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House of Wah Sun
Category: Restaurants Chinese Chinese [Edit]
4319 N Lincoln Ave(between Cullom Ave & Pensacola Ave)
Chicago, IL 60618
Neighborhood: North Center
(773) 477-0800
- Nearest Transit:
-
Montrose-Brown (Brown Line)
Damen-Brown (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 12 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri 12 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat 1:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 1:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Anne M. said: "Back to Shine, and everything was just as good as I remember it being - service, food, atmosphere. I came here with three others over the weekend for a delish sushi dinner, and we all enjoyed it. We shared a big pot of hot green…" read more »
76 reviews for House of Wah Sun
Review Highlights
"The egg rolls are delicious and giant too."
(in 21 reviews)
"Sesame chicken- lightly breaded sitting in sweet sauce."
(in 6 reviews)
"...Chinese place ever since my Orange Garden debacle."
(in 5 reviews)
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76 reviews in English
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Review from Joey M.
Chicago, IL
1/12/2012
I've been dying to go here for literally over a year. Far longer than really any Chinese restaurant is worth pining for (well, at least any Chinese restaurant in Chicago). From the outside, this place does not look like the epitome of upscale dining. It's kitty corner from a Jewel and the Golden Angel diner. But I'm a sucker for solid Chinese food, which is surprisingly difficult to find outside of Chinatown.
So I went in with expectations sky-high and I can say I was not disappointed. A few pot-stickers and egg rolls to start was an excellent choice. The egg rolls are short and stocky, plump full of tasty meat and veggies, while the pot stickers are surprisingly generous in proportion. I split a beef with green peppers and tomato with my lovely female companion and it was still too much that we had a box to take home. The entree was good, but a little on the bland side, enough to knock a star off here. Still, it's simply an excuse to go back, hopefully sooner than a year...
Major points for fountain soft-drinks rather than cans. This is literally a deal-maker for me and I don't care what you think. -
Review from Leanne A.
1/25/2012
I don't get it. How does this place have regulars? How has it been here so long?
The only part I understand is the kitchy, charming, old school Chinese divey restaurant thing it's got going on.
But the food was exactly what I expected. Watered down, not fresh, covered in thick clear goop, filled with water chestnuts and all the clear vegetables that lack taste.
The reason I never go to places like this is because I always suspect the food will taste as I just described. So sad. My dad liked it, though, and daddy paid. -
Review from Melanie S.
Chicago, IL
1/12/2012
This may not sound like the most ringing endorsement, but House of Wah Sun is definitely the best Chinese food on the north side.
I've dined in a few times, but generally I order for pick up or delivery. Everything is always well prepared and packaged appropriately. I've never experienced any spillage or leaking containers, missing items, and the food is always fresh and piping hot and they give you plenty of condiments (love that Chinese mustard!). To me, that is important, and something more restaurants should take note of.
The interior decor is textbook 70s Chinese restaurant, but I actually love the fact that this place hasn't been updated. It's delightfully retro, and not purposefully. They serve those tropical drinks like Scorpions and Zombies. Who doesn't love a boozy, rum-spiked cocktail with their Chinese food?
I've tried several menu items and it's all pretty good. My go-to items are usually egg rolls (crispy, lots of filling, and not at all greasy), chicken with broccoli or pea pods, Mongolian beef or garlic beef, sesame chicken (definitely one of the better versions out there), and any of the varieties of fried rice. Their fried rice sometimes is a touch on the greasy side, but that's not always a bad thing. It's just greasy enough without being gross. All of the vegetables they use are fresh and not overcooked. Again, it's these touches that separate the good Chinese restaurants from the mediocre or average ones.
As an added bonus, they have a small, but free, adjacent parking lot. And I've never encountered a wait for a table. Service is always very pleasant and efficient. They offer two sizes for carry out and delivery, but as I recall, only one size for dine in. The small sizes are generally plenty, especially if you're ordering a lot of food, as I typically do. Note that they are closed Mondays. I learned this the hard way.
I don't really have anything bad to say about HoWS, it may not knock your socks off, but it's solid Chinese food at reasonable prices for decent-sized portions. That's good enough for me.
3.5 stars.Listed in: Dim Sum Lose Some, My former stomping grounds
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Review from David R.
