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Lao Sze Chuan House
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
52 reviews for Lao Sze Chuan House
Review Highlights
"...I highly recommend the Boiled Beef in Spicy Sichuan Sauce."
(in 5 reviews)
"The Chengdu dumplings were a good start for us."
(in 2 reviews)
"The hot & sour soup is great, and the rangoons are too."
(in 3 reviews)
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52 reviews in English
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Review from Danny Y.
11/9/2011
Even though this place is just around the corner, I've actually been avoiding this restaurant because I'm not crazy about spicy food. Decided to finally take the chance tonight and give it a shot, and to my surprise there was plenty of non-spicy menu items.
We opted for the following:
braised string beans - 4/5 crunch, tasty
salt and pepper pork - 4.5/5 yum, with just a hint of spicy
dan dan noodles - 3/5 too salty, but noodles were fairly decent
black sesame dessert - 3/5 tastes like it's supposed to
All in all, we're SUPER glad to have found a closer (and superior) chinese alternative to Joy Yee's in Naperville. The lifeless vibe of the restaurant could use a little help, but otherwise this is an excellent chinese restaurant! -
Review from Kedar D.
12/11/2011
I regularly go to the delectable Lao Sze Chuan outpost in Milford, Connecticut, based near where I go to grad school. Imagine my surprise, then, when I found another Lao Sze Chuan, with the same owner, based just a short drive from my parents' house!
As such, I came with high hopes. Ultimately, while this restaurant does offer some tasty vegan dishes, it doesn't quite reach the transcendence of its Connecticut branch, nor does it match the quality and variety of a nearby Szechuan restaurant, Mapo in Naperville.
I got the "spicy bamboo shoots" ($6) and "vegetarian chicken shanghai style" ($6) as appetizers. The bamboo shoots, while looking nearly identical to the same dish served in Connecticut, didn't taste quite as good. Whereas in Connecticut you get a light, tingly feeling on your tongue from the Szechuan peppercorns, here in Illinois you get a more basic, generic red chili flavor. The vegetarian chicken is, in fact, tofu skins wrapped around black mushrooms. This dish tasted fine but, again, the equivalent dish in Connecticut (tofu crepe with black mushrooms) comes prepared in a more sophisticated manner (layered and stacked) with bamboo shoots and higher quality mushrooms.
For main courses I got a "bean curd home style" ($9) and a "potherb with spicy szechuan style" ($10). The bean curd was an oily mess of sauteed tofu blocks, some water chestnuts, carrots and peapods. It tasted all right, but not great. This seemed more like generic Chinese take-out which is not what I expected from such a critically-acclaimed place, and from their special menu. The potherb basically consisted of diced mustard greens sauteed in a light sauce and had absolutely no spice to it whatsoever, despite the "spicy" label. I think they accidentally left out the chili.
Lastly, the restaurant doesn't offer brown rice, which broke my heart. I hate white rice.
While Lao Sze Chuan provides some decent food, it doesn't match up to its Connecticut branch. Given that most of you can't go to Connecticut on short notice, I would suggest going to Mapo in Naperville instead, which offers a similar menu, but has better quality preparations and a slightly cozier interior atmosphere as well. -
Review from Alison G.
Chicago, IL
8/29/2011
They seat us on a broken table (the booth area). I think the restaurant needs major upgrade or at least deep cleaning service, you don't need to look at the decor, you can smell it once you step in to the restaurant...... Other than that food is not bad.
- Spicy beef noodle soup - the noodles were too chewy and needs more cooked. But the soup was great!
- the salt & pepper pork chop tasted well but a bit too oily
The next time I come back will be take-out until they deep clean everything. -
Review from Joe D.
Downers Grove, IL
1/18/2012
You have to try this restaurant. Wide selection of foods. Every dish has a unique flavor and the SERVICE IS OUTSTANDING. My favorites: (Descriptions may not match menu completely)
Beef Flanky Stew with handwokred noodle: Spicy, chewy and tasty. Order spicyness to preference.
