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Three Happiness Original Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Chinese Dim Sum Dim Sum [Edit]
209 W Cermak Rd(between Cottage Grove Ave & Indiana Ave)
Chicago, IL 60616
Neighborhood: Chinatown
(312) 842-1964
- Nearest Transit:
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Cermak-chinatown (Red Line)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Justin G. said: "Even if you don't like buffets, you should give this place a shot. You can get some steaks and sea food grilled up at the stir fry table as many times as you want. As for the buffet portion, lots of sea food and everything I had was…" read more »
156 reviews for Three Happiness Original Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Clams with black bean sauce - The best preparation I've had." In 5 reviews -
"seriously best fried rice I've ever had." In 27 reviews -
"Especially the mouth watering salt and pepper pork ribs." In 6 reviews
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156 reviews in English
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Review from Amanda G.
Chicago, IL
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have been going to Three Happiness since I was a kid. I've always loved going there for the Dim Sum.
Three Happiness is not fancy. You go there for the experience. Women pushing around carts of small plate chinese food. Your table is covered in a plastic disposable cover and it's all about the experience.
I went to Three Happiness over the holidays with my boyfriend and we were craving some good dim sum. This is definitely one of the best dim sum places in Chinatown.
Go for the quality food and experience! -
Review from Alana T.
Chicago, IL
4/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been CRAVING GOOD Chinese food for a while. I have a friend, she's uppity, I love her for it. However, I asked this friend, where do you get Chinese food from, and she said this place and another place. Now, I said, which is better. She asked me, for what? I said, fried rice. She said, definitely Three Happiness. Their fried rice is really good. Bless my friend's heart. I checked into this spot last night for some egg foo young (not a human) and chicken fried rice.
Because I have fat issues, I totally got in my car after my order was ready and praised the Lord because they gave me a plastic fork and I was able to try this as soon as I put my seat belt on (safety first). The rice smelled burnt. It might've tasted burnt, but I can't be sure because I taste food with my nose first. I was starving, so I decided to give it another try when I got home. I get my plate, say a QUICK prayer and hope no one swoops down and takes my food while my eyes are closed. I grabbed my plate, loaded on rice, and foo young (not a human). The rice was very mediocre and the foo young (not a human) was very oily. To top it off, how you gon play a sista and not hook me up with a fortune cookie.
Yelp was right about this place, and my friend not so much. Won't be back. Cheap though! -
Review from Grace T.
Mahomet, IL
Updated - 2/22/2012
This is an updated review for the little Three Happiness..... not the gigantic two floor Three Happiness. I came here again the other day with my now almost 2-yr old son. It was Sunday at noon -- prime dim sum time. Was it an off day??? The staff were super friendly and loved how cute my son was. We ordered spring rolls, har gow, shui mai, beef satay dumplings (i think) and then ordered the house special fried rice and cantonese filet mignon to go. I'm not sure if it was a different chef or maybe it was an off day, but nothing tasted right --- the shui mai had a very funny texture (almost as if the dumplings were boiled as opposed to steamed) and were super salty. The har-gow was cooked fresh, but I don't think the shrimp were all that fresh. The spring rolls were good -- my son would only eat that -- he normally loves dim sum, but kind of picked and spat out most of it. And the beef satay dumplings (I think that's what they were --- I can't remember) were covered in almost a "chef boyardee" style beef sauce that was not very good. Our take out survived the two hour ride home and we had a yummy dinner, but it wasn't any better than the half-a$$ed Chinese restaurants down here. Disappointed.... not sure if it was an off day or what, but I know that I've had way better at this restaurant.... hrmmm... maybe one more try, but that's it.
We actually went up hoping that Happy Chef might be up and running again, but alas..... still under renovations.... or hopefully it's not closed forever.....1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/29/2011
This is by far, the best Chinese restaurant in the area. This is the small restaurant...not the… Read more »
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Review from Julie M.
Chicago, IL
4/11/2012
THIS IS THE LITTLE THREE HAPPINESS not the big two floor restaurant on the corner! This place is awesome!! We've stopped eating at the Chinese places by our house and only come here (which is a good half hour drive away)! We have eaten here now about ten times and every time it is fantastic! Whether it's 3pm or 3am the food has always been fresh and hot!
