Stir Crazy, Oak Brook

At Stir Crazy Fresh Asian Grill, chefs toss morsels of protein and vegetables in woks that heat up to more than 400 degrees. This technique seals in the fresh flavors of Stir Crazy's signature creations and dishes customized by patrons at the Fresh Market Bar.

The chefs might create a classic pad thai dish or flip a pan full of flat wheat noodles, crisp vegetables, tofu, and fresh Thai basil drenched in spicy red curry coconut sauce. They also might pile sushi-grade ahi tuna atop a tower of crunchy wontons or crazy shrimp tempura for sushi rolls.

But these pre-designed recipes are just some of the possibilities. At the market bar, diners can choose from 40 fresh proteins, fresh vegetables, and housemade sauces for the cooks to throw in the wok, creating a wok-fried recipe that's as unique as a rebellious teenage snowflake. The recently upgraded bar now brims with locally sourced produce, seasonal vegetables, and new sauces, including Korean barbecue and vegetarian red curry.

Meals pair with wine, sake, beer, and handcrafted cocktails such as ginger mules with housemade ginger ale. They can conclude with Stir Crazy's banana wontons, which have proved to be so popular that three million orders have been served since their introduction.