Really enjoyed my visit here! I went with a friend so we could share a few things and everything we had was so good! The dumplings felt like a warm hug and id come back for them anytime! Service is quick and you can grab a table yourself for a quick and easy stop in. Feels like you stepped into someone's kitchen which I love:). read more

A small place with great noodle dishes. Every time I'm about to leave, I'm figuring out how soon I can get back to Chicago so I can come back here. I'm a big fan of "Bear" television series and it got a good mention on the show. Usually crowded, so getting there early as you can is better. Such tremendous flavors and everything is cooked perfectly. read more

Absolutely loved this place! Very traditional Chinese food from what I can tell and my favorite menu item were the Dan Dan noodles. The indoor seating filled up pretty quick but we were able to snag outdoor which worked out nicely (though drinking hot dumpling soup in Chicago heat isn't really ideal). They have plenty of ways to make the menu items vegetarian and vegan as well! All our food came out quickly and I will 100% be back read more

Lao Peng You - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went to grab lunch here on a Saturday afternoon. The weather was nice so I decided to sit outside and people watch you put your order at the counter and the food comes out quickly. I ordered the dan dan noodles, cucumber salad, and pork chive dumplings. Service was good. I would have to say the dumplings are my favorite part although I got them in the dead of summer. It was all worth it. I'll definitely be back during a cold Chicago winters. read more

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Food was great! Reservations cannot be made so it's better to go early and get your name on the list. The silken tofu appetizer is a must try! I like how a lot of dishes can be made vegan/vegetarian. Only drawback is that the restaurant is small so they try to turn around tables quickly. read more

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They allow online ordering now! Delicious! I recommend the dumplings (like soup). So go try it.

Food is so yummy!! Dill dumplings were so flavorful and beef noodle soup is great. I can't wait to go back. You order at the front and sit and they deliver the food to your table. Cute place and wasn't too busy (15 min wait on Sat for lunch for 2 people) read more

Lao Peng You - Beef Noodle Soup - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Returned here to try some new dishes and the food was spectacular just like last time! The flavors of all the food were strong and authentic. As a note, the cong you bing is made to order so it may take a bit longer. We ordered the cold chicken, wood ear mushrooms, cold noodles, cong you bing, and preserved plum drink. The preserved plum tastes just like an actual preserved plum and is strong in flavor. It is super refreshing for the summer time. I recommend all the dishes, but they do contain cilantro and peanuts if you are sensitive to that. The workers were helpful and the restaurant feels like a cozy, casual eatery. read more

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Lao Peng You is a small family owned business in Ukrainian Village. Opened Thursday-Sunday, the shop is usually filled with people from all over the city. I have been seeing food all over socials so I decided to give it a try. My friends got the beef and onion dumplings, the beef boat noodle soup, the chicken noodle soup and the lamb and cumin bread. Our noodle soups were about $16 each which is good price, however I feel like they skimp on the protein. Especially in the chicken noodle soup. The beef noodle soup was good, although the broth was very very ginger heavy. I'm not allergic to ginger but it was somewhat giving me an allergic reaction, my whole mouth was tingling when I had it. Which was a shame because I enjoyed the dish before it started feeling too weird to eat it. The cucumber salad was amazing, and a huge portion for only $8. The chicken noodle soup was pretty good, I could see that being a great takeout meal during the winter. The dumplings were amazing, honestly the best thing I had during my visit. One thing that I really enjoyed was finding out they give their workers health insurance. I think that should be more of a common practice. I was charged $1.40 to go towards staff health insurance and honestly I wouldn't have minded if it was $3 per transaction. I respect a business, especially a small business that respects their employees. Overall, good experience. I think i will be back, probably try something new! read more

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I visited Lao Peng You twice in a one week after trying out their dumplings for the first time, that's how much I loved it What we ordered: Beef noodle soup: The soup was unmatched, and the noodles were thick and heavenly Cold noodles: Refreshing and delicious, a perfect choice for a warm day Pork and dill dumplings: The dill flavor was strong, but it worked well. Pretty good Pork and chives dumplings: I actually liked these better than the ones with dill. The broth was amazing too Xian bing: It tasted okay, but I might try the song you bing next time! Overall, I highly recommend this cute little spot! It feels so cozy inside, and the food is truly delicious. read more