The only thing I don't like is the career bum that hangs out in front. I know it's not the restaurant's fault though. (and yes, I said career bum - we watched this guy beg for money and then dip around the corner to make a phone call and BS on his cell phone!) -
Review from Carole C.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Once upon a time this was my "go to" restaurant in Chinatown. More economical than its sister restaurant across the street, and frequented by local Chinese residents, it was always dependable. Lately, it has changed! A recent take out visit resulted in a guest getting sick, over salted food, sauces that were burned, food that was under seasoned and sloppy packaging. I ordered Mongolian Beef that was essentially beef and onions...flat and tasteless; shrimp with lobster sauce that was like a salt lick, tasted burnt and my guest who was ravenous ate a huge portion and later got diarrhea and was bedridden the next day. We also ordered shrimp toast, which was uber greasy. The Chinese broccoli in oyster sauce was watery and needed to be drained before you put in on your plate unless you wanted the rest of your food swimming in its juices. This is definitely coming OFF my list of places to visit in Chinatown, you can do a lot better at Panda Express, sorry to say! Shame on them! So like any thinking individual would do, I called. They assured me everything was fresh & they had no complaints about food. He offered me a credit for the future, which may not exist in my world, then asked me why I didn't bring it back? (trip would be from Hyde Park back to Chinatown while my guests waited) Finally he agreed to credit me for the Shrimp w/Lobster Sauce. Any by the way...I'm from the east coast (NYC) & when did Shrimp & Lobster sauce turn brown? Traditionally the dish is quite bland, white/opaque from egg whites...I could taste the heavy handed use of fermented black beans that should be used judiciously & may have accounted for the "burnt" taste. I was really disappointed.
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Review from Tim Y.
Manhattan, NY
12/31/2011 1 photo
Helllll noooo
I came here after some karaoke across the street, and saw this as one of the only places open in the immediate area. Even for 3 am, this was some of the worst chinese food I've ever had. The most tolerable one was the chow fun, which is pretty much impossible to screw up unless you're deliberately trying to. The walnut shrimp and General Tso's Chicken (which was definitely Sweet n Sour...) had soft, soggy batter and tasted like it had been sitting out for hours.
I've had some terrible food at 3 am, but this takes the gold.
Avoid, please. -
Review from Claudia S.
Chicago, IL
2/23/2012
This is the best family owned restaurant to go to. I love it! I go there for the pork fried rice, pot-stickers (AMAZING!) and the orange chicken but the other day i tried curry chicken and it was good. !
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Review from Phoebe W.
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Three Happiness has been one of the standard places my family goes to when I'm craving dim sum. Its easy to find and parking is validated which equals major bonus points for my suburbanite parents.
I originally was going to give this place 3 stars based on the atrocity that was its women's bathroom. Many trips to this facility sparked memories of horror movies of people getting their kidneys stolen or faces disfigured with back alley Botox. Y'know. Dingy with flickering lights with poorly assembled locks on the stalls. However, they've done a great job of renovating the bathroom and its finally a place where I feel that my organs and youthful Asian skin are safe.
I don't speak a lick of Cantonese so ordering my favorite dishes in Chinatown can be difficult at times. Fortunately, Three Happiness has an idiot proof dim sum menu with big pictures and basic descriptions you can point at like a hungry toddler. Three Happiness has the usual fare, I love char siew bao (sweet bbq pork in a bun) shao mai (pork dumplings) and rice noodle rolls with shrimp or beef. -
Review from Christina B.
Chicago, IL
1/9/2012 1 photo
The service is really friendly and they have A LOT of choices...one of our favorites is the "Dinner for..." option and then they offer different quantities depending on how many people you have. Yesterday we had "Dinner for 3" and it was $36+ for 3 egg rolls, 3 soups, and 4 entrees. It's a good value. But something about the food is a little....off. The egg rolls have peanut butter in them. The wonton soup has entire medallions of pork in it and reeks of pork and oil. The pork fried rice is saturated in soy sauce. I picked at everything but none of it was truly delicious.
