They have the best fried rice and egg foo young. Has that fresh Asian cuisine taste I absolutely love. Good portions and descent prices.

Food arrived nice and hot, ordered orange chicken which came served over broccoli and sesame chicken which was served over green beans, both were delicious! Also ordered fried rice which was also great... great price too, will definitely order again! read more

Amazing. Delicious. Tasty. The best vegetarian dishes i have ever had. No one compares to eat first. They have the best tofu dish in the city. I love this place and i am so disappointed anytime i try somewhere else. They deserve all the stars. read more

I have a special place in my heart for places like this: Little strip mall Chinese take out places. Some of thees places CAN be hazardous to your health and serve up some really crappy food. This is NOT one of these places! The food here is good: Not horrible and not out of this world either. The value is one of the best. the amount of food you get is amazing compared to the price that you pay. The folks here are fast, fast, fast and very friendly too. This place does what it sets out to accomplish: fast, convenient Chinese food and a price and a taste that will keep you coming back as which I will! read more

Ordered delivery from this location for a night in with my roommate. Between the two of us, we shared the kung pao chicken and broccoli beef. They were pretty quick to take my order and said that it would be delivered shortly since it is just down the street from us. When the food arrived we were very eager to eat since we ere both very hungry. I dont know why we were just craving some good ol americanized Chinese food. With the amount of Chinese buffets in the area, one could actually eat at the buffets for the same price. We were too lazy to walk to one though so... First thing I noticed when opening the boxes, was the amount of oil they used. It literally looked like a layer of oil slicked over the top shiny and glistening. The fried rice was also so dark, I could tell they used tons of soy sauce. Upon eating the food, we were very disappointed. Salty tons of msg and just not well prepared. The egg rolls were harder than rocks. Don't think we will be ordering from this establishment again. read more

I have ordered from here multiple times and the food is always great. They will customize orders for allergies also! It is typical Chinese food but you will not be disappointed. read more

The best reason to go to Eat First are the smoothies. Watermelon and avacado, specifically. They're amazing. Like the other reviews, I agree on the fast service and decent prices. The pan fried noodles aren't overcooked, though I've had some questionable chicken from there (specifically the cashew - it was rubbery). I enjoy their General Tso's chicken though, and it's a handy stop right next to the Blue Line. I've had better, but they deliver and are worth the try. read more

OMG really?? More than 3 stars? HELL NAW! I am someone simple. Really. I also like to give credit to people because I used to work at a fast food restaurant and I know how hard it can be to work in a restaurant. But this place? I gave them two chances and both time they failed! HUGE CHOICE OF MEALS. Come on! Really?? How is that possible to cook so many things? So twice, I went for classics: Fried rice. You can't miss a fried rice but their chicken and shrimp fried rice are simply horrible! The shrimps are as small as a corn flake! And they aren't cooked well enough just like the chicken which BTW FYI (etc.) has a weird taste. But their portion is huge and the price is extra low. But obviously: You can't have your cake and eat it too or like we say in French "On ne peut pas avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre" which, literally, means: "You can't have the butter and the money from [selling] the butter". If you are desperate to eat "asian food", I am pretty sure you can find far better place in this area. And it's really not difficult to be better than this place! Sorry but I was as mean as I was frustrated after the second time I ate there. read more

We have been ordering from here for quite some time. Solid carry out & delivery. ... Their chicken Wings are very good. Bubble Tea to combo fried rice and entrees are what nice options. If we aren't going to China Town we opt out for Eat First.... read more

