The online menu has different wording than the in-person menu, and it is confusing. I looked at the menu online before going there and knew what I wanted, but when I went to the restaurant, the wording was different. I ordered what I thought was what I found online, but it wasn't the same thing. What I ordered was a fish soup that was actually something for the whole table, but the in-person menu didn't say that. I normally love the food at PL8, but this soup that is supposed to be one of their specials is kind of sour and vinegary. It was edible, and the fish in it was good, but will not order it again. I really like this place, but I was kind of disappointed in it this time. read more

Not sure what is going on at PL8 these days, but what was once a go to restaurant is slowing turning into a no go. Don't get me wrong, the food is still fresh and very good. The problem is that the last few times we've ordered carry out they've messed up the order. In one instance forgetting an entire entree. My wife and I recently stopped for a round of our favorite signature cocktails and ordered dinner to go. The drinks were a shell of their former selves... maybe it was the new bartender, but they were almost hard to finish. When the food was ready, I made sure to double check that the items were in the bag before I left. Not going to repeat the previous incident. When I got home, I was disappointed to find that my wife's entree was more like a kids portion and my meal that I asked them to skip the tofu on had more tofu than chicken. I hate to say it but it would also seem like they are cutting back on the amount of veggies and proteins in their entrees. Lots of noodles and rice, but not much of anything else. When I mentioned that observation to my wife she agreed that there was a noticeable difference. We'll keep coming, but with less anticipation and enthusiasm, until they hopefully get things sorted out. read more

On a Friday night the restaurant was empty. They told us they were not accepting walk ins. Went to car and made a reservation for 5 minutes later. They were turning so many people away because they didn't have reservations. In these times silly not to take walk ins. read more

Pl8 is a hidden gem in Barrington. For a starter, you have to try the crab Rangoon chopsticks as well as the edamame. For a main dish, the rainbow roll and the fire dragon roll are very food. We've enjoyed the service every time we've come here. The servers are always very attentive and friendly. read more

Pl8 - Roll - Asian Fusion Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

This has been on my list for a while, and after finally dining here I would equate this to a PF Chang's. Very similar in the menu offerings and atmosphere. Our service was pretty awful - we had to keep finding our waitress who was not very enthusiastic about us for no particular reason, but our food selections were great. We ordered the kamikaze boats and 7 spice chicken. Both were delicious and filling for two people. I also got a house salad with my meal, and the dressing was a delicious creamy ginger sauce. The chicken was tasty and like a lighter, crispier, spicier panda express orange chicken. This seemed like a perfect spot for a family outing in the suburbs to get some good ole Americanized - but quality - Chinese food. Will be back with my family next time! read more

Let me start by saying I previously loved this place. I live out of town and visit every time I come. Very. Single. Time. This last visit I realized they raised all their prices but have not updated their menu online to reflect this. (I encourage you to read other recent reviews as well as there seems to be a common trend). Their portions are also SIGNIFICANTLY smaller. They used to also say their plates were large enough to share. Now their portions are barely enough for one person. I always get the same items so I'm very familiar with the size. I would encourage you to look elsewhere for your food. Also.. spicy tuna roll pictured was $8 for 6 pieces!! When we called to ask how many pieces it came with they said 8.. when we said we only received 6 he back tracked and said he was mistaken and it was definitely 6. read more

See all

Had a great girls night at Pl8 recently! Located in the Foundry shopping center, Pl8 has a fun vibe! Its Asian fusion dishes are super tasty and the ambiance works for low key outings or date nights! I ordered their Teriyaki chicken, because I'm boring like that, but it was very good! We also ordered a plate of their 7 Flavor Chicken. It was a bit spicy for my taste, but overall still tasted very good. You get A LOT of food at Pl8, so expect to share or, better yet, have leftovers. I'd like to try some of their soups next time I go there. I saw one pass us that looked delicious! (It was, again, A LOT of soup!) Trying to be adventurous, I tried a bit of Crab Rangoon for the first time and loved it! The drinks were also really good. I had their house ginger ale and my friend had a mixed drink. I don't remember the name of it, but she enjoyed it! I also enjoyed the ginger ale. It was very refreshing. The dining area was clean. A bit dark. Because it's a smaller location, I think it could also get very loud when busy. The booths were comfortable, so I'd recommend choosing a booth over a table. Our waitstaff was great! We asked many questions about what to order, how things taste, etc and they were very helpful in helping us pick out just the right dishes! Overall, I look forward to going back to Pl8! I liked the vibe and the food was great! read more