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Review from Wesley S.
9/9/2011
Three Happiness has become the equivalent of a greasy spoon Chinese restaurant, only one step above the generic Americanized Chinese carry-out place. Three Happiness, along with Hong Min, were the go-to places in Chinatown during the 70's and 80's. Hong Min has moved to the suburbs, following the generation of Chinese-Americans who moved to the suburbs. Three Happiness is now a no-name restaurant in Chinatown.
The restaurant continues to have a fairly extensive menu, with many specials, including snails, lobster, fishes, pea pod greens, complementing the basic menu. The selection of soups is small, but the soups themselves are ok. The kitchen does a pretty good job with most of the dishes, taste wise. However, the dishes are basic, neither exceptional in taste nor original in composition.
The dining space is old. It feels dilapidated and has a mildly dirty look. In my opinion it detracts from the dining experience. Another item that affects the ambience is the trickle of customers picking up their egg foo yung and shrimp fried rice orders. The dining space is small, so the activity at the cash register is noticeable, and distracting.
Service is adequate but not exceptional either way.
One big plus of Three Happiness is its late closing time, if it closes at all. The restaurant is a fine choice for Chinese dine-in or carry out at 3:30 in the morning.
In summary, the food is ok but the restaurant is no longer in the upper tier, as it once was. -
Review from janet s.
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sunday - morning after, loading up with coconut juice and dim sum.. Wanted to try somewhere different. Eggplant suffed with something, OK, shrimp dumplings OK, shrimp and scallop dumplings - did not find the scallop. Curried baby octopus, Yum. Hung out for a while before heading to the airport and no one seemed to mind how long were there. Not the best but not the worst and for $22 I am not complaining.
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Review from Nae L.
6/7/2011
I need to stop taking my co-workers to try out new things with me.
As always, my co-workers are bitching and moaning about how hungry they are and for some reason, they think I know all the awesome restaurants around Chicago because I'm an Elite member of Yelp. How stupid of them. HAHAHAHAHA
Since we were in Chinatown already, I got on my yelp app on my brand new WP7 and looked around. And Dim Sum was on our list. Little did I know, one of my co-worker is allergic to shellfish, other? doesn't like to try anything NON-AMERICAN. So when we sit down to eat, one of them orders fried rice, and the other? "oh dude, I'm allergic to shellfish"...... )()(*#$%&%&*^&$)($*$)(&%^&%$)(*q@# OH I HATE MY LIFE..........
So when they get done ordering, the lady who is taking the order is looking at me with the look of "YOU BETTER NOT ORDER THOSE GARBAGE" So I do what my fellow yelpers would do. "Can I just the first 6 dimsums? I will start with number 7 when I come back the next time" And the death stare was gone. So we start eating, not bad. It's not the OG dimsums I've had while I was in port-calls in Hong Kong but it gets the job done, and some.
As far as the food quality and taste goes, it's 4 starts, time to serve is pretty fast but some of the meat are a bit on the salty side for me. My co-workers loved their food but I really can't trust someone who is just about allergic to everything and who orders chicken fried rice because he can't handle different types of food other than American. They have huge list of dimsums so it might take few months to try out them all. Can't WAIT! -
Review from Joel H.
Chicago, IL
12/26/2011
Do not dare go to the more Americanized "wannabe" across the street. Three Happiness is a true gem. The perfect amount of dingy, cheap, and authentic without being scary for non-natives. Dim sum before 2p is a must. Though this is true with most heavy chinatown meals, I must worn you, this is no place to go if you want to feel light and fluffy after. My boss said it best, it should be more like Three Appiness, as you first feel hAppiness, then crAppiness, and then nAppiness. Still some of the most amazing and special flavors I have ever had.
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Review from Jessica K.
Roseville, CA
7/30/2011
20+ years and this place is still here! It's so great to see childhood favorites still around in a land of gentrification. The old ladies who do the cooking, cleaning and serving all still snap string beans at the corner table, eat lunch together and yell at each other at break neck speeds. Hurray!
