My daughter has been telling me about Chef's Special for quite some time, so during a recent Chicago visit we finally made it happen. From the outside, I never would have guessed this was a Chinese restaurant. The exterior is understated, but inside is a lively and energetic space. Reservations can be hard to get and, even on a Wednesday night, the restaurant was busy. We sat at a high-top table next to the bar. The noise level was comfortable, and the music playlist added to the fun atmosphere. We started with the crab rangoon, which receives plenty of praise on Yelp and deservedly so. We also ordered the wontons in chili oil, which packed a noticeable amount of heat. Next came the Dan Dan noodles. From there we shared the dry chili chicken, Mongolian beef, and the wok-fried green beans. One thing that stood out was the spice level. Much of the menu has a noticeable kick, almost reminding me more of a Thai restaurant than the traditional Chinese restaurants I typically visit. The dry chili chicken brought the heat, while the Mongolian beef provided a nice balance. I love wok-cooked green beans, and Chef's Special delivered. Their version comes with a sweet glaze and crispy garlic. The combination of flavors and textures made them one of the highlights of the meal. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful with menu suggestions. Service had a few small gaps, but nothing that detracted from the experience. After all of the bold and spicy flavors, the Ube Custard was the perfect way to end the meal. Smooth, lightly sweet, and refreshing, it provided a welcome contrast to everything that came before it. The portions were generous. We had plenty left over to take home. Our bill was $176 before tip for appetizers, noodles, entrees, and dessert, which felt fair given the quality and quantity of food. Located in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, Chef's Special was about a 20-minute Uber ride from our hotel. Based on the food, atmosphere, and overall experience, it was well worth the trip. read more

Lovely dinner spent at Chef's Special. Daily HH from 4-5. Nice patio area and fun interior ambiance. Exceptional service. Crab Rangoons: 2.8/5 DanDan noodles: 3.8/5 Green beans: 4.3/5 Rolled noodles: 4/5 Walleye & leak: 4.8/5 (must try!) read more

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What a cute spot! Made a reservation for a weekday when it wasn't crazy busy. The food was excellent and the drinks were good, too. We snuck in a few items during happy hour - the deep fried green beans, the Crab Rangoon, and the Dan Dan Noodles, each about $2.50 off during HH. The green beans were my favorite dish. There was a bunch and a lot of really yummy sauce and they were just the right texture. The Dan Dan noodles were my next favorite dish. The two pepper icon clued me in to be cautious and they were a little bit spicy for me, but they were also really good. The noodles tasted homemade and there was a lot of creamy, peanuty sauce that we even saved for dipping. The crab rangoon were not the best I've had. They were crispy, but a little weak on the filling and very garlicky or something. We also got the orange chicken and Mongolian beef (ie 3 mains and 2 apps for 3 people - just a little too much food probably - we took a bit home). I really liked that the orange chicken came with veggies and rice and it was all really good. The right amount of sauce and sweet. The Mongolian beef was also really good. I stayed away from the little red peppers that added just a bit of spice and I really liked the little crunchy things! read more

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We really enjoyed this spot for takeout! Not too far from home and a good selection of items. We went with the following: - Spicy Mongolian beef 4.5/5 - Walnut Shrimp 5/5 (but could have been a bigger portion for the price) - Cashew Chicken 3/5 - good but wouldn't get again, lacked a lil something - Kids size noodle 5/5 The flavors were really good in beef, shrimp, and noodles. We got the small noodles just to give it a try and would definitely order a noodle dish in the future and maybe try a different chicken. My only complaint is the portions were a little small do the prices. Otherwise will def get again. read more

Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar - Full plate - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been to Chef's Special Cocktail Bar once before, but have been wanting to come back because it was so good. They open at 5pm, and we wanted to get there when they opened. There was a long line outside of the door around 4:55 when we arrived, and all the people in line quickly filled up the bar before we even got inside. We waited in the standing booth, ordered a drink with the bartender, and within 40 minutes a couple at the bar left and we took their seats. The service is extremely fast. Once you order, your food is basically out within 5-15 minutes. We ordered cucumber salad (which is one of the best cucumber salads I've ever had!), veggie spring rolls, and kung pao chicken that came with white rice. But literally everything on the menu is delicious I'm sure. The ambiance is really fun. They have a disco ball on the ceiling and a wrap around bar with plenty of seating. read more