"Eat First" is now known in our household as "Eat Only", as in "eat only this one thing on the entire menu". This isn't based on a single experience. We've carried out several times. But after our last ghastly meal the jury, and my girlfriend, have spoken. Although it is the first place I've assessed at below average but will continue to actively patronize. They will continue to receive my business for one reason, the chicken wing appetizer (6 for $2.50). It will go on my eventual "Best Deals" list. The wings, not just drumettes, are big, meaty and delicious. They have the crisp sealed succulence you look for in a Chinese carry out appetizer wing. They're so good you don't need to dip them in a smeared combination of hot mustard and duck sauce but sometimes I still do. Unfortunately as good as the wing appetizer is there are other things that are as bad as any Chinese carry out I've ever eaten. The beef fried rice is black. Too much soy sauce. Bland, salty and institutional (think dorm cafeteria). The actual beef in the rice is fair but along with egg, scallion and the rest of the fixin's I expect in my fried rice, there just isn't much of it. The egg roll is greasy and tastes like peanut butter. Now I get to the egg drop soup. It's bright orange. I shouldn't need to say more... but I will. Egg drop soup isn't tough- chicken stock, corn starch, egg, scallion, heat. That's it. But instead this soup comes out of a big plastic bag. It's the type sold to the giant, awful buffet places. Too thick, too bland and TOO ORANGE. If they're cutting corners on the easiest and cheapest thing to make on the entire menu then I can't imagine what goes on in the rest of the kitchen. Delivery is fast. The Singapore Noodles are ok. And while the Mongolian Beef is pretty good, the large is just a portion for one... definitely not to share. I'm a sniper when it comes to the food I crave. Once I find a place where I love something they become my preferred provider regardless of the rest of the experience. I have a gyro place. I have a biscuits and gravy place. Eat First is my Chinese Chicken Wing place but everything else is canceled. read more

SAFETY CAUTION: younger cashier handles money while handling fresh fruits for drinks-- doesn't wash hands or wear gloves. She's so very rude. Food's good though. Just pray you don't get salmonella or giardia. I recommend the fried duck. Sometimes, lack of sanitation trumps good food. read more

If you're coming here you shouldn't be looking for the world's best Chinese food, you should be looking for standard delivery/ carry out Chinese. Their prices are reasonably and the quality is decent, with generous portion sizes. You won't be disappointed, as long as your expectations are reasonable. read more

No doubt about it. This food is GREASY. Especially the crab rangoon which I recently tried. I also got the General Chicken which also was less than remarkable. However, their shrimp fried rice is great!! A little greasy but the flavor is amazing. Alot of places tend to mess up shrimp fried rice. Not this place. read more

Best chinesse fast food spot I know ...always on point fast n good ... Smoothies are a must!

Worst Chinese restaurant i have ever eaten from. As soon as the food was delivered it had an odor of wet dog combined with garbage juice. We ordered beef fried Rice, beef chop suey and crab ragoon. The beef fried rice was completely dry and tasted like cardboard, and the chop suey was absolutely disgusting, i couldnt even eat more than 4 or 5 bites. Surprisingly, the crab ragoon was pretty good, so it was the only thing me and my girlfriend finished, also, the delivery was super fast. Overall, steer clear of Eat First. Gross! Waste of $20. read more

Reliable, inexpensive Chinese with a very friendly, accommodating staff. I once placed an order at the wrong Eat First and they canceled it for me (even though the food had already been made) with no hassle. They were so nice that I felt bad! I've never noticed the food here to be any greasier than any other Chinese place. read more

Loved it the manager was great and served me very well I had a lot of fun on the electric slide

Holy msg bomb batman. This is definitely some old school chinese and it nearly left me comatose after eating. Granted, I'm not one to have a problem with a food coma, but feeling like a suckling pig being roasted isn't normally what I'm into. Now, the food itself wasn't bad, it just wasn't all that good either. The delivery was fast and the food was piping hot along with the price being extremely good. But, cheap chinese delivery also speaks for what you are getting. I got some steamed pot stickers and curried chicken. The pot stickers were solid but the chicken left me wanting. It wasn't so much the chicken itself as the rice that came along with it, as it was a bit tough and the shrimp in the rice wasn't all that memorable. I'd be more fine with this if I was drunk at the time as it is perfect drunk chinese food. But, I wasn't, I was just bored on a day off with neither me nor my friends wanting to leave their place to get anything. So, meh it is and and so it shall be read more