I was actually gonna skip this place for once and try something new but as luck would have it, a creepy man followed me off the Red Line and straight into the restaurant. He looked around and scampered off when the owner shut the door on him. I'm glad I walked in here, otherwise I would have forgotten all about a beautiful thing in Chinatown called "$4.95 lunch specials." I'm so used to being grateful for a $15 lunch in San Francisco, I forgot how much I liked to eat.
I decided to go with the shrimp in black bean sauce and oh my gosh was it yummy!! Nothing gets your stomach doing happy somersaults than the sight of a big mound of shrimps, egg, black beans, red chilis and rice just like in my childhood memories. There was no questions of whether or not MSG was present, whether the produce was local, the egg free range etc. No! This was a tiny 1 room restaurant with a tiny restroom and the same specials on the wall since I was in the 4th grade. I hope it never changes! -
Review from Johnny R.
6/11/2011
Short: I've been here many times, and this is a good place to go if you (a) like mainstream Chinese food and (b) have never been to Chinatown.
Long: Three Happiness has been around for a long time, I remember first going there in the late 80's when I was finishing up college. It's on the 2nd floor of the building, and has a large dining area. Don't forget to validate parking if you parked in the capacious and convenient lot just East, it knocks down the cost to $2 (which you can pay by using a credit card with the machine).
I met my family later so they did all the ordering. We had beef fried rice, mongolian beef, and another beef dish (beef, green pepper, onions). The mongolian beef was pretty hot, which I personally liked, but my wife didn't care for it (yay more for me). But it was so hot that I would caution readers to talk to the server about the level of spiciness when ordering.
I heartily recommend this restaurant if you don't have a place in mind in Chinatown. It's kid-friendly, big, has large tables, and the food is prompt. -
Review from Howard L.
Updated - 12/18/2011 5 photos
The dim sum is cheap here at $2 per dish, so it's cheap eats and not too crowded as it's a bit off the path from the more popular dim sum places. Dim sum can be ordered off of a picture menu here. The dim sum is in the lower to average quality and there's use of a lot of gelatinous gravies and sauces. OK, if you're in the mood for basic and cheap.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/1/2009
We picked up dim sum to go. It was mediocre by Chinatown standards. We hadn't been here for… Read more »
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Review from Taeler H.
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like this place a lot. I love the window seats because the restaurant is upstairs and if you sit in the middle all you really see is the fish tank. My friend and I shared the sesame chicken and shrimp fried rice and were both able to take home leftovers. You def. get what you pay for here unlike other restaurants in the city where you leave still hungry. The food was very good but I agree with whoever the was poster who said the staff was dimwitted. Also, I found it disturbing to see crabs and lobsters piled on top of eachother in the tank. So I recommend sitting by the window. This place may be far but it's definitely worth the trip!
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Review from Rebecca K.
Peoria, IL
11/25/2011
Review tip: ignore the reviews that mention the carpet (or carts... or being upstairs...) or describe this place as "huge." They're about the place across the street.
The food is good at Three Happiness, though I'd put the dim sum on par with every other decent place - it's nothing extraordinary. The prices are amazing - my husband and I can easily walk out of there stuffed and with a whole second meal in boxes for under $30. The service is fine - I have fairly low expectations when there's a language barrier, and everyone here is helpful, if a bit short (in personality - their heights are average). This is apparently *the place to go*. But, you know... I don't think I'll go there anymore. For good prices and average food, you put up with a sometimes filthy (example: though our table was set up for service when we sat down, my napkin was pre-used and stuck to the plate), always uncomfortable restaurant. A few extra bucks and you can go to a nicer, cleaner, more comfortable restaurant and get the exact same dim sum. That little premium is worth it to me. Back to Phoenix for me! -
Review from Ben E.
Updated - 10/26/2011
I'm still giving LTH 4 stars for much of the rest of its menu, but the Clams in Black Bean Sauce are really lousy. The sauce is exactly that kind of glop that I hate in Cantonese restaurants, and didn't have much flavor. Just avoid this and you'll hopefully be fine.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/8/2011
Really solid Cantonese cuisine. And yes, like many others, I got the salt and pepper shrimp...and it… Read more »
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Review from Dianne S.
