Absolutely Chinese Restaurant

03/01/26 - We were invited here for dinner tonight to celebrate my wife's high school classmate…read morebirthday. There were a number of her high school friends along w/her daughters that hosted the event. When we arrived the restaurant parking lot was completely full. I dropped off my wife and one of her classmates @ the door & went to find a parking spot. The restaurant was packed w/people waiting to be seated & people coming in to pick up their carry out orders.

Arrived around 5pm on a Wednesday. Was seated right away and was filling up fast while we ate. They…read moreprovide pot of tea with a glass of ice water when you sit down. The egg rolls and fried rice were outstanding! Sweet and sour sauce was not good and was very hard to get out of the container they put it in. The general tsos chicken was very dry (lots of breading with dried out chicken) and the pad Thai had almost no sauce and the noodles were oily. Both looked great but didn't deliver on the taste I'd go back to give them one more try but wasn't impressed during this visit.

Main Dining area

Seafood Combo

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Kung pao chicken

MingHin Cuisine

3.6(711 reviews)

3.4 mi

I enjoyed a business lunch here at MingHin on a Monday (so glad they were open today, as several of…read moremy favorite Asian restaurants are closed Mondays). For starters, hot tea and sticky rice. My favorites were the shrimp dumplings and crispy shrimp rolls, but I also love a good greens in oyster sauce dish. Ordering is easy from a tablet or off the menu but unfortunately a couple things we wanted to order from the menu were no longer available. The steam baskets were removed from our table pretty quickly after they were emptied. Plenty of parking here and the restaurant wasn't too crowded yet, early on a Monday. I appreciated the sturdy chopsticks for use as well as a fork as needed, but a knife would be helpful too, for the crispy greens. I would like to return for dinner sometime and try more dim sum choices. This is a great place to go for a meeting, date night, or with a group.

I recently learned that they used premade dim-sum from the factory. Yes, A FACTORY. What they did…read morewas to preheat and serve. The servant told me about it when I mentioned to him how bad the food taste, as reminder for them to improve. I was shocked by how dumb he is to tell me the truth. Try to defend themselves? Made-by-factory does not mean it's fresh! My mouth still have this awful taste after a day. The dish I ordered is called fried sticky rice. It's supposed to be cooked from scratch. This is absolutely cheating. I have been going to this restaurant for years. Even I had been disapointed in the past, I still kept going as it's the only dim-sum place in my area. The food quality has been deteriorating over years to the point I feel that's enough. I will not go again. Some of my friends have stopped going for a while As a Cantonese who grew up with dim-sum every weekend, I do not recommend this place! This is just gross.

Interior

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Penang Malaysian Cuisine

3.8(453 reviews)

2.9 mi

I have been to Penang many times, and it has always been for a special occasion. Today, I missed…read morethe taste of Malaysia so I came to dinner by myself. I ordered enough for two, which means I would have something for the next two meals. The restaurant has been around for a while, and it is a stand alone building. The menu, like what you will find in Malaysia - a mixed of Chinese, Malay, and Indian. The service is always prompt. Here's what I ordered: 1) Roti Canai served with Malaysian chicken curry - the curry is unlike Indian curry. This is a typical Malaysian style curry. You take a piece of the crispy yet a little chewy pan fried dough and dipped in this curry broth. That combination will kick off your appetite. 2) Seafood and Tofu clay pot - a mix of fish fillet, squid, shrimp, vegetables and homemade tofu served in a clay pot. The tofu is delicious - crispy outside with soft and silky center - chef's kiss! 3) String bean mixed with balacan - balacan is a Malaysian sambal sauce made with shrimp paste and chili. It has this savory, sweet and lightly spicy flavor mixed with crispy string beans. It was a delightful dinner! There are many other dishes that I'll come back for, especially other dishes with their homemade tofu.

