Hm. I'm almost hesitant to write my review because I want to keep this little gem to myself. This place is authentic. It's like going to my aunt's house for dinner because it really feels like I walked into my aunt's house and sat down at her table. I always go with my dad and step-mom. We NEVER order from the menu. There *is* no menu. Those plastic things the owner lady gives you? Yeah, that's just for your reading entertainment. Talk to her. Ask her what's fresh today. What vegetables did she get that day. Granted, this place is great for seafood lovers and just ok for meat lovers. Sure you can have your pepper steak and soy sauce chicken, but to truly experience what this place has to offer, YOU HAVE TO EAT THE SEAFOOD. My most recent meal I had there: soup of the day(some Chinese herbal soup), sweet potato leaves (kinda taste like spinach and seasonal), and the biggest clam I've ever seen in my life. It was bigger than the bowl of rice I was eating. The meat was tender and sweet and it was topped with lobster sauce. I was surprised because I was expecting it to be tough. Service is always fast and the owner is attentive. She's friendly and I like that at the end of the meal we don't just get the usual sweet tapioca dessert like other restaurants. Bleh. Once we had a papaya and snow fungus dessert soup and this last time we went we had chilled longans. Yup. It's just like home. ^_^ read more

Grand Palace - Super ginormous clam. That is *ONE* clam. - Cantonese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a place for some pretty freaking delicious seafood. The restaurant itself is tiny, crowded, and very unassuming from the outside - the exact kind of Cantonese tea-house style that I trust to serve authentic dishes. I wouldn't have known this place exists if it weren't for a friend who brought me here! Almost everyone eating here was Chinese/Asian, and the place was bustling by 6 pm - there was a small line waiting to be seated. The seafood here are reminiscent of the ones that I had in Hong Kong, which is saying quite a lot. Between my friend and I, we split a Dungeness crab, which is a whole crab cooked in a lightly salted batter and was unbelievably aromatic and juicy, and fresh scallops+razor clams, which were cooked in a garlicky broth with rice noodles. We also got a side of their vegetables of the day, a bowl of water spinach in a broth that was cooked with some thousand year-old preserved eggs in it. I loved everything we got, and was absolutely stuffed. Definitely an ideal spot if you're looking for some real Cantonese/Taiwanese-style seafood and dishes! read more

i usually am NOT a fan of cantonese food as i think it's way too sweet, oily, and bland and much prefer sichuanese or northern chinese food. however, the food at grand palace is a sure knockout and pumps out some of the best cantonese food that i've had outside of hong kong or shenzhen! first things first, i love the ambience of the restaurant. it's definitely not glitzy, and the oversized fish in the tank make me a little nervous, but the restaurant is full of personal touches that make it seem more like someone's home than an eating establishment. i think the cutest touch is the caricatures of the staff on the wall as it shows how the place is family and community oriented and just adds that much more of a homey touch. now on to the food. it's SO SO Good, like actually amazing. most people come here for the steamed fish, and for good reason. we got the steamed black sea bass and it was fresh and beautifully lightly seasoned with soy sauce, ginger, and scallions. the string beans here are also top notch and extremely satisfying. however, out of all the dishes that i've tried here, i think the steamed egg is the true winner. both the triple egg and ground pork versions are AMAZINGLY tender and flavorful and go perfectly with rice. also, this restaurant still gives out free soup in the beginning and oranges at the end, the perfect appetizer and dessert to any meal. the prices are very reasonable, except for the steamed fish. expect to pay around 40-50 dollars per fish depending on its size, but i can honestly say its well worth it. the freshness of the fish is unparalleled at other cantonese restaurants in chicago, and i think its a valid investment. come thru to grand palace for thoughtfully prepared cantonese food, and make sure to get the steamed egg!!!! read more

See all

Friend told us about this place when we attended the grand opening of the museum across the street, so we came on a Thursday night and it was packed! Had to wait about 30min before getting seats, tried to just order takeout but the owner lady said it'd take about the same time, so she took our order while we were waiting for our table and sure enough, food showed up as soon as we sat down. Perfect timing! Loved the steamed egg custard, reminds me of what my mom often made at home. We also had fried soft shell crab and tofu casserole. Nothing fancy, just delicious homecooking. Only minor quibble was every other table had free soup but we never got any and it was a dreary cold day. Oh well, maybe when we become regulars? read more