A little rough around the edges...
Family run, as in grandma and grandkids working side by side...
Chinatown gem.
This is the "little one." My husband and I go to the "big" Three Happiness on the second floor across the street for dim sum, but this is our favorite spot for greasy, delicious, authentic Chinese food after a late night. We've been eating here for the past 6 years and still haven't found another Chinatown joint that can compete.
Must orders:
1. potstickers-large dumplings served with an addicting salty/sweet brown sauce
2. chow mein (thin crunchy) noodles with beef & Chinese broccoli
3. house special fried rice-BBQ pork+shrimp...seriously best fried rice I've ever had...EVA!
4. salt & pepper squid-deep fried rings of squid tossed with salt and slices jalapeno peppers
Cheap and good eats is what's going on here. I once came after work with a group of 10 hungry nurses after working 12hours on their feet and paid less than $10/person for a smorgasborg of their amazing food...plus left overs!
Don't forget the complimentary almond jelly...talk about a happy ending. -
Review from Nessie V.
8/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pretty greasy food, and the carpet is disgusting. Service was good, but could not overcome the food.
Listed in: On Notice
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Review from Hoang L.
I cannot remember how many times I've been here, but it might actually be in the 3 digits. This is the go-to place after a night of partying because I feel like it never closes!
No matter how drunk you and your friends are, these people are ready to serve you. And they don't complain, at least not in English. Haha.
My recommendations:
-Beef fried rice, Hong Kong style.
-Salt and pepper pork [or squid]
-Beef Chow Fun [make sure to have the noodles separately so it doesn't get soggy]
I've been here when I'm not drunk, and yes, it's still the bomb. Order take out? Just call 15-20 minutes ahead of time and you'll be set.
This place is very small, and usually packed, but we always manage to get a table, even with a large group. Thanks Three Happiness for putting up with us all these years!
Note: Don't get this confused with the other Three Happiness across the street, which is good for dim sum. -
Review from M H.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2011
Upon entering Three Happiness you're greated with a cozy and comforting setting. As I do most time out in the field I scope for restaurants that have great reviews from an independent source Zagarut, Time Out and Check Please. Along with that a steady flow of traffic from diners and carry out. So after looking at over 25 Chinese restaurants in China Town I decided on Three Happiness.
My thinking at this point along with what I stated earlier traffic and rave reviews. The name was the overall tie breaker. Why the name you ask? Aside from it having a cheerful conotation "Happy" is the base word and also the name of a Chinese restaurant located on Pershing and California my girlfriends favorite. If she reads this she's turning up her nose and laughing but hey you like what you like. :) So I entered was greeted immediately, given a menu, a seat and some water and tea to start. As an added bonus they have a 50" give or take flat screen with college basketball playing. I haven't gotten my food yet and already I'm a fan.
The food came in extra generous portions I had the small shrimp & chicken fried rice with a small General Tso Chicken. The only point that would be deducted would be that the sauces masked the flavor of the chicken and the crispiness. Next outing easy sauce or on the side. The rice seem to be endless on the serving plate. I had my fill of both and still enough for a doggy bag for later. The check came so reasonable for what you are getting. Also, I must spotlight their I believe apricot mango blend sauce a very good compliment to a fried and salty. Overall, my experience was good and will be back. So the saying go if you like Happy (boo) and this place is 3x the Happy how can you lose? You can't. -
Review from Natalie S.
Chicago, IL
8/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
We ducked in here when our usual go-to was PACKED and we had zero time to wait. I have some vague memories of eating in here when I was a shorty and friends have told me it is one of their favorites... so we gave it a whirl.
I like that you have to order dim sum off a menu. I am not impressed with carts. Whenever carts are involved you end up with food that is either freezing cold or over steamed. Big plus to Three Happiness for no carts.
However... the su mai came out shriveled and chewy. Boo. It's pretty much a staple for dim sum mornings and the fact that it was so terrible was a let down. Clearly, it was an order that had been prepared for someone else that didn't get it so it waited around in the back til we got around to it. Yuk. And I wish there were more shrimp in the chang fun. But everything else was pretty good. The woo gok is interesting because there is A LOT of BBQ pork inside which most places don't do. Rather delicious.