Lao Peng You - Pork & Chive Dumpling - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I wish I had liked Lao Peng You more because there were a lot of people inside and their menu is actually very authentic (dou hua? I rarely ever see dou hua sold at restaurants). We ordered their milk tea, cold noodles, beef noodle soup, and dumplings. The cold noodles were my least favorite. The noodles are way too hard, and it's just not the right noodle type for cold noodles. They also weren't very flavorful. The beef noodle soup was decent, and the beef was soft and tender. I thought the soup was also not that flavorful, and a lot of the seasoning comes from the chili oil. Dumplings were pretty decent, and I enjoyed them the most. They have a lot of variety of dumplings, but we got the pork and chive. The milk tea was surprisingly good. They put grass jelly inside the drink, and the milk tea flavor was strong and rich. Overall, I think the food is decent but not anything to write home about. Prices are a bit steep for Chinese food, and I definitely think there are much better options. read more

gf found this place off Instagram so being here in real life was surreal. I would never imagine that an image on insta could come to life like this. The disney world effect you could say. You'll notice in the picture that she has an empty bowl. This was NOT a mistake. It is a strategy we implemented that allowed to each have a bowl and eat at the same time. The candles on the table are real so if you are coming on a cold day you will be able to warm up nicely. oh and dumplings were good read more

Lao Peng You - Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

WARNING ‼: SPICY SPICY Really good noodles but everything is absolutely spicy. Really good noodles tho read more

I finally tried this restaurant and found it underwhelming. You might enjoy it if you've never had good Chinese food before, but it unfortunately doesn't compare. We tried the pork and chive dumplings, the cold noodles, cucumber salad and xian bing. The cold noodles were extremely extremely salty to the point where we couldn't finish them. Also, all dishes were completely covered in cilantro which felt out of place. The xian bing was the best thing we tried, but unfortunately the lamb was too salty as well. The dumplings had a nice broth and skin but the filling was a bit dry and dense. The cucumber was pretty good, but I would have preferred it to have more vinegar. Overall, I would say the food is decent but definitely not amazing read more

Lao Peng You - Cucumber - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pork and Chive Dumplings- very good Spicy Beef Noodle Soup - too much vinegar Cucumber salad - simple, solid Sweet Tofu - raisins are not really my thing and it wasn't sweet at all, honestly just tasted like cold tofu with raisins overall all these dishes could be found better and cheaper in Chinatown. Maybe it was just the dishes I got but it did not feel very authentic and definitely not worth the price. Although, I do want to try other dishes on the menu. I also went at night and it was so dark I could not see my food and the music was so loud I could not talk to the person in front of me. Definitely not a place to go to chat, just eat and leave asap. the staff are friendly and attentive, but the place is not set up like a typical restaurant. more like a fast food place where you order at the counter, get water and utensils yourself, and then staff only come around to clean up your plates afterwards. TLDR- I would come back for the dumplings mainly but everything else didn't really stand out much. I do however want to try other things on the menu so take this review with a grain of salt read more

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I really wanted to like this place, but we left 95% of our food uneaten. We ordered the tofu, rou jia mo, and noodles. All three dishes had an oddly similar taste despite being three very different dishes. It was like the same sauce, which looked gorgeous but had no spice to it and was quite oily, was used across all three dishes. The tofu didn't come with a spoon, which I had to ask for. It was doused with way too much oil but had no taste. The rou jia mo had a large ball of gray lint on the roll, which was a major oversight. The meat itself was very dry but doused in the oily-not spicy sauce. The noodles were severely undercooked and the broth had flat, slightly stale flavor. I wanted to say something to the staff, but I think I was too shocked that I just paid and left most of the food there. We ended up going to another restaurant since we were still hungry. This was in June 2023. Staff seemed confused and weren't able to explain the menu items at the counter. We weren't checked on at all. They seemed a bit disinterested and/or focused on staying behind the counter. Food: 1/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 read more

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I have had the pleasure of dining at Lao Peng You on multiple occasions, whether it be at their brick-and-mortar location, for take-out, or during various food and music festivals in Chicago. Without fail, I find myself returning to this establishment time and time again, and it's not just one aspect that keeps me coming back--it's the food, the people, and the overall ambience. Having explored their extensive menu, I can confidently say that Lao Peng You consistently delivers exceptional flavors in every dish, whether it's their delectable dumplings, heavenly bing breads, or satisfying noodles. The harmonious combination of flavors truly sets them apart. One aspect that truly enhances the dining experience at Lao Peng You is the staff. They are always incredibly friendly and welcoming, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. It feels like being part of a close-knit family when interacting with the crew. Their genuine care and attentiveness to guests elevate the dining experience and make you feel right at home. Side note, I would also highly recommend checking out Lao Peng You's merchandise. They are often refreshing their merch, and they are just so cute. Well made, just like their food. I love sporting some local merch. Lao Peng You is a must-visit destination. There's something for everyone! read more

