Chicagoist: Ethnic Markets: Paulina Market

jk

Tue, 15 May 2007 20:58:52 -0600

I used to live within walking distance of Paulina Market, and those were good good good days. Love that place, love that number-dispensing pig. Also, their frozen raviolis are good, and not expensive. (At least last time I checked....)

prescott

Tue, 15 May 2007 17:48:51 -0600

For the record, I wasn't arguing one way or the other -- it just seems like the nitpicking has been ratcheted up even above normal levels lately so I was genuinely surprised there were no "if you can call a place overrun by transplant white yuppies ethnic" comments... regardless, I'll go with FP and call it "kick-ass", and just as great as the first day I wandered in there roughly 17 years ago.

thundercougarfalconbird

Tue, 15 May 2007 17:01:45 -0600

This place f'in' rocks balls. It's like a celebration of everything that is good about meat, and one of the first things I list when I explain to people why I like living in the big city. Ain't no giant meat market in Las Vegas, sorry...

FP

Tue, 15 May 2007 16:13:15 -0600

Seeing as the place has been there since 1949 and is a traditional european-style market, I think we can call it ethnic. or we can just call it kick-ass.

Lisa

Tue, 15 May 2007 15:58:31 -0600

Hmmmm, I guess it's all about what you consider 'ethnic' these days. The market does specialize in eastern European cured meats...

prescott

Tue, 15 May 2007 15:39:16 -0600

Wow, I'm surprised we made it through 7 comments without anyone bitching that Paulina is not "ethnic". Maybe that's a testament to how great that place really is.

mackingspain

Tue, 15 May 2007 15:07:26 -0600

I also love this place. it is on the expensive side and I will probably never be able to buy steaks there, but there are some cheap things that are incredible: * linguiza . . . perfect for paella or fry up a couple of slices with eggs. * weiners * duck sausage * goose liver braunschweiger . . . the next best thing to foie gras. * varieties of bacon OK, I'm gonna go and have a coronary now

Chicago 2016

Tue, 15 May 2007 14:20:57 -0600

Mmm, those sausages look good. (Drools.)

Eamon

Tue, 15 May 2007 14:16:21 -0600

My haircutter moved in across the street from there (Lindsay Station), so now I can get a cut and a steak on the regular! Woot! PS: Their jerky kicks ass. And make sure to check the open-top freezers in the middle: they always have crazy good meals ready to go right on the grill. Last time I was there they had some unbelievably tasty shrimp on cane sugar kebabs.

Bob S.

Tue, 15 May 2007 13:53:35 -0600

Thanks to Oketo for letting me know about this piece. I've been a loyal customer for most of my 10 years here in Chicago, thanks to my first landlord. It's great because you can just point to the things in the cases and ask what you'd do with that and how to cook it and they're happy to talk about it. They'll recommend what sauces will work well, accompanying veggies and how best to prepare those... that makes it worth the price for me. I recommend going on Thursday nights (although I hate to give this secret away)... they're open until 7 and it's rarely that busy. (And while I love Paulina, Bornhofen Meat Market on Broadway in Edgewater is also pretty cool and less well-known.)

FP

Tue, 15 May 2007 13:36:14 -0600

Great place, and worth every penny.

dc

Tue, 15 May 2007 13:06:23 -0600

gotta 2nd that motion on it being a great place. The steaks ive bought there have always been top notch. There is one problem, the cost. It is not cheap, and you can easily drop $100+ if your planning to use them to feed your BBQ party. For an alternative, the Chicago Meat Market on Cicero. Awesome selection, and the prices are close to wholesale. Of course, if you live on the north side, you gotta trek all the way down there to get it.

Mikey

Tue, 15 May 2007 12:29:18 -0600

I effing love this place, whenever I have a few extra dollars burning a hole in my pocket. It ain't cheap, but you get what you pay for... The Italian sausage is excellent and made on the premises, as is the Italian beef (in the frozen section). I would also recommend trying the Sheboygan brats, as well as the natural casing hotdogs... I could go on and on and on...