11/23/2011
I'll spare you the long, harrowing story involving me working from home, waiting for some extremely tardy contractors, dying of hunger but wary of leaving the house for fear of missing my visitors. Finally my Chinese craving couldn't take it anymore and I jumped on Yelp to find a solidly rated place as close to home as possible. Wah Sun to the rescue.
I called in the order and dashed out for the pickup and back, all in 19 minutes. While I was in the restaurant, I saw the owner/manager as well as one of the waitresses actually running to get food to customers. Hell yes, I approve that kind of hustle.
And let me tell you, that sesame chicken hit the spot in a major way. Oh yeah. And the egg rolls and fried rice were pretty solid as well. None of the food was overly greasy. The vegetarian's delight had a great variety of vegetables but wasn't nearly as decadently pleasurable as the sesame chicken. $7 and change for a lunch special (entree, rice, egg roll), fast service, and solid food. I will definitely put this outfit on the list for repeat visits. -
Review from Meg S.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2012
House of Wah Sun is the best Chinese place I've found in the city so far. They have unbelievable egg rolls and great egg drop soup. The fried rice is delicious and I haven't found a chicken dish so far that I haven't liked. It is kind of expensive-which would be fine, but the portions are not very generous. But, you get what you pay for in high quality and great taste. Highly recommend!
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Review from Alberto J. M.
Chicago, IL
12/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Hands down the best Chinese in the area. You can keep your Orange Garden, because the House of Wah Sun is king. I've literally been coming here since I was a baby, and I'll continue to come here, and introduce others to this neighborhood staple, as they usually end up doing with those close to them, after experiencing Wah Sun with me. The service is great, friendly, and once you're a regular, you feel like family, because they make you feel that way. If you're looking to wash down your Wah Sun meal with an alcoholic beverage, I suggest you order a "Zombie".
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Review from H H.
Chicago, IL
12/10/2011
It's ok. Not exactly the greasy amero-Chinese I expected. Was probably healthier. Big vegetables and fresh. A little pricy
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Review from Sarah Z.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2011
Hands down, the second best Chinese food I've had in Chicago.
I definitely want to come back here or order from here very soon. The egg rolls were really flavorful, the kung pao chicken was delish, and they have online ordering. Nice! -
Review from Jason R.
Downers Grove, IL
12/13/2011
Great relaxed dining room, great chicken and beef dishes (have not tried any pork or shrimp), exotic cocktails, perfectly sized portions and a friendly waitstaff. The veggie eggrolls are amazing!
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Review from Jordan H.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2012
For those days where you don't want to leave the house, this place is top notch. Delivery is fast, although their hours are somewhat odd. But, for a dinner in it's hard to beat the hot braised chicken or shrimp, which they somehow keep crispy from the time it leaves the restaurant until the time you open up the package. Kudos to these guys, as they do what very few Asian restaurants can do - deliver fresh food.
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Review from Andrea D.
Chicago, IL
3/26/2011
Sometimes, you just need a pu-pu platter. Am I right, or am I right?
(And yes, House of Wah Sun calls it an "appetizer platter," but we all know what it really is.)
While we had been devotees to Yummy Yummy for our Chinese food cravings, it's important to mix things up from time to time, and well, see my first sentence of this review.
We have now ordered (yes, sorry, a delivery-only review coming here) from House of Wah Sun several times, and the following are my non-scientific findings.
--Pu-pu platter (aka appetizer platter): this is just such a winner. There's really something for everyone. My faves are the egg rolls (and don't worry, you get 2 of everything per order), the beef skewers, and the ribs. The fiance loves the fried shrimpies and chicken wings. Yes, our order preferences are the ying and the yang, and it works perfectly with this particular item.
--The rest of the food...is...well, I don't know if it's objectively good, to be honest. It is pretty good, but it definitely has a nostalgia factor for us. It's the type of Chinese food we both grew up on, and really doesn't aspire to be an example of excellent Chinese (-American) food. And we're ok with that. Yes, we do indeed like a side of nostalgia with our pu-pu platters.
--The Szechwan chicken was my favorite order. Mushu Chicken was pretty meh.
--Fiance loves sesame chicken, but I found this version to be particularly sweet. If you like sweetness, you'll be good with this.
--Fried rice is very good and soaked in soy sauce--just the way I like it.
