Several new dining establishments have opened or are set to open on Chicago’s Far North Side, with offerings ranging from South Asian-inspired pizza to a late-night Yemeni coffeehouse. The developments were announced on April 16 by various business owners and operators in the area.
The expansion of restaurant options is significant for residents and visitors, providing diverse cuisine choices and revitalizing former vacant spaces. These openings also reflect broader trends in the local food scene, such as fusion concepts and culturally focused dining experiences.
Desi Boys Pizza recently began serving customers at 6147 N. Broadway in Edgewater. Owner Bhavesh Patel said the restaurant specializes in fusion pizzas with toppings like butter chicken, chicken tikka, and paneer tikka alongside classic options. “Like most people, I love pizza and I wanted to come up with something different and unique. We have all the fusion pizzas, what we call the meaty twists and the veggie twists, and then we have our classic pizzas as well all under one roof,” Patel said. He added that ingredients are prepared fresh daily: “Everything is all fresh. The vegetables are cut fresh daily. The dough is made daily, and we manufacture our own sauces in house. That’s our own recipe.” Patel plans to expand Desi Boys Pizza near other college neighborhoods in the coming year.
Fried Egg Cafe has opened at 1039 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., taking over a location previously occupied by Francesca’s for more than two decades before it closed in 2022. The cafe serves breakfast items such as omelets, pancakes, crepes as well as lunch options including burgers and salads.
In Uptown, Queen Yemeni Coffee will soon open at 4753 N. Broadway inside the Bridgeview Bank building after operating its first location in Libertyville. Manager Abdullah Monssar described their offering: “Ethiopia and Yemen are the first people who started the coffee business… It comes from the original place where the first people made it.” Queen Yemeni Coffee aims to stay open until late evening hours to attract both regulars and concertgoers from nearby venues.
Other upcoming ventures include Molino Los Hermanos at 4666 N. Broadway—a Mexican restaurant centered around masa led by chef Norman Fenton—and Marina’s Supper Club at 4804 N. Broadway from chef Eric Roldan which aims to be “the first Puerto Rican supper club in the nation.” Roldan said: “We’re not just opening a restaurant — we’re creating an experience that celebrates Puerto Rican culture in a way Chicago hasn’t seen before… this is about bringing people together and honoring where we come from.”
