Welcome to Critically Eau-Claimed Eats, a series on our Instagram and TikTok pages where we ask the Eau Claire foodies for their recommendations and try them out! Our Midwest food fans crave everything from juicy burgers to crispy chicken wings to international dishes with a little bit of heat, and we're here to collect them all. Come along with us as we try out one critically "Eau-claimed" dish at a time, and get a taste of Eau Claire eats that you won't find anywhere else!
Korean Pork Egg Rolls from Egg Rolls & More at VFW Post 10405
On this segment of Critically Eau-Claimed Eats, we tried the highly raved-about egg rolls in Altoona! And we'll cut right to the chase, they were INCREDIBLE! They were so fresh, had so much flavor, and were the perfect start to this tasty lunch. You can choose between chicken, pork, veggie, seafood, or even breakfast-filled egg rolls, which come in quantities of 3, 10, or 20. But we couldn't stop there. Egg Rolls & More served entrees like Pork Katsu, Jap Chae, and more mouth-watering dishes. We paired our pork egg rolls with the Bibimbap, which was served in a hot stone bowl to share, and it hit the spot on a cold, snowy day. Egg Rolls & More serves at VFW Post 10405 on Mondays & Tuesdays from 10 AM - 7 PM and Wednesdays from 10 AM - 3 PM.
Jumbo Chicken Wings at River Inn Bar
River Inn isn't joking around with their chicken wings because these things really are JUMBO! This establishment is located in Wheaton, WI, and has been a local-favorite dive bar since the 1940s. Every Monday-Thursday, you can get your hands on All You Can Eat Jumbo Wings with your choice of potato and a variety of specialty dipping sauces. We went with the Rooster dipping sauce, a mix of barbeque and honey mustard flavors, and the combination did not disappoint! You can also choose smaller portions and order a select number of wings if you're feeling less hungry, or you can eat as many jumbo wings as you can for just $14.95! Click here to check out River Inn, and see more ways to experience the Town of Wheaton.
Jamaican Jerk Chicken at Golden Spike Bar & Grill
Experience authentic African and Caribbean food with Chef Akenya Aman's incredible Jerk Chicken! This platter of goodness can be found at the Golden Spike, a bar located in Altoona, WI, on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Expect a dish exploding with flavor with specialty jerk chicken, jollof rice, fried vegetables, a hard-boiled egg, and fried plantains. This special dish is truly crafted with love from Chef Akenya and will leave you coming back for more each week. Akenya hopes to introduce more of Eau Claire to the flavors of the Caribbean by bringing more of his recipes to restaurants in the area!
Strawberry Nutella Crepe at The Nucleus Cafe
The local's favorite breakfast house in Eau Claire is home to some of the sweetest, tastiest crepes you'll ever have! The Strawberry Nutella Crepe is crafted with Nutella hazelnut spread, strawberries, chocolate drizzle, and house whipped cream, dusted with powdered sugar. This breakfast is one of the restaurant's most popular menu items and is one of the sweetest ways to start your morning in Eau Claire. If you want to get your hands on a Nucleus crepe, plan accordingly! Check out our blog, 5 Tips for Dining at The Nucleus Cafe & Racy D'Lenes Coffee Lounge in Eau Claire, to prepare for an unforgettable breakfast experience in Eau Claire.
@visiteauclaire Rays Place was a hit! What should we try next? #captureec #wisconsin #visiteauclaire #travel #midwest #eauclairewi #trending #fyp #criticallyacclaimed #foodies #foodtiktok ♬ Circles - Instrumental - Post Malone
Hot Beef Sandwich at Ray's Place
Ray's Place is a Water Street staple and has been a long-time favorite dive bar since 1949. This establishment is widely known for their famous Hot Beef Sandwiches served fresh all day, every day. Critics say that these sandwiches always hit the spot and claim them as "epic," "delicious," and "a 10/10." Even if Hot Beef Sandwiches aren't your thing, Ray's offers other notable dishes, like Hot Ham Sandwiches, that visitors rave about just as much as the Hot Beef. Ray's Place was the first stop on the foodie journey of this series, and the flavors certainly set the bar high for future taste-testing at Eau Claire restaurants!
What foods should we add to the list?
Stay tuned for more Critically Eau-Claimed Eats!
Follow along on our Instagram and TikTok pages to see more mouth-watering food content, and explore more ways to experience Eau Claire!