Any decent Hunan or Szechwan restaurants in Rogers Park?

When I moved to Evanston in 1970, the only 2 decent "Chinese" restaurants there were Pine Yard and Phoenix Inn. It is still the case in 2011.
There was also the sometimes more interesting Nankin in the Western portion of Dempster in Skokie.
Problem was, and still is, that they served mainly traditional Americanized Cantonese dishes.
When we wanted something a bit more exotic, like Mandarin, Hunan, or Szechuan cuisine, we would go to The Peking Duckling House at 2045 W. Howard, or Charlie Lui's at 2741 W. Howard.
Even better, but farther away, in the late 70's early 80's was the fabulous Peter Lo's, at 6146 N. Lincoln.
None of these 3 restaurants no longer exists.
And since I moved South of the border in West Rogers Park 10 years ago I have been looking for decent Hunan or Szechuan eateries.
Unfortunately, in spite of my intensive search, I have not been able to locate a single one between Devon and Howard, and Mc Cormick and Sheridan.
Any suggestion would be welcome.
Thanks.

Great memories. I think I've been to all the places you mentioned.

Pine Yard is not just mainly Cantonese. They have quite a few Hunan/Szechwan dishes on the menu. However, I agree with your assessment of them as decent (okay, not great).

I do not know of any really great Hunan/Szechwan restaurants on the North Side or in Evanston. When I want great, I go to Chinatown (where I'll be going back to Double Li after my recent disaster at Lao Beijing). When I don't want to travel that far (like when I'm looking for local carry-out), lately I've been going to Pine Yard, or occasionally China Chef in Morton Grove, which I've found to also be okay not great.

I too am open to suggestions of other Hunan/Szechwan places in and around Rogers Park or Evanston.

Incidentally, if you've never had Taiwanese food, there's a relatively new place in Evanston called 527 Cafe. It's nothing like Hunan or Szechwan cuisine, but it's worth checking out. Click here for more info.

Phoenix Inn is now straight up Sichuan and pretty good -- you can get all the classics and they'll definitely bring the heat if you ask. Better at dinner than lunch, though. I'd say it's the best you're going to get without driving to Chinatown or the western suburbs.

I miss Szechwan Palace a lot. It was on Chicago Ave next to where Dave's Italian Kitchen is now. I particularly remember their Willow Beef; tender beef in a good quality brown sauce, haven't found it anywhere else.

Octarine wrote:I miss Szechwan Palace a lot. It was on Chicago Ave next to where Dave's Italian Kitchen is now. I particularly remember their Willow Beef; tender beef in a good quality brown sauce, haven't found it anywhere else.

I remember that! They actually had two restaurants in side-by-side storefronts that were open between the two, and you could order from either menu. One was Chinese, and I forget what the other one was, but it was a different kind of food. And you're right, their Chinese food was pretty darn great.

The best Chinese food I ever had in the Chicago area, though, was at the now long-gone Chhi Lin Court in Highland Park. I've posted about it before (here and here).

Not in your area, but closer than Chinatown or the Western Suburbs, is House of Hunan. Clark and Fullerton.

http://houseofhunanchicago.com/

Thanks for your answers. Nsxtasy: yes I have tried the 527 Taiwanese cafe on Davis st. And I love the beef soup there.
I also like to have lunch from time to time, which I did Yesterday, at the China Chef in Morton Grove
I had forgotten the Szechwan Palace that I thought was pretty good at the time, but I prefered the House of Hunan and the Szechwan Palace across the Street on Michigan avenue in Chicago.
I know of many places in Chicago, but my idea is to find a place in Rogers Park where I can order good Hunan and Sichuan food to go.

Not Rogers Park, but I recently was pleasantly surprised by delivery from Wok Cuisine at Kedzie and Wilson. Decently spicy, flavorful, and the menu includes some Szechuan-looking items like dumplings in hot chili oil (have not personally tried those).