I hate the idea of being accessorized. I loathe those little accessory shops, and if I ever thought that I would have a closet devoted to shoes or ever go on an accessory shopping expedition, I would probably keel over out of self-hatred. One exception, and I pray that this is the least disgusting way to “accessorize”: fruit drinks. I don’t even know why I think that fruit drinks would count as accessories. But if you have ever been to the motherlands of all fruit drinks (Southern California), those chiseled and tanned girls tout their jumbo Jamba Juices as a testimony to their healthy near-anorexic lifestyle.

Joy Yee’s Noodle Shop

2159 South China Place

(312) 328 0001

I am sure at least half of the U of C population knows about Joy Yee’s because no matter which night of the week I dine there, I always see U of C students. But for the half that do not know of Joy Yee’s delectable fruit drinks, here’s little description of it: Joy Yee’s has something like three pages on their menu devoted to drinks. There are just tea drinks like almond or green tea with tapioca; there are the freezes with big brown tapioca balls; there are the grass jelly drinks; there are drinks with green tapioca, lychee drinks, mango, pineapple, taro, red bean etc etc. The prices run from around two dollars to nearly four dollars but the sizes are very large so I never feel ripped off.

Irazu

1865 North Milwaukee Avenue

(773) 252 5687

The Costa Rican restaurant in Wicker Park has a page of shakes. It has a Spanish name that I cannot remember. Even the lactose-intolerants like myself can enjoy the shakes because they can make them with milk or water. I remember the price being almost three dollars, and Irazu, too, makes big, big shakes, not dinky little things. They have all kinds of flavors: lots of tropical ones like mango, mamey, papaya, and guanabana, along with more traditional fruits. And if you are not into fruits, they have oatmeal and chocolate. They are delicious, and the food at Irazu is great, so you should go.

Golden Nugget Pancake House

2720 North Clark Street

(773) 929 0724

This might seem out of place, and Golden Nugget is not exactly a beverage joint, but I love their blueberry shake. Big, fat blueberries. Especially when they barely blend it, and the tin cup that they bring you with your shake is full of whole blueberries. So, if you are in the mood for some greasy, greasy food—biscuit and gravy type of stuff—go to Golden Nugget and get the blueberry shake.

Time Coffee

3247 West Bryn Mawr Avenue

(773) 463 3937

Time Coffee is a Korean coffee shop and I hear they have awesome fruit icy drinks (I’ve never really been there). They also have pa-ping-su, which is a thin-ice-and-red-bean dish that comes with fruit toppings, the perfect thing for a hot summer day. Usually open until midnight.

Las Tablas

2965 North Lincoln Avenue

(773) 871 2414

I also hear that Las Tablas, a Columbian restaurant, has great fruit drinks, though the food is on the expensive side.

Jamba Juice

2800 North Clark Street

Another one on State near Madison (?)

Another one on Gold Coast

The Starbucks of fruit drinks, there are at least couple of Jamba Juices in Chicago. The portions are large. I am sure you have already been there, and there is almost nothing else to say about Jamba Juice.

Potbelly Sandwich Works

190 North Clark

303 West Madison

2264 North Lincoln

1422 West Webster

520 North Michigan

Milkshakes, smoothies, malts: all with sandwiches. It’s a little pricey, but it’s quaint.

—Jihae Hong