Lao Sze Chuan

363

3058

718

8 years ago

It was good! Not mind blowing, but definitely tasty. I liked the seafood soup, the salt and pepper squid. We got a lot of fried stuff, and anything fried tastes good. The service was good and the cost reasonable. No complaints! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

David S.

462

1394

600

19 years ago

This is probably one of the best Szechuan restaurants in the states as far as I can tell. Really - they will (and do) make actual Chinese food here. The menu is pretty large and the (of course) do Chinese Hot Pot which will help you survive the most brutal of Chicago winters. But here's the deal. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) is good here, but there are four things which are phenominal. 1) Dry Chili Chicken 2) Salt and Pepper Lamb 3) Ma Po Do Fu 4) Stir fried Sting Beans The food is just packed with layers of flavor and texture and plenty of Szechuan heat. It's really the only place to get Chinese in Chitown. Oh, and they will take a reservation for 6 or more. Or (and I've never participated in this evil action) you can just go upstairs (from the outside of the strip mall) and say they sent you up to expedite your seating. But, like I said, (ahem) I've only heard of that being done. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Tian Y.

187

636

14 years ago

When my family is in Chicago, we always come here for dinner at least once. My mom is a great cook, and she'd never eat things she could cook better at home herself. But she loves this place! We usually get the spicy fish stew thing (shui zhu yu), eggplant in garlic sauce or pork in garlic sauce, beef noodle soup, and a wildcard or two, but always authentic Szechuan dishes. Everything is always very flavorful, and we always keep coming back for those particular 3, but I've never disliked anything we've tried as far as authentic food is concerned. Can't speak for their Americanized fare though. Food comes out pretty fast, too, which is nice. The prices are very reasonable for the portions - we almost never finish. Unfortunately during their dinner hours it gets pretty hectic, and they are grossly understaffed for the rush period. This could mean waiting at the door for 5-10 minutes without being greeted though there is like an empty table of two you can sit down in, 5-10 when you're ready to order, needing to flag down frantic waitresses for anything you need during your meal, or waiting 10 minutes without a check even after chasing down said waitress a few times. Just... don't go if you're in a hurry during dinner rush, or if you are expecting decent service. But I'd say the food is worth it if you don't mind. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Dolores Z.

347

904

13 years ago

Best Pot Stickers Ever! This is a small, clean little place in the plaza north of Archer. Good food and an extensive menu which includes more frog dishes than I care to think about! There's many traditional dishes and plenty of selections that please the American palate as well. Sze Chuan Beef Tenderloin was very good, spicy, with lots of tender, thin sliced beef and nice veggies. Don't skip the pot stickers, they are the best I've ever eaten! Service ok, maybe a bit clumsy due to some language barriers. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Brian B.

166

18 years ago

Great food. Wonderfully spicy chili chicken. I went there with co-workers and ate up a feast of Lao Sze Chuan's Special Dry Chili Chicken. read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Lao Sze Chuan's Special Dry Chili Chicken - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Jake H.

159

17 years ago

Interesting that few reviews mention the only dish I go there for...hu gu, Chinese hot pot!! Amazing. Lao Sze Chaun (I just refer to it as hot pot) is at the end of the new chinatown mall on the left-hand side walking west. -faily small, typically non-descript. ...but it has amazing hot pot! This is a dish/bowl of near boiling oil/water. -Split: one side light garlic, and the other spicy. I always get the combo with meat, fish, shell fish, fish balls, assorted veggies. Also, ask for the three sauces (I don't know their names) One is a creamy, peanut, garlic, one is an oil, and the other is dark and savory. ...mix all three on the side and use as a dip for the cooked meat, etc. Service is what you'd expect. Price is what you'd expect. BYOB. Warning, you will have that fat kid feeling, like you're sweating oil from your pores. -and with the sauces and the dipping in multiple liquids, etc. You're likely to get gunk all over your black on black ensemble. If you're cool with that then bring a date to a non-cheesy fondue! read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Hot Pot before the destruction of eating - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - More post hot pot destruction - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - Like da hot pot plate - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - Vinny- Asian Jersey Shore at Hot Pot - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Shalu S.

14 years ago

2 stars because I love Sichuan food (Sichuan being my home province) and had high expectations from the reviews. But was sorely disappointed. Dish 1: Dongpo pork - it came out slightly spicy and a lot tangy/sour...which is definitely not how this dish should taste. (Picture attached) Maybe it's their own take on it, but to me it was a fail. Dish 2: Spicy fish filet with pickled veggies - this dish was super sour and not nearly spicy enough, not even to the Americanized spicy level. Now some sourness is expected because of the pickled veggies, but here it was so overwhelming that I had to neutralize every bite with a mouthful of rice. Yet another fail for me. Perhaps I should have stuck to the signature dishes like spicy stewed beef or twice cooked pork. But the dishes I tried did not live up to the good reviews or level of authenticity expected. read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Dongpo pork - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Vicky S.

10 years ago

Ordered spicy duck tongue, only a little portion of duck tongue, lots of chili peppers, not worth $16.00.....the duck tongue is not even fresh, which made my stomach hurts..... It is not the good restaurant I went to many years ago.....just became worse..... read more

Lao Sze Chuan - spicy duck tongue, changed a lot, use to give you more duck tongue, not chili peppers.... - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Victoria D.

3 years ago

First the service was terrible the servers were rude don't communicate and mine. Drop the food on the table like shit terrible terrible terrible second the food OMG don't even try please it was already cold and nasty mongolien lamb don't look like lamb the chili pork disaster no pork meat but onions and green peppers please don't go to that place. Wast my money and my stomach read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jonathan H.

147

15 years ago

Just had dinner here tonight with 4 other friends. We all left very satisfied. For you spice lovers, this is the place to go. The restaurant has an extensive menu and you will be left wondering what to get. We ordered the ma-po tofu, dried chili chicken, boiled beef with sauce, beef stew noodles, garlic green beans, and chengdu dumplings. Everything was delicious but my favorite dish is probably the dried chili chicken. I won't go into much detail here since there are plenty of other Yelpers who have commented enough about it, but if you like popcorn chicken, this is an item you must get. The spice isn't too overbearing (for me at least), but I'm used to eating spicy food. The texture of the food was great and the tofu was probably one of the more flavorful tofus I've had in a while. The only drawback is that everything comes out very oily, but that's what you get with Sichuan food. Place was crowded when we came in, which was a good sign. We waited about 20 minutes to get a table and were served timely. Very friendly servers and host. I won't make a habit of coming to eat here because it's probably not too healthy. For example, when they brought the tofu out, you can see the layer of oil glistening and glazing on the top. Also a plus if you're a student and you pay with cash...you get 10% off. Afterwards, do yourself a favor and stop by Joy Yee for a freeze to cool you down. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Larry L.

165

329

13 years ago

Highly authentic and excellent Szechuan food, but on the pricey side. Very high recommendations - Chef's Special Dry Chili Chicken (#563, $12.45), Ma Po Tofu (#609, $10.45) and Boiled Sole Fish Fillet in Spicy Szechuan Sauce (#435, $14.45). Caution: the fish dish is VERY spicy. I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area and am always on the hunt for great Ma Po Tofu, and this was one of the best. Also tried the Szechuan String Beans (#604, $10.45) which was not spicy, and just ok. Service is about on par with other Chinese restaurants (i.e., not great), but again the food was top-notch Szechuan cuisine. I believe there is a new location opening soon on Michigan Ave at the Shops at North Bridge. One more note - the men's room was extremely clean (especially for a Chinese restaurant). read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kyle D.

