The popular phrase “sharing is caring” is something that fits very well into the food traditions of many cultures, especially those of collectivistic societies. When shared plates are served on the table, it brings people close on an entirely different level; it teaches us how we can serve others before ourselves. It’s not just about what we eat, but how we eat it.
I’m Chinese-American, and I grew up becoming familiar with terms such as 公勺 (gong shao), or public spoon. In Chinese, this term refers to the serving utensils that are used in the dishes on the table that are communally shared. Going out to eat with others as a social pastime has helped me to appreciate all the diverse eateries in the Champaign-Urbana area.
The five places that I recommend taking friends and family to for shared dishes are: Savory Hot Pot House, Star BBQ, Heavy Spoon Co., Seven Saints, and Sushi Man. With this variety of choices, there’s plenty of options to be shared between two people, or even up to eight (depending on what you order).
Heavy Spoon Co.
To be honest, I’ve never been much of a breakfast person, but combine cereal and ice cream (and “sharing is caring”) and you get pure childhood nostalgia. Heavy Spoon is fairly new in the Downtown Champaign scene, but it has already garnered tremendous support since its opening.
After my friend and I asked for recommendations from the friendly staff, we decided to ultimately go with one of the crowd-favorites: the red velvet bubbled waffle. Aside from being perfectly aesthetic for any social media post, the waffle dish was a high-quality dessert. I’m looking forward to trying lots of other combinations, and the variety of toppings is also calling my name. Other than the ice cream and cereal, Heavy Spoon is a family-friendly choice, and the restaurant also features an impressive mural of popular cereal mascots and cartoon characters.
Heavy Spoon Co.
118 N Neil St
Champaign
T-Th noon to 8 p.m.
F noon to midnight
Sa 10 a.m. to midnight
Su noon to 8 p.m.
Savory Hot Pot House
Tucked away inconspicuously inside Fresh International Market is the super-secret hot pot joint, Savory Hot Pot House (previously named Shiquan Hot Pot). The tantalizing aromas carry over into the supermarket area, and you can’t help but be curious of what awaits in the food court area. There’s no other food that better exemplifies sharing than the Chinese hot pot. In Chinese, the communal meal is referred to as 火锅 (huǒguō), which literally translates into fire pot. Hot pot is indisputably a hands-on meal with quick cooking, where diners sit around the hot pot and add their favorite ingredients into the boiling soup.
We first ordered a half-and-half split pot with two broth flavors: mala and tomato soup. While we were waiting for the soup bases to boil, my group and I went to the DIY condiments bar to make our own dipping sauces. There was a wide selection of topping choices, and I always recommend the peanut sauce with plenty of sesame oil, chili powder, and some fun extras. Hot pot does tend to be a pricier dining experience, and for a group of three, you’re looking at about $45-50 for each individual to pay. Meats are usually some of the first items consumed during the meal, and you want to balance that out with a variety of other ingredients to maximize the dining experience. Finally — and perhaps the most important part of hot pot — is to have a designated member of your group or party to serve as the “handler” of foods (cooking, serving in bowls, etc.). If you know, you know!
Savory Hot Pot House
505 S Neil St Ste 7
Champaign
M 5 to 9 p.m.
T-F 5 p.m. to midnight
Sa+Su noon to midnight
Seven Saints
Seven Saints is simply a Champaign classic. Beloved in the community for well over a decade, Seven Saints is always my go-to when I need to take out-of-town friends somewhere to eat. Seven Saints’ feature items include its sliders, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. In terms of sharing, Seven Saints has an absolutely superb list of appetizers, with its cheese curds having a good reputation in the area. If ordering for a group, I recommend the items shown in the attached image: an order of Bavarian pretzels and the 7 Sinners crowd pleaser platter.
As far as other favorites, I like the Black Jack slider (for a hint of spice), the country fried chicken salad, and the ribeye steak sandwich. If I’m feeling especially peckish or hungry, I’ll upgrade to the triple platter, where I’ll get the two aforementioned items plus a side of sweet potato fries.
Seven Saints
32 E Chester St
Champaign
Su-Thu 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
F+Sa 11 a.m. to midnight
Star BBQ
The sister restaurant to Star Karaoke (both located in the Savoy Plaza), Star BBQ is definitely a top contender for best Korean restaurant in the community in my opinion. We had seven in our party, and at the end of the meal, the table’s bill came out to be about $30 per person, which is a pretty solid price for Korean BBQ. Also, considering the amount and quality of banchan (Korean side dishes), which is the Korean cuisine standard, I was more than happy with the experience of the meal. We were given about five side dishes for the table including mini salads with free refills. The restaurant manager and waiter were very accommodating and hospitable towards our group, and I really do appreciate the high level of customer service here.
For the barbecue section of the meal, we ordered four different meat options, and my favorites were the pork galbi and samgyeopsal pork belly. The prices for Korean barbecue were on the higher end as well, but Star BBQ offered large portion sizes. Just like hot pot, KBBQ requires a “handler” of food to make sure the meats are thoroughly cooked and to distribute pieces to all members of the table. My group also ordered about five to six appetizers to share. Seafood pancake, or haemul pajeon, is a popular Korean snack slash appetizer, and I wish I had the recipe for the Star-version of this very savory dish.
Star BBQ
1209 Savoy Plaza Ln
Savoy
T-Th 4 p.m. to midnight
F-Su noon to midnight
Sushi Man
Sushi Man is my favorite sushi spot in town, and it provides a comfort meal that stays relatively within the bounds of my college budget. Whether it’s after a rough day, celebrating the finish of a difficult project or exam, or just generally craving sushi, Sushi Man hits the spot. The restaurant provides fresh fish paired with well-seasoned rice for delivery or pick-up. The staff at Sushi Man are always patient, and they don’t sacrifice the quality of food even when it’s busy, which I appreciate. The location of the restaurant itself is quite small, as it is attached to the lobby of a student apartment building; however, the facility is quite clean, and the atmosphere is relaxed.
I’m happy just getting sushi alone, but I’m positively ecstatic when sharing sushi with friends or family. I’m personally a fan of the classic sushi rolls as well as sashimi and nigiri. Items that I recommend from Sushi Man’s menu include: the sushi regular (sushi sampler including seven pieces of sushi and the California roll), the salmon avocado roll, and the rainbow roll. My favorite out of the special rolls at Sushi Man is the spicy girl roll, and if you want a combination of sushi and dessert, I recommend getting the tamago (egg) nigiri. Sushi Man recently opened their AYCE (all-you-can-eat) location in the business sector of Champaign, and I hope to try it soon.
Sushi Man
308 E Green St
Champaign
M-Th 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
F+Sa 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Su noon to 10 p.m.