Chinatown Lunch

Planning a lunch outing for the office to Chinatown, we are going to take the water taxi from Ogilvie down.

Any recommendations for a fast casual type lunch withing walking distance of Ping Tom park?

Since it's on the northern edge, closest to the park, and a good fit for fast casual (everywhere usually brings the food out quickly, but this avoids navigating a huge menu & the sit-down ordering process), I recommend Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings at 2002 S Wentworth Ave.
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=42842
http://qxydumplings.com

If they like bubble tea, the new location of Saint's Alp has quick service and sunny interior with some familiar small plates for sharing. I think however that the food quality of Lao Sze Chuan would outweigh the challenge of the large menu. Cabbage already on the table to start, and just do the standard Tony's chicken, shrimp in mayo, boiled sole or beef, orange beef, ma po tofu with extra ground pork, salt and pepper squid, Szechuan string bean order if they're not adventurous enough for the funkier stuff.

I would love to hear other current Chinatown Square lunch recommendations, particularly those who have lunch specials (pick A / pick B or set menus) for solo or duo diners.

On Wentworth(ish) where I end up most often after the disintegration of the Hu Dynasty, I frequent Emperor's Choice (sesame beef), Moon Palace (mu shu) and House of Fortune (lemon chicken) for reliable American Chinese when the craving strikes. Other favorites in the old corridor are Seven Treasures for BBQ pork and fried egg over rice and Xian for hot and sour noodles or lamb bing.

My go-to quick takeout C-town meal is still Ma Gong La Po (where the wonderful chef behind Szechuan Bites worked prior to going out on his own).

I order 3-4 apps--always the vinegar spinach with peanuts and tofu with green onion and (preserved) egg, plus one or two of the following--the Spicy Beef tendon, Szechuan tripe, chicken with chili oil or salted duck. It's plenty of food for 2-3 meals. And always delicious. And it's ridiculously cheap--each dish is only $5 or $6!

Ma Gong La Po
2215 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago 60616
(Btwn W Cermak Rd & W 22nd Pl)
(312) 799-9173

bweiny wrote:Since it's on the northern edge, closest to the park, and a good fit for fast casual (everywhere usually brings the food out quickly, but this avoids navigating a huge menu & the sit-down ordering process), I recommend Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings at 2002 S Wentworth Ave.
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=42842
http://qxydumplings.com

Meant to send a follow-up awhile ago, but thanks for the rec on Qing Xiang Yuan, it was very good, we got a ton of food & lots of variety for 16 people for like $160 total.

My only complaint is the tables & chairs are terrible for the space. The tables have a bar that hits the top of your legs uncomfortably & the chairs are way too wide for the tables, and hard to pull in due to the same bar blocking the arms from coming in.

Can't be too bad though, Grant Achatz posted a picture on Instagram that he was there recently

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYXWsuOh9NR ... ant_achatz

JoeChicago wrote:thanks for the rec on Qing Xiang Yuan, it was very good, we got a ton of food & lots of variety for 16 people for like $160 total.

My only complaint is the tables & chairs are terrible for the space. The tables have a bar that hits the top of your legs uncomfortably & the chairs are way too wide for the tables, and hard to pull in due to the same bar blocking the arms from coming in.

Glad you and your group liked the food and value.

Sorry about the discomfort. I've always taken my orders to go. That basement is pretty vanilla, w/ no cell reception often (free Wi-Fi though, I believe). Maybe getting up constantly to refill the dipping sauce w/ proper ratio of vinegar and chili oil can make it less of an issue?

bweiny wrote:

JoeChicago wrote:thanks for the rec on Qing Xiang Yuan, it was very good, we got a ton of food & lots of variety for 16 people for like $160 total.

My only complaint is the tables & chairs are terrible for the space. The tables have a bar that hits the top of your legs uncomfortably & the chairs are way too wide for the tables, and hard to pull in due to the same bar blocking the arms from coming in.

Glad you and your group liked the food and value.

Sorry about the discomfort. I've always taken my orders to go. That basement is pretty vanilla, w/ no cell reception often (free Wi-Fi though, I believe). Maybe getting up constantly to refill the dipping sauce w/ proper ratio of vinegar and chili oil can make it less of an issue?

They moved out of the basement and into a dedicated street-level spot.

lodasi wrote:

bweiny wrote:

JoeChicago wrote:thanks for the rec on Qing Xiang Yuan, it was very good, we got a ton of food & lots of variety for 16 people for like $160 total.

My only complaint is the tables & chairs are terrible for the space. The tables have a bar that hits the top of your legs uncomfortably & the chairs are way too wide for the tables, and hard to pull in due to the same bar blocking the arms from coming in.

Glad you and your group liked the food and value.

Sorry about the discomfort. I've always taken my orders to go. That basement is pretty vanilla, w/ no cell reception often (free Wi-Fi though, I believe). Maybe getting up constantly to refill the dipping sauce w/ proper ratio of vinegar and chili oil can make it less of an issue?

They moved out of the basement and into a dedicated street-level spot.

Yes, dedicated thread is here. And agreed, the table/chair configuration is far less than optimal.

=R=