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Silk Road
Rating Details »
- Nearest Transit:
-
Washington/Wells (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Pink)
Washington (Blue, Red)
Clark/Lake (Pink, Brown, Green, Blue, Purple Express, Orange)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- None
17 reviews for Silk Road
Whenever I feel the need to treat myself to something other than my usual Maruchan Instant Lunch and don't want McDonald's, but don't want to spend a bundle, this is where I go. I first discovered Silk Road when I worked in the same building; Silk Road was the only highlight of this experience.
It had been nearly 3 years since I had left that job and Silk Road along with it. But now, after another new job, I have returned to the area, only about 1/2 mile away. I found that during my 3 year hiatus I would frequently dream of enjoying the Spicy Chicken once again, and I must say that the wait was worth it. The .5 mile walk just flies by on the wings of a hunger void that can only be filled with Spicy Chicken.
Though it is inexpensive, it is not a "cheap" lunch, at least not for a nonprofit employee. For the lawyers nearby, the ~$9 for Spicy Chicken, Rice and an Egg Roll is no big thing, but for me it is a once weekly splurge. Friday is the day to go, as Spicy Chicken is the special and that saves you about a dollar.
I have never tried anything else at this establishment, but the Spicy Chicken makes it. I would guess that about 75% of the people I observe while there are eating this delicious dish. And if the casual observations of a die-hard Silk Road Spicy Chicken partisan fanboy are not enough to convince you, I don't know what is.
If you are anywhere near here, just go. I am quite sure you will not be disappointed.
I was feeling cheap Chinese food today for lunch, and good ol' SR hit the spot. Got the Spicy Chicken special (Tuesdays and Fridays!) with an egg roll for just north of $7, and they give so much that it became my dinner too. The chicken's got a good kick, and the pieces are nice and large.
My co-worker instead got a mix plate of Spicy Chicken and something else...not much more expensive, but I was envious of the variety he had. Like what's been said, this isn't fancy by any means; it's purely a lunch spot in the Loop. And sometimes that's perfect.
I only really get one thing from there and it's amazing. The spicy chicken is sooooooooo good. The portions are huge, it always ends up being my lunch and dinner (or lunch for a second day)
When freshly prepared (i.e., just before closing), the spicy chicken is pretty good for a food court-style Chinese place. Go big and treat yourself to the fried rice; it's worth the extra little bit.
You don't go to Silk Road for the ambiance. You don't go to Silk Road for a unique dining experience. You don't go to Silk Road for customer service or friendly waitstaff.
No.
You go to Silk Road for the Spicy Chicken.
And you love it.
I would give this place five stars if it were just for their Hot & Sour Soup -- thick and peppery, with ribbons of egg white, it is the best hot & sour soup I have ever had. I can never tell if it's from a can (the industrial size Chinese market ones), or if they actually make this, but I sometimes dream about the taste of their soup...truly awesome.
But, alas, I give them three stars because I really dislike their entrees -- way too MSG laden, and just plain heavy in the stomach for the rest of the day...plus, the annoying soy sauce packets (the flavorless panda bear ones) are the only soy sauce they offer. I'm just not a saucy type Chinese food fan, and this is a classic (in a bad way), "spicy chicken! White rice!" yelling establishment.
So come in and get the hot & sour soup to go!
I was wandering around the city today and I stumbled upon this place. I brought food to work so I couldn't get a full meal, but 69 cent crab rangoon sure looked good. I ordered a crab rangoon and an egg roll which were both average. What I really like about this joint is that the kitchen is visible. You walk in and they are preparing their food behind a glass wall to your left. How many Chinese restaurants have a visible kitchen? I think it's the first I've seen. I will have to go back and try the lunch special soon.
*I tried the food today and it was not very good or cheap. The Spicy Chicken was too breaded and the sauce was bizarre! I'll be sticking to 65 in the future.
Lisa A. is wrong. 4 of the orders will be for spicy chicken. And the last one will be for sweet and sour chicken but will turn into spicy chicken at the last second.
