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    Bistro Chen

    3.7 (298 reviews)
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    BISTRO CHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Good for kids

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    Orange Chicken Lunch
    Lauren N.

    Food: The Mongolian beef was good and enjoyable. I do wish it had some heat, but the flavor was still solid. There was a bit more onion than beef, but the overall ratio was fine. 8/10. The orange chicken was tasty and very tender. Unfortunately, I found one piece that was undercooked after getting home. Aside from that, the dish was good. Likely just an off day. 6/10 due to the raw piece, but I'd still give it another try. Service: The staff was really nice and welcoming from start to finish. 10/10 Overall: I gave 3 stars due to a piece of raw chicken, but the service was excellent and I'd be open to coming back.

    Crispy Sesame Beef

    Everyone who works here is so kind- and they put so much care into presentation & playing. I love this place

    Blue Lagoon And The Stir Fried Noodles
    Steve A.

    For a long time there's been a Chinese restaurant here in this Arlington Heights plaza north of the Metra station, so people must like it. It varies on how much they like it though. Bistro Chen has a variety of Asian classics. Get Chinese, Japanese and others. The prices are better for the lunch specials. Came here recently at lunch to see if it was still as good. It wasn't busy and we quickly got a table inside. The lunch time is the best time because the prices are cheaper and the portions are still pretty big it seems. Also there's cocktails. It's about $8 for the cheapest ones. Blue Lagoon is one of the cheapest. This is made with Blue Curacao, lemon, lemonade, and vodka. It's lemony. While also still being sweet. It's about $10 for lunch entrees. We each got the Stir Fried Noodles. Choose the noodles and protein for it. I had it with the chow mein. Protein was tofu. Good flavor and very healthy. This was certainly enough for a lunch. Has almost all of the Asian cuisines on the menu yet it still manages to make everything. It may be a lot to keep track of and makes it hard to master any of these. The Chinese stuff is pretty good, and you can make many items okay for vegans and vegetarians.

    Rolled Cookies and Cream Ice cream.

    Great entrees. We had the Sweet and Sour fish and Sesame beef. Horrible desserts. The rolled ice cream did not taste good at all and they had the audacity to call it a house special. It doesn't even look like cookies and cream.

    Nick P.

    This was a decent place for ayce. I haven't been here in awhile. This location is ayce with no drink for $28 and if you want to have a drink then it'll be $38. What's included are nigiri, maki, traditional Chinese dishes, appetizers, and dessert. The downside is that their hours are very limited. They need to open longer to attract more customers and to maximize the value of the ayce. Since it's in the burbs, parking was not a problem. You can either park in the garage or find street parking. Our service wasn't as slow as other reviewers, we were able to get our food in a reasonable amount of time. Food quality was okay, it's going to be decent since it's ayce. You're not going to get top tier quality if that's what you're looking for. Overall a 3.5 for me.

    Jamie M.

    I begged them for no waterchestnuts and obviously that's what I got. (lots of them) very sad but otherwise really friendly people. No worries, i'll just pick them out I guess.

    Singapore noodles
    Bee L.

    Ayce sushi for lunch $28. Vast selection even included noodles! I tried the Singapore and Beef Chow Fun. General Tso Chicken, Lo Mein, nice loose leaf green tea in a personal pot. Crab rangoons came with something. Hot Sour Soup. All was great. Service great. It was dark, that was my only complaint. Cute outside dining area but no one was in there the 2 times I went.

    Orange chicken bento dinner box

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    6 months ago

    Food great very much enjoyed it. Service great very kind and attentive Ambience very nice very cool art on the walls.

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    Always very consistently good food. The Ma Po tofu is my favorite, hot and a little spicy. Wait staff is always helpful and friendly.

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    2 years ago

    Great food l, great service. Our one of the favorite place to go dine in. Highly recommend

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    3 years ago

    Food is really good, great selection. Take out is very well organized. I highly recommend.

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Bistro Chen

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    Kaido Sushi

    Kaido Sushi

    4.8
    (203 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    If you're looking for a quality omakase experience without having to drive into the city, this spot…read moreis definitely worth checking out. They offer five different omakase sets, each with a great variety of the chef's signature appetizers and nigiri pieces. Everything we had was incredibly fresh, and you could really taste the quality of the fish. The balance of flavors was spot on, and every piece was thoughtfully seasoned. You honestly don't need soy sauce because each bite is meant to be enjoyed exactly as it's served. I'm already looking forward to coming back to try their premium maki rolls and hand rolls. This is definitely a spot I'll be adding to my regular rotation.

    Ambiance is really cozy. Comfortable seating, nice mood lighting. Doesn't feel like you're in…read morerestaurant that's in the middle of a strip mall. Sushi was excellent. A few chewy seaweed pieces but I won't let that knock the freshness of the sushi. Service is where I have to drop a star. Not friendly, just pointed to the bar and told us to have a seat. When she came to take our order she didn't greet us or ask about anything besides "what would you like". We ordered 4 rolls which came out fairly quick...one at a time and the last two together. We then asked for 2 more rolled after flagging her down. She kept coughing which was a bit off putting. Assuming she was sick and maybe wasn't feeling well. Eeeeek. I'd go back as the place is close, cozy and quality of sushi was better than others in the area. I also like the options they had which were not the standard as we find around most places in this area. Usually they're similar rolls with different names.