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I really enjoyed the ambiance of this restaurant. It offers a moderately sized menu, including four to five vegetarian options. We opted for the mushroom and chive dumplings--minus the shrimp--and they were absolutely delicious! We also tried the DanDan noodles and the vegetable noodle soup. While the noodle soup was a hit, the DanDan noodles weren't quite to my taste. You can taste the freshness in all the dishes. Another plus is that the restaurant is BYOB, which made for a fun outing with friends. You place your order at the counter, and they bring your food to the table. read more

Lao Peng You - Vegetarian Noodle Soup, mushroom and chive dumpling, Dan Dan noodles - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I finally came after seeing this place on social media multiple times, but found my experience just okay. First off, you walk in and the menu is on the wall- some items are not translated and are written in pinyin only. This is not a sit down restaurant and you order at the back. The hostess working tonight was not particularly helpful in describing the dishes so we ordered randomly across the menu. The quality of food is great. If this review was based only on the quality of the food, I would leave a strong recommendation. However, given the portion sizes, the prices seemed a bit high, especially the small to medium - sized bowl of dan dan noodles being $14. Overall, I would recommend you try this place if you are local. If Chinatown is accessible to you, you may find good food at a better price there. read more

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I went here on a friends date with two of my good friends and we had a great time! The food was actually flavorful! The dumplings were great, and I did like the fact that it was BYOB. The service was pretty standard. Be prepared for a little wait as the inside searing is a little smaller than the average restaurant but I will say it was definitely worth the wait! read more

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This quaint Chinese restaurant is a must for any foodie, anywhere. Visiting Chicago with some friends and this was personally the highlight of my whole entire trip. Tried all dishes in all photos and would order all of them again. The pork and chive dumplings were our table's favorite. Had a specific flavor I couldn't put my finger on until I checked their website. "We make our food with love and pride." That was it! They have never been more right. Thank you to my friends that brought me here, The Bear, and above all, the staff. Keep growing and cooking your hearts out. read more

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the food was actually really good. the beef noodle soup was really good and it had a mala flavour (麻辣 "ma" meaning "numbing" and "la" meaning "spicy") so if you're not a fan of spicy sichuan style flavours that make your tongue tingle, don't order it. but the noodles were so good. the pork dumplings were okay--definitely preferred the beef ones. the reason why it's a 3 star is because for 2 orders of dumplings (8 pc each) and 1 order of noodles and one small piece of xian bing (lamb bread) came out to $80 before tax. for authentic chinese food, that is lowk an egregious price ... it feels like an authentic mom and pop restaurant that went too viral and got gentrified almost. they charge for hot tea ...? read more

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This place was so good!!! The food was amazing! The service was amazing! And the overall ambiance is so inviting. Will be going back for sure! read more

This is a nearby Chinese place that I have somehow never tried until dinner tonight. The theme of this restaurant certainly isn't convenience. It's probably just spicy soupy food. When I say that, the place doesn't take reservations. Sure, it was a Friday evening, but I had to stop by, provide my number and then there was a 1 hour wait via text exchanges. Luckily, I live pretty close and I just went home during the wait. So then... You get seated and you get menus and all. But instead of ordering with a waiter, you go up to the counter and order like it's a fast food place. Then you order and pay, etc. By the way, they don't have anything to drink, except self-serve water. It's a BYOB, though, which I didn't know beforehand, but I saw people being in their own beers and what not. Oh, and btw, you have to get your own bowls, spoons, napkins too. Idk if I've ever seen a Taco Bell experience at a place that charges full price for items, like in the $10 - $15 range. So, then the food. There are a few vegetarian options, but as you go further into the evening, apparently they start running out of stuff. It gets grayed out on the online menu. I had relies upon one item to be there when I scoped out the menu, but it was grayed out by the time we got seated. Now for the food itself. Everything has a very similar, strong, spicy, sauce to it. Every item we had, anyway. We had the cucumber salad, which was small portions, but good. It has this brown spicy sauce to it. We had the Dan Dan noodles, which I couldn't have because they only have wheat-based noodles. No rice. oodle option. I was told they were ok. Then we had mushroom dumplings in a brown soupy spicy mix. Those were pretty good. Lastly we had this scallion/onion bread, which was a lot less flavorful than I expected and relative to everything else. It stands apart quite a bit, because it's very dry and very bland. It's like it doesn't fit with the other items. So... The restaurant set up is a bit awkward, but the food was pretty good. I'd probably give them a 3.5.stars, if that was an option. I'm almost thinking the owner started this place as a fast food joint and then somehow raised prices over time. At this point, it's probably a takeout/delivery type of place more than anything else. With that, the location makes it another option for us in the local area. read more