Eggplant with spicy pork
Boiled Beef in Szechuan Sauce (spicy)
Many non-spicy items
Many authentic items to tempt your taste. (Menu is extensive. We try something new evey time we go.)
One of my favorite places. -
Review from Jacqueline A.
Mount Prospect, IL
12/4/2011
We have been here multiple times for lunch and it is really great. We order family style and try a lot of different things. I love the dry chilli chicken dish - it looks really spicy but it really isn't too crazy - I highly recommend it. The other dishes are good too and the bill is always really reasonable. I just wish it were closer to home.
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Review from Jie S.
6/1/2011
It is our go-to place for the real spicy Chines food in west suburbs.
Now we order the combination of none-spicy food and spicy ones for the family with young kids.
Appetizers: Scallion pancakes for kids and Spicy cold noodles for us.
Main dishes: fish with vegetables for kids and Dry chili chicken for us. I think we order Dry chili chicken almost every single time we ate there. It is as spicy as it could get. It never gets old. Another must to have is Szechuan String Beans.
And anything Boiled Pork/Beef/Fish in Spicy Szechuan Sauce. Vegetables in those dishes/bowls are much more spicier than the meat. You will love it if you could handle or enjoy the burning sensation.
The service is quick and attentive. Please note they don't serve all dishes together. Whichever is ready will be on your table to share. -
Review from Deepika B.
Schaumburg, IL
8/1/2011
The Taste of Chicago that I attended led me to this place as I had tried their Dry Chilli Chicken here. This dish was to die for. It was awesome and the most excellent chinese appetizer I had ever had before. In fact, it was so wonderful that we had it twice and their fried rice had run out of stock.
Since then I had been waiting to try them out. We decided going against the Chinatown branch and went to the Downers Grove instead. Not a great choice I guess.
I had the wonton soup which was hot and good. The next was their most famous dish ' Dry chilli chicken' that I was dying to have. It was good but was nowhere close to the one that I had at the Taste of Chicago. I was a bit disappointed. Next was the salt n pepper calamari that was well made and tasted wonderful.
The egg fried rice tasted great. Service was good and quick. Would have given a 5 rating if the chilli chicken had the same wonderful taste as before. The next time I visit this place, it would be their Chinatown branch. -
Review from Heather S.
Chicago, IL
3/13/2011
Best Chinese Food in the city!
The wait can be long, but it's well worth it. Cold pork appetizer is the best and works as a meal. Delish! -
Review from dan k.
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is pretty quick and cheap and fast for lunch. There is a special which comes with some soup and an eggroll/crab rangoon/etc along with the entree. I had the cashew chicken which was tasty. It has a lot of space for big groups. The chili chicken comes with A LOT of chili peppers, it's almost like chili peppers with a side of chicken. But it's still good.
The service is good too. Honestly I was expecting it to take a while, but we got our food fast. They tend to bring plates out as they're ready, which I prefer. Nothing worse than waiting cause one person ordered some slow cook item. Ok, maybe there are worse things. But not when you're hungry and trying to get back for a 1pm. -
Review from Will C.
Skokie, IL
1/28/2011
THE BEST SPICY ASIAN FOOD YOU WILL EVER EAT IN YOUR LIFE. Here's a list of what I get every time I go...been coming to this place for over 10 years and loving it every time. Remember......you come to Chinatown for food, not service, so stop griping! lol...and FOOD is greater than service.
Their spicy cabbage is yummy~!
Dry Chili Chicken (A Chef favorite)
Dry Chili Prawns or Dry Chili Shrimp (if you dont like the shell)
Salt & Pepper Scallop
Dry Chili Pork (i call this dry chili bacon as that is what it looks like)
Broiled Beef or Pork is Spicy Szechuan Sauce
(Also, anythign with black bean sauce is always delicious!)