Foods really good here. Not many staff available so be prepared to wait a little longer than usual…read more I have been to Malaysia multiple times and lived there for a year so I can say this place is legit and authentic.

A very clean and nice decorated place.

Roti Canai Satay Chicken

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Amazing chili sauce to spice it up!

China 1

3.4(79 reviews)

2.7 mi

Beef fried rice, orange chicken and crab rangoon are all delicious…read more Had them make the orange chicken extra spicy for an added kick

First time here in this spot I like the food, egg drop soup was made perfectly how I normally order…read moreit. Owner there is very nice and friendly as well, a pretty quick in and out which it was nice! The food was very yummy! I recommend actually getting a quick lunch to eat!!

Hot and sour soup, also disgusting

"chow mein" nasty, not as advertised, not seasoned at all! mushy!

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Sesame chicken, pot sticker, hawaiian fried rice!

Hong Kong Restaurant

4.0(72 reviews)

2.1 mi

Hong Kong Restaurant for a good Chinese dinner win! I've had such a craving for fried rice and my…read morehusband wanted General Tso's chicken. It's been a tough lately since our go to place changed ownership and the quality declined. Hong Kong Restaurant is a small, family owned restaurant in the same strip mall as the Ace Hardware. It's a take out only restaurant, no tables and no seating. The lady is so nice. I called ahead asking how her General Tso's was made with brown sauce or if it was an orange type of sauce. She gave me a good description and mentioning it had some spice to it, but not offensive. It was exactly what my husband wanted. It wasn't overly breaded and the sauce was sweeter, savory with a little heat. He was a happy man. The fried rice had plenty of chicken and cooked well. The portions were huge! I also ordered beef and broccoli Cantonese chow mein. This was delicious! There was so much beef and broccoli, the sauce wasn't salty and went perfect with the chow mein noodles. We ordered egg rolls and crab rangoons too. Both we were good. The wrapper was a little thicker than I prefer, but they were both good. I'm looking forward to trying other dishes on their menu like their egg foo yung. No pics ... hungry teenaged boys dove into the food right away.

My family started ordering from this restaurant over 10 years ago when I was 15, and they've always…read moredelivered with great food, generous portions, kindness, and care. It's a family business with many regulars, and they always remember you by name and want to hear how things are. I highly recommend the Mongolian beef and beef chop suey. The food is always ready quickly and is worth the cost.

Beef Chow Mein

Give me just two please I can't say no to these

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Inside

Asian Bistro

3.8(230 reviews)

4.0 mi

Since the renovation which transformed the interior into one of the classier looking Chinese…read moreoptions nearby, with big tables available to seat 8-10 people comfortably, it is very easy to recommend Asian Bistro as one of the top options nearby. The food was always good here, but improved service on top of the great looking interior -- and an expansive menu make this one of the spots that caters well to Americanized Chinese cuisine as well as authentic options. Even for those looking to enjoy more familiar options, the technique and ingredients used to create these dishes creates a superior product to what you'll find at a standard carryout spot. For example the sweet orange beef is extra crispy with perfectly tender beef with a sweetness that's more citrus based and not overpowering. The La Tsi chicken is fried nicely but derives much of the flavor from garlic and chilis, giving a much more complex depth of flavor without being excessively salty. The honey glazed shrimp is fried very nicely, with giant shrimp inside -- combining delicious flavor and delicious texture at the same time. For the most complex and delicious flavors, classic szechuan options like the boiled lamb in szechwan sauce and sliced beef and tripe in chili sauce are still the way to go for a masterful mix of herbs and spices. In addition, the meat is melt-in-your-mouth soft without being overly fatty. Overall, one of the best spots you'll find in the area for Chinese cuisine. If you like Bowl of Fortune or Lao Sze Chuan nearby, you'll find the food here to be just as good.

