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    Big Bowl

    3.4 (734 reviews)
    ModerateChinese, Thai, Seafood
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Big Bowl Takeout or Delivery

    Big Bowl Photos

    BIG BOWL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Big Bowl

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    Reviews With Photos

    Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake
    Juliana R.

    We had a great meal at big bowl celebrating my mom's birthday. The service was fairly quick. Most of us went with the make your own stir fry option. You pick your protein and noodle type, then fill a bowl with your veggies, and wait for the chefs to cook it and it is brought to your table. It was a large serving that lasted me two meals. The restaurant was nicer inside than I expected so it made for a great dining experience. My mom got a free dessert for her birthday as well which was peppermint cheesecake, and it was delicious!!

    Salmon
    Annette D.

    E were a party of six on a busy night. The following are the pluses and deltas of the experience. Pros - the food was excellent, tasty, piping hot and large portions. Standouts were crispy chicken dumplings, salmon, Mongolian beef and chicken teriyaki fried rice. Deltas - service could have been better. We were seated for 15 minutes when we finally flagged someone down to find our waitress. Also, there are so many tables squeezed in that you can hardly move. Too much congestion that takes away from the ambiance.

    Beef & Broccoli
    Jasmine P.

    Yummy spot to bring the whole family! We ordered crab rangoons and I had the beef and broccoli with pad Thai noodles. Crab rangoons had a good amount of filling. The beef and noodles were delicious. I wish the broccoli was cooked more. It was hard to eat it. Because it wasn't as soft. The menu has good variety options so am sure everyone will find something they like. Pineapple coconut cheesecake was so delicious! A nice touch to end the visit. In terms of drinks I tried the pomegranate mojito. Tbh not worth the money. Didn't feel there was alcohol in it. However a good non alcoholic option is the ginger ale. It tastes fresh! Service was good! We were seated quickly and our waitress was very attentive and very nice. Place is casual and family friendly.

    Vegetable Fried Rice
    Kruti P.

    If you haven't tried the ginger ale here, you're missing out!! The regular and the pomegranate ginger ale are the best I've ever had!! Order: -Vegetable fried rice - really good! -Panang curry - I wasn't a fan of it but others in my party loved it. For me it was the lack of flavor/spice and consistency of the gravy. -Pad see ew - this dish was disappointing because the chef just slapped stacks of noodles together. It wasn't cut up or mixed in properly with veggies.

    Annette M.

    I've been here several times so this is just an update. Consistently good food and service. Manager keeps everything humming and pitches in when needed. This time I tried the Chicken Panang Curry which had a bit of a kick that I enjoy. It was quite busy for midday on a Saturday but we were seated right away. Restroom was clean and well stocked. I'll be back.

    Tofu stir fry with garlic ginger sauce!
    Paul H.

    Post Father's Dinner with the family. Reservations always a must. Check out the large gluten free menu! Great drink selection! Not a large dessert selection however.

    Ahi Tuna Poké Bowl*
    Karen K.

    big bowl was busy in a saturday night but we were able to be seated pretty quickly. service was excellent and our waitress was so nice and attentive! we loved her! the food was just ok. the portions are huge but we felt the flavors were severely lacking. we got the poke bowl and pad see ewe. we were able to swap out the chicken for shrimp in the pad see ewe and we liked that they didn't skimp on the shrimp!

    Menu
    Emily H.

    This place was alright. Service was decent. They have a small lunch menu and a dinner menu. We stopped in for lunch while shopping at woodfield mall across the street. Wasn't too busy. I had the kung pao chicken, it was Ok. It wasn't spicy like the menu stated. My husband had the sesame chicken. His was better! Had more flavor! I thought it was expensive for what it is was- Chinese food. Kind of bland! I had a salad to start, it was ok as well. My husband had an egg drop soup and he liked his. We split the chicken lettuce wraps- they were good! With all of the options around the Schaumburg area, I'd probably try a different restaurant before coming back here!

    Dining area
    John M.

    Been a while since I was at Big Bowl since our last experience was not too good. We decided to give them another try. Went on a Sunday for a late lunch. It was not too crowded and we were seated immediately. Last time we did the Stir Fry "Do it Yourself" Bowl so this time we decided to order off the menu. We would totally recommend doing this. Their menu is huge plus they have a Gluten Free menu! Started with a Sapporo Draft Beer and a Pomegranate Sangria. Tasty drinks but prices are a little high in my opinion. My wife had the Gluten Free Beef and Broccoli and I had the Teriyaki Shrimp Fried Rice. Portions are huge and the meals came out hot and both were very flavorful. Plenty of parking available. If you want made to order entrees using fresh ingredients,give Big Bowl a try. Part of the Lettuce Entertainment Group.

    Vegetable Potstickers
    Jeff D.

