Mrs. Gu Skewers Hot Pot

Mrs. Gu’s is a hot pot chain that’s been in China since the ‘80s and Chicago since 2020. The plot twist here is that all the ingredients are on skewers you grab from coolers in the back of the restaurant, which cost 45 cents a piece. They have five broths to choose from, and the best combo is the spicy and the original. While there are places with higher-quality ingredients and more interesting dipping stations, Mrs. Gu is useful if you’re looking for an affordable option. You can control how much you order (head to the back and grab a few more if you’re still hungry) and the server counts them up at the end of the meal. Plus, this place has a full bar and lots of TVs playing sports.