Very nice restaurant with great ambiance, service and food…read more This is an authentic Asian restaurant, not at all what we were expecting. We thought it would be "American" Chinese food. I ordered the vegan eggplant with garlic sauce, expecting a white garlic sauce. Well, this was just eggplant soaked in chili oil. As I have aged, I cannot eat much oil or fried food anymore, so this was a loss. The chili pepper was just the mouth numbing Szechwan Peppercorn, which I have never enjoyed at any age. My husband got the combination Lo Mein, and absolutely loved it. He also got the scallion pancake appetizer which he found to be delicious. We will probably return for me to try the green beans or the tofu. Absolutely have only great things to say about Asian Bistro!

Orange chicken

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Chopstick

3.8(158 reviews)

2.4 mi

Found a nearby lunch spot that's definitely worth checking out! It's a small restaurant that mostly…read moreset up for pick up, but they do have a few table tables and chairs if you want to eat there. Their lunch specials are pretty reasonable comparative food prices these days, ranging from about $8.85 to $11, which honestly isn't bad at all! Here are some of the items I've tried so far: 2/5 - Shrimp Pad Thai This came in the smallest container ever. Definitely not worth the price for the portion, and the taste was just OK. 5/5 - Garlic Chicken Combo Really good! A decent size portion and I loved all the vegetables that came with it! definitely one I'd order again. 5/5 - lo mein noodles Pretty good! Simple, flavorful, and definitely hit the spot. 5/5 - Garlic Beef Combo- I wanted to give the beef a try, and it was just as good as a chicken! I also really love all the vegetables that come with these combos. Overall, definitely a good lunch spot! The prices are reasonable, the food is good, the service is quick, and there are several things I'd try again. I'll definitely be back.

Chopsticks is a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant located in a strip mall on Central Road in…read moreRolling Meadows. I live in Chicago, but I've gone here several times to buy Chinese food for my parents who live about a mile away. Inside, there are a few chairs, and maybe a table. The kitchen and where you order is behind a counter and glass wall. There is nothing fancy about it, but Chopstick is meant to be a carry-out restaurant, so it's not a problem. They prefer cash but will take a credit card and charge 3-percent extra. That said, the entrees are bargain-priced and are served in generous portions. I recently ordered food for myself and a neighbor on a busy Father's Day. I did not order ahead, but it only took 15 minutes to prepare my order. I requested no MSG, and I was told that they do not use any--so that's a big plus for anyone who wants to avoid it. They have all the usual Chinese-American favorites, including their house special that has shrimp, chicken and beef. But the ingredients they use are fresh and high-quality--and that sets them apart from most carry-out restaurants of this type. My only complaint was that of my two orders, they mixed up the entrees--my neighbor was supposed to get the house special, and my husband was supposed to get the chicken and vegetable dish. But even though the entrees were mixed up, everyone was happy with what they received. If I lived closer, Chopsticks (cute name) would be my go-to Chinese-American restaurant. Here's to the lucky Rolling Meadows and Arlington Heights residents who live near it.

Steamed Mixed Vegetables with Chicken Take out

Beef pan fries noodle

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Fried potstickers

altThai

This restaurant is on point with food and entertainment. I'm live in Las Vegas now and the Thai…read morefood in Vegas blows Chicago Thai food away. several restaurants I've been to here in the Chicagoland area. Their food has no flavor except for this little joint in Arlington Heights. I started with the papaya salad, which was good. Can't go wrong with that. Then I ordered my masaman curry with lamb. It was something I never had but for sure I will be having AGAIN. Also, had the pad Kee Mow (drunken noodles) these are typical Thai dishes that you should not f-up but several places here DO! This place was on point! Drunken noodle was delicious too. Although, the service was just ok but I guessed it worked out bc it kept us in the restaurant longer. What set the night apart was the LIVE JAZZ!!!! The trio was Amazing! Please if you are in the area & you looking for authentic Thai cuisine... check this place out ... you might like it! I know I did!!!

