One of the best Chinese restaurants I've tried so far in the city I've only had their spicy chicken and it is very good their fried rice is also good as well ! read more

I was feeling cheap Chinese food today for lunch, and good ol' SR hit the spot. Got the Spicy Chicken special (Tuesdays and Fridays!) with an egg roll for just north of $7, and they give so much that it became my dinner too. The chicken's got a good kick, and the pieces are nice and large. My co-worker instead got a mix plate of Spicy Chicken and something else...not much more expensive, but I was envious of the variety he had. Like what's been said, this isn't fancy by any means; it's purely a lunch spot in the Loop. And sometimes that's perfect. read more

I've ordered from this restaurant twice. The food is not too bad, not the best but good enough. I ordered the spicy chicken with chicken fried rice and it was pretty good. The chicken was definitely spicy and the fried rice was a tad bit bland but good enough for me to eat if you know what I mean. Their prices are reasonable compared to other spots so that's why I prefer to order from this restaurant instead of the others. read more

The best place for Spicey Chicken in the world - period! Try it out - request extra paper napkins - you will need it! Amazingly tasteful. read more

I've been coming to this place for over 20 years. Its on Arcade Ct, not LaSalle but its in the 19 S. LaSalle building. They created the spicy chicken and its the most popular item. If you like spicy chicken, this is the place to go for lunch. Its a no-frills dive, but the food is good and the place is clean. The owner is almost always there, same guy for 20 years. I've seen him work in the kitchen making the food. You will not be disappointed. read more

This place used to be packed before covid. They have recently made some changes. The containers have been upgraded to plastic ones and the food quality seems to have improved. The spicy chicken is the best! read more

Silk Road is hands down the best Chinese takeout place in Chicago. I only tried two items on their menu...the spicy chicken and egg rolls...and that's all I'll ever need. The sauce is spicy with a little hint of sweetness. The chicken meat is good quality with crispy breading. The egg rolls are solid. They rely on the downtown white collar crowd for lunch so I hope they survive the pandemic read more

Spicy chicken is A++. I'd get it with the noodles as the white rice just doesn't do it justice. There is always a line during lunch at this place so they must be doing something right. read more

Completely mediocre Chinese food served in a bland environment. Sounds tasty, right? Well, that's what you'll get at Silk Road. I've pretty much had the entire menu (it's close to my office) and nothing sticks out as terribly good. The portions are large and the line moves quick, but really, you can do better. You deserve it. read more

I heard through the grapevine that Silk Road was having a lunch special on all their chicken dishes every day of the week. I figured now was as good a time as any to try their famous Spicy Chicken. I ordered the Spicy Chicken with a side of Shrimp Fried Rice. The verdict? Delish. The price? Decent ($10 with a drink). Great deal considering they give you enough food for two people. It makes for another yummy meal later! read more

Whenever I feel the need to treat myself to something other than my usual Maruchan Instant Lunch and don't want McDonald's, but don't want to spend a bundle, this is where I go. I first discovered Silk Road when I worked in the same building; Silk Road was the only highlight of this experience. It had been nearly 3 years since I had left that job and Silk Road along with it. But now, after another new job, I have returned to the area, only about 1/2 mile away. I found that during my 3 year hiatus I would frequently dream of enjoying the Spicy Chicken once again, and I must say that the wait was worth it. The .5 mile walk just flies by on the wings of a hunger void that can only be filled with Spicy Chicken. Though it is inexpensive, it is not a "cheap" lunch, at least not for a nonprofit employee. For the lawyers nearby, the ~$9 for Spicy Chicken, Rice and an Egg Roll is no big thing, but for me it is a once weekly splurge. Friday is the day to go, as Spicy Chicken is the special and that saves you about a dollar. I have never tried anything else at this establishment, but the Spicy Chicken makes it. I would guess that about 75% of the people I observe while there are eating this delicious dish. And if the casual observations of a die-hard Silk Road Spicy Chicken partisan fanboy are not enough to convince you, I don't know what is. If you are anywhere near here, just go. I am quite sure you will not be disappointed. read more

