Chinese Help*~ [Panda Panda, Highland Park]

Hello all, very very long time listener- first time poster!

Here is my dilemma... I grew up eating the chinese delights at Peter Lo in lincolnwood and then he moved up closer to my neck of the woods and opened up Panda Panda in Highland Park. I moved away from Chicago about 10 years, and I still long for my scallion pancakes and cold sesame noodle! I just found out that he has closed his restaurant, i know kinda late on that one. Have his kids opened any restaurants or is there something similar?

Thanks so much- there is a real lack of chinese food in AZ!

Hi,

Peter Lo and Panda Panda has come up periodically, so I am quoting myself below. However there may have been a very recent change of hands for Yu's Szechuan. I live close enough to get their flyers and recently there was mention in the advertising materials of a Deerfield Chinese restaurant. I get the impression the Deerfield enterprise purchased Yu's.

Peter Lo's daughter Rose owned and ran Yu's. When I was there last a few years ago, Peter was sitting quietly at a table while everyone ran around. I wish you luck in trying to reach them and hope you will update us on what has happened.

Panda Panda was on second street where Cosia is now. You are fortunate, the Panda Panda owners have a Chinese take-out by the post office:

Yu's Szechuan
822 Central Ave,
Highland Park, IL
(847) 432-8888

I was there once when a customer came off the street. Recognized the owner. Proceeded to have a hissy fit wondering why they didn't alert the world of their lineage to Panda Panda. The founder is Peter Lo, who is in poor health, his daughter Rose has been running it. From an early interaction on Chowhound I know their prior restaurant locations:

Chowhound wrote:This is an old posting, but there is a reason for my getting involved: after over 30 years, I've lost Peter Lo. Here's the info for the past 33 years:
The first restaurant I knew of was on Paulina north of Howard (called the Jungle).
He moved to Lincoln near McCormack across from the shopping center.
He then sold the restaurant and his name, and, I guess, had a no compete provision, so he disappeared for quite a while.
He reopened in Highland Park under the name Panda, Panda (great as always).
My problem is that he's now closed and I don't know what happened. He's up in years and his health has been marginal for years.
If anyone knows what happened, please let me know.

Thank you so much, Cathy! Based on the info you provided I was able to dig up so not so positive news. I think that Yu's is a takeout place only and here is there menu: http://ylunch.com/ylunchnorthshore/yus_ ... menu1.html

Very generic, and no trace of my faves to be found!

thanks again!

Hi,

If Rose is still there, you can always ask by special request for your favorites. You're right, Yu's is take-out with a few tables to sit and wait or eat at.

Regards,

Just wanted to add my own .02 here. I believe Yu's is actually Northbrook's former Golden Crown reincarnated, and mentions the relationship on their menu. For those who remember Golden Crown in the uptown shopping center (old sunset foods location, true value hardware) from years past, Ray is now working at his son's restaurant but they are using Golden Crown's recipes. Give it a try - food is as good as original GC for those who used to frequent it. Hongsu chicken is great and still a favorite for us. Sorry I have no pics.

rolledoats wrote:Just wanted to add my own .02 here. I believe Yu's is actually Northbrook's former Golden Crown reincarnated, and mentions the relationship on their menu. For those who remember Golden Crown in the uptown shopping center (old sunset foods location, true value hardware) from years past, Ray is now working at his son's restaurant but they are using Golden Crown's recipes. Give it a try - food is as good as original GC for those who used to frequent it. Hongsu chicken is great and still a favorite for us. Sorry I have no pics.

This is a fairly recent change of hands, correct?

Regards,

Panda Panda, when it was on its own was quite good. Yu's in its previous incarnation was also fairly good (well at least as far as N. Shore takeout goes). The new Yu's is quite subpar. We've ordered twice from them and the result has been the same. Szechuan Kingdom is the only place we do takeout Chinese anymore.

Cathy2 wrote:

rolledoats wrote:Just wanted to add my own .02 here. I believe Yu's is actually Northbrook's former Golden Crown reincarnated, and mentions the relationship on their menu. For those who remember Golden Crown in the uptown shopping center (old sunset foods location, true value hardware) from years past, Ray is now working at his son's restaurant but they are using Golden Crown's recipes. Give it a try - food is as good as original GC for those who used to frequent it. Hongsu chicken is great and still a favorite for us. Sorry I have no pics.

This is a fairly recent change of hands, correct?

Regards,

The change over may be 3 months or more. I heard via word-of-mouth this Spring and then a mailing flyer confirmed it. We still enjoy it very much as matter of opinion goes.

Hi,

I stopped in a Yu's Szechuan now aka Golden Crown, formerly of Northbrook, since October. It appears Rose retired and sold the business. At least last October, Peter Lo in his 80's was still with us.

I ordered at the counter for dining-in their lunch special beef and brocolli that includes an eggroll. I sat down at a faux mahogany table and checked out the framed pictures of Hong Kong.

My eggroll was brought out on a plate. This was a surprise since I fully expected them to yell my name beckoning me to collect a styrofoam carton with my complete meal inside. Equally surprising was the eggroll itself made of ground pork, cabbage and a distinct star anise scent and taste. Already I knew we had at least the best eggroll in Highland Park, not that this was very difficult.

A few minutes time elapsed, then my beef and brocolli came to the table on a large dinner plate. Fresh crisp cooked brocolli, some onion and lots of beef with a side of unremarkable fried rice. When I make beef and brocolli at home, I use quite a bit of oyster sauce. Their sauce wasn't oyster-ish, though it wasn't bad. It was clear this food was right out of the wok. Some sections of food on my plate was simply too hot causing me to slightly burn my tongue. I'm not really complaining, just surprised, I guess I never quite had food that fresh from the wok before.

My friend Helen ordered Kung Pao Beef, which she liked overall. While she said next time she would want less vegetables. I did note the carrot was fresh cut and not fresh from the freezer. Helen did comment this was very Americanized Chinese. We both agreed it was overall better than Yummy Bowl, which we used to patronize and now you cannot pay me to go.

They offer Chow Fun Beef, which we are interested in trying next time. We learned that they go beyond the Chinese style by adding extra vegetables like peppers. We will order it more streamlined with bean sprouts and onions similar to what we get in Chinatown.

Another item they offer I do want to try is their wonton soup with bits of BBQ pork and other meats. It is pure Americanized Chinese and I love it. They also offer a chicken rice soup, which likely is a form on congee. If the soups are decent, then we will be more than happy. We shall see.

Regards,