I have been going to Gilberts since the 80s and have always loved it, but this its seems has faded into nostalgia. The huge eggrolls that made this place famous are gone. They are now 1/3 the size that they used to be. Where they used to be full of pork and shrimp there was only cabbage. I loved this place and it saddens me what it has become. Goodbye Gilberts you will be sorely missed. read more

Gilberts Kitchen has been a beloved tradition to many families in the area for decades. I, myself, have been getting Gilberts take out for over 20 years. When I moved away, it was the first thing I asked to eat for dinner when I visited home. Currently, I live several miles away from West Dundee and every time we drive to pick up our food from Gilberts Kitchen, we pass several 'average' Chinese food restaurants on our way, knowing that the few extra miles are well worth the above average quality Chinese food. Even when the owners would close shop for a few weeks and raise prices upon their return every year, we would continue to order from Gilberts because knew that the food was worth the extra money. With that said, I was very saddened to hear that the management had changed (?) and I was in denial when I read the recent Yelp reviews claiming that Gilberts had taken a turn for the worst. Although I was leery, I still placed a large order with a wide variety of food to accommodate 9 family members (my uncle was visiting from California and had specifically requested Gilberts). It is my great displeasure to announce that the other yelp reviews with poor ratings are indeed correct. Gone are the days of quality ingredients. Fresh arrays of vegetables and different kinds of mushrooms are now lacking from their dishes, replaced with typical cheap vegetables. Their fantastic giant shrimp and pork egg rolls are smaller and are now filled with only shredded cabbage as far as I could see. Their jumbo chicken nuggets are more like chicken tenders from Chilis. Instead of being the Gilberts Kitchen with exceptional quality that brought people from near and far, new management has dumbed it down to 'just another Chinese take out place'. It is officially the end of an era and this makes me very sad. From now on, I will save the gas money and time and get my Chinese take out from somewhere closer to home. read more

We were loyal customers for almost 30 years and ordered to make a special trip to get our favorites as we moved to Hampshire in last Sept. So disappointed in all the three items we ordered and will not be going back again. They need a warning when you order, New owners: Nothing will be like it used to be. read more

I have always loved their egg rolls, fried rice and crab rangoon! I would highly recommend for those options! Only downside is the cost, it can definitely be pricey here. read more

I have been getting Chinese food from Gilberts since the very early 80's and even since I moved away, whenever I am in the area I grab some Gilberts and I have never been disappointed until today 11/13/14. So sad, I think they must have changed owners or something, NOTHING was remotely the same. The egg rolls were half the size, the food all lacked flavor, to be honest it tasted like they bought off the Chinese menu from Sysco. read more

THE BEST CHINESE FOOD EVER! I miss Gilbert's so much since moving to California. I have even had my mom bring Gilbert's frozen on the plane with her when she has come to visit me, that is how much I miss it! When I lived in IL we would eat here all the time. We compare every Chinese restaurant we go to against Gilbert's, and no one else even comes close. The portions here are huge, they have to staple to tops of their cartons together! The wontons are yum, I have never found a wonton anywhere else that actually has meat in them. The chicken for the sweet and sour is HUGE and juicy, the egg foo young is AWESOME, especially if you ask for it well done. Even when I lived in Illinois, we would drive 45 minutes to get Gilbert's, and I have friends in Libertyville that would ask me to bring some to them if I was in the area. I have been eating at Gilbert's for 25 years - even since before the location burned down forever ago. Go and have some yummy, delicious, fattening Chinese food for me! Now my mouth is watering....and oddly Chinese food in California SUCKS. Oh, and they have really no dine-in seating, (I think they have a table or two, but I wouldn't want to eat here, it is very busy with people going in and out for take-out.) It is pretty much just a take out joint. read more

I got the teriyaki chicken lunch special and it was not so great... The chicken was really dry and there was so much sauce it was like teriyaki chicken soup. read more

Fred and I tried this place on Saturday night for dinner because I have been reading on here about their awesome egg rolls. So, of course, I just had to try it! It is carry-out only, as others have said, and since we didn't have a menu handy, we just went there and ordered and waited for our food. We ordered a small order of Mongolian Beef (because a large was like $15.95), large Beef Chop Suey, Pot Stickers and Egg Rolls. The only thing negative I would say about this place is the high prices for some of the entrees. Everything else is very reasonably priced but I really don't understand charging $15.95 for a large anything at a Chinese take-out place. But, of course, that is just my opinion. Anyways, back to the food, and that...VERY GOOD! The Mongolian Beef was definitely the best out here in the Elgin area and same with the Egg Rolls! OMG...the egg rolls! They were very large and VERY delicious!! I seriously was thinking about going back today just to get some more of those! YUM!! And the pot stickers, as well, were the best out here! We had never had Chop Suey before so I have nothing to compare it to but it was tasty, the only bad thing about it was it used canned mushrooms, and that is a BIG no no in my book. But it really didn't stop me from eating it so it must have been pretty good, right?! =] Overall, I will definitely be making the extra 15 minute trip out here to get my Chinese food from now on...it was just that good! read more

