Tony Hu's Expansion Plans; Hunt Club Doneski

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

This week's top dish from Eater Chicago, Curbed's restaurant, bar, and nightlife blog.

ROSCOE VILLAGEEnoch Simpson, an alum of Nightwood and Girl & The Goat, will open an American restaurant serving fried chicken sandwiches, smoked trout biscuit sandwiches, and his famous Enoch's Doughnuts, in January. It will be called endgrain and the chef says it will be "casual with the integrity of fine dining."

GOLD COAST— Jim Lasky is tearing down his Gold Coast club Hunt Club and will reopen a new concept next fall. The 10,500 square foot space will include a restaurant called Maple & Ash on the first two floors and an unnamed nightclub above. Lasky is teaming up with David Pisor best known as the developer of the Elysian Hotel.

RIVER NORTH— Empire Builder Tony Hu has more up his sleeve. He plans on opening his hotly anticipated new River North restaurant Lao 18 on Janury 18, is about to sign a lease on a Michigan Avenue spot, is discussing a new restaurant with the mayor of Fox Lake in an upcoming suburban multinational restaurant mall, has plans to revamp Lao Ma La, and wants to expand to New York and elsewhere.

WICKER PARK— Handmade ramen space Oiister finally opened this week after some delays in Wicker Park. Chef "Sunny" (Se Jim Yim) has created a small menu that includes four ramen dishes like the Oiimen with pork belly, poached egg, and tree ear mushroom and the muscleman with mussels, chili pepper, and Bonita misto.