My girlfriend and I adore this uniquely decorated spot. The food is delicious. Whether it is the Pad Thai, Honey Glazed Chicken, Crab Rangoon or Shanghai Noodles (all we have actually had). But everything has been spot on and service has been good. I would recommend. read more

Cute decor, but horrible food, and waitstaff with attitude (mostly gay Asian guys)! The good is as inauthentic as Chinese food gets...the kind that one might assume so for unsophisticated white folks... read more

Ping Pong is definitely a neighborhood staple. I can see how visitors and/or tourists would be all about this place. But I've lived within a few blocks of this place for about 4 years and I still manage to make it there once every couple of months. The environment is distraction free which I love. White decor and nicely spaced tables make this a pretty comfortable environment to eat in. The lighting is next to none, which keeps things intimate and keeps the gays looking great. (You know we hate over head lighting.) On a 1-10 scale the food is an 8. Some of their dishes are done consistently well, while others are hit or miss. This isn't going to be a cheap dinner, but it's going to be an enjoyable one. The majority of the staff are very friendly, with the exception of a few attitude problems here and there. They have a full bar, but are also BYOB (with a corkage fee). But if you plan on eating outside on the patio during the summer it is NOT BYOB and you will be forced to order from their bar. Overall I think they deliver the best asian-fusion cuisine in the neighborhood. If you're more in the mood for sushi, visit their sister restaurant across the street, Wakamono. read more

Can you choose 0 stars?? Because that is what this place deserves. I would only recommend this place if you like waiting and being treating with contempt. After having our drinks forgotten, our appetizers forgotten, and being yelled at by an orderly for asking when we would be able to order our main course (and told that apparently delivery orders were a greater priority) myself and the rest of my party will never return - and will ensure no one we know will either. Further, the management is despicable. When we asked if there was anything the restaurant did for birthdays (as we were celebrating two) we were chastised for demanding free food and shamed for reporting our poor service. After an orderly yelled at one of our party a waitress smugly threw a plate of strawberries on our table with one lit candle as she said "we heard it was someones birthday" & stomped off. Our birthday dinner was ruined by this disgusting display of service. I highly recommend you do not eat here. We made a yelp account SOLELY to share our experience last night. We are still disgusted. read more

I really wanted to like this place after reading the reviews, but I wasn't blown away. Sure, the decor is nice and with the white/orange combination, it creates an inviting space. However, the tables are a bit too close for my comfort. Servers were attentive and on top of their game. Food was a hit or miss. My friend's appetizer was fabulous. I was a bit torn about what to order and asked the server for his opinion btw. two dishes. He chose their signature Ping Pong Chicken. It's basically chicken stir fried w/ vegetables and honey roasted walnuts. While it wasn't horrible, it lacked flavor. This will definitely be on top of my list should I be in the area again bc friends have found a few dishes they love there and I'm hoping they win me over too. read more

My first reaction is "what's with the random animal heads on the wall?" I don't know that if fits with the uber chic decor and atmosphere they are trying to display. But maybe, just maybe they are a conversation starter...I dunno I was definitely dumbfounded though. As for the food I was really impressed! I got the shrimp fried rice (which is basically my go-to dish at any chinese restuarant) and it was delightfully yummy. I also had the crab rangoon and it was also very, very good. I am very picky about my crab rangoon and it definitely past the test! The service was great but it wasn't awful either. We sat around a long time just looking at the menu but my guest and I had a lot to chat about so I guess that's okay to. They didn't refill drinks as often as I would have liked but they were attentive for the most part. The music was a little loud but they were playing stuff that I liked so I really didn't mind. And after awhile you get use to the noise. I would definitely venture back to Ping Pong. Did I mention the chocolate fortune cookies are to die for?!! read more

Seated outside, good service, good Moscow Mule. Asian beers. Fresh breaded calamari. Harvest dish with scallops and light garlic brown sauce with assorted vegetables very good. Huge duck portions with Peking sauce. read more

Cheekily called "chopstick cuisine," Ping Pong is a quirky little BYOB sushi/Pan-Asian restaurant. It's also probably the smallest restaurant in the neighborhood, with about three tables inside. Luckily there's outdoor seating in the summer. Only open in evenings, its a great place for an intimate date and a creative menu. read more

