chinatown round table experience

we live in chicago but we are taking 4 teenagers for an authentic chinatown experience. Need a restaurant that has the lazysusan that turns at the table and food that is somewhat memorable! Suggestions?

First of all, I think you've got your priorities somewhat mixed up. Lazy susans on the table do not a memorable Chinese dinner experience make. Having said that, Here are two restaurants that not only have some tables with said lazy susans, but also offer excellent food (which should be your first, and only, criteria IMO). Both are GNR award winners, so you can't go wrong.

Little Three Happiness (the namesake restaurant of this forum)
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=15269#15269
This is only one of many threads about this restaurant that you can find using the search function.

Lao Sze Schuan
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=35333#35333
This is the nomination thread for the GNR Award for this restaurant. This thread links to many others. Enjoy!

We had a big family banquet a few months ago at Lao Sze Chuan. We took over 3 big tables upstairs, all of which had lazy susans. It was a very memorable meal (thanks to all the food suggestions from LTH contributors). You should probably call to reserve a table (I'm guessing you'll need 8ish people to fill a table with a lazy susan).

If spicy food is problematic, Mountain View Chef (next door to Lao Sze Chuan) or Lee Wing Wah down the way in the mall would also be good options.

gottaeat wrote:we live in chicago but we are taking 4 teenagers for an authentic chinatown experience. Need a restaurant that has the lazysusan that turns at the table and food that is somewhat memorable! Suggestions?

gottaeat, gotta ask: why are the lazy susans so important? I must admit, I find them quite useful, but I'm curious about the significance of this criterion.

Hammond

kuhdo wrote:If spicy food is problematic, Mountain View Chef (next door to Lao Sze Chuan) or Lee Wing Wah down the way in the mall would also be good options.

Have you tried Mountain View in its latest incarnation? I had dim sum there a few months ago, liked, and I've been meaning to try the regular food.

Vital Information wrote:Have you tried Mountain View in its latest incarnation? I had dim sum there a few months ago, liked, and I've been meaning to try the regular food.

I finally decided to go back to MVC once I realized it had passed thru it's ill concieved "food court" phase. The current menu promises "the most innovative food in chinatown" prepared by"authentic Hong Kong chefs". I'm not suse about all that,but I've eaten there three times recently, and was impressed enough that I plan to go back next weekend.

Standout dishes have included an unusual version of spicy salt and pepper shrimp with lots of loose fried garlic over the top (can be done with or without the shell), Tiny bok choy with giant mushroom slices (not on menu but listed on the wall in chinese as a special) , dried beancurd casserole, "special house duck" (braised in a very nice soy broth), braised e-fu noodles with mushroom ,soy sauce noodle (HK style) and crispy fried pork intestines (these were really excellent!).

Try asking for the manager "Mr. Y" Once he understands what you're looking for,he can be very helpful in finding good dishes that might otherwise be easy to miss.

Back to the round tables, lazy susans, and teen-agers: LTH GNR winner Moon Palace.

Oh, I forgot to mention that MVC does have lazy susans, tho not for every table.

i know it's "all bout the sharing," but it still irks me when someone asks for help and then never checks back/says anything.
ep

kuhdo wrote:

Vital Information wrote:Have you tried Mountain View in its latest incarnation? I had dim sum there a few months ago, liked, and I've been meaning to try the regular food.

I finally decided to go back to MVC once I realized it had passed thru it's ill concieved "food court" phase. The current menu promises "the most innovative food in chinatown" prepared by"authentic Hong Kong chefs". I'm not suse about all that,but I've eaten there three times recently, and was impressed enough that I plan to go back next weekend.

Standout dishes have included an unusual version of spicy salt and pepper shrimp with lots of loose fried garlic over the top (can be done with or without the shell), Tiny bok choy with giant mushroom slices (not on menu but listed on the wall in chinese as a special) , dried beancurd casserole, "special house duck" (braised in a very nice soy broth), braised e-fu noodles with mushroom ,soy sauce noodle (HK style) and crispy fried pork intestines (these were really excellent!).

Try asking for the manager "Mr. Y" Once he understands what you're looking for,he can be very helpful in finding good dishes that might otherwise be easy to miss.

Thanks.

After several days of kountry kookin', we needed something more urban as our roadtrip ended. Chinatown. We considered MVC, but my daughters wanted the security of the known, Lee Wing Wah (in fact they wanted to order pretty much the exact way as always there). Anyways, LWW was as good as always, but MVC looks very worthwhile as well.

Lee Wing Wah also offers a great family style dinner for 6.... but surely the family style dinner for 4 will be more than enough. You can also request to make substitutions if you'd like. It's $13 per person... and although you are a party of 6, when you order the dinner for 4, you get charged $13 for 4 people. Hope that makes sense. Enjoy!

foodie1 wrote:Lee Wing Wah also offers a great family style dinner for 6.... but surely the family style dinner for 4 will be more than enough. You can also request to make substitutions if you'd like. It's $13 per person... and although you are a party of 6, when you order the dinner for 4, you get charged $13 for 4 people. Hope that makes sense. Enjoy!

But then maybe no leftovers? Leaving chinatown without a brown paper bag containing a midnight snack (or possibly tomorrows breakfast if noodles are involved ) just wouldn't seem right.

You don't need a lazy suzan to enjoy a memorable Chinese dinner in Chinatown ... I would go to Joy Yee's Noodles ... which is next to MVC ... I love their bubble tea ... my boyfriend and I go there all the time!!


Jon