412

1083

1836

13 years ago

The good: Spicy as hell, authentic, and cozy atmosphere. Came in for a family lunch on a cold day and left warm and full. Tons of spicy options, and everything tasted great. The food is authentic, and priced right too. Also it came out quickly, and the service was pleasant. The bad: Not much? It's nothing fancy, but it's not run down either. It's great! Overall: A fantastic, authentic Chinatown experience. If you don't want dim sum and want something spicy, try it! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Sunny K.

Elite 18

611

277

405

10 years ago

For such a shady operation, the food is still pretty good. Service can be lackluster but what do you expect, it's a Chinese restaurant! The waiters are hard to flag down and some only speak Chinese so bring a friend to help you if you don't speak Mandarin! They're very good at accommodating for large groups as well. Dry chili chicken -- I mean the dish is half chilis but the half that is chicken is delectable; my friends and I always order at least 2 of these when we come here (boys eat a lot!). Chicken is crisp but not overly oily Garlic eggplant -- whenever I go to a Chinese restaurant I MUST order this; without fail it is delicious here Mapo Tofu -- it's spicy so be careful! It's a little too oily for my taste though so I try to wipe it all off on my plate before I eat it Green beans -- standard fare Note: They validate your parking! If you park in the lot, you end up only paying $2, just don't forget to ask them before you leave the restaurant! read more

Lao Sze Chuan - green beans - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - mapo tofu -- spicy! - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - noodles in the front eggplant in the back! - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Aimee M.

Elite 22

530

1347

247

9 years ago

My visits to Chinatown are pretty standard... candy store, dim sum, bubble drinks and maybe a knick-knack store. So when my friend and I decided to try hot pot, it was a little out of my comfort zone. And when there is a divide in the language department, it's even more out of my comfort zone. But we did it, and came away full and with more knowledge on what to do next time. The menu is huge. They have Americanized Chinese food and more authentic dishes. And looking around at other diner's plates, we figured they weren't kidding when it shows "spicy" on the menu. Lots of chili peppers in here! We opted for the two broth hot pot--spicy and non spicy. And we went with the deluxe options, which from what I understood, was supposed to include all the meat and veggies. But I didn't see all the seafood on the menu come through to our plates, not sure why... But anyway, the duo pot comes with the broths and portable stove/heater. Then you start adding the meats and veggies to the broth and start eating when it's cooked. You are also given 3 sauces--garlic, soy and peanut to add to your own dish to add more flavor and depth. Then once you have added lots of meats/veggies, the cooking broth gets more flavorful and flavorful so if you've added noodles, you are left with a wonderful soup too! My friend and I found the spicy side way too salty. They even changed the broth for us but we still found it too salty for our taste. They brought out a new non-spicy broth for us, gratis. Wow. that's service! The kid's shrimp fried rice and fried shrimp were also very good and they enjoyed it as well. Fun visit. read more

Helpful 5

Thanks 0

Love this 3

Oh no 0

Patti I.

Elite 25

465

8 years ago

Showed up here for an early lunch with my sister, in need of a spicy food fix. We were looking for a particular Szechuan fish entree that I've had several other places: mild fish fillets in a flaming-hot broth, often with some kind of vegetable, and buried in chili peppers. The problem is that it seems to go by a different name in every restaurant. I gave a description to our waitress--her English and my Chinese were both pretty minimal--but she got the right thing to us, #437 Chef's special sole fish fillet with tofu. It had the right combo of ma (numbing) and la (spicy) but was oddly lacking salt. We were able to rescue it with the salt shaker on the table. Stir-fried green beans (not spicy) and cumin lamb (medium zing), both very good, rounded out the meal. We had enough leftovers for a couple meals later. Price was reasonable and service was good--better than the terse treatment common in many Chinese restaurants. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Sallyann Z.

Elite 16

278

299

11 years ago

Lao Szechuan is a tasty spot in Chicago Chinatown serving up classics! I've been twice now and each time there have been some hit or misses, but I left each time satisfied to get my Szechuan fix. I would give 3.5 stars if I could but overall I have high standards for Chinese food and especially places that aren't dirt cheap like they usually are. Their free spicy cabbage is a pleasant freebie you can count on (only one serving though!) I would order this as a dish even - the spicy, crunchy cabbage is a delightful side! What I've loved: Xiao long bao - I don't even know my friends ordered this; it was named weirdly and not soup dumplings but what a surprise when my all time favorite food showed up at our table! Obviously can't compare to the those from New York or Shanghai, but a good find regardless Spicy Szechuan noodles - peppercorn spice and hot oil, everything a girl could ask for! Disappointments: Szechuan chicken - just a mix of veggies and chicken that did not impress Eggplant - what chinese restaurant can't master the eggplant! 9 months later and my mom still recalls the bad eggplant when I mentioned Lao Szechuan Overall, this restaurant does get a lot of hype and it's for good reason. Come here for a hearty, spicy Chinese meal in the heart of Chicago chinatown. read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Chinese broccoli - more saucy than what's usually served at dim sum - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - Szechuan chicken - not bad, just not great either - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - Xiao Long Bao!!! Yes this is available at Lao Szechaun and it is delicious - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - The free spicy cabbage! Wish they refilled these plates hehe - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - Chinese eggplant, Szechuan noodles, Cumin beef I think? - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Business owner information

Yi D.

While we're glad you've loved our spicy cabbage and spicy Szechuan…

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Nick H.

432

13 years ago

The hotpot is amazing (tear dropping seriously). Super highly recommend if you haven't try their appetizer. (Small cold plates) Try all the house special!!! 118-bean curd. Trust me. It ain't normal bean curd. 563-dry chilli chicken. Must have!!! Drooling.... Ask their staff for more suggestion. They are super friendly and fast!!! Nick read more

Lao Sze Chuan - The hot pot soooooo gooooood!!!! - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

K S.

156

11 years ago

The owner is very friendly and u can BYOB! He had jewelry on like an Asian Mr. T. Now the food, love the extensive menu from Chengdu. The dishes were good but none of it was truly "mala" aka tongue numbing spicy. As a matter of fact, none of the food was very spicy even though I asked for it. It was on the bland side even from salt or flavor perspective. I would go back but I wouldn't go out of my way. read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Spicy mala fish - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - "Mouthwatering chicken" appetizer - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lao Sze Chuan - Free spicy cabbage not pickled - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Gastón S.

161

11 years ago

So this is why you must come to this place if you are visiting chicago and happen to be in chinatown. 1) Dan Dan noodles - if you have never had this. Try it, it's a delicacy. Yuuum. If you are a dan dan connoseuir these are some of the best dan dan noodles in the nation. I've visited 5 china towns in the Americas and this one takes no.1 spot in my belly. 2) spicy cumin lamb, xinjiang (northern province of china, I.e. majority muslim) style. Delicious and definetly shareable. 3) portion sizes are enough to share a dish family style. Ambiance overall is a-ok, service is not terrible. Complimentary tea and spicy cabbage, yums! read more

Lao Sze Chuan - The damage - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

c t.

15 years ago

Nice restaurant with modern decor. Attentive wait staff. We arrived for lunch to find they do not offer a lunch menu = somewhat pricey for lunch and large dinner-size portions. Had the Spicy noodle soup and rice cake with chicken. Like other reviewers, I loved the spicy cabbage that was complimentary, I definitely wanted more but food portions were filling. Would return with group so we could try more dishes!! Great find on this trip to Chicago! read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Spicy noodle soup! - Szechuan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Dave K.

