Asian Cuisine, Algonquin

We went to a new asian restaurant this past week in Algonquin. They have only been open for a few weeks, but the other half suggested it. I had reservations with it being so new. So....we went. They have an interesting menu, Chinese mostly, but a full page of Japanese, Thai, Korean, Malaysian. If you know the area at all, which most don't, this is an anomaly! We started with the seaweed wrapped shimp's' roll. It was presented differently than expected. It was in a light tempura type batter, and extemely good! We both evidently decided to play it safe and ordered things we knew..I ordered Korean spicy seafood soup which was divine. It had numerous vegies that were all crisp and delicious with alot of seafood that was perfectly cooked. My husband orded a Thai red curry beef dish that was excellent also. As an afterthought, I ordered won-ton soup my go to on deciding if I like the food... Unfortunately, after all the flavor explosions going on, it got lost, but extremely well excuted! Can't wait to go back and order things I've never had. An interesting side note, we went on Saturday at around 1:00 for lunch. There were maybe three tables occupied. By 2:00, there wasn't an empty table in the restaurant. The waiter explained this was a normal thing for them!

Asian Cuisine
2523 N. County Line Rd. (County Line and Randall)
Algonquin, Il 60102
847.652.5233

This is in the corner of the Algonq Commons? Near Mimi's? in the store fronts?

It is located next to Mimi's on Algonquin.

There is also a new salad place that has opened adjacent to Caputo's on Algonquin.

This place looked very nice and I stopped in the other day after I got a haircut next door. I asked for a take out menu because I was going to get something to go. The menu looked great and the restaurant also was much more than I expected. However, I had to ask "do you use MSG?" and the answer was "yes". Unfortunately, I don't tolerate MSG very well and this prevents me from eating at a lot of Asian restaurants here in the suburbs. I pretty much have to stick to Japanese and some Thai (very hard to find good thai out here). I have found a few Chinese/Asian restaurants that by no doubt do not use MSG. One place I have found is China Palace in West Dundee. It does not have the ambiance of this place, but the food is pretty good for suburban Chinese (they also have sushi which, in my opinion is not as good as Kiku, Kobe or Kamanishi, but pretty close).

imvclear,

Do you know seaweed is a natural source of msg? I am often surprised how often Chinese food is condemned for MSG. Japanese food often has MSG present, though somehow this issue is not highlighted as much for their cuisine.

Regards,

Cathy2 - you bring up an interesting and often missed point re: MSG use - it's rampant everywhere particularly in processed foods like potato chips, flavored crackers, canned chicken broth/soups, pre-packaged meals, frozen meals, etc. I wonder if it isn't a "mental' thing for certain people (not to suggest your case is "all in your head" imvclear) vs a true adverse reaction to MSG.

You're certainly right about Japanese cooked food (not to mention soy sauce) having a ton of MSG oftentimes; The in-laws used to cook regularly with it - it was like using salt in flavoring foods (they look like coarse sea salt crystals.

IMVClear- As far as the question, "Do you use MSG?" - if they answer yes, just ask them to forgo - we'll often ask for things like "no MSG, no cornstarch, no minced garlic" when dining with my parents and are typically accommodated.

Interesting article on MSG by The Glutamate Association

As a kid we would get Ameri-Chinese take-out from Lang's, which was downtown across the street from the aforementioned Main Street Market. That was the most exotic restaurant in town in the mid 70s. Algonquin used to be like Mayberry if Mayberry had a constant parade of gravel trucks rolling through.

Jay K wrote:Cathy2 - I wonder if it isn't a "mental' thing for certain people (not to suggest your case is "all in your head" imvclear) vs a true adverse reaction to MSG.

Anecdotal evidence is not proof, but I can unequivocally say that I have an adverse reaction to foods that have significant quantities of MSG. Within 5 minutes, I get lightheaded and have unmistakable muscle aches. The effects are uncomfortable, but not that severe. They disappear in about 20 minutes. Doesn't remotely stop me from eating good food with MSG.

For the record, most soul places use Accent (MSG) in many of their meat dishes.

teatpuller wrote:As a kid we would get Ameri-Chinese take-out from Lang's, which was downtown across the street from the aforementioned Main Street Market. That was the most exotic restaurant in town in the mid 70s. Algonquin used to be like Mayberry if Mayberry had a constant parade of gravel trucks rolling through.

teatpuller, I grew up in Algonquin in the 50's and 60's, even worse back then! The only restaurants were the Greenfront, the predecessor of Port Edwards and Tafaels which was a motel and restaurant. Nothing exotic there! The only Chinese Place I remember was Coleman's which was north of Crystal Lake, it's been around since the 60's.

LikestoEatout wrote:teatpuller, I grew up in Algonquin in the 50's and 60's, even worse back then! The only restaurants were the Greenfront, the predecessor of Port Edwards and Tafaels which was a motel and restaurant. Nothing exotic there! The only Chinese Place I remember was Coleman's which was north of Crystal Lake, it's been around since the 60's.

Was Tafaels the place at the top of the hill on Rt. 31 just north of town?

Yipes! I did not know I would hit such a nerve. Personal choice on what I will and will not eat. I appreciate the attempts to educate.

Ingredient selections aside, it looked like a very nice restaurant.

teatpuller wrote:Was Tafaels the place at the top of the hill on Rt. 31 just north of town?

Yes. It later evolved into a few other restaurants which I ate at in the 70's but don't remember what. I forgot Willie's River Front which was across the street from Port Edwards. PE at that time (early 60's) was a small bar and pizza place.