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If you're looking for a vibey asian fusion dinner with a quality selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails in Bucktown, this is the place to be! Aesthetic interior with vegetarian-friendly menu. Highly recommend the rolled noodles dish (they make the rice noodles into a gnocchi-type shape) and the sauce is excellent. They do an incredible job on the cook and seasoning of veggies, even within meat/seafood dishes. Smashed cucumbers are a great appetizer, and a current seasonal highlight is the roasted winter squash. The beef was tender but quite average for the price point. Staff were incredibly informed and welcoming. Plenty of seating with cute light fixtures and design all around, the non-alcoholic drinks were a hit - definitely recommend the hoppy refresher if you like refreshing notes. Side street parking hard to find, but nearby neighborhood street parking available. read more

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This place is incredible!! There are so many vegetarian options and the flavor was on point for every single thing we ordered! Our server was also super nice and let us know that some additional items cooked also be made vegetarian. We ordered the green beans, cucumbers, squash, dry chili tofu, and the hand rolled noodles. Everything was amazing and the portion sizes were bigger than I expected! We also ended with dessert with the ube custard which was sooooo good, highly recommend! If you don't have a reservation I would recommend getting there around 4:45-4:50. People end up lining up before they open at 5 and it filled up really fast. read more

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Finally made it in for dinner! This place is busy and for good reason. It's a very popular spot for cocktails and delicious chinese food. The food is especially amazing! You definitely must order the egg rolls. They are the best! The vibe is classy but laid back. read more

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I see this spot all the time coming home from work and until recently I never realized it was a Chinese food spot. We decided to try it for take out since we didn't feel like cooking. Their menu is not as expansive as a typical Chinese menu. We ordered for take out and there was a line out the door for dine-in service. I didn't go in to get the order do I can speak much to the interior. We ordered shrimp fried rice, orange chicken, sweet and sour chicken and beef and broccoli. There was also an order of green beans. It smelled great in the car. Everything was just alright. I wasn't a huge fan. If I was ever to return it'd probably be just to try t'a couple cocktails. I've heard good things, so we'll see. read more

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Had a wonderful experience at Chef's Special. We dined here for my friends birthday and all the food was delicious. The portions are big so be prepared to have leftovers. Their cocktails are also very refreshing. It's a great place to celebrate a special occasion or if you like a dim lively atmosphere. read more

The food at this place is truly amazing! My sister-in-law went here once and was finding any excuse she could to go back because it was so good. There were four of us and we split several dishes- crab rangoon, green beans, cauliflower, hand pulled noodles and kung pao chicken. This is by far the best Chinese food I've ever had and probably up in the top 10 of best meals I've ever had. Cocktails are also very good! And they have a great happy hour from 5-6 pm every day read more

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Top tier one of my fave restaurants in Chicago! The service is impeccable, they do a great job giving recommendations and explaining what every dish is. The food is so perfectly prepared I leave so full but wanting more! 10/10 recommend. Need to come for happy hour because the bar is so cute! read more

Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We happened upon Chef's Special simply because we were stuck in Chicago traffic. From our Uber, we could smell the wafts of food coming from the kitchen. Even though the exterior looks deceptively divey, we returned lured in by smell alone. And it is not disappoint. Chef's Special Cocktail Bar is vibe-y, Chinese-y and cocktail-y. What more could you possible want really. Everything we ordered was fire, but there were some definite favorites. I personally loved the fried rice ($13.50). It's simple - stir fried rice, egg, peas, carrots + sesame oil, but there was something about it that slapped so hard. In fact, the fried rice tasted even better the next day. The fried rice with the dry chili chicken ($17.50) was a winning combo. The chicken is tossed with ginger, garlic, and scallions plus a ton of chilis. It tasted familiar, but packed a ton of heat. If you can't commit to a full meal, I definitely recommend grabbing drinks and eating apps. The crab rangoon ($11.50) is kitschy fun and delectable. And for those on a health kick, the smashed cucumbers ($6.50) will keep you healthy. Honestly, I wish I had more time to explore the menu and try other things. If you're looking for something a little different than what the Internet recommends, Chef's Special is your girl. read more