Call me crazy for my rating but that's solely off my order. There's no reason for there to be anything other than the spicy chicken and orange chicken on the menu. I couldn't even tell you what else is offered here. Combo the two with the steamed rice and then smash. I crave Silk Road pretty regularly and will usually get it once a week or so since I don't work far from the place. In fact at one point I would go so often that people at work just automatically assumed and knew it was what I was coming back with. They were right. Serving sizes are pretty huge and just when you already think they gave you a lot of chicken they pile on some more. The service is quick if you realize there's a second line and you don't need much more than $7. The water in the cooler is always ice cold too. Nothing special about the joint itself, it just looks like a cafeteria. Highly recommended and had I known I was gonna review it I would of had a combo with me now. Maybe tomorrow. read more

If you have worked in the financial loop of Chicago within the last 15 years your digestive system must have become use to the legendary spicy chicken of Silk Road. It has been a staple for many diehard tech and financial nuts in its tenure. Personally I think the food is less than appealing especially due to my last experience. Silk Road is commonly known for its main dish Spicy Chicken. Probably the number 1 item ordered at it with a side of white rice. My coworkers had claim when you eat Spicy Chicken you are expected to take a seat on the porcelain thinking chair later in the day. I think the food is awful and the place itself needs a makeover. My last visit was the final visit. While my coworker went to get his food package from the counter he noticed a fat cockroach sitting on the edge of his bag. It fell off onto the counter. For a time period which seemed like an eternity I saw my coworkers, three customers, and two Silk Road staff members just staring at it. Then a Silk Road employee picked it up and threw it in the garbage. They continued to work as normal as if nothing had happened. The employee did not wash their hands nor the counter top. They ignored it. This was the final straw for me and told my coworkers I am never going back to get Spicy Chicken at Silk Road again. I went as far as calling it Spicy Cockroach now. This was before Christmas and the holidays took their toll on a few of my coworkers. To a point where they shrugged it off and went back to Silk Road for Spicy Cockroach. As my manager and I began to rationalize it, we agreed upon one thing: The spice must flow! read more

Lisa A. is wrong. 4 of the orders will be for spicy chicken. And the last one will be for sweet and sour chicken but will turn into spicy chicken at the last second. But yeah, more white collars than a rectory hang out here during the lunch rush. It can't be the food as it's not really all that great or wholesome, must be the asian girls. Or the hype, of which there is a lot. If given the choice, I'll take Panda Express around the corner at least half the time. I suppose it's just an acquired taste and I have yet to opt in for that acquisition. But try the spicy chicken at least once, just to say you've had it. read more

Great find. Fast, friendly, big portions and delicious food. Busy but the line moves fast. Great value for your money.

4 stars is for the spicy chicken and the spicy chicken only. This place is Korean owned so the spicy chicken uses some kind of gochujang sauce and it's highly addictive. read more

We got takeout lunch there. The food is cheap and fresh but nothing to rave about. Decent selections and quality for the 7-8$ you spend. Will try again some time. read more

Silk Road - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yeah, I hate to say this but I'd rather go to Panda Express. My orange chicken was gristly and the sauce was a sweet vinegary syrup. Bring on the MSG. read more

Blarph. I haven't had such mediocre food in a long time. I've been here twice. I tried the spicy chicken today and got heavily breaded over-cooked chicken in a mostly tasteless but moderately spicy sauce. I didn't like it. Can you tell? The portions are somewhat big, but that much with a small drink for ~$7.50? I could get actual vegetables for that much at a salad bar place. The one good thing this place has going for it is that they don't have loud music going, which helps you listen in on the conversations in the school-cafeteria style eating area. read more

Came across this by chance. It's tucked away, but that doesn't mean it's not worth dining at. Just that 'those who know...go here'. It's your local, friendly, quick order at the counter kind of place. The people are nice - the food is always great and it's clean. Plus, being in "the Loop" there's always a line at lunch time... with plenty of seating (and to-go too of course). Thanks! read more

I moved away from Chi-Town many years ago, but the best Chinese food I have ever had was at Silk Road. The Spicy chicken is so unique and awesome. I'm at home right now cooking stirfry and this place popped into my head. Looking at the photos makes me want to make a special trip.. Glad you are all still there... read more