Elite 21

285

244

774

9 years ago

If you like spicy food, you will like this place. I'm talking about spicy spicy spicy food. This food is not made for the weak. I love szechuan food. I lived in NYC for 5 years and I was first introduced to Szechuan food there and got hooked on it ever since. Listen most of their food is made with peppers, chili, etc. It's spicy hot. If you don't like spicy food, don't go. It's as simple as that. If you like sweating, and I'm talking about dripping sweat and if you like your tongue being numb spicy, then this place is for you. Just a warning it's not for the weak. I love their dry chili chicken. It's their specialty. Can't go wrong with it. I'm also obsessed with their Boiled Beef in Spicy Szechuan sauce these days. This dish is going to make you hot spicy hot. It comes out in soup but when you mix it with rice and your tongue is numb from it, and your dripping sweat from your face, you know the dish is good. Hahaha i might be crazy. I also get their twice cooked pork and mapo tofu. Can't go wrong with that. This food is not for the weak. Explore other areas of Chinatown. Explore meals outside of Orange chicken. Give it a shot. You might love it like I do, or hate it like my girlfriend does. LOL. FYI this place is a lot better and cheaper than their Michigan Ave location. read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Ari C.

5 years ago

Amazing food, quality food, great taste, great service, good price. Best crab rangoon I've tasted. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kent C.

359

1222

15 years ago

Came here for the all you can eat hot pot. Definitely a pretty good deal. Coming here you definitely need to speak some Chinese or they're essentially not going to listen to you. When my friend and I were ordering we starting rattling off things that we wanted, but the waiter ignored us and started to walk away. Friend: Can we have the beef and... Waiter starts to walk away. Kent: Hey wait we want to order... Waiter: I will bring out popular thing. Kent: Ugh... Friend: Oh that should be fine. Kent: But he's gonna bring stuff that we're not gonna like or eat... Okay whatever. Out comes huge platter of fish, fish balls, beef balls, watercrest, tofu, random seafood stuff and noodles. Friend: Where's the beef and meat? Kent: See told you so. (gotta love those told you so moments) I was a fan of the fish. The beef itself that did eventually get ordered was 95% fat... The broth used for the hot pot was delicious. I would give this place 5 stars for hot pot but minus one for the lack of service until I busted out my broken mandarin. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Lai P.

Elite 21

151

659

8 years ago

Haven't been to this place for a long time. This locations food quality is inferior than the one at Evanston. Brought my coworkers to this place for the first time because it's closer to work. Very disappointed at their Szechuan String Beans - beans are so over grown that you can hardly chew on it. Three Cups Chicken is too sweet. Things are just not the right flavor as the other locations. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kris M.

9 years ago

Outdated interior. Dirty plates. Disappointingly low quality of the food. Waitress refused to take back undercooked rabbit stew. Never again, Lao Sze Chuan. read more

See all

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Bob T.

5 years ago

Very good though staff seemed over worked or tired being a visitor I like how I was hustled for a tip that wasn't deserved

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Dave C.

Elite 23

362

269

9 years ago

First things first. If you're expecting perfect service from a Chinatown restaurant, despite it's renowned name, then you're setting yourself up for disappointment. As a frequent Chinatown restaurant frequenter (Philly, NYC, Boston, DC, Chicago) I'll say the service is about on par with other Chinatown restaurants. They're simply not trained like they would normally be. Thus, this review is based solely on the food. This is my second time to Lao Sze Chuan as it is my second time to Chicago. On my first trip, we ordered a plethora of Szechuan dishes which is what they're known for. The food is as good and as authentic as it gets in the states. We ordered four Szechuan items and all were fantastic. We got Ma Po Tofu, Dry Chili Chicken, Hot & Sour Soup and I don't remember the last dish. All were 5/5 but be warned that they don't wimp out on their spices. It's legit Szechuan food. On the second trip, we ordered non-Szechuan dishes since our party did not want spicy food. It's quite a step down, but this is like ordering a chicken sandwich from a well known burger restaurant. It's just not going to be the same. The food is still quite good and better than most places but if you go here, definitely go Szechuan. read more

Helpful 4

Thanks 0

Love this 3

Oh no 0

Rayid G.

243

18 years ago

My favorite szechwan and chinese place in chicago. If you like hot and spicy food, you have to be a lao szechwan fan. The chili platter is my favorite appetizer and the innocent sounding but deadly tasty boiled beef as the entree. Don't be fooled by the name - it is beef and it is boiled, but the dish is not about beef or being boiled. it's about the sauce infused with szechwan peppers. Just like everyone else, I also like the green beans and 3 chili chicken. Overall, very good food but it's been toned down in spice levels the past few years to cater to a more mainstream audience. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Page 7 of 40

2172 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60616
Chinatown
Directions
(312) 326-5040
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order

Hours

What time does Lao Sze Chuan open?

Lao Sze Chuan opens at 10:45 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Lao Sze Chuan close?

Lao Sze Chuan closes at 11:45 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Sun 10:45 AM - 11:45 PM

Payment methods

Does Lao Sze Chuan take credit cards?

Yes, Lao Sze Chuan takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Lao Sze Chuan have catering options?

Yes, Lao Sze Chuan does have catering options.

Does Lao Sze Chuan have a happy hour?

No, Lao Sze Chuan does not have a happy hour.

Does Lao Sze Chuan serve alcohol?

Yes, Lao Sze Chuan serves alcohol. Beer & Wine Only

Indoor Amenities

Does Lao Sze Chuan allow dogs?

Yes, Lao Sze Chuan allows dogs.

Does Lao Sze Chuan have TVs?

No, Lao Sze Chuan does not have TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Lao Sze Chuan have bike parking?

Yes, Lao Sze Chuan has bike parking.

Does Lao Sze Chuan have outdoor seating?

No, Lao Sze Chuan does not have outdoor seating options.

Does Lao Sze Chuan have parking?

Yes, Lao Sze Chuan has parking options. Street Parking

Other Amenities

Does Lao Sze Chuan have free WiFi?

Yes, Lao Sze Chuan has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Lao Sze Chuan Restaurant is Chicago's premiere restaurant for gourmet, authentic Chinese cuisine, and is rated the best Chinese Restaurant in the USA. International celebrity chef Tony Hu brings over 20 years of experience to the table to create a series of award winning dishes like our famous Chef's Special Dry Chilies Chicken or the Crispy Shrimp in Lemon Sauce. Lao Sze Chuan's reputation is built on providing authentic Sichuan cuisine with high quality materials and ingredients. To ensure authentic flavors, we import all ingredients, such as, peppercorn, Sichuan pickles, Chili bean paste, all directly from China. We also keep things current and exciting by always learning and implementing new cuisine straight from China into our menu. Your complete satisfaction is our top priority here at Lao Sze Chuan Restaurant. Our friendly staff and Grade A chefs are here to ensure that you receive exceptional customer service and that your meal is top quality, authentic, and delicious. Let us show you why we've been rated the best Chinese cuisine in the USA.

History

Established in 1998.

Lao Sze Chuan Restaurant has been serving Chicago since 1998. Our mission is to provide authentic, gourmet Chinese cuisine in a contemporary and friendly environment. With over 16 years of success, we look forward to adding you to our long history of happy customers.

Meet the Business Owner: Yi D.

Yi has been in the restaurant industry for many years and enjoys being able to serve the public at Lao Sze Chuan where authentic Chinese cuisine is the driving force of the business. Yi hopes to provide you such a positive experience you'll remember to return to Lao Sze Chuan when you're in need of a delicious meal.

More Info

Health Score

Lao Sze Chuan Reviews in Other Languages

Chinese
3 Reviews

Ask the Community - Lao Sze Chuan

Is there a free parking around the restaurant at Chinatown location?

metered parking

View question details

Is this BYOB?

I am not quite sure although they would seem friendly enough for people to do that. Give them a call to see if they allow this. I didn't see one bring in their own alcoholic drinks during our recent visit. Great Szechuan food.