The wait is long but definitely worth the wait! The staff are very honest about your wait time so you aren't waiting around for longer than you expect. The food is amazing and very fresh. I've never had a bad experience here. The space is small so be ready to be a little crammed but otherwise a 10/10 experience! read more

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Solid, eggplant was super garlicky and good but the soup and dumplings could have had more flavor and heat. The service is nice, we had to wait for a table but they will also text you when you're table's ready. Very low-key, cozy spot, perfect for a very frigid Chicago day. read more

Lao Peng You - Mushroom noodle soup and mushroom dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So good, so flavorful! We did counter take out because it was too crowded to fit a stroller in there. It's a smaller space, pretty bare bones decor, but who cares when your food is this good. Every table had Dan Dan noodles - a very solid dish. I think their dumplings are where they shine though - the broth the put it in is flavorful, unique enough to be interesting to Chinese American gals like me, but it as still enjoyed by my non-Asian friends! Pork and chive is where it's at for me. Their lamb bing was also solid! Would 100% return if I am in the area. Cucumber salad was good, but not that different from other cucumber salads. read more

I've been wanting to try this place for a while and knew the wait would be long, which was fine. We were told two hours, then it became 2:15, which already felt like they didn't want us to agree. After two hours we get a text that our table is ready, we walk in and are asked if we're okay sitting at a four seat table and sharing a table with two strangers. WTF?!? When we said no, the women up front clearly got annoyed and told us it would be another 20/30 minutes. Fine. Then they text us again within two minutes, and as soon as we walk in the lady literally rolls her eyes at us. Insane behavior. Service was hostile and unpleasant, the food was underwhelming and overloaded with cilantro, and the whole experience felt chaotic and unwelcoming. Weird place, terrible service, would not come back. read more

Stopped by Lao Peng You on a whim last night and boy was I glad we did! All the food was simply exceptional. Auri was our host and server throughout the evening and went above and beyond to make our experience memorable. The dumplings were the star of the show- the broth they were in was divine. Each and every dish is flavored to perfection. I can't recommend this establishment enough- we will be back very soon and I hope the very kind and hospitable Auri is there to greet us! read more

Lao Peng You - Dumplings and sandwich - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ambiance ok. Casual. Like the family photos and the abundance of house plants. Makes it feel like home. Service ok. Cool free pin buttons. Cashier knew what I was ordering in Mandarin. Cool. Bowls and utensils were self-serve. Water and cups. Food. Yum? Coming from a Taiwanese Californian and had to somewhat high expectations after seeing it featured on the Bear and from other Chicagoans, read below: 1) Cucumber salad was good. Fresh and crunchy. Surprised to find mala chili oil. Not overly salty. Finished this. 2) Dan Dan noodles. First two bites, thought wow, flavorful. Pretty good. Then we mixed the bowl and it ended up tasting salty. Maybe Mala oil should be on the side or maybe don't mix it up too much. Noodles were slightly overcooked; needed to be all dente. Didn't finish this. 3) Pork rou jia mo. Too much sweet bean black sauce. Was like salt on salt here. Maybe using the wrong soy sauce for braising? Sauce on side would've been preferable. Peppers were a nice add. Pickled vegetables should have been neutral. Didn't finish this. 4) Beef noodles or NRM...my benchmark for any Taiwanese place....too much compensation with the mala oil again...After you peel away the layer of numbing oil, clear broth was good. The sliced beef shank was good. Noodles were great. Too much white pepper though. Didn't finish this. 5) Green onion pancake...bringing this home to OC for wifey. We'll see how it tastes after a four hour flight and a reheat in the air fryer. Smelled good but didn't touch this, so full already. Overall, looks good in pics, kinda overwhelmed with the taste though. Cross of Taiwanese, Mainland mala, and American saltiness. Owners are Taiwanese American, so makes sense. And benchmarking with a Din Tai Fung or Taiwanese place back in Cali, or even Taipei; this is Chicago. I'm sure it'll improve. My wife back home was disappointed to read my texts after seeing my salivating pics. read more

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food was good! slightly salty but still great. im not a big spice gal however the spice was perfect. it's not the in your tongue spice that makes the food and taste unbearable. just enough to bring out the flavor. i went on a thursday around 1pm and it was still slightly busy. you order by the register and pay right when you order. would definitely go again and try their colder noodles. food ordered: pork and chive dumplings, beef noodle soup, and melon iced tea. read more

