A Chicago sandwich shop at the center of previous controversies has been named the best in Illinois in a new ranking by Yelp.
In honor of August being National Sandwich Month, Yelp recently released its 2022 list of "Top Sandwich Spots in Every State," based on several factors, including volume of reviews, ratings and more. The nation's results span from a Banwich Cafe in Lincoln, Nebraska, to an Italian Market in Boston, Massachusetts, to a doughnut shop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
In Illinois, the best sandwich shop according to Yelp is in Chicago and serves Latin American cuisine on a menu of just nine items, including empanadas, ropa vieja, churros and café con leche.
"You only live once, so make sure you try this place while you are alive," one review of Nini's Deli in West Town reads. "Of course it's all about the empanadas. They are dynamite, as are the sauces that accompany them. I was also able to taste the kitchen sink sandwich, which reminded me of a breakfast Cubano, and was definitely mouth-watering."
Nini's Deli is located at 543 N. Noble St.
But the shop is no stranger to controversy.
Earlier this year, the Chicago Tribune reported the eatery, which had previously come under fire for alleged homophobic and anti-Black Lives Matter statements, was cited for allegedly violating the city's vaccine mandate.
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In 2021, a post on the restaurant's Facebook page read, "moving forward, you can expect us at Nini’s Deli to be vocal about our biblical Christian values," while also commenting on marriage and abortion.
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