Kanin

In Hawaii, even the corner store food hits: Musubi and bento boxes stacked and steaming. That’s what Chef Julius Tacadena wanted to bring to Chicago.

But Julius didn’t come up in the kitchen. He started in nursing, moved into recruiting, yet food was always the thing that made sense. With his brother, he launched Krackish Snack Co., and still kept cooking. What started as a pop-up across Chicago led Julius to meet Francis Almeda, a serial entrepreneur turned collaborator. Eventually, they opened Kanin’s first brick-and-mortar spot right next door to Side Practice Coffee.

But Kanin isn’t just about rice and bodega snacks. It’s a place that reminds you of home— wherever it is, whomever it is. EVERYBODY EATS.