--Delivery is CRAZY fast. I think we once waited 29 minutes for it, but that was certainly the longest we waited. If you ever need Chinese in a hurry, this is your best bet.
We like Wah Sun, but it's not going to be our go-to every time; we will be working it into a regular rotation with Yummy Yummy when we need a break. But if you are feeling nostalgic, look no further than House of Wah Sun. -
Review from Marta P.
Chicago, IL
6/10/2011
Chinese food can be hit or miss, so we have been trying our fair share lately.
I literally just got done eating my delivery and had to write a review.
We always over order because I always have to try a bunch of stuff. Dont judge, but for the two of us we ordered:
1 egg roll- huge and fully stuffed
Potstickers- amazing I loved the pork seasoning
Kung pao chicken- tender chicken breast with loads of veggies, my only complaint is that it could have been spicier
Mongolian beef- the beef was really tender,and the veggies were cooked kinda soft, which I like
Sesame chicken- lightly breaded sitting in sweet sauce
Veggie fried rice- best fried rice! Not too greasy and lots of veggies
You could tell our food was made fresh. It was piping hot when it got here. Good thing we liked it because now I'll be having Chinese for the next 6 days. -
Review from Eugene C.
Chicago, IL
10/16/2011
It is Americanized Chinese food with everything you would expect from that but better than the usual. Had the General Tao's and my buddy had the Sweet and Sour chicken. I think either of those are a good metric for places like these. The service was pretty good and attentive. Since it's in my hood it will definitely be a staple whenever I get the hankering for this type of Chinese.
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Review from Pam D.
3/25/2011
This is another one of those places that has been around for a long time. I have driven past House of Wah Sun many times. Finally the other day when I was craving some Chinese food, we decided to stop and check out the lunch specials.
Right from the beginning there were things both Christopher and I liked. For one, they play Chinese themed music. I hate when you go into a Chinese restaurant and you end up having to listen to something like "The Girl From Ipanema" or Kenny G's greatest hits.
The music set the tone for a very nice lunch. The hot and sour soup was spicy enough but did benefit from the addition of a touch of soy sauce. The egg roll left us devided. I found it rather bland, but Christopher really liked his. Perhaps it is because to him, egg rolls are merely vehicles for the consumption of hot mustard.
I had the Mongloian Beef. It was tasty and there was a nice balance between the onions and the beef. Some places drown their beef in onions. This place got it right..
Christopher had the Sezchuan Chicken and really enjoyed it. I tasted it and I agree. There was a lot of chicken and a nice amount of veggies and it was not drowning in sauce.
The service was good and the lunch special prices were not bad. House of Wah Sun and I won't be strangers any longer.Listed in: A Swede's Guide to Chinese…
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Review from Derek A.
Chicago, IL
6/28/2011
House of Wah Sun is the best overall Chinese restaurant we have found in Chicago. The atmosphere is what you would expect, and the service is always wonderful. But the food is the true selling point, as it is always clearly made fresh, is always hot and the portions are good - - the fried entrees have a nice crust on them, as opposed to the typical wet, soggy outside of most fried chinese food. There are a lot of reviews complaining about the price, but just like anywhere else, you have to pay a bit more for better food and amazing service.
Pros:
- Food is extremely tasty!
- Service is consistently great.
- Free hot tea and cookies.
- They actually have a parking lot, rare in that part of town.
- Crab rangoon is some of the best around.
Cons:
- Yet to come up with one... -
Review from Tim C.
Wrigleyville, Chicago, IL
3/6/2011
So this is going to take some owning up on my part: I was "that" guy. I ordered some food and forgot to check to see if my phone was on vibrate. I missed several calls from the delivery guy. Not my proudest moment.
The delivery guy had every reason to be completely pissed w me. But he was honestly rather polite and not rude as he rightfully should have been.
And you know what, the food was freaking delicious. I ordered the Mongolian Beef. My girlfriend ordered the Orange Chicken. I didn't try the Orange Chicken so I can't comment on it. But the Mongolian Beef was in a very tasty sauce with generous portions of beef. I'm a big fan of onions, and they cooked the onions very finely.
So good food and polite employees that don't bust open your skull when they have every given reason to do so. A+++++ Would Order Again (to a different address... someone get me Elaine Benes on the phone STAT!)
edit:
After reading some reviews for HoWS, yelp really needs a "this review is by an uneducated hipster" buttons like they do for "cool" "funny" due to reviews such as the one by Kevin A.
