Izakaya Shinya

This restaurant from the Shinya Ramen team livens up an otherwise unexciting block of Wicker Park. But while the restaurant is colorful (full of parasols and paper lanterns), Izakaya Shinya’s grilled skewers aren’t as vibrant. Though dishes like tsukune and wagyu are cooked well, everything has the same sweet, soy sauce flavor. But the fun atmosphere and upbeat pop soundtrack make it a solid spot for late-night snacks and drinks (it’s open until 2am)—whether you’re ready to crawl into bed after or are just getting started.