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Big Bowl

3.4 (734 reviews)
ModerateChinese, Thai, Seafood
Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

Order Big Bowl Takeout or Delivery

Big Bowl Photos

BIG BOWL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Big Bowl

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Reviews With Photos

Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake
Juliana R.

We had a great meal at big bowl celebrating my mom's birthday. The service was fairly quick. Most of us went with the make your own stir fry option. You pick your protein and noodle type, then fill a bowl with your veggies, and wait for the chefs to cook it and it is brought to your table. It was a large serving that lasted me two meals. The restaurant was nicer inside than I expected so it made for a great dining experience. My mom got a free dessert for her birthday as well which was peppermint cheesecake, and it was delicious!!

Salmon
Annette D.

E were a party of six on a busy night. The following are the pluses and deltas of the experience. Pros - the food was excellent, tasty, piping hot and large portions. Standouts were crispy chicken dumplings, salmon, Mongolian beef and chicken teriyaki fried rice. Deltas - service could have been better. We were seated for 15 minutes when we finally flagged someone down to find our waitress. Also, there are so many tables squeezed in that you can hardly move. Too much congestion that takes away from the ambiance.

Beef & Broccoli
Jasmine P.

Yummy spot to bring the whole family! We ordered crab rangoons and I had the beef and broccoli with pad Thai noodles. Crab rangoons had a good amount of filling. The beef and noodles were delicious. I wish the broccoli was cooked more. It was hard to eat it. Because it wasn't as soft. The menu has good variety options so am sure everyone will find something they like. Pineapple coconut cheesecake was so delicious! A nice touch to end the visit. In terms of drinks I tried the pomegranate mojito. Tbh not worth the money. Didn't feel there was alcohol in it. However a good non alcoholic option is the ginger ale. It tastes fresh! Service was good! We were seated quickly and our waitress was very attentive and very nice. Place is casual and family friendly.

Vegetable Fried Rice
Kruti P.

If you haven't tried the ginger ale here, you're missing out!! The regular and the pomegranate ginger ale are the best I've ever had!! Order: -Vegetable fried rice - really good! -Panang curry - I wasn't a fan of it but others in my party loved it. For me it was the lack of flavor/spice and consistency of the gravy. -Pad see ew - this dish was disappointing because the chef just slapped stacks of noodles together. It wasn't cut up or mixed in properly with veggies.

Annette M.

I've been here several times so this is just an update. Consistently good food and service. Manager keeps everything humming and pitches in when needed. This time I tried the Chicken Panang Curry which had a bit of a kick that I enjoy. It was quite busy for midday on a Saturday but we were seated right away. Restroom was clean and well stocked. I'll be back.

Tofu stir fry with garlic ginger sauce!
Paul H.

Post Father's Dinner with the family. Reservations always a must. Check out the large gluten free menu! Great drink selection! Not a large dessert selection however.

Ahi Tuna Poké Bowl*
Karen K.

big bowl was busy in a saturday night but we were able to be seated pretty quickly. service was excellent and our waitress was so nice and attentive! we loved her! the food was just ok. the portions are huge but we felt the flavors were severely lacking. we got the poke bowl and pad see ewe. we were able to swap out the chicken for shrimp in the pad see ewe and we liked that they didn't skimp on the shrimp!

Menu
Emily H.

This place was alright. Service was decent. They have a small lunch menu and a dinner menu. We stopped in for lunch while shopping at woodfield mall across the street. Wasn't too busy. I had the kung pao chicken, it was Ok. It wasn't spicy like the menu stated. My husband had the sesame chicken. His was better! Had more flavor! I thought it was expensive for what it is was- Chinese food. Kind of bland! I had a salad to start, it was ok as well. My husband had an egg drop soup and he liked his. We split the chicken lettuce wraps- they were good! With all of the options around the Schaumburg area, I'd probably try a different restaurant before coming back here!

Dining area
John M.

Been a while since I was at Big Bowl since our last experience was not too good. We decided to give them another try. Went on a Sunday for a late lunch. It was not too crowded and we were seated immediately. Last time we did the Stir Fry "Do it Yourself" Bowl so this time we decided to order off the menu. We would totally recommend doing this. Their menu is huge plus they have a Gluten Free menu! Started with a Sapporo Draft Beer and a Pomegranate Sangria. Tasty drinks but prices are a little high in my opinion. My wife had the Gluten Free Beef and Broccoli and I had the Teriyaki Shrimp Fried Rice. Portions are huge and the meals came out hot and both were very flavorful. Plenty of parking available. If you want made to order entrees using fresh ingredients,give Big Bowl a try. Part of the Lettuce Entertainment Group.

Vegetable Potstickers
Jeff D.