See all

First impression, it's a clean establishment and staff was friendly. Able to sit us right away with no reservation. Unfortunately the food just didn't hit the mark for me. We ordered Pad Thai and General Tao's menu items but weren't really impressed. I felt like the Pad Thai was lacking a little flavor and the chicken was alright just felt like something was missing. The white rice was great though. read more

See all

Good spot that has good variety but it's expensive compared to other spots nearby. I've only gone for Saturday lunches so perhaps I'm missing some ambiance. read more

I must say pl8 has improved greatly since my last review. My complaint on the egg rolls was as it turns out, was not accurate as what we were given were not in fact eggs rolls but something different. The egg rolls are delicious!! Food has been very good lately. We only do carry out so I am not certain any effort has been made to clean the place up or if service has improved. read more

We've been eating at PL8 for years now and have been ordering delivery several times a month. We have never had a bad meal and are always happy with the food. When we do dine in at PL8 the service is always top notch and love the entire experience. Do yourself a favor and grab a meal there! read more

ALWAYS a issue ... ALWAYS excuses ... ALWAYS wrong ... NEVER accept accountability. Place a carry out accept it then cancel it almost a hour later because there to busy. Been a year we have tried to be understanding but now we're done. We have used door dash to order pickup and they talk trash about them Constantly. If they hate them so stop being on their platform. They clearly have poor management and even poorer quality control . On the off chance you can get a pick up order it will most likely be wrong/missing ingredients ... spend you money at a place who cares. read more

I used to be a big advocate for PL8 with its innovative menu, great flavors and solid service. Since the pandemic, even adjusting expectations they consistently underwhelm and frustrate us. Their hot and sour soup which was the best one I ever had has lost all its flavor and tastes no better than canned soup. Their Buddha's feast is less flavorful than what I can make at home. Their signature dish - spicy dragon noodles is slightly better than average now when was previously one of best Asian dishes in area. Now if you want good Asian, go to Chef Ping's their Chinese remains best in the area! Even with out the reduced quality, the disorganization, length of wait, wrong orders or missing items make giving this place another chance unbearable. I know restaurants everywhere are struggling with staffing but this review takes that into consideration. The world has changed but PL8's level of change does not align with others in the industry or area. I honestly hope they are able to turn things around but for now will no longer be a patron as last night was our 3rd strike. read more

Pl8 - Tough as beef jerky tofu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

Take out order. Cheesecake tasted old like it had freezer burn. Had to throw it out after one bite. I had not ordered from this restaurant in years and now I remember why. read more

