This Hidden Gem in Illinois Was Just Named America’s #2 Restaurant

This list proves the point that great food can be cooked anywhere.

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I'm not saying that there aren't other great options in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, but I've never really considered that town a hotbed of fantastic food.

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I may need to readjust my sights a bit.

As in, head to Wheaton before heading to Chicago the next time I want to eat at a restaurant that is receiving all sorts of national attention.

For example, little did I know that during the time I spent in Chicago on New Year's Eve in Chicago scrambling to try and get reservations at the sought-after and uber-popular restaurant Girl and the Goat, I could have just made plans to hit up Pa Lian.

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Pa Lian via Yelp, located in Wheaton, has been named Illinois' best restaurant and the second best overall in America.

LoveFood slang all sorts of stupendous praise onto Pa Lian, saying their food is good enough to "convince total newbies" and "plenty to explore on the menu." while shouting out the tea leaf salad as the big standout.

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Pa Lian is a Burmese restaurant tucked away in a strip mall, so you might miss it or assume it's not the place to check out, but if you believe LoveFood, this should be your next food stop.

In case you're wondering, St. Louis' Blues City Deli was named America's best restaurant overall.

The thing to remember? Great food isn't confined to big cities, sprawling landscapes, or Michelin-starred hotspots.

The best meals are waiting in the most unexpected places, like a strip mall in Wheaton.