If you are looking for a mom & pop restaurant where the locals go, here it is. It's a small 10 table place. The wait can be crazy on Friday night. But well worth the wait. The owner behind the corner is super friendly and is a people person. When we arrived there was a car across the street with the lights on. She asked around to see if it was any of the patrons. She was concerned about the battery running out and the car dying. It was a patrons car waiting for her carry out order. Never heard of any other restaurant mgr or staff worried about a little thing like that. The owner is the only one that takes orders. So we preordered while waiting for our table. She laughed when we placed our order and told us it was a lot of food. We were hungry and had friends recommend this place all the time. The food was excellent. Not salty and very flavorful. Not a single complaint. The prices were very reasonable. Our table was the last to leave and we apologized. The owner was watching the Chinese soap opera and said she didn't care if we stayed. We ordered vegetable egg rolls, potato leafs garlic sauce, Japanese tofu and enoki mushrooms, chicken wings and Dungeness crab preserved egg yolk. We didn't have much left. Only chicken wings. The menu has very traditional Chinese dishes. Next time we have to try the steamed egg with vermicelli noodles. If you want whole in the wall, friendly staff and delicious food, this is the place. read more

See all

I have lived in China, Queens, and Chicago, and can confidently say that this is one of the best Chinese restaurants I have been to in the United States. It is far and away the best Cantonese restaurant in Chicago (unless you specifically want Dim Sum). There are a few bad reviews complaining about the service, which is frankly bizarre. The owner is funny, warm, and welcoming. Can't recommend highly enough. read more

food ： 5 star price ：5 star Service : 5 star This is one of the best Chinese restaurant I have tried ! The food is authentic and cheap. The server is sweet and adjust the size of the the serving for your party size. read more

I guess I missed out on eating the seafood when I came in here. This place is nice and cosy with a few tables. We had to wait a few minutes upon entering. I was suggested to eat a fish since it's fresh and arrived today. While ordering I was also suggested to try the clams since it seems to be their specialty or something. Instead, I opted in for a bizarre menu with the following three dishes: mandarin style pork chops, Japanese tofu with scallops and black bean sauce, and the seasonal veggies with shredded meat. Complementary to the meal was a soup and sliced oranges at the end. I think the oranges were my favorite (they're sweet) next to the seasonal veggies with shredded meat. I have to say, I was quite confused to what kind of shredded meat it was. It looked like shredded pork, but I can't confirm. The taste of the meat was doused out. The veggies is what will be admired due to their "wok heat." It's juicy, cooked, and still crispy. It was awesome. The other dishes wasn't much for me to admire. I especially disliked the mandarin style pork chops. If I knew they would make it with ketchup, I would've done so at home since that's how I usually make them. There was a slight crisp, which was pretty good. They're mostly meat and minimally bones (I didn't see much bones, to be honest). The scallop dish with the Japanese tofu was one of the worst combinations of all. Of course, I ordered the food so I was deemed with bad taste... I'll take this one for you Grand Palace. Overall, that dish wasn't impressive considering the black beans weren't properly mashed so I tasted a lot of black beans in the sauce. It's always a sudden salty kick with the occasional chipping of the tooth. There's some sand/ shell in there for sure. The scallops were halved so it looks like we got a lot more. The tofu was just barely heated. The sauce definitely drowned out the tofu taste. One of the most disliked dish here. My date complained the place looked shady, and I just didn't feel impressed about the decorations (I'm here to eat for pete's sake). I was entertained by the TV since it was airing MY DRAMA. I highly doubt I'll be coming back. I forgot to mention the kids who were treating the place like their relative's home. The staff was definitely friendly. It appears that people who come in are regulars. I disliked having the wind lick my rear while I ate, which was topped off with kids' squeals. This is a family place. Plus one to them for having their own lot. If the lot is full, that means the tables are full as well, so expect a wait time. There's an uncorking fee (BYOB). EDIT: I forgot to mention why the stars were so low... the complementary soup was spoiled. Carrot soup tend to spoil easily and that was exactly the case here. The food was really mediocre for me. The atmosphere can be better experienced by people who love a homely feel (along with the noise). read more

Grand Palace - Seasonal veggies with meat shreds and mandarin pork chops - Cantonese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

My fave Chinatown restaurant besides Chi Cafe and Chatime TTNoodle and The Noodle. Small cheap eats to eat w group of ppl or get take out. Spacious parking lot for a few cars. Fast service. Friendly mommas. Bomb Chinese food. Homey not ugly but cozy. I've only been here three times. read more

Grand Palace - Cantonese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Very good! Family style! Cheaper price but with good quality! They have free soup! I have to eat it every week. read more

My favorite Cantonese diner in Chicagoland! Staff is friendly, makes great recommendations, and don't try to oversell. Presentation is very family-style, all the dishes I've tried are absolutely delicious, and reasonably priced as well. Highly recommend! read more