Cheap, fast, huge, and awesome are words that come to mind when i think of Eat First in Avondale. The orange chicken (xtra spicy) and the bbq pork are awesome, their seafood is great (squid, shrimp etc...), and their dinner specials come with enough shrimp (or veg) fried rice for 2 people, and a free egg roll (again, shrimp or veg)! All for like 7 dollars. Get an avocado bubble tea and you are set! Ultra fast delivery too, at least in the neighborhood. Strongly recommended. read more

First and last time experience ordering from this place. I ordered the General Tso's Chicken, BBQ Chicken and Crab Rangoon. The "chicken" was questionable and had an oddly chewy texture to it, couldn't even taste the meat. I also feel like Crab Rangoon is 9 out of 10 times delicious from anywhere you get it. Somehow, Eat First even messed their Crab Rangoon up too. Not only am I at a loss of $25.45 but I've also lost the taste/craving for Chinese food for a long time. Save your money, save your time and save your taste buds. Go with literally any other Chinese place, anywhere. read more

Have had a lot of things on this menu. Pretty tasty to be honest. Always fast and correct. I am sorry, but do not order the lo mein. That is not lo mein. And it's such a disappointment. Veggie lo mein is my favorite thing in most Chinese menus. This is some bastardized version. More like ramen with fresh vegetables. Not at all what you will get anywhere else. read more

This place exemplifies the word average. It reminded me of the grocery store chinese food I used to get when I had the munchies in college. The BF and I ordered General Tso's chicken, Singapore Rice Noodles, and Wonton Soup - the general tso's was weird and kind of sour, the noodles were ok but tasted like they had been tossed in a Ramen noodle spice pack. Honestly the Wonton Soup was not so bad - certainly not great, but good enough to eat on a cold winter's night. I did, however, feel like total shiite the next day - I wouldn't be surprised if this place used MSG. In the future, I will probably stick with Friendship to get my chinese fix - it's the best I've found in the area. read more

I was apprehensive to go here after reading some of the reviews, but I'm so glad that I did. The woman at the counter greeted me and answered all of the annoying questions that one may have about the menu. I think I waited about 10 minutes for the food, which I didn't mind, because that meant that it was probably fresh. We ordered the hot and sour soup, egg drop soup, yogurt beef soup, and the moo shu pork. (I know, a lot of soup for two people, but the boyfriend just had his impacted wisdom tooth taken out). The hot and sour soup was awesome. I have been looking high and low for a good hot and sour soup, and I've found it! Can't beat $3.75 for a large either. The egg drop soup was great and the yogurt beef soup was good (I didn't know what to expect, but curiosity got us). The moo shu pork was yummy! Lots and lots of leftovers. You only receive 4 pancakes, so I splurged and got 2 more for $.50 each. All in all, this place is great, and I will definitely be going back! read more

Yeah, so I popped in the place the other day after an especially gruesome day of work to get some Chinese to drown my sorrows. When I walked up to the counter there was a guy in the back speaking Chinese to the man at the counter, and they were conducting a conversation just staring at me and the guy at the counter didn't say hello or anything, they both just sort of stared.... And I was like "Hi...." So from here: ordered a large chicken fried rice and some egg rolls. They came out promptly, brought them home and... Well, I'm definitely not a chinese food buff by any means, frankly in college I ate a ton of Chinese Yum Yum, aka Chinese open til 6 AM so I'm certainly not a huge stickler for quality unless something is noticeably very, very bad. My chicken in my rice looked gray, and when I tasted it I wasn't even sure it was chicken. It could have been some really old dark meat or something, but it was absolutely disgusting. I picked all of the chicken out of my chicken fried rice and threw it away, which was a shame for obvious reasons but also because the rice wasn't bad. Nice, greasy soy saucy rice is a-ok with me, but not this gross chicken. I had the egg rolls too and there was some off taste about them. I'm not sure what, I couldn't put my finger on it but something tasted weird. I don't know if its the cabbage mix or what. Either way... It's up in the air if I'll be here again. I've either learned my lesson in trying to order chicken and gonna stick to veggie FR or I'm not going to pay more good money for gray meat. read more

