There are more places to eat on 18th Street besides carnitas shops and taquerias. Honky Tonk BBQ and Mundial have their fans and there are more than enough pizza joints and hot dog stands for the lunch pail crowd to feel sated during the week.

Then there's Take Me Out, a basic Chinese restaurant located a block east of Ashland, across the street from the offices for Thrill Jockey Records. If you don't stop at Take Me Out and order the spicy wings, you're doing yourself a disservice. Dubbed "Little Hotties," these wings are all that and more. Using a scallion and chile-based sauce that coats the wings to a near-purple tint, this spicy food lover had no idea what he was in for when he put in the order. These are easily some of the hottest wings I've eaten in the city and I'd eat them again.

I also enjoyed the wonton soup, with two perfectly cooked dumplings floating in a hot vegetable-based broth, it helped to clear my mouth of any residual spice from the wings. This is so not hot soup weather, but if you head to take Me out to order the little hotties, I highly recommend you get a bowl of soup to remove any residual spice.

Take Me Out is located at 1502 W. 18th St. and the phone number is (312) 929-2509. They're open 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. seven days a week.