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    Silk Road

    3.7 (138 reviews)
    InexpensiveChinese
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Silk Road Takeout or Delivery

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    SILK ROAD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Silk Road

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    King Kung Pao Chicken
    Milva G.

    I went for lunch and ordered at the counter. There was a pretty long line but they moved quick. I got my food in approx 15 minutes. I ordered the Kung Pao chicken that was supposed to be spicy but was lacking a bit of flavor. The serving were a good size and I got a small.

    Spicy Chicken & Egg Roll
    Patrick M.

    I love this place. It's a bit off the beaten path as it's tucked in the alley behind the 20 South Clark building. When you walk in an order your food it is usually in your hands within 15 seconds. The spicy Chicken is absolutely delicious. I like to as for a fork every time I go just to mess with the ladies behind the counter because I know they already threw it in there. Their disdain makes me smile.

    House special shrimp. I asked them to make it spicy.
    Taquanda H.

    A good spot to try if you are in the loop area for lunch. My food was fast, exactly how I ordered it, tasty and reasonable.

    Spicy chicken
    Mike M.

    Silk Road is a no frills, no nonsense hole in the wall Chinese joint that aims to satisfy even the largest of appetites during the weekday lunch rush. In an area full of chains, generic bar food, and overpriced markets and food halls, it's nice to finally find a place to get your fill for under $10. Even though there are tons of great authentic Asian or trendy "Asian Fusion" type spots in the area, sometimes I'm just hungry and looking to get stuffed on greasy ass generic Chinese food. Silk Road is a little bit of a hidden gem, tucked away in an alley along LaSalle, just north of Monroe and LaSalle. It seems to be a go-to spot for the IT crowd and any other local professionals grabbing a bite during the lunch hour. It's pretty bare bones with just the food counter, a water cooler, and then a decent seating area with a bunch of tables. Food: This ain't authentic Chinese food, but that don't mean it doesn't totally hit the spot. Silk Road knows their target audience. They deliver generous portions of meat and rice dishes to the masses. Their bread and butter are their chicken dishes: Orange chicken, Kung Pao chicken, Sweet and Sour chicken, and my personal favorite the Spicy Chicken. Pretty much any sort of deep fried breaded chicken dish is their specialty. The spicy chicken has large chunks of breaded chicken tossed in a spicy sauce with carrots, onions, and green peppers. The sauce isn't overly sweet like the Orange Chicken, and not too saucy either. It's almost a paste-like consistency. I wouldn't say it's over the top spicy either, just enough heat to enhance the flavor. People looking for a little extra kick usually get more sauce on the side. One lady packs part of the styrofoam container with rice and the other just fills up the rest of it with liberal scoops of chicken. And I mean liberal. They literally don't care about being so exact like they do at Chipotle. These ladies just pack that shit until it won't close. If you're a meat lover, Silk Road will not disappoint. I almost always complain about portions being too small, and even I struggle to finish the entire thing. I'd say the chicken to rice ratio is closer to 2:1 rather than half and half. They have other items on the menu as well, but they'll take longer to get since it might have to be made to order. Service: Silk Road is a well-oiled machine. They churn people out QUICK. Most of the time my food is already packed and sitting on the tray before I even get my credit card out of my wallet. The beauty of having a small menu is you can just keep churning out mass quantities of the same 3-4 dishes and keep the line moving. The line gets pretty long during prime time lunch hours, but I've pretty much always been in and out with my food within a few minutes. Pro tip: There's actually two registers, one when you walk right in and another at the end of the counter on the right side. The main line can get pretty long, and I almost never see anyone else taking advantage of that second register even though the guy is waiving people over. Overall, Silk Road is a permanent fixture in my lunch rotation. It's by far the best value work lunch I've found in the area and I like it better than its nearby competitor Sixty Five Chinese. I just can't get enough of that spicy chicken!

    Spicy Chicken
    Avanti A.