The service though... WOW. In a good way! I swear, every time I put my water glass down it was filled up again, even if I only took one sip. People were walking around and they removed our dim sum plates as soon as one was cleared. We finished and almost as if on cue, our check appeared. We didn't have to chase anyone around for anything, and that's a rare, rare thing in Chinatown. While the food is more of a three star review in my book, they get a bonus star for the excellent service.
While I don't think I'll regularly choose it over my current favorite, it's good to know there's a good option around the corner.Listed in: I know my Chinese, yo.
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Review from Phil N.
Naperville, IL
1/15/2011
My favorite dim sum spot. I'm not sure if it's becasue I grew up coming here with my dad, or if it really is the best. Every time I try a new spot in Chinatown, I feel like I spent more and got less. I also feel guilty for going elsewhere.
Be sure you know this is the little Three Happiness on Cermak, not the big one on the corner, which isn't as good or as cheap. -
Review from Mary J.
8/29/2010
My family, all 6 of us, enjoyed dim sum here. I was a bit nervous since I have one kid who is not very adventurous with food, but they even had some stuff he would eat.
Everything that we ordered (and we ordered A LOT) was great! The portions were very generous and the staff was very helpful and attentive. We ate and ate and ate and the staff didn't try and rush us out of there. (That has happened to us at other restaurants).
I did have to subtract a star since one of my kids ordered General Tso Shrimp and we weren't sure if he was getting it or not. We had everything else and kept waiting for it and finally had to ask. We already had to wait awhile for picky son's chicken wings, so it was ok that it wasn't going to be ready quickly, but they never told us that and we think they forgot about it.
The inside of this place is not fancy and that's ok with me. I felt like I was dining at a friend's kitchen and her mom was bringing us food to eat! -
Review from Stephanie K.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
3am on a Saturday night, usually not a time where a palate is that picky, except this place was no good. The tables were so close together I could overhear every drunk conversation in the restaurant. We ordered Crab Rangoon, General Tso, Fried Rice and Salt and Pepper Pork. The Fried Rice and pork were decent, but nothing I couldn't get at Panda Express.
The General Tso was more like sweet and sour chicken, and the crab rangoon was a little burnt on the outside and the cream cheese had separated on the inside. It was inedible. I was supposed to get white rice with the sweet and sour chicken, but it never made it to the table even after asking twice for it.
Skip this place, go to another on the block. -
Review from Michelle M.
Chicago, IL
9/27/2010
Did you know? Three happiness opens late until really early hours so you can satisfy your munchies after going out at night.
I came here at 2am with a group of friends after going to a bar. I ordered a bowl of wonton noodle soup with rice noodle and i got some with char siu. Um, its not what i got, but i guess its ok. Of course i got charged xtra for it, but why send it back when theyre going to pick it out. The service here isnt really up to par but thats how it usually is for late night and chinese.
The wontons were ok. I didnt like the texture or the taste but still edible. The rice noodles were super wide, stuck together, extremely starchy, and not what i had expected either. The soup was bland, so i asked for red vinegar and poured in some pepper.
Overall, if you must eat, its ok, but if you've got other choices, id give them a shot. -
Review from Eunice K.
6/22/2010 3 photos
**HIDDEN GEM ALERT**
Who would have thought you would find the most delicious DIM SUM in CHICAGO??? I didn't even know Chicago had a china town!!!
On a spur of the moment decision, me and my mom decided to get some "dim sum snacks" :) mostly because we were caught in the pouring rain w/o an umbrella in Chinatown! And what better to do then eat? LOL.. My mom was hesitant... "isn't dim sum is only served in the morning?" NOT TRUE! Three Happiness serves dim sum 24 hours a day! Man I LOVE big cities :)
Since we are big time carb eaters - we got an order of the Pork Buns (3 buns - $2.45). Even though that was plenty of food for our "snack" we wanted to try out their other dishes so we got an order of the Shrimp Dumplings (4 pieces - $3.20) and Pork Dumplings (4 pieces - $3.20). We waited in anticipation for our dim sum prizes :) They MUST make everything to order, because it actually did take a good 15 min before our little snack came out. But it was worth every single minute because EVERYTHING was SOOOOOOOOOOO good!!! Some of the BEST dim sum I've EVER had! And that's coming from a girl who currently lives in the Chinatown of LA (Arcadia, CA) and has lived in Chinatown of Northern California (San Francisco, CA).
