You’ve just gotten out of back-to-back classes and you are starving. It’s not an uncommon place to find yourself, gastrointestinally speaking. Many of us can rarely afford the time it takes to prepare ourselves lunch. As a result, Hutchinson Commons (lovingly referred to as “Hutch”) is a saving grace. Located in the center of campus, at the corner of East 57th Street and South Woodlawn Avenue, Hutch is a place where students and staff can take a break from the bustle and grab a quick bite. Hutch offers food that draws inspiration from culinary traditions around the world, including Mexican, Indian, and pan-Asian cuisines, to name a few. With so many options, the competition at Hutch is fierce—but only one restaurant can be the best. Here’s one editor’s guide to where to eat—and what to dodge—at Hutch.
6. Phoenix Grill
Lainey’s Pick: Smash Burger with Fries
Phoenix Grill is the newest addition to Hutchinson Commons, recently replacing Wazwan, a South Asian/American fusion restaurant. Phoenix grill offers classic American comfort food including burgers, sandwiches, and fries. The burger was mediocre, and the quality wasn’t much different from the dining hall. The bun and meat were both very dry, and the fries were definitely frozen from a bag. Phoenix simply does not compare to the quality and variety that the other stalls offer. My suggestion is that UChicago dining should give the space back to a locally owned restaurant that isn’t so readily available on campus. My personal pick would be Nigerian food to spice things up a little!
5. Asada
Lainey’s Pick: Chicken Quesadilla
Asada is a Mexican-American style restaurant that offers burritos, tacos, and bowls to hungry patrons. Set against the wide variety of authentic Mexican food you can find throughout Chicago, Asada simply misses the mark. The meats are often a bit dry, and the seasonings are underwhelming—straight from the Old El Paso packet. Toppings are unlimited, but guacamole is priced at a steep $3.29. Additionally, their made-to-order workflow means that each order can take quite a long time to complete, compared to other, buffet-style restaurants in Hutch. One thing that Asada gets right are the generous portion sizes—a single order usually lasts me until dinner.
4. Saffron
Lainey’s Pick: Butter Chicken with Veggies and Rice
Saffron specializes in halal Indian cuisine and boasts a variety of traditional dishes. The entree changes based on the day of the week, which keeps things fresh, but unfortunately can limit the availability of your favorite dish. I’m a big fan of the veggie samosas, which can be ordered as a side or a snack between classes. Saffron’s butter chicken delivers bold flavors that can satisfy any cravings for Indian comfort food. However, I do feel like the recipes have changed slightly in the three years that I have attended UChicago, and the quality has slipped slightly. While Saffron is still a solid choice, the flavor of the chicken dishes has gotten, for lack of a better word, worse. While Saffron used to be my personal favorite, I now often find myself gravitating toward different Hutch spots.
3. Noodles Etc
Lainey’s Pick: Chicken Gyoza
Noodles Etc is a pan-Asian restaurant that offers all the carbohydrates that students need to fuel a good study session. For lunch, their location in Hutch serves a Vietnamese banh mi and an Asian-style noodle soup. But my favorite dish is a sweet and savory chicken gyoza, best eaten by the half-dozen. Other students also rave about their soup, with fresh-cooked noodles and toppings. The broth has a great umami flavor, but the meat options tend to be a bit dry. Despite this small critique, Noodles Etc is a great choice to warm up after a cold day.
2. Paks
Lainey’s Pick: Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl
Paks is perhaps the most popular spot at Hutch, as evidenced by the long lines that pile up at lunchtime. Paks’s sushi rolls and poke bowls are both great options for a refreshing lunch. The spicy tuna poke bowl with veggies and the house poke sauce is my personal favorite for a quick midday pick-me-up and comes in at a surprisingly reasonable price for a bowl of fresh fish. I’m also a big fan of avocado in my bowl, which doesn’t cost extra! In recent months, I have noticed a slight decline in the quality of the salmon and tuna from Paks, which can really ruin a good poke bowl. Despite these few isolated incidents, I still adore Paks and frequent it for lunch.
1. Kabob-it
Lainey’s Pick: Chicken Kabob Combo
Kabob-it is a locally owned restaurant serving up delicious and nutritious Mediterranean food with a twist. Their commitment to clean eating comes across through their use of locally grown herbs and veggies. The chicken kabobs are always fresh out of the oven, and the variety of sauces allows you to mix up your order. I adore the lemon and berry salad vinaigrettes that they use, which add the perfect sweet finishing touch to the combo meal. After traversing campus in the freezing cold weather, a warm, filling meal is just what I need to finish out the day or power me through afternoon studies. Because of their consistently fresh ingredients and well-rounded portions, Kabob-it edges out Paks for the title of “Best Restaurant at Hutch.”