A family-run Cantonese seafood restaurant that screams "don't mess with tradition". The food here is unpretentious and this is reflected in both the ingredients and price. The things to die for here: roast duck served with five-spice sauce, deep fried soft shell crab, salt & pepper squid, and stewed beef tripe with tofu skin. The taste of the dishes takes a step back from commercial kitchens and reminds you of home-style cooking. Moreover, while most Chinese restaurants tend to use a ton of oil and MSG to enhance the flavor, there is a level of lightness to each dish that leaves you satisfied the entire evening. Advanced reservation is encouraged as the space is small. The ladies who take the orders might not have the best command of English, but when they have a suggestion for a dish, maybe because you looked stuck, do not think twice. This is a hidden-gem of Chicago's Chinese restaurant scene that I would absolutely recommend to any foodie who has a passion for adventures in authentic cuisines. read more

See all

Criteria for authentic Chinese Restaurant #1: Generic and nondescriptive name, including at least one of the following words: grand, dragon, lotus, palace, garden, star #2: We're the only people speaking English here #3: Bathroom is reasonably, but not prohibitively, dirty #4: Mop Closet in plain view #5: Single T.V. hanging from a wall which is probably only used for Chinese Videos #6: I Can't read half the menu. Nonetheless, it all tastes delicious #7: At one point, half of the restaurant was taken up by a single party for some sort of celebration(be it wedding, birthday, anniversary, etc.). That party may or may not have been us. Go with someone who can speak Canto, and be happy. read more

Very very authentic food Feels like you are in Hong Kong. Owner very nice, talks to us friendly. Good food look no further read more

This place is a real foodie destination. You don't go here for great atmosphere or great service. You only go here for extremely delicious food. This was the best Chinese meal I ever had. Service was nice and friendly enough. Food was unbelievable. read more

Great cantonese home cooked food, highly recommend place to visit in Chicago.

When you drive by this place, you might be hesitant to give this place a try because from the outside it looks pretty run down. They offer a parking lot which is small and usually there isn't any spots available, but there are ample street parking. On the inside, it's small and their decor is old and worn out but something about this place gives a homey vibe. What brings me back to this place is their great service and delicious food. It seems to be family owned by an elderly lady. She always has a smile on her face and greets you immediately. You can't miss her! If you are not sure what to order, she is more than welcome to offer you suggestions. She also tells you what is in season and what isn't. With every meal, they offer complimentary soup at the beginning and oranges at the end. I have eaten things from seafood to beef to vegetables from here and they are always perfectly made. Did I also say they are pretty reasonably priced for the size of the dishes they offer? Well they are! Also don't worry if you are craving for something that isn't on the menu, I have ordered several different dishes and they always try to accommodate. So if you are craving authentic Chinese food and want to avoid the chaos in Chinatown, then definitely give this place a try. read more

This restaurant is located right outside Chinatown, but the food here is just as authentic and also really good. From the outside, this place is nothing to brag about. On the inside the place is pretty small and the tables are old. The parking lot is also really small. We almost never find parking in the lot; but no worries, there are tons of free street parking. The few times that I came here were during the weekend, so it was always busy. It can be confusing waiting because they didn't take our name down while we were waiting. You really don't know when you are next or who is ahead of you. I have no idea how they sit people. The food here is really good. My all time favorite from here is the lobster yi mein with extra yi mein. This is a must get every time I come! Their clams with black bean sauce is my second favorite thing here. Everything that we ordered was good. I just wish this place was bigger and the service was better. I would have come here more often, but sometimes when the line is lone and they don't take your name down, I just leave to go somewhere else. read more

Just like everyone else says here... This place is a dump but the food is excellent. Now, we were the only non-Asian folks in the place and that's encouraging. One thing I noticed, and I'm not 100% sure about, is the lunch menu. The menu is written in both languages, Chinese and English. So what? Well, I ordered Mongolian Beef and it was tremendous. It arrived with a healthy portion of fried rice. No one else in the place had such a plate, let alone the very brown in color, fried rice. So I wonder if the "lunch menu" in English is tailored to the American palate. What am I saying? That would never happen... read more

It's still pretty good after multiple visits. The previous concerns remain: "old and nasty" carpet, and not so approachable for non-Chinese speaking folks. More photos to showcase some of my favorite dishes. read more

See all

Eating at this restaurant is like eating grandma's cooking. Very authentic Cantonese style where you get the soup of the day once you are seated. I personally fall in love with the steam egg with dry scallop and fish head stew and steam fish and mutton stew and.....I am hungry ! If you are a "fine dining" person, please stay away from this restaurant. You probably will get a heart attack about its decor, from outside to inside, top to bottom. This place is guaranteed for home cook food and for person like me who could hit by excessive MSG. Price wise, another big surprise. 3 families with 6 adults, 4 kids, 5 dishes, 20% tips, $23/family. Great price with great food, that's the restaurant for this economy. I am going there every week ! read more