In the Chicago suburbs, we are blessed to have a strong selection of upscale, authentic Chinese restaurants that serve a wonderful variety of famous dishes from different regions such as Lao Sze Chuan, 8000 Miles, TL's Four Seasons, and Pl8. Of these, Pl8 is probably the best in terms of parking and most casual dining (tables are not nightly packed at all). Decor is also very pleasant and appears to have a few distinct themes. First, there is a lack of sharp corners and edges, most everything revolves a round or circular theme -- this is even evident in rounded backs of the chairs, rounded corners on booths, shapes in artwork and lamps, etc. Second, most all the colors revolve around a mix of red, white, grey, and black. With a nice low casual ambient light, this creates a comfortable setting to sit in for a while. All these seem to revolve around harmony for all the senses -- pleasant decor for the eyes, comfortable seats for touch, quiet setting for the ears, delicious smells from the kitchen, and most importantly well-balanced flavors for wonderful taste. For the quality and quantity of food, prices are very reasonable and you should expect to experience a food coma a little later in the day from the quantity of food you're given. I've never gone when the restaurant is extremely busy, but have experienced frequent and quick service on all my visits here. I'm impressed with a few things about the service here which remind me of my experiences at Sun Shui and Ming Hin. First, tea is presented with full leaves inside a nice heavy cast iron teapot and served in small cups. This demonstrates the thought, care, and respect put into an important aspect of any Chinese meal. Second, water was refilled frequently and quietly with minimal disruption throughout the meal. This made for few distractions and allowed for enjoyable conversation throughout the meal. Dishes were also cleared quickly, quietly, and efficiently as well. Third, plenty of utensils were provided to the table -- including forks, chopsticks, soup spoons, ladles, and tongs. This made it very easy to serve the food and accommodated both Western and Eastern styles of eating. Even without considering the food -- this setting is already a winner for bringing a good group of friends or the family. Fortunately, the food helps to bring even more delight to the family. Here are my thoughts on some of the dishes: Chong Ching Noodle Soup: As the menu implies, "every table should experience this unique soup". It amazes me how there can be so many great interpretations of this soup (TL's Four Seasons does an amazing version as well). The whitefish here is a perfect complement to a flavorful broth that has extracted the flavors of pickled vegetables and chilis perfectly. There is a strong flavor of pepper in this soup, which really helps to tie all the flavors together. Wide rice noodles: Regardless of what meat you choose to pair this with, the noodles are really the star of this dish. They are elastic and pan fried to be slightly crisp with the fresh texture and flavors of red peppers and snowpeas really standing out. The onion is lightly caramelized and absorbs the soy and hoisin sauces well. This should be eaten fresh instead of in carryout as I feel that the umami or wok hay really shines when it's fresh out of the wok. Fried rice: This approach with the use of peas and carrots, infused with nicely seared egg and a touch of soy reminds me more of the hibachi style fried rice. However, this is executed well and cooked with perfectly tender meats, creating an enjoyable dish. Spicy chili fish: Be aware that this is a bit different approach to this dish than what you're used to seeing at other local restaurants. This is flavored with a spicy bean sauce instead of spicy chili oil. This makes it less spicy and not as tender but douban yu has a more earthy appeal and mixes well with rice or noodles. Seven flavor chicken: You may be surprised with a strong punch of sweetness from this dish at first. However, the flavors of lemongrass, peanuts, dried chilis, garlic, ginger, scallions, and hoisin sauce are revealed slowly in subsequent bites of this nicely fried chicken breast meat. If you're a fan of Sun Shui's crispy szechuan beef, you'll like this dish as well. Overall, another excellent choice for authentic upscale Chinese food in the suburbs. Definitely worth a visit if you live in this area of the suburbs and are looking for unique flavors from the other side of the world. read more

See all

This is my favorite place in the town for asian fusion food. They have a good selection of classic asian fusion dishes. The sushi there is okay, I would go just for the vegetarian sushi or for the entrees. read more

Always great service and food. The bar is my favorite seat!! Easy in and out and friendly. read more

Casual and good selection. BUT check your bill carefully. We were charged for dishes we didn't order. One drink charge was more than the menu price. Also our table had menus with different prices. read more

I use to love this place. The order takers are lovely but the kitchen staff/manager needs to go. The prices went up and the place is declining. Went in today and placed and paid $30 for hot and sour soup and a beef dish. Waited 30 minutes and asked about the status of my order. Another 15 minutes goes by and I ask again and am told sorry, kitchen is still defrosting the meat. Seriously?! Could have told me that when I placed the order. I could have ordered something else. I had to ask for a refund. Think they would have at least offered me complimentary soup. Never going back. read more

Solid choice. This was our second or third time ordering here and we'll definitely continue. Love the large menu selections which allow us to satisfy multiple Asian cuisine cravings. The portions aren't overly generous in carryout and the prices are a little high. Hopefully one day we can dine in and try some specials. My husband picked up our order and shared a photo of the specials on the wall.. wish I had seen those online: they'll make a foodie drool! read more

See all

Had dinner at PL8 tonight. Food was average - had Kung Pao chicken, really not that flavorful. Service was average, seems there was only one server who did her best, considering. That being said, what restaurant charges $19 for a glass of "house" chardonnay. Absolutely ridiculous. Will not be back! read more

Very nice place, good atmosphere and fresh food. Wide menu to choose from and very tasty The service was excellent I will return for sure read more

This hidden gem in Barrington never disappoints. The food is amazing. Portions are HUGE, and it is served piping hot. They have some eclectic martinis namely the Blood Orange, and the Lychee. Both are fantastic. If you are a Chicken Pad Thai fan, then this is your place. Although we live around 17 miles away, we go here for take out too! The interior is very interesting which also adds to the experience. Would definitely recommend. read more

