thanks so much for the suggestions.
We actually decided that the Toyota dealership 26 miles west of us was surely better than the one 5 miles north and warranted a drive on 290 through 35 min of traffic ... and we went to K's Dumplings on the way.
Didn't get a car, but I haven't had such good handmade noodles since I was a kid -- I loved the Schezuan spicy noodle soup, the Dan Dan was also very good but the bitterness was a bit much for me -- we had to keep switching off.
There's a Cantnonese Ja Jang Mien that I ate frequently in Hsin-ju. It didn't have a black bean base like the Korean version -- but a ground pork meat sacue that wasn't saucy -- is Ja Jang Mien on the menu here? I guess I can muster up the courage to ask her next time.
thanks again for taking the time to respond to my question -- we'll probably go to Lincolnwood tomorrow since "K's Dumplings Toyota" didn't have my car in stock. I might check out the Thai place.
** it can't be coincidence that I unintentionally used the word "saucy" in a thread that mentioned Wholly Frijoles. Am I thinking of the right episode?