Heard about this spot from a friend and decided to drop in for lunch. It was packed, so service was…read morepretty minimal, but we managed to try quite a few dishes. Every entree comes with a side choice--the Tom Yum soup and chicken potstickers were both solid options. As for the mains, it was a bit of a mixed bag: Massaman Curry (Chicken): Rich, full of flavor, and absolutely essential to pair with rice. Papaya Salad: Outstanding--super refreshing with a great crunch. Pad Thai & Pad See Ew: Disappointing protein quality. The chicken in the Pad Thai was dry, and the beef in the Pad See Ew was sliced paper-thin and equally dry. Basil Duck: Surprisingly bland and lacked flavor. Overall, some highlights, but the meats and flavor consistency could definitely use some improvement.

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Madurai Kitchen

4.1(71 reviews)

3.6 mi

Madurai Kitchen is a good restaurant to grab quality South Indian food. They have a good variety on…read moretheir menu, and the food is freshly prepared. On my recent first visit, I found the restaurant to be inviting and having a nice ambiance. It was clean and well lit. My party and I had a late dinner. We received good service. We were seated promptly upon arrival. We were served water right away. One of the staff members informed us to scan a QR code to get the menu of the restaurant and place our order from our mobile device directly. We ordered South Indian dishes such as dosas and uttapam. Dosas, for those who may not be familiar, are like savory crepes made from rice batter and uttapam are like savory pancakes made from rice and urad dal (an Indian grain) batter. The uttapams my party ordered were of the onion and chilies kind and came with dipping sides of sambar (lentil and veggie stew) and three chutneys (coconut, peanut, and one other kind that I can't remember). The dosas also came with the same sides. My order was different from the others. I ordered Madurai Kitchen's special dosa made with minced mutton (goat) in spices. I was expecting a traditional dosa with mutton stuffed inside, but no. This dish looked like thick uttapam but smelled like dosa, and it came with a side of curry dal as a dipping side instead of sambar and chutneys. I inquired about it, and one of the staff members said that that's how it served. Strange but cool, I guess. I found my dish to be okay in taste. It lacked a bit of salt, and the flavor wasn't quite what I had expected. I had thought that it would be spicy, but it wasn't. I used the chutneys from other members of my party's dishes for an enhanced tasting experience. The rest of the folks in my party liked their dishes a lot. Their dishes were good. Overall, we had a good experience. The menu pricing is on the expensive side (more than I expected), but the food quality and service were good. If you like South Indian food, then this restaurant is definitely worth checking out. I will be going back to try other menu items.

South Indian Cuisine at its BEST ! If you are craving South Indian food then Madurai Kitchen…read morelocated in Arlington Heights is the place to be. They serve authentic and delicious South Indian cuisine. Check it out today. First time here and really enjoyed it. The food and service was great, we had a big group as the server was patient with all our requests. They have side selection of menu items , we tried the Vegetable Pakora, Idli, Medu Vada , Masala Dosa, Chicken 555, Mutton Chukka, Karaikudi Curry, and Thalapakkati Goat Biryani. The Thalapakkati Goat Biryani , Medhu Vada, Cone Dosa & Chicken 555 were my favorites. Will definitely be back for their Thursday Dosa night.

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Pho Plus

4.1(48 reviews)

3.5 mi

Plentiful portions, fresh flavorful food, great options, easy ordering. What's not to love?!…read more Really enjoyed the fresh spring rolls, grilled pork vermicelli, rare and shank beef pho. Hits every time!

Came here just because it was nearby and still serving food later at night. So glad we made the…read morestop in. Got the house special and spicy pho and portions were absolutely huge! Definitely enough for 2, maybe 3 people! Generous in the meat and noodles. Pho was very tasty. Easy kiosk ordering, place was clean, and nice and quiet. We will definitely be back!

2. Beef Skewer

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Sauces on table

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12 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Oleg S.