The Pork Buns were piping hot, the bread was soft, and the meat was BBQ flavorful! The Shrimp Dumplings were SO JUICY and the shrimps were SO FAT! Pork Dumplings made my mouth DROP. Juicy little flavor bomb! Man!!! So cheap, so delicious - totally hit the spot! Me and my mom were both so shocked and considered this restaurant a true hidden gem!
Customer service was spot on, the restaurant is open 24 hours, and its cheap and delicious - can't go wrong here folks! -
Review from Kevin T.
Chicago, IL
2/19/2012
this establishment is a great place to go to after a crazy night in the city. although it's not a restaurant where you can plop yourself down and soak in the atmosphere, the waitresses are friendly for the most part. my favorite (aka the only thing i ever order from here anymore) is the salt and pepper pork chop over rice with a fried egg on top. it's cheap and just delicious. however, i don't really feel the same about the rest of their food. it's not horrible, it's just.. average. they're pretty quick with the food, but don't expect anything flashy or impressive about the overall atmosphere.
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Review from James J.
Chicago, IL
5/28/2011
3 stars according to yelp is "A-OK"
I'm not saying it was bad. Food was okay. Place was giant (do I have the right place)?
We were the only people there. Food was ok. I want 5 star chinese though. Is there such thing?
PS service wasn't bad -
Review from Nick H.
Chicago, IL
3/13/2011
Three stars for three happiness. I don't know why this place is open 24/7 on weekends, but my drunk ass at 2 AM wasn't complaining.
The pot stickers are excellent. The general tso's chicken...well let's just say I'm glad bathrooms exist.
Literally hundreds of items on the menu, I don't know (nor do I want to know) how they do it. -
Review from Emily H.
7/7/2010
The "Little" Three Happiness restaurant is the epitome of what I want from a Cantonese food joint. Small, social and SPICY!
The meals are cooked with intense and delicious flavors and do not come out greasy, a rarity in the watered-down American Chinese food industry. The food is reasonably priced, plentiful, and served in an attractive arrangement. The tea is complimentary, hot, and readily refilled.
Every time I go, I get the freshly made egg rolls, available in veggie or pork! I recommend the pepper beef with wide rice noodles or the veggie-ladened Saskatchewan chicken, or anything with a chili pepper icon beside it. Spice is nice when done well, and Three Happiness does it masterfully.
The staff is a rotating group of merry older ladies, who are prompt and polite. They will gently hassle you to eat more in between cozy conversations amongst themselves that make you feel like you're hanging out in the kitchen with your adopted Chinese Grandmas.
The interior is plain, unassuming, functional and very sparsely decorated. It is the "little" Three Happiness restaurant, as opposed to the big banquet hall-style Three Happiness restaurant across the street. But the food decorates my tummy with flavor and delight, and in the end, isn't it about the food?
YES IT IS. -
Review from Rachel H.
5/28/2008 1 Check-in Here
This place rocks, Zagat rated too!! Its always busy, a very small restaurant but excellent food.Good value for money too, if I say so myself.
Parking is conveniently available in the parking lot across.Its just a short trot ( 2 minutes) from the restaurant.Forget street parking, you will never find a decent spot.
I have been frequenting this restaurant since 2000. We(hubby and I) head out to Chinatown specially to eat here ( I live in the NW burbs) Some of my favorite dishes are
1. Clams with Jalapenos and black bean
2. Deep Fried Chicken
3. Beef with Tofu
4. Rice noodles with Beef and Chinese Broccoli
5. Salt and Pepper Shrimp
6.Hot and Sour soup
7. Sole with Yu toy (absolutely awesome, my 3 year old nephew loves it)
8. Cantonese style noodles with seafood ( 3 year old nephew approved)
9. Beef tendon with bok choy
10. Watercress soup with pork or fish ball
The dim sum is ok in my opinion. I do not care for the fried rice, way too much soy sauce for my liking. Its BYOB; which is good, the glasses for some reason look greasy ONLY to me, maybe time to ring my optermetrist.