* People that clamor over MSG are fools that need to turn off the 24/7 news cycle: http://www.guardian.co...
* Who seriously is so diluted to think that because a restaurant serves Mai Tais, that their ability to cook food is to be called in to question? -
Review from Jason D.
Chicago, IL
12/3/2011
Average Chinese food. Wasn't bad, wasn't great. Ordered beef lo mien. It tasted like plain noodles. Pretty much no sauce. However, it did have a ton of fresh steamed veggies which I liked. We also had sweet and sour chicken- it was average. Potstickers and crab Rangoon were probably the best part of the meal.
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Review from Rachel G.
1/25/2011
By far my favorite Chinese restaurant in the city!
Their seasame chicken is never rubbery, but always crunchy and the chicken is cooked well. My boyfriend always gets the beef with peapods and that is delicious too. Everything is fresh and hot and tasty!
This place also has a large dining room and it's one of the very few Chinese restaurants that I will actually dine-in at. Service is always fast and friendly. Their decor could use some updating, but hey, I am here for the food! What's really nice is that they have a parking lot...whoohoo!
When ordering out, their delivery is pretty fast. The only reason for not 5 stars is that even though it's my favorite Chinese restaurant, it's also the most expensive. Go figure...but a little splurge here and there is ok in my book! -
Review from Mary R.
Chicago, IL
2/28/2011
I have had the pleasure of dining at Wah Sun for several years now, ever since the current owners took over management of this long established restaurant. The owners are workaholics, very polite and have excellent memories of their patrons. I usually dine at Wah Sun 4 to 6 times each year and the owners not only remember me but they also remember what I order, which is remarkable.
All that being said, the food is always made to order, fresh, hot and delicious. Yes, it is Americanized-Chinese food -- if you are looking for authentic less adulterized food, you will have to go to China Town, but for a classic Cantonese style meal, you cannot go wrong here.
They have very fast take out and delivery and there is a fixed price lunch special with a generous dinner menu. The decor is 1970's but clean and comfortable and not distracting at all. They have free parking in the generous lot and they are open at convenient times during the day.
The price is also great given the experience and it is nice to escape from the world dining at Wah Sun. It is like a Chinese Diner if you wish to make an analogy with foods you are comfortable with and delicious items to choose from, served in a comfortable home. -
Review from Joseph M.
San Francisco, CA
10/11/2010
As a kid who grew up in the neighborhood of Chicago that this restaurant is in, I can say that I literally grew up on this food. Since moving to Cali and trying the more traditional fare in SF and LA, I have to say, comparing Wah Sun to that is like comparing apples and oranges. Wah Sun is not really traditional, but is is good food in it's own right.
We used to order from the small walk-in take out store front they occupied before expanding into the current restaurant, so like i said, I grew up in this stuff. When I got older and started to go to the sit down place, the family still remembered my last name, from when we order take out and greeted me warmly. When I go back to Chicago to visit, this is one of the few places for my youth that is still open and therefore, that I still visit.
North side! -
Review from Carri C.
Chicago, IL
7/6/2011
I've ordered from Wah Sun about 20 times so far. Every time has been very good other than one time when I had some sub-par pot stickers (I would avoid those). Chicken sweet and sour is great. Chicken is crispy. Crab rangoons are tasty. Delivery is always timely-delivery people are nice. I ate in the restaurant once. While the good was fine, the ambiance was a little boring.
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Review from Chris P.
Chicago, IL
7/16/2010
I never write about a place after only having had it once. How can I make a sound judgment right enough to leave an opinion? Well, I ate takeout from House last night, the ONLY time, and I can say this is the realest deal Ive ever had.
I got the Orange Chicken, and it wasn't just breading which happen to have chicken morsels like most of the places in this city. These were lightly breaded hearty pieces of chicken. That alone stunned me. Then I had the Crab Rangoon and it was head and shoulders above the generic cream cheese puffs I am used to. The Orange Chicken had full slices of orange in it! Crazy!
I am going with 4 because I want to give it 5, but I will update after another couple visits, which I am already excited for! Really this review comes as a sigh of relief of having such mediocre chinese/cantonese most of my life.
Thank you House of Wah Sun for surprising this young curmudgeon.