0

1

3 months ago

Absolutely one of the best Chinese restaurants I've been to! The food is always fresh, full of flavor, and tastes like it was lovingly homemade by your grandma just for you. Every dish is cooked perfectly and you can really tell they care about quality. The older lady who works here is incredibly kind, welcoming, and attentive. She makes every visit feel personal and treats every customer like family. Her warm smile and excellent service are a big reason we keep coming back. The restaurant is clean, cozy, and has a comfortable atmosphere. If you're looking for authentic, delicious Chinese food with outstanding hospitality, this is the place to go. Highly recommend--this restaurant truly deserves all five stars! read more

Logan M.

Elite 25

2

31

45

1 year ago

Absolutely Chinese in Rolling Meadows delivers an exceptional dining experience. I ordered the orange chicken, which was greatly prepared -- perfectly crisp, with a balanced citrus glaze that was neither too sweet nor overpowering. The portion was generous and beautifully presented! The dining area is immaculate and welcoming, and the staff provided attentive, courteous service from start to finish. For anyone seeking high-quality, authentic Chinese cuisine in the Rolling Meadows area, Absolutely Chinese is an outstanding choice. I will gladly return. read more

Ashley S.

99

10

0

10 years ago

Best Chinese food although the portions are small and pricey but I wouldn't go anywhere else...buffet is great too! They should also do the buffet dinner time read more

W B.

0

7

4

9 years ago

One of my favorite Chinese restaurant. It doesn't look so fancy insight but the food is very tasty

Andre B.

63

5

2

9 years ago

Food is excellent service is even better Lee is a ball of energy! Definitely recommend

Lauren R.

47

270

1

14 years ago

Food was good but nothing special. I'd try them out again if absolutely need too.

Sal S.

0

15

0

17 years ago

Good food and friendly staff. Try the lo mein it's my favorite.

Pete T.

0

3

0

10 years ago

The food is awesome and service is quick and friendly.

Katy T.

1

32

0

18 years ago

Fresh but flavorless food. Friendly service.

Shad H.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Could have been better for the price

Bl C.

0

17

2

16 years ago

Best Chinese in northwest burbs

D. V.

4

109

38

14 years ago

Good food!!

Absolutely Chinese Restaurant - chinese - Updated October 2026

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Chopstick

3.8

(158 reviews)

Found a nearby lunch spot that's definitely worth checking out! It's a small restaurant that mostly…read moreset up for pick up, but they do have a few table tables and chairs if you want to eat there. Their lunch specials are pretty reasonable comparative food prices these days, ranging from about $8.85 to $11, which honestly isn't bad at all! Here are some of the items I've tried so far: 2/5 - Shrimp Pad Thai This came in the smallest container ever. Definitely not worth the price for the portion, and the taste was just OK. 5/5 - Garlic Chicken Combo Really good! A decent size portion and I loved all the vegetables that came with it! definitely one I'd order again. 5/5 - lo mein noodles Pretty good! Simple, flavorful, and definitely hit the spot. 5/5 - Garlic Beef Combo- I wanted to give the beef a try, and it was just as good as a chicken! I also really love all the vegetables that come with these combos. Overall, definitely a good lunch spot! The prices are reasonable, the food is good, the service is quick, and there are several things I'd try again. I'll definitely be back.

Chopsticks is a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant located in a strip mall on Central Road in…read moreRolling Meadows. I live in Chicago, but I've gone here several times to buy Chinese food for my parents who live about a mile away. Inside, there are a few chairs, and maybe a table. The kitchen and where you order is behind a counter and glass wall. There is nothing fancy about it, but Chopstick is meant to be a carry-out restaurant, so it's not a problem. They prefer cash but will take a credit card and charge 3-percent extra. That said, the entrees are bargain-priced and are served in generous portions. I recently ordered food for myself and a neighbor on a busy Father's Day. I did not order ahead, but it only took 15 minutes to prepare my order. I requested no MSG, and I was told that they do not use any--so that's a big plus for anyone who wants to avoid it. They have all the usual Chinese-American favorites, including their house special that has shrimp, chicken and beef. But the ingredients they use are fresh and high-quality--and that sets them apart from most carry-out restaurants of this type. My only complaint was that of my two orders, they mixed up the entrees--my neighbor was supposed to get the house special, and my husband was supposed to get the chicken and vegetable dish. But even though the entrees were mixed up, everyone was happy with what they received. If I lived closer, Chopsticks (cute name) would be my go-to Chinese-American restaurant. Here's to the lucky Rolling Meadows and Arlington Heights residents who live near it.