    This place is the best Chinese option for the food you get and the price you pay. They have daily specials which comes upto $10 per individual. Chinese in the alley I call it...the food tastes good. And one interesting factor I've noticed is with any order you get more meat(if it's in your order) than the rice or noodles so if you are a meat lover you will completely enjoy this. And the amount of food you get on a regular order is ...omg it's more than one person am handle. They have two sizes of order ..small and regular. I tried both and the quantity is really more on both for me. I had to struggle through to complete it. For the taste it's good too...i have ordered Schezwan chicken fans spicy chicken from here. Spicy chicken as the name sounds is by far the best I have tasted here. Their fried rice is good too. Although, I am not a an of their noodles. This place gets super busy during lunch hours, still the staff are quick to serve and deliver. You will be out of that place in no time. Cheap and good !!

    Spicy Chicken
    Kay Y.

    Finally got to try the spicy chicken. It's hard to find this kind of takeout here in Chicago so I was really happy to get here finally. I went during lunchtime and there was a line (very popular place for pickup lunch). The food was pretty good huge portions but the vegetables are not cooked all the way (they are crunchy). Altogether around $10-11. If it was a little cheaper I'd probably come all the time.

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    24 days ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 months ago

    Food was good and tasty. I love the food. It was delicious. I've been there a couple of times. Recommend this place.

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    5 months ago

    They must have a new recipe for the spicy chicken or they are coming back on cost. Not nearly as good as it used to be unfortunately

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    11 months ago

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    7 months ago

    My favorite for year but they have changed how they prepare the spicy chicken and it's not as good

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    Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings

    Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings

    4.4(2.1k reviews)
    1.7 miChinatown
    $$

    Located right outside of the Chinatown gates and next to the cta redline, QXY Dumplings is some of…read morethe best I've ever had. They were full immediately after opening at 11:30am on a Sunday so expect a wait if you're not right on time or early. Their skin is thinner than I usually see, so their filling doesn't have to be super packed to even out the dough ratio. The chili oil and soup are 100% on point. Overate and overstuffed myself. Staff is efficient and fast. Would come back

    we came around 8:40p on a Sunday night and the wait was only about 20 min…read more I was very excited to try this spot because I saw all the raving reviews but I would say only about half of the dishes I would order again we ordered: -- lamb skewers: 10/10 so flavorful and tender, I don't usually like lamb because it can taste gamey but this didn't at all -- cucumber salad: would order again - loved the texture -- crab roe steamed: 10/10 would order again, my bf and I both agreed it was the best dumpling flavor -- wagyu and truffle steamed: I honestly found the truffle overpowering in flavor, wouldn't get again -- lamb and dill steamed: the dill flavor was too strong, wouldn't get again we also ordered the osmanthus tea which had a light floral taste but it didn't standout to me also I will note, if I came back, I would come in the morning or afternoon - I think by the time we sat down, the staff was tired because several soup dumplings weren't wrapped tightly so the soup had spilled out before it got to our table I will say I agree with the comments about the prices here being high - it was $160 before tip because the wagyu truffle dumplings and crab roe dumplings were both market rate ($30-$35 each for 12 dumplings) I'm happy I got to try this spot because the crab roe was the best soup dumplings I've ever had but I think I will be more selective with what I order next time

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    Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings - Dining room

    Dining room

    Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings - Pork & Pickled Cabbage Dumplings, Lamb & Coriander Dumplings

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    Dai Yee's Asian Kitchen - Shrimp Broccoli, Beef Tofu (hot), Egg Fried Rice

    Dai Yee's Asian Kitchen

    4.4(223 reviews)
    6.1 miNorth Center

    Dai Yee's Asian Kitchen is the underground emperor of late-night Chinese food in Chicago, the spot…read moreyour Uber driver, your bartender, and every chef in the city whispers about when they're truly hungry. Tucked into a no-frills corner on the South Side, Dai Yee's looks modest from the outside, but step in after 10 p.m. and it's pure magic. The room is packed with everybody--sneakerheads, nurses coming off shift, club kids, cops, and couples on first dates who somehow heard the legend. The vibe is chaotic in the best way: woks roaring, orders flying, and that unmistakable perfume of sizzling garlic, ginger, and chili filling the air. The food is straight-up stupid good. The Hong Kong-style salt & pepper smelts are crackly, spicy, and gone in 30 seconds. The beef chow fun has that elusive wok hei (breath of the wok) that most places only dream of, wide rice noodles slick with smoky char and tender flank steak. The black pepper beef tenderloin is velvet-soft, glossy, and aggressively peppery in a way that makes you order extra rice just to survive the happiness. The Singapore noodles are bright curry perfection, and the Mongolian beef is saucy, crispy-edged, and borderline addictive. Portions are straight out of the 90s--massive trays that could feed a family of four for under $15. Cash-only, BYOB, and everything comes out blazing hot in under ten minutes even when the place is slammed. The ladies running the show are legends: fast, funny, and they'll roast you (lovingly) if you can't handle the spice level you asked for. If you leave Chicago without hitting Dai Yee's at least once (preferably at 1 a.m. with a six-pack), you didn't really experience the city. This is real-deal, no-filter, soul-satisfying Chinese food that reminds you why we fall in love with restaurants in the first place. Dai Yee's isn't just a restaurant; it's a Chicago institution in the making. I'd wait in line in a blizzard for those smelts. See you at midnight.

