Tae Fu Chinese in Villa Park

After years of searching the western burbs, we finally found a very good Chinese place. It being our first visit, we ordered standard Chinese food off of the menu. Started out with egg rolls. Not greasy at all, plump and well filled. Moved on to the Sizzling Rice soup for 2. The ingredients were so fresh and the broth natural and perfect. No taste of added chicken flavor at all. The bowl for two can easily feed three and for 4.25, it's well worth it. I really was thinking about ordering more soup.
We then ordered chicken/mushroom Egg Foo Young. This where I really started respecting the food here. The egg foo young wasn't deep fried!!! It was freshly made in a pan! I usually stick to making egg foo young at home because most places flip a frozen egg-shoot disc in their deep fryer and smother it in cheap, over corn starched gravy. The foo young was light, tasty, and no grease remnants. The gravy was light as well.
I think we have tried every Chinese place in the area, except this one. I kept it in mind, but just never went. Glad we finally did. Now we will return and order some serious Chinese, knowing we're getting fresh food.
Oh, and our waitress Julia was amazing.

They're lovely; a duet of Korean ladies with other assorted family, and at least back in the day both Chinese and hotel-trained Mexican chefs that were making dishes with Trader Vic's-like flair - things routinely came out on fire. Their Mongolian beef is my polestar (for American-style); I just had some last week. They remember everyone that comes in (over a period of decades). The dining room is a masterful work of Asiankitsch. Here's a bad phone picture of that delicious, simple sizzling rice soup, and another mention among several. The small request-only Korean menu is hit-or-miss, but I think they are making the panchan on premises and the beef dishes are usually very tender and flavorful.

Tae Fu
312 E Saint Charles Rd.
Villa Park

Next time you're there have the moo shoo pork.
It's easily the best version I've ever had.

This is truly a hidden gem - this place does every single dish well. There are no misses on the menu.

I am kinda shocked.....I live in Elmhurst (10 minutes away), and this place has always been just "standard" chinese-american food. I've been there probably 4-5 times and nothing has blown me away. I do have to say that there are much worse options around this area. So while I'm not crazy for it, the competition makes it seem better than it is.

Fortune cookie say-"put foot in mouth". I've eaten carry out 6 times (always good)and inside the restaurant twice. The first time dining in everything was perfect. The second time the lunch menu was forced on us and we were shocked as the head waitess berated a waitress in training, who seemed to be very new to the US. It was a scene out of a bad movie and very unappetizing. The lunches were overpriced for what they offered, the fried rice actually looked and tasted boiled in soy sauce water with carrot.
We ordered take out during the weekend. The beef dish was a mush of flour and corn starch, without a doubt microwaved. The egg foo young patties were served with one inch of gravy in the container. These were nuked as well and stiff. The fried rice was the same garbage we were offered at lunch and not their usual recipe. So I called and complained. The owner told me "she knows, but how was the fried rice?" She offered a credit, I declined and returned the food and got my 35 dollars back. Owner apologized profusely, stating the chef had quit so she "heated up". She was adament that we take other fried rice back home and try it. I was going to toss it, but opened it first. It was the same container I had just returned! Too funny at this point.
She would have been better off closing the place and getting a chef. We won't be back.

This makes me sad because I live minutes from there and at first was very excited but, of course, as I read became less so.

For those in the immediate area, what are the Chinese in the immediate area that are any good? Lao Sze Chuan is way too far away for a casual Chinese dinner evening (and they won't deliver that far), but I have done it because there is no other option.

What about Red Dragon in Elmhurst?

DKoblesky wrote:This makes me sad because I live minutes from there and at first was very excited but, of course, as I read became less so.

For those in the immediate area, what are the Chinese in the immediate area that are any good? Lao Sze Chuan is way too far away for a casual Chinese dinner evening (and they won't deliver that far), but I have done it because there is no other option.

What about Red Dragon in Elmhurst?

Again, I live in Elmhurst and you are pretty limited... Nothing is "mind blowing" but there are a few places that I consider "better options"

Noodles Pho U - American Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese... Been there about half a dozen times and seems to be very hit or miss. If you get it on a good day though it is very good.
1239 S Main St
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 620-5878

Hunan Palace- This place is solid. I would avoid noodle dishes though because they almost always come out Very overcooked. My guess would be that they are holding them for a lond time. I have had good entrees though. Good Prices too (Lunch is something like 4.95 for entree, fried rice, drink, and eggroll)
583 N York St
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(630) 832-3900

Golden Wok Chinese Buffet - This is my go to place. I know it is weird to recommend a buffet but hear me out....This place is no worse than any above options, in fact alot of things are better. The mussels in black bean sauce are solid, the salt and pepper shrimp are my favorite anywhere in fact! They have shell and head on, fried without a thick batter and are very cruncy. Also a nice amount of Jalepeno. I also recommend the green beans, lo mein, and pot stickers. Definatley worth the price. One more thing is that alot of buffets with charge something like 7.95 for lunch but charge you 3.00 for a coke...drinks here are .80 I believe.
290 W North Ave
Villa Park, IL 60181
(630) 833-9988


Finally (to answer your original question) I would not recommend Red Dragon. Food average, high prices (because it is downtown Elmhurst and they can get away with it) and a smelly ass fish pond. It really stinks the restaurant.

You know what else used to be good (haven't eaten there in 10 years, but recent Yelp and Google reviews are decent) - China Chef in Westmont, and it's virtually on the same street as Tae Fu (Villa = Summit = Midwest = Cass):

China Chef
42 N. Cass Ave.
Westmont, IL

Their standard eggrolls had a rich peanut flavor, and it's been around for decades. That said, if you're coming this far south, why not just hit Katy's.

The Tae Fu news is disappointing - I was there a few months ago and it was great, but kitchen changes can throw everything off. One test would be to order from the Korean menu and see what happens.