If you don''t like this place, there is something wrong with you as all who come here would agree.....you won't be disappointed.
**Note: If you are one of those people who go to Chinese restaurants to order the "American Chinese" dishes like kung pao chicken, sweet & sour pork, egg foo young, fried rice, etc....don't bother eating here or ordering those" You must order form the "Real Chinese Menu"....if you don't you will probably gripe about the price, and no one likes whiners lol =)
**Update: You don't go to a Chinese restaurant, especially in Chinatown, for the service...ONLY the food lol. -
Review from Corin W.
1/7/2011
Fiery! Fiery! Fiery!
If you want Sze Chuan: this is it. THEE place.
There are three dishes we go for all the time. Boiled Beef. Boiled Pork. Or special Dover spicy fish. FLAMING AS HALSTED ON HALLOWEEN EVE! (The special fish is my favorite, by the way) If you cannot handle the spice do NOT attempt to eat any of these. I once had the chili chicken. Nothing but perfectly tender chicken and chilies. That's it. About forty or so chilies. Wow was it good.
There are a couple of standards I like here too. I love fried wontons and they do excellent ones: crispy with a slightly tender center. The egg rolls are good. The soup is great. Wonton and hot and sour.
Prices have gone up substantially over the last couple of years but they still have lunch specials during the week. There's one in China Town square too: right on the western end. I've never noticed a variance in quality. Either way it's been superb.Listed in: Graveyard Freaks Need Love…, Best Chinese
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Review from Neil D.
Burr Ridge, IL
9/25/2011
Must say, I was thoroughly disappointed with my experience, especially after reading all of the positive feedback here on Yelp.
Got the Hot and Sour soup for appetizer, it was OK. nothing to write home about. I do prefer my soups to be a bit thicker and this was more on the watery side. Flavor was okay though.
For dinner, we informed our waiter (who was very nice and personable) that we LOVE spicy food. So he gave us a number of options, and it being our first time, we took him up on his recommendations.
The Chinese Broccoli came first, and this was probably the best part of dinner (besides the rice). It was not spicy, but the flavor was very nice.
Next came the Dry Chili Shrimp. It was okay. Shrimp was NOT fresh, which made the dish lose points almost immediately. The shrimp was lighly battered, fried, and tossed with garlic and chili peppers. Again, not super spicy, but looking at the amount of chilis on the plate, one would have assumed otherwise.
Next, totallly based on recommendations in a number of reviews, along with me being a sucker for spicy, I tried the Bild Beef in spicy sichuan sauce. I feel like a broken record here, but once again, NOT SPICY!! This was becoming a pattern. The beef was extremely tough, but the overall flavor of the bok choy and green onions along with the broth was very tasty. But I think I would not order this again, that is if I ever go back.
And finally we got what our waiter called "one of our most popular dishes." The Chinese-style Kung Pao chicken. Where to start with where this one went wrong. He said he would make it spicy and it was actually sweet! Also, i assumed that the dish would be made with white chicken, but instead we found a big plate of tough, dark meat. The sauce (other than it being sweet) was okay. Not great, but definitely not the worst I have ever had.
I do not think I will be revisiting this establishment again. It held so much promise, especially since we saw other Chinese people in the restaurant (usually a very good sign at any ethnic place). I would have given them 1.5 stars if I could, as the service was excellent. The staff is very attentive, nice and polite.
The hunt for GREAT suburban Chinese food continues. -
Review from Ruth F.
Wheaton, IL
6/18/2011
I came here for lunch hoping for vegetarian chicken and perhaps bean curd skin. Vegetarian choices on the lunch menu are pretty skimpy, but they let me order off the dinner menu. The vegetarian chicken was delicious though the texture is more reminiscent of chewy cabbage than chicken. I got the spicy tofu, which I think is perhaps smoked. They aren't kidding. The Szechuan green beans are made with ground shrimp usually, so they made me a portion specially without it. Very good if a bit salty. I also got a vegetarian egg roll, which was good if basic.