One star for the irony of an ugly duckling like this place being named the "Grand Palace." This family friendly neighborhood joint is the perfect place to come to after watching pretty much any Chinese movie. In every Chinese movie I've seen, there have been multiple scenes of families sharing big meals, and if you're prone to suggestion like me, then you need to know about a place like this after watching a movie like that. It's very Chinese here, the customers are all Han, all regulars, it's a vicarious thrill for a sociologist or cultural anthropologist and others so inclined. I had the shrimp noodle soup which was pretty good, I wanted to join the family next to me because they ordered a nice combination and were obviously enjoying themselves. The Han language menu is considerably longer than the English version, if I came here with more people I would have just said, "we'll have what they're having." Being a little outside of Chinatown there are some distinct advantages, easy on off from the Dan Ryan, they have their own little inadequate parking lot in front, lower prices, no tourists. I came in here because of an enticing positive Yelp review, the proximity to the expressway on/off ramp, I was on my own and in between destinations, so it worked for me to be alone. However, it's an authentic Chinese family joint, so it would be much more fun with more people, and it's very kid friendly. There were lots of children, extended families, a nice but not quiet atmosphere. The staff is closer to elderly than middle age, one waitress-owner-manager-cashier, one busser, two cooks, it's not a speedy combination but service was adequate, friendly, and they knew just enough English to get me what I wanted. That was the only English I heard the whole time I was in there, which was perfect. A big screen television aired some Taiwanese soap opera, as a sociologist I'm amazed that considering all the other differences in cultures, how similar soap operas are in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and American English. I guess we all like to see rich beautiful people with melodramatic problems and evil twins. read more

See all

I love seafood and i esp love cantonese style seafood and grand palace is a good place to enjoy that us being first timers, we solicited recommendations from the chef what we should order and we ended up with clams with lobster sauce (the clam was gigantic!!), steamed razor clams, deep fried pork intestines and greens everything was fresh and tasty and the staff can't be friendlier (it helps since i speak cantonese i suppose) :) can't wait to try other dishes!! read more

My entire Chinese family loves this place more than the other "popular" Chinese restaurants in the Chinatown area and we have tried almost every Chinese restaurant. Don't let its size or appearance deceive you, let your tastebuds be the judge. Price is great and so is the food; it's way less greasy and is fresh. My family and I will definitely be coming back! read more

Grand Palace - The spread! - Cantonese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My secret dinner place that I don't even want anyone to know! When I crave Cantonese steamed fish, steamed egg (with clams), or any home-style stir-fry, I will go there and enjoy my food quietly. Just like going home for a simple but delicious meal. read more

Total dive--the space looks like it was a gas station in a former life. But the food is great. If you can speak Cantonese and read Chinese, you'll be able to tap into the wide-ranging menu of authentic Cantonese dishes. But even I (Mandarin speaker, not able to read Chinese) was able to navigate their offerings to order a great meal. I ordered the Chinese spinach (kong xing cai), beef noodle soup (niu rou tang mian), and ma po tofu. All delicious and filling. When we arrived the place was full of Chinese people--a good sign. Kids were running around playing, and large families were sitting around the big round tables. With dinner in full gear, it's a happy and noisy place. We're glad we found this little gem in Chinatown. read more

Summary: This place doesn't look very special, and you may overlook it entirely as you head towards Chinatown, but rest assured, this place has authentic home-style canton/Hong Kong cooking. Cantonese speaking recommended, but English and Mandarin works fine. There are a lot of Chinese restaurants in Chicago, especially those serving up southern Chinese (Canton/Hong Kong) style cooking - some of the biggest restaurants in Chinatown proper fit this description. Though, this place cooks like home. The dishes are plated with some care, but on the mixed set of plates and platters you may expect to find at home. The flavors are spot on from the ones I grew up with in Hong Kong with adjustments that I think make the plates prettier or easier to serve and eat. The restaurant is small, so big parties may want to try to reserve. Luckily, being out of the way, one has to intentionally come here anyways. The staff is generally very helpful, but the small space means conversations get loud and could interfere with awareness of staff for your requests. However, the food is really why you'd be coming here anyways and in my book, I think this is one of the better Cantonese-Chinese restaurants I've been to in Chicago. Couple things you could try: - Poached Chicken - Fried soft shelled crab - Steamed water egg - Stir fried pork belly Sharing is recommended, and knowing Chinese will help the ordering process. read more

