Take-out Dimsum? And roast duck!

Hello all, are there any places in Chicago (preferably close to public transportation) that have takeout dimsum? I saw someone's post on dimsum, but that was two years ago, and I'd rather takeout places (eating out alone depresses me). I just moved here from San Francisco, and there in Chinatown every other store has dim sum in steamers and ducks hanging in the window. A quick trip down to Chicago's Chinatown didn't show me any, but perhaps I missed something. (Is it just that one street with the gate over it and the strip mall type place with LSC? Is there anything on the other side of the subway tracks?) I saw the one place that's right near the subway station that advertised "dimsum" on its awning, but since it said "cocktails" right next to it, I doubted its authenticity... Also, can anyone recommend a place that has good roast duck to take home?

Oh, and big thanx to everyone who recommended the spicy restaurants in my last post, esp TAC and Lao Sze Chuan.

LSC = fanf**kingtastic! :thumbsup:

Others will no more than I. . .but several of the bakeries have some dim sum items for sale. Not a lot, but rice noodles, taro root, sticky rice, and a few others.

Other option is to invite me to go with you, lol. Or my whole family. Sister, BIL, nieces, nephews. . .we all love it.

I was first introduced to char siu bao by someone who brought a pile of carry out from Chiu Quon bakery to an office meeting instead of donuts. (That definitely got people talking, but everyone loved it after some initial confusion.)

They have at least half a dozen kinds of bao and a few other dim summish things.

Chiu Quon Bakery
2242 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL
(312) 225-6608

Chiu Quon Bakery
1127 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL
(773) 907-8888

There is at least one bbq place east of LSC in the mall that has roast duck, and the other bbq type items. It is on the south side of the mall. (King BBQ?)
On the north side of the city, right off the red line you have Argyle St.-both Sun Wah and Hon Kee have great roast duck, and are both very good restaurants in general.

I've seen people getting carry out at 9am on a Sunday from Happy Chef. (In the Chinatown Mall, just east of LSC) It's our preferred dim sum spot as it's inexpensive, casual (see the garbage bag tablecloths), and they use impeccably fresh shrimp. They also use the check off ordering system, instead of the carts. I've not had BBQ there, but there are dedicated BBQ spots a few doors down.

Happy Chef Dim Sum House

2164 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60616

(312) 808-3689

i'd imagine any of them will make your order to go. i make a practice of over ordering w/that in mind. multiple meals for the upcoming wk. shui wah would be the one i'd start with, very respectable. don't know if anything in chi will rival sf though.

Getting takeout dimsum and roast duck near an El stop? This is really not hard to do. Someone already mentioned Chiu Quon bakery for dim sum on Argyle. The only thing I would add is that they don't stock all the different varieties as they run out towards the end of the week. My favorite food in the world is xia jiao (har gow), and although they produce a passable version, they tend to have none come Thursday. On Saturday, they usually have everything, including freshly-made chive dumplings (which are good there), stir-fried rice "sticks" (nian gao) and will fry up some turnip cakes in scrambled eggs on order if you wish (lots of sriracha if you please). Plus sao mai, guo tie, and all the usual suspects. You can get all that to go before entering the Argyle El station across the street.

As for the bbq component, Sun Wah is directly across from them, but I prefer Hon Kee for roast pork and pipa duck (which I've posted on before). Hon Kee is about one block away on Winthrop. You have to walk four blocks and make a right on Sheridan for Vinh Phat which I prefer for roast duck.

I've had the BBQ (both duck and chicken) at Sun Wah often, and they work very well for takeout.

Another possibility, too, is Thai Pastry (around the corner on Broadway), which has an excellent roast duck entree that holds up fairly well after a long subway ride.

Thai Pastry & Restaurant
4925 N. Broadway
Unit E
773-784-5399