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    Bar area. Very cosy!
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    Hand-roll- delicious!
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    Sushi Edo

    Sushi Edo

    4.0
    (71 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    If ambiance is important to you, this isn't the place. Minimal decor, the cutout in the chairs is…read morea barbell (?), and you're initially greeted by a barely functioning Christmas Donald Duck animatronic. I'm personally glad this didn't deter me, because the food was really good. I think AYCE is the best option but they also offer individually priced items. I enjoyed all the rolls and nigiri I ordered. I also had the shrimp shumai which was pretty average and I think hindered my ability to finish all pieces of sushi ($0.50 per piece for a regular roll left over, I had two mushroom pieces left and wanted to eat them because they were so yummy but just couldn't do it). The first plate is also served with a little pottery piece with dry ice, which was a fun addition! Service is attentive. Your host will make sure you understand how to order and the busser makes sure your water is filled and you have all the accoutrements for your soy sauce, etc. ACCESSIBILITY NOTE: the entrance has an angle which may not be conducive to electric wheelchairs; there are track stickers on the floor to help with walking but the floor is a bit slippery otherwise.

    Extremely disappointing and unacceptable. I found a piece of plastic wrapping inside the sushi set,…read moremixed in with the food. This is a serious food safety and quality-control issue, especially because sushi is ready-to-eat and consumed without cooking. Finding plastic in my food makes me question the restaurant's preparation and handling procedures. This could have been accidentally swallowed and caused serious harm. A mistake like this should never happen, and I strongly believe the restaurant needs to take immediate steps to improve its food preparation and packaging practices. I expected much higher standards and will not be ordering from here again!

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    August 2025
    Shakou - Arlington Heights

    Shakou - Arlington Heights

    3.8
    (284 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    First time dining at the Arlington Heights location! I usually go to the Libertyville Shakou, so I…read morewas excited to try this one with a friend who is gluten-free. We ordered the Lemon Buttered Sea Bass -- pan-fried Australian sea bass with lemon butter sauce, sautéed asparagus and white rice. The sea bass was perfectly seasoned and really good! The rice, unfortunately, was a bit hard and cold, so that wasn't my favorite. We also got the Secret Garden Roll with avocado, greens, cucumber, asparagus, shiitake mushrooms and pickled radish, rolled in black rice and wrapped in soy paper. Vegetarian and gluten-free. For a gluten-free option, this was actually pleasant and tasty! The restaurant itself is chic and fun, and I think it's a great spot for a date night. The only downside for me was the music. It was SO loud that I felt like I was shouting the entire time just to have a conversation. Overall, we had a nice meal and I'm glad I finally checked out the Arlington Heights location!

    Made a 6:30 reservation here on a Friday because I was given a gift card for Shakou. The arrival /…read moreseating was disappointing. We had to stand in the lobby for 5 minutes without much information, while other groups who came in without a reservation after us were seated before us. Furthermore, the reservation was for the "Patio" and while technically we were seated on the "Patio", I would say it was the bottom rung of the patio. Sat at the first table outside the restaurant, underneath the awning with a bird's nest overhead chirping the entire time. Essentially in my opinion, when you make a reservation somewhere, you don't really expect to be seated in probably the worst location they have to offer. Food was pretty decent. We had two bowls basically. Both were okay, like any Sushi style restaurant, prices were a bit high, especially considering their location in the heart of the AH downtown. I would come again, but for a first try it wasn't anything special for sure.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Salted Edamame - OTG
    Salted Edamame - OTG
    Fried calamari - pleasant but too oily

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    Fried calamari - pleasant but too oily
    Mitsuwa Marketplace

    Mitsuwa Marketplace

    4.4
    (1.5k reviews)
    2.8 mi
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    Wow. I found myself…read morein Arlington Heights, and my buddy suggested this place due to an upcoming trip to Japan in 2027. It's a Japanese market that features an amazing food court (and this is where I spent all my time.) I don't recall the name of the stall I purchased from. But I can tell you it was quick, not expensive and very filling. I had a bowl with beef and noodles; for dessert I hit the matcha dessert stall for some matcha and vanilla ice cream. The whole place meal me feel like I was dining outside the state of Illinois. The service from everyone in the market was very friendly and they even had a sake/soju tasting by the front door (and the vendors allowed you try was much as you wanted.) I highly recommend this spot