View question details

View All 4 Questions

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Szechuan 5,143 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Explore benefits

SzeChuan Alley

4.5

(26 reviews)

1.3 mi

My friends and I ordered take out from here. We ordered many different items such as Yangzhou fried…read morerice, spicy dry chili chicken, black pepper beef, Szechuan wontons, and shrimp in garlic sauce. We also ordered a side of hot & sour soup. Overall, we all were a fan except my friends didn't really like the hot & sour soup too much. I liked it, but I guess it tasted a bit different than they were expecting. The fan favorite was the spicy dry chili chicken. It was excellent. Definitely spicy and one of the better ones I've had in Chicago. The food came out about 5 minutes after the estimated pick up time so it was pretty accurate. Would come back here!

Ambiance - lots of street parking outside, casual, great for small and large groups…read moreService - only 1 server/cashier, order food using QR code on table Food - Everything was super flavorful, my personal favorite was the dry pot chicken wing (love that they put sliced potato and lotus root to add to the texture)

Inside

See all

Chef Xiong - Taste of Szechuan

Favorite chinese spot hands down at this point. I've gone…read morealone and in groups and every time i get seated quickly, staff is responsive, and the food is incredible. Sometimes you have to get their attention and they're great about serving once you do. Tried a bunch of things off the menu at this point and every one has been really good. The spiciness indicators are pretty legit which is awesome too. Outside the most popular popcorn chicken, the mr and ms smith is a favorite of mine.

Great Chinese restaurant! I've been twice already and I'll…read morebe back. The food is full of flavor, spicy, and delicious. I also had the kung pao tofu, which was some of the best fried tofu I've ever had. Food is served family style, so it is meant to be shared. I recommend coming by with a group. Service is very friendly and helpful in picking out dishes. Highly recommend!

Mongolian beef

See all

Mapo tofu

MCCB Chicago 时尚食谱

This was sooooooo good OMG. I'm still thinking about the food after two days. I can't wait come…read moreback to Chicago and come right here again. If you want some good Chinese food this is one spot you must try and get the Szechuan chicken and that Mongolian beef. The service was really good got us in and sat really quickly. Was on top of refills and food came out in record time with our food. They even box up your food when ready. 10/10 would recommend PSA: go early cause that line grows by the minute lol.

Waited almost 1.5 hours, they require $10 deposit to be put on a waitlist (but it goes toward your…read morebill) The service was good, and the food was large portions and good! We ordered cheng du wontons, dan dan noodles, and stir fried duck in beer sauce. The duck was more soupy than I expected but still good and flavorful! I don't know if I'd want to wait that long again but I do want to go back and try more things on their menu

Szechuan Twice Cooked Pork Fried Rice

Inside

See all

Eggplant with Spicy Garlic Sauce

Chengdu Impression - Lincoln Park

The crispy eggplant was a huge fan favorite, but we ordered so many other things that were good…read more The Sichuan wontons were delicious. We also got the dry chili chicken, dan dan noodles, Szechuan string beans, and a couple other things. Their Sichuan ice jelly was also yum. The service was great.

I've ordered from the Milwaukee location and they knocked it out of the park. Tonight, from the…read moreHalsted location, it wasn't great. The fried rice lacked more flavor than I previously experienced. One of my biggest peeves is when restaurants put fried food in airtight containers for delivery. The sweet & sour shrimp was soggy when it got here. They also don't put the fruit and veggies in the sauce, they put it in the container with the shrimp. I'm glad I was able to specify sauce on the side otherwise I think they would have dumped it on the fried shrimp. I'll be moving on.

See all

Dry Chili Pork Intestine

Szechuan Bistro

4.8

(21 reviews)

0.2 mi

Food: As good as always--flavorful, authentic, and satisfying…read more Service: The staff are friendly, attentive, and quick to help. The only downside is the wait since they moved to 2623 S Halsted St. We waited about 40 minutes for a table and another 20 minutes for our food. Ambiance: Nothing particularly special--just a fairly standard dining atmosphere. But honestly, we come here for the food, so the ambiance isn't really a deciding factor for us. Overall, the long wait can be frustrating, but the food is still worth the trip. We'll definitely be back.

Fair warning- this dish is NOT for the weak. I got the Szechuan Pepper chicken, one of my favorite…read moredishes that no Chinese restaurant has ever been able to make close to the level I had while in Chengdu- until now. When I tell you I openly wept while eating this dish (both from the spice and from joy), I'm not kidding. My spirits were high, my tongue and lips felt like they were vibrating, and I couldn't ask for more. Fantastic, cannot recommend enough, reasonably quick service and love the collection of restaurants in this food court. Will be returning.

See all

Lao Sze Chuan

We had a wonderful dinner here last night…read more Service is quick and helpful. Food is delicious and large portion sizes Fried rice vegetables- great szechuan green beans- amazing fried noodles with vegetables- good kung pao chicken- great (I only ate the vegetables and peanuts out of it which were delicious, but my picky 9 year old son and my mother in law both loved it) salt and pepper tofu- great We will be back again, and probably order all of the same things again. The place was packed by the time we were leaving around 8pm on a Tuesday night. They validate for parking in the Chinatown parking lot. You just have to ask them, and scan their QR code and then the parking is $3.

The storefront sign wasn't bright nor flashy, one can easily missed it. There's an elevator to take…read morediners up to the restaurant. It's a spacious and colorful. The service was per normal. We tried a few dishes but not overwhelmed by them unfortunately 2*House Special Beggar's Chicken 飘香叫花鸡：chicken with bones wasn't fresh, they were fried, mixed with a bunch of veggies. I was a bit disappointed. Besides spicy, no other flavors! 4*Spicy Beef Tendon*麻辣牛筋: was good 3*Green Bean Jelly Szechuan Style 四川涼粉: per normal, nothing stood out. 3*Cucumber Salad w/ Fresh Garlic #泥黃瓜: common cold dish.

View of Food Court inside Building - March 7, 2024

See all

Szechuan Corner

My bf and I was in the mood for Chinese and the place we wanted to go to wasn't open so we came…read morehere and I'm glad we did!!!! I wanted spicy fried rice and when I received it the food was fresh spicy flavorful and overall great dish. My bf got the lo mein noodles and there were pretty good as well!! Def recommend

Since there's no three and a half star rating, I had to give this a three star rating. I was really…read morecraving some good Chinese food but did not want to go into downtown first to pick up and then head back home so I looked this place up and had decent reviews and decided to try it out. What really impressed me was they had a specific section of the menu which was titled "Salt and Pepper". Of course I was super excited to try the salt and pepper tofu so here's what we got: - we got the salt and pepper tofu - we got the American garlic broccoli - got the mala lamb. - Got a pair of complimentary vegetarian spring rolls. When I went to pick up the take-out order, I was shocked at how heavy it was. This was clearly a lot of food. I'll start with the lamb. Very well thought out packaging, to be straight. Because the lamb had a lot of oil and liquid in it, they put it in a plastic container, which they knew is going to leak. They put that entire container in a separate tiny plastic bag and wrapped it so that the juices from that would not come all over in the main bag. Really appreciate that. Now the lamb, while cooked okay, the flavor was just, you know, it did not do it for me. Add to that they really kept the lamb as relatively big pieces. They were thinly sliced but they were just large pieces. They could have been smaller for it to be easier to eat. Flavor-wise there was just too much black pepper, which is what I was expecting, but to match that there was no flavor as such. The salt and pepper tofu was a disaster. I got it from other places. The flavor just was not doing it. It was not crispy at all. Yes I have them take out salt and pepper tofu from many other places. It does leave its crunchiness to some extent. This one had zero crunch. In fact it was weird. Every piece that was stuck to the next one had something gooey on it. Just overall the flavor was very underwhelming. The American garlic broccoli was overcooked to the extent it did not have the firmness one would expect and was overcooked to the extent where some of the smaller pieces just disintegrated. The spring roll is wild. The casing was phenomenal. It was perfect for a spring roll even after opening it after one hour. Really appreciate that. The filling, however, there really weren't many vegetables in it at all. That was very disappointing. Overall I don't think I am going to grab food from here again. The reason they get the 3.5 stars, though, is they did a phenomenal job on the packaging of all the food. The quantity was well beyond what I expected. The food, however, I have to say, was a disaster. And maybe this is my taste. It may be it's a bit too Americanized and I have not been used to eating very Americanized Chinese food for the last many years. That might be the problem.