Lots of interesting choices; will have to try the bitter melon and come back for the bean curd skin. I'm looking forward to adventuring, knowing that if there's something nonvegetarian in the food, the staff will tell me.
The staff were very helpful and friendly (disclaimer, I brought my own chopsticks and used the four words of Chinese I can still remember). I was there at 2pm well after the lunch rush and the place was pretty quiet. -
Review from Mahmoud S.
Oak Lawn, IL
10/18/2011 1 photo
I love almost any type of asian food, but Chinese can be hit and miss. Nearly 90% of the time it's a miss. It's been so bad for me that I've just stayed away from Chinese restaurants all together. But one night we were in Downers Grove and just felt like some rice! Quick google search lead to Lao being the closest and had very good reviews. Going in I was praying that the meat would be real and not that rubbery crap that most Chinese places use. The inside of the restaurant is real nice and we were seated in a both right away. The wait staff is nice, but kind of in a rush so they are just buzzing around all over the place. The menu is huge and seemed to be very authentic, because most of the dishes I had never heard of. Flipping to the back of the menu will find the "Americanized Chinese dishes" if thats what you want. But for us we wanted the real stuff, we went with the Tony's Chicken, Hot Plate Steak, hand made noodles in spicy sauce, and chicken satay for starters. The food came quickly and it was just mouth watering to look at. The first bite of Tony's Chicken I will never forget, it was sweet and spicy and worth going for. The hot plate steak came out on a sizzling plate and was so flavorful and the meat was juicy and delicious. This is the absolute best Chinese restaurant I have ever been to and I suggest you give it a try you will not forget it. I've been there many times now and have yet to be disappointed!
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Review from Kara Z.
1/6/2011
I went to this restaurant at my sister's insistence. She had recently come home from a vacation in China and found this restaurant on Yelp and wanted to give it a try because she thought it sounded like it had authentic Chinese food.
She was pleased- she got her spicy food and I tried some of her dumplings which I thought were very good, but pretty spicy (good for her, not so great for me).
I ordered an egg roll and really didn't like it. I'm sure other people love them but the flavor was just not for me- I didn't even finish it which is pretty rare for me.
I did love the chicken fried rice I ordered and would rate it as one of the best chicken fried rice in the suburbs!
The service was great- our server had the best smile I've seen in a long time.
The other reviews are really accurate. The food did come out at different times as it was ready. Also, there were people who were Asian eating here which I would think speaks well of this restaurant. -
Review from Bill S.
Naperville, IL
6/23/2011
Greatest authentic Chinese food in the suburbs. If you are willing and able to handle the spiciness, I highly recommend the Boiled Beef in Spicy Sichuan Sauce. It is perfection on a plate. The hot & sour soup is great, and the rangoons are too.
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Review from Matt K.
Homer Glen, IL
5/22/2011
I don't give this out easily, but this is the best place for authentic Sze Chuan dishes in Chicagoland. Sure, a lot of places have them on the menu, but they are never up to par. This is the real deal. And the spice level has not been 'americanized' too much. The house specials chili bean fish and chili boiled beef deserve more than 5 stars. Service is lightning fast. prices unbeatable. One of my favorite lunch places.
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Review from Jessica G.