Ping Pong - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

A little pricey A little adventurous Decent asian food Chic decor and fast delivery read more

Since living in Uptown and going to the Belmont/Broadway area frequently, I have always wanted to eat at this place. From the outside, it looks like the place to be with its very modern appeal. From the clean white walls, to the modern furniture, to the large windows, loud music, and trendy crowd, it was very tempting to go in. I went there with someone last night and his first experience at Pingpong was not a good one. However, he was willing to try it out again. Everything ordered was actually good. From the chips that come out once you are seated, to the Salt and Pepper Calamari, to the General Tso's Chicken, to the Penang Chicken. We both were very happy with the choices made. My complaints are that they catere to younger crowds and really isn't a date place. If you are looking for an intimate setting where it is peaceful then Pingpong isn't the place to be. Even in the washroom the music is blaring. But oh well. And the service was a bit slow but it was a Friday night and very crowded. The food was good and I am willing to go back again!! read more

I'm surprised about the recent bad reviews. We've been ordering delivery regularly for a few years and are always happy with the quality and relatively healthy options. If the chicken breast has indeed been replaced with thigh meat, that's a shame and should be made clear on the menu (and with the option to specify white meat). Good stuff: Sesame tofu, cashew tofu, Buddhist enlightenment, pad thai, sesame beef, bulgogi. Fast, friendly, and reliably good from our perspective. read more

I don't care what anyone else says, Ping Pong. I like you. I've been to Ping Pong a few times now and haven't had anything less than an enjoyable experience. Here's why: The servers have been helpful and friendly. The bartenders mix great drinks (try the Kardashian or Lychee martini). The atmosphere is trendy and minimalist-- great for a night out. The food is really good too. I've ordered the salt & pepper calamari (mmmmm!!), the lettuce cups, the kung pao chicken, chicken pad thai, and the spicy garlic chicken. I thought it was all very tasty. The frosted fortune cookies with sprinkles are the best! Ping Pong has definitely joined the ranks of my favorite Asian cuisine in Chicago. read more

Okay, so ...I've been to Ping Pong many, many times before - but NEVER was the food so good as this last time! So very tasty! I was with a party of a bout seven this past weekend, and we all got different things - some Maki rolls, some crab, some noodles dishes, curry, veggies - you name it! IT WAS ALL DELICIOUS! The softshell crabs were probably the best I'd ever had, as was the red snapper my boyfriend had. Jesus that was good! And, the curry dish I had was EVEN BETTER warmed up in the microwave the next day. Seriously! I always love that this place is still BYOB too, even though they now have a liquor license. They'll uncork as many bottles as you want! The atmosphere is great in here too, although busy and loud (but in my opinion, that's usually a good thing). The crowd is cool, and the music pumping is similar to the gay party bars in the area -which makes it fun and neighborhood-appropriate. My only complaint is the WAIT TIME. Ugh. Like on this particular visit we asked how long it would be, and they told us a "few minutes" which ended up being almost an hour and fifteen to get sat!! The food was well worth it though. read more

Prices are a bit high, but man is it worth it. I'm not gonna lie, the martinis are a big draw for me, but the food is equally outstanding. Definitely get the bulgogi at least once. It is mouthwatering! The meat is tender, fresh, and light. The sashimi tuna dip is also AMAZING! I've never been disappointed by a dish here. The space is funky, the outdoor seating is nice in warm weather, the staff is laid back. The only drawback? It gets crowded and there's not a lot of room to stand around whil you wait for a table! But, it's so worth it. The crowd allows for great people watching! Expect a good looking crowd, dressed well, and ready to mingle! Oh, and if you don't want to order from the bar, it's BYOB (just a small corkage fee!) read more

My brother took me to Ping Pong an described it in one word : Gaysian True. It's funky and well decorated, and all of the people that work there are well groomed. They even have chocolate fortune cookies. The crab rangoon and other appetizers were delicious so I was excited for my entree. I ordered some spicy beef dish and it was beautiful, but when I tried to eat it I actually had to spit it in my napkin because it was inedibly spicy...and I love spicy food. I mixed in as much rice as I could to cut down on the spiciness but I only made it through half the dish and everyone out to dinner with us that tried my meal agreed with me about it being way too hot. Oh, and they have a weird corking policy for BYOB. read more

