'Serviceable' Chinese Takeout for Large Group on north side

I'm responsible for picking up Chinese food group for an upcoming party. The group is not very adventurous nor very discerning. I'm looking for a reliable, inexpensive place on the north side of Chicago to pick up trays of fried rice, egg rolls, General Tso's chicken and the like. Any ideas?

thaiobsessed wrote:I'm responsible for picking up Chinese food group for an upcoming party. The group is not very adventurous nor very discerning. I'm looking for a reliable, inexpensive place on the north side of Chicago to pick up trays of fried rice, egg rolls, General Tso's chicken and the like. Any ideas?

Actually, though we don't talk about it much here, Sun Wah does excellent versions of all of the American/Chinese favorites. In fact, theirs would be better than serviceable.

Sun Wah
5039 North Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 769-1254

House of Wah Sun is my current pick of American Chinese,everything but egg rolls and that is solidly Kow Kow. My current benchmark for this style is egg fu young, in particular the gravy. Wah Sun's gravy is glossy but not sticky and tastes as if made from stock as opposed to soup base.

Never dined in, though it seems they are a north side destination for tiki umbrella drinks. Parking lot makes takeout pickup a breeze.


House of Wah Sun
4319 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(Across the street from Bad Apple)

I've had some perfectly good, reasonably-priced Ameri-Chinese from Lans in Old Town. Solid staple dishes, and some mildly-"authentic" dishes as well.

The few times I've gone (always to grab takeout), they seemed to be doing brisk business.

Lans Old Town
1507 N Sedgwick
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 255-9888

Steve's suggestion of Sun Wah is spot on, I simply don't tend to think of them in those terms thus Wah Sun.

G Wiv wrote:House of Wah Sun is my current pick of American Chinese,everything but egg rolls and that is solidly Kow Kow. My current benchmark for this style is egg fu young, in particular the gravy. Wah Sun's gravy is glossy but not sticky and tastes as if made from stock as opposed to soup base.

Never dined in, though it seems they are a north side destination for tiki umbrella drinks. Parking lot makes takeout pickup a breeze.


House of Wah Sun
4319 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(Across the street from Bad Apple)

Seconded. House of Wah Sun is our go-to place for American Chinese. The hot braised shrimp are excellent.

I know you're a fan of Mei Shung too; they might even deliver to you, and I think they make a very good fried rice. It's been about five years since I ordered from House of Wah Sun and this is based upon only one experience, but as much as I like many Ameri-Chinese dishes, I did not enjoy anything I ordered from Wah Sun.

stevez wrote:In fact, theirs would be better than serviceable.

This is actually not a requirement but appreciated since I will likely be eating it, too.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I will call around and see who does party trays.

If you can go a little north of the north side, there is China Chef in Morton Grove.

5920 Lincoln Avenue
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 967-6050
http://www.chinachef.org/

I find Furama's ameri-chinese to be above average--nothing to stand on the table for but decent. They also deliver and are set up for banquets so I'm sure large orders would be no problem. And they deliver dim sum, always an added bonus if you wanted some of that as well.

Stopped at...

Great Sea Chinese Restaurant
3254 W Lawrence Ave
(773) 478-9129

on Saturday and they were doing a brisk large order (catering trays) carryout business.

Mmmm... A bumper crop of lollypop chicken wings.

abe_froeman wrote:If you can go a little north of the north side, there is China Chef in Morton Grove.

5920 Lincoln Avenue
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 967-6050
http://www.chinachef.org/

I was going to suggest that too, it's pretty tasty.

I am not a fan of Kow Kow but other people seem to like it (Cicero & Pratt in Lincolnwood).

Pie Lady wrote:

abe_froeman wrote:If you can go a little north of the north side, there is China Chef in Morton Grove.

5920 Lincoln Avenue
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 967-6050
http://www.chinachef.org/

I was going to suggest that too, it's pretty tasty.

I am not a fan of Kow Kow but other people seem to like it (Cicero & Pratt in Lincolnwood).

I am constantly amazed at the number of cars in the Kow Kow parking lot. They must be running on pure nostalgia these days because the food isn't very good.

No lie.