How is it this tiny strip mall takeout place -- in the Midwest -- has cheap, delicious, fresh fruit smoothies, way north of bustling downtown? And yet I can't find any fresh fruit smoothies in Orange County, California??? Unless I go to Jamba Juice or Smoothie King but those aren't conveniently anywhere near me. Anyway, if you go here, do the mango smoothie or watermelon smoothie. They use lots of simple syrup so I usually ask for half-sugar. Dunno much about the food except the orange chicken is alright. I miss this place. read more

I came across Eat First while randomly walking the neighborhood looking for some dinner. I had been somewhat disappointed in the quality of dining in Logan Square after coming from the epicenter of Latin cooking aka Bucktown. Eat First caught my eye. I got my standard dish, sweet and sour chicken dinner special. I was disappointed I couldn't use my debit card and had to go to the atm next door. They have a $10 minimum to use plastic. I have to problem with the rule, I was happy to have to get cash as my order was barely over $5. That's definitely a special. It was exactly what I expected, typical but good Chinese take-out. The value on the dinner special is very high. I will be back to Eat First. Based upon these reviews, I'll be trying a smoothie too. read more

Eat First - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Eat First is everything I want in a Chinese take-out: fast, friendly, and simple. Everything is pretty much exactly what you'd expect out of a strip mall Chinese joint, with very tasty food. Their orange chicken is great, and the egg-drop soup (though thick) is also delicious. I really like ordering the lemon chicken here, even though it DOES take a while longer to cook. It's always nice and crispy, and the sauce is good too! Worth checking out if you're willing to wait a little longer. Otherwise, go with one of the more standard dishes. And as others have said: THE SMOOTHIES. Oh my god, the smoothies. Huge, cheap, and DELICIOUS. The mango one is my go-to drink. Basically, if you live in the area, you might as well go here for reliably tasty Chinese food; otherwise, it's probably not worth traveling any sort of distance to visit. read more

I wish I could give 2.5 stars because I have tried them many times over the last year (they deliver and are super close for pick-ups) and I love their wonton soup broth and their dumplings are pretty good. My usual order is for their veggie lo-mein with thin rice noodles, good amount of veg and a HUGE portion! Tofu is still super greasy, so stick to veggie only if you don't eat meat. Good for quick and cheap Chinese food. read more

One of the Chinese places out their, friendly staff, food is amazing, fair prices, everything, when l think of chinese food l think of eat first, right after l go to 5 below to get myself...nevermind you don't need to know what l get read more

Great food at excellent prices. I have I've been ordering from Eat First for over 15 years. I really like their food. They have a variety of rice and noodle dishes. Order is always right and super hot! I usually order for pick up but I've also ordered for delivery and they arrive quickly. read more

I love everything about this place! The food, the prices, and the staff! Great food at reasonable prices. They don't skimp on anything! Plenty of meat, plenty of rice, plenty of everything. Always hot, always fast! I can never badmouth this place. Delivery and carry-out available. Near the Belmont Blue Line stop. Quick and easy to get something for dinner, on the run, or sit down and eat. They have 3 booths and a couple bar stools but that's it. No bathroom. It's really more of a carry-out place. read more

Eat First - Front of the restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sure, this is a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant that is mainly for take out (just a few small tables). However, it is really delicious! They used to have two locations, and both did well, but now just the one on Belmont. I love their yu shan sauce and get it with steamed tofu and veggies. They are good at customizing and making sure the order is right. When you are craving fast, inexpensive Chinese food, this is the place to go. Plus, it's easy for vegan options! read more