I would give this place five stars if it were just for their Hot & Sour Soup -- thick and peppery, with ribbons of egg white, it is the best hot & sour soup I have ever had. I can never tell if it's from a can (the industrial size Chinese market ones), or if they actually make this, but I sometimes dream about the taste of their soup...truly awesome. But, alas, I give them three stars because I really dislike their entrees -- way too MSG laden, and just plain heavy in the stomach for the rest of the day...plus, the annoying soy sauce packets (the flavorless panda bear ones) are the only soy sauce they offer. I'm just not a saucy type Chinese food fan, and this is a classic (in a bad way), "spicy chicken! White rice!" yelling establishment. So come in and get the hot & sour soup to go! read more

This place is totally hidden! I was craving some chinese food so i yelped it. Saw that this place was down the street. I saw the 19 S. La Salle, but didn't see a sign until I walked under this gate and saw a small plaque telling me to head down this dark alley. When I walked in I was kinda worried because it looks a little shaddy, but the food is really good! They also give you a HUGE portion for what you pay for. I got the Chicken and Veggies with Egg Roll. I don't feel like the food is greasy either- which is a plus! read more

I eat here generally once per week, and I've always liked the food, though the only time I tried the spicy chicken I thought it was a bit much (read: spicy) for me. I'm a big fan of their Chicken and Veggies and/or Beef and Broccoli. Egg rolls are great too, but they give enough food that I rarely get them. Their service is fast (sometimes too fast, don't ponder aloud about what you might want or they'll get it to you before you make up your mind, heh), and you can see part of their kitchen behind the glass wall, which is also pretty cool. I also quasi-agree with some of the other statements on the Orange Chicken, but I've never been a fan of Orange Chicken in general, so maybe that point is moot. read more

Pretty good orange chicken. Breading was a little more mush then I prefer for my orange chicken but would definitely come back for more. The small is plenty for a meal to leave you full and reasonably priced for lunch in the loop. read more

Fast food Chinese... Cheap and hits the spot, don't expect to much, but the Spicy Chicken is decent, and if you order at "dinner time", they typically make it fresh. Fun, off the beaten path location. read more

I was wandering around the city today and I stumbled upon this place. I brought food to work so I couldn't get a full meal, but 69 cent crab rangoon sure looked good. I ordered a crab rangoon and an egg roll which were both average. What I really like about this joint is that the kitchen is visible. You walk in and they are preparing their food behind a glass wall to your left. How many Chinese restaurants have a visible kitchen? I think it's the first I've seen. I will have to go back and try the lunch special soon. *I tried the food today and it was not very good or cheap. The Spicy Chicken was too breaded and the sauce was bizarre! I'll be sticking to 65 in the future. read more

Been living in the chicago suburbs for about a year and this is by far the best Chinese place we have found so far. Tried the spicy chicken with noodles and it did not disappoint read more

Silk Road - Spicy chicken with noodles - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Even though she was talking about a different location, Gail L's review of the Silk Road on Jackson pretty much hits the nail on the head for how I feel about this place. I get my lunch here because it's quick. I always get Chicken Fried Rice, and they always have it ready-cooked (and yes, that means that sometimes it's not-so-warm). By the time I've gotten my change back from the cashier, the staff has already scooped my food into a container and is ready to hand it to me. When I need lunch in a hurry, I like that a lot. As far as the food goes, I think the Chicken Fried Rice is fine. I've had better, but I've also had worse. I tried the Orange Chicken once, and I agree with Lara W, it was awful. I've never tried the legendary Spicy Chicken. (After the Orange Chicken experience, I decided play it safe and stick with the Chicken Fried Rice for a while.) As other reviewers have said, the portions are large--large enough that before you eat everything in one sitting, you may want to think about how your stomach would feel about it. If you're walking here from the north or east, you can shortcut through a street-alley on Madison midway between Clark and La Salle--but this alley frequently is blocked by trucks. You can also shortcut through a pedestrian-alley on Clark midway between Madison and Monroe--this alley is never blocked by trucks. read more

Aside from the occaisional dead fly in the rice, Silk Road has some very satisfying/filling choices on their menu. Of course, my favorite is the crack. I mean, Spicy Chicken. Or is it the same thing? I worked a block away from this place for a year, and whenever the weather was too bad to go to somewhere more upscale I would stop in at Silk Road and grab some Spicy Chicken. It's quick, it's tasty, and you'll want to come back for more! read more