    11/26/25 - I drove by here w/my wife today to eat lunch based on the reviews only to find that this…read moreis a pop up restaurant where you go & pick up your food & go. Dam I was disappointed we went away empty. Based on the reviews I really wanted to try this place but alas it wasn't meant to be. How do you give a rating to a restaurant you didn't eat at? Sorry I can't give you a 5 star rating but it's hard to judge on not eating your food

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    Dai Yee's Asian Kitchen - Chicken Lo Mein, Yu Shin Beef (Hot), General Tsos Chicken (Hot)

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

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    Shang Noodle - Chicago - Har Gao

    Shang Noodle - Chicago

    4.3(490 reviews)
    1.1 miNear North Side
    $$

    Such a pleasant, fulfilling surprise. By chance we stopped at Shang Noodle, looked in the window…read moreand was drawn inside. Atmosphere was great; a little noisy, but in a good way. Lots of friend groups and others, enjoying their together time, incredible meals, and just sharing together. Serious stuff: Ambiance was very inviting, letting all clientele the opportunity for unfettered enjoyment. Food was flavorful, sumptuous - just delicious and more than ample. Service; quick, courteous, attentive. Waitstaff proving good information on menu items and pairing suggestions. They checked on us several time, ensuring everything was to our liking. If ever back in Chicago, I will definitely be look for Shang Noodle!

    Went here on a whim last night after reading all the glowing reviews on Yelp. Before that, I…read morechecked out a few eateries on the 4th floor of the Nordstrom building, but nothing really stood out, and honestly, none of them seemed very busy and the one restaurant Lao Sze Chuan was way too expensive, $30+ entrees were average and the place wasn't busy at all. So I decided to try Shang Noodle, which was tucked away on a side street off Grand Ave., just steps from Michigan Ave. It's across from the Nordstrom building, past Labriola's, down some steps and about a block away located on the south side of the street. As soon as I walked in, and I wasn't expecting this but the restaurant was extremely loud and nearly every seat was taken and everybody seemed to be enjoying themself, families, couples and groups. I figured that was a good sign and it signaled to me that the food was probably good! At first, the host wanted me to sit at the bar, which I politely declined because I don't usually sit at bars, also, I was there to eat, not pick up somebody! I noticed a small table open, pointed it out, and he kindly let me take it. No 'tude either! As far as my server goes, she was efficient, friendly, and very helpful with recommendations since it was my first visit and probably because I didn't look like the other customers who were more familiar with the cuisine. She suggested the pot stickers over the hot and sour soup, and the beef Chow Fun instead of chicken Chow Fun. The pot stickers were a little small, but crispy and very tasty. I also asked for some sweet and sour sauce on the side which I'm glad I did because it paired nicely with the pot stickers instead of that plain vinegar sauce they usually serve you. For my main dish, I ordered the char-grilled beef Chow Fun. The portion size was more than generous, and the char-grilled beef had a great umami flavor. A few of the rice noodles were a bit firm, likely undercooked, but overall though it was quite enjoyable. What I appreciated the most about Shang Noodle was the value. $18 for the beef Chow Fun and $9 for the pot stickers felt reasonable to me, considering it was on the dinner menu, the portion sizes were humongous and the restaurant was located on the Near North Side, which is usually quite pricey. I'll definitely be back, though next time I may try lunch instead, or go with friends of mine.

    Photos
    Shang Noodle - Chicago
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    Silk Road - chinese - Updated May 2026

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