5 stars based on Bahn mi, cha gio and iced coffee I ordered today…read more I must have been part of an early crowd. When I arrived, there was only one other table dining, which made it GREAT for me. It's a decent size hall with 10+ table arrangements, making it pretty great for a group to enjoy their lunch. It also featured a couple of kiosks for ordering, which I thought was a bit easy to miss, since it was tucked away in the left corner when you walked in. It looked like there was also a cashier available to take orders, if you miss the kiosks. I've seen places where they simply do not have anyone at the register to take orders, but that wasn't the case for Lotus. Before deciding to visit them today, I had an impression that their menu choices were very limited compared to other Vietnamese restaurants I was used to. I'm certainly not complaining, since I'm usually a huge fan of select "specialty" approach in restaurants. That's why I decided to order one of their Bahn mi, where I normally would have chosen pho for my first visit. And it didn't disappoint. First off, the size of the sandwich was good. I've had it where they charged a buck or two less, but they weren't big enough to be a full "lunch" portion. Lotus' size, I thought was decent. I had ordered one of their cha gios just in case the sandwich failed to fill me, but I think I would have been okay without it. Cha gio was super good tho! Oh, and the iced V-coffee was good, too. Typically, they'll bring out the coffee before your meal is ready, probably because they're ready-made in the morning and all you'd need to do is pour them over ice. I of course, have known legitimate mom n' pop places, where they'll actually bring out coffee as it's brewing in Phin (stainless steel coffee filter) and a glass of ice with condensed milk, so you can wait for the coffee to finish brewing and pour yourself one, which is what I *always* prefer. Not here, but no big deal. You can usually tell how good the food is going to be by trying their iced coffee. Even though V-coffee isn't known for using "incredible" beans, the balance of the strength of coffee and condensed milk *does* make a big difference in your experience. I felt this place had it correct! I'll definitely come back myself and even bring coworkers or my family to have their Bahn mi again. What I'm not sure about is whether I want to try their pho or bun. First, they don't offer too many variations, so I'm stuck choosing from just a few. (For example, I usually go for "brisket-only" or a combo of brisket and rare steak, but they didn't seem to have those options. Granted, it's possible they'll make it happen if I asked) Secondly, I think they're a couple bucks more expensive than what I would like to pay for a bowl of pho. We'll see.

Ambiance - neighborhood gem, casual, offers small dine in area…read more Service - order at kiosk upon arrival, self serve, pick up food at counter Food - pho broth was aromatic, sliced beef was slightly different than what I'm used to (it was marinated, not the typical rare un-marinated sliced beef)

Shang Noodle may be one of my new favorite Chinese restaurants! We were seated very quickly, and…read moreour waitress was incredibly friendly and attentive. The customer service was outstanding from beginning to end. The menu has so many great options that I wanted to try almost everything. Everything we ordered was delicious and left me excited to return and explore more of the menu. I highly recommend Shang Noodle to anyone looking for excellent Chinese food and exceptional service!

Amazing ambiance and service. Went with a group of five right at lunch opening and there were…read morealready several full tables. The service was very friendly, comprehensive, and our waters were constantly filled. The menu was extensive and we were able to accommodate several dietary preferences (one vegetarian, one shellfish allergy, one no red meat) Everyone loved their food and all agreed we would return. The tofu dish was delicious and one of the biggest hits The chow fun was delicious and slightly better than the chow mein The dumplings (not pictured) were perfection The fried chicken was spicy and delicious The only dish I wouldn't order again was the soup dumplings as I felt they were too thick and not as juicy as others I've had (it was still good just not as good as everything else)

LEGIT. Every time I come here, it's just for that lamb…read morenoodle soup (羊肉泡馍). Also, the fried green beans are amazing--those dishes have GuoQi, the magical Chinese smoky char I almost never get in the US. That taste really feels like back in China. I wish the Bay Area had this kind of flavor, but unfortunately, we don't. 牛逼！

Pretty decent hand pulled noodles in a no frills setting. Service was a little spotty but…read moreunderstandably so given one waitress for almost a full restaurant. Potstickers: Nice thin skins, good crunchy pan fry on the bottom, slightly underseasoned filling. Sautéed bok choy: Crispy and light with a hint of garlic, easy and healthy. Biang Biang noodles: Interesting mix of strong flavors, which weren't quite my favorite. I found it to be a touch too salty, and I was surprised by the tomato. Trialing the thin noodles was probably the wrong move; the thick hand pulled ones would've stood up to the savorineas much better. Large portion. Beef noodle soup: The thick hand pulled noodles were homey and delicious, just the right texture with some alternating thin and thick chewiness that reminded me of home. The beef noodle soup was quite light without any real beef flavor, though comforting nonetheless. Some pieces of beef were chewier and not completely cooked through while others were tender and melt in your mouth. I'd return when in the mood for a bowl of thick hand pulled noodles and maybe some healthy sauteed vegetables.

