Sando Street is one of the hottest new restaurants in Wicker Park. With a kid-friendly menu of Japanese and Korean-inspired sandwiches and snacks, Sando Street is a must-visit spot on any foodie family’s bucket list.
This article was recently updated on May 30, 2024 by Chicago Parent’s Assistant Editor, Nikki Roberts. The update added menu recommendations from co-founder Rich Letheby. Questions? Please reach out to nikki@chicagoparent.com.
Quick details about Sando Street in Wicker Park
- Address: 1547 N Ashland Ave., Chicago
- Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
- Cost: $$
Sando Street’s main draw is its sandos — sandwiches made on fluffy Japanese milk bread called shokupan. Popular sandos include Korean BBQ or traditional Japanese flavors, but there are also sweet sandos with matcha or ube whipped cream and strawberries. Talk about a sandwich for every occasion!
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The only downside? Sando Street has been pretty packed since it opened, and guests typically wait around 30 minutes for both dine in and take out orders. A lot of local guides on Google reviews, like Mona Tong, have noted that although the food is delicious, it’s a bit pricier than your average sandwich shop.
“I was still feeling peckish after having one sandwich,” said Tong in a Google review. “However, the food itself was solid: the white bread was soft, the inside flavorful. The Korean sweet potato chips on the side were delicious — so thin, crispy, and bursting with flavor. The portions were so small though, I wish it came with more!”
Not to worry, though! If one sandwich isn’t enough to satisfy, there are a few yummy snack options that kids and adults will love. Check out these menu highlights for families.
Sando Street menu highlights for families
Savory Sandos
Sandos are the star of the show at Sando Street. Served on fluffy shokupan, each of the shop’s six savory sandos are paired with a side of Japanese sweet potato chips that guests can’t seem to get enough of!
Those new to Japanese street food should try the OG Tamago. This sando is filled with kewpie mayo egg salad, soft boiled egg and furikake rice seasoning. The Tonkatsu Sando — Panko-crusted pork tenderloin — and the Bulgogi Sando — Korean BBQ ribeye — are also popular options. Veggie lovers like myself can order the crispy Eggplant Sando, which can be made vegan upon request.
Fruit Sandos
Sando Street offers two sweet sandos for dessert — Ube Creme and Matcha Creme — that are made with house whipped cream and strawberries on milk bread. The Ube Creme is definitely a fan favorite!
Rice bowls
Enjoy the Bulgogi, Eggplant, KFC and Tonkatsu sandos as a rice bowl! These bowls are packed with the ingredients from their sando counterparts and are served with white rice, making them a bit more filling than a sandwich.
Snacks
Whether you have a picky eater in your family or you’re looking to amp up your meal, Sando Street offers a yummy snack menu. Try pork or vegetable Japanese dumplings called gyoza. Littles will love the popcorn chicken, but just a heads up — the delicious gochujang sauce that is served on the side is pretty spicy!
Menu recommendations from Sando Street co-founder Rich Letheby
Cousins Rich Letheby and Chris Yoo are the co-founders and co-owners of Sando Street. When it comes to ordering for kiddos, we asked Letheby, a dad to a 5-year-old daughter, for his personal sando recommendations and meal pairings.
Enjoy Savory Sandos with a side of Japanese Sweet Potato Chips
Served on fluffy shokupan, each of the shop’s six savory sandos are paired with a side of Japanese sweet potato chips that guests can’t seem to get enough of!
“We make our own chips in house” says Letheby. “[Japanese sweet potatoes] are lighter in color so they look more like a traditional potato chip and aren’t as sweet as the American sweet potato. You’re getting something outside the box; something salty, but not too savory to go with the savory sandos.”
Wash Sweet Sandos down with these Asian drink pairings
Sando Street offers two sweet sandos — Ube Creme and Matcha Creme — that are made with house whipped cream and strawberries on milk bread. Letheby has a few go-to Asian drinks that pair perfectly with the sweet sandos. You can find his recommendations at Sando Street, or pick them up at a local Asian market like Joong Boo Market, H Mart or Gangnam Market.
“I would recommend Lotte Milkis Strawberry to go along with the fruit sandos because Milkis is like a Korean cream soda. It’s a little milky, which goes along with our house made creams,” says Letheby.
If you prefer a more mild pairing that’s not too sweet on the palate, Letheby recommends Lotte Let’s Be Mild Coffee. Sando Street will also be serving UCC Matcha Lattes soon, which Letheby says are a great way to double down on the matcha flavor in the Matcha Creme sando.
Enjoy a crunchy Asian snack with the fruit sandos
“My personal favorite Korean snack is a peanut crunch snack called Orion Peanut Crunch,” says Letheby. “I grew up on that as a child. They’re little crispy rice balls with nut clusters. Their sweetness goes well with the ube sando. When I make sandos for my daughter at home, we always enjoy [Orion Peanut Crunch] afterwards.”
Other things to do with kids in Wicker Park
Now that you know where you’ll be eating lunch, here are a few other suggestions for visiting Wicker Park with your family.
- Explore Wicker Park! This hip neighborhood is home to quirky shops, quaint cafes, record stores, fashion boutiques and more for families. Start by walking down Milwaukee and Damen avenues, then venture on to the residential streets for a scenic stroll.
- Visit the Bucktown-Wicker Park Branch. This Chicago Public Library has a children’s library with fun learning toys and a great tween and teen room that offers crafting workshops, social hangouts and more.
- Play at Wicker (Charles, Joel) Park. The urban park has a great playground and often hosts movie nights, farmers markets and more for families.
- Finish your trip to Wicker Park with a sweet treat from Vaca’s Creamery. This vegan soft serve joint specializes in decked out sundaes and unique seasonal flavors. My go-to order is the Candy Bar Sundae with a chocolate-and-vanilla twist! There’s no seating at this ice cream walk-up window, so I like to enjoy my treat just down the street at Pulaski Park.
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