I would have given Ping Pong 5 stars a couple years ago, but things have changed. The staff is no longer friendly. They are rude, arrogant and rarely even smile. "Oh, we work in a cool Chinese trendy restaurant! We are soooo cool!!!" Get over yourself. Seriously. Secondly, I'm 29 and love loud music....but not when I'm trying to have dinner conversation. The music is WAY too loud. The food is great in my opinion. I think Dee's is much better, but this is much better than any greasy, gristly Chinese in the Boystown area. The lettuce cups, Ping Pong Chicken are great. The potstickers suck as they are more like baos than potstickers. Sitting outside is nice in the summer. Love the mimimalist decor, but I do think it's not a great spot for a first date, as there is nothing to really talk about when it comes to the surroundings. It's all so minimal. read more

If you've read the other reviews of Ping Pong don't bother with this one. I'm going to say the same thing with different words. My wife and I went to Ping Pong Friday night with a mixture of enthusiasm and skepticism. The consensus on Yelp is that the food is pretty good and the service is pretty bad. Fortunately, there was no wait, which was good for 6:30 on a Friday night, though it was a full house within an hour after we arrived. The host seemed friendly enough but sat us uncomfortably between two tables when the entire restaurant was empty leaving me feeling like I was at the barber (do I strike up a conversation or pretend I'm socially inept?). Sitting a chopstick's length from my fellow diners I came to a few conclusions: 1. This is a voyeuristic haven. If you like watching people watch you this is your kind of place. 2. The service really isn't as bad as it may appear. Sure half of the wait staff screams "I wasn't hugged enough as a child" or "That's right I can afford the Armani summer 2007 collection on your tips" but they get the food to the tables and keep the glasses full. 3. The music makes up for what the atmosphere is lacking. I didn't find it as loud as some reviews might suggest but do think our waitress needed hearing aids. The food was pretty good. We started off with crab rangoon and fried potstickers. The rangoons were the highlight of the meal and the potstickers had a nice spicy "meat" in them as well. For our entres we had the orange chicken and the kung pao chicken. The orange chicken was good and was a decent sized portion with a side of rice. The kung pao was heavy on the kung, light on the pow but was an even larger portion than the orange chicken. We chased down our meal with some Stellas, bringing the bill to $62. I can't decide if this is a great deal but the Chicago guide book I've been flipping through rates this as a "great buy." Maybe not a great buy but I would give it another shot. They do give you chocolate fortune cookies served on, of course, a ping pong paddle. Also, if you are one of the seven people, like me, who uses Discover Card, they don't take it. read more

I was wary initially after reading all the reviews here about the snotty wait staff and the service, so I was pleasantly surprised with my experience. Food was delicious and that for me is the most important component of any restaurant experience. The kung pao chicken was prepared excellently and was spicy and fresh. Drinks were well done - the lychee martini deserves mention. Service was pleasant, albeit on the slower end. Felt like they just wanted to let you chill and not be interrupted, which was fine to a point. Ambience was pretty cool - clean and modern minimalist decor. The music was somewhat loud though - so watch out for that. This may not be the date night sorta place. Plus with so many good looking people -- it might get somewhat distracting! ;-) read more

We came along this place on Labor Day. We were looking for some Thai/Asian food plus BYOB. Many places were closed due to the holiday. So I was extremely happy we came across this place. I love the decor, shabby chic-ish/modern. We had brought wine, but they actually do have alcohol. Corkage fee of $7.50 or $8 per bottle. A little steep, but I guess ok since they do have their own cocktails. I saw previous reviews about the food being sub-par. But I this was my first time here, so I enjoyed it. Slightly clubby feel with the electronic music, but I liked it. The music wasn't too loud. I ordered the harvest scallops and vegetables which was light, but flavorful. Dessert: Heaven and Earth - a chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. Delicious. The service was good - our server was very attentive. She even clued us in on their BYOB rules, but letting us know we had to open our last bottle before finishing our entrees. Otherwise, we wouldn't be allowed to open it. Yeah the rules are a little annoying, but probably necessary since it's a small, busy place. read more