See all

Dongpo Impression

Locally owned & operated

Established in 2017

Excellent Sichuan fare ! And it is certainly possible to come here and not burn your mouth out…read more Black Bean Fish fillet was perfect., String beans filled with flavor, cute little pork hunks and just enough heat, and cold noodle salad , refreshing with a nice floral bite. Only disapointment was the scallion pancake, dry and sorta flavorless with no dipping sauce .

Umm... it was different. Very authentic. And I like authentic…read more We ordered the Crystal Shrimp Dumplings. I love dumplings. They were pretty good. Combo Fried Flat Rice Noodle. I would get this again. My family and I talk about this dish. Often. But the Mapo Tofu with Beef just was NOT what I was expecting. It is NOT like what other places serve. And the Meizhou Dry Chili Chicken was just okay. The food overall wasn't terrible. But the service. Omgoodness. Service is EVERYTHING. I love a no nonsense server but you gotta have a little personality. The one guy was kind and friendly and just fine but the other. I mean. He was attentive but with NO emotion. My son actually prefers that. But my son ain't paying so we ain't going back. Chinatown Parking

麻婆豆腐 / Mapo Tofu

See all

Dai Yee's Asian Kitchen

4.4

(224 reviews)

7.7 mi

I wanted to try a new place and found this based on reviews…read moreI had not realized it is in a central kitchen, just take out The owner was there and she was so nice I went with the curried chicken lunch special and added an extra veggie egg roll The food was hot, fresh and of high quality I enjoyed every bite This was a great find

Have great gluten-free options. I really liked the food always comes like you expected itread more

Chicken Lo Mein, Yu Shin Beef (Hot), General Tsos Chicken (Hot)

Mocha Lava Bao Bun

See all

Orange Chicken Chicken and Vegetable Fried Rice

Chengdu Impression - Edgewater

3.6

(93 reviews)

9.5 mi

Food was hot and delicious! Atmosphere calming and conducive to an enjoyable experience. Staff…read morepleasant and accommodating

Horrible service. They don't care to help. Waited 30 minutes for an online order, and all you got…read morewas 'sorry, we're backed up' -- they didn't say anything until I asked angrily. They clearly don't care about your time. Never again

Shrimp shumai. Steamed beautifully.

See all

Salt and pepper pork. Bones in every bite. Take it home because it's not good for eating in front of other people.

Quartino Ristorante

We had the best service!!! Trevor gave amazing recommendations as well as giving us the best…read moreattitude and making out-of-towners feel welcome!!!! Will definitely come back any time I visit the city! Food was amazing!!!!

Awesome! We were in town from Kansas City and this restaurant was recommended to us. It was just…read morearound the corner from our hotel so we fortunately we were able to get a reservation and have an incredible dinner.

PROSCIUTTO SAN DANIELE and Duck Prosciutto

Bathroom

See all

Coppa alla banana

The Purple Pig

My new favorite restaurant! the food is DELICIOUS and the staff was incredible. I don't give…read morereviews much but just loved it here so I had to :)

This was such a life changing experience from a flavor perspective! We were in town for the…read moreweekend and stopped by because we'd heard amazing things about what The Purple Pig does with pork and we were not disappointed! We started off with the bone marrow; it was incredibly flavorful, paired nicely with a nut jam and some greens and bread. We also got the Agnolotti pasta, and this was our favorite bite of the evening by far. The beef short rib, paired with more marrow and the butter sauce were absolutely incredible and we will be thinking about them for a long time to come. We ended with the pork tenderloin and it was a lovely ending dish. The pork was cooked to perfection and paired with sautéed oyster mushrooms and corn. Service was exceptional and quick! We will come back with a bigger group the next time we are in the city!

The kitchen

Chicago style hot dog

See all

Squid Ink Chitarra

Green Street Smoked Meats

BABY WHEN I TELL YOU THIS RIGHT HEREEE!!!! This was the best barbecue I've had in years. I thought…read moreMr.Tendernism was in the back grilling. TOO GOOD. We ordered the brisket, baked beans , and ribs. The brisket was juicy and tender. It was delicious!!!! I do wish it was more hot temperature wise. The brisket got cold quick. The ribs were my favorite! I wish we got three orders of them. They were perfectly tender filled with flavor. The char on them had the perfect smoky touch. The baked beans were delicious, they weren't too sweet but they were filled with a slight sweet note that I believe comes from the pork bits in it. So good! We enjoyed our food with the spicy barbecue sauce. I highly recommend that barbecue sauce! Total we spent for all that was around $55. To drink I had the bourbon sweet tea. The bartender was a bit rude. I feel like my drink could've been made with more love but it did the job. My drink costed about $17 I will be coming here again. There was ample enough seating. It's beautiful coming here at night. From the scenery inside you'll feel like you're in a movie. This experience fully blew my mind.

I do genuinely understand the hype that social media has given this restaurant. It shares a patio…read morewith Trivoli tavern and has amble seating both indoor and outdoor. It has a rustic country atmosphere and is also pretty dark inside. I got the oyler sandwich which has pulled pork and a sausage link. It was HUGE. I could've only gotten that and I would have been full. The frito pie was so good (it reminds me of a walking taco but in a counter)(it was kinda spicy tho). The pork ribs were also good but I didn't try the Mac and cheese or beans so i won't comment on those. Overall service is fast but our total price was $63 which is kinda high for what we got imo.

Chopped Brisket Hot Link Pork Ribs smoked turkey Elote Style Corn Baked Beans

Photo from the bar

See all

Inside

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

125 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Zhen W.

15 years ago

Yes this is a ONE-star rating. I am chinese and I used to love this resturant. I always give 20% tips but this time I gave them 0. What's more I'll never return to Lao Sze Chuan for anything. In the old days while the owner of Lao Sze Chuan was in the resturant, service was good and taste was nice authentic. My friends and I always chose Lao Sze Chuan as a 1st place for dinner. Things changed, the owner seldomly appear in the resturant and I see new faces of waiters. Price went up but I considered the taste could be better. I was horribly wrong. I went to O'hare today to pick up my classmate and went to Lao Sze Chuan for dinner. One waiter sent us glasses of water was just hanging glasses in his hand over the table, waiting us, customers to place glasses without any sentence. We are 5 people group and the waitor repeat this hanging for 5 times, no exeption. I was shocked and wished its just an incident. I was wrong again. During the 75mins dinner no one came to our talbe for refilling water, even we tried to call them for several times. Like 2 or 3 times I believe someone behind the bar saw our hands but decided to do nothing. This is not the last thing made us unhappy. 2 of 5 dishes we ordered seems to be tasteless, the chef or his assistant definetely forgort add salt into them. I've been cook for myself more than 10 years and I'm sure about it. We decided call one waiter regarding this issue. The same waiter who WAITED us to place glasses came to our table after several mins hands up. He seems to be doubtful about our opion and won't take it seriously. He left our table without apology nor making any promise. Like 10mins later one mid-age lady in black came to our table and asked us why not add salt by ourself using salt bottle on the table. I was almost crazy but I calmed down and explained that dishes need to be reheated so the taste can get into beefs. She accepted and took those two dishes back to kitchen. We are chinese and we do eat rice. We have 5 people and we didn't get rice refilled during the whole dinner. No one responsed regarding our request. I have no idea where those waiters were while customers need them. This is my first zero-tip dinner in US, since 2 years ago I came here. The last shinning point is, the same lady, ran out from the resturant, stopped us and saying that we didn't pay tips. We explained the reason. She was very unhappy, about us, not her waiters. I wish I could support resturants operated by my natives, chinese. I do love Ma Po resturant in Naperville, just for example. For Lao Sze Chuan, I just can't like it anymore and I do wish you try to choose another place for dinner. read more

BR D.