Smile Thai And Asian Kitchen

4.6

(33 reviews)

First, the staff is super friendly and glad to see you!…read more We ordered the basil chicken - medium spicy - and it's actually a medium level of spicy. We also enjoyed the ginger sauce with pork. Lots of flavor with both dishes. The decor is a little plain, but the food and service more than make up for it.

It was good! I ordered to-go and I think that will be the norm, because the place is super small. I…read moreordered the khao soi mild which had a good spice! Also the fried tofu was decent, just wanted more sauce. The Thai tea was also delicious.

China 1

3.4

(79 reviews)

Beef fried rice, orange chicken and crab rangoon are all delicious…read more Had them make the orange chicken extra spicy for an added kick

First time here in this spot I like the food, egg drop soup was made perfectly how I normally order…read moreit. Owner there is very nice and friendly as well, a pretty quick in and out which it was nice! The food was very yummy! I recommend actually getting a quick lunch to eat!!

Yu's Mandarin

3.2

(1.3k reviews)

We came in on a Monday night for a birthday for one of our party. We were seated promptly and the…read morehostess was very nice. The restaurant is kept very clean . It took a little while for a server to come see us though. They staff the kitchen plentifully but it sees as though they may be short on servers. We ordered appetizers chicken sticks and calamari and both were excellent. For entires, we ordered orange chicken, lemon chicken, the rainbow lo mein, kung pao chicken, and then sweet and sour chicken. The food is so very good. Probably the best Americanized Chinese food we've ever had. Especially the kung pao. One thing to watch out for is the tip is added to your bill automatically. We did call afterwards when we realized this and the restaurant accommodated us appropriately. We were pleased. Regardless, I would very much recommend this place.

Had some pretty okay Chinese food at this long time establishment in Schaumburg that's often a…read morefavorite among locals. It actually isn't quite as great as its apparent reputation. Yu's Mandarin has a menu of mostly classics and some modern takes. A classy yet casual atmosphere. The prices are pretty high for portions. Finding out about this place we chose to check it out after looking around for Chinese. It's a restaurant that has been here a long time around here. They were pretty packed inside at lunch so that was a good sign. Has a bar if wanting to get cocktails. The food is the main thing. It's about $10 for the cheapest cocktails. We got a couple of these. I got the Mango Tequila Sunrise. This comes with one of those little umbrellas. It's about $12 for the cheapest entrees. There's meaty and there's vegetarian. I got the Mandarin Bean Curd. These were chewy pieces of tofu with a few pea pods. She got the Szechuan Eggplant. Was spicy. Actually it wasn't a lot. The prices were just too high to get these. Good food but the costs are too high. It's located on Golf Road in the one plaza. There's pretty great choices for vegetarians but whatever.

MingHin Cuisine

3.6

(711 reviews)

I enjoyed a business lunch here at MingHin on a Monday (so glad they were open today, as several of…read moremy favorite Asian restaurants are closed Mondays). For starters, hot tea and sticky rice. My favorites were the shrimp dumplings and crispy shrimp rolls, but I also love a good greens in oyster sauce dish. Ordering is easy from a tablet or off the menu but unfortunately a couple things we wanted to order from the menu were no longer available. The steam baskets were removed from our table pretty quickly after they were emptied. Plenty of parking here and the restaurant wasn't too crowded yet, early on a Monday. I appreciated the sturdy chopsticks for use as well as a fork as needed, but a knife would be helpful too, for the crispy greens. I would like to return for dinner sometime and try more dim sum choices. This is a great place to go for a meeting, date night, or with a group.