Villa Park, IL
9/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
So at Lao Sze Chaun House, on a Saturday at 7, and in Downers Grove, no less, it is likely you will have to wait for a table. It seems like they take reservations so make one and also tell them what you want in advance - when you get there, you can be seated quickly and eat quickly like the two tables next to us. Otherwise, we waited maybe 15 minutes for our table. It's not the cleanest place you'll eat but it's also not filthy - if you're bothered by tables that aren't sparkling, this may not be the place for you. I've only ever seen it in this condition so I accept it and move on. Service was a bit abrupt but that was fine - it was really busy, we got our orders taken, the food came out in a reasonable timeframe and it was correct so I won't worry about whether the server stopped to tell me her life story. The food was pretty darn delicious - we had the ginger spinach, which was quite refreshing, the green beans with black beans (hidden bits of jalapenos in there so beware - they masquerade as green bean chunks), the house fried rice (lots of various meat and seafood items - pretty basic), and then the dry chili shrimp, Tony's chicken and the twice cooked pork with fat, which I guess is important. When they say something is hot and spicy, it is, which I like. Make sure to read the menu and ask questions if you're uncertain so you don't end up blowing out your palate. The chicken and shrimp we had were both excellent, with a nice, crisp coating on each item. The chicken was a little sweet, which was a nice balance to the black pepper coating and the shrimp were just plain old spicy. The pork was eh to me but I don't like fatty stuff. Tasty meal in general, though, and definitely somewhere we'll visit again.
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Review from martini g.
Chicago, IL
11/22/2010
Awesomeness. And good service. Which chinese restaurants are definitely not known for.
My brother dragged me here unwillingly and it was SOOO good. warning: do not order "extra spicy" as they go by the Asian meter of hotness and you might find yourself tearing up a little bit.
Try the Crunchy Shrimp Mayonnaise, which sounds disgusting but is awesome -- it's the equivalent of honey walnut shrimp. Love it!!! -
Review from Patty S.
8/22/2010 2 Check-ins Here
In my many travels of Chicago Chinatown experiences, Lao's has by far one of the best Szechuan authentic menus.
I have never ordered from the American menu, so I can't comment on their sweet and sour pork or Mongolian beef. What I can comment on, however, is the deliciousness they put into their dishes. Like when I am at their sister restaurant in Chinatown, I order the mayonnaise shrimp and eggplant with garlic sauce; the flavors explode in your mouth!
Their steamed pot-stickers are fantastic. I have also tried the bitter melon dish; this was quite unique, as I have never tasted anything like this. The melon pieces were sliced thin (kind of like French fries) and were soaking in a bitter, yet sweet, sauce. An interesting flavor; although, one time to try them is plenty for me.
If you are with a few people or more, be prepared for the food to come out intermittently. They serve the dishes when they are ready (they don't leave them under warming lights to wait for everyone's to be ready at the same time). This gives you a chance to sample and enjoy everyone else's meals.
The Downers Grove location is spread out much larger than Chinatown's. But the menu is still the same and no matter which location you choose, the flavors of their authentic dishes will not disappoint you. -
Review from John R.
Pittsburgh, PA
6/4/2010
Visiting from out of town, I was looking forward to getting some authentic (as far as I'm concerned) Sichuan food.
The appetizers were so-so...I thought the onion cake was a little too greasy, and the dumpling wrapping on the pot stickers was a bit too thick. I'll get over it.
The entrees were outstanding -- the spicy hand made lo mein noodles were a big hit at the table. They had my favorite twice cooked pork with leeks and it was just as good as I've had it. Other big hits were the green beans and the crispy shrimp in mayonnaise (i swear it's better than it sounds).
The only entree we wouldn't get again was the salt and pepper shrimp which still had the shells and legs on (not really my thing).
All in all, I thought it was great, a reasonable price, and our service was perfect. -
Review from Lindley E.
Chicago, IL
3/27/2008
I was prepared to be disappointed after one of our office lunches was catered by LSC. Some truly superlative restaurants can pull off Americanized Chinese food - Friendship Chinese in Logan Square is a good example of this. LSC occupies the uncomfortable space between Americanized and Plain Not Good.
The intentions are good. The menu has many of the dishes for which the Chinatown location is known (eg Hot Pot) and a good selection of ghost-friendly dishes like...Egg Foo Young (the fact that this is on the menu made me cry tears of bitterest lye).