14 years ago

Our party of four visited Chinatown-Chicago on Labor Day, 2012, and choose to dine at Lao Sze Chuan based on reviews of best Chinese in Chicago. BAD DECISION !!!! We waited for a table for 45 minutes, were seated and waited another 10 minutes for a waiter to come and take our drink orders. Then another 10 minutes before he came back with the drinks, and took our dinner orders. He was not hospitable at all and seemed to be irritated with questions about menu items. It was then another 20 minutes before any appetizers and soup were brought to (and tossed on) the table. When the main dishes began to appear two of us in the party were served, one of the appetizers finally came out for another in the party and the fourth person (my wife) had to wait another 20 minutes before her main dish was served....and then only after I questioned another waiter where her dinner was. The food was lukewarm and not very good - a major disappointment for all of us on our maiden voyage to Chinatown. We would not recommend this restaurant to anyone who desires a decent Chinese dinner. Our local Chinese restaurant beats this establishment hands down, and is a lot less expensive. AND, on this 90 degree day, where we were seated on the second floor, there was no air conditioning or fans. NOT a pleasant experience at all!!! read more

Lupe P.

11 years ago

Good food, always. Service very very spotty. I have been to this restaurant many times and think it's one of the best on that strip of Chinatown. For its food. Service can be decent to downright lousy, and I'm not just talking about when they're busy or shorthanded. On one recent occasion one of the dishes I ordered came out so late I was done with my meal when it arrived. I asked for this dish to be removed from my order. The waitress took it away. 15 minutes later, a different member of the waitstaff brought the bill. The order I had sent back was still there. It was easy to see that no one wanted to come over and pick up the bill after I placed my credit card out there, but someone eventually did. This took about 20 more minutes. I told them again to remove the charge of the dish from my bill. Finally, after running around for another 10 minutes, the correction was made. The process of paying, from the time I finished my meal to the time I was able get a corrected bill and leave was over 40 minutes, while I took up precious table space. One can tell what they were hoping for -- that I would get frustrated with the length of the wait and just pay and leave. In other words, trying to rip me off. Go to this place for great food and watch your bill carefully. read more

T B.

16 years ago

Went Sat. night with a friend, excited from reviews. lousy meal. Tried the hot/sour soup with pork blood cakes. Soup was not hot (spicy) or sour, and the cakes were tofu (no real taste) - the soup itself was a clear cabbage broth, with too much salt and pepper (regular table pepper, not chili pepper). Silly us for thinking it would be a regular hot/sour soup with more interesting bits in it. Spicy eggplant with pork was good, average, hardly spicy, nothing special. His lamb w/cumin dish was okay, but lamb was not very tasty, and if you want this type of meal, go to a middle eastern restaurant where they do it right. I had fish with chili? sauce - recommended by waitress, and I swear it was a bunch of fish mcnuggets drenched in a ketchupy sweet bbq sauce. really bad. place was relatively busy, and it obviously shuffles people in and out fast. they'll come and stand by your table if they don't think you're leaving fast enough. if you go, maybe order only their 'specials', cause the other stuff is not so great, and don't expect them to be friendly. read more

Eric H.

4 years ago

Showed the Yelp coupon for a free order of spring rolls but when they brought the check, we saw that were charged for spring rolls. We asked why and the waitress told us that each order of spring rolls only comes with 2 and we ordered 4. We said we only ordered the free order, and she said "no, you ordered 4." We said we only ordered 2 and she asked us "then why did you order 4?" *facepalm* Finally, she said "I just saw that you have 3 people so I put in an extra order for you. It's okay, I'll take it off the check. We always give out free spring rolls." Lol. Anyway, as for the food, I've eaten lots of spring rolls and cream cheese rangoons, and these were the worst I've ever had. I've also had the honey walnut shrimp and sweet and sour pork; not very good. The only dishes that were up to par with other restaurants were the ones with lots of chili. TL;DR: waitress charged us for something we didn't order and made up stories about how we ordered it until finally contradicting herself. Don't order Cantonese food here; only order Sichuan food read more

deborah b.

11 years ago

I have eaten at this restaurant and ordered for delivery many times, mostly because it is a few blocks from my apartment. Never again. Like other reviewers, I have to agree that the service is awful. Vegetarians are left waiting until the meat eaters have finished their meals before getting their dishes, even when the server is alerted to the issue; the food is often cold and the sauces, rather than silky, are gelatinous. Most often, the moo shoo pancakes are stuck to each other and inseparable. The duck is a waste of money as most of it remains uncarved and taken back to the kitchen as trash. Delivery is a problem and the restaurant staff lie constantly about where your order is. They oftentimes get the order wrong and then charge you anyway. The manager has an awfully arrogant attitude for a restaurant that can't deliver on its promise of authentic Chinese food. This is a tourist trap. Not far from this restaurant is Ming Hin---try it; it is more reasonably priced; has better food; and no bad attitude. read more

c t.

16 years ago

For real chinese food in Chicago, this is about as good as it gets. All, and I mean ALL the other restaurants in Chinatown don't get it right. The free cabbage at the beginning of the meal is addictive. The lunch menu is reasonably priced and offers a good variety. Even the regular menu has good, authentic dishes. Most importantly, the rice is always cooked well and has the proper texture. Too many other restaurants in Chinatown have rice that is tough and dry and maybe a day old. In terms of a Chicago Chinatown standard, the service is good. The servers are always attentive and they remember my special requests although I always state them just to make sure. This is probably the only place I would recommend for real chinese food. The one thing the kitchen can improve on is the tea. Currently, it is just brown water. Ever hear of tea leaves? Oh, btw, for all of you that like "American style" chinese food, there is a whole list of less than mediocre places to choose from. read more

Sandy W.

15 years ago

Wow. I sort of see Chinese food as seasonal, in that I tend to order it for delivery in the dead of winter. However, my opinion has changed. On arrival, we grabbed a take out menu to see our options. My friend was dead set on eating chicken and in the menu everything looked delicious. So I point out the XO sauce and recommend to try something new. Sold. We're seated immediately. Waiter was very knowledgeable and willing to explain any of the dishes or sauces. I asked about the XO sauce and more details about the offers in the menu. . After commenting on all the seafood options, he asks if we like oysters. I happen to love oysters and tied with his enthusiasm, I was sold on the garlic oyster appetizer. Happily so, because it was the largest oyster I've ever had, direct from Seattle. Everything was tasty and not overly spicy and the portions are huge. It's not so often you see such enthusiasm and pride in the food being served. I will never again see Chinese food as seasonal. read more

Eva K.

11 years ago

The worst dining experience I have ever encountered. Came in Christmas Day after we made a reservation. Of course, they claimed they never took reservations then the host who was dressed more like a pimp came outside with a reservation book saying they didn't have our name down. Then wait an hour to be seated after being told 40 min. After finally sitting down, our server walked up to the table and said "yes". I guess that was key for us to proceed with our order. We ordered about 5 minutes after being seated and still waiter over an hour for the food to come. Aside from that we literally had to ask for everything! From waters to sweet and sour sauce we asked for every single thing while the wait staff said "give me a minute" or huffed and puffed as though we were bothering them. Their "famous" Tony's chicken is really just fried dough and barely any chicken. Avoid this place at all costs. read more

Halcyon N.