I REALLY like this place. Fantastic cocktails...food is amazing and the service is top notch. All this in a very cool 20's/30's atmosphere. I'd say more, but I'm pressed for time. Still, I wanted to sing the praises of Ping Pong because for some reason there aren't a lot of good Chinese restaurants around anymore. I think that's strange, but facts are facts! Ping Pong is more a fusion of different Asian flavors, but all are delish! read more

Very yummy and great customer service! I've been to Ping Pong a couple times this past month and I haven't been disappointed at all! It is a little more expensive than your average Thai/Asian/Chinese restaurants with entrees between $12-$20 however it is worth it! The Singapore Noodles are my new favorite. This is definitely a restaurant to try something new. I had one of their special cocktails and it was very refreshing! The cocktails are a $10+, but that's pretty reasonable considering their signature, made with fresh ingredients, and top shelf, The customer service is amazing; you receive a moist towel to wipe your hands as soon as you sit down, chocolate covered fortune cookies at the end of your meal, and a postcard WITH POSTAGE to send to someone. Granted the postcard is for marketing purposes, but it is a nice touch! The wait staff was very attentive, nice, & accommodating. An elderly couple, one of which was using a walker, came into the restaurant the last time I was in and the hostess did everything she could to assist them and make them comfortable. The ambience is pretty fun, too! Love the mismatched vintage bowls, vintage tables, and mint green walls. read more

Over the past, Ping Pong, was an establishment with an incredible ambiance and cuisine which matched its ambiance. Not any longer!!! I was there on June 25, 2018, with a total party of 11 people. While there were plenty of open tables, the host placed one person in the party at the corner of the end of the table, where there was no room to place a glass of water much less a plate of food! After asking several times for napkins, they brought nothing. I left and won't be back! If you plan on going there, you give your pet dog or cat much better service than this place delivers! HORRIBLE!!! read more

Most of the time I love this place and would give it 5 stars however after having been here a handful of times, the consistency is not always there. Decor is ultra modern but still warm atmosphere (mostly due to the very cute & friendly host) BYOB but with i think $8 corkage fee Food is delicious. Now, I am vegetarian and don't like green peppers so Asian food is often a hit or miss for me but this place never fails me. There are plenty of meatless options and so far all are delish. My faves are the Wasabi fries (just well seasoned fries with wasabi mayo but nice fusion dish) and the Buddist's Enlightenment. Latest flaw is on last visit, our server was pretty snobby and not a good wine pourer. In addition...WHY or WHY does the bathroom have only a blacklight? I felt like I was in a horror movie not to mention that I have no idea whether the place was disgustingly dirty so i just assume it is... read more

This is probably the best Asian Fusion restaurant in Chicago--and I've been to many! It's not over-priced, the staff are friendly, and the food is probably the freshest I've had at any restaurant! I've ordered the exotic/mixed mushroom and veggie dish with quinoa--which was fantastic. I've also ordered their brocolli rabe appetizer. I've also never had to wait more than 10 minutes. If you're looking for a fast, fresh, and classy place this is it! read more

For dining in Asian fare this is the place to be. Located in my backyard for a year I frequented this place often. I cant agree with the negative comments about the service, because I always thought everyone was very nice from the beginning of the evening until the end. As for food, some of the appetizers are just ok, but the lettuce wraps are amazing. And every entre I've tried has been very good. Notice: I hope you like peanuts, as they find their way into everything. read more

After living here for 2 years and walking past the minimalistic Ping Pong, we finally went when family was in town. I never wanted to go in here because it seemed very pretencious. And in a way, maybe it was a bit, but it was a highly enjoyable experience. Hot towels at the beginning of dinner, a nice glass of wine and then Yum!! .99 Hot & Sour soup that was so much better than any I had before!! I had one of the vegetarian platters (eggplant, grilled tofu, etc) and wow so good! Nice to taste tofu with flavor again!! Someone else at the table had what I was going to order, orange chicken, and I'm glad I didn't. The sauce is reminiscent of the chocolate orange flavoring. ick!! Too much for me!! Our waiter was so nice and plesant and answered all questions. Overall a very nice experience. And a bad thing for us. We discovered a new and afforable place to dine all the time. This is not good for my summer figure!! read more