Oh and paying ten bucks for a large is not an issue since I filled up at dinner and have plenty for lunch today. -
Review from Kevin A.
11/11/2008
RULE #145231: DO NOT EAT AT CHINESE RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE MAI TAIS
I have a new rule. No eating at Chinese restaurants that serve tropical drinks like mai tais, pina coladas, zombies, etc. This along with blood-red naughahyde booths are very bad omens that you're going to have an unpleasant meal.
My first gripe with this place was the obscene amounts of MSG that they put in their food. My mouth was as dry as the Kalahari shortly after my meal and I must have downed 4 glasses of water in a futile attempt to quench my thirst.
Other low points were the greasy pot-stickers and the black bean chicken in a gloppy, cornstarch laden sauce. ***shudders*** The only thing that was passable was the Mongolian beef, but again it was loaded with MSG.
Upon reflection I should have noticed that there were none of my people here, and after my meal it was obvious why.Listed in: The Boycott List - Places I…
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Review from Dave S.
12/12/2007
There are way too many hit or miss and overall bad Chinese restaurants in Chicago. This place is NOT one of them. I enjoyed my first meal here and I hope to return sooner rather than later.
We had a party of five so not only did I enjoy my Cashew Chicken but I had the opportunity to sample four other entrees. Everything was very tasty. The Crab Rangoons tasted slightly off. They weren't bad by any means but I was rather underwhelmed by them.
Our server was very good. She was very attentive but did not overwhelm us. When we did need something, she was always close by. The place has been around a while and it is showing it's age. it is kept up well though. The rear part of the dining room looked somewhat disheveled though.
I am anxious to try more stuff here! -
Review from Tory w.
8/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
It seems as though my fellow yelpies have an allegiance to either wah sun or its North Center neighbor, Orange Garden. I love them both, although lately have been frequenting Wah Sun more because it has a parking lot - score!
Wah Sun is a bit dark and run down on the inside, but it gives me a feeling of nostalgia for the Chinese restaurants of my childhood.
The service is always prompt and friendly, and the last couple of times I've been, I've been greeted like a regular.
The food is quite good - standard Chinese fare, but fresh and good. I can recommend the crispy veggie egg rolls, the lemon chicken, empress chicken, general tao, cashew, almond, mongolian beef, chop suey, lo mein, and any veggie dish....I've tried it all! -
Review from Katarina X.
Chicago, IL
10/15/2007
My newly-vegetarian boyfriend loves anything cheeky, cheesy and topped with a dollop of campy self-conscious kitsch. Veggie Eggrolls are a mere bonus: It is the Drinks that must be seen to be believed!
Y'know the gigantic 7-Eleven XXX-Large Big Gulp cups?
No?
Okay, Y'know the gargantuan barrels you see horses eating from?
Right.
That is the approximate size of the 'Blue Zombie' and yes, you must see to believe the tiki-head stein-sized mugs your drink will arrive in- complete with little paper umbrellas, maraschino cherries, orange and pineapple slices and maybe even the Good Witch of the North ready to grant three wishes- but by the time I was done, I couldn't have remembered my own name let alone whatever else we may have ordered...
Update: MUST amend my review. The food is as good as the drinks! Came home from work today too wiped out to even attempt cooking. So we called the House for take-out. Literally: 23 minutes (yes, we timed it) after we hung up the phone the delivery-man was ringing our doorbell and the dining room table was groaning under the weight of all the food!
May I recommend the gigantic veggie egg rolls, the crab rangoon, the Hawaii pineapple fried rice, tasty little almond cookies and lastly: I want to marry the lemon chicken- My boyfriend is jealous, but he's not Lemon Chicken: crispy breaded chicken stuffed with ham and served with enough zesty lemon sauce to swim in! Ahhhhh..... Lemon chicken, we will be so happy together! -
Review from Kristin R.
Chicago, IL
1/6/2008
To the wonderfully sweet and patient waitress who waited on me and my dick of a date, apologies. Sincere apologies. Part of my experience here will always be tainted by my less than glorious company. Note to self, when you know a guy's a douchebag, simply refrain from spending time with him!
Ok so on to what this review is REALLY based on: the food! Um it was so so. I am really not a huge Chinese food fan but on occasion, when I am on a date and the guy really has no regard for what I like or dislike, I have to roll with it. So, we ordered the sweet n' sour shrimp and the schezuan (sp?) shrimp. Both were adequately tasty but definitely far from the best Chinese I've had.