I am visiting (Town) for a friend's birthday and graduation celebration, this place was close to my…read morehotel and also had high reviews so I decided to check it out. I ordered the seafood XO special and the stirfry green beans and my friend ordered the General Tso's chicken. We were really pleased with the taste, the portions and how quickly they were able to make it. We did take it to go. When I was in there, it was pretty packed. I would definitely come back!

Easily the best noodle soup I've had. It's not just yummy, it's yummy yummy!…read more This is a must go Chicago Chinatown spot if you're a noodle and soup lover. It's that legit! They have other Chinese staples too, but let's not kid ourselves, you come and come back again for the noodle soup. And they have PLENTY of different options of it to choose from. It's a small place and off the beaten path a bit, so get there before the lunch rush. Owners are super nice and welcoming. I discovered it on the walking food tour we did and I came back for more!

Amazing food and service! Will be back!…read more Had the Irish Benedict and the taste of Greece skillet. Yum!

Food was amazing. people were nice. The place smelled like syrup. The only thing off though is that…read morethey gave me chocolate milk instead of hot chocolate. Still amazing though. Overall good experience. Gave us mints and lollipops at the end.

Finally made a stop in the Hmart food court and it didn't disappoint. Food was pricier than…read moreexpected. My boyfriend and I split the beef short ribs bento box, Soondubu Kalguksu, and a spicy tuna samgak-gimbap. The samgak-gimbap had a good amount of tuna and the spice hits in the aftertaste. Soondubu Kalguksu: the noodles were so good. We ordered the pork and regular spicy. The broth was spicy (for me) but needed for a cold day. They were generous with their tofu! Short ribs bento box: I liked the variety of side dishes. I recommend this bento box with another dish to get a satisfying fullness With the food court being close to the exit, be sure to bundle up because it can get cold. You order at the register and they will call your order number when ready. You return your tray to the restaurant you ordered from.

This place always hits the spot if your craving Korean food. They have the basic popular dishes…read morelike kimchi soup, Mandu(Korean dumplings),ramen,bibimbap and the pancakes. Opted to try the ramen today and it was good portion and pretty tasty. Don't skip the banchan ..love the corn here. Definitely try if you're in the west loop/greek town area.

First time here we were seated immediately! It was Thursday night around 10ish I'll say. The staff…read morewas super friendly and helpful! Very welcoming and attentive, but then again it's a hidden little ramen spot where everyone's huddled up at a bar pretty much lol The food was absolutely delicious! I got their signature ramen and the pork just melted in your mouth. Noodles were 10/10, broth even better.! Will be coming back for sure. Hopefully we have a similar experience with waiting and dining

We were seated immediately, but also came at 6PM on a Monday. Servers and the team were very nice,…read moreand the ambience even more so. It definitely lives up to the speakeasy reputation. Prices were definitely on the higher end. Shio bowl: broth was nice and light, yet so flavorful! The addition of mushrooms were a perfect fit. The pork could have had more flavor, but that may be because the broth was light. Tonkotsu bowl: really packs a punch! Unfortunately, I found it very salty with the black garlic oil. The pork in this one was perfect, though! Overall, a great experience and I would come back to try their other options!

I was so excited to try this place, but didn't find it to be what I expected. We tried the tandoori…read morechicken momo, veggie jhol momo, and the veggie biryani. The tandoori chicken momo was the tastiest, by far. But all, seemed to be a bit bland? Even the biryani, which I usually find bursting with flavor, was a let down. Staff was friendly and quick! The ambiance was relaxed. We sat outside on a nice day, and they had nice seating that allowed our dog.

Based on the name, momos are clearly the go-to order from here. I usually order takeout from Momo…read moreWorld, which does affect the quality a little I think. Dumplings are always going to taste better fresh versus 30 minutes later after delivery. While I think the other menu items taste fine, the momos are in a league of their own. There are spots with better briyani and curries you can order from, but nobody does momos does as well as they do in Chicago.