Coming to the Mean Streets of Woodfield can be dangerous. I once knew a man who was jailed for jaywalking. Ok that's not true but we did need a spot for Sunday dinner before the TS movie at the AMC. This fit the bill since we had a short window before showtime. If you see most of my reviews, most are not chain restaurants however this was a nice experience where the staff was friendly and the food wasn't that bad! It wasn't the greatest Thai food I've ever had but it was fine and surprisingly not too salty. I did the Pad See Ew with Beef which had generous slices of juicy beef. The egg noodles were thick as well. The apps were fine nothing special there. I'm happy we had a nice dinner heading into the show! Plenty of parking lot parking.

Orange chicken
Princes Faith B.

Our first time here. Service is fast. Friendly staff. Clean restaurant. Chicken wrap - I thought it's already wrapped. The chicken is a tad salty. Chicken teriyaki fried rice - the chicken is hard. Orange chicken - too much of the orange flavor. Chicken bites (chicken tenders) and calamari are the same taste like other Chinese place. Total bill - $89 + $13 tip

Tofu Pad Thai
Hemali S.

Food was great. Service was nice. Ambiance is romantic. Chilly day and we sat outside not ideal but the space was packed.

Chicken Chef's Choice Stir Fry with Chicken

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2 months ago

I had a few tiny bits of chicken in my meal for dinner. What a rip off! STOP RIPPING OFF YOUR CUSTOMERS

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1 year ago

Went for a quick bite with a friend and tried the appetizers. Food selection and ambiance is good.

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3 years ago

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7 months ago

Good restaurant great parking very different kind of food for everyone different taste

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Ask the Community - Big Bowl

Does Big Bowl offer desserts?

Yes a few different desserts

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4.3(130 reviews)
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PenThai is our go-to Thai restaurant; we probably eat here at least a few times a month. It…read moredoesn't hurt that the restaurant is only a few blocks away from our house, so that makes it easy for us to order takeout any old time. They are also open every single day, and thus available whenever the craving for Thai food hits. Service is always friendly and hospitable. Because they are so dependable, we have a tendency to bring visiting friends and family to dine in. On the most recent occasion, we had a very picky toddler with us, and the staff noticed she wasn't eating and brought an off-menu item to better cater to her bland palate. That was very kind! For the rest of us who enjoy flavor in our food ;) the regular restaurant menu has a lot to offer. My usual orders are the Panang Curry or the Beef Salad. My husband can be wary of spicy food, so he usual opts for the Pineapple Fried Rice. Of course, you can always order a tasty Thai Iced Tea to help mellow out any dish.

Easily the worst Thai food I've ever had…read more I ordered the pad see mao and my friend ordered the pad see ew. Pretty sure they just both gave us pad see ew. The noodles and protein ratio was all messed up. I barely got any noodles and my friend got too much. Overly saucy and sodium heavy. The wait staff looked lazy and was rude. Dirty water glasses. The ratings for this place is an absolute joke. Horrid place.

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Phoday - Vietnamese crispy pancake

Phoday

4.4(193 reviews)
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We continue to dine here and get our carry outs as there is always consistency in the food being…read morefresh, neatly packaged and generous amount of ingredients! The halal chicken Pho is delicious and packed with a generous amount of chicken, the shrimp pancake was delicious and the dipping sauce along side was perfect. The shrimp fried rice had larger pieces of shrimp and more than other places we've had it. The carryout ordering was super easy and our meal was packed nicely. I recommend the extra veggies and extra fried tofu as it is a really nice accompaniment to the chicken pho. The only small drawback is to be sure to order the pancake when you're dining in. The bottom gets soft when they pack it for carryout which can't be helped. It's still very delicious but prefer it there I'd still give it a 10!

Tried Phoday recently and honestly left pretty disappointed…read more We ordered the Vietnamese spring rolls, steak pho, and the Korean BBQ-style rice plate ($16.75). The biggest letdown by far was the rice plate. For that price, I expected a decent portion and quality--but instead, I got 4 tiny pieces of beef short ribs that were almost entirely fat with barely any actual meat. It honestly felt more like eating pork belly than short ribs. It just felt like a total rip-off for what you get. I wouldn't recommend ordering that dish at all. The rest of the food was okay, but nothing that would make me want to come back, especially considering the price point. Service was slow. Had to ask for water refills. Restaurant is clean and spacious.

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Phoday - Hall

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Phoday - H5. Halal Grilled Filet Mignon Beef Banh Mi

H5. Halal Grilled Filet Mignon Beef Banh Mi

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altThai

altThai

4.1(832 reviews)
4.0 mi
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Vegetarian friendly
Gluten-free friendly

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!!!

Stopped by AltThai in Arlington Heights and this is one of those places where it's very easy to…read moreover-order -- but you probably won't regret it. We tried a mix across the menu, and what stood out right away was how many dishes can be made vegan, which makes it a great option for vegetarians or mixed groups. A few must-tries for me: * The Thai wrap -- DIY style and easily one of the more fun dishes on the menu * Red curry * Curry fried rice * Basil dish The papaya salad was also really well done and worth ordering. Portions here are generous -- most mains are easily enough for two people, so it works really well if you're sharing across the table. For the amount of food you're getting, pricing felt very reasonable (around $20-30 per person when sharing), which makes it a strong value spot in the suburbs. It's also on Resy, so if you have an Amex Platinum or Gold card, you can use your dining credit here. Overall, a solid pick if you're looking for flavorful Thai food with good portions and plenty of vegetarian-friendly options in the Arlington Heights area.

