What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life.
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Eat. Watch. Do.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

 
 

It’s Thursday, Chicago. 

Did you know mahjong is having a moment right now? “(It’s) being played in libraries and senior living facilities, in some of the hippest bars and restaurants… all over,” writes Tribune columnist Rick Kogan. Read his interview with one Chicago “mahjong maven” here.

Plus, in dining news, critic Louisa Kung Liu Chu reviews Japanese dining bar Kumiko in the West Loop, and this weekend is Mother’s Day, so if you have yet to make plans with the mom in your life, Chicago restaurants serving brunch or other holiday specials are here to help. 

Enjoy the weekend, we’ll see you back here next week. 

— Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor

Surprise episode of ‘The Bear’ drops ahead of its final season: Our review

The flashback episode fills in some of the backstory between Cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Mikey (Jon Bernthal).

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Restaurant review: Kumiko, the Japanese dining bar with a Renaissance chef reclaiming her culture in Chicago

“I’ve been involved with the food since Kumiko opened,” said Julia Momosé, who’s soft-spoken yet clear. “Kumiko is very much me.”

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Column: Mad for mahjong — the game from China is having its moment in Chicago

Its new popularity is both about the game and the sense of community it brings. Mahjong can be found everywhere from senior centers to trendy nightspots.

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Mother’s Day 2026 guide: Chicago restaurant specials for celebrating Mom

There are plenty of options to enjoy with the mother figure in your life, from elaborate buffets to playful afternoon teas to family-friendly celebrations where the little ones have their own menus.

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Review: ‘Mortal Kombat II’ lacks cheesy charm of the previous playthrough

The 2021 “Mortal Kombat” reboot was a surprise hit, so it’s no surprise that a sequel with the same creative team has arrived some five years later.

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On Route 59, Yemeni and Arab coffee shops are brewing community

The cluster of Yemeni and Arab coffee shops along Route 59 in Naperville and Aurora are tapping into a community appeal.

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Chicago is a city made of its own brick: A new book says that was a stroke of luck

Brick expert Will Quam’s book “Fire and Clay” details the ways in which bricks “reveal the hidden history of Chicago.”

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