so when it comes to fried chicken, we know a thing or two. Therefore, when I tell you her favorite dish is the spicy fried chicken sando, you best believe it’s been met with the highest levels of scrutiny and deemed delicious! Made with Japanese milk bun, tobiko mayo, ssamjang, lettuce, pickle, and jalapeno, you can really see where the Asian influences come in. Your first bite is sure to be a dighlight as you pass through the soft fresh buns into an explosion of flavor from the fresh toppings and house-made sauces. The bite is rounded off with an incredibly satisfying crunch into the chicken. You’ll need a moment to bask in the bliss of such a bite, I assure you.

Bixi won’t leave you high and dry when it comes to their cleverly crafted cocktail menu either! The Dangerous Union is easily my favorite and is made with mezcal, soju, cucumber, apple, matcha, and lime. Having spent a year living in South Korea while in the Air Force, this drink is not only refreshing and delicious, but also comes with many fond memories for me (or pieces of fond memories in many cases). The Korean-based soju is what really sells me on this one, with its similar but slightly sweeter-than-vodka natural taste. When mixed with just about anything else though, you’d be hard pressed to find the taste of the vodka-esque soju. The mezcal adds a nice smokey hint to the drink, while the cucumber and apple balance it in a light and airy, summer breeze sort of way. The matcha adds a velvety feel to the tongue for me and some lime to blend it all together. Trust me, if you’ve never had soju, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice by not partaking in this amazing South Korea-inspired drink. While I have yet to have a bad drink here, the Dangerous Union will stay a go-to for me for some time to come.