I ordered from doordash tonight. It was great! Chicken dumpling soup was so good. Loaded with dumplings, tofu and veggies. My only comment is they didn't pack the dumplings separately. They got a little mushy. I also ordered seaweed salad which I love and it was delicious. The triple KC roll was lovely, Scottish salmon, smoked salmon, crab, cream cheese wrapped in cucumber. The star of the amazing food was the tidal wave roll! Crab, shrimp and cucumber topped with avocado and masago. Scattered around was spicy sea scallops. It was so incredibly delicious! I loved every bite I inhaled too fast for pics!! read more

We were excited to try this place due to all of the stellar reviews. Unfortunately, the food did not meet our expectation at all. We recently moved into the area from the Western suburbs where there are many authentic/excellent Thai & Sushi restaurants...what we got here was a disappointment. The Spicy Tuna Roll did not taste good. It's one of our staples at any sushi place and the fish here did not taste fresh in any way shape or form. I knew we were going to be in trouble after I noticed all the "eel sauce" on the rolls in the menu, aka unagi sauce. That sauce is sweet and some places use it religiously to mask the taste of the their fish (which is not a good sign). Unagi sauce is good- but it shouldn't be on 90% of the rolls! The Tempura appetizer was good, but overpriced. You only get 4 veggies and 2 shrimp for $7. This was the only thing we enjoyed eating. The dinner entrees...we couldn't finish them. I got chicken pad Thai and the chicken...well...let's just say I didn't eat the chicken again after one bite. I stuck with the noodles. Maybe the entrees are better with only vegetables. We will not return. Simply didn't like the food quality. read more

Pl8 - Pad Thai - Asian Fusion Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

Very disappointing. Had an event for our kids and knew we couldn't cook dinner, ordered at 3:30 for a 6:30 pickup. Mothers Day, mind you. When we got there to pick up our order we were given some BS that the order wasn't completed and they said it would be another 20-30 mins before our order was ready. None of the hostesses seemed worried, and no manager to be found. We've been waiting now 45 mins and still no food. I would assume handling the pre-order first and foremost would be important, but others that have walked in to order takeout have already gotten their food. We love the food, but may have to skip this place next time we're thinking about food. Crap service and no follow through. read more

Pl8 was (was is the key word) our go-to Asian place and a Barrington jewel. We primarily do carry out post pandemic plus it's just more convenient with kids. I usually don't write poor reviews but I have complained a number of times of over the last 12 months for what I'm writing and it's not gotten any better so I feel like they have had a chance to make things better. But I think they are resting on their laurels now and letting their brand carry them vs the quality of the doors. The food has turned very inconsistent. We usually order some staples - sesame chicken and potstickers one of them. The sesame chicken sauce is confounding. It is usually a sweet savory flavor but now we are lucky if its even close to the same order to order now. Today was the last straw - it was so salty that No one in family could not eat it! It was like someone took a container of Morton's salt and dumped it in! I don't think they have any quality control happening now given the inconsistencies. Also the chicken has become fattier - gristle pieces. The pot stickers are often burned beyond recognition on the bottom and also the filling has become farriers and gross at times. The vegetables are spotty and look unappetizing. If you order carry out carefully check items. On more than one occasion they have forgotten items from main dishes to sides. There is no quality control on packing or expediting carry out orders. I'm really sad to have to write this review. This place used to be unbeatable; for the price you pay, skip Pl8 and try your luck at different Asian restaurant. read more

The food is always great! We love thai basil shrimp, 7 spice tuna, and orange chicken

Get the bobo beef!!! Other than that, all the other dishes we got were mediocre and taste pretty similar to your typical Chinese fast food chains (we got sesame chicken and Buddha's delight). Service was nice and fast, lots of seating. Next time I would probably just do take out for the bobo beef. read more

Let me say that I love a good variety of delicious food! We've tried the following and recommend it all: Hot and sour soup Spicy edamame Crab Rangoon chopsticks Calamari Hand grenade Tuna and avocado susimo Jalepeno popper Tuna poke bowl 7 flavor chicken Dry stir fry beef Basil garlic chicken Pad Thai Sichuan green beans Buddha veg Clearly, we didn't eat it all at once but it's always been delicious ! We've picked up, had it delivered and dined in. Always a great experience. read more

