My Top 10 Eats of 2024

My mom always tells me that while other people eat to live, I live to eat. I’ve never heard something truer. As a big foodie, I love exploring different cuisines and trying new things. This past summer, I traveled to the U.K and Spain where I got to eat a ton of life changing foods. As 2024 comes to a close, it would be a disservice to not honor the glorious meals I had this year. 

This ranking includes a variety of dishes I had abroad and in Illinois that permanently changed my life. 

10. Birria Tacos

These tacos were legendary. It was my first time having birria tacos and I got them from somewhere in Naperville (I forgot the name of the restaurant). The consommé was so rich and the meat was the perfect spice level. I don't really have a basis of comparison for quality birria tacos but I would definitely eat these again. I would love to explore more local spots in the city that specialize in tacos!

9. Fish and Chips

   
   

   

These fish and chips were from Old King's Head in Lake District, UK. It was so good that my dad and I went back the next day. The fresh haddock paired with the vinegar and tartar sauce was a match made in heaven. However, I did not eat the peas because they looked mushy and I just don't like peas. The chips were just okay, but the fish was really the star of the show.

8. Spinach and Broccoli Stuffed Pizza

   
   

   

   
   

   Usually, my go-to at Sbarro is the spinach stromboli, but this day the employee insisted I have the spinach and broccoli stuffed pizza because it was fresh. I don't know if it was just because I was sleep deprived or suffering through finals, but this pizza changed my life. It was so good that I would travel back in time just to experience it again.

   
   

   7. Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich

   
   

   

   A sandwich so good it brought tears to my eyes (which was definitely not because I got it extra spicy...). This "Big Bird" sandwich was from Chi Tea, which recently opened a location in Bolingbrook. The chicken was crispy and fried to perfection. I highly recommend!

   
   

   6. Bibimbap

   
   

   

   As much as I love deep fried delicacies, I also crave refreshing meals with overwhelming amounts of vegetables. I had this bibimbap at BonChon on a gloomy day and it truly warmed my heart. I really enjoy East Asian spices because they're different than the Pakistani spices I'm used to. This bibimbap is served in a black pot which keeps the rice warm and crispy on the bottom, making it the perfect rainy day lunch.

   
   

   5. Shawarma

   
   

   

   I could have shawarma any day of the week. It's my go to at any Mediterranean restaurant, and Baba Saj was definitely the best I had this year. The shawarma wasn't dry and they got the meat to pickle ratio down. My parents say that it's the best they've had since they lived in Saudi Arabia, which is a pretty high standard.

   
   

   4. Tiramisu

   
   

   

   Before our waiter poured espresso over it, this tiramisu was beautiful. I had this at an Italian restaurant in Spain, which had incredible pizza (that I didn't take a picture of) and even better dessert. Instead of lady fingers (which are usually softer) this tiramisu had a biscuit in the middle which gave it a great crunch. The espresso was super smooth and the marscapone was so light and creamy. As you can tell by the spoons ready to destroy it, this was amazing tiramisu.

   
   

   3. Sushi

   
   

   

   You can't look at this colorful plate of sushi and tell me it's not the best you've seen in the midwest. My family and I have been going to Sakamoto Sushi since I was little and they have the best sushi in Illinois by far. My favorite rolls are the firecracker roll and Mexican roll. The fish always tastes fresh and each roll tastes different from the rest. I highly recommend this place if you're in the suburbs!

   
   

   2. Kofta Salan/Curry

   
   

   

   It wouldn't be a true best foods ranking if there weren't a home cooked meal on the list. Last September my grandma visited from Pakistan and spoiled me with the best Pakistani food in the world. Koftas are spicy meatballs and are usually served in a rich broth called 'salan' in Urdu, which is most comparable to curry. This is traditionally eaten with roti or naan bread. When my grandma visited, she made the kofta, salan, and even roti from scratch. It was earth shattering.

   
   

   1. Salmon Avocado Salad

   
   

   

   This gorgeous salad has been on my mind since the day I had it. I had this in Spain at a fancy restaurant in Granada. Not only is the tower structure aesthetically pleasing, the quality of the salmon and avocados was out of this world. The salmon was so fresh it tasted different from the salmon I'm used to. Even though it seems like a simple salad, I would go back to Spain just to eat it again.