On the upside, they did make a killer Mai Tai and their house glasses of wine are only $3.25. Oh and our waitress was a sweetheart. Again, apologies.
Probably won't come here ever again but had an OK experience (with the food at least) when i was there. -
Review from MaryAnne M.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2007
So this is the neighborhood I grew up in. And in this neighborhood there are two Chinese restaurants. House of Wah Sun and Orange Garden. If you also grew up in this hood you have allegiance to one or the other.
So I'm dating the bf (also from the same hood) for about 6 months and we feel like Chinese, I'll all excited because I haven't been the House for a while and my mouth is watering for the appetizer tray.
In my horror he suggests Orange Garden!! Noooooo! Not Orange Garden!
I don't know what to do.
I go to Orange Garden and it just reiterates my love of House of Wah Sun.
Fast forward 4 years the same bf wants Chinese delivered.
Ha ha, here's my chance. Orange does not deliver!
We order from the House. Fast delivery. I don't think it took 25 minutes.
And I am slowly converting the bf. -
Review from Lindsey C.
Chicago, IL
11/11/2008
Sunday night we were all a little spent from the day's activities so we decided to order some food in. Plenty is closed on Sundays so we had to find a chinese alternative. My roommate suggested House of Wah Sun.
We ordered the Empress Chicken, some Wonton Soup, potstickers, and also a hot and sour soup. The total came to only $18.00!! And it was GOOD!
They told us it'd be about 45 minutes, but it only took about 30 and we live in Ravenswood. Not too shabby. The food was correct, hot ,and Tasty as hell. I highly recommend the potstickers, and the Empress Chicken was damn good too.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Jim F.
Los Angeles, CA
5/14/2007
There are not a lot of Chinese places in my neighborhood compared to the Mountain of Thai places and I enjoy House of Wah Sun.
A pretty legnthy menu and options await and it's low frills enough to go there causually but it's not gross and campy. Perfect mix.
I like their Walnut Chicken. -
Review from Maggie B.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2007
After losing the fabulous Wing Lee to thai-fusion yuppiedom, we tried out Wah Sun for delivery. Their eggrolls are so good, it's almost easy to overlook the price.
So far everything we've ordered has been top-notch, although it's a bit on the pricey side - expect to drop $30 or so for a dinner with variety.
I vaguely remember eating in their dining room many years ago and thinking "this place will be here forever." So far I'm right! -
Review from Jon J.
Chicago, IL
7/16/2007
It's the American Chinese Restaurant from your childhood. And I have to say that it nudges Orange Garden out of my list for the top spot in "American Chinese" cuisine.
Where to begin here? Perhaps in the order that you'll eat.
First, they've got "tropical drinks". They serve them out of flamboyant plastic glasses shaped like a tiki god or pineapple. Classic.
Their "appetizers" are top notch. Egg rolls? AWESOME. Crunchy, peanut buttery, sweet and filled with actually identifiable meat and vegetable products. Yum. Pot stickers? Similarly awesome. We had them steamed, they're probably just as good fried. Soup? Hot & sour is superb.
Entrees are equally good. Mongolian beef, chow fun, and vegetables all came out nice, and in copious quantities. However, despite our hunch we had ordered too much food, none of us could stop eating! It was great stuff.
All in all, House of Wah Sun reminds me of my childhood, and the food's just as good as it is in my memory. Yeah, you can't get this stuff in China.... you can only get it here. It's American Chinese food. Love it, live it! -
Review from Brett G.
Chicago, IL
2/18/2008
3 1/2 stars. The service is attentive without being pushy. They were really nice and helpful.
I really enjoyed the tofu vegetable soup, and the egg rolls were tasty as well. We got the mooshoo vegetables (I've also had the mooshoo chicken) and the szechwan broccoli.
On the downside, the entrees were not as piping hot as I would have expected as they weren't terribly busy. It is a little pricey, in my mind, for Chinese food but the food is good. Request no MSG if you don't want it as some dishes still contain it if not asked for without.
There is no reason why I won't go back. And they delivery quickly as well. -
Review from Luther Z.