Egg Foo Young? Are we living in the 70s? And Subgum? Subgum?! These are on the menu because customers want them. Customers who generally don't know or care what authentic cuisine looks lor tastes ike.
I have a few dishes that I order to test out a restaurant's Authenticity Quotient (AQ). One of these is san bei ji - three cup chicken. A good san bei ji is simple - made with a cup of rice wine, a cup of soy, and a cup of sesame oil, with ginger and garlic. It isn't particularly sweet - and is always made with bone-in chicken.
LSC's version was made with bone-in chicken, a good start. It was served in a pot over flame, something I've never seen before. Stone crock, clay crock, yes...bubbling pan over sterno, no. From the first bite it tasted unfamiliar - it was extremely sweet and cloying. I know that's what most people expect from their Americanized Chinese restaurant, but those rules shouldn't apply to dishes that most folks wouldn't order because there's no fake general's name in the title. San bei ji's recipe should be served unaltered from the original, just like Mama used to make.
Other dishes were disappointing as well. Dan Dan Noodles weren't well-made or interesting - I've had better almost everywhere else. The dry spicy chicken was okay, but lacked heat (versions I've had in Shanghai had a bit more kick).
Service was slow. Heat was set on high. And I don't think I need to ever go back. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Sterling, VA
6/6/2010 1 photo
We were brought here by a friend who is a regular customer. I see why. Authentic, yummy Szechuan food with very nice service.
Nice decor. Elegant yet rustic and low-key decor. Good atmosphere.
They have non-spicy items for those who can't stomach any spicy, and they can also tone done the red pepper for those who can't stand too much.
The beef and lamb are very tender. Shrimp and veggies are very fresh. Szechuan cold noodles have a wonderful smooth and cool texture.
Can't go wrong with the food from here. Give it a try!!!
Don't order the Americanized food though... A group of Caucasians who sat next to us ordered beef broccoli, chicken broccoli, and mongolian beef. Really? REALLY???? In such a delicious szechuan place that has a HUGE fancy menu of authentic foods WITH PICTURES (so there's no excuse that you don't know what your ordering). -
Review from Jay N.
Lombard, IL
9/13/2010
Went here for a friend's birthday. Parking lot is adequate and access is ok from Ogden since there is a middle lane. Place looks a little dated from the outside but the inside is clean and menus are leather bound with pictures and descriptions. The larger group tables have Lazy Susans so it's easy to share dishes.
They used to be known for their hot pots but they have a lot more options now. They are one of the rare places that serves Szechuan dim sum. The Chengdu dumplings were a good start for us. I personally don't like that much rice noodles but it definitely soaked up a lot of the sauce. The boiled beef is like a hot pot dish and is a great main dish. The hot dry chili chicken is spicy but I could see other tables around us order it as well. The seafood dumplings with ginger sauce was pretty mild. We were looking for 1 more dish and our server was able to help us out by recommending the clams with black bean sauce. The clam taste really came through the sauce and was a nice complement to our spicier dishes. Water, tea, and rice were re-filled regularly.
We brought our cake to celebrate and there was no add-on charge plus they provided a cutting knife and plates. They also gave a package of almond cookies to the birthday boy. The prices are fair but worth it when going out for a group and when you have different dishes to try. -
Review from Mike P.
Broadview Heights, OH
5/11/2008
The outside looks like it used to be a Browns Chicken. Don't let that discourage you. Walk inside and you'll see this place rated by Zagat. The inside is decorated so well that you'll forget what the outside looks like. What I didn't like were the TVs hanging from the ceilings-- it was an unwanted distraction and certainly out of place.
The service is friendly and eager to please. The menu is extensive. I wouldn't call this 'authentic' Chinese food. It seems more like 'Americanized' Chinese food kick up a couple notches. Try the Kung Pao Chicken, extra spicy, which I considered to be one of the best Kung Pao Chicken meals Ive ever had. I like their veggie rolls and that they serve tea with each meal. As for condiments, the mustard sauce and the chili sauce were exactly how I like it- HOT.
