Find the Loop's best hummus at La Shuk Street Food

What’s the most common food in the Loop? Ask outsiders, and they’ll probably start spouting off stereotypical Chicago foods like hot dogs and deep dish pizza. But my educated guess is hummus. Quick-service Mediterranean chains dominate the downtown lunch scene, offering a variety of grilled meats and fried falafel, all with hefty scoops of the creamy chickpea spread.

The results vary wildly in quality. At the lesser chains, hummus is gritty, chalky, and bland. The majority get to the middle — somewhat creamy, if not exactly exciting. But who cares if you drench your bowl in a half dozen sauces and stir it all together?

Then there’s LaShuk Street Food, which treats making hummus like an art. It’s always ludicrously smooth and miraculously light, with aromatic swirls of garlic and lemon haunting each bite. It’s an absolute marvel.