Zenwich, Elmhurst

In 2009, Nate and Katie Nakasatian decided that the best vessel for their made-to-order Asian fusion cuisine was not a bowl, but buns. They invented an entire menu’s worth of sandwiches stuffed with homemade sauces and Eastern-inspired filling, from panko-crusted crab cakes and chicken satay to vegan and gluten-free items. And rather than placating vegetarians with meaty sandwiches molded into the shape of a lettuce leaf, the Nakasatians chose to create four signature veggie Zenwiches, including a fried tofu sandwich topped with wasabi coleslaw, watercress, and tonkatsu sauce.

Zenwich has been featured on CLTV's Chicago's Best Sandwiches and on ABC 7's "The Hungry Hound" segment, and they were ranked in the top 100 places to eat in the United States by Yelp.