Inexpensive north shore chinese fare

Since chinatown is quite a drive, sometimes I find myself settling with cheaper, closer alternatives ( I am in Skokie ). Two places that pop into my mind are:

Chinatown Restaurant
( 847 ) 967 - 8992
6121 DEMPSTER ST, MORTON GROVE, IL, 60053

Pine Yard
1033 Davis, Evanston
Tel: (847) 475-4940

Chinatown has pretty good "americanized" chinese food - I find that the best lunch dish is the sweet&sour chicken. The batter is tops here, not dough-y at all, it is very crisp and not saturated with grease. Portions are generous, as well. Soup is questionable at times, it seems a bit too thick for my liking.

Pine Yard has excellent soups - all of them are great. Dishes to note are the Schezuan Spicy Three Delicacies ( chicken, beef, and shrimp stir fried with red bell peppers, mushrooms and broccoli ), Mu Shu Pork ( or any Mu Shu ), Chicken in Velvet Sauce ( chicken sauteed in an egg white sauce and vegetables ), and they do have a good mongolian beef. Service is spotty at times, however.

I would add Joy Yees in Evanston, which can be quite good, and of course the original is in Chinatown. Very good when you eat there (but you'll have to wait if your timing is off; always crowds of Asian NU students at dinnertime) and also prompt delivery, too (though the food, naturally, is not as good as it is when eating in the restaurant.) Great to bring kids to as well, what with the vast selection of bubble teas and the chicken satay, a much healthier and fresher version of a chicken mcnugget (in my kids' eyes, anyway.) Joy Yees has pretty much replaced Pine Yard for us, though the pot stickers and the hot and sour soup at the Pine Yard are still yummiest.

For carryout, one of my favorites is Tsang, with its bountiful bargain lunch and dinner combos. I can recommend the pleasantly spicy empress chicken, the crispy duck with vegetables and, especially, the peppery hot-and-sour soup. Tsang is just a hole-in-the-wall with only a few tables, though; it's not really a pleasant place to dine.

I'm also fond of Mandarin Village in the Village Crossing mall on Touhy. I especially enjoy their Peking duck, which is served in two ample courses, with no advance notice necessary. I have had better, but not for $9.95. They provide a nice little gratis appetizer of pickled veggies, too. The food is otherwise typical suburban Chinese fare, but it's freshly made.

Tsang Chinese Cuisine
3918 W. Touhy Ave., Lincolnwood
847/329-0035

Mandarin Village
Village Crossing
7150 Carpenter Road, Skokie
847/933-1188