Where Will You Decide To Celebrate Your First Illinois Happy Hour?

By Melissa McEwen in Food on Jul 20, 2015 9:00PM

It's been 26 years since Illinois banned Happy Hour, but this week it's coming back. For many of us, it will be our first Illinois happy hour ever. But because the Land of Lincoln has to keep at least a few unnecessary regulations on the books, restaurants and bars must to promote their happy hour specials a week in advance before beginning the practice.

Of course we need to be warned in advance before The Izakaya at Momotaro (820 W. Lake St.) unleashes its happy hour special: the Tiger Beer and a flavored Shochu shot paired with two courses for $19 or three courses for $23. (It's appropriate the large plates are named Kaiju, a word monster-movie fanatics will be familiar with). And since they dutifully posted the special last Thursday, it will be available starting this Thursday. Check out the menu below:

Chotto (Small Plates)
Kani Deviled Eggs with Japanese curry, King Crab
Corned Wagyu Beef Tongue with pickles, kaiware
Fried Chicken Karaage, with shisito dressing

Kaiju (Large Plates)
Black Berkshire Pork Tonkatsu with cabbage, karashi mustard
Sunday Noodles
Simmering Asari Clams with sake butter and garlic toast
Burger Royale w/ Cheese with house BBQ chips

Happy Ending (Desserts)
Okinawan Black Sugar Ice Cream with chocolate crunch
Strawberry Ice Cream with summer berries

At The Betty (839 W. Fulton Market.), seven days a week from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., they'll offer half off beers, $8 featured wines and $9 featured classic cocktails that showcase a different spirit each week, plus a snack menu to pair up with the specials. That discount starts Aug. 1.

Pork Shoppe (5721 North Clark.) will have different specials on weekdays starting this Thursday:

Monday
11-2pm
Half Price Drinks
Industry Bartenders Brunch

Tuesday
3pm-6pm
$3 Pints

Wednesday
3-6pm
$5 Ginger Beer Cocktails

Thursday
3-6pm
$6 glasses of wine

Friday
3-6pm
$5 summer cocktails

At Umami Burger (1480 N. Milwaukee Ave.) they'll also have a weekday special from 3 to 6 p.m. offering $3 truffle fries, $4 sliders (or a trio for $9), $5 draft beer, $6 wine and $7 cocktails. The fun starts this Thursday.

And now we can finally have a real happy hour "best of" (though our alternative lists were pretty good) to look forward to writing in the future.