The prices seem competitive with the nearby Chinese take out places, though a little on the high side and worth every penny. Take out has certainly met its match in Downers Grove.
My only complaint-- wish they would take out those damn TVs!!!! -
Review from Theresa C.
Naperville, IL
6/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the 'burbs. The food here is always fresh and delicious. My family has even abandoned our old standby Chinese restaurant to eat here now. While the food is very good, it cannot compete with the one in Chicago's Chinatown. I'm a little disappointed that the menu is different. You can clearly see that it caters to a more American crowd than it's Chicago counterpart.
Regardless, the food here is excellent. I'm slowly making it my mission to try a different dish every time I visit. So far, I have not been disappointed.
My one complaint is the fact that sometimes they run out of spicy cabbage. I absolutely love it and could eat a bucket full of the stuff. It saddens me when it is not available. -
Review from Cathaleya C.
Naperville, IL
3/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
My husband and I come here often because they offer some of the best spicy Chinese food ever. We always get Tony's Chili Chicken, Broiled Beef and Pork Intestine with Pork Blood.
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Review from Michele C.
Naperville, IL
2/22/2010
We stopped at this restaurant only after we found out that the restaurant we really wanted to go to was closed on Mondays. To be fair to the restaurant I would give it more of a 2 1/2 star rating, but since there is not one and I did not think it deserved a three star rating, I left it at 2 stars.
The menu is very large and has pictures for some items and then just a listing of the other items with no descriptions. After perusing the entire menu (all of 19+ pages), we decided on two different dishes. I ordered a dish called Special Pork with sizzling rice. I thought, "how could you go wrong with pork and sizzling rice?". This was from the Chinese side and from the picture it looked good. The flavor was not what I expected and to top it off the pork was sliced very thin and had large chunks of fat on it that I had to pick through.
The other dish was from the American side of the menu called the Kung Pao special. The flavor of the sauce was tasty with a nice spicy-ness to it. It was a combo of chicken, shrimp and bbq pork. The quality of the meat was mediocre, but the sauce made up for it.
I enjoy eating in Chinatown and have gone to the authentic little restaurants and bakeries for dinner. Perhaps I just did not go with the right people who could have told me what to order. Based on the food I ordered I will not be back to try it again, but maybe you'll have better luck in knowing what to order. -
Review from Kevin S.
Downers Grove, IL
3/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lao Sze Chuan has a very extensive meal selection, I was surprised to see the selection. I stuck with my favorites; I had house fried rice, General tso chicken, and appetizer sampler. The food was was good and was happy to try this place. There food selection leans more to the spicy side, so if that is what you like, this is the place to go.
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Review from Elizabeth F.
La Grange Park, IL
4/17/2011
First time eating at this location; service was very fast; food excellent; although the menu was not as extensive as the Chinatown location. Well worth a visit.
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Review from Jenni I.
7/13/2010 ROTD 9/7/2010
Yum! I have passed this place 100 times and never would have thought to try it because of how it looks on the outside. When someone clued me in to the fact that they have super authentic Chinese food, and I read some Yelp reviews I had to try it. We ordered a few things so we could try a variety: won ton soup, eggrolls, homemade spicy sour noodles, crispy duck and a chef special - stir fry beef with cilantro. The service wasn't the best, but I didn't really care - the food was great and if I asked for something, I got it. They did give you a pot of hot tea, which i thoroughly enjoyed.