Madison, WI
Updated - 1/21/2009
Kevin A. is obviously alone in his evaluation of Wah Sun. First, if you don't like MSG in your food, you can request to have it without.
Anyhow, I just wanted to write an update to reiterate how great the food and service are whether you are dining in or ordering for delivery. The owner always asks how my son is, and I am remembered whether dining in or getting delivery.
The food is excellent - quality is the best way to describe it. The chicken is all white meat, the veggies are fresh and plentiful, and they definitely don't skimp on anything. Egg Rolls are fantastic as well, crunchy, well constructed, and most importantly, delicious. If you want a great neighborhood Chinese restaurant, Wah Sun is your place!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/3/2008
Love this place. Super friendly staff when dining in, expedient delivery when you order out,… Read more »
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Review from Jenny A.
Chicago, IL
7/25/2007
This is a nice little Chinese restaurant tucked away in North Center. The lunch specials are excellent, and I could easily destroy a few plates of the pork fried rice. The egg rolls are great, and this is one of the few places I've been to that offers a choice of egg roll (vegetarian, pork, seafood). At first, I was hoping that it would be a buffet, but after I saw the portion sizes, I changed my mind! They give you a LOT of food here.
The big disappointment was a lack of wonton soup on the lunch menu. The egg drop soup is very good, but wonton is my favorite.Listed in: I like food
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Review from Linda Y.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2009
I've been coming to Wah-Sun since I've lived in the neighborhood (4-5 years) & it is my favorite neighborhood Chinese place ever since my Orange Garden debacle. For a while there it was so often that when I didn't come in for a while, the waitstaff was genuinely concerned about me when I came back in. And they still remember my regular order. So much for my being unpredictable...
I've dined in, I've taken out & in both cases the folks here have always been very nice, and the service really fast, the food delicious & fresh. I'm more of a crab rangoon than an egg roll person, but these are delicious egg rolls.
By the way,I always order the food here without MSG, which is a recent addition to the ingredient list. They are always very accommodating about it, so don't be afraid to ask. -
Review from Elizabeth H.
Chicago, IL
7/26/2007
This palce used to be my family's favortie, one-and-only spot for Chinese. A few years back, they changed chefs and it hasn't been quite right since.
That being said, it still has decent food. Service is usually fast and friendly (with a few exceptions) and it is great for large parties. The space inside is huge compared to many chiense spots and so there is usually not too much of a wait.
I still go back to Wah Sun every once in awhile and if you live in the neighborhood it's a good go-to spot if no one can make a decision, but it's just gone a little downhill in my opinion. -
Review from Ande L.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2008
30 reviews, yeah yeah. I like to add my own 2 cents for my own self-satisfaction.
I've left my mark on the businesses of Lincoln Park, therefore I am now moving on to those of North Center/Lincoln Square.
House of Wah Sun is just a few blocks from my apartment and I'm so glad. I have had an impossible time trying to find a chinese restaurant that met my expectations. House of Wah Sun has finally fit the bill.
I just ordered their shrimp in lobster sauce and it was so good. I love their fried rice, the egg rolls are really great too and their service is always friendly. And have you ever been to a chinese restaurant that didn't have your order ready in 15 minutes?
I've also had their sweet and sour chicken. I wasn't too crazy about it...the chicken pieces were huge. Oh and I hated their wonton soup. But other than that, I'm really happy with the House. -
Review from Matt G.
6/26/2009
Just a mere 5 minute walk from the house, this is my stand-by for Chinese in the neighborhood. Everything here that I've had has been excellent and the prices were reasonable (although have gone up a bit over the past two years or so).
My one observation is that the serving size seems to be larger for dining in rather than delivery or carryout. It might be my mind playing tricks on me, but it just feels that way.
A nice neighborhood homey Chinese option that I would recommend to nearly anyone. -
Review from Matt P.
Chicago, IL
6/19/2010
Just to get this straight I gave this resturant five stars mainly because of one dish and the people who run the place.
They have a few dishes that I was not crazy about but they have one of the best dishes I have ever had a chinese restuarant. If you are a fan of general tsaos chicken do not order that but order the hot braised chicken. It is a delight. There is something addictive about this dish and even though I moved from the area I still go out there to get this dish. mmmmmmm. Now saying this I am going going to get some hot braised chicken right now.
Anyone who gives this place a bad review is crazy and should try a different meal.