Luv's it!!! I loved everything that I have tried so far- edamame, seaweed salad, shrimp pad thai, orange chicken, mongolian beef, chicken rolls......... I think this place has really good food, but it is way too expensive. They have very good drinks, but they are all around like ten bucks and up. I will go back, just not too frequently because I can get really good food much cheaper in evergreen park!!! (Chi-Tung) I would be a broke ho if I went here a lot!! ;-) read more

Great restaurant in Boystown (LakeView)! I love me some Ping Pong! However, I couldn't find myself to give it 5 stars. I would have back in the day when Ping Pong was the size of a closet and the food servings were huge. Unfortunately, they expanded and it became super trendy to eat there and the atomsphere and food portions were effected negatively. However, the food is still superb! I love the Ping Pong roll for an appetizer and the Chicken and Broccoli is perfect. My friend usually gets one of the fish dishes, and they always seem to please everyone at the table. They also serve a delicious pear martini to go with your food. Ping Pong is also BYOB, but they have a high corkage fee per bottle, which is not cool. So, I recommend to just purchase a bottle of wine at the restaurant, it might be more economical. The place as gotten a little pricey since their expansion, but it is a fun atmosphere (especially during the summer) and good Chinese food. They always have good music or videos playing and its a great place to people watch (all the gay boys on dates). Note: It does get busy so if your going with a big group I recommend to arrive early around 6:45 before the 7:30 rush. read more

If you like a sleek atmosphere, dance music, good people watching and delicious modern takes on Thai food then skip on over to Ping Pong. This is a great place to enjoy a spunky drink and attempt to decide what you'd like to eat on the tremendous menu (yes there are 2 sides to the menu so don't just drool over the first side you see!) I loved my golden drink -- I don't know what was in it other than lots of ginger and vodka but I loved it. The taro chips they give you at the table could be appetizer enough, but definitely try some of the greens for a "healthy start to your meal" -- seaweed salad or the green beans side. I ordered the red curry chicken and couldn't believe how HUGE the bowl was. I think the curry was some of the best I've had in a long while...the portion was so big I ate it for 2 days after. Come to Ping Pong with a date or a group of friends. I wouldn't bring kids or older family that doesn't appreciate a good dance party. read more

Upscale Asian Food!!! Love our local neighborhood spot. Always a new dish to try and got me through my twin pregnancy. Ate so much of their food, was worried my kids might come out looking like an eggroll (jk) Honestly we've been going here for years and now take our kids here. Fantastic date night spot or great place to take the fam. The staff is so sweet and the chocolate covered fortune cookies at the end are AMAZING! read more

This place looks really warm and convivial from the outside, and good for dates. Inside is surprisingly loud - I had trouble hearing the waitress telling us of their specials, nor could I hear my date most of the time. Food was a disappointing though. Fries with chili and wasabi mayo was good, but vegetable dumplings were awful. Thick, heavy, over-fried skin, with boring fillings. The sauce was WAY too salty. I also ordered some bamboo dish - again, WAY too salty and while not terrible, definitely not worth what they were charging. Green tea also had a weird after taste. However, drinks were nice and strong. I think this may be a cute place to have a drink, but I doubt I'll be back for main courses. read more

We came here on a Saturday night around 6pm and we were the only table there, but by 7pm the place got pretty packed. We got seated in the way back booths by the big window, and boy was it cold from the outside. I get its winter time, but seriously crank up the heat a little bit. The music that was playing was also loud and I felt like it was too much and too much techno for a simple Asian fusion dinner. I just wanted to have a relaxed atmosphere but the music was too loud for my taste. The ambiance was modern with a cool chandelier in the foyer. The service right from the start was very good, they gave you wet cloths to clean your hands right away and our server was on top of it all night so I really liked that aspect of this place. The food came out very quickly starting with a bunch of appetizers and then the entrees all came out at once, which I like. Now onto the most important part of a restaurant, the food. I thought it was A Okay, nothing outstanding but nothing horrible either and here is what we ordered. Crab Ragoons- crispy, yummy cream cheese, but didn't care for the rasberry dressing, because I'm used to the sweet and sour sauce. Salt & Pepper Calamari-A tad on the spicy side but too chewy for my liking, but you do get a generous portion. Ping Pong roll and a shrimp tempura roll-The fact that they only have two sushi rolls on the menu should tell you to stay away from it since the quality just was not there. Tofu Pad Thai-Very good, probably my favorite thing that night, in an authentic peanut sauce, and a huge portion which I took more than half of home since I was full from the appetizers. Chicken and shrimp kung pao-my family seemed to all enjoy this as it had a nice kick and lots of peanuts. Dream Bar?-I think that is what it's called which had nuts, coconut, graham crackers and chocolate with green tea ice cream, my hubby seemed to enjoy it but it didn't look appetizing to me. Overall, an a okay place in terms of food but we were happy with the service. Oh and with the check came chocolate covered fortune cookies which is a nice touch. read more

