Two Lanterns Cafe, newish Asian in Lincolnwood

Two Lanterns Cafe, newish Asian in Lincolnwood. Clear clean flavor, quality ingredients made with care. Chicken wings tip-top, juicy, crisp, tender and meaty. Spotless comfortable space with parking and ultra reasonable lunch special prices. Spoke briefly to the owner, for now she has removed Cambodian dishes from the menu. I was looking forward to bone-in Cambodian chicken curry, not available. Its two doors down from double-yum Wholly Frijoles, not exactly the epicenter of experiential dining in Chicagoland. Lunch was still really tasty, and the soups looked terrific. I'll be back soon.

Bonus, I knew the friendly efficient server from two other neighborhood restaurants. Double bonus, owner is sister of Ethan Lim owner/chef of my current culinary crush Hermosa Restaruant.

Two Lanterns Cafe, count me a Fan!







Two Laterns Cafe
3900 W Touhy Ave
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847-410-7829
Closed Monday

How was the Kung Pao/Bao? Demerits already for broccoli and celery but if the sauce is right I'll beat a path to their door.

Kung pao was half a step above typical americhinese KP. Nothing to make a trip for. Peppercorns in Evanston and Asian Bistro in Arlington Heights do a far superior job.

The wings are the saving grace in my book. I’d go back for an order of those alone.

JoelF wrote:How was the Kung Pao/Bao? Demerits already for broccoli and celery but if the sauce is right I'll beat a path to their door.

I like broccoli and the celery added a nice crunch, no demerits in my book. Far as flavor, it was Octarine's lunch and I only had a taste. I thought it tasty, and I love kung pao, but when I order at Two Lanterns I will ask for less dark, more spice. I liked my spicy chicken, bride her tofu vegetable but the real winner were the wings. We got one order of 6, tasted, and immediately ordered another round.

Great Beijing in the same general neighborhood has hyper-reasonable lunch specials, including kung pao, which I like quite a bit. If I remember correctly, $7.95 for big portion of kung pao, choice of steamed or fried rice, crab rangoon, surprisingly good hot and sour soup (add a splash of vinegar) and tea. Plus, if you ask, kimchi, diakon pickle, onion and jajangmyeon sauce to dip.

Octarine wrote:Kung pao was half a step above typical americhinese KP. Nothing to make a trip for. Peppercorns in Evanston and Asian Bistro in Arlington Heights do a far superior job.

The wings are the saving grace in my book. I’d go back for an order of those alone.

Just stopped in and the wings are fantastic. Perfectly crisp and the spicy tamarind powder is a great touch. Also actually spicy!