Tried GREEN IGUANA at Chicago's WILDEST Restaurant?! 🦎

It's BABY EEL—literally (eel) that started working BEFORE turning one month old?! Texture kinda like cold jelly noodles—just SLURP and down it goes! But actually made on SIZZLING iron plate, soaked in garlic-infused olive oil with a touch of chili—SPICY AROMATIC, SO good! 😋 It's BEEF 🥚🥚. For Chinese folks used to Northeast BBQ "gun dan (testicle set), the ingredient itself isn't THAT special—what's SPECIAL is being able to eat it in Chicago! 🥚🥚 sliced SUPER thin, ZERO weird taste, seasoned with SALT & PEPPER, texture kinda like HEART—slightly chewy, but DELICIOUS! 👌 The MAIN EVENT—GREEN IGUANA. As someone who's eaten all kinds of WEIRD stuff including 🦇 and various 🐛, this was genuinely my FIRST time. Two prep options: in soup OR simmered in sauce—we chose the SALSA version. The server auntie grinned asking if we could handle spice—after our confirmation, brought out this "Chinese-level MILD" spicy iguana chunks. The meat is actually SUPER firm—compared to guinea pig's fattiness, iguana is basically LEAN. BONES everywhere, almost like fish bones, but you can vaguely see the body structure—SUCH an interesting experience! 🤯 Complimentary tortilla chips + salsa upon sitting down, plus free cookies for dipping! Throughout the meal, server aunties walk around with baskets of Mexican bread + cakes asking if you want any—kinda like those Cantonese aunties pushing carts during dim sum! 😂 This AUTHENTIC Mexican spot also has handmade tortilla station at the entrance. Everything's FRESH, but with all the sides (rice/potatoes/beans/tortilla chips) we COULDN'T finish—had to take the complimentary tortillas home! 📦 They also have traditional Mexican GRASSHOPPERS and other WILD dishes—and everything I tried tasted PRETTY good! Worth a shot! Though area's not great at night—better visit during daytime! 🌞 📍 La Casa De Samuel: 2834 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60623 #FoodieSummerCat #Chicago #ChicagoLife #ChicagoFoodie #ChicagoEats