This is by no stretch of imagination a romantic place, the place can get very noisy.Be prepared to wait on the weekends esp between 6-8pm.Usually the wait is about 20 minutes( average).They are open till the wee hours of the morning, something ridiculous like 3am!
Enjoy!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Tina B.
8/14/2008
Hot, fresh, fast, cheap and delicious.
And they even surprised me with an appetizer I'd never had before. I don't remember the exact name of it, but it was a little pocket of fantastic chicken curry inside of a wonton wrapper and fried. Wow. And they have crazy good shrimp toast. Everything else I had was at least good, some very good.
I will totally go back again.
And they're open really late, always a plus!
PS - this picture is WRONG! The pic is for the place across the street, apparently owned by the same people, but these reviews are for the little one across the street.Listed in: The Southside North - Through…
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Review from Jennifer A.
Chicago, IL
3/17/2011
This review is for the little Three Happiness, not the Dim Sum across the street.
This is my favorite spot for getting food in the wee hours of the morning. The place is small and does get crowded and loud after 2AM.
The food portions are large and perfect for sharing with a small group (4-5 people). The steamed rice does seem like it is unending.
I love the Beef with Broccoli, and their combination fried rice is so yummy!
The egg rolls are good, and I love the crab rangoon (deep fried cream cheese, lol). The General Tso's chicken is good as well. A friend always gets the salt and pepper fish and raves about it.
The wait staff is not too friendly, but they keep your water filled, bring the food out fast, and always have your order right!
The check is always the best part. I never spend more than $10 when I go! -
Review from christine f.
Chicago, IL
2/13/2009
Do yourself a big favor, because you deserve it: Go to Three Happiness (the small one, not the big one) and do the following:
1. Order the salt and pepper smelts (or salt and pepper shrimp, or salt and pepper fish filet...really, anything salt and pepper)
2. Order the black pepper beef chow fun
3. Order the pork/tofu/mushroom soup
4. Make sure they give you lots of steaming hot white rice.
5. Enjoy. -
Review from Kristina B.
Chicago, IL
4/4/2007
If you've been to Chinatown, you've been to Three Happiness. It's a rule. Right as you hit Chinatown, local officials are set up to direct you to the location. In fact, you'll receive numerous citations from said officials if you DON'T try this place out.
With that being said, this place is good. I came here for a function with my sorority back in the hay day of 2002 and I'm sure it's just as good today as it was back then. The hot and sour soup is good. This I remember. :) I remember having assorted appertizers, too. They were delicious (names escape me). I also remember having sweet and sour chicken atop white rice. Pretty standard.
By the way, they do accomodate larger groups I know some places are too lazy and picky and won't move tables around...
Those places can ROT for all I care. -
Review from Derek C.
Wheeling, IL
10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
we ended up here at 3am after a night out at a lounge and after seeing that Seven Treasures was closed! we thought it was open late, but we guess not that late. my family and I used to come here and to hong min when we were kids, so I wasn't too disappointed that it was one of the few places open this late.
the food was ok, not what I usually come to expect from this place, but it is 3am. also the bathrooms were quite nasty, but it was to be expected from a hole in the wall type of place. maybe if we came back during normal hours it may resemble the place we used to eat at when we were younger. -
Review from Thongsy S.
Chicago, IL
9/8/2010 4 Check-ins Here
This is my usual spot after a night of dancing. They are open late (or maybe it's 24/7) and the food is good for the price you pay. I haven't ventured off too much on their menu. I usually stick to fried rice, salt&pepper squid or shrimp, chow fun, mongolian beef, and duck dishes. These are my favorite at this restaurant. You get a lot of food. It's filling and also very satisfying.
The servers are curt but they do their job. And they also bring out the food rather quickly.
