The Parents Meet in Chinatown

This weekend the parents will finally be meeting, and my boyfriend and I were thinking Chinatown might be fun for lunch (also it's a locale where everyone feels equally out of place). We're thinking either Lao Sze Chuan or Phoneix since both are delicious, but also accessible. Which would you choose? We'll be 6 people on Sunday afternoon.

Little Three Happines - the best restaurant in Chicago

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Sundays are a zoo at the Phoenix, and for good reason...Cart Dim Sum service. If you are looking for a quiet place to get together, where you dont have to wait, etc this is not the best choice.

That having been said, there is a good reason why it is busy on Sundays, the food is very good and it is a lot of fun. If you call and ask for Julie she may take a reservation for 8.

Also, one nice thing about the Phoenix is they can do a Peking duck with no advance notice. It costs around $40 for two courses.

I think Phoenix at Sunday lunch is ok noisewise/comfortwise once you get seated. There will likely be a significant wait at peak hours but once you get a table I feel like the spacing of the tables is reasonable and the noise level does not inhibit conversation. Not quiet but you don't have to shout.

Had a very good visit to Phoenix a few weeks ago, better than the previous couple of visits. The basic dim sum items (shrimp dumplings, shrimp crepes, etc.) were well done. Skins were a good thickness, ingredients were fresh. AND they had soup dumplings (xiao long bao). The soup dumplings had a reasonable amount of soup, good flavor, and the skins were respectable. Not close to ones I have had in other cities but probably the best in Chicago (supposedly they have them at Shanghai Terrace but I have not tried yet).

One tip for soup dumplings or any other item is to ask the waiters (not the cart pushers) for whatever items you want but don't see. They are very accommodating and another advantage is that the items will generally be freshly prepared when you get them.

I'd been a little down on Phoenix but really enjoyed the last visit and would recommend highly.