Chicago Winter with Sukiyaki 🍲

Cocoro Restaurant 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I thought Chicago winters would pair perfectly with sukiyaki, so I finally tried the long-bookmarked Cocoro. Reviews on social media are pretty divided, but I actually enjoyed it—it’s on the sweeter side, which I like! The pot had a generous amount of beef—no skimping there. However, the variety of ingredients felt limited. When I make sukiyaki at home, I add meatballs, enoki mushrooms, seafood mushrooms, etc. Here, it was mostly beef, napa cabbage, vermicelli, greens, shiitake, and a bit of tofu. A pleasant surprise was the chawanmushi (steamed egg custard)—smooth, silky, and packed with hidden goodies: shrimp, eel, chicken, scallop, spinach, seaweed, and even ginkgo nuts! The yakitori, though, was tough and overcooked—not recommended. Lunch at H-Mart Niles – Quick Reviews: 🥪 Oh K Dog 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I got the classic egg toast—egg was super tender, toast nicely crisp! Would be even better with bacon or something extra. Next time! My friend ordered the hot dog—pretty average. The corn batter was thick and hard, and my slice (no cheese + a bit cold) wasn’t great. Maybe just give me the sausage alone… 🥤 Paris Baguette – Decaf Matcha Latte No matcha flavor, no creaminess—just a burnt coffee taste even though it was decaf. Big miss! ☕️😬 Finally, the Daley Plaza Christkindlmarket 🎄✨ Lots of handmade crafts, hot chocolate, and snacks. If you don’t mind crowds, it’s a nice spot to soak up the holiday spirit! 🎅🧣 #ChicagoWinter #SukiyakiLove #CocoroChicago #HMartEats #ChicagoFood #HolidayMarket