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Probably my favorite restaurant in Chicago!! Fun happy hour, great cocktails, always order the green beans & fried rice. Literally everything is good and veggie friendly menu. Reservations can be competitive but not so bad that you can't get something that works. read more

Decided to try a new happy hour randomly during holiday break and this place did not disappoint! The line outside before they opened should've told me everything I needed to know but WOW. The food was incredible! We loved the dan Dan noodles, crab Rangoon, and spring rolls. The green beans were also delicious! It's a pretty spacious bar but it does fill fast. We had the one drink one the HH menu with the pisco and the ingredients sounded weird but ended up being delicious! Great meal to start the year off with. read more

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I had asked some friends for recommendations in Chicago and a chef I know sent me this spot. I love a good happy hour, which Chef's Special has, and I love Asian food, which they have as well! Nate and I stopped in around 5:30 pm recently and managed to snag two seats at the bar - the rest of the place was almost full or reserved, so make a reservation! The happy hour menu is small but mighty, with six food options, three drinks, one discounted bottle of wine, and a "slow roll" combo (a shot + a can of Hamm's and a spring roll, love this). Nate and I ordered the dan dan noodles, dry fried green beans with a side of rice, an amaretto sour, and an old fashioned. Our food came out quickly and everything looked SO good. The dan dan noodles specifically are a favorite dish of ours that we can't really get in our city, so we were so happy that they were as delicious as the ones we've loved elsewhere. The dry fried green beans were a delight - saucy, savory, and topped with crispy garlic. Yum! I also loved my amaretto sour. After a trip to the restroom I noticed that they had super cute branded matchbooks for sale, so I got two as a souvenir. I also got to take a couple of their coasters and postcards. The branding is really fun! I also really appreciated how kind and friendly all the staff was. If I lived nearby, I'd be here all the time! read more

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Amazing food, great atmosphere, and the cocktails are absolutely fantastic! The perfect spot for a fantastic dinner! read more

This place has jumped into the top 5 restaurants we've been to in Chicago. Started with some spring rolls that were a couple levels above the usual, came with a trio of sauces that were excellent. Donna's choice came first- dry chili chicken- crispy chicken wok tossed with ginger, garlic, scallion and lots of Thai chilies and Sichuan peppercorns. Sounds hot, but not too much. Nice crispy and tender chicken bites- a lot of flavor in the breading and the sauce. Then my dish arrived- thick rice noodles rolled & wok tossed w Xi'an spiced short ribs, brussels sprouts & thai basil. SO MUCH FLAVOR in this dish! Smoky lean short ribs with these noodles that just absorbed all of the flavor from the sauce. I can't recommend this place highly enough. As a bonus, the entrees were under twenty bucks. read more

Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been coming here off and on for the last 5 years. If you are coming with a group or just don't want to wait, you may want to try to make a reservation since they often have 1 hour waits. My husband and I have gotten pretty lucky with snagging up bar seats during periods when there are long table waits. I like the egg rolls, wontons in chili oil, rolled noodles, hand pulled noodles, and dry chili chicken. I mainly rotate these same 5 items , but I can't imagine anything being bad here. The cocktails are also tasty. read more

Wow, what a great place. This was one of those meals that you were actively thinking about the next time you'll have it during the meal. I highly suggest making reservations because walk in around dinner time could be a 2 hour wait. They have ample bar seating as well that fills up quickly but has a little more movement and thus a chance of success will likely occur before 2 hours. The bartenders were very fun and kind. Food is served family style and comes out whenever it's ready. There were three of us and we got 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 6 drinks. We each paid ~$75 after tax and tip. Truly amazing food. I highly recommend the wonton, hand pulled noodles, and kung pao shrimp. Really fantastic meal with street parking outside. read more

Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Back for round 2. The shrimp kung pao is pretty decent. I wish it was spicer but the 3 sauces they give you make up for it! read more