But yeah, more white collars than a rectory hang out here during the lunch rush. It can't be the food as it's not really all that great or wholesome, must be the asian girls. Or the hype, of which there is a lot. If given the choice, I'll take Panda Express around the corner at least half the time.
I suppose it's just an acquired taste and I have yet to opt in for that acquisition. But try the spicy chicken at least once, just to say you've had it.
I've eaten here a few times since I work in the area and it's quick, not expensive, and decent. Most of the iteams (ie. orange chicken, etc) are about $6.50 if you stick with water and steamed rice. The serving size is plenty for a meal, and yes, you can see the kitchen. La tee dah. It didn't seem to help my friend any since he found a steel coil (maybe from an industrial steel brush) in his meal.
My friends still eat there so I go when they do every now and then, but I'd recommend Wao Bao or even Lei Lei over Silk Road.
Ew. A coworker recommended this place as an alternative to Panda Express, and I am sorely disappointed.
I don't know about the spicy chicken. No one was in line in front of me, so I ordered my usual at a Chinese place: the orange chicken. It was terrible. The meat was scrawny and stringy with entirely too much breading. The sauce was too brown and not at all spicy. The sweetness in the sauce was heavy, like it was made with marmalade. The rice was too dry.
I didn't come close to finishing the meal, and would really like those calories back.
Yeah, I hate to say this but I'd rather go to Panda Express. My orange chicken was gristly and the sauce was a sweet vinegary syrup.
Bring on the MSG.
Located in a tiny alley, you can't see the restaurant from the street, only catch a sign. Located next to Burrito Beach. I've driven down LaSalle a million times, never noticed this tiny little street. Its a great way to get from LaSalle to Clark, quicker than walking the usual distance.
Spicy chicken. The bestest dish there. You don't need any meat fried rices, just the plain rice given with it is fine. Spicy chicken, is mixed with those jagged flat carrot pieces and crunchy green veggies. I'm a medium sized man and I can eat about half the lunch portion and still have left overs.
MSG?? Man do you read the menu's? This place has *No MSG, *Fresh vegetables and *Pure vegetable oil. Thats kick butt. Try not to overeat, then your tummy will be fine.
Open 10am-7pm M-F, daily specials & just entrees under $7 bucks. Crab Rangoons are OK for fast food chinese, better than Panda I'd say, $.68 cents each. Egg rolls $1.20, they are long, 3-4 inches in length.
Wait staff are nice and helpful. They make all the food fresh, there is a window looking into the cooking area from the counter, you can watch as meals are prepared.
If you order a side with your meal and a drink, you could spend just under $9 bucks. Don't want a beverage, they have water, self serve.
If I compared the stomach feels to Panda, Manchu Wok or 65, I'd say this is the best yet. Moderation my friends.. its all about moderation.
A white collar workers' favorite. Located in an alley, but not really. FAMOUS for their spicy chicken. If there are 5 people ahead of you inline, at least three of them will be ordering the spicy chicken, but their sweet and sour is to die for as well.
Really average Chinese food. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really good either. I had the spicy chicken, which for what I had heard about it, was disappointing with how average it was. My wife had the cashew chicken, which was also very average. I probably won't be going back, too many other places to go.
Pretty good-sized portions and I tend to avoid the lunch rush, so alot of times they'll cook it up fresh, right to the left of you (see through glass to the kitchen). The trick is this is a chinese spot owned by koreans, so alot of the sauces (spicy) are actually korean red sauce, not chinese flavored. I would choose 65 (down the street) over this place anyday.
Hard to find, but worth the effort. This is the better of the two Silk Roads that I'm aware of downtown (the other is on west Jackson - about 250 West, I think). This one has a "cleaner" feel, but the Spicy Chicken tastes the same at both. Can't miss with Spicy Chicken with Shrimp Fried Rice (my favorite combo...).
This place is great. I've only ever had the Spicy Chicken there and it rocks, my gf gets tofu and vegetables and loves it. If you like it even spicier you can get hot sauce to put on it though your stomach may make you pay for it later it's worth it!