Lao Peng You - Pork & Chive - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Bad service. Food was average. Do not plan on coming back. Better options in Chinatown.

a little late to the game, but i finally got to see what all the hype was about... and it was even better than what i expected (and i expected a lot). this place is now officially my favorite Chinese restaurant in Chicago!! the spiciness of the chili oil, the hand-pulled noodles, the juicy dumplings... perfection. everything is super flavorful but not too in-your-face, which i appreciated. it's a nice balance of flavors!! - beef noodle soup - pork and chive dumplings - cong you bing - iced milk tea read more

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Lao Peng You is all that and then some! Just go... It's amazing!! Bold, complex flavors and everything is cooked to perfection. Chef's kiss!

The best foodie adventure I've had in a long time. Was looking for something warm and delicious on a chilly day, and Lao Peng You was suggested to us by a local. I am SO glad we went! It may have just been the highlight of our whole trip. This small intimate restaurant has very limited tables but it's worth the wait. The front window is filled with beautiful lush green plans and inside it smells AMAZING. Chinese art decks the walls and cool indie tunes fill the air (hello, Frank Ocean). Once you are seated, you can order your meal at the counter and they bring it out to you as it is ready, bit by but. We wanted to try as much as possible so we ordered the chicken noodle soup, veggie noodle soup, cucumber salad, beef and onion dumplings, onion bing and Dan Dan noodles. The dan dan noodles blew my MIND. Bits of pork and peanut mixed in with savory homemade noodles. It was a spiritual experience. The soup broth had an incredible flavor and all of the ingredients tasted so fresh and crisp. Get ready for a chili oil fiesta on your palette cause it's on everything! Dumplings were absolutely delicious. It tasted like they were made with love, and the broth they were served in, I drank out of a literal tea cup it was that good. I also tried the preserved plum drink which was unlike anything I have ever had before! Refreshing and so unique tasting. My one regret is not ordering a red bean bing for dessert. Thank you for the amazing hospitality and exceptional experience! read more

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So my review here is based on my experience. I ordered the green onion bing, dan dan noodles, and mushroom and chive dumplings. Dan Dan Noodles were great but a bit strong on vinegar. The dumpling soup was insanely salty. Inedible. I picked out the dumplings but the soup (comprised mostly of soy sauce) would kill someone if they tried to drink it all. The "appetizer" bing took forever to come out- I had to take it to-go since I had finished all my food by then. It was tasty, wish it was served with a sauce or something as it is a bit tough. Server was the only one working front of the house, so that may be why she was in a bad mood. The restaurant is completely self-service and no-frills which is fine, but turning the ipad around for a 20% tip while ordering is just my biggest peeve in eating out right now. Food is also pretty pricey for lunch. Regardless, food was decent but not something I would say couldn't be beat by any chinatown restaurant, which would include service and be more economical. read more

Lao Peng You - Mushroom and Chive Dumplings and Dan Dan Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm sure at one point the food was good here, but as of Oct 2025 the kitchen is simply an assembly line turning out overpriced food you can get in Chinatown/Bridgeport for a fraction of the price. The bing bread was raw in the middle and the dumpling broth was noticeably unseasoned. Definitely not worth the 2+ hour wait (after being told it was 45 min wait). read more

This place is not a hidden gem. The only flavor in the food is the abundant amount of spicy chili oil they add. Not to mention, they prioritize white customers over others. For a place that "does not take reservations", they had no problem denying customers and saving tables for others. We ended up having to order take-out, where we found out we had to pay an "employee's health insurance" fee. Ridiculous. The only thing slightly okay were the dumplings and even then they weren't anything special. Save your money. read more

Love this place and can't wait to be back! Fantastic selection and everything is fresh. There are nearby bars to wait in since the line is usually out the door! read more

We got there a couple minutes after opening and they were able to serve us immediately! But the wait started to get long after that, so try to get there early. You order at the counter and then they bring the dishes to you but you have to get extra bowls, water and cutlery all yourself. Definitely works great as family style. We ordered: Wood Ear salad, Beef Noodle Soup, and the beef dumplings. By far the beef dumplings were the best! Will come back just for those. We also ordered the lamb xian bing but they served us the red bean xian bing and made us wait another 20 minutes to get the lamb one. Both were mid- you won't miss out if you don't order it. The beef dumplings were amazing, best thing we ordered for sure. read more

Lao Peng You - Beef Noodle Soup - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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