8 years ago

This review is 1 of 2 I've ever written on Yelp, and it is specifically for the Archer location, and specifically, - the TONY's Chicken. This dish doesn't really sound like anything extraordinarily special off the menu; yet, the deep fried, chunky, sweet, sticky, spicy flavor they develop is from another universe. I cannot get enough of this entree. It is the only thing I order; yet, I love so many things at Lao Sze Chuan. My family comes here on Sundays after church ...all I think about is TONY'S Chicken during mass...it is SOOOO GOOD. It's sticky sweet heat in chicken popper form with glossy red chiles embedded throughout is a perfect blend of spices, flavors and a perfectly balanced chile glaze; - not too spicy, not too sweet JUST RIGHT. Try it. You will not regret it. read more

David P.

9 years ago

I agree with Dave C, you do not go to Chinatown restaurants for service. You go for great food. And that is what they serve at Lao Sze Chuan. Some very authentic Chinese dishes and a few Americanized dishes. We had a combination of both. Overall everything was very good. Did not love the garlic pork though and the Mongolian Beef was pretty much the same as everywhere else but the shrimp in lemon sauce was great (and a huge portion) as was the salt and pepper pork and the shrimp in lobster sauce. Prices are not cheap. Many places in Chinatown 20%-25% cheaper than this place. I think it raised prices once it became so popular 5 years ago. Overall I would still go back, just have to figure out the best dishes for my tastes since the menu is HUGE. read more

Sharon H.

135

13 years ago

I normally don't like Chinese food, but I came anyway because my boyfriend and I were in the area. This place is okay. It is obviously a sit down restaurant to come and enjoy a drink after work. The people were kind of nice to my white boyfriend lol. Very nice to him. The waiter was kind of nice to me, but kind of not. Maybe white people look like money bags hahaha.... only kidding. A lot of groups were here so I am assuming people like to come here. As for the food. It was just okay. I ordered the Kung Pao chicken and they were a little heavy handed on the soy sauce. I was a little overpowered by that taste but overall the pricing was decent for what it was. The owner had a lot of bling on, looked like a gangstar. lol read more

Steve D.

126

197

12 years ago

Lao Sze Chuan is one if the best spicy restaurant in town. I went to their different locations included the one on uptown and Evanston. The Chinatown theme seems a little rusher, since very high traffic of people waiting to try. After two hours wait by July 4, me and my family finally had set down by a "big" host. When we tasted the first bit, all the wait times are worth it. We had the lamp with cumin power, tender juicy meat with fresh hijopino pepper. The crispy shrimp with lemon sauce is one of the items on the menu you have to try. $14.95, pork pot stickers are one of my favor on the menu #202. Size is huge and great favor Can't wait to go back, hopefully no long wait read more

Kate M.

13 years ago

I went to Lao Sze Chuan for a friend's birthday. She insisted before we went that we had to get the spicy fried eggplant and a tofu dish. I'm very particular about my diet and I don't eat a lot of fried foods let alone eggplant. Eggplant to me - before I went - didn't sound appetizing. Nor does an entree of tofu. Was I wrong. My girlfriend still recall this story. I couldn't believe how you can take a simple dish of a vegetable and add a couple ingredients that taste unbelievable. I could not stop eating both dishes. I went back for 4 weeks in a row after this experience. Go. You will be pleasantly surprised. And, you too will want to go back again and again. read more

Max S.

9 years ago

Sadly, another bad incident happened on April 23 when I took my coworkers to the restaurant. No other way to say it: my boss's wife was bit by a live rat crawling out of the one toilet in the women's bathroom in her inner thigh. Our group was livid and when we reported this to the wait staff, they played this off like no big deal and were even laughing at the issue. We are filing a report with Chicago's health and safety department to finally get these guys to fix their act or to shut this place down so Chinatown doesn't get an even worse name than it already has. Please avoid this place, folks. My boss's wife was in the hospital for fear of infection in her cuts. read more

Keith R.

18 years ago

I remember the menu being fairly lengthy but I was there for the spicy beef stew noodle soup .So I didn't spend much time perusing. My, what a bowl of noodle soup (my picture of it might make you drool) - nearly perfect (I wish it were spicier though).The beef is in big, tender chunks. And it's not just meat but the tendon (which Chinese people tend to love) - amazing amounts of tendon. The five spice broth is deep, clear, and beefy. The noodles are not hand-pulled but they're thick and soft. They add spinach and a bit of chopped, pickled mustard greens. Liberal amounts of white pepper round out the dish. It's served piping hot and is very filling.Awesome! read more

Jim H.

18 years ago

GREAT SPICY SZE CHUAN FOOD! I have been here a few times and I have to mention that the level of spicy-ness (sp?) has not been consistent, but nonetheless, it is still good. I recommend the Tony's chicken. I wasn't expecting anything really special when I ordered it for the first time, but it is on my "must order" list now. Service is very sporadic. If you catch them when it's less busy, service is ok. On a busy day, it will be hard to get their attention. But trust me, the food is worth it, since they're not actually rude. Note: Most dishes are spicy so it may not be suitable for children. read more

Brick W.

137

20 years ago

I happen to think this is one of the most amazing Chinese places ever, one of my clients who is a chinese interpreter said it is some of the best and most authentic regional chinese outside of China, I've never been but Im going to have to take his word on that. Szechuan food is generally thought to be really spicy and Lao Sze Chuan wont let you down. One of my favorite dishes is the dry chili chicken HOT but that perfect kind of hot. Some of my friends aren't really into spicy stuff and they didn't have any problems finding items that weren't to overwhelming. Im officially addicted! read more

IM H.

12 years ago

Ok this place definitely tops the most PATHETIC Service ever..... We had made an order at LAO SZE CHUAN and were waiting for over 2 hours. When we called them back (with great difficulty as the numbers they have furnished on the web are wrong) the elderly asian gentleman in his most Chivalrous tone said "Cancel order - refund back your money" without a shred of apology. Such manners!!! Seriously pathetic... not recommended... PF Changs may be a bit more expensive but way better service and you dont have to deal with old asian mannerless gentlemen who scream into the fone... read more

Mike G.

15 years ago

The best Chinese food in the region, if not the country. Order the beef hot chili, rice noodle with ground pork, and the Szechuan wonton. Order the spicy cabbage if they don't automatically bring it. And the hot pot is one of the greatest culinary experiences you can have in the city. Do the hot pot. The table will be trashed when you're done, but in a good way. Do not, under any circumstances, ever order any Chinese-American style dishes. That is not what this place is about. This is the real deal. read more

See more unrecommended reviews

Lao Sze Chuan - szechuan - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Lao Sze Chuan also viewed

Dongpo Impression

4.0

(204 reviews)

Emperor's Choice Restaurant

4.0

(369 reviews)

Some of the best Egg Rolls in Chicago and the service is top notch. My husband had kunpow chicken…read morehe said was perfect, I had the Mongolian Beef and it was very good, not the best I have had but the best since the place I considered the best closed when the Wok Chef decided to retire at age 83! Proves we American's are retiring far too young and our older generation is both depressed and living in poverty. Since Emperor's is in Chinatown don't be surprised if you have to walk a few blocks or drive around several times to find a parking spot but its worth it and the waddle back to the car probably was a good thing as we stuffed ourselves and still brought back food! Next time, I'm ordering a dozen eggrolls to bring home since its a 3.5hr drive! We will be back for sure!

This is my second time coming to this restaurant in my hometown. The food was really hot and…read moreflavorful. Customer service was excellent and I loved the decor of the restaurant. I had the Emperor's spicy chicken with was exploding with flavor. My wife had the shrimp egg foo young which had no flavor at all but it was ok. We shared the chopped lobster which was really really good. We'll return soon.