Adequate. Pricey. Appetizers were tasty. My entree and others were adequate. Big tables are not intimate and make room for fewer people. read more

Fresh and refreshing! The food was delicious. Best part - freshness. Everything was so fresh! The colors of the vegetables - so bright. The Pad Thai was so flavorful! Service was also very good. We will be back! read more

Ping Pong - Mango martini - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

While I do think my love for Ping Pong faded a bit after they expanded and started making it a total party up in der...I still have a moderate crush on Ping Pong. I think Henry has fantastic taste, and the food, I do love. Even the Spam nigiri (though the size of it is a bit sick). I don't think you go for 'lovely service,' the servers can be bitches (sorry, bitches). But I so love them anyways. Something about the atmosphere and the boys batting their eyelashes at me makes my heart skip a beat. Been going there for eight years and still would if I still lived in Chicago. I break for the tuna dip, softshell crab, pad thai, oh, the spring rolls, and basil chicken as probably my all time favorite. My affairs with Ping Pong has outlasted at least four long-term boyfriends and some meaningless ones in-between. read more

You have to be ready for a scene.... Cocktails, Loud Music, HoHum Appetizers/Dishes, and looping short films on a white wall... it's sleek, but you really have to be in the mood for gaggles of super trendy folks. The food is okay. Cocktails creative. But again, I think the draw to this place is the atmosphere. I did like the touch of the chocolate drizzled fortune cookie served on a pingpong though. read more

I love Ping Pong! Whenever I'm in the mood for good chinese, this is the place I go...assuming I have a decent amount of money in my pocket- because this place can be a little pricey. I highly recommend their chicken egg rolls- they might just be the best egg rolls I've ever had. I also usually get the garlic shrimp. Just beware that this dish is SPICY. And I figured out recently that the leftovers I always have (because portions are so huge) only tend to get spicier the longer they sit. Also beware that this place gets packed on the weekend!! read more

The food wasn't that great, but I would go there just for our great waiter! He was attentive and really friendly and even picked out some good sake for us. He got my picky vegetarian meal just right and was quick with everything; drinks, appetizers, and food. Seems like a place to go with a group or maybe if you're into the trendy asian fusion thing. There are much better sushi/thai places out there. Also hard to hear the person across from you. read more

Oh man...I had another great dinner here last night. This place is a classic hit for me now. If I need a go-to restaurant, PingPong, you're it. The martinis are the most fantastic part of PingPong's transformation from small storefront restaurant to neighborhood institution. And the presentation of the small plates...love the faux Japanese newsprint! The food, while a bit more expensive than days past, continues to be fresh and fun and just the right-size portion. Rock on, PingPong....and I will rock with you. read more

Ooo my, what a fun eatery place to start off your night of debauchery. Hip yet chill atmosphere and crowd. We stuffed ourselves with starters, which is always fun, and family oriented! Here's my critique: salt & pepper calamari-Our best plate. Crunchy yet juicy squid-YUM! Also came with veggies that I happily stuffed potstickers-dim sum dumplings with soy vinaigrette- A big, "eh," I Pass. The insides were too tough and totally intact! They litterally dropped out if you weren't careful. *Plop.* The posticker shell is bland and heavy tasting. Lay low on the starch yo!....or whatever that stuff is that makes food expand in your stomach-like tapicoa boba balls. wasabi fries japanese chili, wasabi mayo-Can't go wrong! (But nothing special) pingpong roll-shrimp tempura, avocado...Can't go wrong either! (But nothing special either!) read more