Comin' from Texas, I am spoiled with good food everywhere we go. Chinese food is no exception. Every family-owned Chinese restaurant in Houston is bustling with amazing hot food. My girlfriend and I were looking for something similar on our visit to the Windy City. Silk Road was the one that caught my eye, mainly for the great reviews about the spicy chicken. And what flavor this chicken had! The sauce was kicking' like a donkey on hot coals! read more

I don't often get an opportunity to check out Chinese restaurants in the area, so when my coworker told me her craving I took her here. It's tucked away, so in the warm weather there is sometimes someone out on the main street of LaSalle giving away samples. It's a good spot for a quick pick up, and they give you very large portions. I went with the crab rangoon since I was craving that, and hot and sour soup. You can't really mess up the rangoons, but the soup was kind of plain flavored to me. I might come back to try some of the dishes, but the soup didn't really get me wanting more. The prices are very reasonable, and the service is pretty quick. read more

I love this place for what it is: a fast lunch-time place, with halfway decent food. And when I say FAST, I mean, FAST. You can walk in, place your order, and be walking out the door with your meal within 2 minutes. Seriously. Or you can dine in. Their spicy chicken is extremely popular - 9 out of 10 people in line will be ordering it. It's tasty, and not overwhelmingly hot. Their pepper steak is also quite good. Their specials Monday-Friday are anything "chicken." Heh-heh. I love that. I would classify Silk Road as an alternative to Panda, with slightly higher quality, and certainly more seating & less waiting time. Also, serving sizes are HUGE. When I get the pepper steak, I end up eating it throughout the rest of the day, and into dinner. Location: off the LaSalle alleyway between Monroe & Madison. Ultra-cool location makes it even more fun. read more

Good size portions and make fried rice to order. Place is kinda hidden but good spot to pick up lunch when pressed for time. I love their fried rice with vegetables. read more

Never had bad customer service here, the price is decent, the decor is of course middling but fine overall. The only reason this place gets one star is because the food is just bad. Not bad like it makes you sick bad, or not like they serve it cold or anything. The food is bland, and the flavor just sucks (worse than even Panda Express), end of story. I've tried two things here, including the "spicy chicken," and next time I crave Chinese at lunch, I'm jumping on a train to Chinatown. read more

Although the location (in an alley) and decor (very 90s and outdated) are not the best, it is a great Chinese place for a quick bite to eat. I moved to Chicago a few months ago and this is the best "fast Chinese" I've had thus far. Orange chicken is delicious. Both the white rice and fried rice were good as well as the egg roll. This last time I went with a friend who ordered the spicy chicken and let me try a piece - AMAZING! Like nothing I've ever tasted before. Looking forward to going back and ordering it for a full meal this time. read more

I've eaten here a few times since I work in the area and it's quick, not expensive, and decent. Most of the iteams (ie. orange chicken, etc) are about $6.50 if you stick with water and steamed rice. The serving size is plenty for a meal, and yes, you can see the kitchen. La tee dah. It didn't seem to help my friend any since he found a steel coil (maybe from an industrial steel brush) in his meal. My friends still eat there so I go when they do every now and then, but I'd recommend Wao Bao or even Lei Lei over Silk Road. read more

I just went here yesterday again, and reminded how I love the spicy chicken. Whenever I land in here and spicy chicken is on special, makes it that much better. You don't go here for ambiance, or excellent food. It's just a lot of decent food for not that much = 4 stars, I'm a fan. BTW: They have Cherry Coke on fountain, how awesome is that? *updated 10/2015.*. Visited again six years later in a new location. And they still got it. Man this place rocks, spicy chicken hits the spot every time. read more

I have loved their spicy chicken for 28 years and have passed down that love to my children. We just call it "spicy." There is no substitute! Staff is friendly, food is fresh and abundant portions. Delicious and the loop weekday crowds speak for themselves. Added bonus that you have to access it from an alley! :) read more

There is just something about walking down a dark alley to get to a Chinese restaurant that makes you say, "yes, this is going to be GREAT!" Really though, they have some really good food. I especially like the spicy chicken. Great lunch time spot and even when they are really busy they move very quickly. read more