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Honestly I haven't been blown away by Chinese food in a very long time but this place was amazing. I loved the hand pulled noodles and the sauce assortment it came with. We easily finished the bowl in like 10 mins. The kung pao tofu was super spice heavy and had so many peanuts which I loved. Also plenty of leftovers to bring home. The vibe of the place was very disco-y and fun as well:) drinks were solid - I got the chi chi colada and there was definetely a heavy pour of mezcal which I appreciated read more

Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar - Hand pulled noodles - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was a little bit skeptical when I heard that some white dudes had opened a Chinese spot but these white dudes also happened to be behind giant so I figured I'd give it a shot (also they have gluten free options which is rare for Chinese food). I was so pleasantly surprised at how delicious everything was -- though I'd categorize the cuisine as "Americanized Chinese". The green beans stole the show surprisingly! Also I was pregnant at the time so had a mocktail -- which was super delicious. Can't wait to go back for a real cocktail! My husband enjoyed his drink too. Since it's a bar, was surprised to see at least for the outdoor seating people brought their kids so we will be back with our daughter! read more

What a lovely place to be at! The vibes are really cute and the menu is more Chinese American. I really appreciated that they made all of their alcoholic special non-alcoholic as well. All of the food was very yummy. My personal favorites were the green beans, banana custard, and the sweet and sour chicken. I definitely recommend going with a group to taste a lot of dishes and all of them are very shareable. The service was a bit slow but everyone was really nice. Solid dinner place! read more

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Chef's special is an American Chinese restaurant with a dark and moody ambiance. The fact that I can pull up for a dinner reservation at 10 PM is great, as I love a late dinner. The service was good and really fast. It's a lively and loud atmosphere. The cocktails were a little more expensive than I feel is worth it. The mystic tango was very sweet. I liked the lemongrass gimlet. The prices aren't unreasonable, but the cocktails at that price just aren't super attractive to me for the future. The food was pretty good. The dry chili chicken was delicious, 9/10. The dry fried green beans were a little too sweet for me and a bit saucier than I was expecting and I didn't love that. But the green beans were cooked well and had a great texture themselves, 6/10. These two dishes were more than enough to share between two people. In total, the price came out to ~$35 per person which is actually extremely fair. I would've loved to have another drink but like I said the cocktails are a little pricey. The ambiance was really nice, there were some fake flowers and vines around that I honestly feel like it would look better without them there. But overall, this is a really cool, trendy spot for dinner and drinks with a late night dark vibe. I'll have to come back and try some more things on the menu! read more

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Chef's Special is such a great vibe. It's a little retro and a little funky and in all the best ways. We almost always sit at the bar where we're always well taken care of by the bartenders. Sometimes we're in early enough for happy hour and snag a cocktail. If we're in later, we almost always order some wontons in chili oil. Spicy but SO good! We've also had the pork potstickers which are tasty and my friends have enjoyed the crab rangoon. I go back and forth between the orange chicken and sweet and sour chicken as my entree. I usually eat until I'm so stuffed because it's THAT good. I love how they serve the rice on the side, hot and plentiful! A place that's been in our rotation for years and will continue to be in the future. read more

This restaurant is fantastic. Best Chinese food we've ever had! Everything is so fresh and flavorful. We drive over an hour to get there and it's worth it! read more

Had a reservation for a Monday night with two friends. We probably could have been seated as a walk in at that time as it was busy but not packed. I'm still glad we made the reservation though. Food is brought out as it's ready because it's meant to be shared so keep that in mind when ordering! For the 3 of us we got 2 apps, one veggie dish, and 3 mains. That was plenty as we each had leftovers to take home! While all the mains were good, my favorites were the Brussels sprouts and crab Rangoon. The spice indicators in the menu were a little inconsistent as we got a few items with 2 chili spice markers but one was far spicier than the others! Free street parking on Western and some side streets make it convenient if driving. I enjoyed the holiday decorations throughout the restaurant. Service was friendly, but not overly attentive. I noticed others got their food much faster with different servers. Not a huge deal. I definitely look forward to coming back! The prices were reasonable and food was delicious. read more

Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar - Mongolian Beef - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered ahead for Christmas Day takeout (some may say that's risky) but it was delicious! Our first time trying Chef's Special. While we had to wait a little bit, it was all worth it and there were good vibes inside. I would love to eat at the restaurant/bar sometime soon! We had the smashed cukes which were super flavorful. For entrees: Mongolian beef (spicyyyy!), chicken lo mein (how do they make those noodles so perfect???) and the sweet and sour chicken - the crowd favorite. read more

4 stars is generous but I loved the quirky ambiance , cocktail selection. and the egg rolls so rounding up what should really be a overall 3.0 star rating. The service was friendly and attentive and I loved the dark retro vibe of this place. Given it was so dark we could barely read the menu, we let our waitress tell us what to order . That was a mistake . After our delicious egg rolls , we had the pea salad- this was interesting and ok but too salty. Next came the dry chili chicken which was a miss ( deep fried - my bad for not realizing that when ordering ). The hand pulled noodles with short rib was another disappointment . Disappointed over all in those 3 dishes . If I ever return ( and may cause the atmosphere is so cute ), I'll stick to the basics and classics ( eg egg rolls, kung pao chicken ). read more

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White guys making Chinese food? This sounds like a hipster nightmare. However, this might be the best American Chinese that I have ever had. Now this is AMERICAN Chinese food which might not be the most accurate version of the Asian food, but still an important slice of American cuisine and tasty at that. The menu reflects the "fakery" Chinese for American tastes, but made with some of the best ingredients. Before going into the food, I have to give major props to the drinks. I went with a Mystic Tango which was like a margarita with Asian ingredients. My mom got the Chichi Colada which I thought was even better than mine. Either way, both were excellent. I heard that this place has the best eggrolls. I'm not sure if that's true, but they were still pretty good. They make their own dipping sauces which were perfect with the eggrolls. Of course I would get it again! My favorite app was the Crab Rangoon which was hot, crispy, and the cheese was very flavorful. These were nearly perfect! We also got the siu BBQ Pork ribs. While this is a little on the expensive side, it was also super flavorful and perfect. It reminds me of getting Chinese with my grandma! For our main dishes, we got orange chicken and kung pao chicken. I thought both were solid, but I give the slight edge to the kung pao because of the amount of chicken and the spice. I'd get both again! We finished with the spice cake and the freshly baked almond cookies. Folks, get the cookies! Makes the perfect little dessert. I'm a little surprised they don't make their own fortune cookies. That would be fun! The inside has that old fashioned Chinese restaurant look along with grandma's kitchen (it looks like my grandma's house). It's a little loud in there. As for the service, it was pretty excellent, but my bar was pretty high. I wished for more "wow", but they still did well. Nothing bad to report. The only real downside I can find is the pricing. This is NOT a cheap date. However, this food is way better than it should be. If the food is good, price becomes less of a factor. In closing, I HIGHLY recommend this place to everybody. It's great nostalgia cooking with some talented chefs! read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole city! While it's called a cocktail bar, it offers so much more. Don't get me wrong, the cocktails are amazing, but the food is what really stands out to me. I have never had a bad dish here, but my favorites are the dan dan noodles w/ ground pork, the wontons in chili oil, and the mapo tofu with ground pork. If you don't want meat, there are plenty of delicious vegetarian options, or you can sub any meat with tofu. I love this place so much, and all the employees are so nice and accommodating. read more

Chef's Special Cocktail Bar is a highly delectable experience that every Chicagoan must try. My friend and I went in hungry and left utterly mind-blown. We started off with Cocktails (and Old Fashioned) and a wonderful N/A THC option (Choom - Solar Lite) both were reasonably priced and exceedingly delicious. Our server Jen was wildly attentive and knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the menu. We started with their Smashed Cumbers and worked our way into the special which was the Dry Rub Lamb Ribs. The Smashed Cucumbers were zingy and fresh - the Lamb Ribs were out of this world. For our Entree we split the Rolled Noodles which came with spiced short ribs as the protein and it was dense and highly incredible. For desert we enjoyed the Hong Kong Spice Cake (pictured) and our bartender Nora had us set up and ready for desert before we could even blink. All in all. Chef's Special Cocktail Bar is an exemplary dining experiences with a robust and delicious menu, a friendly and knowledgeable staff, and lastly a highly impactful playlist of some of the best music I've heard in a while. Everyone should enjoy a cozy night in at this establishment. I assure you - you will leave satiated and ready for your next visit. read more

Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar - Hong Kong Spice Cake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything I could've dreamt of. Amazing Sapporo draft. The kung pao chicken had the perfect kick to it. The hand rolled noodles were fantastic. The crab Rangoons were great, I loved that they featured a good amount of crab (most crab Rangoons are just cream cheese balls). The smashed cucumbers were surprisingly delicious. The waitress was so sweet. Everything came out fast. Beautiful ambience. Very date night vibes. read more

This restaurant blew me away. Everything was exquisite. The food was so flavorful and divine. The crab and shrimp dumplings were wow!! Drinks were amazing. Highly recommend the neutral expectations for non alcoholic option. Staff was super kind and helped us celebrate an occasion. read more

Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar - Hand noodles with short rib - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The ambience inside this restaurant is so cool! We sat at the curved bar. We had a couple cocktails and shared some plates. The bartender recommended the crab rangoons for an app and they were amazing. The dry chili chicken is a very legit amount of spice. read more

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10s across the board! The ambiance is small, unique, and intimate -- definitely a hidden gem. Every item we tried tasted incredibly fresh and packed with flavor. The service was superb, and the drinks were a standout bonus. We ordered a little bit of everything, and the bill was surprisingly reasonable. It's no wonder it's so hard to get a reservation -- they stay booked! I also love that from the outside, you'd never guess it's a restaurant. That just adds to the charm. read more

Everything about our date night at Chef's Special Cocktail Bar was fantastic. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting and the menu had so many interesting options to choose from. As vegetarians, we were so impressed by how many dishes could be modified to fit our dietary needs! For starters, we ordered the vegetable spring rolls and congee with roasted mushrooms. For mains, we ordered rolled rice noodles (without meat) and dry chili chicken (subbed with tofu to make it vegetarian). The vegetable spring rolls were perfectly crispy and packed with fresh, flavorful veggies - definitely a highlight. The congee was so unique, comforting, and loaded with roasted mushroom goodness. Every dish was delicious but our two starters really stood out for us. Another thing we loved was the trio of sauces they brought out for the table. Each one was so flavorful and paired perfectly with all the dishes. If you're looking for great food, amazing drinks, and a spot that caters to different diets, Chef's Special Cocktail Bar is a must-visit. We are already planning our next visit so we can try more of the menu! read more

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Second time here and it really did not disappoint. I just love this place and I think that it is the best upscale Chinese in the city. We split a ton of dishes and drinks, and it was still reasonably priced. We got these smashed cucumbers, the dumplings and the crab Rangoon's for apps. Definitely love the crab Rangoon's the best because they served them with a trio of sauces, including a spicy mustard. For mains, we split beef and broccoli, Sweet and sour shrimp, orange chicken, fried rice, Hand rolled noodles and green beans. I think my favorites were the beef and broccoli and the green beans! I know everyone loves the noodles here and they were really good as well, but I definitely would wanna come back and try to lo mein. They serve rice with all of the mains and the fried rice is always a favorite. We also tried the sesame cake, which was definitely a unique dessert, but really grew on us the more we had it. Yeah, I love this place and the atmosphere and service are always up to par. They have very lovely Christmas decorations this time of year and I will definitely come back! read more

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WHAT an experience! My girlfriend surprised me for my birthday dinner and I was so excited! Chef's Special had been on my list for a while and I was not disappointed. The staff were all so pleasant and on top of it, and the atmosphere was so chic and fun. Now for the food! I LOVED the potstickers and crab Rangoon. They give three different homemade sauces with the apps and they were all delicious. We then got the green beans, orange chicken, and Mongolian beef for the main course. All were incredible! And we had plenty left over which is the best :) Highly recommend! read more

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