It Was as Good as the Pictures Looked
Another lazy Friday. The cold weather is kicking in, it’s getting darker earlier, and the temptation to slack is at an all time high. Of course we decided to order out. After scouring the menu pile for something different, we came across Kanok (on Broadway just north of Roscoe) and were intrigued by some of its pictures (never underestimate the power of images to sell us on a place). We decided to give this place a try.
We started with the fried calamari — thick, huge chunks of sliced tentacle lightly breaded with flour and deep fried to perfection. Not too chewy, not too fishy, and not too crunchy. This calamari was truly wonderful in all aspects and was served with a mild tomato and chili sauce.
At home, sharing is caring. Clockwise from top left to bottom right: fried calamari, white rice, spicy crispy chicken, sesame chicken
I ordered the spicy crispy chicken, based only on the menu picture, and it consisted of little nuggets of fried chicken, green peas, carrots, green onion, and peanuts, tossed around in a wok with a spicy kung pao sauce. This selection was — AWESOME. At first, it didn’t seem like it was going to be spicy, but after a few bites, it really kicks in. Its that creeper spice that’s the best. And it wasn’t over the top spicy, and it wasn’t under done, this was just right on the spiciness. The chicken was crisp and tender, the veggies weren’t soggy, and when eaten with white rice, it creates such a delicious combo, that keeps you coming back in for another bite. Oh, and the peanuts were such a nice surprise, they weren’t at all noticeable when serving, but upon digging they were sporadically pleasing.
Lois went for something she hadn’t had in a long time — sesame chicken. One word: delicious. The little pieces of chicken were coated with a lightly seasoned crispy breading, dotted with little sesame seed, and served over a bed of steamed broccoli, which was the perfect level of crisp for a veggie. This dish even held up against the microwave test the next day (yes, another two for one meal). What more could you ask for?
The pleasant surprise here was the price. Kanok has one of those sleek, minimalist looks so we thought the prices would match. However, both dishes came in at $8.50 each and the calamari at about $7 (which was probably one of the most expensive appetizers Kanok offers). It was one of those dining experiences that had us kicking ourselves for not trying the place sooner.