Now for the food - I am an eggroll snob and I usually judge a Chinese restaurant by their eggrolls. These ones weren't great and I wouldn't order them again. But the noodles more than made up for the mediocre eggrolls. They were perfect in every way and I could eat pounds of those noodles and die happy. The soup, which was my husband's favorite was okay to me, but I am not a huge soup person. The duck was great and so was the beef with cilantro but the beef was super spicy. I love spicy food, so when I saw the chili indicator on the menu, I wasn't worried. But this was mouth-on-fire spicy, and I wished that my waiter would have told me that so I could have asked them to put less hot red chilies in it. My only other gripe was that they had a few authentic Chinese desserts on the menu that I was excited to try, but when I asked I was told that they didn't have dessert at this location. There were tons of things I saw on the menu that I want to go back and try including the dim sum, so I will be back. -
Review from Nolan F.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2009
Really leaning towards a 2 star rating...
I came here with a co-worker for lunch. She is pushing for a 2 star review. I am giving this place 3 stars because they provided me a regular cookie and a fortune cookie. That is two cookies for an extra star.
I had the General's chicken, and my co-worker had another dish (unknown). In both cases the food was abnormally salty. Off-puttingly, distractingly salty. And I generally like salty things.
I did feel I got a lot of food for my dollar, but I would have rather had less but better food. Quality over quantity.
Having tried this, and if given the choice, I rather would go to Panda Express. -
Review from Michelle Marie R.
Downers Grove, IL
10/5/2010
Great inexpensive and delish lunch specials!
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Review from phillip k.
Downers Grove, IL
1/4/2010
This is one terrific restaurant. I recommend the Tony's chicken..and also the crispy shrimp in mayo sauce.....also the chengdu dumplings.
The staff is friendly and attentive. -
Review from Antony P.
Addison, IL
2/4/2010
I love the food, I love the serving size (reasonable, not pig-out), I love the extras that come with the lunch, and I love the price. I haven't had Chinese this good in many years. I had Mongolian Beef and the meat and veggies were perfect, and the sauce was to die for.
I'm going back witrh my wife! -
Review from Marcus W.
Bolingbrook, IL
11/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
The food here is incredible, and the lunch specials are inexpensive
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Review from Mike H.
Downers Grove, IL
Updated - 1/15/2011
Went here again this past week...different dish, same awesomeness in a bowl...great food, great value....might go there today and get a third new dish.
First time there had beef flank trimming soup, this last time the Boiled Beef soup...outta the park home run good!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/31/2010
WOW...I've passed this gem by for 10 years...read some reviews and gave it a shot. now I need to… Read more »
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Review from John A.
Downers Grove, IL
12/12/2010
2 years ago I would have said 2 or 3 stars, but Lao Sze Chuan has really hit it's stride lately. It always has been the best Chinese option in the area, but that wasn't saying much - there is so much bad Chinese food in DG/Westmont.
Lately though everything has been consistently great. When you ask for extra-spicy it's freakin extra spicy. On occasion we'll dine in...it's nothing fancy, but the service is pretty good...the waitress we had on our last visit was particular fond of our 4-yr old and gave him an extra almond cookie - nice touch. Speaking of kids...the place is kid friendly enough with plenty of no-spice dishes like cashew beef, etc.
Anyway...the place is now heads and shoulders above the rest and the only Chinese restaurant we frequent: take-out, delivery or dine-in. I have noticed the prices have crept up a bit, but for the quality of food its worth the small premium. -
Review from Irina H.
3/12/2010
I can't say this place is over-Americanized (as some other reviewers did), because most of the people dining here were Chinese and clearly enjoying themselves; I'm sure they ordered from the Chinese side of the menu. However, I didn't care for my food; the duck was salty, the drowned shrimp and chicken came in a lemon sauce so thick and lemony it could have been pie filling, and the ma po to fu was served with such a heavy dousing of something (five spice powder?) that I couldn't eat it. The tea was so hot that we couldn't drink it until about halfway through dinner, and then found it flavorless.
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Review from Beth B.
Chicago, IL
10/7/2008
I stopped by for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the prices. My friends and I had a complete meal for a total of $24.00! This included soup, egg rolls, crab rangoon, and an entree. Everything was cooked fresh and tasted great! I would definitely come back for lunch the next time I'm in town.