Ken Kee

3.7

(735 reviews)

Ken Kee, even though it changed hands prior to the remodel, has been a long-time family favorite…read morefor late dinners and afternoon snacks and take-out...and I do like Chinatown Square because you don't have to worry about cars once inside... Lately, we've really gotten into their Afternoon Tea which includes two types of French toast and we always get both...and I like both equally - especially the one filled with cream and topped with Ovaltine...but the Honey one is really good too...as you can see - I'm really torn between the two!! But the Pineapple bun option seems to be always sold-out?? You can have this with either a milk tea or lemon tea and personally, I would select the milk tea because it's sweeter and creamier. So many fond memories here at Ken Kee, of being with family and loved ones...the decor also makes me long to go back to HK, one day!!

Feels like authentic Chinese Food…read more Fun, bright, fun atmosphere and extremely speedy service. A go to lunch spot in China Town. Their flavored iced tea is yummy, the egg drop soup surprised me with having vegetables in it, the egg rolls were extremely hot (temp) and tasty. The meat doesn't seem like the highest quality, but it's still a spot I'd recommend.

Phoenix Restaurant

3.4

(925 reviews)

As a big dim sum fan, I thought this place was awesome! We arrived right when they opened and were…read morethe first group seated. By the time we finished our meal, the dining room was completely full and there was even a line forming outside, which is always a great sign. Unlike some traditional dim sum restaurants, they don't use carts here. Instead, you order from a paper menu, which I actually prefer because it's easier to browse all the options and make sure you don't miss anything. Everything we ordered was freshly made, looked beautiful, and tasted delicious. We even had to stop and take photos before digging in! The staff was attentive throughout our meal, and the food came out quickly despite how busy the restaurant became. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and would definitely come back the next time we're in Chinatown.

Superb Chinese spot in Chicago's Chinatown. Huge seating area and very nice staff. But you're going…read morehere for the Dim Sum. They have a lot of it and it's ALL good. I'm partial to the vegetarian one as well as the shrimp one. Really really good. However, do not, do not sleep on the Mongolian beef. It's exceptional and they have great sticky rice to accompany it. I'm a Mongolian beff connoisseur and this one didn't disappoint. This is a Dim Sum place but they also do other classic Chinese dishes very well!

Min's Noodle House 渔家重庆小面

4.2

(369 reviews)

Delicious, robust, flavor from a broth that punches you in the teeth with no self effacement. This…read moreis a home spun gem which deserves a visit and taste. Try the noodle or dumpling soup if the menu feels intimidating. The left side of the menu on the wall is english, the right is mandarin.

Came by specifically to try out their dan dan noodles as they came up as one of the best in city…read morewhen I searched them up. When we came in the place was pretty empty. You seat yourself and order from the QR code on the table. There's a menu against the wall but it's the same as in the QR code. We got the smashed cucumber and the beef bao to start. The cucumber was very refreshing and served as a palate cleanser throughout the dinner. The beef bao was good. It reminds me of a Salisbury steak inside a bao. Which is not knocking it but I would not order it again. For out entrees we had the Dan Dan noodles and the beef chow mein. Both plates were served extremely well; they had so much food! I always like chow mein but this one tasted like it was missing something. I tried adding soy sauce and it was not enough. It was very delicious though and I ate it all. You get so many little pieces of veggies and beef in every bite. The dan dan noodles were the star of the show. They were so nutty. I loved it! The waitress made sure to tell us to mix it up really good and we did just that. It was very delicious. I would definitely be back to try more of their menu because I love noodles and they have such a variety.

Evergreen Restaurant

3.5

(234 reviews)

As always, A+ service and incredible food! The pork fried rice is the best fried rice I've ever…read morehad. The orange peel chicken was great and so was the beef and broccoli. The egg drop soup is great but the egg rolls were off the chain. The inside is very dated but somehow incredibly comforting and charming - reminds me of an 80s banquet hall but the 80s were the best so it's fine by me! (Even the wait staff look straight out of the 80s). I cannot wait to come back! So happy to see that it's still there and doing well, hadn't been in over 20 years. Now only if parking wasn't such a pain but that's chicago for you. Can't wait to come back!

I've been coming here for years, which makes this especially disappointing to say--this place is…read morenot what it used to be. On my last visit, the food was noticeably off. The egg rolls had a strange, unpleasant flavor, it seems as if they used kimchi because of the strong vinegar taste, the crab rangoon was average, and the jumbo shrimp fried rice was the biggest letdown--rubbery, unseasoned shrimp that felt like an afterthought. Only the pepper steak was decent. The service made things worse. When we raised a concern, there was no apology, just a shift in attitude and no follow-up. We were even charged for food we barely touched and had to ask for it to be removed. Also, the pressure to tip at checkout feels inappropriate when the experience doesn't match. After years of being a loyal customer, I won't be returning.

Four Seasons Dumpling

4.5

(122 reviews)

Family owned, no frills Chinese food option with amazing flavor in the heard of Bridgeport,…read moreChicago. They were also kind enough to accommodate my Apply pay only status when I forgot my wallet. As you can expect, the prices and quantities are well worth a visit alone. For a classic fried rice, this place is a go to. They also have amazing steamed and fried dumpling options, I would recommend the pork and chive. There are a lot of fun little stores on the strip right outside this place, making it the perfect spot to grab a lunch and then explore the neighborhood a little!

Technically 4.5 because they do have some dishes that are greasy and unauthentic. But all dishes…read moreare properly seasoned. Very affordable and large portions. Do not be fooled by its name. They have some very good dishes other than dumplings. I say their best tasting dumpling is the one with lamb&carrot stuffing.

Uncle Zhang Chinese Cuisine 南来北往

3.8

(119 reviews)

Uncle Zhang smells like a legit Northern Chinese restaurant…read more The workers preparing the food and making sure all the green beans are ready to please your taste buds. I came for a group party, so we had to do family style with that lazy susan. Excellent peanut chicken, bok choy, dumplings, spicy and regular pork, white rice, and more. Honestly, I normally would have done a play by play review on each dish, but I am unable to describe each dish as individuals because it was about the collective whole. Great spot for families and large groups. Definitely a place to check out!

Still love the food here but upset that now they charge a 3% processing fee with credit card. So…read morekeep that in mind when coming here. They also now do electronic menus.

Original Triple Crown Restaurant

3.3

(151 reviews)

I've been living near Chinatown for nearly almost 20 years yet I've never had the Original Triple…read moreCrown! I went after a graduation, and we needed to find a late night spot open to seat seven of us. Thankfully, the Original Triple Crown was open, and the food was great! The egg rolls and crab rangoons were crispy and fresh. The sweet and sour pork, walnut shrimp, stir fried eggplant, clams, string beans, fried tofu, and beef with onions were very delicious and easy to share. The only con was that we got the shredded chicken, and it was very salty. The service was great; they took our order pretty quick and brought out the food fast. They even gave a discount for paying cash. The ambiance is alright; it hard to locate it since it's not on the main street of Wentworth. Additionally, it felt more like a hole in the wall spot compared to other places. It's more of a "if you know you know" spot and sharing a nice comforting meal with a large family.

07/06/26 - Well another day another Chinese restaurant. We had some business to take care of…read more After we were finished our friends took us to a late lunch or early dinner. We went to The Original Triple Crown Restaurant (OTCR) is off the beaten path on 211 W 22nd place. They ordered the salt & spicy smelt (one of my favorite Chinese dishes), fried sea food chow fun noodles, baby bok choy w/garlic. We also ordered clams in black bean sauce. The food was good but not exceptional. Very good service One cool thing about The Original Triple Crown Restaurant is they are open very late. My wife worked the second shift from 3-11pm. On the way home we stopped off @ OTCR for a late night snack. They have a half size & half priced menu items. This is menu isn't just for late night as we were told by the server if we chose to get a smaller portion while we were there

Lee Wing Wah Restaurant

3.3

(325 reviews)