Dinkey DaDiva, the Egg Roll Lady, and her sister Pinkey grew up on the west side eating their Auntie Cathy’s egg rolls stuffed with ground beef and cabbage. So when they opened L&B Soul Kitchen in Bellwood in 2012, it made sense to put them on the menu.
DaDiva’s original jerk chicken egg roll is a shatteringly crispy bundle of chopped breast meat, carrots, and cabbage bathed in the warm spiced glow of the tropics. But the sisters didn’t stop there. They stuffed rolls with scratch-made Italian beef, Philly steak, Buffalo chicken, and gyros. There was a surf-and-turf egg roll, a “mean green” veggie roll, peach cobbler and cheesecake rolls, and a “mystery roll.” They made mini egg rolls for kids’ parties, supersized 12-inch egg rolls for big eaters, and breakfast rolls like bacon, egg, and cheese. Every egg roll can be ordered with molten hot cheese inside.
To ensure consistency, she’s mandated a two-week egg rolling course for employees. Graduates—eight of them so far—get a certificate upon completion.
Inside Bobby’s Video Poker and Slots facebook.com/dinkey.dadiva 450 N. Mannheim Hillside, Illinois 708-401-5332