Worst food ever! Chicken pieces too big to eat, hard chewy chicken soaked in oil, I ordered a large order and recieved a small rice with some hard rice inside. The sweet and sour sauce was so disgusting. Dark brown that tasted like black licorice. I called minutes after my kids made plates. They couldnt even bite into them! I wanted a refund!!! All he said was thay large chicken mam....I can care lesz about size, tastes horrible! Very very disappointed...as new neighbors, nice welcome. Spreading the word....horrible customer service! read more

I don't understand why this place only has 3 stars. The food tastes fresh and the flavors are good. I like that they put veggies with their entees. We ordered 3 lunch specials that only cost about $6 each. It was my 1st time eating here. I was a little hesitant because of the reviews but I will def go here again. read more

Great food! Really flavorful, cooked exactly right. We haven't enjoyed such delicious Chinese in a long time. So glad we stopped by, we will be sure to again next time we are in town. Bravo! read more

Best authentic Chinese food in the area. Amazing egg rolls! Consistently delicious and orders are prepared quickly. Never disappoints. I've been a loyal customer for 4 years and counting. read more

Huge portions. Best egg rolls and chicken tenders any where. Pricey BUT you get 3x the food.

This place is definitely worth making a trip out for. The Chinese food is absolutely delicious the flavors are good the crab rangoon is to die for and the owners work themselves and you can tell they are very hard workers and bring the authentic Chinese take out restaurants. I hear this place has been here for a very long time and I recently moved around the area and needed some Chinese food as that is what I am and I miss my home cooking and this was the closest place to me and im definitely impresses. Delicious beef chow fun. Mongolian beef. O I cant wait to try more!!! read more

We have been going to Gilberts since 2001, but their food has changed, as other reviewers have stated. We ALWAYS order Mongolian beef, General Tso's chicken (with white meat) and, shrimp fried rice. The Mongolian beef USED to have green onions, not sliced and they changed the quality of the beef. I called up to inquire about the change, and I was told "that is what the supplier gave us" and that he didn't change the quality. He just told me that he didn't change anything with the meat quality and "if it isn't broken, why fix it" spiel and that he's owned the place for 42 years and wouldn't be there that long if he changed things. The General Tso's was made of small pieces of overcooked chicken, but the sauce was as good as it always was. The shrimp fried rice barely had any shrimp in and what was there was tiny. I was VERY unhappy at how I was treated. This is the first complaint that I ever had with them, and he was awful, making a joke out of my call, pretty much telling me I was wrong. I need to find a good Chinese place. read more

This place never dissapoints. BEST chinese place in West Dundee. Promot service, and the food always tastes delicious. #ForeverCustomer

Have ordered carry out twice from here and both times the food has been great! Good flavors, great portion size and reasonably priced!!

Had their sweet/sour chicken, orange chicken, and egg rolls. So far, the best I've had in the Dundee area.

Great food, but BEWARE if you have allergies. Twice I told them I am allergic to shellfish and requested veggie egg rolls. Today was the second time I was halfway thru eating it and found shrimp! When I called to ask them to please be more careful, she argued with me on the phone! Sorry, won't go back. read more

Been a very long time customer and have sent many friends here especially for the egg rolls. They recently increased their prices on the appetizers and after being a loyal patron for about 30 years, I am finding myself trying alternate places when I have the craving. Heard Wing Ho in Elgin is supposed to be pretty good. Planning to try them this weekend. read more

Placed an order for take out on Sunday at 6:30 pm told me it would be ready by 7:15 got there and waited till 8:00 for order very busy place yes but very under staffed. Had people waiting at house for food and it was not a good night. I do not recommend this place at all. I see all the good reviews but was very upset about the long wait time read more

I was there and asked why the egg rolls are so huge and good, and the owner told me that they actually home make the egg rolls. Also the sliced BBQ pork appetizer is also home made. The sweet and sour sauce for the appetizers and the warm sweet and sour sauce are also home made. This place really goes the extra mile. One of the best take out places ever. read more