    If you love Japanese culture, food, and want to visit a neat place and kind of feel like you are…read morevisiting Japan, you need to visit Mitsuwa! Not only is there a food court of different Japanese restaurants to try, there is also a grocery store, bakery, bookstore, and stores that sell ice cream, traditional desserts, as well as crepes and boba tea! My family and I visit here often every year and we like to try the different foods and desserts and then check out the bookstore and grocery store afterwards. My favorite foods so far have been the beef udon soup with a soft boiled egg, shrimp and vegetable tempura, miso soup, and Japanese curry with rice, beef, and vegetables (carrots and potatoes). My son always gets the chicken and beef on a stick and my daughter usually gets a garlic pork dish with white rice but I forget what this dish is called. My husband also enjoys the beef udon soup like I do. I swear that whenever my food is finished, I am legit sad! The crepes are good, there is a variety of boba teas to try, and the ice creams are delicious! Lychee has been my favorite so far but I have yet to try the matcha, red bean, among others! You can get a small sample of different ice cream flavors too, which is nice! I sampled the red bean flavor so that will be my go-to next time! At the grocery store, I love buying Happy Turn snacks which are like a sweet and salty crunchy cracker (maybe it is made of rice?) that are individually wrapped and mochi from the fridge area. Finally, I usually like to buy mochi from the store right next to the bookstore. The mochi from this location is the best! I usually buy multiple flavors to take home and eat at a later time! You must try these! My kids love checking out the bookstore and they usually pick something out for me to buy for them - whether it is a book, keychain, etc. There are magazines, anime figurines, soft plushy toys, pens, and stationary, etc. It is interesting to browse through the things they have there! You cannot bring food or drinks inside but they do have a shelf at the entrance where you can place your drink there if you like. The first time visiting here, the majority of the customers were Asians and as the years have passed, there is now more of an influx of non-Asians who simply love the food and appreciate the culture, which I think is neat! The first time I visited here was with my college roommate who was from Japan and she recommended this place back in 2009 perhaps? I have been visiting ever since with my family. We travel more than an hour from Wisconsin to come here but it is 100% worth the drive! Also, the cashiers and workers there are quick, efficient, and friendly. I have even been able to practice a few of the Japanese phrases I have learned with a couple of the cashiers too (I asked if they spoke Japanese first)! Overall, Mitsuwa is my happy place! Great food, interesting finds, different culture, and everyone there looks excited to be there. This is as close to visiting Japan as I can get until I keep learning more Japanese and save up enough money to go visit Japan someday! This is my dream! In the meantime, we will keep visiting Mitsuwa!

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    Sakae Sushi

    Sakae Sushi

    4.4
    (91 reviews)
    4.7 mi
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    We decided to eat at this adorable little stand alone restaurant last night. I've passed it many…read moretimes and was curious as to how the food would be. This is an adorable sushi/ramen restaurant that appears to be family owned. It's such a cute little space and I saw that it had a lunch menu that I definitely need to try out. I went with my family on a Monday night at around seven and there was only one other patron there. I don't think the word has gotten out yet, but this place is going to get packed when people see and taste the quality of the food. Our waiter was great and super polite. We had great service and our food was timed and served perfectly. We started with edamame and gyoza and everything was outstanding. Super flavorful and very fresh. My son ordered the I Love Salmon sushi combination plate. He said everything was super fresh and delicious. He is quite the foodie and if he says something is good I believe it. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen, which was outstanding with big pieces of pork in it and my husband ordered the spicy vegetable Ramen, which lived up to its name! I did like that there were vegetarian options on the menu. This is going to be a place that I go to regularly. Once people discover this little gem, I'm sure waiting time is going to go up quite a bit!

    Passed by this place so many times. Decided to try out their sushi for takeout. Carry out…read moreexperience was pleasant. Enjoyed our sushi and sashimi combo. Would get sushi from here again!

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    Sozai Banzai

    Sozai Banzai

    4.4
    (204 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    I will say I have been to this restaurant many times in the past and the food and service was…read moregreat. I went back a couple days ago and everything has changed. The menu is much less, the food portions are less, and the container the food comes in is plastic and made for to go orders even though we dined in. The service was also not very friendly and when our waitress brought our food, she didn't even smile or say anything. She just plopped down the food and walked off. This used to be my favorite restaurant but I don't think I'm coming back.

    This has been on my list for awhile and one day I decided to try. It's located in a strip mall with…read morelots of parking. When you go inside, they have a sufficient amount of tables to sit at, but it wasn't very busy on a Saturday night. You order at the register and he brings it out to you. You'll have to be patient, they don't have a lot of staff. We ordered tako karaage (fried octopus), croquettes, Taiwan style tonkotsu ramen with 2 pieces of chashu, and the deluxe bento with butashoga (ginger pork). I had a bite of the pork and it was delicious. Ginger was not overpowering. Tender meat. Prices were very affordable and cheap. Service was great and he brought out our food hot and freshly made. I would definitely come back and try other items. -tako karaage 5 - it had a nice little chew and was not overly fried. Great taste. -croquettes 5 - I loved these. When you bite into them, they're soft. Flavorful, savory filling inside. I should have gotten more of these. -Taiwan style tonkotsu ramen 5 - noodles were chewy. Bountiful amount of ground pork. The two chashu pieces were tender and easy to break apart. Broth was not heavy, it was just right.

    Photos
    Sozai Bonzai restaurant front
    Sozai Bonzai restaurant front
    Croquette (2p)
    Croquette (2p)
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    Bistro Chen - sushi - Updated August 2026

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