The Best "Middle of the Road" Restaurant in Chinatown

Looking for input here...In my mind, the best place to go with my family in Chinatown is Phoenix. Good food, pleasant surroundings, and lots of non-spicy choices for the spice-averse who will be among us. A Chinatown family occasion is coming up, and I thought I'd ask for other ideas of places that can fill the bill, to see if there are any. (The last time I asked a similar question here, lo these many years ago, I needed a place that was child-friendly; that isn't the situation this time. And new options may exist that didn't when I asked that question.) Anyway, Phoenix will be great for us if it is still the go-to place for these requirements, but I thought I'd see if anyone has any suggestions to "expand my horizons" within the category. Thanks.

Big Three Happiness. I believe that's the first time this place has ever been recommended on this board. In the 90s, our family went there all the time. Certainly middle of the road (maybe pulling a little to the left).

Go to Evergreen.

2411 S. Wentworth Avenue
(at 24th St)
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-8898

aschie30 wrote:Go to Evergreen.

2411 S. Wentworth Avenue
(at 24th St)
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-8898

Second that.

I seriously would have recommended Mandar-Inn, but will third Evergreen and also plug Emperor's Choice and former GNR Moon Palace.

I'd also suggest House of Fortune on Wentworth and Lee Wing Wah in the Mall. Both are decent Cantonese places that can do the traditional Chinese American favorites.

House of Fortune
2407 S. Wentworth Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616

Lee Wing Wah
2147 S. China Pl.
Chicago, IL 60616

Santander wrote:I seriously would have recommended Mandar-Inn, but will third Evergreen and also plug Emperor's Choice and former GNR Moon Palace.

I second Moon Palace, one of the best meals I've had in Chinatown in the last couple of years. And they make a pretty damn good martini as well.

Thanks, guys!

Me, too, Moon Palace (altho I haven't been back since a very hectic Xmas day when the new and English-challenged waitress misunderstood my order and served me a crab rangoon and something that I think was chicken chow mein; and if you've ever been there on Xmas day you'll know why I didn't bother challenging the order). When I do go back, tho, pot-stickers and sweet-and-sour soup will be part of my order (I hope).

Moon Palace is a good choice, I've been going there since around 1979. They recently renovated the space and it is really quite attractive now, and the food is very consistent with some good Shanghai choices. Mrs. Trpt is not particularly big on Chinese but she'll usually go to Moon Palace without argument, along with Phoenix and Lao Sze Schuan. Speakin of Big Three Happiness, we had some friends a while back from Hong Kong and they loved BTH. Though when we went with them they never ordered off the menu, it'd all be special stuff.

We head to Evergreen for all seafood/fish Chinatown excursions. Can't get enough of their lobsters, steamed whole pike and jellyfish.

Moon Palace. We always go for Christmas and a movie if we aren't at some big turkey dinner at a friends.

They also have the chili oil on the table.

We went to Moon Palace and found it to be a good choice. Things we particularly enjoyed: the hot and sour soup, nicely hot, good flavors; the potstickers (well above average dumpling and filling); and the "strips of chicken with vegetables in a white sauce over sizzling rice" (sorry, I can't remember what it was really called).

Thing we found just all right: the shrimp in lobster sauce, which suffered from shrimp too far away from fresh-caught to taste much like shrimp anymore, and sauce in which salt dominated any other flavors.

Most "exotic" thing ordered: the salted duck appetizer. Liked it, didn't love it. The two flavors present were salt and duck (duh--what was I expecting?) but I would have wished for maybe a third flavor somewhere to make it more interesting.

Anyway, thanks for the recos--we'd never been to MP, and now will make it part of our Chinatown "repertoire." We are looking forward to also experiencing Big Three Happiness in the near future, and some of the other places mentioned. Our work is laid out for us.

Unexpected Moon Palace treat: Running into Olde School, Mrs. Olde School, and friends--who were there because of this thread!

I forgot to mention in the list of things we liked: the moo shu vegetable. I didn't have any of it, but those who did said it was definitely in the "better than it had to be," better than average for the item, category.

Also, the shrimp in lobster sauce was better for lunch just now than it was for dinner last night. Seems to benefit quite a bit from the "cold-aging" process.

riddlemay wrote:I forgot to mention in the list of things we liked: the moo shu vegetable. I didn't have any of it, but those who did said it was definitely in the "better than it had to be," better than average for the item, category.

Also, the shrimp in lobster sauce was better for lunch just now than it was for dinner last night. Seems to benefit quite a bit from the "cold-aging" process.

I would have suggested some items if I'd realized you were on your way.

Okay, I don't eat animals now but if the hacked crab is available with ginger & green onion, definitely get it (it's been a very,very long time) but they serve this in a brown gravy. Growing up my grandmum would "smother" the crab and serve in a similar fashion minus the ginger.

Also the cabbage & black mushrooms, vegetable steamed buns, and vegetable delight (have them add fried tofu, ginger & garlic) are great.

My husband thinks their Ma Po Tofu is the best in the city.

It was very nice to run into Riddlemay and family at MP last night. Enjoyed--as they did--the potstickers and chicken and vegetable dish over sizzling rice (chicken itself was primo--clean, white meat, high quality, no icky bites or fear it might be poodle or collie). Also liked the won ton soup (shrimp stuffed version), salt and pepper shrimp (sans shells), and pea pod sprouts. Good pour of Grey Goose on the rocks accompanied the festivities.

pairs, thanks for those menu recommendations. They won't be for naught, as I'll remember them for a return visit.

riddlemay wrote:pairs, thanks for those menu recommendations. They won't be for naught, as I'll remember them for a return visit.

FWIW- Their Ma Po Tofu has pork in it so I can't make any claims as to how good it is. Husband could eat it nightly.

Olde School wrote: (chicken itself was primo--clean, white meat, high quality, no icky bites or fear it might be poodle or collie)

Seriously? It's 2010. No purebreds in Chinatown.

Louisa Chu wrote:It's 2010.

Not for everyone.