Dragon Star - Mundelein, IL

I've often posted and even ranted about the lack of good really Chinese restaurants in Lake County, and I especially dislike the few that are in and around the Gurnee area.

Last year in early January, I took a drive though Mundelein to go to lunch, and got caught by a really long freight train on Hawley st. While sitting in the traffic back up I looked around, and noticed that right across the street from Franks for the Memories (which is only the best Buffalo Style wings in all of Chicagoland - surely deserving of its own thread) there was a new little Chinese restaurant called Dragon Star. Realizing that my lunch time was now limited (thanks to the train) I figured what the heck, and pulled out from the traffic and went in.

It's a little hole in the wall place, designed to be carry out, but they have three 2-3 seat tables to sit and eat, if your so inclined.

Draon Star has the typical carry out looking open kitchen and 8" X 11" framed pictures of the various food dishes they serve hanging over the counter plus a poster size full menu on one of the walls. Next to the big stack of menu's sitting on the counter is the extremely friendly counter help that turns out to be the wife & husband team that own the place, and who alway warmly greet you as you walk in.

They've been open about 2 years now, and are from the Newark, NJ area, and it makes total sense, since this place really reminds of some of the carry out places out east that I've visited with the same types of tastes & textures.
In other words, they serve a very Americanized Cantonese style of Chinese food here, and NOT the Chinatown authentic stuff.

Since that first visit, I've been back dozens and dozens of times, and it's been delicious every time. I recommend the Kung Pao chicken, which is nice and spicy with lots of POW! The Mongolian beef. They make a tasty Lo Mein, and the pork fried rice is the one of best I've had anywhere in a long time. In fact, all the food is really good except for the egg rolls, which aren't my preference, but out here, I'm willing to make a few concessions!

So if your dying for some good old school Americanized- Cantonese style carry out Chinese, or if your a displaced East coaster looking for a Chinese restaurant that will remind you of home, then this is the place for you:

Dragon Star
666 East Hawley St
Mundelein, IL 60060
(847)837-8868 or (847)837-8866
Sun-Thr: 11 am - 9:30 pm except Tue: 4PM - 9:30
Fri-Sat: 11 am - 10:30 pm