I recently learned that they used premade dim-sum from the factory. Yes, A FACTORY. What they did…read morewas to preheat and serve. The servant told me about it when I mentioned to him how bad the food taste, as reminder for them to improve. I was shocked by how dumb he is to tell me the truth. Try to defend themselves? Made-by-factory does not mean it's fresh! My mouth still have this awful taste after a day. The dish I ordered is called fried sticky rice. It's supposed to be cooked from scratch. This is absolutely cheating. I have been going to this restaurant for years. Even I had been disapointed in the past, I still kept going as it's the only dim-sum place in my area. The food quality has been deteriorating over years to the point I feel that's enough. I will not go again. Some of my friends have stopped going for a while As a Cantonese who grew up with dim-sum every weekend, I do not recommend this place! This is just gross.

Uyghur Lagman House

4.4

(17 reviews)

Great spot with unique noodle dishes in Rolling Meadows. The bright space is great for anything…read morefrom a casual lunch to a full family dinner - there is even an outdoor dining space in good weather. Beef and lamb are the specialties from a Halal kitchen. Friendly service and tasty food.

This came up in a search for vegetarian-friendly restaurants, which it's definitely not. However, I…read morelove housemade noodles and I've never had Uyghur cuisine, so off I went. They have half a dozen vegetarian salad options, only one of which features noodles (a cold noodle dish I might try later). ALso naan and a fried bread option. Zero vegetarian entrees, and sadly no vegetarian dumplings. However one of the two noodle main dishes, the Qorima Lagnam, can be made without meat, so I got that. Drinks and dessert are not shown on the menu; they have kompot, which is a delightful homemade fruit / sugar drink (I got the raspberry - delicious, and they just bring you a pitcher!), and a variety of fancy cakes. The noodles were very tasty, with a variety of vegetables, thick noddles with the right amount of chew, and an oily mild-ish tomato-type sauce (hot sauce available on your table). Serves one with enough for a snack later. The cakes are clearly from an outside bakery, but if you want a multi-layered honey cake or one of those candy-coated small cakes with styled to look like a giant piece of marzipan fruit (I had the blueberry), they got you. Service was friendly, though I think they changed shifts partway through (the second waiter was happy to sell me dessert), and the place is small but fairly spacious. Music videos from someone's early 2000s Spotify feed played on a TV over the counter. So while a vegetarian's choices are limited, I'd say it's worth a stop, particularly if you love noodles.

North Star

4.2

(22 reviews)

Mala dry pot 麻辣香锅 (9.5/10): granted I haven't been to Sichuan, but this was the best mala dry pot…read moreI've had. A treasure trove of variety in ingredients, all cooked super tender. Tripe was delicious. The flavors were super aromatic. Tons of food as well, probably enough for two Tea duck 樟茶鸭 (9/10): duck was cooked well. This was an off-menu item that our waitress recommended. It came with a chili sauce that was SO good, literally explosions of flavor. Must have been house made?? Twice-cooked pork 回锅肉 (5/10): too salty. Probably would pass next time. Cauliflower dry pot 干锅菜花 (7/10): pretty good as an appetizer. Cauliflower was tender Service was good and restaurant was clean