    Coming to the Mean Streets of Woodfield can be dangerous. I once knew a man who was jailed for jaywalking. Ok that's not true but we did need a spot for Sunday dinner before the TS movie at the AMC. This fit the bill since we had a short window before showtime. If you see most of my reviews, most are not chain restaurants however this was a nice experience where the staff was friendly and the food wasn't that bad! It wasn't the greatest Thai food I've ever had but it was fine and surprisingly not too salty. I did the Pad See Ew with Beef which had generous slices of juicy beef. The egg noodles were thick as well. The apps were fine nothing special there. I'm happy we had a nice dinner heading into the show! Plenty of parking lot parking.

    Orange chicken
    Princes Faith B.

    Our first time here. Service is fast. Friendly staff. Clean restaurant. Chicken wrap - I thought it's already wrapped. The chicken is a tad salty. Chicken teriyaki fried rice - the chicken is hard. Orange chicken - too much of the orange flavor. Chicken bites (chicken tenders) and calamari are the same taste like other Chinese place. Total bill - $89 + $13 tip

    Tofu Pad Thai
    Hemali S.

    Food was great. Service was nice. Ambiance is romantic. Chilly day and we sat outside not ideal but the space was packed.

    Chicken Chef's Choice Stir Fry with Chicken

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    3 months ago

    I had a few tiny bits of chicken in my meal for dinner. What a rip off! STOP RIPPING OFF YOUR CUSTOMERS

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    1 year ago

    Went for a quick bite with a friend and tried the appetizers. Food selection and ambiance is good.

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    8 months ago

    Good restaurant great parking very different kind of food for everyone different taste

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    Page 1 of 19

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    Ask the Community - Big Bowl

    Does Big Bowl offer desserts?

    Yes a few different desserts

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    Yu's Mandarin - Hot and Sour Soup

    Yu's Mandarin

    3.2(1.2k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    We came in on a Monday night for a birthday for one of our party. We were seated promptly and the…read morehostess was very nice. The restaurant is kept very clean . It took a little while for a server to come see us though. They staff the kitchen plentifully but it sees as though they may be short on servers. We ordered appetizers chicken sticks and calamari and both were excellent. For entires, we ordered orange chicken, lemon chicken, the rainbow lo mein, kung pao chicken, and then sweet and sour chicken. The food is so very good. Probably the best Americanized Chinese food we've ever had. Especially the kung pao. One thing to watch out for is the tip is added to your bill automatically. We did call afterwards when we realized this and the restaurant accommodated us appropriately. We were pleased. Regardless, I would very much recommend this place.

    I've been going to Yu's Mandarin since 2020, and at this point I'm less a loyal customer and more a…read morecautionary tale. For five years I kept thinking, "Maybe this time will be better." Turns out, the only thing that got better was my ability to ignore red flags. The food can be good--sometimes even genuinely tasty--but it's like playing culinary roulette. The same dish never tastes the same twice. It often feels like they just grab whatever ingredients are lying around, toss in some meat, and hope for the best. If you like consistency, you'll find yourself missing other restaurants while you're still sitting in this one. The service is a mood swing. A couple of servers are warm and hospitable, and I appreciate them. But others are rushed, cold, and oddly entitled about tips. I've had the bill slapped down while I'm mid-bite and plates whisked away before I'm done eating. I absolutely believe in tipping well for good service--but dropping food, not refilling drinks, barely checking in, and then hovering for a big tip isn't service; it's pressure with a fake smile. And then there's the rice. I never thought I'd have serious feelings about rice bowls, but here we are. They serve rice in tiny, kid-sized bowls like it's some rare limited-edition collectible. You're expected to stretch that little scoop across a full entrée. For what they charge, it sends a pretty clear message: generosity is not part of the business model. The final straw--and the reason I'm writing this--was my last visit. Shortly after eating there, I ended up with nasty stomach issues and two days of terrible diarrhea. I can't see what happens in the kitchen, but I can connect timing. Once I lose trust in a restaurant's hygiene, it's over. I've only given that "never again" label to one other place in my life. Yu's just earned the second spot. If you're reading this before going, imagine your future self looking back and saying, "Why did I ignore that review?" There are plenty of places where the food is consistent, the staff doesn't rush you or guilt-trip you for tips, rice isn't treated like gold, and you don't spend the next 48 hours regretting your decision. After five years of giving Yu's Mandarin chance after chance, I'm done. If you value your money, time, and stomach, you might want to skip the experiment altogether.

