Food Digest

My favorite Chinese restaurant in Chicago. I have a lawyer friend who discovered this place. Whenever we go, we order the same stuff. (And talk about local politics.) It’s just too good to deviate. I crave this place. I think about it with the same frequency that teenage boys think about boobs.

Maybe that’s overdoing it a bit. But seriously, this is on my Top Five Favorite Restaurants in Chicago list.

Unfortunately, the lighting in Double Li leaves a little to be desired, so these photos don’t do the food justice.

We start off with an order of scallion pancakes:

So yummy. And before we’ve even finished them, the waitress has started bring out our main entrees. First, what’s called “pocket tofu,” which has a basil-y clear sauce with big hunks of tofu and veggies. It’s not vegetarian, though! It’s definitely got some chicken stock in there.

Next comes my hands-down favorite Chinese food dish in the universe — dry chili chicken. Little fried chunks of chicken and a ton of super-hot chilis — the kind you’re not supposed to eat.

Over some white rice, this is like heaven on a plate. And it’s not as spicy as you’d think. Well, at least for me. I kinda love spicy food. But my taste buds might be biased. I brought the Missus here once — back when she was still The Ladyfriend — and I ordered this dish and she said just sitting in front of it made her eyes water.

Then, entree No. 3: garlic beef with broccoli.

After that dry chili chicken, I can hardly focus on anything else. But I load up my plate and bore down. Here’s roughly what it looks like:

It’s not expensive. The restaurant itself is pretty spartan. (Some might call it a “dump” or a “hole in the wall,” I think it’s comfy.) Service is always quick and friendly.

After eating here, you’ll curse that soupy, saucy fake-Chinese stuff they serve everywhere else. If only Americans knew how good Chinese food could be if it wasn’t wet.