We have been going to Gilbert's for over 10 years now. It was by far the best Chinese take out in the area. While it was not very close to our house for takeout, it was well worth it. We even bought catering trays of food for parties from them it was that good. We used to go to them all the time but over the past couple of years have been going less and less. The quality of the food has been declining as well as taste. The last time we went will be the last time-worst experience with them ever!. Take-out bill was over $50.00 which we never this high before. Wife ordered a chicken dish and asked it not to be spicy. It was so spicy, she could not eat it. I even had a hard time with it. I ordered Mongolian Beef. It is always served with those white rice noodles to go under it. I did not get the noodles, so the dish was incomplete as it needs this to soak up the sauce and flavor. I called them about this and was told they stopped including noodles with this over a year ago and they don't have them anymore. Not true, it hasn't been a year since I got them last. I then was handed to someone else over the phone and the story changed to if you want them, you have specifically ask for them and pay $2.00 extra for a small bag of noodles which probably cost them 25 cents. If they are now serving a dish which is missing an important component to it, you would think they would let you know. Just another way to jack of the price. If that wasn't bad enough, the meat was like shoe leather. In the past it would be very tender, now it hurts you jaw you have to chew this leather so much. Obviously, they are using much cheaper cuts of meat. Our kid got cashew chicken which used to be very good. The stuff they gave us had almost no cashews, was very dark looking and not very good at all. My wife and kid ended up eating almost none of this $50.00 feast at all. I had to finish all of their food over the next week as lunch leftovers, and no it did not improve with age. Also, ordered bbq pork fried rice. Instead, they gave us beef fried rice which we do not like and was not very good. When I called to complain about this as well, they only said that someone else had the same thing happen to them, Tough luck was the attitude, not we will give you a credit or replace it. The only good thing was the egg rolls, they continue to be the some of the best I've ever had. I know the ownership has not changed, it's the same guy at the front for the past 10 years. He has just decided to save money by cutting the quality of the food and jacking up the prices and charging for what should be free. Didn't even get the damn fortune cookies they used to include in all orders. Felt totally ripped off and got no apology's for screwing up the order. Never going back. What a shame, it used to be so good. read more

I have scoffed at Yelp for years. Folks rating food and service based on one interaction taken in or out of context? Are we dealing with someone who prefers road kill over filet mignon? The concept sounded odd to me. I get it now. I signed up because a beloved restaurant has been thrown away. It inspired me to become 'one of those people' who has to pronounce their extreme distaste. Been going to Gilberts since I was a kid. I still try to find excuses to go there, though it is an hour away from my home now. New ownership/management/cook, whatever. This place is now serving hot garbage. Good news is, at least it is hot. I've read a few reviews from years past, and I get it- everyone has a different idea of good Chinese food. If you want the standard fare achieved by pouring soy sauce over a food product and calling it Asian cuisine- congratulations! You have now found the place! I can also recommend the BEST burger in the world at a place with golden arches. Travel 3 miles and you are sure to bump into one! Mmmm-mmm, good. I'm trying to understand the business plan for this new owner/manger. You bought something that worked for DECADES. Your investment was not the building (sure it is a lease), nor a customer list. You bought equipment and recipes. Why you would choose to only use the equipment (and use it for evil) dumbfounds me. Sell me the recipe portion since you aren't using it. Mongolian Beef at this place was unique- until recently. Argue as you see fit- but the recipe was different. Dark brown, spicy sauce that clung to the beef and green onions. Now, it is the standard over-cooked, spongy, thick slice beef, smothered in onions and green onions (which, as you don't seem to realize, waters down the simple version of a sauce you attempt to use). Thank you for saving me the gas money and time so I don't have to drive a long way for mediocrity. My small town has better Asian food now- and that is nothing to shout about. Heck, Panda Express is haute cuisine compared to the stuff I tried choking down from the 'new' Gilbert's. It is depressing to see this place go down like that. Let me know when you sell off that equipment too- I need a seasoned wok at home. read more

terrible, terrible experience. very rude, unappreciative of business in this economy and unaccommodating. i asked about ingredients...failed to tell me accurately about what ingredients were in the fried rice that i ordered. i am allergic to eggs and there they were when i opened up the carton! asked for mushrooms to be on the side...told it was too much trouble. asked for no msg...was told there was just a little that it would be ok! when i opened the carton and discovered the eggs i called and spoke to the woman who took the order...again rude and unappreciative. she admitted not telling me about the eggs insisting it was my fault because i didn't ask correctly. i asked what was in the rice...was told only rice and vegetables...what is an egg?...rice or vegetable????? i said that i was going to return the food for a refund but she refused that request...told me she would remake it. i was afraid to have her remake it for fear that she would spit (or worse) in it...she seemed like the type to do something like that. so...i took the $10 hit...threw it in the garbage and ordered from a different chinese restuarant. i knew she was rude from the moment i began placing the order...why didn't i just hang up?????????? read more