My husband and I came here on a whim for lunch. They have so many options for lunch specials and all of them are decently priced. We ordered two lunch specials, sweet and sour chicken and orange chicken, and we're impressed by the sizes of the meals. The orange chicken is the BEST I have ever had; it's super crispy and isn't too spicy. read more

Eat First - My orange chicken lunch special. SO GOOD. - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm surprised grubhub doesn't offer this as my only option because it's all i order. 6 piece wing all day MUFUGAZ read more

We think this is the best local affordable Chinese fast food in the Logan Sq area (roughly Armitage to Belmont and Pulaski to Western). Tasty and consistent. Good smoothies. I go three blocks further to pick up here (walking) rather than go to the two or three other closer Chinese places. So far we've tried orange chicken, mongolian beef, egg rolls, chicken wings, and I forget which noodle dish, plus various smoothies. read more

this place too. Egg foo young and orange chix are delish. My orders have been right every single time, delivery service is quick, and the delivery folks are always very pleasant and friendly. read more

My favorite chinese place to go when Im low on money. They give a great amount of food for the price you pay. The shrimp fried rice, chicken with vegetable, egg rolls and smoothie are my recommendations to those trying it for the first time. The customer service is great as well and have your order ready in no time. read more

Eat First is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Chicago. Located right next to the Belmont blue line stop, the location is convenient, although there are only three or four booths inside if you want to eat in. The restaurant states that it uses no MSG, only vegetable oil. The ingredients are always fresh, and dishes are made without using too much oil. I usually order the Shrimp with Vegetables, and am always satisfied with the quantity of shrimp that comes with the dish. The dish is typically made with a white sauce, but I always ask for brown sauce with mine and the staff always happily obliges. I had lunch there two days ago with a friend who had never eaten there, and he was visibly impressed with his dish, which I believe was a pork dish with fried rice. We both ordered as part of the lunch special, which came with a free egg roll and fried rice, if desired. The price was very fair, and lunch for two people totaled approximately thirteen dollars, including tax. Another great dish at Eat First is the Chicken with Oyster Sauce, which I believe does not appear on the menu, but if you ask for it the kitchen staff will make it for you, no fuss. The chicken fried rice is also very good, with large chunks of chicken, and not overdone with the grease. Between the convenient location, friendly staff, great food and good prices, I will continue to eat at Eat First for a long time. read more

I decided to stop here after work one evening since it is on my way home. Seemed pretty standard on the inside. Not busy at all. I went ahead and ordered the chicken and rice soup. It took about 10-15 minutes to get my order. When I got home, I was thoroughly unimpressed. Upon opening the container, the aroma had an air of that "canned" smell. It had one piece of a green onion on top of it and the chicken didn't look quite right. Most pieces looked almost mechanically cut (each piece was cubed and smooth) and many of the pieces were a mix of light and dark meat. What looked like veins were present on some of the pieces (did not eat those). I went ahead and tried it. The best way to describe the feeling of the chicken was spongy. The broth (along with the chicken) was extremely bland. The rice was fine and seemed to be cooked well. With about half of the pieces of chicken I ate, I noticed a hard piece of something (hopefully bone, otherwise I have no idea what it was) after taking a bite. Naturally, I did not eat those pieces. Not too long after, I became violently ill. Since I hadn't eaten anything about 6 hours before the soup (and the thing that I ate was prepackaged and dry), I'm going to assume it was food poisoning from Eat First. I would never recommend this place to anyone. As a bonus, I'd like to go ahead and share with everyone what I noticed during their process for making smoothies. I didn't order one, but I saw a few being made while I waited. I can't say how they prepared the fruit or how much fruit was used, but I did see a hefty dose of syrup added (ladled into the blender from a small, counter-top bucket) for each smoothie made. Make your own assumptions, but I believe that this would make the smoothies pretty unhealthy. read more

Really greasy, salty, cheap, comforting Chinese food. Certainly not high cuisine, but great for weekend afternoon ordering-in; always speedy and friendly. read more