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    Yu's Mandarin
    Yu's Mandarin - Szechwan Eggplant  Mongolian Beef Yu's Chicken Wings

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    Chef Ping - Mongolian beef

    Chef Ping

    4.0(1.3k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Chef Ping continues to be a favorite for our family based in Chicago to gather. The food continues…read moreto be excellent and of great value. My wife, her mom, and I were in Chicago to remember my father-in-law's death anniversary, and my sister-in-law chose Chef Ping's, for our party of nine for a Wednesday lunch. Parking is plentiful and the dining area can seat a lot. We got seated at a large round table in the back room, with a large lazy susan (just need to remember to spin it very slowly). We ordered a lot, and the food came out slowly. There was plenty of leftovers for the local folks to have for future meal or two. 3 Shrimp Toast (6 pieces each) - $26.85 - greasy but good, with the shrimp paste being a little sweet (in a good way) Noodle in Black Bean Sauce ($12.50) - this is jja jang myeon, which two of us had the previous night. It was OK, not near the top of the best I've had. Ping's Noodle Soup ($15.50) - the other classic Chinese-Korean dish, this is jjampong, a dish I've had many times. I was the only one to eat it, so ended up being my main dish. It was good, with thick noodles...just wish it had more seafood. Salt & Pepper Smelt ($16.90) - not sure if always available, but this was excellent...my favorite dish and one that I finished once I realized that everybody had their fill. It really depends on the quality of the smelt, which was excellent in this case. It was lightly battered, and carefully deep fried. Other dishes enjoyed by others: 2 Salt & Pepper Prawns - $35.90 - large head-on shell-on prawns fire wokked. Salt & Pepper Tofu ($11.50) - for the vegetarians Chicken Skewers (4) - $8.75 - tender and shareable Walnut Shrimp ($19.90) - mayo with shrimp Young Chow Fried Rice ($12.50) - fried rice is a necessity for our group Mongolian Beef ($17.50) - a classic 2 Sesame Ball (4) - $7 - a great way to finish a meal. 18% tip was automatically added, and service was OK throughout. Our water was kept refilled, and I think hot water was as well. It was a good meal and opportunity to get back together

    We've eaten here many times in the past and had a good experience. This visit was poor at best!…read morePlease note: (ALL PICTURES ARE FROM MY PREVIOUS VISITS NOT TO THIS VISIT) Unfortunately this visit is going to be the last time. Both the service and quality of food has gone way down from what they were famous for. The waitress spilled my tea, also dipped her finger in my tea, had no apology or offer to exchange it with a fresh cup. I had to ask her for a fresh cup of tea. Then the other server that brought our entrees spilled my husbands tea and again no offering to getting a fresh cup. We had to ask AGAIN for a fresh cup! While the portions were generous, the quality of all the food has gone way down. The special family recipe of thier shrimp dish Gan Pong is nothing but fried shrimp with dried chili peppers and no flavor. The Hunan spicy beef and chicken appeared to be all globs and sticky because of excessive and over use of corn starch used during the cooking process. This dish didn't have any unique flavor that one would expect. Previously we had experienced a difference in the food, taste and quality and that's what kept us returning. Sadly, after this experience I wouldn't recommend it to anyone or come back! I'd rather stick with Yu's Mandarin than drive to this place! Quality always wins over quantity in my books!

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    Noodle Deli - Sichuan beef noodle

    Noodle Deli

    4.2(86 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $

    Ambiance - hole in the wall. Very cute. I liked it. 8/10…read moreService - 10/10. Constantly came to refill water, and answered all of our questions well. We were unsure of what to get because we are vegetarians. She took the time to explain the dishes in detail, told us the modifications she'd make, she even added extra vegetables without asking! She was kind enough to add tofu in our dish free of charge. Extremely kind. Food - 9/10. we got two biang biang noodles and 1 tofu/tomato with a side of white rice. Biang biang noodles were delicious. You could tell those noodles were fresh. The tomato and tofu was delicious as well. I will be bringing my friends and family here! Portions were huge. I was only able to eat half of my noodles!

    Pretty surprised to find this totally on accident. Didn't have high hopes given the name, but…read morereally feels like walked into mainland China, with their QR code ordering system and payment all in app, very convenient. The noodles were served in super big bowls. All of the noodles were very good, springy and QQ (iykyk). The beef noodle soup had nice cuts of beef the ones with tendon so the muscle fibers were short and easier to chew through. Also had firm age tofu slices to soak up the broth. The staff all spoke fluent mandarin and really helpful and friendly. They suggested the wide noodle with their biang biang sauce with beef and scallion, it's a dry sauce/oil based dish. The noodles were so very wide and QQ, the widest noodles I've ever seen. Flavor is very good but also a bit spicy. Husband wanted cumin lamb, we had low expectations given that it is a noodle shop, but the flavor, cumin seed and spices as well as the meat are all on point. Both the lamb and beef were tender. The onions were caramelized well without losing the crunch. Overall pleasantly surprised by it.

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    Big Bowl - chinese - Updated June 2026

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