Bad environment, okay service, and good food. The food is mostly Cantonese / Taiwanese. It tastes okay for me but great for my friends. It tastes like homemade dishes, but the materials are not fresh enought. It is relatively cheaper, compared to other Chineses returants in Chicago. Recommended for people who don't like spicy or oily food. read more

The old story is do not judge a book by it's cover. The place was is a great example. The egg drop soup was outstanding, the chicken wings were average, the egg rolls were good, the shrimp with lobster was fair and the chicken egg foo young was fantastic. Please give this place a try. read more

See all

My favorite Chinese restaurant for traditional Cantonese home cooking. Nobody knows Chinese food like those of us with Chinese ancestry. The menu is primarily in Chinese with English explanation. I recommend asking for their daily seafood specials which aren't on the menu. And do try the special large chicken wings--yummy. You need only order 1 chicken wing per person because they are very large. The tofu with eggplant, bitter melon with scrambled eggs and Shanghai noodle with beef/baby bok choy are personal favorites. It's a small restaurant nothing fancy, but the owners are nice. The regulars are primarily Han Chinese families sharing big meals. You'll sometimes receive complimentary chicken broth/herbal medicine soup if available. I bring my family here when they visit Chicago. read more

I'd give it 4.5 stars. From the outside, it looks like a dump. From the inside, it looks like a dump, too. But once the food hits your tongue, you'll be glad you went in. This is the essence of home-style Chinese cooking. The price is good and the flavors are great. Check this place out if you want to eat some authentic Chinese food. We got 8 dishes for 10 people (2 kids) and had leftovers. My husband's favorite dish is the bitter melon with eggs, a dish that's hard to find elsewhere. read more

Beef Fried Rice: On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give this place a 10. I will patronize this place again. Rice was great and sauce was great and amount of ingredients is plentiful. Beef it self was moist and flavorful. Price is higher than most restaurants but food portion is more than most restaurants. read more

Hole in the wall...but everytime we order, the food is alwats flavorful and consistent. Food: steamed black bean garlic oysters 5, on choy 5, peapods leaves 4, salt n pepper japanese egg tofu 5, beef brisket wide rice noodles soup 4, chicken wings 4 service:4 ambience:3 cleanliness:3 read more

One of the best Chinese restaurants in Chicago. Trust me, they are offering really Chinese food, not in "American style" at all. I was really tired of American style Chinese food which is really disappointing me. And this place really saved me. If you want to eat some really traditional Chinese, this is the right place. Suggested menu: 肉末粉丝蒸水蛋(steamed egg with ground pork)，尖椒五花腩(fried pork bacon with green pepper) read more

If you are from Hong Kong and you miss home cooked Hong Kong dishes. This is the place you need to go!!!! The best restaurant in Chicago Chinatown. read more

I've only tried a few things, but everything I have tried was delicious. I recommend the steamed egg and chicken wing. The steam egg is moist and has bits of preserved egg in it which I looove. Also, it's fish sauce based just in case you were curious. The chicken wing is huge! My wing was around 9 inches! The skin texture is crispy; it has a similar texture to Chinese roasted duck. The price for each dish is about $10-16. read more

Grand Palace - Chicken wing is about 9 inches! :) - Cantonese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best pot stickers I've had in Chicago! Great place to warm up after New Years parade. Fish is tender. Nice family atmosphere. will return again. read more

Stumbled on this place with a group of friends. Believe their food is good, smelled good and the menu looked great, but we never received service. Took about 10 minutes to get seated and we were at the table 20 minutes. We saw people come in after us and were serviced immediately. Feeling some racist vibes so we ended up leaving. Chatted with the management and they had no empathy at all. read more

This is not a high-end restaurant in common sense. However, I regards it's one of the best restaurant in Chicago for family. You feel like at home or grandparents' place, when you have dinner there. The servers feel like to be your relatives when serving you. They give constructive advices when you order. Unlike other restaurants, the server usually recommends more then you can eat or something unable to sell. Besides the service, the dishes are really good. You can order half size dish if your group is small and want to taste more. Actually, I really recommend to order half size because it's more than a half. read more

practically every dish I've had here is so so good (both eating in before covid and takeout during). my recs: - golden sands eggplant - so umami; was AMAZING in restaurant, quality is lower in takeout but still good - japanese style tofu w mushrooms - soft eggy tofu!! oyster mushrooms! what's not to love - steamed egg - mmmm - they used to give some meat soup on the house but for takeout they're giving basically ban lan geng (aka chinese medicine)--presumably to protect against covid which is such chinese grandma vibes T_T luv the grandmas that run this place read more