Mixed emotions here. Service terrible, food some great, some don't bother. Heard about the restaurant and the really good Chinese food so thought I'd give it a shot. Upon entering, 2 younger girls working the desk, no greeting, no smiles, just there. We had reservations, highly recommended, even though they sat 2 people head of us who's reservation were later than ours, same number of people. Sleek, modern atmosphere, very relaxed. When we ordered our food, we had no silver ware and our drinks from the bar took longer than food to arrive. Fried Rice... amazing, Mongolian beef... amazing... Mongolian chicken... amazing... hot n sour soup and miso soup... amazing... sushi, NOT so amazing, bland and better getting sushi from Mariano's. In my book this is a great take out restaurant, but dining in, no thanks. Unfriendly staff, service non existent. I'll add this to Chinese take out but won't dine in again. read more

First time here. I placed a to-go, still not ready and have been waiting for 20 mins after the to-go was quoted to be ready. Haven't been approached again since walking in. Sorry sir the kitchen it back up or short staffed. Nothing. However. There are a plenty of open tables. With plenty of staff just standing around. Feel bad b/c as more people come in there is a wait for tables but legit 10-12 open tables available. In my short experience with this place I will never come back. Take your business elsewhere. Ohh and my to-go was ready 50 mins after the time quoted to me. Excellent service, NOT read more

Excellent food and service. If you are looking for in the area Asian food with good ambience and service this is the place to be. Celebrated our anniversary with the kids and had great food. Started with Spicy Edamame, Veggie Lovers Roll (Kids wiped it out) and Spring Rolls. We then went for the LoMein, Kung Pao Tofu and Fried Rice. Great Beers and Wine selection too. read more

See all

prices, food, and everything have gone downhill. bummer. Very few good gluten free choices. Place is empty all the time, no wonder!

We used to love coming to Pl8 and we often still find ourselves coming here for a quick bite but the food has seemed to change and so has the service. The food is in consistent and has been lacking flavor and the service is usually very slow. It is unfortunate because it pl8 used to be one of my favorite restaurants in town. read more

Just ordered and the portions are half what they used to be! Prices also are higher than posted on their online menus. Ordered a tuna roll that came with 6 small pieces. Even the rice was too little for three entrees we only received one box of rice! This used to be our favorite place to go or get carry out but not anymore..it's a real shame! read more

We used to love going to Pl8 and lately doing carry-out because of COVID. I am beyond disappointed with our recent experience. First off, their prices on their website do NOT reflect their actual prices. Everything was more once we came into the restaurant to pick up our order. Not only that once we arrived home, we realized that the portion size was literally half their usual portions. I called to ask, specifically about the sushi roll, and they just told me they made some changes including price increases. As you can see on the receipt, these prices are new and definitely not worth the portion sizes they are now giving out. Really used to love this place, but now my family and I are in agreement that they are no longer worth the price. read more

See all

The old chef left and we've ordered a few times from here since and it's just a total miss. I'm bummed because it was so good and now it's just not. read more

3.2/5 overall 3/5 for taste (the food was generally bland and even the dishes classified as spicy really were not) 4/5 for ambiance (the general decor was nice and, though there were many tables, it didn't feel crowded) 2/5 for temperature (I was shivering when I took my jacket off and my hands were still cold whee new left the restaurant) 4/5 for menu (many diverse options) 3/5 for value (not too expensive but portion sizes were maybe slightly underwhelming) read more

Kind of a hit or miss with Pl8, lately a miss. We've had good meals from there before, but last few have been lacking in one thing or another. We tried some of their acclaimed dishes, such as the 7 Flavor chicken or fish soup. The dishes are just there, a bit bland in taste, and their portion sizes seem to have shrank some and/or are skimpy on the meat. And with that said, they're also expensive (and seemed to have also raised their prices recently, but I suppose that's the covid effect). We got carryout this past new year's eve, ordered some 100 bux worth of food. I'm carrying it back to the car, thinking how light it felt. Sure enough, skimpy portions, mostly veggies to some of the dishes, not much flavor to anything, just lame. Disappointed. Factoring in positive past experiences, I'll give them some credit, but...Pl8, let's get it together! read more