North Star without a doubt fills the gap for authentic food in the Lake Zurich area without a true…read morecompetitor (Bowl of Fortune, Pl8, etc.) super close by. This is all with plenty of parking, friendly service, attractive looking interior, varied menu, and very reasonable prices for the generous portion sizes. This is one of the nicer hidden gems, as the experience feels a bit more upscale relative to the prices. Food is very good here, if you're looking for well executed comfort food. The food is plated well and colorful, with good textures overall. The vegetables are fresh and meat quality is generally good. Maybe not the most complex versions of each dish I've ever had, but the pricing also reflects this as you're getting elevated versions of familiar dishes at only a few more dollars than a cheap carryout spot. Here are some quick thoughts on the items I tried: Honey Walnut Shrimp - Very generous amounts of shrimp which are large and have a good firmness. This is nice and crispy and the broccoli on the side is fresh. Dry chili chicken - One of many great versions of this dish you can get nearby. This was fairly crispy and not too spicy with a low amount of numbing oil. There was a good ratio of chicken versus chili in this dish. Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs -- Pretty good, good level of fat and there wasn't too much vinegar. It was enjoyable but probably would get something else on a future visit. Wok fried squid - Squid has a good texture, wasn't too firm or chewy and had a good flavor to it. Overall dish is very colorful and i enjoyed the vegetable combination. Sichuan string bean - Quite surprising, excellent flavor and the string beans were very fresh. This was packed with so much umami that it filled in the gap of another meat dish for me. Pea tips - I had the preparation with garlic and the flavor with excellent, with very good quality of vegetables as well. If I ate a fully vegetarian meal, I wouldn't mind having this with the string beans as both were super fresh and full of flavor. Fried fish with sweet sour sauce - This was presented in a very large portion size with tons of fish. This isn't as good as the expensive specialty ones you can get at some other restaurants, but definitely punches well above its weight given the price point. A must have for any lover of sweet and sour seafood as this really hits the spot for that specific crave. Braised pork belly - If I could order only one dish for a meal, this would be it. The meat is crazy tender and the sauce is super flavorful. This is one of the best options for comfort food you can get and you won't be disappointed. Overall, great food and a very nice setup. Bring a group if you can to try a variety of dishes. Make sure to come hungry as you'll get plenty of food no matter what you order.

Chef Ping

3.9

(1.3k reviews)

03/01/26 - We were invited here for dinner tonight to celebrate my wife's high school classmate…read morebirthday. There were a number of her high school friends along w/her daughters that hosted the event. When we arrived the restaurant parking lot was completely full. I dropped off my wife and one of her classmates @ the door & went to find a parking spot. The restaurant was packed w/people waiting to be seated & people coming in to pick up their carry out orders.

Arrived around 5pm on a Wednesday. Was seated right away and was filling up fast while we ate. They…read moreprovide pot of tea with a glass of ice water when you sit down. The egg rolls and fried rice were outstanding! Sweet and sour sauce was not good and was very hard to get out of the container they put it in. The general tsos chicken was very dry (lots of breading with dried out chicken) and the pad Thai had almost no sauce and the noodles were oily. Both looked great but didn't deliver on the taste I'd go back to give them one more try but wasn't impressed during this visit.

Peking Express

3.6

(104 reviews)

Crab Rangoons were great as always. Mongolian chicken had a ton of flavor but could use more…read morechicken. Egg drop soup was good and was very hot even after delivery. Very good orange chicken as well. The egg rolls are a no for me. They have peanut butter in them and it's very off putting.

Today, we tried a new Chinese food restaurant in Elk Grove Village. We were excited to try a new…read moreplace. The establishment is simple...no indoor seating, just take out. The lady behind the counter was very friendly and our call in order was ready upon arrival I got the Sesame Chicken and my wife got the beef szechawan. The egg rolls are HUGE and we were excited for them. Unfortunately, they were just . Ok. Little bit of a gamey after taste. Her beef was ok in flavor but her fried rice was completely dried out and seemed stale. My white rice was the same. The Sesame chicken was hard as a rock. My plastic fork could barely pierce the chicken! We are almost sure that all this good was refried or reheated from the day prior. Very disappointing I gave them a star for service and pricing. I can't recommend Peking Express because we question the freshness of the food and the taste was just not good

China Garden

3.2

(58 reviews)