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altThai
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Phat Phat - Wok Fired Hong Kong
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Phat Phat

4.1(530 reviews)
2.5 mi
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From the moment we saw pictures of the noodles, we knew we had to try Phat Phat. We really enjoyed…read moreour first visit two weeks ago. We loved it so much, we drove from the city to have it again today. This is such a great restaurant. It's clean, spacious, and busy...and rightfully so. The staff is super nice and they remembered us from the first visit! On our first visit, we had the orange chicken xiao long bao, sichuan wonton, kwetiaw with chicken (asked for spicy) and hongkong mee with chicken. On our second visit, we had the orange chicken xiao long bao, sichuan wonton and two kwetiaw with chicken (spicy again). We had to have the our own kwetiaw because we loved it so much. The wide noodles (looove wide noodles) are perfectly cooked and the savory sauce coats the noodles and chicken just enough to make it balanced and delicious. All the dishes we had were wonderful. We can't wait to go back and try more items...and have all the same things!

Location had ample parking. A bit difficult to see from the Main Street and entrance was tough to…read morefind for parking lot. Eventually arrived and even with no reservations, we were able to get a table rather quickly. The dining room had clever decor, ample space, and had an inviting atmosphere. The food photos only show a portion of the menu, so look online before going although choices are plenty, there will be discussions about the food. A nice quaint place that you gotta try if you're a local or simply looking for a different flair.

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Phat Phat - Bar area

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Chef Ping - Mongolian beef

Chef Ping

4.0(1.3k reviews)
2.0 mi
$$

Chef Ping continues to be a favorite for our family based in Chicago to gather. The food continues…read moreto be excellent and of great value. My wife, her mom, and I were in Chicago to remember my father-in-law's death anniversary, and my sister-in-law chose Chef Ping's, for our party of nine for a Wednesday lunch. Parking is plentiful and the dining area can seat a lot. We got seated at a large round table in the back room, with a large lazy susan (just need to remember to spin it very slowly). We ordered a lot, and the food came out slowly. There was plenty of leftovers for the local folks to have for future meal or two. 3 Shrimp Toast (6 pieces each) - $26.85 - greasy but good, with the shrimp paste being a little sweet (in a good way) Noodle in Black Bean Sauce ($12.50) - this is jja jang myeon, which two of us had the previous night. It was OK, not near the top of the best I've had. Ping's Noodle Soup ($15.50) - the other classic Chinese-Korean dish, this is jjampong, a dish I've had many times. I was the only one to eat it, so ended up being my main dish. It was good, with thick noodles...just wish it had more seafood. Salt & Pepper Smelt ($16.90) - not sure if always available, but this was excellent...my favorite dish and one that I finished once I realized that everybody had their fill. It really depends on the quality of the smelt, which was excellent in this case. It was lightly battered, and carefully deep fried. Other dishes enjoyed by others: 2 Salt & Pepper Prawns - $35.90 - large head-on shell-on prawns fire wokked. Salt & Pepper Tofu ($11.50) - for the vegetarians Chicken Skewers (4) - $8.75 - tender and shareable Walnut Shrimp ($19.90) - mayo with shrimp Young Chow Fried Rice ($12.50) - fried rice is a necessity for our group Mongolian Beef ($17.50) - a classic 2 Sesame Ball (4) - $7 - a great way to finish a meal. 18% tip was automatically added, and service was OK throughout. Our water was kept refilled, and I think hot water was as well. It was a good meal and opportunity to get back together

We've eaten here many times in the past and had a good experience. This visit was poor at best!…read morePlease note: (ALL PICTURES ARE FROM MY PREVIOUS VISITS NOT TO THIS VISIT) Unfortunately this visit is going to be the last time. Both the service and quality of food has gone way down from what they were famous for. The waitress spilled my tea, also dipped her finger in my tea, had no apology or offer to exchange it with a fresh cup. I had to ask her for a fresh cup of tea. Then the other server that brought our entrees spilled my husbands tea and again no offering to getting a fresh cup. We had to ask AGAIN for a fresh cup! While the portions were generous, the quality of all the food has gone way down. The special family recipe of thier shrimp dish Gan Pong is nothing but fried shrimp with dried chili peppers and no flavor. The Hunan spicy beef and chicken appeared to be all globs and sticky because of excessive and over use of corn starch used during the cooking process. This dish didn't have any unique flavor that one would expect. Previously we had experienced a difference in the food, taste and quality and that's what kept us returning. Sadly, after this experience I wouldn't recommend it to anyone or come back! I'd rather stick with Yu's Mandarin than drive to this place! Quality always wins over quantity in my books!

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Chef Ping - Main Dining area

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Big Bowl - chinese - Updated May 2026

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